Aurelie had fled when her protector the Baron was fighting Astucia. She has been scared as she was not that strong, yes she could fight but even that was never as easy for her as others. She didn’t really know where to go but she figured that finding a new place with a stronger leader would be just what she needed.
The only person she could think of was the Emperor and Empress. She had met Kirsti once but she seemed that she was a solid lady who would assist.
Kirsti was weak in magic however she has the hypnotic voice. She would plead her case. She had met her daughter Rabiria. That meeting was memorable as she changed a normal vampire who had hurt others into a babbling idiot with one touch.
She would go to Rome. The roman vampires were supposed to be the way to go. She knew well that is where the heart of the cadres. Kirsti was there and she was who she was going to see.
————
As she entered the massive hall she walked to where the Empress was supposed to sit and there was Rabiria and she was wearing the tiara of the ruling body. She must have challenged her sire to the rule of blood.
“Aurelie, you come from France with news for me. I am Emporer Aristarco”
She fell to her knees kneeling in front of the great Emporer as if she was a mere slave girl. Of course that’s exactly what she had been to Baron Louis. She didn’t even know if Louis had survived the fight but she doubted it. Killing your barons without trial was a huge law.
“Your eminence” she said “I come with the gravest of news that Queen Selene has invoked the hidden warfare on her own Barons without the law being observed. I witnessed her Assassin kill my sister as we tried to defend my husband Baron Louis.”
Rabiria stepped forward “These are grave charges which are punishable by death if they are found to be true. If found to be false you would be put to death. Now tell me again what Queen Selene has done?”
She let out a gasp that was quite loud. Did she trust that she would get through this. She had no proof of what was said or what had fully happened. She only knew that Astucia had allowed her to live.
Selene had gone too far and now she would have to be dealt with. Aristarco would have to send someone after them, maybe even the true Assassin Cadre.
Aristarco was not shocked by Selene as he knew she was a schemer. It wasn’t just the scheming it was more the fact that
Why had Selene decided to act now?
Why had she also allowed Aurelie to live? It wasn’t like she was powerful enough to stop any of Selene’s guards.
“And yet you stand before me.”
Aurelie didn’t understand.
“Your sister died. Your Baron may be dead. You claim an assassin of considerable ability committed both acts. Yet you escaped her.”
He motioned for them to escort her out “I must think on this”
He looked at his wife. “There is no way that Selene’s pet would have let this lady live in any way. Who is Aurelie to her?”
His lady wife smiled “I will search the archives.
She got up and moved into the archives.
She went through and saw that Astucia was Portuguese and a powerhouse in the vampire community in France. She had been taken in by Selene after breaking her bond with her Sire. It was classified as stealing but the Queen was more powerful and wanted her badly.
Astucia also was a member of a house older than many cadres were. Vauclaire she read that was an ancient house once run by a Baroness known as Brigitte. Brigitte had gone insane centuries ago and her mansion had gone to her daughters and Aurelie was one of them. However this would mean she wouldn’t have soared Aurelie at all as she did kill her sister Sarah.
She looked it up Brigitte had many children all women except for one gentleman she turned. His name was hard to find and she finally found it, Alexandre.
Why did that name sound so familiar?
Alexandre.
Rabiria stared at the name.
She knew it.
Not from the histories. From her husband’s private chambers. She had heard Aristarco speak that name once, centuries ago.
And whoever he had been speaking to had answered: “Alexandre must never be found.”
The Vauclaire records were hard to read but finally she found it.
Spouse: Aurelie.
Her eyes narrowed.
Then she found the list of progeny.
Twenty-five names.
One stopped her cold.
Astucia.
Aurelie would by vampire law be counted as her mother and would also have some classification as a sires consort.
She looked at Astucias’ record which was very limited. No children listed, her sire wasn’t listed and her training and special attributes also hasn’t been put in. It looked to be deliberate that her information was redacted. The only one who could hide this from her was Aristarco.
—-
She walked out of the archives moving with intent. She entered the throne room and saw Aristarco was with Aurelie, she was kneeling in front of him clearly in a position begging.
Something must have happened when she was in the archives for hours.
“We have more of an issue. There have been more assassinations and of some high ranking French Barons. Louis was sent to his final rest as has Henri, Pierre and Antoine. She is making a power play. Rabiria what have you found?”
