Chapter 4 Leseldh #2
The Idthraki and Maurell lines were not considered equal, and Drachen’s sole purpose was to elevate his status among the Noctis Vampires—gaining a seat at the theatre spoke volumes of his progress.
Drachen considered Leseldh his true rival and went to great pains to interfere in his affairs.
Drachen’s Broodling, Killian, also had a long-standing rivalry with Voresta.
Drachen was a similar age to Leseldh. He’d been on the periphery when Malia was Ended, and Leseldh’s world disintegrated. It was foolish to name Ivy as his Resonant to Drachen. It was a moment of mindless bravado that could cost him dearly, but his pride couldn’t leave the insult unaddressed.
It took the remainder of the performance for Leseldh to regain control of his emotions.
When the curtain dropped for the final time, Leseldh reached out to his Erath mentally.
Keep an eye on Drachen, he instructed. Phaedra acknowledged his instruction by spreading her wings that transitioned from black to grey, before taking flight across the theatre, high up and out of sight.
The house lights rose, and Leseldh turned in his seat to admire his Resonant now that the darkness of the theatre had receded.
“How did the second act compare?” The lightness had returned to his voice, and Ivy looked relieved to hear it.
“It was so sad, and yet, so beautiful. I’m lost for words,” she replied breathily, and the sound sent chills skittering throughout Leseldh’s extremities; one in particular was especially affected. That was only amplified when she leaned towards him and landed a feather-light kiss on his lips.
“Are you ready to head home?” His voice was unexpectedly husky, and he swallowed thickly as he was overcome by his desire.
His mind drifted to exactly which room of Veldmoor that he wanted to take her to, and all the wicked things he wanted to do to her.
He didn’t verbalise his thoughts, but he was sure his intentions were etched on his face.
If Ivy noticed, she didn’t draw attention to it. She simply nodded in response, and they made their way out of the theatre. Their fingers entwined on the short walk to where Leseldh’s sleek black sedan was parked, and he got behind the wheel after opening Ivy’s door for her.
“You know, I wasn’t sure you could drive, since I’ve only ever seen Voresta behind the wheel,” Ivy quipped playfully.
Leseldh glanced at her before returning his gaze to the road. It immediately brought a smile to his face. He’d forgotten what it was like to be so enchanted by a female.
“Voresta is very dedicated in his service to me.”
“So, you Created him, but he also works for you?”
“He is not my employee, but he believes he is serving a life debt. As such, his loyalty and sense of duty knows no bounds.”
“What do you mean by ‘a life debt’?”
“I’m afraid that is not my story to tell.”
Voresta’s loyalty was strongly reciprocated by Leseldh.
They’d been together for 129 years, and Leseldh had grown accustomed to his protective presence.
Although Creating Voresta had never truly eradicated the well of loss and sorrow within Leseldh, he was still grateful to have Voresta at his side.
Ivy fell silent. Leseldh stole another glance at her. He was obsessive in his need to look at her.
“Thank you for taking me to the theatre. It was a magical experience.” Leseldh heard the sincerity in Ivy’s words, and it brought another smile to his lips.
“Malia also loved the theatre. It seems you have that in common.” His voice was low, and he had no control over the adoration that coated the words.
Leseldh suspected that Ivy shared much more than Malia’s countenance, and this outing—or date, as she’d put it—solidified his belief that this female was his Resonant. We will find each other again.
Ivy didn’t respond to his statement, and when he glanced over at her, she appeared to be deep in thought, with a furrow marring her delicate brow.
“I apologise for my behaviour tonight.”
Leseldh felt like he’d done nothing but apologise to Ivy since her arrival in his home.
He smothered the concern that things kept occurring that forced him to keep making apologies.
Ivy remained silent for another long moment, and Leseldh thought she may not respond.
The air within the car grew thick with tension and Leseldh was desperate to cut through it.
Her voice obliterated the silence before he could, and her words were edged with irritation.
“Who was that guy? Drachen. You mentioned something about an inferior bloodline?” Ivy’s question dragged Leseldh back to the theatre, and he gripped the steering wheel tightly to keep his anger in check.
“He’s a Maurell,” Leseldh ground out through gritted teeth.
“Is that supposed to mean something?” Ivy’s attitude did nothing for Leseldh’s rising temper. He took a deep breath before responding.
“The Vampires of Noctis come from two main bloodlines: The Idthrakis, which we are, and the Maurells. There were others, but they have been lost to time. The Maurells are reviled due to an event that disgraced their line centuries ago.” Contempt dripped from Leseldh’s words, and the expression that washed over his features was akin to one experienced when stepping into a shoe and finding something squishy inside.
Ivy remained silent, so he continued, “Over 600 years ago, the Maurell Vampires were responsible for the violation of a Treaty between Noctis and Cevoria, the Fae Realm. How much do you know of Noctis’s history, Ivy?”
“Only what stories my mother would tell my sister and I as children, to warn us away from the Portal Buildings. Mostly that it’s dark all the time, and everything here wants to kill you.” Ivy’s voice seemed far away.
“Indeed, this land is forever shrouded in darkness, and within that darkness lurk all manner of creatures. The Redcaps are one such creature. Have you heard of them?”
“Yes. My mother said they were particularly bloodthirsty creatures that relished in bathing in the blood of their victims.” Ivy’s voice wavered as she recounted what she knew. Leseldh nodded in reply before elaborating.
“More or less. They were once Goblins. But when a Maurell Vampire’s bite Created them, they mutated and became the abhorrent creatures known as Redcaps.” Leseldh’s words caused Ivy’s face to light up with surprise.
“Were the Maurells punished?”
“In a way, we were all punished. Their actions led to the Fae denying any creature of Noctis access to Cevoria through the Portal Building, which still stands to this day. However, the offending Vampire was Ended by the Council, and the Maurell Mandate was imposed upon the rest of the Maurell line.”
“What’s the Maurell Mandate?”
“It’s a restriction on how many Vampires a Maurell can Create.
The Mandate still stains their bloodline with shame even 600 years later.
Everything Drachen does is in a desperate bid to elevate his station beyond this shame.
” There was an edge of satisfaction in Leseldh’s voice because he knew that no matter how hard he tried, the repugnant Drachen Maurell would never surpass him.
Silence fell in the car again, and it seemed Ivy was mulling over the influx of information. Leseldh knew it was important to impart a warning upon her.
“The Mandate is a source of tension for Drachen, and he wages his own war against it. He has a Broodling that he uses to do his bidding, and he is fearsome because he relishes in hunting his own kind. Now that Drachen has seen you, he may send the Vampire known as the Hunter after you.”
It made Leseldh sick to his stomach to impart such news upon Ivy, and he could see the weight it placed on her by the furrows that lined her brow. As the gates to Veldmoor parted and they drove up the long driveway to the mansion, he made a vow to her, hoping to eradicate her concern.
“I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. And you know that Voresta will protect you with his life, as well.”