Their Forbidden Love

Chapter 9: Elder Kane

As I entered the great hall of the Elders Castle, I automatically heard the constant whispers of other vampire's thoughts. It gets like this when I enter a room with many individuals. I close my eyes, concentrate and close the part of my mind that can read others' minds and sweet silence again. I smile at the bliss. I open my eyes and see that everyone is already seated around the Elder's grand lunar-shaped table. I walk around the grand table and take my assigned seat. 

The Elders Castle has been in our species for centuries, even when I was a young vamp I can remember when my father would come to Elders Council meetings here because like I, he also had the gift of mind-reading. Gift. Ha. Well at times it can be a gift but other times it can be a great burden to know every single individual's thoughts. Growing up as a boy with this gift was hard and it took many centuries to learn to control it. 

I thank the Blood Goddess that my dear Karime did not inherit my "special" gift. I would not want this burden on others. Unfortunately, that means that when I go onto the fade, Karime will most likely not take my seat, not just because she is a female- which is a big no to be an elected council member,  but because she does not have my gift of mind reading. Maybe it will be passed down to her offspring. Offspring..there is another Ha!...the sweet Goddess only knows when she will finally decide to marry an eligible clansman. She has been turning away hundreds. Soon she will have to choose one worthy of her. At least I hope she will so that I can finally get Sereme off my back.

The tapping of nails on the table pulled me out of my thoughts. It is the signal to get everyone's attention and for the meeting to start.

"Shall we begin." Elder Markus said. "We have ambassador scout Vincent with an urgent matter waiting outside the door."

"We'll let him in so we can hear this urgent matter of his. Most likely has to do with the filthy dogs answering our request for a meeting." Elder Jarvis scowled.

Elder Markus nodded at the guard at the door to let Vincent in. Vincent walked in with a yellow envelope,

"Good Night Elders," Vincent said as he went around kissing each of our ring fingers. After he was done he stood in the middle of the table and said, "We have heard back from the Yellow Moon pack. Ambassador scout Michael has informed me that they would like to meet at midnight at the High Rock."

"Midnight tonight?" Elder Markus asked.

"Yes sir, Elder. Tonight. They also have a request." Vincent said.

"And what is their request?" Elder Rances sneered.

"They request that an Elder be present at the meeting for the Alpha Damian will also be present," Vincent said nervously.

The room erupted with sneers, spits, and everyone talking at once. "What!" "Never!" "How dare he request such a thing!" Vincent backed up from the chaos.

"I think the request is understandable," I said quietly. But it got everyone's attention.

"Are you mad, Kane?" Elder Markus asked incredulously

"At times I believe my mate Sereme would agree with you, Markus. But in this case, no I am completely sane. If Alpha Damian is willing to put his life out there to us then why can we not reciprocate? What makes our lives better than his?" I asked them all.

They all laughed and it was Elder Rances who responded, "Because they are animals. You cannot expect me to put myself on the same level as dogs can you? We should wipe out the entire pack!"

I smiled and responded, "Of course, I know you wouldn't Rances. But let us not think of ourselves individually. Let us put the clans first." at that Elder Rances scoffed. I continued, "I believe, and please scout Vincent correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the point of a peace treaty is to keep the peace between our species." I looked at Vincent.

"Yes, Elder Kane. We, Alice and I have agreed to meet with ambassador scouts Michael and Lenore every other month to keep open communication between our two species." Vincent explained.

"See, I want to help with this open communication. I volunteer to go to the meeting and meet with Alpha Damian. However, to keep it more at ease, I intend to take my daughter Karime and maybe the Alpha can also bring a female so that will help keep things calmer at the meeting." I suggested. "What say, you brothers?" I asked the Elders.

They looked at each other and finally agreed to the compromise and the request. Vincent smiled and left to inform the pack of the suggestion. 

I turned to look at the Elders and contemplated opening my mind to theirs but then decided against it.  I needed to trust that we were all on the same page with this peace treaty we had with the Yellow Moon pack. I hoped that we would all be on the same page for the sake of our clans.