The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 110

[Echo]

I stepped out of the shower feeling at least ninety percent better. Half an hour ago, I got a text from Sean saying that he was sorry for overreacting and our friendship was fine. It was a huge relief. I'd been upset all night.

Gray and Victor tried everything they could think of to soothe me. They cuddled me and kissed me and told me everything would be alright. It was almost enough to pull me out of it, but, when I remembered the look on Sean's face, I would start crying again. It was emotionally draining.

We had been so eager we didn't even think of what Sean would feel if he thought we were only using him for the curse. I knew I had to find a different way to get in to see his great uncle. I wasn't going to risk my friendship with Sean. I knew we could find another way to save Victor.

Pushing would only make him less likely to help and would hurt our relationship. I needed all the friends I could get if I lost Victor. The thought of losing him terrified me, but I had to have hope that we would break the curse.

I dressed in a nice, light blue sundress with a pale pink sweater and put my hair up in a ponytail. I thought it was perfect for lunch with Maeve. We were on a bit of a schedule.

Opal would be at the house around three to start getting me ready for the ball. I was told that only single women wore their hair up at vampire events. I would need to wear my hair down so no one would take it as an invitation to try and bite me. Heading downstairs, I found my sister and brother already waiting for me. Val and Harmony were dressed in nice, but not fancy, outfits. They looked great.

After getting hugs from my sister and brother, I kissed Gray goodbye and we went out to the car. Val had his phone giving him directions to Maeve's house. We rode quietly, but we didn't need to talk, being together made us happy and I could feel it in the car. "Are you nervous at all?" I asked.

"Rosario is the only fae I know and I've only ever seen her in her glamour. This is so cool. I can't wait to meet her mom!" Harmony said.

I realized they didn't know Rosario was a boy. That made me a little nervous. I didn't know if I should say something or if I should just be quiet. I opted to be quiet and see what Rosario wanted to reveal.

When I saw him with Sean, I couldn't oppose them any longer. I know, Gray said their relationship was not healthy because Rosario was fae, but they seemed really in love. I couldn't break that kind of relationship up. That wasn't my place. I would just be there for Sean when it happened.

We pulled up in front of the house and Val turned off his car. They looked at the place and commented on the yard and how nice the forest seemed. We headed up to the front door. My sister and brother were careful not to step on any of the flowers that hung over the path.

Once we were at the door, we knocked and waited. I held Val and Harmony's hands. I was ready for whatever happened.

-

The door opened and Rosario stood there without his glamour. He was taller than Val and looked so much like his mother without her glamour that I could absolutely tell they were related. I smiled at him. "Hey, Echo, good to see you again." He grinned.

"Did you work everything out with Sean? He's not still mad at you, right?" I asked.

"Everything's perfect again. He came out to his parents and introduced me properly. I'm having dinner with them tonight before game night." Rosario grinned.

"Are you related to Rosario?" Harmony asked.

"This is Rosario." I told her.

"Shit. I asked out a dude." Val groaned.

"I was very flattered. You were the only guy who didn't tell me you wanted to date me because of how beautiful I was. If not for the fact that I don't date straight guys, I would have accepted." Rosario winked. "So, Sean's gay?" Harmony gasped. "I was almost certain he had a crush on Echo."

I laughed. "Gray thought that, too. Like I was telling everyone, Sean is just my friend."

"Come in! I just realized we're just standing around chit-chatting. You're on a timeline. The vampire ball is tonight, isn't it?" Rosario smiled.

"Yes. I'm a little nervous about it." I sighed.

"Don't be. Victor, Finn, Marius, and Talia will be there to protect you and no one would risk Victor's anger by touching you." He replied and led us into the house.

We followed him to the dining room. It was elegant and had a beautiful table that seated at least six. Maeve came in with a tray and was settling plates in each spot. All six places were set.

"You should go before your father gets here, Rio." Maeve smiled at him.

"Right. I have to go to the game shop and buy dice. I'll think of something else to keep me out of the house until he's gone." Rosario replied and kissed his mother on her cheek before putting on his glamour and leaving the house. "Sorry about that. I try to keep them separated as much as possible." She said.

