Chapter 1
Rhia:
In the depths of the English countryside, at Blackwell Castle.
Rhiannon sat in her private garden watching the sunset. In all her many years this was on sight that she never lost interest in. It was this and moon rise that were her favorite times of day, or rather night. She sat and thought of what life would be like if she was not a Child of Hekate. But then there would be no life for her or her brother or their coven. She was snapped from her reverie when she heard footsteps on the stairs down to the garden. She could tell without turning that it was her brother, Evan, who had entered her sanctuary. Not only would none of the other coven members dare interrupt her private time, but she knew his stride and his scent.
"Rhia, the meeting is to begin soon." Came his voice from behind her.
"I don't see why I must attend." she said turning to see him. He was handsome in his black eveningwear, with his hair pulled back to show his beautiful yet manly features.
"Because, the treaty with the Lycans must be signed by both our hands." He said with a sigh of exasperation
"I know." And with that she stood, her deep blue skirts sweeping the ground as she walked with him to the council room…
Carmen: "CARMEN, DROP HIM NOW!!" Carmen heard her father order she rolled her eyes. And released the hold she had on her brother, Luke's neck. Carmen stepped away from her brother as he got back onto his feet. Changing back into his human form, Carmen smirked as she changed along with him. They both redressed, Carmen putting on a shift and simple skirt, and covering herself in her huge, black cloak. While Luke put on his breeches and simple linen shirt.
"We need to put a muzzle on her dad." Carmen's oldest brother Blake suggested as he continued to rock back and forth in one of the chairs that was placed along the wall of the vampire's council room.
"I'd like to see you try, brother." Carmen teased as she slowly approached Blake. Blake got to his feet, standing at his full height. And compared to Carmen was quiet high. Both Carmen's brother bet her when it came to height and the muscular appearance but as the whole pack knew she was known as the strongest.
"Don't even start you two; they will arrive any minute now. And the last thing I want is them thinking we are nothing but a pack of wild dogs." Carmen's fathers said as he to his own seat. Her father had black hair like the rest of her pack, and he looked younger then he was. And just as handsome as Carmen's brothers. Just wiser.
"Oh who gives a damn what those bloodsuckers think." Carmen spat out as she fell into a chair away from her father. As her brothers smirked and nodded in agreement.
"After tonight they will be our new allies and I don't want them thinking badly of us." Carmen's father explains once more. Carmen's claws were sliding in and out at the thought of joining with vampires.
"This joining is stupid and you know it." Carmen growled softly, Carmen and her father looked at each other with a challenging, both of their eyes glowing brightly.
"Carmen, you know the law under these kinds of situations we have no choice but to join. It's best for the pack." Blake said. Carmen turned her gaze to her brother. Wanting nothing more than to leap over the table and take a chunk out of him. For once again siding with their father, knowing that in this case she was right.
"No one asked your opinion so do me a favor and shut it. Pup" Carmen snapped, baring her canine at her brother. Blake growled at her, but Carmen paid no mind.
"Carmen, enough." Her father said. Carmen closed her eyes taking in a deep breath. Before looking at her father once again.
"When we rid our lands of these trespassers, don't expect me to be nice to any of these bloodsuckers." Carmen said…
With Rhia:
A female voice from within the chamber said "When we rid our lands of these trespassers, don't expect me to be nice to any of these bloodsuckers." Rhiannon smiled. Let them hate me. She thought. See where it gets them.
Opening the chamber doors her brother gave her a warning look and walked in. she followed and surveyed the room before stating quite simply.
"We may be blood drinkers but I am stronger and older than you, so I highly suggest you watch your tongue." She said to the only female there. She then looked at the others two handsome young men with black hair and rugged features. And an older man that had an older soul than his body showed.
Her brother said "Rhia," in a tone that showed his anger more than his face ever would…
Carmen: A female voice said "We may be blood drinkers but I am stronger and older than you, so I highly suggest you watch your tongue." Carmen's gaze shot to the female who entered the room, alongside a older male. Who was handsome, But not one to tempt Carmen. Carmen heard her brother groan as she rose to her feet.
Carmen walked around the table to stand in front of this new challenger. A smirk placed across her face. Carmen came to a stop in front of the female examining her to see that she appeared strong but she was certainly not stronger then Carmen.
"I'd watch what you say princess, telling lies like that could get you in serious dangers." Carmen said in a normal tone, Carmen stepping closer to her challenger. Moving her mouth to the female's ear. "And I'm not one you'd want to mess with. 'Cause trust me you step in my way, And I will kill you." Carmen whispered. Softly for only this female to hear and no one else. She stepped back when the other woman hissed softly.
With Rhia: The stupid pup! Who'd she think she was? Rhia hissed softly and the bitch moved away. Only slightly though. She prepared to use her powers to push the girl away further to prove she was truly stronger. Evan must have felt her power swell over their mental link because he move so fast he was a blur even to her vision. Suddenly he was in her way.
"Get out of my way Evan." Rhiannon ground out.
"No." Evan said with just as much force, preparing to take his sister down if he had to.
