Blood & Winter

Chapter 23: I'm a what???

         "What are you doing here? How did you get out?” August voice was low, and rough.
       “August please, I released him. I sent him weeks ago to come to you, to tell you where I was, and that I would be arriving here for the wedding, and to discuss what must be done.”      
      Michael’s voice was steady and reassuring. “Pease forgive me for causing trouble. I know the feelings you have toward Nicklas, but he has proven himself to me, that he is loyal. We don’t have much time, we must take action, please, take your seat.”
      I was mesmerized by the calming vibes Michael seemed to emanate from within himself. August sat back down next to me, but never took his eyes off Nicklas. Olivia joined us by the window, pulling a chair up next to Michael, and motioning for him to take a seat.
       “No Olivia, I will stand, please be seated. You as well Nicklas.” Michael waited till everyone was seated, and we all had our eyes locked onto him. He stood for several moments in utter silence, gathering his thoughts, or so I at least assumed. I felt nervous, and out of place.
          There was so much history between them all, and I knew that I knew very little of it, except for what had been old to me. But the hate that flowed towards Nicklas was obvious, and I was sure that he felt it just as much as I did.
      “My children, I know that tonight is a night of joy, and union, but unfortunate for us, there are things that must be discussed, we must prepare.”      
       Michael locked eyes with August, and then with Olivia. “By this time next week, war will have broken out between our followers, and the followers of my brother. I have tried to reason with him, but there is no use in it. You all know the hate that flows through his veins, and that he is stubborn, and will not be moved. We must prepare. He has shared his blood with those unworthy of it, and these are dangerous, murderous vampires.”
       “What do you ask of us my lord?” August hid his fear from his voice but I felt it vibrate through me like a bolt of lightning. “And what does he have to do with it all?” he said this glaring at Nicklas.
        “I have had Nicklas planted amongst Castiel’s followers. He claims that there are several thousand of them now. Their plan has nothing to do with us, with me, anymore. We are nothing to them. They gave up on us long ago.”
       “Then what is it Michael?” Ian’s voiced seemed to tremble with fear, and I understood then, that this was something far bigger, far more dangerous than any of us had even imagined.
       “Humans.” Michael’s voice was low, and firm.  “Castiel plans on erasing all of the human population of Ireland. And he plans to turn most of them. And I am positive that it is only the beginning.” The silence that gripped the room shook me to my core. 

      My fingernails dug into Augusts’ palm as I gripped his hand tightly. I felt Rauel’s eyes burning into my face, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.  Olivia was the first to speak, and to break the silence that had overcome us all for several minutes.
     “Come now, get a hold of yourselves. We must decide what actions to take and we must decide quickly. We have fewer number’s then them, but we have older, more powerful vampires on our side. With a range of many…talents.” Her voice was steady, and full of authority, and I admired her strength.
        I realized now the urge she had felt when trying to convince August to retake the throne. I wondered if August had known the depth, and severity of the problem. I doubt he would have kept it from me.
       “I know this is not what you expected, nor were prepared or informed of August, I am truly sorry. The coronation will have to take place immediately, tomorrow, and you and Cassandra must prepare yourselves. War is inevitable, and the only things we can do are prepare ourselves, and try to protect as many humans as we possibly can. We do not want the world to know of our kind, more than it already does. It will be slaughter, for both sides.”
       All of us were glued to Michaels face. We couldn’t tear our eyes away from him. And the flash of sorrow that came and went was clearly noticed.
      “We must kill my brother. There is no other way. If it is done, then his followers will be lost and we may have a chance to prevent further damage. But he will be well protected and guarded. Castiel is no fool. He will know I am coming for him. We must find a way in.”
    Michael’s hands opened and closed nervously; giving away the composed manner he appeared to be holding. He was worried and we could all feel it.
     “That’s where I come in.” I barely heard the low growl that formed deep in August throat, but felt his tension clearly. Nicklas cleared his throat and continued.
     “Castiel trusts me. It was not easy to do, and it took many years, but he fully trusts me, I can guarantee it. It was foolish of me to have been locked up for so long, he will be wondering where I have been.” The anxiety in his voice was heard by everyone.
        “So how do we get to him?” Ian’s voice was impatient and annoyed. I glanced around the group and saw they were all glaring at Nicklas with identical loathing. Michael and Olivia were the only ones who looked concerned.
