Jackson kept quiet most of the journey and I was grateful for the peace, my ears still ringing a little from the loud music from one of the clubs. Once we hit the highway, I could feel my eyes start to become heavy and I welcomed the sleep, no matter how short it was. My brain needed it, and I most certainly needed the small respite sleep gave me.
“We’re here.”
Jackson shook me awake as I opened my eyes and saw we were pulling up the very long driveway to the manor house. I had no idea how long I had slept, but I felt a little bit better and less angry. Lifting myself up a little I looked out the window and saw some new recruits training on the grounds, aiming crossbows at dummies tied to posts, some training in combat and other’s doing laps of the grounds. I didn’t miss those days.
They soon stopped once they caught sight of the car, and all began to line up information together to head towards the main entrance of the house before we pulled to a stop.
“Now, Hayley, play nice with the council and try to take note of the new recruits. They've been training for months, and I believe there are a few notable members who are definitely going to do well.”
“I’m always nice.” I turn to him, giving him a cheeky smile and a wink as he rolls his eyes and hops out the car.
Opening my door before anyone else can, I step out and the sunlight almost blinds me as my tired eyes begin to adjust. All the recruits watch in awe as they stand still, poised at the ready, like an army awaiting its commands.
“Miss Helsing, so lovely for you to join us this morning.”
A voice came from behind me. The snake lady, as I would call her during my training years. As I turned to look at her, Mrs Sophia Fox stood on the steps to the house in all her glory. She wore a beautiful, unspoilt blue suit with hair neatly kept in blonde curls falling around her sharp face and onto her shoulders.
I had been tempted for many years to break into her room and take a pair of scissors to her hair, yet I didn’t fancy facing the consequences my father would have made me pay.
“Jackson said it was urgent, so can we get right to it?”
“In due time, the other council members have yet to arrive. I have set up breakfast in one of the dining halls for you and I am sure Jackson can brief you on the rest of the clan’s updates, especially discussing our new training program and recruitment with you.”
God, I hated this woman with a passion, and I knew deep down she hated me. She had always hoped to take the leadership right out from underneath me. At one point in time, she would have succeeded, but once I was born, that was soon overruled.
Walking up the stairs and past her, the front doors opened for me and again Jackson was in tow as we headed towards the main foyer where breakfast had been served on the smaller dining table. Taking the seat at the head of the table, Sophia joined us a few minutes later, along with one of her assistants and another member of the council.
“Hello, Miss Helsing.” His voice was elegant, poised as one of the British district members.
“Good morning, Edward, lovely to see you. How are your two boys, Arthur, and Hugo?” I asked as if I were remotely interested but I knew how much it annoyed Sophia that I had taken the time to learn all the council members names, ranks and family members.
“Kind of you to remember, they’re doing wonderful thank you. Arthur has just joined the new training program and Hugo wishes to be a part of the research department, but we’ve had a few setbacks.”
“Oh, anything I can help you with?”
“Miss Helsing, don’t worry about that, we have much bigger, more important things to discuss than that of a few young boys.” Sophia spoke, taking a sip of her tea as if her word was law and I was to just shut up and do as I was told.
“All recruits are important to our cause, and I will always find it just as important as the other things. Edward, please inform the research department your boy Hugo is to report to the department tomorrow morning, 8am sharp to start his training and if you receive any issues, the department is to contact me personally and I will see to it. Hugo might become our next brightest mind to create weapons or spells to aid us in our cause.”
I smile at Edward and then flick my eyes to Sophia who appears to shrink a little in her seat, clearly forgetting her place. She may believe she runs this house, but I run the whole clan and my word is final. I enjoyed reminding her every chance I got. We spent the next half hour in silence, the breakfast was a feast.
The table was filled with platefuls of pastries, different cereals, fresh orange juices, pots of tea and coffee as well as multiple plates of fruit and fresh deli meats. It was ridiculous how much was spent in just this banquet, and hardly any of it would be touched.
“I’d like whatever is left of this food to be given to the recruits, I’d rather it not goes to waste.” I said, sipping a cup of tea, directing my request to the butler.
“Of course, Miss Helsing, I am sure they will be pleased with such a gift.”
“A gift? It’s food and my father always reminded us never to be wasteful.”
Finishing off my drink and noticing none of the other clan members had arrived, I decided I wasn’t going to sit here and wait any longer. It had been a few months since I had visited and as it did annoy Sophia just the right amount, I felt it would be best to have a look around and see how everything is going.
And of course, speak to the new recruits and see how they are taking to rules and sudden life change.
“Jackson, care to join me while I go for a walk?”
Watching him shove the last bite of his crape into his mouth and then drown it with his remaining coffee, he almost bit my hand off as he stood up, ignoring Sophia’s face as she clearly began to protest. Ignoring her, I linked my arm into Jackson’s and headed back into the large foyer and out the front door to see the training that was going on.
“You really like to irritate her, don’t you? I know she despises you, but I’d be careful Hay, she has great sway with the council.”