Chapter Ten

It wasn’t until much later that Colbie realised she had not said goodbye to either Alex or Max - the two men who had made quite a big impact of her life in such a short time.

After being in the car for a few hours, the driver taking many detours in an attempt to ensure that there were no tails, they finally pulled up at the familial home of the house of Carrington.

Even in the darkness it was an impressive sight. Set in the midst of two hundred acres of rich green land, the eight hundred year old building stood as strong and proud as it had when it was first constructed all those years ago. At least that was what William Carrington liked to boast to any who would listen.

Built of top of a hill, half of the actual property was actually underground. It was fortified with the strongest defences money could provide. That is to say, lots of ancient booby-traps and an electronic alarm which would release a pack of ferocious Dobermans should the need arise.

The estate itself looked more like a castle than a house. Stone turrets stood on the four corners of the building rising up into the night sky like silent sentinels. Modernisation over the last few centuries meant that main building boasted aspects of each century’s architecture. Slate tiles sat on the recently upgraded pitched roof and reinforced glass windows spilled light out into the  darkness.

Colbie’s hands were on the door handle as soon as the car pulled to a stop in front of the main doors. They were large, made of oak and lined with thick steel. It was almost impossible to open them unless you possessed supernatural strength. It was one of the reasons she had not rebelled and snuck out when she was younger, the heiress couldn’t even open the doors to get out in the first place.

Sebastian, who had sat silently through the entire drive, climbed out behind her and gently closed the door. With the soft click, he placed his taller body in front of hers and led them towards the great house. Even though they were safely upon their own home, he did not drop his guard.

With a strong fist, he banged loudly over and over again on the front doors until he heard the tell-tale clicks and clanks of the locks disengaging. There was a screeching groan as the doors were pulled open.

As soon as they had been pulled open, the grand hallway was revealed to all. Flawless black marble covered the floor while the stone walls had been plastered and smoothed over. Bright white walls offset by black and silver fixtures and fittings made the hallway have a modern feel to the very old building. It looked like the room should be cold but thanks to some great planning, their home boasted natural underfloor heating.

Colbie shook her head and stepped inside the place she called home, her head tilting back to stare at the wrought iron chandelier which was one of the original features of the house. It was one of the only things to have escaped renovations as it was a testament to the family’s history.

Letting her gaze fall back down to the room she was astounded at the welcoming party. Normally she shared smiles and laughs with the staff who had served her family for centuries, those who were the few mortals who knew of their true natures. And they were bowing and curtsying. Colbie glanced over her shoulder to see if her parents were standing behind her.

That’s when it truly clicked for her. They were bowing to her. They were showing their respect to the 20 year old heir to the vampire throne. They were bowing to their hope, the only mortal that could stop the European Vampires from falling into her chaos.

Her breaths came out in harsh gasps as she stared at the people she had known her entire life, panic overwhelming any rationality she may have been clinging on to. She had not been prepared for this. Her father had had his heir. She was meant to get married and have babies. She wasn’t supposed to take up her father’s mantle. It was supposed to be impossible.

And yet, her supposedly immortal father was dying and the heir to the throne had been killed.

Colbie fisted her hands at her sides and nodded her head as regally as she could, moving forwards at the urging of the hand on her arm. Each step was like moving through thick tar. And then she saw them.

Her parents were stood at the furthest end of the room. Her father had wilted just that bit more but his suit had been tailored to fit his body perfectly, hiding the fact that his deterioration was showing no signs of slowing.  His eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he met his daughter’s gaze. He tried to smile but he could only muster a slight tremble of his lips.

Her mother looked as imperious and regal as ever. Not a hair out of place and her beautiful cream coloured gown was immaculate. With a tilted chin, and her eyes peering down at everyone down the length of her nose, no outsider could possibly notice that she had just suffered a tragedy. No one but her family could tell that inside, her heart was grieving for the loss of her son.

Colbie mimicked her mother, lifting her chin and staring down at those around her as if she believed she belonged in her new place. That she believed she deserved the reverence and respect of each person in the room and people all over the country. She clasped her hands in front of her to keep them from trembling.

She felt underdressed as she walked forwards evenly paced, her brother keeping perfect time with her. She was still in her faded and holey jeans which she had thoughtfully paired with a black fluffy jumper. Colbie had put it on earlier that day because she had seen the first frost of the winter. Now the thick layers were stiflingly hot as her anxiety set her heart skipping to a beat much faster than normal which made her temperature increase.

Finally their mini procession pulled to a stop just a few feet from the vampire monarchs. As etiquette dictated, Sebastian and Colbie took one final step forward. The tall man crouched down, crossing one arm across his chest as he bowed his head in respect to his mother and father. 

