Alexandra took the earl's hand and he led her to the center of the hall, the sound of music steadily rising.
"Have you danced lately?" Lord Blackwater asked, and Alexandra shook her head. "Unfortunately not. I haven't had the opportunity to do so for quite a while," she replied.
"Well then, allow me the honor of jogging your memory," Blackwater said with a smile as they began to dance.
Her movements started off quite rigid, but as time went by, they became more smooth and graceful.
All of which was due to the efforts of her new friend, Valeria, who had taught her the ways of the nobility during the hours leading up to their departure from Winchester Manor.
Alexandra had absorbed everything like a sponge because of her enhanced memory, but being newly turned, there was only so much she could do. And so she had observed Valeria as she danced with a pompous looking gentleman who looked old enough to be her uncle.
"You seem distracted, my lady," Lord Blackwater noted, and Alexandra turned to look up at his face.
It was cleanshaven and lean, with prominent cheekbones and chestnut brown eyes that looked curiously into her own.
Alexandra replied with an apologetic smile, "My apologies. I was just thinking about how much my friend there seems to be enjoying herself," gesturing towards Valeria with her gaze.
"The Countess Winchester?" Blackwater asked, his expression revealing confusion that transformed into amusement. "Why yes, she does seem exuberant, doesn't she?"
Valeria's eyes were darting around in search of a suitable reason for her to break away from the man she danced with, who tried and failed to conceal his interest in women - her in particular - and spoke endlessly of how saddened he was by the political state of the nation since 1916. It was no secret that the House of Winchester had maintained close relations with the Royal Family for years, and though the Lady Valeria's loyalties were unknown, many assumed that her fealty remained with Nikolas Asgeirsson.
She yearned to leave, then managed to catch Alexandra's eye, and silently pleaded for help.
"We might want to liberate her from him," Lord Blackwater said. "I know that man personally, and I despise his company just as much."
A waiter happened to pass by, and the lord beckoned to him.
"Be a good chap and inform Lord Davenport that his presence is required outside. One of his servants has insisted on speaking to him," he instructed, looking into the waiter's eyes.
The man bowed slightly and turned around, then delivered the message. The obnoxious nobleman hurriedly excused himself and left, freeing Valeria, who smiled and walked off in search of a more accommodating partner.
"That was kind of you," Alexandra said to Blackwater, who replied, "It was nothing, my lady. But to be honest, I did it for my own selfish reasons."
"Oh? May I inquire?" Alexandra raised an eyebrow.
"To keep your mind at rest and so have your undivided attention, my lady. I am enjoying this dance, and I wish the same for you."
Alexandra smiled and looked away, concealing from him the fright in her eyes.
Because she was almost certain that the Lord Blackwater had just used compulsion.
...
The princes sat on chairs brought up on the dais, watching the nobles dance.
"Not so deep underneath the countless smiles and eloquence lie cruelty, deceit, treachery, and murder," Ariel commented. "Or so it was, back when it actually got one somewhere."
"I beg to differ, brother," Mikael countered. "Argent is a Kingdom no longer, but the same laws of the court apply. The nobility may not gain more land or higher titles since Nik fell, but the infighting has not subsided. It only shifted battlefields."
He gestured toward the dancing gentry. "Now they fight for political and economic influence. Back in our day, that was done by acquiring the favor of an Asgeirsson Prince, but in our absence, wealth is the next best key to power.
Ariel sighed, then took a sip of the wine on the table beside him. He said, "Blackwater is the one I'm most wary of. The age difference between us is not something to trifle with. Does our plan to ruffle the feathers of our fellow Supernaturals still stand?"
Mikael didn't reply, seemingly deep in thought. After a while, he said, "We may want to reconsider our plan. We'll have to meet them all in person, and knowing you, more than a few will go beside themselves with rage. And in the event of that occurring, all the human lords and ladies will either be compelled or killed."
He paused, noticing an elderly woman followed by a younger girl walk up to them but stop just short of the dais. The princes motioned for them to proceed, and the two walked up to them and curtseyed.
"My lords, greetings," the elderly woman greeted the brothers.
"Lady Redmond." "Likewise," the Asgeirssons said in unison.
"I trust that you are well," she continued. "Indeed we are."
The lady gestured to her daughter. "Allow me to introduce my daughter, Alyssa." The girl curtseyed once more, and the princes smiled at her.
"I haven't seen your son, is he here, or did he remain in your lands?" Mikael asked, making small talk.
Ariel, meanwhile, had gotten carried away by the sight of a lone man walking up the staircase. The man stopped, looked at the prince, and continued his ascent, halting at the balcony.
