Of Dusk And Roses

03. what you've been waiting for

MOSCOVICI. VALENTII. MEGALOV. FONTAVER. ZERVEK. CESDOIV. LUVOIR.

The names had been stuck in Viktoir's head ever since she could think.

All of the pureblood families had control in the system one way or another. It was important to maintain manipulation not only inside the vampire society, but also among humans. What was important was that they had security from revealing their existence to the world. They had to preserve what was theirs.

Just like any other species roaming this world, they did whatever they could to survive.

The files on the prospect partners for the expansion of their family's clothing brand to New York were left sprawled out on the right side of her bed. Viktoir wasn't formally involved with the family businesses yet, but her parents asked for her opinions just as much as they asked Iezabel and Serafina. Aside from being the queen, this was one of the responsibilities Viktoir had to prepare herself for. 

Viktorina handled both things, too, until she perished. 

Viktoir hated that her late sister was her first thought in the morning. 

"I think he'll be staying in London for a long time," Iezabel added as she fully opened the door.

Viktoir started arranging the pages beside her and plopped them on her bedside table. She realized she had slept without changing clothes. "What do you think about this engagement?" 

She wasn't expecting an answer, so when Iezabel started to speak, Viktoir listened intently.

"Well, if Sebastian and I agree with carrying on with it, it will be a good match. We're not called purebloods for nothing. Members of a family always marry off one from another, so as to maintain the genuine line of vampires. You know that. Would you rather it was someone else?"

"No."

"Do you not want me to get married?"

"It's not that. Do you want to? The Valentiis just want the deal to be set in stone. Sebastian is fine, but as for the rest of his family, I'd rather not talk about them at all."

"Fact." Iezabel shrugged and leaned on the door frame. "I just think it's better this way for us, unlike like those cousins of ours. It's a good thing we weren't close with them. When news broke out that Rob ran with a turned vampire and Odette with a human, I couldn't help but feel bad for their family."

"Rob never returned, did he? He knew his children would be lucky to given just a speck of attention." Blood, to their families, was not just important. It was everything.

"He knows how bad the others can be. Odette hasn't been heard from since that night. I think unless that human agrees to turn into a vampire, they won't be saved from the sorrow brought about by death or the horrors of living together with such distinctive survival instincts. She can't come back, anyway. The Council will order her death for associating herself with a human the moment she steps back on pureblood territories."

Viktoir rubbed her eyes. It wasn't the conversation she expected to have first thing in the morning. "I'll head down as soon as I can. I'm just going to take a quick bath."

"I'll tell the others." Iezabel gave her a small smile. 

Viktoir stepped inside the bathroom. She slipped off her dress. As she turned the shower on, the sound of the door being shut rang in her ears. The cold water rushed down her back, although it did little in calming her. She closed her eyes.

1774. Paris, France.

Everyone was wearing masks. The ballroom exploded with golds, whites and reds. Everyone was in their best ball gown. Tonight was one of the nights that their kind would swear to be on their best behavior around the human guests. The town was celebrating for the one of the richest families of the place just had a new daughter. She was sure the people wouldn't have cared much about the baby, but the Valentiis had great contributions to the society. Ever since they moved here eight years ago, they had funded programs and researches. Besides, who wouldn't want to be in one of the grandest balls of the year?