Chapter 3

Otis' POV:

Today I have to meet with the Elder Council about Em's funeral plans. The Council is going to met in Stokerton since that was her favorite place apparently. Em was only sixteen when he was turned into a vampire. I guess being turned at such a young age made her a bit bitter. That's why she was a good leader. Over the last couple of years, Em and I got a little close, that's how I got into the council, at her wishes. She never liked Tomas, she knew evil would come from him. But I wouldn't consider Vlad evil, he saved us. Humans and vampires alike.

Vlad's POV:

I let Snow sleeping today, but left our bedroom open. I'm still careful when I let her sleep in. The little boy of ten is still frightened after fourteen years. I go downstairs and heat up a cup of O positive. I sat there thinking about Snow and the ring when I sensed Otis walking towards the house.

"Come in Otis."

Otis came into the kitchen and had a sad look on his face.

"What's wrong Otis?" I asked fetching him a cup of blood.

"Em is dead Vlad."

"What? When did you find this out?"

"Yesterday afternoon. The Elder Council is going to hold a funeral for her. I have to go into Stokerton for the meeting today."

"Why didn't you tell me this when I went to pick up the ring?"

"I didn't want to worry you Vlad. You are in a happy time in your life."

"Otis, Em was my great-grandmother, even though she was more than happy to see me die, she was something to me and you. I want to help." I replied setting his cup down.

"That's why I came over here, to ask you if you would like to come along to the meeting."

Snow came down the stairs rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, "What meeting?"

"Em died and we are going to hold a funeral for her." I said.

"Came I come along?" She asked.

"Yes, you need to see what Elysia is all about my dear." Replied Otis.

Snow smiled. She heard Otis and I talk about Elysia but never knew what it felt like to be among other vampires.

"When do we leave?" she asked.

"Tonight after sun set we leave to Stokerton." Otis said

"Snow, want to discuss about the whole October situation with him before we go?" I asked Snow.

She looked at me nodded. "Otis, I have a little problem. It involves October."

"Yes?" he leaned forward folding his hands on the table.

"She wants to become my drudge."

"Well, do you want her to be your drudge?"

"Well, it would be nice knowing someone can come to my help," she looked up, "besides you and Vlad, of course."

"Of course, but?"

"But, I don't want to think of my best friend like that."

"Snow," I reached for her hand, "I felt that same way with you, that's why I released you. Besides, I had Henry so I really didn't need another drudge."

She nodded her head. She let out a sigh and said, "I think I'm ganna do it. She is part of our world anyway so I guess I should make her fully welcomed."

Otis looked like he approve and I was okay with it.

"Well," Otis clapped his hands together, "I guess that's settled. You're going to bite October and we are going to face the Elder Council."

I looked up at him, "I'm so glad your president because I really don't like facing any council, with my history."

Otis laughed and Snow pouted, "Guys, stop with the telepathic talking. I don't like being left out."

"Sorry Snow." I kissed her cheek.

"I'll come back when it is time to leave okay guys?" Otis said over his shoulder as he left.

I got up and cleaned the cups and for the remainder of the day we just laid around the house occasionally watching TV.

Snow's POV:

We piled into Otis' little junky car and drove down the highway. Vlad up front with his uncle and I slid into the back seat. I watched the street lights pass by wondering how it would feel like to be around older vampires. I mean Otis is old but I know there's older than him.

We pulled up in front of tall building that didn't look like vampires met there. We walked into a lobby and Otis lead us to an elevator. There was a little panel below the buttons and Vlad motioned for me to touch it.

"It will open with your touch, go ahead." He said.

I pressed my hand against and my mark on my left wrist tingled. The panel went in and slid up and there was another set of buttons. Otis pressed the one that was labeled "lobby" and we went up.

It felt like the higher we went the further up my stomach crawled into my throat.

We landed at the lobby and this time Vlad lead the way in. The room was dark and posh. It smelled a little moldy but I know vampires don't mind a little dust. We neared a huge mahogany conference table, with a handsomely adorned chair at the end. I reckoned that was the president's seat, Otis' place. On each side there were less adorned chairs but were still beautiful. There were crushed velvet drapes that blocked anyway unwanted light and candles lit all about. This would be a stereotypical vampire setting. I smiled at the thought.

"Snow," Vlad whispered, "there is no telepathy in this place, okay?"

"Okay." I nodded, not like I use it.

