Chapter 125

Almara’s Pov

We follow at the surprisingly swift pace of the stout vampire ahead of us. We head down the long hallway, and I swear the portraits are following us with their eyes. Only Robert walks with his head held high, Bess and I keep our gaze fixed on the crimson-red rug beneath us.

I see an extra pair of feet past us and I dare lift my head to see who it is. Crossing the hall, is a young vampire-ess. She looks to be in her young twenties though I doubt that’s really true. She’s in a maid’s outfit carrying a tray with another male servant walking behind her. His hair is brighter than any light we’ve seen thus far.

They move past us with an air of elegance and grace. If their race wasn’t so detestable, I would consider this young woman and her male servant to be attractive. Her red curls bounce as if waving goodbye. Just as quickly as they entered our purview, they disappeared into a door on the far side of the hall.

We come up to another set of tall black doors and the man escorting us pushes past them. The doors open with a resistant a creeking grunt. The man steps in and gives a deep bow at the waist. We pile inside giving no such gesture.

The room is dark, of course. The only source of light in a grand candlestick chandelier protruding from the golden ceiling with moldings of intricate designs. The walls are panels of dark wood with purposely placed vines sprouting along the sides.

The red carpet continues to the back center of the room where it opens into a large circle with something like a judge’s chamber opening into the shape of a crescent moon. Here, the councilmen sit. Behind them is their emblem, written in perfect cursive which enlarged to show the fine craftsmanship.

It reads: The Council of Bloody Hollow est. 1764.

The three beings reclining in their tall black velvet seats appear much like they do in their portraits along the hallways; unmoving, unblinking, soulless. They sit on high as their stand is raised a good few feet, peering down at their noses to us.

“Welcome.” The one in the center says, his voice sounding as though it’s going over our heads and carrying throughout the room. “What brings you to our chambers?”

The three of us stand shoulder to shoulder, Robert in the middle. It’s he who speaks first, “We have a proposition for you regarding the Alpha of Hurricane Pack.” His voice sounds small compared to the one he’s speaking to.

I’m not sure why, but despite the weakness in Robert’s voice, I still expect the councilmen to stir or have some kind of reaction to the most famous name is all the worlds-but they don’t. They seem as if they have no idea who that is, though I doubt that’s possible.

“Fascinating,” says the man sitting on the right. “That you three should come with news regarding that despicable tribe just as news was announced members of the tribe are here themselves.” Something tells me he isn’t really intrigued by the odds, but rather suspicious of them.

“You mean, they’re here?” Bess says, feigning surprise.

“Should you be the only one in these parts who have not caught wind of the matter?” The right one asks with a hint of disapproval.

“What my grandmother is saying, is we made the journey here as soon as we got wind of this proposition and haven’t heard or done much else.” Robert interjects, Bess presses the front of her foot into Robert’s achilies to tell him she doesn’t like him making excuses for her.

“And what is this proposition you’ve mentioned twice now?” The one on the left finally speaks, his voice much deeper and harsh than his colleagues, as if he’s swallowed fire.

“The Alpha Arthur has been bit by one of our own. It’s been made to my understanding that his would-be sire, Noah Spinel, has been killed. This would mean Arthur is in need of a new sire.”

I break out in sweat at the thought of Arthur finding out we admitted to the leaders of the enemies his predicament. Though this is the only way to be sure to get their attention, and their spit.

“How did you come across this information?” The middle councilmen, whose name I think is Delfino if I remember from his portrait, asks leaning forward in his seat. His subtle change in body posture is enough to tell me we have their interest.

“A once old friend of time, Robert who has been making news on that side, has been revealed to be the half-brother of Arthur. He isn’t a pure blood like I thought. He’s a freak.” Robert speaks as though he’s truly disgusted with himself, and it makes me wonder if he’s really pretending.

“Where is this Robert now?” The one who sounds like he’s swallowed fire asks.

“I don’t know, he ran off. Hiding like a coward.”

The council men to the right looks over Betty and me as if just realizing we’re in the room. “Who are you? What is your purpose here?”

“Simply for support and to second his story.” I say, my voice sounding strange against my own ears. My heartbeat quickens under their cold stare and I’m thankful they’re so high up or they might be bale to smell my blood.

“All due respect young lady, we don’t know you and your word means nothing to us.” The one to the right says, dismissing me.

“You look familiar.” The one to the left, Edward I recall, says to Bess.

Rather than hide her face away out of fear of being recognized, Bess lifts her chin so her face is illuminated by the chandelier. “I’ve been living in this part of town for a long time. I’m here to see a potential moment in history made.”

“Hm.” Edward says, somehow making his sound come off as a sign of respect for Bess’s patriotism.

“Let’s lay this out then, shall we?” Delfino more so says than asks. “You want a vile of our blood to give to this Arthur, you bring him here to us and what is it what you want in return?”

Before we can respond, the one to the right whose name I still can’t place interjects. “And how is it you plan to come in such close contact with Arthur? Especially due to his comical condition.” I bite my tongue at his mockery of my husband.

“I would never ask for your majesty’s blood. A vile of salvia will hold him over long enough to deliver him to you where you do with him as you see fit.” Delfino seems appeased that Robert is denying asking for blood. I think Delfino was trying to trap us by exposing our request for blood is grounds for suspicion and denial.

Robert turns his attention to the one on the right. “As for gaining access to Arthur, that’ll be easy. Once I find the mutated freak that was my friend, I can work out a deal that’s between me and him.”

“And the reward you request?” Delfino asks, tapping his bony fingers on his oak desk.

“We would like to see how difficult this proves itself to be first before we ask for any reward.” Robert says.

There’s a pause as the councilmen exchange glances and whisper among themselves. As they discuss their ruling, Bess, Robert, and I exchange our own looks. I think maybe they bought it. Perhaps phase three is the only part of the plan that succeeds thus far.

“The Council has come to an agreement,” Delfino begins, grabbing all our attention. “We will need time to verify your story, try not to take it personally.” Delfino smiles, though nothing about it is warm.

“We will need five days to reach our final decision and in the meantime you three are not to leave this side of town.” Edward says, leaning back in his chair. “We want to keep our eyes on you.” He doesn’t try to hide the mistrust in his voice.

“I’m not sure Arthur has that kind of time left.” I say, knowing that the panic in my voice only gave them all the more reason to keep us under a watchful eye.

“Regardless, he won’t be a problem to us any more then.” Delfino says with a morbid delight.