Vampire Residence

XXVI

Daciana, dressed in her usual all-white vampiric council attire, stood silently at the edge of the trial room watching the proceeding that was unfolding.

She made an extremely annoyed face at a camera and the human man operating it- both of which had been brought along with the defendants. A murder- or so she'd been told- of none other than the Baron.

Garrett, who had tagged along as usual, had positioned herself beside Daci, also watching the proceeding in front of them with an amused expression.

"You didn't want to do the whole... cult-like welcoming dance?"

"Perish."

Garrett chuckled to himself.

"Oh come on," he said, keeping his voice low as he glanced over at Daci. "It's tradition. It would be funny."

Daci responded, still watching the proceeding.

"It's a stupid tradition. I am not making myself look like a fool."

Garrett smirked slightly at her response.

"Oh, but it would be so entertaining for me. Think of it as a gift to me- in this dull room filled with stuffy old vampires."

"Your gift is walking out of here alive."

Garrett chuckled.

"Come on, Daci, just one... tiny little ritual dance? For me? Please?"

"No. Ask again and I will kill you."

Garrett, still smirking, pretended to think for a moment.

"Hm... yeah, on second thought, I don't want to push my luck with that one. I kind of value my life."

Daci, also still watching what was going on in the center of the room, spoke again.

"You claim to value your life, yet you always manage to find a way to irritate me."

Garrett laughed again.

"It's a talent- irritating you is one of my special skills that I've proudly perfected."

Daci, glancing at Garrett for a second, responded in a sarcastic tone.

"It's the only thing you're good at."

She turned as she finished speaking, hissing at the man with the camera who had gotten too close to her for comfort.

Garrett, watching Daci hiss at the camera-wielding human, seemed amused, but also slightly surprised by the reaction. She spoke in a slightly curious tone.

"You seem extra irritable today."

"I was not planning to be called to a stupid trial meeting. I was busy."

Garrett, still watching her closely, responded with an amused expression on her face.

"Oh, yes, of course. Busy doing... exactly what, may I ask?"

"You may not."

Garrett, still watching her closely, spoke again, a slightly amused but also slightly amused tone.

"Ah, another one of your secrets, then. I assume it was something involving Eleanor if it made you this testy."

Daci, her gaze snapping back to Garrett, shot her a cold glare.

"It is none of your business what I was doing before this meeting."

Garrett, her amused expression unwavering, responded in a somewhat sarcastic tone.

"Defensive much? Now I know it involved Eleanor."

"Die."

Garrett chuckled, completely unfazed by Daci's threat.