The Gentle Maiden and Five Lustful Brothers-Chapter 120: Bucharest

***Author’s note. I apologize about this, but for the next few days this book will have inconsistent updates, I had a death in my family yesterday and was notified today. Thank you, my lovely readers, for understanding.***

Once they landed in Bucharest at the private family-owned airport, Lilith was all too happy to be greeting her darling girl and great grand baby.

The fire in her little Odette made her great grandmother proud.

"Oh, my favorite child and great grandchild! I’m so happy you’ve come to your ancestorial home." Lilith screamed rushing over to hug Violet. Holding her close she squeezed Violet, who just giggled when she hugged back.

"Let’s go, let’s go, there’s lots to do, people to meet and a ceremony to prep for!" Lilith yelled clapping her hands like a giddy child.

"Have you ever seen her this happy?" Oliver joked quietly.

"If you think I’m going to humor that with a response and risk my grandmother mauling me, you’re dead wrong." Jeremy snorted and rolled his eyes at Oliver.

"Smart man, Jeremy. More than I can say for Oliver." She paused and looked back at Oliver "Are you ever going to contribute to this family?"

"What more than my good looks?" Oliver joked.

Rosa walked up and smacked the back of his making him wince and she said "Woops, sorry there was a really stupid bee hovering behind your head, figured I’d slap it for you before it stung you."

"Haha, very funny." Oliver rolled his eyes, and rubbed the back of his head trying to dull the pain of the hard thwap Rosa just gave him.

"Rosa, I like you. Us strong women have to stick together you know?" Lilith proudly mentions.

"Well my sweet children, I will be taking you women with me on a tour of the city this evening. And I won’t hear any arguments from either parties." She grabbed Rosa and Violets arms in hers and continued "Your father is waiting for you at home, so go be good little boys and listen to your father."

"Did she always have to be so condescending? I don’t even have a woman." Oliver joked.

"You really want to be roasted alive tonight don’t you?"

When Violet was a child, she never thought she’d find herself walking the stone streets of Bucharest, Romania with the Lilith, The Queen of the Damned wearing princess dresses and eating ice cream like it was the most casual thing in the world. But here she was. Midnight moon filtered through the light smog of the city and Lilith was already leading the way like a nun on a mission.

Rosa, ever the contrast, was trying to balance a cup of espresso in one hand and her ice cream in another "Is this city always this moody?" she asked, looking up at the cloudy night sky.

"Only when she’s not fed," Lilith said with a smirk, glancing sideways. "The city listens to its queen."

Violet giggled. "That’s not terrifying at all."

They turned the corner into one of the busier districts. Neon flashing signs hung beside old stone buildings, and boutique windows were lined with dresses and suits, toys and electronics.

Lilith stopped suddenly in front of a small shop with a forest green awning. "Ah, here we are. Lucrezia’s. She does custom corsets and leather boots. No one makes them like she does."

Rosa raised a brow. "Corsets? Woman, I barely survived yoga pants this evening."

Lilith gave a slow smile. "A woman should always know how to wear her power. And sometimes, that power needs boning and laces."

Violet blushed and followed her inside. The air was rich with the smell of leather and lavender. An old woman with gleaming white hair and piercing blue eyes came around the counter the moment they stepped in.

"My Queen," the woman whispered in reverence, grabbing Lilith’s hands.

"Lucrezia, still stealing hearts and husbands, I see," Lilith teased, pulling her in for a kiss on both cheeks.

"I only borrow them. You’re the one who keeps them in jars," Lucrezia shot back, then turned her eyes on Violet and Rosa. "Ah. Fresh blood. Literally."

The woman was taken back by the close resemblance of Lilith and Violet. As if she were about to ask, Lilith answered.

"Granddaughter-in-law," Lilith said, patting Violet’s shoulder.

Violet gave a shy wave. "Hi. I’m Violet. This is Rosa. She’s—"

"A menace," Rosa cut in, flipping her hair back. "And starving, by the way. Do you people live off air and attitude?"

"There’s a bakery next door," Lucrezia said with a chuckle. "I’ll send someone to bring you pastries."

Lilith didn’t even look at them as she started browsing. "Get her the almond ones. She likes those. Violet prefers fruit. Strawberries, if they have it."

"I was talking about real food, but sure sweets work." Rosa shrugged.

"How do you know that?" Violet blinked.

"Please," Lilith said, waving her hand. "You think I wasn’t planning for this?"

Rosa choked on her coffee.

Lilith ignored her, pulling out a blood red corset with silver hooks. "Try this, Violet."

Violet hesitated. "Here? I don’t know Lilith, that’s not really me. And my belly, well might not agree with it."

"Fine, here hand it to Rosa. There’s a changing room in the back. Go on. Try not to get espresso on it."

Violet took the corset and handed it over to Rosa.

As Violet listened to Lilith talk with Lucrezia like they were two old friends drinking afternoon tea. And maybe they were, for all Violet knew. They talked about past wars like they were family gossip.

"Remember 1421?" Lucrezia asked. "You ripped that Ottoman general’s throat out and still made it back in time for supper."

"His blood was spicy," Lilith said wistfully. "Turkish men always had flavor."

Rosa popped her head in. "Do I want to know?"

"No," both women said at once.

Rosa stepped out in the corset, cheeks red and posture ramrod straight. "I feel like I need a sword and a horse."

The three women laughed and turned to Rosa.

"Hot damn, do you look like blood and chocolate in that outfit." Lucrezia fawns over Rosa in the clothes she prepared.

They bought more than any of them intended.

Silk gloves, thigh-high boots, a ruby coat Lilith insisted Violet had to have, and a floor-length black and pink velvet dress for Violet that made her look like a gothic princess.

As they left the shop, pastries in hand, Lilith casually waved to a man sitting outside a flower stall. Who smiled tipped his hat, and bowed, handing her a pink rose.

As they kept walking, people kept nodding to Lilith, some bowing slightly, others whispering after they passed.

"Does everyone know who you are?" Violet asked.

Lilith shrugged. "Some pretend not to. Others pretend they don’t care. But Bucharest has always been mine. Long before the Parliament, and before the kings."

They stopped in front of a narrow shop with a dark purple door and no sign it was a café with dark velvet booths and live violin music. The waitress looked terrified when she saw Lilith but said nothing.

Violet looked around at the ancient city, the blend of life and death, tradition and rebellion. And sitting across from a sassy friend, a terrifying but oddly maternal vampire queen, and a table full of pastries and gifts, she realized...

She kind of loved it here.