Bad Blood

Conversations

Once the documents were secured in a safe spot in her bedroom, Marie headed down to the first level.

The servants avoided her gaze and scurried out of the way as she walked through the various grand rooms, all decorated opulently. Intrusive thoughts that she had been fighting for days began to creep into her mind. Adam’s face, which used to be her escape from life, now became a dreaded nightmare. Frustrated, she flopped into a plush sofa in one of the rooms that she had entered, crossing her arms over her chest. Would she be haunted like this for the rest of her life? Will she never know a moment of peace as he gets to frolic with that human? She raised a hand to rub the bridge of her nose, a deep sigh passing through her lips. Was she cursed, never to have a happy moment in her never-ending life? First, her parents, then Adam, and now possibly her own uncle. Why was everything crashing down on her?

But life moves on, no matter how much burns down around her. There was still an image for her to uphold, obligations, and expectations to be met as a noble in Edenvale. Events needed to be planned, and businesses needed to be run. If anything, she had Damien to lean against when things would get overwhelming. He had ended up being her most trusted companion, someone she could trust with anything, which was rare to find these days. She turned her head, looking out of one of the grand windows in the room. The sky was blue, and the sun mocked her with its warmth and radiance. She huffed in frustration and sat up straight. She had to do something, or else she would go crazy being alone in her own mind. She stood up and walked back towards the foyer of the house, searching for Damien.

“Damien?” She called out, standing near the decorative table in the middle of the room. She didn’t wait long before he entered the foyer, immediately standing next to her, dropping his head down in a quick bow.

“Yes?” he asked, rising up, his eyes eager to fufill her every wish.

“What do the rest of the days look like? I would have gotten my phone, but I’m unsure where I put it.”

“Ah, of course, my lady. Today, you only had the meeting with the accountants. Ms. Chiarelli called earlier today and was asking if you had awoken. She had informed me to let you know to come over to her estate whenever you were ready. Tomorrow, there is a small council meeting in the afternoon to discuss certain matters as well as a fitting appointment with the tailors for your dress. In two days, the O’Hare’s are hosting a party for the Council. There was a note in your calendar to plan for the Spring Banquet and to begin sending out invitations.”

“Thank you, Damien. I will give Julia a call and let her know I will stop by today. I need to be doing something outside of the house. Bring a car around in an hour.”

“Yes, my lady. Please let me know if you need anything else.”

Marie nodded and turned to head up the stairs, traversing back to her room. As soon as the door closed behind her, she slipped off her heels, skirt, and blouse, draping her clothing on the back of a chair. Slinking back into her closet, she picked a simple but elegant black dress that fell just above the knees and flowed with every step. Although her closet had every color one could think of, black suited her mood best.

She approached her vanity and sat down, noticing her cellphone attached to its charger. She must have plugged it in during her stupor and didn’t remember. Picking up the phone, she pressed the on button. The number of missed calls and notifications baffled her as they completely covered her lock screen. With a sigh, she swiped the screen and unlocked her phone, beginning to filter through emails, missed calls, text messages, and notifications. She had about fifty missed calls from Julia alone, which caused her to c***k a small smile. Pressing on her name to call her back, she lifted the phone to her ear and listened to the ring tone.

“MARIE!” Julia yelled after only one ring.

“Hello to you as well, Julia.”

“Goodness, you finally called me back. I was so worried about you, and Damien kept telling me that you weren’t allowing anyone inside, I thought you were going to let yourself wither away! Don’t you ever do that again!” Julia lectured; her concern was genuine.

“Don’t worry, I am quite sure this won’t ever happen again.” Marie’s tone was steeled.

Julia sighed sympathetically into the phone.

“Do come over today, I need to see you and make sure you’re alright. We can talk about spring and all the things that come with it. Or we can talk about nothing at all and simply enjoy each other’s company.” Marie smiled at her words, remembering how Julia comforted her when her parents had passed.

“That sounds lovely, I will be over in a bit.” She heard Julia sigh out in relief, perhaps anticipating rejection.

