Prince Consort

Chapter 41

"How are you feeling?" Alfred asked Keith, who slowly took his seat, a grimace of pain twisting his features. Using his good arm, his other bandaged up and pressed against his chest with a wrap. You could barely see that he was missing his hand and part of his wrist, which was also bandaged up. The stump would remain that way, at least until he got a magical prostatic, which would be in the very near future. "Did you get the all clear to come here?"

"I wanted to be here for this," Keith stated, hissing out in pain, the wound might be healed but the internal damage was immense. The wounded tissue would take longer to heal, he'd been stabbed through the stomach but unlike many of his brethren he had survived so he couldn't complain. He wouldn't complain.

"Have you at least drank an adequate amount of blood?" Alfred questioned, pressing his hand against his good shoulder.

"I drank my share," Keith reassured him, he'd go out and get his own after this was all said and done. He wouldn't take more than he needed, couldn't take it away from those who needed it more.

Alfred gave him a searching look, but his attention was stolen the moment Severus and Harry made their way through the door. Disgruntled whispering sprang up immediately, seeing Harry was drinking from a goblet. Which they did not normally see or tolerate, this was an official meeting after all.

They were unaware of Harry's current condition.

The group on a whole were giving a chilling look by Severus, as well as himself, but his was less effective, it still had the desired outcome. Those voicing complaints were silenced immediately, faces blanching at their Lord's ire being directly upon them. They were not terrified of their Lord, not in the way the Death Eaters were terrified of Voldemort. They would still regret antagonising their Lord though. The worst jobs handed down until they 'learned their lesson' which was usually tedious, mind-numbing or boring or physically challenging. One never knew just which way Severus would go. So, regardless of their Lord Consort's actions, they were all for self-preservation.

Harry seemed obvious to it, but if you looked carefully, his gaze had swiftly zoned in on those complaining with an inscrutable look on his face. Having memorised their faces for later, he went right back to sipping the blood. Severus unobtrusively had a hold of his other elbow, keeping Harry steady on his feet, regardless of how unsteady he felt he wanted to walk in under his own power. He did not want to be seen as weak. Severus had vehemently protested Harry ever seeing himself as weak. He was strong, smart, capable and downright vicious when need be.

Especially not here and now.

Harry was nonetheless grateful when he sat down, it was going to be a very long evening, and he already wanted to be back in bed. The aches and pains were terrible, and without pain relief, he was feeling rather grouchy and sour. No doubt everyone could sense it, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"How are you fairing?" Alfred asked, sliding into the seat next to Harry, where he was supposed to be, right at the front.

"Sore," Harry grumbled, he hated the fact he wouldn't be able to take potions to ease the pain unlike everyone else here. He detested being in pain, it made him think of a time he'd rather forget in all honesty.

"Are they out of pain relief draughts?" Remus asked, crouching down next to Harry out of nowhere. Given the amount of injured, Remus wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. Although, he doubted Severus would allow his mate to remain in pain. He'd be off like a shot brewing the potion himself if need be.

Harry blinked at the sight of his dad, realizing he didn't even know yet, he would soon though, "I've taken one," he told his dad, not wishing to alarm him. Sirius was hovering nearby as always, not sure what to say to Harry and just wanting to be at his mate's side and Harry's too but not sure if he was welcomed or not.

Remus' eyes became further shadowed at that pronouncement, "When?" realizing if the pain killers weren't working yet, that Harry had to be in a tremendous amount of pain. "You should be resting," he protested, "He should be in bed!" he added to Alfred as though the vampire had any way in what Harry chose to do with himself.

"No, dad…I am needed here," Harry stated firmly, "You know that." giving him a knowing look.

Remus' mouth pursed, displeased but not all that surprised, ignoring the quiet gasp of shock from Sirius. It was probably the first time he'd heard Harry actually calling him 'dad' he didn't do it all that often. "I know," he conceded, "Alright, just…don't overdo it, please? For me?" he did not like the thought of his son sitting through a meeting when he should be recovering.

"It's going to be a long night for you as it is," Harry pointed out, glancing very briefly at Sirius to prove his point.

