A Night with the Vampire King

Chapter 2

RAVEN is pissed. He’s irritated because of the outcome of the meeting with the members of the Elites. The meeting didn’t end well. How will it end well if they keep on demanding something he couldn’t find? He groaned in frustration because of that.

The Elites always find and asked him the person he couldn’t even seek for. How many times did he tell them that he hasn’t yet found her? That it isn’t the right time to talk about the plans with her. f**k! They’re all annoying!

He sighed and looked over the glass curtain wall. Up until now, he couldn’t believe that he’s ruling the strongest coven among their clans. He looked at the spread of the structures on the wide parcel of land. The lights coming from each serves like a twinkling star of the night sky. He looked up at the moon; three weeks from now, its glory of being full will be in sight again, three weeks from now, the three celestial beings will be in line. And at before that happens, he must find the person he is searching for and do what they must do.

“Your majesty, the car is ready,”

He sighed upon hearing that from his butler, Jacob. He turned around and saw him standing near the doorway, with his head bowed down. Raven stood up from the seat of his office in this Fortress. He needed to relax. He’s been stressed for almost weeks now because of the demand for his work and the nagging of the Elite members regarding what they wanted.

Yes, he’s working. Even though he was a vampire, he needed—no, they needed to blend into human society. They need to adapt to the fast modernization. Gone are the dark ages and the ruling of the monarchy. The world is now civilized with ordinary humans.

It’s not that they’re afraid of the humans. They need to keep their existence a secret. They didn’t know how the new generation would judge them. Over time, he witnessed how the world constantly changed upon the colonization of them, how the world revolutionized in the war, how humans cope up with everything. Their number went fewer as the times go by and few human families were left that are loyal to them.

The door of his office opened automatically. He was the first one to get out, followed by his three personnel. The crowded hallway was half into two, with the vampires and humans inside, bowed their head down.

Who wouldn’t? He’s Rafael Venturie King, a true born and heir of the Household King, among the only household left with most powerful vampires of their clan. They’re one of the purebloods that still exist and had survived in this generation. They’re the only household left who possess this called ‘gift’, and the reason why their power is different among the rest. They still do possess the basic ability of a vampire, the speed, heightened hearing and sight, enormous power. But the thing is, in their household, their family has this history.

Some believe that their ‘gift’ is a curse, in which it could wipe out whole humanity and covens but some believe that it’s a blessing. That’s why many other household and covens are in jealous of their powers, which made their life always in a threat.

He sighed deeply when they got out of the Fortress. He quickly walked towards the car waiting for them. Even if they could get home in minutes, he chooses to act like a normal human for their safety. Who knows what might happen if some mundane saw them, accidentally?

He went inside and sat in his usual position. His secretary sat on the front seat, Alonzo, whom he considered as his right hand, was left outside. Before they leave, he looked at Alonzo and quickly whispered,

“Find her,” he ordered.

Alonzo nodded and bowed his head. “Yes, your majesty,” he said as Raven closes the car’s window. Before they leave the place, who looked at the Fortress. The baroque-gothic-renaissance structure has been standing for almost centuries. He sighed and told his driver to leave. The car engine started and the driver maneuvered it away from the estate.

 “Marga, any appointments this evening?” he asked as he loosens his tie a bit. He can’t breathe properly since this morning, and his chest is constricting for some reason. He clicked his neck and closes his eyes when he felt that pang of pain on his mark, again. This is the fifth for this day.

Raven has an idea why his marking is aching, but he erases that thought before he would even hope again. How many times did he get disappointed at the wrong conclusions? And whenever he tried to search for her, for his mate, he always failed for the thought she’s just around.

“You have a late midnight meeting with the Casters, your majesty—“

 Marga stopped when the ringtone of his cell rang. His brows furrowed because he’s not expecting any calls tonight. But when he saw on the screen who’s calling, he sighed deeply before pressing the green button to answer the call.

“Yes,”

“Raven, my friend!” the vampire from the other line greeted. He inhaled a deep breath and reach for his forehead to massage it. Why is this man calling me? He thought.

“What do you want?” he asked coldly.

“Ah, King. As cold as ever,” the other line commented like he would give care.

“What do you want exactly Gregory?” he asked again, now a bit irritated of his friend’s attitude. He even heard his friend’s laugh which made him confused. Whats’ funny? Argh, of course. How could he forget? This friend of his is really weird.

