Chapter Nine: Changes in Perspective…

The massive party going on in the rest of the house was completely forgotten. The vampire council had fallen into a contentious argument. No one could agree on what the next course of action should be.

"You're going to get us all killed!" Curtis Shaw screamed. He paced the room in a tight oval glaring at everyone and shaking his head.

"Would you prefer all of us run home and hide?" Diana Marous asked.

"Should we ignore the threat Michelle poses to all of us?" Manuel Gonzales asked.

"Of course, we can't ignore the threat she poses but blindly accepting her invitation and going into her territory barely armed with only a few vampires to guard is suicide," Curtis Shaw said.

"How have you held on to your territories for so long with no spine?" Alfie Jones asked shaking his head in disgust.

Listening but not participating was Helena, she sat with her eyes on the fire deep in thought. Her encounter with Michelle replayed in her mind. It was flattering that the upstart had her face, however, it deeply bothered her that this nobody had everything that should have been hers alone. Despite her life now, despite all the wealth and power her husband provided to Helena, it wasn't enough. Nothing would ever be enough until she had her revenge. Her years in captivity flashed through her mind, resentment and anger bubbled up as her mind drifted from Vladislas to Radu.

"We should phone Bo Liu, he deserves to know what's going on," said Manuel Gonzales.

"What are we going to tell him? You know how Bo is about business. If we can all make money, expand our territories, everything is good. Michelle is the exact type of vampire he likes to deal with. He won't be on board attacking her, not if money can be made first," Diana Marous said.

"Do any of you know how many Michelle has in her army? I heard she doesn't turn her people, she recruits them from other vampire masters," Alfie Jones said.

"She's an abomination and must be put down," Curtis Shaw insisted.

"She's not normal. That we can agree on. I've heard rumors she walks around in the daylight," Manuel Gonzales said.

"That's impossible!" Alfie Jones replied.

"I've heard that too," Diana Marous said.

"Abomination!" Curtis Shaw shouted.

"That doesn't solve anything Curtis. We need a plan. We can't go in and attack her. We don't know what resources she has," Manuel Gonzales said.

"Ash and Serena were supposed to give us that information," Diana Marous said. She turned to Alfie Jones asking, "You hosted those two for the last few years. Didn't you interview them about this?"

Alfie Jones frowned, his face showing his fury as he shook his head then huffed admitting, "What little real information I got out of Ash and Serena were only about their specific holdings they inherited from Radu. They lived in a crypt and never went out, not even to hunt. The entire time they were under my care they did nothing but hide, eat, and whine about wanting revenge on Radu."

"Well, now I don't mind Michelle killing Ash and Serena," said Manuel Gonzales with a shrug.

"Her little human helped her. She didn't kill them alone," Helena said finally joining the conversation. All eyes turned to her, she sighed standing then walked to the center She said, "What we have here is a threat. We must treat it as we have all threats, with caution and care. We send our spies in; get the information we need under the guise of cooperation. We can't prepare for something we know nothing about."

"If this a trick to take us out?" Alfie Jones asked.

"We kill her, take the bloodstone, take her human and her lands. I won't allow some baby vampire to order me around," Helena said.

"So, it does bother you that she has your face," Diana Marous said smirking.

"Of course, it bothers me! Knowing my son fell in love and married a woman who looks like my reflection bothers me. That Radu found her and obsessed over her, that doesn't surprise me at all. But there can only be one of us, no matter how beautiful she is," Helena said.

They laughed, nodding in agreement.

⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕ ⁕

Fifteen minutes before landing, a flight attendant knocked on the door to the private bedroom then announced they were about to land and that the sun was up.

"Will you help me?" Michelle asked. She got off the bed not bothering to dress and fetched a case, bringing it back to the bed where Ana lay naked watching her. She opened it revealing a needle set and vile of the serum. Ana took over getting a shot ready for Michelle.

"Here." Ana gently held Michelle's arm as she gave her the injection.

Michelle marveled at Ana, smiling at her unconsciously. Ana smiled back, her eyes twinkling in the muted light. The serum worked it's way through Michelle, she felt the burning but was used to it. In the moment her discomfort meant nothing against spending a few more seconds like this with Ana. A thought occurred to Michelle, and she dropped her gaze losing her smile.

"Michelle? What's wrong? What could rob you of that beautiful smile," Ana asked.

