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10.23% Valerian Empire / Chapter 13: Time- Part 1

Chapter 13: Time- Part 1

The following day in the capital, Giselle was executed in front of the Valerian crowd while Lady Magdalene lost her hands. Nobody knew what happened to the other two vampires as they weren't seen after what happened in the chamber. A vampire couldn't regain or regenerate limbs, and it was an absolute punishment, a reminder not to go against the Lord of Valeria. There were murmurs in the crowd as the punishment took place. Word had passed from one person to another about what had occurred in the castle, and they were now curious. Curious if their Lord had chosen the human instead of a highly classed pure-blooded vampire woman.

When Alexander had bitten the girl, a mark had appeared on her neck, but by the time of dawn, the mark was gone. The servants in the castle who were eager to look at the mark found nothing on the girl's neck. They wondered if the Lord had pulled a trick in front of everyone. It had been more than three months since Alexander came back from the counselling. In those three months, Lord Norman planned to show the Valerian Lord that he was smarter and stronger, even if it meant a little.

"Lord, this is the information we have found. It's said that the human lives in the castle," one of Norman's men said, giving a parchment to him.

Looking at it Norman smiled, "How nice... mistreating a human right in the castle of Valeria is what we need. Send this to the council and make sure it reaches," he said handing back the parchment, "He thinks he's better. I can't wait for the council to take action on him," he said laughing.

In the Valerian Empire, Katherine walked with Sylvia in the meadow as Elliot and Alexander walked behind them. The meadow was situated next to the forest behind the castle, covering a part of the estate with grass and flowers.

Sylvia looked at Katie as the little girl spoke about her mom. She noticed the smile and happiness that seemed to be returning on the little girl's face.

Though Katie was weary of a few vampires in the castle, the Lord was someone whom she trusted the most. He was a hero in her eyes, a saviour.

"Are you planning on letting her attend the school like the other children?" Sylvia asked Alexander when they sat down to eat something from the basket they had got prepared from the castle.

"I have prepared a tutor for her to come to the castle. It'll avoid any unwanted situations in the future," Alexander replied, drinking the wine from the bottle directly.

Elliot, who was talking to Katie, glanced at her neck to see the mark gone, it made him doubt if Alexander had bound her to him. The Valeria Lord had himself said that he had tied her for life but then what did it mean now with no mark?

"That's right Sylvia. The school we have now has a lot of children," Elliot spoke, throwing a piece of fruit in his mouth, "Regardless if it's vampires or humans, there are some who are like the little minions of the devil."

"Protecting her like a shadow is not going to go well. She needs to experience things. I think you should let her go to school after all she needs to socialize with people of her age. She is young," Sylvia voiced her opinion.

"Let's see about it later. I'm going for a walk," Alexander said, yawning as he stood up walking towards the forest, making both Sylvia and Elliot exchange looks with each other.

When he came back, he had a little wolf in his arms. Seeing it, Katie ran towards him to take a turn in holding the wolf.

"Easy there," he said as Katie managed to hold the grey and white patched wolf, "He is yours now," which made the little girl look up at him.

"Mine?" she asked in a soft voice.

"Yes, yours," Alexander said, looking at her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Awe! I knew you had a heart in that hollow chest of yours," Elliot said, bending down to pet the animal in Katie's arms.

The following morning, a tutor appeared to educate Katie with five other children of her age in the castle. Considering what Sylvia had said, Alexander didn't want to isolate the girl, therefore, had made arrangements to let other children study with her for company.

It was late one night when Alexander found Katie sitting at her desk and writing something on her book. Going up to where she was, he peeked into her book to see words scribbled on it.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" he asked her, startling her from his sudden presence.

"My handwriting, Alex," she said, looking at her book sadly. She had seen her other mates with neat writing while hers was always a mess no matter how much she tried.

"Here, give me your hand," he said, taking her hand while she held the pencil. He guided her by moving his hand with hers to show how it went, "You don't have to feel bad about it, you have plenty of time to catch up. So no rush. Sleep now," he said before shutting the door of her room.

He stood outside her room for a few fleeting seconds, and when he heard the click sound of the door, he went to his room. In two days, things would change, he sighed thinking about it.

Two days later, as predicted, two members of the council showed up at the Valeria castle to meet Lord Alexander.

"Sir, the council is here to meet you," one of his servants informed him.

"Let them in," Alexander ordered the man who obliged bowing his head slightly to bring the men inside.

The door opened to reveal Mathias, Kellen and the head council's right-hand man Lionel. Lionel was a tall and extremely lean vampire. He had a grey beard and wrinkles surrounding his eyes. He was a man well known for his strict conduct when it came to the law, not overlooking the tiniest details.

"We are sorry to intrude your day without informing you, Lord Alexander," Lionel spoke, taking a seat in front of Alexander's desk.

"That was no trouble at all. I was expecting you sooner or later," Alexander said due to which Lionel looked a little taken back before he composed himself.

"Then you might know why we have come here to see you?" Lionel confirmed making Alexander smile.

Alexander knew a spy was sent to the Valerian Empire to collect information by that idiot of human Lord. When it came to the Valeria, he kept himself aware of what went behind the scenes. If he didn't know, he would be the idiot. He knew the council was on its way to take action on what happened. It was also because he had a man of his own inside the Council. Even though it was a minor issue, Lord Norman might have added enough details to show a small gentle breeze to a full-blown storm.


Chapter 14: Time- Part 2

"I'm not sure if we share the same facts so if you could brief me about it," Alexander said coolly looking at the men who were seated in front of him.

"Lord Alexander, this is about the little girl who has been staying in your castle," Kellen began to speak, "From what we have gathered she is a human you rescued a few months back from the ambush that occurred in the village that was situated between the border of the south and west region. Is that right?"

