The Vampire's Court

Chapter 40- The Ambush

The night was thick with the kind of darkness that only the countryside could offer, with the stars overhead casting a cold, distant light as Dimitri, Gabriel, and Andrei rode through the winding roads back to the manor. The journey back had been silent for the most part, each of them lost in their own thoughts after the meeting with Mikael. The elder vampire's information had been troubling, to say the least.

Mikael had led them to believe that the thralls, the mysterious force behind the recent attacks, might be hiding out in the catacombs of Paris. It made sense—the labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city was vast and nearly impossible to fully explore. But the idea that the thralls might strike Romania next, particularly their hidden sanctuary, Valea Ascunsă, was even more disturbing.

Gabriel, ever the optimist, broke the silence first. "You shouldn't worry too much, Dimitri," he said, his tone light but laced with concern. "Valea Ascunsă is called the Hidden Valley for a reason. We worked hard to keep it that way. The thralls wouldn't dare. They couldn't get past the wards."

Dimitri's grip tightened on the reins, his jaw clenched as he shook his head. "If whoever is orchestrating this knows us personally, I know it. If they were close to us at some point, then they know where Valea Ascunsă is." His voice was low, tinged with the weight of his thoughts. "And if they know where it is, then they know how to find it. And if they went so far as to kill a Romani boy just to get my attention, what makes you think they won't spare our home?"

Gabriel frowned, his earlier confidence wavering as he considered Dimitri's words. The possibility that someone close to them could betray such a vital secret was unsettling.

Andrei, who had been quiet until now, nodded in agreement with both points. "You're both right," he said, his voice calm and measured. "Valea Ascunsă is well-hidden and protected, but if someone with enough knowledge wanted to, they could find a way in. That's why we have to be cautious. But as for the catacombs in Paris..." he trailed off, his brow furrowing in thought. "It's a good place to hide, but it's also a trap waiting to be sprung. The catacombs are filled with the bones of the dead—fae, human, witch, werewolf, you name it; and those bones carry remnants of old magic—magic that could be used against us."

Dimitri glanced at Andrei, intrigued by his brother's speculation. "You think the thralls are using the catacombs as more than just a hiding place?"

Andrei shrugged, but there was a glint of suspicion in his eyes. "It's possible. Mikael's information was vague, but if the thralls are planning something big, they could be tapping into the magic of the catacombs to amplify their power. We can't dismiss that possibility."

Gabriel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So we're looking at a potential attack from two fronts—Paris and Romania. If they hit Valea Ascunsă, we're in trouble, but we can't just ignore Paris either."

Dimitri nodded, his mind racing as he considered their options. "We'll need to prepare for both. I'll send word to the council to strengthen the wards around Valea Ascunsă, just in case. As for Paris, we need more information before we make any moves."

As Bellehaven started to loom closer in the distance, the tension in the air became almost palpable. The discussion about the thralls and the potential danger they posed had set everyone on edge, but it was Gabriel who finally broke the silence, not with more talk of threats, but with something much more familiar—teasing his youngest brother.

"So, Dimitri," Gabriel began, his tone light, but with a mischievous edge. "Speaking of threats we need to deal with... how about the disaster at the gala? You know, the one where you almost told Seraphine you loved her, but then completely fucked it off?" He glanced at Dimitri with a grin that was both amused and incredulous.