THE MEETING

RALPH

Hundred years after the prophecy...

I sauntered into the building with Colbert stalking behind me. I hated these meetings because I hated seeing some other vampire lords. Some of which I can never be friends with, and I wondered how Viktor gave them titles they clearly did not deserve.

"Welcome, Lord Ralph. Welcome, Lord Colbert," the servants by the door greeted. There were slight hesitations in their voices, and they gummed their backs to the entrance door in fear of me.

I ignored them while Colbert answered them. They were young vampires who still had atoms of emotions. Vampires like me are emotionless, and I love it that way. It brings me much respect and makes no one mess with me. My elder brother Colbert often displays certain human emotions, and it irritates me. The only emotion I am capable of showing is wrath.

We entered the meeting room, and six pairs of eyes flicked to us. The room was dark and quiet as usual, except for the pounding of our footsteps. I saw eyes watch me in derision as I walked up to my normal position immediately after the head chair. No one gave me that position, but every Lord got used to a particular seat over the years and stayed there. The only lord who refused to move on from me was Lord Landon. He always feels we are in a competition. Colbert sat on the chair opposite me, facing me directly, so he always calmed me down with his eyes.

"You are late," Andres said.

"There was an issue of emergency, Andres," Colbert offered an explanation.

I did not answer, even when the cold eyes of Andres were on me, waiting for an explanation. I curled in my seat and kept my chin up. I met his gaze and held them.

"Viktor is not here again," I said instead of apologizing or explaining.

"Lord Ralph, you are supposed to provide the council with an explanation," Andres insisted.

I glared at him, ignoring Colbert's soft tap on the table to get me to order. Andres was Viktor's assistant, and Viktor was like our god. He made us and assigned positions to us, but for the past hundred years, he has refused to make himself visible. He was visible to only Andres, even though he gave me the highest title in the council. I wear a crystal diamond ring, while he wears a blue one. He saw me as the most efficient man since the existence of vampires, and that was why he bypassed some vampires that were older than me to give me that title.

"Tell Viktor to see us himself if he wants a meeting," I said, stood up, and stalked out of the room.

Colbert stood after me, and I heard him mutter some apologies before he ran up to me at the entrance.

"Hey, Ralph, wait." I ignored him and kept walking until he grabbed my arm, bringing me to a halt.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"We are here because of you, Ralph. Do not let pride bring our downfall. It is a hundred years after the prophecy. We have to present our solution to the council."

"Why is Viktor not there himself? Why will I answer to a mere assistant?"

"He represents Viktor, and whatever he decides comes from Viktor."

It took a lot of conviction from Colbert before I walked in there, where the other Lords sat waiting. Chaos erupted as we walked in the next time. Most of the Lords were angry that Viktor condoned my insolence and threatened to leave if I was not given a due penalty. But Viktor knew my worth, so he would not do shit. Andres sat down there, watching the chaos until it dissolved, and then he continued.

"Lord Ralph, please join us," Andres offered. His smile was firm and fake.

I ignored him and every other Lord and flopped down on my seat. I knew I lacked nothing, both in intelligence and otherwise, so I always carried myself in a way that suggested that I did not care who ruled the world.

"We should address your question first," Andres said.

Landon sat straighter, shooting me a death glare. Lord Raj leaned forward, and Colbert kept his eyes on me like I would blow up or disappear if he averted his eyes for a moment.

"Viktor wishes to address this issue once and for all. He won't show himself to any of us anymore, except if it is a matter of great importance or urgency." There was murmuring in the room, which Andres allowed to die down before he continued. "I will read the letter he wrote to you all, and you can write your questions to be taken back to him."

"Does this mean you are Lord over us now? You are a mere assistant," Lord Raj asked.

"I know what I am, Lord Raj; that is one reason for this meeting," Andres said and began to read the letter, starting with the answer to my question. "That is why I am appointing a second in command. He would only receive orders from me and give orders to the other Lords..."

