Chapter 6 The Consort

The ride to the residential area of the Palace of Eternal Night was a tense affair. I sat facing Commander Axel, the stern-faced vampire who was maintaining a social distance like I was the plague. The strange scent of the palace carriage was overwhelming and it constantly reminded me of the beings who owned this world.

"My duties," I finally asked, cutting through the silence. "What exactly does a Consort do here besides satisfying the Lord's blood needs?"

Axel shifted, adjusting the immaculate collar of his uniform. "The Lord Alistair Valerius requires stability. You will be trained to be his official human representative. You will receive petitions, attend minor diplomatic functions with him, and maintain the affairs of the Consort's Wing. Mostly, you are a political symbol. You represent his interest in the human territories. This is the vampires way of showing the cordial relationship between us and humans. That the humans aren't just food."

Oh.

"And the blood?" I pressed. My paranoid mind needed to quantify the risk.

Axel frowned slightly, a flicker of discomfort on his usually straight face. "That is the Lord's private matter. However, the Lord is known to be... particularly sensitive to blood requirements. He must feed twice a week to maintain his peak strength. He can go without for longer but it comes at a great cost to him."

The information landed like a punch. Twice a week. Alistair would drink from me twice a week?! Do I even have enough blood in my body to sustain that kind of lifestyle?

"What is this great cost?"

"Irritability, weakness, and eventually, uncontrolled bloodlust," Axel stated flatly. "He has managed for years without a permanent Consort but it has strained him. Your presence is meant to end that discomfort."

We have arrived at where we were going. Axel led me into the Consort's Wing which was a massive, neat suite designed more for a queen than a mere human. It had high ceilings, intricate silver scrollwork, and a ridiculous amount of silk. It felt like a carefully organized antique display.

A single elderly vampire was waiting, her face covered with ancient disapproval.

"This is Helen," Axel introduced. "She has served the Valerius line for centuries. She is in charge of your personal care and adherence to protocol."

Then he turned without warning and left the room.

Centuries?! Just how old was she?

Helen gave me a brief, stiff nod that barely counted as a welcome. "Lady Lena. The rules of this wing are strict. You are never to leave without a guard. You are never to address the Lord unless spoken to first. You will be provided for and you are here for one reason which is to ease the Lord's burden."

What an important responsibility, I remarked sarcastically internally while rolling my eyes.

Then some questions occurred to me suddenly. Why am I really here in the Palace? Why did I get picked? Why did Rue fall sick suddenly? Why did I wake up as Lena at such a time as this?

"Helen, I require the Human Presentation Laws," I stated, using the formal tone I had perfected as Sarah when addressing difficult teachers. "I also require verification of Rue Hale's illness. I need to know which Royal Physician diagnosed her and the exact cause."

Helen hesitated. She was clearly not used to the people placed in her care making such demands. "Such documents are private, Lady Lena. And the girl Rue's illness is not your concern."

"It is my concern," I countered, meeting her gaze. "I was forced to take her place. My presence here is a result of that absence. Any threat to the integrity of the Hale presentation is a threat to the accuracy of the Lord's choice."

Helen's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that the Lord made a mistake when he chose you?"

Jeez. This wasn't going according to plan.

"Nope. No, I am not saying that. I am only saying that I deserve to know what happened. Also, I would like to know how she is doing now."

That seemed to reassure her.

"Commander Axel had all information regarding the Hale presentation verified before the ball," Helen admitted grudgingly. "It was confirmed that the girl Rue was incapacitated by a sudden, severe fever that broke just this morning. She is still recovering at the Hale estate."

"And the specific diagnosis?"

Helen sighed, clearly annoyed. "A sudden, high-grade viral fever, likely triggered by stress. The Royal Physician Dr. Varkos signed the confirmation."

The information was delivered with certainty but my internal alarm bells were still ringing. Rue had been perfectly healthy until the night before the day of the ball. A sudden, severe fever that conveniently passes the morning after the next? It felt too neat. I might be over thinking this though.

I thanked Helen and dismissed the servants who had been laying out gowns. Their beautiful colours and designs would appeal to me if only they didn't look so damn heavy. Is this what it meant to be Royal?

I walked the length of the massive bedroom then sat on the bed. My mind went to James, my brother. Even though he didn't treat me so well, he was still my brother and I missed him. I wonder what day it was currently in my former life. By now, they must know I am missing. Did they find my body? Am I dead or alive over there? Why did I leave that world and come to this? How did it even happen?

I must find out more about this world. Is this planet even called Earth?

This whole situation is really confusing and I have so many unanswered questions.

The original plan had been for Alice and Rue to be presented. What if Rue's illness wasn't random? What if it was self-inflicted, or caused by a third party with an agenda? What would be their gain in making Lena a Consort? Even more confusing was how did they know the Lord would choose her?

The Hales hated Lena but they feared Alistair more. They would never risk treason by lying about a requirement. But if Rue or Alice, fueled by ambition or resentment, had orchestrated the illness, the entire family was in danger.

I stood up from the bed and sat down at a grand writing desk. I needed a plan.

First, survive the first week. Alistair would be hungry. I had to manage his expectations without directly challenging his authority again. I should see how long I can avoid his vampiric teeth piercing my precious skin.

Second, acquire intelligence: I needed the Human Presentation Laws, any information about the Valerius lineage and the history of this land. What other characteristics do the Vampires have? What is this planet called and what does this world look like? How does it operate? Are there other supernatural beings like werewolves and I don't know, dragons?

The difficulty of these tasks should have overwhelmed me but my years of stressful, high-pressure studying had trained me well. This was just another test I gotta ace although this time, what is at stake is my life.

I stood up, adjusting my gown. I am Lena Hale, Consort to a Vampire Lord. Despite how unbelievable it is to my mind, I really have to start thinking it this seeing as I couldn't possibly run from the palace.

I should sleep now so I can be well rested before the Vampire Lord comes for my blood.