“You see,” cried out Lydia, she regained her posture and pointed to Prussia in my arms, “He admits he has murdered a vampyr-”
“We performed a clean sweep and a total of 34 vampyrs were given the eternal death,” I said, cutting her off, feeling obligated to correct her.
A loud gasp went up in ripples throughout the court. A look of shock and outrage appeared on many faces when I looked out into the crowd, though some were merely intrigued. Perhaps they were the oldest and less inclined to feel sentiment over loss of vampyr life.
“This is genocide of our very species,” proclaimed Lydia, “I think I speak for the court when I demand that you give a fair and just sentence as Queen to your grandson for the genocide he has committed against our species and our laws,”
“I ordered it,” said the Queen, loudly and unwavering, “And I’m pretty sure you, with your past indiscretions, don’t adequately represent the voice of the court let alone the voice of our…species,” the Queen said in a condescending and silky tone.
I had to hide my surprise as I climbed the remainder of the steps to stand on the platform with the Queen as I heard a slow roll of chuckles around the court at the Queen poking fun at Lydia’s past shames.
It didn’t do anything for Lydia’s temper though and it looked as though she had actually bit down on her tongue to keep her temper in check. I looked for blood to dribble out of the corner of her mouth. She turned red in the face but I didn’t spot a single drop before she spoke again.
“Genocide by the Queen herself is still genocide,” Lydia said with defiance, pointing at the Queen.
The room went still with only a murmur or two coming from the court as they watched to see how the Queen would react. The Queen stood relaxed, I could tell even from behind where she stood. She had become a master of her emotions long before I had even become an inkling of an idea in her daughter’s mind. I surprised myself as I stood holding my breath, waiting to see how the Queen would react.
“And what is a good Queen to do, then, Lydia?” asked the Queen with a calm voice.
I knew that voice. I knew it in the sense that the tone the Queen used now had always been and would always be one of calculation. Whatever the Queen had decided to walk Lydia into – Lydia would no doubt be blind to it until too late.
“Select a new Chancellor immediately to oversee the rule of law once more. Then relinquish the throne as you are unfit to rule, unable to separate personal gains and pleasures from rule and justice,” said Lydia, her nose pointed stiffly up and her arms crossed with a solid nod that dropped every few words as she looked out at the court.
“And what of your treason,” said the Queen, “Shall I hand over your case to the new Chancellor that you might manipulate the law in your favor per your …usual skill sets.
This time there were decidedly female voices that rolled with more obvious laughter at the insinuation. The Queen had decided to continue to poke fun at Lydia – making a show of the entire ordeal and it looked like she had the court as she wanted them.
“A female Chancellor would be a breath of fresh air,” said a woman toward the front, one I recognized from one of the Queen’s counsels but not sure which.
“Name a Chancellor, choose a successor and relinquish the throne?” mused the Queen aloud, “Such an interesting proposition – hardly a King or Queen in their right mind could refuse!”
Now the lords and ladies of the court openly laughed as it sounded absolutely absurd when repeated. I let a chuckle out as well, though mindful not to shake Prussia any as she lay still unconscious in my arms.
“I will take your suggestion under advisement,” said the Queen in amusement, letting a hand wave out over the court and hearing the roll of laughter once more, “And as I consider it-,”
“And what of your grandson?” asked Lydia.
She had become mad and from her stance I could tell that her patience had been spent. She had never enjoyed standing to be laughed at. She must really be trying to dig her heals in and had managed to fail miserably thus far. I had begun to get bored as the moments passed. I needed Prussia to be seen by the doctor sooner rather than later and nothing would come of it until this entire circus dissipated.
“My grandson,” the Queen’s smile faded slowly as she looked down the steps at Lydia, “Yes, as I gave him commands to kill any in his path in order to secure Prussia, the human as you so informally refer to her as though I hadn’t instructed her title firmly as Lady to you first and foremost, there is no judgment or sentence to oversee now or in the future,”
This time I didn’t expect to hear the unrest and unhappiness come from the court but I should have. Vampyrs have always viewed humanity as a sort of breeding, roaming, free-range cow farm. The idea of a pet had always been tolerated but killing over a vampyr, especially in vengeance, had been established as illegal before my time.
“This is blasphemy,” shouted someone from the back, “Vampyr before Human,”
I watched as one of her counsel leaned forward and whispered to the Queen. It seemed the court unrest couldn’t be ignored, even with Lydia as a mouthpiece the court stood behind her on it. The Queen nodded her head and the counsel member, one I hadn’t seen before, stepped up to the podium to speak.
“Councilwoman Plurth, if the court shall have me,” she said in a very ceremonious and mundane way.
“We shall,” murmured the court as a staggered whole.
