It was time to stand before the first Grand Council of the Chosen in remembered history and give testimony to the truth that Vampires did exist and how the Chosen had foolishly believed that they had been the ones labelled as such by the mortals. Uncrossing his arms, he carefully walked up stone steps that threatened to buckle his left leg from under him and entered through the large double doors.
Several Chosen milled in the antechamber, their surprise and curiosity flowed over him as he and Notus entered. He did his best to quell the anxiety that promised to spill out to encompass them. This newfound ability, borne from his torture, was difficult to master, no matter how Notus tried to help.
Silence befell the large room lit only with gloaming candlelight from the chandelier.
The gruesome paintings that had hung when the Vampires had ruled over the Chosen were now gone, leaving darkened patches against mahogany wainscoting. Only one canvass remained
–
the depiction of a devil subduing an angel with his wing horribly ripped off and terror written across his beautiful face.
His attention caught by the painting, he heard, rather than witnessed, the other Chosen move through the oak doors into the audience hall.
Their nervousness scraped at him, adding to his anxiety.
“
It
’
s almost time, my boy,
”
whispered Notus.
Unable to relinquish his gaze, he could only nod. Fernando, Bridget, Notus and he knew what most likely would occur if everything went well, but if it did not, then it was up to him to show the true damage the Vampires had caused to the Chosen. He also knew that if it came to pass, the other Masters and Mistresses would demand his Destruction and it would be Fernando and Bridget fighting to keep him alive. It was a responsibility that he never wanted them to have.
Are you sure that you wish to go through with this?
Sent Notus.
A frown turned down the corners of his full lips.
I don
’
t have a choice
.
The monk caught his worried gaze.
You always have a choice. You are Chosen.
“
Am I?
”
he replied and then turned to enter the theatre and the Grand Council waiting within. He did not wait to hear Notus
’
reply, but he felt his Chooser
’
s despair.
The small theatre was much as it was not too long ago. The red runner lining the space between the large double doors and the stage still remained. No seats were left for patrons of the arts. Instead, where once sat the Mistress who deceived them all sat fourteen Chosen in plain and simple chairs. In the centre sat Fernando and Bridget, as was right and proper for the Master and Mistress of Britain hosting such a historic event. Both were splendidly attired; Fernando in a black tux with tails and Bridget bedecked in diamonds, in a sapphire gown.
Making his way down the sloping rug, he felt Notus
’
presence tinged with worry. Other Chosen were in the room. Emotions flittered to him of awe, fear and curiosity. It was the absence of feeling, or rather the sense of cold voids from several individuals that made him clench his jaw in an effort to repress his anger. One thing he knew, Vampires left this chilly absence of space whereas mortals were warm beacons.
A tendril of concern touched him and his eyes met Bridget
’
s blue eyes. No words were needed, her expression held the question she and Fernando dared not to ask out loud. He gave a slight nod that sent both of them into ridged tension. They had expected to have the Grand Council infiltrated by the Vampires, but having confirmation of the fact gave truth to their fears. Behind him the large oaken double doors closed with an audible thunk, followed by a ringing bang as the doors were locked. Jonathan placed the iron key into his breast pocket and nodded to his Mistress and Master. The large room settled into expectant silence.
It would have been perfectly natural for all eyes to fall upon the grand display of power sitting upon the stage, fourteen Masters and Mistresses of the Chosen, the largest number ever assembled. Instead all eyes fell onto the Angel.
A kaleidoscope of emotions bombarded him, setting off a mild headache that threatened to become more. He wanted to close his eyes and take a gulping breath in an effort to contain his tremulous emotions but knew he could not for it would only signify weakness. Raising his eyes from the base of the stage, he found Bridget smiling, belying the concern she held in her gaze. He knew she was worried about him, worried that his secrets were about to be ripped open for all to witness, thus forcing her and Fernando to present a sentence of Destruction against the Angel. It was a fear he had lived with through the centuries and standing so close to the precipice of its reality he could only drop his gaze back to the floor.
“
First of all, I would like to thank the Mistresses and Masters who have graced us with their presence for this historic occasion,
”
stated Fernando, breaking the awkward silence. His natural brass nature was replaced with a Fernando who had been reared to rule from a young age. As heir to the Fidalgo de Sagres Fernando knew diplomacy even though he rarely chose to use it. Now he wielded it with the finesse of a true Lord.
