Many thanks to those who have read and left reviews. This chapter is from Wyndam's perspective. The character of Maria is my own and as usual, all errors are unintentional. In this chapter Wyndam feels his interest begin to grow. Love to hear your thoughts.
Chapter Two:
"So…thoughts?"
Edgar regards him levelly as Snow hands him a small crystal goblet. For a moment he doesn't speak and instead he chooses to sip instead. The blood he samples is warm and fresh and it makes his latent senses tingle. Snow smiles softly, knowingly.
"Like it? There's plenty more where that came from. I have a whole family stored in the cellar. Rumour has it that a certain flavour can be…inherited." he pours himself a glass and then turns to regard Wyndam.
"So Edgar…now you've met Hal, what is your opinion of him?" he enquires. Wyndam sighs quietly. He and Snow have an odd kind of relationship. He's an Old One of the highest calibre, one of the most feared vampires in existence. In fact, come to think of it he probably is the most feared vampire in existence. He should be on his knees terrified of him but strangely enough he isn't and he thinks that Snow knows this. Does this afford him a modicum of respect he wonders? He really isn't sure but he does not doubt for a second that he will turn on him in an instant if the situation calls for it so for that reason Wyndam never lets his guard down completely around him. He is always careful to show him deference and respect as well as honesty.
He allows himself a moment to take in his surroundings. They're in a small ante room of sorts annexed from the Great Hall. This is where Snow conducts his most private of business. Wyndam's eyes take in the luxuriously expensive tapestry that graces one wall. It shows scenes of hunting and bloodshed but there are no animals depicted, not of the four legged variety anyway. On the other walls are large oil paintings, one or two of them are of Snow himself and once more Wyndam is impressed by the age of the vampire in front of him. It would seem that he has truly been around since time immemorial.
A fire burns in large stone hearth to Wyndam's right. In front of him, Snow stands beside an overlarge table, a chair Wyndam can only describe as a throne with its ornate gold mouldings and thick ruby coloured velvet cushions behind it. The silence between the two vampires stretches.
"Truthfully?"
"You're the only vampire who is completely truthful with me Edgar; I like and have come to expect it." Snow answers smoothly. His voice is quiet, liquid and languid. Wyndam hasn't ever heard it raised to a shout before but he can imagine it would be quite a thing to witness if it ever was.
"What is so special about this one?" he asks instead and Snow blinks.
"He has potential Edgar, absolute real potential but he's rather rough around the edges. He needs a firm hand and stricter boundaries."
"And you thought of me. I was hoping for…" his words falter when he sees how Snow's eyes sharpen as they focus on his.
"You were hoping for what exactly? Time off? This is what you do Edgar, you assess the new recruits, the ones that I deem worthy enough of further…promotion. You're good at what you do and Hal…" he smiles secretively to himself.
"Hal could be something terrible and yet wonderful at the same time." he whispers. Wyndam regards him.
"I've only just released my last apprentice into the world Mr. Snow…can't Gabriel take him on or how about William?" he suggests. He sees the frown that begins to darken Snow's brow and he knows that his request to attend here has in fact just been a formality. Snow has made a decision and by reputation once his mind is made up then nothing and no-one changes it.
"If I wanted Gabriel or William to take Hal on then they would be here instead of you. No…it must be you, I will not brook a refusal." he takes another sip from his goblet and he turns and places it on the table. He skirts around it to sit down. He indicates one of the chairs opposite him for Wyndam to sit on and he does, slowly and cautiously.
"If I am to take him on then I need to know more about him. What is his story and where in God's name did you find him?" he does nothing to keep the disdain out of his voice. Snow leans back in his chair. He sighs quietly, reflectively.
"He was recruited by Alexei, on a battlefield somewhere. Somewhere… cold."
"So why isn't Alexei looking after his recruit, isn't that what a sire is supposed to do?" Wyndam demands impatiently. His chair is hard, he's had a long trip and he's hungry as well as tired which is never a good combination even for an audience with the feared Mr Snow.
"Well yes naturally but we hit a slight problem in that respect…" Again he reveals that small secret smile "He killed Alexei." his voice is soft but his eyes seem to glow with admiration. Wyndam can't help himself and his eyes widen in shock.
"He did what? Why?" his voice rises sharply.
"I'm not entirely sure. He says that he became bored and restless but I somehow think there was another reason, one he refuses to divulge." his tone becomes speculative.
"Alexei was three hundred years old, how in the name of God was that young upstart able to end him?" Wyndam demands irritably. Snow gives a slow but elegant shrug in response.
"This is why I want you to take over…smooth over his rough edges, educate him. He has potential Edgar."
"If you're so enamoured of him then why don't you take him?" A brief quiet drops between them. Anyone else who would speak to him in such a manner would promptly receive a sharpened wooden stake between their ribs but instead Snow smiles tightly.
