I studied the pce as we approached, it was a mix of dining, bar, and dancing, an old-school lounge that was rare nowadays. The Full Moon Lounge was owned by all the Demi-Humans, but it was operated by the various Beast-Kin that dwelled within the city. "Aside from a representative for Beast-Kin, who else can I expect?" I asked Levia as the SUV entered the line to pull in front of the building.

  The Israeli was in a sheath dress, but I knew she was probably armed, and she had another small purse I was fairly sure was a spatial bag. "Dwarves, Elves, Orcs, Merfolk, Sirens, Goblins, Gnomes, Fey, and Vampires, the Dwarves, Elves, and Gnomes make the oldest and most powerful block in the Midwest Region, with Orcs and Goblins right behind them. The Merfolk and Sirens dwell mainly on the coast and along the Mississippi River, so they are considered the weakest in the Midwest." Levia informed me as she put the st finishing touches on her makeup.

  Before I could ask my next question, Levia continued, "Fey are another powerful group, but are fairly insur. Vampires do not traditionally have any allies on the council since they are Undead and considered borderline monsters by most groups. While Elves, Dwarves, and Gnomes make the most powerful block, Elves and Fey are allies somewhat as well because they are distant kin, we think." I nodded my head, not liking I didn't have any possible allies going into this meeting.

  Yet it wouldn't be the first time I had to stand alone, nor would it be the st. "In other words, listen and watch everyone, but don't trust anyone except Marcus, maybe," I told her.

  Levia smiled and winked at me, "Got it in one, you can learn, sir. I advise you to keep any conversations you have to polite chitchat but commit to nothing. Until the other Houses commit to supporting you or opposing you, your position is precarious at best, and the others will know it just like they know that the other Purebloods will react violently if anyone kills you," the Israeli advised.

  I nodded my head as the SUV slid to a stop in front of the lounge, one of the men working the front quickly moved and opened the door. I took a deep, calming breath and schooled my features before stepping out into the limelight, I nodded my thanks to the doorman as I held out my hand for Levia, who took it and seemed to flow out of the back of the SUV.

  The Israeli wore a strapless bck dress that went down to her ankles but was slit up the side, showing off her legs as she walked. I leaned towards her, "For the record, you look amazing in the dress." I told her, which earned me a small smile as she gnced at me, and she eyed my suit.

  I offered her my arm, and she took it. "Thank you, my lord, everything I do is reflected on you and your House, and I will do my best not to dishonor either," Levia stated as I led her towards the front doors.

  The small crowd that was waiting outside to get in studied us, but I ignored them as I kept my eyes on the man and woman manning the front doors. Levia had told me what I had to do, and Tabitha had walked me through the process, like flexing an odd muscle, I willed my eyes to change. In high-stress situations, it was instinctive, but it could be done when a Vampire willed it as well.

  I felt the odd shift as the sclera of my eyes shifted from white to bck, the two-door guards flinched slightly before bowing as they opened the doors, allowing us access into the building. I took another calming breath and let my eyes shift back as I rexed slightly. The sound of the band washed over me, and while they had a floor-to-ceiling partition blocking off the interior, the sound carried through.

  A small group was waiting in the interior, the Maitre'd was talking to a couple and listening patiently, and while I could have forced myself to the front and interrupted them, I decided to be patient. I felt Levia tense, but I patted her arm to settle her down as the Maitre'd was clearly just doing his job.

  Eventually, the couple was ushered out of the way, and we approached the man, "Name?" the man prompted without looking up.

  Levia's grip tightened on my arm, "Victor Bck, my guest is Levia Kedar." The man flinched and looked up.

  Then he shook himself, "Of course, Lord Bck, Janice!' the man called out, causing one of the hosts waiting in the line to come running up, 'Take Lord Bck and his guest to the VIP room. Master Aldbridge is already here, as are most of the other party members," the man instructed as he produced a small card.

  The hostess smiled and took it as she looked at me, "If you follow me, my lord, I will lead you back to the VIP room." I nodded my head and smiled as I thanked the Maitre'd as I followed the hostess into the lounge. The interior was brightly lit, a rge dancefloor was in the middle of the lounge with a stage in the back where the band pyed, dining tables fnked the dance floor and dozens ate, talked, and danced on the floor enjoying their evening.

  We followed the hostess who skirted the dancefloor and weaved through the small crowd there before heading for the side of the building that was walled off. I could see one-way gss mirrors looking out onto the main floor of the lounge. "Ready?" I asked Levia.

  She smirked and patted my arm, "Let's go, the sooner we get started, the sooner we can leave," the Israeli stated as the hostess approached a door fnked by two people who were clearly security.

  The hostess produced the card; they took it and scanned it, which unlocked the door. The hostess entered and we followed her up a short set of stairs, I noticed the hostess changed ears popped out of her head and a tail popped out of her back as she grew a couple of inches as her Beast nature came to the forefront, I followed her example letting my Vampiric nature to the forefront as was expected while present.

