“And what exactly do you want us to do?” I asked, rising from the grass. “We are already destroying any vampire who dared to come close—”
“Then do not destroy just any vampire,” he explained, stepping closer toward me. “I’ve called for a meeting with the leaders of the vampires here. He always sends his so-called son because he obviously does not think we are worthy enough to meet him. Go and show him, all of them, what a mistake it is to mess with our coven.”
“You are telling us to destroy Taelon Swan?” I gaped.
“I am telling you to do what you were born to do. Show them our wrath,” was all he said before he walked around me and toward Tala and Adelaide.
He left me exposed to everyone else’s gaze since all of my circle were now here, waiting, expecting, and pissed off, burning with the desire for vengeance.
All of them were burning with the desire to kill vampires, all of them except me.
“Druella, are we going or not?” Tate stepped up, hands balled, his hair tied up, and the hum of magic flowing within him.
I was their leader, but I always felt like a follower at times like these.
“We are going.”
* * *
The meeting was to happen at the county border of Bymoor, which was marked by a still water creek that sat beside an old wheat mill that no one used anymore.
The meeting…or battle was to start at high noon.
I could feel the anticipation, the willingness, in all of them behind me. Was I the only one who thought this was insane? If we killed the son of the president of the vampires, wouldn’t that mean only more fighting and more witches getting hurt? I thought we wanted peace, and yet we were always destroying. It didn’t feel right.
“Here they come.” Simone stepped up, her hands already sparking with lightning.
“Wait,” I ordered.
“For what, Druella!” Tate gritted through his teeth. “This is what we came for.”
“Answers first!” I snapped back.
He glared at me from the corner of his eye as his jaw clenched hard, but he didn’t say anything.
“Wiccan of the Omeron, we are here as you requested,” called Taelon Swan as he stepped through the tree lines into the clearing on the other side of the river, a kind but fake smile on his face. He was a vampire of Asian descent, dressed in a light-blue suit, shiny shoes, and a golden pendant of twin swans on the collar of his shirt. Four other vampires, two on each side of him, were all dressed as if they had come out of a nineties m
afia film.
“We requested the president of the vampires. Last I checked, that was President Waban Swan, isn’t it?” I called out, stepping right to edge the creek.
“My father is otherwise occupied at the moment. But fear not, I’ve been given authority here,” Taelon replied, stepping up to the edge of the creek on his side as well. “What is your concern?”
“My concern is that you all have not been keeping to the treaty. My concern is that your father is otherwise occupied when we made a deal! A deal your vampires keep breaking! Does he think we are stupid? Does he think we are weak and will not do anything!” I snapped.
“Calm down, Ms. Omeron—”
With a flick of my hand, I sent a bolt of lightning down right beside him, scorching the earth and tearing the sleeve of his suit jacket. “Tip, do not tell a pissed-off witch to calm down. It does the opposite!”
Faker, I thought to myself. Maybe I should have been an actress. I was mad. I did want them to adhere to the treaty, but at the same time, I also knew I wanted to put on a show of force for my circle. I wanted them to know I was going to do what I had to do for them.
“It is noted,” Taelon replied, the smile on his face gone as he took off his jacket and tossed it to the vampire beside him. “However, I am still unable to bring Father here. What is it that you want?”
“We want you gone!” Tate sneered at him. “And I want the head of the vampire who hurt my sister!”
“And what are you going to do with a vampire’s head?” Taelon asked, purposefully misunderstanding and annoying Tate more.
“You no good, cursed—” Tate took a step forward, but I put my hand on his shoulder, urging him to come back.