Chapter Seven: New Problems…
"What right do you have to come in here demanding concessions? Demanding a seat on the council? Who do you think you are?" Curtis Shaw screamed at Michelle.
"I worry for my future if all of you have memory issues," Michelle shook her head with an exaggerated worried expression. "This is so sad."
"You mock us? You must wish for death to be so reckless," Marous Gonzales said.
"I wish for this conversation to move forward with something productive. This pissing match between us will get you nowhere," said Michelle.
"You came here alone. Practically unarmed. What makes you think you'll leave here alive?" asked Alfie Jones.
"I don't need an army. I'm not here to kill any of you. I wanted to make a deal, peaceful cohabitation so we all profit. I don't want to cause bad blood between us if I can avoid it. I'm not Radu. I don't draw blood just for the fun of it," said Michelle.
"This is madness. We should kill her. I don't care who she looks like. I'm not going to fall what is obviously a trick from Radu to undermine all of us," said Curtis Shaw.
"She has Circe's dagger. She's more dangerous than any of you realize trick or not. That she looks like someone we know is…interesting," Diana Marous said keeping her distance.
"I'm not sure that is the magical dagger. Ash wasn't what he used to be despite his age. I won't take his death as proof," said Curtis Shaw. He was angry and ready to fight. Michelle gave him space when suddenly a voice came from the stairwell.
"What did I miss?" A woman asked.
The room stopped and everyone turned toward the stairs. Michelle followed, turning around to get the surprise of her life. The woman who had just entered the room looked exactly like her, only this other woman was in a better dress and looked a little older. They could have been twins in another life; it was unsettling. The woman was an older vampire, Michelle knew their signatures well, they radiated power. Michelle didn't know what to make of this. It stunned her into silence.
"Helena my lovely wife," Curtis Shaw said rushing to this new vampires side. He kissed her on the lips and pulled her further in. "You must help me solve this. The others won't listen to reason."
The longer Michelle looked at this other vampire with her face, the more she bristled. There was something about her that rubbed Michelle the wrong way, it wasn't just that she had Michelle's face. There was something else underneath it all that Michelle could feel. It made Michelle itch for a fight. Then a familiar face popped up a few paces behind this other vampire.
"Ana? What are you doing with her?" Michelle asked.
Ana saw her and smiled with worry then quickly rushed across the space to her side. Confusion flooded Michelle; she grabbed hold of Ana's arm pulling her close for her protection but also to physically feel that the blonde doctor was alright. Seeing Ana enter with this other vampire shocked and scared her like nothing else has in a long time.
"Oh, is this the famous Michelle?" Helena asked while halfway kissing her husband.
"Have you two met already?" Curtis Shaw asked.
Helena shook her head then turned to Michelle, she looked Michelle up and down with an appraising eye as she stated, "The infamous Michelle Morgan. It truly is a pleasure to meet you. This is beyond my expectations. Oh, my my my does Radu seem to have particular taste. I never would have thought I left such an impression upon him yet here we are."
"What are you talking about?" Michelle asked.
"Did you not question why we look alike? I'm sure you've seen my portrait around that damned castle. Vladislas had many made," Helena said.
Michelle frowned then shook her head. She said, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I have no idea who you are or why you look like me."
"No sweetheart, you look like me," Helena corrected.
"Don't be so mean Helena, this is Stephan's widow," Diana Marous said.
"I thought she was Radu's fledgling," Helena said.
"I'm both. I married Stephan and Radu turned me to spite him. Who are you?" Michelle asked.
Helena paused lifting her chin as she thought about it. She said, "Despite the circumstances and what happened, I did love my son. Did he not tell you about me, his mother?"
Michelle felt the room spin, dizziness washed over her in waves as she looked away trying to breathe. It took a moment to get past the physical reaction to say, "I'm sorry. I don't think I heard that right. Did you say you were Stephan's mother…Helena…oh fuck. This family, I swear it never ends."
"I've heard so much about you Michelle, from many sources," Helena said chuckling.
Ana stepped behind Michelle with her head down. Michelle noticed but was so preoccupied with what this new revelation meant she didn't respond. It took a second, but Michelle finally managed to ask, "You said that thing about Radu. What did you mean by that?"
"Oh, your master didn't tell you. I' m not surprised, he never was one to admit his weaknesses," said Helena smirking. Michelle narrowed her eyes at the other vampire in silent retort. Helena shook her head then admitted with her hand guarding her throat, "Your master was nothing more than my plaything. His obsession with you wasn't because of my son but because of me. He'll never get over me. You are proof of that."
Michelle didn't know how to take that information; it threw her off her game and robbed her of the confidence she had entered the room with. With the weight of everyone's gaze on her, Michelle took a deep breath through her nose then lifted her chin as she said, "Radu never mentioned you. I can only assume you haven't been back to castle Vladislas in many years because your portraits are gone. I have no idea what happened to them, like I said Radu never spoke of you. Stephan did though, fondly." Helena's expression shifted into surprise then consideration. Michelle smiled tightly as she said, "It's nice to finally meet you, Helena. I will state again since you walked in late, I have no ill will against anyone on the vampire council. I am only staking my place as Queen Vladislas. I don't believe there needs to be bloodshed to come to an agreement but if you all insist that its necessary, I will accept those terms."