"Let me teach her a lesson in manners, please." His sister pleaded.
"No." He said again with more force and a little power added in for good measure. Rhiannon looked shocked. Evan never used his power on her she must have truly angered him now. She instantly regretted her actions, and backed down.
"I'm sorry Evan." she whispered and turned to take her seat her head bowed and eyes glistening with tears she had almost hurt her own brother and would have if he hadn't used his own power and shocked her into her senses. …
With Carmen:
Carmen looked at the vampire the woman called Evan, as a large amount of power began to radiate from inside him. Carmen had heard of the great amount of power vampires tend to hold within them. And that power grows with each lifetime, much like werewolves power growing with each new moon. Carmen closed her eyes as she felt the pain and guilt coming from the other vampire who entered the room. Carmen wasn't usually one to be mean to someone she didn't know. But she had started it; Carmen forgot that vampires can hear just as well as Lycans could. Carmen opened her eyes to look at the woman. From what she saw the woman was strong, and probably just as stubborn as Carmen. Blake had risen to his feet moving around the table to stand behind Carmen and placing her in the closet chair far away from the other female. Just when Carmen opened her mouth to apologize to the woman, Luke answered for her.
"If I am apologize for my sisters behavior, she's didn't mean any disrespect." Luke said. Carmen glared at Luke.
"Yes my brother is right; She is just having a hard time. Accepting this allies, and needs to remember her place." Blake added, calmly but Carmen could hear the anger behind his tone as if he as if he had spoken in anger.
"It quiet alright." Evan said taking a seat at the head of the table. Carmen meet Evan's gaze as she tried to use her power and look deep into his soul. Like she could with everyone else's, but as she tried she could not seem to get pass the surface. "My sister isn't very happy about this either. So I understand your suffering." Evan added, with a small smile. Carmen heard both her brother grunt 'you don't even know the half of it' under their breaths. Carmen turn her head slightly sending her brother s warning growl the same time she heard the Evan's sister hiss. Carmen looked at the woman the same time she liked at Carmen. This woman was strange to Carmen, and she didn't like it one bit. Just as much as she didn't like the fact that she could see into Evan's soul.
"Can we just get this over with; I would like to get out of here if you don't mind." Carmen snapped crossing her arms in front of her chest and propping her feet on top of the table. Showing everyone she doesn't care what they think. She plans to do what she wants and she won't be bossed around.
With Rhia: Rhiannon watched in horror as the young female wolf put her bare feet on the council table. She gasped "Please," she said "this table is over three centuries old and was one of my father's most prized possessions. Please remove your feet from it." She was trying very hard to keep from hurting the woman; her brother should appreciate her efforts later on that night and allow her to hunt on her own. A luxury he seldom afforded her these days. The female smirked and slowly removed her feet. Rhia closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then looked to her brother and said "I believe introductions are in order if we're to sign this treaty."
"Yes, I do believe they are. Since I have only spoken with the lord Lucian, I will introduce myself for the benefit of you children." The three younger wolves all growled at being called children but compared to Evan they were. "My name is Lord Evan Alexander Blackwell, duke of Ashmond (made it up) and this beautiful woman to my right," he said gesturing to his right hand side where Rhiannon sat. "Is my sister, The Lady Rhiannon Elizabeth Blackwell, Duchess of Bloodmoore (again made it up)." He said this with a great amount of pride for his sister's title, and then looked to the wolf Alpha for introductions on their part. …
With Carmen:
Carmen looked Lady Rhiannon knowing she had heard that name before, or the mentions of this woman. Carmen smirked at the thought that both she and Rhiannon was Duchess. "Nice to meet you my lord and lady." Carmen's father said, Carmen strand herself to not roll her eyes. "I am Lord Hecktor Alexander Lucian, Duke of Mackcane (made up), and to my right are my sons. Blake Len Lucian and Luke Daniel Lucian." Carmen's father said pointing at Blake and Luke, who sat up higher in their seats. Carmen let out a deep breath not wanting to roll her eyes at the look of interest on her brothers' faces as they looked at Rhiannon. "And this is-"Carmen shot out of her seat when her father turned and looked at her. Getting ready to introduce her.
"I am Lady Carmen Angela Lucian," Carmen said interrupting her father looking at Evan, then at Rhiannon. "Duchess of Luna Crest(made up). Great now that we know each other. Can we please get on with this." Carmen said growing very frustration with everyone stalling this meeting. Carmen just wanted to sign this agreement and get the hell out of here.
"Alright," Evan said, Carmen looked at him locking gazes with him, challenging him for a moment before sitting back down slowly into her seat. She heard her father groan in frustration but paid no mind to it.
With Rhia: After 3 hours of deliberating over this and that in the treaty it was signed, finally. As the Wolves left Rhiannon turned to Evan and said, "I need to feed." He looked at her for a long moment sensing that she wanted to go alone. After careful consideration he said,
"Alright, go. But be back in three hours or you'll miss the moon rise."
"Yes, brother." She said gleefully and ran off wrapping her cloak around as left the Castle.