Alric "Al" Goldsworthy's Story

It was bluntly pointed out that now wasn't the best time for Markus to be making snarky comments. He was slightly taken aback by Katherine's "promise", as what she would probably like to call her threats, but not to a point where he was surprised. In fact he usually expected her to reply crossly. That was the whole point in being rude to someone - to get a rise out of them, was it not? Even so, despite his accomplishment he decided to keep his mouth shut. It wasn't that difficult to get the young princess angry, but after she starts making threats is when she gets serious.

What a pain..

He could reply in some sarcastic way but, despite how excruciating it was for him to admit it, she was royalty and she did hold authority over him. He'd really rather not have her use that freaky pain thing on him any time soon. Not long after Katherine made her point she got up from the table and made her leave in a hasty manner without another word. "Hey, wait a min-!" The doors closed, leaving him alone in the room. He had to take a few moments to decide whether he should follow her or perhaps help himself to the food set out on the table that she hadn't touched yet. Then again, chances were she was going to go to her sisters room where both Vincent and Brinley were. Neither of them would be very happy if they watched him leave to go get her only for her to show up by herself.

With that, he let out a sigh and left the dining room to hurry up to Opal's sleeping quarters where he spotted Katherine sitting beside her sister at the piano. He decided to remain in the hallway with his back against the wall across the doorway, his hands in his pockets. Can't she just sit in one place and do what she's told? Honestly, how annoying. I could be sleeping right now.

"Well, now that I'm back. What're you planning to do with the lowlife of a Duke, Brinley? We can't just kill him. That's not going to sit well with the family who sent him." Not that he cared either way.

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The Night Before
It was another event that involved the rich and noble families of the vampire race. An evening party taking place in a large building created precisely for these sort of occasions. This occasion specifically being a ball as a celebration for the engagement of two pure bloods, and noble's at that saying as such a party would never be held for anyone of less stature. The reason the eldest prince of the royal family, Alric, was attending this party alone was only due to his younger sister having a possible suitor visiting the next day and, knowing her, Opal would have to keep the man company and make sure things went properly. Not that the young prince minded coming alone.

This party wasn't just some event in which he could relax and enjoy the free food, either. He'd already introduced himself to most of the more important figures that were present and politely turned down three daughters from three different noble families that asked him if he'd dance with them. Not that he was complaining, he'd just much rather be at home with his siblings. After having some small talk about stocks going up with Duke Felan from England, he found the chance to help himself to a cold class of red champagne. This, of course, actually being blood infused with the basic components of sparkling wine. He shifted in his dark brown tuxedo, noting that another daughter of noble blood had decided to approach him.

"Are you enjoying the party, Prince Alric?", she said with a small smile, following with a well-practiced curtsy.

"I am, thank you. You're Lady Aluna, correct? You introduced yourself to me at the lunch-in last week. It's your cousin that is getting engaged, so it's only natural you'd be here." The Lady Aluna was a very beautiful young woman, being the age of seventeen with thick orange hair and crystal blue eyes and clothed in a matching blue dress embedded with sapphires.

"I'm honored you remember me, since we've only met once. You're sisters aren't attending?"

"I'm afraid they're both quite busy tomorrow, so no."

"That's too bad. I'd love to meet them since I rarely get to be around girls my age. Has either of them found a husband yet?"

"I'm sure they'd also love to meet you. As for them finding husband's, Katherine is a bit young yet and Opal hasn't taken an interest in anyone yet either. I guess they're just waiting for the right person."

"They need husbands in order to officially take over the throne, don't they?", she questioned, though it seemed to be more of a statement. "Have you found the right person yet, your Highness?"

Alric gave her a somewhat sheepish smile, raising his free hand and scratching the back of his head. "Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck." He quickly gave the young woman a small bow to excuse himself. "I'm sorry but I have an early flight in the morning, so I'm not able to stay long. I'll try to bring my sisters with me to Count Hitoma's wine tasting party next month in Japan. I hope you'll be there. Have a good evening, Milady."

"I'll be there. Good evening to you too." She purred, her smile lengthening slightly and her eyes narrowing softly as they watched Alric make his way to the front entrance.

