His mother rarely called to him, but when she did he just knew it had to be something important. His days had been filled with meetings and outings. He had tried to keep himself as occupied with work as much as he could after the new year, but he couldn't help it, he knew what he was avoiding and he knew that the clock was ticking.
It had been six days since the new year, not long since he kissed Caelia on New Year's Day and also not long after they made out in his room. She had broken off the kiss and run off a while after it started and he didn't see her in his room ever since then.
It was probably for the best, what he was feeling for her, whatever he was thinking of her, as much as he would like to explore it and see what was there, he didn't want to hurt her. It was best she stayed away from him, that would keep her safe.
Carolyn Wright was a three hundred year old vampire. At least well over a century ago, his own father had taken the ritual that would make his mother his bride and wife. And they had joined their hands and strengthened the bond of the coven with their union. And their union had been blessed with three children and the sire line had been strengthened. Even though it was a really long time ago, the tradition remained and every other founding family in their coven had done the same, but Damon's own was the most important.
In the hierarchy of vampires, the founding families were at the top of the food chain. They are believed to be the oldest vampires. A handful of them being almost a thousand years old. They had special powers and abilities that regular vampires did not possess. And the most important of them all, the power to procreate, something majority of humans never thought vampires capable of. They were older, older than the myths about them and so therefore they were not subjected to the things humans believed of vampires.
The sun did not bother them, they did prefer the darkness and over time that had affected the vampire sire lines as humans and vampires started to mix, but the fact remained that the sun did not affect the founding vampires. Neither did garlic or reflections in the mirror or any other unfounded fact about them.
Their age old enemies have been the forces of nature. The verbena herbs and some other rare herbs can deter them for a while. They didn't like the taste of it in human blood and it acted as a repellent to them. Silver too and some types of iron also had that effect, but it was a short list of things and they always found around it anyways.
The founding families each had their own sire line, where every other vampire in the world originated from, the stronger the founding family, the stronger the sire line. And having a strong sire line was the equivalent of having a strong and mighty army. In the ancient days, it was a useful way to conquer enemies and fight battles. Founding families were always fighting over land or something equally important. And the one with the strongest sire line would win.
The Wrights family had a strong sire line, they had for years. His father had done his duty and responsibility of strengthening the line. And then passed the mantle to him, but he had not even started and he was already failing.
A missing bride. A ritual left incomplete. The fate of their coven's sire line hanging on a thread.
"Mother."
He murmured as he sat down across from her. His mother looked up from her book. She set it down gently. Sometimes it was hard to believe his mother was a vampire, but then at other times it was easy to believe she was too.
In all his years of living, he had never seen his mother feed from the vein, or indulge in drinking blood save for in rituals and ceremonies. But then, it was hard to miss the predatory look in her eyes, the stillness that came from years and years of practice as an apex predator.
"Lord."
He grimaced. He didn't really like it when she used his title, sometimes it felt like she was mocking him.
"You called."
"I did. Any news yet?"
She asked and he sighed. He should have known that was what she would ask him about.
"None. But, we're trying something else now, a new strategy to find her. I know it'll work."
"Hnmmmm"
"Time is running out."
His mother murmured and Damon smiled tightly.
"I am aware. I'm doing everything I can."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you?"
"Or are you just spending time with that maid I keep telling you to stay away from?"
"Caelia?"
How did she know about that?
Nothing escaped his mother's eyes. Nothing at all.
"Yes. Should I be worried? This is very unlike you. Or do you want to eat her?"
"No."
His answer came out a little more sharply than he intended and he knew his mother had read meaning into it the moment he saw her tilt her head in amusement.
"I don't want to have to take extreme measures to get you away from her."
"You wouldn't have to. I don't think about her that way, besides, I'll find my bride soon."
His mother nodded.
"Yes. Yes you will."
"Is that all? I must leave."
He said as he looked at the time. He didn't have to leave, but if he stayed long enough she'd find something else to complain about.
"One more thing, perhaps you can talk to your sister Sophia for me. She's unhinged."
