Chapter Fourteen: Switching Sides…
"What is the meaning of this?" Manuel Gonzales demanded.
The party continued in the main hall while the vampire council gathered in the throne room. There was confusion to why they were dragged from the festivities to meet.
"I thought work was off limits until tomorrow," said Diana Marcous.
"A problem came up," Curtis Shaw said with a heavy sigh and his eyes glued to the floor.
"What?" Alfie Jones asked.
No one spoke. From her seat on the throne Michelle exchanged a heavy look with Curtis Shaw then glanced at Ana who was standing to her right.
Bo Liu frowned deeply. He said, "Queen Vladislas, please fill us in."
"I am disappointed to announce that the one rule I set down has been broken. This compels me to enforce the penalties set in place. Helena has been put into manacles and taken to the dungeon to await sentencing," Michelle said with a heavy sigh.
"What rule did she break?" Diana Marcous demanded angrily.
"The same one you did Queen Marcous," said Michelle looking her in the eyes. The Queen of Death was instantly rattled, a dozen emotions flitted across the woman's face until she settled on rage.
"What rule would that be Queen Vladislas?" Bo Liu asked.
"They forced themselves upon my human. Touching Ana is off limits. It was the only rule I set and yet neither of you could restrain yourself," said Michelle.
"Is that true?" Alfie Jones asked, turning to Diana Marcous. She glared at Michelle with open hostility. Alfie's Jones eyes widened in surprise. "Why would you bother with our hosts personal snack. Queen Vladislas has provided a banquet for us to feast upon."
"It wasn't about food, it was about disrespect," Curtis Shaw admitted shaking his head. He took a breath then said, "`I am officially petitioning divorce from Helena."
"Divorce? Now? What happened Curtis?" Manuel Gonzales asked.
"You were right, that's what happened. Helena has never been loyal, and she'll never be loyal. I'm done deceiving myself. Tonight, Helena sighed her fate," said Curtis Shaw.
"Diana, is the accusation true? Did you offend our host?" Bo Liu asked.
"No. I know our rules of engagement. I would never threaten what fragile peace we have with each other," said Diana Marcous.
Michelle noticed Ana clenching her hands into tight fists, she glanced at the beautiful doctors face to see silent rage.
"Witnesses?" Alfie Jones asked.
"Just the one attacked," replied Michelle.
"Can we really take a human's word?" asked Diana Marcous.
"You're not taking a human's word. You're taking mine," said Michelle.
"You vouch for your human?" asked Bo Liu.
Michelle nodded yes while glaring at Diana Marcous. Bo Liu with a troubled expression nodded in agreement. He turned to the others stating, "I believe Queen Vladislas. This offence cannot go unpunished."
Diana Marcous silently fumed while Manuel Gonzales, Curtis Shaw and Alfie Jones exchanged loaded looks with each other in silent communication. Alife Jones turned to Bo Liu and Michelle. He said, "The only way to handle this is we put it to a vote."
Everyone but Diana Marcous nodded in agreement.
"Raise your hand if you believe the accusation," said Alfie Jones.
There was a pause, then Michelle raised her hand followed by Bo Liu, then Curtis Shaw and finally Alfie Jones. They all stared at Manuel Gonzales; he frowned shaking his head but raised his hand avoiding Diana Marcous' gaze.
"You're all backstabbing pieces of donkey shit. See if I ever come to your rescue again," said Diana Marcous.
"Punishment?" Michelle asked looking at the men in the room. They opened their mouths to debate the situation when Diana Marcous lost her temper.
"Punish me?" Diana Marcous shouted. "Me? Do you know who I am? I am the Queen of Death! You can't punish me. You can't even touch me. Fucking baby thinks she can rule over the rest of us. And you pathetic weak boys are bowing to her. Over what? Some fucking meat sack?"
"No one is immune to our rules," Bo Liu said.
"Fuck your silly rules," Diana Marcous said. She huffed angry then said, "If you're going to try me, I'm going to make it worth it!"
Diana Marcous charged at Michelle, shocking the men in the room. Michelle didn't flinch, she sat there stone-faced watching. Ana did flinch, she pulled her guns and fired hitting the angry vampire in both knees. Diana Marcous crumpled to the floor screaming. "What the fuck did you shoot me with? Fucking bitch!"
"Silver bullets. Why does it hurt?" asked Ana, keeping her weapons trained on the vampire on the floor.
Michelle snapped her fingers, and four red clad vampires came in. Michelle turned to her servants ordering, "Put Queen Marcous in manacles, and take her to the dungeon."
The servants nodded and everyone watched in silence as Diana Marcous was handcuffed then carried out of the room still cursing at them. Ana put away her guns while remaining silent. Michelle waited until the bound woman was out of the room and down the hall before she turned to what was left of the vampire council and gave them a tight smile.
"I had higher hopes for this gathering. It disappoints me greatly that this all happened. My verdict on this and the punishment I deem necessary must remain unchallenged. Do I have your support?"
"What are you going to do with them?" Manuel Gonzales asked.
