A Stranger in the Night
Chapter 32

Alex's POV

Ravnos House was a lot more grim than I recalled. An overlaying sense of dread fell over both Silvano and I, as we approached the large oak doors. I looked at my Brother and took a deep breath as the Halfling pushed open the door before us. The place was cold and damp. The air smelt musky and I felt physically ill. There was a strange feeling in the air and my senses were keeping me alert. I knew Silvano felt it too. I looked around the main entry hallway, taking it all in as we were approached by a tall and slender woman. Her long flowing black locks of hair fell forward, completely covering her face, which was rather unsettling.

"Master Alessandro, Master Silvano....Father is waiting for you in his throne room. This way if you please.". She turned and began to exit down a long corridor as the sound of Halfings snickering and cackling filled the room. "Alex, I don't have a good feeling about this.". I knew what my brother was thinking, and I was in the same mindset, but I wasn't going down without a fight. I would burn this place to the ground with everyone in it, if it meant that Luna would be safe. "It will be ok Brother.". I nodded to him before following the mysterious woman, Silvano following shortly behind me. I tried to catch up to her, the mysterious woman leading us. I wanted to see what she knew, what information she would give up to me before we entered.

"Sorry Miss....do I know you? I thought I knew all of Ladies of Ravnos House, but I don't recall meeting you before.". Her head was facing downward as she walked, her hair fell forward, concealing her face. "Yes Master Alex. We have met before...I am Lilyanna.". I thought for a moment and remembered the young vampire that used to visit us with Meredith when she was younger. She was always sweet and friendly and I always thought she was born into the wrong house. She had grown alot now. As I grabbed her arm, she turned and snarled at me, revealing her face. The pure, innocent and perfectly pink skin that once adorned her sweet face, was gone. Her eyes were black, her skin was white and her cheeks so far withdrawn that her cheek bones almost pertruded them. Dark lines plagued her once sweet face and I gasped when I made the realisation of how she was now. She had become a Crone.

I tried to wrap my head around it for a moment. Never in my existence have I met a vampire who was also a Crone. I needed to know more. "I am sorry Lilyanna. I did not mean to harm you. I just couldn't believe it was you. I know it has been some time since I have seen you, but what has happened to you?". Her demeanour began to shift and she seemed calm again. "I am sorry Master Alessandro. I did not mean to do that. I did not have a choice in becoming this, but have been this way for over 100 years. Each year I feel the darkness grow more inside me and the girl you once knew is slipping away.". My heart broke for this girl. I can only imagine torture and torment she would have received here. "Surely there is something that can be done to remove this.". She shook her head slowly, "Not unless you dispose of the evil thing that made me this way. And even then....I am not 100% sure that would work. But enough about me. Master Alessandro, I must warn you. My Father has Marco....he is not in good way, I fear for him. Please be careful and just answer what my Father wants to know.". I nodded to her before dropping back to fill Silvano in on our conversation. He was a little in shock but understood. "I hope we can trust her", Silvano whispered to me. I held on to the hope that this would end quickly and painlessly but I felt already that I was clutching at straws.

As I looked up ahead in the long corridor, I could see two solids iron doors and heard a faint humming. Lilyanna looked back towards us, nodding, before looking forward again and gesturing with her hand towards the two guards on either side of the door. They moved quickly to open the door and stood back, bowing at Lilyanna as she entered into the darkened room, with us only a few steps behind her. As I gazed around the room, my eyes quickly adjusting to the darkened room before eyeing a large wooden throne. A figure sat slumped in the chair. His grey short hair, cushioning a heavy golden crown adorned with sapphires and emeralds. He lifted his head slowly, running his hand over his withdrawn face before laying his gaze upon us. His jaded look quickly changed to a look of intrigue as he viewed Silvano and I.

