Chapter 10
“Yea!” I called out
A human woman walked into the room. She wore a black maiden tunic with a white apron around her waist. She held glass filled with blood on a silver tray. When she found me sitting in my bed she bowed her head in respect. Right, I’m a vampire now. She walked over to the table putting down the glass.
“Sir Nicolas is expecting you in his office.”
“Thank you,” I said as I got up from the bed.
The maid left the room closing after her.
On the way to the bathroom, I pulled over my head the necklace placing it next to the glass of blood. I took a sip of the blood. I can’t believe I’m drinking blood. What would Luca think if he saw me now? With a sign, I walked into the bathroom. I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth. Examining my canines in the mirror they looked normal. They must elongate only when feeding on a human.
Exiting the bathroom I walked to the walk-in closet. Going through the clothes I picked out a grey cropped t-shirt and high waisted black leather skirt with silver buckles on the side and paired it with combat boots. I quickly dried my hair and put it in a high ponytail, walked to the table to finish the glass of blood and put it back on my necklace pitting it under the t-shirt.
Walking out of my room I realised I had no idea where the office was. A maid just walked out of one of the door and I rushed towards her, hoping she would help me.
" Excuse...um could you tell me where Nicolas’s office is?”
The maid quickly turned around and gasped putting her arm over her chest. Startled look plastered over her face. She took a second to compose herself.
“Yes, I’ll lead you there, please follow me”
We walked quietly through another corridor until we stopped in front of the door.
" Thank you,” I said smiling at her. She slightly bowed her head and left. I knocked on the door then entered. I was met with a bright room thanks to its big window right across from me. The room was decorated in the same elegant taste as the rest of the house I’ve seen so far with a big black fireplace. I found Nicolas sitting at his big wooden desk doing something on his laptop.
“Good morning,” I said walking over to him.
He looked up from the screen.
"Good morning, how are you feeling after yesterday”
“I’m fine,” I said guilt still rooted within me as memories from last night replayed in my mind.
"So..you wanted to see me. ” I mumbled
"Yes, today you’re going to meet with the clan.”
" Um..ok,” I said nervously. I hated gatherings, being introvert I always tried to stay away from people.
He got off his chair and walked over to me.
“Let’s go” he smiles but his voice firm authoritative.
"Where to?” my eyebrows creased.
He chuckled ”To meet the clan”
“Now?”
“Yes, they’re waiting”
Shit!
" Are you ok?” he asked when he sensed my uneasiness.
No
"Yes," I mustered the most sincere smile.
"Don’t be nervous, you’ll be fine. ” He said as he put his hand in between my shoulder blades urging me to walk.
Before we entered the door I heard voices of a lot of vampires. They all glanced at us and stopped talking as we entered. Nicolas walked in first and I followed. I was shrinking under their gaze, fiddling with my fingers and biting the inside of my mouth. Calm down.
Nicolas stopped in the middle of the room with me anxiously standing next to him.
“Good morning.” He said loudly. They all watched him with their undivided attention. ” I want to introduce to you Reine Bain, our newest member. I hope you will all treat her as a family” he said looking at me and grinning. I smiled back at him and then glanced in front of me at all the vampires. I couldn’t help but notice that they all looked beautiful, ethereal. Something about vampires made their beauty out of this world.
They all gathered around me Nicolas standing still beside me.
“Hi Reine, welcome to our clan,” a feminine soft voice said. I looked in her direction. Strawberry red hair was cascading around her face down to her waist and icy blue eyes were gazing at me. I noticed she had faint freckles across her cheeks and nose. She was about the same height as me and I was glad for that. I always was the smallest of everyone.
"Reine, this is Celeste and her husband, Mattias"
My eyes shoot at the male vampire next to her. He was tall with wide shoulders full of muscle. He definitely worked out. His face was framed with dark brown hair that was sticking out in all directions and had hazel eyes.