"Helena was being a brat. I think keeping her imprisoned until the gathering is over then banishing her from my territories will be sufficient. Diana went too far. She tried to kill me, tried to kill my human. She will see the sun for this."
"Queen Vladislas! Please, don't be so hasty. What if we get her to apologize?" Alfie Jones asked. He shot nervous looks to Manuel Gonzales and Bo Liu who shook his head.
"No, we must support Queen Vladislas in this. An example must be made. Diana knew what she was doing," said Bo Liu.
"Will it be your human that provides the punishment?" asked Manuel Gonzales.
"No. I will do it myself," said Michelle.
"Wait, what? How? You'll be asleep come dawn like the rest of us," said Alfie Jones.
"I have the option to remain awake and I have the ability to walk in the sun," said Michelle. She made sure to look each of them in the eye as she made her statement. She enjoyed their shock.
"That's impossible," said Manuel Gonzales.
"What did you do to get that power?" Bo Liu asked.
"Fucking sorcery," spat Alife Jones.
"Nothing of the sort but I won't share my secrets with men I can't trust. Since Diana and Helena thrust this all upon us now instead of in a few days. I petition what's left of the vampire council. Allow me to join as your equal, be my allies and will share all my secrets."
"Wait, you'd share the day walking secret with us?" Bo Liu asked.
Michelle nodded. She saw disbelief and shock on their faces. She sighed then raised her hand. "I understand this is a lot. I'm not Radu, I don't make decisions based on emotion. Take a little time to think about things. We'll put a pin in everything until tomorrow night."
"Pin in it?" Bo Liu asked.
"A pause. I won't do anything or make any final decisions until we speak again tomorrow night. For now, Diana and Helena will live. But I warn you all, if you don't have an amazing reason for me to keep Diana alive, she will see the sun," said Michelle.
"Why be so generous to Helena?" Curtis Shaw asked. "Why not give her the same fate if you can do it?"
"Call me sentimental, but it doesn't sit right with me to condemn to death someone with my face. But ask me again later when Helena breaks another rule."
They all laughed. Michelle released them back to the party then closed the door walking back to Ana who remained by the throne. Silently they embraced, kissing long and deep then nuzzled holding each other close. After a moment Michelle said her face still pressed into Ana's neck. "We have one more task than we can rest."
"That gift?"
Michelle nodded and Ana frowned. Michelle stopped and pulled Ana back, with a thoughtful expression she said, "You don't have to come. I can do this by myself. Why don't you go on and take a shower. I doubt anything else will happen tonight."
"Will you be long?" Ana asked.
"I don't think so, I just want to ask him a few questions."
Ana nodded then kissed Michelle again, walking out first. Michelle watched her for a moment then turned and took a different path. Impatient Michelle turned to shadow and materialized outside the room the "gift" had been put in. She knocked then stepped inside to find the vampire reading a book. The sight of a vampire reading caught Michelle so off guard she burst out laughing. The vampire frowned, he huffed then demanded with his lips trembling.
"Why are you laughing at me? Why are you laughing at me?"
Seeing the genuine distress on the man's face, Michelle stopped laughing, held up her hands palms out then said, "Forgive me Adi, I have not seen a vampire read a book in a long time. It is an unusual sight for our kind."
"You're Queen Vladislas?" Adi asked.
"You can call me Michelle."
Adi looked down shyly shaking his head, he said. "That doesn't seem appropriate."
"I insist."
Adi nodded.
"Tell me about yourself Adi. Who is your master?"
"Bogdan was my master. He crossed the Queen of Death and was executed. I was taken as payment for what he owed," Adi said.
Michelle nodded taking the information in. "How long have you been a vampire, Adi?"
"Um, I'm not sure. I have no idea what the date is."
"When were you born?"
"1878."
"I've been told you don't feed on human blood, that you only drink animal blood. Is this true?" asked Michelle.
"Yes. I don't like hurting people. I don't like hurting the animals either, but I have to eat. I wish I were still human but that ended when I was nineteen."
"Have you traveled? What have you been doing in all your years as a vampire?" she asked.
"Studying in my masters library. He collected books once they became popular, I never had access to anything like it before. He loved me, he let me be who I am. He never shamed me for it," said Adi his face full of sadness.
"How many books did you get through?" she asked.
"My master had forty thousand volumes; I was on my second go around when The Queen of Death took me. She burned down my master's home with his library."
"What would you do if you had a choice?"
Adi's face lit up; he smiled replying. "I would love to study humanity. Humans are so fascinating."
Michelle smiled. Adi asked, "Did I say something good?"
"You remind me of someone I lost a long time ago. I miss him. He was a scholar who loved learning and loved humans. He was the first vampire I encountered, learning he was an anomaly was jarring. Its wonderful to know he wasn't the only one."
"What was his name?"
"Stephan. Stephan Vladislas."
"I know him. He came by to see my master on three different occasions."
"Really?"
"Yes, he gave me suggestions to continue my reading."
"Stephan did always try to be helpful."
"He was kind to me, no one except my master had ever been kind to me. Not even when I was human."
"Tell me more about your life Adi."