Page 21 of Addicted in Blood
Simone steppedout of the limo and straightened her blood-red caftan.Her spiked hair had been dyed white, but streaks of red had been added.In any other environment, the streaks gave off pink highlights, was daring and vogue.In the chambers of the Council, where vampires reigned, it was a bold statement reminding the Council of who they were and who she was.Blood was their life force.
The cadre surrounded her—Lucas, Bella, and Jacques.She grunted.Jacques wouldn’t normally be considered cadre, but he and Bella were perfect partners; it was impossible to include one without the other.And since Sergi was in New Orleans with Cressa, she required the extra security.
She turned when a black van pulled into the parking lot, and she cursed.The door slid open, and a dozen well-armed vampires jumped from the vehicle and created a second barrier around her.
If this happened at any other time, the entire group would be sent to discipline training.Lucas gave her a disapproving glance, and instead of irritating her further, she replaced her sneer with a conciliatory nod.The Council building wasn’t safe territory.
It was a sanctuary at times, but when a House was being threatened, it was a dangerous place.Even with the Council present, the halls were fair game for attack.The practice began centuries ago when war was an everyday occurrence.Battles were fought within the walls of the building as well as the fields.Many differences were settled before ever making it to the Council chambers.
In today’s modern society, the halls were safer, but it wasn’t unheard of that someone was attacked—even killed—without censure from the Council.
She’d felt safe enough yesterday when she argued for the House.But Lorenzo had assumed an easy victory so bloodshed wasn’t required.With her request for a second meeting, the game had shifted.She might enter without a problem, but depending on the results of this hearing, the walk out might be a different story.
Still, she’d argued she didn’t require such a show of force.The cadre was enough.But the cadre hadn’t agreed.This was the exact time to show their might.That it wasn’t just the cadre behind her, but the Family as well.
Her brief spout of anger had been tempered by a single glance from Lucas.This was what Devon preached.No matter how capable she was, or her need to prove what she could do, the Family only made her stronger.It continued to be a hard lesson to learn, and the reason Devon wanted her to wait another few years before achieving her own House.Her role at Oasis was the opportunity to develop and hone those final skills.
Though the cadre’s disobedience might grate, she couldn’t deny the power she felt as they strode as one through the front doors of the Council building, their boots echoing off the marble floor.When they reached the middle of the building where the Council chamber was in session, she noted the guards stationed around the anteroom.It was impossible to tell if they were from the House Venizi or from multiple Houses, and suddenly the number in her detail seemed razor thin.
A page waited for them, and Lucas broke away from the group to meet with him.After several minutes of discussion, where at one point she thought Lucas might beat the man, the page lifted his hands in supplication then scurried into the chamber.Lucas remained where he stood, waiting for the page to speak with the Council.She suspected there was a change of heart in her request for a hearing.
Several long minutes passed before the page returned to discuss the Council’s response.When they both seemed satisfied, the page returned to his position next to the door.
Lucas’s features were expressionless as he returned to the group.The team tightened around them while Lucas explained.“The Council started their meetings two hours ago.It seems Lorenzo submitted another petition.They wanted to move us to tomorrow, but I argued precedent in the timing of our request.They’ll fit us in.”
“Lorenzo’s trying to steamroll the Council,” Bella sneered.Simone studied the young vampire.The female was a hundred years old, still untested in many ways.She was the youngest of the cadre, and a hundred years the junior of her partner, but there was something uncanny about her.She was quiet, excellent with developing distractions and last-minute battle scenarios, and hid an expansive knowledge of vampire law.But the most surprising was her gift at court intrigue.Her abilities with that particular skill were learned at her previous House where Devon met her and coerced her to join his Family.
Simone smiled at her and felt her fangs drop, but Bella didn’t flinch.“Let’s show Lorenzo who has the larger steamroller.”
Bella smiled and stood a bit straighter.“Yes, Mistress.”
They waited another thirty minutes before the page opened the door and announced them.If Lorenzo had hoped to unsettle her, he’d be disappointed.She’d faced that form of intimidation many times, and all it did was stoke her anger.
The slight brush of Lucas’s hand against hers was enough to return her focus and settle her beast.
This was their best opportunity at preserving the House regardless of the eventual outcome of Devon’s situation.Besides, she loved surprises, especially when she was the one delivering them.
Simone tookher place on the petitioner’s dais.The cadre spaced themselves in a semicircle around her.The other guards remained in the anteroom.She’d wanted to bring Anna, who excelled in succession law, but the risk of attack would make her and, by association, the rest of them vulnerable.Anna had reviewed the pertinent laws and precedents with Lucas, but she hoped the discussion wouldn’t go that far.
Isabella Stanton called the session to order and started the clock.Simone would have a half hour to state her initial case.More time would be allotted for questions, assuming they wouldn’t summarily dismiss the request.Her one advantage: Lorenzo was easier to goad than people thought.If you poked in the right place.
“House Trelane, what is your new petition?”Isabella’s tone was neutral, but her expression was warm.
The Council bench was full with the twenty-one members minus two.One was Devon’s censured seat, the other was Boretsky’s, the recently deceased member.Simone was surprised the seat hadn’t been filled by his son, and she wasn’t sure how to read that.
Her gaze fixed on each Council member as she surveyed the curved stone bench.This wasn’t the Council’s normal meeting room.They had an elaborately carved oak conference table down the hall.This room was used solely to hear House petitions and criminal proceedings.There was an adjoining room should a sentence require swift justice.And the Council wasn’t squeamish to make those decisions when necessary.
“Council members, I am Simone of the House Trelane.I have new information to present in the matter of leader for the House.”
“Enough of this,” Lorenzo interrupted.“We’ve been through this just yesterday.What could possibly have changed in that time period?”His irritation focused solely on Simone.
Isabella slammed her hand on the clock.“Member Venizi.This is not the time for rebuttal or questions.This time belongs to the petitioner.If you can’t maintain Council decorum, you will be excused for this session.”Her gaze pierced him, and Simone assumed the previous two hours of Council business had strained her typically composed nature.
“The clock will be reset.”She slammed her hand on the clock again.“House Trelane, please proceed.”
Simone, who hadn’t flinched during Lorenzo’s bluster, nodded with respect to Isabella.“When the House Trelane met with Council yesterday, emotions were understandably high, considering the loss of an endeared member, and implications that a House leader might be involved.”
Lorenzo snorted, but she ignored him.
