Chapter Three
Ezmeralda POV:
Flashback Continues
I have no way of knowing how much time has gone by, there is no clock in here, so I pulled out my phone to check the time. As soon as I unlocked it, I noticed I had received a text from an unknown number. “You look stunning.” read the message. Confusion hit me. Whose number is this? I showed Mariah the message,“Who is it?” she asked as she stared at my phone. I shrugged my shoulders, “No clue, should I text them back?” Talon then leaned over, read the message, and rolled his eyes. “Who texts and does not say who it is? But a compliment is a compliment, it would be rude to not answer." Talon said. "Don't forget to ask who it is!” Mariah chimed in while giggling. Talon has always made sure I was given a confidence boost, making certain I knew my own worth, and it has helped me to not be so awkward when my own people would compliment me. “How do I ask who it is without sounding rude?’’ I asked, looking at both of them. “Tell them you appreciate the compliment, but you got a new phone and unfortunately lost all of your previous contact information.” Mariah suggested. “That won’t work, she is a queen, she would have backed up the information. Just tell them thank you and ask who they are. Perhaps say like, ‘I apologize but I do not know who you are but I do appreciate the compliment, thank you.” Rowena interjected.
I turned to look at her, “Are you telling me this because you never save anyones number?” I asked, smirking at her. She was the worst at it. “Yes, which makes me an expert.” Rowena replied. The sass in her tone made me laugh. “It’s actually not bad. Text back what she said.” Talon said. After I sent the message I checked to see we had been sitting in here for ten minutes. I didn’t mind it because we did show up a little bit early but at the same time we all had been taught the 'If you are not early then you are late' rule. So I was a bit frustrated to find that I was the only one who took the lesson to heart and practiced it. I put my phone back in my pocket just as the doors opened. Mariah, Talon and I stood to our feet as Alpha Ash walked in with Beta Wayne and another gentlemen. As they moved around the table the vampire queen came into view. She was surrounded by her guards, all males that were built bigger than mountains. She was wearing an all black pants suit, her blazer jacket was buttoned in the middle but I could see she had on a white blouse.
Her eyes were blazing red against her porcelain skin, her black hair was straightened but slicked back. She walked around to the opposite side of the table and extended her hand to me, “Queen Ezmeralda, pleasure to meet you. I am Adira.” She said with a small smile. Her voice was gentle yet stern. I already knew her name but I extended my hand and placed it in hers.“It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Queen Adira.” I replied with the same small smile. “Please take a seat and we can get started.” Alpha Ash said. We took a moment to get seated, I clasped my hands together on the table and crossed my ankles, posture is very important. “I know this was a last minute meeting but I think it is high time we go over a few things. I want to make sure the boundaries are clear so that we do not have any issues with each other.” Alpha Ash stated. Adira tilted her head and looked at him. “Was this meeting called because your wolves crossed into my lands?” Adira asked. “Yes, part of it. They were young wolves and there was no need to attack them.” Alpha Ash replied, As soon as the words left his mouth, tension flooded the room, and For a moment it felt like a standoff between the two of them.
I was unaware that this had happened, why were we not informed? I thought to myself. “Young or not, They knew better. We had no way of knowing. We did not know what their intentions were and I will not risk my people's lives. Especially when the rogues are running loose close by.” Adira stated with some disdain in her voice. “Rogues? What are they doing out by you?” I asked, grabbing her attention. Her blazing red eyes met my bright green ones. “Do you think I stopped by to have a conversation with them to find out?” Adira asked. “No, but I do think you have kept an eye on them, do not act as if I am stupid.” I replied in an even tone. The sides of her lips lifted slightly. Is she trying to test the limits of my patience? Is this a test to see how she can speak to me before I have to put her in her place? No one will speak to me, or any member of my team, in a disrespectful way and frankly I'm not willing to wait around to see what her intentions are by speaking in this manner. "Why do you feel the need to speak?” Adira repeated, interrupting my thoughts. I noticed the tension was back in her shoulders when my eyes moved to hers. I slid my legs under my chair, leaned forward, took a deep breath and in a low tone said, "This man is a well respected member of my coven, a leader, mentor, and father. You will show him the respect he deserves." Before she could reply I made sure to add, "This is not a request. It is a demand.” my thoughts continued to race, I just can't believe she would dare speak to him in that manner. She did it in front of me too, she must have a death wish. “I don’t take demands from a Queen that needs a mentor.” Adira spat while looking at her manicure as if I was not someone who could be a treat to her in the slightest. This made my blood begin to boil.
“Let me put it in terms you might understand a little better. Back off bitch.” I roared with a little more force in my voice than I had intended. She jumped to her feet, anger clearly displayed on her face, and as she did Her guards moved closer towards her. Not to be outdone, the moment I stood up my shield exploded around me, covering not just myself but all of my team. “You dare disrespect me?” Adira fumed. “If you choose to disrespect an elder, you get disrespect in return. Had you been honest to begin with he would have never called you out. Plus you dared to disrespect me from the start of this gathering. So, if you are testing my limits, you found the line.” I scolded.
“Let’s just calm down for a moment;" came another voice… "but, Queen Ezmeralda is right. You should have been honest and not disrespectful.” Alpha Ash announced. “Fair point made on the disrespect; however, it is known not to cross certain lands. It is not my problem they did not heed the warning.” Adira noted. “You are correct. Now sit back down, both of you, so we can come to a peaceful resolution. That way in the future, this (he points between the two of us) does not happen again.” Alpha Ash urged. I waited for her to start moving, not a chance I was going to sit down again until she did.
