Chapter 43
Tribulations
Ebony and I continue dancing the night away and making a few new friends until Alexander summons us to the library telepathically. He also asks for Ebony and her sister to join us. I’m concerned that this must be something big to call us away from the party. We sneak in one by one, trying to be discreet. Constance and Alexander are intent in their conversation, and it looks serious.
“What happened?” Isaac inquires.
“Alex, Constance, we are all here. What is it?” Elijah demands to know.
Constance begins, “I was outside for some air and went for a quick run. I brushed by a tree and started having a vision that Alex intercepted. It’s bad, real bad! The decedents of the Cerberus cult have risen from their lairs in the wastelands and are on the hunt. Many mortals have been killed in the New York area, and they have moved south to the Boston area. This could turn into another war, a repeat of Tansy the Vampire War when the groups took sides.” She looks terrified.
“I think we need to be careful. We should also contact the Renata leaders to notify them of the Cerberus presence,” Isaac adds.
We all agree. Elijah and Isaac will stay behind to discuss the details, and the rest of us will return to the party. We don’t all want to be absent at the same time or it may look suspicious. We’ll discuss everything after the party.
“I’m confused. What are the Tansy, Renata and the Cerberus?” Eliza asks.
“Back in the fifth century, a war called Tansy broke out, separating the vampire clans. A group came together to create an organization called the Renata. They suppressed the rebels and agreed to exist behind a façade called ‘The conspiracy of silence.’ The leaders, or ‘Lords’, of the Renata decreed ‘Never more shall vampires kill freely and openly, and they must hide amongst the mortals and conceal our true natures,” Elijah explains and adds, “Thus came the six laws, a sort of Vampire Bible. Those who did not join the Renata were driven into the wastelands–that is, until they attacked the leaders for power, most recently, in 1882, when the vampire riots broke in New York and their numbers decreased once again. The Cerberus went into hiding again so as to increase their numbers. Because of the similarities to the original war, these riots are referred to as the ‘Wars of Tansy.’”
“Well okay then. I guess that explains a little, where is this Renata located are they worldwide or just here?” Eliza says with a little surprise.
“They are from Transylvania; you know some of the myths about us are real.” Isaac chuckles.
“Okay that is kinda funny but on the same note this might explain the bad feeling I’ve been having,” Ebony suggests.
“What bad feeling?” Elijah asks.
“I’ve had this awful feeling that something bad was going to happen, something evil. I told Sophia about it the other night when we went shopping.”
“Did I forget to mention it? Maybe seeing Caspian that night just overwhelmed me and took precedence. I’m so sorry.”
“No worries. We know now and need to figure out some details. Knowing last week without any details would not have meant much. Now we know to trust Ebony’s feelings, as they may have more to them,” Elijah says in his comforting voice.
We need to hide our concerns for now and continue with our own façade, starting with returning to the party. It’s almost midnight now, and everyone is preparing to ring in the New Year. The wait staff assures us that our guests all have champagne, with sparkling cider for the underaged guests.
The music stops, and everyone gathers around for the countdown. “Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one... HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Balloons, streamers and confetti fall from the ceiling above, right on cue; Constance rigged it perfectly to fall in sync with the clock striking twelve. Everyone in attendance starts shouting, cheering, and singing off-key versions of “Auld Lang Syne.” Then each guest turns to kiss the one they wish to spend the next year with. Of course Alexander and Matilda are hiding around the corner for a small kiss; they don’t want to raise any questions.
This tradition means so much more to me now. I’ve waited over a century to find someone special, someone worth a New Years kiss. I never expected to find him, and for once I feel extremely lucky, standing here in the moment of a new year, with the most amazing man I have ever known and completely in love. Nathanial takes me in his arms, and we kiss, sharing the perfection of the moment.
“Sophia, let’s go upstairs for some privacy and to talk. The party is winding down, and I don’t think anyone will notice us missing.” He knows me so well that he can tell something is bothering me.
“I think you’re right. Let’s go”
Immortal Embrace Page 43