The night has become bitterly cold. A slight wind has begun to blow softly, which has chased away the thick haze floating above the town of Budapest. In the Ordoghaz, nobles and servants were coming and going throughout the many corridors of the mansion, waiting to attend to the funeral reception in remembrance of their former Elders.
Among them, Kahn was making his way through the crowd. On his face, a new expression of worry was exhibited, as if he had received some important piece of news. In fact, he hadn't received news at all. And that's what was worrying him. Mason was supposed to have arrived at least an hour ago, what had forced Marcus to postpone the reception. But where in the world was Mason? Kahn kept asking himself that question over and over again. He knew that Marcus wasn't known to be very patient, and if ever the reception had to be cancelled due to the rising sun, the Elder's wrath was sure to be felt throughout the whole mansion.
Kahn swallowed at this thought and continued his way through the crowd. It's when he stepped in another corridor of the second floor that he heard the noise of a heavy door slamming dryly behind him. He turned around to see Anyanka at the far end of the corridor. She was wearing a long, beautiful dress made of black silk and velvet and her hair were cautiously straightened, which made an obvious difference from her usual wavy locks.
When she passed by Kahn in a speedy yet elegant pace, the latter nodded, "Good evening, Anya."
Anya's pale eyes glared into Kahn's dark orbs as she slightly slowed down her step. "Kahn," she quickly and impartially said, passing by him. It was obvious that her sorrow hadn't dissipated yet, Kahn noticed.
"Heading to the main Hall," Kahn asked or more likely stated, obviously aware of her destination.
Anya dryly turned her head, "Yes, I am" She paused. "Aren't you?" she said coldly, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
"Actually, there have been some little complications," Kahn dryly said. "We can't ---"
"Complications?" Anya interrupted him like she has always done. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Kahn seemed really irritated by her interrupting him. "What I mean, is that Mason and the Dealers squad haven't got back yet," he said, fixing her for a short moment.
Anya didn't seem to believe what she was hearing. "And will it be too much of me to ask you where they are?" she demanded ironically, perfectly aware of his severe stare.
Kahn sighed with impatience and said, "Please, Anya, try to put yourself in my position and think of others for once."
Anya felt the urge of hitting him for having said that, but abstained herself, not willing to show any weakness like she's been thought. "And now what?" she demanded instead.
"I haven't been put aware of the squad's whereabouts yet," Kahn answered. "The reception will have to be postponed. I'll put you aware when everything will be ready."
Hands on hips, Anya glared into his eyes. "You'd be nice enough to do so. I'll be in my quarters," she said as she turned around and left towards where she had come from.
Kahn stared at her for an instant, but then turned in the opposite direction. He hadn't made a step that the ring of his mobile phone was uttered. His heart made a jump. "I hope it's Mason," he thought to himself. "Kahn speaking," he said as answering. A few seconds went by as his eyes widened like never before. "Understood," he said after a brief moment.
He headed to the main Hall.
When Erika reached the first floor of the mansion, she slowed her step down, yet was still taking glimpses over her shoulder, every now and then. She couldn't believe that there actually was a ghost haunting the basement of the West Wing! Once again, the rumours have come to be true. "What's with rumours being real these days?" Erika silently fumed, somewhat confused. "And why in this cursed world did I go there?!" However, she continued her route to the main Hall. The funeral reception was about to take place, and she had to be present.
But not exactly in the same circumstances… A large grin appeared on Erika's pretty face as she thought of her encounter with Lord Marcus, the previous day. He had seemed so nice and thoughtful when asking her by his side for the reception. He has even complimented her appearance and had kissed her hand when greeting her.
Soon - if her relationship with Marcus was to grow stronger - she could finally say goodbye to her low rank as a servant and at long last obtain her so desired position in the high hierarchy of Ordoghaz.
Furthermore, the other Vampires were, according to Erika, nothing compared to the Lord Marcus. "What a gentleman," Erika thought dreamily. "Not like this backstabbing clout that is Kraven," she frowned at the thought of her ex-obsession. But then another grin appeared on her pretty features. "And what if… Kraven was actually here to witness me, Erika, being by the side of an Elder… I'll bet this would kill him."
Erika's long stroll was abruptly interrupted when she turned the corner of the hall. Her thin body collided onto the one of someone she guessed was of a strong constitution, and certainly taller than her. Due to the strong impact, she closed her eyes and let out a smothered gasp.
"Well, greetings, Milady," she heard an elegant manly voice say.
Erika opened bewildered eyes to see that her Lord was standing stiff before her sight. She slightly blushed as a thin smile appeared on her features. "Speak of the Devil," she thought pleasingly. "My apologies, my Lord… I was just happening to wander around and I guess I didn't see you. I'm sorry," she said as she bowed down before Marcus.
