"So Lucas has the only say in when to release them."
It wasn't a question, but Blaise answered anyway. "Yes. He doesn't let you out until your suffering begins to bore him," he said heatedly.
"How do you know all this?"
Blaise swallowed visibly and looked down at his question.
"Did this... happen to you?"
"Yes, it did."
Stunned, Gaspard waited a moment for this information to comprehend before he asked, "Why?"
Blaise sighed painfully, but with no regret, "Because I fell in love with a human."
Gaspard eyes widened, but didn't speak. He waited patiently for Blaise to continue.
"I lost faith in love when I was a human. The women I grew fond of always ended up breaking my heart. And once I became a vampire, they were no better immortal for me either. I was rather a rebel, but sincere and loyal. I wanted a woman to call my own and not share her, you understand."
Gaspard nodded understandingly.
"About three years ago during a hunting party, I parted from them, just wanting to go at it alone for a little while. A small voice from a far caught my attention and, of course, being a vampire, my senses led me to her. There she was, sitting on the ground against a tree, crying. I wanted to forget about it and move on; knowing my attraction to her could end her life so easily. But something in me had to find out the reason she was upset and to comfort her if I could.
"I didn't startle her when I appeared behind her so soundlessly. She hadn't stopped crying either. I asked if I could be any assistance to her. But she didn't answer me. So after I stood there dumbfounded for several long moments, I sat down beside her. She caught me by surprise when she laid her head on my shoulder while her tears continued to flow. It was soon after she told me why she was upset without me asking. Her mother had just died after being sick for some time. And with her brothers being away in war, she had no one left for her there.
"We laid there for hours embracing one another, until I had to leave just before sun rise. She never asked why, all she wanted was to see me again. Even though I hardly knew anything of her and her of me, it felt as if we were meant to be together for the rest of our lives. I never felt so comfortable yet so shy with a woman. It was that moment I knew I couldn't let her escape my life after that night. I told her if she ever needed me I would be there in a heartbeat for her, no matter the cause.
I began breaking away from the hunting group every night to meet with her. Marcel grew suspicious of my absence and followed me to her one night. And believe it or not, Marcel and I were considered friends in those days."
"Seriously?"
"Aye, dead serious." He chuckled a little hysterically. "Until he back stabbed me. He was...displeased I had kept this from him. But after talking it over, he agreed to help keep our relationship a secret from Lucas. I should have known better that he could not be trusted. I was oblivious of his intentions. But," he cleared his throat, "I am getting ahead of myself.
"Eventually, I told her what I really was and she wasn't afraid. She still loved me. But of course, I knew it couldn't go on like this. My love for her and her knowing of our existence were both strictly forbidden. But still, neither of us could let what we had go. So we decided on the only course of action- to turn Hannah into a vampire."
Gaspard gaped at this. Now knowing that girl he spoke of was actually who Blaise was still with today. But he didn't interrupt and wanted him to continue, more eager to hear his story than he intended him to notice.
"Most of her family being already dead or sent away to war, she thought she had nothing to live for in the human world anymore. To live with me for eternity was just what she wanted and asked for of me. And, being the selfish person that I am, I agreed and wanted nothing more either.
"We picked the next night to change her, unknowing we'd have an audience. I had told Marcel my plan, remembering to not keep any more secrets from him. He encouraged me and swore he would not tell a soul--I should have realized the figure of speech in that oath didn't really count for vampires--I was well aware that there was a law against changing a human without the leader's consent and what the punishment would be if he found out. But it didn't stop me. I had no fears. My head was in the clouds in love and we planned to run away and start our own family of vampires.
"After I successfully changed her, the audience revealed themselves: It being Lucas, his guards, and sure enough- Marcel. He had gone to Lucas himself and informed him of my intentions of turning a human without his permission. It took me a long time to understand why they allowed me to change her before they seized me."
"What was the reason?" Gaspard asked somberly when Blaise paused.
"That Marcel enjoys seeing others suffer--friend or foe--just as much as Lucas does." He scowled. "He was jealous of me and Hannah’s relationship and wanted her to see me tortured in the pillory. He is like a damn parasite. Ever since that day he has been a pet to Lucas. And in return he gives him practically free run of the castle and is allowed to do what he pleases."
