11

eep your eyes low,” Gabriel instructed Evonne.
The three sat in the back of a long, dark car. The vehicle was already at the private airport when they arrived. Everything looked so formal to Evonne. Even the driver was dressed nicely. The imagery of vampires as disgusting monsters was another step closer to becoming a mere stereotype. European vampires, however, liked to pride themselves on their advancements alongside the human world. But there were those who shunned the high society life. They bowed down to no rules and saw all attempts to civilize themselves as an act of regaining their lost humanity. And to them, that was taboo.
Gabriel was one of those who thought this way. He looked upon the prestigious houses and havens and wanted to laugh. He knew that Demetrius was once a part of this scene, even ranked among the highest and well respected. But that didn’t stop Gabriel from letting his thoughts be known. It was all a parade to him. And even Demetrius began to think this way. Ever since he came to the United States, he looked upon his old life in Europe with clearer eyes. He craved freedom from it all.
Evonne peered out the car’s tinted window as they pulled into the long driveway. The house looked more like a mansion to Evonne and was twice the size of Eden. Half of her wanted to remain in the car, while the other half was curious to see the inside.
The driver opened the back door and bowed as they exited. A vampire stood at the house’s main door and gave a respectful nod at Demetrius before opening the door.
Evonne felt Gabriel grab for her hand, keeping her close. Inside they were greeted by a slender vampire, her clothing alone a symbol of her wealth and grace. The dress hung over her dark skinned body, as though it were made for no other. She bowed before them.
“Lord Demetrius,” she began, ignoring the other two who accompanied him, “your presence is unexpected.”
“Anna, would you be so kind as to inform Gysai of my arrival,” Demetrius said, avoiding eye contact with her.
“I believe she already knows you are here.” She gave a small smile.
“For the sake of formality.”
Anna placed her hands to the sides of Demetrius face, forcing him to look at her. Her smile widened. “You’ve been a naughty boy, my brother.” The smile dropped. “Tainted by the New World, I see,” she added with a shrug. She withdrew her hands. “Follow me.”
Anna led them further into the large house. Like the havens from the United States, this one went underground; however, unlike the other havens, the amount of humans was far less. As they entered the last room, nearly a dozen vampires stood waiting, all dressed in fine clothing and eager to seek an audience with Gysai. Evonne felt even more out of place with her simple jeans, shirt, coat, and boots. At least Gabriel was on her side when it came to appearances.
The vampires backed up against the walls and watched as Demetrius stepped forward. At the other end of the room, the door opened. Four more vampires entered. They, too, stood off to the side as a female, with dark red hair, walked into the center of the room.
This was Gysai.
Unlike Saros, Gysai was of European descent. Her fair skin and dark eyes spoke of the many possibilities to her origin. But this truth remained a secret even to her first child, Demetrius.
As Demetrius approached her, Evonne marveled at how similar they looked. They could have easily pass as brother and sister. And perhaps this was why Gysai had chosen him as her first. But the look on her face as she stared at him, wasn’t of joy, but rather frustration.
Demetrius lowered his head and bowed. His eyes then returned to her, deliberately choosing disrespect with this one action.
Gysai’s face flustered with anger. “I did not summon you.”
“I came here to speak on my behalf,” Demetrius replied.
“Your orders were to remain at the haven until I relinquished you of your post.”
“There was no one left to watch over,” he said, his own anger surfacing.
Gysai swung an opened hand at him, slashing the side of his face. Demetrius remained standing. He then turned his head, presenting the other side. With more force than before, she swung her other hand, this one catching him from his neck and over his cheek. The force of the hit sent him to the ground.
Evonne felt Gabriel’s hand tighten around hers.
Kneeling beside Demetrius, Gysai wrapped her hand around his neck and forced him to sit. She leaned in and licked at the blood on his face. She stopped to stare at him.
“Where is your patience?” she said.
He stared back and coldly replied, “Where is yours?”
Gysai’s grip tightened, yet Demetrius refused to look away.
“Is this your decision?” she asked, her fangs visible and ready to spill more of his blood. “To forfeit your title?”
His reply came in a whisper. “I wish nothing more to do with the title of elder.”
Gysai’s face softened. “A heartwarming return to the life of a nomad,” she concluded. Her eyes lifted to Gabriel, the unspoken contempt for him visible, as though it were he who placed these thoughts into her child’s mind. She looked back at Demetrius. “If it is a common existence you long for, then you will no longer carry the title of elder.” She released him and stood. “Leave from here. You are no longer welcome in my court or on my lands.”
Standing, Demetrius kept his head high as he dared to look upon Gysai, almost mockingly. He then turned and headed from the room with Gabriel and Evonne following.
Back in the car, Evonne breathed a sigh of relief. The place was the most smothering haven she had been in, even more than Saros and Belmiro’s combined.
Demetrius used his sleeve to wipe away the blood from his healed skin.
“I am thankful for the audience,” he admitted. “It was her wish to speak with me in closed quarters.”
“If that were the case,” Gabriel began, “then she wouldn’t have let you go tonight.”
Demetrius almost laughed. “She hates you.”
“I’m not a big fan of hers, either.”
“I don’t get it,” Evonne said, breaking into the conversation. “Do they, the Original Six, I mean, like to think of themselves as Kings and Queens, or do they see themselves as gods?”
“Gods in the beginning,” Demetrius replied, “Kings and Queens now.”
“So they’re free to do what they want?”
“Not necessarily. They have their own rules to live by, most are similar to our own. A perfect example of how they govern each other can be found during the time Rhune and Saros became inseparable. It was before they began sharing their blood with humans. The two crossed the lands, destroying any village they happened upon. When the others became involved, they ordered Rhune and Saros to separate and to never hunt together again, or even see each other.”
“And they obeyed?”
“They had to. Punishment for not obeying was death.” Demetrius looked at Gabriel and added, “Perhaps that is why she truly hates you. She was once Rhune’s wife until Saros took him from her. Gysai still harbors that hatred. It is the lawless nature of Saros that she sees in you.”
Gabriel wanted to spit at the statement. “Lawlessness… She sees what she wants to see. She has the clairvoyance of a rock.”
A laugh escaped Demetrius. “I actually love the fact that she hates you. You stole her son away. There could be no other perfect ending to this night.”
I can think of a perfect ending, Evonne wanted to say. Sitting in the leather seat she kept her hands together, rubbing her palm with her thumb in an attempt to distract herself from the hunger. She felt forgotten in all of this. One night was plenty to go without feeding, but a second? Even their driver’s presence tingled at her senses.
Among this hunger, there were no outward signs like a growling stomach. These hunger pains went deeper, affecting her body as a whole. She didn’t need much, just a little to ease the agony. Oh, to be like Gabriel and Demetrius, to go days and perhaps weeks without needing blood. She wanted more than anything to be at that level.
Evonne tried to silence her agony. She didn’t want to burden them with her request. They would be leaving France soon for England, and once there, she assumed Gabriel had a plan for finding blood.