Bella Vita (45 page)

Please stay safe. I'll do
what I can on this side to try and track these attacks.
He broke the connection.

I blinked back into the palace room I was
sitting in with Grandpa.

“
Things often take time to
heal. But sometimes, the right words help the process along.” He
smiled at me and his bright eyes twinkled with
knowledge.

“
Thank you, Grandpa.” I
hugged him gently. “Mike said that there have been attacks there as
well, but they've been done in a way to look like vampire
attacks... the wolves are not fooled.” My voice was hard and
business.

“
Then this is something
outside of us... or within us.” He stroked his chin between his
thumb and index finger.

“
I need to get to the
attack site. We can have a double or bodyguards or an armored
box... whatever... but I
need
to go there. Our people need to see that I will
not be frightened into a fox hole by an attack on our people.” I
walked briskly to the window.

“
You are a fine ruler for
our people, Emma. I'm very proud of you and I agree one hundred
percent. But I think it would be wise to get Dominic's backing on
this. The people must see a united front from their rulers, there
can't be any discord. Do you understand?” He laid his cool hand on
my shoulder.

“
Yes, I understand. Do you
know where Dominic is?” I asked.

“
He is in the war room,
awaiting the arrival of both Bettina and Charlie.” He gestured to
the hidden door in the wall behind us.

“
Thank you.” I kissed him
on the cheek and went to the room where I would be needed, whether
my husband realized it or not.

The War room was a circular room, hidden
between walls but large enough for twenty-five people to fit
comfortably in. There were no lurking shadows, and the only people
that could betray you were the ones looking at you. The walls were
soundproof, as were the windows in the ceiling. There were two
doors, each hidden in other rooms, and an emergency escape hatch
under the war table. An Oriental rug was currently hiding it from
the rest of the people in the room. The walls were covered in maps,
and glass walls for writing on.

As I walked into the room, an argument was
going on. I didn't interrupt. I went to look at what had been
written on the walls and which maps had been brought to the front-
much of this was digital, for the sake of space.

“
What do you mean you can't
find the trail?” Dominic's voice boomed.

“
Well, Sire, it
disappears.” The poor man was trembling, I could smell his fear- it
was sour.

“
Do you want your Queen to
be murdered in her sleep?” He continued to bellow.

“
No, we would never want
anything to happen to Emma. She has brought life back into our
people, she is our sunshine.” The man looked at me and
smiled.

“
Dominic?” I
interjected.

“
Yes,
mia bella
.
” He
clearly didn't want to stop yelling at the poor man.

“
I would like a word with
you.” Relief washed over the man's face, I could taste his
gratitude- sweet and salty.

“
Of course. Please excuse
me.” Dom turned from the table full of people.

“
Follow me.” I stepped out
of the war room and into a side room, built between the two rooms-
it was a hidey-hole.

He stepped in after me and slid the hidden
door into place.

“
You can't badger people
like that. They will not respond well. And what's this 'Sire'
nonsense?” I kept my voice cool and calm.

“
They need to know this is
serious. The people have taken to calling us the King and Queen,
therefore, the titles that go along with them are used when people
address us.” He crossed his tattooed arms over his chest and leaned
against the door.

“
That is bullshit and you
know it. No power trips. I will not stand for it.
Our
people need to be
able to turn to us in time of need, like this one... not fear us.
We are to rule, but not oppress. The vampire people have existed
for thousands of years without royalty... they've allowed us to
take it back.
Do not
underestimate these people or what they can do. If we're to
stay in this position of power, then you need to realize that we're
a partnership... you will
not
make decisions for me or without me. Period.” My
voice had turned regal.

“
I will
not
let you get hurt for
these people, either, Emma.” His eyes were hard and cold like
gemstones.

“
I'm not a doll to be
dressed up and put into an ivory tower. I'll protect these people
as much as I possibly can. I need you to accept this.” My eyes
pleaded for him to understand.

“
Emma, I can't lose you.”
Fear filled our bound.

“
Oh, Dom. With our new
position comes the chance that we could lose it all. I understood
that when I married you. Why is it that now when the danger is
near, you feel the need to throw an entire population in front of
me to protect me?” I laughed gently at his concern.

“
It's irrational, I know.
But what else do you expect me to do? Let them walk right up to the
door and murder you?” His brows pulled together in
distress.

“
Dominic, I expect you to
know that I'm very capable of defending myself. I expect you to
remember my gifts and put your personal desire to keep me from harm
aside and stand united by my side as I try to help in the ways I
can. I expect
us
to take on anything that comes our way
together
and win because of it.” I
placed my palm on his cheek and looked into his eyes.

“
But Emma...” His words
trailed off.

“
You know I'm right. You
also know that we must always stand united, or we will fail.” I
kissed his cheek.

“
Yes, you're right.” He let
out a big sigh. “How would you like to handle this?”

“
I need to go to the attack
site. You can have whatever setup you want for my safety, as long
as it does not emit the taste of fear or panic. I will not have you
frighten our people more than they already are.” I gently inched
him away from the door.

“
As you wish, my Queen.
Would you like the area cleared of people as well? Am I welcome to
accompany you?” Dom was staring down at his feet.

“
Only the most useful
people are to be in the area, or those that might have seen
something. I would like you to join me, as well as Charlie and
Betty. I think we can leave Grandpa in charge of the palace while
we're away.” I took his hand.