Rabiria stepped forward. “There is little about Astucia in the public files. I did find the reason why this little kitten of a vampire was left alive. Her spouse is the Sire of Astucia. If Astucia took her out it would cause greater problems than just following orders.”
Aristarco nodded. The recognized spouse of a vampire sire holds Blood Consort status over all progeny created during their union. Sarah was fair game as her aunt had no official status.
“Astucia spared Aurelie because killing her would violate one of the oldest blood laws.”
Rabiria glanced toward her husband.
Nothing changed in his expression.
That bothered her more than surprise would have
He already knew. Aristarco gasped as he realized.
“She isn’t eliminating rivals.”
Rabiria looked toward him.
“Then what is she doing?”
“She’s eliminating witnesses.”
They both looked away from each other. Neither one would know what the other was ever thinking. They never touched unless they had to. Rabiria was very much the aggressive ruler while Aristarco was more about the politics and finding ways around things sneakily instead of through force.
He stood up and was immediately set upon by his guards. They gave him his cape that shimmered in the candle light. He was pale as he hadn’t taken blood in a while. He was classified as ancient and they didn’t feed that often.
His wife stepped beside him and they marched into the court where the kings, queens and barons and counts waited.
He stepped forward “Welcome everyone. I am here to introduce you to a new member of the court and one under my personal protection. Enter Aurelie, she is from the French Cadre and House Vauclaire.”
Out stepped Aurelie in a beautiful gown made from a deep purple colour. She looked regal, her hair curled and piled on the top of her head.
Vauclaire? The entire hall went silent. This was one of the Ancient houses of vampires, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in centuries.
This was a once noble house who had dominated the Cadres for longer than many. Brigitte was stronger than normal. She has adept class blood magic and also her physical strength was double if not triple the normal.
It was not without risk bringing in the Ancient houses especially as the leaders were generally more powerful than even the elders of the cadres.
One of the French Cadre stood up. “I object. She was a member of Louis Court. With him dead she should be returned and face what the Queen will subject her to. You have no right to place her under the Royal Protection.”
Lucia an Italian Vampire stood up “Louis was not her Sire nor was in charge of her. She is one of the original houses. She is not part of your petty little struggles. As a member of the ancient house Sanguinari we also will protect her.”
A very tall female stepped forward. She was very dark skinned and her eyes glowed red. She looked at the French vampire. “Have you forgotten what we are about? The house Umwijima stands with the old houses. “
They all looked and Aristarco bowed “Lady Umwijima. Nyirabera it has been centuries since an Ancient such as yourself has entered the court. “
She nodded in a mock display of formality. “The Cadres have no say in the ancient houses and how we handle things. I have come here to discuss the issue. You are holding one of the Ancients hostage. We want the Lady Brigitte Vauclaire released to the Great Houses”
Nyirabera says Brigitte’s name and Rabiria turns toward Aristarco. Aristarco says nothing.
That’s when Rabiria understands.
Her husband didn’t just redact Astucia’s records.
He has secretly held Brigitte for centuries.
That would explain why Alexandre must never be found.
Because Alexandre isn’t merely Brigitte’s only male progeny. Alexandre is the legal Lord of House Vauclaire in Brigitte’s absence and if Alexandre returns, he has standing to demand his sire’s release.
——
Aristarco shook his head “Brigitte can not, and will not be released”
Nyirabera simply asks “Under whose law is Brigitte Vauclaire imprisoned?”
Aristarco cites “Cadre law”
Nyirabera answers “Brigitte Vauclaire predates your Cadres.”
Then Lucia Sanguinari stands beside her.
Aurelie slowly realizes everyone in the chamber is afraid. Not of Aristarco but of what happens if the Ancient Houses reunite.
Aristarco was shocked that if he lost this they would have to release her. He had very limited time or even proof he could use to convince the Ancients.
“You speak of laws because you did not see what Brigitte became.”
“Then charge her.”
They all knew that Brigitte had never received a trial and to imprison the leader of one of the houses without at least a trial was going to put them into the deepest of waters.
Nyirabera steps closer showing the red eyes and makes them flare. Aristarco steps back without meaning to. She allowed her power to flow freely. “The laws apply to yourself as well Emperor. You have imprisoned an ancient and she is in an alliance with House Umwijima.”
“You have made one serious mistake, Emperor.”
Aristarco’s eyes narrowed. “And what would that be?”
“You assumed we came here because of Brigitte.”
Silence settled over the court.
Nyirabera smiled.
