Fantasy Of Blood and Bonds

[Mad Prince of Sanity]

Spoiler: Meeting Hall

Hidden deep within a crypt under the streets of New Orleans, where the living have never tread, a gathering has been called. Vampires from throughout the Americas have come to heed the Council's call and none dare refuse such an urgent summons. It has come to the attention of the Council that entire dens of their kin have been hunted down, exterminated with ruthless efficiency. In all cases, regardless of the strength of the vampires in question, a fight seemingly never occurring or being given aside from the killing blow. This evidence points only to the possibility of their being a traitor in the midst of the Council, one who was determined to not only butcher their kin, but claim power for themselves.

In response to the Council's summons representatives from the nine great families of the Americas have gathered here, and with no small amount of tension in the air as each and every individual does their best to keep the peace. Any overt acts of hostility or political maneuvering would be greatly frowned upon as of now and cast undo suspicion upon one's house. It is with this fact in the forefront of her mind that Esmeralda Von Buren walks into the cold pallor of the crypt.

Lit with dim electrical lights and small candles, the room would be almost impossible to see properly in for an ordinary human. For the undead predators currently prowling it's halls however, navigating the dim twilight of the crypt was child's play. Even among the growing throng of more and more kin present amongst the halls, Esmeralda kept a confident smile and leisurely gait despite the tension in the air. Though her grip on the smaller hand of Vernon was ever so subtly firmer than normal as she turned to look down at her newest childe "Now Vernon, if I let you wander off you aren't going to get into any trouble will you?" She smiled knowingly, as Vernon was a quiet boy since his turning, and the answering shake of his head was exactly what she had expected. "Good, then run along now. Mama Esmeralda has important matters to discuss." Releasing the boy's hand, Esmeralda then moved her hand's attention from Vernon to the snake coiled around her other forearm. This snake was not a highly poisonous variety, but rather a long constrictor that wound down into the unseen folds of her dress and given present company it wasn't hard to figure out why she had chosen her choice of snake for this trip.

Meanwhile, Vernon turned from his "mother" and glanced inquisitively up and about his new world. This was his first time attending one of these meetings and judging by the very... disapproving gaze of more than a few of his kin, he suspected he was not going to be one for enjoying them. Feeling a cold shiver of hunger pass through him, Vernon glanced about before seeing what could be called a "bar" at some point in the distant past. Several odd glass globes filled with blood sat behind a low counter attended by one of his female kin who was polishing a glass. Taking a brief moment to deliberate indulging his hunger, Vernon nevertheless worked his way through the small crowd surrounding the bar and tugged at the sleeve of the woman attending it. The undoubtedly older vampire quirked an eyebrow down at him as Vernon studied the globes the blood sat within, brass embroidering circling the globes like the coiling of choking vines extolled the price of the blood present, with rarer blood types costing more and coming in exceedingly smaller and smaller globes while animal blood sat in several large, churning spheres and was apparently free.

Taking out the wallet he kept money in, Vernon raised his blue/grey eyes to that of his elder kin and cleared his throat as she grinned at him "Excuse me Ma'am? Might I have some A negative please?" The woman snorted a small chuckle as Vernon began to reach inside his wallet, only to be pat upon the head and handed a cup of the requested blood. The woman speaking in a tone of barely-hidden condescension "For a cutie like you, it's on the house.... little one." Vernon blinked, and had he been a living being he may very well have flushed at the woman's words, However all she managed to succeed in doing was infuriating him as his hands clenched tightly around his wallet, after all, she had no way of knowing how old HE was and he could very well of been her elder; though judging by the smirk on her face her words had been precisely to goad him. Sucking in a deep breathe of air out of habit than any actual biological need, Vernon nodded his head stiffly and mumbled out a low "Thank you..." before turning sharply on his heel and stalking off... as best he could anyways amongst the now-snickering crowd. 'Yes....' Vernon thought to himself as he took a sip of the blood in his hands 'Not a fan at all....'


Lucyfer

 

[Lucyfer]

The Crescent City was another home of a Jewel, the Spinel, and the Valencia family left from there in a deep blue Phantom, driven by Trevor Zane, of course. Everything in his world was blue, and so was the Phantom, a gift of Vincent for his good service to Amia and Edwin while he was deep in the sleep of torpor not three months ago. “Do I have to stay?” Trevor asked as he took the turns towards the meeting place, heedless of the color of the lights – they always, miraculously, seemed to be green as he sped along the road.

Trevor didn’t know if it was a part of his own tracking abilities, but he’d never argued with it.

“Yes,” Vincent answered from the back. Sitting in the passenger’s seat was Amia, the youngest, who watched the lights go by and fade as they drew closer to the actual building. “Just in case. There are numerous kindred who would wish me dead at this event.”

“Is there anywhere we go where people don’t want you dead?” The petulant question escaped the perfectly pouty lips of the one known as the ‘prince’, Edwin Valencia, who also sat in the backseat with Vincent, arms folded over his chest. “I can’t think of a single place we ever go to where you don’t have an enemy or two.”

“Tell me, Edwin, when you go to the board meetings for the hotels, would you say everyone is your friend, or would you say the vast majority would happily rip you in pieces if it meant they could take your place?” Vincent posed the question as Trevor slid the car into a nearby parking spot. There wasn’t really a place before the building, as it tried to be blatantly obvious about being inaccessible and unfriendly to trespassers.

