A building somewhere between a colossal fortress and opulent castle greeted us after we'd emerged from the Lipchen woodland. The structure was in the middle of nowhere, secluded from most passer-bys. Just the way we liked it.
"Not like I expected a parade or anything, but someone needs to let us in." Lixiss said, after we'd been standing by the front gate for several minutes.
"Give me a second, let me see if I can find a solution to our problem.”
"How are you going to do that?”
I grinned, flashing my fangs. "We all have impeccable hearing right? So what would happen if I do this?" Sucking in a deep breath, I shouted at the top of my lungs, "Jameson! Come open the door!”
Lixiss winced, clapping her hands quickly over her ears. "Subtle." She murmured sarcastically. "Effective though.” She continued, looking towards the tower gate.
A deceptively decrepit man shuffled onto the lookout built into the tower. He was bald, pale and pasty, with black eyes that almost burned into your soul. He was also a grumpy bastard. "Of course it's you two. Who else would scream at a vampire?" he grumbled.
"Well if you were stationed where you were supposed to be, I wouldn't have to shout would I?" I countered back.
"Smart as witchling vampires. Man's gotta eat you know, can't just sit here all day.”
"Yeah, yeah, just open the door Jameson.”
"Fine, fine, the Clan awaits.”
The old vampire pulled a lever and the sound of chains rapidly clacking against each other filled the air as the door lowered with a jolt. "Thank you Jameson." Both me and Lixiss uttered in synchronisation, sickly sweet smiles adorning our faces.
"Whatever, get your asses in here already!”
"You heard the man." Lixiss smirked.
"I did indeed.”
Without further ado, we marched in as if we owned the place. Technically, being a part of the Clan meant I did, but it didn't really cross my mind that much.
The only problem with living in a castle was that it took forever to get to your room. Good thing I was supposedly immortal, I had the time to spare. Most of the hold-up always came from the dreaded "briefing.” We walked into the main lobby where another member of the Clan was waiting, clipboard in hand. Lixiss rolled her eyes. Of course it would be Malakay, the only vampire I knew that still needed to wear glasses after their turning.
"Ah ladies, welcome back." He greeted us, seemingly procuring a quill and ink from nowhere.
"Good to be back, so is there any chance of doing this a bit later? We really need to…” I tried before getting cut off.
"You know the rules; briefings always need to take place at the return." Malakay uttered far too cheerfully, jotting something down.
"It's a stupid rule." Lixiss murmured grumpily.
"It's a great rule, it's all still fresh in your minds and if we didn't grab you right away, you'd never get around to completing the paperwork." Malakay countered, pushing his glasses back up his nose.
"And on the contrary, we're tired and covered in filth, very likely to take a bite out of you and damn the consequences. So let's hurry this up shall we?" I said, making sure my voice carried an edge to it.
Malakay seemed flustered for a second. "Ah yes, yes of course. If you could just fill in this part here…and here…." He pointed out the sections on the parchment that were apparently the most important. Lixiss snatched the quill, scrawling as if her life depended on it. I doubted her account would be legible by the time it was finished. Once she'd scratched out her last word, she thrust the quill at me. I hurriedly filled in my sections before shoving it back at Malakay.
"So can we go now?” Lixiss sighed exasperated.
Malakay nodded. "Indeed, everything seems to be in order.”
"Finally." Lixiss groaned, turning to head up the grand staircase. I went to follow, but Malakay stopped me.
"What, did I forget my signature of something?”
"Ah no, it's just…”
"Just what?” I growled impatiently.
There was an audible gulp from Malakay. "Rhuesia wants to see you tomorrow. It is of the utmost importance.”
Rhuesia wanted to see me? I managed to nod back at him in acknowledgement. He returned the nod and scampered off to do Nicneven knew what. Concern lacing my features, I carried on up the stairs where Lixiss was still waiting.
"What was the delay? Forget to sign off the paper or something?”
"No, apparently Rhuesia wants to see me tomorrow.”
Lixiss's eyes widened, the surprise in them evident. "Really? But you haven't done anything. We haven't even been here for three weeks.”
"That's why a summons is so puzzling.”
"And he couldn't have told you this later? You know, like after you've gotten some decent sleep.”
"Apparently not, the bloody git.”
"I feel like Malakay lost all social graces when he turned, that is if he had any in the first place.”
A snigger slipped through my fangs. “I'll second that.”
The rest of the walk to our rooms was fairly silent, he exhaustion slowly starting to creep into our bones. After trudging through several embellished hallways and three more unnecessarily complicated staircases, we finally arrived at our doors. Lixiss's chambers were on the right side of the hall, directly opposite my own. It had been arranged that way ever since we had joined the Clan, with the acceptance that Lixiss was not only my closest friend, but also my bodyguard.
"By Nicneven, I can't wait to get into bed." Lixiss sighed, wandering over to her rooms. "Let me know what happens with Rhuesia tomorrow ok?”
“Will do." I promised, drifting over to my own quarters. Lixiss waved, opening her door and disappearing into the darkness. I did the same, my eyes immediately latching on to the four poster solid wood bed and its lavish pillows. There was another wooden bar running vertically underneath the canopy, wrapped in fluffy fabric and silk.
