A Series of Unfortunate Events

Alucard was in the dining hall of the castle. He was walking with Anton speaking with the various representatives of the council, from Raiden. A rep of Vudu,  said to Alucard, " I cannot wait to see her eyes, I heard they glow boldly. But is she really going to be suitable? We do not know her lineage?" Reave a round man, with a face and neck like an exclamation point. He said, " Yes, especially when he had a choice of old blood lineage to choose from. Seems like a wild card to me. I would be worried about my genes." Alucard rolled his eyes. He knew this weasel was one of Annette, on the council minions. Annette was one of the old blood women. Who had been seeking a proposal from Alucard. He said, " Well, with the noble women I saw. I would not be passing them on, at all." Alucard rolled his eyes as he walked off, leaving Anton to apologize for him. Alucard sighed as he walked among the guest in the room. Alucard looked around the room for his sires. He saw Amethyst sitting on the side table with Anton and Alucard's personal familiars and the familiars freely available. She was being as bossy as ever. Her dark brown hair laid darkly against her pale skin. The high slit in her dress was meant to show off her slim legs. Amethyst saw Alucard staring, and she made a gesture with her chin at the door. Alucard shook his head no. Lords were picking up consorts shamelessly even with their wives there. Alucard thought, what is the point in having the wife then? He then saw Leo walk over and bow to a woman, that was also married. Alucard rolled his eyes and thought, well at least the wives are getting theirs too. At that moment, he noticed a set of blue eyes peeping from the corner at the top of the stairs, before quickly ducking back behind the wall. Alucard could feel that slow creep of a grin on the corners of his lips. Alucard was known for his red zip line speed. He used it to make it quickly to the top of the stairs. When he saw Tempest, he paused for a moment. The dark teal lace ball gown made her skin stand out radiantly and her eyes never looked so beautiful. They were a different shade than earlier, a teal color a little lighter than her dress. Alucard looked at her inquistively. He asked, " What are you doing back here, looking like this?" Tempest was looking down at the people. She said, " I can hear everyone talking about me. Like, they are expecting some great mystical being. I have never been in a high society event before. Besides and assassination and I was dressed. How I normally do. I feel uncomfortable in these heels and these eyelashes." Alucard finished Tempest's sentence. He said, " They all enhance your beauty. I am sorry, I did not realize. I was asking alot. Your dress comes to the floor. We are about to eat. Why don't you take them off? I want you to come down with me. So whatever will make you comfortable." Alucard held his arm out to her. Tempest looked at his arm. She hesitated a moment before taking his arm in her hands. Tempest face felt flushed. She said, " I will use you for balance. You won't let me fall and embarrass myself, right?" Alucard looked down at her in surprise. He said softly, " I will be your balance. Hold your head high, you are the bethrothed of a noble." Tempest looked at him. She said, "I thought, I was not chosen, yet." Alucard chuckled a moment, surprising Tempest. He said, " Come on, Tempest."

Tempest felt steady in Alucard's hold as he guided her down the stairs. She watched as some people looked at her in awe and some in jealousy. The stares were starting to make her anxious when Alucard whispered in her ear. He said quietly, " They only want to be you. We will greet a few guests together, and then we will go eat. I will never leave you alone." When Amethyst saw her master lean over to speak in Tempest's ear, her eyes narrowed into thin slits. She got up, and she noticed the other knights under Alucard approached him as well. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Tempest was surrounded by people who immediately bowed. The one who is dressed as a butler, Tempest, already knew him to be Crimson. His red eyes always looked sleepy, he bowed. He said, " You look love, milady." Tempest bowed back, surprising him. She said with a smile, " Thank you, You always look so neat, so that is a great compliment." A lion-haired man, who appeared in his early twenties, took her hand, surprising Tempest, as he kissed it. He had dazzling free eyes." Alucard glared at him. He said, " Chill out, Leo." Leo chuckled, he said, " I was have to make a dashing entrance. If you need any help or dress shopping help. You can come to me." Jacque looked disinterested as he was talking to a man with purple-silver hair. He had amber eyes and there was a woman next to them. She looked similar. The two men appeared to be scoping out some women. The woman smiled and took Tempest's hand. She said, " Sorry, these idiots are always scoring. They can never focus. " Sevant scoffed. He said, " I am sorry, I am Sevant. Everyone was just taking so long, and yes, my sister and I are Lycans." His sister put her hand up and smacked her brother's head. She said, " I can introduce myself. I am Cyan, it feels so amazing to have someone like me. I think we will be the best of friends." Tempest could tell by her dazzling amber eyes. She meant it. Tempest replied, " I look forward to that, what I did before. Did not require friendship." Jacque replied, " Oh yes, you were a mercenary. You must have been seducing all of them men to their deaths." A woman with cat-like narrow eyes and dark brown hair laughed. She said, " Not with how she looked when we got here. Make just does alot." Alucard's eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, " You will watch your tongue, Amethyst. Besides your insane, her skin is flawless. Apologize to Tempest." Amethyst stomped her foot down on the ground. She said, " You do not need to go through all these formalities, if you just choose me. I already know what to do. Mercenary, she isn't even experienced." Tempest felt a bit of a sting from the words. However, she does not even know this woman. She was not going to tolerate the disrespect. She said, " I do not need her apology. The fact is, she cannot deal with another woman being complimented. Let's me know, she is not secure in herself. I am not worried about it. " Tempest turned to Alucard dismissively. She said, "Ok, show me to the guests. Now, that I think of it. I am over it already. It was nice meeting everyone else. Have fun." Amethyst scoffed, as Alucard did, just as Tempest asked. Tempest felt pretty good about her snide comment, until Alucard started introducing her to guests. So many questions about her powers and asking her can she do magic tricks with it. Questions about her health. A person even requested to touch her hair. On top of the numerous comments about her eyes, even as far as someone, letting them know about their eye collection. How they would kill for eyes like hers to be in it. Alucard did not say much of anything, but he tried to keep all the encounters brief. So she at least appreciated that. Eventually, Tempest felt overwhelmed. She told Alucard, "I am going to the bar to get a lemonade. " Alucard raised an eyebrow. He said, " A lemonade? Ok, but hurry back, or there will be consequences." Tempest looked Alucard up and down for a moment before she said, " I will come back to your side. When I want to grace you with my presence." Alucard looked surprised as she turned away. 

