The Vampire Xia

Awendela stood behind the Xia and to his right in full Hunter regalia right down to her twin daggers, one strapped to each thigh. The vampires in the room eyed them warily; they were made for vampire flesh. There had been an argument earlier about them.

---Flash Back---

“You are not taking those with you,” the Xia comment off hand-ly as he pulled his papers for his meeting together into a leather bi-fold.

“The hell I am not,” Awendela snapped back, one hand on her hip, already dressed and ready to kick anyone who threatened the Xia ass.

Awendela felt a chill run down her spine as the Xia’s eyes lifted to meet her’s, luckily she was able to keep perfectly still. The best way to win this argument was not to back down or show any fear.

“I will not have you killing anyone. We need to apprehend anyone who attacks me and get information.”

“I agree but I am still taking them with me. Your life is more important. If I have to make the choice of ashing the vampire in order to keep you alive I will do it.”

“You have other ways of dealing with a vampire,” he commented straightening and moving towards her which a stance that told her this was going to be a long and hard fight if she didn’t put her best reason forward.

She arched an eyebrow, nephilims tended to keep their abilities a secret, so there were many rumors of what they could do and what they couldn’t do. The only ability Awendela tended to use was one to dissolve the left over vampire ash or palm fire, anything else was her was just her own physical ability. Awendela tended not to need anything else.

“What abilities are these pray tell?” she asked innocently.

“I remember the nephilims of old. Their abilities were vast and frightening.”

“I am afraid we have watered down since then,” Awendela replied tartly, “So the blades stay.”

“Awen-“

“Not happening Xia. Your protection is under my control remember? Unless you had a super good reason then you would overrule me. I have not heard a super good reason yet.”

The Xia had opened his mouth to argue back before snapping it close. She saw a peak of his fury when he realized he didn’t have a good enough reason before his mask shifted back into place.

“A compromise, you will not use them unless absolutely necessary.”

She gave him a grin, indicating she saw his fury, before replying, “that had been the plan.”

He scowled and walked right up into her personal space, “you will be on your best behavior.”

She sobered up from her win, “yes, Xia.”

“No sass. No sarcasm. No attitude.”

~I know my job, Xia~

He eyed her in surprise but then nodded before walking past her and out of the study.

She sighed inwardly, this was going to be a long meeting.

---End of Flashback---
“We can police our own people. Why are outsiders controlling us? They are not part of our people. They do not understand our culture!” one of the many clan leaders snapped, a handsome vampire named Jeffry Moore from the Americas, a mere Lord but still a clan leader.

It had been a repeated argument.

Another vampire answered, a petite woman, the Lady Geer of Ashton, another minor clan leader. “How good will it be to be killing off our own! This method is unbiased and cannot be swayed or convinced. The Watchers have a duty to protect every supernatural species out there. Vampire against vampire will cause hate among our people. The RVs will try to convince or bribe their way out. The Watchers have centuries of experience. To try and police our own people will only cause more problems.”

“How weak a people do you think we are Lady Geer? Would our people really be bribed and turned so easily?” Pierce DeLand of Estonia asked.

“We are a selfish and arrogant breed. I do believe some of those assigned to hunt the RVs down would turn or be bribed.”

“She is right! We cannot police our own, not only could they be turned but how will our people feel? Betrayed! They will feel betrayed that we are now killing them! Let the Watchers continue to do that dirty work. They have chosen to do it,” Miguel Monterey of Mexico City added.

Awendela wanted to mention the fact that there were vampire Watchers but this wouldn’t help their side. Besides most vampire Watchers were rogue werewolf hunters. They hated each other. There was only one werewolf-vampire couple in history and they currently had a beautiful baby girl hybrid with the help of many many witches. Everyone was wondering what would happen with that baby. It had taken a hundred years for that baby to finally be born. The woman was pregnant for almost five before giving birth. I could barely image being pregnant for one and half years let alone five. It was a historical moment to say the least. They lived on the Watcher Ranch in order to keep the baby safe from protesters but that is another story.

The arguments continued back and forth, the Xia sitting at the head of the conference table in the board room of the Xia’s summer castle in Alaska. While the Xia’s reason had made sense, she still hated it. That had been another argument about having the meeting in the castle instead of traveling but he made a valid point of the tradition of having important board meetings in this locations and bringing in so many vampires into his strong hold. The least they can learn about the new security changes in the main castle the better. She had conceded the point but reluctantly. Needless to say security measures of the highest standard had been taken and she drove everyone nuts with the need for perfection.

Currently she was receiving updates in her ear piece of the castle’s security and lack of activity. Mizushima was in charge of the security outside the room while she was in charge of the inside. Anderson stood by the main door inside the room. Hennigan was working with Mizushima and was doing random rounds looking for weak points or any suspicious activity.

“The Watcher is awfully quiet, despite us talking about her people. Shouldn’t we hear what she had to say?” DeLand asked.

~Xia?~

“By all means DeLand, ask away,” Xia replied smoothly.

“What do you think Watcher about all this?” he asked giving her a fang filled smirk.

She smiled back, “the name is Shemihaza.”

Awendela wanted to grin at the intake of breath and the smirk that was wiped right off his face but kept herself expressionless.

“So the rumors are true then,” he muttered softly.

“If those rumors are that the heir to the Watchers is the Xia’s protector then yes they are. The Nights Watch is completely behind the Xia and his claim to his people and his throne. We have no issues continuing to control the rogue vampires. As it has been said we have been doing it for centuries and we are well trained for it. I, however, do not think the vampire race is weak, and feel that if there are vampires who wish to help control their own species, the Watch would fully support them joining that department. As it is, there has never been anything against vampires joining that department. It has been merely that none have applied. Vampires tend to go the werewolf route.”

