Onyx stood there, simply staring at me.
“His blood wife is a low blood born?”
He nodded again.
My eyes went wide, as my hand flew to my mouth. In a whisper, “What’s her name?”
“Odessa.”
I hesitated. It wasn’t my place, but I felt the need to see her, ensure she was okay.
“May I…..may I….ummmm…….”
I looked away, unsure how to ask.
“I asked Devareaux if you could possibly visit Odessa once she is well enough for visitors.” I was surprised.” “He said yes.”
I was shocked, but I simply nodded. “You should….you should….ummm...get cleaned up….” I waved over his appearance. He started to move when I blurted out, “Are you hurt?”
He stopped and turned to me, with a small smile. “No, I did not get hurt.”
I nodded and looked away, embarrassed for showing that I was concerned. He left the room, making me wonder what had happened to our society in such a short period of time.
Onyx came to me the next day to speak with me in my sanctuary. I tried to maintain my composure, but I felt like something had changed between us the night before.
We were sitting across from each other as we had been that day we discussed the new dynamics to our relationship. This time, the air was uneasy, but with less tension in the air. We sat quietly for a bit, making me more and more anxious as the time slipped by.
“Dreya, I am asking for your help.”
That alerted me. “How do you mean?” I made direct eye contact with Onyx. I could see how he was able to rise among the ranks. He was relaxed and calm, appearing almost formal.
Onyx continued to observe me. “Devareaux is wanting to bring it to the Blood Council’s attention about the Bloodless Parties. This would likely mean an overhaul with the businesses ran by the aristocrats on the low blood born section.”
I was confused. “How would I be of help?”
“How much do you know of your father’s,…….Mr. D’Avare’s business circle?”
I looked at Onyx apprehensively. “I just know who he has invited over for dinners and the occasional private meetings.”
Onyx smiled. “That is more than enough information to get us started. Would you be willing to meet with Devareaux and me to discuss it more?”
The thought that I might be able to help in a way that was in direct opposition of Mr. D’Avare made me hopeful.
“We could do good?”
He smiled wider. “That is the hope.”
I smiled softly at him and nodded. “I would do my best with what I can.”
Odessa had been home only a couple of days, but I wanted to be of service however I could. I had never interacted with a low blood born. I had only interacted on a few occasions with mid blood borns as it was, like when I had visited the salon. But to be fair, even interactions with high blood borns had been limited for me. I was anxious because I did not go out and visit people,even when I was living at home with my parents. But this could give me purpose, something to do. I had a blood match, but no partner. I would have to improvise with what my life would become with that knowledge.
Odessa had been a wonderful breath of fresh air. She was a very beautiful woman with such long gorgeous black hair. And her skin tone was perfection, just the right shade of darkness to light balance.
I had expected some restraint, some disdain or disgust towards me. She showed me none. We had a brief conversation about her health and well being. We did not go into details of either of our situations. That was not done. Or, at least, I didn’t think it was. I apparently let slip the information that her blood husband, and mine, were working to abolish the Bloodless Parties. She had been shocked, which I didn’t blame her. This was yet another unprecedented situation among vampyrs. That seemed to be occurring regularly as of late. We spoke casually with each other for about an hour, after which she offered me to return anytime. I was excited that maybe I had made my first real friend.
About a week later, I was again back at the Hautbois estate to meet with Devareaux, Odessa, and Onyx. The meeting started out light and easy, with the usual pleasantries, but that soon led until the reason why were present.
Mr. Hautbois addressed me directly. “Dreya, I am hoping you may have some kind of information that we could possibly use to take to the Blood Council in order to help us with our fight against the bloodletting acts.”
