Blood Inc.
Chapter Four
tiffany aka basketcase
--
The beautiful music of the orchestra rang through the unusually vibrant ballroom. The ballroom was painted in pale peach with gold moldings and ornamentations. People, dressed in their finest cloth, were dancing and drinking red blood. There were some who were laughing at the mere event and some who were scowling at tonight's announcement that would be made later tonight. There were so much drive from these people that no ordinary person could tell that they were all vampires.
The King and Queen were seated on their throne, watching their guests enjoying themselves. But both of them couldn't enjoy the ball. Cornelia would brush away imaginary lint off her dark violet organza gown every once in awhile and would be conversing with her lady's maid, Jacqueline. Donovan was glancing at his son who was staying by the corner with the dark woman whom he loathed very much.
Endymion was standing close to Vanessa and would held her hand when no one was looking. They had the appearance of close acquaintance but it was no secret that they were lovers.
This ball was an engagement ball for Endymion and Serena. And Donovan would be announcing the date of the blood ceremony soon. Everyone was accounted for all except for Serena.
"What do you mean Serena is not here?" Donovan hissed to Anastasia who was the unfortunate to deliver the bad news. She kept her head down, afraid to look into her king's dark eyes. "Where is she?"
"I don't know, my lord king,"
Donovan released a deep sigh but he kept his composure. His eyes glanced to his son. "Go to Endymion and have him find Serena quickly. I cannot announce their engagement if my future daughter-in-law is not present. Also I want you to rely a message to Lady Vanessa." Donovan leaned in and whispered the message in her ear. Cornelia pretended that she didn't heard what he had said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Anastasia left Donovan's side. She was glad because Donovan frightened her when he was in his calm yet anger state. It reminded her of the calm before a storm.
Anastasia found him at the back corner with Vanessa who was giggling and flushed in the face. Anastasia frowned at her prince's behavior, knowing full well that Endymion was soon entering an eternity-bond.
"Your Highness," Anastasia bowed with grace to Endymion and yet she gave Vanessa the cold shoulder, "and Lady Vanessa." Vanessa wasn't fazed by it because she didn't care about the little girl.
But Endymion did. He scowled at Anastasia for mistreating Vanessa. He had recently discovered that Anastasia favored Serena over Vanessa unlike the rest of the vampire population. But it was no secret that Vanessa and Anastasia didn't see eye to eye.
"What is it, Anastasia?"
"Lady Serena had gone missing," Anastasia reported to Endymion. "She wasn't in her suite when I came for her. His Majesty wants you to escort her here. He wants to announce the engagement as soon as possible."
Endymion raked his fingers through his dark strands. "Fine." Endymion turned to Vanessa and kissed her on the lips. "I will miss your fair lips milady." Endymion left the two ladies idling.
Anastasia watched Endymion weaving through crowds. Once Endymion had left the ballroom, Anastasia faced Vanessa, her violet eyes hardened. "I have a message from His Majesty: he may have not marked you but you cannot be around Endymion anymore especially after Lady Serena become his mate."
"I only respond and obey Endymion."
--
The full moon hang in the sky along with million of twinkling stars. That was what Serena saw as she lay on a patch of cool grass. She couldn't wait any longer in her suite for the announcement that would lock her future. After five days as their prisoner, she needed air, even for couple seconds of freedom. She hated to feel suffocated. It wasn't her nature to be inside for so long.
It had been five days since Serena had arrived at Altima Manor. She had seen Endymion five times and that was only during dinner. And it always ended the same: Serena stormed out, unable to control her emotions.
She didn't know how that happened; how Endymion easily got under her skin, through her barriers. It annoyed her so much that Serena had come to a conclusion that she liked him. She fought back, telling herself that she was so emotional that she was going to believe the first thing that had popped into her head. But the problem was that she had never gotten that emotional, only if Endymion was near her.
Serena laughed bitterly. Even Endymion wasn't here, she was still angry because of him.
Taking deep breaths, Serena tried to calm herself. The full moon looked lonely to her, just like she was. She held up her hands as if she could reach the lonely moon. Her mind quickly wandered to her second day in Altima Manor.
