Conclave (Vampire Conclave: Book 3), page 9
“I need you too, Sarah,” Kaylee declares with a slight tremor in her voice, letting me know that she’s on the verge of tears.
“As soon as I get back from this trip, we’ll spend a whole day together,” I promise her. “Besides, you need to get a pedicure before the baby is born. I know your bump is big, so you probably can’t even see how atrocious your feet look.”
This earns me an expected, and half-hearted, slap on the arm from Kaylee when she pulls out of our embrace.
“I’ll remember that when you’re as big as a house,” she promises.
I kiss Kaylee on the cheek and hold one of her hands as I walk her out the door.
I hate to see Pete and Kaylee drive away, but at least I have the reassurance that they’ll be safe under Finn’s watchful eyes.
It doesn’t take us very long to get our things together. Helen packed our belongings the day before in preparation for our trip to New Orleans.
Since Julian’s Vanquish only has room for two adults, he and I drive down in his car with Viktor snoozing contentedly in the backseat. Petru takes his Mercedes with Nathaniel and Helen as his passengers, and Nadia, Alea, and Kieran drive down in a black Range Rover that Alea had parked across the street from Julian’s home during Kaylee and Pete’s visit.
I don’t say much on the drive to New Orleans. Kaylee’s disappointed face haunts my thoughts and tugs on my heartstrings. About halfway to Mira’s house, I begin to cry.
“Sarah,” Julian says as he looks over at me from the passenger seat, sounding as hurt as I feel, “tell me what’s wrong. You’ve been sad ever since we left the house. What’s troubling you?”
I shake my head and try to wipe away my tears, but still they keep coming. I realize my breakdown isn’t just about Kaylee; it’s everything.
“I don’t know if I can handle all of this,” I confess. “It’s all just too much for me, Julian.”
“I wondered when the reality of what’s happening would finally hit you.” He places a comforting hand on my left thigh and squeezes it just enough to bring me a smidgen of calm. “What you’re feeling right now is completely normal. Most people would have gone mad by this point, but you’ve been able to keep yourself together in spite of everything that’s been thrown at you. Don’t let this little breakdown make you doubt your strength and what you can endure. I’ve never met anyone as headstrong and rational as you are. I suggest you allow yourself to be human for a moment and let all of your pent-up emotions out.”
I sniff before saying, “I get the feeling you’re telling me this for another reason besides just trying to be comforting.”
Julian doesn’t reply right away, but after a few seconds, he says, “Do you remember me telling you about the two vampires who drink their blood from humans who aren’t their companions?”
“The ones that went insane because of that?” I ask, wondering why he’s bringing them up now. “What about them?”
“They are …” he falters as he seems to search for the right word to describe them, “… vicious—not just in their lust for blood but also in their attitude toward others. If you show them an ounce of weakness, they’ll use that against you in a childish game to bend you to their will.”
Julian’s words are sobering enough to make me stop crying. I wipe away the tears from my face.
“No one bends my will,” I proclaim. “I’m not that breakable.”
Julian smiles, but it’s filled with a grim portent. “I’ve known a few humans like you, and even the strongest have their weaknesses. I’m not telling you this to frighten you, but I don’t want you to be caught off guard by them either.”
“Then I’ll just make sure to stay away from them while we’re in New Orleans during the conclave,” I reason. “That should be easy enough.”
“Perhaps.” Julian doesn’t look convinced by my strategy. “It all depends on how much time Mira plans for us all to spend together.”
“Well, how long can one meeting take? An hour? Maybe two?”
Julian looks over at me like I’ve lost my mind, unintentionally making me feel stupidly naïve.
“I’m sorry,” he says, apparently having felt the fragility of my emotions. “This is your first conclave with us, and I shouldn’t have presumed that you would know what to expect. It’s just that you’re the first companion who wasn’t raised in our world and sometimes I forget that you still don’t know everything about us.”
“Then tell me what I need to know,” I say, finding a way to take my mind off my own personal problems by focusing on one that Julian and I will have to face together.
“Well, the first thing that we’ll do is have a meeting and introduce all of our new companions to each other. Since it’s been about a hundred years since we were all together last, it’s a way to break the ice. It will also allow you an opportunity to learn more about everyone present.”
“How will the others react when they find out I’m the heir to House Moonshade?”
“I’m sure they’ll be surprised at first, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It takes a lot to surprise a vampire,” Julian jokes. “They’ll eventually accept it and move on though.”
“Nadia seems to think that she, Alea, and Kieran will be allowed to attend the meetings with us. Is that true?”
“Most everyone will be bringing a show of force, so their presence won’t be second-guessed. Normally, Petru, Evie, and I don’t bring anyone besides our companions, but considering your protection detail are Valengard, it will impress the others quite a bit. Everyone knows that the alfar have the best fighters, so that might work to our advantage. Janus and Sophie will be less likely to pick a fight with Nadia and the others around.”
“Pick a fight?” I ask. “You make it sound like we’re about to walk into a playground grudge match. Are Janus and Sophie the two insane vampires?”
“Yes. That’s them.”