Damon rolled his eyes.
"What did she do this time?"
"She's being careless. I wouldn't want her to leave a trail of bodies in her wake but perhaps you can tell her to stop, because you know she wouldn't listen to a word I say. And in that aspect, she's much like you, so maybe you can offer her some advice on how to not kill every human she feeds on."
"I'll talk to her." He murmured.
"Good. And Damon, I don't want to rush you but I'm sure you know how much this means to us, to our coven..."
"We need to finish this ritual."
..................
Samantha had called the house. In fact she had been calling the house ever since the ball, Caelia refused to see her, but this time, she decided to change her mind and go, even Greta warning her against it. She had some questions of her own for Samantha.
She had carefully thought about everything she was going to say and ask for as she walked up to her mansion.
"You hate me."
Samantha said as she opened the door. Caelia stayed mute. Samantha made way for her to come in.
"I'm sorry."
She murmured behind her.
"I'm not quite sure what you're sorry about."
Caelia answered.
They headed to the family room, which Caelia had never been in. The room was bright and airy and the colors were inviting but one could tell it was a room that was not used so often. In fact, one could tell that it was barely lived in.
"About everything. For making you go to the ball."
"And?"
Caelia pressed on. Samantha shrugged and ran a hand through her blond hair.
"And all the weird stuff you saw. Just forget you never saw it and don't tell anyone and you'd be fine."
"Fine?!"
Caelia chuckled.
"Do you even know what I saw?"
She asked and Samantha froze.
"Do you know what happened?"
"Ermm... some kind of ceremony?!"
"That's not all."
Caelia replied as she folded her arms. She could see the fear slowly creeping in Samantha's eyes.
Samantha rushed to her side and grabbed her arm.
"What did you see?"
She asked as she shook her.
"I saw the truth?"
"Elaborate."
Samantha snapped and Caelia narrowed her eyes at her.
"You don't get to tell me what to do. Not after what you did to me."
Samantha edged closer to her, her face merely inches from Caelia's.
"You're going to tell me everything that happened."
She said as she looked her dead in the eye. Caelia didn't move.
She just blinked and shook her head.
"No I'm not. But I will tell you something..."
Samantha looked shocked by her reply, she slowly let go of her hand and then her eyes flew to her other hand, where the charm bracelet was on. Then she scoffed.
"And what is it you want to tell me?"
She asked with contempt lacing her voice.
"I know what you are."
Caelia answered.
Samantha raised an eyebrow.
"Do you really?"
She snorted.
Caelia nodded.
"I do."
"Well, I guess if you know who I am then you know just how easy it is for me to snap your pretty little neck into two."
Her mouth went dry. Samantha's voice rang in her head and the seriousness of her tone told her that she wasn't joking, at all. Caelia could almost envision her snapping her neck.
She shuddered at the thought.
"You wouldn't do that."
"You think too highly of yourself Caelia. I think it's partially my fault for being so chummy with you."
Caelia shook her head.
"You wouldn't do that because you know what Damon would do to you if he ever finds out you're the one who killed the bride he's looking for."
There was an awkward silence, then Samantha finally cleared her throat.
"I don't want to ever hear you breathe a word about this to anyone."
Caelia shrugged.
"I don't intend to. But you'll have to pay me for my silence."
Samantha's jaw slacked. Yes, she wasn't expecting that. Caelia had not thought about it till she was walking to her place.
It was risky, but it was only logical she asked for money in return for her silence. Her mother had debts to pay, and they had to pay it off one way or the other.
If she at least made enough money to pay off the debts, she could go back to a normal life and her mother could stop working with the Wrights.
"Money again? "
"I'm not giving you any money, I'll rather just go tell Damon that you're the bride he's looking for."
Caelia shook her head.
"Something tells me you can't. Because if you could you would have done that a long time ago."
Samantha shook her head, she looked surprised.
"You're very cunning Caelia. I never expected you to be this clever..."
Caelia shrugged.
"If it's money you want to keep your silence then I'll give you money. Name your price, but don't go overboard or else the deal is off."