There was a rumble of chuckles which is what she wanted.

“During the Xia’s rule there has been peace and prosperity for your people, you have flourished and grown into a strong and wise species. You have contributed greatly to the supernatural economy and have been a building block in achieving peace with the humans. Those against the Xia’s rule and the Watcher’s judgment are a threat to that peace and prosperity. Change is a good thing, when it is time for it, when it is introduced slowly, when it is for the greater good and for unselfish reasons.”

“You hate vampires,” another man stated when she finished. She realized she didn’t know who he was, but something about him made her skin crawl.

She cocked her head as if thinking before answering, “I hate rogue vampires. I disliked vampires as a whole due to my lack of interaction with the other side. However, having been the Xia’s protector for the last two months, I have learned many things about your people. The most important being; that I don’t hate vampires.”

~Good answer~

“What about your brother?” the same man asked.


Her smile froze on her face, “apologies but we are not here to discuss my personal family matters. The discussion today is about some vampires wanting the Xia to vacate his throne and the Watcher’s control over the rogue vampires. I have given you my thoughts at the future leader of the Watchers. Please continue your discussion.”

~I want his name~

~Duke Anton Volikov, my heir until I produce one~

~Vampires can have children??!!~

~Later~

The rest of the discussions were a blur as Awendela tried to process the thought of vampires having children. A few times the other vampires tired to pull her into the conversation but she declined stating she had already given her opinion and she was not there as an official representative of the Watchers but as the Xia’s bodyguard. She stated they would need to send a request to the Watchers for a representative for their next meeting if they wished for an official statement.

When the meeting finally ended, she felt like nothing had been resolved but she sensed a measure of triumph from the Xia’s mind which was a new sensation, their bond had been strengthening and she could feel a small measure of his emotions when they were within a few feet of each other. Awendela was equally sure he felt hers as well probably stronger than she did.

“Mizushima, the meeting is over, it is chit chat time in the great hall. Have all the food and drinks been tested for poisons?”

She heard a reply in her ear piece, “done and done.”

“Always so professional.”

“Just for you.”

She sighed as she flanked the Xia’s right while Anderson went ahead to scan the halls leading to the great hall. The Xia was chatting with a few royals as they made their way to the great hall were a feast was set up for them to enjoy a good meal before the ball later in the evening. Vampires and their balls.

~You did very good today.~

~Did I?~

~Yes, I believe you convinced many of those who are going to support me now.~

~I highly doubt that. Besides you won’t know who will support you until they start tickling in with deals and contracts for their support.~

She sensed his irritation at the future notion of buying support but that was the way of countries and kingdoms.

~It is sad Lady Lilith didn’t come.~

~She hates politics.~

Awendela nodded her head to Anderson who stood at the great hall doors, as she and the Xia entered the room, tables set up for smaller groups, two large tables covered with food and drinks.

~I enjoy her company~

The Xia’s emotions of content filled her. ~I am glad~

She turned her head to look at him instead of the sunlit room; she hadn’t realized he had been concerned about her relationship with his consort.

He gave her one of his amused smiles before turning his attention to someone who came up to him. The rest of the feast went by without incident. She had been invited to sit with the Xia and some lording to eat with them as the Shemihaza of the Watchers. The Xia mentally told her to do it but she didn’t like that her positions was being mixed. She never was the Watcher’s Heir when she was working and always kept her status separated. She was sparse on her words and opinions much to the lordings dismay but she stood her ground on her current position.

After the feast there was a period of rest before the ball. Hennigan and Anderson were with the Xia while she and Mizushima discussed the feast’s security.

“You are not going that are you?” Mizushima asked her eyeing her hunter’s clothes.

“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked confused.

“Xia’s rule for his personal bodyguard, during events we have to dress up the part, well just for balls, other times we can be in work attire.”

“Excuse me?” she asked in shock.

“During balls his personal guards get dressed for the ball, we continue to protect him but we blend in with the surroundings and aren’t so obvious which helps put the guests at ease. His personal guards are always around him, so he wants us to be less obvious during these kind of events. Think back on your welcoming ball.”

She did and she remember that Mizushima had been in an old fashion style tuxedo and Hennigan had been in a silvery gown.

“How do you fight in those clothing?” she asked curious and a little annoyed.

“You learn to adapt and you pick clothing that won’t hinder your fighting.”

“I didn’t bring any ball clothing,” she stated leaning back in her chair the security screens blurring in front of her eyes as she wondered how the Xia was going to react when she showed up in leather.

“I brought you one.”

Her head snapped up and she looked into Mizushima smirking face, “I figured this would happen, so I prepared a dress for you. A thank you would be nice.”

“Thank you.”

He look taken back like he hadn’t actually expected her to say it.

“It should be in your room by now. Also when we get back, you and I are going to spar in every day clothing. I have a feeling you never have fought in anything outside of your leathers.”

She stood up, “doesn’t mean I can’t…and actually I have. I need to go relieve Hennigan.”

“No you go get ready, girls take forever. I will go relieve Hennigan so she can get ready when you girls are done, you come relieve us boys then we will change quickly. We only need an hour at most.”

She stuck her tongue out at him but smiled. Maybe he wasn’t such a jerk after all.

“Nope he is a jerk. A full fledge jerk,” she stated once she was in her room and looking at the ‘dress’ he had brought for her.

It was a shred of material not a dress. It was a rich red, dark almost blood color, tight on top, losing around the waist then becoming shreds of material that would flow around her legs like leaves in the wind. It was stunning, sexy and completely inappropriate for a bodyguard even one who was suppose to dress for a ball. She had expected a simple gown with a slit up the side for easy movement.

“Jerk…” she cursed again and went to her bathroom to get ready.

Notes