“What should I expect? Will they be foaming at the mouth? Biting everything that comes within an arm’s length of them? Just how dangerous are they?”
“They may be insane, but they’re also very cunning in their hunting practices. If you passed them by on the street, you would just think that they’re an attractive couple, not homicidal maniacs. They tend to use their sex appeal to attract their victims.”
“Basically, you’re telling me that they like to play with their food before they eat it.”
Julian nods. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
“Should I be scared of them?”
“Yes,” he says without any reservations. “They’re the only ones who have ever had the audacity to attack another vampire’s companion, and if they ever did that to you, I think I would lose my mind and go as mad as they are.”
“Then I won’t leave your side whenever the others are around,” I declare. “When you first explained things to me about your world, I remember you mentioning that you and the others discussed killing Janus and Sophie. Why have you invited them to this conclave? Didn’t you tell me they think you and the others should be put to death because you don’t share their beliefs?”
“They may believe we should be killed because we don’t feed off of people who aren’t our companions, but we do share an unspoken code, which is why none of us have harmed each other yet. I know it probably sounds odd to you, but the curse we share bound us together. It would take a lot for us to turn on one another. Plus, they need to know about the woman in Destin. If she attempts to attack them like she did Petru and me, they need to be prepared.”
“After the first meeting takes place, what else do you and the others normally do?”
“There’s always what’s called a ‘Midnight Ball.’ ”
“Ugh,” I groan, “another party? I can’t say I’m looking forward to having to dress up again. I’ve been having to do that a lot lately.”
Julian shifts in his seat nervously, and I can tell he needs to tell me something. He just doesn’t want to.
“What is it?” I prod. “You might as well say whatever it is that you need to tell me.”
Julian glances in my direction briefly before returning his attention back to the road.
“You’ll be required to wear your companion dress while we’re with the others.”
I pause to think about this before asking, “All the time?”
“Yes,” Julian replies reluctantly. “It’s simply tradition.”
“Awesome,” I say sarcastically, thinking about the lacy purple and white dress that looks more like a tablecloth than a gown. “Wait a minute. The last time I wore my dress I’m pretty sure I ruined it when I fed you my blood to heal you.”
“We have spares at the house, remember?” Julian reminds me. “Helen simply took in the next size up last night to make sure it would fit you properly.”
Dang Helen and her seamstress skills. I’m not looking forward to wearing the barely-there dress again, but I suppose it can’t be helped. Or can it?
“What if I didn’t wear the dress?” I ask Julian. “What if I just wore another purple dress that I was more comfortable in?”
“Are you sure you would feel more comfortable in something else? You would be the only female companion wearing different attire.”
Julian does have a point. I might stand out even more if I rebel.
“I’ll wear it to the first meeting to see how it goes. Then if I feel like I want to wear something else, I will. Is that agreeable to you?” I ask, viewing this as a grand compromise on my part.
Julian nods. “I think that makes sense. Honestly, I would be just as happy if you didn’t wear anything at all.”
Julian grins, which prompts me to playfully slap him on the thigh.
“You’re such a cad,” I tell him, even though I can’t help but smile at him. “It’s a wonder I ever fell in love with you.”
“You know you can’t resist my charms.” He smiles as the hand he had on my thigh begins to rise up into dangerous territory.
Regretfully, I pluck his hand off my thigh and rest it back onto his lap with his other one.
“None of that while I’m driving,” I gently scold him. “I need to keep my attention on the road. Need I remind you that I’m the future queen of the alfar? You need to be more careful with such precious cargo.”
“You’re the woman I love,” Julian tells me unequivocally, “that’s reason enough for me to want you to drive carefully.”
“Then keep your hands to yourself, mister. We’re nearly there.”
Julian and I make small talk about the house we want to build by the lake during the rest of the drive. I get the feeling he simply wants to calm my nerves about the conclave with the other vampires. I can’t say that I’m not nervous about meeting the vampires I don’t know yet. Janus and Sophie definitely sound like ones I need to keep my distance from. I just hope they’re not so insane that they refuse to listen to our proposal about curing them. Even though we don’t exactly have a plan set into place yet, I’m sure we’ll figure something out soon. We know what needs to be done. We just have to figure out a way to do it.
Unfortunately, I have a sinking feeling that they’ll resist the idea of change. I just hope Julian can convince them otherwise.
My heart fills with dread as we drive up to Mira’s three-story mansion constructed of blue sandstone with an orange tiled roof. The size of the home fosters Mira’s need to intimidate those who visit her. I’ve never felt intimidated by Julian’s sister, but I do know I don’t like being around her. She’s selfish and arrogant—two traits I can’t stand in a person, much less my future sister-in-law.
“She isn’t all that bad, you know,” Julian says in defense of Mira. Obviously, he feels my aversion to being in her home again. “I know my sister can be brash and patronizing, but I think that all stems from her own insecurities.”
“Insecurities?” I ask, wondering if Julian knows his sister at all. “I would never peg Mira as being unsure of herself. At least, that’s not a feeling I’ve ever felt from her.”
“Being a vampire for so long has begun to erase her true self,” he explains. “I wish you could have known her before all of this happened.”
