CHAPTER 62 Fury

Duke

There are no CCTV cameras surrounding the Vampire King's estate. I remember advising him on the need to install infrared cameras when I helped him purchase this Makati City mansion, but he wouldn't listen to me. He said no one would dare betray him.

After finding Isabella's cold body, her black blood staining the cot of her cell, the Vampire King was in a murderous rage. He killed all the remaining humans from the last delivery, ripping them apart, limb by limb. I stood by and watched, secretly laughing at the wild antics of the Vampire King. If he only knew.

I was called to see him during the early hours of the morning. It was still dark outside. I walked into the dining hall, where he was seated at the very end of the dining table with a glass of fresh blood in front of him.

I took a seat beside him and prepared myself for the interrogation.

"Duke, who was the last to gain access to the basement?" The Vampire King asked, his eyes a bright red from his fury.

"Your Grace, I believe it was the truck of the precious cargo that you asked for," I answered, waiting for him to voice out his suspicions, if he had any.

"Weren't you the one who chose the humans for my consumption?" He asked, scrutinizing the flutter of emotions on my face.

"Yes, my King, however I wasn't the one who oversaw the transfer of the humans from their cages to the truck. I apologize if there was a lapse in judgement," I replied. "I only learned of the Priestess' death this late evening while you were in your chambers."

"Priestess? What are you talking about?" The Vampire King asked confused.

"It appears the priestess who delivered the Flaming Sword to the Enchantress was found dead at the airport yesterday. She and her wolf companion were bound to the white beaches of Boracay, however, she was found dead while waiting to board. I am still waiting for the cause of death. On the other hand, her wolf companion has already made arrangements for her remains to be flown back to China."

"A wolf priestess was found dead. Then, my would be queen was found dead. This could be the work of Damon," the Vampire King said.

"I beg your pardon? Why suspect the Eldest?" I asked, acting surprised.

"He is still missing up to this day. He could have killed both, knowing their deaths could ignite a war. Clever. I want him found, Duke," the Vampire King ordered.

"Of course, my King. We are doing-"

Suddenly, the Vampire King's phone rang loudly. He hardly received any calls. It was usually he who made them.

"High Elder! I was not expecting your call," the Vampire King said. He paused listening to the High Elder. His face became grimmer and grimmer with every word and sentence the High Elder said. What was happening?

I decided to secretly check my phone for messages while the Vampire King was distracted and I found one from the Marchioness. It was short and unexpected...

"Damon is dead." That is all it read. I quickly hid my phone and listened to what was being discussed between the High Elder and the Vampire King.

"High Elder this comes with a price. Tell the Enchantress I would like to speak with her personally in China. I expect to see you there by the morrow. If she does not come, I will make sure she regrets it," the Vampire King said, before hanging up.

I waited patiently for him to say something. Apparently, as much as he disliked Damon, he was deeply affected by his death. He suddenly looked at me.

"Duke Albert Guillaume, I appoint you as the New Eldest of East Coven Stronghold. No longer will anyone refer to you as the Duke," he announced. I acted like I was completely and utterly shocked by his announcement.

"How can this be? Why am I appointed as Eldest when we have not found Damon? I would feel better if Eldest Damon was here to address us," I argued.

"Damon is no more," the Vampire King hissed through clenched teeth. "He was killed by one of Alpha Alexander Ulrich's men although it was the Enchantress who gave the order. The High Elder stressed the Eldest had entered the Enchantress' chambers while she was sleeping prompting her to kill him. These wolves had Damon all along. How could I have been blind to see the High Elder had a hand in all of this!" He threw his glass across the hall, angered at how the wolves had made us look like idiots in a game which we vampires started ages ago.

"What do you need me to do, Your Excellency?" I asked coyly.

"I will summon all your Vampire brothers and sisters for you to lead, Eldest," he said. "We will fly to China with all the vampires I can summon, then when we arrive in China, I will summon my progeny there. The Enchantress will be the downfall of Drago's pack and if they use the sword, I will slit the throat of Drago's grandmother and drink her aging blood. Call all your nobility from the neighboring countries and make sure you appoint someone to take your place. I, on the other hand, will call Magnus and my courtier at my Russian estate. We need as many vampires with us as soon as possible."

"Sire, what are you proposing we do? This is not a time to act rashly," I warned him, but he was too consumed with anger to listen to me. Well, this was our plan... to have the Vampire King so distracted that he would make a decision which would lead to his demise.

"I have lost Strega, Damon and my would be queen. I will no longer sit down and watch my progeny die. The Enchantress must learn her place. Now leave me. I will summon all vampires here to accompany us. Also, I urgently need to speak to the Marquess," the Vampire King said.

"Why do you need to speak with him, your Grace?" I asked innocently. His lips curled into a sinister smile.

"I need him to do something for me."

____________

High Elder

I cautiously traipsed around the villa where Damon was turned to dust, scrutinizing every detail, trying to find clues.

I was awakened earlier by a message from the Marchioness informing me of Damon's sudden demise. I quickly called the Vampire King, hoping he would understand that Damon violated Fire's personal space, however, arrogance, a trait found in almost all vampires, clouded his judgement. Well, what do you expect from a vampire who has lived centuries?

I rubbed my forehead with my hand, frustrated an old goat like me couldn't stay up just for a few more hours. If I hadn't gone to bed, none of this would have happened.

I sighed, saddened I had lost an ally. I, unfortunately, did not foresee any of this. Surprisingly, the Enchantress has the ability to block the powers of others, including my gift of foresight.

I had to accept Damon was no longer with us. HIS arrogance clouded his judgement. He entered the villa thinking Fire would not retaliate. I had told him to be patient, but he was afraid the Marchioness was already whispering in her ward's ear.

This was all my fault. I shouldn't have told him Fire was destined to choose their next leader, a blessing given by the Vampire God as a sign of good will to the Moon Goddess.

"I need her to remember the promise Ying Yue gave me, Arthur. If I had only known how important the Enchantress was, I would have raised her myself. Does the Vampire King know? Damon asked.

"Of course he knows. Why do you think his progeny has increased three fold?" I answered.  "During the time of Ying Yue, when the vampires were at their strongest, his leadership was questioned and that led to the cleansing wars, which almost wiped out all of his progeny because he was too proud to make a truce with the wolves. Today, the vampires are at their weakest and your progeny knows this. If Vlad's leadership was questioned then, I'm afraid this time, his leadership will be contested. Magnus is already prepared to bar entry to vampires outside the West Coven and when a new King or Queen arises, he is ready to negotiate for the West Coven's independence."

"What about you, High Elder? What do you plan to do?" Damon asked me.

"Pawns are already moving against Vlad, Damon. I have tried endlessly to negotiate with your king, but it has always fallen on deaf ears. I have already negotiated a truce with Magnus. Once the smoke settles, I will lay witness to the rise of a new Vampire leader and ensure the wolves will live in peace." Damon rushed towards me and knelt down, begging.

"Help me, Arthur. I have lived my whole life as a vampire for this very moment. I can not lose on a technicality that the Marchioness was the one who raised her," Damon begged.

"You can not become king if you think motherhood is a mere technicality. Damon, the Marchioness will make a great queen and I assure you, she is one who does not forget," I told him, hoping he would accept his fate.

"High Elder, you called for me," Elder Dante Drache suddenly entered the villa, bringing me back to the present. I noticed the first sign of light began to penetrate the dark sky above.

"We have a serious problem," I said, sighing. "Damon is gone, the Vampire King is furious and I believe the vampires plan to exterminate the Flaming Dragon Sword Wolf Pack come tomorrow."