--
It had been couple hours since the sun had set, and Donovan didn't want Serena to fall asleep on him again. Back in the same sitting area, the same people have all assembled except for Serena. Donovan didn't mind though, he was liked his future daughter-in-law more and more because he had never met anyone so willing to stand up against him and his son with no fear.
But the others were beyond mad that Serena had decided to take her time especially after she had defied them when she fell asleep on her first day here. Endymion and Cornelia were very annoyed that Donovan had actually pardoned her, which was rare for him to do.
The large oak doors opened. Anastasia led Serena in; her composure was stiff and defensive. Serena didn't expect a warm welcome. How right she was.
Cornelia displayed a deep hatred the minute Serena locked into her red eyes.
Dimitri watched her like a hawk the minute she had walked in. She could feel his eyes roaming her body and sensed the same sickening feeling she felt from Bale. She kept in mind to stay particularly far from him. Even Mary had her own share of dislike for Serena.
Donovan smirked at the way his mate, mistress, and half-breed son welcomed Serena and the way Serena readied herself for such a welcome. Endymion looked away to the window until Serena's poise broke.
There was one person in the room she didn't expect was Jonah. Serena swore her heart had stopped for a minute. There were so many emotions shone through Serena's eyes. Endymion couldn't help himself but took interest at how Serena going to react.
True to herself, Serena regained her composure and glared at her old friend. Mary was muttering to Donovan that Serena wasn't raised right.
But Donovan completely ignored his mistress. "Jonah, here, is an ally and leader of the Wiccan Rebellion. He had brought most of your belongings over. I believe you grew up with him."
"I'm not sure anymore," Serena replied coldly.
"Serena," Jonah said as he stood up. "We need to talk."
Serena didn't move from her spot on the couch next to Endymion. She felt so betrayed that Jonah didn't tell her anything and especially the fact that he knew Donovan.
"If you want to talk to me, you can talk to me in front of my new family," Serena spat. "First explain yourself why you didn't tell me your vampire sources were actually the King of the Damned."
Both Endymion and Donovan were amused that Serena chose to have a private conversation in front of them.
Jonah looked around the occupants in the room, the men found the situation amusing and the two women didn't. He was uncomfortable to discuss this in front of them.
"Fine," he exhaled deeply, "If I told you who were my source, you would kill my chance of overthrowing the current Head of the Wiccan Society."
Serena said in disdained, "You could have asked me for my help. I thought you were my best friend. I told you everything and yet you kept some part of your life secret."
"I can't believe you're blaming me," Jonah scoffed in disbelieve, "If you were able to use that famous Hunter deduction reasoning, you would have known that there have been a disturbance within the Wiccan Society years after my grandfather's death. There are so many reasons why I can't tell you anything."
Endymion found the confrontation very entertaining. Even his father and mother were enjoying it as well. Endymion looked over his father's mistress who was annoyed by it, much to his satisfaction. Dimitri, on the other hand, was watching closely.
"Then start now. Tell me!" Her fists balled up on her lap. Her hands were clamped so hard that she didn't realize it was turning white.
Everyone in the room was having a bit of a hard time breathing because the pressure in the room had thickened. Serena's power was causing the pressure because her emotions were getting out of control. Jonah could feel the air thickened as well and knew that if he didn't do anything to calm Serena down, there would be blood-thirsting vampires after his and Serena's head.
"Because I made a promise to your grandfather."
"What?" Her balled-up fists loosened as her anger slowly fade. The air was becoming a little easy to breathe.
Jonah pushed his bangs back. "Your grandfather was a good friend to my grandfather. Before your grandfather's untimely death, he had seek me out and made me promise to protect you."
Serena opened her mouth to speak but Jonah interrupted her. "And the reason why I didn't tell you anything was that your grandfather gave me very strict instructions to let you figure things on your own."
Serena sat there on the couch, absorbing everything in. She had frightened Jonah when she abruptly left the sitting area Jonah thought she was ready to kill him.