Colbie was next. She ducked her head and crossed one leg behind her as she dipped into a delicate curtsey. NO words were said as the hall fell into silence, all murmuring that had been a gentle hum only moments before now left behind a fragile quietness.

The young woman’s leg trembled with the effort to hold the curtsey but she bit her lip and endured even as the silence continued. Her brother’s was dead. He had suffered. She would not whine when he had gone through things that were much worse.

Colbie bit her lip even harder, so hard that her teeth pierced her lip and blood dripped from the wound.

“Rise.”

There was much shuffling as every vampire in the room pushed to their feet, their heads remaining bowed under the gaze of their king. Lifting her head, Colbie pushed herself back upright and stood stiffly. She found that she was unable to look into her parent’s faces, instead opting to look right past them.

“Today we welcome home our children, Colbie and Sebastian.” William’s voice held the entire hall in rapture. He let his old and sorrow filled gaze sweep over the crowd, as if meeting every solemn set of eyes in the room. And he did see them. Even though he wanted nothing more than to grieve in peace with his wife, his position dictated he must stand tall and be strong for their race.

He cleared his throat and let his gaze fall briefly down to his white and thin hands. They were frailer than he remembered. Briefly William closed his eyes tightly and drew in a deep breath. He finally let himself see again, his gaze drifting to his lost little girl standing only a metre away but looking as if she was on her own island.

“With the loss of my son and your prince Byron, it makes us all aware in the importance of family and the strength that it holds. It makes us aware of the duty that we hold to those we protect. We are reminded of the duty we have to eradicate the presence of evil before it can take root and spread – infecting everything it touches.”

The ceremonial torches on the walls flickered, attempting to add warmth to the bleak atmosphere that hung over the gathered crowd.

“We must all stick together in this trying time. In number we are stronger than any evil. The threat out there is growing as the human race expands. As we look to the future, we will face harder times but if we are to survive we must stand united against this common foe.”

With a nod of his head, the crowd dispersed amongst much murmuring.

Eleanor Carrington broke her public façade as soon as the last straggler had exited the entrance hall and pressed a trembling hand to her mouth. Her eyes were set on the face of her first born son. She felt like she was looking at the stranger, his features so different to the boyish face he had worn when signing up for the brotherhood, and yet her heart sung at the sight of her baby boy standing before her. Unable to verbalise the command, and uncaring about the audience, she held out a beckoning hand to her son.

Sebastian wavered before stepping towards her with one big stride and then pulled her slight and trembling frame into his arms, pressing her face into his chest as he tried to offer his mother the solace and comfort she required. He frowned over her shoulder as his gaze rested upon his father. As a member of the brotherhood, his sojourns to the family home were few and far between. The last time he had been there, twenty years ago, his father had been in his prime despite the many years to his name.

For the first time in as many centuries, Sebastian Carrington felt his emotions taking root. No longer were they a passing thought but a heavy burden making his heart open to those around him. It was dangerous and yet he was helpless to prevent it.

“Father,” he murmured offering a nod of his head to the older frailer man.

The tall and imposing then tilted his head and placed the gentlest of kisses on the top of his mother’s head. She took a deep breath and pulled away, her watery and red rimmed eyes staring into the eyes of her son. They were the eyes of a predator – perfect for hunting the evils that lurked in the darkness.  

“Mother.”

“My little boy,” Eleanor placed a hand on his cheek, a hard feat due to his height. “It is good to see you. If only it was under better circumstances.”

The woman gulped and looked away, her gaze coming to rest on her daughter. Despite her cold exterior, Eleanor loved and cherished her children very much. Her status meant that she could not show weakness in front of the public but behind closed doors she doted on her family even if she was not the best at expressing the devotion she felt.

It was why she knew the expression on Colbie’s face so well. She knew that the fact that she kept blinking and that she was clenching her jaw so hard that her teeth had started to grind, Eleanor knew that her daughter was fighting back the urge to cry.

Stretching out a hand, the older woman wrapped her dainty fingers around her daughter’s hand and pulled her close.  

“Oh my sweet little Bee,” she tugged the stiff and unbending young woman in her arms until wrapped her tightly in a hug.

She held her close until she finally melted into her arms and her body started to tremble.

Glancing over her head, Eleanor met Sebastian’s gaze. With a slight incline of her head and unwilling to be parted from any of her surviving children, she gestured for her nine hundred year old son to precede her out of the hall.

The staff, who would normally be rushing up and down the halls ensuring that the estate is kept to the highest of standards, had the tact to remain hidden as the family passed through the halls. The place felt hollow and empty without the lively chatter and the happy humming of the maids as they worked. But the house was in mourning and even though it would normally be a celebration to welcome home the children of house Carrington, the loss that they had suffered took precedence.