“No….”

“Precisely.” Vincent answered, “Given the nature of this meeting, it is highly likely that someone is getting thrown under the bus of superstition and made a scapegoat. I do not intend for that to be us.”

“It’d make things easier,” Edwin stated as Trevor turned off the vehicle, “Get rid of all the competition here.”

“Then we’d have to deal with vampires that actually matter.”

Trevor laughed, “Like the Tepes or the Cains,” he said, “and trust me, you do not want to deal with them,” neither should be here. The Tepes kept to Europe, except him, and the Cains were usually around Africa or the Middle East. “The worst one here is the Wendigo,” not the family name, but the title of an individual who may very well rival Vincent in age. Trevor wasn’t sure; he didn’t know how old Vincent was.

The car doors opened and each of them stepped out. Trevor started around for the trunk, but a look from Vincent stopped him. “Weapons are forbidden on the premises.”

“We’re actually following that rule?” The blue haired vampire canted his head, fixing Vincent with a surprised stare. “I’m used to you walking in with your greatsword and flaunting your disrespect of the rules.” He didn’t hide his surprise, “Or her setting shit on fire.” He pointed accusingly at Amia, who just gave a sly smirk as Edwin chuckled.

Vincent answered patiently, but one could hear the stress in his voice, “Tempting as it is to disregard such rules, no. They are in the trunk for a reason. Should we have need of them, it is not difficult to get back out here.”

“Fine, fine,” Trevor looked bitter, “I was hoping to show off my keyblade.”

“That’s what that atrocious thing is called?” Edwin asked as they fell in step behind Vincent. Well, he and Trevor were behind Vincent, while Amia walked alongside him. It was only then that Edwin noticed the subtle way the two matched – and that he was the odd one out. Trevor, Vincent, and Amia were all in hues of black and blue, while he was in a gray suit. Trevor and blue wasn’t abnormal, nor was it abnormal from Amia – it was her favorite color. Vincent was strange.

“Yeah! From Kingdom Hearts. After playing it I decided I needed one, so I found some guy who could make a battle-ready one. It’s about as tough as that greatsword your dad loves.”

Vincent scoffed. Edwin laughed outright. Amia just shook her head. “What, princess? You’ve seen it in battle, it’s saved you more times than not.”

“I’m not arguing its use. It is only your need to compare and compensate.”

Trevor started to open his mouth, before he realized any argument would be fruitless with Edwin trying so hard not to die of laughter at his side. So, he scowled, “See if I save you again, Princess.”

They came to the doors, and they were let in easily enough to see the dimly lit room and many other vampires gathered there. The meeting did not appear to be in full swing yet, as many mingled in the common areas, no doubt catching up with old friends and older enemies. Edwin and Trevor both eyed the bar.

“Go,” Vincent said without even asking, and Edwin moved on immediately. Trevor gave a deep bow before he, too, followed after the prince. They passed by another vampire on their way to the counter, hardly noticed due to his short stature.

Trevor was the first there, and he leaned against the counter, offering a charming smile to the woman there, “Two glasses of human blood, type doesn’t matter to me, this prick likes his O-,” Trevor gestured to Edwin, and he was fairly certain the prince was trying to murder him with a look, but he ignored it. He was so used to it by now. “You have your daddy’s card, right, Valencia?” He name-dropped too easily, loved it.

Loved it best when people didn’t care about the Valencia name, like himself. In a place of so many important names, he doubted it would stand out much.


Meanwhile, Vincent spoke lowly to Amia, “Let’s find Lord Edom,” he said calmly, “The one they call the Wendigo,” Vincent knew his names before, knew him long before America was founded by the Europeans. The albino vampire was from here, after all…before the Europeans. “He should have an Egyptian pet near.” It was the best term for his…friend.

“Her?” Amia gestured casually towards a woman who wasn’t hiding her lineage at all, the make-up dark upon skin most wouldn’t associate with a vampire. Her hair was long and black, and her attire was what one would certainly call Egyptian inspired; the halter dress had an elaborately ornate collar to it, and it was a deep jade in color, with a waist cinched by a belt of golden rope, matching the collar.

“Yes,” Vincent smirked, but it faded as he turned and walked towards her, “Layla,” he called above the din of others conversing, disturbing her from her own conversation to look up to the much taller man.

“Ah, Valencia. What title do you take now?” Layla inquired, a teasing smile touching her lips.

“It hardly matters. Where is Edom?”

“Somewhere near the actual meeting room, I’m sure, trying to avoid people.”

Vincent gave a slight nod to that, and then left without a proper farewell to go hunt down the Wendigo, Amia ever a step behind.

 

[Mad Prince of Sanity]

It was with no small amount of amusement that Esmeralda watched her childe walk off into the wider world of their oh-so-dangerous kin. His eyes cast up and about at everything he could see, perceive and process. With an amused little chuckle Esmeralda turned her attention back to the meeting room she was approaching, a room on the first floor, but raised slightly up a handful of stone steps. This always made Esmeralda roll her eyes during her first time here, when she had always wondered why they simply hadn't bothered putting the little Sanctuary on the second floor. Now, however, she understood why.

