Blackblood

Chapter 12: The Red Circle

Lieutenant Victtorio took a seat, his King requested a private meeting after receiving a call from Alpha Kali of the Blackbloods. Victtorio understood that eventually the Lycans would figure out the location of the triplets, his only hope was that Alpha Kali's forces would be able to withstand an attack. In the weeks after delivering the children, Victtorio was left to plan for any possibility of breach from the Lycans. Multiple attempts to get to the triplets in these past five years made the King and Queen uneasy, they had six rings of security surrounding their estate alone. Intruders never made it past the third ring around the palace grounds.

"Victtorio, Kali informed me this morning that a rogue trespassed into their military border. It used scent neutralizer to disguise it's identity. Alexandra was able to identify the scent, its from a rogue tracker who is likely allied with the Lycans. The rogue was injured by her beta during her escape by boat to the Northern Territories. The injury wasn't mortal, dammit! Now perhaps this rogue has spotted Alexandra and the triplets. We will begin preparing to send whatever enforcement's possible, but do not leave us without an army to fight the Lycans. We cannot trust the Lycans not to try invading us either," the King stood up, walked to the center table unrolling a map of the surrounding lands.

 "Here are the six rings securing the estate, we will start trenching on this side and use the tunnel systems to our advantage to fight at night. During the day, we will need human and witch magic. We have the six towers, let's get weapons positioned. And, Victtorio... Queen Matelda will be sent away to relatives in the East. Prepare for her departure this sunset," the King's eyes flashed momentarily with worry. He never spent over a week away from his Queen.

 "My King, if I may place a suggestion?..." Victtorio spoke awaiting the King's signal to continue. "You have several council members with small armies themselves. We can call upon a few to increase guards on the grounds, and send other's to Kali and with the Queen. From spy intelligence, the Lycans have been increasing numbers. The loss after attacking Alexandra's family was minimal, so we are against a young Lycan based attack. Also, it would be of benefit to inform Kali the relation of the triplets to the  Witches Coven. That is, the only way you can assist Kali prepare the triplets against their father. Dominic has allied himself to the Lycans, he could have disclosed the triplets powers and weaknesses." Victtorio tried emphasizing the last sentence, he knew this would have an effect on the King's reasoning.

The King, as if loosing suddenly all his strength leaned back against the table where the map was laid out. He closed his eyes, weighing the suggestion. "I am convinced the army reinforcements will be enough for now. Ii will consult with the Queen before her departure if it is to OUR benefit to reveal the triplets connection with the Witch Coven."

"As you say, my King." Victtorio replied. He stood up from his chair and bowed to the King. Mentally, he knew the next days he will not get much sleep or eat. There is much to get done to prepare for a possible attack. Vampires from all across the world will need to be informed, those who held favors from the King will have to come to fight. Encampments and rooms for rest must be set up, the palace is large enough to hold over 500,000 vampires. Centuries ago the vampire clan was birthed on this land, stretching beyond the Mediterranean Sea. The Kings settled in Matera, choosing it's rocky mountainsides with cave dwellings for easy access to hide from humans and live in secrecy. The Royal vampires since the 13th Century never left, and the Red Circle was formed to congregate within it's intricate caves away from the sun. Life went well here until it attracted religious clergy and tourism, building basilicas to worship saints and ridiculous Gods. Victtorio smiled inwardly, humans with their everlasting search for spiritual enlightenment. It is comical, for centuries the church stole from the poor and now those places are considered sacred! 

Victtorio lost his faith in all that centuries ago. He was a Roman soldier before turning vampire, he experienced the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Italian Renaissance. During the Dark Age of the Roman papacy, the Red Circle was formed. Vampires went against the church trying to fight in defense of the poor peasants. Many who died of starvation and enslavement. A misconception, vampires did not just hunt humans to feed on for sport. Humans provided the vampires blood willingly, vampires inturn fought in many battles against the Pope until a balance of powers among their Roman governments was established. Unfortunately, poverty is like a plague. The rich become richer, the poor became poorer. The vampire's eventually left it all in the hands of new states. 

 They learned to live among humans, changing customs and traditions with time, feeding off the rotten and putrid criminals, exploring the world. Some continued to support human causes, careful not to reveal their true nature. 

Oh, and vampire's fall in love, too...just like humans, werewolves, and witches. Victorio had several female consorts, never found a true mate. He invested his time protecting the crown, ensuring their safety. Maybe someday, but right now...he needed to get the Queen ready for her leave. 

"Hello? Donatio, the Queen is staying with her uncles in Austria. Prepare a plane, we leave this evening," Victtorio had access to a private fleet of airplane and helicopters. He knew how to pilot, ride a horse, drive a tank, shoot a gun,...blow a perso's brain out with just a switch of his hands. Victtorio was an ancient vampire with incredible powers, his hunting and killing talents surpassed many fledgling vampires. Only the King could kill Victtorio, but he would never test the trust of his King.

Victtorio is after all the King's brother. 

They had lost their sister Angiola to the Lycans in the 17th century. They ripped her body apart sending her decapitated head to the King.

That was centuries ago but it feels like just yesterday.

The Red Circle vowed to avenge her death. The treaty with the werewolves was placed, right after the witches put the Ancients to sleep. But the vampires did not care so much for the balance, they wanted to capture and kill the Lycan King and his spawn child, Prince Lucius. The ones who killed Angiola.