---

He was happy to get to his hotel room and change into something more comfortable, barely bothering to do anything else before going to sleep. The next morning he rose early to shower and get dressed. It was a little relieving to be able to cloth himself without the household maids insisting that he should wear something a little more formal or proper. It was nice being able to throw on his favorite blue jacket over a plain brown t-shirt and slip on a pair of khaki pants. It was proper enough, wasn't it? Why did it matter if he wore a pair of red sneakers with it with laces that were a little worn down? It was comfortable and he definitely preferred casual over the tux he had to wear to the ball the night before.

At last he brushed his teeth and left in a limo that was arranged to pick him up and drop him off at the airport where a private jet would be waiting to leave. Within a few hours the plane touched down in Japan.

After that, everything began to happen and pass in a blur. Vincent arrived - nearly naked, might she add - and sat down atop the Duke. A different security guard confiscated the knives that the Duke had on his person - obviously knives that had been intended to take her life - and went to send them off for finger-print testing. If they came back with anyone else's fingerprints on them along with the Duke's, they would have a suspect for who was out to kill her and who had hired him to perform the dirty deed. In the meantime, Chess hopped up and curled on her lap, her face snuggling into the soft, pink skirts of her dress as she played.

It was when Katherine arrived that she felt her lower lip begin to tremble. What if the Duke had gone after Katherine? Or what if she was actually the intended target, but the Duke felt that ridding the vampire race of her, too, would earn him bonus points with his boss? What if he had intended to kill her brothers when they arrived home?

Thank God it had been her that had been attacked. Anyone else, and the outcome would have undoubtedly been different.

Oh, no, she didn't doubt her siblings' capabilities to protect themselves. But who knew? Something might have happened to cause them to trip up and end up making them become hurt ... Or worse.

Never-the-matter now, of course. It was over and done with, and there was nothing that she could do to change anything that had happened.

She could, however, prevent what would undoubtedly happen next. With a gentle hug to her sister and a whisper of, "It wasn't your fault, and there's nothing that you could have done to stop it," in answer to the younger girl's worries, she lifted Chessy into her arms and rose from the piano bench. Several strides later, and she passed through the door and back into her bedroom.

"No one is going to be punished for anything. It is doubtful that anything could have prevented what happened. How he managed to kill the guards down below and get past them astounds me, but he did, and there's nothing that can be done about that now." She crossed the room as she walked and lowered Chessy onto her bed, before turning to face the three Royal Guards. "As for him ..." She looked pointedly at the Duke. "Take him to a prison cell for holding until his interrogation. Once the interrogation has been finished, return him to the holding cell. He will remain there until further notice. I plan to wait for Alric's return before taking action upon a Duke, of all things. His followers will undoubtedly strike back if we cause harm to him. For now, make a notice to the vampire public that the Duke will be staying for an extended period of time to further court Katherine. That would be best to cover up what occurred today."

Opal paused and looked at the guards, before turning her gaze towards the balcony windows.

"Have someone collect those two poor men outside and delivered to their families. I will visit them myself to deal out my condolences once all this has passed. Understood?" she asked, looking over at them. She glanced at Vincent. "I need you to remain here as a guard for Katherine while Brinley and Markus take care of those details. Brinley, I would greatly appreciate it if you would take care of the Duke, seeing as I trust you more then, well, him," she said, pointing at Markus. After a deep, cleansing breath, she turned on Markus.

"As for you," she began, her eyes flashing with anger as she slowly made her way over to him.

"I will no longer stand for your disrespect towards your superiors and those that are in any way a higher rank then you. There comes a time when someone is forced to draw the line on how you treat them, and I suppose that that time has come. You have become lazy, disrespectful, and force others to perform your duties due to your general lack of work-ethics," she said, stopping when she was mere inches from Markus. "Therefore, I am ordering Vincent to train you and turn you into a proper officer of the royal guards, and a proper butler in the process. Failure to become so, and I will have no choice but to dismiss you from being a guard here. Vincent will report back to me on a daily basis on your cooperation, skill level, and general basics so that I may assess your behavior. Is this understood, Mister Heimrich?" she asked. Throughout the entirety of this speech, her voice was soft, yet held a dark undertone to it, her words obviously both a threat and a promise that she would carry out on them.

After a moment of her eyes intensely searching his, she straightened herself and turned towards Vincent. "The training will begin tomorrow, but I still expect regular duties to be performed. Katherine and I will spend more time around each other so that you are both doing your jobs. Vincent, remain here to guard Katherine. For now, Markus can take care of the two men that the Duke killed. Does that sound like a plan?"

