“Are you secretly conspiring to take over the world?”
Lucious pondered his words. “I guess not. I am too busy planning my attire for the ceremony on Sunday.”
They started walking towards the door. Beyond the single wooden barrier, autumn awaited them with dead leaves scattered on the ground. The smell of recently fallen rain hung in the air as they strolled to their car. It would be a bad idea to have Hans fleeting after Lucious had taken a large amount of his blood, and, as long as Lucious didn’t use his vampire speed for long periods of time, he could manage his thirst.
Hans slid his hands into the pockets of his black suit trousers. “Do you ever wonder why we, of all vampires, ended up doing this job?”
“It is our bloody fate, is it not?”
“How do you know?”
Lucious sighed. He walked on, his attention flicked to the starry sky above. A thick grey cloud greedily glided across, claiming the view with the help of a light breeze. “I don’t. A lot of the time, I feel like a marionette in someone’s play. When my strings are cut, I will die. Until then, I am bound to aimlessly stumble towards some goal I know nothing about.”
“Weren’t you supposed to be Helena’s protector?”
“How did you know about that?” Lucious’ eyes narrowed. He had told only one person such sensitive information—a man he could barely consider being his friend after Alexander let Helena go to her death. “Did Alexander tell you this before he fled to Dublin?”
“I am the one who remains by your side, my friend. I believe it is only fair I know about such things.”
A cruel laugh escaped Lucious. “You are older than me, yet you are so naïve. Fairness in our world does not exist. Your dead sire and blood-brother can attest to that.”
“Do not bring them into this conversation!”
“The funeral you keep putting off needs to be completed sooner rather than later, Hans. Put your sensibilities and sensitive heart aside and bury the dead in the ground or scatter their ashes in the sea.” Lucious faced away, whispering, “Or you will become like me.”
In his room at the new Council building, Lucious sat on the bed and stared at the painting on his wall. It was the one thing he could recover from Anna’s room—a picture of his sire, blood-brother and blood-sisters, smiling at him. Although he told Hans to move on, he, too, was unable to put his sire’s remains to rest. Whether he clung to the impossible wish of her return or the incessant need to hope that a miracle would happen, he did not know. The mere thought of burying yet another person he cared about brought a tear to his eye.
He wiped it away with the jerk of his hand.
A knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. Striding over, he opened it to find Perri holding a small wooden box in her hands.
She smiled at him and tilted her head to one side, causing her loose blonde hair to slide over her shoulder. “May I come in? I have something to give you.”
Lucious took a step back, allowing her to enter. He closed the door behind her and returned to his seat on the bed.
Perri’s nervous heart fluttering in her chest interested him long enough to glance her way while she contemplated her next words with uncertainty.
“What is it you want?” he asked.
“I was meaning to return this to Helena or ship it to her when Hans told me to cut all communication.” She sucked in a breath and offered him the box. “This is something she forgot at Master Vincent’s main house in Scotland. I know it is a little late, but Hans has summoned me for the funeral tomorrow. Will you be attending?”
So, he did listen to my advice. “I will come to greet the dead and say my goodbyes. I believe it is high time to put my sire to rest along with the other Council members who perished in July.”
She lowered her head and rubbed her hands together. “Is it true that Master Vincent may have been murdered?”
He studied her intently. “Where did you hear this from?”
“Some men on my way here were whispering about it. They said his death was suspicious and that someone powerful had to be responsible for it since no normal vampire could kill him.”
“Did you spend a long time eavesdropping on these men?” Lucious asked.
Perri blushed and glanced at the floor. “The reason I stood there for so long was because Master Vincent’s name was mentioned and I—”
“Was curious?”
She nodded. Lifting her eyes, she met his steady gaze. “The item in that box is not normal. I believe it is enchanted. When I touched it, the person I saw reflected in the orb was Hans.”
Lucious undid the metal catch on the front of the box and found a clear crystal sphere nestled in velvet. He lifted the crystal out, assessing it from all sides. The longer he looked, the foggier the crystal became. An image of Helena appeared, and he nearly dropped it. He stashed the sphere back into the box and slammed the lid shut.
“You saw Helena, didn’t you?” Perri asked.
“Yes…”
She smiled. “All I managed to figure out is that it shows you the one you love the most. I gave it to a few other servants to try to see the effects. Most said they saw their beloved.”
“I see.” He placed the box on the bed next to him and stood. “Thank you for giving it to me.”
“There is no need to thank me. We all miss Helena. She is a dear friend to many of us. If seeing her through that crystal will help soothe your heartache, I thought it was worth bringing such an object with me on this trip.”
“How do you know I haven’t forgotten about her?”
Perri took hold of his hand and turned it, palm up. She squeezed it gently with both hands as if giving him silent support. “Her existence is hard to forget. She affects the lives of those around her to a great extent. You were the man closest to her, which means you are the one who bears the heaviest sorrow in your heart.” She let him go and inclined her head. “Have a good day, Councilman.”