      “We can’t. That will have to be left to Michael and me.  Castiel is very careful to let anyone into his kingdom. He has spies everywhere. The minuet someone were to see one of your faces, we would all be dead.” Nicklas seemed to almost shrink  beneath the hateful looks being thrown at him, at it made me pity him.
        “Then what do we need to do?” August finally spoke up, his voice strong and loud.
        “You and your wife must bring together everyone who can help. We need to kill him the day he plans to attack, so everything must be precise and in order. We must protect as many humans as we can, or there will be a massacre. Castiel has no boundaries for his thirst and I can only assume his followers are just as bad. We need you to spread out vampires all throughout the villages and towns. We will need thousands. Within three days tops. Castiel does not know that we know of his planned attack. We all have Nicklas to thank for that.”
       “Thanks will be the last thing he will ever hear from my mouth.” Emily suddenly roared at Michael. Her hands flew up to her mouth and her eyes were wide with shock at her own outburst. But Michael only smiled at her and nodded his head.
       “I understand your loathing of him Emily, and it is totally justified. He killed the man you loved, we all loved Arthur, but for the sake of our kind, as well as human kind, we must all work together here. Do you not think I have had my seekers reach deep into Nicklas's mind, pulling out every single memory he has. We know everything he has done, more than you would ever want to know. Nicklas is not angel, but he does not wish the human world to know of our kind. For his own selfish reason’s true, but he still does not wish it to happen.” Michael had somehow moved so quickly I thought he must has transported somehow, and suddenly knelt before August and I.
      “Cassandra, I am aware that this is all very new to you.  And that you are still a newborn. And that this is much worse than you could have imagined, but now is your time to prove yourself to your kingdom. Prove that you are worthy to be ruler of them. You are the youngest vampire to ever take the throne.”
     He spoke so softly and so calmly I felt as though he was a small child comforting an older sister, and I felt totally at ease with him.
        “I don’t know what I will be able to do, but I swear to you, as long as I live I will honor the responsibility that has been placed upon me. Just tell me what you want me to do Michael.”
     “Cassandra, my dear, do you have any idea how powerful you are? Have you never felt different from others all throughout your life? You’re absolutely oblivious to the fact that you, yourself, have a talent! An amazingly rare one. In fact, I have only met one other like you in my life span, and know of only a handful more to have existed.”    
     Everyone looked at Michael in amazement and confusion.
I couldn’t help myself as I started to laugh. I was just getting used to being a vampire, and now he was telling me I have a talent as well, and a rare one?
August leaned forwards, his face only inches away from Michaels.
     “Michael, what are you talking about?” His voice was low and strangled.
      “August, do you honestly think you found Cassandra just by chance?” August seemed to think about it briefly, and then looked at me dumbfounded.
       “Well, I’ll be damned! Cassandra, you’re a puller!” Everyone else, except for me and Rauel suddenly gasped and nodded and then began whispering among themselves.
       “I’m a what? What in god’s name is a puller? That's not even a damn word!!” I could barely speak.
      “A puller my dear Cassandra, is the rarest talent anyone can hold.”      
      Michael’s voice was calm, but I could hear the urgency laced through it. “You pull people towards you like a magnet. Even without knowing it. Everyone who we meet throughout our lives, we are destined to do so. But you have the ability to bring them to you with a pull. When something big, as this war is, is about to take place, you pull everyone together, before they are meant to meet. You change the course of the lives you are fated to enter, or are meant to enter yours.”
      I looked at August in shock. “August do you remember how you told me you felt like you were being pulled to Lucy’s?”
      “Of course I do. This must mean that your role in all of this is much larger than we even knew. Think about it. Think about all the hundreds of vampires you brought here, to this palace, for the wedding. Do you know how many extremely talented, even dangerously so, vampires we have sleeping under this roof right now? I understand everything now.”
      I felt a stir in my stomach that I didn’t like. “So you think we met only for this reason?” I felt my eyes sting.
      “Cassandra my darling,” Michael gently took my hand and I looked up at him. “You and August are destined to be together. Everything that is taking place now is meant to happen. You are the reason we have all come together now, so soon before the war. Without you, we would be lost.”
      I felt August shaking beside me, and I turned to look at him. Everyone was staring at me in amazement. I felt suddenly uncomfortable. It was a lot of pressure for me to have on my shoulders.