“We came because Alexandre has been found.”
The name Alexandre sent ripples through the crowd. Some knew the name and she could see the fear in the eyes of Aristarco.
Aristarco knew the past of Alexandre and how he had become the most devious vampires. He didn’t fight like the guards, though all knew he had trained in the martial arts.
Astucia could be searching for Alexandre to join him or would she destroy him? He had heard that there had been a falling out.
Lucia stepped forward “I demand the Blood Tribunal. You know the laws and if you refuse you could unite the houses against you”
Aristarco laughed rudely “You are in my home and demand this. You are not in control.”
They heard the door slam open and a lady with olive toned skin wearing combat armour that was black and you could see the feral grin. “What a symposium without the lady in question. Did you miss me Legato dal Sangue”
Aristarco stepped back, saying that was the honorific that he hadn’t heard in almost a century. Only his children called him that.
Cassiano Aristarco came in behind and they realised he had been shackled. “Father. Help me.”
Astucia laughed. “Your son and I were together but this fool figured out that he was a means to an end. He is on a death warrant now. Cassiano tell them what you did.” She demanded.
Cassiano looked at his father “I am sorry father.” he stammered “I was caught trying to assassinate Selene.”
Rabiria walked around “Release him immediately Lady or you will regret it”
Astucia laughed “I don’t fear you. Do not make me challenge your right to rule.”
Rabiria stepped closer. Astucia cast a quick spell and a lance of blood red energy pushed the Empress back. “That’s enough. I know of your power of causing insanity. You know your husband will have to put you to death if you infect me. “
Rabiria stepped forward but she heard her husband “Enough. Leave her alone. What do you want, Lady Astucia?”
Astucia smiled. “My Lords. I have been tasked to come here and speak to your assembly. I finally found out what happened to Brigitte. You will release her to me, and I will care for her “
They laughed “You have no standing in this court Astucia.”
She smiled “But I do. When you are part of one of the 7 great houses you can do a lot since the laws of the Cadres don’t really apply. If you don’t release her I will continue my massacre and the French Cadre is already behind me.”
Lucia stood up “Thousands of years ago, we of the great houses ran vampiric destiny. As the houses started to wane
Aurelie walked up and gave Astucia a hug. It wasn’t imagination that the Portuguese vampire looked uncomfortable.
Astucia had a look of disgust on her face. She hated emotional moments like this, what was more she didn’t care for Aurelie even if she was Blood Consort of her sire. In the laws that meant that she was a kind of Side herself.
Astucia glared “The French Cadre has sent me here for the release of Brigitte. They all believed she was dead and they were very upset. Take me to her or I will massacre this court”
Very few believed she had the power to do this but they also feared her. Noone wanted to really go up against Alexandre.
——-
Astucia had been searching for the last two centuries for what had happened to Brigitte. She had not been seen in so long but she hadn’t felt her death.
When Astucia was young to her vampire heritage Brigitte had given her some blood that allowed her to increase her powers. Brigitte had trained her in the ways of the assassin and she was supposed to be the power behind the powers.
“My Granddaughter. You are the best of us, and are truly the one that I feel closest to of all my kin. You see what I wish we all saw. The Cadres believe that they run things but so many of the houses would destroy them with ease if they truly wished. House Vauclaire itself uses to be one of the strongest houses around but now we are numbering only a couple hundred around the countries.”
“Why are we losing ground?”
She smiled “The houses don’t like to bring many in as it will dilute our power or so it is believed. I only bring over those I want which is why we are small. Even Alexandre is very discriminating as to who he brings across.”
Alexandre walked in “Talking about me Dear Mother. Of course I have discerning tastes. I wouldn’t bring over someone who isn’t willing to work with us.”
They all knew history that the Houses had warred upon each other and it was a lot of duals which caused many younger vampires to take the reigns of the great houses. It’s also why they had allowed the Cadres to take over as a leadership group.
Cadre laws were not what they needed but it was what they had, only no one really thought to revoke any of the ancient laws.
Alexandre “My little Astucia. You are powerful and we have protected you by bringing you here. The Cadres can’t take you but be careful to never show your full abilities. The Cadres will try anything to have the powerful touch reading that you have.”
——
It had been a long time and the court still had no real inkling of what her true powers could do. She never would let them know.
She had used her powers to find out any information about Alexandre missing in action of Brigitte having gone crazy and then disappeared.
