bound to the moonlight

18.Marcus

"m'lord." I said humbly as I knelt before Abraham.

"Arise," he said loudly, I stood but I kept my eyes down my hands clasped in front of me in submission or a great impression of it anyway. "Where were you Marcus?" he asked simply. I lifted my eyes to look at Abraham he looked at first glance like an old man tall a strong body that had begun to wither with age, his white hair and short white beard seemed to fit this along with his unearthly pale white glowing skin. His eyes were permanently crimson now but they held his power it was clear to see, one look in those eyes and you knew he wasn't the weak old man he appeared to be at first glance.

"m'lord." I began but he held up his hand to cut me off. We were in the large study which Abraham used for his official business but it was only him there holding judgement so there wasn't such a need for formalities. I at least was grateful that he didn't summon the rest of the council. They really don't like defiance, but of course Abraham was more indulgent of me being my... grandfather but still ignoring a summons was not a favourable behaviour.

"You were summoned repeatedly."

"I was off rotation Milord."

"You were summoned we even sent Isaac to recover you and he informed you had refused." "Um...I...I hadn't fed milord, I had to feed."

"You keep Donors do you not?" Abraham said lightly.

"I don't like to..." I began but cut off at a single glance from the first, he held such a power it was truly terrifying. Abraham being one of the council was one of six remaining, the firsts, the original vampires, six men and six women were turned according to our holy book anyway and those twelve went on to sire the second generation who sired the third. I was a third generation and as such I was very powerful (Isaac for example was ninth generation), supposedly the closer to the first you were the more power you were able to access.

"Yes Milord" I said my head bowed. "I am afraid I felt I had somewhere to be."

"You know and understand the privileges that are extended to you as a member of the brethren do you not." I nodded,

"I understand milord"

"These privileges are a double edged sword Marcus. To the others you are unquestionable above reproach but you swore an oath your allegiance to our laws and our rule. The rule of the council. You serve us when we summon you, you come to us. Especially as you have no reasoning as to why you did not attend."

"Yes Milord." I said gently my head bowed, Abraham sighed heavily,

"You were summoned for a reason Marcus. A good reason."

"milord?" I asked raising my eyes as we were rarely called to the council, our orders being merely translated to us telepathically if we had something specific we were to hunt. If not Our orders came from Tytus. That wasn't something I liked especially as I was more powerful than him but he was gifted and so he knew where we had to go. Abraham smiled his fangs were clear. he reached down onto the desk top and lifted a large thick golden chain, hanging from the end was a large glowing red pendant. "they work." Abraham nodded solemnly but I could see the sparkle in his eyes, and I wondered if he could hear the way my heart began to hammer. "they've done it." Abraham nodded as I slowly walked forward not daring to blink as I stared at the gem, I reached out and wrapped my fingers around it taking it gently from Abraham which I shouldn't do but he seeming to understand just smiled indulgently and released the chain. The jewel nestled in my hand cold as ice my heart started to hammer rapidly, I felt a stupid urge to fling it to the floor smashing the crystal case to release the gas inside, but I knew I couldn't for one thing it would lead to my death and two it wouldn't do any good any way, if they had succeeded, yes breaking this gem would slow them down but they would be able to replace it. I curled my fingers around the small stone something that I could enclose totally in my fist and yet it held such power the power to destroy everything. "you understand don't you what this means." Abraham said in a breath,

"were not at war." I said calmly trying to keep my breath even I knew Abraham could hear my heart he knew I was stressed if not why, I had to try and appear as unaffected as I could.

"not now but were both creatures of the night we will be again I'm sure." Abraham said calmly settling himself behind the desk in his immense leather chair.

"why would you want to destroy them?" I snarled my voice a forced calm,

"I don't." Abraham said "they are our kin and truly beautiful but we would have destroyed each other. That can't be allowed to happen." He said his eyes firm.

"you will spend four days in the chamber." He said his gaze harsh as I nodded and passively began pulling out all my various weapons which I placed onto the desk. I could have refused hell I wanted to refuse the idea of the chamber horrified me I had been there three times in my long life and actually did find my behaviour restrained significantly by the threat of it, but it wouldn't do me any good I would go to the chamber or I would be staked out into the sun. I should have fed though he of course thought I had fed last night when I obviously hadn't it had in fact been several days so after four days in the chamber it would be more than a week. That was a lot longer than was sensible my fangs began to tingle at the thought of it, as the tickle of thirst began in the back of my throat. But despite the intense hunger I was sure to feel soon I couldn't let myself regret a second of last night laying peacefully with my girl in my arms watching her sleep was pure heaven, and worth the next four days that I would spend in hell. I laid my last gun out onto the desk with a sigh and bowed to Abraham, I left the room to immediately be confronted by the intense bulk of Tytus.