"I understand. Rosario told me that his father disapproves of him." I told her.

"Hollis is a very traditional man. Our other children were very much like him. Rosario is more like me. He likes being out in the world and experiencing other things. Hollis and our eldest daughter, Ivy, will be joining us for this meal. Ivy will take over as the leader of the forest fae one day, just as Rosario will take over as the leader of the human world fae." Maeve explained. "Since you are already familiar with Rosario, I figured I would just fill him in later."

"Of course." I smiled. "I don't want Rosario to be uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Just try to keep that smile on your face. Things may get a little tense. Hollis is just a bit overprotective of me and didn't want me meeting with a dhampyr alone. He didn't trust Rio to keep me safe." She shrugged. Right as she finished putting the last plate on the table, the back doors opened and two people entered. I thought Rosario looked like his mom, but I was wrong. He was almost identical to his father.

Hollis was tall with broad shoulders and was well muscled. His skin was a richer brown than Maeve's and his hair a slightly lighter green. He looked stern and cold. It reminded me of Victor when I first met him.

Next to him was a pretty woman who looked like Maeve, but slimmer and with fewer curves. She looked almost fragile, but the expression on her face was just as cold as her father's. She was tall and fierce looking. "Echo, Valor, Harmony, this is my mate, Hollis Adair and my daughter Ivy Adair. This is Echo Nightshade and her siblings, Valor and Harmony Gale." Maeve said.

"It is a pleasure to meet the vampiric triad. We were quite eager to see the three of you. Where is Rosario, Maeve? Won't he be joining us?" Hollis questioned.

"He has errands to run and things to do. He is our liaison with the triad and the Master of the territory. Rio has enough contact, this was just so we could get to know them." She explained.

"Mother, I don't know why you insist on coddling him. He needs to learn to put aside his own desires for the sake of his people." Ivy huffed.

"Please." I said. "Rosario already knows a great deal about us. It's redundant to make him sit through a meeting that will mostly go over things he already knows. More work gets done when you work efficiently."

Ivy and Hollis looked shocked. Like I was an animal who had spoken for the first time ever. He got an indignant look, then shifted his demeanor. I didn't like him at all.

"You have a point. Of course you would know about what is best when working things like this out. You assist the vampire in running his territory... or you will for as long as he lives to run it." He smirked.

I raised an eyebrow. He tried to hurt me for nothing more than pointing something out that he hadn't considered. I was used to people trying to hurt me and Marius taught me how to behave if this happened. He told me I was the mistress of this territory and I couldn't back down to other leaders.

I smiled politely. "Yes. For as long as he lives, I am the mistress of this territory. More than that, I am the daughter of Marius Aconitum. I know much about running a territory because he has taught me so well. Though, I prefer my own methods to his." Hollis visibly paled. Marius had told me to use him to frighten other leaders whenever necessary. He told me about how differently he ran his territory from how Victor ran his. Marius was cruel, just like Rosario had heard vampires could be. "You are the children of Death?" Hollis replied softly.

"We are." I responded.

Val and Harmony were looking at me, but adopted the same chilled presentation. They would follow my lead. I was grateful for them not questioning me.

"I see. I meant no disrespect. It was only an observation." He said solemnly.

"It was needlessly cruel to point out that my Solus Amor may not survive the curse on this territory. You intended to harm me with it. I would ask that you not do that in the future. I would rather if our meetings were friendly. You don't need to posture with me. I already know that you are a powerful fae. If you feel insecure enough to posture against me... perhaps you should permit your daughter to take over the leadership of your people." I told him.

"Please. We're here for a meal and to get to know you and your siblings. Hollis has learned his lesson about trying to harm you. You are not as sweet and gentle as you seem." Maeve chuckled.

"I am precisely as I seem. If I have no reason to defend myself, I am more than happy to be kind, sweet, gentle, and soft. I will not stand for someone insulting or attacking me." I said.

