The Council

Yihan was strangely distracted that day. His secretary caught him phasing out blankly several times, a behavior unlikely of his nature. He was scheduled to meet a producer and a few starlets for his next movie projects. But in the meetings he kept phasing out lost in thoughts of who knows what. What made him and his secretary shocked was that Yihan left the meetings with the starlets halfway through, citing that they do not meet the appearance requirements, yet it was Yihan who handpicked these young girls based on their, what he usually described as ‘petite, good looking lass’. To his utter discomfort a certain face keeps popping up his mind time to time. The one which bore a considerable amount of disliking towards him and he kind of felt the intensity of that feeling despite the distance between them. That woman and her disgusted look towards him violently clashed with his male chauvinistic ego. Yihan was infamous for his promiscuity and chauvinistic nature in not just the entertainment world but also in the whole Cresian kingdom. Marriage proposals were rejected by him on the basis of, right from the shape of the nose to educational qualification. Whereas he was homeschooled and never went to any institution for education. Despite his notoriety, women flock and throw themselves to win his heart. Yihan has taken the advantage of this situation and had committed unspeakable mean acts towards women. There were several scandals regarding him treating women as ‘use and throw’ items whenever it suited his mood. Well known for his extreme selfishness, Yihan is toxically competitive as well, especially during the bike racing championships. Word has it, that once a racer tried to sabotage him by crashing deliberately on the racing tracks. Yihan escaped unscathed but his bike never powered up, leaving him disqualified for the tournament. Enraged, he stormed into the changing room beating the racer to pulp who had to be hospitalized. The injuries were so severe that he lost sight in one of his eyes.

Yihan being the prince the matter was hushed up soon. Another time, desperate to win, he made arrangements to bribe a racer to lose the tournament just make the agency for which he was competing lose credibility. The incidents of manipulation were endless. Being the prince provided him with the ultimate security from scandals and rumors and made him almost invincible. So when this status was shaken up by Nezeira’s bitter look, Yihan could not stay calm at all. He was so fraught with the virtual rejection that his mind was in a riot. He called it a day and returned back to the palace. Now, Yihan is an extremely intelligent and shrewd person. Since this woman was in the palace Yihan was under the impression that she might be a new security recruit for the Queen. In that case he carefully planned to pursue her. The Council meeting was to be held the next day. So he decided to attend it just to figure out about the woman.

Nezeira was in the out guesthouse with Lily, who seemed to have eased up to her. She was a talkative person as gradually was revealed to Nezeira. She kept asking all sorts of questions about Vladmore and  vampires. Nezeira was a person of less words but she replied each of her questions with patience. She hated humans and kept her distance but at this point there is no way she can avoid Lily and her increasing babbling, because she was the witness to the incident and might remember crucial information as to what happened that day. The Council was a day after so she needs to prepare it with Ywain and the rest. But something kept bugging her since she visited the area. The faint voice she thought she heard, calling out her name. To be precise it was exactly how Rhain used to call her. She felt a strong desire to visit the area again. She was at a total loss as to what should be done and it was a dead end after the test results came. She suddenly got up and headed towards the basement lab again. Meeting Ywain she said,

“Any progress from yesterday?”

Ywain shook his head, “No, Princess.”

Nezeira, “We should visit the area again, this isn’t working. Likewise it’s going to take forever to figure out what is going on.”

Ywain, “What about the human, Princess? Did she remember anything?”

Nezeira, “Even if she does that would not be of much help, unless we go face those creatures and the one in control.”

Ywain, “For that we need good amount of backup.”

Nezeira, “Let’s get on with the Council tomorrow then we can think about it.”

Nezeira went out of the basement lab out. It was quiet except for the faint sound of sea waves. She walked towards the seaside of the palace. She could see the waves of the ocean sparkling as the ripples reflected the light of the half moon. She walked at the edge of the palace and jumped up on its walls. The since she has been granted access to the palace the sensors did not go off. Seeing that she jumped down on the other side of the palace walls into the rocks of the seashore. She stood on the highest rock and watched the deep ocean. The sky was clear without a speck of cloud in it and the stars twinkled like white diamonds on a black cloth. The breeze was cool and salty, Nezeira’s thin locks of hair on her face, fluttered along with its rhythm. She stood there for a while and her expression kind of turned into a determined one and with that she jumped up and back into the palace grounds and ran back into the outhouse. Lily was watching the television with utmost attention, when Nezeira burst into the room. She then said, sitting down in front of her,

“I need your help.”

Lily, sitting straight up, “What is it?”

Nezeira kept speaking and Lily grew serious and a bit shocked.