In all honesty, she hated having to act like this, but she was really left with no choice. Brinley was the only one she trusted with the Duke at the moment, Markus needed to grow up and stop acting like a child, and Vincent, well ... Vincent was Vincent.

It was normal for the red-head to eat all of his meals in the large kitchen of the Goldsworthy mansion rather than taking his food to his room or to the dining room if it was empty. At least the maids in the kitchen were better company than his co-workers or the other guards. Right now was the perfect time for Markus to snatch some food since the kitchen help were all finishing up with preparing breakfast for the royals. He was quickly acknowledged by the older women, most of them in a friendly manner wile a few sighed and shook their heads as they went back to work.

"Don't you have something better to do?"

Markus stopped at one of the counters where a few women were chopping up fruits, most likely already getting lunch ready, and picked up an apple. The woman who had spoke was a tad short with her thin brown hair pulled back into a bun under a white bonnet. "A man's gotta eat, doesn't he?", he said, hopping up onto the counter to sit. The apple nearly reached his mouth before the woman stole it from his hand and set it down on the other side of her.

The woman, whom Markus knew as Yuma, let out a small chuckle. "You're not a man until you stop acting like a child." She then took her left arm and gave Markus a shove to get him off the counter. Of course there was no way she'd have the strength to cause him to fall over, but he let himself slip off anyway. "Hey, a cook should show a guard some respect." He said after he leaned himself against the counter. The apple nearly reached his mouth before Yuma stole it from his hand and set it down on the other side of her. "What the hell? Markus turned towards her and gave her a harsh glare. "C'mon you hag I'm hungr--!" Something small but hard hit him on the back of the head and he spun around, realizing that one of the younger cooks, a blond named Taffa, had raised her fist and conked him one.

"That food is strictly for their majesties! If you want something to eat go sit over there and we'll make you something!" Taffa ordered as she pointed towards the wall were a few chairs sat. "If you can't be patient then you're not getting anything, got that young man!?" She continued to stare at him with stern eyes before he finally sighed. "F-fine.." he replied reluctantly before heading over to the wall and sitting himself down. What a pain in the ass... Damn women..

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---

It was approaching the late morning when the jet touched down and Alric was finally able to collect his things. The wait for the limo wasn't very long, but he was tired and all he could think about was getting home to see how things were doing. He was worried about his siblings, but at the same time knew that they were left in good hands and it would be wrong of his to doubt the strength of Brinely and the other royal guards. Right, they were fine and perfectly safe. He was just letting his paranoia get the best of him is all. He hadn't been gone for very long, but the trip was a busy one and he didn't get a lot of rest so he was probably just tired. A good night's sleep in a familiar bed would have him feeling better in no time.

When the limo arrived, he instantly noticed that his assigned guard hadn't come along. It wasn't like Brinely to skip out on her duties and surely she wouldn't miss the opportunity to make sure he was alright after leaving the mansion without her with him. This only made him start to worry again. "Excuse me, why isn't Brinely here to escort me?" He questioned the guard, who was putting his suitcase into the trunk of the limo, before he made any move to get into the car.

The guard who was holding the door open for him took the liberty of answering, saying that they'd been issued by Brinely to pick you up instead because she had business to attend to. He wasn't very specific and in all honesty Alric couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. "Oh, I see. Thank you." He said before sating his seat and waiting for the car to leave the airport.

The drive was about an hour long, definitely longer than the flight, but that was understandable. He was just relieved to be home when the limo finally reached the gate to the mansion. Surprisingly there weren't as many paparazzi as usual, likely due to one of his siblings scaring most of them off. Normally Alric would have the driver stop the limo and he would give them a few good statements to satisfy their curiosity, but not today. Instead he just waved from behind his rolled up window as the gate opened and the limo entered the driveway. It came to a stop near the front entrance and he quickly got out without waiting for his door to be opened for him. "Just put that in my room please." He said before hurrying into the house.

After the doors closed behind him he stood still and took in a deep breath, bringing up his arms and cupping his hands around his lips. "I'm home!! Where's my welcome back hug!?" He shouted, not giving the two maids who were waiting for him any chance to greet him. "Uhm, welcome your majesty One managed to say with a small smile "Your siblings are in the kitchen eating their breakfast.