Remus grimaced, conceding with a nod, yes, he was aware of what was going to go down. He understood creatures and revenge better than anything else these days. Ever since he stopped fighting his creature side, all thanks to Harry who accepted him fully and completely without reservation. Even James and Sirius hadn't managed to get through to him the way his son in all but blood did.

Sirius however, had decried all things dark including creatures until recently. He would not like what was about to go down, and Remus could only pray he wouldn't make things uncomfortable for them here by acting out. With all the vampires on edge…it wasn't going to be a good thing at all if he did. They might react first think later. They had just been attacked after all.

"Take your seats," Alfred urged them, "It's time,"

Remus glanced at Harry again, who nodded, he was fine, "Go ahead,"

"Very well," Remus sighed, standing up, he pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead, before moving off with Sirius a silent shadow at his back. He took them right to the back, so that if Sirius did begin to protest, hopefully he could get him to quiet down quickly. It didn't escape his notice that he was thinking of Sirius like one would a child. Which made him cringe, but Sirius had been drugged since he was…what twenty-one years of age. Mentally he was still young, he had a lot of growing up left to do. Plus, he was an Auror, this sort of thing he was instinctively taught to stop, to defend.

"Who's first do you reckon?" Harry asked, turning back around, after watching his dad and Sirius sit themselves right at the back. It didn't escape Harry's notice that they were right next to a door, so if Sirius did begin acting up, Remus had a speedy exit all mapped out.

"That's not in question," Alfred murmured, eyes darkening just thinking about the traitor.

"Rodney then," Harry nodded, yeah, he had an inkling that would be the case, but he wasn't a hundred percent sure. Part of him wondered if Rodney would be dealt with last.

"Indeed," Alfred agreed fully, "The others will be brought in to see his execution, before they in turn suffer a similar fate." Rodney's fate was going to be considerably worse than that of those foot soldier vampires, who were just doing the bidding of their betters. They however, had chosen to follow that madman, and would now suffer the price for the belief they could take what does not belong to them. With the approval of their old leaders, the leaders that they had chosen to abandon for a nomad sort of lifestyle. Which is exactly what the leader had been, a nomad, a wanderer, looking to take what didn't belong to him.

"How long has Rodney worked for us?" Harry stated, watching his husband from afar, the shudders were already down, making his face a stony mask. Hiding both his rage and fears, he would have felt sorry for Rodney if he'd been capable of it, but the reality was, he wanted to see him suffer. For once in his life…someone who had wronged him was going to pay, these people were going to make him pay, his husband was.

Alfred inhaled sharply, "That I'm afraid is the kicker," disgust clearly displayed, "Over a decade, apparently that loyalty meant nothing to him." a whole decade of parroting everything back to that bastard of a father of his, who knows what he'd learned during that time and how much of it the vow prevented.

Harry too intent on listening to Alfred almost jumped a foot in the air, when a chorus of growls met Alfred's statement. Indicating that almost everyone was listening to their conversation, it was impossible to shut off everything really, vampire hearing could be both a blessing and a curse. "Derek was his scapegoat; I suspect you'll probably find something…incriminating within his belongings." Something that actually belonged to Rodney but altered to suit the vampire they were setting up.

Severus' gaze flittered away from where he was standing, pointing his finger in a gesture to 'wait' to storm, to zero in on his mate, listening intently to what he was suggesting. A wry smirk spreading across his face, he just loved causing chaos wherever he was. He was severely displeased with many of his people for their reaction to Harry's…actions. Yes, drinking wasn't tolerated, but they've all been injured, all been hurt, they should understand that, even if they didn't know exactly what was going on. They would soon enough, after this was over, everyone here would be updated on his mates…current condition.

A hissed curse, followed by the door opening and closing was the only indication that Derek had been there and heard his words and was currently – and presumably – making his way towards his rooms with haste.

"That…we did not suspect," Alfred frowned, "Why do you believe he needed a scapegoat?" he wouldn't need one if his plans were what they all thought.

"Just…the way he acted," Harry explained, shrugging his shoulders, only to hiss in agony, he really needed to stop doing that.

