Chapter 14:

I don't own anything

The meeting, for Amelie, was a great success in her rising through the ranks of the Council, as well as for increasing the feeling of agitation and fear in the Council members. Things were bad enough when they only knew of the string of murders on the mainland; as soon as the news of the three hundred or so vampires in England's deaths reached them, the opinion that they were facing an enemy far greater than they previously thought came about.

"Have you considered," Bishop began, the meeting near to its end, and Amelie realised that she didn't want him to speak. He could destroy her; he was angered that her actions had caused more ruckus than his, and that was not something that boded well for her future, "that the perpetrator of these heinous crimes may, in fact, be at this meeting?"

He had done it. Even as Amelie silently begged him not to, he said the words that increased the panic in the air – and had everyone looking at one another in suspicion, and also shock. Her skills barely afforded her the ability to hide the feelings she truly felt – desolation, anger and a fear of being discovered – and she could only plaster suspicion onto her face as eyes flickered onto her face. Nobody truly believed that there could be such an evil person in their midst, she was sure, yet every time someone looked at her, she felt that they were about to pull her up as a possible killer.

"No," Jonathan said slowly, though not before looking at everyone in turn, "that's not possible. Yourself and your daughter are the newest members, and neither of you were that close to the murders. Nobody else here would kill so many of our kind, I am sure of it. Intriguing thought, Bishop, yet this cannot be true."

Phew, Amelie let out a sigh of relief internally, yet managed to keep the smile off her face as Bishop cast a murderous look after their Eldest vampire – though without anyone seeing, of course. Unfortunately for her, the same look was then directed towards her, though was soon replaced by a faux smile.

"How about rival vampire groups?" Amelie found herself suggesting, not sure where the words were coming from. "I mean, you're the oldest in this area of the world, Jonathan; what if there is someone from, say, Asia, or an area unbeknownst to us, who feels they ought to have the seat of power? It's possible, I presume." After explaining her logic, she didn't phrase her words as a question: she said it as a plausible theory, one that couldn't be disputed, and she was pleased to see other vampires nodding their heads in agreement.

Even their Eldest looked impressed with this logic, far more than he did when her Father was discussing his train of thought. "We have had dealings with those in China and other countries before you were invited to this group, dear Amelie," Jonathan replied thoughtfully, his eyes trained on her, yet they were blank and unseeing. She knew he was remembering the past, the time when they had fought their enemies in battle. "And that is a possibility; they may have broken our barriers, and began pilfering and plundering, as they did prior to our victory. Very good, child; you have learnt fast – perhaps you ought to teach your Father lessons of trusting thy neighbour, and to always suspect the natural enemy."

The look Bishop flashed her was apparently supportive, as an ordinary Father would flash his daughter, yet the sinister undertone to it had Amelie sure that he was going to have words with her about this, also. In all honesty, she did not particularly care; she would always be able to reply with how she had destroyed so many vampires and cause such mayhem, and yet neither of them could be here without the other.

"Thank you, Jonathan," Amelie responded, a prim smile on her face, one that suggested she was happy, yet reigning in her pleasure due to the grim subject they were discussing. "I hope that we can find these…people, and soon, before they hurt any more of our number."

Murmurings of assent littered the crowd of vampires, and Amelie caught snatches of conversations right the way across the area; nobody seemed calm or relaxed, as they had previously, and there was a definite tension that had people not trusting the others around them. Bishop's words had been silenced by Jonathan, yet that did not make the other vampire Elders believe that they were entirely untrue. There was always the possibility that their fellows were murderers, they knew, and that meant they had to be extra careful, now.

"That is what we all want, Amelie," Jonathan said to Amelie, his moving towards her signalling the unspoken end of the meeting. Immediately, people began to converge in small groups, muttering about things and heading in different directions; everyone did this, so that only Bishop, Amelie and Jonathan remained. "Due to number shortages, both of your friends are now eligible to join us, though if they do not behave responsibly, I shall be forced to take action." He didn't sound happy about such young – compared to himself, Amelie presumed – vampires being invited to join, yet with their numbers so depleted, he had no choice.

"I shall inform them of that when I arrive home," she promised, and with a few more words before a goodbye, Jonathan was gone. Now, she was left alone with Bishop. "You do not seem pleased, Father, that I would be able to complete my side of our negotiation." As she spoke, she didn't look at him, and continued to stare at her nails, knowing that this would infuriate him further.

He swallowed three times before replying. "You did your job too well, Amelie; there is now suspicion that was not there—" he tried to continue, but she cut him off, her icy grey eyes meeting his cold, near black eyes with a look that screamed hatred.

"No," she said, her voice filled with anger. "I did not bring anything upon us, besides give us a further chance to blame the foreign vampires; if they had attacked for weeks, then suddenly stopped when the meeting was called, it would cast suspicion on you and other vampires in your area, more than it would anyone else. If you desire me to say that it was you, I would be more than pleased, for my dangerous side has been far better hidden than yours." She knew she had won, and the look he gave her made her almost want to laugh with pride. "Now, now, Father; there is no need for such darkened expressions. One would think that you did not love your own flesh and blood."

She didn't add on the end that she despised him.

"We must be careful," Bishop changed the subject, his eyes locked on the fire before them, its light casting everything besides what was directly in front of it into shadow, the flickering causing a great distraction. "We cannot strike at Jonathan yet, but there cannot be too long a wait before we do; it is dangerous now, to continue at this staggered pace, killing in sprees and then stopping. More vampires must be recruited to join our cause, otherwise we cannot hope to succeed."

Amelie paused, her eyes betraying her shock; this was not something she had expected, and he knew it. She didn't want more than herself, Myrnin and Oliver – as well as Bishop, for now – because this was the point! It was supposed to be a singular affair, one that seated her in power and didn't cause her to rely on others.

"I don't want to," she began, yet stopped as she realised she sounded like an insolent child. "There is no point, Father, for otherwise, word will get out. You will be killed for defying Jonathan, for vampires hold no prisoners, have no loyalty when they are caught. Saving our skins is better than being killed, after all; you are aware of this principle more than anyone." The reminder of what he had done in the past was a shock to Bishop, or at least that Amelie knew about it, and he took a few moments to reply.

"We are doing this, Amelie." His tone was final, and something in it made Amelie think that this was a mistake, that working with her Father wouldn't allow her the chance to destroy him. Perhaps he was just too powerful. "And if you don't, I shall go to Jonathan myself and hand you in as the murderer of all those people."

He pulled something out of his pocket with a wry smile, and Amelie gasped as she looked at the item.

"Shouldn't be leaving evidence at the crime, should we, Amelie?"

It was her handkerchief.

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