"But they still welcomed Hannah even though you changed her illegally?"
"Yes, thank heavens. But not until after my pillory experience. She was shunned by the others for a while, but had to be accepted. It's also a Law of ours that we cannot kill another vampire."
"How long were you confined to the pillory?"
"Two weeks. And my God, it was the worst pain and the hardest thing I have ever been through. Still, I wouldn't take what I did to deserve the punishment back- not in a million years. I would suffer through it again if I had to just to keep Hannah."
Gaspard and Blaise's conversation came to close after that. They stood and walked over to the door.
"I appreciate you sharing all this with me. I apologize for being rash and persistent before. I am just really tired of everyone keeping things from me that they think I cannot handle or trust me knowing."
"Understandable. And really, if you want to learn things around here that is the way you have to be."
Gaspard laughed and bid him farewell. But before he exited the door, Blaise stopped him suddenly with a hand on his shoulder.
"And listen. Power is what Marcel yearns. Remember that. You don't want to find out the hard way," he said close to his ear so no one else heard. "Thanks. I will keep that in mind."
Chapter 27 Betrayal
It was late afternoon; Gaspard was sitting in Gabriel’s room
in a large chair near the far wall. Gabriel lay on his bed that was across the room, on his back, his arms folded behind his head. The other vampires that resided in the castle would be either lounging in their rooms away from the sun, or out pestering mortals for fun from the safety of the shadows to avoid unnecessary burning of their intestines. Now was the safest time to bring up their previous conversation back into play. Gaspard quickly scanned the house of any sound that would mean someone was close enough to over hear what they would say. It was crucial that no-one knew. Especially Lucas.
"Gabriel?" Gaspard whispered, even though whispering in a house full of vampires was the same as talking, he still had the mortal instincts to whisper.
"Hmm?" Gabriel mumbled. His eyes were closed as if he were trying to sleep like he had when he was mortal.
"Why...why did you let me get sent to an orphanage?" He asked slowly, choosing his words with care to not hurt his uncle.
Gabriel rolled to his side so he was now facing Gaspard across the room, leaning on his elbow as he studied his nephew, as if he were sizing him up, his expression was troubled.
"That's a complicated question."
"Do you not think I'm old enough to hear the truth?" Gaspard replied a little heatedly.
"No, no, that’s not it at all."
"Then tell me."
"It's not a safe thing to discuss here."
"I've already listened to the entire castle, no one will hear."
Gabriel let out a sigh and closed his eyes, a look of concentration on his face as he scanne
d the house himself. It's not that he didn’t trust Gaspard’s powers; he just had to double-check the castle himself for his own precaution. The privacy of their discussion was not to be taken lightly. Gaspard seemed slightly annoyed as he watched his uncle, but kept silent as he waited. No matter what Gabriel wanted to do first, Gaspard didn’t care he just wanted to know the truth. After what seemed like ages to Gaspard, Gabriel finally opened his eyes back up and looked at him. His eyes seemed clouded with memory as he sat up in a more suitable position for talking.
"When your mother and father were killed, I had to send you to the safest place I could think of at the time. You weren’t old enough to change yet, and if you couldn’t get away, you would have died as well. After I sent you off, I didn’t even have the chance to follow you to make sure you were safe. Right after you ran, I was attacked by two Werewolves, and with my burnt hands trying to heal, I barely had the strength to fight them. Thank god for the Dautry blood in me, or I may have died with your parents that night." Gabriel’s voice was full of pain, but he continued in a steady pace as if keeping the words in any longer would cause him even more pain. Gaspard looked at him for a moment, a mixture of sadness and confusion on his brow.
"That’s why your hands never healed fully...You ran out of energy."
"Yes. Even a Dautry runs out of steam, sad as it may be."
"But...why, how, were they killed?"
