The Medici Queen

by Emily Bex

  Malachi remained standing on the dais in his emerald green robe, nodding to the king and queen. "The Council welcomes you and bids you be seated."

  He stood while Shade helped his queen to the chair positioned before the dais, taking his seat beside her.

  "What brings the Medici before this session of Council?"

  Kate was looking at each of the seven Council members who sat expressionless before them, each wearing a brightly colored hooded robe of a different color.

  Shade cleared his throat. "I have business with Ivor and Malachi. I have seen my queen's gifts. Yes, I said gifts. I wish for them to be recorded for historical and genealogical purposes. She has been gifted with two skills. One of which, I am here to ask for your guidance and help as to how I can assist her."

  An attendant brought forth the huge leather bound books, and placed them on the table before Ivor.

  Malachi looked at Shade. "I was aware, Medici, when I tasted her blood at the coronation that she had two gifts, and I can verify such to Ivor. Queen Katherine Medici displayed the gifts of both day-walker and animalism."

  As he spoke the words, there was a mumbling among the Council members. Ivor picked up the quill pen and dipped it into the inkwell but hesitated before recording. Ivor wore a long hooded robe of ivory, identifying his role as archivist and historian, and the Council member who recorded and researched the genealogy of all of the vampires under the rule of the European Council.

  Ivor looked to Malachi. "Are you sure, Malachi? The gift of day-walking is common now, especially among the newborns. But animalism?" Ivor turned his gaze toward Shade. "Have you seen evidence of this gift, Medici?"

  Shade nodded in his direction. "Si. Several times. She can speak to the animals and they speak to her. As my queen has described this to me, it is much like our telepathy. They do as she commands. I have witnessed numerous animals respond to her. They respond unbidden when she is in an angry or agitated state. They proclaim to protect her."

  Turning to bel, he leaned in and whispered, "Is there anything you may be able to call to you now?"

  Kate looked at him with a confused expression. Aegis? How could she possibly call Aegis from here? “I'm not sure. Let me concentrate." She lowered her head, cleared her mind, and tried to pick up on the vibrations of any animal that might be near. From outside the building, in the spires of the Gothic towers, a raven sat, tilting his head. Kate called to him, pulled him to her, and saw in her mind as the bird took flight. She kept her head lowered with her eyes closed, and let the raven know where she was. As they sat in the closed chamber, they could hear a loud and persistent pecking at the large wooden doors.

  Kate looked up. "If you’ll open the chamber doors, the raven will enter."

  Ivor nodded to the warriors who stood guard at the entrance, and they opened the massive wooden doors. The large black raven flew into the room, and landed on the back of Kate's chair, issuing a very loud and raucous, "Caw, caw."

  Kate smiled. "He said his name is Poe."

  Shade looked at bel and smiled, grasping her hand and squeezing it in appreciation. Looking back at Ivor he nodded. "Are you satisfied, Ivor?"

  Ivor watched in amazement as the large crow settled on the back of her chair, already taking up a position to defend her. "Medici, may I address your queen directly?"

  Shade nodded his head at Ivor. "Please, I encourage you to speak to her."

  Ivor looked at her from under his ivory hood. "Queen Katherine, can you tell me please, about your experience with the animals? Are they random?"

  Kate creased her brow. “I don't profess to understand this gift. But no, the experiences aren’t random. They began immediately upon our return to our home in Virginia, after we left Florence following the coronation. There had been a wolf on our property, which had been upsetting to our horses. Our stable master said the wolf had showed up with the blood moon, which I understand to be the night of my turning. The wolf approached me on our first night home. I was able to communicate with her and she remains near our home. She has since brought her mate, who also responds to any intruders on our property. Later, a mountain lion joined the wolves, and the latest has been a falcon. The wolf, Aegis, appears to be in charge of the others, but through me. I can communicate directly with all of them, but Aegis appears to be their leader, of sorts."

  Ivor nodded. "May I inquire of your turning, do you recall those events?"

  Kate maintained eye contact with him. "I doubt I’ll ever forget those events. I remember it well."

