Into the fields of Summer - 79. Sire 4

We got back to the estate after 45 more minutes of making the rounds across the various stalls at the holiday market. I was still bothered with the sudden appearance of the third house symbol, it’s been weeks since the second one had appeared, and to be honest, given the things that had transpired in the last few days, I’d actually forgotten about these marks, they were nearly invisible, and never really gave me much of a bother except for the times that they appeared on my wrist.

Arriving at the estate, we were greeted by Patrick, Erica, and Mark who were all hanging out in the large living room watching a show.

One of the House servants, popped in a few minutes later to tell us supper would be ready in half an hour.

“Where’s August?” Leo asked to no one in particular.

“It seems him and Luca still aren’t finished discussing council matters”

“That’s a long chat isn’t it?” Leo asked Victor.

“Well...they rarely get to see each other face to face, it seems they’re trying to get the most of this” Victor mused.

Just a few minutes before dinner, August and Luca stepped out of the study room together with Stefano who had apparently joined their meeting when we left the estate.

The servants prepared a sumptuous feat for us and I really couldn’t complain, the food was absolutely delicious. Hashim and Stefano started to warm up to the rest of us, especially with Patrick and Henry.

Some of the vampires at the table helped themselves to a glass of NuBlood, while the rest stuck with their own refreshments.

Most of the crew retired to their rooms after dinner, and I volunteered to help clean up, and was easily shot down by 3 young male servants who insisted that it was their job to do.

Victor and I decided to join dad, Troy, Raymond, and Luca in the living room. They were all watching a movie from the 80’s which I didn’t recognize, it was some sort of love story or something, Luca was reading a book while glancing at the large television screen every now and then.

It was halfway through the movie that I started to feel unwell, shit, I felt a Kumhakta coming again, I had to deal with it before it manifested.

I excused myself and was quick on my feet and made it to the back garden. Victor wasn’t far behind and followed me.

I walked fast away from the mansion, just in case I lost control, the Kumhakta hasn’t started yet, so a good energy release would be enough, I hoped.

I started pulling out the energy from me, my wrists started to tingle, there was this warm and prickly sensation underneath the marks of the Elven Houses. Slowly but surely, I released the excess energy from my body.

As I continued to release energy to my surroundings, I could feel the air shift around me, the leaves of the hedges and grass around me started to make rustling sounds as somehow wind was being generated from me. This energy release was longer than usual, this was surely a close call, there’s so much pent up energy in me that several minutes have passed and I still haven’t crossed that safe point, a point wherein I would start to feel calmer and sated, the seconds went by, and Victor just stood a few meters behind me, he was clearly concerned for my well being, and I’m sure he felt the energy coming of me, the air just continued to get heavier and heavier and warmer and warmer.

10 minutes into my release, I felt I’d done enough.

I turned around to see Victor looking warily at me. “Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yes, I’m good now”

“You scared me” he replied.

“I’m sorry”

“No...no...honey, it’s just that when things like this happen to you, I get really worried. It’s like we’re facing something that’s totally unknown”

“Well...Patri and Yal already explained this to me, it’s just I need to be more mindful of my energy that’s all” I said, as I approached my boyfriend, giving him a tender hug.

“That was certainly something” a baritone voice said not far from us.

It was Luca, with an expression I couldn’t quite read, was it concern, confusion, caution, fear? I don’t know.

I softly smiled at Luca “sorry”

“Nothing to be sorry about, though to be frank, I’ve never felt such amount of energy before” Luca said, now in a more composed manner.

“It kind of happens to me when I lose track of my energy”

“No wonder you were able to slay an Anami, that air shift was quite something” Luca mused as he approached Victor and I. Luca and Victor made sure that I was back to my old self before escorting me back to the mansion.

With everything that happened, Victor and I went to bed early. I was thoroughly drained. My visit to the realm would have to wait for another day.

Victor hugged me from behind, our naked bodies keeping each other warm was we drifted off to sleep.

—-

The morning of Christmas Eve came too soon. Sunlight was thoroughly kept at bay by our closed curtains. I felt tired, and Victor seemed to also be in need of a few more minutes of sleep as he yawned and stretched beside me.

“Good morning, Lover” he smiled at me.

“Good morning too, Lover” I smiled back at him, drawing him for a good morning kiss.

After a few more minutes of delaying the inevitable, we both made our way to the toilet to deal with our morning piss.

We made ourselves decent, and walked to the dining area. Breakfast was already prepared and Lucy, Mark, Troy, and Hashim seemed to be the only ones awake as we didn’t see anybody else eating in the room. My assumption was proven correct when I asked, “Where’s every body else?” And surprisingly Hashim answered.

“Probably still asleep”

“Luca?” Victor asked.

“Oh...he’s in his study, you know him, he barely sleeps” Hashim smiled a bit.

“Thought so” Victor smiled back as he took a bite on his toast.

The room slowly started filling up as more and more people joined us for breakfast. August and Leo looked a bit flushed. And the moment Leo sat beside me, I was just about to tease him but he cut me off and said “don’t even go there” I swear he blushed a bit further if it was possible.

