Page 25 of Of Fate & Forbidden Desire

Shaking off my wayward thoughts, I stepped onto the crowded street and turned in the direction of London's Coven. The Elders had resided in a mansion at the bottom of Bishop's Ave, bordering the huge park of Hampstead Heath, for centuries. The mansion had been added to as needed and as such now spanned just under 240,000sq feet and held around three hundred rooms.

“So the rumours are true, you're home.” His voice made my steps falter, as I thought to myself,what now?

Turning my head I addressed him, “yes I'm home, not that it's any business of yours, Clarence.” I said, letting a little anger turn my voice cold. Since finding me, he'd presumed that because we shared the same twat of a Sire, that he—as the eldest— was entitled to know all of my comings and goings.

“Don’t be like that Adrina, we are family after all.” He purred, stepping into my path and forcing me to crane my neck to look at him. He was only 5ft 8 but my short stature meant that this close I'd get a crick in my neck before long.

“No, the same maniac Sired and abandoned us, that doesn't make us family.” I told him, staring straight into his dark green eyes, making them flick to red as I went to step around him.

“I hope one day you'll reconsider that stance Adrina,” he almost growled as his hand wrapped around the top of my arm. Clarence had found me at the London Coven just over two years ago and had refused to leave me alone ever since, unless I was away hunting. Apparently he'd been gathering up our Sire's discarded children when he abandoned them, but he’d not known about me. Well not until I'd bumped into him up in Edinburgh.

“And I hope that one day you'll leave me alone.” I deadpanned right back, yanking my arm free from him and striding away.

I had no idea why he was so interested in my joining his little band of rejects, because ultimately that's what we were, Alasdair’s rejects. I'd had a family once, one I loved in my own way, and I wasn't interested in havinganother. I was happy enough with the small few I called friends and my new life as a huntress. Shaking my head at his foolish nonsense I quickened my pace, eager to see the Elders and get back to Charleene.

The Coven's mansion loomed over me. It was a gorgeous building, a mixture of styles throughout the centuries as they’d added to it. I took another deep breath preparing myself for a lengthy wait, the Elders never did anything fast. Having had the luxury of so much time behind them, they had no interest in rushing anything, including seeing a returned huntress. Curtains twitched in the upper windows and I knew my peaceful time would be coming to an end sooner than I’d want. The main entrance doors opened, as I pushed through the silent wrought iron gates and walked calmly up the long gravel drive. My feet crunched with each step, the sound loud in the quiet surrounding the mansion. I firmly fixed my scowl in place as I drew closer to the open door and met Bethany’s smiling face.

She was the Coven’s most overzealous gossip and was unashamed about it, so it didn’t surprise me that she would be first to the door. Bethany was somewhere around six hundred years old and barely set foot outside the Coven’s walls, yet she was always hungry to hear about what was happening in the world.

“Adrina, you’re back, did you find the rogue?” her high pitched voice, grated against my ears as I brushed past her.

“We did.” I answered in a clipped tone, when she shut the door behind me and I saw Antonious’ familiar face. He was scowling at Bethany, much like myself, but for very different reasons.

Antonious was a Constant; a human that is fed vampire blood in small measures to be kept alive in order to serve the one they are bonded to. It was an outdated practice and one that was no longer tolerated, because the human bonded through blood loses part of themselves. Until, like Antonious, they only live to serve and please the one who created them. Hence his scowl at Bethany, she’d interrupted the duties he’d been tasked with, i.e, answering the door, maintaining the mansion and greeting guests to the coven.

“I can not believe you found him. Was it dangerous? Did he fight? Has he been dealt with? He isn’t coming here is he?” She rattled off in quick succession, either not noticing or ignoring Antonious’ glare.

Offering him a small smile, I took my jacket off and held it out for him to take. Hopefully that would pacify the desires that he was completing his duties and not make him take a crazy turn on Bethany. “I’ll address all of that with the Elders,” I told Bethany, before turning back to Antonious, “are they in residence?” I asked the formality, knowing they wouldn’t be anywhere else.

Antonious’ face softened a little as he answered in his usual quiet, raspy tone. “Yes, Huntress, however they are currently in a meeting.”

It was his standard response, but I nodded anyway. “Can you take me to them?”

“Yes Huntress,” he said, stepping past me, my jacket placed carefully over his arm, “this way please.” He motioned towards the grand staircase, before shuffling his feet in their direction, however we didn’t go up the red carpeted steps. Instead he led me down the side of them to another door.

I followed his stooped back, wondering how long I was going to have to wait for my own audience and Bethany, not taking the hint, followed. Her questions continued even when both me and Antonious ignored them. He led us through the door into a parlour of sorts, it had high ceilings and each wall was adorned with some of history's greatest works of art—originals of course. Chairs of various sizes and styles dotted about the space, and two large but unlit fireplaces dominated the two opposing walls at either end of the room.

There were no windows in this central room, which was perfect for our kind as even though sunlight wouldn’t kill us, we much preferred the night. The darkness was gentler on our sensitive eyes and had made it easier to hide and hunt before the invention of blood bags came about. It was probably why humans thought we only came out at night.

Conversations faltered as we stepped inside and pale faces watched us make our way through. Thankfully Bethany peeled off to join a gaggle of other women and their heads bowed together before Antonious and I had left the room.

“Thank God, she’s gone,” I muttered, gaining a soft croak of a laugh from the man in front of me. We wound through the mansion, passing painting after painting and many closed doors until we reached the corridor that housed the council chamber.

“You may wait here, I will let them know you are here Adrina.” Antonious rasped, bowing slightly in respect.

“Thank you Antonious,” I managed to say before he let himself inside the room and left me to my own devices. Sitting down on the chair closest to the door, I waited.

“Huntress Adrina,” Antonnious’ rasp made me jump when he returned almost immediately, “The Elders will see you now.” He continued, surprising me even more.

“Thank you Antonious,” I replied, standing and approaching the door.

I could count on one hand the times I’d been inside this imposing room. The first had been when Tilly had brought me to the Coven and the second had been when I’d passed the training to become a Huntress. Offering Antonious a small head nod, I strode confidently inside for the fifth time in my immortal life.

The room was circular, without windows and with a raised podium at one end. In the centre was a small drain, which hadn’t been used in at least a century, that I knew off. The walls and ceiling were all painted in navy blue to emulate the night sky, and low powered lamps which burned a dull orange, instead of the harsh white of modern electric lights, were dotted around. The council, two female vampires and three male, sat in their chairs above those who came to see them, reminding us that they were the hierarchy. Shadows obscured their faces so you couldn’t read their expressions.

“Elders.” I said upon reaching the centre of the room, and dropping to one knee, with my head bowed.

“Huntress Adrina, the Council recognises you,” Elder Bertrand answered in a soft voice.

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