Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
The entourage pulled to a stop in the courtyard of a dark castle surrounded by a forest. It wasn’t the same forest they’d traveled through; these trees weren’t near as menacing with their gray trunks and crimson leaves.
They appeared more vibrant—less like the hollowed-out husks of Chaménos—and more lush, with full branches.
The architecture of the castle featured ebony spires and flying buttresses.
The large stained-glass windows making up the front of the castle didn’t do much besides make for an imposing view.
No one greeted them as Thalia dismounted in the courtyard. Only two soldiers stood outside the castle doors, their armor glinting against the light of the moon.
She’d expected to feel something as they crossed into the Vampyr world.
A barrier, perhaps, or some tingling to know she’d entered another realm.
But the only strange thing she’d noticed about Vaccarium as they rolled through green fields, heading toward House Lorenzia, was that they didn’t stop to take shelter during the day.
In fact, during the day the sky was cloudy.
Almost as though a summer storm were rolling in, blotting out the sun.
And because the sun remained hidden, the Vampyrs weren’t affected.
Another strange fact to add to Thalia’s ever-growing list about the Vampyrs.
Why don’t they still stick to the night to hunt?
Surely the clouds aren’t always around to keep them safe from the light.
“Where is everyone?” she asked Keegan, who still seemed the most reasonable out of the group.
Given the fact that the Vampyrs were creatures of the night, she’d expected someone to greet her—the guards who were to protect the castle, the staff who’d now be under her charge.
More importantly, she’d expected her new husband to be standing on his palace steps.
But it was quiet. Unnerving. As though she and the Vampyrs she’d traveled with were the only souls on this side of their world.
The thought sent an unwanted pang of fear through her stomach.
“You’ll be introduced tomorrow.” Lord Damien stepped forward, aiming for the castle. “You’ll be taken to your room until then, where you will be confined.”
“What of the prince?” Thalia pushed, following the Vampyr up the stone steps.
“He’s been detained but shall return on the morrow.
” Lord Damien didn’t say anything more as they entered the castle.
It was silent, eerily so. They passed marble busts tucked in hidden alcoves, their footsteps masked by long carpets dyed a rich burgundy.
In the grand entrance, the winding onyx staircase was polished to a shine.
Thalia could see her warped reflection as she followed Lord Damien into a cold wing of the palace.
It seemed the farther they walked, the colder it got.
The dark-papered walls didn’t hold any paintings or tapestries and were broken up only by arched windows of stained glass.
The hall was decidedly bare aside from suits of armor that lined the edges and the occasional sconce casting shadows across her path.
“What is it that you do?” Thalia broke the silence. The Vampyrs hadn’t seemed inclined to speak to her on their journey to Irenbis, but perhaps now that they were at the castle …
Lord Damien paused, cocking his head. “I am the prince’s diplomat.”
“To the humans?”
“To anyone he wishes to broker a deal with.”
Thalia picked at her nails. “Who has he brokered deals with?”
“You are not well versed about our courts, are you?”
“I’m versed about your courts. Which one are you from?”
“I was from House Avanerius.”
“Was?”
Lord Damien stared at her unblinking. “I serve the prince now. As such, I was bound to a new House, House Lorenzia.”
Thalia could have sworn dark-auburn hair flashed out of the corner of her eye, but it was just her and Lord Damien in the hall. “How long have you served House Lorenzia?”
Lord Damien cocked his head. “Seven years.”
Thalia tucked the information away. He had deep ties with the prince, then. Perhaps he could be of some use. “How many serve the prince?”
“All of Vaccarium serves the prince.”
“Do the courts not answer to him?”
Lord Damien shifted. “They do. But that does not mean they are subjected to his rule alone.”
“What does that mean?”
Lord Damien met her stare. “There are five Houses—five courts. They oversee their capital city and the surrounding territory. While the prince, and by extension House Lorenzia, technically watches over all of Vaccarium, the members of the Houses can hold votes. Can even outvote the prince if needed.”
“Why would you need to outvote the prince?”
The smile Lord Damien gave didn’t reach his eyes. “If the prince is ruling unfairly. If House Lorenzia is abusing its power over the other Houses.” The Vampyr began walking again.
