Chapter Four: Rhuesia Absolute

I walked purposefully down the corridor after exiting my chambers. With a little magic, my hair was perfectly dry. Yira had said to look presentable. Usually, I wouldn't listen to anything Yira said, but it had been an odd tidbit to throw in. Sure, we didn't get along and I'm sure she hated everything about me from my magic right down to my fashion sense, but she had never openly said anything about it, even when I'd been meeting Rhuesia before. Her words caused curiosity and apprehension to wage war within me in equal measure. What exactly was this summons all about? Either Yira knew and wouldn't give me a heads up out of spite, or she only knew what Rhuesia had said. The sooner I arrived at the observatory the better.  

   I passed a few other vampires, vampiress and the odd Other, shifters and such willing to help or work for the Clan. Everyone was going about their day as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Well, I supposed for them it wasn't. What awaited me at the other end of the castle would decide for me.

   I ran my hands over my black blouse and corset combination, smoothing out any lines and wrinkles. "Presentable" was a broad term in my opinion. Yira could have meant anything from a ballgown to a respectable shirt and skirt. I'd opted to go for something in the middle and wouldn't have been so fussy smoothing down the fabric if her words weren't echoing in my head, taunting me. By Nicneven, I hoped I'd made the right decision. It was too late to turn back now.

    I continued on, weaving around inappropriately placed furniture no one had put back in its place and up endless staircases. The observatory, naturally, was at the highest point of the castle. At least I'd worn trousers, walking up all these stairs in a skirt would have been a regret.  

    I followed the bannister as it weaved around and around in an upward spiral. It was a good thing I'd turned, otherwise I'd be an out of breath wreck by the time I made it to Rhuesia. I passed the statue of Ignario. Good, that meant I was almost there. I had little need to visit the observatory, but whenever I did come, relief always filled me whenever I laid eyes on that monument. The irony of Ignario being a symbol of both the end and the beginning of a journey was not lost on me.

    Finally, I staggered towards the huge rectangular archway at the top. There was no door to the observatory, something to do with the skies remaining "open". It was a snippet of information I'd neglected to go back and study, with more important research taking precedent. I reminded myself to look it up once this was over. Straightening up, I passed under the archway and onto the large stone balcony.

   Some of the balcony had a small glass enclosure, stretching from top to bottom, creating an iridescent gleam similar to the stars. Golden lines connected all the glass as support beams and contained within it all was a phenomenal telescope, the end sticking out of an opening high in its glass cage. At the other end, peering through the scope was a figure as familiar to me as she was to all the Clan.

   She pulled away from the telescope as I approached, turning to face me and gesturing for me to come inside. Her black painted nails reminded me eerily of talons. With slight nausea churning in my stomach, I unlatched the door and entered, slowly closing the panel behind me, lest the glass broke. Rhuesia said nothing, staring at me with golden eyes as piercing as cracked amber.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked respectfully.

"Yes. I did." Rhuesia's voice answered softly but firmly. No one knew how long she'd walked upon this land, but rumour indicated it was enough. Enough that every word she spoke held power and experience.

"Is it another mission? Because me and Lixiss only just returned last…" I started, but she held up a hand, silencing me.

"Yes and no." She responded after some consideration.  

"Then what…?”

"How much do you know about the Vampiric Prince?" Rhuesia questioned, cutting me off. That seemed to be happening far too much lately. Her eyes seemed to be boring into whatever was left of my soul, anticipation and dread at my answer flickering within them.

"Only his reputation I suppose. He is known for both his cruelty and cunning. He commands respect with his mere presence. That is the extent of my knowledge." I admitted confused. There was also very little information about him in the Clan records when I'd been searching for information on species hierarchical systems.

Rhuesia nodded, as if she expected this. "What you say is true Corisande, I can provide little else other than he is wealthy, skilled in combat and of course as derived from his title, is heir to the throne on which the Vampiric Emperor and Empress currently sit, overseeing all Clans, including our own.”

I nodded in acknowledgement, unsure why she was telling me this.

"I will be blunt Corisande. You are a rare creature, highly prized for your ability to still perform magic. A witch turned vampiress is no common thing, as is a witch turned shifter. From the same Coven no less. Your presence here in the Clan and your bodyguard's has been a great asset to us all. And that is why no less will be accepted.”

"What do you mean by no less will be accepted?" I knew the rest of her speech, but did this mean the Clan was planning to make a move on the Royal family? No matter how much of an "asset" I may be, I wasn't prepared to be involved in a plot to take down some of the highest ranking vampires in the world.

"Corisande, it has been decided between our Clan and the Royal Clan that you and Prince Theron are to wed.”

What?!