"Radu has had many fledglings, and I don't believe you were married to my son. What gives you the right to claim the Vladislas thrown?" Helena asked.
Michelle dropped the smile, she stared blankly at her mirror opposite then sighed and pulled out the dagger from her dress. "I have Circe's dagger. I also have the bloodstone. If you are you who say you are, you know how important the bloodstone is."
"You have the bloodstone. On you?" Helena asked licking her lips.
"Of course not. I know you must think me a fool, but you'll soon find out how crafty I can be."
"Enough of this. We don't have to bend to any pup just because their bark is loud," Curtis Shaw said his face twisted into a mask of anger. Then Helena turned walking to her husband and caressed his face kissing him on the lips.
"Husband, let me sooth this anger away. This will do us no good," Helena whispered into his ear. He closed his eyes and took a calming breath. "Anger clouds your judgement. Clear that away, look at the situation again."
Curtis Shaw nodded his head. The others on the council didn't seem surprised by Helena's influence over her husband but Michelle was. She silently took note, filling it away for later. She had a lot of questions for Radu when she returned home. Ana pressed herself against Michelle's back, she felt the blonde doctor grab hold of the back of her dress and hold on.
"We can't offer concessions right out of the gate. It doesn't work like that," Manuel Gonzales said. He gave the other council members a loaded look that they understood.
"How does it work?" Michelle asked.
"We need to get to know you, make sure we can trust you. We can't offer you a seat if you plan on attacking any of us. The world is big enough for us to share," Diana Marous said.
"That's all I've been saying," said Michelle. "How about you all come to my home for a meeting to discuss whatever terms you like. Bring as many soldiers as you wish, I have the room and my people won't talk. If you're going to trust me, I understand I must prove it first. This is it. A guarantee you won't be harmed while a guest."
"When do you want to host us?" asked Alfie Jones.
"In a months' time. That should be long enough for all of you to figure out transportation. Here is my number." Michelle set a card down on the table. "I hope to see you all soon." Michelle turned around, wrapped her arms around Ana then shifted to shadow taking Ana with her. Everyone in the room except for Helena was startled at the sudden transition.
In shadow form Michelle slipped from the room, through the house and out to their waiting car. Dinu was startled when they materialized in the back seat. Michelle gave the order to leave and Dinu nodded, putting the car in gear. He didn't speed, which allowed them to leave unimpeded. When they were past the gates and on the road heading south Michelle broke the heavy silence asking, "Were you able to get Serena?"
Ana snapped out of her deep introspection, shaking her head, she put a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. "Yes, sorry I didn't tell you before I wasn't sure I could without them finding out," Ana replied opening her eyes but frowning deeply.
Michelle watched Ana out of the corner of her eyes, she could hear the blonde's heart speed up before she answered the question and remained there. Michelle furrowed her brows as she asked, "Did something happen? Did someone touch you?"
Ana froze, her heart sped up even more as she stared into the darkness in front of her, somewhat refusing to meet Michelle's gaze. Worry bubbled up as Michelle reached out, with two fingers and a gentle touch she guided Ana to meet her eyes. "What happened? Ana talk to me."
Ana took a shaky breath, sitting up pulling away from Michelle she said, "I found Serena, she was feeding on some woman. I shot her then poured that stuff over her. It worked like we planned."
"Was it Helena? Why were you with her? The plan was to meet back at the car."
Ana's heart sped up more, she continued to look forward as she answered, "I was looking for you after I took care of Serena. I ran into Helena instead, I thought she was you for a second. It's uncanny how much you two look alike."
"Its terrifying is what it is. Rather as if Radu's horrible mother resurrected herself just to put magic on me one more time. I can never be at peace with all the skeletons in the Vladislas closet. Did she try anything with you? She didn't threaten you, did she?"
"No. She didn't do any of that. In fact, she was nice and helpful," answered Ana.
"Really?" Michelle was confused, the other vampire with her face didn't seem nice or helpful. What Michelle read off Helena was keen intelligence, restrained drive, and seething anger. In the moment while confronting the vampire council Michelle was on high alert and not examining the readings she was getting from each vampire. Despite her young age Michelle's daily feeding off the bloodstone altered her, made her senses heightened to a degree that was at times painful. It also made her powers stronger, more versatile than if she only drank from humans. Older vampires were transparent to Michelle now, she could sense their emotions and at times intentions. It was something Michelle didn't tell anyone about. She didn't know what it meant and was afraid to find out. However, now she saw the usefulness of it and wanted to explore it more. Especially since Ana was involved.
Silence fell between Michelle and Ana, as they made their way back to London. The blonde doctor seemed intent on staring out the window into the darkness while Michelle openly stared at Ana. A kernel of hurt settled in Michelle's stomach as she listened to Ana's heartbeat. It took over an hour for the beautiful blonde doctors heart to calm and return to its normal pace. Over the long drive Michelle reflected on every little detail, going over it again and again in her mind. By the time they arrived at the private airport she was sure of two things. First, the vampire council was definitely going to make a play against her. Second, Ana wasn't telling her the truth. Something happened between Ana and Helena, something Ana didn't want to talk about. This was the first time since they became friends that Ana betrayed her trust like that. The betrayal hurt; the implications hurt worse.