Sacrifice (Book 2)

Chapter 15 - Friends and Enemies

The sunlight faded, stealing the vivid colors from the stained glass windows like a thief in the night. Madison placed her palms on the fine linen tablecloth and looked around the grand banquet hall. The table was set. It all looked so--normal. Antique crystal, bone china, and sterling silver settings graced the massive table between enormous silver candelabras. It was a table befitting the wealthy members of court and the nobility about to rise from the crypts after their night of gluttony and debauchery.

Today was a game changer. Mariposa was gone. It was safe for her to begin her plan of deception. The High Premiers of Spain, France, Germany, Hungry, and Portugal would soon join her for first meal. Carefully orchestrated, she would commence with her scheme to take control of the Vampire Nation out of the hands of the individual High Premiers and transfer it to the throne. Using Erdo, she would become his puppet master. The plan would require a delicate balance of finesse, fortitude, and intimidation on her part. She understood and accepted the personal sacrifices she might have to make. From the fragments of conversation she overheard, the plot to overtake mankind was no longer an absurd, optimistic goal--but a certainty that only she could stop.

Several servants walked in carrying artfully displayed platters of warm venison, turkey, and beef. The room was soon alive with hurried members of staff laying out scrumptious bowls of fruit, meat, and an assortment of gourmet items that might interest the hungry vampires. She turned her nose up at the feast. Some of the ancient bloodsuckers had never given up on their old ways of eating. It was something she had never been able to do. At the moment, the mortal blood bags were arriving. Handsome, bare-chested, muscle men clad only in jeans lined the room along with beautiful, exotic, half-naked women. Erdo had outdone himself and provided his guests with the most exquisite, sensual, gastronomical delights money could buy.

Erdo arrived first with Helena on his arm. It was scandalous the way they flaunted their affair. It demeaned her and undermined her authority. Helena would have to go. She couldn't have her whispering in Erdo's ear. She needed his full attention.

"Evening, Sire. I trust you slept well?" It was obvious to everyone in the room she was trying to play him. He didn't fall for her flattery this time and looked at her incredulously. She needed to be shrewder in her manipulation. "Helena, I believe there is a seat at the other end of the table for you." Madison had rearranged the name cards Erdo had set out. At the far end, she placed the members of the royal courts, followed by High Council, and surrounding her and Erdo, the five Premiers and their "dates." Helena scoffed when she saw how far down the line she sat and complained to Erdo in his ear. "I'm sure you don't want to separate my fiancé and me," Madison challenged.

Helena huffed and proceeded to explore her meal options. She ran a hand over toned muscle, tasted the lips on another, and finally stopped at a blond-haired Adonis. She slipped her hand into his jeans and fondled him--solely to anger Erdo. Madison watched as the needle pointed tips of Erdo's canines appeared. Poor Adonis would be lucky if he still had his head tomorrow.

"Erdo, you sit at the head of the table. I'll sit beside you." Helena was putting on a show and she needed to distract him. She usually occupied the chair at the opposite end with Mariposa on her right, and hoped this worked. His eyes remained on Helena though, as she took Adonis by the hand and led him to the table. Gracefully, she tucked in her tight black evening dress at the knees, sat down with the mortal behind her, and glared at Madison.

Erdo finally turned to her. "Where is she?"

Denying she understood his question would only anger him. "I don't know. I haven't seen her since yesterday."

Before he could question her further the High Premier of France, Octavien Gaudet, strode into the room with a beautiful French brunette on his arm.