I stepped across the threshold of the door and immediately felt the shift in energy. It was thick and powerful, like wading through a pool of cold water. It plus the long walk through the forest caused my body to sway as the edges of my vision started to go dark. I felt my knees buckle and waited for the impact as the floor rushed up to meed me, but none came. Instead I felt the warm calloused had of Jiro slide around my waist to catch me before I hit the ground.
The world tilted as he scooped me up effortlessly into his arms. "I've got you." I heard his deep voice rumble against my ear as my head rested against his broad chest.
"I should have known you would push yourself." Jiro said with a gravely sigh as he looked down at me.
"The journey can be quite draining for those who are not accustomed to the Dark Wood." The silver haired man said with a soft smile.
"Is he alright?" Jiro asked, a note of concern in his usually stoic voice.
"He will be fine." The man replied as he motioned for us to follow him deeper into the house. "A warm meal and a good night's rest is all he needs. I will inform Lord Kade that Riley will get some sleep before they meet."
Jiro carried me through a large entry hall and down a long hallway that was lined with portraits of solemn-faced men and women, all with the same dark, knowing eyes. The floors were made of a polished black stone, and the walls were covered in a rich, dark wood panelling. The air was cool and carried the faint scent of old books and something else, something rich and sweet that coated the back of my throat. It reminded me of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night, but with a hint of spice underneath it, like a clove or a cinnamon.
The man in the suit led us into a massive suite. There was a sitting area in front of a large stone fireplace, and a huge four poster bed that could sleep three people comfortably against the far wall. There were intricately carved dragons that wrapped around the posts, and dark crimson silk hung from the canopy. The bedding was black as midnight and looked soft and inviting. Jiro carefully placed me down on the bed and I sunk into the too soft mattress with a soft groan.
"Is there anything else you require?" The man asked.
"No, this will be fine." Jiro replied as he tucked the blanket around my shoulders.
The man gave a slight bow of his head before he turned and left the suite, closing the door with a soft click. I was already half asleep, my body heavy with exhaustion. My mind however was wide awake. "Jiro... who is he?" I mumbled, my words slurred with sleep.
"That is Sebastian. He is Lord Kade's steward." Jiro answered as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"He seems nice enough." I struggled to keep my eyes open, the humming of power from the last vial now felt like it was lulling me to sleep. "Did you hear him? He knew who I was without an introduction. He knew we were coming. He seems to know a lot."
"He has worked for Lord Kade for a very long time. He is a vampire as well, but not as old or as powerful as Lord Kade." Jiro explained as he looked at me. "You need to rest Riley. We can talk more in the morning."
I nodded my head in agreement and let my eyes close.
When I finally woke the morning sun was trying to peek through the heavy curtains. I stretched and felt my sore muscles protest but I felt better than I had in a while. The smell of food wafted over to the bed and as I sniffed the cooked eggs and baked bread my stomach let out a loud growl.
Over on a table sat a covered tray. I shuffled over to it and sat in the chair beside the table then uncovered the tray and tucked in to the best breakfast I had ever had. The eggs were perfectly cooked and seasoned, the bread warm and fluffy, and the cheese was sharp and salty.
I had just popped the last of the cheese into my mouth when I heard the door to the bedroom open. In walked Sebastian with a large towel and a change of clothes. "I brought you some clean clothes, and thought you would like to freshen up before I take you to meet the Lord." He placed everything down on the bed then smiled at me before he headed back to the door. Before he walked through it her turned to me. "I am glad you are feeling better. I will be back in an hour to escort you to the library." Then he walked through the door and closed it with a soft click.
I picked up the clothes and the towel then made my way over to the bathroom. It was larger than anything I had seen in either of the pack houses, with a deep tub that was large enough for me to swim in and a shower with too many nozzles to count.
After I was clean I took the time to dry off and get dressed. The clothes Sebastian had brought for me were a perfect fit. Black jeans, a dark grey silk shirt, and a pair of boots made of a soft black leather. I looked at myself in the mirror, my hair was still damp and my eyes still had the flecks of crimson. I also noticed my skin was a shade paler than normal and my lips seemed to be a bit redder then I remembered.
I sighed and shook my head as I ran my fingers through my damp hair and left the bathroom. I had just enough time to put on my boots when Sebastian returned.
"You clean up well." Sebastian said with a soft smile. "Are you ready to meet the Lord?"
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Sebastian led me down the long hallway and into a massive library that was bigger than the entire pack house. The walls were lined with books that reached all the way up to the high vaulted ceiling. A large marble fireplace took up one entire wall, and a plush cream coloured rug was spread out over the dark wood floor.
There, sitting in one of the two high-backed chairs in front of the fireplace, was a man.