Alric gave the girl a smile. "Right, thank you." He then approached the dining room using his speed. He was too impatient to see everyone to just walk there at a normal pace. However when he opened the door to the dining room there were only two other people in there, his younger brother and his new guard. He was a tad confused at first, but then gave the two of them a friendly smile. "Goodmorning Drake, Ms. Harwal." He stepped in and ruffled Drakes hair as he walked by before taking a seat.

"I was told that Opal and Kath were in here too, where is everyone? Also has grandmother visited at all? I'm pretty sure I can smell her, but I'm so tired who knows how well my senses are working." He chuckled sheepishly, tapping his index finger against the side of his head a couple of times as he sad the last sentence.

“Sorry for being so stupid ...”

Opal turned her face upwards, just in time to see him move forward. His fingers curled around her right wrist and, although she could have easily overpowered his efforts, she didn't want to. She let him grab her. And she let him pull her forward, so that she stumbled slightly, her hand raising to grab his right arm with her left hand in an effort to steady herself. When she was finally steadied, she blinked and looked up, only then realizing that he was speaking again. She wasn't held in his arms like she so desperately wanted to be, but being as close as she was was enough. Her wrist was held by his hand, her own hand limp with surprise, and she was close enough that they were toe-to-toe.

“Like you said, I’m stupid and I’m not good at expressing myself. But I am good at following orders, and am smart enough to know one when I hear it ..." His next words were obviously going to be hard for him, and for a moment, she felt a flash of regret combined with guilt. She didn't want him to be in pain because of her orders, for she knew that he wouldn't tell her anything if she hadn't told him to.

I obsess over what you think- constantly afraid that I might come off clumsy, stupid or uncool ... I find myself worrying constantly; when I wake up, sleep- all the time I run everything I’ve been taught about you through my head in an attempt to impress you or something. I don’t even know why, but when I look at you my heart races, when I smell you my brain gets fuzzy and simply holding you like this makes me want to smile like an idiot.”

Funny, because that's exactly how I feel ... How I've felt for the past decade or so. If only you knew how often I've felt that way, then you wouldn't have been so afraid to tell me.

Having felt the same way for so long, she completely understood how he was feeling. Obviously, he couldn't put it into words, or else he would be rambling. Even she wasn't ready to even think the words, for it was too surprising that he could possibly care about her as intensely as she cared for him.

It would be fair if she rejected him. He had done so enough over the years that it would be his just desserts. But at the same time, she couldn't do such a thing. She wasn't mean enough for it, and she cared about him far too much to hurt him in such a way.

God, what a predicament.

“Today was the first time I've genuinely felt fear. For some reason, hearing you were attacked caused the world to shake and my response numbed with the world around me. I don’t know why, but my life and my clan’s reputation didn't even occur to me. My only thought was…you and the feeling that I’d lost something that meant more to me than anything else."

It was then that he managed to look at her, and when their gazes caught, her heart jumped into her throat. Her cheeks turned the same color as her hair, intensified, and turned a crab-red color.

"You ... You're ..."

A gulp.

A frown.

Her heat almost seemed to burst from her chest, for it was thundering so intensely.

"... Vincent ..." she mumbled, looking down and at his chest. There was a stirring in her stomach, and as tears sprang to her eyes, she lifted her free hand to her lips, where it dropped over them. Several tears escaped as she took a step back, uncertain of what she would do in that moment.

Your hand ... It's on my wrist. It's on my wrist!

Such typical teenage thoughts, for an untypical, highly-ranked vampire girl. In that moment, she felt almost ... Normal. No high-class, royal situations to worry about, and no foreign dignitaries trying to kill her.

It was an amazing feeling.

Her eyes closed, her lips turned down in a grimace, and she shook her head. "You ... It's just ... It isn't ..." Her hand lifted, the heel of it pressing against her closed left eye. Pulling her wrist from his grip, she sniffed, and it took her only one step to close the distance between them.

Her arms locked around his neck, her face burying in his chest and her tears dripping to his shirt.

"You ..." I can't say it ... I can't get the words out ...

But I have to. I have to say them, because if I don't, then he won't.

She lifted her head and tilted it back, her eyes and nose-tip tinged pink from crying.

"You're actually in love with me?" she whispered, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

---

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“Sadly sleep is something I’ve never been on good terms with.”

