So far, so good.
Edwin glanced around his yard, noting the mingling that was taking place and how at ease everyone seemed to be. That was enough to remove some of the stress he had been having for the past week as he questioned his decision to host the little gathering. What if no one came? Maybe he should have held it on neutral ground. What if his Family wasn’t welcome and this became the perfect chance to slaughter them all?
Only Charlotte knew of his fears and she handled them as she always did—by telling him he was overreacting and everything would be fine. As luck would have it (so far) she was right. He knew not every vampire in the city had arrived yet and perhaps they wouldn’t but he was happy with the turn out so far. Actually, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense that they wouldn’t meet everyone that night. There were businesses to run and properties and people to guard. As much as he wished everyone could have free time, Edwin respected the ones that went to work that night.
Another sweeping glance showed Charlotte talking with Gavin Piers. That was an interesting man. He had a confidence to him—arrogance, really—that matched the power Edwin could sense just beneath the surface yet he was also a tad… odd. Eccentric was probably the polite term for it but from the brief conversation they’d already shared, Edwin believed Gavin would be the first to laugh and call himself odd. The fact the master vampire arrived with a few bottles of wine and several bags of marshmallows made it clear Gavin did what he wanted and it would likely be a contradiction or unexpected. He hoped to stay on the good side of that vampire.
Rafe Dubois was another fascinating master and perhaps Edwin saw him slightly as a role model. He had heard of him, naturally, but had never met him. His own sire sang his praises but also warned about how cunning and dangerous Rafe could be. On the second night in Greenbrooke, Edwin had been sure to send a letter asking to meet with Rafe as he seemed to be one of the more important men in the city and Edwin didn’t want any misunderstandings. The meeting went well and an agreement to live alongside each other was easily reached, though Edwin still couldn’t shake the feeling that if Rafe had wished it, his little Family would be living somewhere else the next night. Their arrival had been blessed by the reigning prince, it seemed, and now they were hosting Rafe’s court. It was amazing how the master vampire could look so at ease yet regal in a deck chair.
Rafe had also brought a portion of his Family that mingled around the property. They were a wide assortment of personalities and Edwin couldn’t help but smile every time he spotted Aislin or Misha as they always seemed to be laughing, dancing, or simply enjoying themselves. But Rafe had also brought a shifter with him. The party wasn’t explicitly vampires-only as the invitation had been to the Families in Greenbrooke and it wasn’t uncommon for masters to have other species in their employ. Edwin’s sire had several mages and a couple of shifters as well but he foolishly hadn’t expected it. But once he greeted Naomi after Rafe’s introduction, Edwin saw what the elder vampire was doing. The gathering was the perfect time to point out Naomi’s importance to him and warn that she was under his protection. It was a clever power play but Edwin only hoped to make friends and associates, not cause any drama or steal Family members.
Though he supposed his fledgling Family could be seen as a unit looking to poach people. They were small but Edwin was happy with what they currently had and wanted to focus more on planting roots and forming a foundation that would sustain them and help them grow in the future. Rafe likely knew that but he also hadn’t reached his age by not being cautious and having plans of his own.
Speaking of fledglings; Rafe also brought a member that was only a few months old. The kid looked overwhelmed and Edwin felt inclined to go check in on him like a proper host but before he could take more than a couple of steps, Edwin saw someone heading toward him. He smiled at Naomi and inclined his head in greeting. “Naomi, thank you again for coming. How is everything? Can I get you another drink?”
Edwin glanced around his yard, noting the mingling that was taking place and how at ease everyone seemed to be. That was enough to remove some of the stress he had been having for the past week as he questioned his decision to host the little gathering. What if no one came? Maybe he should have held it on neutral ground. What if his Family wasn’t welcome and this became the perfect chance to slaughter them all?
Only Charlotte knew of his fears and she handled them as she always did—by telling him he was overreacting and everything would be fine. As luck would have it (so far) she was right. He knew not every vampire in the city had arrived yet and perhaps they wouldn’t but he was happy with the turn out so far. Actually, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense that they wouldn’t meet everyone that night. There were businesses to run and properties and people to guard. As much as he wished everyone could have free time, Edwin respected the ones that went to work that night.
Another sweeping glance showed Charlotte talking with Gavin Piers. That was an interesting man. He had a confidence to him—arrogance, really—that matched the power Edwin could sense just beneath the surface yet he was also a tad… odd. Eccentric was probably the polite term for it but from the brief conversation they’d already shared, Edwin believed Gavin would be the first to laugh and call himself odd. The fact the master vampire arrived with a few bottles of wine and several bags of marshmallows made it clear Gavin did what he wanted and it would likely be a contradiction or unexpected. He hoped to stay on the good side of that vampire.
Rafe Dubois was another fascinating master and perhaps Edwin saw him slightly as a role model. He had heard of him, naturally, but had never met him. His own sire sang his praises but also warned about how cunning and dangerous Rafe could be. On the second night in Greenbrooke, Edwin had been sure to send a letter asking to meet with Rafe as he seemed to be one of the more important men in the city and Edwin didn’t want any misunderstandings. The meeting went well and an agreement to live alongside each other was easily reached, though Edwin still couldn’t shake the feeling that if Rafe had wished it, his little Family would be living somewhere else the next night. Their arrival had been blessed by the reigning prince, it seemed, and now they were hosting Rafe’s court. It was amazing how the master vampire could look so at ease yet regal in a deck chair.
Rafe had also brought a portion of his Family that mingled around the property. They were a wide assortment of personalities and Edwin couldn’t help but smile every time he spotted Aislin or Misha as they always seemed to be laughing, dancing, or simply enjoying themselves. But Rafe had also brought a shifter with him. The party wasn’t explicitly vampires-only as the invitation had been to the Families in Greenbrooke and it wasn’t uncommon for masters to have other species in their employ. Edwin’s sire had several mages and a couple of shifters as well but he foolishly hadn’t expected it. But once he greeted Naomi after Rafe’s introduction, Edwin saw what the elder vampire was doing. The gathering was the perfect time to point out Naomi’s importance to him and warn that she was under his protection. It was a clever power play but Edwin only hoped to make friends and associates, not cause any drama or steal Family members.
Though he supposed his fledgling Family could be seen as a unit looking to poach people. They were small but Edwin was happy with what they currently had and wanted to focus more on planting roots and forming a foundation that would sustain them and help them grow in the future. Rafe likely knew that but he also hadn’t reached his age by not being cautious and having plans of his own.
Speaking of fledglings; Rafe also brought a member that was only a few months old. The kid looked overwhelmed and Edwin felt inclined to go check in on him like a proper host but before he could take more than a couple of steps, Edwin saw someone heading toward him. He smiled at Naomi and inclined his head in greeting. “Naomi, thank you again for coming. How is everything? Can I get you another drink?”
