Chapter 11: Surprise

I glanced at Haunter. I wondered who it could be at this hour. So, I went out while the others followed suit like in a parade. Everyone was silent as we went down using the elevator. I felt Haunter’s hand holding mine. I looked up at him and he smiled reassuringly.

It was an unfamiliar galvanizing experience. Meaning, I hadn’t met the vampire that was looking for me and was just waiting in the lobby. When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out first and my companions followed me.

I stopped when I saw that lady who was looking and waiting for me. I had never seen her before in my two thousand years of existence. She was around thirty something in her human life. She was elegant-looking with the ripe curves, straight and long sandy hair, pale but beautiful skin, taller than me not merely because she was wearing a pair of high heeled shoes, beautiful with luscious pouting lips painted in red, straight and pointed nose, and blue-green eyes with thick curly lashes. There was a hint of lavender in her scent.

She smiled prettily while she stood up from where she was seated. She walked closer to me and extended a hand, which I took formally though a bit reluctant.

“I’m glad to finally meet you, Saber,” she started to speak with a honeyed voice.

“I’m sorry? I don’t think we’ve met before,” I said, an eyebrow was raised in question.

‘Why does everyone know my name?’ I thought wryly. Even though I prided myself that I had some kind of reputation, I still never thought it was this far and wide. Possibly, it was because of Dena since she was highly popular in the Dark World.

She let go of my head to gesture. “I’m Semele. A limo is just outside if you’d just follow me.

And where would she take me? My jaw dropped for a moment and I looked at Haunter and the others. I still didn’t move as the elegant vamp walked out of the hotel lobby.

“But…” I started to protest.

“They can come, too, of course. If they must,” she added with a smile.

“I don’t think I like this,” Creep complained telepathically.

We walked toward the door and out of the hotel. Everyone was still quiet, trying to figure out what was going on. No one had a clue. If anyone had any, they just kept it to themselves and just went along with the flow.

“Well, at least we’ve got an alpha wolf with us,” I reasoned.

“We can’t just rely on him. What if we’re outnumbered if this is a trap? It will be too late to call his pack,” he reasoned.

“If she was going to harm us, why invite us to somewhere?” I queried logically.

“Because the hotel is too a public place?” he suggested. Insert eye roll.

“Well, let’s just see then. Just be on your guard.” I sighed.

“You, too,” he advised. Well, his tone did say “especially you.

We got into the black limousine and Semele was the last one to come aboard. She then smiled at everyone like she was familiar with all of us. She was quite friendly. I gave her that.

“I’m sorry for this very late call without letting you know beforehand.” She started to talk again. Her voice was calm.

We all merely listened to her. Haunter held my hand and squeezed it gently to let me know he was just right there with me. He never knew how grateful I was for that.

“You see, I’m serving an elder who is very interested in meeting you, Saber. She wants to talk to you on… some certain matters,” she informed me.

‘Serving an elder? One of The Six Elders she means?’ I thought with a puzzle. There were three men and three women that belonged to that category. Therefore, which of the three lady elder vampires would it be?

“May I know who it is?” I voiced out the question in my head.

She shook her head with a smile. “I can’t say it right now. You’ll see. You’ll meet her anyway,” she replied mysteriously.

I nodded and glanced at Haunter who was quiet. I wondered what he was thinking right now while he was staring at the lady vampire who was guiding us. I was quite sure he was thinking of some way to be able to call his pack if things come to worse.

I slightly pressed his hand that was holding mine, and he shifted his eyes on me. He gave me a smile and pressed my hand back, reassuring me that everything will be fine.

It turned out that the ride was about half an hour and nobody said a word since then. It was kind of awkward. We got off from the limousine, and I saw the huge mansion that looked like a castle. A fountain with flowers and grasses surrounding it was in front of it. The yellow and white lights inside looked beautiful, warm, and inviting enough. However, it was kind of imminent danger that was waiting for us by the way I felt the galvanizing effect in the atmosphere. There were too many vampires near and inside the vicinity. It was bothering me, making me uneasy.

“Please follow me.” Semele gestured for us to do so. With a straight back, she walked on ahead of us while we followed her inside the big white mansion.

The limousine moved away when I looked back. The hallway was lit dimly but it didn’t bother me or the others. We just followed our guide until we were shown inside a huge and cozy living room. A sofa set was neatly arranged. A few valuable paintings were hung on the walls. It was too bright with the all possible lights present there turned on. However, we couldn’t find anyone waiting for us there.