“Wonderful, I will see you soon. Would you like the others to come by as well?”

“I’m not sure I’m one hundred percent ready for the entire group right now.”

“Understood my friend. I’ll see you in a bit.” Marie lowered her phone and ended the call, placing the phone down.

~

“Goodness, Marie! Have you not been drinking?” Julia chastised her, ushering one of her maids to quickly bring her a glass.

“I must confess, I was not,” Marie answered with a sad smile.

Julia simply shook her head and took her arm, traveling through the hallways of her parent’s manor.

“I don’t want to say I told you so, but I told you so,” Julia shook her head softly as they stepped onto the back terrace.

The day was slowly turning into evening, but Julia had set up a lovely outdoor area with chairs and tables, all lit with hundreds of candles. Marie slid into a plush chair as Julia took a seat next to her. The maid who fetched a drink came back, handing a glass to Marie and Julia, leaving with a bow.

“I was foolish,” Marie confessed, Julia scoffed but cast a sympathetic glance at her.

“Yes, you were foolish, but I don’t blame you. I may not know what a bond feels like, but I do know what it entails. It’s not your fault for holding on.”

“I held on…because I didn’t want to lose again.” Marie again confessed, swirling the liquid in her glass. Julia reached out a hand and gripped her arm. Marie rose her gaze to meet Julia’s, but neither one of them said a thing.

“A fool!” Julia exclaimed in anger, slamming her glass down on the table. “He’s an absolute fool! How dare he choose some lowly human over you! How dare he go against your love and the bond you two have! Not only did he go against the bond, but he also gave up what every single male vampire would kill to have!” Marie smiled at her reaction, imagining steam bubbling out of Julia’s ears from her anger. Julia had always had her back, no matter what.

“You’re not the first person to say such words.”

“Did Damien tell you the same thing? Because if he did, the man needs a promotion.” Julia huffed, her arms crossed against her chest.

“Enough about Adam, I frankly don’t wish to talk about him anymore since he clearly doesn’t even think of me anymore.”

“But what about the bond? Is it still there?” Julia asked, uncrossing her arms and eyeing her friend. Marie hesitated before answering.

“Yes, I still feel the bond. It’s far weaker than ever, but it is there, always in the background. I returned his engagement ring, and when my hand touched his, there was still a spark.”

“So, the both of you will suffer, but you will suffer even more?” Julia asked, swirling her glass around slowly.

“It certainly seems to be that way.” Marie sighed. “But I can't do anything about that. I made the mistake of bonding with him before the marriage. Perhaps all of this could have been wholly avoided.”

“Marie, please, you cannot blame yourself! He is the one to blame! He led you on, professed his love, proposed to you, and then made you wait while he did who-knows-what out there. You deserve much better than him! We should cast him out of here!”

“No, no. We can not do that.”

“And why not!”

“Because,” Marie explained. “The Vulpes have been a good ally to me. If I ostracize one, the rest of the world will ostracize the whole. Adam’s actions will speak for himself. I will be courteous and reasonable. The entire Vulpe family will be invited to the Spring Ball, and if he chooses not to come, that will be on him. I’m sure the council will decide on the fate of his human.”

“There is no way the council will allow a human to live here among us.” Julia mused.

“They will most likely declare that he turns her, and if he refuses, well, he loses his title and everything that comes with it.”

“And you think he will?” Julia asked. Marie took her time, mulling over the question.

“If he does, it may change the dynamic between them. When I changed Damien, the attachment to me, his ‘Creator”, overwhelmed all common sense. In the first year, I could have given him a command, and he would have done it, even if it cost him his life. But I’m afraid I do not know how it will work with a human that you bonded with. He will have to pay for his actions, whichever path he chooses.” Julia nodded in response.

“Let’s change the subject. We have far more pressing matters to attend to, such as the Spring Banquet that you are hosting this year!” Marie nodded and straightened up, thankful for the change in subject.

“Yes, I was thinking of hosting it as soon as spring begins from now. I am estimating about three hundred people since I’ll be inviting those who live outside of Edenvale.”