  The room that y at the top of the stairs wasn't that big and was dominated by a few tables. About thirty people were present, with guards scattered around the room to keep the peace and ensure the safety of the occupants. "Lord Victor Bck, accompanied by Levia Kedar," the hostess announced loudly as we entered the room.

  The hostess looked back at me, revealing badger-like features. "Thank you, miss," I told her. It earned me a smile and a small bow as I quickly found Marcus, who was escorted by Veronica, "Let's check in with Marcus before we mingle with the other groups." I told Levia, who nodded her head in agreement.

  I studied the man whom Marcus was talking to; he was slightly taller than me and was more heavily muscled, the dark green skin, tusks, and ears simir to my own gave testament to his inhuman nature. This was the first time I had been able to see an Orc close up, and it impressed me. "Master Aldbridge, Miss DeLuca, how is the evening going?" I asked them as they looked towards me as I approached.

  Marcus smiled, "Not too bad, no blood has been spilled, and no one is screaming at each other, which is a good thing." Marcus replied. Then he gestured towards the Orc, "This is Michael Ridge, the current Warchief of the Dals Orcs and Warlord of the Midwest Region. Michael, this is Victor Bck. He will be the Night Lord of the Midwest Region when his presence is officially announced to the Houses." Marcus introduced us.

  I offered the Orc my hand, and without hesitation, Michael took it, and while the grip was firm, he wasn't trying to crush my hand. "Welcome to the madhouse of politics, how are you dealing with the Integration and Awakening?" the Orc inquired.

  I gave him a slight smile, "Exhausting and stressful, there are no words to describe how I suddenly woke up and I was no longer Human." I told him.

  A slight chuckle garnered my attention as a woman sauntered up, while my appearance had changed drastically in some ways this woman was leaps and bounds beyond my own, "I went through an Awakening about a year ago, my suggestion is to take it slow and grow accustomed to your new body and phycology." the Gorgan stated. They were extremely rare and were part of the Demi-Human group that made up about one percent of those who Awakened. "I am Luisa Deboise," she said, escorted by a burly figure covered in scales.

  The man gnced at me before letting his eyes wander to the Orc where they stayed, "Thank you for the advice and warm welcome, Miss Deboise, if you don't mind me asking, how long did it take you to grow accustomed to your inhuman nature?" I inquired as I shook her hand.

  That was when I noticed the smells, Michael smelled like a mix of leather and metal, but Luisa smelled like wet soil and what I assumed was a snake, "I am still getting used to some things Lord Bck, my hair is still annoying,' Luisa gestured to the dozens of snakes that bobbed around her head, 'they sometimes do not do what I want. I think they work on my subconscious at times," she compined as I detected a slightly sweet scent that was more pronounced from the Gorgan.

  I kept an eye on her hair that was slithering around, testing the air while some of the snakes were focused on me, studying me as their tongues tested the air around me. "I can only imagine, my physical changes are less pronounced than yours," we continued to talk for a few minutes before the Gorgon drifted off.

  I followed her example and moved off to interact with other groups, while none of them were openly hostile, some of their greetings were less than welcoming. Eventually, people moved towards the tables and the informal part of the night changed as the council moved to the more formal part.

  As I listened and watched, it quickly became clear the council was here to act as a mediator for the various Demi-Human communities as well as a liaison between them, the Adventurers and Crafters Guild, as well as various normal Human agencies. This was also why I had been called to take part in the meeting, the assassination attempt downtown, and the attack on the Pit; it was probably causing problems for all the communities and with the Human agencies.

  I cleared my throat, earning the attention of the room after I got tired of the whining, "You are all forgetting one important thing." I told them as I looked around. That got more than one frown, "I did not choose to become a Pureblood Vampire, just like none of you choose to become what you are now. My existence is contentious, the Vampire Houses of the Midwest Region have never had a Night Lord, and now they are being forced to accept my existence as well as the power I represent over them." I told them as I looked around.

  I caught more than one nod of either agreement or acceptance, "I cannot promise that more public assassinations or attacks upon me won't happen, but I can promise to do my best to head off these threats and contain them, so they don't spill out and threaten the general public or the rger Demi-Human community. Bringing the Houses in order will take time, but more importantly, it's an internal matter I will deal with as quickly as I possibly can." I told them. That got more nods, "Internal matters are not up for discussion unless we talk about the problems of other communities at this venue. If this council is now interfering with internal matters, please let me know so I can sit in judgment on your problems." I told them before sitting down.

  The Fey representative, who had been the most standoffish during the meet and greet time, smiled and nodded her head slightly. The others sitting at the head table grumbled but accepted my statement as no single group wanted the council interfering with internal matters and trying to do so would set a dangerous precedent that could cause rger ramifications around the world.

  Marcus leaned towards me, "Smart, but dangerous gambit. None of them are willing to allow others here to interfere with internal matters, not to mention it would piss off other councils in the other regions if it became known they were interfering with internal matters." the older Vampire commented as the meeting continued, the Vampire problem shelved for now. I did my best to rex and felt Levia squeeze my shoulder slightly in support.