Family Ties

A month had passed since Eleanor had arrived at Castle Black.

During that time she had gotten to know Cygnus better, he had told her why the Black family had shrunk to such an extreme degree.

When Eleanor heard the reason she had shouted at him and cursed the fools who wanted to join that madman.

She had only stayed one night in Bellatrix's room not because she didn't like it but because there were other spare rooms in the castle.

Her new room was quite big with a large double bed in the center her cupboards were now filled with different types of clothes there were small windows lightning one wall from witch the view was beautiful you could see the large forest and further along the ocean.

The discussion she had with Cygnus about Eleanor employing humans as maids and cooks was long and arduous but she prevailed in the end.

Since then Victoria had started learning how to be a maid.

Eleanor had also received the letter sent by Nurlig the Black Vault manager.

The contents were enraging how could they spend so much money on one man's crazy schemes.

Back to the present, Eleanor was sitting at the extremely long-empty dining table.

Swallowing the spoon full of porridge she had in her mouth, she sighed "Victoria".

The mentioned woman who was standing to the left of Eleanor stepped forward "Yes your highness."

Looking over at her she barely recognized the Victoria of a month ago. Now she had a smooth and healthy complexion with her black hair well-trimmed. She also wore a traditional maid's uniform which consisted of a long black dress that reached down to her ankles with long sleeves and a white apron.

"Could you fetch me the list of all the sacred 28 families that still have members among society and a list of all families that have close relations with the Blacks?"

"OF course your highness" Victoria said bowing and walking off.

Only a few minutes later she returned with multiple pieces of parchment.

"Your highness where should I put them."

"Right here," Eleanor said patting the table in front of her.

Placing them down Victoria went back to her original position.

FInishing her porridge she asked Victoria to take it away which she did.

Grabbing the topmost scroll she read through it.

'So, the only Families from the sacred 28 that are still among the living and free are.

Abbott, Black, Bulstrode, Burke, Crouch, Fawley, Flint, Greengrass, Longbottom, Macmillan, Malfoy, Nott, Ollivander, Parkinson, Prewett, Selwyn, Shacklebolt, Slughorn, Weasley, and Yaxley.'

Placing that scroll to the side she grabbed the next one.

'Lestrange, Bellatrix is married to their Lord, Rodolphus Lestrange. But they're all in Askaban.'

Taking the next scroll she read it through.

'Burke, Belvina Black married Herbert Burke.'

She quickly read through them all then leaned back and thought.

'Potter, Dorea Black married Charles Potter, if I'm not mistaken they're Harry Potter's granduncle and grandaunt.

Longbottom, Callidora Black married Harfang Longbottom.

Malfoy, Narcissa Black married Lucius Malfoy, hm, quite a lot of influence in magical Britain. I should pay them a visit.'

"Victora" she called out and the maid answered "Yes your highness"

"Could you tell me today's schedule.?" Eleanor asked taking a sip of tea

.

"Of course, from nine to ten A.M. you promised to have some tea with Lord Black. Then you wanted to head to have lunch in the Rhubarb restaurant in Edinburgh. At two P.M you have a meeting with Nurlig about the progress of your investments.

Lastly another meeting but this one with the wizards, witches, and muggles you instructed me to find."

Eleanor smiled "Ah yes, I'm sure I've told you before, but during my father's reign we didn't have these house-elves. We had human servents, they were paid wages and everything and I would prefer that system to return."

Eleanor then stood up and looked at the clock it was 8 A.M. "Well I still have some time to spare."

For the next few hours she just relaxed strangely over the last few weeks she hadn't felt hungry at all but she just wrote it of as 'I drank so much the first time my reserves are probably filled to the brim.'

She had already told Victoria about her being a vampire of course she was shocked but quickly calmed down.

Some people might ask why she told Victoria about that and there's an easy answer.

What would happen if she lost control, who would stop her from killing everybody in the whole house and how would she get her hands on blood bags.

After she had tea with Cygnus, Eleanor went back to her room Victoria close behind her.

"Your highness would you like to change your clothes to fit in, in muggle society?" asked Victoria after they entered her room.

Eleanor's crystalline eyes bored into Victoria "Yes, that would be appropriate."

A bright smile formed on the maid's face "Excellent, I already have some in mind." she said while walking to Eleanor's closet.

She took a few minutes but finally pulled out a pair of black flared trousers, a white blouse, and a dark blue almost black jeans jacket with a gold crown on the back.

Eleanor razed an eyebrow "Victoria I'm not sure if this is appropriate for the place I'm going."

"Oh no no no, I-I can assure you, your highness, that this perfect for the occasion. E-except if your highness doesn't like it?"

Eleanor moved over to the large mirror next to the widows. "I do, even though it's quite eccentric."

Victoria moved over and started undressing the small princess. "Well even if it was inappropriate for the occasion what could they do to stop you, your highness."

When Eleanor showing her true appearance it always distressed Victoria, especially when she had to touch the one and a half millennia-old child's skin.

The cold it exuded was extremely uncomfortable.

After dressing Eleanor they did her hair, now standing in front of the door to her room stood Eleanor with black pants, white blows, a jean jacket, and her hair slightly wavey red hair lying over her shoulders.

She looked over at Victoria who had also changed into muggle wear her's was different though with blue jean trousers and pink blouse.

Victoria stretched out her arm "Shall we go, your highness.

