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“A woman has never sat at the Council table.” Her father scolds her like a child, but she stands tall and doesn’t back down.
“We’re instituting change, aren’t we? What would send the message more clearly?” she asks, raising her eyebrow. “Besides, Father, there have never been two members of the Dupré family at the table. It would cement our place as the second family as effectively as a marriage.”
Game. Set. Match.
My brilliant friend has her father in the palm of her hand. If Marina hadn’t walked into my life, I’d beg Addy to marry me just to have her brilliance at my side. She is a force and one day some man will be brought to his knees by her. Undoubtedly a few will.
“There are already ten members,” Dupré retorts.
“Then remove one,” she replies, sounding bored.
Her father contemplates her words and I know she’s won when his broad smile takes over his flushed face.
“What say you, Julian?” he asks, grin still in place.
I scratch my chin, only to play at contemplation. I’d never withhold this honor from Addy. She’ll bring a much needed perspective to the Council, and it never hurts to have more friends there.
“Agreed,” is all I offer.
“Who’s to be removed?” Dupré taps his fingers on the table, looking deep in thought. His words weren’t meant for me. He’s obviously working out the details in his head. “Count Cross isn’t Born and rarely offers sound advice.”
“Consider it done,” I reply.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Addy beam before taking a seat at the table, ready to get on with the second half of this conversation. Now that she’s part of the Council, her father can’t keep her away.
“What exactly are you trying to accomplish, Julian?” Dupré asks, turning his focus on me.
“I have two immediate goals. The auction needs to be shut down and my brother must be arrested and tried for his crimes against the Crown.”
“Neither one of those will be easy,” Count Dupré muses to himself.
He’s not telling me anything I don’t already know. It will take the majority of the Council’s backing and muscle to shut down the auction and bring in Marcellus. I just hope he comes without a fight. No matter what he’s done, I don’t want him hurt.
“Whom do you think you can convince to agree to shut down the auction?” I ask, trying to gauge how much work we have cut out for us.
“I think the better question ishowcan we convince them?” Addy chimes in.
“Meaning?” I ask.
“Think about it, Julian. For years we have been lining up human donors through various means, including compulsion and sex clubs. How is the auction any different?”
“The most active participants in the auction are evil, Addy. They torture and abuse those donors. And in case you didn’t notice, they are always female. It’s kidnapping.”
She winces. “No, I didn’t realize that, because I don’t participate in such atrocities,” she grates, and sighs heavily, kneading at her temples. “I think many of the Council members are not going to understand how you intend to supply the vampire population with a sustainable blood source without those same measures we’ve been using for centuries. They’ll likely believe that once you’ve stopped the auction, you’ll call for the end of their clubs. Where does it stop? You have to be ready for their questions, because they will have them.”
“Kidnapping and slavery is very different from willing donors, Addy. The auction is not necessary for our survival. It’s a vile practice not unlike human trafficking and slavery, meant only for the perverse enjoyment of evil beings.”
“Maybe so, but a few of the Council are evil beings,” she muses. “They’ll try to convince the others that this is only the start.”
“You’re right,” Dupré directs to Addy with pride. “Every detail must be ironed out. Every possible question answered. We’ll only get one shot at convincing the elders of the Council to side with you. It won’t happen with a half-assed plan.”
“What do you suggest, Addy?” I ask her because she’s always been a problem solver; it’s yet another reason I know she’s a perfect addition to the Council.
“I think you need to be upfront and tell them everything you plan to eradicate. How is compulsion different? It’s garnering blood through manipulation, not through willing donors.”
I consider her words. Compulsion isn’t better. The only way humans and vampires can coexist is through the acquisition of blood through willing sources.
“In a perfect world, compulsion and anything that forces a human to give blood against their will or without them knowing full well what they’re doing should stop.” I agree.