"After I reached your home, your father was already facing three Werewolves. I was going to help him fight when he told me to go look for your mother and you. When I ran off to look, one of the Werewolves split off from the fight. I knew immediately he was heading in the same direction. He was fast, as he made it to you two before me. I was lucky enough to find Claudia, but as I reached her she desperately told me to save you. I could tell she was going to die…being mortal-so fragile. But still, I should have done something..." He paused as if to catch up with his own memory.
"I still don’t understand something...Why would they be murdered? Let alone by werewolves?" His question was soft, his voice shallow.
"I don’t know all the details myself. But, what I was there to witness is this: The werewolf pack in Paris accused my brother of killing the lead werewolves mate, or wife as it were. So, from what I gather, they went after your father and mother out of revenge. After all, it was Cedric who created the peace treaty. When your father left for home that night, I had seen shadows, wolf shadows, following suit. So I followed as well."
A long silence passed through the room. Gaspard’s eyes were shut tight as his fists clenched over his knees. His father could not have killed the woman. From everything he heard from Gabriel, his father was kind. And if he made the treaty, why would he have broken it? Gaspard could not, would not, believe his father killed her.
"Why would they kill my mom too? And want to kill me?"
Gabriel let out a sad sigh before answering.
"I don’t know. I really don’t. There must be something more to this-"
"Yes, the truth!" Gaspard spat, "My father would have never killed anyone! I won’t sit here and listen to this!" he jumped up and made as if he were to leave, but Gabriel was in front of him, holding his shoulders tightly, faster than he could have blinked.
"Now listen to me, and listen good!" He said rather fiercely, gripping Gaspard’s shoulders tighter as he did, "I never said I believed any of it either! I told you what I know, I can’t say it was what you wanted to hear but that’s all I’ve got! I’ve been trying to find out the truth of my brother’s death for ten years! Don’t you dare think for one moment that I believe he killed that werewolf!" He stopped yelling as he seen Gaspard’s gaze drop. For an instant, Gabriel thought he was changing, and dropping his grip immediately, not wanting his hands to be burned twice.
Gaspard looked up slowly, his eyes were purple, and the clear sign he had changed. But the usual fierceness that came with the change wasn’t present in his eyes. They were instead rather shallow, almost empty as he looked up at his uncle.
"Gaspard, I...I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that-"
"No, you should have. I was being ignorant for thinking such things of you. At least I know something now. Thank you, Gabriel."
Gaspard sat down in his chair once more, wanting to leave the Castle, but too mentally drained to leave so soon. He wanted to know more, but it was apparent there was nothing left to learn of his parents from Gabriel, or anyone for that matter. He was about to give up the conversation for the time being when something suddenly hit him.
"Why weren’t you made leader when my father was killed?" Gaspard was a bit surprised to see his uncle smirk and laugh in an ironic sound.
"Being the eldest brother, it was actually my job to take the role first. But, I never wanted the job, and I never liked being in charge, I'd rather have been left alone. So I formally resigned from it."
"But how does that stop you from taking his place after…?"
"When a Dautry doesn’t want to take the role, the next in line takes it. And, if that next in line dies, he can’t take the position, it goes, in Cedric’s case, to his first born- you."
"That- That can't be true!" Gaspard exclaimed. "It is. But since you were assumed dead, Lucas took the job since he was your father’s right hand man as it were."
"You've got to be kidding me, Lucas and my father?!" Gaspard seemed disgusted by the idea.
"I know. I never liked the guy either. But I trusted my brother’s judgment...at the time."
"'At the time'? What do you mean?"
Gabriel started to pace his floor, causing Gaspard to grow impatient once more.
"What I’m about to tell you, you must not do anything stupid because of it, you must promise me!"
"Why?"
"Just do it, Gaspard."
"Fine, I promise." the annoyance showing in his voice.
"As the years passed, I began to grow wary of Lucas. He changed once he came 'into power', you might say. And as soon as the month of your eighteenth birthday came closer, he had us take watch at the Roux Mansion. Everyone was clueless, but I had a suspicion. When the day came that one of the vampire groups came back talking that they had heard of a Dautry at the Mansion, I started to wonder. But it wasn’t until a week before your change that my worries were confirmed. Lucas told my group to find you, and kill you."
