Barely a week after everything happened Arkonus received another meeting summons.
He had hired a few more servants and the estate was looking much better, but the energy felt different and depressing. Security guards now walked the premises night and day and made everything feel more tense.
Ryvian was now fully healed much to the shock of Amy.
Ryvian had taken over for Otis though she definitely was still learning how to take care of Arkonus.
Otis had seemed to know exactly what Lord Arkonus wanted and when he wanted it and Ryvian had just started to realize that it was because Arkonus was incredibly predictable in his daily wants and to-dos.
As she finished buttoning up his vest and Arkonus leaned down so she could tie his tie she nervously asked the question that had been gnawing at her all day.
"How long will you be gone?…"
Arkonus straightened up and checked her work in the mirror.
"You mean how long will WE be gone?" He asked her.
She looked up at him confused.
He smiled and pulled a box, tied shut with a beautiful purple bow, out of his dresser drawer.
He handed it to her and motioned for her to open it.
She took it, still looking confused and opened it on his bed.
Inside was a beautiful velvet black and gray dress with off the shoulder sleeves, a tiered skirt, and a black leather corset belt.
"Wow, it's gorgeous!" She said as she pulled it out and held it up to herself in his mirror.
"I'm glad you like it. Please put it on for tonight" he said still smiling at her.
"Tonight? Do you mean I'm coming with you?" She asked as everything clicked into place.
He nodded and his smile faded.
"Taking you with me is like bringing you into a lion's den. But I would much rather have you be in a lion's den with me than have what happened last time I left, happen again." He said, his eyes glazing over as he remembered what happened a week ago. "I don't want you to leave my site again…"
Ryvian was a little taken aback by his last comment, but she honestly felt the same. By his side felt the safest even if she was about to be in a room full of very powerful vampires.
He left the room and she put on her new dress. It fit perfectly, the skirt stopped just above her knees so she could still move freely just the way she liked and it even came with a little ribbon for her hair.
Arkonus entered the room again with a little knock just as she was was trying to tie her hair up.
He gently took the ribbon from her hands and helped her put her hair into a high ponytail. He tied it tightly into place and placed his hands on her shoulders as she looked into the mirror.
"You look beautiful" he said making eye contact with her through the mirror with his bright blue eyes.
Ryvian blushed and looked down, breaking free from his gaze.
"Thanks" she mumbled, embarrassed.
At the bottom of the stairs Amy was waiting for her with socks and shoes.
Ryvian grimaced at the sight of the shoes and Arkonus noticed it.
"Do you not like those shoes?" He asked her as he began putting his own shoes on.
"I just don't like shoes in general" she said as she sat down on a step and began putting her knee high gray socks on.
"Then don't wear them" Arkonus said simply.
Ryvian blinked at him in confusion.
"What?…" she asked.
"If you don't like wearing shoes than don't wear shoes" he explained as Amy helped him put on his coat. "Just make sure you don't step on anything sharp while were out"
"Won't I get weird looks? Isn't it weird not to wear shoes?" She asked, still looking confused. He made it sound so simple.
"They are all going to be looking at you anyway. So if they are going to be looking anyway, why not be comfortable?" He said holding out his hand to help her stand up.
She took it and stood up.
"Oh.. okay. I mean if you don't think it will cause issues." She agreed cautiously.
Arkonus smiled and opened the front door for Ryvian. She stepped outside onto the cold concrete and sighed in relief.
She forgot how grounding it felt to walk outside with no shoes on.
She practically danced to the car, feeling light as air.
Arkonus smiled and chuckled at her child-like behavior.
On the way to the meeting, which was a long drive, Arkonus explained general etiquette and rules to Ryvian.
Because of her status she wasn't allowed to speak unless Arkonus told her she could.
She must not leave his side no matter the reason.
She must not mention her affiliation with Dorimier.
She must not speak up against things she sees or hears during the meeting no matter how cruel or inhumane it might seem to her.
Arkonus also informed her that people at the meeting would already take an interest in her because she would be the first human he has ever brought to a meeting.
He told her that most vampires have one servant or slave, called a bloodletter, that they keep close by for a blood supply. They are often seen as a sign of status and the more beautiful the servant and more rare the blood, the better.
He warned her that they would assume that was what she was.
Ryvian had expected this but she didn't realize just how many vampiric eyes would be on her that night.
They arrived at the meeting house, which looked more like a castle than a house, and were ushered through a set of thick wooden doors.
The entrance way was larger than Arkonuse's estate entrance and a beautiful crystal chandelier hung directly above. A few people in beautiful dresses and suits were meandering around but most of the noise and orchestral music seemed to be coming from a room to the right.
Arkonus offered Ryvian his arm and she took it. They entered into the ballroom through the double doors at the right of the staircase.
Ryvian was blinded by how beautiful the room was. White and gold accents everywhere she looked, tables lined with finger foods and wines, servants walking around with platters of food and drinks, a live quartet and SO many…. Vampires.
Her excitement quickly turned to horror as she realized every single person in the room had stopped to stare at her and Arkonus as they entered.
"It's okay, they're just curious and confused" Arkonus whispered to her.
Ryvian swallowed her anxiety and nodded.
Arkonus led her to a long table at the front of the room, with chairs on one side.
3 other men we're currently sitting at the table, with, what Ryvian assumed, was their bloodletters standing behind them.
Their blood letters all looked empty and exhausted. Their faces sunk in and all color drained from it. Their bodies were covered in deep bite marks.
Ryvian gripped onto Arkonus's arm tighter and he patted her hand comfortingly.
