Chương 5: 5. House El Bernard
The castle left behind by her Grandfather stood high and as proud as the El Bernard name itself. As beautiful and captivating as the castle was Cereza always dreaded it. This place where her voice itself melded into its very walls and became inaudible.
She walked into the main hall where the fully matured vampyres had gathered. She was dressed both elegantly and formally in a long black and velvet dress with a deep scarlet rose embroidery on its stomach. Her gloves stretched past her elbow and matched her dress. Her hair had been styled into a sophisticated bun and a decorative barrette stilled her bang over her right eye.
"Cereza, you are late." Her father with his close-cropped salt and pepper hair, stepped outside the circle to formally greet his daughter. Although he went through the motions of greeting her it was a cold and distant welcoming.
She offered her hand and gave a short and feminine bow of respect. "Lord Father." Her father backed away his face noticeably twisted in disdain. She could have sworn his eyes had reddened almost too quick to see.
"Ah, glad you made it Lady Cereza. Might I say you look ever so lovely taking after your mother no doubt." A tall slender man, dressed royally with a matching cape, approached. How retro, she thought to herself.
"Oh please James, you do me too much credit. My daughter has a beauty I can not hope to match."
"Mother!" Cereza's eyes lit up as her mother stepped forward wearing a similar dress that was a teal color and strapless flowing like water down her legs and on to the ground behind her. Her Mother seemed at odds with something when they were finally in arm's length and her eyes flared scarlet a moment but adjusted with a smile.
"You certainly have a way with embellishment Yuuko." Her deep red hair was curly and styled into a cascading side ponytail. This new vixen turned to face Cereza. "Hello darling, it is such a sight to see you again little Cereza. Though you don't seem to be so little anymore."
"Yes. Thank you Morinth...I mean Lord Sister." Cereza did a quick curtsy. She didn't like Morinth but showed her respect none the less. Formalities were a big deal to the El Bernard house.
Morinth was the eldest of the Crown Princesses. As well as being a fully matured vampyre she was the obvious choice to win the right to dawn the crown after the Queen's advocation of the throne. Morinth whiffed the air as Cereza spoke. "Wait. What is that scent?"
Cereza stepped back and shyly checked her breath. It didn't smell bad. She was sure of it. Yuuko stepped between the two. "Morinth. Surely now is not the time for such humor couldn't you agree?"
"It's not an attempt at humor Yuuko." Morinth stared her down with an evil glare and Yuuko returned with her innocent trademarked smile. Yuuko's smile only seemed to make Morinth angrier. "Dammit Yuuko, you're so damn smug."
Yuuko waved her hand up and down. "A lady shouldn't make such hostile faces, it'll cause wrinkles and that won't do." She stroked Morinth's cheek.
Morinth slapped her hand and stormed away. Yuuko giggled. "Such a sweet girl." She mused.
"I should apologize for my daughter's tongue. Then again I should apologize to my daughter for my husband's lack of restraint when it comes to harlots." Yuuko wasn't Morinth's mother. Originally she was a simple mistress Gannon had on the side. That was until she gave birth to Cereza and forced Gannon to bring their affair to light.
Yuuko smiled even though Cereza herself felt the sting of those sharp words. She bowed. "Lady Aerith, I'm not sure if I have mentioned this but your dress is utterly magnificent. A true testament to our Lordship's grace."
Aerith sidestepped the compliment, "Yuuko is this your daughter. It feels like an eternity since I have laid eyes upon her. I don't even recognize her."
"That's because you have refused to grace her with your gaze until now My Lady."
She turned and faced her irritated. Yuuko's smile never faltered. "Hm. Yes, that seems probable. At any rate Cereza please make yourself at home as some are already too comfortable." She spun on her heels and walked away.
Yuuko turned to her daughter and hugged her before she could object to anything. "Cereza, my daughter. It has been quite some time has it not?"
Cereza nodded. "Nearly a decade if I'm correct. Far too long mother." Cereza hugged her tightly.
"Oh dear child you don't have to stay away for so long, this is your home now as well."
Cereza pulled away from her mother's embrace. "For what I have to do, I must."
"I don't know what activities you have been doing while away, but do be careful. You are my world Cereza."
"And you are mine Mother."
Yuuko's head searched around the room looking for someone who was missing. "My dear. Where, oh where is dear sweet Scherazard?"
"Schera couldn't make the event. She must see to other things in my stead."
"This saddens me." Yuuko pouted. "I wanted to dress her up like the olden days." The mother and daughter both chuckled lightly at the thought.
"Yuuko! We have more things to discuss before the dinner and your presence, at most, is required." Aerith ordered.
"I really must be off." She smiled. Then seeing the intent in Cereza's eyes, added. "There will be time to catch up I promise. For now please go and greet your sisters and the other fledglings in the living area." Yuuko rejoined the rest of the adult vampyres and Cereza followed her mother's instructions.
