J A London - 03 After Daybreak by 03 After Daybreak

Author:03 After Daybreak
Format: epub
Published: 2017-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Back in the council chamber our welcome isn’t exactly warm. No telling what they’ve been talking about since we left.

Lord Paxton rises. “Miss Montgomery, we have examined your documents. We cannot deny that you have some trace of vampire blood in you, but you are not a vampire. Only a full vampire may sit on the Council. Are you willing to be turned?”

“No,” Victor says adamantly.

“Why, young Valentine? If she would join us, then surely she would want to be like us.”

Victor places his hands on my shoulders, turns me, and gazes into my eyes. “I’ll die before I let you be turned.”

“There’s no need for me to be turned,” I say, speaking with the conviction of truth. “I have Old Family blood in my veins. I can trace my lineage back as far as anyone at this table. Those facts alone give me the right to be here.”

“She is right,” Lilith says, standing as well. “She is of the Montgomery family. Her blood gives her a right to sit on the Council.”

“Perhaps,” Lord Paxton says. “But the concern exists that she will be more interested in her human side than her vampire. Dawn, you’ve spent your entire life living in the world of humans, yet if you would have a voice here, we need to be assured that your loyalty would be to us vampires. Perhaps a test is all that is required. Would you be willing to agree to that?”

“No,” Victor says at the same time that I say, “Yes.”

Victor turns to me. “You don’t know what the test will be, Dawn.”

“I know I can’t vote if I’m not sitting on the Council. We need their help to defeat Sin.” I face Lord Paxton. “I’m willing to be tested.”

“Tomorrow night, then. Leave us now, all of you. We have much to discuss.”

Victor, Faith, and Richard bow. Because they do, I bow as well. Then we turn and walk from the room.

No one says anything as we drive back to the hotel. When Victor parks the car, we all climb out, so silent, so somber, like the city. The rain has stopped, but a heaviness weights the air.

I look at the decrepit hotel. I can’t face going in there right now. “Can we walk for a while?”

“We need to talk,” Victor says.

“We can do that while we walk.” I start out, not waiting for them, but I’m aware they’re following. Victor quickly falls into step beside me, his nearness protecting me from any vampires who think I might be “unclaimed property.”

We walk along in silence. I want him to take my hand, but I know he’s upset with me. Vampires are out on the streets, but they give us a wide berth. A few are Old Family, descendants of those we just left. But most are Lessers. They bow as we stride past them.

“I can’t believe that you agreed to a test without even knowing what it is,” Victor finally says.

“I didn’t really have a choice.”

“One vote on the Council isn’t going to make any difference.

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