Dark Temptations

by Eric Alan Williams

  Xairin eyed the chubby man yelling that hateful bigotry and noticed that the protestor was holding the sign in his hands that reads, "Mind witches and race traitors shall burn."

  Xairin's eyes grew wide as saucers as he looked at the sign, then the man's face. He taunted again, "Yeah, you heard me, Race Traitor, you're going to burn in hell monster!"

  He knew that if he did anything, it would be spun in the news saying something along the lines of, "Vampire attacks protestors, or Immortium Rampage goes deadly for protestors." Xairin had to keep himself on a leash, but man was this tempting to rip that foul mouth bastard into pieces.

  Damien finally managed to wrestle Xairin back into the bronco as everyone was leaving. The hard part for Damien was getting Xairin past the protestors. Xairin was livid about them, showing up like this at a funeral, especially his friend's funeral.

  Once seated, Xairin growled. "How is that even right?! How is that even freaking legal?!"

  Right after Damien had fastened his seatbelt, he looked at him. "Disrespectful on several levels, and a sad mark on humanity for allowing such depravity at a funeral to unfortunately be legal."

  "But how? How does something like this even become legal? Why in the world would anyone think such a thing is a good idea to be allowed at a funeral?"

  Damien had one solid answer, "Be careful who you vote for Xairin, all I can say."

  "What the hell does voting have to do with this?"

  Damien rolled his eyes. "Everything Xairin. The people you put into power, vote their own agendas. If you vote on someone, know what they are about and what issues are important to them. If you don't vote, you literally, in essence, just voted for the person that is against your interests." He saw the way Xairin was eyeing him. "Before you blurt out, that votes do not count, they do indeed count Xairin. One vote, adds to the many, remember that."

  Xairin shrugged. "Not like I have to worry about that right now anyway, right? Immortium can't vote yet, or own droids, property, in general, is even sketchy."

  Damien exhaled slowly. "It will happen Xairin, and you're an immortal, so short of someone ripping your head off, you will live to see it happen."

  Xairin noticed that the bronco wasn't flying toward the Mansion. "Hey, we're missing my stop."

  Damien disagreed. "No, we are not, we are going somewhere else first." He looked at Xairin's surprised face. "Like it or not, Xairin, you and I both have been summoned for a council meeting."

  "Excuse me?"

  Damien nodded. "Full disclosure, there is a council meeting today that has been postponed until you can arrive. You are the descendant of Lilith and an heir to the throne, which means you have a seat at the council table."

  "Today? Seriously? Today? And I have to be there?" Xairin asked sarcastically.

  Damien looked defeated. "Like it or not, my grandson, you will have to learn the dance of Immortium politics, there is no getting out of it. I am sorry."

  "Why didn't you say anything earlier? Before the funeral?"

  Damien hated being deceitful with family, but he literally had no choice; not only did Sara request it but so did the entire Council. All heirs must be in attendance. "Look, I knew you would get more upset, and to be honest, Xairin, I didn't say anything until now because I knew just how emotional you were already. I didn't want to make things worse for you while you were at the funeral. Almost the entire Council has requested all heirs be in attendance. It is just the way it is."

  "Almost!?" Xairin furiously asked.

  "I told them that you needed more time, but it is majority rules in these matters."

  "Is this why you were touching on voting?" Xairin asked.

  Damien shrugged, "Yes, and no. It is important to vote, no matter what the situation."

  Damien looked at him, sincerely. "Is the reason you're so resistant to being summoned because you will have to see your mother?"

  Xairin was a little tearful, it was just a lot on him so soon. Xairin had been a vampire, counting his time in quarantine and his time while his body was in cryogenics; Xairin had been a vampire now, for little over just five months. He had so many things to happen to him in that time frame that he really hadn't managed some downtime to process everything and heal emotionally and mentally. Now, it was something else added onto the fire raging inside the unique young vampire.

  "I have said repeatedly that I am not ready to be in the same room with them. Especially today."

  Damien was hesitant. "For what it is worth, Sara did try at first to excuse you, but it caused an uproar. Xairin… The cat is out of the bag on how unique you are."

  Xairin looked over at Damien, a few tears were streaming. His face looked as if someone had just run over his favorite pet. He was flabbergasted. "I thought we were keeping that on the down-low?"

  Damien couldn't make eye contact. He just looked forward as the guards tried their best to keep out of it. "Two Grand Alphas decided to look into your file since they found out you were a sentinel. They found the bite records. The meeting that was held the day after you departed for home, it was brought before Sara and the others. Under Sara's direct command, that information is to remain among council members. But... five council dumbasses, decided to see what would happen if a Grand Alpha were to be bitten by a source creature."

  "Great, super-alphas," Xairin smirked.

