Discworld and Member Articles
|
|
Written by Mynona
|
|
Friday, 26 August 2005 |
“I know you understood me perfectly.” I answered. Yes, the tale was unbelievable but father should know that I wouldn’t lie to him. Or for that matter, make up that ridiculous story.
“I can’t understand the part where you got recruited into the slayers organisation, which by the way, shouldn’t exist anymore.”
”Please run that by me again, I don’t think that I heard you right that time, either.”
“I know you understood me perfectly.” I answered. Yes, the tale was unbelievable but father should know that I wouldn’t lie to him. Or for that matter, make up that ridiculous story.
“I can’t understand the part where you got recruited into the slayers organisation, which by the way, shouldn’t exist anymore.”
“I don’t know more than I’ve already said. You can ask any of the guards. The humans had no idea what we were. Or what they were doing for that matter.”
“Yes, accusing a were of being a vampire.”
“How did the interrogation go? Did you find anything else out?”
“No, not really. They don’t know much. Too bad this Michaels managed to kill himself. After what you’ve told me he seemed to be the best bet. And I wasn’t around when he woke up so I couldn’t pick anything out, either.”
“Pick anything out? Can you really read minds?” That suspicion had been there since I first met him. He had an uncanny ability to answer questions before you asked them.
“Er. Not as such.” Father was uncertain of what to say. Point to me. “I can see surface thoughts in a human without any mental or magical abilities. I can’t shift through their memories but I can see what’s in the forefront.”
“Oh. Am I going to be able to do that too?” I knew that some vampire traits you get with age. Vampires all get a little different traits and tricks. We were not alike as humans and we aren’t alike as vampires. Someone once told me that it’s the way our mind and body process, whatever vampirism is, that decides exactly what powers we will get. I had yet to find anything that pointed on something else so I wasn’t going to argue. And it did sound as a plausible explanation.
“I do not know. I can only tell you that it first appeared somewhere after my 400th birthday. It may be that it runs in my blood, and if that’s the case, you’ll most likely get it, though not yet. But as you know it may be just me and you won’t. Only time will tell.”
“Yes I know. Thanks for telling me though. You don’t have any other weird powers that I should be looking for?”
“No, not really. The only thing is that my ability read minds, as limited as it is, was preceded by empathy. If you ever get that you may get the mind reading as well. Though I didn’t get that until late either so don’t hold your breath.”
“Thanks for telling me. Now, do you have what you need or should I stay longer?” I really wanted to go. I’d been away from the coven, and Emilio, for almost four months. I wanted to see him, badly, but I wouldn’t, couldn’t, do so without father’s permission.
“I’ve got what I need. You can go to Emilio.” I smiled and he winked back at me, something that really unnerved me. I didn’t fancy knowing anything about father’s sex-life, I knew that he had to have had one since I’m here but I survive without the details, thank you very much. And the only thing more disturbing was that he knew what I and Emilio was up to. Technically I knew that father knew what we were up to but he didn’t have to show it, did he? There’s this rule in the family law that says that every member in the family must see the others as asexual and you must forget that they’re most likely as needy as you.
“Thank you. Good bye Father.” I said and bowed.
I did run through the corridors, I really wanted to see him. It had been too long. Luckily our rooms were close to father’s and it didn’t take too long to get there. I burst in there and I was greeted by the best view ever; Emilio lying on the fireplace rug staring into the fire. The yellowish light lent an odd glow to his hair and skin, it made him look softer than usual. His hair looked almost like it was on fire itself, orange and yellow glints kept racing over the ends and the stray hairs. He was beautiful. And he was fully dressed.
He turned as I entered. He had known that I had returned but he hadn’t been able to come and see me as little as I had been able to leave father. We were subjects, our wishes came second, always second. His face was lit up by this wonderful smile and I never wanted to leave again. He looked a little bit panicked when I didn’t move closer but I couldn’t help but to stay and watch him for a while. All this, all mine.
I stepped forward and bent down as he raised himself of the floor. Our lips met in a tender kiss and suddenly three months of loneliness didn’t matter so much anymore. He, and I, was here now that was what’s important. The kiss ended as it’d started, slowly. And he drew back only enough for us to see into each other’s eyes. Yes it does sound cliché but cliché doesn’t mean untrue.
“I’ve missed you.” His breath tickled my cheek and moved the small strands of hair that always escape, no matter what you do with the rest of it.
