A Few Hours Later,

The Himura Household,

Main Hall.

“What are we going to do about this ball business?” Thorian asked, looking into the eye of everyone that surrounded him. The day slated for the ball was edging nearer and they had to be ready for whatever awaited them at the Lovecrafts. He had to summon the meeting as none of them were going to discuss it, no thanks to the fact that they were responsible for the demise of one of the Lovecraft members.

Tek and Ukaid were absent from the meeting – Ukaid was away in town attending to some business matters concerning the Fresno Mines. Tek was unaccounted for at the meeting. No one seemed to be bothered about his whereabouts though, at least not yet.

Thorian just wanted them to discuss the matter at all costs. It had been hanging in the air for too long, like a sword of Damocles that could fall anytime from now. As no one spoke, he took the lead.

“We’ll be going to this ball, to play the part. The other families will expect us as we are nobles after all” Thorian decided.

Malcolm folded his arms onto his chest. “Is that a wise choice?” he questioned quietly. He didn’t want to sound out of place or impudent. But, it was a question they had to consider before they did anything irrational.

Artemus seemed to share Malcolm’s view which put the others in some doubt. “Yeah, you know considering we wasted one of their own,” he added.

Thorian nodded his head, liking the way his brethren thought. He wouldn’t want them to take his suggestion hook, line and bait in the first place. He sighed. “Well, I have thought about this. And I think the best way forward is to act as if we know nothing of it. I would add that we should even pay our respects if we do not want a war on our hands,” Thorian explained.

Hemphia sighed too, nodding her head. “Thorian is right. That would even go a long way in convincing them we had nothing to do with their loss and also affirm we have nothing to hide,” she averred. She cast a look in Thorian’s direction and nodded. Thorian did the same, acknowledging her unmitigated support.

“I suppose you’ve got a point,” replied Malcolm, throwing his hands up.

Artemus had other thoughts though. “We may be agreed on that but the only problem is that it’s going to feel quite awkward.” He paused momentarily gaining the attention of everyone in the hall. They all seemed to ask how at once. So, he continued. “It’s going to be a ball. And there will definitely be tons of guests gossiping about the incident.” Their gaze was still fixated on him as if they meant to ask what was he trying to drive at? “What I’m trying to say is it would be best if we got mentally prepared for what’s to come,” he finally added.

Thorian nodded his head. He conceded that there was some forethought in Artemus’s suggestion. “And prepare we will. The Lovecrafts are probably curious – cautious even – but I don’t think they are sure or have the needed evidence to believe we were responsible for Brock’s demise. Because, I think if they were to have the faintest of clues, they would take safer precautions over their family members.”

“More so, the information gathered from our eyes and ears all over town suggests they are not taking any precautions so it can be assumed they do not see us as a threat, at least not yet. We just need to act according to the territorial terms and there shall be no bloodshed,” Hemphia indicated.

Thorian waltzed beside her as she talked placing his hands by her waist.

Hans cleared his throat, turning all attention to himself. “Well, I think the Lovecrafts seem like a peaceful bunch. I wouldn’t want to harm them myself.”

“And if they’re not, I might just have to teach them a lesson.” Vellesca groaned. Then she looked toward Thorian. “Of course, with your permission,” she quickly added.

Vellesca seemed to have a divergent view about the whole matter. “Well, they are not one of us which means we cannot predict what could happen just yet no matter how ready we might think we are or would be before the day of the ball,” she highlighted.

“One of us or not, bloodshed largely risks exposure and we are more vulnerable than they are. They can hide their powers more than we are capable of doing. So, if they wanted to challenge us, they could resort to methods that could make us public enemies should we ever were to be discovered,” Thorian countered.

He noticed that Vellesca wasn’t moved nor convinced by his words. “I think that kind of attitude might just be our downfall, Vell, if you were to keep it up,” Thorian warned. He gave her a quizzical stare since he knew what she was capable of whenever she was dissatisfied with a decision. Thorian knew she could just decide to take matters into her own hand which definitely would be bad for all of them.

Vellesca smiled. “I have things under control, Thorian. You’ve got nothing to be worried about, trust me,” she assured him.

He smiled back, glad she seemed to have come to her senses – or so he thought. “But if you were to ask me for my opinion, I still think that this is all going to end badly and if we end up having to fight them in the end. Mark my words though, I won’t say I told you so,” Vellesca eventually said. She had to get out whatever was left on her mind. She looked away, trying to avert her gaze from his.

Everyone in the room went silent for a moment; they acknowledged that this could all backfire on them. Everyone, asides Thorian was conflicted. Apparently, they seemed to be thinking of how best they could get out of the mess. Thorian wasn’t in despair. His mien was as resolute as it had been only moments ago. He wasn’t going to let his brethren down or show weakness when they all depended on him to guide them aright.

Thorian turned toward Vellesca. “I guess you’re right: it could turn so awry for us we wouldn’t even see it coming from afar. Trust me, I know. But like we always do, we’ll deal with it if and when the time comes. Until then, however, we’ll have to keep our hands crossed and wait as events unfold.” He then looked around at the rest of the family now, walking about to get their attention. “This family has survived for generations alongside humans and I intend to keep it that way,” he added.