"In what way?" Alfred questioned, the urge to demand answers was strong, but he wasn't stupid enough to demand answers from Harry. especially not now, everyone had better watch their step, friend and foe, for he had a very protective and possessive mate nipping at his heels. Even from across the room, Alfred could feel Severus' gaze boring in on his mate, watching him, revelling in such a powerful and majestic mate. Very different indeed, to all other consorts, and he would revolutionise the Prince laws, regulations and thoughts.

"That's just it, nothing that could make you say 'that's exactly it'," Harry told him, "He got short with Derek a time or two, like he was suspecting him of something and Derek was way confused."

"And you said nothing?" Alfred asked, frowning in contemplation.

"As I said, it's nothing that can make you go, that's suspicious, it was just weird," Harry stated sharply, his entire body tensing further still, at what he perceived as a silent accusation being aimed at him. "If I thought for a second something more than jealousy or a bad day was going on, I would have said something." Beginning to feel like he was being interrogated.

Severus cleared his throat pointedly, giving Alfred a look that cautioned him on choosing his next words very, very carefully indeed. The last thing Severus needed was for Harry to begin doubting himself, not when he was just beginning to fully accept his place here at his side.

"I have no doubt," Alfred said solemnly, and it was true, if Harry suspected anything, he would have said something. That was not being called into question or doubt, it was nothing to do with Severus' subtle warning, not at all.

"Good," Harry relaxed a little, but not fully, the pain wouldn't allow him to relax, which in the long term just caused him more discomfort. His tense muscles, seizing and contracting, not easy at all. He wished he was still in bed, but regretfully, he had to attend, it was expected of him, plus, he did not want to showcase weakness or miss this. If he hadn't been in this amount of pain, he would have been quite happy to observe todays proceedings, regardless of the fact he knew he was going to witness an execution.

Or rather executions.

He was deeply curious to see just what his execution would entail. He doubted it would be a simple matter of cutting off his head and burning the body.

"Bring them in," Severus' cold calm voice demanded, "Storm, Cenric, collect Rodney yourself," sneering the name as if it was repugnant to him. Which, of course, it was, he had betrayed them all, betrayed him, betrayed his mate. If it had gone the way they wanted it…well he shuddered at the mere thought. Being cautious if Rodney had managed o infiltrate their hold…with bad intentions, that not even he had sussed out…then he wanted people he trusted on bringing him up. He had a few trusted watching over them, waiting to bring them up…so that nothing, not even suicide could stop the bastard from escaping.

"Yes, My Lord," Storm and Cenric replied at once, bowing low before backing out of the room, two others stepped in place to protect Severus. Alfred wasn't the only one also protecting Harry, he had two guards sitting behind him and two to the side.

The entire thing took less than two minutes, and none of the vampires cared to be careful or even somewhat respectful towards the intruders. Hell, they all knew they would have just been burnt where they lay if they died and these son-of-bitches had survived. Nearly every single one of them looked beyond terrified, not to forget the severe pain they were in, with missing limbs and burns.

Rodney was the most terrified of them all. Well aware of the fate that awaited him.

Or so he thought.

Harry's eyes glittered malevolently, a vindictive sneer twisting his features as he watched Rodney. Very much a predator watching his prey, as Storm and Cenric shoved Rodney to his knees in the circle, which flared to life, they moved out but Rodney? Rodney couldn't leave the circle.

He wouldn't ever leave the circle until he was naught but ashes.

"Rodney Abreu you have betrayed the Prince Clan and brought harm to the Prince Consort…your guilt is irrefutable…" Severus spoke his voice dark and dangerous, his magic cloaking him, showcasing just how powerful he really was, and had never needed a vampire inheritance to be considered dangerous.

It stood to reason that his mate would be just as powerful if not more so.

Rodney swallowed thickly, trembling in fear, he'd never expected it to come to this. Unfortunately, they hadn't expected the Lord's consort to come back here. He was supposed to go to one of the safe houses with him. He thought the boy had trusted him somewhat, and would have gone if he knew it was what Severus wanted. He was supposed to get the boy away unobserved, if things didn't go the way his father liked, he would have still had an in with the Prince clan while his father dealt with Severus, bargaining with the life of his consort for the Prince seat of power. After decimating at least half the Prince clan making it clear they weren't playing around.

