A Stranger in the Night
Chapter 23

Alex's POV

"Oh darling, won't you join me?" Meredith held up her goblet, full of what smelt like freshly drained blood. "It's a good one.". She smirked and laughed. Completely unimpressed by her actions, I walked right past her and headed to my chair on the opposite side of the room. Dealing with her was the last thing I wanted. I can't believe she sent me away. My heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces. I took in a deep breath and tried to relax, not wanting Meredith to pick up on my anger or frustration. "What's going on darling? You seem tense?". She got up from her seat and approached me. Sliding herself onto the arm rest of the chair I was in. I shifted to lean on the other side of the chair and brushed her off. She began to trace her fingers up my arm, towards my face. I grabbed her hand and moved it away. "Oh darling, what's going on....". She paused, and took a deep breath. "What is that....I mean who is that exquisite smell? They smell divine! I could drink more than a few drops of that!". I began to feel my blood boil. "Stop it Meredith.". She stood up and moved backwards from me. "What is going on with you! Your behaviour is so weird. If I didn't know any better, I would have sworn you were.....wait....there's someone else isn't there? That's why you keep brushing me off isn't it.". I began to panick. I could let her replace out about Luna. This was bad. "No. There isn't anyone else. I just don't like you touching me.".

She flashed towards me, meeting my gaze only a matter of inches from my face. "Do not lie to me. I know something is going on. I can smell a human all over you. Same one as the day I first arrived here. I went looking for them amongst the bloodbags you have here but couldn't replace them. I don't know anyone that won't share humans apart from you." She snarled at me, gritting her teeth and forcing her fangs out. "You have been somewhere for most of the afternoon and now you return smelling of some delicious human and are acting like a jerk. There must be something your hiding from me or someone else in the picture. I am going to replace out who and when I do, I will be dealing with it. As you know, we are supposed to be wed on the next blood moon, as a way for both clans to be joined. I'm sure my Father and yours will be pissed to know you are sabotaging this.". I saw red, I couldn't control it. I grabbed her by the throat and pushed her back at the wall. I let out an awesome roar, feeling my fangs threaten her. She winced and grabbed at my hands. "Stay out of this and leave me be. What's going on here is none of your concern. I'm sure there's many other men that hold your interest but I am not one of them.". I dropped my hands from around her throat and began to walk away. The demon in me was clawing to be unleashed and tear her apart.

The sound of electricity crackled through the air, all my hairs stood on end as I turned to face her, her eyes now wide and glowing white. Little sparks of energy and electricity coming from her hands, shot outwards into the room, tarnishing anything they touched. "You can't walk away from me that easily Alessandro. We are paired. That is that. I will sort out this little thing you have going on with the other woman and end it. She can not hold a candle to me and wouldn't dare to. Mark my words, we will be together.".

She shot out of the room like a bat out of hell. I was still in shock. What was I going to do. I had to be very careful now. She was up to something but I didn't know what. All I know is that if I'm around Luna again, I risk her and her safety. Meredith was as sneaky as she was cunning and I would be damned if I led her straight to Luna. I had to replace Draven and give him the message to keep Luna away as much as possible. Things here were definitely more dangerous than I thought. If Meredith got her hands on Luna, I don't know what she would do to her....actually I did know, I just didn't want to think about it.

The rest of the evening was fairly quiet. Even the servants had made themselves scarce. I wandered the House, just pacing to myself, trying to figure out a plan to get Meredith out of the House and keep Luna safe and hidden. But the only thing I could come up with was keeping away from her forever. If I was never around her, she could never be harmed. I found myself sitting in the front garden of the House. The one with all the roses that Luna loved so much. I sat on the metal bench and stared at the moon. It was still some time till the blood moon and hopefully I could get this whole matter sorted before it began. I could hear heavy footsteps approaching behind me, I knew who it was and it was not someone I felt like engaging with right now. "What is the problem son?". His deep tone rang through my ears. I wanted nothing to do with him right now, it was his fault this whole situation existed! "Nothing Father.". I tried to contain myself from spitting out all of the things I wanted to say. I didn't want the situation to get worse or Father force even more things onto me. "What is going on with Meredith, I just saw her before and she seemed less than impressed by your behaviour this evening...". I chuckled to myself. "Yeah, I bet she did Father.". He moved closer and stood behind the bench to the side of me, his hands resting on the back of the framing and leaning forward. "Alessandro, I know the situation is less than favourable for you, but you must understand the benefits to our clan, to you and your brothers. Surely you can see that.". I was becoming angry. From all my dealings with the other clans, surely he would know what goes on, what they get upto and how they treat people, especially the humans. "Father! I am sorry to say this, but how can you be so ignorant. The only reason King Xavier wants to join clans is to take over our clan. I can not let that happen! And I will not pair with Meredith. If anything, she is worse than her Father!". The deep red colour in his eyes began to change to a bright red. I knew I was frustrating him, but who else would tell him the truth or stand up to him. "That is not true Alessandro! We have and agreement King Xavier and I.". I shook my head, seriously baffled at how in denial he was about this man, about his family too. "Father, I have had enough dealings with him and his clan to know exactly what they are like. It was only about 30 years ago he made a similar arrangement with his other daughter, Vanessa and the heir of the Salvatore House, before he overthrew them and killed their King and Queen. Is that what you want Father?". I stood to march away from him. His stupidity leaving me baffled, I wanted to replace Mother. Maybe she could calm me down and talk some sense into him.