"I've been taking care of him for the last six months Edgar…it's your turn now." he keeps his voice low and then straightens in his seat as a sharp rap on the door interrupts their meeting. Almost immediately it opens and Wyndam turns his head as Hal stands in the doorway.
He remains seated as he watches the young vampire comes inside. At least this time he's waited until Snow bids him to enter. He watches as Hal approaches his desk and he pauses and he waits. Snow regards him.
"That's much better Hal. You look much more presentable. Sit down." he indicates the vacant chair opposite Wyndam's own and waits until he does so.
Wyndam takes the opportunity to assess him. He's wearing an outfit of light blue with accents of gold. It looks gaudy and out of place somehow but he supposes not completely unexpected. At least his clothing is clean and tidy. He's seen and been a witness to much worse.
He seems pleasing to look at, tall and slender bordering on undernourished. He frowns very slightly. He will need to fatten the boy up a little bit if he is to be of any use to him but he has what looks like strong bones and an interesting face. His eyes are mostly brown in colour but he did notice a mix of green in there too. His hair is dark and it curls slightly at the ends. Rough stubble shadows his jawline and his upper lip. He can imagine women finding such a look attractive but something inside of Wyndam tightens. He supposes that there is something to begin to work upon here but if he indeed killed his sire as Snow has reported then he will be a challenge too.
Wyndam never backs down from a challenge and he suspects this alone is the reason why Snow requested his presence. Slowly he turns his head away from Hal and fixes Snow with a steady look.
"All right. You have my agreement but I have a condition." He doesn't fail to notice the sly satisfaction that slides across Snow's face.
"Name it." Wyndam looks back at Hal to see him regarding him with a look of puzzlement in his eyes. He smiles thinly.
"If I undertake what you ask then it must be under my own terms and conditions. And it must also happen in England." He looks back to Snow and he waits.
"Agreed." Snow responds quietly as Wyndam knew that he would. He is after all, the best.
"What must happen in England?" Hal enquires. Wyndam picks up on the tension in his voice. He regards his new charge steadily.
"Your training." he responds. He watches the shock bloom in his eyes and his mouth drops open for a moment which he quickly shuts. Wyndam watches how his head snaps around in Snow's direction. His eyes are wide and wild with some unnamed emotion. It looks almost like…panic..
"But…I swore never to return to England…" he blurts out.
"And why is that?" Snow enquires politely but Wyndam sees the spark of curiosity in his eyes. His attention returns to Hal. His breathing is heavier now and he has gone very pale.
"England holds nothing but unpleasant memories for me. When I left I promised never to return." Wyndam watches him and despite everything he feels his interest in the matter begin to ferment. Whatever it is, Hal isn't telling the whole story.
"Unpleasant or not, they're no longer important. My base of operations is in England and you will accompany me back there and that is the final word on the matter. I depart in three days and you will be ready to leave with me then." his words are ice cold and just as hard. Hal's eyes go round at the instruction and Wyndam watches as for a brief moment he seems to shrink down into his chair before his spine straightens. Slowly he rises to his feet and he turns towards Snow.
"When I said that I would never return to England then I meant it, I meant every single damned word. You cannot make me go with him and I will leave here before you do and you will never see me again!" he snarls at him.
Wyndam is in front of him in an instant. His hand wraps around his throat and he pushes him backwards. His chair tilts over as Hal's feet scrabble for purchase on the floor. Wyndam keeps moving and ignores the hands that scratch at his.
"You forget who you are speaking to boy. You have no say in the matter." Wyndam pushes his face into his. He slams him up against the wall beside the fireplace. Hal's eyes blink shut as his head makes a heavy connection against the wall. Wyndam watches them flutter open and fix upon his face.
"I've yet to see what Snow finds so fascinating about you but I suppose in time I shall get to see it. You're under my command now and I will not suffer any disobedience or childish tantrums. You are not the one in charge here." his voice drops to lethally cold levels and his gaze is steady and unwavering. Hal remains frozen in place, his eyes wide. Carefully Wyndam releases his grip on him and he takes a slow step backwards. He straightens the sleeves of his coat and sends a sideways look to Snow who hasn't moved from his chair but there's an expression of secret glee in his eyes. He sees him get to his feet and approach him. Both of them turn to regard Hal who remains up against the wall, staring at them both with what Wyndam can only describe as wide terrified eyes. He looks as though he's held prisoner against the wall by some invisible force. Once more Wyndam wonders what Snow's fascination for this fellow is because he has yet to see anything to even remotely interest him.
"We shall dine and celebrate this fortuitous occasion. Come along Hal." Snow responds and heads towards the exit.
There is a low hum of conversation as the trio enter the hall. Wyndam hangs back to allow Snow precedence and almost immediately all conversation fades away as countless pairs of eyes fall upon them. Wyndam regards them all emotionlessly. Some of the people present know who he is and he sees the wariness in their expressions especially when they catch sight of Hal at his shoulder. Wyndam glances at him and almost immediately Hal's eyes drop to the floor and he takes an imperceptible step back. Wyndam doesn't speak as he enters the hall.