Now…now his father was dead and soon his Clan would be too.

"No! Let him go! He's the only heir to the Abreu Clan! Without him the line…" the vehement protest of a female vampire as she tried to get to Rodney, tears streaming down her face. Fear for him most prominently displayed.

Rodney swayed in horror, the second he heard her voice, no, no, no, no she was meant to stay behind. She wasn't meant to be here; she was carrying his child for Merlin's sake. Why would she risk coming at all? He'd had the safe job! he wasn't even meant to be here at Prince Castle to begin with. "NO! Please! She's…she's pregnant! The baby and her are innocent! Please!" instead of seeing even a crack of sympathy Severus' face becomes even more stone like, and his heart sank, no, they wouldn't kill someone who was pregnant surely…no, not even for his crimes.

"You knew what would happen if you betrayed me," Severus stated vehemently, eyes gleaming coldly, darkly, as he observed Rodney as if trying to decide what to dissect first. "I really should end her and make you watch, see what you've wrought on people you care about. After all, it would be only right after you nearly took mine from me. Her time will come, but instead she gets to watch you perish."

"No! please! We'll leave! We won't come back!" she stuttered out, fighting against the vampire restraining her, but she couldn't get out of the bindings even if she could get away from the vampire holding her.

None of them would be escaping the justice they had so eagerly sought by attacking the Prince clan.

"Aline!" Rodney called out, trying to get to her, only for the dome he was in to electrocute him, violently. He wasn't aware of anything other than sheer unmitigated agony until it ceased. Dazed and in agonizing pain, the first thing he became aware of was the fact he was on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. The sound soon came back, as Aline kept calling out to him, fear in her voice. Tears ran down his face, it was supposed to be easy, she was supposed to be safe with their child…he was supposed to give her roots, the next Consort, once his father stepped down and he took over. She'd always insisted she didn't need that, she only wanted him…if only he had listened.

He was paying for his fathers' aspirations; he'd barely seen his fiancé for the past decade because his father wanted him to infiltrate the Prince Clan. His father wasn't just to blame, he had wanted it just as badly. To give his family, his children a safe place to life. A constant one instead of being a Nomad.

"What the hell?" Sirius tried to stand only to be pulled back into the seat by Remus, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Shut up," Remus hissed out through gritted teeth, amber eyes glowing as his creature fought to come out and rip Rodney to pieces. Mooney couldn't of course, not even to protect his cub, but it was definitely making its displeasure known.

"I'm not going to stand here while they kill an innocent woman…" Sirius argued, his grey eyes glancing this 'Aline's' way, the guy said she was innocent as well.

Remus' hands tightened around Sirius' arm, fury seething through him, "They tried to kill Harry, tried to kill everyone here, none of them are innocent." Speaking coldly and harshly in a way Sirius had never heard Remus speak before. "So, you either shut up, and get with the programme or leave." He wasn't going to miss this, his wolf would not allow it, he wanted to see the revenge enacted on those who had hurt his cub so badly. His human rationale being shoved aside a bit in his fury.

"This isn't you, Remus!" Sirius protested.

Amber eyes glowed more firmly, "No, it's not, our cub was hurt…our cub could have been killed by these people. If we don't deal with them, they will just continue to return and the Ministry won't do anything to help."

Sirius cringed a little at that truth, closing his eyes inhaling sharply. He didn't need the bond to know that everything Remus was saying was nothing but the truth. The vampires dealt with their own, the clan leaders were responsible for keeping them in line.

It was almost an unspoken agreement, probably a law somewhere if you looked in the archives in the Ministry. The same could be said for the werewolves, but they were more difficult to control and the Ministry had no qualms about exterminating them. If they get into trouble, become wanted…nine times out of ten…they were hunted down and killed while being 'apprehended' the reality is, they were just hunted and killed because the Aurors could get away with it.