The room was circular, with five side-by-side arches acting as doorways and heavy steel double-doors a good few inches thick were swung open along the inside of every arch. Inside, the circular room acted almost as a hollowed-out tube in the center of the proper building's structure, with a thick stone ceiling and walls. Along said walls, stone-faced gargoyles contained mouths of flickering flames that constituted much of the room's lighting, save a large blood-red candle sat in the middle of the stone table that dominated the room's center. The table had nine seats, one for each Council member, and from every seat a small groove ran from the bottom of the actual candle to a very small dip in the stone surface of the table directly in front of every seat. Between each of the grooves and thus between every seat, etched deeply into the stone words in Latin read "Bound in Blood; Bound in Curse; Bound in Fate". The true nature of the room was almost symbolic during this age but the Sanctuary the Council met in, this circular room of stone and blood, was meant to be a bastion should the Council itself fall under attack. A place that, even should the rest of the building be ruined, destroyed and sunlight let inside, any of the kin wishing safety could flee there.

Taking a moment to appreciate the architecture of the room, Esmeralda approached what was now her seat on the Council and she ran a hand over the stone surface of the table. Sighing out of reflex, she shook her head and muttered "Oh Otto darling...." perhaps sensing it's owner's discomfort, the snake coiled around her forearm squeezed down just a bit tighter and wriggled affectionately.To which Esmeralda smiled and pet the creature on the head before taking her seat. Taking a moment to glance down at the small depression in the table in front of her, and the groove running up to the candle that burned at the table's center, Esmeralda remembered what she was told was the proper procedure for Council members. Taking a small pin from her hair, Esmeralda pricked her finger before letting a few drops of blood empty into the depression. After this was done, one of the nearby attendees of the Council stepped forward and, using their own abilities, sent the tiny stream of blood up the groove that twisted around the stone holding the candle until finally bringing the blood into the candle itself and adding to it's form. Just one more drop of blood to join the Council's history.


Vernon hardly noticed two more vampires passing him among the throng of others present, save for the.... ostentatious blue hair of one of them. This made Vernon rolls his eyes after passing the two and once his glass was depleted he perked his head up just a bit. An odd, thrumming sensation just at the edge of even his keen perception made him blink before glancing towards the entrance of the building. At first Vernon was perplexed by this odd sensation before, after a moment, it achieved clarity. A steady, strong even, thumping and the gentle sound of rushing liquid. Vernon was hardly the only vampire looking toward the entrance and there was... general unrest about the idea of a living creature being here. However, the loud snarl that sounded from the other side of the building's doors to those outside likely had the opposite effect desired and calmed a few people down. Werewolves.

A small group of three 'men' entered the building, their clothes rough and torn, their physiques strong, muscular and generally seemed to have their 'manliness' meters cranked to eleven. Aside from the rushing of blood any nearby vampire would be able to detect the three possessed, they also gave off a sort of.... smell. This smell, at least to the vampires, very blatantly separated these were-kin from normal humans. After all, this smell was one of a different kind of predator, rather than outright prey. A tense, single moment fills the room before one of the wolfs, a bald, exceptionally tall man chuckles and grins as he states "Well, don't we all look lively tonight." One of his companions face-palms and in that moment the tension about the immediate area diffuses as if it had never been. The companion that face-palmed glancing over to the bald werewolf and sighing "Seriously Greg? Just this once can we go somewhere and actually succeed in making an entrance?" Gregory snorts and pats his friend on the shoulder "Believe you me pal, if we would have made much more of an entrance it wouldn't have been pretty. After all... not everyone knows we were invited."

Vernon simply shook his head at this and, after checking a pocket-watch he keeps in his vest, decided that by now Esmeralda likely either got herself into trouble, missed him or needed his help. Thus, after turning on a heel he began to walk towards the Council room.

Meanwhile........

After separating from his pack-mates and seeing what looked like it may be a bar, Gregory made a B-line straight for the thing and... well.... even vampires were hesitant to stay in the way of a were-man his size. Leaning his large frame on the bar and smiling wolfishly at the vampire behind it he cleared his throat "Excuse me, I don't suppose you have any actual alcohol?" The female vampire rolled her eyes before shaking her head, to which Gregory sighed and ran a hand over his bald head. "Well, that's too bad. I guess I'll just have some water" Sighing, the large wolf-man couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at a blue-haired vampire who seemed to be giving his friend a good hazing to which Gregory chuckled. As the female vampire set down a glass of water for Gregory he picked it up and took a drink,only to address Trevor and Vincent in an off-handed manner "Well, glad to see not everyone here isn't so tense." Gregory eyed Trevor specifically before offering a large hand "Gregory." Obviously he would also offer a handshake to Edwin should he expect one, he wasn't going to be rude to the two, especially after introducing himself. He did, after all, have to keep up appearances.

