ASH'S POV
Two limousines had arrived to drive us to the hotel, obviously sent by my father. Liam was reluctant at first but then Jai explained to him that it would be taken as in insult if he refused our father's hospitality. So Jai, Liam, and Carter rode in the first car while Jonah, Sloan, Victor and I rode in the second one. It was a bit awkward, especially with Jonah riding with us. I could tell that he really didn't want to be there but I wasn't sure if it was the meeting he was nervous about or being in such a small space with me.
Most of the members of Liam's house had gotten more comfortable around me. Especially after finding out that Victor was my mate. There were others though that still seemed a little wary of me. I don't know if they expected me to suddenly vamp out in front of them and go on a killing spree or what. I didn't take it personal. They still had a lot to learn about Vampires. Real Vampires, not the ones depicted in horror movies. That's all horse shit.
For one thing, Vampires are unusually beautiful. I've never seen one that was bald with pointed ears and long fingers. Our fangs are retractable and rather tiny. And we don't go around wearing long black capes or dress like we just stepped out of a 'Jane Austen' novel. If a Vampire were walking down a busy sidewalk in the middle of a city filled with Humans, no one would notice. They might see a handsome man or beautiful woman but they wouldn't think 'Oh my God that's a Vampire!' They would just think they're looking at another Human. Once they were out of sight though, the memory of them would begin to fade. Eventually the Human might remember seeing someone but wouldn't be able to recall their face, or even the clothes they wore. They would become a phantom memory and after a month, nothing.
It was one of our defenses. Blend in and leave no trace. In order for a human to remember us we'd have to have prolonged exposure to them. That's why we try not to live around Human's or work with them. We have our own shops and stores. Even restaurants. Our own farms, factories and medical centers. Almost everything we needed we provided for ourselves to limit interactions with Humans. It was harder for us to remain 'unseen' by other supernaturals because our spells and glamour didn't work on all species of otherkin, especially those who used magic as well. And obviously it didn't work on other Vampires. That's why Jai was able to recognize me after so many years of being apart.
The limo drivers were both Human. I realized this once they had gotten out and held the door open for us. They would remember Liam and the other shifters, possibly Jai as well. But as for me, they would only remember that there was another person with the group but they wouldn't remember what I looked like or any other details about me like my age, gender, name or clothing. Liam was a bit annoyed at my father for giving the location of the mansion to Humans but I explained that likely after we were brought back, father would have their memories wiped. Liam seemed less angry after I'd told him that but he still didn't like that my father had sent the cars without asking, and I didn't know if my father was just being a good host or trying to show his own authority.
The cars pulled away from the mansion and headed down the long, winding, road that passed through Belle Village, and to the main gate. This was the first time I had actually seen the village. From the mansion you could see lights from the many houses and shops but that was about it. Seeing it now, I was in awe.
Belle village wasn't large, but it breathed a kind of peaceful calm I'd never known before. It rested at the base of the Zion mountains, and the forest, dense and green, wrapped around it like an emerald shield. A sturdy wrought-iron gate guarded the only entrance from the outside world.
The village had been built to house, as well as protect, Liam's people. His care and love of his Pride showed in every corner, every street, and every stone. There was an overwhelming sense of familiarity, of family, to the village and a kind of warmth that you could never find in the Vampire community.
The homes looked lived in but they were also tidy and proud, not sprawling estates like the mansion perched above, but warm and solid in a way that felt old, but resilient. There were rows of tiny cottages with wide porches and painted shutters, ranch-style homes with sloping roofs and long driveways, and a handful of larger, two-story, single family homes, clustered near the village square. A couple of modest apartment buildings stood near the gate house, constructed of red brick walls and clean white trim. Each one surrounded by neatly kept gardens.
There were no slums or crumbling houses in Belle Village. Liam wouldn't allow that. Every lawn was trimmed, every fence mended, and every roof sound. It didn't scream luxury but it whispered dignity. In the center of the village, along a cobble stone street, were many small shops and places where Pride members could gather and relax. The place really had everything. There was a small grocery store, and a quiet little restaurant with a weathered sign. Thick patches of Ivy climbed it's stone walls, making it look like something from a fairy tale.
As we continued our drive, I saw a day care center, painted in soft, cheerful colors, beside it was an elementary school, both had modern looking play grounds where the cubs could let loose and burn off energy. Both buildings were surrounded by tall oaks that provided shade for the children while at play.
I also noticed a high school for the older kids that sported a ball field as well as a gym and training grounds. They even had a medical clinic. All of these buildings were nestled in the heart of the village, accessible to all. From the mansion at the top of the ridge to the main gate below, it was a slow ten or fifteen minute drive, but I didn't mind because the view was amazing. The whole place stretched out before us, wide enough to breathe but not so far you'd ever feel lost. It's what I imagined a real home would be, open, and alive. Safe. It's what I had always dreamed of and what I wanted more than anything.
***
As ordered, there were five men manning the gate that night but Liam had already cleared the two limousines when they'd first arrived so when we pulled up to the gate, the guards just waved us through. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. This was it, the point of no return. I'd either be returning later with Victor and the others or...I closed my eyes and tried to push the thought out of my mind. Tonight had to go well. It just had to. Why would fate bring Victor and I together only to tear us apart?
Victor picked my hand up and slid it into his, entwining our fingers then he gave it a gentle squeeze. I looked up at him and he smiled, softly. His eyes, so gentle and full of love, whispered to me, 'relax, you'll be fine.'
Would I though?
Would I really?
***
The hum of the limousine was steady, almost hypnotic, but it didn't do much to settle my nerves. My stomach was twisted in knots and if it hadn't been for Victor sitting beside me, I'm pretty sure I would have freaked out. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows. Streaks of gold and silver against black glass flashing and dancing in the night. It was mesmerizing, magical almost, and distracting. Starring at the lights nearly made me forget where we were going and why.
I was brought back to reality when I glanced over and saw Jonah sitting across from me. His shoulders were squared and his jaw locked tight, his sharp profile shadowed under the low cabin lights. He was too tense and his apprehension rolled off him in strong, sour waves. Jonah had seemed off somehow, even before the limousines had arrived. There had been an argument between him, Victor and Liam. I don't know what started it but I did catch the end of it.
***
Earlier that night I had been woken by the sound of shouting. I opened my eyes and looked around. I wasn't in the room I'd originally been given and I wasn't in another guest room. This was someone else's room. Someone's private room. I inhaled deeply, taking in every scent around me.
Victor.
I was in Victor's bedroom.
He must have carried me up here and laid me on his bed after I'd fallen asleep in the library. I smiled, it felt nice being in his bed, it felt intimate. I would have closed my eyes and snuggled down into the comforter, surrounding myself with his scent if the shouting out in the hallway hadn't reminded me of what woke me up in the first place.