I looked at Semele with suspicion in my eyes.

“Please wait here. She’ll be right here in a short while, I’m sure,” she said like she read my mind. “Meanwhile, please make yourselves comfortable.” She retreated outside and closed the big double wooden doors.

The smell was a welcome one, like a hint of jasmine. I looked around again, taking in to my surrounding. A set of beige-colored sofas were there. They had leather upholstery. There was an old red ceramic furnace in the center of the wall across us. It looked like it was never used for decades but was perfectly maintained. There old paintings were of beautiful European landscapes. They must cost a fortune. There was also a grand piano on the far side of the room.

It looked like everybody was tense when I glanced at them—except for Haunter and Creep. I didn’t like this idea as the time ticked by. Creep might have been right. But we are here already and there is no turning back.

Haunter tried to call someone through his phone. But he cursed. “No reception?” It was clear that he was angry to not be able to contact his pack. Well, except if he had to do his wolf howling thing.

I touched his arm. He looked at me with his anger melting away. He sighed. He put back his cellphone in his jeans back pocket. One hand reached out to touch my face.

“I’m fine. Just that—” He wasn’t able to finish the sentence because the huge doors suddenly opened up and three dark men came inside that I immediately recognized as Medjays.

A beautiful vampire that appeared in her middle age in human life came in with Semele. She was wearing a moss-colored silk long gown that clung to every curve of her body with a pair of silver high-heeled shoes. She was tanned for a vampire with long lashes, pert nose, high cheek bones, and thin red lips. She smelled like the beach. I could almost hear the waves lapping the shore.

The newcomer stopped walking, and her eyes swept each of us before they were fixed on me. She looked serious, and she signaled the Medjays to get out. Semele, on the other hand, stepped behind to stand by the door.

She invited us to sit with her, but she specially asked me to sit beside her, separating me from the others. She then looked at me as if she dismissed the rest of my companions and as if it were only me and her in the room.

“Saber, I heard from a reliable source that you’re looking for the Dark Empress,” she said straightforwardly even without introducing herself. Her voice was a bit hoarse but calm and gentle.

I blinked and glanced at Haunter and Creep for a second before I looked at her again. I straightened my back more before I spoke.

“Well, that’s true…”

“And you talked about her assassination?” Her tone was that of inquiry for confirming whether I would admit it or not.

I raised my chin before I spoke. My mind was already reeling on some possible motives that she must have for meeting me and asking me this kind of questions.

“Yes.” There was no reason to deny it.

She smiled abruptly, then her gaze instantly shifted to Semele and back to me. “Follow me,” she said and stood up.

I looked at Haunter and the others before I stood up as well.

“Only you, Saber,” she said, indignant, as if reading my mind.

I saw the grim look on Haunter’s face and the worried expression of Creep, Crina, and Ji-Yun. They didn’t like this idea at all.

I smiled at Creep tightly and followed the older-looking but elegant woman. She led me to a dark hallway while Semele and a couple of Medjays followed us.

We ascended through a wide, curvy staircase with wrought-iron handrail. Semele went first to open a huge wooden door with a loud creak. The room was so dark but I could see clearly that there was a lady seated in a high chair as if it was a throne. I suddenly froze for a moment or two. Ninjas and Medjays appeared instantly from all sides in their protective stance, and we stood in the middle of the room.

However, I could make out the way she looked. She wore an all-black cocktail outfit. She had shoulder-length straight dark hair, a face and a build of a young adult, pale skin, prim-and-proper type, and was oozing with power that it seemed the air was cracking with electricity. The scent of jasmine was more pronounced here.

I knew instinctively that I finally found and met her—the Dark Empress. And it seemed that my heart skipped a bit with awe. This was quite a big surprise for me because I never expected this.

The older woman slightly bowed to the lady in front of us and the others did the same. It was only I who did not bow. After a couple of seconds or so, the young lady who was seated spoke directly to me.

“So, just like your name, you’re as stiff as a blade, Saber.” Her beautiful but cool voice was like a song in my head. It was both intriguing and mesmerizing.

“I’m sorry.” I bowed slightly.

She laughed with a low tinkling voice but it was nice to listen to. I was never awed with anyone—with any vampire—until that very moment. I couldn’t even make out my own feelings for meeting her at last, which had been my goal since the night I parted with Dena.

“No need to say sorry,” she easily dismissed it with a gentle wave of her hand. She looked fragile and strong at the same time.

