The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Chapter 19/Throne room

A/N #55 in Vampire - we didn't think we would get this high. Thanks for the votes and kind kind comments. What do you think of the new cover? 

After doing the ritualised punishment we  moved to the middle of level of the Tower where the Throne room was. The last time I had been here was when we had been alone with him. Then the place had felt still empty and dangerously lifeless. Now it was beating with people.

Sadismann had changed into a long robe, which signified his position in the court. He had waited for me and this time I was behind Sadismann and Electra who was holding his hand ceremonially. The high priestess was there in her red robes On signal we all marched through the space to the thrones. When we approached Electra went to the consort's throne to the left of Sadismann's throne of skulls. Before she could sit down Sadismann looked at her.

"No, my dear, manners dictate that our guest sits in the Throne sinister." he said like she was eating peas from a knife. 

Electra tried to evolve X-ray eyes and kill Sadismann with them. Then she looked at me hoping this was the moment when looks really would kill. She failed. So she moved over to my left and as she did mumbled.

"I will force feed you the excrement of your own kind" in the black tongue under her breath.

She went and stood before the throne which was to the far side of the Throne sinister. Sadismann indicated the throne to me and I nervously approached it. We all waited for Sadismann to sit down first.

"A good cook will never offer anything she has not tasted herself" I replied discreetly in the black tongue.

It was a quote, not just any quite but one with literary references. Electra sat down looking at me in near shock. I looked back. With my smile I was able to get a large message into Electra's mind.

'Yes I speak your language and I'm well read too'

Her stunning face looked near comically upset. I almost felt sorry to dislodge that cute kitten nose of hers, almost.

I did know a little about Vampire courts from my reading. I sat on the sinister hand, this was the left hand of mercy. I would have to council leniency. On Sadisman's right was the senior religious leader of the coven. She would promote punishment and retribution. Sadismann would decided but I had the power to influence events for good.  I could feel the fury coming from Electra she didn't have a lenient bone in her undead little body.

The way the court worked was that the vampires stood around and then one by one would come forward with one issue or another. It wasn't much of importance mostly it was the Duke agreeing or denying requests to do with the operation of the coven. It wasn't particularly interesting stuff but I was learning more about it. Then a blond haired man came forward. He was thin but perfectly formed with the burning yellow eyes of a vampire. He turned out to be the coven's Doctor. The vampires didn't need a Doctor themselves they could not be ill or unwell, but I got the impression from the conversation that Sadismann had deliberately sired a human Doctor to look after the health of the familiars in the coven.

"Lord" began Doctor Swango "I would like your permission and support to establish a hospital of sorts on the edge of the lake. Just a building with beds. Possibly on the docks of Camden Town. I would like your authority together once a week during the day where I would offer the people of the villages my best efforts and advice"

"You would waste our valuable medical stocks stored carefully when of vaults on the jurgrath fisherfolk" said the high priestess.

Sadismann sent nothing at this point.

"Not quite your reverence. I would not use our pressure stocks of antibiotics on them clearly. There are many remedies which they are unaware of, medications can be obtained from natural plants. I'm sure I could help many with even basic advice" said the doctor.