In a well-lit hall with eye-catching designs and aesthetically pleasing structure, a circular table made of clean-cut stone sat at the center with a total of 13 stone chairs about it.
Behind the chairs which had Razan numerical figures drawn on them, 13 pillars also stood and on those pillars were beautifully embroidered flags with varying insignias.
The hall had an octagonal shape with a knight wearing blood-red armor and wielding an iron pike, standing at each edge.
If one was none the wiser, it would be easy to take these silent guards as ordinary ornaments.
At one end of the octagonal hall stood a stone entrance guarded by two guards with a strange lock on it and at the other end another door that stood ajar, revealing a long hallway lit up with torches.
Outside, two knights also stood, one hand on the stone doors as they watched the procession of a few cloaked individuals into the octagonal hallway.
The red cloaks of those entering the hall shone brightly in the torches that lit up the area, giving off a strange ambiance that filled the entire area.
The knights in the hall gave a curt bow upon noticing their entry and once the red cloaks were seated, they returned to their original position.
Almost at the same time, the red cloaks, which numbered a total of 13, removed their hoods revealing their faces.
Mostly male, with only 2 females, they shared some features, ranging from their pale skin to their exaggerated fangs and elongated ears.
Acknowledging the presence of the others, one of them who looked closer at a middle-aged man with his clean-cut hair and trimmed beard, spoke up. "Since we are all here, I believe it’s time to ask the question on everyone’s minds.
Then taking a moment to ensure he had the attention of the others, he inquired. "Who called this meeting?"
"I’d like to know as well." One of the only two females present said before adding. "It’s not yet time for our monthly gathering so why was this meeting called and who called it?"
"The why will be told by another but the who will have to be me." The man seated on the 3rd seat casually replied with the rest turning their attention to him as a result.
The 1st seat remarked in a rather cold tone. "Care to explain what you mean by the why would be told by another after calling for an impromptu gathering without my permission?"
"Of course. Please, give me a moment as I introduce the fourteenth member of this council... Damian Salvatore!"
"When was a new member elected?"
The other red cloaks murmured amongst themselves at the shocking news before turning their attention to the 1st seat which had his eyes on the 3rd.
"I don’t remember allowing this."
"That’s because I didn’t ask."
A voice sounded from the hallway from which they had entered.
The 1st seat alongside the others glanced over to find a youngster with a youthful appearance, wearing a red cloak similar to their own with a smug grin on his visage.
"And you are?" The 1st seat amiably asked, doing well to hide his true thoughts.
The youngster flashed a grin as he replied. "I’m sure the 3rd seat already introduced me."
"Hmm." Unhappy with the youngster’s... no, Damian’s response, the 1st seat glanced at the 3rd.
"As I said, he would be our 14th."
"Do you think this council is a joke?" The 6th seat exploded in annoyance. "Just anyone can be brought here and be allowed to join us?"
"Is that the way to speak to a superior number, 6th?" The 3rd calmly inquired.
"If you desire respect, then act like someone that deserves it!"
"Haha, this is truly interesting." Damian chuckled while still standing at the entrance, once again drawing attention to him.
Enjoying the varying emotions displayed in the gazes fixated on him, Damian continued. "Tell me something... uhmm, 6th, right?"
The 6th seat glared at him but remained silent regardless.
"Heh, you make it sound council is some exclusive club so I’d like to know what exactly makes it so exclusive?"
No one replied as they exchanged glances with each other.
Finally, it was the 1st that spoke.
Having managed to control the anger in his heart, he decided to take things in stride for the time being.
"This council, you mention so casually, has ruled over the Vampires of Krobridge for hundreds of years, keeping the peace between man and our kind." The 1st seat paused, checking to see if Damian was following before he continued.
"Every person you see here is a Duke that has managed to prove themselves capable of managing a city while keeping all vampires within the city as their subordinates."
"I see." Damian nodded as he slowly stepped into the hall. "You know, I heard about that title of Duke, but according to legends, there had never been a time when Dukes had to gather in an underground tunnel to discuss relations with humans."
"Indeed, that was true in the past." The 1st seat replied. "But that was a long time ago, before the arrival of the Great Families and the war that changed it all. Now we have no choice but to do this to ensure the peace that has lasted for so long."
Damian chuckled. "Peace, you say?"
"Did I say something funny?"
"Something like that."
Throughout all this, the 3rd seat remained standing, a smile on his face as he watched the exchange between the 1st and Damian.
He hadn’t expected much when he expedited the current situation but it was going better than he could have imagined.
Damian stopped walking, standing a few meters away from the circular table before scrutinizing the faces of everyone present.
Taking a moment to sigh, he remarked. "What you call peace, I see as suppressing our people from their primal instincts."