August must have heard us as he haughtily remarked. “I’m not complaining” August gave me a knowing wink before he dove into his food as he sat across us.

After breakfast and a quick shower, Victor and I drove out to a nearby town to check out the shops.

I ended up buying some new pull overs and pants or ‘trousers’ as they’re called here. While Victor was more than content with buying himself a new shirt.

When we made it back to the estate, we were immediately told by Hashim to meet Luca in his study. Which was kind of odd, but I didn’t mind.

We entered his study and August and Leo were already there, also clueless as to why they’ve been called in to the study away from every body else.

“What’s the matter?” Victor asked August then looked at Luca.

The older vampire had a rather introspective look while the rest of us tried to figure out what this was all about

“I don’t know, we just got here” August calmly replied.

“What’s this about Luca?” Victor asked.

“This” Luca said as he handed two small black envelopes to August and Victor. The envelope was sealed by a wax seal with some sort of symbol on it. I wasn’t close enough to see what the symbol was but based on the look on Victor’s face when he saw it, he clearly recognized it.

August and Victor opened the envelopes almost simultaneously and pulled out a small sheet of paper.

“What does it say?” I asked Victor curiously.

However Victor ignored me for the time being and spoke instead to Luca. “How could he know so soon?”

“We clearly underestimated him” Luca shrugged. “No worries, let’s just make an appearance and get it over with”

“What are you guys talking about?”

I asked. Leo not far from me was asking August if he knew anything about what was happening.

Victor handed me the paper and written in silver ink on it said:

Governor Meyer and Mr. Rogers

You are graciously invited to Governor Latham’s Christmas Dinner Party. Your attendance would be highly appreciated.

Red Regards,

K. Andrews

“Who is this guy?” I asked.

“Latham” Victor said rather bitterly.

“I know his name, I can read” I snidely remarked. I hate being ignored.

“He’s the District Governor for England” Luca answered for Victor.

“Are we in trouble?” Leo asked.

“None sense” Luca smiled to Leo, August clearly knew this Latham guy as well but seemed to not be too bothered with the invitation unlike Victor who was a little bit too teary for my liking. “This is more of a formality and a rather inconvenient one, there’s nothing to be worried about” Luca said, trying to calm down my nerves.

“Do we really have to go?” Victor asked his sire like a child being asked to eat his veggies.

“Not really, but it wouldn’t hurt if we all show up, I’d take it he’d be offended if we at least didn’t show up” Luca explained.

“I don’t care if he’s offended” Victor replied.

“Calm down, Victor...Latham isn’t as bad as he was before, he’s rather...uhm...more subdued now” Luca reassured my boyfriend. And their exchange only got me more curious about what history there was.

“Let me be the judge of that” Victor replied.

Victor looked at me, and said “sorry for my behavior, I just don’t like this guy”

“It’s okay” I smiled back at him.

“Are you okay attending this boring party?”

“As long as you’re there, I’m going”

“Okay...we’re going”

Luca then expectantly looked at August and Victor.

August and Leo exchanged looks and with an absent minded shrug from Leo. August replied “sure, we’re going”

“Okay...this is a black tie event, so after lunch, all four of you are going straight to my tailor in London”

As we exited the room, August shook his head and laughed to himself “vampires”

—-

We were all complete during lunch, and just like our previous meals, it was delicious to say the least.

However after lunch, the four of us were immediately whisked in 2 Bentley sedans for a visit to Luca’s tailor in London.

We were driven to a rather high end area, and I felt out of place with all the expensive shops and people wearing expensive clothes around me.

One of the agents escorted us through a clothing store, and went through the shop and entered a small door just at the end of the shop, the salesmen and ladies paid us no mind, most likely the were already expecting us.

The door opened into a cozy room that had several couches in it. The agent left us to ourselves but not before saying “Mr. Pawsey will be with you shortly”

After a few minutes a guy who a little bit shorter than me and seemed to be on the heavier side of things, came and greeted us. The man was surely in his fifties but his smile upon seeing us and especially upon seeing Victor was warm and genuine.

“Victor?” He said as he moved his glasses around as if it would make him see or remember better.

“The one and only” Victor replied as he hugged the stout man.

“Your sire surely has a way of having his way doesn’t he?”

“Yes...four black tie outfits for us, by tomorrow evening, is it possible?” Victor asked.

“You underestimate me, my boy, of course it is!”

Introductions were made and

Mr. Pawsey was very happy to meet the four of us, as we all introduced ourselves as partners.

In less than an hour the measurements were completed and Mr. Pawsey said “I’ll have your clothes delivered to the estate by 3:00pm”

“You’re the best!” Victor pulled the man in for a hug.

“Aww...careful there, I’m not as young as I used to be” the man teased but was surely happy of Victor’s attention.

The four of us decided to grab a quick snack at one of the restaurants nearby, the prices were rather too expensive for my liking, but Victor suggested the area and damn, did that place make the best Koftas ever!