  Damien shook his head slowly. "No, Xairin. It would appear that only half-bloods and thin-bloods can be purified. The five that attempted it died from the bite. So now, counting the death toll from arrogant immortals testing Sara, and those who thought they could grow more powerful and died from their efforts, we have twelve new seats waiting to be filled." He looked at Xairin. "In light of these Grand Alphas foolishness, it was heavily requested that the descendant of Lilith and me, whose blood has been reborn as an Original Pureblood, are to be present."

  "You all keep talking about purebloods. How can I be a so-called pureblood if I started out as a dhampling?"

  Damien quickly replied. "Purebloods in our world are defined as one of two things, an Original Pureblood, who was bitten by the source of what we are and begat a bloodline, or someone that was born an Immortal."

  "You were bitten by that bat, and since you are mine and Lilith's descendant, that combination alone makes you an Original Pureblood." Damien looked out the window. "Only Original Purebloods, or those born, are allowed to challenge for the throne. Which is why you are uniquely fit since you are what you are."

  Xairin wasn't feeling it. All of this was too much too soon. Feeling overwhelmed, he began crying. "I'm just not ready for all of this."

  "It's just too much, too soon."

  Damien looked at him. He undoubtedly felt sorry for Xairin, and he agreed, it was a lot coming at the man rather quickly. In reality, there was nothing Damien could do about it. The majority of the Council requested it. "Look, all you have to do is sit there, Xairin. If votes are called for, just raise your hand if you agree with it if you don't keep your hand down, it is usually always a show of hands, and the majority always rules."

  "If my grandmother Sara, is the new queen, then can't she overrule whatever?"

  Damien shrugged. "Until Lilith dies, an heir fills the seat as a proxy queen or king. They can assert themselves to some degree, but the Council still has to vote. So far, some council members, despite their loyalty to humanity, are testing the waters in seeing just how powerful Sara is. They accept her as a proxy queen and will accept her as the definitive Queen should Lilith be killed, that is our laws. With Lilith, there is no question at the displays of power in which she was capable of. Many wouldn't dare challenge her word out of, I hate to say the word… Fear..."

  "Even after seeing what she could do. I was there in that room; I saw her kill those Grand Alphas." Xairin mumbled.

  "Even then, she still has to prove herself further before the rest of the council will no longer question just how powerful she is," Damien added.

  Damien looked out the window. "I have b
een getting to know her some over the past couple of days. Sara is unique, just like you in one way."

  "How so?" Xairin asked.

  Damien looked over at him. "Sara was born different; she was born powerful. She is the first Grand Alpha to be born, which has never before happened in all of our histories. Lilith was hoping it would happen. I hate to say it, but Lilith basically sought me out, hoping that our union would produce a vampire born with enough power to defend themselves."

  "Why you? I mean, I met Hanni, he told me he had a child with Lilith once…" Xairin mentioned.

  Damien looked at Xairin deeply. "For whatever reason, my brother and I, Radu, which you will meet soon. When we converted from the bat bite, we were stronger than a Grand Alpha that had been around for far longer than we have. We both emerged with the strength of a thousand-year-old Grand Alpha. Lilith got word of just how powerful I am and since Radu... Well, is like you… She sought me out and managed to seduce me."

  "What do you mean? Radu is like me?"

  Damien chuckled. "He likes men."

  "Oh." Xairin sputtered.

  "Look, your seat is literally right next to mine. I made sure of that. Just sit there, you don't have to say anything unless you are directly called upon. Which likely won't happen. All you have to do is sit there, and raise your hand to signify a yes, or keep it down, for a no, when votes are called upon by Sara. That is, it."

  Xairin nodded as he wiped away his tears. "Okay. I can do that." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Since I am an heir, does that give me any overruling power?"

  Damien nodded. "Essentially, you are a prince and have some overruling power. You will have to prove your own power; however, if you do. For example, you can interject if you feel something is unjust, or simply disagree, but if you do, then you will need to prepare yourself against the person's ideals you are opposing. Sometimes such interjections lead to a physical altercation to prove a point."

  "Immortium law is brutal at times," Damien added.

  "Have you ever been challenged?" Xairin asked.

  Damien nodded. "Not since I have been a part of the Society, but in ages past, I have been a part of various councils, and it happened a few times." He looked over at Xairin. "I am known as the Impaler for several reasons, not just humans fell before me Xairin."

  Damien wanted to make sure Xairin felt safe and secure. With everything going on, he knew that helping his grandson feel that way was going to be a challenge, and it should be. Xairin was going through more than most mortals and immortals could handle. It was unfair to summon him, and Damien already felt bad enough, being the one to bring Xairin in, right after a funeral, and not just any funeral, but one his closest friends, in which protestors made harder to swallow. "I know this is a lot to take on Xairin, I do, I promise you I do, and if it were in my power, you wouldn't be summoned at all. Just stay close to me, and raise your hand, or not, when votes happen, okay?"

  Xairin nodded quickly. "Okay."