As Vernon approached the Council room, he noticed a young looking kin and an older man who was speaking to an Egyptian woman. Unfortunately for him, they were slightly obscuring his path and with a slight clearing of his throat more directed at Amia than Vincent, he proceeded to slip by her with a polite, if formal "Pardon me". After moving by the two in question Vernon approached Esmeralda as she sat waiting for the rest of the Council and she immediately began beaming once she saw him. "Oooh Vernon dear did you come to check on me?" Esmeralda giggled a bit "Did I worry my Verny-Werny?" Vernon frowned, his manner going from stoic but polite to what one could describe as somewhere between grumpy and surly as he stated blankly "Please do not call me that." Esmeralda smirked, revealing a fang as she idly petted her snake "So you didn't come to check on me?" Vernon frowned as that was, in a manner of speaking, what he had done. Keeping said frown he replied in a slightly lower tone of voice "Only to make sure you hadn't gotten yourself into trouble." Esmeralda hummed as she idly tapped her chin "So you were worried about my safety?" Vernon watched her for a moment before turning around "I'm going back outside....."

Suddenly, Esmeralda grabbed Vernon by the scruff of his neck, or at least the back of his shirt's collar, and picked him up. This made Vernon blink before he pinched the bridge of his nose "Would you PLEASE put me down?" Esmeralda hummed a bit before speaking "Oh...alright." She then proceeded to set Vernon down in her lap, like a child facing the table, and Vernon did not even bother removing his hand from his face as he mumbled to himself "If I wasn't already dead... I'd be wishing I was right now." This made Esmeralda laugh a bit as she wrapped her arms around him and held him. Vernon slowly un-pinched the bridge of his nose and adjusted his collar to fix it from where she grabbed it before speaking in a voice trying very hard to recover some form of dignity from being sat in someone's lap "Well now, if you're done I would like to get down." Esmeralda only tightened her hold on Vernon as she said "Well, if you're such a grown-up surely you can get yourself down hmm?" Vernon turned his head, narrowing his eyes at Esmeralda as he hisses in a harsh whisper "You know very well I cannot get myself down as you are holding me!" Esmeralda laughs and smiles at him as she pokes his stomach, only making him glare harder "Well if you can't overpower me to escape then you belong right here with me, so I can keep you safe."

Vernon glared at her, his fingertips dug a bit into the stone table he was sat before like some sort of toddler and he turned away from Esmeralda. Closing his eyes, Vernon took a deep breathe before opening his eyes and simply stating in a neutral voice "You are hopeless." Before he settled back into Esmeralda's lap and let her hold him. Esmeralda only smiled and pet Vernon's head as she began to bounce her knee and Vernon shook his head as he repeated himself "Truly hopeless....." Esmeralda then switched to petting her snake and answered quietly "Well, at least I have you to put up with me hmmm?" Vernon maintains his stoicism as he answers in a manner that suggests he has said this many times before "No one else would."

 

[Lucyfer]

Edwin was not a fan of werewolves. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise, and if he had hackles, they’d certainly be raised, as well. His lips did twitch as the group entered. He knew they were, technically speaking, on the Council. That did not mean he thought they had any place on it, and the color of his eyes seemed to briefly swirl, a moment’s contemplation of throwing the lot of them into a nightmare. Embarrass them as they raged.

He’d been told to stop doing that by his sire, though. Especially at councils. It was apparently not appropriate to have other vampires, or people they were meeting with in general, run out of rooms screaming or burst into tears and huddle on the floor. Edwin thought it was highly appropriate; people were usually much easier to negotiate with after that.

The blood was given and the price quoted before the werewolves strode up, and Edwin tore his gaze away from them to offer the black card to the bartender, who gave them each their goblets of blood. Edwin sipped at it, and sighed, “Hardly potent,” he complained to Trevor, who just shrugged.

“Of course you don’t think it’s potent,” he stated, but didn’t bother to elaborate. Those of the Valencia were used to drinking vampiric blood, not human. Trevor knew this too well. He reached out to the hand that was offered to him, grinning at this ‘Gregory’. “Trevor Zane, or Trevor Belmont,” he heard Edwin groan again, “Alucard, obviously,” he gestured with his free-hand at Edwin, before releasing Gregory’s own warm hand. Always nice to feel warmth again, after so long of not really feeling it.

Edwin just sucked down more of his blood. He glanced at the hand that was offered to him, nose wrinkling. He didn’t accept it. “Bit of a prat, father’s an asshole like Dracula, you know,” Trevor said, adding, “Vincent Valencia is what he likes to go by, of course. You’ll have to deal with him. Sorry about that,” Trevor stated, a touch amused with all of this, “I’m just the bodyguard for Sypha.” If Gregory got any of these references, he was making him his new best friend. There were not enough supernaturals out there who played video games, and it was quite disappointing.

“Can we go? We have our drinks,” Edwin stated.

“Hush, Ally, the Council hasn’t been called, and you’re not on it, either.” To which Edwin seemed only more embarrassed, seeming to shrink a bit as that was so blatantly pointed out in front of someone he considered so far below him.

~***~

Fortunately by the time that Vernon had come around, the pair of Valencias were already leaving the area of Layla, and they went around the circular council room until they stumbled upon the albino man. If anyone was going to seem a stereotypical vampire, it would have been him. He stood out, even among their own kind, with striking white hair and red eyes. His skin was just as pale, and seemed almost translucent as he stared into the room, leaning in an archway and observing Esmeralda as she went about taking her place.

He was shorter than Amia expected, perhaps standing 5’6”, and he looked frail, but looks were often deceiving.

