September 17th, 1516

'Vassago, that bastard.'

Valentina thought, staring out into the large, metal-framed window. She stood off to the left side of the window, the room being shaded by the velvet red curtain pulled to one side. Her emerald eyes would blink slowly as only a slight burning sensation from staring at the orange rays of the sun would affect her. Her black, silk gown hugged her body a bit snugly, showing her curves ever so slightly. Long, ebony locks cascaded down her back, brushing against her porcelain, vampiric skin.

Even though she could not step foot into the sunlight, Valentina had always been fascinated by the beauty of sunsets and sunrises. The way the hues of orange and pink would dance together briefly before the cooler hues of blue and violet would peek up over the horizon. She rarely would get time to herself anymore, so waking early to watch the sunset was her solitude, her blissful time to think. She was deep in her thought as she pursed her lips together, pulling away from the window as the moon began to rise over the tree line. It was a thought, more like thoughts, that had been swirling around inside of her brain for quite some time now.

Vassago... Just having to share the last name with such a bastard would make Valentina's skin crawl. He had tormented Valentina and the rest of her family for hundreds of years. Death followed her brother wherever he would leave his mark, almost like a plague. Nothing living could ever cross his path without being a victim of his disease.' At this point in her life as Queen, she almost felt some type of empathy toward her sibling, feeling his grudges and hate toward her was no longer justified.

Slowly, Valentina extended her hand into the diminishing rays of sunlight, watching her skin immediately beginning to blister and burn. She gripped the thick, red curtain and pulled it back to darken her bedroom once more, the only light being candlelight illuminating the room. She made slow strides toward her mahogany armoire, pulling the doors open to glance at her gowns. A small smile formed on her face as her hands traced the intricate and delicate designs she had sewn herself. At a young age, Valentina's mother had taught her how to sew and make her own dresses. It was a pastime she thoroughly enjoyed, even into her adult years as Queen. She settled on a crimson red gown with a slight train on the back. She laid the beautiful material out on her bed, along, and smiled once more before her attention was drawn to her bathroom door.

"Lady Valentina?" Freda spoke, her voice still shy and timid after all of these years of serving the Greylights. Valentina turned around and smiled warmly at her.

"Is it ready?" She replied, her voice a mix of a young woman's and a mature woman's voice, thick with an accent. Freda nodded and bowed her head as Valentina entered her bathroom, quickly shutting the door behind her as she exited the Lady's bedroom.

She grinned at the groups of candles lit in the bathroom, the aroma of fresh roses filling her nose as she saw the steam emanating from the circular stone bathtub. Stripping herself of her gown, she let it fall lazily to the ground as she waltzed toward her bath, slowly and cautiously getting inside. She immediately felt the hair on her body stand up with goosebumps as the hot water touched her ice-cold skin. She loved the way the hot water would feel against her dead skin. Valentina smiled as she ran her fingers over the dried rose petals circling around her naked form in the water. She swung her legs over the edge of the bath and dipped her head underwater for a minute, just enjoying the water washing over her face.

Valentina pulled herself out from underneath the water and wiped the water from her emerald eyes, chuckling as a rose petal stuck to her face. After washing her hair and body, and once more rinsing herself off, Val decided to pull herself out of the serenity of her bath, knowing she had to get ready to meet with her court. Sighing softly and stepping out of the stone, she grabbed a towel to wrap her ebony hair in as she wrapped that same black robe around her body. Humming to herself, she opened the bathroom door to her bedroom and closed it shut gently behind her.

Freda had been standing in the doorway, setting up the room divider to help Lady Valentina change into her gown. With her hair still wrapped in a towel, she dropped her robe to the ground once more and stepped behind the divider.

"What a lovely gown you have picked today, m'lady." Freda beamed as she held the dress up to Valentina's nude form. The Queen smiled, the small points of her fangs showing slightly as she lifted her arms up.

"Oh, merci Freda!" She thanked her trusted housemaid as Freda slipped the corset over her frame. Taking in a deep breath, Valentina stood there with her hands against her bed frame as Freda made the corset tighter with each pull of the strings. Feeling short of breath as Freda finished a moment later, Valentina stood straight up, putting her arms above her head again as the sleeveless dress was pulled over her covered bosom. Freda quickly laced up the back of the gown.

