CHPT 501: Summit of The Blooded

And there they stood. Three of the last Lupines of Romulus, in a Ballroom full of Vampires. All shapes and sizes. All powers and ages. And somehow, the night was simply supposed to go as planned. It almost felt impossible for any aspect of the further night to be in relation to Maris....

Claude's skin felt like it was on fire as he forced himself to walk with Rupont over to their table..... or what he assumed was their table surrounded by human appearing-- Sunlandian Natives. They seemed to be the most human looking Vampires at the moment. Not that he was one to judge on appearance, but the others had a much more hostile-- moved, facial expression as their noses took them in with famished levels in interest.

Rupont came to a stop at the table-- a thin circular spire of gold that fanned out into a flat surface where drinks rested in perfect stillness. One for each member. The gold surface seemed to dance with reflective pulsing colors from the aurora borealis glimmering overhead as if it was simply part of the ceiling glitz and glamour. Whatever magic needed for such a massive realistic illusion was strong.... so too was the blood in everyones cup.

"Rupont, you've brought the guests you spoke of I assume?" One of the table mates spoke confidently. He was tall like Claude and beefy. Unlike Ursula who'd gained a faint leaness in becoming a Lupine, the man he faced had little definition. Just mass. But it failed to reach his face where a thick jawline and sharp cheekbones still pushed against the dark skin of his face. Despite his size, he had a very lean presence-- if that made sense. He felt easy to miss. Like he didn't exist in human peripheral vision.

Rupont nodded and smiled, the others at the table rolled their eyes as if they were tired of his pretty-boy mannerisms, "Claude, Ursula, Cassidy.... I'd like you to meet you family. And Vice Versa."

Claude stopped for a moment as Adjua and Abina settled in at the table, resting their bag on the floor but guarding it still-- passively.

"Wait a minute..... this is your family?" Ursula asked Rupont, "As in.... they are your sisters.... and that's your brother?" She motioned towards the large man who just spoke.

There was silence-- as if being a Vampire had made them forget the blatant and superficial notion of difference in appearance, accent and skin color.

"He's adopted." The large man said casually. Claude realized his fangs were metal.

"Don't say that so loud, Aasir.... we have listeners." Rupont forced Claude to remember the collection of bloodthirsty Monsters all around them. Rollan wouldn't appreciate his verbiage....

"Can't Vampires hear heartbeats..... well, see them?" Claude questioned as they were motioned to join the table.

Aasir and Rupont eyed eachother before looking to their twin sisters.

Abina shrugged, "I heard one of his Professors talking about him. He's a nerd."

"Bookworm." Adjua reiterated.

Ursula and Cassidy looked at each other and smiled briefly.

Hearing a Vampire in lingerie that cost more than Claude's existence call him a nerd caused enough culture shock to make him nauseous.

"As long as it's from books and not persecution. I know your kind, boy. I know what you've been employed to do." A man who looked old enough to turn to dust in the wind said. Again, like Aasir, he didn't exist in Claude's peripherals. Seemingly the same for Ursula and Cassidy who barely contained their surprise at his appearance.

"Elder-Father Fiara, this is a new age. He is here on behalf of a friend-- and knowledge." Rupont explained, sounding respectful and less playful for the first time.

The Elder Vampire never stopped staring at Claude. It was horrifying because Claude knew his pure black eyes weren't actually what he watched with. It was the tap of his finger tipped with a slim dirty white claw. Hollow and smelling of blood. Like a second set of hooked fangs for every finger connected to his massive hands. They canceled out the expensive jewelry making massive holes in his earlobes and nose.

"You look like how they described him.... but it can't be."

Aasir and his twin sisters assessed Claude in response. Rupont swirled the drink in his cup, "That's because Romulus is dead, Elder-Father. He is not Romulus....."

"No.... the other one."

TING TING TING!!!

Some of the Vampires hissed and flapped their wings in surprise at the loud sound of metal on metal. Either way it drew everyone's attention to the front.

A Vampire stood at a podium holding a knife to her cup of blood. She wore all white with hints of purple and gold. Royal in appearance. Pale skin, golden hair, big blue eyes, horrifyingly unnatural levels of beauty. Lengthy in frame. Her legs had to be six feet alone-- he was sure of that despite the long dress. That or she was on stilts.

"The Matriarch of the Arthurian Vampire Covens. Her name is Sylvia. She is one of the seven Heads of The Night."

"She's...." Claude didn't even get to finish as Rupont nodded.

"Half-Elves are rare..... some come from botched Goverment Experiments, others come from.... even darker means. We don't know where she comes from, but she does good for Arthuria and it's..... diversity issues."

Sylvia's large blue eyes fastened on them despite how far away they were. It was then that he realized she had no pupils and her eyes were turning purple, like the trim of her white dress.

Rupont stepped away from the table and bowed.

"My apologies, M'lady. I was only catching up my..... plus three's. You look dashing by the way..." He flashed that white toothed smile again and somehow skirted death without a care in the world.

Sylvia's cheeks warmed for a moment, "Fair enough." She pulled back the attention of the room as Rupont sighed and stood back up casually getting back to his drink.

"I'd like to welcome you all to this decades Summit of The Blooded. I'd also like to apologize to any ears I ruptured in my attempt to grab hold of your attention..... many of you were occupied with our guests..... who you may have noticed weren't here before..... ever."

"Oh my..... fuck." Claude fought to slow his heart rate as Rupont smiled and waved to everyone.

"Among the obvious, others have brought those they deem necessary in our political happenings. They hold no grounds here, but as I and the remaining Heads of Night voted, we will begin an age of inclusion..... the first steps at least. Humans have their pets, why can't we?"

