Chapter three (Mael)

Slapped! By God I could not have looked more shocked than the fools who gathered to watch us part.  From the moment we came to step on the dance floor she was rigidly cold and stiff, I would liken her to a frozen rose yet to bloom. Her eyes evading mine as did her mind, her mind was locked like a well sealed chest with no key, no matter how hard I tried to pry into it, it simply wouldn’t budge. I had the notion that she knew I was clawing away at her guards, I had a good notion she knew what I was too. When her acquaintance near pushed her to me I thought her cheeks could not have glowed brighter nor been more beautiful. Her silent dismissal of my questions lead me to the conclusion that I had apparently gotten quite lazy with the art of conversation, being that I normally did not have the need for it, it was a failing virtue in my arsenal of societal charms. As she stormed across the mass of on lookers there was not a one woman that did not cast a wondrous gaze on her, in their minds danced the questions of: Why? How? And is she insane?

I lifted my hand to my cheek that still stung with her disapproval, I hadn’t thought what I had done was so terrible; Lord knows that no woman here would have denied me… Which made this particular woman very interesting. I heard the uproar of conversation amongst the crowd around me, louder now that I had my senses higher and tensed to break into her mind. Good grief the chatter was becoming overwhelming but I still had business to attend to tonight, though my entertainment for the evening had left, I could not.  I made my way to one of the Pageboys, the one that the Italian beauté had been talking with. Completely by coincidence of course. A grin tugged at my lip as I addressed the boy with a slight incline of my head. “Excusez-moi, has the Duchess Cossette Delacroix of Forêt en Chêne arrived yet? Is she indeed expected here tonight?” I asked. The page blinked then lowered his head in bowing and addressed my question with some surprise. “Qui monsieur,” He looked sheepish then said “She left after striking you.” My eyes must have flared with my thoughts because the boy took a step back, at least a good two feet, and lowered his head.

So the girl did in fact know what I was and no doubt knew why I was here. No wonder she acted so stiffly toward me! I could rightly slap myself now; I had let the prim Duchess slip through my fingers without even knowing it. Bloody hell I would have a time finding her now, she wouldn’t travel to her Duchy at this hour of the night, no… No doubt she had someone to stay with, perhaps even the Italian girl. Cossi, the girl had called her Cossi, Cossette… well if this did anything it proved I should have had my thoughts above my waist. I would remember it the next time I spoke to the Duchess. “Merci…” I said then, after making sure that no one saw, I placed my hand on the boy’s neck, he stilled instantly and I took what I needed from him. His thoughts rolled freely from his mind as if from a pitcher of water, spilling content he didn’t even know he had out for me to see.

“Carlina Benedetti… All I would need to do now is find the dwelling of this Carlina and “Persuade” her to give me an audience with the bristling Cossette Delacroix. The Duchess might have a way with my kind but Carlina was a ripe fruit ready for picking, her mind was nothing like the blue maiden’s, no, she was utterly unique. It was unfortunate that fate should throw this dilemma before me, as much as I already did not trust the haughty beauty, due to the word that had come my way, I also found myself insanely enthralled with the idea of capturing her with her teeth and claws bared right at me. I supposed one more round about the hall was in order to obtain the knowledge I so needed but Lord I was done with it. It was the shank of the night and already my eyes grew tired, my energy sucked dry by the humanity before me.  
Though I was quite sure I would have managed to stay later had the Duchess remained as well, Blood Politic often kept the interest in a conversation… I did wonder what she had going on in that little nest of hers however. What on earth could she have brewing in that tightly locked mind of hers, behind those chilled curt lips? No doubt something vial, no doubt something that would cause me strife. One moment’s peace, ah a blessing that would be indeed but I doubted I would find it here, no, I feared this trip would leaving me wishing I had never come.

The rest of the night was spent digging for information about one Carlina Benedetti, she was the daughter of an Italian nobleman and Cossette was most definitely staying with her. Apparently there were properties about in Paris where the nobility stayed during these little soirées of theirs and that was where I would find my Duchess, wouldn’t she be surprised. After I had gathered all the information I needed I decided to call it a night and visit the Duchess the next day, in the after noon. If she thought she knew Vampires, well then, she had another thing coming. I retrieved my coat from the valet, made my way outside and was damned glad to be rid of the mindless banter of the hall, I then swore an oath to God I would never attend another. I waited but moment for my personal carriage, taking the time to enjoy the night air. I gave the silent mental command for the driver to come and of course, with in the minute, he was there. “Success I suspect, Master?” The driver inquired. I climbed in the cramped carriage and grunted, “Not as I had hoped but tomorrow we go for a private meeting.”  I rested back, I suppose rested could be a word used, it was entirely too small a space for my frame to fit in. My knees were touching the opposite side of the bloody thing.

