Disclaimer: I lack the creativity/money to be creator/owner of either the House of Night books or the Trinity Blood manga. Otherwise, this wouldn't be fanfiction, now would it?
Chapter 2
Arrival
Two blonde figures stood in the main doorway of the grand Venetian palace, silhouetted by the light of the moon. "On the behalf of my companion and country, I would like to thank you for being such a gracious host," said the taller, feminine form.
"On the contrary, it is I who must thank you. You have expanded my knowledge to include a fascinating world I was ignorant of and technological marvels my mind could not conceive. So to you I give my greatest thanks and wishes for a good journey. May the Goddess bless you," came another female voice from inside the darkened receiving hall. Then two pairs of feet were walking down the courtyard to the waiting boat.
Elegant, refined, and quite expensive, it was a limousine for the water. Stepping into the passenger area, the smaller figure, formerly silent, spoke in a voice so soft the driver could not hear. "We were under the impression that this was not your first visit to this city. Were we misled?" Its voice was that of a young adult of indeterminate sex. The woman answered, "No, you are correct. However, as we have a tentative alliance with the Vatican through the AX, and during my work here I was assisted by the AX, the Empress asked me to respect their wishes and keep quiet about my previous visit. Also, if the Outers learned that those murders were the work of a Methuselah, they would likely have second thoughts about accepting us."
"We understand." The rest of the ride to the airport passed in silence.
Halfway across the world, the Tulsa House of Night was abuzz with rumors. As the only reliable source of information on the coming guests was already checked out of the library, most of what was being said was about their habits, history, and appearances. But a small portion of the school's gossip was devoted to the habits, history, and appearance of the girl everyone knew was responsible for Tulsa being asked to host these esteemed guests. Zoey Redbird.
At that moment, Zoey was lying in bed. The lights were off, and the shades were pulled to prevent the mid-afternoon sun from disturbing the nocturnal fledgling's rest. Yet she couldn't sleep. She hadn't grown used to the silence in the room where there used to be Stevie Rae's soft snores. The first night after Stevie Rae's death should have been the hardest, but due to the support of her circle of friends, it hadn't been. However, something told her that if she didn't 'fess up to all the stuff going on in her life, all the secrets she was keeping, then she wouldn't have their support for much longer. And that was another thing to keep her awake at night. The thought of losing her friends.
"What do I do, Nala?" Zoey whispered to her fat cat. She didn't even get the usual 'mee-ow-uf' answer. With a deep sigh, Zoey sat up in bed and swung her feet to the floor. Walking softly over to the bookshelf, she pulled down Children of the Night and settled back down in bed to read. Though the book was quite engaging, despite being half-guesswork, she soon drifted off into the land of dreams.
"Zoey, Zoey…WAKE UP!"
"AAAAHHHh- Oh, it's just you two. Twins, why did you have to wake me up?" Zoey blinked up at the girls looking down to her. Pale and dark faces, as different as could be, shared identical expressions of exasperation. "Twin, I do believe that our dear Z-"
"-has forgotten what day it is? I have to agree. Shall we tell her?"
"Z, one week ago was the Assembly," said Erin, using the word the fledglings had adopted to mean 'the day we got the message and learned we'd be hosting a new species'. Shaunee continued, "Therefore, today is…?"
"'Therefore'? You've been spending too much time with Dami-OH! They arrive today!" Zoey sat up quite suddenly, knocking heads with both Twins as she did so. All three clutched their heads and their eyes watered in pain. When she'd recovered, Zoey asked her friends, still on the floor with their hands to their foreheads, "Thanks for reminding me. But why'd you have to wake me up?" Erin answered her. "Z, you seriously need to get an alarm clock. Or use the one you have. It's eleven pm. They'll be here in an hour."
"Poopie! Thanks for telling me."
"Glad to be of service," Shaunee said, and both Twins exited the room, pulling the door shut behind them. Before it had closed, Zoey was out of bed and walking towards the shower. She ran the water on the colder side, hoping to wake herself up, and stepped in. Shampooing her long black hair, Zoey remembered the last time she'd slept in and had to be woken up by one of the Twins. That had been the day of Stevie Rae's death.