"Thank you and nice to meet you," I said politely
“Nice to meet you too Reine, hope you like it here.” Mattias said sincerely then looked around ” if someone ever bothers you just let me know” playfulness shimmered in his hazel eyes.
"Thanks,” I said nervously and returned his smile.
"You know we can all hear you Mattias” stated another vampire as he came up to us. He was as tall as Nicolas, with jet black short hair shaved at his sides and the blackest eyes I ever saw. I’ve never seen eyes like his. His skin has tanned the shade of honey, tattoo sleeve on the right arm that continued to his neck peaking from his t-shirt.
Mattias and Celeste both laughed as me and the vampire just watched them with a smirk on his face, then he shook his head and turned his attention to me.
“My name is Sin” giving me his hand to shake. As I took his hand he added “welcome” and gave me charming smile.
“Thanks” a rosy colour found its way to my cheeks quickly glancing at the floor.
"And don’t listen to him” he gestured with his head to Mattias ”most of us are nice” and a smirk appeared on his face again.
I giggled looking around I noticed Nicolas speaking with another vampire across the room. He locked eyes with me and gestured me to come over there. I excused myself and went towards Nicolas.
As I took place next to Nicolas he turned towards me. “Reine, allow me to introduce you to my second in command Leon”
The vampire next to him didn’t look a day older than forty but looked the oldest in the room. He had blonde hair and green eyes and pure elegance radiated off of him.
“Leon this Reine my kindred”
“Please to meet you” he spoke smiling holding out his hand.
I shook his hand " Pleasure is all mine” I stated trying to sound charming. Since I was Nicolas’s kindred I wasn’t going embarrass him with my stupid awkwardness.
I sat on my bed thinking about the events of today. I didn’t remember most of their names. I wasn’t good with names, it will take me a while to remember, but since I am a vampire now time won’t be a problem being nearly immortal. Vampires lived as long as no one killed them. They could die from serious injuries, illnesses weren’t an issue for them as they were never sick. Most vampires got to live hundreds of years. Thinking about all of this I was playing with my eagle necklace absentmindedly. Maybe it won’t be so bad being a vampire after all but drinking blood is going to be tough on me. The thought of me putting some innocent person through pain just to feed myself troubled me a lot.
Weeks went by as I started getting used to being a vampire and got my emotions under control. I also got used to drinking blood only from glass. I didnt drink from a human since the first time I killed.
I got friendly with Celeste and another female vampire. I learned her name was Isobel. She was there the day I met everyone I just couldn’t remember. It was all too much for me. I realised Celeste reminded me of Freya so much it was a bit freaky. Not so much looks but the way she acted, some of her facial expression and the things she would say. My heart pained every time I thought of her. She and Celeste would be good friends if she would be alive.
I was on my way to the gym. I started training again after I felt like myself a bit more. Well, I knew I’d never feel one hundred per cent myself but I started finding myself again slowly. I wanted to get strong so I could start with my revenge. It’s was pretty much the only thing that occupied my mind. I haven’t talked about it with Nicolas since the first time I met him. With Nicolas I got close too, well with the connection it wasn’t hard, I think of him as my brother. I always felt more confident in my own skin and safer. I felt at home when I was around, it was weird.
As I entered the gym it was empty. Being early night I wasn’t surprised I was here all alone. I actually preferred being here by myself. It was a large room filled with gym equipment such as a treadmill and weights. There was also a fighting ring in the middle of the room with boxing equipment.
Before I walked over to the boxing bag I wrapped my hands in tape and began throwing punches and kicks. After few mins, I was covered in sweat.
As I drank my water, yes we do drink normal liquids, we just don’t eat human food, I heard voices. I snapped my head towards the noise. It was Sin and one other vampire. I think his name was Sasha. I only spoke to him once before, remembering about him his eastern European accent. It wasn’t strong but noticeable. He was huge every single inch of his body was covered in muscles. He was kinda intimidating the way he looked. His head was bald with a tattoo instead of his hair and his eyes were light brown.