  Ivor stood and paced. "I apologize to the Medici Queen for these questions. But this gift, it is extremely rare. In fact, we thought it extinct. We have not seen a gift of animalism present in over three thousand years, and there is no vampire alive today with this gift. And never have we recorded an event where a turned mortal was granted this gift. Do you recall anything unusual in your turning?”

  Kate pondered this question. Is he kidding? Was there anything about the turning that would be considered "usual"? She ran the events of her turning through her head.

  "There was this incident. I didn’t understand it, but then, I didn’t understand much of what occurred to me in the turning. But I felt the presence of a wolf, and I felt it being absorbed into me. I thought at the time it was my beast."

  Ivor sat back down in his chair. "No, Queen Katherine. The wolf is your spirit guide. Any animal could have presented, but in your case, it was the wolf. That explains why the wolf waited for you, and yes, she will lead the others as you have observed. She is bonded to you, not unlike how your king is bonded to you. You will have the power to call upon all animals, just as you called the raven to you today. But the she-wolf will lead them."

  Shade spoke up, "How do we harness her gift? Train her to use it? I have read nothing, seen nothing on how to use this gift."

  Ivor shook his head. "I fear the Council will be of limited help in that area, Medici. It has been so long, as I mentioned. I will research the old texts to see if they offer us any guidance. It was a rare gift even in the old days, but a most powerful one, a gift to be envied for certain. I can tell you the animals that bond to her will go to their death to protect her, or anyone she calls them forth to protect. But other than that, I know little else." He picked the quill pen up again and dipped it back in the ink. "I have seen and heard enough, and have the testimony of Malachi, to convince me she, indeed, has this gift and it shall be so recorded, along with her gift of day-walker."

  Shade felt perplexed, even the Council was of little help in understanding and helping him to help Kate learn and hone this rare gift.

  "I would ask one thing of Council. This gift is rare, not yet understood by myself, my queen, nor anyone here. I would ask this remain secret as much as possible. This could be a potential risk for my coven, if any enemies were to hear of such. It is rare to have two gifts, and until she can master them, we are all at risk in Medici."

  Malachi scanned the faces of the other Council members who all nodded their heads. "That is a reasonable request and we will honor it. What is recorded here shall remain sealed until such time you decide to make her gifts known. Do you have other business before this Council today, Medici?"

  Shade stood, taking bel's hand and helping her to stand as well. "I do, Malachi. It is with great pride and honor that I announce the coming of my first born. My queen is with child. We will bring forth a son, the heir to Medici."

  The Council members all stood in unison. Malachi beamed at him. "Step forward please, Queen Katherine of Medici."

  Kate looked at Shade, who gave her a nod. She stood and moved to the dais where Malachi stood. He stepped around the table to stand in front of her, and as he reached toward her, the raven flew from his perch on the back of her chair and swooped across Malachi's head, a loud 'caw' echoing in the hall. Kate held out her hand and the raven landed there. She spoke softly to the bird.

  The Council members responded with gasps and whispers. Kate looked at Malachi. "So sorry. I’
m not used to them all yet and how protective they are. He means you no harm. Please proceed."

  Malachi exchanged a knowing glance with Ivor before he placed his hand on her still flat belly. He closed his eyes as the room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. After a few seconds, he stepped back and smiled at her.

  "The Medici Queen is indeed with child, and she bears him a son, a warrior. This is great news, Medici. An heir to your legacy is something we have all long anticipated and we are pleased. I hope you need no reminders that the bambino must be born here, in Florence, inside the chamber at Castello, and the birth must be witnessed by me to verify his birthright."

  Shade stood tall, his chest out and his shoulders back. This was a moment he’d never forget. They never thought he’d settle down, that he’d mate, and they’d see a queen, let alone an heir to Medici. But today, all that changed. They would now treat him with deeper respect. Nothing could stop him now, not with bel at his side and his son to defend all that was their Kingdom. He felt such pride and love for her and saw an eternity of all his dreams coming true. He only wished his padre could witness this meeting.

