CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: DAMIEN’S STORY VI: MY BROTHER OR MY ENEMY?

Mirenelle sat all alone at the round table as she listened to the master of ceremonies list out the order of service. Even though she was the only one alone at the table, she didn’t feel the loneliness it brought. Instead, he mind drifted far away to her children and her husband. She worried less about her husband because he was a strong and powerful man. The main cause of her worry was her second son, Damien.

Some days ago, before dawn, she had found stains of blood on his dirty laundry. Mira hadn’t been able to sleep and so decided to watch her kids sleep instead to while away time. After that day, the amount of blood stains only increased so much so that she had to personally instruct the laundry maids to bring his dirty clothes to her chambers every day.

Worried, she had rushed over to his room that morning which he shared with his older brother. Quietly but quickly, she turned him over and inspected his body but had found nothing on it. Not even a scratch. So where had the blood stains come from?

The grandfather clock struck again, signifying that it was already dawn. She didn’t realize she had spent that much time by his bed side, inspecting his body and clothes over and over again out of worry.

When she was about to leave, Damien twitched slightly on the bed having been roused from sleep.

"Mama? What are you doing her late at night?" he said rubbing his eyes, shifting closer to her instinctively. Mira lifted him from the bed and settled him between her laps. He was growing up so fast but she didn’t care. The more he aged in the human world, the more her affection grew for him. Even if he were a thousand years old, she’ll still see him as her baby begging to be cuddled.

"Darling..."

"Yes mama?"

"The day I went out for an outing some weeks ago, did you and Cassian go out to play?"

Damien remained silent for a while. "Brother and I play together everyday but I can’t really recall when that was." Mira’s face fell slowly, unsatisfied by his answer. Damien too fell sad, upset that he had caused her trouble.

"I’m sorry for not remembering mama. I didn’t mean to make your sad." Mira lifted her head to find him looking at her apologetically with his wide eyes.

She was hopeless. How could she be mad at her own baby?

"It’s all right darling. Mama will remember ok?"

A smile lit his face and he nodded sharply. "Ok mama!"

"Go back to bed now. I have somewhere to go to."

Little Damien scrambled backwards and slipped underneath the sheets. Mira walked up and gave him a small kiss before leaving the room.

"...we are pleased to announce the kingdom of Veylar as the newest member of the association!" The loud voice from the master drew her attention back to the service. Gosh, she head completely drifted away.

Everyone started clapping as the King of Veylar walked to the executive council’s table and shook each one. The banquet was hosted in Veylar to honor the kingdom joining the A.S. or Alliance of States.

It was a very exclusive organization, popular all around the kingdoms of the world. Everyone wanted to be apart of the supreme league. Even vassal states had become extinct just because they wanted to gain freedom and join the alliance. Veylar was no different. Being a member meant having the support of over thirty, powerful, supreme kingdoms on your side in the case of war or anarchy.

After shaking hands with the executive council, Xeranthis the king, proceeded to greeting the guests too. Each table had at least a king or a queen and either one or two other people who were most likely the eldest and second eldest of the family. But Mirenelle was the only one at her table.

When the king got to her table, he extended his hand for a shake. Mirenelle took his hand warmly and he pulled her up slightly from her chair for a ceremonial hug.

Xeranthis wrapped his arms around the low side of her back and pulled her closer for a second before pulling back with a smile. "Let’s get along well, Milady." he said taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. Mira returned the smile kindly and withdrew her hand.

As she watched him go to the next table, a shiver crept up her spine and she suddenly felt cold. What was that? Wasn’t he a human king? She looked around her. Did no one find that strange or notice it? She could barely smell the blood in his veins and as a vampiress, that wasn’t something she shouldn’t be able to do.

Mira looked up at his sons who were seated calmly at their table. All except one had smiles on their faces. "That must be the last prince." she muttered to herself. The impression she had of him from that distance was similar to what she had felt from the king earlier. Just what the hell was that?!