Ariel looked around and at the two noblewomen before him, and noticed Alyssa glance at him.
With a disgruntled sigh, he eased into his seat and joined the conversation.
...
Asgeirsson Manor, Caldera
Lucas was in the study, searching for a book. One of Mikael's journals, to be precise.
Since he had made a pact with Alan of the Silvermoon Pack, he was forced to ensure the group's survival, for word of their fall by his hand had travelled. The other Alphas would see Alan's weakened state as an opportunity for a power grab.
And if Lucas was to rule Ashgrove, no one could have the power to challenge him.
He selected a black leather bound book and opened it. The first page bore the characteristic M on each of his brother's journals, and Lucas felt another pang of sadness. He dearly missed his siblings and wondered if they felt the same.
He perused the book's contents and found many interesting things, but none pertaining to the matter at hand.
Then at last, he found what he was looking for.
The passage read:
"After discussion with the group, they told me there was a way to somewhat cheat the normal rules that govern the werewolves. They spoke of a talisman that when worn enabled every Omega within earshot to be drawn to the Alpha's howl when the Full Moon is at its peak.
Not only would they be drawn to it, they would be under the control of the Alpha for as long as the Moon reigns in the sky, till sunrise. That would mean increased strength for the pack, giving them a numerical and physical advantage in the situation.
However, as a defense mechanism for the witches in order to stop the wolves from getting too numerous and thus too powerful, it can only be used once before requiring a witch to renew the spell.
Such a talisman would prove deadly for our kind if it fell into the hands of a less peaceful wolf, so I searched for it to hide or destroy it, whichever I could do. Unfortunately, I failed to find it, but with the rise in the wolves' numbers this year, i believe it would be safe to assume that one of the Alphas of Ashgrove are in possession of the hundred year old item.*
That passage had been entered on April 6th, 1916, only five months before the Overthrow.
Mikael had been doing some digging in the time leading up to the war, it seemed.
But where he wished to destroy it, Lucas wanted to use it to empower his allies.
He had to find it, and that was just the easy part of it.
He had to get a witch to renew the enchantment. Claire Render's face appeared in his mind, and he sighed with a hint of regret.
He had planned for Claire to be the one to do it, but then she proved herself to be a double crossing (he refrained from finishing the rest of the description) and ended up a pile of scattered bones given an unconsecrated burial in a place only Lucas knew.
"Where to find an Asgeirsson-friendly witch," he said aloud, placing the journal back in its original position and walking out of the study, his blue eyes sparkling with signs of brewing mischief.
He knew just the place.
...
Alderman House, New Ashton City
"If I may speak freely, my lady," Lord Blackwater requested Alexandra, who bade him speak.
"Forgive me for what I am about to say, but I have reservations on the matter of your relation to the Asgeirssons," he said as they danced.
She made no reply, and so he continued, "You see, I am a very old acquaintance of theirs, and in all my dealings with them, including a clandestine examination of their background and genealogy, the Asgeirsson brothers have never mentioned or been found to have an extended family. Because all of them died more than a century ago."
Alexandra's heart started to race, and she said, "I'm not quite sure what you are getting at, lord. I am alive, am I not?"
Blackwater smiled and replied, "It is precisely because you are not related to them that you live and breathe. Of all blood relatives they had, none but those four became vampires. You are the spawn of one of them, are you not? I reckon it's Prince Ariel."
She did not answer. Feigning ignorance was a lost cause since the lord had made it clear he knew they were kindreds. But correcting him on his assumption that Ariel had turned her, though unnecessary, became imperative to her.
"He's not the one who turned me," she said.
Blackwater remained silent. Then, he took a long, deep breath. "Of course, I had forgotten how the four greatest vampires in all of Argent, who happen to be the only four in Caldera, were restricted from siring new ones. I even forgot about the reputation of the now titled 'Fallen Prince's, and his notoriety for breaking the rules. I must say, your sire is quite the problem."
The music subsided, and the duo stopped dancing. "Forgive my last statements, I got distracted by something. On a more serious note, I will advise you, 'princess', to stay clear of the Asgeirsson brothers. Each of them is a calamity incarnate in their own right, and you are bound to the worst of them all. Run, Alexandra. Leave Argent and never return. Only then will you be safe."
Alexandra inquired, "Why? Why do you say so?"
Lord Blackwater simply smiled and said, "I have warned you. If you want to know what happens when one becomes part of the band, then stay with them. But I promise you, your life will be one of pain, misery, and bloodshed. Especially with Nikolas."