  "I am well aware of my duties to Medici and Council. They will be met with pride and honor, as things have always been done within Medici. We have no further business with Council unless my queen wishes to speak?" Shade looked to Kate and smiled.

  Kate heard him present her with another opportunity to speak. She remembered well Shade's anger when the Council visited him at Castello. She turned and faced the hooded faces of the Council.

  "I wish you to know I’m well aware of the disappointment of many in the community at Shade's decision to mate a mortal. I know you fear I won’t live up to your expectations. You need to understand my commitment to him, to his warriors and his coven. You need to understand my commitment to raise his children in an atmosphere that will reinforce their responsibilities to carry forth the Medici legacy, and my own responsibilities to maintain that legacy. I feel that burden on my shoulders, and I carry it with pride. Above all things, I’ll not fail him. I don’t profess to understand the full power of my gifts, but I know in my heart that, together, we’ll prevail through all things."

  Malachi listened to her declaration and had no doubts she spoke the truth. The revelation of her gifts alone would turn the vampire community upside down. Malachi looked first to Kate and then to Shade.

  "Whatever doubts I had about your choice of a mate have been removed this day, Medici. I apologize for the Council's warning on the eve of your coronation. Your beast was true in leading you to your destined mate."

  Shade held up his hand. "Please do not speak your apologies to me. They are owed to my queen. She has already been an asset to this coven, my warriors, and me long before she was even turned. You doubted me, Malachi. You doubted my heart. If nothing else, my madre taught me one thing, your heart never lies. There is nothing that can come between us. Nothing."

  Shade walked to bel and took her in his arms. "She is all to me. We would beg your leave now. I do not wish to tax my queen with travel and no rest. Grazie for your guidance this night. We wish the Council well."

  Malachi turned to Kate and locked eyes with her. She held his gaze without blinking or looking away, her iron will and determination on display. "My apologies, Queen Katherine." He nodded his head to her and she gave him the slightest smile, as he read her thoughts, You haven't seen anything yet. Of that, he had no doubt. "If you have no further business with Council, then we dismiss you and your queen, Medici, and bid you a good evening."

  Kate turned to face Shade, the raven still perched on her hand, as a warrior stepped forward to escort them from the Council Court. Once outside, he pulled her to him to teleport back to Castello when Kate laughed. "I think this bird is coming with us."

  Shade laughed. "I think, perhaps he can find his own way to Castello. Come, it is late, we need to rest, we leave as soon as we can to return to Bel Rosso. I have already had you away long enough. I want you home, where you can rest and be with your menagerie of beasts.”

  As if he understood the conversation, Poe took flight, and flew in the direction of Castello. Although it was a short teleport to Castello, Kate's skills at teleporting were still new and untested, and Shade was feeling very protective of his newly pregnant mate. He pulled her to his chest and teleported them directly into their massive bedroom at Castello.

  ***

  In the Council Court, the members sat solemnly around the huge table, absorbing the impact of all they’d learned tonight. Ivor was the first to speak, “Malachi, did you not know of her gift of animalism when you tasted her blood at the coronation?"

  Malachi nodded. "I tasted both gifts, but I doubted what I tasted. I have never known another vampire to have this gift, so until she exhibited signs of the gift, I thought it best not to reveal it."

  The black robed Onyx, responsible for the security of the Council spoke up, "We have all read of this gift, and while we do not know how to teach the Medici how to help her harness it, we are all aware of its potential. I know we were cautious in our words tonight, knowing she was once mortal, not knowing how strong this gift will present, but I don't think I need to give voice to what is in all our heads. If she can harness this gift, the power of Medici will change everything. He will be...together, they will be..."

  Malachi finished his sentence, "Invincible. The Medici will be invincible."

  The Council members nodded. Ivor scanned their faces. "This makes our alignment with the Medici more important than ever. He has never expected favors or asked to be given any advantage over other masters in our deliberations. It is his code of honor, and I do not expect that to change. But we cannot lose sight of what we have learned here, tonight. He has clearly expanded his reach into the States, and I think we have only seen the beginning. We must tread softly, my brethren. We cannot afford to make an enemy of the Medici. He may not fully realize the scope of his power yet, but the day will come."