“Delsin,” Vincent addressed, and those red eyes shot towards him in a glare.

He spoke lowly, whispered almost, “It is Lord Edom now, Koschei.” It was a name Amia did not know for Vincent – and she knew plenty. Changing names was the normality. She knew his history back to Rome, little else had she figured out. “Gwyn Edom.”

“As you wish…Gwyn. This is Amia Valencia,” he gestured casually to her, and she inclined her head politely to Gwyn, but did not speak. Vincent did not explain her presence, either. “What is the meaning of this Council?” He asked then with a sigh, “Or rather, why was I needed?”

“You’re the most likely suspect.”

Amia kept a careful expression on her face, not eying Vincent, but she did say, “He cannot be,” and she almost regretted it when Gwyn’s eyes fell upon her. His emotions were difficult to read, as if he felt literally nothing. It almost seemed so. His gaze wasn’t angry, though one may mistake it for that. It was simply…dead. “I request your pardon, Edom, but my father was not active until recently, and he had not left Chicago until we all did to attend to this Council. There was much to catch up on from his rest.”

“Which leaves you as the prime suspect, Del—Gwyn,” Vincent smirked, leaning in the archway himself, “Is that it? A trap for all of the most powerful vampires in America?”

The white-man’s expression remained blank. His emotions remained nearly numb, so mute from the centuries. It was a strange contrast to Vincent, whom Amia could feel all too well. There was humor there, but more than that, there was paranoia and tension. There wasn’t fear, though, in spite of the other emotions. “I hardly know what you’re talking about, Vincent.”

“Come now, Gwyn. The others may not know why you’re called a Wendigo, but I do,” his dark eyes glittered dangerously in the firelight, but they were both distracted by an outburst from inside the chambers. All heads turned to see a small vampire upon the lap of a woman with pitch black hair.

Gwyn took the opportunity to leave Vincent’s interrogation, calling back, “We should begin before Esmeralda destroys all semblance of the solemn gravity of this meeting,” and he moved on to his own seat, carelessly pricking his own finger on the way to let the blood drip down and move on towards the candle, though he seemed to hardly care where it spilled on the way to the actual groove.

Vincent smirked a bit, and his eyes took on a dangerous glint as he heard Amia speak up, “Wendigo…he’s a cannibal?”

“He’ll say that he was, but…let’s say there’s a reason he keeps his pet Layla around,” when Amia’s eyebrows knit together, Vincent waved it off, “Another time,” he offered, not wanting to speak of such things with all the ears around. He walked on in as well, but unlike the others, he did not prick his finger. He took his seat, and Amia found one behind and off to the left.

Vincent would never prick his finger. He knew too much about blood magic to ever trust it, and he’d made that clear in every meeting before this one. He refused to be bound.

 

[Mad Prince of Sanity]

Esmeralda overheard Edom but didn't bother replying right away, instead she simply busied herself with playing with Vernon's hair for a moment. Replying in only an off-handed manner "As you say, Lord Edom." Esmeralda then whispers conspiratorially to Vernon "Goodness knows my games are much less solemn than his bantering with Valencia." Vernon sighs and adjusts his hair back to how it was "I'd hardly say he's the only one wanting you to stop." Esmeralda only smiles in response but does stop teasing Vernon, though she does not remove him from her lap. Vernon does take his time seated here to glance over the other individuals present. In short order, he comes upon a rather unsettling fact, everyone else in this room was turned at a time in their life much closer to their 'primes' and he frowns at this. Unable to stop from feeling a bit aggravated that no-one else seems to have been turned during an 'unfortunate' or inconvenient time in their life they wouldn't mind spending eternity as. No other children turned, no old mortals who were turned, nothing.

As the Council meeting is officially called to order, those attending the meeting begin to spread word throughout the building. Not the least of those reached include a werewolf and two other vampires, one of which is speaking to the wolf and the other is... less receptive. Gregory grins at Trevor's clever Castlevania insertions and nods sagely, as if in an actual deep conversation, as he takes another drink of water. Once done he grins at Trevor "Ya know, I would be careful with talk like that friend. Use the wrong words and people could get the impression you fancy 'Sypha'. Seeing as you're so keen on taking her husband's last name for your own. A bit of wish fulfillment there?" Gregory laughed, not a very loud laugh but it was hearty nonetheless. Gregory didn't say anything about the fact that Trevor Belmont slew Dracula, and that the implications were...awkward if whoever this Trevor was working for knew about them, but he didn't care about the politics of vampires.

At least, that's what he thought to himself before someone told him that the Council was meeting and he sighed. "Well Trevor, it was fun but now.... well... I'm going to go WHIP them into shape." Gregory gave Trevor a knowing wink before setting down his now-empty glass and, with a nod, walked away to join the Council meeting. In the meantime in the sanctuary chamber itself, five other vampires had entered the chamber and, of the nine seats, Gregory was the last to enter and take his. He shifted a bit uncomfortably and as the arched doorways slammed shut to give the Council privacy he blinked before saying to himself out loud "Well... that's not ominous at all....."