I slept through the night; it was a common belief that Vampires had to sleep during the day as if forced by some instinct. Hardly, it was simply an obvious reaction to the fact that sun blistered the skin and ultimately would cause death to us if we were to try and dwell in it. We could wake whenever we wanted and I had cheated a bit as well by obtaining a certain little artifact from my previous days of rule that allowed the user to go into the sun without bursting into flame. I slipped the little amulet around my neck and tucked into my shirt before buttoning it, I then placed all the other high societal trappings on. During the summer months this outrageous amount of entire was impossibly uncomfortable, I hoped it went out of style soon. I pulled my hair back into a tight tail, so not to look a rogue pirate when addressing the ladies, and went to the carriage to begin the long and impossibly painful journey through the Parisian suburbs…  

Hours… God how many hours later, Ailo had finally found the place? I rubbed the bridge of my nose as the carriage finally came to a halt outside one of many seemingly random Chateaus we passed. If I drank wine and if I had had wine with me, I would have been drunk simply to amuse myself during the long ride.  The sound of hooves and wheels popping loose rocks was now a permanent music in my ears and the Goddamn small cabin of the carriage was close to being torn in two! I pushed the door open, sadly already annoyed at this entire endeavor. Ailo meant to speak but I raised my hand in an effort to gently explain to him that if he opened his mouth I would have to close it for him. He closed the door and came to my side.

The soft clanging of metal could be heard in the distance, what on earth could my Duchess being up to in there? I pondered as we made our way onto the grounds. A servant came to halt us but he was easily side tracked with a command to show us to the Duchess. I might have slipped a bit of mental persuasion into that command as well… but this was a serious matter after all, not to be taken lightly. We followed into the garden, the scene was something I would fancy to be in a story book, from the rich French architecture to the green lushness of the garden, truly a place worthy of nobility, though the two ladies going at each other in full fencing entire left me somewhat taken aback. Oh yes, I now knew what the clinking of metal was, though this was the last thing, had you have asked me, I thought it was. Suddenly the surroundings did not fit her, I thought as I watched silently. The Duchess moved with such ease and swiftness that it was easy to see she was no novice at what she did and though I knew not a thing about fencing, I could honestly say I was impressed at what I saw at any rate. The first to notice us was the woman I assumed to be Carlina, her hips seemed a slight bit more generous than Cossette’s. Carlina stopped and touched her opponent’s shoulder gently causing her to turn.  The rapier Cossette held was now passed to Carlina so she could reach up to removed her mask. A wealth of waves fell around her face despite how she had her hair tied back and her perfect rosebud lips parted in shock as realization hit her. “His majesty, King Seraph to see you, mademoiselle…” The servant announced. I bid him to leave with a flick of my hand then shifted my eyes to lovely Carlina, imbedding a command for her to go sit and sleep while I and the Duchess had words.

After all, it was a matter of secrecy. When she did in fact do as I commanded I then pressed a hand to my stomach and bowed my head low to the stunned to silence Duchess. “We have business, mademoiselle, of the utmost importance. I fancy you know what I am but I doubt you know who I am. If your Vampires have not spoken of me let me introduce myself, I am Mael Seraph, King of no lands but of many whom dwell on others. Lord of the creatures you hide in your Duchy. I’d like to extend to you a personal invitation to dinner at my Chateau so we can discuss the matter of the Vampires in your Duchy.” I said. She gave me a low curtsy after seemingly gaining her composer back.  “You will have to forgive me, my lord, but I fear I am in no position to accept your invitation, however kind, as I am expected home on the morrow and must be prompt in my return. You may rest assured, however, that the inhabitants of my Duchy are all well and are properly looked after.”  She said then adding bitterly, icily even. “Now, if you will please excuse, I will go tend to my friend as I fear you may have willed her to go do something idiotic…”  Idiotic indeed… did she think I had spent an hour in learning that little trick before performing it for her? “Your friend is fine I assure you, Duchess. But I fear that if we do not settle this matter before the morrow there will be nothing for you to return to. One of your inhabitants is conspiring with your King and if I am not mistake, do you not owe this King something for the land you rest you head on? Indeed, I have done my research well and you will see fit to join me tonight so we can discuss the matter further.  You will find us north of the Grand Trianon.” I said and motioned for Ailo to hand her the slip of paper with written directions. Mademoiselle Delacroix’s face was incredulous to say the least. By God she was beautiful though spite the sweat that stickled down her brow from her sword dallying of a moment ago and her hair, though wild about her head, shimmed as if spun with gold and fire in the sun. “Good day Duchess.” I spun on my heels and made my way back through the garden to the carriage.