Tempest quickly walked to the bar. She requested a lemonade and when she finally got it. Tempest drank it nervously, it soothed her dry throat. She had never talked so much in her life. She was used to being a loner. When Cyan approached her. Tempest got a good looked at Cyan. She was petite, but Tempest could tell she had a dense muscular structure, from the definition in her arms. She had olive skin and her amber eyes were almost shaped. Tempest loved her short-styled bob, the dusty purple contrasted well with her skin. Cyan said, "That comeback on Amethyst was classic. She is not used to being put in her place. None of Alucard's consorts would dare talk to her that way. Too scared of getting lashed." Tempest raised her eyebrow. She said, " Lashed, why would you want to do that to someone?" Cyan shrugged her shoulders. She said, " Who knows, vampires, you know? Tempest sighed, " Yeah, I guess. Why are you working for a vampire anyway, Cyan?"Cyan looked down for a moment. She said softly, " Oh, yeah probably on this little island you do not know much. So the Lycan's nation was decimated, by the London and American wolf packs. Our packs are scattered, and most survivors are loners now. Most of us are mercenaries for hire, like the chaos witches. You know if you got powers, you at least do not have to be food, with the vampire. The werewolves, however. All these Alphas and the build up of testosterone. They have grown out of control. The strong dominating the weak and women with no balance. It was an easy choice for my brother and I, he would not take the chance with my safety. Alucard has been good to use. We have been with him for 6 years now. We replaced his last glycan generals. " Tempest looked over at Alucard. She said, " He looks like he would be hard to work with." Cyan chuckled, " He does have his flaws, but who knows. Maybe you will not see them that way." As Tempest spoke she was looking at Alucard speaking. He noticed her and stepped away from his conversation. He clapped. Alucard gestured to everyone. He said, " We will eat with the new coven nobles and the representatives from Raiden. Our servants will lead the way." Alucard held out his hand and Tempest walked over to him and took it. She did not even notice the stares as they went to the dining hall. 

Later at dinner, Tempest sat at the head of the table next to Alucard with Esther on the other side of her. The servants came in first with the meals for the coven elders. They set a plate in front of Tempest. There was a flank steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus that had a lovely citrus smell.  They poured in her glass something that smelled slightly of alcohol. Tempest was about to turn to say she did not drink, but she could feel Esther squeezing her thigh. She whispered, " It is not good to decline what is offered, Tempest." Tempest nodded quietly. She sipped a little, and it made her cheeks start to feel warm. She liked the sweet fragrant taste. She began eating. Tempest could hear Esther asked, " So Alucard? Do you know when you will let us know, if we will have an agreement or not?" Alucard put his hands on the table. When they heard one of the vampire generals say, " It is about time hurry up and fill my glass. It better be O negative." At that moment, Tempest could smell the low scent of iron. It was blood. It was being poured from a large picture into the goblet. Tempest could feel the nausea immediately in her throat. She picked up her wine glass and tried to drink back the sensation. Amethyst immediately took notice. Tempest, emboldened by the wine, said to Alucard, " Before he even answers, I think we should just put the resistance in jail. Let them work off their crimes fixing the town. The conditions are the whole reason for them. Those are my terms before I even hear yours?" Alucard raised an eyebrow. He said, " Oh really?" Esther looked over at Tempest quickly. She said, "Tempest, that is now how you will speak to your Lord." Amethyst noticed the conversation had turned to bickering, she had to do something to derail this agreement. She had been by her master's side for over a decade. She was not ready to let him go. She noticed the maid bringing the blood to Alucard's goblet. Amethyst used her powers of telekinesis to cause Tempest's chair to pull out, just as the maid was walking by. The maid seemed to unnaturally fall forward with the large pitcher of blood. Tempes noticed it was about to fall on Alucard and in a moment. She put out her hands and stopped the blood about to land on Alucard, by controlling the water inside. The whole table looked in amazement. Until, the rest of the blood sunk down Tempest's face. As soon as she noticed it. She threw up, all directly on Alucard. The smell of the blood on her, always took her back to her past. Tempest threw up before she could even stop it. The embarrassment immediately hit her face as she looked around. She noticed immediately a confident grin on Amethyst's face. Alucard stood up angrily looking at her before walking off. Tempest put the blood back in the container. Esther looked at her and said quietly, " You ruined everything." Tempest could feel tears burning in her eye as she quickly left the room.