The night is ours. Maria Spotlight

brass hat, otherwise she’d have given me a few hot ears because she was not exactly known for her patience and sensitivity and liked to beat children with a stick. She was loyal to Emily, just like bald Wilbert, whom I liked. As children, my brother and I had often been given something sweet by Wilbert, he had a much calmer and friendlier disposition. Targhan, Sophia and Yvette were the persons who were sent by the werewolves along with Stephan. Targhan and Sophia had become a couple by now. It was about time, Targhan was a wild stallion who had to be tamed and the inconspicuous Sophia had done this by forcing him to lie down occasionally while coitusing. One only learned such things when, like me, one sat by the great fire in the evening in the village of the wolves and listened to the stories. Yvette, on the other hand, of this dark-haired beauty, I knew that she worshipped Sven. Frederick had told me this once, because he had passed her and could see it in her heart. He had the gift of finding hidden feelings, however small and hidden they may be. My father then chose Baltram, Giselle and Oswald to support him in the Council. Giselle was snobbish and didn't put up with anything. With her angel blonde hair and her very young looking face you could think she was more like a doll. Anyone who thought that was quickly proved wrong. I had seen her hunt a lot, she loved to kill slowly. Oswald wasn’t a spark better. The two often made a joke of rushing an animal until it collapsed from exhaustion. They called it a real pleasure. They were both a little older than my brother and I hated them, but never let them feel it, because father trusted them very much and on top of that Oswald, who was very extravagant, even for a vampire, was a very good politician. Baltram was one of the most powerful vampires after my father. He had his residence right next to our castle. My father already knew him when he was a mortal himself. A deep friendship connected them at those times and they would probably have followed each other to death. That's what happened. Baltram was dying and since my father didn‘t want to lose his faithful follower, he made him immortal after his own transformation. Baltram had been older than my father then. But being a vampire didn‘t rejuvenate him and among the vampires one could see his original age, because he already had a grey beard and grey hair. As I watched it all, it became clear to me that this wouldn‘t be an easy task to stand up to these twelve. Despite everything, I reaffirmed myself in my intention not to be banned from speaking. Mathilde came up to me and assigned me a place next to my father.

      "You'll sit up there. Oh, here's some writing paper. You will record everything we tell you.“

      I sighed. "That was obvious.“

      "What? What did you say? Do you think just because your father is the ruler of this country, you get special treatment?"

      "It's all right, Mathilde. I'm doing it. Just give me a nib.“

      That started well. I sat next to Dad with my stuff. He welcomed everyone to the meeting. Today's topic covered the new trade routes. Other people had settled far beyond our borders; their economies were doing well, which is why they were to supply us with their earnings in the future, too. You could never have enough suppliers, because our people were numerous and many mouths wanted to be stuffed. Those newcomers had laid out their settlements and fields in a different direction than the previous suppliers. It was now up to us to open up the new trade routes in today's Council meeting, because, as we know, there are many routes to Rome, but not all of them are good. Claus suggested to let them take a route that led directly through the hunting grounds of the werewolves. Immediately there was a protest from their side.

      "How do you imagine that, Claus?", Targhan rose, he was a good two meters tall.

      "Well, Targhan“, Claus rolled his eyes lightly, as if answering Targhan's question was beneath his dignity, " you could certainly arrange not to hunt that day. People always come to certain days, so you don't hunt.“

      "I don't think that's a good idea. You can't forbid a wolf to hunt. It's in our instincts.“

      "Instincts can be suppressed, Stephan. I think this is the easiest way.“

      That skunk. Where he went and stood he tried to manipulate and intrigue. I would spoil his plans.

      "So you want to lock up the werewolves, do I see that right?"

      "No one here has spoken of imprisonment, dear Larissa.“

      "Oh, yes, you have, that's exactly what you want to do. You want to forbid them to go hunting for a whole day, so that people can bring this shitty commodity here by the shortest route.“

      "Larissa, I beg you“, my father admonished me.

      "No, you brought me here to help you, and that's exactly what I'm doing, albeit in my own way. I have a different opinion and I will make it known. So, I suggest you don't let people turn right at the Bear Intersection, let them turn left.“

      "But then they'll come to our village.“

      "That's right, Claus. You might as well accept the merchandise and then redistribute it. Haven't you been wishing for more handling in this regard anyway? Now's your chance, use it.“

      "This is a detour, Larissa. People would travel almost twice as long.“

      "So what! Then let them. We will reward them accordingly. Who cares if the goods don't arrive until late at night? People pass safe roads, even if they have to drive into the night, nothing will happen to them. We made this country safe.“

      I turned to my father again, he should have the closing words on the subject.

      "Father, look. To imprison a wild animal is certainly not what you mean by your promised land. We're all free, and we should stay free.“

      "My daughter is right, Claus, it doesn't matter when the goods arrive. I hate to ask Stephan to keep his people from hunting. So, who votes for Claus' proposal?"

      Only Claus himself and Mathilde raised their hands. Everyone else must have voted for me.

      "Then it‘s decided. Tomorrow a raven will be sent to the people. He will send them a letter with all the information they need, including the route they had been given“, father's head leaned towards me, „well done, little daughter. You've just put your first proposal through.“

      To annoy Claus even more, Emily started clapping, wearing a contented smile on her lips. Targhan and Sophie joined him, then Stephan and finally all the rest. I had actually found my destiny, yes, I would make politics. Claus would have loved to go up the walls in rage. He sparkled at me with his disgustingly piercing eyes, aiming at me like a deadly snake about to devour its prey. I didn't let myself be confused and stood up to the gaze. Then he hurried out of the room. I knew I had provoked him, I didn't give a damn. I had just begun my crusade against Claus. Now he was officially my opponent.