Chapter Seven

Graceona

There had been a dramatic change in the weather outside. A once sunny and beautiful day had turned into a wild storm. The vampire who lingered on the outskirts made use of this. I was concerned with the young man who rested sound asleep on the bed beside me. Many times throughout this hour. I contemplated sneaking him back to his previous living arrangement, away from this unseen enemy that camped, waiting to strike. This theory is my inability to trust the monsters that made up the hidden population. Or I was possessive of what I owned. Both would fit the bill for my resentment towards someone of my race.

Looking down at Leonard, I rose, walked out the door, and returned to the throne room. I sat in the massive wooden chair. As the clock ticked overhead, it echoed through the prominent, sparse place. I looked at my throne room. Perhaps Leonard was correct. I should have noticed this place. However, his apartment had an excuse for a structure as old as this. This place had everything but a good reason. The massive doors opened as the visitor entered the room; I looked up to see Darin, a young man who wasn't that old in the vampire life, nowhere near my years of experience; however, his brute strength was beautiful, the young man is wise beyond his years and very loyal.

 He saluted, meeting my eyes. "Your Grace, I have sent our best men to scout this creature and have sent out the order to close the palace walls. Providing a safe place for the Bloodline."

"I grant you permission, but only allow the children to pass through," I said, resting my head on my hand, having zero interest in this conversation, for I knew the adults' gossip. I examined Darin, putting my available hand on the arm of the throne.

"Your Highness?" Darin's eyes were now wide. "Not every bloodline member is a fighter, especially the women."

"Now is not the time to soften up. The Bloodline women are vampires, not daisies; we have human blood in our camp. They should go elsewhere if they have issues. I swore to defend the vulnerable, which I plan to do. If the women in The Bloodline focused more on training their fighting skills than training their mouths to spread rumors, they wouldn't be facing this issue. I invite every creature, vampire and human, male and female, to join my training sessions. They have no excuse to fear something with the same blood as themselves." The young man bit his lower lip and turned his head but dared not speak.

 "Whatever you wish to say, Darin, speak up. I'm all ears, but the request to protect those too lazy to train and too mouthy for their own good, the request will fall on dead ears."

With a sigh, the young man saluted me. "Yes, ma'am, I disagree with the choice, but you are the leader. Permission to ask a question, Your Excellency?" I looked at the young man with a sigh.

"Permission granted."

"What rumors have you heard from the woman? You have always detested them but never denied them the privilege of safety under other enemy attacks. If I may ask, what is the sudden change of heart?"

I looked at him as he looked at me. "No leader will protect their people if they have all manners of things to say about that person. I had invited these women into my palace. I clothed many when they were finding their footing in this new walk. They repay the kindness with disrespect, so they talk of equality, saying they are equal to men; it's time they put up their fists and prove it, or coward at home and shut up. Don't get me wrong, Darin; I entitle everyone to be equal. I firmly support it myself; don't just talk for show and not back up your words. Don't talk negatively about your leader or sister-in-arms when they have supported you."

"I understand your frustration, your highness. But." He stopped with a sigh.

"But what, Darin? Speak up." With a sigh, I pinched the bridge of my nose. The rain outside picked up as lightning lit the sky. "These women are snowflakes. They claim to have something that they haven't fought for. I bet it is nice to live by a husband's good name. I should try it sometime." I chuckled. "If you think I care, they leave my camp for another. I hoped they would go somewhere else and relieve me of the burden. However, few other rulers will tolerate this childish behavior. They need to learn respect." I leaned my head back, looking at the ceiling, as the doors opened again, causing me to look up with a sigh.

"Edgar, what is the news?" I glanced in Darin's direction. We may finish this conversation some other time. You have my permission to carry out your orders and allow the children to come. Everyone will be on alert, and should this intruder get brave, we eliminate them, take no prisoners, we are to end him."

The older man cleared his throat. "You're tense, dear child. Do you want to talk about it?" he asked as I moved around. Looking at him.

"Tense is putting it lightly, but at least you care enough to notice. But I'm not interested in words. You know I don't talk about my problems."

"Not even to your dear old grandfather. Come on, sweetheart, I know you are secretive, and I respect that, but it cuts my heart out of me when you're like this. I don't like to see you suffering like this. Let me help you. Let me do something."

"It's stuff, humans and vampires. You wouldn't understand."