Zoey shuddered, remembering the last time she'd seen her best friend alive. Stevie Rae's face had been so pale, contrasting sharply with the thick, dark streams of blood running from her eyes, mouth, nose, and ears. Her last words had been spoken for Zoey. "Will you stay with me?" Zoey told herself the water running down her face was all from the shower, and finished washing her hair. As she grabbed a bar of soap and started to lather her body, she thought to herself, 'It's not like I'll never see her again. Stevie Rae is still out there, and I will help her regain her humanity. And who knows? Maybe if I play my cards right, I'll have new allies to help me.' On that happy note, Zoey stepped out of the shower and started toweling off. As she did, she admired the intricate Marks on her body, physical signs that Nyx favored her. She dressed and put on her makeup quickly, keeping the Marks in her mind, a symbol of hope.
Zoey got to the Auditorium after the Twins and Erik, but before Damien and Jack. Both of the gay boys turned up looking flushed and rumpled, so there was no question as to what they'd been up too. As they took in Jack and Damien's appearance, identical smirks grew on the Twins' faces. "Finally found your way here, hm?"
"Got a bit distracted on the way?" The accused couple only giggled at the comments being thrown their way. Erik looped an arm around Zoey's shoulders and whispered in her ear, "I wouldn't mind being distracted myself." Zoey smiled, and was about to kiss her boyfriend when, again, the Twins interjected. "Hey! Don't go flaunting your lovely couple status in front of those of us who are single!"
"Though if those two fiiiine friends of Erik's prove up to the challenge, we might not be single much longer."
"True, Twin, very true. But who knows? Maybe the guests will be a pair of hot, available guys just looking for a little brown sugar."
Zoey sighed at that comment, not pointing out that Erin was in no way black. Stepping away from Erik, she scanned the auditorium. Even though it was twenty minutes to twelve midnight the room was full. Erik looked disappointed for a moment but quickly covered it up by saying, "If we want seats, we'd better get them now. If we remain standing here much longer we'll never be able to see the stage." The group nodded assent and headed farther into the crowded room.
Erik's popularity combined with Zoey's position as leader of the Dark Daughters managed to secure the friends a place near where they sat during the Assembly, in the front row. As the settled in to wait, Zoey wished she had Children of the Night with her. She wasn't a big reader by any means, but it would have given her something to do. She wasn't very far into the book, and she'd been learning about the history of the Darklands, what they were like before they became the home of the Methuselah. All around her fledglings were whispering. She heard wild speculations on what the guests would be like.
The teachers, sitting in orderly lines of chairs up on stage were hardly any better. The Lankfords were whispering to each other, and several others were practically quivering with excitement. Only Lenobia looked calm. Neferet probably would have been collected if she was there, but three chairs were empty, one in front of the teachers and the other two on the other side of the podium. Zoey nudged Erik and whispered, "Look at the arrangement of the chairs. There must be two guests."
"Yeah, you're right. What do you think they'll be like?"
"I have no idea," Zoey lied. Now was not the time to tell her boyfriend Nyx spoke to her, and due to the goddess's words she'd been able to gather some information on the species that was coming to visit. She sighed. The thought of her friends leaving her was too horrible to contemplate. Erik picked up on her mood immediately. "What's wrong?" The concern in his blue eyes was heartbreaking. She couldn't lie to him. "I was thinking about what it would be like if you guys left me."
"Is this because of Stevie Rae?" Zoey didn't reply to Erik's words. He must have taken her silence as a yes because he continued, "Zoey, never think of that. Yes, it is a possibility that we may reject the change. But we'll never leave you." He spoke with such sincerity that Zoey's eyes filled with tears. 'I've been a horrible friend, keeping these secrets from them, when they care about me so much.' Erik's gentle hands wiped at her tears. "Erik," Zoey said, "there's something very important that I have to tell you. All of you. But now's not the time, and this isn't the place. Is that okay?" He smiled sweetly and kissed her chastely. "Anything, Zoey," They spent the rest of the twenty minutes in silence, holding hands.
Despite the excitement in the air and the buzzing of whispers, Zoey nearly dozed off waiting for Neferet and the mysterious Methuselah to arrive. She simply felt so relieved after confessing to Erik and so comfortable holding his hand that she couldn't help it. The sound of footsteps across the stage brought her back to the world of the conscious. That and the sudden silence of the student body. She looked up. Neferet was striding across the stage, approaching the podium in the center.
"Welcome, children of Nyx. Last week I had the honor to present to you a message from her Imperial Majesty Augusta Vradica of the New Human Empire. This week, I have an even greater honor. Vampyres, fledglings, today I present to you the Imperial Ambassadors!" The auditorium filled with applause, and in stepped the two ambassadors.
"They're so beautiful…" Zoey heard someone near her whisper, and she had to agree.
