Eternal Night

(III) Chapter 22: To Love a Queen

The de Chacier estate had slowly begun to quiet as dawn finally approached. Guests had been taking their leave for about an hour now, which left Armand busy as host with the goodbyes.

Vlad had taken refuge in the conservatory, Francesca situated on his lap as his children occupied the remaining seats, all of them congregated in a little circle, sharing idle conversation. Alayna, Marceau, and Joséphine had eventually joined them, all listening with rapt attention as Tempest and Niklaus recounted their standoff with the possessed witch, Sarah Blood Thorn, after Tempest had gone to meet with the Ardelean family – the same family Frankie and the others had risked their necks to save in the tunnels beneath the Ervin Szabó Library.

It wasn't the first time Dracula had heard the tale by this point, but the thought of anyone threatening the lives and safety of his children left him tense; a hard, disapproving look marring his features. The only thing that seemed to soothe him was the feel of Francesca lightly caressing the back of his neck, her fingers occasionally taking to tracing the F-shaped scar of the binding mark on the lower part of his nape. This, of course, required her to occasionally dip her digits behind the collar of his jacket, but she didn't seem to mind the obstruction and he was more than grateful for the soft glide of her touch on his skin.

In truth, it made holding onto his protective, fatherly anger much more difficult.

"That's when Lyra arrived to help in healing us," Tempest continued.

"What did you think of her?" Alayna asked, trying so hard not to look directly at Niklaus after asking the question, but she failed. Frankie noticed immediately, though she said nothing.

"I really liked her," the youngest Dracul replied, but then she sent Jack and Louise a mischievous look. "Though probably not as much as those two."

Frankie felt Vlad perk up at that bit of information.

"Oh really?" Marceau asked, leaning back in his chair with a conspirator's grin. "I guess I can't say I'm too surprised," and he sent a glance over in Frankie's direction. "She's always known how to leave an impression."

Frankie struggled to keep from smiling, clearing her throat a bit as she turned her attention over to Jack and Louise who were looking everywhere else except at their father.

"I mean – Jack I could understand. You've always had a weakness for redheads. But you, Lou," Niklaus chimed in with a laugh.

"Oh please, I wouldn't go reading too much into that," the blonde female insisted, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles in her skirt, just so she could keep her hands busy. "I've been infinitely bored these last few decades and there's been so little to entertain me. After having nothing but you lot and countless werewolves to associate with, can you blame me for being interested?"

"Says the woman who has always famously insisted that her attention is difficult to rouse and impossible to hold on to," Zeke replied with a snort. "No woman is ever good enough for me! I'm notoriously difficult to please!" he sang in an overly mocking high-pitch voice. It was rewarded with the intended laughter. Louise hid her embarrassment well, but even Frankie could see the poor woman was flustered.

"You shouldn't bully her for having standards," Francesca replied, earning an appreciative look from the blonde. "I may be a little biased, but Lyra would make an excellent companion for anyone."

Dracula snorted that time.

"She would!" Frankie insisted, even as he struggled to keep down his own laughter.

"Lyra Kennedy is a vulgar, hedonistic, short-tempered..."

"Oooh! Are we talking about me?" Eduardo called out from the hall, earning a laugh from the de Chaciers.