Blood Betrayal

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Daxus spent the next few hours speaking about the information that he had gathered about Byron's kingdom. His understanding of politics was Machiavellian. Unsurprising for a ruler that had been in power for as long as Daxus had.

The King of Washington had a loyal Second named Luke that may need to be killed. Daxus mused that killing him in front of the entire court would be helpful. Alistair couldn't disagree. If Luke held the same ideals as Byron he needed to die, any illusions of convincing them of the error of their ways had gone with the mad King's head.

The next in line had been caught up in Byron's madness. They may be spared if they submitted. As for the rest, it completely depended on how they reacted to Alistair's new station.

"Are you ready for this?"

Daxus stretched looking worse for wear, he appeared as if he hadn't slept in days. Alistair hoped he didn't seem nearly as sleep-deprived.

"As I will ever be, after you."

He stood happy to be leaving that wretched room. Happy to leave but wondering about the King. He had sounded so very sincere. Even after nearly twelve hours with him Alistair couldn't quite trust that sincerity.

Daxus led the way. He had taken the head of Byron with him. At first, Alistair wanted to question why but it became apparent when the first guard tried to stop them. He was halted immediately by a simple glimpse of the head.

With the vile trophy as proof the old King was dead, they gathered the shifter guards that they passed. Daxus told them to wait by the doors of the throne room and not to let anyone out.

It was insightful. Several of the vampires that came through the doors had turned to run once they saw Alistair and Daxus sitting side by side. Holding the mutilated head of their King. Not one had questioned them.

They must have expected someone to take over, expected that someone would eventually kill their bloated zealot King.

Once it had been established that they could not leave each took their seat around one of the tables. Each table held five chairs pointed at the raised platform where the thrones sat. There were two there one for Byron and the other for whomever he was sleeping with at that time. A nod from one of the appointed guards signalled that all the vampires were now seated.

"I'm sure that you all are distraught over the death of your King Byron." Daxus gracefully rose as his voice echoed around the cavernous room. There were murmurs among the group. He stepped down and walked among them still holding that head by its curls. In the beginning stages of rigor mortis, its jaw had set in a yawn. He stopped by one table and placed the head on it. His face was deadpan as he moved around an assembly of five.

"Are you saddened to look on his face child?" His head tilted to the side studying the faces around the table.

"No, sir," one said while the rest shook their heads.

"I am surprised how little loyalty Byron evoked."

He moved to the next table pulling the head behind him like an afterthought. "Is anyone here saddened by this unfortunate turn of events?" he questioned speaking louder addressing the whole room.

There was a deafening silence in answer. Only his footsteps could be heard.

"What of you Luke?" Daxus stopped looking down at a thin man with silvery white-blonde hair.

The man sneered and turned his face from Daxus unwilling to look him in the eye. "Didn't you think that Byron was a visionary?"

"Yes, he was more vampire than any of us!" Luke abruptly bellowed standing so quickly the movement had been hard to follow.