"You are quite welcome, m'lady." With one last tie of the stings, Freda stood back and smiled as Valentina did a small twirl, taking her hair down from the towel. Small droplets of water dripped from the ends of her damp hair as Freda began to run a comb through it gently- giving the Queen a lovely braided hairstyle. Now with her gown on, her hair braided like a Lady, and smudge of rouge on- Valentina would be ready to meet with her court. The growing silence of the morning felt a bit odd to Freda, making her feel cautious about the meeting Valentina was about to attend.

"What do you think this is about m'lady?" She stood with her arms behind her back in the Queen's doorway as she stepped from behind the divider.

"Oh, darling Freda...You know I can't discuss the nature of these meetings." She gave a small chuckle toward her maid and shook her head.

"I heard rumors, m'lady. Of why the Coven Court is deciding to meet." Valentina looked toward Freda, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Do share, frumosa." Valentina purred, her words almost enchanting her maid as she strolled toward her.

"There was talk of another attack.. on our kind my Queen...By the hands of-"

"Enough." Valentina cut her off and stared at her menacingly. "Not another word of gossip or rumors. The Court meetings do not concern you, or the maids. If we are in danger, you will be the first to know." Freda nodded quickly as Valentina continued. "But, I will admit. My brother has gotten braver. But his stupidity will be his downfall, darling. I am no longer worried about that abomination." She spat harshly, making Freda nod quickly and bow to Valentina before exiting her bedroom.

Valentina took this opportunity to breathe again as she looked toward her window once more. Walking out of her bedroom, her steps echoed through the quiet, empty halls as she passed each corridor with growing anticipation. She knew why the Court was meeting. It had been years since the last mass murder of vampire kind and she had caught wind only days after the attack.

As she approached the closed doors of the Great Hall on the first floor of the castle, she took another deep breath. With her head held high, she pushed the doors open and was met with Legiunea din seven, or the Legion of 7. These were the highest-ranked Vampires appointed by Valentina's father, Father Greylight, himself to protect the Greylight Coven. As the silence filled the room, Valentina exchanged glances with everyone before taking her place upon her throne in the Great Hall.

"I would like to take the opportunity to immediately jump into this meeting, your Highness." Dresu, the Guardian of the Coven spoke. Valentina nodded her head in his direction as he continued to speak.

"We were attacked-"

"I had figured as much, Dresu." Valentina interrupted. "Were the bodies recovered?" Dresu nodded slowly.

"We have gotten word back on who began the attacks as well." She nodded silently as her eyes gazed about the Legion who stood before her.

"Go on." Valentina spoke callously.

"M'lady... it was the Dark Coven." Valentina sat up straighter and took a harsh breath through her nose.

"The attacks weren't by humans, our kind was drained of their blood. M'lady...Vampires are already a dying breed. We have to do something, we have to fight back!" Dresu claimed, making Valentina nod and purse her lips in anger.

"And the bodies that were recovered? Vorbi! Speak, Dresu!" She demanded, raising her voice. " She turned her head to look him in the eyes as he spoke. He took a deep breath before continuing.

"It was Sorrinna and her Coven.." Valentina's jaw clenched in anger and frustration.

She knew all along this was his plan. To build an army of Rogues, to take back the kingdom that rightfully belonged to him, to kill anything and everything that stood in his way, including fellow Covens.

"I would never indulge my brother's reckless behavior.. But he is getting desperate it seems. Reckless can be dangerous, and if this is the path he wants to continue down.. Then we shall fight." Valentina raised her voice slightly as she stood from her throne.

"Gather the Covens." Dresu's eyes widened with surprise, knowing the Covens haven't been gathered for over a hundred years.

"M'lady, are you sure-"

"He wants a war, Dresu. So we will give him a war." Valentina bared her fangs as she stepped down from her throne and walked briskly toward the Great Hall doors, opening them slightly before looking over her shoulder.

"But it will be I standing over his corpse with his cold, dead heart in my grasp." As she threw the doors open with all of her strength, she chuckled sinisterly before disappearing into a cloud of thick, black smoke.