"Are you sure you want to be a vampire? There's no going back once you step over that line."

"I want to be with you forever. I'll do whatever it takes to remain by your side. Right now, my only option is vampire. I'll take it. I like the way you taste," Ana said. She traced her fingertip over Michelle's thigh as she spoke.

"I like the way you taste too."

"Then what's the problem Michelle?"

"I'm afraid you'll turn out like the other vampires. I'm not a typical case. I had two different vampires blood in me when I turned. Then I had my sister then you pulled me back from the darkness. If I turn you, Ana. You'll be my servant, not my equal."

"Is that the only way? What if we got a vampire like Stephan?" Ana asked.

"Stephan is dead."

"I know that. I mean what if we get one like him to turn me. Soft, with morals."

Michelle thought about it. "We'd have to bring them to the castle," she said.

"Do you think that would work? Would you be my second donor?"

"I would be honored to be your second sire."

Michelle leaned in kissing Ana. A second knock on the door alerted them that they had landed. They smiled and nodded at each other then got up and dressed in silence. Michelle's mind went to the castle, to the humans and vampires that lived there. Petru came to mind and a pang of jealousy and possessiveness washed over Michelle confusing her. Once dressed they left the bedroom and exited the plane, going directly to their waiting car.

The drive home was short, and in silence. Ana did reach out and quietly held Michelle's hand. Once at the castle, they entered through a side entrance. Word of their arrival spread like wildfire. Before they made it to the main staircase Anders and Petru rushed to greet them.

"Welcome back!" Anders said greeting them with a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

"Did you cut your trip short? You're never home this quickly," Petru said before sweeping Ana up in his arm and kissing her soundly.

Another pang of jealousy washed through Michelle. It confused her, she had witnessed every stage of Petru and Ana's relationship, even the honeymoon in her efforts to protect Ana from ever being harmed by her lovers again. Watching them have sex and be intimate never affected Michelle like this. Before Michelle was delighted by Ana's happiness. Now, she wanted to pull the couple apart and lay claim to Ana. Realization of this led to her deepening confusion; Michelle backed away. She gave a nervous smile then excused herself. Ana silently followed Michelle with her eyes, it was obvious to Michelle Ana wanted to follow her, however, Petru was demanding her attention, so Ana remained to attend to her husband.

Michelle retreated to the bowels of the castle. She lay next to Radu's body watching the red and black creatures inside try to break free of the glass.

"Pretty one. You're back so soon and you look so troubled. I take it the trip was a success." Radu purred into her ear. She glanced over her shoulder to see Radu sitting behind her watching her with a loving smug expression.

"Why didn't you tell me Radu?" Michelle asked.

"There is much I don't tell you fledgling."

"You knew I was going to talk to the vampire council. You know who sits on the council?" Michelle asked. She rolled over then sat up wrapping her arms around her knees.

"Once I returned home to reclaim my birthright, I put that insipid group of vampires out of my mind. They are of no concern to me here in my lands," replied Radu.

"Master, you sent me into the lions den unprotected. I was blindsided by a host of things."

"The vampires on the council are rotated regularly because no one can stay home, they're always vying for more territory. More resources. Forever hungry and forever stupid."

"Bo Liu wasn't there but Alfie Jones, Manuel Gonzales, Diana Marcous, and Curtis Shaw were in attendance. Along with Shaw's wife Helena."

Radu nodded his head then waved his hand dismissing everything. Michelle closed her eyes shaking her head. "No Radu. I need to know what your history is with these people."

"My history with these vampires has no purpose."

"Why didn't you tell me I looked exactly like Helena? Why didn't you tell me I looked like Stephan's mother. I was humiliated by the fact I didn't know."

"Some things are better left forgotten pretty one. You are also more beautiful than Helena. I never noticed the similarities," Radu said. Michelle burst out laughing. "There is no story to tell fledgling. In learning my power many enemies were won, the details of who did what don't matter any longer. I don't wish to dwell on the pain of the past but instead on you and what your future means."

"This leaves me at a disadvantage master," Michelle protested.

"Does it fledgling? What information about these vampires do you need when you know their nature."

"Their nature?"

Radu grinned. Michelle laughed then nodded. "Okay. I'll make the preparations. We haven't had a bloodbath in too long. I think we're due."

Radu cackled with delight.