The Vampire King's Possession
Chapter 274. It Begins

Chapter 274: 274. It Begins

Erick stood with his back to Danag in the hallway as he faced his brother. The hallway was empty except for the three vampires.

"What do you want?" Erick repeated when his brother didn’t say anything.

Edwin scoffed as he looked at his brother condescendingly. The resemblance was a little hard to spot. They had similar features but all together, they looked more like cousins than brothers.

"I can come to see my brother, can I not? Besides, this is obviously a coincidence. Would you not act like I am following you around?"

"We both know that is exactly right!" Erick yelled out, his palms curled into a fist.

"Father is concerned about you," Edwin said, ignoring Erick’s words.

"No, he’s not." Erick barked back.

"True, however, you are the firstborn, technically the heir of the Drusile estate."

"Which has been your title for as long as I can remember."

"Only because you wouldn’t get your acts together, brother. You’ll think because you’re at least two decades older, you’ll at least have some sense."

Without saying another word, he turned away and began to head in the opposite direction.

Edwin rushed toward him and grabbed his wrist. "Return home and stop being such a drama queen. I have taken care of your duties long enough. I am sure if you apologize now father would consider it."

Erick pulled his hand away and stared at his brother with contempt. "It has been over a century, what makes you think I would change my mind now?"

"Stop fighting it, I know you didn’t want to come back because you were afraid Father wouldn’t take you in but I’m here to tell you, you need no fear. Father will be sure to welcome you with open hands."

"You seemed fine with taking on my role and for the past eight decades at least, you’ve been doing quite a good job. What’s changed? Suddenly, you want me to come to take my rightful place, don’t make me laugh. We both know you wouldn’t want that in the slightest."

"What do you know about what I want?!" Edwin raised his voice.

"Just what is going on here?" Damon’s voice suddenly broke out in the hallway.

"Commander," Danag said, "I was just bringing Erick to you."

"Tch, it sounds distasteful when you do that Danag even I rarely called you by your title."

"It’s an official setting, it is only appropriate that I do refer to you..."

"You’re the new Head guard," Edwin threw his head back and laughed. "Once again, Erick, you have to serve under another lowborn. This is unbelievable, just how pathetic are you?"

"Who are you calling a lowborn?" Danag asked darkly.

Edwin scoffed, "I’d prefer if you didn’t speak directly to me!" Edwin glared at Danag. "Know your place."

Edwin turned around and headed in the direction he just came from. "You should see Father," he said as he walked away. "He would be pleased."

"He is the only reason I find your presence slightly tolerable," Damon mumbled.

"Shut up Damon,"

"Such a nasty personality, I see why you turned out all wrong." Danag chirped in.

"Don’t agree with him," Erick yelled out.

"The Sire wants us now. His meal should be over now. Also, the meeting is about to start.

"I can’t wait for it to end, "Erick said as he followed behind Damon.

*********************************

Jael let Lord Garth lead him to the room where the meeting was supposed to hold. Damon walked in front of him while Erick and Danag remained closely behind.

Lord Garth’s footsteps slowed as they came to the front of what was closer to the door of a hall than a room. Jael had to raise his head a little to see the top of the door.

Two guards stood on both sides of the door. They pushed the door open as they got close enough. Jael winced. He knew without a doubt he would rather be back in the castle right now.

Lord Garth and Damon walked in first and stood to the side, making a path for Jael. Left without a choice, he took a step forward and walked through the open doors.

"Introducing, the Primus, His Grace, Jael D’Arcy Valdic, the Primus of Vampires." Lord Garth yelled with a thunderous voice.

As soon as the words left, sounds of chairs being pulled back echoed in the hall with at least twelve Lords standing to their feet but that wasn’t up to half of the people in the hall.

Jael swore as his eyes rested on Seraphino. As much as he would rather not see his face anymore. Seraphino was an important Lord. The only Lords with bigger estates and more vampires under them were Loed Garth and Lord Levaton so he was crucial to this.

There was a huge round table in the middle of the huge space and around the table stood the Lord with either guards or their children standing behind them.

Jael approached the table as a unison bow followed. He slightly raised his hand and they raised their heads but remained on their feet.

Damon moved fast to the biggest of the seat, he quickly pulled it back and Jael walked on through the side. Damon pushed it closer and Jael sat down.

The Lords immediately sat down. Less than half of the Lords in attendance came with their mates but that was only because more than half of Lords present were either unmated or their mates were late.

"Sire," Lord Levaton started to say. "I am glad to see that you’re in such good health."

Jael smiled stiffly and turned to look at Lord Levaton. "Back at you, Lord Levaton. You look younger than the last time I saw you. I am glad you could make it to the meeting. I hope the journey here didn’t have much of a toll on you."

Jael kept his eyes glued to Lord Levaton as he spoke even though he could feel Jevera’s glaring eye at the top of his head. She stood behind her father, standing guard.

"Of course not, it was but a breeze." Lord Levaton said and a slight cough followed.

"Father," Jevera cried and her father laughed at her horrified expression.

"I am too young to be treated like I have aged so much."

"If you are in such high spirits to make jokes, then it is safe to assume that all is well." Lord Garth replied.

"Indeed Lord Garth," Lord Levaton replied.

"Sire," Lord Drusile interrupted.

"Yes," Jael said slowly, turning his attention to the Drusile.

He didn’t have any sort of relationship with the Lord aside from Erick being in his care. He did know that Erick hated his father but he had never really cared about the details.

Lord Drusile also wasn’t active enough for him to hold his attention. He was more concerned about the affairs of his estate than anything. When asked what he thought about the alliance, he had said he would go with whatever the majority chose.

"My mate, sadly couldn’t make it. With Palers rampant, I am afraid I couldn’t let her make the journey."

"I see, all that matters is that you’re here, Lord Drusile," Jael said, biting down on his tongue to avoid saying unnecessary things.

Drusile didn’t have to bring up that fact, it was the same excuse he had rendered and Jael had permitted him because he really didn’t care that much about the Lord. Besides, he was here to discuss the issue, there was no point getting ticked off at the very beginning.

"Might I add something else, Sire?" He suddenly asked.

"What is it Lord Drusile?"

"My son, Erick." He said, gesturing to Erick who stood behind Jael. "Wouldn’t it be appropriate if he stood behind me? His brother is already here. He is still my son regardless."

Jael frowned, "I don’t think that is of huge consequence." Jael said and turned away from Drusile, hoping the Lord would take it as the end of that conversation. Thankfully, he didn’t push it further

"Enough of the Pleasantries already!" Lord Phelan immediately yelled. "Can the meeting begin already?" He asked, banging his hand on the table.

Jael frowned and glared at Lord Phelan. He remembered him, he was the one who wrote the nasty letter while he was away from the castle when Mauve got attacked.

"Impatience won’t get you anywhere, Lord Phelan." Lord Levaton said, "The meeting has already begun. It’s only appropriate that we delve into easier subjects first."

"Easier, don’t you mean important?" He asked darkly.

"Well then, I do have an important question, Lady Francine suddenly called out disrupting the commotion.

"What is it? Lady Francine," Jael responded.

"I am sure it has been on everyone’s mind for quite some time now, especially since you became the Primus. When are you going to pick a mate? Your father picked one pretty earlier and had you, not too many decades after. You are taking too long to decide, your grace."