“Have you forgotten our friend’s birthday? He’s celebrating his 334th since he became a vampire! Actually, he’s getting pissed—hey Kyno! Give me back my phone!” Kiel, who’s calling right now, said. And he wasn’t surprised when after a few seconds he heard Kyno’s voice from the other line.

“Rafael Venturie! May I remind you that you promised to celebrate with us tonight, you dipshit! Haven’t you scheduled it with your secretary? Bring your a*s here or else I will force my father to resign in his position in your ‘empire’!” he sermoned. He smiled inwardly because of that.

“Are you threatening me, Douglas? I could easily find a better general when your father goes down to his position,” he mocked.

“Then find a better one, the f**k I care. Just bring your a*s here dipshit! I’ll skin you alive!”

After hearing those words, the line went dead. He can’t help but chuckle at his friend’s attitude towards him. They know who he is but they treated him as their equal. Well, he would rather choose that than being treated like royalty.

He seems to get the attention of his two companions inside the car. He saw them looking at him like they just saw something for the first time. He just shrugged it out and focused his attention outside the car. He was supposed to get home after that meeting, but it seems his presence is in need to celebrate his friend’s born day. Who knows, Kyno might really tell his father to get down on his current position.

The Douglas’ was known as the family has the history of being the strongest when speaking of defending a throne. They’re good in offense but defending is their specialty. Most of their generation are generals to protect the realm of the vampires against the enemies. That’s why it’s a loose if their coven went to other covens. He knows their family has sworn their loyalty to their family. But who knows what time will tell.

He instructed his driver to change course. He’ll go to Club Red. The club is owned by, also, one of his friend, Alex. He has many friends, but he only considers few as the truest and he trusted.

It took him more than an hour before he arrived at the club. He could already hear the echoes of the beat of music and yells of people as he went out of the car. He didn’t waste time to get inside. He was greeted by the trusted bouncer of Alex and he saw Kyno descending the stairs to welcome him.

Raven grinned when he saw Kyno throwing glares at him. He smiled when they got face to face and Kyno was about to throw a punch on his face but he luckily dodges it. His friend glared at him again before leaving him behind as he went upstairs. He didn’t need to find the other’s because he knows already their usual place whenever they’re here. His other friends greeted him when he arrived and all he did was to nod. He sat on the vacant sofa and at the same time, Kyno’s back wearing his corded eyebrows and creased forehead.

“Kyno, why do you look like a woman just rejected you?” Alex mocked. Kyno didn’t answer Alex and instead, sat on a vacant seat across him.

Raven tried to relax, leaning his back from the backrest, as he closed his eyes. The loud beat of the music, the echoes of the yells, the mix smells of alcohol and smokes and the weary feeling he felt disturb him the moment he stepped inside this club.

He sighed when his heart ached for a moment. Sixth. He tried to endure the pain, but as seconds passed by, it’s getting painful. Sure, he can handle physical pain, but this kind of pain?

He sighed again and sat straightly as he inhaled a deep breath. He seems to get the attention of his friends, who’s looking now at him, because of that.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked.

“I’m fine” he answered instantly to his friends. He leaned back to the sofa again and closed his eyes, to somehow control the pain he’s feeling.

He has an idea what’s happening into him, but he doesn’t want to think about it. He’s afraid to fail again? He successfully ignored it for a couple of months. He’s sure that this day will be included.

Fuck. He cursed.

The pain continues to assault him. He clicked his neck and frowned deeper.

It’s one of the signs. When you felt a sudden contract on your chest, it's a sign that your mate is somewhere near you. The vampires were the only ones who could feel that and it is the common sign they felt if their mate is around. Their mate won’t feel any pain, which is why they’re the only one who’s seeking. They’re the only one who does the chasing.

Raven waited for seconds, minutes, and minutes more. But after enduring for that long, the pain still conflicts him.

Truth is, it doesn’t last that long for the past days he felt this, it only lasts for about a minute. And after that, the pain will just subside. So why now? He looks at his wristwatch because of that and sat straightly.

“You seem agitated,” Kyno asked, a bit irritated now.

Raven looks at his friend, only to see them staring back at his direction. He sighed in defeat because of that.

“I think she's here,” he said.

He saw each of their reaction; one looked at him in confusion and some shot their brow up like they’re indirect asking for more details of what he meant.

“Who's she?” Cage, who was silent for the whole period the moment he arrived, asked.