Esmeralda had gone quiet by now and was even giving Vernon some measure of peace as she, to start the meeting, produced a necklace nearly everyone present would find familiar. It was one that belonged to Otto Von Buren, her predecessor and one of the few of the kin left who were nearly as old as Edom and Vincent. Esmeralda gently sat the necklace, a gold hexagon with a glittering red gem in the center, before her on the table and her usually smiling features turned to Edom with a level of sadness she had not displayed yet "I do hope this is solemn enough for you Lord Edom, but my sire, Lord Otto Von Buren, has been slain. As have many others of our kind in places we know they were not discovered during the day and with seemingly no blood being shed besides their own ..............nor did they appear to defend themselves." Esmeralda let the last part hang in the air for a moment, it's implications obvious.

Vernon frowned and gently laid a hand on Esmeralda's to comfort her before glancing at the necklace in question. Meanwhile, Gregory was more than a little taken aback. He had expected this meeting to be... important, but this sounded like something way more severe than he had bargained for. Shifting a bit in the chair he was in, he tried to think of exactly how he and the packs he knew could help and how they could help most effectively. If what she was saying was true and the vampires not only had a traitor in their midst but one who could kill some of their oldest members then..... well.... he was stumped on how he could help.

 

[Lucyfer]

Trevor actually laughed quite heartily when the werewolf clearly understood his references, all of them. He didn’t dare to make a comment about any fancying of Sypha, on the off chance it may get back to the blonde who would be at Dracula’s side. He hadn’t determined if she was more Sypha or Lisa, anyway – a fiend or an ally. He was fairly certain Edwin was an ally, if he could just pull him away from so blindly trusting in his sire.

“Oh, you and I are gonna talk after this meeting, I have to show you my keyblade – and that’s not an euphuism!” Edwin groaned at Trevor’s enthusiasm as he waved the werewolf off to the meeting, staying out.

Edwin’s eyes followed after, “Should we go?”

“Valencia doesn’t want us there. He wants us prepared in case things go to shit, remember? Besides, you tend to abuse that talent of yours, and as hilarious as it would be to see Gwyn flip his shit, I think it would also lead to your immediate execution.” Trevor answered. “Must suck though, since Amia gets to go and you don’t. She’s younger, right?”

“Yes.” Edwin spoke that answer through gritted teeth. The jealousy was palpable. “She is younger, and so she is learning.” That was how he convinced himself that this was acceptable. Nevermind the fact that she had led Chicago, led Illinois, while Vincent was sleeping, ripping the reigns right from his hands with almost no effort. He despised it. Despised her. When she wasn’t around, anyway. Whenever she was, those feelings seemed to evaporate and he was left with the annoyance an older brother may have.

“Sure, that’s it,” Trevor made sure to sound obviously derisive.

Edwin broke the glass in his hand by squeezing it too tightly, and the shards and remaining blood slid down his hand and to the ground. He shook his hand off, irked with himself for the lack of control. “You sure you and Vincent aren’t having issues?” Silence. Trevor pressed a bit more, wanting more, “Come on, Edwin, we may not be friends, but even I can see he’s being cruel to you and letting others walk all over you.” Not Amia. “What did you two get into a fight over?”

“Nothing,” Edwin snapped, “I don’t know.” He sighed, “It doesn’t matter. We’ve had fights over the centuries, this one will pass, too. He’ll remember why he needs me.”

“But why do you need him?”

~***~

Besides Gregory, Layla had also waltzed into the room nearly late. The Egyptian walked to her place near Edom, taking a seat at the ground near the throne, and Amia couldn’t help but think the term ‘pet’ was quite accurate in her circumstances. All she needed was a collar and leash leading up to the Wendigo’s hands, which were in his lap.

‘Is she taller than him?’ The question wouldn’t be answered right then, since they were all sitting now.

Esmeralda spoke first, introducing herself through her sire, showcasing a necklace of some importance.

Vincent was the first to speak, after Esmeralda’s words, “There’s no proof their havens weren’t discovered in the daylight, or that they weren’t slain while the sun was up. This is your vanity speaking, Esmeralda. Any one of us can be discovered at any time, especially as Hunter technology increases and rogue Hunters become more common. Please check that vanity of yours.”

“Valencia.” Edom’s tone was testy as he shot a glance to the vampire. Vincent only smiled at him, and the Albino rose from his own throne to address the gathered more formally, hands behind his back, “While we cannot discount hunters, we also cannot discount the possibility that Lady Von Buren’s words may be accurate in her veiled implication, that one of our own is hunting us. There has been an increase in talk of Amaranth lately.”

“Now why would a Wendigo know of that sort of chatter?” Vincent’s smile was hardly coy, though he played at it.

Vincent was ignored completely. “Many of us have been affected by this, and some,” he wasn’t subtle in emphasizing that, clearly meaning the Valencia clan, “have not been.”

“On the contrary, I was nearly a victim of Amaranth,” Vincent protested, “Rachel Tremere. Why…don’t we have the Tremere here?” His gaze turned pointedly to another woman of striking beauty, fiery red hair and green eyes, angular features. She seemed like royalty from a look.

“Rachel était fou.” The woman spat the words at Vincent.

“English, please,” Gwyn sighed, “Or else we’re all going to end up speaking languages few here understand. We may be in Orleans, but not all of us speak French or Creole, Celeste.”

