Purposes

Yolie:

Sun has risen and I'm hungry. Lately it seems like I could eat a whole mammoth. I take a shower, putting on the red dress from the first day and going down to breakfast. When I get to the dining room, I’m surprised to find that all of Alex's guests are gathered inside. I take a cautionary step back.

This isn´t good. If Alex isn't here...

I feel him before I see him. He is right behind me,making relax into his his touch by caressing my hair, I’m melted already. It must seem to his guests that I'm some kind of pet of his, and it’s true. I've been completely domesticated by their Mégas.

—Friends. - Alex intones. - What do you think if my girl accompanies us this morning?

His girl? Alex has called me his girl in front of his most relevant acquaintances! Oh, my heart has grown a couple of wings and has flown up to the roof.
The faces of his lieutenants show different expressions, going from obvious displeasure, tacit acceptance, total disinterest and the strangest happy faces.
There is a deathly silence but Alex takes my hand and leads me to the empty seat right between Vlad and Marié, kisses my forehead and takes his place at the head of the table. Conversations resume and Vlad turns to me.
—I understand you have met my love. - He whispers.
—You mean Eleni. - I answer.
—Isn't she perfect?-Vlad mutters.
I scowl at him.
—I think she is too young to have a relationship with you.
The man is almost fourth, for Christ sake!
—Ah. I see that you and our Mégas share the same opinions. I wonder ... which of the two had the brilliant idea of sending my beloved little dove to the other side of the world. - Vlad is furious, I can see him clenching his hands into fists and his eyes starting to turn red.
—Ladi, Ladi, Ladi. - I hear Marié humming. - Don't blame the girl for our King's decisions. Let's just say ...your reputation isn’t the spotless of all - She drinks from her glass and turns to Georgiana, who sits on her left side, resuming her conversation with the duchess.
—Reputation? What does my reputation have to do with anything? Our Mégas refuses to give me my wife back because you convinced him that I am not suitable for her! - He growls, between clenched teeth.
— I never did such a thing. - I protest.
Vlad huffs, pouring his glass and looking at me with unconcealed hatred.
—The girl is mine. I've been waiting for her return for too many centuries and neither you nor he - he glares at Alex - are going to stop me from claiming her.
—What exactly did Alex say to you? - I ask in a thin voice.
—He has forbidden me to go near her. I'm obliged to wait four years for her to finish her career in the United States. Then I can try ... to get to know her better. In addition, the Mégas has imposed other... restrictions on me.

000

Vlad:
—I take your word that you will not cause her physical harm? - Alex asks.
—What brought this question about? - I frown at him.
—Vlad my friend, you do not have the best ... character in the world, and also we all know that your tastes ... exceed the obscene.
I growled inside.
—I will not spank nor slap her, unless she asks for it.
000
Yolie:

— You have all the time in the world, Señor Tepes. I'm sure Eleni wouldn't appreciate it if she missed out on such a good opportunity to improve herself, because of you.
He raises a sardonic eyebrow.
—You are good with words and you are also very diplomatic. Hmm. Maybe you're not such a bad influence on our Mégas after all. - He smiles and drinks from his glass.

I guess our conversation is over. Fiuuuuu. Goodness!
—Don't worry about Ladi, he barks more than he bites.- Marié turns to smile at me.
—Gracias. - I answer. The servant as finally brought me a ham and cheese sandwich accompanied by a grape juice. With the excessive smell of blood that dominates the dining room, my stomach has shrunk like a raisin and I have lost my appetite, though.
—It is refreshing and hopeful to contemplate our Mégas so happy and in love. - The beautiful French vampiress sighs.

Alex happy? Okay, yes. In love? I don't think so.

I shake my head.

