THE AIR around Sophie-Anne was always light and fluttery, unless you took into context the powerful vampires whom she surrounded herself with. Their auraâunlike her ownâwas tinged with servitude and absolute fealty to their queen. If someone as much as looked at her sideways, theyâd have their head on a pike. Perhaps thatâs why Sophie-Anneâs demeanor was always so relaxed, even in the presence of those who outmatched her in strength. Settling her eyes on Peter, her current audience, she could feel his warmth fill up the room. Weres always ran hotter than humans and compared to a vampire they felt like they were boiling. His scent was wild, but not savage; more of a refined woodsy scent that elated the queenâs sensitive nostrils. âLooking handsome as always,â she smiled, though her fangs remained retracted.Â
Her cheeky smile soon dialed down by his words and a serious expression moved to her features. Crossing her legs and sitting up straighter, full attention was placed on her guest. In the corner of her eye she could see Sigebert and Wybert shift. It took a lot to make her frazzled and as Peter went on with his explanation, a smile returned to her lips and a wave of curiosity engulfed her. âWitches playing their tricks againâher in Bon Temps? Interesting,â she cooed. Although she didnât personally care for witches, she had possessed one as a lover a century or two ago.Â
As Peter went on with his explanation her engrossment increased. Politely she waited for him to pause before a series of questions would spring forth from her crimson lips. âIt appears the witches want absolute chaos to ensue! What do you think their endgame is? Besides insatiable thirst, how else are vampires affected?â So many questions but those would suffice as a start.
âYou humble me, your Excellency,â Peter said in acceptance of her flattery out of pure cordiality. Lied, in fact, since it didnât humble him, but it fed his ego. Oddly, Peter did not feel out of place nor threatened---even knowing the probability that the vampire queen actually trusted him was very low. Perhaps another sentiment he did not share with his brethren was their absurd hatred of vampires. Then again, Peter hated everyone equally... Everyone but himself.
When asked how else vampires specifically had been affected, Peter took a breath as he focused to bring back the vivid memories recorded in the endless abyss that was his sharp mind. "Uncontrollable thirst and hallucinations that pushed them into a feral state were the two symptoms I encountered in vampires," was all he had for her. "Although there's a possibility entering this feral state depended on the individual and the type of hallucination they had been under."
âThereâs rumors that the Founding Families are to blame for the attack,â he stated, obviously insulted by the accusation. âAlthough I guess the Hales are no longer considered an active Founding Family since most of us were burned alive and all.â A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his lips. In fact, now that he stopped and thought on it: was she calling because she suspected him? âI will be claiming the Hale seat on the council to keep a closer look at the other families,â he shared, thinking the promise would move him further into the Vampire Queenâs favor. Although the werewolf knew the mere promise might not get him much more than pressure.