Chapter 79

These new revelations shook me to my core as I stared up at those bottomless pit black eyes. Nick was, in fact, the king of his clan. The last King was Fideous the Great, and I simply stare at Igor before licking my lips and asking, 'When did he renounce his throne?'

'At the start of the third age.'

Looking back down at the page I murmur, 'Why would he do such a thing?'

'The second age was the time of our greatest prosperity, when vampires learned they could have children and ranks were established. It was when we were at our peak in technology and strength, but it led to not. War between three clans broke out, long before the five clans that now exists. Fideous protected a small band of young Purebloods from the majority of the fighting and brought about the third age. In Fideous own words of that time, he said no one person should rule ovet millions. These young Purebloods he saved became our ancestors, Aname's blood line comes from them directly.'

'Is that why I hear that Dracul and Won came from two seperate vampire lines?'

'No, the Won came from those young Pureblood, Dracul came from Won, and so forth, but the history of the second age is lost, just as the first.'

I stare down at the book in front of me, full of lineage names and murmur, 'War leads to the loss of knowledge.'

'It does.'

Suddenly I feel a deep sense of anger and worry welling up unside me and blink. I wasn't angry, why? My eyes lift as that anger turns to relief as I see Nick striding quickly towards us with two of his A rank commanders.

I stand quickly as Nick comes forward, enveloping me in a hug, as I ask, 'What are yoy doing here? I thought you were in session with the other clan leaders?'

'I was but,' he says, stopping to look down at me and brushes his thumb over my check before continuing, 'I sensed you suddenly loosing your strength, fear, and then nothing. So I called a recess to come to your aid... but you're fine.'

It now made sense, I was sensing Nick's emotions as he was coming towards me. But how had he sensed me from so far away. Frowning in thought, I say absently, 'Its ok, I'm fine.'

But already he was looking over my head at his brother and asks in a cold irritated tone, his pheremones smelling of rust like resentment, 'What happened?'

'Wraith shock her hand.'

'You didn't stop her?' Nick growls out, letting me go.

I quickly intervene, feeling nervous for Igor, though I knew he could defend himself, 'He did, but I deemed it necessary to get what I needed. It worked and thankfulky these records haven't been lost. So we have found several new names worth looking into.'

Nick looks down at me before his eyes return to Igor saying, 'Take the books with you to the Night's Templar and learn what you can there. Nina is coming with me.'

I look at him in confusion asking, 'What's going on? I thought you had to be in session with the clan leaders.'

'Yes and they wish to meet you. I stalled for awhile, but eventually it was decided for you to come. Once I felt that sensation of your disappearance I decided it would be best if you didn't leave my side.'

I feel my face drain of color as I whisper, 'I can't take that much power Nick.'

'I'll do what I can to keep it to a minimum. Trust your husband.'

This makes me blush as a book slams shut behind me. Jumping, I look back at Igor as he says, 'Unfortunately these books of Pureblood decent can't leave this building. With the seeming breach in our Night Hunter Templare, I can't allow it. These will remain with Wraith and Nina will need to return here to continue her study through them. It can wait for now, take care of your wife, and I will start my investigation on the names we have found so far.'

With that Igor returns the books to the barred door on the floor and walks away with a small jerky bow of his head to us. I stare after him, the long black pony tail barely shifting back and forth as he strode purposely from the large room.

Nick grabs my hand and murmurs, 'I'm glad you're safe. It must have been the sudfen worry comubg off you that worried me most. Come, I must return to the Polugonos.'

'The Polugonos?'

'The room of many angles, or as the leaders affectionally call it, the chamber of clan leaders. It is where we meet once a year to hash out greviences and keep peace among the clan leaders as best as we can. You will be joining me today.'

'Are all the other wives there?'

He nods and explains, 'It is tradition that the clan leader's wife be there. You are the only one that isn't there. Thus the questions as to why.'

I think about it was we walk among the ancient books of vampire history and say, 'It reflects badly on you that I am not there?'

'Not at all.'

My eyes search his face, my mind sliding along his. He was so calm, relaxed, and his mind quiet. It was so strange that now I knew what he is thinking and feeling. Before he was a closed book, and now not. He looks down at me with a small smile and cocked brow asking, 'What are you searching for?'

'Nothing, but for some reason I know your lying. To marry a C rank, and then not bring her to the counsel chamber does reflect badky on you. It makes you appear weaker for it. So I understand your concern, but we can't hide forever.'

'They will ask you questions.'

'I know.'

With that we walk through the door into the open world, the smell of must from old books ripped away by the smell of cold and breezes. I look back at the enourmous colosium llike building and then the city beyond. Never in all my wildest dreamd could I imagine coming here.