“
The Chosen are in a precarious position. We are not the Vampires that mortals write about. Indeed, we have been deceived and reduced to victims by those that are Vampires - they who have started genocide against us for some unknown reason.
All of us up here have communicated back and
forth for several months on the issue, and Bridget and I are grateful for your attendance. We know how hard it must have been to leave your lands during this stressful time to come here and discuss how to unify against such a threat lest we become extinct.
”
“
And how do ve know vat you say is true?
”
asked Gennadiy, Master of Russia, his chair creaked as he leaned his prodigious form forward so as to gaze over at Fernando.
“
Da
, ve have written, ve have spoken, but ve still have no proof. None of zis is happening in my lands.
”
Bridget turned in her chair to face Gennadiy, her face lit up in a smile and tilted her head.
“
Then indeed you are luckier than most. As all of you know, here in Britain, as well as France, Germany, Spain and several other countries, the spice that the Vampires have created are still being bought, sold, and consumed by mortals. Our food supply is being poisoned. Already there are losses. Already there have been skirmishes between Chosen and those we believe to be Vampires. That is the problem. We do not
know
who is and is not Chosen.
”
“
Ich stimmoz mit dem Master Russlands übervin
,
”
Hilde of Germany stated.
“
W’ ist der Beweis, dass Vampire besteren?
”
“
English, Hilde, English,
”
sighed Alaric of Austria-Hungary.
“
It was agreed upon.
”
Hilde
’
s red painted lips twisted in an ugly sneer and turned her head away, setting strawberry blond locks bouncing.
“
Oui
, you have promised since our meeting in Calais, to share this information,
”
sneered Hugo, Master of France.
“
Actually, it wasn
’
t my agreement on this,
”
countered Fernando, his brown eyes blazing into Hugo
’
s grey.
“
It was the Angel
’
s decision to share this information. God knows why after you tried to kill us.
”
“
You know why,
”
countered France
’
s Master.
“
Oui, parceque votre Maîtresse a succombée à l'épice et votre Maître l'a suivie, en vous quittant comme le Maître de la France,”
replied Bridget, her ire up.
Hugo huffed and turned his burning glare down upon the Angel.
The hatred Hugo directed at him eradicated all of the other
’
s jumbled emotions, forcing an involuntary gasp from his pale lips.
Notus, sensing his distress, glanced up at him, concern flowing from his tense features.
Are you all right?
he Sent.
He had not been all right since Notus
’
capture by Katherine/Bastia and her Vampires, but he knew that was not what his Chooser was asking of him. Despite the pounding headache he nodded, keeping his gaze ahead of him. He just wanted this debacle over with so he could leave.
“
And this is why you wanted us all together. To hear what
el Ángel
will tell us?
”
stated Franco of Spain, his dark eyes squinting in contemplation. His soft friendly features held no animosity, only genuine concern for the well being of the Chosen under his authority.
“
Yes,
”
stated Fernando.
“
So stop your bickering and let us learn from
de Engel,
”
piped in Jorge of the Netherlands. He offered the Angel and Notus an apologetic smile and shrugged.
Notus smiled back at his friend of many centuries and opened his mouth to begin his part of the tale that he and the others had planned, only to be cut off.
The Angel watched as a gentleman, wearing a simple tux, step across the stage, his shoes ringing off of the varnished wood, to bend down and whisper into the Master of France
’
s ear. Message delivered, the dark haired man stepped back, resting his hands on the back of the chair. No emotions flowed from this man, only a cold void.
“
Before we begin,
”
interjected Hugo with false pleasantness. The malevolence that flowed from the Master of France changed subtly, adding an overlay of amusement. His steel grey eyes locked onto the Angel and he smiled.
All other emotions from the Chosen subsided beneath the barrage Hugo sent and it took everything the Angel had to keep from shivering under the Master
’
s glare.
“
There is one who, I know, was witness to the Angel and the Master of Britain,
”
continued France
’
s Master, nonchalantly.
“
I wonder why she was not called?
”
His smile broadened as he set the barb in the flail.
“
Where is your mortal whore,
l'Ange
?
”
The question blindsided him, evoking the grief he had bottled in since the night of Jeanie
’
s murder. He barely contained his shock at the flooding emotions battering against the surge of Hugo
’
s vindictiveness. Surrounding it all was the confusion from the others as they sought to deal with the sudden grief thrust at them. It took Notus grabbing his arm and turning to face tearful hazel eyes to break the contact with Hugo
’
s bombardment.