“Rachel was mad.” She said, though her English was heavily accented. “These events have happened after her demise, and je ne sais—I know nothing of them. I am innocent.”

Vincent briefly passed a look up to Amia, who gave only a subtle nod. She sensed no guilt from Celeste, only shame.

“We are not here to point fingers blindly, Valencia,” Gwyn said calmly, “We are here to examine the situation. Lady Von Buren, would you please elaborate on the manner in which you discovered your sire’s passing, and what you know of the one who must have done it, or what you suspect?”

 

[Mad Prince of Sanity]

Esmeralda bristled at Vincent's retorts but withheld any sharp remarks as Edom cut in. Her grip on Vernon tightening a bit as the snake coiled on her arm rose up and hissed at Vincent. A soft hushing and more pets from Esmeralda calmed the creature down however and Vernon simply sighed in exasperation as the spattering of politics began in earnest. Esmeralda gathered her thoughts as the others spoke and Vernon silently recovered the necklace from the table and studied it a bit before humming and pocketing it. After Edom had cut off Vincent and Celeste getting into a heated argument over his own personal drama Esmeralda nodded and cleared her throat "Of course. To begin, and how I know that these attacks were committed at night, is that everyone slain including my sire were up and active when this took place. Seemingly approached or ambushed mid-task in whatever they were doing when they fell. I don't think I need to tell anyone here that our kind makes it a point to not be active during the day." Esmeralda gave Vincent a look that said that that little reminder was for his benefit.

Esmeralda continued after a moment, letting her words sink in for everyone present before addressing Vincent directly "As for my vanity Mr. Valencia and whether or not any of our havens were discovered, despite our only being able to operate under the stars we have ways of watching our own backs. For you see..... my pets... while not..." Esmeralda's eyes briefly flickered to Amia and then back to Vincent, focusing on his left shoulder ".. quite like yours. Tell me many things. I have my little ones watch our havens during the day, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious and thought they're not as smart as we are they have told me as much that none of the attacked havens were visited during daylight." Esmeralda's eyes narrowed a bit and her voice got just a touch of chill to it as she finished with "So kindly keep your talk of vanity to yourself and your reluctance to follow our customs when it suits you."

Vernon held up a finger, surprising even Esmeralda as he cleared his own throat and tried to defuse the situation at the same time. Speaking in a manner similar to a man pursuing a scientific discovery than throwing around veiled threats and accusations "In... In addition, if our kin were slain during the day-time, or by hunters no less, it would make far more sense for whoever did it to dispose of them by tossing them into the sunlight, as the Hunters all but always do to make SURE we die. Leave no evidence. This was... not the case." Vernon looked primarily at Edom as he spoke, as even he knew that Vincent was likely to spat something at Esmeralda and wanted to keep the elder vampire's trifles out of his business. After saying this however, Vernon looks from Edom to, of all people, Amia and waves a bit to get her attention. "And.. you Miss..." Esmeralda finished for him "Amia..." Vernon nods "Amia. You said Vincent was recently in torpor? Newly awakened?" Everyone present already knew the answer so Vernon just continued "As such if memory serves you, Miss Amia, were in control of House Valencia recently."

Vernon waited for her affirmation before continuing "Then, it stands to reason that if NOTHING else is to be believed or considered that YOU would have heard something as it's a popular notion your 'jewels' are exceptional at gathering information from the mortal world. Ergo unless House Valencia..." Vernon sighs, making a small addendum ".. and PLEASE by the blood don't take this the wrong way..... unless House Valencia was.... ineffective at this.... then we would have heard something concerning a raid on one of our havens, let alone several." Vernon paused before Esmeralda patted his head "That's enough Vernon, thank you for your insight." Vernon nodded and simply looked around the table inquisitively for reactions.

Meanwhile, Gregory... didn't know what to say. Frankly, his head hurt and all this talking in circles and about this or that happening or not happening... well... it wasn't beyond him but generally speaking when it came to solving someone doing something in the packs they always followed scent trails or the Alpha interrogated likely suspects. Rubbing his forehead, Gregory leaned his forearms onto the stone table and raised a hand slowly "If it would help to... narrow things down.... my packs and I can scent around these havens for the smell of humans. Any that would have been there recently would be well... stupidly obvious compared to how you all......" he paused, gesturing with his hands to the table at large before finishing awkwardly "...smell....."

 

[Lucyfer]

Vincent did not appear at all bothered as Esmeralda lashed her tongue. Rather, he adopted the look of one amused. ‘And your pets did not see who committed the crime?’ He wanted to ask, but he decided not to interrupt the Von Buren’s as they held the floor, now the little one, who really had no purpose in speaking here, but he supposed it would be that way.

After all, Amia would speak if it was to their benefit, and she was addressed by this young one. Amia did give a solitary nod to the question that Vernon asked, of being in control of House Valencia recently. She did arch a brow at the implication that the Jewels were excellent at gaining information. They were – within their walls, and the towns they were in. Outside of that, it wasn’t really their concern.

Yet no comment could be made immediately before the werewolf spoke, and eyes shifted to him. There was a trill of laughter from Celeste at his idea, “Monsieur, humans are not uncommon around havens. Well…not mine…I know not the Valencia’s, and Edom?”

