Sacrifice in Blood

Chapter 41: Devyn and Aliénor

We were downstairs in the drawing room ten minutes later to meet Zara and Elias. I prayed to the Goddess it wasn't obvious to them what their son and I had just been preoccupied doing as I'm sure this would only make my case with Elias worse.

Regardless, and in the interest of not causing a tornado to appear in the room, I avoided eye-contact with Elias after I first met their gaze respectfully in greeting. Zara had smiled tightly at me and Elias, as expected, had just glared.

"Sorry for running out like that, we had urgent business to attend to. Benjamin tells me you went riding, I trust you both had a pleasant day." Zara said, jumping in as she motioned for Talon and I to sit on the couch we had last night.

Talon nodded and I responded:

"Yes, thank you," I said smiling at the woman who sat before me who could not be mistaken for anything but a regal queen.

"Please tell me about Aliénor." I pushed forward as respectfully as I could.

"Anything that is said in this room cannot be repeated girl, do you understand?" Elias challenged stonily, his piercing blue eyes hard. Zara sighed;

"Yes she knows that, dear," she said, her tone reassuring.

"I understand." I said, meeting his eyes, trying to ask for a truce in his warring eyes. He showed me no hint of a possibility of one.

"You know of the six Royal families, yes?" Zara started, a friendlier look in her eyes. I nodded, though not sure what this had to do with Aliénor. Zara continued;

"The Ravenswood family is one of six families chosen to rule over the vampires of the world. The Great Plague of the Fourteenth Century ripped society apart, both for humans, vampires and witches alike. Out of the horror, certain families were chosen to rule; The Greaves, Beauchamp, Mwangi, Ishikawa and Ravenswood families. Each family was granted power over other vampires and were given a continent to rule over; to uphold our laws, keep the vampires in check, so none would become blood-crazed monsters killing humans and exposing us."

"That's five families," I said slowly, internally torn between not wanting to interrupt but wanting to clarify. Zara didn't seem annoyed but smiled.

"Yes, you are correct. We, the Ravenswood rulers were given what is now the United Kingdom to rule over, but later when Australia was discovered we opted to rule over here instead. The Corvus family was later crowned to rule over the UK in our absence."

Why would you want to come here, to a continent in the middle of the sea, so far away from your home? I thought. But the look in Zara's eyes told me to wait, why would be explained later.

"Elias and I had been soul mates for centuries and were happy to rule when we were selected. For years we lived happily in our castle, surrounded and supported by our friends. Elias' brother Devyn, lived with us and was pivotal in enforcing our rule." Zara continued, her voice strong as she recalled centuries ago like it was yesterday. Elias visibly shifted at the mention of his brother.

"Aliénor was a young woman, much like yourself. Brave, beautiful, stubborn and powerful. Though when we met her, she was being imprisoned by other witches." Zara said then. My mouth dropped in horror;

"She was being imprisoned by other witches?" I repeated, dumbfounded. It stood against everything we believed. We were sisters and brothers of the Old Religion, why would they hold her against her will?

"The Witches' High Council feared her power, you see. It was when the plague was rife and witches and vampires alike, feared for the future. The witches kept her locked up, worried she would bring the end of the world down upon us all. Devyn was sent on our behalf to discuss matters associated with the peace treaty between witches and vampires. Whilst there, Devyn caught her scent and could smell her pain and fear. He found her locked up in a dungeon under the castle the High Council resided at. She had been there for years, starved, weak and very alone. He reported what he saw to us and implored us to help her. We told him to put it out of mind, we couldn't interfere in the affairs of the witches, our peace treaty was still precarious." Zara paused, her beautiful face troubled.