Alexis closed her eyes and laid her head back against the plush seat of her limo as the driver pulled away from her estate. Correction, Bishop Cadaver’s estate. She had just given him the deed to her house and the lands surrounding it as a reward for his years of service as her Templar. She knew that he would make proper use of all of the secrets contained within the mansion. He was Nosferatu and the most loyal of all those that had ever worked for her. She recalled the look in his eyes when she handed him all of the necessary papers and keys. The underlying significance of the act did not escape him. His protestations at her making this journey alone clouded her mind.
"Thisss one will be coming with you, Missstressss."
"Nay, my Shadow. You will be staying here."
"Thisss one will sssend otherssss to follow you."
"Then I will kill them. I must make this journey alone, my Brother. Know that you have never displeased me and that you are a valued member of this Sect. Our Brothers and Sisters would do well to take lessons from you. Your place is here and here you will remain."
She pushed the thoughts of her last conversation with Cadaver from her mind and with a small expenditure of her blood, she wrapped the shadows inside of the limo around her. Now was not the time to dwell upon sentimentalities and emotion. She let the quiet hum of the car engine to lull her into a light, meditative state. As she had done countless times in the recent past, Alexis opened her mind to receive her Inner Voice, the Voice that had guided her through many battles and plots against her enemies and the enemies of her Sect. A soft sigh escaped her as her questing mind was met with silence. She should not have been surprised at the silence, but a part of her had held out some hope that the Voice would be there.
She knew why she heard nothing, although she would never admit it out loud. She had failed one too many times. Failure was never an option for Contessa Alexis Narciano Dread. Until the past couple of years, she had always succeeded at everything she set out to do. She had rid herself of her mortal family and attained control of all of their businesses, amassing a great fortune in the process. She had led numerous War Parties in her native Italy and gained a lot of territory for the Sabbat. Her fellow vampires in the United States feared and respected her, as they should one who had attained the rank of Archbishop.
But now she was no longer an Archbishop. In a fit of insane anger, the Cardinal had stripped all Sabbat in her region of their titles, and then disappeared. Now, she was no longer a great leader of the Sabbat, and now she must atone for her alleged failure.
The car came to a stop at a private airport on the outskirts of the city and she slowly got out after the driver opened her door. She stood there for a moment as he got her luggage and took it to the plane that waited for her. She had an appointment to keep, and to be late to this particular meeting would bring about a slow, painful death.
Alexis held her long, black cloak around her as a stiff, cold wind blew through the night and she walked toward the plane. She spoke to no one as she glided across the blacktop, resembling the shadows she commands with the ease and skill of one who has seen what feels like an eternity of nights. She boarded the plane and after a few whispered instructions to her personal servant waiting there, she removed her cloak and took a seat. She stared out the window in silence as the plane began its ascent into the midnight sky, and her mind raced with plans and strategies for her upcoming meeting. She sat in the same position until she saw the eastern sky lightening, then moved to a specially prepared room on the plane and fell into a deep, restless sleep.
The plane touched down in Madrid at around 9pm the next night. Alexis was very careful in her preparations for her meeting, meticulously planning everything she would say and do, even what to wear. She sat before the mirror on her vanity as the maid did her hair and makeup, appearing to be totally unaffected by her lack of reflection. She rose from the table to dress, and her eyes fell upon her weapons which laid on the bed next to her gown. She had been ordered not to wear any weapons to this meeting, and she would not refuse the order. She touched the platinum and onyx scarab brooch on the table and a slight smile flickered across her crimson-painted lips. She hadn’t made it this far in her unlife by being stupid. His Excellency had said nothing about decorative "ornaments".
Two hours later, she emerged from the plane, dressed in a conservative, high-necked and long-sleeved black gown with her brooch pinned to it above her heart and her black cloak. She pulled the hood up to protect her hair from the wind as she walked down the stairs with her maid following her. She was met at the bottom of the stairs by two men wearing dark suits. They each grabbed one of her arms, and Alexis frowned slightly under her hood, thinking that Archbishop Moncada was sparing no expense to ensure her arrival at this meeting.
The men escorted Alexis, her maid following behind, to a waiting Rolls Royce out in the parking lot. She sat uncomfortably between the two men in the back seat, bristling at the feel of their guns pressing through their jackets and into her sides. She maintained her composure with cool emotionlessness, not speaking as the car made its way through the city that was a major seat of power within the Sabbat. She had made this journey a few times before since being inducted into the Les Amies Noir to sit as judge upon the infamous blood courts. However, this trip was to be very different, and unlike the past ones, she did not look forward to it.
The car stopped in front of a palatial mansion on the edge of Madrid, and once again, Alexis’ guards took up their positions on each side of her and held her arms as they escorted her up to the house. She was ushered into a large office as her maid was taken to what would be Alexis’ suite during her brief stay. Seated behind the desk was an imposing and obviously powerful figure; Archbishop Moncada.
The Archbishop rose at her entrance and stepped around his desk. He bowed, then took her hand and kissed it. "It’s a pleasure to see you again, Contessa. I regret that it must be under such unfortunate circumstances."
Alexis nodded respectfully, her back stiffening at the inference to her reason for being here. "I wish I could return the sentiment in kind, Your Excellency."
Moncada looked at her for a moment, then nodded before returning to his desk chair. "Understood, M’lady. I’ll do all that I can to make this go as swiftly as possible." He noticed the slight tensing of her muscles and looked at her for a long moment before speaking again. "You and I have had many talks right here in this office, Alexis. I ask you now, just between you and me, are these allegations true?"
Alexis squared her shoulders and looked him right in the eye, replying without hesitation. "No, Your Excellency, they are not."
The Archbishop steepled his fingers in front of him and tapped them against his chin as he met her gaze and considered her answer. "Very well. Your tribunal starts tomorrow night."