“You said you were part of House Avanerius? Who runs it?” Perhaps if she could start building trust with Lord Damien, his House would also hold some sway with the prince.
“My brother. Before you drove a stake through his skull.”
Thalia tripped over her feet, slowly sliding her gaze back to Lord Damien. She swallowed, but Lord Damien did nothing, simply stared at her, emotionless.
“And now?” she asked carefully. It had been six months since that … incident. Surely someone would have stepped up.
“No one has been elected yet in his stead.”
Thalia’s throat tightened. She didn’t know what to say. But she certainly wasn’t going to apologize to the Vampyr. Even if she’d gutted his brother and left his entrails to be ripped apart by crows.
“How does it work, then? Choosing a ruler of a House?”
Lord Damien didn’t so much as a bat an eye. “Each family who rules has a claim to their House. If you’re in the bloodline, no matter how distant, you can put forth your name to be voted. Those within the House courts choose who they would like to be their next lord.”
“There are no ladies?”
Lord Damien seemed to pause. “There have been a few in the past.”
Her brows narrowed at that. “And the prince? Was he elected?”
Lord Damien shook his head. “No. House Lorenzia is the only house whose rule is hereditary. A true monarch compared to the elected officials of the other Houses.”
Thalia chewed the inside of her cheek. It was similar to what she was used to.
While her mother governed and Agripa’s rule was passed down through her bloodline, there were those on the queen’s council—those who ran certain cities—who were elected by the people.
The way the Vampyrs ran their courts felt too … human.
“Why has no one stepped forward in your House, then?” she pushed.
Lord Damien stared at her. “It is not a task to be taken lightly. Running a House comes with its own set of challenges.”
“Like what?” Thalia’s interest piqued. Maybe those challenges could be used to bring the courts down.
Lord Damien smiled, but it didn’t reach his red eyes. “Challenges every court suffers from. Some wish to see the realm run in one manner while others wish to see it led differently. Surely, as princess of Agripa, you know what sorts of challenges a ruler might face.”
A nonanswer. Thalia didn’t think she’d get anything more from Lord Damien, but speaking about the courts had given her an idea. If there was a court without a ruler, perhaps she could use that to her advantage to further destabilize an already unstable House.
She’d need to confirm court loyalties, study the books Marcus had given her to find out who was more inclined to push back against the prince’s rules—
She sucked in a sharp breath. She hadn’t seen those books since the night they’d left Corithian.
“Everything all right, Princess?” Lord Damien looked her over, the sconces in the hall casting shadows over his features.
Thalia forced herself not to panic at the thought that the knowledge she needed was lost. “If I am to meet the prince tomorrow, is there anything I should know about House Lorenzia?”
Surprise flared in his red eyes. “Why are you asking me?”
She waved a hand. “I’ll admit that my memory of what we were taught is hazy. You are a diplomat for a reason, and you come from an important House, meaning you know about the other Vampyr courts. If I am to be joined to this House, I’d like my first impression not to appear weak.”
Lord Damien smirked, and she had a sinking feeling he’d like to have her look weak, only so the Vampyrs could tear her apart. “What would you like to know, Princess?”
“How long has House Lorenzia been around?”
Lord Damien cocked his head. “Since the beginning.”
“What do you mean, the beginning?”
“The Vampyrs have been around since the dawn of this world. When the pockets of magic were plentiful.”
Thalia’s mind briefly flashed to the story she’d been told as a child. There were beings of great power—Mages—who could manipulate magic into whatever they wished. “So the story about the Mages creating you is true?”
“Yes. What do you know about them?”
“The Mages?” Lord Damien nodded, and Thalia chewed on her lip. “You were formed from those pockets of magic by the Mages to be personal soldiers—until they realized you couldn’t be controlled and instead began to kill those around you for sport.”
Lord Damien’s eyes flashed, and Thalia slipped her hand into the slit of her dress, feeling the iron stake Reina had given her next to her knife.
“Control is an interesting thing. Your story may allude to us being controlled, yet for the Vampyrs, we were no better than their slaves. They cursed us to fear the sun, then created iron so they might protect themselves against their own creations.”
“What happened after?”