He follows Snow towards the head table. He recognises all of those who sit there with him. He watches as they all rise to their feet and wait until Snow is seated. His eyes catch his and he waits. After a moment Snow beckons for him to approach the table and he does so, taking his seat at Snow's right hand. The gesture does not go unnoticed.
Wyndam watches Hal cross the room and he observes him joining two other men clustered at the end of a similar table. He sees how he smiles at them. One of them pours Hal a large goblet of wine and pushes it across the table towards him. He picks it up and takes a healthy swallow. Almost immediately the three heads are clustered together and Wyndam frowns at the perceived intimacy. His instincts tell him that something is going on and he has learned to always trust his instincts.
The meal passes quietly for Wyndam. He usually prefers to use these occasions to further his already extensive network of information. He has a finger in a lot of pies; he has informants dotted all over Europe and England. He demands respect and loyalty and he usually receives it without question. He hasn't heard of this Hal character and he should've heard about a fledgling killing his sire not long after it happened. It perturbs him that he didn't hear about Hal and Alexei and he wonders at that. As it is, tonight he is tired. He has travelled almost constantly from his base and his bones ache and he longs for a few hours of sleep. His cool blue eyes cast around the people present this evening. He wonders how long until he can safely take his leave.
"So you came?" Wyndam turns his head at the low very feminine voice at his right hand side and looks into deep green coloured eyes. They belong to an arresting face, cool creamy coloured skin, high cheekbones and he knows the hair is black as night beneath that hood. Once upon a time just a smile from those rosebud lips of hers would've been enough for him. That was a couple of centuries ago and he's changed a lot since then.
"I was summoned and I know better than to ignore a directive from Snow." he answers evenly. She smiles and he sees the gleam in her eyes.
"For our young Lord Harry no doubt. He's a bit of a devil that one." she turns her head and looks across the room to where he still sits in company with his cronies. Wyndam frowns.
"I beg your pardon, Lord Harry?" she looks back at him and her smile broadens.
"It's a little nickname we've given him though he's completely unaware of it. Such an arrogant boy, it suits him don't you think?" Wyndam flicks a quick glance back at him as he reaches for his wine goblet. It does he has to agree. He keeps that opinion firmly to himself as he returns his attention to his companion.
"What makes you think that I'm here for him Maria?" he enquires neutrally.
"Why else would you be here? You operate from London, that is your kingdom and you rarely leave it unless Snow requests it. The last time you were here was to take on the task of taking care of Robert and how long ago was that? It must be at least twenty years. Hal is our rising star but he needs polishing and who else to deliver that special brand of enhancement but our very own Mr Wyndam." she answers. Her eyes hold his and her smile doesn't waver. Wyndam sighs down a flash of irritation. Despite her exquisite beauty and absolutely mercenary ways, she always was capable of reading him reasonably well. His answering smile is dry and sparse.
"Why don't you tell me what you know about our esteemed…what is it that you called him? Lord...Harry?" he takes a sip of his wine and he waits. He watches how she glances across the room and how her eyes settle on his newest charge for a moment or two. A ghost of something crosses her face and he can barely restrain a quiet sigh as he interprets the look. It seems as though old behaviours are hard to change.
"Still the same Maria…" he murmurs in a low voice and watches as her gaze snaps back to his face.
"He's an interesting boy. I was… curious." she demurs with a subtle shrug.
"I'm surprised you didn't take him apart, you're not exactly…discreet." He watches how her eyes gleam and she straightens her shoulders.
"Don't underestimate him Edgar. Snow is utterly intrigued by him." she confides.
"And why is that?" he enquires curiously. Her eyes fix upon his face and she regards him for a long moment.
"The story is that he killed his sire. He's barely five years in the making and he does that? Hal is charm personified when he wants to be. It's hard not to be affected by his personality but there's something behind those wondrous eyes of his…something almost blasphemous" He watches her as she talks about him and he sees how she seems lit from within just talking about him. Slowly he turns his head and regards Hal who is still with his friends.
"Who are those who he sits with?"
"Ah. They are his cronies, partners in crime so to speak. They are James and Louis and when he arrived here they took an interest in him, seemed to take him beneath their collective wing. He's let them take care of him since he got here."
"Let them?" Once more his attention flashes back to Maria.
"Of course. They think that they are the ones pulling his strings but in reality, Hal is very much in control. He's the one in charge in that little group; they just don't know it yet."
"Interesting." Wyndam murmurs, watching the young vampire once again. He's witnessed the pair fill their cups over and over again but as far as he can tell, Hal has only had the one and after that first healthy swallow, he has sipped sparingly since then. He watches how he seems to observe his companions with half a smile on his face. Wyndam sees how as he lifts his head, he sees a flash of something in his eyes. It piques his interest.
"Very interesting indeed."