14~ A Deal
[Vladimir's POV]
The girl intrigued him but more than that, he had finally found a way to bring Lucian back to their family. He looked at his wounds in the mirror and saw that they had healed a lot. The girl wouldn't need to come again, but she did not know that.
He wore his robes back on and tied them this time. The girl was not entirely unaffected by his looks. He smiled at the thought.
"Your scent was sweeter than anything I have ever smelled before," he murmured as he lounged back in the chaise, picking up the glass filled with fresh blood.
Artemis came while his glass was almost empty. He looked at his butler expectantly. The butler's eyes twinkled although his face gave away nothing. "Sir Lucian has come to visit you. Will I ask him to come here?"
"So the girl had been obedient enough to tell her Master about what had happened here? Interesting,' he thought.
"Ask him to come here." Vladimir leaned back against the chaise. Artemis bowed and left.
He was impressed by his younger brother. Despite being mild-mannered, he had his fair share of aura. He was not dominating but manipulative in his own way. He looked kind, but Vladimir knew that he was anything but that, shrewd would be the right word to describe him. However, unlike Vladimir, he was passionate, more like a human in this aspect than a vampire.
"I told you not to involve Celia in this," Lucian's voice boomed across the chamber. Vladimir let out a chuckle.
"Why are you getting so aggravated? Let us talk like royalties do, hmm?" Lucian all but glowered at him and remained standing in the middle of the room. Vladimir saw the rage in his eyes, the clenched jaw and fists.
"If you are using her to get back at me, don't. I told you that she is my new apprentice, so don't toy with her," Lucian said when Vladimir did not say anything.
Vladimir smiled and stood up. "What should I call you Lucian or dear Doctor Enzo O'Niel?" Ah, he was having so much fun at his brother's expense. The part of his heart that craved to see his brother's distress and misery was satisfied.
"Stop this. I told you I am not coming back," Lucian said instead.
"You know that is not an option. I am not asking you, our Sire is and he wants you back," Vladimir said darkly. Despite the satisfaction of seeing the cause of his misery in distress was wearing thin.
"Why can't you people let me be? I have adapted to the society well. I have not caused any trouble for any of you," Lucian reasoned.
"That is not how this works. Had you not been a royal, no one would have cared. A member of the Mercei family cannot go rogue, that is out of the question," Vladimir replied.
Vladimir regarded his brother before a thought came to his mind.
Vladimir made a noise at the back of his throat, looking pensive. "Don't tell me… Do you like that girl? That human girl?"
Lucian's head snapped towards him, and his eyes widened. Vladimir grinned, knowing that he had hit the jackpot. This should be interesting and Vladimir could not wait to destroy this plan of Lucian's.
"Absolutely not," Lucian answered, but his eyes were telling a different story. Vladimir smirked.
Lucian clicked his tongue in annoyance. He raked his fingers through his hair and looked elsewhere. He finally said, "I have not gone rogue. You know why―"
"You saw the girl and then decided to leave the family because she was a human?" Vladimir guessed although it sounded incredulous to him. His brother was not such a dimwit. He must have had his reasons and if one of them was the delicious scent of blood she possessed then Vladimir had to investigate the girl as well.
Vladimir knew a good opportunity when he saw one. "Come back to the main family residence, contact Sire again and I can help you get that human girl."
Lucian's jaw clenched and unclenched as he glowered at the older vampire.
Vladimir was enjoying this. He put his hands in the front pockets of his robe and said, "I have that power, you know?"
"Why do you want me to come back? Aren't you happy that you get to be the ruler of the entire state and not have to share it with me," Lucian spat.
In the next moment, Vladimir had Lucian pinned against the wall, holding him by the collar.
"I don't require your pity donation. If you can rule the half of the kingdom fair and square then fine, if not then you can get to have this life, how about that?" Vladimir suggested even though his rage was beyond the point of simmering.
Lucian's gaze was filled with hatred and anger. Vladimir let go of him and stepped back.
"Think about it and let me know." He put his hands behind his back.
Lucian did not wait for his dismissal as he began to leave, but stopped at the doorway and glanced over his shoulder. "I am not sending Celia here anymore. So ask someone to assist with the medicine or have it orally."
Vladimir did not say a word. He had other thoughts in his mind.
"I am planning to marry the daughter of the Burton family. Kayla Burton. You know her right? I am throwing a party tomorrow. I want your answer by then and anything that doesn't go in my favor shall reach our Sire's ears." The threats weren't empty, Lucian knew that. He simply nodded and left.
Vladimir watched him go and when he knew that Lucian was gone, he called for Artemis through mind-link. The butler appeared in no time.
"Master," he called with a bow.
"Arrange a party tomorrow. Send a special invite to Miss. Burton. And send invites to Lucian's household, including Miss Heart," Vladimir ordered.
"As you wish Master," Artemis said and then dismissed himself.
Vladimir left the chamber and went to take a stroll outside now that dusk had fallen. He was looking forward to tomorrow.
'Decades of pain in this lifetime, I will make sure I pay them back with interest. I did not know you would be so amenable, albeit indirect, but amenable nonetheless,' Vladimir thought and let out a dark chuckle.