At the same time, a high end luxury fashion house was closed down as Yihan was visiting it for buying a couple of set of suits for the Council meeting next day and for the upcoming entertainment awards function the day after . His demands were weird, tiring out the designer and his assistants, trying to cater to them. After almost two hours he chose one suit and one tuxedo. The tuxedo was full black with a black bow as the tie. The other suit was also black but the jacket had golden crisscross designs all over. It was a little on the casual side which he chose for the awards function. While choosing and personalizing them he had one aim in mind. The person who drove him mad with her unusually distasteful stare. He cancelled all his immediate schedules and started preparing for the next day inter-kingdom Council.

Back in the palace Nezeira had just finished an important meeting with the King and the Queen about the Council, also sharing their findings. Both of them were shocked and worried with what Nezeira informed them. Nezeira then said,

“Your Majesties, we might have to extend our stay here until the main culprit is found. I request you grant us a few more days of support in such case.”

King Xavier, “You have my full support Princess. But promise me that you will catch this culprit soon. I cannot allow more causalities of my subjects.”

Nezeira, “You have my word, Your Majesty. I, however have another request to make to His Majesty.”

King Xavier, “Speak Princess!”

After a while Nezeira bowed and left. While returning she called up Ywain to ask about the preparations to which he informed that they are ready for the Council and gave him some instructions which Ywain was surprised to hear. While returning she spotted the same person from yesterday in the Ferrari, getting down near the portico and following him was an extremely sleek and petite woman. She looked like a model. Both of them went inside with their arms wrapped around themselves. Nezeira, turned back and left for the outhouse. Lily was waiting there for her and as soon as she entered she spoke,

“Nezeira! How long do I have to stay here? I wanna go home.”

Nezeira, replied with a straight face, “I just spoke to you about it. Do you want to back out? If so then tell me now. Because after today you cannot.”

Lily, “Can you promise to protect me if I do this, so that I can return home?”

Nezeira, “You have my word. Your safety is my responsibility.”

Lily, “ Fine then. I am in.”

Nezeira, “Don’t just speak about it to anyone yet.”

Lily nodded. They retired for the night. Nezeira could not sleep so she kept tossing around the bed. Her mind is full of thoughts about what she has decided and what exactly is going on. Truth be told she cannot be fully assured herself about what she has decided to do. But her gut feeling says that some terrible disaster is looming. Something which seems none of the kingdoms are prepared for.

Two sleek and smooth hand slammed the glass mirror of the bathroom of the younger prince. The nails on them were manicured into red shade and were long. They started to slap the mirror as the person whom they belong let out whims of pleasurable moans. The man who was bestowing her with bouts of pleasure with every heavy thrusts from behind was slim yet well built, with broad shoulders and strong arms which clasped her waist. The woman closed her eyes, with disheveled long wavy hair that went down covering her back. She called out the man’s name out of pleasure,

“Ohhhh Yihan, you are a beast!”

Their breaths were rough accompanied by occasional moans. Yihan grabbed her hair from the back and made her upper half body arched up as he kept on with his movements. While on his act Yihan went into a trance like mode where the woman’s face again popped up in his mind. Those big almond shaped eyes, beautiful yet filled with antipathy. With that the fire of passion in him extinguished like a puff. He released the woman, who was taken aback with Yihan’s sudden dismissal and loss of interest.  He took the nightgown and wore it while throwing a towel at the woman saying,

“Wash up and leave. Ohh and be careful so that no one sees you, especially my Dad or Mom.”

The woman, “What?! That’s it? What about me?”

Yihan, indifferently, “What about you?”

Woman, let out a sarcastic laugh and left. Yihan came and laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He has to find this woman. Earlier he asked someone from the information department to look for the woman but she could not provide him with any information about any royal guard appointed which matches his description. Yihan has never been so desperately restless in his entire life. He has been growing impatient and angry with passing moment. His parents received a shock of their lives when Yihan himself came forward to say that he will attend the Council meeting along with them. The Queen suggested that since Yihan will be there it will be fine if she skips it.

The next day Yihan was up early and started getting ready for the Council. He looked dashing in the black tux. His quiff styled hair was put up neatly. King Xavier and Crown Prince Constance were already in the royal courtroom waiting for Yihan. The King felt content that his younger son finally accepted and performing his duties as a prince. Little did he knew the real reason behind his sudden sense of royal duties. Yihan joined his father and brother and they went to the royal conference room. The video-conferencing was up. They sat on their chair when one by one the monarchs of the other kingdoms popped up in the three huge screens.

King Zachaeus, spoke first, “Greetings, Your Majesty and His Highnesses!”