I stroked my ring, wondering what Viktor was up to. My eyes darted from one Lord to the other as Andres kept reading the letter. A smug smile painted Lord Landon's face. He has been the most controversial lord recently. I heard what he did to the women before he sucked them. It does not irritate me, but it makes me see him as a fool. He was trying his best to live up to me. His eye flicked to me, and our gazes locked. He flashed me a toothy grin. His chest contracted as he folded his meaty arms over his chest. His eyes held amusement as he stared at me. The bastard knew he had won the title. He would finally be lord over me because he had outdone himself in doing what Viktor likes.

"— I at this moment ordain Lord Ralph my second in command." Andres' voice dragged my eyes away from Lord Landon.

Nothing happened at first. Everywhere was dead silent for what seemed like an eternity. My eyes dashed back to Lord Landon, who stared at Andres as if he had just called him a weak human. I waited for him to look at me. Once he did, I smirked devilishly, and the volcano erupted in him.

"Bullshit!" he flared and shot up from his seat, looking around the table as if seeking the other Lords to back him up. But the four other Lords were too shocked to react. "This is unacceptable! He brought this curse upon us all, and now you made him lord over us?"

Andre stared calmly at him until he was done ranting before he spoke. "Well, Lord Langdon..."

"My name is Landon, not fucking Langdon!" he seethed.

I stifled laughter. Andres was fond of calling him Langdon. I do not know if that was intentional, but I always have fun when Landon is furious. Nothing really makes him as sore as that.

"If you have any sentiments, do well to write them down. It will be taken to Viktor and addressed in the next meeting." Andres finished and turned to face me. "On to the next issue at hand. Lord Ralph, you are to relocate to the capital immediately. Your brother, Colbert, will take the city right to the capital, while Lord Lang..." He stopped and pointed to Landon. "You will take the one to his left. The three of you will be at the helm of affairs here. 'Do not disappoint me.' Those are Viktor's words."

I sighed deeply, wearing that evil smirk I knew always drove Landon crazy. Landon was my cousin when we were humans, and he was a rich kid while my family struggled. He was a spoilt brat and was very entitled. He thought he deserved everything he wanted and would go to every extent to get whatever he needed. That was how he stole my girlfriend, but that is a story for another day.

He could not accept that I was excelling more than he was in the vampire world, and I so much loved to put him in his place.

"Have any of you found the babe that would be the demise and savior of us?" Andres asked.

"That is if we had not sucked her down," Lord Raj joked.

A few lords around the table chuckled, and Andres rolled his eyes. "You cannot do that without getting into a fight. Now, who has a plan on how to get the girl? Viktor wants her alive."

The table became silent again. Colbert looked at me, giving me a sign to speak up, but I relaxed. I wanted them to bring their plane ideas to the table, and then I would shock them with my rules.

"We could always taste the females' blood. I am sure hers will taste different," Lord Landon said.

"As much as we want to do that, Viktor wants her untouched. He wants to be the first to taste her before she is used for the rituals."

I stood up. "I prefer we stop any form of relationship with human females—sexual relationship, friendship, or otherwise. We should only take them as our servants. That way, we can detect who she is, and, in that case, no strings would be attached when the female is found."

"I disagree with that," Landon shot.

"Well, I agree with that. Besides, Lord Ralph is our new Lord of Lords. His wish is our command," Andres said.

"He is saying that because of me. Can't you all see?"

"Lord Landon, behave yourself. You cannot always get what you want. It is nobody's fault that you love women. We are doing this for our own good."

Andres produced a ring from the suitcase he kept beside him and stood beside me. "This is a signet ring. Lord Ralph, you must use it to seal any rules you make. Viktor trusts you enough to make perfect rules." He stretched out his hand, I slid mine in, and he wore the ring on my forefinger.

I kissed the signet ring and smiled at Landon, who was almost exploding with fury. I knew I wanted to get back at Landon so much. I wanted to see him suffer. So, I asked a question I knew would affect him.

"What should be done to any Lord that does otherwise?"

"Uhm... you should be making that decision right now, Lord Ralph. I am only a messenger, but I suggest the Lord be stripped of his title first and vanquished."

My eyes were still on Landon, and I still had that smirk. "I love that suggestion. It is now a rule."