--
No matter how out of reach the moon was, she would always try to reach for it.
Of course she made up with Jonah. They had been best friends for a long time and he always had her back. Throwing away such a friendship would be a waste.
Her hands were still up in the air, reaching out for the moon. Serena remembered another emotion Endymion had evoked within since her stay. That emotion was hurt.
It was when she accidentally spied on Endymion and Vanessa together, and that was the first time she met Vanessa face to face.
--
It didn't take Endymion long for him to find Serena. It was easy to track her down because she was still wearing her golden pendant. He was annoyed that Serena had ventured out of the safety of the manor and into the forest.
His annoyance disappeared when he reached the clearing where Serena was laying on a patch of grass with her arms up in the sky, her curls spread under her. In Endymion's eyes, she looked like a fallen angel waiting to be rescue. Her dark silk gown gave off a soft glow, from the moonlight. It made Serena looked more enchanting.
Walking up to her, he didn't want scared her but he knew that she had already sensed his presence. Endymion sat down next to her, and looked down at her. He followed her gaze to the full moon and stars.
"They aren't that interesting," Endymion said, breaking the silence between them.
Serena shifted her gaze to Endymion, a bit disappointed that Endymion would insult the moon and stars she held so dear. But she ignored his insult. "How did you find me?"
"You still have the pendant on."
Her hand automatically went for the pendant. "And?"
Endymion stared at her, wondering if she was lying. But she wasn't. He scoffed as he raked his fingers through his dark strands. Serena could feel herself blushing. But luckily for her thin layer of makeup, her blush wasn't visible.
"I can't believed that no one told you," Endymion mumbled. "That necklace is a protective pendant to ward off other vampires and the liquid in the vile is my blood to act as a beacon for me to track you."
"That's…" She said as Endymion watched her fingers slowly grasping the pendant. "Explain so much." She had never had vampires come looking for her during her hunts; she had to search them instead. She had always wondered why.
"Your deduction reasoning is really pointless," Endymion chuckled.
"Shut up, Endymion." Serena narrowed her eyes at him as she sat up straight. The moonlight bounced off a same silver chain was the one she had saw when she first met him. "That silver chain doesn't seem to fit you." Serena leaned over as she reached for the chain around his neck.
Endymion shoved her hand away from him. He didn't like how it felt whenever she touched you. Serena looked offended when he did that. He unhooked the chain and handed her the silver cross-covered in thorns attached to a silver chain.
"Your grandfather gave it to me. It was a part of the terms of our betrothal."
But Serena didn't hear him. Tears appeared in her eyes when she realized where she recognized the silver pendant.
She whispered, "This belonged to my grandmother. I have seen pictures of her wearing it. Grandfather told me that her Hunter charm was made of platinum, a sign of her power."
"Are you going to return the other pendant? That was part of the agreement."
Serena's eyes narrowed and was looking at him in disbelieve. Here she thought that they were having a moment; that he was being sincere, returning her grandmother's pendant but he just wanted his pendant back. The same pendant that had soothed her heart whenever it was in chaos.
Serena angrily exhaled. She grabbed his hand. But before he tugged his hand away, she planted the cross in his hand a bit too hard because the thorns had stabbed his hand, blood seeping out of his cuts. He scowled, flinching at the pain. His eyes darkened with a hint of red surfacing.
She was ignoring him. She stood up, and stomped out of the forest and back into the manor where her engagement ball was still going on.
Endymion was watching her storming off. He was starting to wonder how was he going to survive with her being his mate. She could be the death of him even if he couldn't die.
--
It had been a week since the engagement ball. Ever since the ball, Serena had been avoiding Endymion like a plague. Endymion had yet to recognize the importance of the golden pendant Serena held so dear that made Serena madder. He even had the nerve to ask her about it the next night when he and Vanessa bumped into her in the hall.
When Serena was starting to eat dinner in her suite, it really agitated Endymion in return. Like Serena have thought, he didn't understand why. But what he knew was that he hated being agitated, and he was going to find a way to fix that.
