Chapter 9
Dreya’s POV
Onyx had received an unusual and urgent phone call one evening, looking at me, with apprehension.
“I will be gone for a few hours, maybe longer. I was asked to help someone find their blood wife.”
That had peaked my interest. “Something has happened?”
He looked at me warily. “His blood wife was kidnapped and possibly taken to a bloodletting party.”
I gasped. I had overhead house staff talk about them. Worse? I had overheard my fa--, Mr. D’Avare speak on them with disdain with his group of aristocrats.
Once he had said, “Those dirty low bloods should just wipe each other out. Waste of good blood on them.”
I hated Mr. D’Avare. He was a cruel man who did not deserve the power he held.
I wrapped my arms around myself. “I hope she is found safe.”
He nodded at me, and left. But not before staring at me with such sadness.
He came home about four hours later. I had stayed up because I had been worried about the blood partner’s safety. Okay, and maybe him as well.
When he came through the entrance of the door, I came to him, on edge. My hands were clenched at my side as I saw blood on him. I looked him over as he stared at me, surprised.
“Is she….is she…..safe?”
He nodded. “Devareaux found her. He will make sure she is safe.”
I gasped. “Devareaux Hautbois?”
Onyx nodded again, hesitantly.
I frowned at him. “But bloodlettings are in low blood born sections.”
Onyx stood there, simply staring at me.
“His blood wife is a low blood born?”
He nodded again.
My eyes went wide, as my hand flew to my mouth. In a whisper, “What’s her name?”
“Odessa.”
I hesitated. It wasn’t my place, but I felt the need to see her, ensure she was okay.
“May I…..may I….ummmm…….”
I looked away, unsure how to ask.
“I asked Devareaux if you could possibly visit Odessa once she is well enough for visitors.” I was surprised.” “He said yes.”
I was shocked, but I simply nodded. “You should….you should….ummm...get cleaned up….” I waved over his appearance. He started to move when I blurted out, “Are you hurt?”
He stopped and turned to me, with a small smile. “No, I did not get hurt.”
I nodded and looked away, embarrassed for showing that I was concerned. He left the room, making me wonder what had happened to our society in such a short period of time.
Onyx came to me the next day to speak with me in my sanctuary. I tried to maintain my composure, but I felt like something had changed between us the night before.
We were sitting across from each other as we had been that day we discussed the new dynamics to our relationship. This time, the air was uneasy, but with less tension in the air. We sat quietly for a bit, making me more and more anxious as the time slipped by.
“Dreya, I am asking for your help.”
That alerted me. “How do you mean?” I made direct eye contact with Onyx. I could see how he was able to rise among the ranks. He was relaxed and calm, appearing almost formal.
Onyx continued to observe me. “Devareaux is wanting to bring it to the Blood Council’s attention about the Bloodless Parties. This would likely mean an overhaul with the businesses ran by the aristocrats on the low blood born section.”
I was confused. “How would I be of help?”
“How much do you know of your father’s,…….Mr. D’Avare’s business circle?”
I looked at Onyx apprehensively. “I just know who he has invited over for dinners and the occasional private meetings.”
Onyx smiled. “That is more than enough information to get us started. Would you be willing to meet with Devareaux and me to discuss it more?”
The thought that I might be able to help in a way that was in direct opposition of Mr. D’Avare made me hopeful.
“We could do good?”
He smiled wider. “That is the hope.”
I smiled softly at him and nodded. “I would do my best with what I can.”
Odessa had been home only a couple of days, but I wanted to be of service however I could.
I had never interacted with a low blood born.
I had only interacted on a few occasions with mid blood borns as it was, like when I had visited the salon.
But to be fair, even interactions with high blood borns had been limited for me.
I was anxious because I did not go out and visit people, even when I was living at home with my parents.
But this could give me purpose, something to do.
I had a blood match, but no partner. I would have to improvise with what my life would become with that knowledge.
Odessa had been a wonderful breath of fresh air. She was a very beautiful woman with such long gorgeous black hair. And her skin tone was perfection, just the right shade of darkness to light balance.