—You may not be able to see it, but it's obvious. When you are apart he becomes restless,looking at the clock every hour , impatiently and just a minute ago he was looking at you with an expression ... - Marié sighs again.
—I'm sure you're wrong. - I whisper, saddened.
—I'm sure of what I’m telling you. Right now he seems unable to take his eyes off you.
I look at Alex, he is indeed looking at me. Curious about my conversation with Marié, perhaps?
—You must be careful.-. She whispers-. You have ruined Cleo's plans. She had the intention of seducing our Mégas into giving her control of the coven, but hey...
I wrinkle my brow.
—That woman loves power more than any other thing or person in her life.
Mhmm may be, however I consider her a patriot. She did what had to be done and what was necessary, while she lived, Egypt wasn’t annexed as one more Roman province.
I give up breakfast, standing up but Marié stops me.
—I would like to talk a bit more with you. Can I accompany you?
I look at her in shock, the search for Alex’s eyes, he nodes in approval.
—Just don't step out of the Mansion. - he suggests.
Marié squeals happily, linking her arms through mine and we walk out of the dining room. Today she wears totally in black and her hairstyle is much less bizarre.
—You must have a lot of questions. - She says, in her Frenchified English.
—Yes.- I give her a smile.
—Go ahead, I'm in a good mood today. I will answer you.- she promises.
I bite my lip for a moment.
—Alex made you what you are. Didn't he?
—Oui. One day he appeared at the place where I was being kept and asked me if I wanted to be free. I replied I was not afraid for me but for my little Lui. Hours before my execution, Alexandre returned to see me and explained his plan, gave me his blood to drink and saved me in the only way he could. It would have been impossible for him to perform compulsions on all the guards who kept me in custody. Also once "dead" I was truly free.
—It must have been really hard. - My throat clogs.- suffering a prison sentence for so long.
—Oui. But what really broke my heart was not receiving news about my son. He was kept away from me and they
constantly tortured him. He was the victim of countless beatings, forced to drink large amounts of alcohol and forced to sing La Marseillaise wearing a sans-culotte bonnet. He was constantly threatened with the guillotine, which caused him to faint. Even after we were guillotined, his father and I, he was told that we were still alive but that we no longer loved him. - Her voice breaks and her hands shake.
I'm greatly moved that even after so many centuries, those events still affect her in this way. I take her hands in mine and try to convey at least a little emotional support.
—He was isolated in a secret cell for six months without any human contact and in dire hygienic conditions. When I rescued him, he was extremely thin, suffered from scabies and was seriously ill with tuberculosis. I converted him with my own blood. I would have love nothing more than to slaughter all the people in charge of his custody. - An infernal glow takes over her eyes and her face becomes a mask of pure hatred.
—I replaced him with the corpse of a boy who had died a few hours previously. Alexandre helped me get him out of the Temple prison without raising the alarms.
—The only thing I regret is that he will remain frozen forever in the ten years of age he was when I converted him. He won't ever know the joys of love or the pleasures of passion. - She sighs.
I scratch my head for a moment, somewhat confused.
—In the Basilica of Saint-Denis, in Paris, in a glass urn was kept a heart which DNA was compatible with samples of your hair. It's believed that it belonged to your son.
She laughs out loud, then wipes away the tears that laughter so hard has caused her.
—That was fun. Going into the lab and changing the samples was not easy, but we succeeded. Of course, we couldn't allow the DNA test to be negative. That would have risen too many questions and human curiosity has no limits, they would have ended up finding us. Anyway, the heart has been locked in the family crypt since 2004, it is in the past now.
She closes her eyes into slits and smiles wickedly.
—Humans are suspicious. They have always suspected our existence. In addition, there were many rumors in the decades after the rescue. The dead boy we placed in the Temple prison bore little resemblance to Lui. It is logical that the suspicion was spread that he had escaped and many opportunists tried to usurp his identity.
She looks at me and smiles happily.
—Alexandre and I were lovers for a very short time, a couple of centuries no more. - She pouts. - He quickly got bored of my extravagances. I love to innovate in terms of fashions. This second... life... has given me the opportunity to find great peace and happiness by dedicating my efforts and creativity in something that really inspires me.