"Alrighty then!" the bubbly master announced. "Let’s all head to the ballroom for bonding and mixing!"

Applause erupted from the audience and everyone moved to the inner room just beyond the double doors of the banquet hall. Mira walked steadily and greeted some other royals.

Finger foods, drinks and wine lined the sides of the great hall with chandeliers and lights shimmering from every corner.

After greeting the some of the guests, she approached one of the lines to get herself a drink. One after the other, Mira swallowed several glasses of wine and it didn’t take long before she started feeling tipsy.

She was about to go for another glass when a thought snapped in her mind.

Damien!

Oh god she had completely forgotten about them!

She immediately glided across the ballroom, trying to maintain her grace and balance.

Hell why had I drunk so much?!

Before she could get to the door, a man suddenly blocked her way and caught her in his arms just before she fell down.

"Woah, hehe. Careful there Milady." the man said calmly.

"Oh. My apologies. I didn’t see you there." Mira said quickly before drowsily walking away from him. She drunkenly staggered into the banquet hall that was now empty and into the sprawling hallways.

She swayed down the hall, holding her head with her hand. "Why...why am I so dizzy?" she asked herself countless times as she tried to steadily walk. But it was just so impossible. Her body felt weak and lifeless like it could melt at any time.

Wait...the wine. Was there something in the wine?

"O—oh."

Mira looked up to find the same man that had stopped her earlier in the ballroom. "You should really be careful. You might hurt yourself."

That’s was enough. Why was this man here in the first place. "Please let me go sir, I have no business with you here."

The man, still holding her wrists, slid his hand to her back that was exposed and gripped her waist.

Mira gasped softly before pushing him hard on the chest. "Let go of me!" she cried out, slamming him with her fists. She tired to summon her powers to vanish away from there but nothing worked.

"It’s all useless, queen..."

"Wh—who are you?" she asked breathlessly, too weak and paralysed to even open her eyes or stand properly.

The man grinned evilly. "You’ll see."

With that, he waved his hand, vanishing from the hallway.

"Brother? Big brother wake up! What...what’s wrong with you. You’re scaring me!" Damien squealed as he shook his brother violently.

"Hold on. I’ll go get mama. She’ll know what to do." he said, getting up from his knees. Before he could take a step forward, a hand shot out and grabbed his.

Cassian got up from the floor calmly, still holding his brother’s hand. He stood in front of him and gave him a bear hug. "You were the one scaring me when you were asleep for so long."

"Br—brother? Are...are you ok?" Damien asked, gently pushing his shoulders to get a better view of him.

Cassian laughed heartily at his question making Damien frown. What was so funny?

"Well, I’m awake now so let’s go meet mama." he said softly as he ran to the bedside to get his shoes. Damien plopped himself on the floor and wore his shoes but Cassian just remained standing, not taking his eyes off of him.

He walked to where Cassian stood and was about to take his arm. Cassian raised it from his reach and took a step back.

What?

Damien looked at him in confusion.

Cassian tilted his head."Why should we go to mother?"

Damien froze in place. Something wasn’t right. He looked up at his brother who still had his arm raised up.

"Mother?"

"What?"

Damien instinctively took a step back.

"What is it? Why are you—"

He stretched his hand forward to grab him but Damien only took more steps back.

"Damien what is wrong with—"

"You’re not my brother."

"What?"

Damien grabbed a small vase sitting prettily on a low dresser. "My brother will never call mama mother!" he screamed out, holding the vase above his head.

Silence reigned over them for a while then Cassian burst out in laughter. He laughed so hard he fell to the ground, clutching his stomach and rolling on the floor. Damien looked on in confused horror as he watched his brother go mad over something that was clearly unfunny.

Cassian’s laughter ceased suddenly and he knelt down with his back to him.

"You’re a smart kid." he said, turning his head all the way backwards, grinning worse than the devil.