"You all must have heard," he began, "what happened to our guest."
A subtle tremor passed through the room. Even those who already knew the details tightened their grips on their cloaks or shifted uneasily where they stood.
"I have called this meeting," Ethan continued, his voice gaining weight, "to hear what you all have to say… and what action we should take in response to such disrespect."
The last word rattled with restrained fury. His chalice creaked under the pressure of his grip.
The flames dimmed, as if reacting to his anger.
A silence heavier than stone descended upon the throne room. The elders exchanged looks. The younger vampires stood rigid, waiting for whoever would dare speak first.
It was clear to all, tonight would decide how the vampire godlings answered the insult.
And what kind of wrath the humans had unknowingly awakened.
The silence stretched long enough that the red flames began to hiss softly, licking upward as though hungry for the coming conflict.