"Well...well...well! Isn't it the sons of Ventrue House. Here to grace me with their presence. Tell me my boys, what marks this great occasion? How can I be of service to you today?". His jovial tone irked me. He was far too playful and happy for my liking. Silvano began to speak before I got a chance. "You tell us? You're Halflings brought us here!". I grabbed Silvano's arm, trying to remind him to reign it in a bit, but he snatched it back and growled at me. "I'm sorry your highness. Forgive my Brother. We have come seeking our Brother Marco, he has been missing for a few days and we have pressing matters at the House that he is meant to be dealing with. We need him to return to his duties.". The King nodded, rubbing his salt and pepper coloured beard as he smirked at us, "Why ever would you think that he would be here.". His grin spread from ear to ear. I caught sight of Lilyanna out of the corner of my eye. She approached and stood a few metres from the King, to his left hand side. "You're Halflings told us he was here and that it was in our best interests to attend.", Silvano snapped at him again. I could feel my brother's impatience growing. The King rolled his head as he began to cackle. "Oh, that's right. He is. How could I have forgotten that. Or the fact that my darling daughter has returned to me as an ice block!", he slammed his fists into his throne as he jumped up out of his chair and began striding towards us. "Thank goodness for Lilyanna and her special talents. We were able to speed up the process to free her. You're brother on the other hand, will never be freed. And right now, neither will you be.".

Silvano leapt forward towards King Xavier before I could pull him back and began to float mid air. I looked to King Xavier and his eyes were glowing purple. Silvano began to scream in agony before he suddenly fell to the floor and squirmed in pain. "My...my...my...I expected more than this.", he gestured with his hand towards 2 guards who came up and grabbed Silvano. " Alessandro....would you care to enlighten me on what happened to my darling Meredith?". I tried my best at playing dumb but already had a feeling that he would see straight through me. "Sorry your Highness but I don't.". The King shook his head slowly, "Now, Alessandro, why must you lie to me?". I stepped back, trying to assess quickly the situation that was unfolding as we speak. Before I knew it, the King was in front of me, his hand now tightly gripping my throat. "Last chance to speak the truth boy!". I swallowed hard as I heard footsteps begin to approach us from the back of the room.

"Now Father, please don't harm my future husband. Our plans would be worthless should anything happen to him. Plus I do like a handsome Vampire. At least don't mess up his beautiful face or his amazing physique". Meredith slid out from behind a curtain that fell heavily behind the King's throne. The King turned and looked towards her as did Silvano and I. She looked different, her skin flecked with silver now and her arms were quite stiff. Her body movements were rigid and very unnatural. "The only one I want to hurt is that little frosty bitch! Now tell us where she is, or I will just have to go replace her....". The anger jumped out of me. My hands and arms covered in flames, my blood was boiling and I wanted to tear her apart. "No! You leave her out of this!". The Kings' laugh rolled around the room loudly. "Tisk...tisk...tisk...my boy. Not one chance of that happening, especially after what she did to my darling Meredith.". His grip on my throat was tightening and although my flames were raging uncontrollably, they were not affecting him. I looked over to Lilyanna and could see her chanting. I suspected she placed a spell on her Father to protect him from the flames.

Silvano was fighting to free himself from the guards grips, but it was no use. Meredith slowly approached me, running her fingers along my shoulders as she encircled me. "Darling Alessandro...You know your place is by my side. So why waste your time on that pathetic human! You belong with one of your own kind and together we can rule Ravnos House and Ventrue House as one. Oh the power we would have darling! We would be able to walk freely without a care in the world and humans would fear us again!". I threw her hand off me at the same time as I tried to send flames towards her to get her to distance herself from me. She jumped back and screamed as the side of her dress caught on fire. She flicked her hands at the flames trying to pat them out. Suddenly a small rain cloud appeared above her head and drenched her and the flames till they were extinguished. "LILYANNA! You have ruined my hair and outfit! Argh! All this effort laid to waste. I could have put them out myself.". Lilyanna, still in the corner, lowered her head "I apologise.". The King's eyes began to glow purple as he stared as me, I could feel his claws now digging in on my neck. "You will pay for that stunt!". The next thing I felt was a sharp and excruiating pain as his hand connected repeatedly with my body. I felt his claws tear at my stomach as if they were shredding paper. His blows to my ribs sent shock waves through my body as I felt each rib crack over and over and over. He stopped suddenly and glared into my eyes. "Have you had enough yet boy! Tell us were the ice princess is or face the consequences!". I struggled to lift my head up from the pain that was coursing through my body. "I never will and you will never get to her!". The grin on the King's face exploded from ear to ear. "Oh we will my boy. We already have someone on their way to get her. Then we will see what games will be played and where your loyalty lies.".

I felt my body collapse on the ground as the King released his grip on my throat. Silvano was still trying to fight the guards off to get to me but it was no use. "Father! Why did you do that?". Meredith screeched at the King. "Ahh darling. He will heal. You know that. I was merely giving him what he deserved.". The King laughed as he spoke. "Guards, escort these two down to the dungeon. Maybe some quiet time will do them good.".