Then Renly took a rageful step forward, looking past me. ’Hera ... explain yourself!!’
Hera held his gaze, her demeanor neither servile or overbearing. But i had a feeling she wasnt as calm as she looked.
’I did not err in my choice. Mason has the potential to be a powerful Dhampir— an asset to Clan Uttara. I only ask that you remain patient as you observe his progress.’
The was undercurrent of mocking snickers spreading through the hall.
One of the House lords stood. ’Do you insinuate that you have better skill in judging talent than the famed Regis Orb—a prized artifact your choice of this . . . Cretin destroyed –’
’I dare not insinuate anything, Lord Ponllis. This one –’ Hera gestured at me like I was a trophy – ’is still young. But I sense great power in his blood. I know if you allowed yourselves, you could sense it too.
All I plead for, is for you to at least allow our master to return before you decided to dispose of him.’
’What!?’ I cried internally as her words caused a shudder to run through my body. It all made sense now: Her distance, her hesitation, her impatience and her fear.
Her demeanor that resembled someone forced to shouldera heavy burden.
Renly suddenly locked eyes with me. Sensing my obvious fear, his expression twisted into a mocking sneer as he laughed.
’Do you see this Hera. The boy you make excuses for is paralyzed with fear, unable to even speak at the mere mention of death.
It was a mistake to turn this child —he is a useless creature.’
Another House lord rose. ’I believe his gaurdian is to be punished for this blunder as well. As for the boy, he should be immediately purged!’
’Lord Simian –’ Hera’s voice was strained – ’the purging of the unworthy has always been controlled by the clan lord.
Let alone this particular special case.
You are all just as aware as I, that Mason is no ordinary vampiric birth.’
Lord Simian sneered. ’Thank you, Hera, mere servant of our law, for telling us how to carry out our duties.’
They were infuriated this time, the anger their pupils rising unsteadily. I could see Hera’s posture shift ever so slightly— tensing like she did when facing an enemy.
The house lords made a few erratic and incensed whispers. Finally, Lord Renly spoke. ’Rea, there is nothing worthy of our clan in this boy. We stand by our decision when the clan lord instructed you to save his life— He is unfit to be any of our number, let alone the clan lords mate!!! –’
’Im sorry what?’ I finally broke my silence despite Hera’s instructions (there was only soo much ridiculousness I could take), but Renly ignored me.’
’– You after recieveing her kindness took advantage her trust in you to strap her with this bastard thing, while several worthy heirs remain in our clans!!.
Well we shall rectify that today!!.’
’My lords –’ Rea spoke slowly and dangerously, like she was soothing a voilent beast – ’He is the sire and mate of the clan lord. Traces of her venom coarse through his veins— By sacred law, no one is allowed to touch him without her explicit permison.’
Renly laughed. ’Foolish girl. While the clan Lord is away, what we the council say is law. If we say he must die, then HE MUST DIE!!’
Why was it that it was only when I faced an imminent execution ... that it all finally made sense. Renly and the rest of the houses’ hostility towards me.
The strange jealousy laced glares that threatened to drill holes into my body.
I knew from old political stories that when a lesser clan produced an heir that married into the royal family, the clans whole status would rise – the houses had been robbed of their chance by me when I had been made lady Rea’s mate.
Which all begged the question?
Why me?
The answer to this question — I desired to know even more than the clan lords.
’Grand Dhampir! Remove this humanoid stain from our sight’ Renly commanded.
A squad of large imposing armored Vampires materialized around me. Holding dark spears whiles donning obsidian armour etched with glowing runes.
Hera looked like she wanted to say something else when her gaze inexplicably stilled. The ghost of a smile gracing her full lips.
’Hmph’ Lord Renly took her silence as a final resgnation, seemingly about to give a another kill order when a shudder suddenly wracked his body.
Her arrival inspired an air of soundless fury— sending a wave of blododcurdling pressure crashing down on every present.
Evry strand of hair present on my body stood up erect —vibrating in alarm, whiles the surges of icy cold through my spine just wouldnt stop.
Again and again the ice surged, warning me that i was facing a superior predator.
But It wasn’t just me who was affected.
And surprisingly, besides Hera I was the one affected the least out of everyone.
For how could I who had never once born witness to her fury comprehend the terror of my knowing brethren.
Moments passed. . . And every Vampire present still looked like they were choking on something unpleasant. As for the newly turned vampires— they seemed to be in an eternally confused state of mind — scared witless, completely at a loss.
Her irresistible, sensual beauty was still present, so beautiful, even the celestial bodies adorning the sky paled in comparison with her features. This was the beauty that left an eternal shadow in my soul when I first awoke.
But now. . .accompanying those enrapturing features was a imperious aura so heavy it seemingly sucked out every bit of light from our surroundinds... After all.. .
In this land, she was a ruler over everything that breathed!!
But far more frightening than this kingly suppression, was a ruthless killing intent her mere presence exuded— a formless blood infused energy that warned:
A single mistake!
A single step out of line!
Will result in your permanent extinction!
And so Rea swept her gaze slowly across the entire hall. Her lips though as tender and beautiful as the finest rose, let out a cold and bone-piercing string of words that chilled the soul completely — even in her celestial voice, "Who will come explain to this lord what exactly has transpired here?!"
Lord Kastor– the one they had called the great elder— timidly shuffled forward. His voice trembled, barely audible even to vampiric ears as he said, " My Queen, the great assembly concluded with an abysmal display by none other than this one wretched young Dhampir. Fearing that he would bring shame to our great house, the assembled house lords determined that he would be expunged from our mist. . . They simply did not want the royal name to be tainted which was why they acted this way..."
"He was to be expunged?" Reas icy gaze shifted ever so slowly until it addressed all the gathered house lords. "I seem to remember a law eteched into our ancestral tome— a law that stated clearly that any expulsions and cullings were to be overseen by the clan lord. . ." Here was suddenly soft and cottony, devoid of all majesty.
She whispered again— her posturing resembling a young woman quietly soliloquizing to herself. ’So unless I have gone senile, how then is the reality before then explained.
How is it that a number of pompous dogs disrespect the crown in such a way!?’
On the last sentence, a surge of voilent, barely controlled rage erupted from her person, causing the already pale faces of the gathered dhampir to whiten even more.
The house lords fearfully exchanged glances, the knew their masters temper . But they were also aware that she was extremely cold an callous— viewing as living beings like mere blades of grass. For her to care so excessively about a useless young vampire was surprising to say the least!
Renly stepped forward, welcoming Rea with a slight bow, "My lady! Four months ago you announced that you would turn this boy should he not die a natural death. Even more surprising, that you had chosen him as your mate; the future lord of clan Uttara. But how could he, one so worthless that even the Regis Orb — an inanimate object–’ would rather destroy itself than peek into his potential, be worthy of you. How could he be worthy of our clan!? Pleasee my lady, we implore you like we did before... allow us to end this creature and free you of this cursed attachment to him!"
Lord Renly finished with a bow. His posture was humble, but devoid of any true fear. I would later come to know that this was because he once had served Lady Rea’s father —the previous clan lord.
So despite her towering rage and killing intent, he feared not for his life.
If only he knew then. . .just how wrong he was.
’And you all feel this away.’ Rea posed to the gathered clan lords. She had suppressed her killing intent, and as a result the vast imperious pressure surrounding her receded.
It was as if she was asking a simple, meaningless question. . .