She had found the name The Vauclaire Compact. She didn’t have details, and she was about to find out one way or another.
She snapped her hand backwards and slammed her fist into the throat of the son. He crumpled from the pain, his breath sounds raspy even though vampires don’t need to breathe.
She waited for the answer “I don’t know what you are talking about “ he said but his eyes showed fear and she could smell the fear coming off of him in waves. He knew and didn’t want to tell.
“OUT” he screamed at the Court. They were used to his tantrum and irrational anger. They all left but Rabiria and the Ancients.
She struck his son again Cassiano screamed in pain. “Now tell me.what is the Vauclaire Compact?”
He nodded “Stop, I will tell you what you need to know and maybe it will help you understand why I ordered this imprisonment”
——-
Brigitte had been hearing voices for many months. It was a voice that was there one moment and gone the next. Each time it was sounding more ghostly than before.
They sounded familiar to her as well. It wasn’t normal as she wasn’t a telepath or empath so why were they tormenting her.
The voices had been telling her to do many evil things that she hadn’t felt the urge to destroy people.
Alexandre came in and smiled. “I know what is happening, you have been infected with the Curse of Crawford. There is no known cure. The insanity is going to get worse. You have almost taken out the village a couple of times. I can’t protect you and the person that did this is coming after me as well.”
She was crying and she heard guards outside the original homestead where she had been hiding. Alexandre knew that if he was captured that Vauclaire was doomed. He opened up a door and quickly slit his palm and a drop of blood touched the ward that was on the floor. He stepped on it and transported himself to his father’s farm.
Aristarco entered with his guards and began to try and get to her.
The first guard never saw Brigitte move.
One moment she stood at the far end of the marble hall, her dark dress motionless around her ankles, her hands resting calmly at her sides. The next, the guard slammed into one of the stone pillars hard enough to crack the marble.
Aristarco drew his sword.
“Surround her!”
The remaining guards spread out immediately. They were veterans of the Cadres. Vampires who had survived duels, rebellions, and hunts against creatures far worse than mortals could imagine. Six blades came free of their scabbards almost as one.
Brigitte smiled.
“You brought six?”
“Seven,” Aristarco corrected.
He stepped forward and raised his sword.
Brigitte’s eyes settled on him.
“Then perhaps you will make this interesting.”
Two guards attacked from opposite sides.
Brigitte ducked beneath the first blade and caught the attacker’s wrist. There was a sickening crack as she twisted it backward. Before he could scream, she pulled him into the path of the second guard.
The sword meant for Brigitte buried itself in his companion’s shoulder.
Brigitte drove her elbow into the second guard’s throat.
He staggered.
She seized his breastplate and threw him across the hall.
“Stop fighting her individually!” Aristarco shouted. “Together!”
Brigitte turned toward him.
“That was almost intelligent.”
Aristarco’s expression hardened.
“Kill her.”
Four guards rushed her simultaneously.
This time Brigitte couldn’t simply evade them.
Steel flashed.
She twisted away from one sword, but another sliced across her upper arm. Blood immediately stained her sleeve.
Brigitte looked at the wound.
Her smile disappeared.
The guards hesitated.
Aristarco noticed.
“She’s not invincible!”
Brigitte slowly raised her eyes.
“No,” she whispered. “I’m merely better than you.”
She attacked.
Her fist struck the closest guard squarely in the chest. He flew backward and crashed through a wooden table.
Another swung for her neck.
Brigitte caught his sword arm with both hands and redirected the blade into the floor. Her knee smashed into his stomach. As he folded forward, she grabbed the back of his head and drove his face into the marble.
Aristarco charged.
His sword swept toward her ribs.
Brigitte jumped backward.
Aristarco followed.
Unlike his guards, he didn’t overextend. Every strike forced Brigitte to retreat without exposing him to an easy counterattack.
Left.
Right.
Thrust.
Brigitte slipped sideways.
The sword point passed inches from her chest.
She reached for his wrist.
Aristarco anticipated it.
His free hand struck her across the face.
Brigitte stumbled.
For the first time, Aristarco smiled.
“You expected another pampered noble.”
Brigitte touched the blood at the corner of her mouth.
“No.”
She looked at the crimson staining her fingertip.
“I expected someone slower.”
Aristarco’s smile vanished.
Brigitte launched herself at him.
Their bodies collided.
Aristarco’s sword flew from his hand and skidded across the marble.