“
Yes, of course.” He opened
the door for me to slide out.

“
Thank you, my love.” I
kissed him and then walked into the War room.

“
Emma has need of a small
escort to the site. Derrick, you'll arrange this.” Dominic barked
to a caramel colored giant with long brown dreadlocks and the
palest green eyes I've ever seen.

“
As it pleases the Queen,
it shall be done.” He bowed lightly and then walked from the
room.

“
Derrick Yertl is head of
security. I trust him with my life.” Dom explained to me
briefly.

“
Do we have an ETA on
Bettina and Charles?” Dom asked a woman in plum.

“
Bettina will arrive in
about two hours, Charles shall be here in the hour. In that hour,
however, both you and Emma have a small meeting with a
representative from New York regarding the vampires in the US.” Her
words were crisp and clear.

“
Thank you, Yasmin. When
does this meeting start?” He asked her.

“
In about fifteen minutes.”
Her hair was in a perfect black bun at the base of her neck, her
honey colored eyes took in everything as she spoke to
Dom.

“
Thank you.” Dom turned to
me.

“
This is Yasmin, she is our
personal assistant. She knows everything and somehow manages to
keep me in the right place at the right time.” He beamed at the
woman.

“
It's a pleasure to meet
you, Yasmin.” I held out my hand.

“
The pleasure is all mine.
I'm merely the head personal assistant. You both have your own.
They have not been hired as of yet. But ultimately, everything they
know I'll know.” Her grasp was firm and strong- I liked her
instantly.

“
Good. You're the go-to
girl.” I smiled at her.

“
Yes, I suppose I am.” She
smiled back.

“
Will this meeting require
a certain attire?” I wasn't sure if I was dressed for something
like this.

“
Perhaps a quick change
into a business skirt and button up shirt would be a little more
appropriate.” She suggested.

“
Thank you, Yasmin. Dom,
I'll be right back.” I kissed him and slipped out of the
room.

Fifteen minutes later, I was standing at
Dom's side wearing a black pleated skirt, blood red button up,
black leather Mary Jane pumps, my hair pulled back in a tight bun,
and light makeup. We waited for the party to arrive at the top of
the stairs, to welcome them to our home.

Three city vampires got out of a black town
car. The leader of the small pack was a short female with flame red
hair cropped short. She wore only black and had a rose that turned
into a dagger tattooed on the back of her neck. Her second was a
man of medium build, a shaved head, piercing black eyes, and his
entire body covered in tattoos. The last of their party was a
stocky gent, with thick raven hair and warm brown eyes. Looking at
them, I realized that they were chosen to intimidate and strike
fear.

“
Greetings Morgana,
William, and George. It is a pleasure to see you again. Welcome to
our home.” Dom hugged each in turn.

“
Merry Met, Sire.” They all
chimed in.

“
Let me introduce you to my
wife, Queen of the Vampires, Emma.” I smiled at each of them and
gave them a brief handshake.

“
Well met, Milady.” Morgana
curtsied at me, her two wingmen bowed slightly.

“
I hope your trip was to
your liking.” I said as I led them into one of the many rooms that
had been designed for comfort and business.

“
It was quite well, thank
you.” Morgana took the chair that I offered to her- I had
strategically separated each of them from one another.

“
Would you like something
to drink or eat?” I knew I had to play this role perfectly, we
needed the US vampires to recognize us as their rulers as
well.

“
Just some red. Doesn't
matter what kind. For all of us.” Her words were cut, and when she
used the nickname for blood, I knew she was relaxing.

“
It shall be brought right
away.” I watched as Dom picked up the phone and ordered blood for
us.

“
Your Majesties, our time
here is brief, so I would like to get to the point. If that is
alright with you.” Morgana chimed in.

“
Please, speak your mind,
Morgana. We are all friends here.” Dom cooed at the
woman.

“
The vampires of the States
want to know that with this change in rulership, things will not be
taken to excess. We want to be protected but not caged. Although
there have been people that guided the vampires before, there have
never been official
rulers
, you're the first. We want to
know what your intent is.” She sat inched forward on the chair,
leaning into her legs, her hands grasped together, but remained in
eye contact with us through all her words.

“
We are quite aware of the
newness of the situation. The vampires are
our
people. They
will not
be oppressed. The same
rules will be in place as before. However, there will be new ones
added. Just as there have always been leaders, such as yourself,
they will now report to us. Our word will be law. But don't think
that this means we will not listen and trust the vampires that know
their areas better. There is one law that will be in effect
immediately after our swearing in, and that will be that the
hunting and or murder of the wolves will be forbidden.” Dominic's
words bounced off the walls as the room was hushed.

“
These new laws you'll be
putting into place, will the leaders get to know about them before
they're written into the books?” William spoke.

The drinks were brought in.

“
Of course, we're not a
dictatorship. We expect input from our people. The only law that
will be changed, regards the werewolves.” I answered.

“
Why the protection of the
hounds? Will they be implementing a similar decree?” George asked
in a low growl.

“
We will not have
unnecessary bloodshed and violence. There is no reason why we can't
coexist with them. Once their leaders have taken rulership, I'm
sure that there will be a similar law cast. Does it bother you to
be the first to offer good tidings?” I tried to keep the emotion
from my voice and keep my voice level, it was one of the hardest
things I've so far had to do.