The jet which would take me back to New Jersey wasn’t the same one in which I had arrived to Missouri in. Rather than being alone or in any way separated from anyone, this ride consisted of Xander, Wyatt, Aveline, and myself. I couldn’t help but notice how we had arrived in Missouri with a considerably larger crowd and now were leaving with only four. Not only that, but that we had achieved officially nothing in our trip here. In fact, if our success was rated on a numbered scale, we’d probably be in the negatives. I knew it was mostly my fault and though I felt guilty, I didn’t regret releasing Clio from her prison.

I sat in a comfortable armchair staring at nothing, absently tugging on my bottom lip as I thought about the fact that Jacobi was alone in Missouri searching for Corentine on Noland’s territory. Would he even find her, if he survived being on his own? And if he did, would he be able to convince her to come back with him? And if she did, would she try to kill me now that she wasn’t bound by any coterie law? Did I want her back? Of course, I didn’t exactly want her to become rogue, but she hadn’t ever been particularly kind to me…

“Well, this is depressing,” Wyatt spoke up from his seat. When no one responded, he continued, “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt our deep conversation. Carry on.”

“What do you want to talk about, Callum?” Aveline responded sarcastically, “The fact that this trip was just one large fiasco? Or that Corentine is throwing a tantrum at the worse time possible? Or, oh, that our Master is out running around by himself on someone else’s territory like some suicidal moron?”

“It must be hereditary,” Wyatt responded and Aveline threw what appeared to be an empty wine glass at him. He ducked and laughed, “You throw like a little bitch. Definitely hereditary.”

“She’s going to murder you,” Xander chuckled as Aveline crossed her arms, throwing a solid glare in Wyatt’s direction.

“I’ve got it,” Wyatt slapped his hands over his knees as though he had come up with a brilliant idea. He moved his attention from the vampire couple to me abruptly. “Seeing as the whole failure of this trip is Elysia’s fault, let’s talk about Jacobi and Elysia. I think that would be a very interesting topic. What do you guys think?”

I paled in guilt before a startling blush burned over my flesh. “What? No.”

“I honestly didn’t think he’d go that far with her,” Aveline told Wyatt as if I weren’t there, even though she was looking at me. I knew by the smirk on her face that she meant to embarrass me. “I mean, I thought he might try a little something here and there, based on what I’d seen so far. But to actually claim her...” She frowned then, as though a disturbing thought crossed her mind.

“How do you think our claim was removed from her? Without us knowing, as well,” Xander asked Aveline slowly, no doubt guessing what she had been thinking of. She shrugged in response and when he looked at me, I felt confused by the issue as well.

“I don’t remember feeling it go… I thought it was weird when Aveline said she didn’t feel anything while I had been on the plane with Jacobi,” I answered simply. Aveline straightened then, looking at me.

“He really did feed off you?!”

“No,” I gave a small laugh, “But he was pretty… scary. I thought you’d feel my fear, but you didn’t. So it must have happened earlier.” I tried to think back to the coterie meeting, trying to remember if I had felt Aveline or Xander’s presence then. The claim had been too new; I hadn’t really figured out what it involved. I couldn’t be sure when it left or why.

“Does it make you two jealous, knowing Jacobi basically stole your human?” Wyatt asked curiously, though to me it seemed he was more interested in stirring something up in order to entertain himself. Xander and Aveline looked at each other for a moment and then they both laughed.

“I think jealousy doesn’t exist in our language,” Xander glanced at me, winking charmingly, “We love to share.”

Aveline sighed then. “Too bad Jacobi doesn’t feel the same. No more fun with our little tiger, I can guarantee it. Unless we want to lose our hands. But at least we can pretend, right Xander?”

Xander’s smile widened deviously. “Oh yes. Elysia’s a loud lover.”

“Yeah, if we time it right, we can pretend we’re right there with her,” Aveline stated happily. My mouth dropped in mortification as they laughed openly at me.

“Does it gross you out, Elysia?” Wyatt asked me abruptly. I hesitated, momentarily confused if he was talking about what Aveline had said or something else entirely. “The fact that you belonged to Xander and Aveline, who are what? Forty or so years older than you? And now you’re basically having sex with Aveline’s great-great-great-great-great-great-great-uncle?” I blinked at his straightforward and personal question while Aveline laughed humorously.

“Stop it, Callum. You know she can’t tell we’re messing with her,” She scolded with a smirk. I released a breath of anxiety I had been holding, but still felt uncomfortable. It was true, wasn’t it? I was only nineteen years old and I had given myself to an ancient guy who was some generations older uncle of the woman who was groping me not too long ago. I had to admit, my life was beyond strange.

“Alright, but seriously, it’s interesting that he claimed Elysia,” Wyatt caught my gaze intensely, his face clear of all humor, “You should know, if you don’t already, that he has never claimed a human. He has never had a Mate. He’s only ever turned Aveline. Jacobi is one of the most picky, self-controlled vampires I have ever met and the best Master of any Coterie I’ve ever come across.”

I swallowed nervously. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I know the only reason you’d agree to any of this would be to preserve your own life. But just know, if you betray him again, no vow of protection will mean anything to me. I serve him first,” Wyatt stated darkly. My chest tightened at the threat, but a burning anger began to rise in my veins at his words. For once, I couldn’t just keep silent.

“You don’t know anything, Wyatt Callum. I didn’t accept Jacobi’s claim over me to preserve my life. Not that it’s any of your business,” I snapped angrily, turning away from everyone to look out the window at the black night. I thought about how Jacobi had told me his darkest secret in the quiet of his bed and how he had told me that he was mine. I reached for my lips absently before muttering, “I’d never betray him. Never again.”