Brigitte grabbed him by the throat.
He caught her wrist with both hands.
The strength behind her grip surprised him.
“Lord Aristarco!” one of the guards shouted.
A sword came down toward Brigitte’s back.
She released Aristarco and spun.
The blade missed.
Brigitte seized the guard’s arm and hurled him directly into Aristarco.
Both men crashed to the floor.
“Enough!”
Aristarco threw the guard aside and rose.
His eyes had changed.
The civilized nobleman was gone.
The vampire underneath had finally emerged.
His fangs extended.
Brigitte’s own fangs appeared.
“Finally,” she said.
Aristarco rushed her without his sword.
His shoulder struck Brigitte and drove her backward through the doors into the courtyard beyond.
Wood exploded around them.
They rolled across the stones.
Aristarco landed on top.
His fist struck Brigitte once.
Twice.
The third never landed.
Brigitte caught it.
Aristarco stared down at her.
She grinned.
Then she threw him off.
He crashed onto his back, but immediately rolled to his feet.
Brigitte was already coming.
They collided again.
This was no longer swordsmanship.
No elegance.
No noble duel.
Just two ancient predators tearing into one another.
Aristarco grabbed Brigitte by the hair and drove her against a stone wall.
She hissed and struck him across the jaw.
He refused to release her.
She struck him again.
Still he held on.
So Brigitte drove her fingers into the wound one of her earlier blows had opened beneath his ribs.
Aristarco roared.
His grip loosened.
Brigitte shoved him away.
Three surviving guards poured through the shattered doorway.
Brigitte looked from them to Aristarco.
Blood ran down her arm. Her hair had come loose, and one side of her face was bruised.
Yet she was smiling again.
Aristarco wiped blood from his mouth.
“You’re surrounded.”
Brigitte glanced around.
“Am I?”
The guards stopped.
Something in her voice made even Aristarco hesitate.
Brigitte slowly walked toward him.
One guard stepped between them.
“Move,” Brigitte said.
He raised his sword.
Brigitte looked into his eyes.
“I said move.”
The guard faltered.
Aristarco saw the fear spreading across the man’s face.
“Hold your position!”
The guard tried.
Brigitte took another step.
His courage broke.
He moved aside.
Aristarco stared at him in disbelief.
Brigitte continued forward until only a few feet separated her from the lord of the Cadres.
“You have brave guards, Aristarco.”
He glanced at the wounded vampires scattered throughout his hall.
“You nearly killed them.”
“No.”
Brigitte’s voice became cold.
“I deliberately didn’t.”
That realization struck harder than any blow.
Aristarco looked toward his guards.
Every one of them was still alive.
Broken bones. Deep wounds. Unconscious bodies.
But alive.
Brigitte could have killed them.
She had chosen not to.
“Why?” Aristarco asked.
Brigitte stepped close enough that only he could hear her next words.
“Because dead men cannot tell others what happened here tonight.”
Aristarco’s eyes narrowed.
“And what exactly happened?”
Brigitte looked around at the destruction before meeting his gaze again.
“That Aristarco brought seven warriors against Brigitte.”
She leaned closer.
“And Brigitte walked away.”
Aristarco clenched his fists.
“You think I’m letting you leave?”
Brigitte’s smile returned.
“No.”
She stepped backward.
“I think you’re deciding whether stopping me is worth discovering how much I was holding back.”
Silence filled the courtyard.
Aristarco stared at her.
For several seconds neither vampire moved.
Finally, Aristarco raised one hand.
His guards lowered their weapons.
Brigitte turned her back on him.
It was either extraordinary confidence or an insult.
Probably both.
She walked toward the courtyard gates.
“Brigitte.”
She stopped.
Aristarco stood among his wounded guards.
“The next time you enter my house, there will be more than seven.”
Brigitte glanced over her shoulder.
“Good.”
Her eyes gleamed in the darkness.
“Bring enough that I don’t have to count them.”
Aristarco hit the marble floor hard enough to crack it beneath him.
Brigitte stood over him, blood running from the wound in her arm, her hair hanging loose around her face. Around them, Aristarco’s guards were either wounded or struggling to regain their feet.
She looked down at him and smiled.
“Seven wasn’t enough.”
Aristarco coughed and rolled onto one knee.
“No.”
Brigitte heard footsteps behind her.
Not running.
Walking.
Many of them.
Aristarco looked past her.
“But I never said I only brought seven.”