“Your Queen,” he informed.

All of them froze for a second before they throw each other’s meaningful glances. He stayed on his position and felt the continuing contract of his chest. The pain is getting worse, and the beating of his heart started to be abnormal to its own pace.

“Do you mean, she's here?” Kiel asked with wide eyes. His hand was on the air, gesturing the whole place. He nodded and starts to explain about the signs he felt the moment he stepped inside. He doesn’t need to elaborate it since Raven knew that his friend knows the details.

“Then we must find her!” Kiel said and was about to stand up when he was stopped by Cage, making him sit back on the sofa.

“Stay put, Kiel,” Cage said meaningfully, making Kiel stay still on his seat. Cage is the type of person who isn’t bluffing. When he said stop, stop.

“Now, that makes Kiel stay put like a kitten,” Alex teased, a bit amused.

“Shut the f**k up, Alex…” the other fired back.

“Oh you can't bro, Cage is just beside you." Alex mocked.

Kiel was about to say something when Kyno barged in.

“Are you two going to fight the whole night, because I can literally throw you out?”

The two in heated session fell into silence. Raven sighed and saw Kyno looking at his direction, giving him a meaningful look. He took that as a sign to continue discussing their plan for the search of her.

“Can you guard the entrance and exit for me, Alex? Make sure that no woman goes out of your club,” he started. His friend nodded quickly. He looks at Cage. “Cage will be with you,” he ordered. Cage nodded and the two stand up and leave immediately.

He looked at Kyno. “You search here and I'll be on the ground floor,”

Kyno nodded as an agreement and leave next. He and Kiel were the only left behind. He saw how Kiel’s face distorted like he somehow gets what his work will be.

“Don’t tell me I’ll be the one who’s left without doing something? Maybe you wanted to—“

“Yeah, yeah. You help me search on the ground floor. You do as you please,” he said in defeat. He sighed heavily. Kiel is annoying in his own way. He saw him balls his fist and punch straight through the air like he’s doing something that excites him. He let him be because of that.

They quickly descended from the second floor to start their search.

The truth is, those are the only things his friends could help him. In the end, Raven will be the only one who could search and identify his mate. They may have a simple clue for finding her, but not like him. He could easily identify his mate just by looking directly into her eyes.

Seconds and minutes passed, Raven is getting impatient for no reason. He closed his eyes and groaned deeply to control his anger. Maybe somehow, he’s really hoping for this night to finally see and meet her. He’s been dying to see her mate. He’s been waiting for her for almost… centuries. And now that he’s sure they’re in the same place, he can’t just let it pass easily, he can’t just let it ignore!

He inhaled a deep breath and sat on a vacant seat away from the dancefloor. He communicates with his friends through telepathy, but sadly, they couldn’t give him a clue about her. Alex and Cage secured no woman will leave the Club’s premises. Kiel and Kyno couldn’t seem to find something weird inside. He gritted his teeth and quickly reached for a drink when a waitress passed him by with drinks on the tray she’s holding.

The pain is getting worse as possible. It only means one thing, his mate is near. But why he can’t see her? He immediately drank the liquor he’s holding and somehow, it helps him easing his nerves. He puts down the glass on the table and resumes his search. He could see some numbers of women around the area, but he’s sure that his mate isn’t one of them. Through the strobe of lights, that almost distract his vision in the almost dim dance floor, he looked around, looking for each person inside, one by one.

But the crowded dancefloor got his attention. Somehow, for some reason, the area is pulling him… in. He immediately noticed the buzz of men in the middle of the dance floor. He suddenly felt curious about what’s happening in the middle. And luckily, he finds a little space between those men and he was able to see what’s happening in between with his adjusted sight. And there, she saw a lady, with her hands in the air, sexily dancing. He could see her clearly, wearing her skimpy dress that almost hugged her body. He gritted his teeth. For some reason, he wanted to take away that woman in the middle. He just stared at the woman, and just like that, the pain in his chest subsides gradually.

It seems the woman felt his stares, making her looked at his direction. He was about to look away, but he was too late. And he’s glad he didn’t look away, because, from the moment their eyes met, the pain in his chest instantly disappears, like a bubble popped into the wind.

He smiled inwardly and felt like the last puzzle piece had been found. Yes, it was found. I found it, he thought. Raven opens his mind.

‘I found her’

After saying those, he quickly made his way in the middle of the dance floor.