He bowed gracefully. "Enjoy the rest of the celebration, Your Highness." And with that, he left.
Alexandra stood there alone, his words ringing in her ears.
...
The two noblewomen did not seem to have any intention of leaving the Asgeirsson brothers alone, and Ariel was getting impatient, as was his nature.
Even as the music subsided, the ladies continued to chat, Mikael being extremely accommodating, though even he had long grown weary of their company. Not because they were a bore, but because both brothers had far more pressing concerns.
Mikael had scanned the room and found Alexandra missing, and from the look of things, Valeria was searching for her as well.
"Forgive me," he said, interrupting Lady Redmond. "There is something I must attend to."
He looked at Ariel, who heaved a sigh of relief, then they both made eye contact with the ladies, compelling them to remember their conversation having come to a natural but pleasing conclusion, then ordering them to leave and "find another lot of people to annoy," as Ariel put it.
"Alexandra isn't inside. I'm going to get Val and look for her," Mikael informed his brother.
"And I will pay our fellow on the balcony a visit," Ariel replied. "Let's get to it then."
Mikael headed into the crowd, while Ariel's figure blurred, appearing at the top of the stairs.
The man had not moved from the balcony since the time Ariel had first seen him, but he stirred at the sound of the prince's footsteps and turned round. He bowed. ""My Lord Prince."
"I recognize you," Ariel said. You're Blackwater's steward."
The man nodded. "Indeed I am, lord. The Lord Blackwater instructed me to draw you up here, away from listening ears, he said."
"Is it?" Ariel's eyebrow went up. "What is it he wants to talk about so secretively?"
"Bertrand is but a messenger, lord. It is I with the answers you seek," a voice said from behind the men, who turned to face Lord Blackwater as he joined them.
"I will take my leave now, lords," Bertrand excused himself, leaving the two vampires alone.
"What is the meaning of this, Roland?" Ariel asked.
Blackwater looked out at the city. "My lord, small talk must be made before diving into business," he upbraided with a chuckle.
"I have endured enough small talk in the last fifteen minutes to last me a century," Ariel replied with a scowl, remembering the ordeal.
"Alright then," Lord Blackwater said. "Allow me to warn you not to proceed with your plans to provoke the Supernaturals just yet."
Ariel turned sharply to glare at him, then his expression calmed. "It is improper to eavesdrop on a conversation between princes, Roland."
Blackwater grinned. "It is, but it's also my birthday celebration. Did I specify that I have turned four hundred and fifty-two years old today?"
The prince's blue eyes instantly erupted into a bright glowing green, his body tensing in anticipation of a fight.
Blackwater took a step back and raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not here to fight you, boy. I'm here to inform you that I'm not the only one who overheard your conversation. The other six vampires in the Hall did the same, and if you go ahead with your plan, I can assure you it will backfire spectacularly."
Ariel asked, "Why are you telling me this? You have never been one to help me or my brothers unless instructed."
The Earl replied, "Simple, really. I need your help."
The glow in Ariel's eyes died down, leaving them sky blue, as they were.
...
Valeria was just about to go hysterical when she saw Mikael coming towards her.
"Mikael, I can't find Alexandra anywhere," she told him.
"I'm looking for her too," he replied. "Roland is nowhere to be found either."
Valeria turned pale. "Do you think..."
"No, not yet," Mikael interrupted her. "Let's look for her outside first before coming to that conclusion."
The two got outside and into the gardens.
A good number of the gentry had come outside to enjoy the evening air, the younger generation finding it a good time to frolic and engage in more pleasurable activities, just in moderation.
Mikael inhaled deeply, filtering the various scents his nose picked out as he tried to catch on to Alexandra's scent.
"I've got it, but it's very faint," he said. "Come, follow me."
Valeria couldn't help but smile. "Whenever you do that I can't help but think of you as some human-dog crossbreed."
Mikael grinned at her. "Save that sentiment for the werewolves."
They walked round the building without success, till another scent wafted into his nose, one that sent him into a well deserved panic.
The smell of blood.
Without another word spoken, he vanished in a blur, headed towards an oak tree to the southwest of the mansion.
He got there to see the body of a young nobleman drop down dead. There was another person there next to the body, and that figure looked at Mikael from the darkness of the oak's shadow, its eyes glowing green.
Mikael watched expressionlessly as Alexandra stepped into the light, her hands red, and blood running down her chin.
Her face bore the look of horror as she regained awareness.
"Alexandra.."
"What have I done?"