Act 1 Scene 2
The entrance to the conference room possessed a grand arch way, the sides lined with granite columns and speckled stones. Pews lined the sides of the auditorium in a Greek style of seating. Men and women gathered; some sitting, some standing and chatting. The room was buzzing with educated vocabulary and talk of treason. This room far exceeded the painting in the hall. There were hundreds of representatives here, human and vampyre alike.
Elizabeth walked through the crowd warily. Every one she passed was silenced by her image. It spread through the room like her perfume. Everyone quietly moved to their seats. Her guards traveled around her, two in the front and two in the back. They stopped shortly to allow the rest of the crowd to move from their path. Elizabeth nearly bumped into one of her spades. She reached out and touched his sleeve, and gave a small smile. The black, pinstriped jacket with matching pants and tie made her laugh. How their armor had changed with each passing century. It was only fitting and ironic that the people called them "the suits".
The guard smiled back at her touch and then tilted his head indicating they could proceed forward.
Elizabeth walked ahead of them now, keeping a steady speed and her chin parallel with the ground. She walked up three steps and approached her Spaded throne. Four thrones sat side by side, but hers was the grandest. She sat in its familiar indents and looked solemnly to the sides. Had it always been so lonely without them?
A deep breath.
"October 12th, 2012. Welcome…"
"October 12th, 1591. This convention may now begin."
A soldier steps forward. He kneels. His silver armor shines under the candlelight. It is a dark silver, almost black. An even darker symbol is positioned over the heart. A spade.
"My Queens and Kings. The witch hunts grow closer to our borders. They have killed the innocent, and the creatures of God. They rip vampyres from their coffins, and wolves from their dens. I fear if they advance any closer, we will be forced to take action."
The solider looks up. His eyes shine an unnatural gold. A vampyre gold.
"You have done well Michael." Elizabeth nods to him to stand. She turns her head to brothers.
"Andalasia is strong. It has the sea at its back. However, the Empire is vulnerable on this island."
"I propose we build a wall. Like the Chinese." William. The youngest of us all. Barely a century old. He didn't have the awkward phase the others did when coming into his own. He didn't break objects because he was unaware of his strength, he never hurt anyone with a grip that was too firm, and he never walked at too fast a pace even though he speed surpassed the people around him. He was born for power. He welcomed it. He knew what he could do with power; why was that…
"Absoluuuuutely not." A small voice to the left chirped. "I refuse to make the Empire into a fortress. This is a place where people of an odd nature are most welcome! How will it look if we board ourselves up with bricks? Not very welcoming at all." Sethora. She always has words of wisdom. And her delivery…
"Seth is right. We need a better way to protect our people, but I do not think a wall is the answer. Perhaps we should go to the source." Abel looked to me. His eyes a warm and cloudy blue-grey. He strived for peace with humans; a goal, many of us do not even consider.
"Should we visit the Vatican? I don't want to cause a panic." Seth.
"I'll speak with the Pope. Elizabeth, you can talk with the King. He has taken quiet a liking to you. We could use some human help on our side." Abel winks at me, but I can't enjoy it because the very thought of King James makes my skin crawl. He was a womanizer if I ever saw one. His openness in relations with vampire was one he only kept so he could benefit in the bedroom. He was up for anything "different".
"Talk with your Pope, and kings. I still say we build a wall." William motioned a dome like shaping with his hands. "We can cover the entire city and protect everyone, even from an aerial attack!"
"On to the next order of business..."