Lucious studied his hand long after she left his chambers. His fingers itched to hold the crystal again and see Helena’s face. He denied his urge. It would unquestionably bring more pain than he could withstand. The human maid may have had good intentions for bringing him such a relic, but the outcome had turned out differently to how she had hoped. Because, even though every fibre in his being screamed for him to pick up the orb, he knew the torture it would inflict on his dead heart would be too much.
Dozens of vampires had gathered in the mausoleum built by their ancestors when the First Council was founded on English soil. Two-storey marble pillars supported the glass roof that displayed the moody charcoal grey sky. Carved marble walls depicted scenes from their history, from the birth of the seven Royal vampires to the newest addition—the collapse of the Demon Gate. Candles flickered to their own silent dance as the motionless crowd waited for Kallias to speak at the head of the vast burial chamber.
Lucious ground his teeth. The Royal vampire was dressed in jeans and a loose bright-pink shirt. Appearing here, in the place of mourning, in such dishevelled attire brought on anger Lucious tried desperately to suppress. This place, where every past Council member was buried, should not be dishonoured in such a way. But, Kallias seemed to care little about the traditions they had nurtured for thousands of years. And, since no one else voiced a word of complaint, he clenched his fists in his pockets to keep himself in check.
Kallias cleared his throat and spread his arms out. “Today marks ninety days since we lost three of the most longstanding Council members in Europe. Mistress Eliza, some of you know her as Flavia Cornelli, daughter of a Roman patrician and owner of half of the estates in Italy.” He smirked at Lucious. “While her killer remains free, her seat stays empty.”
The vampires behind Lucious started to mumble to each other. He tensed on the spot, glowering at Kallias for trying to drag Helena into this mess. Those loyal to Eliza would seek Helena out and try to kill her. Without realising it, he took a step forwards, and Hans caught him by the arm.
<
br /> Kallias laughed. “Enough about a leader who lost her marbles and brought death upon many of us by opening a portal to the Demon Realm and releasing those monsters into our world…”
“She did it to save us!” someone in the back shouted.
Kallias raised a brow. “Save us? Hmm, what an interesting thought. I do wonder why the death count on our side is in double digits or have we passed triple?” He glanced at Hans and back at the vampires. “Next, Master Vincent.”
“I will speak on his behalf,” Hans interrupted in a stern voice. He pushed past Lucious and stood next to Kallias who folded his arms, taking a step back.
Hans sucked in a breath. His eyes focused on the engraved stone plaque hanging on the marble wall next to Eliza’s. “My sire, Vincent Laurence, had a dark past. The records in his journals, which we have recently discovered, have changed the way I see my sire. The first five hundred years of my sire’s existence as one of us, I will leave out and will speak solely of the man I knew him as in his later years.
“He was caring, a good listener, and a generous man. Many of his servants would say the same if they were here today. Those of you present would know him as a just person. He would never judge without proof and would not condemn without reason. May your soul rest in peace, sire.”
Perri, standing three feet away from Lucious, started to sob. She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief when Hans joined her. The vampires in the mausoleum clapped, some even patted Hans on the back.
Hans draped his arm over the maid’s shoulders, showing a much different kind of bond Lucious had come to think they shared. The tenderness with which Hans held her and the loving look in his eyes told Lucious he cared for that human. It was a mistake to show affection in such a place. Humans around them could be used as a weakness the others could exploit to claim the seats on the Council. He was certain that Hans did not wish to lose the woman he was trying to comfort.
Lucious nudged Hans in the side with his elbow. “Stop it,” he whispered.
Seeming to understand the situation, Hans retracted his arm and straightened his posture.
Kallias resumed the stage and smirked. “Would you like to say something about your deceased sire, Lucious?”
He shook his head. Everything he wanted to say he would voice in private. Speaking about personal matters in front of these strangers did not sit well with him.
“Great!” Kallias clapped his hands together. “I guess we’re done. To celebrate or mourn, let us go drain a virgin or two.”
Lucious shot him a glare. “What?”
“It was a joke, mate,” Kallias replied. “Loosen up. The night is only beginning.”
As everyone filed out of the mausoleum, Lucious stayed behind. Standing in front of his sire’s plaque, he stroked Anna’s engraved name. His right hand held the memory of stabbing her with the Arcanae Mortum.
Am I cursed?
Was that why he could never be happy in this lifetime? Ever since I became one of the undead… No. Since the very beginning, he was desolate. His birth mother blamed him for his father’s death because he refused to take up the family business. She abandoned him in prison for a crime he did not commit. Anna became his family when she turned him, yet here she was—ashes in an urn. Death would reap them all one day. Perhaps he should have pulled the trigger on his life long ago and saved Helena and Anna the misery of being in his presence.
“Aren’t you leaving? Or have you grown too attached to the plaque you’re fondling?” Kallias asked from the doorway.
Lucious bit back a curse and pulled his hand away from the stone. “What is it you want?”
“What I want?” Kallias pondered the question as he tapped his lips with his index finger. “World peace, hunters dead, a temple dedicated to me? Any of those would do.” His smirk returned. “Oh, I mustn’t forget the most important wish—to see this cycle end in our favour.”
“What are you talking about?”