  32

  On returning from Council, Shade and Kate spent the day at Castello, with Shade in his death slumber and Kate asleep at his side. Three hours from sunrise, he arose and teleported them back to Bel Rosso.

  He recognized the landmark of the small town of Charlottesville. As they came closer to White Hall, he released her from his embrace, still holding her hand as they got nearer to Bel Rosso. He loved the look on her face when she teleported. He could see she loved the freedom.

  "Bel, I want you to go on your own, go home to Bel Rosso. Let me see if you can manage it from here. I am going to go ahead and be there waiting."

  Before she could argue, he was gone in a flash. Kate had wanted the freedom to teleport on her own, but with the safety of him beside her. Now, he had sped ahead of her and she felt a moment of panic. She started to lose altitude and knew she had to focus her attention. She scanned the landscape below her, trying to get her bearings, but found it more difficult in the dark. She was able to locate Route 240 and Crozet, and from there, she followed the roads, picturing Bel Rosso in her head until she landed in front of their home. Shade stood in the driveway, smoking a cigarette. Her landing wasn’t graceful, but she remained upright as she laughed and walked to him, taking the cigarette from his hand and tossing it to the ground. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him.

  "How was that, lover?" She heard a round of applause and looked up to see Marcello, Raven, Luca, and Cory observing her from the garage.

  "It was not exactly graceful, mi amore, but you are getting the hang of it. We will practice more. But you must learn now because once you advance in your pregnancy, you will not teleport." Kissing her soundly, he could hear the cheers and looked up to see some of his warriors lolling about.

  Marcello elbowed Luca. "You know, you should teach my lady a few tips on teleporting, I heard she took a full roll in the grass the first time out."

  They all laughed and slapped each other on the back as Luca grinned and closed the hood on the silver Jag
uar. He climbed into the car and started the engine, backing it out of the garage.

  Marcello called out to him, "Okay, what are you up to cousin, I know that grin."

  Luca drove the silver Jaguar over to where Shade and Kate stood. As he got out of the car, he tossed the keys to Shade and said, "Since you’re in the mood to teach, this is as good a time as any. Besides, you’ll have a camp full of rookie warriors soon. You need to polish your skills on instruction. You were a good teacher, but not the most patient as I recall." Luca laughed goodheartedly at him.

  Raven held back his laughter. Looking to Marcello, he grinned. "Want to make a bet? I bet boss-man will throw in the towel.” Raven laughed as Cory said he wanted in on that bet.

  Marcello responded, "You’re on! He has patience with her, not like the warriors. She’ll do well, I’ll take that bet. If he can teach my lady to drive a stick shift, you buy me new leathers. If he can’t handle it, I’ll buy you leathers and I’ll buy Cory anything he wants. Deal?"

  Raven fist bumped Marcello as he grinned. “You’re on!”

  As Shade caught the keys of the silver S Coupe Jaguar, he shook his head at Luca. "You underestimate me, Luca. I think Kate has the skills to manage this easily. She just needs a little instruction, few ups and downs in the drive and she will have it. What do you say, mi amore? You can teleport now. Driving a stick is much easier."

  Kate looked at him with doubt. She had tried to drive a stick shift before and had never gotten the hang of it. "I'm not sure there’s much similarity to teleporting and driving, but I’ll try it."

  Kissing her forehead, he walked her to the driver’s side of the car and handed her the keys. "I have faith in you. Now, do nothing until I get in, please."

  Walking around to the passenger side, Shade watched as his warriors all stood in a line, laughing. Getting in the car, he began with simple instructions. "The pedal on the far left is the clutch. Middle is the brake. Right is the gas. Turn on the car by completely engaging the clutch and turning the ignition. Keep the clutch engaged while applying your brakes in order to safely release the emergency brake. It will keep the car from rolling forward. Let’s begin with that step first. So, you can get a feel for it, si?"