~…~

My mood had only gone from bad to worse on the return trip. I wasn’t an extrovert, so instead of taking it out on anyone, I just became quieter and quieter. I felt the further we moved away from Noland’s territory, the more lifeless I was becoming. It wasn’t as though I couldn’t survive without having Jacobi around. I wasn’t some master-less slave. Even when our jet landed on the airfield in New Jersey, I could still feel his spirit settled within me like a warm blanket. I guess, in my own way, I just simply craved him.

Xander, Aveline, and Wyatt appeared physically relieved once our ride arrived to the Bryant Coterie’s Headquarters. I followed behind their all-too-friendly group as they led me into what I had for so long considered my prison. Now, I looked up at the foundation with my own type of relief. Somehow, I had survived the disaster of visiting another coterie. I could imagine now why Xander and Aveline had been so moody after arriving from visiting Vincent’s territory.

We entered the headquarters slowly. As our group walked into the main lobby area, we were halted by a strange assortment of what looked to be piles of bags. It wasn’t a particularly huge pile, but it wasn’t particularly small either. I carefully moved around Aveline, trying to peek in order to see what it was about the pile of bags that made my company suddenly so… alert.

“Darsana,” Aveline gasped. I blinked, looking from the bags to the vampires. All three of them abruptly glanced at each other before looking at me with mixed expressions. Before I could register what that meant exactly, a figure emerged from the Hall and stood before us. He wore a sharp suit and appeared to have a theme of darkness about him: dark hair, dark eyes, and a dark mood. Dangerous, his form stated, but for some reason I knew he wasn’t vampire.

“Darsana Thron is here,” The man addressed our group with a slight Korean accent before stepping aside, “She’s been waiting for the Monet girl to arrive. She wishes to see her. Alone.” I didn’t make a move to meet this unmet Royal woman. After all, her arrival previously had meant my demise. I knew things were different now. Jacobi had revoked my execution and claimed me as his to protect. But who knew if this woman agreed or not? I knew from what I had read that the Royals could break claims to a Master just as a Master could break claims to a subordinate vampire.

“She should speak to Jacobi first,” Aveline finally answered, glancing at me hesitantly, “Things have changed.”

“Darsana will be fully aware of any and all changes to do with your Coterie as soon as she’s spoken to the girl. Have you forgotten who she is?” The man seemed somewhat offended by Aveline’s choice of words.

“I meant no offense to your lady, Deacon. I only suggest she speak to the one who called her here, in the case that the situation has changed and he may not want the same things,” Aveline tried to explain, but the impatience of this Deacon was slowly becoming obvious.

“Let me try this again,” The man stated before looking at me. His features were intensely serious, but something in his burnt umber eyes was soft despite their hard edges. “Darsana Thron is awaiting your presence immediately. Do you refuse?” I hesitated. The question made it seem as though I had a choice, but something told me I didn’t. I wanted to run away, especially after the meeting I had with the other Royals, but I recalled how Jacobi had told me Darsana was the only decent Royal left.

“I’ll go,” I said, mostly for the benefit of my group of vampires who obviously weren’t sure if I should go either. I stalled myself for only a moment longer before stepping to follow Deacon, who had begun to walk back towards where Darsana was no doubt waiting for me. I didn’t look back to see the looks on Xander or Aveline’s faces. I was frightened and I feared their worries would only make things worse.

Deacon led me through the familiar Headquarters, a building I was beginning to feel was my new home after being stuck here so long. He paused in front of a door, opening it carefully before stepping aside for me to enter. I hesitated, but made my way past him slowly.

The inside of the room was dim, the only light being that from a fireplace. I only took two steps into the room before I stopped. It was a larger sitting room, with a layout of armchairs, coffee tables, and a fur rug that spread before the flickering fireplace. In front of the fireplace sat what I had first thought were two small children. Upon closer look, I realized they were older; probably in their low teens. Their bodies were close together as they played with small trinkets. The boy poked the flames of the fireplace with a fire iron as the girl glanced back at me.

She had sandy brown hair which parted in the center and framed her flawless face before disappearing down her waist. Her doe eyes were wide and caramel, almost hypnotizing as she watched me curiously. I wanted to think that this was an innocent girl who would do me no harm, but something inside told me there lurked a hidden lethal danger within her.

“Hör auf damit, Katja,” a hushed voice scolded from behind me, causing me to jump. When I looked around me, I noticed I had somehow ended up very close to the small couple without realizing I had even moved. I stumbled away from them in surprise as the girl smiled sheepishly before looking away. I turned to see who had spoken, finding a small frame sitting perched on one of the armchairs. The woman smiled at me brightly before patting the arm of a chair nearby her.

I hesitated, glancing back at the small vampires in front of the fireplace before slowly advancing towards the free chair. Once I sat down, I ran my hand nervously over my thighs, wiping away any sweaty palms I may have had due to my situation. Then I carefully drew my eyes over the woman’s form.

The woman looked more like a young girl, but I knew she had to be far older if she was who I thought she was. Her hair was a wild mane of blonde curls which surrounded her pixie small form. Her eyes were bright emerald and catlike. She looked familiar, though I wasn’t sure at first who she reminded me of until I remembered that she was related to Zelda Thron.

“I’m Darsana Thron,” The Royal vampire introduced herself, a smile playing on her lips as she watched me take her in. “I’ve been waiting for you… or rather you’ve been waiting for me.”

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In the last update, I stated there was a hidden dove reference to do with Wyatt. Wyatt's last name, Callum, actually means "dove". Congrats, 1Danggurl, on guessing it correctly first! I really did enjoy reading some theories on the symbolism and such you guys came up with. ^^

Hör auf damit- German, means something along the lines of "knock it off" or "Stop that".

Music: 2Cellos- Thunderstruck (it's simply amazing)