Claws of Eternity ✔️

Chapter 4: Undeserving

JACK

My dearest friend,

Your transactions against the House Bryce have travelled to London, but I, as understanding as I am, still hope you will come to your senses. That harlot that calls herself Queen, Madame De Noves must not stand as a candidate for the throne. She will destroy the system we so thoroughly built. As you probably learnt, me and my darling Aksana are the only current candidates and I hope one of us ascends. Our race, vampire race, has always been beyond creatures as foul as the wolves and the witches! Your Madame, Lerra De Noves, wishes to open the sacred Border for them and I will not tolerate this. Change your mind, my dearest friend, repent for your sins against the Father of Night and I will gladly open my door for you. If you choose not to, I and the entirety of the House Bryce will consider you an enemy.

Rightful King of the Monarchy, Lord Augustin Bryce

Jack's eyes were glued to the piece of paper. Becoming Lord Bryce's enemy was the same as a death sentence and Jack's loyalties were being tested. He was well aware of the situation he put himself in when he decided to follow his Madame, Lerra, but that was all when they loved each other, when he thought they could have a future together.

"Bad news?" Adam Adamov stepped out of the shadows. The ball has already begun and Jack spent the introduction of Lords and Ladies rereading this letter those damned Messenger brought during the evening.

"Bryce's candidature has finally reached me." Jack lied. "I was waiting for it to arrive from Constantinople, I didn't want to believe it was true."

"I know vampires are preoccupied with the change of the Monarch, but I was wondering about Constantinople. Jack, it fell in the hands of Ottomans more than twenty years ago. Will the Monarchy finally change its residence?" Adam asked.

Jack sighed. Everything was so fragile these days.

"Yes, the location is still unknown, though. House Faliero wishes for the Monarchy to come to Venice." Jack's voice sounded bitter, as were his feelings towards Faliero. His Madame traded with him often, but he wasn't trustworthy. Any man that makes money off people's sickest, unnatural desires isn't trustworthy.

Adam's bearlike face reddened with fury and Jack appreciated him a little more because of that.

"Faliero is an evil creature. Anyone that comes to his lair goes against God." Adam said, his voice hoarse.

"Yes, well, Faliero and Bryce are two most powerful men in the entire Monarchy. I'm afraid we might have to choose lesser of two evils." Jack said, still thinking about the crumbled paper in his hand.

Adam Adamov stood beside Jack, staring into nothing. They both feared that the existence of their beloved Monarchy has come to an end.

"There is Vlad Dracul." Adam whispered.

Jack laughed out loud.

"Vlad Dracul has done nothing since Leona Solberg killed herself. He has lost his influence while teaching children how to behave in that little school of his." Jack said, his voice full of spite. Vlad Dracul has been their only hope and he chose to mope around because that awful witch killed herself.

"He fought Ottomans." Adam jumped in.

"Mortals! A weak, undeserving race! A child could fight Ottomans!" Jack couldn't help but feel the anger surfacing. He couldn't imagine somebody being defeated by humans, they were his food! Yet, the Monarchy strictly forbade killing them.

"Constantinople fell to those mortals and the Monarchy did nothing about it." Adam pointed out.

"You know how they get when it comes to meddling with human affairs. It's all Aksana's fault. We need a stronger ruler, not a weak woman." Jack was losing his temper.

"Yet, you follow a woman." Adam said.

"Lerra De Noves isn't a woman," Jack snickered, "she is a monster."

And Jack still loved that monster, even though she refused to give him a child. Perhaps it was time to stop following her or loving her.

"Giselle and her lovely friend will soon come to the great hall. You may talk with the young woman, perhaps you will find her charming." Adam turned away from Jack, possibly ready to end this conversation.

But it wasn't Giselle's charming friend Jack was after. It was Giselle. A sick, young woman, completely unaware of the power that rumbles in her blood. Jack realised he had to restrain himself, keep as far away as possible. Or else he might eat her alive.