Chapter 51 CHAPTER 51
CAEL'S POV
Our plans to travel a week after I got back from looking for Marcus had to be cut short because Fabian was needed back at the Palace.
So here we are, holding an impromptu Conclave.
A gathering of world vampire leaders.
Fifty-three in number and all scared shitless for their lives.
"ORDER!" The Convener, Lord Cassius yelled.
He's as powerful as Fabian decides and right now he's sucking a lot of energy from his King.
I look at my brother who sat on his throne, bored out of his mind.
Silence slowly returned to the enormous room and all eyes turned to him.
I stood in the shadows, no one knew I was back and I made it that way for a reason.
Right in this room, traitors who wanted my brother dead disguise themselves and it's the best chance I have to root them out.
"Lord Celtrin," Fabian called, "you called for this Conclave. Step forward and present your case."
He stood up, a slim, tall figure with white hair that cascaded all over his back
He walked through the polished floor until he was in the centre of the special hall.
There are no windows here, just one door where guards were heavily mounted.
"My King," he began, bowing deep, "we have heard of a rumour. One that we hope you can tell us is false."
"You gathered every ruler in the world to my palace over a rumour? Have I become a joke to you? Fabian snarled and people hugged themselves as his power blew frost everywhere.
"I apologize my King, pardon my wrong choice of words. I have it on good authority that you have located the Dawnbringer but for some reason, she's not dead yet."
"You're not done speaking," he stated, staring at him pointedly.
The male shifted, realising he'd pissed my brother off.
You see, Fabian isn't the usual broody, angry vampire King, that would have been me.
He jests, talks calmly and gives grace. Even though he doesn't need to, he's diplomatic, carries children around and so many women fantasise about being his lover forever.
But he's quite bipolar.
On the other spectrum is a monster you don't want to encounter when he's pissed and this particular matter is pissing us off.
"But... But I'm done, My King. I simply wanted to bring to your attention what I heard."
"You have two seconds to begin speaking, and don't leave your brain empty of a single thought or I will split it and pour the ashes in your son's cup!"
"We're scared you've grown weak!" He squealed, going to his knees immediately.
"We?"
Murmurs rang out in the hall.
"SILENCE!" He snapped. "If you want to test my strength, be a man and challenge me to a duel. I heard of people dying all over my kingdom, and I thought that's what you bastards wanted to talk about. But instead, you're making me waste valuable time talking about a weapon made against me. Like you all in this room aren't looking for how you'll acquire it and use it against me. A better way to take me out is to challenge me. I'll drop my rings and powers and come down to your level. You win? You wear them at the end. Come out now!"
Murmurs began again in the hall, everyone speaking at the same time to try to throw off my super hearing.
It can't work on me, I had a tactical way of winning this.
I knew who was high on my list and I zoned in on Lord Aewis and his friend, Count Everest.
"You'd best sit your stupid ass down. You think he'll actually let anyone win?" Aewis snapped yet his voice was moderate.
"If he is unjust, everyone will see it!"
"And you'll be dead. What's the point?"
"Order!" The Convener spoke up, his voice not as carrying.
Fabian had taken it back.
"I'll take it you all want me on this throne and will stop peddling rumours like jobless animals. You are supposed to be working for me and yet you have too much time to waste. I want reports about this killing madness on my desk by tomorrow morning!"
"Conclave dismissed!" Lord Cassius yelled and the door was opened.
Disappointed they didn't get what they came for, they all sped off and in minutes, it was just us two again.
"That was a close call," Fabian breathed.
"You handled it well. It's why you are King and I'm not. I would have gone on a murderous rampage."
He laughed.
"Did you get what you were looking for?"
"Just two names. Aewis and Everest. They're easy targets but they have a strong hold on their followers in the Middle East. I warned you not to let him sit on that throne."
"Don't worry, his people will hate him before he goes back to his wife tonight."
"I don't even want to ask. I'm off to the library."
"Any luck yet?"
We've been back for two days and I have been in there until now.
"No. I'm waiting for you to bring out the ancient texts."
"You know I can't do that Cael."
"You can't or you won't?"
"We'll just be opening a lot of... Buried things."
"I don't know whose idea it was to bury your predecessor in the same vault you keep important things but find your way in there and get that paper out. I have to find a loophole and it's got to be there. The only other option you have is to take a flight back to Nashville and bring her head back for your people. What will it be?"
"How has this become our life?"
"It can be better if you move those sponge legs," I said, walking away.
"You're never going to change."
My grin didn't reach my eyes as I sped off to the library.
It was the biggest depository of supernatural knowledge in the world and yet, I can't find a way to break this stupid curse.
I was on one of the reading tables when Fabian came by.
"Can you come with me?"
"Why? You're scared of ghosts?"
"Me? Never. The bastard is just very ugly and I'm sure his skeleton won't be any prettier."
"You should have just burnt him," I sighed, getting up.
"Our father deserves worse than that Cael, you know that."
Unfortunately, he's right.