"Answer all my questions and you'll get a quicker death," Severus informed the vampire coolly, by quicker he didn't mean much quicker. He'd threatened his consort, held a knife to his consorts' neck, tried to yank Harry's neck clean off his shoulders. He utterly tuned out Black, he had no desire to listen to his complaints. Luckily, for all involved, he couldn't reveal anything that went down, to anyone that wasn't there.

He had done his due diligence, which wasn't all that difficult, he did not trust Sirius Black after all.

All the years hadn't changed that since Hogwarts.

"You can do whatever you like to me, just let Aline go! She didn't fight you! She's pregnant! She was just there to find me!" Rodney pleaded, as he slowly sat up, his entire body throbbing from the electrical charge that had just rushed through his body. Which by the way was jerking and spasming at random intervals.

Harry gritted his teeth listening to the fucker talk, eye twitching as he refrained from saying anything. He wanted to rain hell down on the bastard, claw out his eyes and make him suffer tortures of the damned so whenever he got to where he was going on the other side, he could safely compare it to hell. There he was asking for pity because his girlfriend or what-the-fuck-ever she was, while he'd tried to kill him?

Harry just about jumped out of his chair when he felt a hand wrap around the back of his neck and give him a reassuring squeeze. Blinking out the red rage seeping into his entire being, first thing he noticed was Severus' understanding dark eyes. "Do you need a calming draught?" anxiety, anger and that kind of powerful rage wasn't good for the foetus at all. Stroking the nape of his neck, soothing the wizard, "Calm, revenge will be ours,"

Storm glanced at Alfred, silently demanding answers, what the hell was going on? Some of the elder vampires were beginning to get impatient, annoyed even, especially with Harry bringing a drink into the room. Honestly, you'd think he'd just killed one of their own the way they were reacting. Old farts stuck in their ways; it wouldn't end well for them.

Alfred just smiled, a real genuine smile, letting her know it was nothing bad or worrisome.

Storm relaxed marginally, glad to know at least that there was nothing seriously wrong with Harry. Normally these things weren't interrupted, not even for the consort, they were usually pretty much ignored at these things. Things weren't the same nowadays, even Glen had been somewhat openly affectionate with Rose in front of everyone, not just behind closed doors or with their close personal guards. Severus - not that she'd ever call him that out loud – had been acting strangely since the attack. She couldn't write it off as worry anymore, he should have calmed by this.

"I want my turn with him." Harry stated firmly, green eyes gleaming vindictively, determinedly.

Severus paid no attention to the others around them, caught in his own personal bubble with Harry. Still soothing him with his fingers brushing up and down the nape of his neck. It was only natural that Harry wished to partake in the revenge. He'd very nearly lost something precious too, and it had been him who had been attacked. Him who prevented Prince Castle being overrun. Commanded all of them on the field of battle, and nearly all of them were impressed and awed with him. Despite his young age…he was growing into his position with wonderful ease. He made a wonderful consort.

There would be nobody else able to keep up with everything. He was meant for this position.

Suddenly Severus smirks, "Go right ahead," swiftly standing, hand still on Harry's nape, nudging him a little. He could hear everything the vampires were saying. Smell how they were feeling, and quite frankly he was getting sick of it. Did they honestly expect him to ignore his mate? His consort? For what? Tradition sake? He didn't think so.

Plus, Harry was going to change everything, the elders were in for a shock when the world they know begins changing.

Might as well begin as Harry means to go on.

Oh, he knew exactly what his consort intended to do, and he approved.

Harry stood, and the mutterings got a little louder, Severus did nothing to quell them or quiet them down. Harry plucked the goblet from the floor and drank the rest of the blood before it got any cooler. Green eyes gleaming with Severus, both of them on the same page.

It was a while lot of fun fucking with people.

Although dealing with Rodney was going to be even better.

There we go! :D as promised an update! not as long as my usual chapters (not by much tho thankfully) so will Severus allow Aline to live or will she pay with the rest of them? will she live just to give birth then killed and have the baby raised by their own? by one of the mated pairs? Will the baby even be a vampire? OR will it be human and sent to wizards to be raised? Who feels sorry for Rodney? :P what will Derek find planted in his room? Or has Rodney not gotten that far yet? R&R please