Blood And Secrets

15| The Elders.

Chloe quickly shrugged Elijah’s hand off her shoulders, and he willfully removed it. Without protest.

“How are you still alive?” Delia asked, raising a brow as she stared intently at Angel.

“You saved her, right?” Elijah asked Damon. “It has to be you.”

Angel and Damon stiffened.

Elijah clicked his tongue. “What should I do with you now?”

“I can see that you have a new ring. The one I took was more…beautiful.” Delia sneered.

“What’s happening here? Who was saved from what?” Chloe demanded as she darted her gaze between Angel and Damon, a scowl masking her face. “I knew something fishy was going on between the both of you. What happened?”

“Hey, what’s your name?” Elijah asked, smiling.

“Chloe.” She told him, clearly annoyed.

“Chloe, why don’t you go home?” Elijah said.

“What?” She drew her brows together furiously. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

“Okay, let’s do this again.” He stared intently into her eyes, compelling her. “Go home. You have something to do. And forget you ever saw us.”

Chloe nodded, then turned to look at Damon and Angel. “I’m going home. I have something to do. Goodbye guys.”

She leapt to her feet and promptly walked away.

“Back to you. Guess what? We are not here to kill you today.” He grinned mysteriously.

“Why are you here?" Angel asked, a combination of curiosity and fear coursing through her.

“Good question. The Elders are fascinated by you. And they want to see you.” He told her.

“Who are the elders?” She asked, wondering why they wanted to see her.

“What’s your name? Damon, right?” Elijah raised his brow at him. “Explain to her.”

Damon flicked his gaze at Angel. “The elders are the oldest living vampires. They govern the affairs of vampires and set the rules.” Damon explained briefly.

“So, now that you know, let’s get going.” Elijah said.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Angel protested.

“It’s not a request, darling.” Delia stood up and forcefully jerked Angel to her feet. “You don’t have a choice.”

“Leave me alone!“ Angel yelled as she tried to get away from Delia’s grip, but Delia only tightened her grip around her arm.

“Don’t cause a scene here.” Delia warned, her already dark demeanor darkening even more. “You can’t win against me, so just give up.”

“You can’t force her to do what she doesn’t want to do.” Damon chimed in.

Elijah drew his brows together, casting his gaze at him. “Are you brave or just stupid?”

“Definitely the latter.” Delia groaned.

Knowing that he would never win against them even if he tried, Damon sighed. “Can I follow you guys, at least?“

“You are welcome to join the party.” Delia said as she started to drag Angel towards the exit against her will.

***

They arrived at a very big castle in a van. Angel was forced out of the van while Damon willfully followed them. They were led inside the castle, and after walking through mazes of hallways, they arrived at a very big hall, where eight vampires were seated, waiting for them.

One was seated on an iron throne, while the remaining seven surrounded him. Four men and three women.

“Here she is.” Elijah announced as he forced her to stand before them.

“Well, well, well.” A male vampire with black chin-length hair leapt to his feet and walked towards Angel. “So, the rumours are true.”

He slated a frown on his face as he darted his gaze at Damon. “And who are you?”

“Her friend," Damon replied.

“Why are you here?”

“She didn’t want to come here alone.”

“Your presence is not needed here. Anyway," he returned his attention to Angel. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” He asked the other elders.

“Vampires remain their age when they are turned. How did you defy that law?” Another elder asked.

“I don’t know.” Angel replied, her lips trembling. The elders looked so intimidating, causing fear to rise within her.

“You don’t know.” The elder remarked.

She really didn’t know. She had always asked her parents why she’s ageing like a human when vampires stop to age after being turned. But her parents also didn’t have answers, and that was baffling.

“Are you sure she’s a vampire?“ the elder standing beside her asked.

He grazed his fingers over her cheeks, and she stiffened. “Her skin is so fair, so fresh. It’s not pale like ours. What kind of vampire are you?”

"Perhaps you should take a quick test.” Another elder suggested.

“You’re right.” The elder protracted his claws. He sliced through her pretty face with it and watched as it healed immediately. Even faster than a regular vampire.

“This is really fascinating.” The elder said, a devilish smile curling on his lips.

“What should we do with her?” Another elder said—a woman. “Her father, the famous Jake Collymore, killed a lot of our kind. Just because he’s not a vampire hunter anymore doesn’t erase what he did.”

“Kill her to take revenge on Jake Collymore, of course.” A little girl, who seemed to be no more than twelve years old when she was turned said.

“Yes."

“You are right."

“That’s what we should do."

Other elders supported.

“Enough!” The vampire sitting on the throne, who had been quiet all along, groaned.

He stood up and walked towards Angel. He cradled her face in his palms and admired her with a glint of joy flicking in his eyes.

“Angel.” He called, smiling.

After a few seconds of studying her face, he walked back to his throne and settled on it.

“We can't erase a special vampire like her from the face of the earth. We have to study her. No one must harm her. She must continue to live her life like she always has. No disturbances.” The vampire declared, his voice brimming with authority.

The other elders seemed to disapprove of his judgement, but they had no choice but to agree with him.

“Take her back. She’ll be summoned whenever she’s needed.” The Elder ordered Delia and Elijah.

Angel was glad that she was released, but she couldn’t understand why the elder, who seemed to be their leader, chose to protect her.

What was more baffling was that, in a way that she didn’t understand, she seemed to have a connection with him.

Who was he?