Back at the gun cellar, Marius and Armand go in on each other and a full screaming match ensues behind that now sealed door. Even Cherry has to stand in the middle and break it up a few times. All the while, Va’lis sits in a corner thinking of his next move. He really desired to get his magic working on Earth, to no avail but none the less. The thought of it helped him calm down, regroup, and focus. And when Va’lis is calm, he’s even more dangerous. Something Pandora’s taught him to do. “Look at a problem from all angles,” she would say to him, “Focus on all the countermoves.” How he appreciated her teachings in these moments. Va’lis had come to realize that a proper sire was an invaluable part of his life that had been missing for so long. He missed the bond with Pandora; now more than ever.
marius de romanus
Getting Back What Belongs to Us, Pt. 4
The entire family was walking out of several elevators from the world gate 5 levels beneath them. They were in the 1st level basement which was turned into meeting rooms and conference centers. Marius called out to Armand, “Armand! Armand! Va’lis! Where are you?” No answer. Lestat went to the other levels that have personal quarters and searched for Armand and Va’lis. Lestat came back to Marius in the command center room, “Nothing. They are not here,” he reported. “God dammit!” Marius grew angry. “Such defiant children! I cannot believe Armand would not follow my instructions,” Marius slammed a fist on the table.
“Relax old man,” Va’lis voice echoed. Marius looked up to see both his sons completely soaked from the sewers at the Tower. “Could you be any more stubborn?! I specifically said, you wait. You cannot go encountering the unknown and possibly facing off with 3400 yr old vampires without backup! You’ll get yourselves killed!” Marius screamed. Va’lis opened his mouth to say something, but he had nothing. Armand jumped in, “Look we need to confirm that Carrie was in fact being held where our reports said she was; visual confirmation of the extraction target. Besides you know Va’lis wasn’t going to just sit around. If I hadn’t gone with him he would have probably gotten himself killed. At least I could keep him from stepping on a landmine.” Marius sneered, but he knew Armand was right. Va’lis chimmed in, “She’s definitely there. In case you wanted to know.” His sarcasm was not lost on Marius.
A Girl Interrupted, Pt. 2
*at the Blacksmith’s in Skara Brae, after the Spiritwood Masterpiece Theatre Presentation*
Pandora got up slowly from the floor where she had slid to a halt. She moved to where Va’lis had been thrown across the room, hitting the wall and sliding down. Zeeke hadn’t even flinched when Pandora grabbed her by the throat lifting her off her feet; Pandora had forgotten one of the most important rules — don’t piss off vampires that are older than you. She extended a hand to Va’lis and pulled him up to his feet. The rage in her, burning. She opened a gate home, “Come.”
Once they landed in Vamp’s Lair, they went inside and she plopped onto the expensive fancy couch inside. Va’lis sat in the loveseat near her. She put her foot up on the coffee table and then suddenly kicked the flower vase off of the table, crashing to the floor in an explosive shattering motion. She cursed. “We have to talk about your anger issues,” he said.
I Await Thee
I knew Mary would run to Lestat. I knew it. And I didn’t mind one bit, Lestat is like the bratty kid in the family who everyone simply adores. Lestat told me she would be spending a few days in New York, alone. I respected that, as much as I wanted to run after her, and just waited. And waited. I needed her like mortals need air to breathe. Mary had become much more than just my muse, she was smart, sassy, and had grown strong. I wanted nothing more than to keep her close.
Finally, she sent word she would be coming back to Sosaria. So I dressed in my best suit and made way for the portal in Umbra. I waited for her all day. I wanted my face to be the first thing she saw as she stepped through. And when she did… she was back to her natural blonde hair, dressed in a sexy little black dress looking very much like the rock star she is, some might even say she looks like a movie star. To me, she made me forget to breathe — quite literally.
Our eyes locked and it was all she wrote as we desperately fell into each other’s arms. I knew at that very moment, this woman would be mine for the rest of whatever eternity we both would share. That I could make her happy, that I could be her husband fully without reservation, that Pandora would respect this for once, for the first time in her life, that these two women would shape every decision I made on behalf of my family. Oh how much power they had. Pandora knew it, Mary would now learn it. The three of us would rule supreme.
I felt a peace, a peace that I so longed to feel in the last few weeks since news of the Draconians settling here broke, a peace I now knew I’d only ever feel in their arms — Pandora and Mary. We’ve become the new Trinity.
For A Man That Fears Little
The family, mostly the council members, were gathered around all involved in the heated conversations around me, but my thoughts lingered to Mary. My dear Mary who is so young. The Draconians were a real threat, and unlike Earth where our anonymity keeps us from all out open war, Sosaria’s knowledge of our existence is going to appeal to them as a catalyst for open war. I cannot remember the last time I’ve had an all out open battle… not in centuries. Would it come to this here in these lands?
We have so much at stake here. Here is where we have most of our younger vampires, where they are safer in a sense from the deadly rays of the Earth’s sun. Malas’ sun is weak and allows us a certain freedom within it. We also have our mortals here… the majority of them… like my daughter, Brelynn and my grandchildren, Rose and Antonio Romanus. So much to protect, but in my heart… my immediate worry is my Mary. She is not going to want to leave us in this time of need, but its so much safer for her to be back on Earth. I know her, I know what she will say, she will be adamant about staying by my side, by Pandora’s side. She will be afraid of loosing us, of loosing Lestat and Louis… who undoubtedly want to stay and fight with us (and frankly I’ll need them, especially Lestat). But I cannot keep my head in the game, keep my mind clear, if I am constantly worrying about Mary.
What the devil?!?
Not all cars are the same! And when it comes to the cars that appeared in the last 100 years on Earth… no two are the same, even when they are. My passion for these machines started with the Model T. How fascinating it was to crank up the motor in one of those bad boys! Truly magical. Our collection of cars spans many models, many makes, and many years. Marius shares this passion right along with me… I guess that’s why he when Mary first returned to us, it was the first thing he did for her on Earth — bought her a car. And of course not just any car either. He wanted her to have the best, thus Mary drives around (when she can — she’s too famous to drive around alone now-a-days) in a shiny beautiful Ferrari 430 Convertible in White with Red Leather interior with her name carved in solid 24k gold plating on the driver’s side door. A real beauty!
And just like Marius spoiled Mary, for the brief time that Va’lis had been my protégo I had indulged him with a slick concept Cadillac Cien which he fell in love with. But since he was new to Earth, I told him he was not allowed to drive it solo. First he had to allow us to create him a full identity on Earth, then take driving classes, get a license, get insurance on the car, etc. etc. He agreed. Then the whole situation happened and Va’lis decided he was better off without me… which broke my heart. But whatever!