Chapter 4 Chapter Four
The throne room was silent as it had been since Alaric finished recounting the story of how he had his curse a few minutes ago. Briar was still reeling from it trying to process it all while he sat across from her on the table watching her intently.
“So you're saying… I'm a descendant of Cassian.” She said finally.
“Yes.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“The colour of your hair. I'm sure you know it doesn't skip generations. It’s unique and peculiar to most people in your family. Made it both easy and difficult to find you.”
Briar could see the truth in his words. She got her hair colour from her mother who got it from her grandfather and both her and her sister had it. Deep red hair not ginger like your typical red head but red as in the colour of blood. Briar remembered asking her mother why they had such hair when she was younger. Her mother only said it was because they were special and she would explain more when Briar was older. She never got to. She died before she had the chance.
“Why me then? You've had time to have met with some of my ancestors before me, I presume?.”
“Yes. I have. Two actually before you. Your great grandmother and your grandfather. But unfortunately, none of them were willing to help me.”
Briar chuckled and smirked.
“ Of course they wouldn't. Your kind is an abomination. I look forward to seeing all of you obliterated from the surface of the earth.”
He clenched his jaw visibly trying to reel in his anger.
“I wouldn't be so quick to talk if I were you.”
“And why is that?”
Suddenly the door to the throne room opened and Azriel walked in holding hands with a very familiar looking woman with red hair identical to her own. Only two other people in the world had like her hair. One was dead and the other was missing. Or so Briar had thought all these years. Because it was Brooke staring back at her tears streaming down her face. She turned to Alaric.
“Why do you keep using my sister to taunt me?”
“Briar…it's really me.”Brooke said softly.
“Oh please. You think I'm going to fall for…”
She was silenced as Brooke began to sing a song she hadn't heard since she was thirteen. A song their mother used to sing for them. A tear slipped down her cheek as she listened and let the memories wash over her. When Brooke was done, she ran to hug her sister. It felt just like Brooke, smelled like her. But different. Off. Rotten.
Briar knew something was deeply wrong.
She pulled back.
“Brooke, what happened to you?”
Brooke's lips parted and Briar saw it. Her fangs. She took a step back, gasping.
“No. It can't be.”
“I died,Briar. But Azriel found me…and he turned me.”
It was as if Briar had been punched in the gut. She was too stunned to speak. All this while she had been searching, Brooke was here. Alive,but not really.
Fury filled her. “Did you lead them to me?!”
“Please Briar, you have to help us. We're not what you think you are.”
She took a step back but Brooke took a step forward.
“Get away from me!” she screamed and ran out of the throne room as fast as she could wanting to escape this nightmare. She didn't know how but she reached her room in the palace and she was surprised to find comfort in there. She leaned against the door and slid down to the floor breaking down in tears.
Alaric sucked greedily from the young human servant’s neck relishing the taste. He knew he had already taken too much but he didn't care.
“Red,”the girl said weakly. That was the safe word every human used here. He ignored it. The girl began to struggle and he pinned her to the wall tearing at her skin and sucking harder. She screamed and after a few minutes she went limp dropping to the floor.
“This is the third maid you've killed this week.”Tobias said from where he stood with Azriel at the entrance of his training room
Alaric wiped his mouth moving to one of the training dummies and gave it a hard punch.“I know.”
His bloodlust was getting harder to control. Tasting Briar's blood made it even worse. Her blood was the best thing he ever had in all his century of existence. It was sweet and heady, intoxicating. Something he wouldn't mind drowning in.
“You have to reign it in…”
“I know Tobias.” He snapped the force of his blow causing the dummy’s head to fall off.
Tobias growled but stayed silent.
“Anything you need?”
“Word has spread that you've found the girl. Leaders from every vampire clan are already arriving to discuss what is to be done.”
He bristled.
“I already know what is to be done. I don't need their opinions.”
“Nevertheless they are coming. This is something that affects all of us. Do not expect to handle it all on your own.”
“Very well then. Make sure everything is prepared for their arrival..” Tobias bowed and left but Azriel stayed. Alaric kept punching the dummies, blowing their heads off one by one until there was none left. He growled in frustration as the high of the release started to wear off.
“Maybe you need a real target.” Azriel said,uncrossing his arms and walking over to him. They began to spar at superhuman speed
“I don't trust the hunter. She's volatile and dangerous. Her sister's plight didn't even seem to move her.” Azriel said as he dove a punch that he dodged.
“Just give her time. I'm sure she'll come round.”
“What if she doesn't?
“Look I know you're worried about Brooke and it's understandable but I'm counting on Briar's love for her sister. She won't let her die. Vampire or not.”
“You better be right about this.”Azriel muttered.
Alaric gave a grin. “When have I ever been wrong?”
It took two more days before Briar had no choice but to succumb to her human needs and accept the things she had been given. She had a hot relaxing bath, wolfed down the food she was given and had a change of clothes. She figured if she was going to find a way out of this place she needed to be clean and fed to do it.
Now she was sitting beside her window staring at the red moon and thinking of her sister. Brooke was a vampire. It was hard to wrap her head around.Brooke became a handful when their mother died. She would sometimes disappear for days with no explanation as to where she had gone and one day she just never showed up at all.She thought of all the times she accepted jobs in bizarre places just to be able to look for her.
As if her thoughts summoned her, the door creaked open and Brooke entered, stepping in cautiously.
“Have you forgotten how to knock?” Briar said standing up quickly her guard up. Brooke may be her sister but she was still a vampire. Brooke said nothing for a moment, only staring. She already had the predator stillness and gaze. Briar shuddered as she imagined the sort of things Brooke might have done.
“I came to speak to you Briar. I know you do not wish to see me but I'll speak to you anyway. I came to plead.” Brooke said and tucked a strand of hair behind her hair–a gesture that was painfully human.
“I'll help you.” Briar said quickly.
Brooke's looked up eyes were full of hope.
“You will?”
“Yes. I Will. I've had time to think about it. The sooner I help, the sooner I can leave this place. Besides, if your kind dies off,my source of income dies with it.”
Brooke gave a small laugh full of hope and happiness. Briar was happy to see it. “Thank you, Briar.”
Briar nodded and there was a beat of silence. Sadness started to seep into Brooke's eyes.
“Briar I'm…”
“No please. I can't. Not now. Just tell me what I have to do.”
Brooke nodded her lips, quirking to the side in disappointment. “Okay.For now, you have a meeting to prepare for.”