  Sitting there, Xairin stewed on something. He thought about that boy, that black-haired boy with the sungoggles. He looked over at Damien. "Reese Lawndale, the boy Rory was talking to Topher about adopting. Can you make sure he is okay? Take him into your house, or see if Ethan will?"

  Damien recalled overhearing the conversation and what Topher had said on the holographic dais. "I will see what I can do."

  _____

  Tenebris Island.

  Sara had the meeting room completely redecorated. She left the stone walls intact since all of the cuneiforms on them held their entire history, and felt it in bad taste to alter that aspect of the chamber, but as for the stone table, she had it removed and replaced with a metallic one that had holo emitters built into it. She had the chairs replaced, with more comfortable ones, that matched the long table. Additional lighting was added to brighten the room. She even added sofas and loungers. If she was going to lead until her mother could be found, she was at least going to make this room feel more modern and functional.

  She stood there looking at the table, she had a decorator designed. It looked like two triangles that had met, forming a diamond. It gave a wider view for her to better see each face so she could read them. She wanted to see the looks on everyone's faces. If she couldn't read their minds at a distance, she was going to read their body language and cut through the poker-faces.

  She had already vetted everyone with mind-reading to detect additional spies and had eliminated an additional two traitors working for the Conclave. Even with trimming the fat, she didn't want to take chances on additional surprises. She also knew that with so many empty seats, they would have to be filled now that the Council was down to fifty-four, she knew, they would have to vote on new council members to replace the ones she had killed so far.

  A thrall walked in; it was Ambrose Barker.

  Sara looked at the young blond-haired man, she glared into his brown eyes and studied him for a moment. He was about five-ten, a hundred and eighty pounds, and reminded her somewhat of her son Vaughn. She had been told he was as loyal as thralls come and had been serving since the inception of the Society. The man bowed. "My Queen?"

  "What is it, Mr. Barker?"

  "All of the council members have arrived. Should I let them in?"

  She nodded.

  Sara was never the type to dress up in formal wear, so the silvery dress that Lulia had picked out for her, felt odd to wear. Either way, she had to do this. She turned to see Ambrose open the double doors to the chamber. Many of the Council didn't waste time entering. Many stopped to gasp in surprise at the changes Sara had made.

  Sterva walked over to Sara. Sara gazed into the blond werewolf's face. "Sterva?"

  A quick look around the werewolf was impressed. "Definitely more modern."

  Sara smiled. "If I am going to lead, then I need to feel comfortable here. So, I made some changes."

  Sterva nodded as she looked at the new lighting, the lamps, the tan loveseats, lounges, and sofas. "I like it."

  "I hope everyone else does," Sara replied.

  Sterva was one that wasn't about to challenge Sara and wanted to stay on her good side. That and she admired how she conducted herself. Sterva always admired Lilith for her fairness, she had hopes that Sara was like her mother in that regard. "Who cares what others think? You are the Queen until your mother is saved. That is what matters."

  "I have looked into every mind here. I know I thinned out the traitors, but what they think about Lilith having heirs, some of the others are not like you, Sterva."

  "They will come around, just give them time," Sterva said as she walked over and picked out a seat.

  Sara called out. "The tallest chairs in the room are for the heirs. Everyone else, please find a new seat. There are sixty-eight to choose from obviously."

  Cecilia and Vaughn came in and took their seats on the left-hand side of where Sara would be sitting. Damien and Xairin came next, taking seats on the opposite side. Xairin sat in a chair with a taller back to it, while Damien sat right beside him in a chair that didn't have the pointed high-back to it.

  A handsome man entered the room with dark sandy-blond hair. His blue eyes searched the room until he found the person he was looking for. Isac had regained his youth and had retained the look he had when he and Sara had first met. He looked dashing standing there in his black and white tuxedo. He walked over to his wife and kissed her on the cheek. "It feels weird, being here after all the monster hunting, we did."

  "And here I thought you were going to say it felt weird being a vampire?" She said with a chuckle.

  "I have to admit, it does feel, odd, feeling this good all the time."

  She smiled. "I could have converted you years ago, Isac."

  "Better late than never, I guess." He said. "So, where am I sitting?"

  "Beside me, you silly goose.' She pointed at the empty seat beside Cecilia. "Go sit beside our daughter. I will take my seat at the head of the table once all fifty-four are seated."

&n
bsp; He noticed Xairin sitting there. "Sara, is that our grandson?"

  She pulled him close and whispered into his ear. "Don't overload him, Isac, from what my father has told me over the past few days, he needs more time. I already feel like shit for forcing him to be here."

  Isac nodded.

  It didn't take long until the seats filled, and twenty Sentinels entered the room and took up guard. Sara nodded to Ambrose, and he closed the doors.

  Sara walked to her seat while announcing. "Thank you, everyone, for coming. This meeting shall be brief."

  Right after she sat down in the tall lavish black chair, she looked at her father. "My father has something to say as we begin this meeting."

  Damien nodded and stood up. He looked at Sara holding hands with her husband, as did everyone else.