She walked the short distance to were the other "children" had been standing around talking. A lot of faces she wasn't familiar with. Perhaps she had been away for too long. She didn't see anyone she knew.
"Big sister Cereza!" Cute little Erin waddled up beside her and hugged her leg. "I've missed you."
"Erin? I've missed you as well, little one." Erin was the youngest daughter of the House being born 12 years ago and, along with the rest of the daughters she was a child of Aerith, Gannon's wife. Cereza alone was the only outsider being the daughter of the "temptress" Yuuko.
"Erin, mother said not to communicate with Cereza...I mean her...when she arrived." Erin's twin walked about meekly and spoke just as shyly with very little confidence when she walked and talked.
Cereza smiled though shocked that Aerith would give such an order, then thought better of herself. Of course, she would. "Hold your head up high when you speak Tera, you are of House El Bernard are you not?" Tera perked up. "Now, what is it you wish to say little one?"
She bit her lip then opened her mouth before halting. "Big sister please don't go away again! you'll stay with Erin and me, won't you." She cried out hugging Cereza's leg.
She patted her on the head. "See little one, feels better when you're honest with yourself doesn't it?" Tera nodded her head with teary eyes.
Erin laughed heartily. "She's such a baby."
"I suppose you're much more mature?"
Erin puffed her chest. "Naturally!" She smiled.
"But...Lena said...you...wet the bed..." Tera treaded carefully almost like she didn't want to complete her thoughts. Erin's mouth rolled to the floor as Tera continued. "...Often." Lena was the head maid at the estate and had been the caretaker of all the girls as they grew up. All except for Cereza who was given Schera from a lesser bloodline.
Erin furiously shook her head. "That's...that's not true! A joke! Yeah! She was just joking!"
Cereza erupted in laughter. "I'm sure it was."
"Something smells good..." Tera waved her hands, sniffing the air around her.
"...It must be dinner soon. Good, I'm starved." Erin followed up taking in big whiffs of the surrounding air.
Cereza joined in as well. "Odd I don't smell anything."
"Now there's a face I never thought I'd see so soon." In stepped Bridget. She was the next eldest behind Morinth. Her short red hair stopped just short of her earlobes and went well with the emerald color of her dress.
"Lord Sister." Cereza curtseyed.
Bridget waved her off. "Cut dat' shit out Cereza, don't for a second think I'm anything like that bitch Morinth. I have no need for political titles and for da' record I'm even less interested in becomin' Queen."
"That much is to be expected I suppose. So the rumor of you excluding yourself from the race for the crown is true?"
Bridget looked like she hit a brick wall when she came closer to Cereza, eyes red and all. She looked a bit confused but carried on. "Right. I'm not da' only one who views this as one big waste-of-my-fuckin-time."
"That so? Then who is still in and what are my chances?"
Bridget smiled devilishly. "Who indeed. I wonder how much this is worth to ya'?"
"I see some things never change, always looking to further your own goals I see."
"A girl must have her hustle."
"You sound like an American." The two joked. "What do you want for your help?"
She thought for a second pretending as if she didn't have something in mind already. "Hm...While I couldn't give a damn about becomin' Queen, having one owing me a favor or two is a major bonus. Okay, I'll help ya' become Queen and in return whenever I come to ya' in serious need you lend me ya' aid. No questions asked."
"Your aid is wanted but not required."
"Without a benefactor, your chances of challengin' Morinth is damn near zero girl, and you know it." Bridget stated bluntly. "You need me more than you think. So do we have an understandin' 'Princess'?"
Cereza shook her head realizing the truth in Bridget's words. "Fine. Deal. What do you have for me at present?"
"Alright, let's see, Including you and Morinth there are three others who actually wants da crown. Dat's Jackie, Roxas, and Beth. Now as you know Morinth, being in her position of the firstborn, is naturally leaps ahead of everyone for the right to succeed the throne. And you? Well, yo ass ain't even being considered at all. But there are a few things we can do to get you qualified at least. We need to get you an imprint first, a few is preferable but a single good one will do, and then..."
"Actually that part isn't an issue." Cereza interrupted.
"Isn't an' issue?" She eyed her, then deeply inhaled then exhaled. She smiled knowingly. "Interestin'. So dat's what dat was? You have something pretty damn unique in ya hands. Okay. It is still impossible for you to catch up with Morinth's status by traditional means. We will have to use some rather tricky plays if we are to pull dis off."
Cereza shook her head. "Okay, Bridget just one question? Why help me? You could help Morinth and if not her there's still the others."
"Simply put, I don't fuck with dem' bitches."
Cereza's couldn't help but chuckle a little. "I see America has done quite the number on your dialect."
"At any rate, let me be clear, if we do this we do whatever it takes to win. This is a dicey path lil' sis. You ready to get grimy?"
"Yes. Now please stop with the bad accent. I can not fathom the idea of what will happen to my ears if it continues."
"Alright come find me after dinner and we can discuss my plans."
"I might regret this but lead the way."
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