King Xavier, “Greetings to you to.”

King Zachaeus, “I believe our Nightshaders are to make their first report of their findings.”

King Xavier, “Yes, but let me tell you it is rather disturbing. So brace yourselves.”

The Nightshaders were asked to enter to present their report. Ywain, came forward and bowed to Xavier and his sons, then to Zachaeus. He presented their findings and the visit to the State Building by Nezeira, rescuing the human. Listening to it the monarchs of the kingdoms where extremely worried and concerned. Queen Niamh of Illusontis spoke,

“This kind of magic is forbidden for thousands of years in Illusontis. Our very first sorcerers made this rule. I wonder who dares to defy and create abominations like this.”

King Treznor, “Well of course we know who that is. It’s the banished Prince Rhain. My question is now to King Zachaeus as to how he suggest we handle this trouble.”

Zachaeus, “Well, Treznor, the report suggests that these beasts have the genetic buildup of werewolves as well, so it can be said that werewolves are involved too. So pray suggest some means as to how can we deal with this menace?”

Treznor’s mouth twitched in annoyance at Zachaeus’s counter-attack.

King Xavier spoke, “The Princess has requested me to grant her and the Nightshaders a few more days for the purpose and I have granted her such. This problem cannot be solved without assistance and cooperation from all of us. So I request that we put aside our differences and extend help to the Nightshaders as much as we can.”

Queen Niamh, “I agree. For that as my humble gesture I would like to send three of my trusted sorcerers to Cresia to assist the Nightshaders.”

Ywain, looked at Zachaeus who nodded showing his acceptance. He came forward and bowed to the Queen saying, “Her Majesty have my thanks.”

Seeing this King Treznor cannot stand back anymore, yet his arrogant nature didn’t allow him to comply immediately, so he said, “I will prepare a team of my werewolves as standby. They will be dispatched only if necessary.”

King Xavier, “Thank you all for your cooperation.”

King Treznor, “I don’t see the Princess. Wasn’t she supposed to be here as the leader of the Nightshaders?”

Ywain, came forward, “Your Majesty, the Princess is on an important task concerning the problem so she has instructed me to be in charge on her stead. Both His Majesties are informed about this.”

King Xavier spoke, “Yes, the Princess has indeed informed me and Xavier about her concerns on the matter and we have decided to let her pursue it.”

Yihan was minutely following every second of the meeting and was baffled to find that the person he wanted wasn’t there at all. His blood began to boil again with frustration. It seemed like all this effort are going in vain. He was a person who was least concerned about any attack or the seriousness of the situation. For him as long as he is content with his gains and peace nothing else in the world matters. But right now what was tormenting him was that mysterious woman. Who exactly she is? And just now the Princess of Vladmore was mentioned, and it was the same person Yihan saw on the bike. But he wasn’t interested in the Princess as he knew that being the leader of the Nightshaders meant she is a vampire. All he was concerned about was the woman he saw that day. Where can she be? It cannot be that she can disappear into thin air. After the Council was over, he did not waste a second and dashed out of the hall, leaving his father and elder brother perplexed. Fuming, he called up his secretary and instructed him to come to meet him in the information room.

The secretary complied and they arrived at the center, panicking the employees who were seated leisurely gorging on instant noodles. He roared and asked,

“Just how incompetent are you guys to find out a single woman with all your high-tech stuff?”

The guard, “Your Highness, we checked multiple times but the woman you are asking for, we have no records of her in our archives.”

Yihan’s secretary somehow managed him and said, “Sir, I will find her out for you. You have a lot to prepare for the upcoming awards function. You have a performance and also have to prepare your ‘star of the year award speech. Please calm down.”

Yihan turned around and grabbed his collar, “If you don’t find her by the end of the awards show, you are fired. Understood?”

The Secretary, “Ye..yess yess Your Highness.”

Yihan stomped out of the office and headed toward his room. His brother Constance was going out at that same time. He stopped and asked Yihan about what is going on, seeing him visibly distraught. Yihan managed to pretend that all was ok and left. The sun was about to set and Yihan’s mind was in distress so he went up to the rocks at the seaside in the calmness. As he passed the huge water fountain into the palace, Nezeira and Lily, rode the bike and left the palace grounds.

Lily asked Nezeira, “Are you sure we can pull this off?”

Nezeira, with a determined dark look, said, “I should ask you that question.”

Lily, “I will try my best.”

Nezeira, “You have to. This entire thing depends on you.”

Lily clutched tightly on Nezeira’s shoulders as she sped up her bike and they rode towards the State Building area again.