“Of course I did.” I answered and I felt his arms close around me in a hug, as if he wanted to make sure that I really was there. That I was solid. I couldn’t let the opportunity go to waste and held on to him, a tad bit hard, just to feel him, feel here. No more words were spoken though quite a lot of kisses were exchanged on our way to the bed. I was tired, and so was he, and we didn’t go further. It didn’t matter, what did was that I was home, in his arms, and I was safe.
The next morning I spent reacquaint myself with my home and with Emilio. The sights, the smells and the feel of them both. Humans and, indeed, vampires are habitual beasts. We feel safest where we know our surroundings and I was feeling at home again. I really hoped that things would keep calm for at least a little while. I was a bit selfish but I did think that I deserved a bit of a vacation. The last year had worn me thin. So much had happened in so little time. I still had to talk to my father about my adoptive dad. I had confessed to seeing him but he’d allowed me some time to think before questioning me about the whole mess. There had been other things to handle when the trip to Japan had fallen through. That reminded me, I needed to go and see Clay. Grace had, above all wonders, returned to the coven when believed dead, at least by everyone except father, and I wanted to talk to them. So many people and still not enough time. I decided to start with Clay though, only partially because that meant that I could keep Emilio with me for a little while longer.
I more or less dragged Emilio around until I realised that I had no idea where Clay lived. I’m female, though, so I have no problem asking for directions. I had been in the right area Emilio showed the way, without laughing too much. I knocked on their door and while Clay seemed rather happy to see us, Grace didn’t. I kind of could understand her though. Her boyfriend, or whatever one should call him, had just proven that he held someone, or something, more dear than her. He valued me, or duty more than he valued her. I did, however, think that she was a bit silly because she knew that he was a guard and she also knew how much that meant to him. She should have realised that it’d come to this. It didn’t mean that he loved her any less but it did mean that he knew to do what was right, no matter how high a personal cost.
“Hi Clay. How’s things?” My tone was firm but light hearted. I counted Clay as a friend, one of a select few, and I didn’t want to lose him.
“Mostly good, thanks for asking.” He was tense and I think it was Grace that was the reason. He wanted to say something but didn’t dare to.
“Has father spoken to you about resuming your duties?” Clay hadn’t gotten any time off after Grace’s presumed death since he needed something and duty was the only thing left. Father had given him time since Grace returned to the land of the living, so to speak, and he hadn’t been returned to the duty roster.
“No.” He answered shaking his head. He wanted to talk but he didn’t want to speak. Funny thing that.
“Why don’t you come by my rooms later and we’ll talk about it. Enjoy some time with Grace in the mean time. I know I have missed my better half the last few months.” I said this with a smile and twinkle in the eye and left with a small shake of my hand. Emilio was with me but silent. It was rather unusual for him but sometime got to be a first. I thought about asking him about Clay and his rather unusual behaviour but I decided that it could wait until we were at least in the privacy of our rooms. The coven was no place for secrets but talking like someone’s private-life like that was just insensitive. Just as we reached the corridor our rooms was situated in one of the leopards came running.
“Alexis! Alexis!”
“Yes Robin, what is it?” I had finally gotten them to calling me just Alexis. It was annoying how they used ‘Ryttir’, which was so new to me that I didn’t react half of the time, or Lady, which I did react to but I disliked it. I didn’t feel, or act, like a lady so I shouldn’t be named one.
“Lord Dracula wants to see you.” See, father was a lord, all the way to his fingertips. He deserved the title and he lived up to it. I just used mine to support the books in my library. And I couldn’t help but to feel as if most to the older vampires were judging me and I had no idea by what scale.
“Thank you. Is he in his office?” So, yes, that might have been overly polite but Robin is one of the most submissive weres, ever, and I think that he deserves to hear that he does a good job. He’d never ask for anything which makes it more important to give him something. And a ‘thank you’ isn’t such a high price.
“No. He’s in his rooms.”
“Ok. Emilio?”
“I’ll go back. It’s soon time for my class and he did only ask for you.”
“True.” I said. “See you later.”
“Always.” He answered and left, while I headed towards father’s rooms.
I was standing in front of father’s door and I was currently waiting for the guard to knock and announce my presence. He took his sweet time about it too. Me, impatient? Bah.
“Father.” For once I didn’t bother kneeling, I bowed instead but rather deeply. It was a bit of a gamble but father had been accepting a lot of stuff lately.