Endymion strolled into Serena's suite to find it empty except for Anastasia and several maids who were moving some of Serena's belongings to their new suite.
"Where is your mistress?" Endymion asked Anastasia in a low voice.
Anastasia bowed as well as the other maids. "Milady is in the washroom. She will be out shortly."
Endymion eyed the bathroom, "Good. Leave."
Anastasia and the maids bowed and exited the suite.
Endymion walked around the suite before pausing at the vanity. He was looking though Serena's makeup and accessories. There was something in the trash had caught his eye. He picked it out of the trash. It was two VIP passes to the Chrysanthemum in Upper East Side.
"What are you doing here, Endymion?"
Endymion looked up, staring at Serena through the vanity mirror. It was clear that she had just come out of the shower. Her hair was dripping wet and the thin robe was clinging to her body.
He took in a painful breath, "I was checking up on you."
Serena walked past him and sat down at her vanity. She picked up a brush and began brushing her hair. "I didn't realize you were this nice," Serena said sarcastically, her eyes watching him through the vanity.
"I didn't come here to fight, Serena." Endymion narrowed his eyes at her reflection. "Do you realize that we have two days left before the blood ceremony?"
After combing kinks and knots out of her hair, Serena set the brush down. "What are you trying to say, Endymion?"
"What I'm trying to say is that we should try to go on a date. Tonight."
Serena felt her heart stopped when he said that. It was the last thing she had expected him to say, well beside the 'I love you'. Serena cleared her throat, regaining her composure, "And where do you propose we go to this 'date'?"
"This." Endymion held up the VIP passes on the vanity to show Serena.
Serena glared at him, looking over her shoulder. "You better not be planning to feed at Chrysanthemum or I will kill you."
--
Endymion drove his black BMW to the club. It didn't take long to get to Upper East Side. The valet sprinted next to the BMW as it came to a stop. The valet helped Serena out of the car. Men, who were in line, were hooting and whistling when they caught a glimpse of Serena getting out of the car and fixing her black and white deep V dress. But they were quickly silenced when Endymion shot them all a deathly glare. The women in line were just as bad as the men. They were sending Endymion flirty winks and shaking their hip. Serena glared at the women. She didn't like what they were doing to Endymion.
Endymion walked over to Serena, and his hand on her lower back. He whispered into her ears despite the loud music that were coming from the club, "Don't stray away from me. We're on a date, remember?"
"I'm only doing this because I'm want to see something else than black marble and vampires," Serena lied. Actually she just wanted spend time with Endymion. But she can't tell if she was just excited for this date or she was falling for it. It's not like she was going to tell him either anyway.
Endymion slipped his hand from her back and grabbed Serena's hand. She was blushing when he held her hand. Then Endymion led her inside. The lustful men and jealous women groaned when Endymion and Serena were admitted inside before them.
Chrysanthemum was an Asian theme nightclub. Buddha statues were scattered around the club and bar. Lotuses were floating in a small aqueduct that separated the dance floor and the lounge while the bamboo fences provided privacy to the VIP lounge. It was hard to admire the Asian décor with wandering drunks and hot bodies grinding against each other on dance floor.
The music was booming loud. Endymion led Serena to the VIP lounge. Serena was glad she had Endymion leading the way because she couldn't focus or function very well with all the lust and jealousy in the air.
They had seated themselves at an empty booth in the corner of the VIP lounge. Immediately a waitress came by and took their drink order. She even had checked Serena's ID, to see if she wasn't a minor.
Endymion sat right across from her. He was looking elsewhere but glanced at Serena whenever she took her eyes off him.
Serena had taken a bite of a complimentary chocolate-covered strawberry that the waitress had brought over. She scooted next to Endymion so he could hear her over the loud music. "Why did you want to go on date with me? Why did it matter? We're going to be mates anyway."
Endymion leaned in, "I wanted to find common ground with you so we could tolerate each other."
"Oh?"
Endymion leaned in closer, his lips near her ear, "We're going to see each other more often. And much more."