"There will be no more of that in my home. Everyone here, save me, is a guest. Being rude to a fae host is a dangerous proposition and I am stating now that any attacks on other guests will be seen as rudeness to your host." She warned.

Everyone nodded. She seated me at the foot of the table, across from her. My sister and brother were on either side of me. Her mate and daughter were on either side of her.

We ate for a little while. Harmony, Val, and I complimented Maeve's cooking. She looked pleased. I was glad everything was going smoothly.

"So, have you figured out what you can do as a triad?" Hollis asked.

"At the moment, I'm still recovering from malnourishment. We haven't had time to explore it." I said.

"What are your abilities, Valor?" Ivy asked.

"I'm a triple affinity witch, with the speed, strength, and healing ability of a werewolf. I don't know yet what I have inherited from my vampire side." He answered.

"And you, Harmony?" Maeve asked.

"I'm an Beta werewolf with the speed, strength, and size that go with it. I can influence others as part of my vampire abilities. As for witch abilities. I tried the witch test to see if I had any of those. When I dropped my blood onto a plant seed, the seed disintegrated. I don't understand it and the witch who gave me the test was confused. No one has ever seen that." Harmony sighed.

I covered her hand with mine and gave it a squeeze. She had told me about that test. Missy had been completely confused and our uncle, Preston, had said he never saw anything like it. Maeve looked shocked.

"That ability has never transferred over to witch children. It's a type of fae magic. The opposite of Echo's ability to heal, instead of giving health, you take it. I can train you how to use it. It's an ability I hold. It's a great defensive ability." She said happily. "Really!? Thank you so much!" Harmony grinned.

I saw Hollis and Ivy stiffen. I remembered what Gray said about thanking fae. I hadn't thought to warn Harmony and Val.

"Harmony. You aren't supposed to say thank you to fae. You're supposed to say you appreciate it. Maeve is more relaxed about it than other fae, but you should still be careful when dealing with them." I warned.

She put her hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry. Cam warned me, but I forgot. I was just so excited."

"Don't worry. I appreciate your enthusiasm. I will not consider this a debt owed. I'm more than happy to help. This is a dangerous ability if it's not handled correctly." Maeve told her.

"I'm very happy that you're willing to teach me. I had no idea what I would do without someone to help me." Harmony said.

"What werewolf abilities do you have, Echo?" Ivy asked.

"I can soothe angry wolves."

"You might have some animal magic. We should test it. Animal magic is rare among witches. Did you ever notice animals and insects being drawn to you?" Ivy pressed.

"Bees would land on me when I was in the garden. Birds don't fly away when I get near and squirrels like to chatter at me sometimes." I responded.

"It sounds like you have an animal affinity. You all probably have it."

"I've never been bitten, even by dogs my friends say bite everyone." Val answered.

"Me, too." Harmony said.

"Can you understand them?" Hollis asked. "Does it feel like you can hear words forming in your head?"

"No." We answered together.

"Then you don't have the affinity. You would be able to speak to and understand them when they talk to you. It's probably just the connection with nature that comes from being wolves and the fae part of your witch blood. They don't feel as threatened as they do with humans." He replied.

The rest of the lunch went like that. They asked questions and we answered. Maeve showed Harmony a few things she could do with her magic. Ivy worked with Val on meditations that would enhance his plant magic, making vines move to his will. Hollis and I discussed a possible treaty between the vampires and the forest fae.

I knew that Victor would want one. Hollis wanted his people safe and was interested to hear what we might offer. I talked to him about how good Victor was, his skill at leading, and what he had already done in the territory. He was intrigued and accepted Victor's number to arrange a meeting.

Maeve ended up not knowing much about the family of the witch Fenton had married Grace to. I was sad that we wouldn't have another lead, but I was also happy with how smoothly everything went. It seemed to be opening up a lot of opportunities for our future. In all, I felt it was a very good and productive lunch. It gave me a lot of confidence for the night ahead. I'd been worrying all week about the approaching ball, but now I felt I could handle it. If nothing else, the threat of Marius would keep people in line.