After a few moments she pulled the chair back to her and we both took a seat. “I have drafted an agreement, one that hopefully you both will find suitable. In this agreement, if any rogue, black witch, or diseased vampire crosses into anyone's lands, they have the sole option to do with them as they see fit. However, if a friendly crosses you will warn them that they have crossed territories,and send them on their way.” Alpha Ash suggested as a document was handed to me. “I advise a card or something for our people to carry with them so they are able to prove that they are friendly, thus preventing any more so we don’t have any more misunderstandings in the future. I would also like to propose the idea of our lands touching at each border, with all the other creatures we continue to encounter, I think this would be best to protect ourselves." Alpha Ash continued. "Furthermore, we will also come up with something that distinguishes whose land is whose.” Alpha Ash asserted as I read over the document.
The more I read, the more I began to think that It would be a smart thing to do. It could effectively increase our border patrols as well. “I don’t see an issue with this.” Mariah whispered. I always forget wolves have exceptional hearing because Alpha Ash immediately said, “And who are you?" We both looked up at him with wide eyes. "Respectfully of course.” he added with a small smile. “Mariah, head of the elders.” Mariah replied with a nod. “Head of the elders? You look a bit young.” Adira said and I looked at her. “She may be young, but she has abilities of her own.” I voiced. “Care to share?” Adira asked intrigued. Mariah and I looked at one another for a brief moment, I guess since we gave Adira such a hard time about not explaining her abilities we can't hold back with ours. “Ever heard of a seer?” I asked. “Actually, no I have not.” Adira replied. “Then pick up a book and study." I remarked quickly while trying to keep a straight face. She deserves to feel inferior after testing my patience. "She is able to see many different outcomes in a given situation and therefore can make a decision rather fast about what to do at that moment.” I said with a smile. Not many knew of Mariah's hidden talent to see the future. It is a power that she is still learning, and when she is ready I will formally introduce her to the covens as our seer. Adiras' eyes widened slightly as she looked at Mariah. “Well, if a seer can do all that and thinks this is a good idea then I will sign.” Adira announced.
I was honestly shocked to hear that, I figured she would have said no, we all know how she is. “I think this will benefit us all in the end. If you wish to add anything after thinking on this then I will be open to suggestions.” Alpha Ash promised as we all signed our names on the original document. “I will send you our patrol times and everything when I get back so you may inform your warriors.” I said looking at the two of them. “We shall do the same, if you’ll excuse me. We must go.” Adira replied standing on her feet. She walked out of the room without a second glance. When the door closed I let out the breath I was holding. “What a bitch.” Mariah whispered. I heard Alpha Ash cover his laugh with a cough and I smiled. “Well, we had a feeling about how she was. Not too far off from her mother if I remember correctly.” I reminded her. “You are remembering correctly. You know, you are also a lot like your mother, gentle but stern at the same time. I applaud you.” Alpha Ash shared, making me look at him. “Praise coming from a king. I’ll take that any day. I apologize if my words almost caused this room to turn to chaos.” I teased. “Don’t worry about it but I do have a question. What was that green shimmer around all of you?” Alpha Ash asked. “It is a shield, if you remember my family has a special fire ability. Only difference is mine is green, it moves faster and burns instantly but I am able to control it so if I want you to go up in flames then you will.” I winked.
Alpha Ash smirked, “I’ll remember to not piss you off then. Thank you for taking time out of your day to be here. I’m sure you are a busy woman and I don’t want to take any more of your time.” Alpha Ash replied as he stood to his feet. Talon, Mariah and I stood to ours and said our goodbyes before walking out of the door. When we were back in the car and on the road home I relaxed a little more. “I think you handled her well. Could have left the bitch part out though.” Talon stated, making me laugh. “Yes, well tell me she did not deserve it and I will send a letter apologizing.” I joked. “She did deserve it.” Rowena announced. “I think you were right to assume she was testing Ez, but Talon, how did you know about her ability?” Mariah asked and I turned to face him. “I met her mother a few times, she knew what people were thinking before they said it and when I asked her about it she said that it was in her family line much like your fire.” Talon responded.
When we were all created, the moon goddess gave each king or queen a specific gift that she thought would help protect us a little better. So reading minds must have been bestowed to the royal vampire line, my family was gifted our first ability, which only made me a little more curious as to what Alpha Ashs’ line received. Maybe one day I would get to ask him. Assuming there is ever a reason we have to meet again. When we arrived back home my mother was standing outside holding a vase of flowers. “What is that?” I asked. “I don’t know, it was delivered for you.” she probed, giving me her 'mother look'. I scrunched my face together and took them from her. There was a note attached to it, I opened it to find ‘Stay fierce’ written in cursive on it. “First a text and now flowers. Sounds like someone has a secret admirer.” Mariah teased. “Oh hush, it’s probably from someone here or something.” I hypothesized, bumping my shoulder into hers. “Let’s get inside so you can tell me all about what happened.” my mother stated. I looked down at the flowers, different colored roses mixed with Lilies and Sunflowers. It really was a beautiful combination but I had to admit I was curious as to where these came from…
End of Flashback