Queen of Darkness
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that I am writing about. Some company in Japan owns the characters. Please don't sue me, as I have nothing but a little dog kennel that I live in. And you can't have that.
Chapter 8
Relena exited the office and made her way purposely to the door. As she made her way through the club, many people tried to detain her. This one asking for a dance, that one wondering if they could buy her a drink. All of them mortals, as the vamps in the club knew better than to approach her in her present mood. Though a couple of the requests were tempting, they were all turned down. She was not in the mood, nor did she have time to go frolicking through the night with mortals.
Once she got outside, Relena checked her watch. It read 11:50 pm. Still very early, though the elder's meeting was due to start in ten minutes. The mansion the meeting was being held in was way across the city and even she couldn't get there before the meeting started. Relena wasn't worried though. They may be the elders of their race, but she was there Queen.
She was the one that they had turned to when the previous queen had died in what history calls the Seven Years War. Seventy years war would be closer to the mark but who's counting. They picked her cause she wanted to get vampires out of the war. Away from the battle fields where they gorged themselves on the dead and dying. On tainted blood that killed so many.
Another reason they chose her was because of her brother. After finding there way to the elder's in England after they were turned, he joined the fighting. England was at war after all and Millardo had a very good knack for strategy. Relena believed that had Millardo been female, he would have gotten the position.
For ages past, since the very first vampire, the females have ruled our kind. Which for a while, hundreds of years, was a problem for men just turned, as they came from a world where they ruled. Sure they could gain some power, almost half of the world's elders were male after all.
The only thing that Relena didn't like about being queen was the fact that, at times, she had to be ruthless. Not all vampires accepted her rule and went rouge. But that again, is something rulers have had to deal with for centuries.
Relena paused in her thoughts and her progress shaking her head. This was no time to be reviewing her history. Sure her kind had dealt with this problem in the past but this time was different. This was like the first time there had ever been hunters. Though not like then cause they did know some things about this threat.
Relena shook her head again. Save it until after you have talked to the elders, she told herself. With that she continued her way to the mansion where the elders were.
Relena arrived at the gates of the mansion about ten minutes after the meeting started. She waited about half a minute at the gates before they opened to let her in. Knowing that her being her was already causing a stir, Relena calmly walked up the drive way to the door. Here she was emitted immediately by a young vampire who was doing his best to look official.
"Majesty," he said, bowing as she walked in, "to what do we owe the pleasure?"
"I'm here to see the elders." Relena replied shortly.
"I am afraid to inform you, majesty, that they are in a meeting and do not wish to be disturbed." the young vamp told her hesitantly.
"I am very well aware of that fact." Relena rounded on him, her fangs showing. "I have news which is very urgent. Seeing's how I am the one that's here, I doubt there will be any repercussions for you by letting me in. If you don't let me in there, well that's another story."
"I'm sorry, majesty, please forgive me," the vamp said hurriedly. "I will take you to the meeting room immediately."
"Thank you," Relena told him, retracting her fangs as she followed him down corridors and stair wells.
They went down three flights of stairs and turned down the hall. At the end of the hall, were two large oak doors. Relena didn't have to be told that they had reached their destination.
"Wait," Relena said stopping for a minute then continued after her guild had stopped. "I'll go the rest of the way by myself. There really is no need for a guide when I'm this close."
"Of course, majesty," the young vamp bowed and walked away.
Once her guide was gone, Relena squared her shoulders and walked towards the doors. As she approached she felt the elders stirring inside the room. They were aware of her presence and would greet her accordingly. When she was a few feet from the doors, they began to open for her.
Relena walked through the doors to find a group of nearly thirty vampires seated around a long table. All of them were on their feet before she even set foot inside the doors.
"Your Majesty," came the low mummer from the elders as the doors closed behind her.
"Be seated, all of you," Relena told them as she walked to the middle of the room where she could be seen by all.
"Begging your pardon, majesty," a male elder began, "but to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"
"Information has just come into my possession that I thought you all might want to hear." Relena stated. "I know that I should not have interrupted your meeting and I am sorry I did. However, you all also know that I would not have unless it was important."
