Mary took in the surroundings of the mansion she and her clan had lived in for nearly a century. The opulence of the place usually soothed her. Now, it angered her to see what she and her family had worked so hard to obtain, and risked losing.

Anger was writ all over her face, and she didn’t noticed the youngest of the brood wince. Luckily for the youngling, the ministrations did not stop, or even halt as she continued brushing Mary’s hair in slow, even strokes. Fingers had been lost, the newest had been told, for angering Mary in the slightest.

Had Mary heard this, she would have laughed. She hadn’t taken anyone’s fingers, or any other parts, in literally ages. There had been that one incident...but it had been well deserved. And it hadn’t been fingers she’d taken, but the unbeating heart of an upstart with her bare hands. Since then, her clan had never tried to rise against her again, or more accurately yet. The lack of food might well be something that would turn them all against her.

Suddenly too angry to hold it in, she threw her cup of wine across the main hall. Below her, she could see the fearful, and expectant faces of her clan turn her way. Next to her, she could all but feel the trembles of the messenger who had been elected to bring her such bad news. No doubt he feared for his fingers. She flicked a disgusted glance his way and he quickly bowed and backed down the dais.

The slow and even strokes of a bristle brush through her hair helped to relax her somewhat. This new one was good, she thought. Now...what was she to do?

Suddenly, she turned a cold smile upon a few men standing together and beckoned them with one finger. Secretly, Mary called them her “pretty boys”. They were three, handsome brothers, turned by her own hand and loyal only to her. She knew some others were talking about a new leader...but she pushed that thought away. She was furious enough with what she had been told.

Watching as they bowed their heads, Mary thought over what she would do with the new upstarts in town. A bunch of mutts had moved into her territory without a by-your-leave, not that they would have gotten one had they asked. Still, the source of food in this town came from a tavern, the very one the impure bloods had taken over. Her clan had been careful not to be too greedy, not to give off too much alarm when they hunted. Now, a bunch of mutts moved into her tavern, slaughtered all within and risked the very lives of her children. One should have known to never take away food from a child’s mouth. Not unless they wanted to face the wrath of the mother.

Well, they had enraged this mother, and she was a very dangerous person to cross.

Matthew, William and James (there mother hadn’t been too original, Mary thought), looked up at her with their puppy dog eyes. They were hers to command.

“My children, I have heard the most egregious news.” Mary’s voice carried across the room as she addressed the three before her. “It seems there are some rivals in town. They did not present themselves to me, as custom requires. I should like an introduction...but first, I need information. Bring a few of those in the tavern to me.”

With a flick of her wrist, she sent them on their way. If anyone could bring her some of the mutts to “question”, it was these three.

They bowed and said in reverent whispers, “Yes, mistress. It shall be as you say.” and they were gone. Such good children, she thought.

A sharp tug on her head, brought Mary from her thoughts. With an angry growl, she reached behind her and grabbed the newest of her clan by her hair. She stood and gave the girl an angry shake before throwing her across the room.

“I seem to have found you in a foul mood.” a familiar voice said behind her.

Mary nodded and left the dais, knowing Catalina would follow her to her rooms. When the door was shut, she leaned against it and looked at Catalina, one of the few who knew the “private” Mary. This child of her heart was to be Mary’s replacement should the time ever come.

Mary’s whole demeanor changed once the door was shut. It was hard to keep up the anger and controlling nature all the time. Her real emotions showed on her face. Whatever Catalina saw, it prompted her to ask, “It isn’t...him, is it? Do you sense him near?”

She knew who Cat meant and thinking about him brought up a well of conflicting emotions. One would have thought she’d be over all of that by now, but she wasn’t.

“No, it’s not he who has me so upset. Haven’t you heard? Our tavern has been taken over. Our very food supply is going to run short if I can’t do anything about it soon.”

Mary suddenly smiled a very real smile, “What would you do if you were in my place, Cat?” she asked as she moved away from the door and sat on the bed. She patted the mattress next to her and waited for Catalina’s answer as she settled next to Mary. It was a game of sorts they played. One that Mary felt would help her protege to fill her shoes when the time came.