If I Die By Sunrise

Ain't No Rest For the Wicked

Demetria's POV –

She sat on her throne, watching Luke and Aumone argue with the newest addition to their clan and army, Emelia, as she was trying and failing to explain her current inability to handle their line of work. It wasn't the first time the fledgling vampire struggled with the idea of killing and hunting errant creatures that went against the Order. It would be her last if Demetria had her way, which was most of the time, but Aumone had suggested they recruit as many vampires in their army as possible and he had convinced the rest of the Order that Emelia would make an excellent addition to the coven, thus began their long and obnoxious attempt at coaxing the poor girl into joining them.

If the Order commanded, any and all vampires were compelled to respond. It was one catch of joining the undead, you belonged to your Master and you belonged to the Order. Any defiance was seen as treason and the price for that was immediate death.

They rarely had problems getting vampires to answer the call. However, this wasn't just any call; this was an enlistment. The toughest of the toughest would be needed for this battle, for it would not be an easy one. Many would think that most vampires would cower at the thought of going into another battle, but the truth was, many vampires had the voracity to kill and pillage and were more than happy to join the army.

Still, Aumone, Luke, Clemente, Domenico and Alessandro found themselves, once in awhile, having to console and cajole the weak ones, the scared ones, into harnessing their inner strength and anger. For this wasn't just a fight, it was a war, a war against everything vampires stood for, had fought to maintain and all that would be threatened. It wasn't just defiance against the Order, it was an almighty danger to the supernatural. An empath walked the earth and that was nothing to joke about, but everything to fear.

"Enough of this," Demetria deadpanned, feeling bored with the proceedings. "Either she comes with us or not. We don't have time for this."

Luke, came over to her, he bowed first of course, before speaking. "My liege, forgive us, but we were simply trying to persuade the girl into joining the army, as you know she is one of the strongest of our kind."

"She's a fledgling, how strong can she be?"

Luke's midnight black eyes grew impossibly darker in excitement. "Very strong, my lady. In fact, her Master is the one who submitted her to us."

Demetria nodded. Then she waved Luke away, wanting nothing more but peace and silence.

Her respite was short-lived as Aumone came to her side almost immediately after Luke. She smiled at her lover, grateful for his company despite its ill timing.

"My liege, Emelia has agreed to join our army, all is well. However, our visitor from earlier has returned."

Demetria frowned, "Who? Keith?"

"Yes," Aumone affirmed, "it appears he's here to discuss more facts about the empath."

"Excellent," She grinned, "send him in."

"As you wish." Aumone paused to kiss her hand, a privilege only he was allowed and then he ushered for Clemente to bid Emelia goodbye, and allow Keith in.

The half-demon strolled in with a smirk on his face. He, merely just a fledgling himself, but the total opposite of Emelia, sauntered across the red colored carpet leading to Demetria's throne with all the assurance of someone who belonged in her Romanian castle.

Demetria straightened her spine upon seeing him. She could smell the demon in him, the half of him that made it harder for him to maintain control. It was one of the problems impeding him from being one of the strongest warriors in their army. He was weak against the demon, the even more blood-thirsty part of him that lusted for power, not to mention he was newly turned and not very acclimatized with his powers, and worst of all, there was no one out there to train him. His Master, afraid of the thing he created, after never having expected Keith to be a half-demon, half-vampire creature with unimaginable strength, ran off and never returned.