I stood up stiffly, looking down at her. After a moment, she stood up and the ninjas and Medjays appeared close to her. She waved her hand, and they distanced themselves at the same time. She stepped closer to me and waved a slender hand again.

A few lights were turned on and the room was lit like daytime. We were of the same height, it turned out. And we were about the same age in human life—it was so clear to me now. She smiled at me with those white even teeth of hers that caught me by surprise. And I just realized I was staring at the Dark Empress. She had flawless, porcelain-like skin. She was perhaps the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen in my entire undead life.

“I heard a lot about you,” she told me openly. Her blue-green eyes though were blank, giving no emotions.

“May I ask what about exactly?” My voice was low and even.

I took a glance at Semele and the elder she’s serving. They weren’t looking directly at the Dark Empress, I noted. Their eyes were downcast.

“There’s no need for you to know. However, I am quite surprised and flattered when I learned about what you did for me.” She gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes though.

“I’m not sure I’m following you,” I spoke haltingly.

“So, you’re Dena’s offspring.” She started to tell me clearly what she knew.

I didn’t comment on that.

“Knowing Dena for a long time, I didn’t realize that her charming way can also lead a child in wandering on her own, minus the company she has now.” Her eyes probed deeply into mine. However, I didn’t flinch.

“I believe that Dena has lost her way and herself,” I stated in a monotone.

The Dark Empress snorted. She faced Semele and the elder then. “This is quite refreshing, Natassa, Semele.” Then she turned to me again. “Orfeo must have seen something in you, Saber because you’re still alive.

“What do you mean by that?” I frowned.

“Talking about my assassination, didn’t you?” Her voice was like that of a judge, giving sentence to a criminal.

I curled my hands into fists. Was I wrong all along? Was leaving Dena a great mistake?

Her eyes fell to my balled fists. She reached out and touched them before she raised her ocean-colored eyes again to look at me.

“Dena has long eyed my position, Saber,” she began quietly.

I blinked and my fists slowly slackened. However, she still held on.

“She was loyal to me somehow… until lately,” she continued. I caught a regretful tone in her voice now.

“Y-you knew?” I stupidly butted in with a question while my mind was like in a riot. Did it mean she knew all along? Did I make the wrong decision by coming all the way here? Was all my effort for naught?

She pressed my hands and stepped back. “I know all sides of the story, Saber. However, I can’t clearly say and see what is on your mind and what your motive is to protect me from Dena.” She shook her head slowly, her eyes never left mine.

“Isn’t it enough that I prefer your regime than any other’s?

She laughed without mirth. “What did I do, Saber? Tell me. Aside from just running around the world to hide from those who want my head off my shoulders and not even having a permanent address, I have done nothing. I have no new laws implemented for centuries, even when I ascended to this fucking so-called throne! Wait, where’s my throne?” She laughed sarcastically.

I swallowed and blinked. “You maintained the balance of the Dark World. You protected the humans from us, from our kind. And you kept The Six Elders under control, with a tight leash.

I heard the sudden intake of breath and I saw Natassa smirk, looking at me. Then I heard the Dark Empress laugh. A real laugh this time. I even swallowed hard because it might be the impending wrath later on… or worse.

‘Well, what was funny? Which part of it?’ I tried to reflect. I was only expressing the truth, which I thought was a fact.

“Now I understand why Orfeo is so into you, Saber,” the Dark Empress said instead.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” I was still uncertain. She was the most unpredictable being that I’d ever met—aside from my beloved Haunter, of course.

“It doesn’t matter. So… it’s what you honestly think of me, Saber?” she inquired. Her eyes searched mine.

I nodded and saw how her expression changed. She smiled more easily now than before. But I was still puzzled about Orfeo’s words that she heard, especially when it comes to me. And now that I met the Dark Empress, what’s next?

“You’re an honest vampire, Saber. One that I can believe in at this kind of time when whispers of my assassination are passed on from some place to another. And for you to find me and meet me here despite the things that happened to you along the way, I am certain that you do mean well. I believe you when you say that you prefer my regime. I’m flattered and grateful, of course, for your support. However, some don’t like my reign, you see. That’s why I do not keep myself in some castle to keep the Dark World in balance. And you have been through all those sorts of things merely because you separated from your maker. I admire your bravery and loyalty to me.

I was speechless. Deep in my heart and soulless self, I was happy to hear it. But there was something amiss.

“However, Saber, I cannot let you anywhere near me,” the Dark Empress pronounced firmly, looking straight into my eyes.

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