       “I don’t understand Michael. What am I supposed to do with this talent?” I suddenly felt extremely overwhelmed, and felt the need to be alone. “I’m sorry I need some time to think. Please excuse me.” I fled from the ballroom and up the stairs. Augusts was close behind me, and we entered the room together.
       “My love, are you ok? You look like you’re going to faint.” Augusts’ voice was worried and I pulled him to me as I sat down on the bed.
      “I don’t understand any of this. What can he mean when he says I will play a big part in all of this? How is that possible? What exactly is a puller?” I felt myself fighting to control the urge to break down and cry.
      “Well, a puller is someone that I myself have never met, none of us have, except for Michael, and that was hundreds of years ago. I have only heard of I think five other’s with this talent and from what I know they were killed long ago.” He took my hands in his own and kissed them softly.        
     “Because it is so rare we don’t know much about it. But what I have heard and learned about your talent is that it is very powerful and very useful.” I just looked at him in confusion.
       “We don’t need to do anything to get vampires to come here Cassandra. They will feel the pull of your need and they will come. All you have to do is sit and wait for it to happen.” As if the universe had heard him speak those words, there was suddenly a loud commotion downstairs.
      August and I looked at each other but didn’t move. I assumed that others were beginning to arrive, and that the next three days would be a rain of people who felt the need to be here.      
      And at the moment I began to will them to come. I felt something deep in my core awaken, and warmth spread throughout my body.
      I closed my eyes and lay back onto the bed. What a way to spend my first night married I thought to myself. Well there goes my honeymoon. I turned to my side, and August lay down beside me. He pressed his forehead against mine, and gently touched my lips, his fingers moving across them, before he kissed me softly.
      “August, this is so much to take in, to understand. I feel so overwhelmed. Are you trying to tell me that everything rests on me now?” I felt my body begin to shake in fear.
     “What? No! Of course not Cassandra! We all have our part to play in this. I know this is intense and insane, and I’m so sorry this has ruined your wedding night.”
       “Oh, August! Nothing could ruin tonight. I have never been happier in my whole life! Even with everything that is going on now, and everything that is going to happen, I could never ask for anything more than just, you. But I am scared, I won’t lie to you. What if I don’t do enough?” before August could answer me there was a soft knock at the door.
    “Come in Rauel” August answered.
     “How did you know it was me?” Rauel stared at me, searching my face for some sort of answer to what was going on. He looked scared and confused.
     “He could smell you.” I smiled at him trying to sound light and pleasant. But he knew me better than anyone, and with one look at my face, he was by my side.
     “What is it Cass? What can I do?” I gaped at him. What could he do? I was surprised he wasn’t already packed and ready to leave!
       “You have to get out of here Rauel! It isn’t safe for you to stay. You know that.” Instantly the worry vanished from his face, and was replaced by the stubborn look I had grown up with all my life. Oh shit.
     “There’s no way I’m leaving, and you know that Cass. So if it’s too dangerous for me, you are going to have to change me.” I leaped off the bed and pushed him back, forgetting how strong I was.     
      He flew across the room and slammed into the wall, sliding down the floor. He gripped his shoulder but just stared at me.
      “No! Rauel! I won’t do it! You have to leave. As soon as this is all over you can come back and live here if you want, or live wherever we end up. But I won’t turn you!” I watched him stand up, grimacing slightly. I was sure I had broken his shoulder, by the way his arm hung limply, and I felt awful. But I wouldn’t let him turn. There was no way.
       “If you won’t, than Emily will.” I gasped at his threat. She wouldn’t dare. Or would she? Is that what they had actually been talking about the whole evening?
      “August? You can’t let Emily do that!” I looked at him desperately but he was looking at Rauel.
     “Rauel, you don’t know what you’re asking for. It’s not all glitter and glamour. And we could never be sure you would be turned in time, unless it was to be done now.” August got up from the bed and began pacing the room, mumbling to himself. Suddenly he stopped and looked directly at me.      
      “Cassandra my love, come here.” I walked over to him, already understanding that there was no argument in this. I knew what he was going to say.
      “You know that if Rauel is here, he is meant to be here. He was pulled. You can’t make him go, he wouldn’t be able to.” I threw my hands up in the air and grunted.
        “Fine, do whatever you want Rauel. But I won’t turn you and August if you turn him, I will have this marriage annulled!” I stormed away from August and went to the bathroom.