The Elder took her hand in his and brought her back to her feet. "Don't be sorry, Erika," he said mildly. Back on her feet, Erika took a quick glimpse at him, but soon found herself gazing into his deep grey eyes. "I was just looking for you, might I say," Marcus said as a mischievous yet very seductive smile appeared on his handsome features.
This sentence broke Erika's gaze as her smile widened and she let out a stifled chortle, "Really, my Lord, were you?"
"What did I tell you about that, Erika?" Marcus reminded her with a raised eyebrow and a hidden smirk.
Erika couldn't help herself from smirking to this statement. "I apologize. Marcus," she said. Marcus's smirk somehow pumped up her courage. "I was just thinking about you, actually," she said.
Marcus raised an unsurprised eyebrow, "Ah, really, dear? And what of?"
For a second, Erika was fixed to the spot, but then managed to say, "Actually, I was thinking about our encounter, last morning."
"Ah. Lovely meeting, wasn't it?" Marcus said, to what Erika almost whispered, "Of course." And Marcus continued as turning around, "However, getting to what's going to happen tonight--" a glimpse at Erika interrupted his sentence, "and what I asked you last morning?"
"To be by your side for tonight, my--- Marcus." Erika affirmed.
Marcus nodded briefly, "You will, my sweet," he reassured her. "Yet, I judged somewhat important to inform you of a declaration I had the intension to make after tonight's reception."
"Of course. Go for it, I'm listening," Erika said as she slightly tilted her head.
Marcus turned to her and approached. "Erika," he began in a low, sensuous voice, "it has been ages since I have seen a beauty like you. Moreover, this morning we've spent together has confirmed my decision."
Erika slightly frowned. "And what is this decision you're invoking, if I can consent myself of asking?"
Marcus took both her hands in his and lost himself into her violet orbs. "Erika," he seemed fascinated by her name, "I want you to be by my side. Not only tonight, but also forever. For eternity."
Erika gulped. "I can assure you that I'll stay forevermore faithful to you, my Lord."
Marcus didn't bother rectifying her, but instead continued his speech, "I want you to be my Queen, Erika."
His voice echoed through Erika's mind. She couldn't believe it! An Elder has just proposed her to be his Queen, his consort, his bride… "Could it be? Could it be possible that after all these cruel years of submission and obedience, the status of Queen of the mansion can finally be offered to me? I just can't let this chance go by!"
"You're not saying anything?" she heard Marcus's voice delivering her from her fantasies.
Erika smiled, thinking about her future, "I was just… stunned by what I just heard."
Marcus's lips curled into a smile. "So, what are you saying about that, my dear?" he said while brushing the side of her face with his hand.
Erika's wicked violet eyes gazed into Marcus's pale grey orbs and she said, "I say yes." And then added, "Of course, I do."
Marcus's cold lips found hers. Surprised, yet delighted, Erika couldn't wait to inform her fellow maids ---- ahem… ex-fellow maids ---- of her new status in Ordoghaz. "And tonight," Erika thought, "tonight, everyone will know it," she thought after what would follow the reception. "My moment of glory has finally arrived! Oh, how I'd love Kraven to see this."
Unfortunately, they were interrupted by an unpredicted, yet very worried voice behind them. "My Lord," Erika heard Kahn's voice.
Stunned, Marcus let go of Erika, whom herself seemed rather surprised. "What is it, Kahn?"
Somewhat astonished, Kahn quickly glimpsed from Erika to Marcus, before saying, "Mason and his squad have returned."
To this, Marcus nodded. "That's good. I suppose that the funeral reception can finally begin, then."
"Well, my Lord, I don't think that it would be possible for the reception to take place," Kahn said. Strangely, he seemed less gloomy than the past nights.
As for Erika, wasn't she seemed truly disappointed. At last, her chance to shine among the other Vampresses had come, but once again, had fled away as fast!
Marcus raised a very surprised eyebrow and slightly raised his voice, "And why is that, Kahn?"
"Mason has informed me of their latest whereabouts, a few minutes ago." Kahn continued.
"And? What did he tell you?" Marcus demanded, guessing that Kahn had something important to tell him.
"It's Lord Viktor… he's well and truly alive, my Lord." Kahn said as two pairs of wide eyes stared at him in shock.
To Kahn's statement, Marcus brought a hand to his chin and slightly nodded, staring into what seemed to be emptiness. A roar of thunder was suddenly heard, and a bolt of lightning glowed through a nearby window, causing Marcus to get out of his gaze.
The Elder let out a passive chuckle and said, "Well… I guess we're better off to greet them, aren't we, Kahn?"
Kahn nodded professionally as he followed his Master to the main Hall. As for Erika, she stayed there, bewildered. "And what about me? Am I not your new Queen?"
Confused, she decided to follow her Lord and the weaponry expert to the main Hall. Luckily and thanks to Marcus, she had completely forgotten her encounter with the "ghost" of the basement's West Wing.