The first was a child younger than any at the House of Night, and far more beautiful. She had translucent white skin and androgynous good looks. Her pale golden hair was in a short, straight bob around her face, and bangs hung in eyes tinted like flecks of gold scattered on polished copper. She was clothed in a strange, heavy robe of blue, white, and purple, with golden embroidery and golden plating down the front. Under it she had purple pants and golden shoes, the style of both reminding Zoey of a middle-eastern genie. On her head sat a large hat, which, when viewed from the front, was in the shape of a half-circle. It was in the same colors as the robe. Both articles were quite elaborate. Secured at her hip was a sword.
The second was a woman in her late teens or early twenties. Her white hair was in a boyish cut, with a single red streak hanging down between her eyes. Her skin was not quite as pale as that of her companion, but still very light, with the exception of her voluptuous lips, which were a natural red. Unlike her companion she was quite tall, and curvy in all the right places. Her magnificent body, displayed well by the dress she wore, compelled even the straight females in the room to stare. The dress itself was short and tight, blue decorated in white and silver with silver plating. On her head was a matching hat. She wore white heeled boots that came to above her knees, and from there her legs were covered by red tights with white embroidery. Though not quite as elaborate as the outfit of the young girl, this woman's clothes were still quite intricate. On her hip was a strange metal pole.
Both Methuselah shook hands with Neferet in the vampyre manner, then Neferet and the older girl proceeded to their seats. The younger one stepped up to the podium, which was nearly too tall for her. She opened her mouth to speak, and Zoey and the others in the front row gasped. The rows behind shot curious glances at them, and one fledgling whispered, "Fangs!" by way of explanation. The whisper spread, only to be quelled by a glare from the girl. 'She must have incredible hearing- better than the average vamp's,' thought Zoey.
"Greetings, Marked by Nyx." The girl began. "We are Ion Fortuna, Noble of Moldova, Tzara Methuselute; Earl of Memphis. As Spatar, Imperial Sword Bearer, it is our duty to carry out the Imperial will." 'Wait. That means this kid's a boy!' Glancing around Zoey saw consternation and amazement on several faces, clearly she was not the only one to have thought the child was female. The beautiful boy continued with his speech, first introducing his companion as Astharoshe Asran, Marquise of Kiev, then explaining why they were here in the first place. Ion's style of speech was rather formal and old-fashioned, but Zoey was able to understand that the Empress wished to create a world where all species, human, Methuselah, and vampyre lived in peace. Zoey might have scoffed at the idea, thinking of her step-loser, but the sincerity in the Earl's voice made her pause. 'He truly believes and wants this,' she mused, and felt hope grow within her. These people would wonderful allies. When the speech was concluded, she led the standing ovation.
"Zoey?" Neferet's powerful voice rang out over the excited sounds of the fledglings. They had been dismissed from the auditorium after the two envoys disappeared backstage with the teachers, and immediately exploded into chatter. Zoey made her way through the crowd in the hall towards the High Priestess. "If you would please follow me?" Neferet said, tone commanding despite the fact that she'd technically asked a question, and turned away, walking briskly down the hall. Students parted for her like the Red Sea for Moses, bowing in the vampyre manner as she passed.
Neferet led Zoey into the teachers' lounge. Once they were all inside, with the door closed, she cleared her throat loudly. The mob of adult vampyres in the middle of the room parted, revealing the school's Methuselah guests.
Zoey had to hold back a gasp. Up close, the ambassadors were even more captivating. Neferet spoke. "Your Excellencies, this is Zoey Redbird, the fledgling I spoke of." Both gave regal nods. Neferet continued, "Though we teachers will try to accomodate you in every way possible, we do have responsibilities to our students that we can't ignore. To ensure that you are never without a guide, I have excused Zoey from all her classes so that she may assist you until you are settled in. Is that agreeable to you?" The Earl and the Marquise exchanged a glance, and the Marquise said, "It is acceptable. Thank you." Neferet gave her most charming smile. "I'm glad to be of service. Zoey, you are excused. I will give our guests a tour, and show them how to find your dorm room."
"Of course." Zoey bowed and left the room. As soon as the door shut behind her, she was sorely tempted to scream "YES!" at the top of her lungs. Being excused from class wasn't a particularly bad or good thing, as class was hard but generally enjoyable. On the other hand, being assigned to guide the Methuselah was definitely good. They were the only people in the whole school not guaranteed to be under Neferet's sway. She smiled and sent a silent thank you to Nyx for this chance, then hurried off to find her friends.
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AN: Thanks for reading! Now, will you take another minute and review? Please? I know at least one person has this on Story Alert. If you like it that much, won't you tell me?