Eleanor blinked her sclera turning to the normal non crystallized version of itself. She then smiled and grabbed the extended arm.

With a loud crack, they vanished and reappeared.

They now stood in a small tavern filled with wizards and witches, everybody was looking at them.

"Ah, ms. Sharp hasn't seen you in a long time." said the bartender in a Scottish accent.

He was quite short with a mop of ginger hair on his head and a few scars here and there.

"Mr. Chester it has been quite a while," Victoria said beaming.

He spotted Eleanor and leaned over the counter "And who's this?"

"My new employer, Lady Black."

Mr. Chester's eyes widened "Really, well, it's a pleasure meeting you then, Lady Black."

"The pleasure is all mine"

"Well then, we better get going," Victoria said turning away "Have a nice day Mr. Chester."

"You as well Ms. Sharp, Lady Black."

Exiting the front door they now stood on the pavement of a large street.

"Victoria, where are we?"

"Saint Mary's street. Our car should be here any minute now."

Just then a black Rolls Royce silver spirit pulled up in front of them.

A man then stepped out he wore a black suit with a matching black tie he had short brown hair and a defined jawline.

"Excuse me, are you perhaps, Lady Black and Ms. Sharp?" he asked in a posh accent.

"Yes, then you must be Mr. Cox," Victoria said politely.

"That would be my name, please step in and I will drive you to your desired location," he said opening the back door for them.

Eleanor stepped forward and got in, the door was shut and a few moments later the other door to her right was opened, in stepped Victoria.

Leaning over Victoria helped Eleanor fasten her seat belt "We don't want you flying out of the car now do we?" she said smiling at the small girl.

"No, it would be better if that didn't happen," Eleanor said in her angelic voice.

As they drove through Edinburgh, Victoria told her a bit about the city and how it was founded.

They were now driving down a suburban road lined by grey brick houses.

They then turned left into a long driveway lightened by trees.

As they reached the small white manor house the car stopped.

Mr. Cox stepped out and opened the door for her.

When she was out she smiled at him "Thank you".

He was stunned for a second 'God, she's so cute' is all he could think at that moment.

After he had helped Victoria out Eleanor suddenly asked "Mr. Cox will you be waiting here for us to return?"

"Yes, of course," he said bowing slightly.

As they approached the oak front door, it swung open a young woman in a white blows black jacket and trousers stepped out.

As she scanned the two customers she smiled "Lady Black, Ms. Sharp, I presume?"

"Yes that is correct," the nodding Victoria said.

"Then please come in, we have already prepared your table it's right this way,"

The inside of the restaurant was quite luxurious with paintings of important people on every wall.

The young woman led them through several rooms where there were people dining.

"Here it is," she said as they reached a specific table that was placed next to the window.

It was square and was made of shining back oak. The chairs they at on were extremely comfortable with red padding on the seat, and backrest.

The woman gave them both menus and left.

As she looked around Eleanor noticed that there were only two other groups of people one was two males and two females all four of them looked extremely rich.

The other group consisted of three people, two men, and one woman, They looked upper-middle class.

"So what would you like to eat my lady?" asked Victoria from opposite her.

An hour had passed and Eleanor was just eating her cream Brule when she accidentally heard what the group of four were talking about.

"Oh yes, she really tried accusing my brother of raping her as if he would do that. She was probably trying to steal his money."

This piqued Eleanor's interest, turning in her chair she had a clear view of the overwait woman who had been talking.

She immediately made eye contact and read her mind 'Why is that girl looking at me, did she hear our conversation.' Then images passed through the woman's mind. Her entering her brother's room, him raping a girl, she ignored it, them standing in court, them celebrating their victory.

Eleanor broke eye contact, she gritted her teeth and clenched her fist the spoon bending under the pressure.

Then out of nowhere, a sudden hunger filled her "My lady" she could hear a faint voice but ignored it "My lady" the voice was louder.

***

When Judy Reese heard the woman named Victoria Sharp shouting something she immediately rushed in her direction. When she arrived, she saw Ms. Sharp shaking the young Lady Black. But the girl wasn't reacting she just sat there shaking slightly with her eyes firmly shut.

When Judy rushed over she noticed the girl's skin was extremely pale.

"What happened?" Judy asked the scared Ms. Sharp.

"Stay away!" Victoria shouted before turning back to Lady Black and in a calm voice, she said "Eleanor listen to me you have to stay in control just listen to my voice. Keep calm, keep calm."

That's when Judy noticed the girl's teeth and nails they were extremely long and sharp.

"W-what is she?" she asked absolutely terrified.

Victoria only sighed "Just stay away, and I'll handle this."

"W-" Judy was about to retort but Eleanor's eyes suddenly shot open, They weren't the eyes she saw her with before, no, these were crystalized and looked like fine gems.

"My lady" Victoria cried out while the girl stood up. Her blood-red hair rising up and floating above her.

The girl, monster whatever she was then lunged forward faster than the eye could see and landed on the fat lady Mirkwood.

The woman screamed as the girl plunged her arm into the woman's chest and tore out her heart. Blood rained down on the table of her now three companions, as the girl continued to tear the woman apart.

Judy then screamed which sent of a chain reaction the next one to scream was Lord Mirkwood but he fell silent, the reason? Well, you can't scream without a head.

Judy fell to her knees as the slaughter continued nobody except for her and Victoria were left when the girl jumped at Judy slicing straight through her troat with her claws.