Chapter 38

"I believe we can make assumptions as to how this evening will go," Mrs Mills said in an aside to Dean as the large party of guests arranged themselves around the room to await the guest of honour.

"I wouldn't be too sure madame," Dean spoke nervously.

"Are you quite all right?" She asked with a sideways glance.

"I promised not to leave her alone with him," Dean answered under his breath. "And none of the Westbrooks know who Charles and Amara are. I will be less anxious when they return."

"Or perhaps more so when Tepes is before you," She commented.

"I already wish to slay him on the spot with the great sword on the mantel, do not make this any worse," his voice was a combination of guttural growl and threat.

"Do not do anything foolish," she warned and moved away to rejoin her companions.

"I would advise you to take her very good advice," Samuel said as he moved in to stand next to his brother.

"Do not leave my side, or risk my impulses to defend these very good people," Dean order his brother under his breath.

"If only to stop you from making a scene among all of these very good people, some of which I will remind you are still civilians and many who have no idea or do not believe what we say about Charles and Amare. For that reason alone, dear brother, I will obey," Samuel whispered as he turned his back on the room and looked his brother in the eyes.

"And what am I to do Samuel, if this is the end of all things. If they do not return and all that greets us is carnage?"

"If that is the case, as unlikely as it is, I will fight by your side to the death, as you are well aware, but this is not going to be that end!"

"Optimism was never my strong suit," Dean commented with a nudge to cause his brother to turn around as the Westbrooks began to return, followed but Charles and Amara, and lastly on the arm of the second Miss Westbrook, came the vampire king.

"You see sir quite the intimate gathering to greet you," Mr Westbrook spoke proudly.

"You are too good Mr Westbrook. I thank you but do not fuss over me. I came for repose from the crowds of followers I have amassed back home. I am here for the quiet and peace," Tepes spoke loudly so that all present could hear him and with a jovial nature that spoke to his falsehood. "But I see that you keep very good, handsome company. Yes, just the sort of people I like," he added and made eye contact with Mr Lafitte.

"Allow me to make the introductions sir," Mr Westbrook said and began at the far corner of the room as his family settled into conversations with their other guests.

"He smiles too much," Dean grumbled to his brother in a hushed tone of voice.

"He's not your type and I expect you to relinquish the acquaintance as soon as we leave here tonight but for now you cannot avoid it," Sam's voice was hushed as well as Mr Westbrook moved ever closer with his prized guest of honour.

"And may I introduce the very wealthy, and affluent, brothers Winchester. Mr Dean Winchester and Mr Samuel Winchester," Mr Westbrook said as they stopped before them and bowed.

"Winchester, of the firearms Winchester?" Tepes asked with intrigue.

"Yes," Dean responded shortly and with suspicious. "The Henry rifle was our family design and several others before it. But that is not general knowledge and much of our credit for those go to colleagues by the name Smith and Wesson."

"Ah, yes. Then you must be the heir to that great fortune. As I understand the patriarch, Jonathan, was killed in battle; was he not?"

"Yes, that is correct sir," Dean answered.

"My condolences," Tepes bowed deeply.

"Thank you sir, but you see, my brother and I are very much alive and well, and carrying on in our legacy. The family business if you will. The business not only of our father but out mother as well," Dean spoke with warning tones and threatening glances.

"Trade, I understand, that was the Campbell fortune; was it not?" Mr Westbrook commented to change the conversation to more pleasant things.

"Indeed Mr Westbrook," Samuel said much more pleasantly as he observed their hosts discomfort at Dean's harshness. "Our father's estate is very prolific and the business of trade was a particular interest to our father, though he did not branch out entirely until mother entered his life. Firearms, and the dealing of such instruments were our grandfather's business and his partners Mr Smith and Mr Wesson dealt extensively in the sales of such equipment. The wealth of our grandfather allowed our father to expand the estate and mother's money added to its lands and prosperity. It grew the wealth greatly and I believe my brother prefers it to the mundane tasks that the estate proper entails. Dean must not be idle and as such he deals in the business abroad as much as possible."

"And what exactly do you trade?" Tepes asked.

"Aside for the goods of the estate; grain, textiles, cattle, we deal in weapons," Dean responded. "Our family business involves the production and design of several riffles but we also deal in arms that do not bare the family name."

"Ha, so you are a sportsman by trade," Tepes laughed.

"Aren't most gentlemen these days?" Samuel asked to carry on the joke.

"Oh indeed sir, indeed," Tepes continued. "Perhaps you will show me what is new and fashionable for the English gentry," he added.

"My brother handles most of my business," Dean said darkly. "And we are bias when it comes to hunting for sport. No need to venture away from the tools we know work exceedingly well because we have fashioned them ourselves, so I could not tell you what is all together fashionable but I can say I prefer the Winchester to any other instrument."

"Well not entirely ourselves, we have trades people for that," Samuel continued for his brother.

"Exactly what I meant brother," Dean said. "But I do test the product before selling, or rather, I test all of the elite weapons."

"As you should sir," Tepes said and nodded his contentment at the idea.

"Perhaps we should shoot tomorrow. You did promise to join me on this estate and you could bring some of your premium quality instruments for us to peruse and purchase," Mr Westbrook offered the idea and it was, generally, met with optimism.

"It would be our pleasure sir," Samuel accepted the invitation before Dean could protest. "Dean will shoot for demonstration and I will tell of our illustrious business history," he added. "We did bring several very nice, very new designs from Dean's personal collection."

"They are not, at this time, for sale," Dean jumped in again. "But we can have the very same models to you within a few, very short, months."

"Indeed, I'm sure you could," Mr Westbrook laughed. "You will come then?" He asked.

"Yes," Dean answered and bowed in reception of the niceties.

"And you sir?" Mr Westbrook asked as he looked to the vampire king.

"I look forward to the opportunity," Tepes said and bowed as well.

"Come sir, to the ladies then, and Mrs Mills," Mr Westbrook said and steered the king away from the brothers.

"What have you done?" Dean hushed his voice to scold his brother. "Arming a monster such as him?"

"I'm keeping an eye on the vampire as best as I know how and you are here, allegedly, to further our business ventures. At least this way you have an excuse to be heavily armed while in the presence of the vampire king the next we see him."

"He's a vampire Samuel. The guns aren't going to work," Dean grumbled and moved away signalling his displeasure and to end the conversation. His brother followed in silence as Dean found new entertainment in listening to Mr Lafitte flirt with one of the Westbrook daughter, though it was short lived, and so the brothers took to pacing, side by side, the length of the room.