His breath tickled her spine. Her eyes were close. She bit her lips from moaning. Once the feeling was over, her breathing was shaking. Being this close to him was dangerous to her and her health for sure.
Endymion chuckled, liking at how she reacted. "I didn't realize I have such an effect on you."
"Shut up," Serena look at him fiercely and playfully jabbed him in the abdomen, which was hard. "I guess we could compromise on some things… Like Vanessa for instance. "
"What about Vanessa?" Endymion growled. He didn't at how Serena brought up Vanessa.
"We're getting married in two days." Serena scoffed at him, "Maybe in your world that is okay to have three people in a marriage but in mine, it's not."
"One: It's not a marriage. It's a bond. Two: Both of us didn't want this in the beginning. And three: Whom I associates is my business."
"I'm not asking you to cut off all communication with her. I'm asking you to at least respect me."
"What I do and whom I associate is my business."
"Fine, be stubborn." Serena squealed as she scooted out of the booth. Then she faced him, looking in the eyes. "All I'm asking was a little respect, Endymion. I gave up my whole future for this fucking promise and my pride."
His midnight blue eyes glared at Serena who stalked off the VIP lounge, and to the bar. "I will never understand her."
Serena couldn't help but have a feeling that someone else was watching her. But she wasn't sure because her empathy was a bit hay-wired by the other emotions in the air. The dim lighting, flashing lights, and loud music weren't helping either.
The next thing she knew was that someone had crept up from behind Serena and had injected purple liquid in her. Whatever was injected in her had caused her to pass out and into someone else's arms.
Endymion didn't take his eyes off her. He saw that someone had been strategically weaved through the crowds to get to Serena. He jumped up when he saw her fall in the crowd.
But someone from behind also injected the same purple liquid into him. Endymion passed out and fell in the booth. The stranger rearranged his body to look as if he enjoying the music.
--
Serena had waken up and found herself on large bed in a dimly lit room that she didn't recognize. She wanted to get a better look of the room but she couldn't move. Her body was numb and her hands were tied to the bedposts.
She tried to untie her wrists with her telepathy but her mind was still fuzzy. Unable do to anything else, she was going to try to call for help instead. She knew it was going to hurt but she needed help. Inhaling deeply, Serena gathered her mental strength and released a burst of telepathic power.
She screamed from the mental backlash. She knew it was going to hurt but didn't expect the backlash to hurt that much.
The door opened and then footsteps were walking toward the bed Serena was laying on.
"Serena."
Serena knew that voice. It was the voice that she grew up and hated him for his idiocy. "Bale." He was the last person she had expected to be here, and he was the last person she wanted to be near to.
Bale sat on the edge of the bed. "Welcome to the Wiccan Society."
"Did you kidnap me?" Serena asked, ignoring his gesture.
"You weren't safe with them, Serena, and now you're safe," Bale straightened his back. "Let me introduce myself. I am the General of the Wiccan Society."
"General? What are you talking about?" Serena stared at him. She didn't know where this was going.
"And mom is the Head of the Wiccan Society."
Serena was flabbergasted by his newfound information. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because mom doesn't want to scare you."
"What? How would that…" Finally she understood him for the first time. "What the hell are you planning?"
Bale brought his hand to Serena's cheek.
She flinched at his touch. "Don't. Touch. Me."
He was losing his patience with Serena. Bale grabbed her chin, forcing her to look straight into his eyes. "You are our salvation. I need you. We need you, your blood, and the True Hunter. We want to rid the world of vampires."
Her eyes widen at the words 'True Hunter'."Why do you want the True Hunter?"
"It's true that the True Hunter appears when there is a threat to the Hunters."
Serena narrowed her eyed at him what realized at something in what he had said. Her anger was getting the best of her. "The Hunter Genocide wasn't caused by the vampires, was it?"
Her breaths were fast and shallow. Her pupils were changing from crystalline blue to bluish grey. Something in Serena was changing. And Bale could see it so he started panicking.
--
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the fabulous reviews. I hope this chapter could reach your expectations and maybe more. And sorry it took so long to come out.
Please Review!!
-tiffany aka basketcase