Gaspard’s eyes turned a darker shade of purple as soon as the last line was spoken. His jaws tightened as he closed his eyes, trying to control the anger welling up inside of him. Gabriel knew he had to finish, and quickly. Gaspard had to know what he would be up against, but he couldn’t do it now!
"Listen, just a moment longer. When I heard that, I knew I had to do something. That’s when I came up with a plan to have the other two kill another Mansion worker first, so I had time to find you and change you-"
"NO!" Gaspard’s shout rang throughout the house, causing Gabriel to jump to his side to keep him quiet, "YOU HAD THEM KILL ELIJH?!" Gaspard pushed his uncle away forcefully, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Please, Gaspard, be quiet!!" Gabriel grabbed him, rather boldly, surprising to not be burned by his skin, "You must keep quiet! I didn’t know he was your friend at the time! When I found out I felt terrible! I didn’t want anyone to die, but it had to be done! Please, quiet down!"
Gaspard was angry; his body felt like it was burning from the inside out. The threat of his own life was the reason for his best friend’s death, as honorable as his uncles intentions were, this was too much for him to bear. And to make it worse, Lucas, that bastard, was the one who ordered it all. But Gabriel was right, now was not the time. He could scream and grieve all he wanted too later. Now was the time for answers. As Gabriel seen him calm down, even though it was only a bit, he hurriedly continued. Someone was bound to have heard his yell. He had to finish quickly.
"I had to change you before the others caught up, because Vampires cannot kill one another without a reason! I’m sorry your friend died, but venge
ance will come later. You promised."
There were a few moments of silence after what Gabriel had said. Gaspard wanted to be mad at his uncle so badly for what he had done, but the only one who came to mind to be angry with was Lucas. Suddenly, a thought hit him.
"Wait a minute, you changed me?"
"Yes."
"But... the night I was bitten… when I finally woke up, Lucas told me he had bitten me! Why did he do that?"
"Ah, yes, I to wondered the same thing that night. I assume he did so just so you wouldn’t give him any lip on the matter, but of course, that didn’t work, you were just as bad mouthing with him as I dare to be."
"You said that Lucas ordered the group to kill me, why did they if everyone here had honored my father?"
'That’s...complicated..."
"I’m sick of hearing that tonight. Just tell me already!"
Gaspard’s anger and grief were welling up inside of him, he couldn’t take much more of this, but he would control himself for a little longer.
"Yes, just about everyone here did like your father. They agreed with him on the laws he made, the treaty he brought down with the werewolves. But be that as it may, there were still a few who didn’t agree with him as the others had. Vampires who would rather have it be as it had always been for generations. That’s who Lucas had picked to be in the scouting group for you. Why he picked me, I still don’t know. But, even though Lucas knew the Vampires he had chosen were somewhat loyal, he still threatened them that if they told anyone else in the castle, they would die. If any of the vampires that had been loyal to your father had found out, I’m sure they would have over thrown his rule, even if more than half of the Vampires here are deathly afraid of Lucas."
"Now," Gabriel continued, "I think we should stop for now, I have a feeling that your previous scream might have attracted unwanted listeners; I may be wrong though."
"I have to meet Jocelyn soon anyway..." Gaspard mumbled.
Down on the first level of the Vampire Castle stood Alayna. She had heard every word spoken between the two, utter shock, and mostly confusion, was mixed on her face. Her body was pressed to a wall, as if the voices had been protruding from it instead of above her. What luck she had to have heard this, how glad she was that she had come home early, Lucas will surely be pleased with her. Or will he? She started to argue with herself silently, wondering what she should do. For what seemed like the longest time she stood there, her facial expressions changing from pride to worry as she tried to decide what to do. She wasn’t very bright, and the strain from hard thinking was telling on her face. Lucas would surely be home soon, so she must decide quickly. The front door suddenly opening startled her, not having heard anyone approach from being in, in her case, deep thoughts. She turned to see just the Vampire she was somewhat waiting for- Lucas. Lucas eyed her suspiciously as he seen the look on her face, deciding silently she must have been thinking again.
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