Claude had informed me that Mother was in the library. She was always fond of books. I found her seated on the big circle lounge chair, placed right in the middle of it with several piles of books around her. "Good evening son, is everything ok?". I nodded and sat beside her on the chair, toppling one of the piles over as I did. "You know you can not lie to your Mother, Alessandro. Especially when we share the same gift.". Mother always knew my thoughts before I had even finished thinking them. "Your Father is stubborn, and one day... it may just get the better of him.". She said ever so calmly. I contorted my head and stared at her, puzzled by her words. "And you won't do anything to stop him? Mother, please! There's so much more at risk than just us.". She smiled, placing the palm of her hand on my cheek, "Yes. I know dear. But she will be ok.". I didn't like how calm my Mother was. I assume that she had already foreseen everything that was going to happen. "Breathe, Alessandro. It will be ok. Ahhh, Nerine is coming.". Just as the words finished escaping her mouth, Nerine entered the room. "Master, there is a phone call for you...".

As always, there is no rest for the wicked. But this was something I was eager to look into. We had gotten information from an informant that apparently one of the clans was working with the Halflings, and may be the ones behind who organised the attack. Also too, that the second in charge, Antonio, was running things in Vincent's absence. Oh speaking about dear Vincent, the leader of the Halflings...well let's say he didn't pass question time with the wolf pack and was returned to me....and well, he is still alive....for how long though, not sure. Depends on how he recovers from his injuries. The dungeon isn't usually known for great recoveries. I needed to speak with this informant and get as much information as I can from them. I would take Silvano with me just incase. Now to replace Draven.

It wasn't hard to figure out where he was. He and Jess hardly ever left his room. I could hear them laughing and joking around when I knocked on the door, which made me miss Luna even more. "Good evening Brother! What can I...". I walked straight past him, not giving him a chance to finish the sentence. "Well geez! Come in won't you!". Jess sat on the floor by the fire giggling. "It's not funny Jess. This is my room! Sorry, sorry! Our room.". She smiled back at him, eyes full of love, but still giggling. He brushed her off, "Anyways, Brother.....what can I do for you?". He smiled jovially at me before realising something was wrong. "Hey, what's going on? Is Luna ok?". I nodded. "As far as I know, yes. But I'm not sure how long for.". He looked at me confused. "Meredith smelt her on me again, just like she did the day she arrived. She questioned me about her and wanted me to share Luna with her. To which I refused. She also gathered that there is another woman I'm interested in, but didn't piece together that Luna is that woman. She threatened to replace her....and sort her out.". I collapsed into the arm chair behind me, the energy draining from me as I continued to worry about Luna and what Meredith would do to her. "Shit Alex! What are we going to do? Surely Mother and Father will sort it out.". I shook my head profusely. "Father is the one trying to force me to pair with her!". Draven looked shocked. "Didn't you tell him about what happened with the Salvatore Clan?". I nodded and snapped back, "of course I did! He didn't believe me.". Draven began to pace, before Jess moved to his side and held his arm tightly, to reassure him. "What are we going to do Alex?", she asked me. I could tell she was worried too, not just about Luna but about us all too. "I'm meeting with an informant tomorrow, he has information on the Halflings. Apparently Antonio is leading them now and they have been working with a Clan who may be behind the attack.". Draven jumped back, almost out of his own skin. "Are you serious! What clan? Shit! Antonio was always more dicey than Vincent was. No one will be safe now!". I didn't know what to tell him. He was right though. "I don't know what clan. They didn't say. But I need you two, to keep a closer eye on Luna. I know the pack is looking after her, but I need her to be safe. Especially now with Meredith going on the war path to replace her.". They both looked at each other, gripping on to each other for support. "You've got it Brother.".

I had several meetings with the informant over the last couple of weeks, gaining as much information as I can. The informant was a young Halfling girl. She had been transformed only recently but was well aware of who we all were. It was only about our 3rd meeting in, that I realised she used to be a bartender from the club. She said they followed her home one night and attacked her before turning her. The poor thing. We spoke about how the Halflings were operating. I tried to get it out of her but wouldn't directly tell me what clan it was that they were working with. By process of elimination, with what she had told me, I had already ruled out 4 clans. The only clans left were ours, the Tremere Clan and the Ravnos Clan. I also found out that Jess was not who they were after, but Luna. It felt like someone had drove a stake into my heart when I learnt that information. Why her, she was so innocent, loving and caring. The informant told me that there was a meeting being held tonight and Antonio would be getting his next instructions from the Clan. She was going to try and sneak in to get any info she could. I was grateful to her and promised her to help her out once this was all done. We arranged to meet later tonight to discuss what she replaces out at the meeting.