—You have found your purpose. - I whisper sympathetically.
—Oui! - She squeals happily. - Time took care of each of our enemies. There is not even dust left of them.
We have wandered aimlessly through the mansion and have come to stop in the spacious ballroom. The members of the coven had planned to meet here, Apparently; because I see that in minutes they have begun arriving in small groups of two or three.
Alex chatters animatedly with Grace and Georgiana, both women pay absolute attention to his words.
Jum! More ex-lovers appear out of nowhere and everywhere.
—Don't take it the wrong way. He just can't help it. - says a manly voice behind us.
Marié and I turn around and Giuseppe offers us his most dazzling smile. It makes me dizzy. He is dressed completely in white, wearing his characteristic beret.
-—Ah, Giussy- Marié sighs relieved. - Do you want to have a chat with the girl? I'll lend her to you.
I frown. She talks about me like I'm a toy.
—Thank you Marié, and yes. I would very much like to chat with our guest.
Marié unlaces our arms and leaves,almost dancing heading straight to her friend Georgiana.
Silence between Giuseppe and I is awkward. He brushes his stubble and smiles.
— Alexandros has told us you are incredibly smart. I imagine you know whom... ah... I was.
—Two men. Both impressive, both fighters for the freedom of their country and that of others. Both, symbols of the independence cause in the world.
He gives a benevolent smile.
—I didn't do it for the applauses or for recognition. I could have stayed well put, living a simple life. But there are ... some of us who have been called to defend causes greater than ourselves.
—I understand.
He offers me his elbow. I look for Alex. He is at the other end of the room, talking to Gandhi and "the Australian" now, but he is attentive to me and my companions. With a nod of his head he lets me know that it is okay to accept Giuseppe's elbow. I do so and we walk slowly around the room.
—We are not mere subjects of our Mégas. - He explains. - Each one of us is a lieutenant, and we also governs a portion of the world. Keeping both vampires and humans in order.
I look at him in amazement.
—The countries Italy, Spain and Portugal were assigned to me. In these centuries I have tried to keep the peace and lead with justice.
—Knowing as much I know about you, I don't doubt it.
He smiles pleased with my praise and pats my hand. He begins pointing his fellow counsel members, one by one while he gives me explanations.
—Cleo rules over Egypt and from there all of Africa.
—Gandhi is in charge of India of course, and most of the Arab countries.
—Sir Henry, Australia and Oceania.
—Grace rules Ireland and the Nordic countries.
—Marié ... she is special. Germany and Austria were assigned to her but... her leadership is lax, accommodating... even a little sloppy, maybe. She spend more energy on...
— The fashion industry. - I answer.
-—Yes.-He laughs- Qin Shi Huang, dominates the Asian countries. China, Japan, both Koreas, and so on.
—And Vlad? - I ask curious.
Alexandros gave him the Slavic countries. Although his base is in Romania, he loves to visit Russia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, mainly. It is in those countries where the greatest number of our kind live.
—I see.
—Botsaris is king over the Greek vampires. For a time he and Vlad disputed control over Turkey. -He grimaces.-The Ottoman Empire and subsequent Turkish rulers were enemies of both of them. To stop the disputes, our Mégas resolved to control the Turks himself.
I laugh and shake my head, that’s SO very like Alex.
—The duchess ... well. Do I have to say it?
—England and Scotland surely. - I answer.
He nodes his head as a sign that I’ve guessed correctly.
—Miss Leão, is in charge of the affairs of the North American vampires. She always appears to be asleep but don't be fooled... she is a real panther.- he says, widening his eyes.
I cover my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing out loud.
—And Latin America? Who controls those territories?
—Ah ... I knew you would ask. - He smiles widely. - I met him in Mexico, during the preparations to start the fight for the Cuban Revolution. He was my dearest friend and my most loyal companion, while he was alive. When I learned he had disappeared in a plane crash on October 28, 1959, I searched for him.

He looks at my stupefied expression. I’ve opened my eyes like a pair of satellite disks. I know very well who he means. What Cuban wouldn't?!
—Camilo?! - I yell. - Did you find him? Did you convert him? Is he the Latin American ruler?
He laugh softly.
—Yes, I found him. He had managed to reach a key after his helicopter crashed, and was almost dead of starvation when I found him. Also yes, he rules the Latin American vampires, but not all of South America. You see, there are ... vampires much older than him, in Brazil mainly. However, Cienfuegos loves meddling in human affairs.
He stirs up his beard.
—He was thought to be dead in Cuba so he couldn't return to its government, but the man loves combat. He isn't a bloodthirsty, far from it, he was simply born to present a fight. Wherever a progressive protest rises, wherever a tyrannical government falls ... in Latin America, Camilo is there.
I'm speechless.
—Does that mean you are behind all the revolutions and progressive movements in the world?
—No. Not behind all of them. But we have supported many.
He winks at me and walks away.