"Yes, she was the sole survivor from the attack that took place," the Valeria Lord answered promptly, "but did you know the outlaw vampires were released irresponsibly by Lord Norman's men which led to the ambush of many families that lived there?"

"Is that so?" Lionel asked, turning his grey eyes on Kellen who nodded like an obedient child. Alexander pushed a small button on his desk as they spoke, "Did they take action on it?"

"Sir, the matter was hushed with the lack of evidence of who had let the outlaws free. It was at the time when the Head Council and you had gone to visit Lord Herbert," Mathias spoke diligently and added, "We'll look into the matter once we head back from here."

"We aren't here to speak about who attacked the village," Lionel spoke, getting the matter back on track, "It has come to our attention that the human girl was mistreated without giving any food for two days by the vampires who you are acquainted with and that is not all. You have marked the girl without her consent and that too sudden at such a young age. Do you know the consequences of it?"

"If you are talking about punishment, the deed is already done. Being the Lord of the Valeria Empire, I'm aware of the laws that have been placed," Alexander said leaning forward slightly, "And about the mark you're talking about, what proof do you have that I have marked her?" he asked them.

"That will require us to see the girl's neck," Lionel said firmly.

"Of course," Alexander replied, and at the same time, the door opened where Katie stood accompanied by a guard of the castle.

"Alex?" Katie's small voice filled the room, going to where Alexander sat.

"This is the girl?" Kellen asked.

"No, I've replaced the actual human with another," Alexander deadpanned, and it took a few seconds for the new council member to realize that the Lord was being sarcastic.

"Hmm, the girl doesn't bear the mark," Lionel said, looking at Katie's neck carefully, "As she is a human and young, living with vampires isn't safe. Therefore the head council has decided that it would be better if the girl lived with her relatives who live in Mythweald. We hope you can coordinate with us on this."

"Relatives?" Alexander asked curiously.

"Her father's brother lives there with his family, and they had sent a letter to the council asking if anyone survived during the attack. I'm sure she'll be safe there and have people to call as her family," Lionel said, his eyes trained on the human and then back at Alexander's calm, collected expression. He wasn't sure if the Valeria Lord would comply with his decision.

Seconds passed by before Alexander spoke, "When would you be taking her there?" he asked, making the elder council member release his breath.

"We'll be going today as soon as her things are packed," Lionel said as he stood up from his seat with the others.

"Alright, I'll ask someone to get it done right away," Alexander said, walking out with the others and asking Sylvia to help pack whatever Katie would require.

While Katie's clothes and other things were getting packed, Alexander took Mathias along with him for a little talk.

"I have given the information to Head Reuben as you wanted me to regarding Lord Norman's title to be taken down," Mathias spoke in a low tone.

"How long is it going to take?" Alexander asked, looking at Lionel speak with a fellow palace guard for information related to the marking. It made the Valeria Lord's lips curl to the slightest.

"Perhaps a month?" Mathias responded, pursing his lips.

"Your council works like a snail, did you know that?" Alexander questioned as they began walking to where the two council members stood, "She's going to be safe, right?" he asked seriously.

"Who? The girl? Yes, I've made arrangements to make sure she stays safe. A thorough check was made on the family, and I'm sure they'll look after her well," Mathias replied as he stepped down the stairs while Alexander stood at the top of it.

"I hope they do for their own good, and for yours," Alexander said with a cheerful smile which made the council member smile back uneasily.

When Alexander went to check on Katie in her room, he found her sitting on the floor with the wolf he had given her. Hearing the footsteps come into the room, she looked up to see Lord Alexander in the room. The rim of her eyes had slightly turned red, indicating that she had cried.

Walking towards her, he sat down to level his height with hers and heard her speak,

"I'm scared."

"I know you don't want to go, but you need someone who is your family right now. You can send us letters if you want," he assured her and saw her eyes sparkle with tears. He then saw her look at the wolf, and he sighed softly. Unfortunately, even though he had gotten her the wolf, she would have to leave it here and go, as the south empire wasn't welcoming when it came to the wild creatures such as wolves. Once she would leave the mansion, he would ask the butler to put it as a safeguard in the horse-shed.

"Will you come to meet me?" She asked, taking him off guard.

"Of course. Here," Alexander said, taking out the chain he wore with the cross in it and put it around the girl's neck, "If not now but later I will come to retrieve this. Take care of it for me until then," were his promising words and she hugged him goodbye before departing with the council members.

Elliot, who was quiet all this time, asked Alexander, "When you said to Katie that you would come to see her later was it in days or weeks context?"

"Years," replied Alexander heading back inside the castle, "She needs to live a normal life right now. I've already sent someone there to keep an eye."

"As expected," murmured Elliot.

"Moreover, we have things to fix in the four empires. Having her here is going to be nothing but a distraction, and I don't want to drag her into it unnecessarily," Alexander replied, making Elliot nod in understanding.

Katherine looked at the castle through the back window sitting on the couch until the castle vanished behind the trees.

Arriving at her relative's house, she was greeted by her uncle Desmond Welcher and aunt Sally Welcher along with their thirteen-year-old son, Ralph.

Having lost his younger brother, Desmond and his family loved Katie like their own daughter. The income that was brought home was just enough to survive the week they had, but it was a happy home, unlike the ones that cribbed even though they had enough to survive a year.

Days passed into weeks and weeks turned into years in the empire, seasons changing one after the other as such that twelve years have passed.

At that time, Alexander visited Katie once a year in the beginning for two consecutive years but stopped after that. She waited for him every year as he had promised the last time when they had met that he would be back to get his chain.

But then time is a tricky thing, letting memories vaporize while leaving only its fragrance behind.


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