"Hello Lord Vyromere, Lord Pyrus, and Lord Hagren" Arkonus said to the 3 men with a short bow.
"Ah, Arkonus, you're late as usual." The man named Vyromere said as he eyed Ryvian up and down. He had short black and white peppered hair and a stern, skinny, face.
"Did you go and finally get yourself a Bloodletter?"
Arkonus stepped to the side and motioned to Ryvian.
"This is Ryvian, she is my…servant" he introduced her.
Ryvian let go of his arm and curtsied as best she could.
Vyromere and the other two nodded at her in greeting.
She immediately grabbed back onto Arkonus and hid behind his arm.
"She seems very shy" Pyrus said with a laugh.
Pyrus was the shortest of the 3 but still vampirically tall, he had medium length, shaggy,dark brown hair, brown eyes, and pointed ears.
"I guess we know what his type is now" Hagren said.
Hagren was thick and muscley, had a long ginger beard and short ginger hair, and his eyes were a dark green.
Arkonus laughed along as if they were friends but his whole body was tense.
After a little more mingling among the rest of the vampires the meeting began.
Lesser royalty were sat at small round tables within the ballroom while higher royalty was placed at the main table at the head of the room.
6 people including Arkonus were sat at this table.
2 women had joined their table since Arkonus and Ryvian had arrived.
Lady Moiren who was the twin sister of Lord Hagren sat next to her brother, her hair was just as ginger as his and lay in beautiful and perfect ringlets that hung just past her shoulders and her eyes were the same dark green.
Lady Corinne sat next to lady Moiren and they gossiped in hushed whispers and giggles. Lady Corinne had very long, wavy, straw blonde hair and golden brown eyes, she was very slender with wrists that looked like they could snap at any second.
Vyromere brought the attention of the room back to the front and began his opening speech.
"I welcome you all again. It is unfortunate that it is under these circumstances and so soon, but something must be done." He said, his voice carrying all the way around the room. "The hunters have become bolder than ever and attacked my brother's estate, killing and injuring his servants and destroying his home while he was away." He said as he motioned to Arkonus who stood up.
"Vyromere is your brother?" Ryvian asked under her breath.
Arkonus smirked "More like a distant cousin" he whispered back.
"Something must be done to stop them. It's not long before they become bold enough to attack us while we're in our homes." Vyromere continued.
"Let them try!" A voice came from the crowd. A wave of agreeing voices came after.
Vyromere held up his hand to silence them.
"They may just be weak humans, but their power lies in numbers." He said "one human may not be able to take you down, but 100 with silver daggers might"
A murmur filled the crowd as everyone begrudgingly agreed with what he was saying.
Lord Hagren stood up.
"I say we fight back. If they want to attack us in our homes why don't we attack them in theirs?" He yelled to the crowd.
A chorus of agreement came from the crowd.
"Normally I would say that attacking them is just part of a cycle of hate. But honestly I'm too angry with them to disagree" Arkonus said.
Sounds of mild astonishment could be heard.
"However! I don't think the family of the hunters should be harmed. Only the hunters are at fault, not their loved ones" he added.
The sounds of astonishment turned to groans and comments of "that sounds more like him" and "damn human lover".
Ryvian grimaced.
"Personally I think it would hurt them more and teach them a better lesson if we made their families our slaves, or better yet turned them and made them kill their own family members"
Lady Moiren said, not bothering to even stand up. Her voice was thick with apathy and narcissism.
There were loud cries of agreement including from Lord Hagren.
Arkonus sat back down and rubbed his face in frustration.
Ryvian gently placed her hand on his shoulder in encouragement. He gave her a small smile in return.
Vyromere motioned to the crowd.
"Are there any other ideas besides those presented to us so far?"
Silence filled the room.
"Then it's decided! We will attack the hunters on their territory, capture their families, enslave them, make them vampires, and force them to kill their families!" Vyromere yelled.
The vampires all yelled and clapped in agreement and Ryvian felt sick to her stomach.
So many innocent lives were about to be taken.
"Lord Hagren will be in charge of choosing who will fight when and where, as well as formations and strategies, if you wish to part of the battle talk to him" Vyromere explained as the room quieted down.
"Keep an eye out for important mail, summons, and information in the near future. And with that the meeting is adjourned."
As soon as the meeting was done Arkonus stood up, grabbed Ryvians hand and began walking swiftly towards the door. Before he got very far he was stopped by Lord Vyromere and Pyrus who both had their hands around their bloodletters necks and were dragging them along with them.
The energy in the room had changed as soon as the meeting was done and Ryvian had become uncomfortably aware of it.
"Oh dear Arkonus, what's the hurry?" Vyromere purred, an evil grin playing across his face "Don't you want to stay for dinner?"
Pyrus nodded and got uncomfortably close to Ryvian.
"Yes, we insist you stay" he said his eyes flicking red "We would love to see how your bloodletter tastes, if you're willing to share"
A low growl escaped from Arkonus as he yanked Ryvian behind him and away from Pyrus.
"Ohhhh, somebodies got food aggression I see" Pyrus teased "that medicine not working for you anymore?"
Arkonus took a deep breath and sighed.
"I'm not in the mood for your games Pyrus, or yours Vyromere. I just want to go home and finish repairing stuff" he said glaring them both down.
Both Pyrus and Vyromere backed off, but as he walked by them Vyromere grabbed his arm and pulled him close.
"Be careful Ark, everyone is starting to wonder where your loyalties really lie" he said in an angry whisper.
He ripped away from Vyromere's grasp and led Ryvian quickly to the car.