"The hell did long legs just say?" Cassidy spoke through the pack bond.

"We're very clearly not equals here. More supremacist BS." Ursula fumed.

Rupont winked at Claude and made a hand motion to the others as if he were soundlessly telling them to relax. Just hang on.

"[Remember the purpose.]"

"Maris."

Ursula nodded in agreement with the conversation she'd only heard part of.

"Maris."

"Now. You all know the rules at this Summit. Network, meet your allies, have a good time, and DO NOT...."

"...LOSE BALANCE!!" Every Vampire in the room yelled in perfect pitch and unison to the point that it didn't sound like physical speech.

The Summit of The Blooded commenced immediately after as skimpily dressed men and women in a trance began walking across the ballroom floors holding trays of drinks and gellatinous dishes that shined with a red purity.

Tables mixed and approached one another, bowing, shaking hands and doing whatever other form of greeting was known. It was almost beautiful.

The concept of beauty fell apart and blew away in the wind like the ashen remains of a burnt corpse as that very thing hovered over to them. And hovered was a very specific choice of words because that's what the reanimated corpse did. It hovered. The overgrown nails of its bare tattered feet scraped across the floor like the ends of blades. It's suit was brand new-- crisp. A deep midnight blue Kurta and black pants. The way it moved in the winds told Claude the corpse was missing half it's ribcage and entire stomach. Its face wasn't so hidden, leaving its hollowed-out eyes and missing teeth perfectly visible.

Behind the reanimated hovering corpse was an impossibly androgynous figure. They were dark skinned-- matching Claude's complexion. Dark curly black hair trailed down their back, leaving their bare upper body untouched by anything other than tattooing and lash markings. They had a build that was both feminine in it's lithe smoothness and masculine in it's hard muscle and bone. All rather tame except for the fact that they had four arms. The other two extended from their back and wrapped around to the front where they hung in held hands like a necklace. If necklaces wore rings and had claws.

At their side two massive Tigers walked. Not actual Tigers though. The fangs were too long, the limbs too long and too many joints as if they could walk like humans. It was then that he looked down at the paws and saw that they had humanoid hands..... opposable thumb--

"Abis! You beautiful bastard, how have you been?" Rupont turned and greeted the Vampire before facing the corpse.

"Baital Pachisi, you've chosen your host well as always."

The corpse' toothless mouth creaked open and a hideous voice emerged, "The most beautiful..... can also be the most hideous.... EEEE.. EEEE... EEE..."

Ursula shivered as it laughed and the corpse spun to face them.

"Lord Pati won't be happy to miss this Summit." The corpse said while facing Claude as he stood in front of Ursula.

"Send him my apologies, this decision was made on short notice." Rupont replied.

"We will be in discussion. That is how you repay your misstep." The corpse hovered away.

"Holy shit...." Ursula said in their minds.

"What?"

"Lord Pati..... as in Pacu Pati. That's one of the few Vampire Elders The Red Knight hasn't taken down."

"Tough stuff, aye?" Cassidy thought.

"His name literally means Lord of the Herd. He had enough beings under him that he could wage war on any neighboring nation and win at one point. Or so they say...." Ursula said through their link.

"[Well, it's a damn good thing you brought her.]"

"Agreed." Claude thought before everyones attention was pulled back to the other. Abis.

They grinned like a devil before clicking their teeth. The Tiger-creatures sat in response.

"Elder-Father Fiara." Abis nodded in respect.

Elder-Father Fiara waved them off before they faced everyone else.

"As you see, I too had to join in on the fun of the new laws! What do you think of my pets? Were-Tiger Alphas from the strongest Streaks in the Isle's of Indus! They are beautiful...." Abis turned to face the Were-Tigers, pulling their fangs playfully before kissing their heads and scratching them behind the ears.

"Personally, I don't do stripped clothing, but I can appreciate those unlike me. They are rather... imposing ideals of beauty, aren't they?" Rupont added.

"At least they aren't Lions." Aasir added.

"You're giving them ideas for what?" Adjua and Abina questioned in unison.

There was something terribly wrong about what he watched. The Were-Tigers appeared calm on the surface, but their fur stood on end. Each breath was short and fast. Muscles in a state of permanent tenseness.

More slaves, but this time there didn't seem to be much in it for them.

"And look, we match!" Abis, turned to face them as their skin turned blue and black stripes popped up where the lashes and scarring once was, leaving a sort of many eyed four-armed tiger-human with beaming red eyes and fangs.

Abis hissed and a forked tongue flew out of their mouth.

"HAHA!.... you like?"

"I am in awe.." Rupont lied with a smile. "Claude, I'd like to introduce you to Abis. One of many belonging to the Rakshasa Vampire Coven of Indus."

"A Lupine. I haven't run into one of you in quite some time."

Claude approached and they shook hands. The squeeze was one of attempted intimidation. Playfully dangerous. Just like Rupont.

Claude bolstered the muscles in his hands and forearms, increasing his grip strength exponentially until the Vampire finally let go with a chuckle.

"You're very quiet....."

"I'm not always good at talking." Claude replied.

"Is that what they are for?" Abis asked in reference to Cassidy and Ursula, red eyes glowing brighter with excitement as the stripes danced on their skin.

"And other things."

"You will dance with me tonight! HA!" Abis snapped and the Were-Tigers took off with them jumping onto the backs of each like they were surfboards.

"If they're all going to be like that one I might as well go get my axes." Ursula said casually.

"Not if you want to walk out of here alive." Rupont said with a sigh before waving Claude over with a finger.

"Follow me. I'd like to show you the others."

Claude turned to Ursula and Cassidy, "Stay focused. Stay together."

He followed Rupont to meet the other Vampires.