“Are you trying to tell me she wasn’t rude and self-centered when she was human?”
“She was in a way,” he begrudgingly admits, “but not to the extent that she is now. My hope is that once we’re able to revert back to being human, the sister I once knew will return to me.”
“Can she hear us?” I ask, knowing Julian can hear things from quite a long distance. Odds are that Mira can too.
“Probably, if she’s listening.”
“Then, Mira, I hope what Julian says is true and that you want to become human again.”
I decide to leave my statement short and sweet. If I try to say anything else concerning my true feelings toward Julian’s sister, I might come off sounding rude and obnoxious, causing Mira to rebel against finding a way to regain her humanity. We need her on our side in this struggle, especially if we end up asking the witches and warlocks in New Orleans to help us find a way to reverse the curse that made her and Julian vampires in the first place. Whether I like it or not, Mira has control over what they’re allowed to do in her city, and pissing her off won’t help us reach our goal.
As we get out of Julian’s car, both Petru and Nadia park their own vehicles directly behind the Vanquish. Viktor jumps out from the backseat and begins to precede us up the steps. Thankfully, we shouldn’t be here very long because we’re not staying at Mira’s house during our time in New Orleans. The plan is to lodge in the alfar mansion to make it easier for me to travel back and forth between both places. The breach that connects Earth to Alfheim is located in the basement of the alfar estate, but very few people know that’s how the alfar travel from one realm of space to the other. It’s a secret that I haven’t even told Helen or Petru about yet. They don’t need to know about the alfar’s underground portal, and sometimes being let in on a secret isn’t the blessing it sounds like it should be.
As we all turn to walk up the stairs leading to the massive double wooden doors of the house, I’m surprised when Daniel Bartran, Adrian’s companion, peeks his curly brown-haired head outside before fully opening one of the doors to welcome us. I didn’t have a chance to see Daniel on my last visit to New Orleans and feel somewhat embarrassed that I didn’t even ask Adrian about him when I was here. Though, in my defense, I had just been shot at by a member of Damien’s werewolf pack. My previous trip to New Orleans wasn’t exactly a social call. Thinking about that event causes me to wonder how Damien and his pack are adjusting to the punishment the Council of Elders placed on them.
For the crime of attempted murder by his rogue pack member, Damien and his wolves are banned from having a seat on the council for one year. During that time, they’re not allowed to venture outside the county limits or have children. Hopefully, Damien forces everyone in his pack to use birth control. I distinctly remember Mira saying that any child conceived within the next year would be sent to another pack in a distant country to live out the remainder of his or her life. At the time, I had no idea the Council of Elders had that much power over the supernatural creatures residing in New Orleans. It’s almost like a police state, where Mira is high supreme chancellor and dictates the laws. It’s one reason I never want to officially live in New Orleans, even though I almost feel like I already do. It makes me wonder if the alfar mansion is considered an embassy and thus part of alfar territory. If it is, I’ll definitely be staying there whenever I’m in town.
As Julian and I make our way up the steps toward Daniel, he gingerly takes one of my hands with his and holds it in a firm grip.
“He isn’t going to try to steal me away from you,” I whisper to Julian, amused by his need to show Daniel we’re officially a couple.
“I’m sure he hasn’t gotten over his crush on you yet,” Julian says. “It’s better that we’re upfront about things between us, so that he doesn’t get his feelings hurt later on.”
“Right,” I say exaggeratedly. “You’re worried about his feelings. How noble of you.”
I can’t help but giggle at how Julian has rationalized his need to show the world we belong to one another now. Men are all the same, whether they’re human or vampire. They have an instinctual need to claim their mates in front of other would-be suitors. It’s kind of cute, but totally unnecessary. Daniel already knows that I love Julian. I was pretty upfront with him about my feelings for my companion, even though he warned me that Julian wouldn’t be able to return my feelings. He might have been right if Julian hadn’t gained the ability to sense my emotions and actually feel the love I have for him. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about what could have been.
“Hey, Sarah,” Daniel says with a welcoming smile as we come to stand in front of him halfway up the steps. He looks over at Julian and his smile fades. “Julian,” he greets him with a curt nod of his head.
“Daniel,” Julian replies just as brusquely, making the moment feel even more awkward.
“Daniel!” Helen calls out behind us as she and the rest of my party walk up. “I swear you get more handsome every time I see you.”
I know Helen’s words are meant to make Daniel feel more comfortable and give a small boost to his ego. She must realize he feels disappointed to find out that Julian and I are not just companions anymore. I think it’s pretty obvious without having to say it in so many words that we’re much more than that to each other now.
“Flattery might just get you a dance at the Midnight Ball,” Daniel tells her with a congenial smile. As he takes in the rest of my party, his smile slips away again. He looks back at me and asks, “I heard you were given an alfar detail. Is this them?”
“No, we just like all dressing the same and being armed to the teeth everywhere we go,” Nadia tells him snarkily. “Who else would we be?”
“Daniel,” I say, turning slightly on the step to do the introductions despite Nadia’s verging-on-rude banter, “I would like for you to meet Nadia, Alea, and Kieran. And yes, they are my alfar detail.”