“I don’t have them near mine.”

Celeste gave a nod, and gave a smile to the werewolf that was certainly not encouraging. It was as if she was speaking to an ignorant child, “You see, monsieur – it may work for some havens, but not all. Some of us keep food or servants near at hand, since we cannot work in the day.” Some had humans guards, and she knew every Jewel had human guards in them. “But what is this about the Jewels? Is it true House Valencia knows nothing?”

“Inaccurate,” Amia said. Popular rumor was popular for a reason, and part of it was the fear that the monolithic Jewels would uncover secrets. “Yet no attacks have occurred within the Jewels themselves, so we have not taken the threats outside seriously. If it is needed, we can expand our scope to look into the matter, but we're not going to start offering security to others for free.”

“To be blunt, it isn’t our problem if others don’t keep themselves safe.” Vincent stated, “Though I’m curious, Esmeralda, how is it your pets don’t have information if they are such good guards? How is it you don’t have a face or a name? Do your pets not patrol at night?” He leaned forward, an arm crossing over his lap, as if he was very interested in knowing the security of Esmeralda’s own haven.

Part-intimidation.

Part just to fuck with her. She wanted to try calling him out, she ought to explain why her pets didn’t provide her with anything of substances, except that no one attacked in the day. A hunter could still attack at night, after all.

 

[Mad Prince of Sanity]

Esmeralda found it incredibly unlikely Vincent was truly this foolish, regardless of how long he had been in torpor. While the attitudes of the others could be chalked up to mere unwillingness to want to acknowledge a traitor in their midst, Vincent seemed to be actively combating the idea. Taking a moment to watch Vincent, she did not hesitate when it came to matching eyes with him now. If he wished to attempt something here, now, well... that would only prove her point. Meanwhile, however, Vernon sat placidly on her lap with one hand on his own lap and the other fiddling idly with the necklace now in his pocket. His brow was furrowed in thought vaguely in Amia's direction, though more at the wall over her shoulder as confusion positively radiated from the young vampire.

In the meantime, Gregory only smiled at Celeste as he laced his hands behind his bald head and chuckled "Look, I'm sure you passed all your condescending and asshole classes at Vampire Prep with flying colors but all that really matters here is whether they..." Gregory nodded towards the Von Buren pair "... have living people around their.. lairs... or not. As they were the ones attacked, pretty eyes." Gregory busied himself with pulling some headphones out of his pocket and in synchronization winked at Celeste as he snapped them over his ears to begin listening to some of his favorite music.

Esmeralda finally decided on a course of action, and decided to speak slowly and clearly as her gaze returned to Edom "To be brief, and more importantly concise for the duller of us. So many of our kin being actively up and about eliminates the possibility of a day-time attack. Normally, perhaps a few when they were well-shielded from the sun but... some were even slain near the entrances to these sanctuaries, meaning that IF the attack that had happened during the day then they would be fleeing into the sun." Esmeralda looked coolly at Vincent "And I don't care how frightened you may be of human hunters Vincent, but none of us would find a human so daunting as to prefer running into daylight than fight them." Esmeralda took a breathe, before nodding as she gathered her thoughts and continued.

"Now, with that aside, it is possible hunters struck during the night. While incredibly foolish for them to do so, it is possible. What is NOT possible however is for multiple sanctuaries to have been eradicated in the dead of night, with all those present fully active and aware by human hunters without a single drop of human blood being spilled........... because there was none there....."

Vernon, while idly toying with the necklace in his pocket would suddenly jump a bit in Esmeralda's lap and Amia, should she be paying him the least bit of attention, would feel his confusion switch instantly to surprise. Esmeralda halting in her speech to look down at him in concern and Veron would duck his head a bit as he cleared his throat "I ah... apologize. I... would like down now." Esmeralda nodded briefly before depositing Vernon on his own two feet. Vernon hurriedly shuffled for the doorway of the Council room and Esmeralda paused for a moment to watch him go, obviously concerned. Once he had made his exit however, she turned back to the Council and thought for a moment about how to approach the elephant in the room about her Sire's passing. Finally deciding that simple was best and after straightening her shoulders she continued.

"As for my Sire, I... confess that even I knew not what his blood gift was. As such, I do not know how useful it was but..." she paused before nodding "... but it is still entirely unreasonable to assume one of our kin so ancient and experienced would die to anything but our own, one of our trusted own, without a fight.

This, of course, was utterly true of her. Indeed, no-one in his clan knew what Otto's powers were. While it was not uncommon for some of the kin to receive abilities some would consider lack-luster, Otto had never even seemed to exhibit one of these. Indeed while many theories, even among his own clan had existed about whether his powers were so minor no-one noticed, everyone who saw them did not survive to tell of them or that he never used whatever his powers were surprisingly the final option was most highly regarded... at least among his own kin. No amount of surveillance ever yielded anything, no amount of watching or skulking him around, even when he seemed genuinely surprised whenever his pursuer revealed themselves. Indeed, the kin known as Otto Von Buren had been as... plain.... of their number as any before or since and had simply been an exceptional individual as far as his character and leadership. Perhaps others still suspected the deceased Lord of the Von Buren clan to harbor some lost secrets but if there were any Otto had gone to exceptional lengths to hide them.