Red Rebirth [COMPLETED]

C h a p t e r 5

The day had been quite eventful for Elise. She had never seen so many beautiful people in one place and had to remind herself that they were actually ugly on the inside. Hague had introduced the remaining coven to her and her competitors. She found out Derek and Alexander were brothers and by the looks of it, the brothers alongside Hague seemed to have the most authority besides the king. It radiated off the in waves that nearly knocked out Elise. Selene was a tall woman, almost the same height as the men. Her aura suggested power that rivalled that of the men's. She suspected her status as a woman reduced her power but her appearance didn't fool Elise. She knew Selene was just as strong, just as powerful and just about capable of anything. Her cold gaze didn't tell her otherwise so she put a mental barrier around the vampire with a vibrant mental 'stay away' sign. Artemis and James were the next to be introduced. The two lovers stood side by side with a matching piercing gaze. By the way Artemis clung to James, she seemed the more protective one, the one more in love perhaps. It didn't help that he was eyeing Blake's breasts that were only just about covered by here sheer top. Lastly were Raven and Vladimir the only beloveds between the vampiric residents. They both had white hair and sharp grey eyes coupled with their pale skin and red lips, they secretly frightened Elise the most. They smiled at the same time, turned heads at the same time, ate and rank at the same time. It made the neck of Elise's neck tingle with curiosity out Elise. Out of everyone they never spoke a word, they just sat and observed.

Hague had been watching Elise watch the Dimitri couple. He too at first was cautious of the silent couple but living with them, he began to understand them and appreciated their silence more than he thought he would.

For the first time, he had walked up to Elise and lent down slightly to match her height.

"Quite a pair aren't they?" He smirked as he heard Elise's heart race pick up ever so slightly. "They used to belong to the Lumiere clan."

"Used to?" Elise said composing herself taking a sip of the only glass of wine she had been babysitting for a while now. 

"Their clan died. Murdered. It was quite an event actually."

An event. Murder was some sort of enterianment. Elise really wondered what world she had stepped into.

"Ahh so your kind does have an expiry date? Care to expand on that?"

Hague chuckled "Now that is for me to know and you to never find out. It's much safer I assure you." Elise didn't miss the dark look in Hague's face the brief moment it was there before he covered it with another smirk. She wondered who it was more safer for. 

"I've been watching you." He admitted

"I know. And I have been watching you."

Hague laughed a deep sound that warmed Elise's insides. "Ah we watch each other. We can do more than watching."

Elise suddenly spun around to look at Hague surprised. Hague held her gaze before he let out a quiet laugh. "I only joke."

That was what surprised her the most. The general joking. She was beginning to think she didn't really know much about this man.

"Joke else where General. I'm in no mood to be entertained tonight."

Elise crossed her arms defiantly and waited for the man to move but he stayed and frowned. the air suddenly felt tense. Hague straightened increasing his looming figure if that was even possible. "Why are you here?"

Again that night she was taken aback and the General had noticed. "excuse me?"

"Its a straightforward question Miss Dumont. Why are you here? Why are you really here?"

"You asked this question in the first trial and I gave my answer. What more do you want? should i declare my undying love for your King?"

"You don't refer to him as your king too?"

"I'm not a vampire." And honestly the thought to become one disgusted her

"Not yet"

"Not ever"

"Ahh but the King's queen cannot remain human. It doesn't make sense. An immortal being with a frail being on a time schedule non?"

"Perhaps."

"Not perhaps Miss Dumont. I'll leave you to think about it."

With that he moved on to the next girl and began a conversation, although Elise couldn't help the feeling that she still had his attention. Everything was drowned out by the thumping of her heart. What had she gotten herself into? Was a story even worth this amount of hassle?

After the evening, the ladies were sent to bed. Linette climbed into hers not bothering to remove her clothes and was fast asleep but Elise couldn't. She walked to her balcony and looked out into the garden. It reminded her of her mother. Her mother loved flowers and was even a florist.

Mariana Dumont had always wanted her own perfect garden but her wages was never enough. She'd look at a couple and hand over flowers without asking for them to pay because she believed the couple needed them. She would see children walk the streets homeless and offer a rose to remind them of their beauty. She would offer her coins but her daughter came first and though she knew Elise was strong, it wouldn't remain this way if she was starved.

Her mother always believed an organised garden meant an organized life and an organized life meant a happy life. The king's garden looked pretty organized and it made her wonder for the first time what the King was like.

The thought would have to wait for something caught dragged Elise's attention from the Garden to a large tree in the far left. The Dimitri couple stepped out of the shadow and looked Elise in the eye. Elise's entire body froze not out of fear but awe. She wanted to move but her lips were fastened shut and her feet glued to the ground.

The Dimitris glared at Elise before they turned and began walking towards the lake. Elise darted out of the room, down the glass stairs ignoring the chill they sent up her bare feet. She paused at the bottom of the stairs realising she didn't know how to get to the gardens.

Vincent watched from the shadows as a shaken Elise paused confused before she turned, held her head high and marched up the stairs. He'd wandered what she was doing. Her heart rate ruled out sleep walking but he could smell a tinge of fear in her scent.

Elise Dumont held more mysteries and Vincent didn't know how he'd deal with her.