Brigitte’s smile slowly disappeared.
The great doors at the opposite end of the hall opened.
The Barons of France entered.
These were the same nobles who would later die when Astucia tore through the old order—the proud rulers of ancient French territories who still believed their combined authority could control the monsters moving around them.
Tonight, however, they were very much alive.
And they had come prepared for Brigitte.
The first baron stepped over the shattered remains of the doorway.
“Still causing trouble, Brigitte?”
She recognized the voice.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You should have stayed home.”
Another baron entered beside him.
Then another.
And another.
Swords were drawn.
Heavy chains hung from the hands of several guards accompanying them.
Brigitte glanced back at Aristarco.
“You needed the Barons of France to deal with one woman?”
Aristarco stood.
“I needed the Barons of France to capture one particular woman.”
“That sounds better when you say it slowly?”
“No.”
Aristarco wiped the blood from his mouth.
“It sounds better because it’s working.”
Brigitte rushed him.
“NOW!” Aristarco shouted.
The barons moved.
One intercepted Brigitte from the side.
She struck him across the jaw and sent him staggering into a pillar, but another immediately replaced him.
A sword came toward her.
Brigitte twisted aside.
Another blade followed.
Then another.
They weren’t trying to hit her.
They were controlling where she moved.
Brigitte realized it.
“Clever.”
She changed direction.
A baron was already there.
Brigitte punched him in the chest.
He stumbled backward but stayed upright.
She struck again.
This time he fell.
Brigitte stepped over him.
A chain snapped around her ankle.
She looked down.
“Pull!”
Two guards hauled backward.
Brigitte was dragged off balance.
She fell onto one knee.
A baron charged.
Brigitte caught his sword arm.
Her other hand wrapped around his throat.
She lifted him.
“Brigitte!”
She turned.
Too late.
A second chain wrapped around her left arm.
Brigitte threw the baron she was holding into the guards pulling it.
Three vampires crashed together.
She ripped the chain free.
Aristarco attacked.
His fist caught her across the face.
Brigitte staggered.
Aristarco hit her again.
She caught his third strike.
“There you are.”
She twisted his wrist.
Aristarco grimaced.
Brigitte drove her forehead into his face.
He stumbled backward.
She kicked him in the chest.
Aristarco flew into a table.
The barons surrounded her again.
Brigitte wiped blood from beneath her nose.
“Who’s next?”
They didn’t answer.
That bothered her.
The earlier guards had shouted.
They had challenged.
They had attacked because they were angry.
The barons weren’t doing any of that.
They were watching Aristarco.
Waiting.
Brigitte suddenly understood.
He wasn’t simply receiving their help.
They had agreed to follow his command.
“Don’t fight her,” Aristarco said.
Brigitte frowned.
“Contain her.”
The formation changed.
Brigitte attacked immediately.
She went for the weakest opening.
The baron there retreated.
Brigitte followed.
Exactly as they wanted.
Two vampires came from behind.
She spun.
One ducked.
The other retreated.
Nobody committed.
Brigitte stopped.
Her eyes moved around the circle.
“You’re herding me.”
Aristarco smiled through the blood covering his mouth.
“Yes.”
Brigitte looked behind her.
The wall.
They had pushed her toward the narrow section between two pillars.
There was no room to use her speed.
Brigitte rushed forward.
“Close!”
The barons crashed into her together.
Brigitte disappeared beneath bodies.
She roared and threw the first vampire aside.
Another grabbed her waist.
She elbowed him repeatedly in the face until he released her.
A third caught her arm.
Brigitte broke his wrist.
He screamed.
She kicked another backward.
For a moment, she was free.
Then Ibrahim stepped into her path.
Brigitte froze for the smallest fraction of a second.
It was enough.
Ibrahim stared at her.
There was no satisfaction on his face.
No hatred.
That almost made it worse.
“Don’t,” Brigitte warned.
“You won’t surrender.”
“You know me better than that.”
“I do.”
Brigitte attacked him.
Ibrahim blocked.
Their blades collided.
Brigitte pushed him backward.
“You’re helping them?”
“I’m helping France.”
“Coward.”
Ibrahim’s expression hardened.
Brigitte swung again.
Ibrwhim caught the strike.
The blades locked.
They stared at one another.
Then Alexandre deliberately stepped sideways.
Brigitte realized why.
Aristarco was behind him.
A heavy chain flew over Brigitte’s head and dropped across her shoulders.