“The Queen had been in her jurisdiction and right, as she had previously given warning to all those in proximity to the throne, of the boundaries concerning Lady Prussia,” began Councilwoman Plurth, though with audible whispering and comments in the crowd, “with death a reasonable and expected result for anyone found to attack a member of the Royal family,”
Even I didn’t by that line. Prussia wasn’t part of our family. It seemed like a really big stretch and could become a giant mess.
“What are you saying,” Lydia laughed at the Councilwoman’s announcement and explanation, “That our pets are family? Shall every Vampyr that attacks a random human owned by another vampyr be held accountable as though they attacked the owner instead?”
The Councilwoman looked to the Queen. The Queen nodded that she could return to her spot among the other counsel and the Queen returned to the podium.
“I am delighted to publicly announce the engagement of Prince Sebastian to Lady Prussia,” said the Queen, looking directly at Lydia, “And with this announcement finally made after much preparation though not a time or occasion I would have liked to have highlight it, I believe the court will see the significance of Lady Prussia to my family and the protection that provides.”
I looked to the Queen and tried my best not to let my complete and utter shock show on my face. But to be honest I almost dropped Prussia right where I stood. The Queen gave me a glance and a smile but I had no idea what she had been thinking. I didn’t know if it would even work but if I knew this court at all, and Lydia, no one would be thrilled at a Prince marrying a human. I just didn’t think it would stand up in our court.
“Only a Vampyr may marry a Royal. You know this my Queen, better than anyone,” said Duke Rutlidge, a face I knew to often grace the court and had been just off to the side and listening intently to the entire proceeding.
“No such specifications or requirements are made for engagement,” said the Queen, “And attack on one engaged to a royal is the same as attacking the Royal himself,”
The royal court became a loud roar as the Queen’s words fell on the crowd. I saw some confusion, some anger, even some amusement though I knew a few feminine faces with disappointment. One of those faces in particular that caught my attention stood closer than any other. Lydia looked as though the Queen had lined up everyone in the room to slap her one after another.
I had never known Lydia to be speechless but she didn’t have a single word while the room talked loudly at a mile a minute. I no sooner got over the shock of the announcement myself than won
dered how Lydia would take it when her eyes found mine. I felt a small shiver down my spine at the hate that burned in her eyes, her fists balled up and her teeth clenched tight. The thing she had wanted most, for us to be wed, had just been given to a human in front of the entire court as she stood there on the steps for all of their eyes to see. For any lady in the court, the insult didn’t get any greater than that.
“As her status is secured as a future member of the royal family, Lady Prussia will henceforth hold position and title of her Royal Chancellor as she has been prepared over the course of several weeks to assume this role,” announced the Queen, “And Lydia…”
Lydia looked up at the Queen, hatred still burning in her eyes. I could feel the waves of anger rolling off of her. She could snap at any moment and it would not be good for her – it could mean her death if she acted out.
“I’ve taken your suggestions under advisement. I’ll let you know when I get around to relinquishing my thrown to my heir and his new bride,” said the Queen.
I couldn’t believe Lydia had held her tongue as long as she had. I felt as though I watched a bomb going off.
“Genocide, betrothals and now a seat overlooking the entire Royal Court all given to a human, your pet?” yelled Lydia at the Queen, “Could there be any more manipulation and bending of the rules of your own court for your personal satisfaction?”
“I’ll remind you why the position is open to begin with,” said the Queen in a low but booming voice dripping with warning and challenge, “As you bed my son while wed to the late Chancellor and were coward enough to let your maker take a stake for you after you murdered your own husband, my dear friend, in an attempt climb to a seat of power, the same seat Prussia is poised to sit. Please expand on your own personal experiences in manipulation of this court as they are all gathered here at your very hand, are they not?”
The room fell completely silent. But after a moment a voice could be heard though I couldn’t place a face to the voice or see where the voice had come from except the back of the room in general.
“Let us hear it from the human herself,” suggested the voice, a man, “so that we might know the face of the human that might one day sit in your very seat, my Queen,”
Diplomacy at it’s best. The Queen hesitated and then turned to me, still standing just behind her holding Prussia in my arms.
“Can she stand?” asked the Queen in a whisper.
“She cannot,” I whispered in return, “I don’t think she’s even conscious,”
“For the best…but you must still bring her forward,” said the Queen quietly as she stepped aside.
I walked forward and I heard as noses began to sniff the air. Her blood still coated her thickly and a scent could be a fingerprint in a room like this.
“She has been here before,” a man said from somewhere in the crowd, “I know her smell,”
And then I heard a light smack and the same voice said, “What?!” as though having been reprimanded for something they hadn’t realized had been inappropriate. Probably a jealous lover or spouse hadn’t liked that he had known her scent so well and identified it so fast.
