After the introductions, Dracula begins the brief meeting.
"As you know, for some time now, we have been preparing what will be the greatest step we have ever taken towards achieving power and complete pleasure. No Mercy. Observing the world of the vulgars, it is noticeable that a generalized panic takes hold of the hearts of those inferior monsters."
Vulgar was the nickname that vampires imposed on normal human beings, who do not possess such a thirst for blood or overwhelming vitality. There was no value in their lives, except for their blood.
"Through the Paths, and without God, we inherited the blessing of being able to achieve power. Therefore, we cannot let any trace of fear dominate our hearts, even if it is because of the disappearance of our greatest talent to date, which will hardly be equaled. A disappearance that cannot be explained by ordinary means."
Atalia watches with apprehension as Dracula speaks, especially after the disappearance is mentioned.
"And we know very well that the great providence that the Paths have given us is the fact that we have someone to count on. I speak of Atalia, who is present at this table as a Sancta Honoris I, in place of her sister, until everything is resolved. However, she is also one of the great talents we have. Therefore, I declare that we must perfect her to the level of a pure Sancto I, so that power may be achieved. Know, therefore, Atalia, that soon you will assume a completely different responsibility than you have now. You are a Sancta II, but you can do wonders in the pursuit of power, as can everyone present at this table."
With outward reverence, but with a certain uncertainty in her mind, Atalia speaks.
"Yes, Lord. It will be a great honor to serve you as Sancta Honoris I, until my sister reappears to us. And, if she does not return, I will be ready to assume that burden."
"I am pleased by your sense of responsibility, Atalia. In any case, to the other Sanctos I, persevere firmly in your responsibilities, guiding your battalions to that glorious purpose, which is absolute power, and to finding Charlotte, for we miss her greatly. Despite this loss, I have complete confidence in your talent. If it were not so, you would not be here at this table."
"We feel truly honored by your praise, Lord and father. We will proceed according to your wishes and our duty," says Jerome.
Dracula looks at his son with an ironic gaze, but without clearly showing it, pretending to agree with Jerome's loyal statement.
"Any observations? If not, I must ask the noble gentlemen and ladies for their opinion. We are in a meeting; we have free time to discuss our future."
Everyone shows an attitude of agreement with the new approach to Atalia. Arturo, however, raises his right hand.
"With your permission, Lord. I suppose we are in a suitable context for me to present a suggestion. I imagine we should measure our talents once again, so that we can better organize ourselves at this moment. After all, we need to know how far or far Atalia is from us. Furthermore, we have trained exhaustively in recent times, in preparation for this imminent moment of cleansing the world of plebeian inferiority, which may have influenced our own growth and, therefore, our own levels of power."
Carmen, his mother, reiterates the idea.
"It seems to me a properly appropriate suggestion coming from my son, Lord."
Everyone at the table, after this speech, fixed their eyes on the Zealand family, noticing ulterior motives.
The order at the table was no mere coincidence: they were organized in order of power, especially the order of the Sanctos. And this order also involved economic and political benefits for the province. It refers to the supernatural power to which the vampires present had access (the so-called Paths). The fact that Vincent's family was immediately to Dracula's right represented the fact that Charlotte, the missing one, was an absurdly talented woman, as the Lord himself had said. Therefore, they held the greatest political benefits, second only to Germania, Dracula's own nation. And Atalia was closer to Dracula because of the circumstance of replacing her sister at this initial moment (therefore, she was being called Sancta Honoris I, or, in a literal sense, Honorary First Order Saint). The Nippon family, in turn, held the fewest benefits, as Helena had the lowest degree of power among the Sanctos. However, no one was willing to take the initiative to contest or, at the very least, discuss this idea proposed by Arturo. Ultimately, it was something that could benefit anyone at that table. Or harm them. Therefore, an atmosphere of uncertainty pervades the environment. This was the known political reality in that half of the world. The event called Measurement was a set of periodic tests that objectively defined this power structure.
Without disagreeing, Dracula responds to the request.
"A wise suggestion, Zealanders. The glorious moment has never been so close. Therefore, I agree that, although our last Measurement was not so long ago, many things have happened in the meantime and may have discredited our current data. We will, therefore, convene a new Measurement in the coming days, so that we may understand Atalia's condition and thus definitively name her a Sancta I, with the privileges due. Especially because I feel that the powers we possess will not only be a matter of intimidation of the vulgars. Threats may arise, precisely because, although we are the only ones to have access to them, we cannot probe the Secret Paths, which may make decisions we do not know. Strengthening our combat capabilities will not be a one-sided thing, although I cannot tell you what will actually happen."
Dracula, obviously, knew that the Zealanders' original intention was not simply the elevation of Atalia. However, he also had his motivations, and it was more than useful for him to do that. Especially for him, a deity to the other vampires. Pierre, however, even though he trusted his youngest daughter, unconsciously underestimated her.