Zates nodded, moving a bit forward until she stood between his chair and the free one beside him. Noting the dark circle under his visible eye, she shook her head a bit. "That's a shame. Sleep is healthy for you, and without it, you could become ill," she said softly, her concern for his well-being evident in her troubled gaze. "I'll see what I can do about mixing a medicine or a spell for you, okay?" she offered with a small smile, yet remained regal and composed all the same. She frowned a bit at his next words, however.

“Go ahead and sit, help yourself- call me Drake if you feel like it, but I’ll settle for handsome.”

"I couldn't do something so unprofessional," she murmured uncomfortably, shifting her weight a bit. She blushed slightly and her hands flew up, for she was obviously frazzled by his words, and she rounded on him, her odd eyes wide and her palms facing him. "Not that you aren't pleasant upon the eyes, Prince! I would never say something as crude as that to you!" she insisted. When the Hell was she going to get this guard thing down? He was so ... Intimidating, to say the least. She would undoubtedly get better, however, as she grew accustomed to the unfamiliar feeling of fear.

His voice jerked her back to reality, causing her to blink and focus on his face once more.

“Speaking of sleep, how was- yours?”

She shifted a bit and looked away. Whether or not she had chosen to answer, she wouldn't have had the chance to anyway. Instead, the Royal's grandmother danced in at that time, completely ignored Zates's presence, and threw her arms around her grandson, who appeared rather uncomfortable. Her hair prickled and threatened to stand on end, her natural protective nature threatening to explode upon the woman, despite her having every right to hug her own grandson.

It will fade ... Just don't do anything stupid ...

Finally the woman left, and she moved to sit in a chair that would give her a view of every entrance to the room, along with one of the Prince. Her hand slid into her pocket, and she removed her spell-book, which she dropped into the table with a soft thump. After a moment, she snatched an apple, polished it on the front of her uniform, and took a small bite. She wasn't very hungry, but it would be rude to merely brush off her charger's offer.

In an attempt to return to semi-normal conversation - for he was obviously still recovering from his random show of a grandmother - she turned her gaze to the Prince.

"I ... Don't sleep very often. It's a side-effect of what I am. But when I do, I sleep for quite a while, which is why I have a substitute on the side for whenever I finally sleep. I love sleeping though," she said, taking another small nibble. She straightened and pointed at his plate, her brows drawing together slightly. "You should eat around the peel of your fruit. It's the healthiest part," she said, motioning to the peels scattered on his plate. "Besides, if you swallow it before you finish the delicious part of the apple, you won't even taste it," she said with a small smile.

Turning, she dropped her gaze on the eldest prince as he entered.

"Welcome home, Prince Alric," she said, rising and bowing slightly. She remained so until he had seated himself, before returning to her own chair. "How was your journey?"

---

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Brinley had just walked up to another guard when she hears a crashing and a voice upstairs. Before she even has a millisecond to say something to the royal currently with her, Katherine, the vampire girl has darted up and made her way back up the elevator to the ground floor, presumably to greet the familiar voice who has made their presence known rather effectively- the remaining matriarch of the royal family, Amaya Goldsworthy. Although the guard does feel some attachment towards the older woman, she does not take the liberty of going up to take part in the greeting, not considering such a thing to be her place. After all, regardless of how long she has known the woman, she is still a guard, not a relative or someone of equal standing, and therefore should continue to attend to her assigned task- interrogating and seeing to the condition of the duke-turned-assailant who is currently restrained, very thoroughly, in the square that is the interrogation chamber. After watching the lights on the elevator tell her that Katherine has reached the top floor, Brinley raises an eyebrow and turns back to face the guard, going over simple procedure- for the sake of protocol, of course.

The tone, alerting her that someone had come back down in the elevator, does surprise Brinley a bit, as she doubts that Katherine would be so quick to depart from a visit with her beloved grandmother. Amaya is the only real guardian the family has left, after all, as their uncle isn't exactly the most parental of people. The moment the elevator doors open, though, she can identify the person without needing to turn around, scent tipping her off immediately. Besides, there always appears to be this feel of power around the grandmother of her charges, placing the slightest of weight on her. Brinley turns around, expression as neutral as ever, to face Amaya. She waits while the woman surveys her, not doing the same because she doesn't feel the need to, and waits to be greeted first before speaking to the woman. There always seems to be a reminder about her, even stronger than with the children somehow, that she hadn't protected the children's mother from their father. She couldn't have, of course, without being killed immediately, but the reminder still lingered all the same.