“I’ve seen her in the Chancellor’s office,” said another more quiet voice, “in passing,” the voice added quickly.
“What do you say to this, Lady Prussia?” asked the Duke that had spoken before.
“My betrothed has been tortured throughout the entire evening in an attempt to hurt the Royal family,” I said, addressing the court, “She has been drained almost entirely of blood and must be given immediate medical attention. She is unconscious and has been this entire time,”
“When can we expect to hear from her?” asked the Duke, thoughtfully petting a dark goatee with white streaks.
“Shortly, but not tonight,” I said.
“I still demand a trial!” said Lydia.
“Certainly,” said the Queen, “Would you like your own?”
A final wave of laughter went up throughout the room.
“If any members of the court, forming the majority, motions for a trial to oversee the legality of my orders and kills this evening please state your motion now or forever hold your peace,” said the Queen.
“I motion for a trial,” said Lydia, who then turned to the room and looked for a second to her motion. She was met with a cold silence in the room. A cough from the back could be heard and nothing more. I watched as she stomped down the steps and headed toward the back door.
“The court’s business is finished this evening,” announced the Queen, “As we see to family emergencies.”
A resounding door slam could be heard from the front of the house and the Queen pursed her lips at the noise. I ducked my head slightly and smiled as it had been Lydia’s most predictable trait.
Within moments the bodies began to mingle and disperse. A doctor as well as Tommy appeared and I followed the Queen to her sleeping quarters to see to Prussia’s injuries and health. We had spent longer than I had wanted to dealing with the politics of things. Her breathing had almost gone and I felt worry at how much damage had been done. It had been a miracle for her to survive this long. I had to believe she would pull through. I had to believe it would all be worth it in the end.
Chapter 30
Sebastian followed me toward my private chambers carrying Prussia and I could hear him giving stern orders as we walked.
“Triple the guards on the grounds and perimeter,” said Sebastian, “I want checks every 5 minutes including a sound off of each guard on patrol. Any one checks in late, even a little late, I want someone to give an eyes-on check on their wellbeing and their location.”
“Are we expecting any one?” asked the guard trailing Sebastian.
“No,” said Sebastian, “But they’re not going to RSVP if that’s what you’re asking,”
The guard ran to relay the message to the other guards just as we reached my private chambers. I found Tommy and the doctor at the door, waiting.
“Tommy, come in,” I said, holding the door open for him and placing a hand up to the doctor, “Doctor, if you would wait outside a moment I will summon you in as soon as we are ready for you,”
The doctor dipped his head in respect and continued to wait outside as I followed Tommy in. Sebastian followed right on my heels and set Prussia on the chaise lounge she had been unconscious on just before being kidnapped. I gave a passing thought to getting rid of that piece of furniture in the near future.
“She needs medical attention NOW,” insisted Sebastian, pointing to the door, “Why in the hell do you have the doctor waiting outside and your blood analyst slash gardener taking samples?”
Sebastian pointed to Tommy who had already opened up his bag and had begun to take blood samples. Tommy didn’t look up or slow his work, he continued as Sebastian hovered over, almost shouting at me.
“Sit,” I said, trying to remind myself of everything Sebastian had been through, “and I will explain,”
Sebastian sat hard into a stuffed chair nearby, one that I often preferred. I pursed my lips at his rudeness and decided to stand.
“What can you explain besides the fact that you’re letting her bleed and die all over your bedroom when there is a doctor not thirty feet away on the other side of that door?” shouted Sebastian, “Is that your plan? Let her die and then turn her so I have an acceptable bride? And you have a lot of explaining to do on that one.”
I walked swiftly to Sebastian and slapped him with as much force as I could without decapitating him. Blood of my blood or not, I couldn’t let him speak to me this way especially in front of Tommy, human and help in this house. It made me look weak. And Sebastian should have known better.
Sebastian put a hand to his face as instinct would have him do following the sting that no doubt set into his cheek and jaw. I took a few steps away from him so that I could compose myself once again and look over Tommy’s work.
“Now that you’ve come to your senses,” I said, waiting for Tommy to complete
the few quick blood tests he had been prepared to do upon Prussia’s return, “You should know that Prussia is already a vampyr,”
“I figured that much,” said Sebastian, “They drained her practically dry and they were sloppy eaters. There is no way she didn’t become infected,”
Tommy looked up at me then and I nodded for him to tell Sebastian the whole truth as he had told me.
“It looks like she’s sick because she’s been infected,” said Tommy, “She was a vampyr before she was taken,”
Sebastian’s face looked confused. I could tell – it’s how he looked most of the time when trying to follow court politics. It’s why he had been such a great champion of my guards. He understood logical things and politics becomes complicated faster than Sebastian could keep up with at times. It’s why I didn’t blame him for Lydia.
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