Otis took his seat and Vlad and I placed ourselves almost in the corner. One by one the eight remaining vampires filed in filling the remaining seats. Once they were settled, a perky blonde walked in with a tray of goblets filled with bloodwine. The spices hit me instantly and she came over and gave us each a goblet as well. I looked at mine and was marveled at the mixture. Vlad drunk his with ease, like he was used to it. Which I got the feeling he was. I put my lips to the rim of the goblet and let the crimson liquid wash down my throat. It was strong yet refreshing and I really liked it.

"Take it easy Snow; you get drunk off of that stuff." Vlad smiled.

Otis cleared his throat and began to speak. "Tonight we gather to discuss funeral plans for Em."

There was an immense silence.

"Dracus," Otis pointed to the vampire on his left, "would you care to share with the rest what you told me?"

Dracus nodded and spoke, "Yes, well it seemed that Em was murdered by a Slayer, stake to the heart. She was found on the outskirts of Bathory by the police," he looked around, "the human police. So once I caught a whiff of what was going on I quickly came down here and erased their memory of ever finding her and brought her body here so we can hold a proper funeral pyre for her. She was, after all, the oldest vampire so I thought she deserves a proper farewell."

The others muttered in agreement and one of them spoke up. She was beautiful, with her full head of chestnut hair that came around her shoulders and her gray eyes.

"Who's she?" I asked Vlad.

"That is Tabitha; she is from the Cairo Council. There are nine councils, Stokerton, Beijing, London, Edinburg, Mexico City, Cairo, Athens, and Paris. They might not exactly be from that place but they've been elected there. Take for example Dracus. He's not from China but he lived there so long they elected him to represent the Beijing Council."

"I get it now. They all look so young but they're probably over hundreds of years old."

"Yup, and imagine what it would be like to reach they're age."

I agreed and turned my attention to Tabitha. Her accent was thick and rich.

"I'm telling you, my sister wouldn't like for us to be mourning her. She would like a celebration!" She threw her arms in the air for emphasis.

"Her sister?" I said a little bit too loud.

Everyone turned their attention on me. Tabitha spoke, "Yes, child. She was my sister. My human sister in fact. She was turned way younger than me at the age of sixteen and me the age of twenty and she was my older sister. She killed of our created, that wretched man. I'm so glad she did it." She flipped her hair over her shoulder with a 'matter-of-fact' look on her face.

The vampire Victoria from the London Council clapped her hands and the same blonde appeared again. She whispered to her, "Fetch more bloodwine darling. It's not good to have a room full of vampires thirsty." She laughed and the girl turned away and disappeared.

Victoria was tall and elegant with blonde hair in a neat bun at the nape of her neck. She had clear brown eyes and rose pink lips. Her features were sharp but well defined. She looked at me and heard loud and clear, "Erika is my drudge, isn't she lovely?"

I was shocked because I thought there was no telepathy allowed in this room.

Victoria smirked and turned her attention back to the rest. Alsek, who is from the Siberian Council, spoke up. "Tabitha, we won't disrespect your sister. We all had a high respect for Em."

The others agreed and Otis said, "Well, I guess we will hold the funeral pyre in Stokerton. If that's okay with you Tabitha," he motioned to Tabitha and she nodded, "That's settled it then, tomorrow we begin the funeral at sun set."

Erika returned and refilled our goblets. Some vampires sat and talked to Otis and Vlad while I sat far off near the door. Victoria approached me and mentioned to the chair next to me. "May I?" she asked.

"Sure." And with that she took a seat.

"You're a beautiful little thing Snow." She said to me.

"Thank you. Um, you're pretty yourself Victoria." I felt like crawling into a hole.

"Snow is such an interested name, but it can't be your real name. So tell me dear, what is your real name?" She peered at me.

"Um…It's…" and before I could finish my sentence she said to me "Cecilia?"

"Ho…How did you know? I thought there was now telepathy in here?"

"My dear, I'm what you like to call a rule breaker. I'm not doing any harm by using telepathy, I'm simply speaking to you." She smiled.

"Can I ask how old you are?"

"Oh my, well I'm six-hundred and twenty-two."

Wow, that's old. "Really? That old? You honestly don't look your age."

She laughed, "I like you Snow, I really do. You know, I personally knew Vladimir's father, Tomas."

"How so?" I asked. I never heard much about Tomas even though I met him a couple of times.

"Well, we're both from London. And we grew up on the same street actually. Tomas was a trouble-maker; always pulling pranks on everyone. Once, we took a liking into each other and he snuck me out of my father's house. We were never anything serious, just friend you know. Although he was extremely handsome." She winked.

Yes I know I mean Vlad is really good looking and so was his father.

"And to answer your question, I read your mind darling. That's how I knew your name. A pretty name for a pretty girl." She said to me.

I smiled and said, "Likewise Victoria."