We then decided to check out a park nearby, we hung around for half an hour or so and then decided to go back to the estate. All the touristy things were to be done after Christmas itself, so no Big Ben for me today, sigh.

As we relaxed back in our bed.

I asked Victor. “So...why is it that you seem to not really like this Latham guy?”

“It’s complicated” Victor replied in a rather subdued tone.

“Oh do tell? Should I be wary of him or something? It seems like you don’t trust the guy”

“I certainly don’t trust him, he’s a sneaky little devil” Victor said as he pulled me closer to him. “You have to be careful around him, he might sense something is off with you, maybe Luca can do something about dulling his sense of smell when he meets you”

“You think he can smell the elf in me?”

“Probably...he’s a little bit older than me, he’s smart, and strong, if he can’t figure out you’re an elf, he’ll surely sense something from you, I sense it all the time”

“What do you mean?” I backed up a bit.

“Uhm...you’ve become more and more powerful Chris, you unsettle the young vampires and wolves, and you at least clearly confuse the older ones, that’s something you should keep in mind”

“*sigh* I’m sorry”

“Nothing to be sorry about Chris, we just have to be extra careful, I was just not expecting Latham to invite us to his place so soon”

“So you expected an invitation then?”

“It was almost a given, Latham is one of those guys that keep tabs on the movements of other ‘major players’” Victor said bitterly. “I’m sure he had someone alert him the moment we stepped foot in England”

Victor paused for a bit, swept his hair as if in an exasperated manner then continued.

“He thinks of me as a rival”

“A rival?”

“Yes”

“A rival for what?”

“For the High Council”

“But you don’t want to be in the High Council” I replied, confused. “Do you?”

“I don’t, but he doesn’t get it, and with the entire Agatha Thorne incident, that would surely pique his interest, he’s been Governor of England for more than 12 years now, and don’t get me wrong, he’s done a great job keeping the vampires here in line,and just like District 4, his district is a major source of revenue for the Vampire Government, so, he thinks he’s next in line for the next vacant council position”

“Ah...a cold blooded vampire politician eh?” I asked.

“Yes...that’s what he is, he disappeared in the 70s and 80s, and we’re all sure he was part of Stratos then, he spent those years currying favors with the vampire security establishment, he has convinced potential rivals to take governorships in backwater districts to make them less of a threat, he is even said to have dated the progeny of the previous leader of Stratos - that got him nothing when there was a reshuffle in Stratos leadership more than a decade ago; though he currently has great relations and influence with the English Vampire community, that gives him some indirect influence in the High Council”

“Is he gonna be trouble for us?”

“I don’t think so, just an inconvenience, but I just don’t like the guy, he’s...uhm... just a disingenuous prick”

“It seems there’s more to this...”

I teased.

“*sigh* don’t get mad” Victor sad, pulling up the bed as well.

“I don’t like the sound of this” I said, a certain edge in my tone.

“Well...he and I dated”

“Really?” I asked, I was surprised to say the least, but also slightly emotionally threatened, will this be another Gustav? I thought to myself.

“It was a long time ago, like even before the entire fuck buddy thing with Gustav, this was like 1850s or something” Victor said, clearly worried with my response.

“Ah, okay, so is this what it really is? A bad break up?” I teased him.

“No...we just drifted apart, he was more ambitious than me and most likely thought he was better off without me, no hard feelings on that part as our relationship wasn’t that serious to begin with, somewhere deep inside me, I know he was just with me to cozy up to Luca, who wasn’t yet in the Council then but was still a very influential vampire in Italy nonetheless”

“So...why is it that you seem so worried?” I asked.

“Because I don’t know how you’d feel about knowing more about my past relationships...especially... “

“Especially after Gustav” I finished his sentence for him.

Victor averted his gaze from me. Gosh he’s as much a softie as I am.

“Yes” he whispered back.

“Victor...that was almost 170 years ago” I laughed a bit at him.

“So...you’re not jealous?”

“Should there be a reason for me to be jealous?” I smiled back at him.

“No...oh god no!”

“Do you love me?”

“Yes...”

“Then that’s settled”

“So are you sure this isn’t just some bad break up between the two of you?” I just had to ask again.

“I’m sure...*bleh* he’s a power hungry and manipulative guy, so...I’d rather avoid him, that’s all”

“I see”

“Most likely this dinner will be filled with vampire businessmen and other governors, he’s really concerned about ‘appearances’”

“So more old vampires for me to avoid then?” I asked.

“Yes... but Luca is right, we can’t just not go, it would most likely alert Latham that we’re hiding something”

“I’m sorry...”

“Baby... you don’t have to be sorry about anything, I mean...I have the only elf hybrid in the world as a boyfriend, who else gets to say that?” Victor asked, now a little bit more relaxed and now smiling.

“No one else” I reply, pulling him closer to me for a kiss.

“Good...cause I’m the jealous type too”

“Really now?” I asked him in a teasing manner as I traced my fingers on his exposed chest.

“Really...” Victor said as he pulled me closer to him, which ended up with us having passionate sex that late afternoon.