Eternal: Chapter Three, Part 1

Chapter Three: Time Bargain

Two vampires, their faces distorted by shadows cast by flickering torches overhead, ushered us from the car into a building with a worn smooth, stone exterior. I wasn’t sure where we were, but it wasn’t any part of the city I remembered seeing before. Everything here had an old fashioned feel to it, nothing like the modern or classic brick buildings to which I had grown accustomed. From what glimpses I caught of the building, it was built in a gothic mansion style, three stories, tall windows, and what seemed to be gargoyles—though it was difficult to tell in the darkness.

Inside, it reminded me of the kinds of places people tell you to stay away from in ghost stories. All of the walls were faded reds and browns with discolored crown moldings and cobwebbed corners. The main foyer was lit by a chandelier—electric, surprisingly enough. It, too, was strung with thick cobwebs.

We were led through dimly lit hallways and past numerous nondescript doors before our guides directed us to wait in a small sitting room. My nerves had me taking in everything from the cracked and flaking paint of the portrait over the fireplace to the stiff furniture in floral upholstery from what I guessed to be the Victorian era. There were no windows and the walls were blotchy in their fading, as if long-removed décor had prevented an even weathering. The only lighting came from the few scones spaced along the walls.

Drei sat across the room from me. I thought I understood why, but the action only worsened my nerves. Even with Valetta sitting beside me, pushing damp hair from my forehead and telling me it would be fine, I couldn’t help wondering what came next. What would they say or do? Why were Valetta and Mitchell here when they hadn’t done anything wrong? Was there a chance of talking the Council down from whatever decision they made? Sitting in that room, it didn’t feel like it. Not as time seemed to only vaguely tick away.

It seemed a lifetime had passed before another shadow faced vampire entered the room and announced the Council would see us. Drei and Mitchell followed Valetta and me out; all of the emotions they weren’t showing flooded my senses, making me feel sick. I wanted away from this suffocating tomb. If I kept telling myself this wouldn’t take long, I could attempt keeping the illness at bay; I didn’t allow myself to contemplate what a brief run-in with the Council might mean, though.

The vampire held the door as we filed into a dark room, allowing it to slam menacingly behind us and causing me to jump. Even if we were in quite the predicament, they could at least strive for ambivalence rather than menace.

A handful of lanterns sprang to life upon the towering desk before us, illuminating the seven council members and another who sat above them. I guessed the eighth might have been the eldest, the founder, or perhaps some sort of monarch; it was clear he was separate but more important than the others. Shadows danced over the eight faces and I noticed only one of them was female, which struck me as odd. As conservative as I had conceived them to be, it didn’t seem likely a woman would be among their numbers. Then again, if she was anywhere near as strong as Valetta—particularly in regards to intelligence and opinions—it was less surprising. I found her presence at the desk slightly calming and reassuring.

With the shadows playing across their visages, they seemed thinner than any movie exaggeration, their faces elongated and severe. The effect was meant to intimidate, obviously, but their image wasn’t nearly as unsettling as their possible ruling. I would have found it more unsettling if they were all sitting in a brightly lit room wearing blue jeans and tees, talking about the weather when we entered. This presentation was expected to some extent and, therefore, unimpressive.