I had expected some restraint, some disdain or disgust towards me.
She showed me none. We had a brief conversation about her health and well being.
We did not go into details of either of our situations.
That was not done. Or, at least, I didn’t think it was.
I apparently let slip the information that her blood husband, and mine, were working to abolish the Bloodless Parties.
She had been shocked, which I didn’t blame her.
This was yet another unprecedented situation among vampyrs.
That seemed to be occurring regularly as of late.
We spoke casually with each other for about an hour, after which she offered me to return anytime.
I was excited that maybe I had made my first real friend.
About a week later, I was again back at the Hautbois estate to meet with Devareaux, Odessa, and Onyx. The meeting started out light and easy, with the usual pleasantries, but that soon led until the reason why were present.
Mr. Hautbois addressed me directly. “Dreya, I am hoping you may have some kind of information that we could possibly use to take to the Blood Council in order to help us with our fight against the bloodletting acts.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, unsure what to tell and if any of it was really valuable.
Onyx had said what little I did know could be very useful for them, but I wasn’t so sure.
Then, if it came out that I was the one to provide the information, could Mr. D’Avare cause harm to me? Or even Onyx and his position?
Odessa spoke up next. “Dreya, we will protect you in any way we can. Even if you think the information you have isn’t important, we can decide if it is or not. I would be very appreciative of any help you can offer on behalf of the low blood borns.”
That hit me hard. She was directly asking me for help too.
I nodded uneasily. “All I can talk on our the regular aristocrats that attended dinners at the house or stayed after for private meetings with Mr. D’Avare.”
Odessa had once asked me why I referred to my father in this manner, which I then entrusted her with that information.
She had initially looked sadly at me, then did something I had not expected.
She had patted my hand. I had become a bit protective of Odessa, even if I had only known her a short time.
“The usual guests included Mr. Borne, Mr. Delacroix, Mr. Laframboise, and Mr. Pinchon.”
The group was quiet for a few minutes, digesting the names I gave.
Odessa nodded. “Mr. Delacroix is the owner of the meat packing plant. He has been rumored to be very rigid with his employees. Even limits bathroom breaks to two minutes for both men and women.”
Onyx added, “And Mr. Pinchon had been the one to fire workers who had missed days for bloodlettings that my grandfather had taken in to help get back on their feet.”
I turned to him, shocked. I had not heard that story of his grandfather. He smiled sadly at me. “It is time you met them.”
I felt my chest pinch. It seemed a bit late for that. But also, if Onyx hated Mr. D’Avare as much as he did, and treated me with that hate in mind, wouldn’t his family do the same?
As if sensing my anxiety, Onyx leaned in from his seat next to me. “They would love you. As I do.”
No he did not! I huffed at that last statement and turned back to the conversation.
Mr. Hautbois then mentioned my father’s secrets, one that I had suspected, the other I had not.
“We could also use that information about the blood whore to persuade Mr. D’Avare to make internal changes.
We should approach him before the Blood Council gets to that part of the process so it does not appear that he changed his mind against his will.
Not that I really care that it comes out he had mistresses and a blood whore. ”
I gasped. “Wha….what?” I turned to Onyx who looked pained.
He turned to Mr. Hautbois. “I had not warned her of this information yet.” He turned to me, looking at me cautiously.
“Devareaux mentioned to me about a week back that he had heard rumors of your fa--, Mr. D’Avare not only having mistresses, but also a blood whore.
I had him seek out proof that may be beneficial to us for persuading him to make the changes we want him to. ”
I sat with that for a moment, my hands clenched into fists on my lap. Mr. D’Avare had treated me like I was a dirty secret when he was the one partaking in a shameful act that society would have turned on him for. I hated the man even more. Did Mother know? I bet she did.
I felt a warmth touch my hand lightly, and I was about to jerk my hand away, when Onyx’s hand engulfed mine. He squeezed softly, but I continued to avoid eye contact.
Mr. Hautbois took hold of the conversation and began speaking with Onyx abut next steps. This would be a new undertaking for us all. But I hoped it would make positive changes for our kind.