Kallias clicked his tongue, getting closer. He brushed his finger along the names of the old Council members and faced Lucious. “You know exactly what I am talking about, young man. The fact that you’ve hidden your little girlfriend doesn’t mean she won’t return. Fates are devious beings. They like to crush your dreams, tear your heart out, and laugh while doing it. She’s no different.”
A chill crawled down Lucious’ spine. Kallias knew that Helena was Lilia’s vessel? He stepped out of the Royal’s reach, fighting to keep a straight face. “How long have you known?”
“Since the beginning. It doesn’t take a genius to put together these details. A human who killed Andreaz, remaining unarmed, might I add, and walked out of the Council alive? That’s impossible without divine intervention, and you know it. Also, I sensed an odd presence when I was around her. Arthemis told me about his father, an angel who betrayed his own kind for love.” He chuckled.
“You find this amusing?”
“Of course, I do. He made a deal with the Demon Queen to be with a woman he couldn’t have. Ring any bells? I’m not complaining, though. The man was part of the greater plan, which put us in this realm as the real predators. The angels would have killed Arthemis without a second thought. Yet, the question remains, why did they let Lilia and her son leave unharmed?”
Lucious started heading for the exit, and Kallias caught his upper arm, saying, “They wanted us here, in this realm, to create mayhem. The gods have a twisted sense of humour, so we either become as powerful as them or dance for their amusement. Which would you choose?”
“Neither,” Lucious growled and stormed out of the mausoleum.
Kallias’ cold words followed him. “Think on my words tonight, mate. The party is about to start.”
Upon returning to the Council building, a short-haired hound Lucious came to know as Grim Wilson stood in his way. An honest vampire on the premises was hard to come by. This young fledgeling managed to be the one Lucious could entrust certain tasks to. As a human, Grim must have had a tough existence. A long scar ran down from his eye to his jawline, slicing the cheek in half. Over the months, Lucious took note of multiple scars on this man’s lanky arms and shoulders when he removed his coat. It was out of respect for this youngling that Lucious did not inquire about the wounds Grim had received in the past.
“Master Lucious, I have gathered the information you’ve requested.” Grim lifted an envelope from his navy coat’s pocket and offered it to him. “There were three more attacks near Vauxhall. I believe it was another possessed vampire, sir. I have marked the locations of the bodies we have found on the map.”
“Thank you. I’ll take a look at this in my chambers.” Lucious accepted the paperwork and patted the hound on the shoulder. “Well done.”
“Sir?”
Lucious rubbed his tired eyes. He’d not slept for almost a week and remaining upright was becoming harder. With the increasing number of attacks in the city, and trying to cover up the crimes of the possessed vampires, he had no time to rest. The werewolves, too, were of little help. They were not interested in vampire politics ever since they lost over thirty men in the fight with the hunters.
“What is the matter, Grim?”
“There are rumours about Master Vincent’s death. A lot of our men are unsettled.”
Lucious gave the man a stern glare. “No one knows what happened on that day. As you are well aware, many of us perished and the others were too busy fighting the possessed. I suggest these men you speak of spend more time working cases rather than wagging their tongues.”
Grim bowed his head. “My apologies.”
Lucious changed the topic. “How many delegates have arrived for tomorrow’s initiation ceremony?”
“Twenty-seven, sir.”
Not even half. As much as Lucious wanted for the vow to be the only thing he needed to be on the Council, such was not the case. Each Council member had to be accepted by the oldest sires in Europe before taking the official seat. To them, Lucious must pledge fairness in judgement fo
r their loyalty in return. Without an acceptance from all sixty delegates, the Council’s reach would be comparable to that of a child. They would exist and function, yes, but radical factions may begin to form in the meantime.
“And how many have accepted the summons?” Lucious asked.
Grim raked his fingers through his short, spiky black hair. “Forty-three.”
Lucious nodded, dismissing Grim. He scaled the stairs. His limbs felt like cement blocks. When he entered his room, he collapsed on the bed. Stress seeped out of his body into the soft linen sheets, and he closed his eyes. His rest didn’t last long. Someone knocked on the door.
With a groan, he sat up and cursed. “Who is it?”
Hans entered the room, closing the door behind him in a hurry. “Have you heard the news about the delegates?”
“Yes,” he retorted. “It is not like I care at this hour. I am exhausted.”
“If we cannot get more than half of them to show, it would mean they do not accept us as their leaders. We may be removed by force.”
“Is that so bad?” Lucious asked, indifferent.
Hans scowled at him. “Of course, it is. The elders put you on the Council for a reason, Lucious. Do you not see that? I am replaceable, but you must have some task to complete.”
“Do not put me on a pedestal. I am not deserving of this post nor do I wish to be here. The reason I accepted this position was because I foolishly believed I could have Helena by my side.”
Hans took a seat next to him on the bed. “However we get to a place does not matter. What’s important is that you are meant to be here.”
“You know, I didn’t take you for the philosophical type, and I am not the one who should be worried here.”
“What do you mean?”
Lucious assessed him with interest. “Do you truly not know?” When Hans didn’t say anything, he explained, “The way you display your affection for the human girl will put her in danger.”
“Was it that noticeable?”
“Quite, yes.”
Fated Origins: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 4) Page 3
