Edith had remained silent, stiff and scowling in her seat. Gunther and Hugo bared their fangs, hissing and growling at the sight of the stake. Edith's scowl remained.
A challenge…
Someone wanted the crown and badly. Otherwise it would be an ordinary assassination. Once again, her eyes slid along those gathered around her. She had no reason to want the crown, she had her own throne, her own empire for heaven's sakes. Her people were taken care of and well, living their lives to the fullest. She'd made sure of it. So who is in need of the power? she thought with a snap of her fingers, loud and crips, silencing her guards. They still stood alert, on edge. She was a bit jumpy herself. She shifted in her seat, almost recoiling at the sight of the silver-tipped stake.
"Someone always has to rattle the cage…" she tsked. Her eyes sliding along her fellow nobles with fiery rage.
Blood Wars (The Revival) Mature Themes // Vampire RP! // Mystery // Romance// Closed!!
The King scowled, gesturing angrily to the weapon upon the table. "Obviously someone has been busy forging." He stood from his throne, beginning to circle the nobles almost a kin to a lion stalking his prey. His eyes landing on each of them with a hard coldness that was enough to freeze their souls. "You think I do not know how you all bicker and manipulate for power? With my wife and I gone any of you snakes could scoop up the throne. Many of your families have been eyeing it for centuries, like circling vultures."
Cambria sat still as stone, she did not miss that the King had included his own son in his comment. Yet, something still nagged her about his statement. War was being declared, loudly and brutally. The King meant to answer in kind.
She stood by her declaration of innocence, for she was certain of the loyalty of her family and men, but Cambria knew it would take a lot more to convince the King of the virtue of House Voccorix. Especially with such weapons floating around, as it seemed. Yet the question lingered in her mind…
Who would do this?
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At first Dominik had nothing to say. Part of him still believed this all to be some kind of joke, but there was one scenario that hadn't been prodded at yet. "Was the Queen happy in her marriage with you, my king?"
Ames gasped slightly at his master's bold question, feeling for sure that Dominik was overstepping his boundaries.
"If she was unhappy," Dom continued, "Then could it be that she took her own life, knowing that it would tear you and your kingdom apart?"
When the king's furious gaze fell on Etzli, she shrank against the cushions with an inaudible whimper. She really wished she had just stayed in the waiting room…. She heard Dominik's question and became scared for him. She shivered. Why was she here?
(Yo. Is it possible for my dude not to have a house.)
(If that's what you want. I don't mind. Although, it would make more sense if he did have one.)
(Well he never found out the lineage of who bit him.)
(That's fine. He can just be there for fun. :P)
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(Back to the rp?)
(yea!)
The King froze in his pacing, turning ever so slowly to turn his glare onto Dominik. "My wife…unhappy?" He asked quietly, the cadence of his voice leaving behind the anger it carried to take on a more deadly calm.
In a flash, the King stood before the vampire lord, his hand gripped around the other's throat. "You think my wife some common whore? Who's fancy turns with each decade? We had been together for millennia! It was her that urged peace between the nobles." He squeezed tighter, voice climbing an octave until his voice truly boomed through the room. "How you dare imply such an offence! Should I take your head now? Or have you bitten your foul tongue into silence?"
Cambria's brows had disappeared into her hairline in shock. She wasn't breathing nor, she thought, was anyone else in case they too might incur the King's wrath. Such a thing to say, she chided the Lord Dominik quietly. Obviously anything would set the King off right now, why would anyone dare say such a thing?
Such fools, Klaus sighed softly to himself, careful not to make any movement, but he wanted to leap from his chair and join the king in strangling Lord Dominik. Klaus crossed one leg over the other, his sharp eyes surveying each individual who was focused on the fight between the king and his subject. The lone vampire had his suspicions, but of course everyone had their own reasoning and way they were suspicous. One too nervous and shifty, one too cold-faced like himself. Even a glimmer of something strange could make the King snap and simply terminate them all.
Victor stepped out. "Sire." he said coldly while still maintaining a level tone of respect. "It would not do to strangle a subject if you are truly interested in finding truth. Doing so will only increase chaos. I am sure," he accented carefully, "you would not want that."
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Despite the discomfort Dominik felt from the king's hand being at his throat, he betrayed no emotion as he tried to speak. "I was merely offering an alternative scenario. There are things that even you don't know, your highness, and while on the outside the queen was as bright as the moonlight, she could very well have been harboring unknown grief that she didn't intend to share with you."
He caught a glimpse of the distasteful looks he was receiving from the other members of the court, but shrugged them off and kept his head high with pride.
The King made a nasty sound in the back of his throat in exasperation, but he released Dominik with a shove. "I'm sure. You obviously seem to know my wife better than I." He resumed his pacing around the table. "I demand the truth!" He said once more, pausing to slam his hand upon the table, sending splinters of cracks through it. "I should behead you all since you think you can lie to my face."
Cambria still quiet and still in her chair, was furiously thinking of how the hell she was going to get out of this situation. She should have sent her brother to this damn meeting in her place. She needed time to prepare for war, instead she was sure that she was about to become the King's prisoner. Is there no getting through to him? Is he so far gone? She crossed her arms and sat back in her chair, preparing a tiny flame in her left palm should she have to defend herself. Even against the King, she would not go quietly.