“Oh! Does that mean the other Royals will be coming?” Julia asked excitedly.

“I will send out the invitations to them. I know the one in France will be more willing to come. I am not too sure about the other families. They prefer the quiet life.”

“The one in France is just as Royal as you, yes?”

“Yes, his family is just as old as mine. We are the last two true royal families left in the world. The Dampierre Family has two eligible bachelors, but these days it is hard to maintain royal blood, with less and less purity in the world. I’m quite sure their family will come mostly to seek a match with me. Uncle would be over the moon.”

“If you married into the Dampierre Family, wouldn’t that mean you would not only have to move to France, but then your Uncle would become head of the Gravenreuth family?” Marie simply nodded. If she was to marry, the entire Gravenreuth operation and business would be solely under control of her Uncle, the last living Gravenreuth.

“As much as I would love to see you married to a man worthy of your position,” Julia started. “I don’t want to see all of your hard work and efforts go to waste. It is this custom that I never agreed with among us. You worked hard for it? You get to be head of the family!” Marie simply chuckled, but internally she agreed. Did she want to give up her position? She was ready to do so with Adam and when her parents were still alive. But now, after taking over the family, after her many years apart from Adam, the thought rubbed her the wrong way. Especially now, when there could be possible subversion from her Uncle. She stayed still, resisting the urge to simply grab her head to keep it from spinning off of her head.

“So, the Spring Banquet is not anytime soon. Plenty of time to prepare for it. Upcoming is the masquerade held by the Council. Goodness, that’s only a few days from now, do you have a dress?”

“Yes, thankfully I was able to order one from the tailors a few weeks ago. Speaking of which, I have an appointment with them tomorrow for a final fitting.”

“Oh, I’m so excited. Something always happens at the Masquerade; I wonder what scandal will happen this time!”

“I don’t care what happens, as long as it distracts everyone from the Adam fiasco.” Marie sighed. Julia nodded in understanding,

reeling back her own excitement. There was a moment of silence before Julia spoke again.

“Ingrid and Thomas have finally decided to become engaged. They want to hold an engagement party at the end of the week.”

“Goodness, it’s about time,” Marie commented. “She sure did draw that out for a while.”

“Exactly! Poor Thomas can finally get some action. Ingrid is so old fashioned, all they ever done was kiss.”

“And what about you? Have you been sleeping with men left and right then?” Marie teased.

“No!” Julia exclaimed. “But if I found my future husband, I wouldn’t have waited so long.”

“Well…based on my situation, waiting isn’t always that bad.” Again, Julia fell silent, unable to find the right response. Marie simply sighed and down her glass, relishing in the taste of blood.

“Julia…” Marie began, her tone hesitant, causing her friend to perk up in interest.

“Yes?”

“What I’m about to say stays between us.”

“Of course! What is it?”

“I met with my accountants today. They seemed on edge and nervous and insisted on meeting with my Uncle.”

“But you’ve been meeting with them multiple times, why would they not want to speak with you?”

“I thought it was strange as well. I insisted they stay and took a look over the account summaries. I’ve noticed that one of our small wineries has reported an earning far less than before. When I asked them about it, they waved it aside, telling me that perhaps it was simply a bad year for that location. But that winery, I know for sure, had always shown consistent numbers. When I was clearing the desk before the meeting I noticed a paper that had a bunch of numbers on it, after the conversation, I found it again and the numbers matched the loses of that winery.”

“I assume this was written by your Uncle?”

Marie nodded in response.

“Do you think he knows?” Julia further questioned.

“He has to, the numbers matched exactly, and it was his handwriting.”

“So then, do you think he is stealing money?” Julia asked in a hushed tone, leaning closer.

“I would like to think that isn’t the case, but I can not rule it out as of now. He either is taking money, or the accountants are doing something, and Uncle noticed.” Julia simply shook her head, pity written all over her face.

Marie ignored it and finished her glass, twirling the intricate cup. The last rays of sunlight hit the crystal, coloring it orange in the golden glow.