Brinley bows deeply -she never curtsies, even in the most formal of situations- in recognition of Amaya's rank, before straightening her posture to its typical severity. "Hello, your grace," she greets the woman politely. She is about to say more, but a message in her headset alerts her of the arrival of the eldest prince of the royal family, back from his international trip. Instinct tells her to go see to him, her official charge, but she remains in the presence of Amaya all the same.

"Your eldest grandson appears to have arrived," she informs Amaya, glancing over towards the elevator for a moment before centering her attention back onto the woman once more. "Shall we speak on the way up to greet him?" Brinley suggests to the woman. She wants to ask after Amaya's health, of course, but professionalism keeps her expression attentive but neutral, and prompts her to need to go up and ensure that the prince's trip had gone smoothly. For a brief moment, she speaks quietly to the guard, telling him that the interrogation will have to be delayed for a bit.

Vincent’s struggle for words had at first left him oblivious to the actions of his charge. But as he waited, hoping she had some kind of insight he didn't- certain changes happened. Opal’s face became increasingly red and eventually she averted her face, this is…embarrassment? Vincent couldn't help but wonder that, after all Opal’s action didn't match anything from her typical anger habits. But the question was what embarrassed her- his current behavior was certainly shameful from a professional standpoint. However, he knew enough about Opal that the violation of professional protocol wasn't it either. Vincent was even further confused when Opal’s hand approached her face, this action wasn't in her records. What did catch his attention though, the husky smell of water tinged with salt- tears. This really confused Vincent, he couldn't think of having done something to make her cry. It wasn't until he felt something around his neck that his thoughts violently returned to reality.

"You're actually in love with me?"The question had come out as merely a whisper, but there was no mistaking her question. The implication had caught Vincent entirely off guard, am I actually in love? From a professional standpoint the notion was absurd, his clan trained its members against emotion. According to legend, the Shield Wolves had an overly powerful connection to their motions that had nearly wiped them out. In response, the current brutal training was used to repress those connections. The princess in front him was so unlike herself; frail and seemingly frightened shadow that trembled against his flesh with pinked eyes and nose, but silently demanding an answer all the same.

“Love,” he said the word out loud, trying it out…almost tasting the word itself in an effort to answer her question. “I think… that might be correct.” His words lacked true certainty, and his face was screwed in its usual ‘confused yet thinking’ face.
“It’s hard for me to truly be sure; it’s severely discouraged back home- no offense Highness, but it’s hard for me to give a straight answer.” He grimaced as he gave the most honest answer he could, but he found himself leaning closer until his cheek was nearly touch hers. “While I don’t mean to dodge the question, tonight’s a new moon,” he found himself whispering now, “a perfect time for a certain old wolf’s tale and I think you’ll understand what I mean then.” While he didn't want to have to rely on old, unwritten wolf tales, the story he had in mind was something like the book of Genesis. Traditionally, it wasn't shared among non-wolves, and wolves only spoke it during the new moon. But once more, Vincent could only speak for his pack, and subsequently for all the Shield Wolves.




Drake felt his eye twitch and his grandmother’s answer and further insinuation. So the Calamity Queen will condone her own actions AND those of her son- albeit to a lesser extent. The belief bitterly voiced itself in his head and echoed in his heart. But apparently it’s too much to hope for her to spoil a grandchild with the same treatment- no… it’s only me she’s against. In his mind a bit of gender favoritism was to be expected, after all the woman had a reputation for being a black widow. As such, the fact his grandmother seemed a bit softer towards his sisters was something he could ignore. What really burned his insides, was apparently his elder brother and even his wretched uncle got more of her blessings than himself. He wished to ask how even a man she allegedly hated seemed closer to her heart than himself. Experience on the other had taught him silence, his father had sought to blind him for merely possessing his eyes…he didn't need to lose his own tongue- or worse.

“Of course grandmother, and sorry for my unintended rudeness,” the woman in question had already been out of the room by the timed his mouth opened. Guess I both lack the proper genitals, and came from the wrong matron too…wonder how Alric does it. The offensive musing quickly flitted through his mind, causing his visage to darken somewhat. He vaguely heard the Greek accent in the background but it was the sound of approaching footsteps that really got his attention. A slight flare of the nostrils was all the sarcasm he could muster against the advice against the advice on fruit consumption- he lacked the concern for a true response.

