Yuuri and Victor scatter to their feet and ran to the door. They wiped tears from their eyes as they make their way to the foyer where Chris was on the floor busy cleaning out his backpack. A crowd had already formed around the vampire flooding him with questions. He stood and raised a hand to silence the crowd. When the room fell silent he spoke.
"I have big news to share with all of you." he hollered so everyone could hear him. "I have followed their tracks and found them on the move. The southern clan had set up camp about a mile away from here sniffing us out. They are planning on an attack. We're looking at maybe sometime tomorrow. If we don't act now, they will break down our doors and end us."
The room was in an uproar in fear and anger. This was not the news they wanted to hear from their best spy but now they are left with this very bad news.
Yuuri stood there and soaked in every word Chris said, the dark reality sinking in. That was a problem, a huge problem. Victor wrapped an arm around Yuuri's waist and pulled him in close. Usually he would tense up or pull away from him, but this time he softened to his touch and embraced the warmth the vampire gave off. Maybe it was because he was so shaken up after the news Chris shared with him? Or maybe there was more to it? Yuuri didn't question it further, he was just happy that Victor's protective instincts shone through.
"We need to strategize an attack plan tonight." Victor spoke up over the roar of the crowd. Everyone turned to look at the master in the back of the room. "I would like everyone to gather into the meeting hall on the third floor of the West Wing. Spread the message." he dismissed the room except for Chris.
"Do you think we have that much time?" he whispered to the spy just in case anyone who was still lingering didn't hear them.
Chris's crestfallen face was answer enough for the master. "I'm sorry. . ."
Victor gave him a supportive smile. "Don't be. We'll figure it out. Go join the others." he whisked his hand towards the West Wing. Chris gave him a sorrowful nod then he ascended the stairs.
"Everything will be alright?" Yuuri trembled in Victor's arm as he asked the question he already knew the answer to.
"Yuuri, I will do everything in my power to make sure our clan survives this battle we're about to get ourselves into." Victor had told him. He guided them up the stairs and into the West Wing. "We have a meeting to lead."
The meeting room was packed front to back with every vampire in the castle. Chris sat next to a podium. Victor and Yuuri pushed their way to the front. As the members noticed the master and his husband make their way through the crowd they made space so they could easily get to the podium.
Chris stood as Victor made his way up and went to stand next to Yuuri. Victor turned on a microphone waiting for him on the podium. The room went silent. Victor spoke,. "Now, I'm sure most of you had already heard that Christophe-" a few murmurs were heard in the crowd at the master's use of a name. "Silence!" the room went quiet again. "Christophe had returned as the bearer of bad news that the enemy is coming to attack. His best estimate is that they will leave their camp at dawn. That doesn't give us much time to strategize so I called this meeting so we can act fast in this emergency.
"Some of you are probably ready for a battle, that I can't deny either, but that is not what this clan is about. We do not harm unless we feel the threat towards us. I don't want a lot of bloodshed when they come. Do not act on instinct unless another comes after you. We are looking for the peace between two clans and we'll continue taking the high road.
"I need all of you to try and remain calm through it all. They will come hungry, but we will be stronger. Keep them busy but do not kill unless you're at threat of being killed.
"Everyone is to split up into groups and take the three open wings of the castle, South, East, and West. My guards should have a hold on the North Wing and none of the other vampires should be able to make it in that wing because you should all have them held off. I have faith in you as your master, friend, and family." he smiled a little at the last word that Yuuri noticed. "Let's brace ourselves for morning. Try to get some rest, you'll all need it for what awaits you. Thank you." Victor's voice slowly softened to a whisper. He turned the mic off and set it back on the podium.
The room filed out slowly Yuri and Phichit stayed behind with the three up at the front of the room.
"What should we do, Master?" Phichit asked Victor.
"I want you two to take Yuuri up to the master suite. I want him protected from the attack at all costs. Then join me down in my office and I'll assign you two to a wing.
"I want to help." Yuuri protested. "I'm an adult who can protect myself."
Victor eyed Yuuri strangely. "Do you have any idea what we're dealing with? These are vampires, they have super strength and will destroy you!" he warned his husband. "I want you in a safe place." he turned and looked back at Yuri and Phichit. "Help him to the suite, please."
Victor made his exit. Phichit and Yuri each grabbed one of Yuuri's arms and lead him to his suite. Yuuri protested most of the way, dragging his feet and complaining because he wanted to help. "I'm not weak. I'm not weak. I've dealt with all of you, I can deal with them." he said.
"We know you're not weak." Phichit reminded him.
"But we are powerless against them too." Yuri added.
"Master knows what's best, even if you don't agree with him." Phichit said.
The guards let them through the doors to the North Wing and they dragged him down to the second level where the master suite sat. "We're sorry, Yuuri." was the last thing Yuri had said to him before leaving the man in his suite alone.
Victor had assigned Phichit on the first floor of the South Wing and Yuri on the second floor of the East Wing. "We need to protect Yuuri at all cost." he said. "He's the one that's truly in danger."
Not long after Phichit and Yuri went off to their assigned destinations did Victor stand from his desk, shut off the lights in his office and went to find himself a wing to protect.
He waited alongside Phichit and Christophe on the first floor of the South Wing. Most of the other vampires in that wing were relaxing against a wall trying to regain energy for tomorrow morning's battle.
Chris eyed the master, studying the intense features sculpted on his face. Even though he told everyone else not to, Victor still looked so worried, like something major was on his mind.
"Master-" he began but a loud bang at the door cut him off before he could say anything. The banging continued for a solid minute before the door was broken down. Everyone who was lying around before was now up and ready to fight.
On the other side of them were a large clan of strange vampires. The one up front had glowing red eyes that looked like it was seeing right into you.
The vampires got into their battle stances. They were ready to give the rival clan what was coming.