I rolled my eyes and signed at the interruption. I preferred training alone without anyone watching. When they noticed me they made their way over.
"Hi” they both greeted. Then Sin added “training alone??” he raised his eyebrow.
“Yep” popping the ‘p’ ”I prefer it”
"So I noticed” stated Sin his eyes boring into mine.
"You should join us, you’d learn more from us,” said Sasha, Sin nodding next to him.
I smiled at them ” thanks for the offer, but I’m good for now”
"You sure?" Sasha asked. I nodded.
As they walked away Sin glanced at me grinning I locked eyes with him and held the connection a bit longer than usual. Then I just turned to my punching bag shaking my head and began to train again. Two hours later I decided I had enough. I was drenched in sweat, my hair was sticking to my forehead and I stang.
The Sun was shining bright and warm with a clear sky. The garden was filled with all kinds of flowers. As I passed roses I leaned over to one to smell it. Then walked until I came across a big oak tree. I sat under the tree sipping my glass of blood. I closed my eyes leaning back my head against the tree listening to the world around me. I heard the sound of the tree leaves as the wind flew through the tree, birds singing and the faint chirping of crickets. I was completely relaxed breading in the fresh morning air.
" REINE!”
I jumped at the sound of my name. I snapped my head towards the intruder. It was Isobel walking towards me. Her chocolate brown hair was cut short in a bob and she was sporting a fringe. She had deep blue round eyes and a cute button nose and red lipstick on. She wore a white lacy dress with long sleeves and black velvety heels. She always went all out. I admired that, I just couldn’t be bothered.
"Shit, look at my heels” she barked. I glanced at the shoes.
“Looks fine to me” raising an eyebrow.
“Look,” she said pointing at her heel.
I looked again, the end of her heel was muddy from walking in the grass.
I rolled my eyes ”why are you here?”
"Excuse me, can’t I see my friend?” her voice high pitched at the end. She held her hand to her throat as if offended.
I just looked at her.
"Oh grumpy today,” she said playfully
"I was enjoying my peaceful morning” I stated.
“Nicolas is calling a meeting,” she said turning around walking away clearly finished with this conversation.
I jumped up ”and who’s grumpy now” I threw my arm across her shoulder. It was a bit difficult for me to be shorter than her.
We were all gathered in the main living room. Some vampires were sitting down on the couches some were standing. I was standing next to the wall with Isobel by my side.
“Do you know what this is about?” I asked her.
" Some kind of ball I heard.”
As she said it Nicolas walked in with Leon on his tail. He glanced at me smiling and I returned smile back to him.
"I called the meeting to let you all know that we were invited to the ball. All European clans and packs are invited” as he said the word ’packs' he glanced at me.
Wait, what?
" Did you said packs, as in werewolf packs?” one of the male vampires asked.
" Yes, the werewolf and vampire councils are trying to keep peace and they think they will achieve it by holding a ball”
Murmurs were heard across the room as everyone was discussing the news.
" When is the ball” Sasha asked.
" In two weeks in Livorno” Nicolas answered sternly. " ten of us will get to go" he added.
" I hope there won’t be any fights. It will not be tolerated” his eyes scanned the room ending at me. His face was hard, stern authoritative aura radiated off of him. With that, he turned in his heel and left.
I walked past everyone trying to get to Nicolas. I managed to catch him in the foyer. ” Nicolas wait please”
He turned around his eyes softening at the sight of me. ”Yes Reine”
" Could you explain to me what’s happening, I thought I was meant to help you kill the Alpha. I need to revenge my family, now going to ball with them”
“We will kill the Alpha, I promise you that” he signed his eyes lingering on me then added ” the councils are trying to keep the peace. There is a war brewing, the werewolfs are trying to get rid of all the humans and vampires. They want complete control, not just here in Europe, in the whole world”
My jaw dropped.
Bastards!