In such a short time I had learned so much about the vampire world. The human world was just the first layer of society, this was beneath it. This world was far more sophisticated and worse, deadly. We walk down the steps and into a waiting Escalate.

Settling myself in the black leather, I prepare myself mentally for what I knew would be an onslot of power that no C rank could ever survive.

Movment makes me look over at Nick, who was undoing his tie and unbuttoning his collar. Frowning, I ask, 'What are you doing?'

'You need my blood to fortify you though the next couple hours.'

Shaking my head, I feel my stomach pinch and say quickly, 'No Nick I can't. I feel fine.'

But instead of him pursuading me, he pulls me again him and murmurs info my ear, 'No arguing.'

-D-

The SUV pulls up to a marble cathedral building as Nick straightens his tie and I braid out my hair, wrapping it into a bun. The interior smelled of Nick's strong blood and my blood faint like a wild flower. Nick's plan hadn't gone as planned, but now I felt a burning power rip through me like our wedding night.

Nick steps out of the car and says as he dies, 'Be wary of Aname. He will be quiet for a majority of the counsel meeting, but his questions will be the most important.'

I nod as I take his hand and step out. Nick leans down and kisses my neck where he had bit me moments ago. Shivering, I say, 'I think Im as ready as I'll ever be.'

Nick takes my hand and places it on his arm as we walk up the steps, tgrough a doorway and already I can feel the weight of power as abiut ten A rank turn to look at us. Nick's power suddenly envelopes us as he says, 'Pay no attention to them. To us they are low born, so keep your eyes ahead.'

It was hard to do, even with Nick's power nagating a majority of these A ranks power I could feel them. One breaks away and I can see the flash of long black hair that belonged to a woman, Venus? Then her voice rings through my fuzzy brain, 'Prince Nicholi, is it wise to have her here?'

'She is my wife, yes it is appropriate to have her here.'

'Should I...' Venus begins, but Nick cuts her off, 'You should man your post Venus. Do not make me say it twice.'

Nick's voice had taken on a darker tone and his blanketing power grew stronger. I could see Venus pale and nod, stepping away as wd continued down the majestic hall and a waiting elevator.

It was a quiet ride up it, as the elevator vallet keot glancing at me, beads of sweat clinging to his face. Nick's power was more subtle, but the poir B rank looked scared out of his mind. His eyes glance at me again and I wonder what he is thinking.

Then a whispering voice enters my head, She is powerful...

I blink, my eyes following thode soft words to the man as he glances at me again, nerves fear jolting him as our eyes meet. Nick murmurs into my mind, He is scared, don't mind him.

I tilt my head slightly to confirm as the oodrs open onto a beautiful entry to a larger room.

The smell of powerful pheremones slams into me and I stumble a step. Catching myself, Nick whispers into my mind, I should have warned you. You have arrived at the lions pit.

Sweat started to bead on my forehead as I stop moving forward. This was so much, too much. The pheremones, the power. One overwhelmed even Nick's power couldn't dissuade. Aname Won. Taking a deep breath, slowing my run away heart beat, Nick whispers softly, 'Are you alright?'

It was impossibly hard, but I had come this far, so I nod and take firm steps into the Polugonos. Light steamed into the room, blinding me for but a moment and I blink it away. My eyes take in the room, five sided, each with a throne and beside it a queens chair. Each wall had the symbol of each clan, ornately carved from marble, gold, and jewel.

A deep, powerful voice rings out, 'Welcome my lady Dracul.'

Slowly my eyes follow the rumbling thunder of a voice to a beautiful man, with distinct Asian features, long black hair, and a suit that seemed to have been poured onto his body. But his eyes... his eyes told a much different story, so ancient and powerful that it made the hairs on my neck raise and blood run cold. This man was the apex predator, making Nick seem like a tame cat in comparison. Those silvery fox eyes stared back and I was transfixed by them. He was ancient, the only one to have met Fideus before his disappearance, and the most dangerous. His power came off of him like a radiating sun, not even Nick's could surpress it for me.

Everything inside me went to stone and I felt his grip on me. It wasn't the fiery tone of Nick, or the icy vice of his brother, the needles of Ki, but like deep water encasing me in its folds. Something deep inside me seemed to stir at this overwhelming strength, as if this immense power was waking a dormant creature. It morphed inside me, that numbeness slowly rising to the surface. I could feel Nick stiffen beside me, but I slap it down as I say to the eldest vampire, the Phoenix Won with a small bow of my head , 'It is a pleasure to be here Prince Won.'