Smiling, I unlaced my boots and kicked off my socks, revealing pale feet of human origin, but with claws and toes not too dissimilar in shape to a bird's or bat's. I leapt over to the bed, hooking my feet around the bar and hanging upside down above the mattress and sheets. Crossing my arms over my chest, I was finally comfortable enough to drift into dreams.
I cracked my eyes open, the darkness of the room still present due to the closed curtains. I stretched my arms, fingertips brushing along the sheets beneath me as I did. By Nicneven, I needed that rest. A vampiress could only go so long without sleep. Though the smell of stagnant blood, earth and gore reached my senses. I peered down at my rather crusty and pungent clothes. Shit. In my eagerness to get into bed, I'd forgotten to change. Well, there was no way I could see Rhuesia looking like this. I'd rather go through the turning again than imagine what she'd say if I went before her as I was. A bath it would have to be, not like I'd been privy to one of those in a while either, unless you counted the river. Releasing my grip on the comfortable bed bar, I floated back around to a standing position, leaping off the bed and yawning my way into the bath chamber. At least I'd removed my socks and boots last night, they were probably smelling a bit fresh th
I walked purposefully down the corridor after exiting my chambers. With a little magic, my hair was perfectly dry. Yira had said to look presentable. Usually, I wouldn't listen to anything Yira said, but it had been an odd tidbit to throw in. Sure, we didn't get along and I'm sure she hated everything about me from my magic right down to my fashion sense, but she had never openly said anything about it, even when I'd been meeting Rhuesia before. Her words caused curiosity and apprehension to wage war within me in equal measure. What exactly was this summons all about? Either Yira knew and wouldn't give me a heads up out of spite, or she only knew what Rhuesia had said. The sooner I arrived at the observatory the better. I passed a few other vampires, vampiress and the odd Other, shifters and such willing to help or work for the Clan. Everyone was going about their day as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Well, I supposed for them it wasn't. What
"You are joking!" I spat at Rhuesia, though despite my tone, she simply gazed at me with eyebrow raised. "I am as serious as the grave Corisande. It will be a glorious union." She stated, as though this was a fact rather than an opinion. "You do not know that." I hissed back. "And why was I not consulted about my own marriage? Surely that is something the bride of all people needs to be aware of!" I flashed my fangs as the anger poured over me like water. Who in Nicneven's name did Rhuesia think she was? I ignored the little rational voice in my head that pointed out the Clan Leader and Elder Vampiress. "You were away. A decision needed to be made and negotiations were swift." She said again in the tone of voice I hated. Again as if it was fact. A sealed bargain that no one could dispute. The one she used when her word was law. "There was no contact about this before I left." I pointed out. "Meaning the message came in and was subsequently deci
"I cannot sign this." The words hoarsely escaped my throat as the quill began to shake in my grip. A long suffering sigh reached my ears. "We have discussed this Corisande. The matter is decided.” "You do not understand. I have seen this document before, during my Ascension.” Rhuesia's interest seemed to pique for the first time since I'd arrived on the balcony. "If memory serves, that is the ceremony where witches are gifted a glimpse of their future.” I nodded. "What did you see?” Swallowing hard, I uttered "My death. At the hands of my fiancé.” There was silence for far too long, before a soft murmuring interrupted the quiet. "It must have been wrong.” The quill broke in my grasp as I whirled to face her, eyes blazing at the mere thought. "They are not wrong. No witch ever had a vision that did not come to pass.” Rhuesia as ever, was unreadable. "It is wrong. It must be. I cannot understand why the Prince wou
“What!?” Lixiss screeched, her eyes shifting to cat like slits before returning to normal. A sigh blew through my fangs. “You said to tell you what Rhuesia wanted. This was it. I’m not overly thrilled either you know.” “So now you’re bound to marry the man who kills you. Fantastic. Shall I make the funeral preparations now or wait till after I have to gather up your body?” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Thanks for the confidence.”
“Are we there yet?” Lixiss groaned. “Almost.” I countered. We’d been on the road for several days and I could finally make out the spiralled marbled towers of the Royal Clan’s Palace rising in tandem with the mountain it was situated near. “Thank Nicneven. At least I didn’t have to carry your luggage as well this time.” “Hey you were in lynx form, it made sense to strap the bag to your back.”
I had to say, if there was one thing I approved of in this place, it was that the Royal Clan knew their bathing tubs. The one that greeted my vision was more opulent and spacious than any I had come across. It was made of solid porcelain, with golden clawed feet so that it stood off the ground. It had metal things on one end. Reaching out my fingertips, I twisted one, interested to see what would happen. Warm water immediately gushed out of the thin pipe into the tub. Was it undignified for a vampiress to squeal with delight? By Nicneven, it was as if all my bathing prayers over the centuries had been answered.
I walked stiffly, keeping my arm laced with Theron's. He moved elegantly, showing no signs that he immediately wished to murder me. I took that as a good sign I wouldn't be dying tonight."Is it customary for the Prince to fetch the guests?" I asked, simply because traversing all this opulence in silence was uncomfortable.Theron chuckled softly. "No, it is not. But you can blame me for being eager to see my betrothed?""Yes. I was under the impression you signed the contract blindly, with little care as to which bride you were assigned. Or was I wrong in such an assumption?" I raised a