"Welcome home, Prince Alric, how was your journey."His attention was brought to his brother by his guard before too good a view of his phase should have occurred. It also let him coherently listen to his brother’s questions and respond with playful yet happy smile he usually used for his brother. In truth the hair ruffling was something he somewhat enjoyed, though fixing his hair afterward could be annoying. Luckily, he hadn't yet done his hair so the concern wasn't a factor this time.

“Your nose isn't lying, the old lady just got here,” the usual upbeat voice came from his mouth out of habit. “Opal is probably a room or two down with the Randal and I've no clue on Kat.” He gave an exaggerated shrug while he continued, “Gran told me to gather everyone for her welcome home party too. Excuse me while I go get started on just that, alert the staff for me?” The latter half of his second sentence was asked as a question when he stood up to leave. Without even waiting for his brother’s response he left the room, at this point is brain was working at full tilt…this morning forced him to ‘wake up’ far faster than usual. His curiosity resulted in him giving voice to a question he found rather uncivil.

“So Harwal,” he directly addressed his guard using the surname his brother had used- oddly enough in the cheery yet innocent voice he used most often. “Crude question, do all Dhampyr have an interesting quirk from the mixture- or is it circumstantial?” Mostly from personal preference, he stopped to hear her answer. He liked seeing a person when having a conversation and that resulted in him turning for his left eye to spot her.

Katherine had forgotten all about the interrogation as she was sure Brinley was more than capable of taking care of it. Katherine had instead run off to the kitchen instead of back to the interrogation. She saw Markus there but said nothing about it and instead turned her attention to the maids and chefs. "The Goldsworthy family's last remaining matriarch is back and I'm sure she wants to have a celebration in her honor so please I'm asking fo all of your assistance in helping to prepare the meals for it." Katherine was happy when they each nodded but frowned hen they bowed and said, "Of course, Princess." in unison. "I've told you all time and time again you can all call me Katherine." she stated with a sad smile and a ind tone. They verbally obliged with a simple yes but she knew they'd still call her princess.

Katherine waved to them and ran off. She wasn't sure where her grandmother had gone off too but she was sure it was to cause trouble. She had made it to the room Amaya was in previusly and once seeing Al she had ran up to him and embraced him tightly. "Al! I've missed you, how was your trip?" she still held onto him tightly whilst speaking. Much had happened in his abscense and so she was very glad to see him again.

Amaya had followed Brinley into the elevator and nodded at her question. "I've temporarily suspended my son's power thanks to a very powerful witch but he's still a problem to my grandchildren and it seems Drake may be following in the same path. We need to fix all of this Brinley as I'd hate to have the Goldsworthy family be once again torn up and at war with each other over the damned crown. It'll oly end in a bloodbath." Amaya stated lowly. Her son was of course causing trouble because of jealousy and his downright sociopathic tendencies. No matter what Drake had thought for her rejecting to give him back that ability it was for his own good and the good of his siblings.

She loved all of them equally but was more protective of Katherine and Opal because she knew what it was like being their age and having to deal with all this chaos. Alric and Drake were more than capable in her eyes of taking care of themselves in her eyes. Amaya knew she must've seemed cruel in the eyes of others for thinking such ways but that was far from the truth when it came to her grandchildren. She was sure Briley was moe than capable of handling those type of situations as she was more informed and experienced with her son than the other guards. Her son was a problem and as much as it killed her she knew that she'd possibly alongside Brinley and the others would have to vanquish him once and for all and pick up the pieces from there. Amaya knew there was a way to stop fighting and a war from occuring for the fight to the crown between her grandchildren and she knew in order to do so she'd have to get rid of the threat itself whom was stopping her from going through with her plan. The rule over vampires would be shared between sibling for the first time in the history of the vampire race and it would be split four-ways which was another thing done before.

Opal’s confused face told Vincent that he must have made even less sense than he had expected. Her answer, which was more sigh than anything confirmed the fact. However Vincent could only flashed an apologetic smile in response; his job had left him giving Opal half answers more often than he had expected. As his charge walked towards the doorway, he intended to return his arms to his rooms. Opal’s pause in the doorway put something of a delay on his plans.