She screamed in fury.
“PULL!”
The barons pulled together.
Brigitte was dragged backward.
She wrapped both hands around the chain and pulled in the opposite direction.
Two guards fell.
A baron stumbled.
Another lost his grip.
Brigitte began winning.
Aristarco saw it.
“Second chain!”
Another chain wrapped around her waist.
Then another caught her right wrist.
Brigitte roared.
She pulled.
The vampires holding her slid across the marble.
“More!” Aristarco shouted.
Another baron grabbed the chain.
Then another.
Brigitte’s muscles trembled.
Her feet slid backward.
Ibrahim watched her.
“Brigitte.”
She looked at him.
“Don’t.”
“You cannot win this.”
“WATCH ME!”
She pulled violently.
Three vampires crashed forward.
The chain loosened.
Brigitte tore one arm free.
She struck the nearest baron.
He collapsed.
She grabbed another and hurled him across the hall.
Aristarco rushed her.
Brigitte caught him by the throat.
His eyes widened.
She lifted him from the floor.
“I should have killed you when I had the chance.”
Aristarco struggled against her grip.
“Probably.”
Brigitte squeezed.
Then Ibrahim struck her from behind.
Brigitte dropped Aristarco.
She turned with murder in her eyes.
Ibrahim backed away.
Not quickly enough.
Brigitte grabbed him.
She drove him into a pillar.
Stone cracked.
Ibrahim groaned.
Brigitte raised her fist.
“BRIGITTE!”
She hesitated.
Another chain wrapped around her raised arm.
Then another.
Aristarco grabbed the chain around her waist himself.
“Everyone!”
The Barons of France pulled.
Brigitte fought them.
For several seconds nothing happened.
Her strength held.
One woman against an entire collection of ancient French nobles and their guards.
Then her injured leg buckled.
Brigitte dropped to one knee.
Ibrahim recovered.
He looked at Aristarco.
Aristarco nodded.
Ibrahim stepped behind Brigitte.
She realized what he was carrying.
“No.”
Iron restraints.
Old ones.
Heavy.
Designed for vampires.
Brigitte thrashed.
“NO!”
The barons nearly lost her.
“Hold her!” Aristarco shouted.
Ibrahim caught Brigitte’s wrist.
She turned toward him.
“Alexandre.”
For the first time, there was something other than anger in her voice.
Betrayal.
His hands hesitated.
Brigitte saw it.
“So you remember.”
Ibrahim stared at her.
Everything between them seemed to exist in that moment.
Then Aristarco shouted.
“Ibrahim!”
His expression hardened.
The restraint closed around Brigitte’s wrist.
CLICK.
Brigitte stared at it.
Then at Alexandre.
“You’ll regret that.”
“I already do.”
He closed the second restraint.
CLICK.
The barons tightened the chains.
Brigitte struggled once more.
She couldn’t break them.
Not anymore.
Aristarco approached carefully.
His face was bruised. Blood covered his clothes. Half his guards could barely stand, and several French nobles were wounded.
But Brigitte was on her knees.
Captured.
She looked around at them.
“You think you’ve won?”
Nobody answered.
Brigitte laughed.
It was quiet at first.
Then louder.
One of the younger barons looked toward Aristarco uneasily.
“Why is she laughing?”
Brigitte raised her head.
Her eyes settled on the assembled Barons of France.
She studied their faces one after another as though committing each of them to memory.
“You’re celebrating because you captured me.”
Aristarco frowned.
Brigitte’s smile became colder.
“You have no idea what’s coming.”
Ibrahim looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
Brigitte turned toward him.
“One day you’re going to wish I was the woman you needed to fear.”
Silence.
“Who?” Aristarco asked.
Brigitte’s eyes gleamed.
“Astucia.”
Several barons exchanged dismissive looks.
Brigitte noticed.
She laughed again.
“Remember those smiles.”
Aristarco stepped closer.
“Take her.”
The barons began dragging Brigitte toward the doors.
She didn’t resist anymore.
Instead, she watched them.
The proud Barons of France.
Powerful.
Confident.
Victorious.
They had no way of knowing that many of the nobles who had joined forces to put Brigitte in chains would eventually face Astucia themselves.
And when that night came, there would be no Aristarco shouting orders.
No coordinated formation.
No carefully prepared chains.
No victory.
Only the dead.
Crazy Canadian Writing 