A mummer of agreement went through those assembled. It finally died down when the chairperson of the elders raised his hand. He was a young good looking man, though he radiated power. He was one of the first ever made. His name was Treize Kusrinada and he was her grand-sire.
"We all know this, Queen Relena. What news is it that you would share?" Treize asked looking at her affectionately.
"My news is this, grandsire, that an enemy of old has come to haunt our steps once again. In short," Relena paused, "vampire hunters once again walk this earth."
As she had expected this statement caused an uproar. Vampires all around the room were demanding she explain herself, other just plain refused to believe it. Treize was trying to being the meeting back under order, and after about five minutes he did.
"Now lets all just calm down." Treize said to them all, before turning his attention once again to his grandchild. "Relena, this is not the time to or the subject to joke about. Hundreds of our brethren have died to these beings that have the gall to call themselves mortal."
"I know all of this, Treize." Relena told him looking straight into his eyes. "I lost many friends to them. And can you honestly tell me that I look like I'm joking? I saw these creatures with my own eyes. I don't know how many of them there are in the world or even this city but I do know that there are five for sure. They are also very young and don't follow our old guidelines."
"How do you know all of this?" a female vamp, known as Lady Une, asked.
"I know all of this because one of these hunters took a liking to one of my girls." Relena told her. "We were at my brothers club when he came and asked her to dance. At the time I was a little pre-occupied and didn't pick up on the under current of his aura. The two of them went off to talk somewhere private. During this time he told her he was a vampire hunter.
"My girl didn't let anything slip about who she was, what she is. She was able to get some information that could help us with this problem." Relena finished telling them enough but not the whole story.
"Who else know about the hunters?" asked a female named Natasha.
"Before I came here I informed my brother and his mate. I knew that I would have to come here but I still needed a little guidance." came the reply. "I also told them to start telling our populace."
"And you don't think that this news will cause widespread panic?" demanded Natasha. "This is a matter to be taken care of by this council and not by some little girl and her big brother."
"I'm sorry," Relena said drawing herself up, "if I have offended the council. I thought that I was well within my bounds as queen to try and protect my people. And my brothers' mate will be a big help. She has never known this enemy, yet she does not panic. She will be a role model for young vampires to follow."
The room fell silent as everyone contemplated all they had heard. Many were still skeptical about this knowledge being realized. Granted it would get out sooner or later, but many would have like it later. Later when they knew more and were better able to come up with a general defense for the people.
"The question now is how do we proceed." Lady Une spoke up. "We need to find out about these creatures."
"We are going to have to detail some volunteers to get close to these devils so that we can get more information." Natasha stated.
"Yes," Treize said thoughtfully, then turned to Relena. "You said that one of the hunters took a liking to one of your girls, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did," Relena told him cluing into what he had in mind.
"What if," Treize continued as if thinking out loud, "we use the relationship that has started to form between these two for our own purposes? What if your group were to go undercover to get the info that we need?"
This suggestion was met by great resistance. No one wanted to see the queen anywhere within a mile radius of these beings. To have her right in the thick of things would be - many considered - unthinkable. Yet Treize had not only though it, he had voiced the insane proposition.
"You know," Relena said after thinking for a couple minutes, "that isn't a half bad idea."
"Majesty, you can't be serious," a stunned Lady Une said.
"Oh but I am." Relena told her with a level gaze. "I am willing to take this mission, however my girls must choose for themselves. I have a feeling that a couple if not all of them will join me."
"When will you know for sure?" Treize asked her. "Cause if they won't then we are going to have to find some other volunteers."
"Why look for volunteers?" Natasha wondered. "Just pick some people and tell them they have to do it."
"For two reasons," Treize began, glaring at Natasha, " the heart of a volunteer is always stronger. And in many ways this is considered a suicide mission. We can't order our people to give up their lives."
"Don't worry," Relena said, "I'm sure my girls will come with me. I'm meeting them later on tonight. I'll call you as soon as I have their answers.
"If that is all, then I will take my leave," Relena continued. "I'm sure you have other business to attend to."
"I will be looking forward to your call." Treize told her bowing as she walked out of the room. "Now that that is settled, we can move on to other matters."
To Be Continued . . . . . . .