"I want to trust you, Atalia. However, you know very well that Charlotte is a unique talent." Thoughts of this nature came from his subconscious.
"Finally, since this is an emergency meeting, we will address the other matters and details more calmly at another time. For now, Sanctos I and II, as well as the Abstinent Nobles, may leave. Prepare yourselves for the glory that awaits you."
The Sanctos I, who were at the table, and the Sanctos II and Abstinent, who were the vampires in the stands, as well as the husbands and wives of the Counts, with the exception of Dracula's wife, all said the same prayer from the beginning of the meeting: Reverentia Draculae, Reverentia Potestatis. And, having said this, they left the room. Jerome, as the Lord's son, could have remained, but he left along with the others. The Counts, the Primordial Vampires, remained in the room to discuss other private matters.
Arturo, confident in his increased power, left satisfied, already heading back with his subordinates.
"Heads will roll. A necessity so that, because of me, Zealand can grow in its reputation," he thought.
Atalia remained insecure, as mentioned, and awaited her father. Helena, while waiting for her mother to leave with her subordinates, approached Atalia.
"Atalia, why do you remain so unsteady?"
"There are certain things that occupy my mind. I know you've noticed that I feel incapable of taking my sister's place, and my father feels the same way. It's one of the things that torments me most. However, when I remember the fight Charlotte waged against the principles of this empire, the doubt about my own nature as a vampire torments me even more."
Helena, looking down attentively and then regretfully, deemed it more appropriate to remain silent, as if a similar problem afflicted her.
Jacobin was carefree as always, observing his surroundings and listening to Atalia and Helena's conversation.
"Hey, Jerome! I admire your competence. Even knowing that you can stay at the meeting, being Dracula's son, you always leave as if you were another Sancto I."
"I would stay if there was something of interest to me, which is not the case. You, on the other hand, don't seem like someone who would stay for any reason whatsoever."
"I can't disagree with you, my dear fellow. There is no reason whatsoever for us to be interested in the demands of this failed system," replied Jacobin, in a discreet voice. Because of this answer, Jerome patted Jacobin on the shoulder, like someone proud.
"One of mine, without a doubt. Now, I need to settle my commitments."
"Ah, Jerome! How admirable to know that I have a commitment with the Lord's son."
Then, the two went to their chambers. Jacobino addressed Helena, wanting to tease her again.
"Helena, my dear. Do you think there's any profit in trying to get engaged to such a figure?"
"As if I cared about that. I don't want to seem like someone who marries only for privileges before the Lord."
"Most noble words coming from the weakest Sancta I among us."
Helena lunges at Jacobin, who grabs her hand.
"Control yourself in front of others. The new Measurement will be the test of your competence, or perhaps not," Jacobin said sarcastically.
After that, he left with his subordinates, without waiting for his parents. Among the subordinates, Jacobin had three younger siblings: August, Samia, and Clement, thus being the Sancto I with the most first-degree relatives. Only Atalia, who had Charlotte as her sister, had this type of kinship.
"Let's go, gentlemen, to the preparations for chaos."
Helena looked at him with disdain, but then calmed down, resigned to what had happened, and became thoughtful. Meanwhile, Tereza and Jerome were enjoying themselves libertinely, as they had agreed before the meeting.
Helena was engaged to Jerome and already knew of his infidelity, as someone who was already accustomed to and indifferent to the situation, although she didn't show this attitude to anyone. An arranged marriage, purely political, without even a unilateral affection. Perhaps Helena initially harbored something for him, but what followed was a regression of that feeling. But everything worsened when, after the Measurement, Helena was the weakest among the Sanctos, leading to the end of the engagement. As mentioned, Helena felt nothing for Jerome. However, regarding herself, the situation is different.
Lamech was waiting for his father Baruch so they could go to training immediately after leaving the hall, along with the Sanctos II and Abstinentes from his province. He approaches Arturo and shakes his hand.
"So, Arturo. Optimistic about this new Measurement?"
"That's as obvious as the dampness of water and the inferiority of the vulgars. I hope you'll join us in this political growth, Lamech."
"Don't consider me a accommodated Jacobin, pretending to be doing something."
"I understand, my friend."
Arturo then looks around, a little confused.
"By the way, Lamech, where did Elizabeth go? And the subordinates?"
"That's right. She appears and disappears suddenly. Sometimes she stays at the meetings, but sometimes she goes somewhere else. It's impossible to understand the Bradiskov's ambitions."
While the meeting was taking place, an event was unfolding near Montreal, close to the border with the state of Vermont, in the USA. Apparently, some of the guards saw Elizabeth and her subordinates leave for that region immediately. Although it was Tereza's responsibility to carry out this function, as it was something pertinent to her province, she was too busy, if we can say so. However, there seemed to be sufficient reasons behind the scenes to consider Elizabeth as the most suitable for it.
And despair, once again, took over the world of ordinary humans, but it also caused a certain headache for the vampires, as it also represented a danger to them. Even though these were somewhat commonplace events.