Behind closed doors, the butlers, the maids and the groomsmen were already making preparations for the coming days. Dark sashes were hung over tapestries, blotting out the colours that usually brightened the estate as a mark of respect. A mark to show any who resided within that they were in mourning. For three long days and nights, the family would retreat from the world and say their goodbyes.

***

 It took only a few minutes for the group to arrive at the rooms of Eleanor and William.

Despite the modernisation happening elsewhere in the house, the set of rooms sat almost unchanged from how it had been since the birth of Byron many centuries ago. Colbie had always thought it was strange, the lore that humans had built around their ideas of the vampire race. The idea that vampires had to be created was true - to a degree - but they were not the undead. It was the reason that they could procreate. With a sworn duty to protect the creatures that roamed the earth from the damning presence of pure evil, the great goddess had to ensure that there was a way the species would continue.

Sitting down on the sofa, the youngest Carrington felt the heat emanating from the old stone hearth but it did nothing to ease the chill in her bones. She knew that her heart would be aching for her brother for a long time after his body was committed back to the earth from which he was created. She would pay tribute to the fallen comrade but she would never stop wishing that things were different, that her brother was not dead.

“We have to set a date.” William eased into his high backed chair, the old and worn chair groaning slightly under his weight.

Colbie felt her palms get clammy but refused to acknowledge the question. Her mother had no such qualms.

“The date for what?” Eleanor questioned, her voice taking on a shrill quality as she moved to stand by her husband’s chair. When he made no response, she placed a firm hand on his shoulder, digging her fingers in when he did not answer.

Pulling open his eyelids, he levelled his wife with a stare, their bond meaning that the words did not actually need to be spoken. The woman’s face paled as the seconds passed and then it turned positively green.

“No, I won’t stand for it. She deserves the same as everyone else. She is just a child you cannot put this on her.”

Sebastian, who had been leaning casually against the wall, stirred. He had been watching his family from the outside but as someone with a small degree of impartiality, he strode closer to the sofa. His aura was so intense as he approached that there was no denial he had become part of the discussion.  Those cat like eyes moved over his surviving family members ina  leisurely crawl that made it known he was judging and weighing their worth.

“Father is correct a date must be set.” He nodded his head at the weary man and then turned hi attention to Eleanor.

She attempted to challenge her son, her entire posture stiffening as she jutted her chin out in defiance.

“Mother, surely you can see that Colbie is the only hope. I cannot become what our species needs.” Sebastian paused and looked away, his brows furrowing as he tried to find the right words. “I am altered. My choices have made me who I am. I chose to be a Brother and as a result I abdicated any right I had to the crown. I will serve the monarchy with loyalty but I cannot become its figurehead.”

His voice was strong and smooth, unwavering in its sincerity. Eleanor blinked rapidly and looked away lest any of her children spot the tears just waiting to fall.

“Colbie?”

When she displayed no signs of hearing her father’s voice, Sebastian stretched out a hand and lightly pinched her arm. The stinging sensation brought her abruptly into the room, aware of the many sets of eyes staring at, waiting for her to crack. She could feel the tempting embrace of numbness lingering at the back of her mind. Colbie pushed it back.

It was time to live up to the family name. Carrington was a name associated with strength, light. It was a beacon in the darkness of night. If she let herself live in the comfort of sensationless bliss, she would be no better than those who stood on the side lines when bad things happened, expecting others to save the day when she was capable of doing herself.

“Bumble bee? Do you understand what needs to happen now?”

The young woman opened her mouth to respond but Eleanor was not one to back down, she put her body firmly between them and her only daughter, arms outstretched to protect her.

“No William, she is just a child.”

“She is almost of age. I am only bringing the inevitable forward a few months.”  Looking every bit his age, William Carrington heaved his body from his arm chair. His arms shook with the effort – a terrifying sign of his wavering health. “She still has a choice but I’m hoping she’ll make the right one. If not, when I am forced to step down, the chair will fall to my first cousin – Reinhart.”

Eleanor threw her hands up in the air as a flurry of cusses and creative insults flew from her lips. Both of her children stared at her with their mouths hanging open and their eyes wide.

 “Are you insane? That man does not know the tail end of donkey!”  She spat the words out, planting one hand on her hip as she jabbed her finger angrily in her husband’s face.

“ - which is why I would prefer my own daughter stepped up in my stead.”

Eleanor’s hand dropped to her side as she stared into the eyes she loved so much and felt her heart ache at what she could see in the depths .

“But she is just a girl, she shouldn’t have to do this!”

William said nothing further, he just pulled his wife into his arms and met Colbie’s gaze over her shoulder.

“I will give you four days to decide. By then I must know your decision.”

Unable to look away from her father, she nodded mutely.

Even as she was nodding knots were forming in her stomach and dread was clouding her mind. Four days and her life would change forever. No matter what she chose, the consequences would alter the face of vampire society.