"Now, Gracie, I know about wisdom on humans and vampires. Tell me, are you and Darin arguing again?"

"No, we have to reach a disagreement. He wants to shelter the women and children during this war, and I have permitted him to house the children. I'm not interested in the women of this nation."

"You disagreeing with the ladies again? I've told you to ignore them. When are you going to listen to your old man?"

"I'm not disagreeing with them either. I'm giving them a chance to prove their equal to the men who put in the time and effort to report to training; I'm giving them the option to put up their fists and fight for their claim or stay home and shut up. This isn't a disagreement. I'm simply giving them what they want and supporting their claims. They say they are more than housewives, yet once battles arise, they flee to their homes and rely on the men and me to settle the issue and bring safety to them and their children. I have no children of my own. Why should I protect someone else's load? I'm childless by choice."

He looked at me. "You're frustrated because you have to protect children?"

"Not just that. I have a man sleeping in my room who didn't ask to be brought to this place. I hate no one but myself. I hate putting him in this when he is safer with his kind. I put him in danger because I wanted to feel love and have someone accept me other than those from whom I demand it. They wouldn't love me if I hadn't beaten these people and conquered their kingdom. They respect me. I want love, like a river. I can't gain that here."

"The men love you, and for that, their wives are jealous. Jealousy is a hideous thing, Gracie. Darin, he loves you, and I love you." The old man's voice hid tears as he spoke. I sighed.

"I don't question your love. Darin is too busy sulking because I don't care enough for the women to protect them from this threat. He cares for every woman but me. There is no connection between Darin and me. The two of us are too much alike for there to be anything. We're both stubborn. It would never work out for us; we've tried. We didn't make it back then, and there is no way the two of us will be any better. Plus, I'm happy with Leonard. He is my mate. I could never love Darin the same way."

"Darin doesn't hate you. He's concerned about you. You have been making interesting choices. Bringing a human to this town and getting involved in dangerous affairs. You have little to no regard for your life. Those who love you worry because you are causing them to worry. You're becoming distant, more so than you were before. We're concerned about you. You can't blame us. You got your revenge, Grace. Let go of the past. Be free. They have no shackles on you any longer. You're safe, and your mate is safe. You have waited for this moment for so long. It's your time to rest. This creature isn't any different from any other you have faced. First comes the storm, then the calm. It is the circle of life. You need to be patient."

"Not the circle of life talk again. Come on. I'm not an animal. I know the circle of life can be cruel with battles and a blessing when a child enters it. Edgar, I have lost count of the times we have had this discussion."

The old man grinned. "And news to you, little lady, until this lesson sinks into your thick skull. I will repeat this lesson so you can either stop fighting this old man's great wisdom or buckle up because even though you are an adult, you are not too old for Grandpa's wisdom. And you are never too old for me to send you to your room, vampire or not. You're still my little polliwog and dumpling, and I loved you then, and I love you even now."

I sighed. "Must you still call me that? I'm not a child."

"You'll always be a child to me. You knew what you signed up for when you turned me. We may both be older, but my love for you is still the same. You were my first grand-baby."

I looked at him, then at the floor with a sigh. "I love you too, Grandpa. Of all my family, I think I would have missed you most of all. I suppose I should listen to your wisdom more."

The old man laughed a jolly laugh that I had loved as a child growing up. I stood up and hugged him as he embraced me. He released the hug, looking at me with a smile and kissing my forehead. "You're going to be a great lover and mother. Leonard sees this in you, too. The boy tells me you have quite the overprotective temper." He chuckled. "And the boy he lived with, Leonard, doesn't hate you. Add him to the list of people who love you. You have more who love you than those who don't let them hate. Give them something to talk about and give someone else a break; gossip will be gossip, whether vampires or humans. Everyone will always have something to say; you're doing well, sweetheart. Don't let anyone tell you any differently. These women wouldn't last a day doing the duties that you do. I'm proud of my baby girl."

I smiled. "Thank you. It means a lot to me. You care about this much. I couldn't imagine my eternal life without my favorite grandparent." I backed away from him as the doors opened, and Leonard entered the room. Rubbing a hand over tired eyes, he looked at the two of us.

"Alert the press. Grace can smile. Why are you so red?" He looked at Edgar, then back at me. I laughed, looking at the surrounding company. I loved these men, and they loved me; that was all that mattered to me.