The Balance

Alex:

I know I am smiling like an idiot. It had been a long time since I felt so... Pleased. I run my left hand through my hair, sitting in the mansion's dining room accompanied by my guests. We are gattered at the table. They debate among themselves on the subject at hand.
Oh, I'm in DEEP trouble, Yolie summoned a hurricane because I smiled politely at another girl, if I get to seriously flirt with one... I bite my lip.
I wanted to make her addicted to my caresses, to make her a slave to my kisses but I think the roles have been reversed. Zeus! I have drunk her blood again and that is dangerous, so much magic runs through her veins that I could easily end up addicted to the substance. Today on the beach I couldn't contain myself.Magic literally gushed out of her.
I suspect that if I hadn't calmed her down, that storm would have caused great material damage or victims even. Many of my lieutenants are restless. Others like Vlad, throw glances at me, smiling broadly, some of them know or suspect what I've been dedicating my outings with Yolie to.
In one fluid and graceful movement Cleo stands up, clinking a glass with a knives.
— Alright, I consider that we have already argued among ourselves quite enough. It's time to proceed to voting. - She announces.
—I'll begin. - Cleo continues. - I vote in favor. Even though the method used to carry out the assassination attempt was simple and therefore didn’t directly exposed us, I consider Jeanne’s actions to be disrespectful and bordering on outright insubordination. The decisions of our Mégas must be respected, even if they affect us. We must respect the hierarchy. If each of us does what we please, this world will be a total chaos.- She finishes, regaining her seat.

The other guests comment among themselves for a moment and then Vlad stands up.
—In my case, my vote is against it. Recent... events have made me reconsider my position on this matter. We don't know for sure what will happen once the process is complete. The Sorceress might as well intend taking over the world. Perhaps we are about to unleash an evil much greater than ourselves on the unsuspecting humanity. - He bows in my direction and sits down.
Marié stands up, she is pale and looks worried.
—My vote is against. Jeanne didn't break any stablished rules. She did not try to get rid of the girl for fun, revenge, or for petty reasons. She is afraid of what may happen once what our Mégas is pursuing is achieved and I understand her.- She looks at me with her worry- filled blue eyes.- If only we knew with certainty what the outcome of all this will be ... - Her voice breaks, she swallows dry and sit down.
—I vote in favor.- Georgiana murmurs.- I consider that each one of us should fend for himself. Our Mégas has guided and taught us as best he could. We have lived longer than was supposed to. You have my support, sir. - She bows.
—My vote is in favor. I agree with the Duchess. - pronounces Gráinne. -. We cannot live with this fear forever, our... existences have been long enough to understand that all things must come to an end.
—I vote against. - whispers Gandhi - if it were only my destiny that was at stake, I would not care, a long time ago I prepared to face the judgment of my gods, but I must think of those who have trusted me, whose lives I changed and for which I am responsible.
—I vote against.- Giuseppe declares.- Like my good friend Gandhi, I also have to think about those to whom I owe myself.
— I vote against. - The Australian sighs. - I do not consider it wise to rush, too many things are happening at once. There is too much unrest among our brethren all over the world. If something happens and we lose our Mégas... - he shakes his head.- A rebellion of ours of lower hierarchy could break out and this could lead to an open war against humanity.
— My vote is a vote of confidence in our Méga. I vote in favor. - Announces Botsaris.- He has proven he isn’t only the oldest and most powerful of us, but also the smartest. He found the last descendant of the Sorceress and has protected her from the threats of the traitor. If the terrible storm unleashed this afternoon is any indication, the power of the Sorceress although unstable is portentous, I have no doubt that the same woman who created our species is capable of fulfilling ... our King's wishes. I also propose that a new representative for France be appointed from among us or from among our fellow vampires. I understand Marié's refusal to accept that position, since she was primarily an Austrian national and the memories she keeps of the French people are not the fondest of all. I believe that our French fellow vampires must be attended to promptly, lest, seeing themselves without leaders, they fall prey to panic and uncertainty.
—I vote in favor. - Qin Shi Huang sighs.- The youngest of you cannot understand the immense emptiness that seizes the heart of an immortal after having existed for so long. It seems natural to me that our King seeks comfort and rest, and I also find it is commendable that the Mégas has seen fit to tell us about his plans. A less... willing... ruler would have gone about the whole thing in silence, leaving us to our own devices.
Silence reigned in the great dining room. Alex surveyed his most prominent vassals one by one. He had obtained the expected vote from some and others had changed their mind at the last minute. Still, the game was in a draw, five members had voted in favor and five against. One vote remained to be given, Mechu Leão, the eighty-year-old Lady who was dozing in her chair, a former slave, Afro-descendant and representative of the North American vampires, would decide with her support or lack thereof the fate of the vampires present there and that of many others.
Patrick approached the old woman and putting a hand on her shoulder gently shook her. Mechu opened her eyes, yawned happily, and looked at the expectant faces of her companions.
— Has the voting ended already? What decision has been made?
—The vote has stopped, leaving the balance suspended. Your vote will be the one that inclines it in favor or against it. - Vlad explains.
— Oh, I must have fallen asleep and missed your magnificent speeches.- The old woman whimpered.
Alex raises an eyebrow. He knows very well that Mechu's lament is as false as her supposed sleeping.
—I don't have the great age of many of you present here, nor do I have military experience. I have not ruled kingdoms or led armies, but I have experience in something that most of you don’t. - Mechu comments.
—I met the Sorceress in her previous life. During one of the many identities she adopted while walking among the living. My vote is in favor, because I trust her. I trust that she will manage meeting our Mégas' demands without affecting us. After the transition is complete and our King gets the answers he seeks, we shall deal with the consequences and continue to survive.
Silence reigned once more in the great dining room. The last vote had tipped the balance in Alex's favor. The man who for more than two thousand years had been the supreme leader of the vampires took his cup in his left hand and stood up.

— It's decided then. Jeanne Darc is hereby found guilty of treason, and will not be granted asylum or offered protection by any of the members of this coven. If she crosses the path of any of us, the use of violence is authorized to subdue her. It is agreed that her sentence will be life imprisonment in Cockatoo Island Prison, in Australia, where the other violators of our laws are serving their sentences.
—Finally, I resign from my position, indefinitely and appoint Qin Shi Huang, interim Mégas until the resolution of this matter and the election by majority vote of a new Mégas.
—My Lord. - The ancient emperor sighs excitedly, bowing his head.
—You are right, all of you, each one has defended their criteria and retaliation won't be taken against those who have voted against. I wish you all, prosperity and luck. Sheers!

The eleven members of the coven raised their glasses and drank.