"I should more than likely go now. I thought that I heard Grandmama Amaya, and knowing the old lady, she'll want some sort of luxurious party thrown in her honor. You're ... More than welcome to come, Vincent." As if trying to beat even his own thoughts to the question, Opal became more specific. "As a guest, not a guard. The rest of the royal guards are invited, also; Markus, Zates, and Brinley. Would you mind passing along the message? Thanks so much, Vinciny!" A nickname he hadn’t heard for a while was sung to end Opal’s sentence and he felt his face redden in response. At this point, she ducked behind the door and out of his view. But he’d barely begun to move before she reappeared, almost making him wonder if she was playing peek-a-boo despite the lack of an infant to play it with.

"It's alright to love a person. Because I love quite a few people," at this point her gaze held him in place just as assuredly as the younger prince, "and one of them happens to be in this room." This time, a smile was used in her departure. His ears picked up a rather rhythmic sound to her steps as she left. His heart was still beating his chest so hard it hurt, but training and a steadying breath brought him somewhat back to reality. He clicked his comm to the frequency exclusively reserved for the royal guards.

“Princess Opal has extended a guest invitation to the four of us. It’s to the party she’s expecting to be held in celebration of the Royal Grandmother’s return.” At this point he was glad that he was alone in the current room, he didn’t want anyone to see the goofy expression on his face. Just in case his voice didn’t sound right, he switched off his mic and finished picking up his weapons. The long walk to his room allowed for some thought to be put to his conversation with Opal. He knew there had been no one else in the room when she had said the final sentence. But she’d been in the doorway, so which room had ‘this room’ refer to; for that matter, was any part of her in the other room at that point? The weapons were returned to their usual place, and a painful reminder of his wardrobe was made. Vincent switched his mic on again after a sigh, and leaving his room in search of another scent.

“Brinsley, Zates- could I trouble the two of you with also covering the Princesses? I need to take care of something and also need to borrow Markus- that is if you’re ok with that man.” The fact that he’d actually run through halls had allowed him to say that final bit directly to the man in question. To prevent feedback, he immediately switched off his microphone again. Vincent hoped his address would clue Markus into his need of some ‘guy time’. Besides he seemed a bit more likely to know what he’d need to buy in terms of clothing, and perhaps explain a bit of what just happened with Opal.



Drake was slightly disappointed by the answer he received on Dhampyr, but it was closest to what he expected. In truth, it meant he’d have to actually look into Dhampyr as a whole before making in plans that hinge upon that crowd. There was still one bit of satisfaction he found, something he felt obligated to address after a moment of contemplation.
“Thanks for the answer; it’s rather hard to find one factual and unbiased these days.” The silence that should have taken place after his answer was instantly interrupted by a question he hadn’t expected. “So what do you intend to wear tonight? After all, until a theme is stated, dress is rather free reign and you will be in attendance- ah no telling though.” He knew his question and follow through were a contradiction, but Drake honestly had no intention of attending, though he had no choice in the matter. If he was lucky, he’d be able to duck out of the party unnoticed and hopefully even sneak off the premises for some fun of his own. If anything, his words would either be deemed rhetorical or playful and thus unanswered. A nearly dancelike foot step drew closer to his back
“Opal,” he turned to address his sister…who seemed almost like a new person to his eyes. There was something about this version of his sister he didn’t think he’d seen before. A slightly distorted voice over Harwal’s headset gave him an interesting condition on the evening. “Could you convince grandmother to go with a masquerade, or at least allow my nonattendance? You know I have a hard time with her and…well-this,” he pointed to his left eye, which was currently hidden by his bangs. “It’s kind of inconvenient if someone accidently makes eye contact on the dance floor.”
To disguise the unintended sincerity in his words, Drake did a quick stretch, continuing to speak before waiting for an answer. “Any ways, I’m going to finally take my shower. Zee, unless you want to join in I’d suggest sticking with my sister for a while, maybe even grabbing Kat and Bre (note: long ‘e’) for some girly party prep. I’ll drop some calls and who knows- there might even be a boy that catches your eye, unless you already have someone you wish to impress.” He used his verbal harassment to cover up his tracks as he walked out of the room, hands behind his head. Since he had to go through the dining area anyways, he’d see about getting Alric to call in some guests too.