Thorian cleared his throat while the rest of the family pulled themselves together. Hemphia used that moment to look around, counting those that were present for the meeting.

“One moment, there are six of us here. I know Ukaid is attending business matters but what about Tek?” Hemphia enquired. She looked at Thorian’s face for clarification and possibly some credible reason why he was absent from the meeting.

“Hmm…” sighed Thorian realizing Tek’s troublesome tendencies were growing beyond his control. Hemphia could sense Thorian was troubled. She hadn’t seen him look away the whole time but now. Weird nonetheless. He was never one to shy away from questions and he always had one response for whatever question was directed at him – not this time though. He was as mute as a puppet without its puppeteer.

“That blasted fool, he hasn’t even reported back yet. It wasn’t supposed to take this long…” an enraged Malcolm retorted.

“Knowing him he can’t be doing us any favours. He’s probably causing trouble somewhere,” Artemus added.

“Most likely at a blood brothel. That fool can’t restrain himself at all. He’s addicted to the worst part about us,” Malcolm complained.

“I can’t stand him. He’s nothing but a degenerate idiot” Vellesca commented, harshly.

“A blood brothel…now I see why you guys like to keep him in the shadows…” Hans noted.

“Yes, because he diverts a lot of attention to himself. Not just to the supernatural world but even from humans. He’s a burden to this family,” Malcolm pointed out.

“No matter, he’ll be briefed about the Lovecrafts and the ball to come when he arrives,” Hemphia quickly cut in so they wouldn’t have to waste quality time discussing him.

Hans seemed to understand the reason that could make Tek distance himself from the rest of the family. To be treated like a burden would most likely make the victim of such a despicable status pull away from everything that might just matter to him. Hans was lost in thought regarding how best he could help with Tek’s unpalatable situation. He wanted to do everything that it could take to make them see the man that he saw in him the very first day that he became a Himura. Hans saw Tek as a respectable gentleman and that is exactly how he would ensure everyone else saw him. For Hans, they would surely be missing out on a great deal if they didn’t see Tek’s pros instead focusing on his cons and its impact around them. At least, he saw the good in him the very day that he was welcomed to the family. There was no one else that had been as accommodating as Tek had been since he settled. Hans recalled the memory of the day of his arrival only eleven years ago. He remembered that Tek had spoken kindly to him as he stepped foot on the grounds of the family household. He had been very helpful in getting him to settle into his new home. Hans recalled his soft baritone gently whispering into his ears: “If you ever need anything, just ask me. I’ll see to it that you get it swiftly.” His gestures had been nothing short of friendly. It was that same day that Thorian had introduced Hans to the rest of the family, just to make his presence official. Tek stood in a corner in the hall, like he always did, wearing his usual morbid expression. He was in the habit of punctuating their discussion with a few corny lines just so they could notice that he had a sense of humour. Unfortunately, no one seemed to see that special side about him. It came back to Hans that he had glanced in his direction – he looked quite miserable though and isolated even. He remembered that he had flashed Tek a smile while he waited to be greeted with one in return. All that Hans got back was a faint response as a sign of acknowledgement. One so faint that it was bereft of the emotions that he may have once had. This reaction saddened Hans. The moment became clearer, immediately after curiously looking at the isolated Himura, Malcolm had warned him to stay away. For some unknown reason, it seemed that Tek must have committed an unpardonable sin which had made the attitude of everyone there change towards him. Hans stopped thinking back as Thorian began to summarise the meeting.

“Well, I guess that’s all there is to discuss,” Thorian announced. Towards the end of the conversation, Tek had sneaked in to exchange a few words of awareness. His extreme speed dazzled the assembled Himura party who were just talking about him. Tek looked at all of them aside from Hans and Thorian. He peered at them with a sharp stare disappointed that they spoke ill of him.

“Ah Tek, you’ve arrived. There is much to be discussed…” Thorian gestured.

Hans waited until Thorian and the rest of his present brethren had left the main hall to get on with it – Hemphia and Thorian left together with Tek to brief the shifty one and discuss more family matters. Hans decided to engage the frontmen. Hence, he chased them down. It didn’t take long before he caught up with them. He and the frontmen – Malcolm and Artemus – decided to watch Vellesca who had decided to train in the garden in order to boost her fighting prowess. They watched in awe as she thrust her sword Companion repeatedly in different directions, with calculated precision. It was written on her face that she was trying too hard to prove them all wrong that she was a weak link. Vellesca hadn’t been able to forget how powerless she felt the day they had fought the Lovecrafts. No one could blame her really for trying to leave a worthy impression on the rest of the family – after all, prior to when she saw Hans take down Brock, she had thought in her mind that he was the weakest, a conclusion that she had jumped to simply because he was the youngest. His special powers notwithstanding, the training that he had received from Thorian and Ukaid had made Hans become stronger than she could have ever imagined. For as long as Vellesca could remember she acted tougher than she was, as if she had a point to prove and that she could be useful whenever it mattered. Turns out that letting her brethren down woke her up.

*****