The worn male, was still glaring at them, biding his time it seemed. "Yet," The King continued waving his hand annoyed, as if they were mere children screeching at his feet. "We are presented with an opportunity to catch the traitor."
This time Cambria spoke aloud, "How so, my King? You are so convinced it was one of us, wouldn't revealing any plan you have be counterproductive? The traitor would know what to expect."
The King began to pace the room once more a caged and raging animal, stepping behind each of the seated lords and ladies his eyes tracking them with predatory intent. "If it is a war this coward wants, it is a war they shall get. I have you all gathered here for the mourning of my beloved and here you will all stay until the traitor is caught. They have tried to kill me once and failed, now I am ready and waiting. Come face me, traitor."
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A sigh flew from Dominik's lips the moment the king had finished his little speech. "And here I was thinking it all to be a joke." he whispered to himself. he ran his fingers through his neat hair, messing with it until the ends dropped down into his face. "Well I don't know about anyone else here but if we are to be staying for an extended period of time, I'd like to use the bathroom."
Something about the situation called for cold water to the face, but he would never admit that he was shaken in front of anyone other than Ames.
Etzli spoke softly to herself, "What about tests of a sort..? Prove our loyalty to the crown and our innocence? We should be kept on the grounds, under the king's nose. No one would dare to cause trouble with eyes always closely trained on them…" Her eyes turned a bright shade of teal.
Victor backed into the crowd, a sympathetic gaze alighting on a few of the others. The king is mad, he thought simply.
(Would it be okay for me to give Etzli a power later on, like, she didn't know about it and discovers it?)
Edith couldn't believe her eyes, as she watched the scene unfold before her. A smile curled on her lips as she read into the King's message. A challenge was offered and he had every intention of accepting it. There is nothing stronger than a revenger-hunger male, she thought as her fingers curled around the arms of her chair. She had always admired her king for his moxie and strength, especially in the hardest of times. And even if he did instill a bit of fear in her now, she respected him nonetheless.
"Whatever fool decided to commit this atrocity will certainly pay." She remarked, fangs visible as she grinned from ear to ear, the prospect of bloodshed did that to her.
(Um sure I guess. What were you thinking? And what for?)
( @TheElemental_needs_a_better_username I kinda need you to respond more often…we've moved on within the story and your character is just kinda….lagging behind.)
(Um sure I guess. What were you thinking? And what for?)
(Well, I didn't mention this in her profile, but her mother kind of shunned her for not inheriting a power from her parents, but Etzli is actually super smart and I feel that with the right power, I could contribute more to this RP.)
"You will be dismissed when I grant it." The King muttered, expression going stormy once more. "So we are clear, you are all my prisoners now. Revel during these hellforsaken gatherings and balls, but know that you are not free. Step one foot off of these castle grounds and I will leave you for the sun to fry." He spun on his heel before his throne to face them once more, fangs peeking out in the dim light. "Dismissed." The King leaned over the table and spat on the stake before them, looking up to glare at them all once more before storming out of the room.
Cambria cleared her throat, breaking the silence in the room. "That was unexpected." She murmured bracing her elbows on the table, leaning forward to address the others. Ever the shield maiden, she needed a plan of action. No. No, they all needed a plan of action. If the King continued own this spiral of grief and rage, who knows what he would do next or how unhinged he would get. "We must find this traitor." Cambria began, carefully tucking her hair behind her ears as she spoke. "We have a weeks worth of events to commemorate the late Queen. Who's to say that this would be assassin won't make a second attempt on the King's life?"
(Yeah. I might just drop out… I have no idea what to do…)
(I mean it's not hard to figure out….but it's up to you.)
(Um sure I guess. What were you thinking? And what for?)
(Well, I didn't mention this in her profile, but her mother kind of shunned her for not inheriting a power from her parents, but Etzli is actually super smart and I feel that with the right power, I could contribute more to this RP.)
(Go for it)
(I will. Sorry about it… I just… yeah… I'll still stalk, though.)
(Um sure I guess. What were you thinking? And what for?)
(Well, I didn't mention this in her profile, but her mother kind of shunned her for not inheriting a power from her parents, but Etzli is actually super smart and I feel that with the right power, I could contribute more to this RP.)
(Go for it)
(Thanks!)
Etzli immediately ran when she heard they were dismissed. She needed to get out. She needed somewhere to calm down and think things over.
Edith looked after the king, watching the doors close behind him. Such a terrible state to be in. Heartbroken and threatened. Hard pressed and forced to carry on or die and lose everything. She set her chin in her hand, shaking her head.
"What a cruel thing to do to such a male…." She tsked.. "It would be stupid to try another attempt on the king's life at a time like this. This murderer will fail with all of us present unless they decide to kill us as well." She stood and stalked to the edge of the table. She paused and placed a hand on his seat. "I say we keep close. To each other." She looked to the beautifully encrusted throne. "If we do, then we all assure that we each are not to blame for this act of treason." she cut her ivory eyes to them, a smile plastered on her wine colored lips that was anything but friendly. "And if anyone objects, they give reason to accusation and suspicion…" And eventually, their very own capture and execution…