“If I ever see you do that in my study I will punish you.”
“Of course Father.”
“And I won’t have to warn you about social functions, do I?”
“No Father.”
“Good.” I had done a gamble and it had held… sort of. I wasn’t entirely sure of my standing and status as it were so I needed to test things from time to time. I’d been testing a lot more lately. “Now, what brought this on?”
“I wanted to know if I was allowed to do it or not.”
“No, I meant, why have you started experimenting like that lately?”
“Oh, well. I’m still not quite sure who I am and what exactly I am to you. I’ve only recently felt safe enough to start experimenting.”
“I see. Well, at least you had the forbearing to do it in private. You will take up classes with Raphael again, as of next Monday.” I almost groaned. Classes with Raphael was like punishment. He was very strict, not in a ‘keep quiet’ kind of way but in a ‘if this vampire married that vampire she has a slightly higher status than that vampire’ kind of way. And he didn’t stand any mistakes.
“I understand.”
“Good, this wasn’t what I had in mind when I called you, though. You know that we have two humans in the coven waiting to get turned. This will happen in a month. You’ll be there when this happens. You need to know what happens. And as the youngest vampire in the coven it’s your duty to see that the newborns are fed.”
Newly made vampires drink a human dry, no one knows exactly why but it has been speculated that the turning does away with what blood was left and leaves the newborn vampire in dire need of sustenance. Others claim that vampires doesn’t live of blood, per se, just life force and they think that since the turning kills whoever is turned, the body needs a lot of this life force to be ‘jump-started’ again. Whatever the reason they’d need a human each and, as I’d just found out, it was my job to chose which humans should offer their lives for the betterment of someone else’s. As far as I knew we had around twenty-five prisoners, that is, humans without contracts. Humans who in most cases has been found guilty to crimes against vampires or vampire-kind and is sentenced to a life in the pens. Not that they usually lived very long since they were the ones that we were allowed to kill. True, some lived longer than others, getting longer, and better, lives because they behaved well. That didn’t happen often, though.
The turning, in itself, is rather simple. The vampire who’s going to turn the human doesn’t feed for a while, not enough to become starved but enough to be hungry, enough to drain the human to the point of death, and a bit beyond. When the turned one takes his, or her, last breath he’s fed the blood of the vampire who drained him. It’s messy and painful because the not-yet vampire doesn’t have fangs, nor is he used to drinking the way that is needed. The vampire blood doesn’t kill the human body, it’s the bloodloss from the earlier draining that does them in. The only thing, only is a relative term, the blood does is to change they way the body picks up nourishment. The following few weeks the more prominent changes occur, enhanced speed, strength and stamina, better hearing and eyesight.
It’s different for a born vampire. In a born vampire the first changes are forced, often by threats on his or her life. After that they’re drained and fed vampiric blood. This is why a born vampire will always be stronger than a turned one. Then again, an older vampire will, on most cases, be stronger than a younger one because age means power for vampires but since every vampire is unique, in the same way that every human is unique, different vampires comes into power differently.
It used to be that the strongest vampires were those who’d get to run the sect but that has changed into a hereditary system, it kept more vampires alive. Seeing as killing your predecessor was the only way to get the throne. The only title that you fought for at present is the title of Rector Lamia. But that office is important enough to warrant it, in the hands of whomever was the Rector Lamia laid the fate of vampire-kind. True, Dracula was rather ‘popular’ so the other vampires helped him keep his spot, and his life.
Alexis hadn’t known what to expect from the turnings and she was a bit unnerved by the whole thing. She’d been present at both turnings, Angelica’s and a young male called Styx’s, and both of them had been messy. At the same time they’d been great, the violence and the blood appealed to her which was, frankly, why she’d ended up freaked out.
Both humans had known what was waiting but as they felt the blood, and consequently, their life being drained from them they’d started to struggle. Vampire strength helps you a lot but it’s really awkward to hold a person still while trying to feed as gently as possible. The vampire blood that’s given at the turning will heal minor incisions but it can’t do much if the human had gotten its throat ripped out.
As I had been ordered I’d provided two humans. One of them had been with us for some time while the other was one of the ‘slayers’ from the unsuccessful raid on the Wycliffe coven. We still didn’t know who’d betrayed the sect but this one wouldn’t be of any help. I had been fasting for as long as the ones that would do the turnings. Coming out of the turning one were ‘slightly’ crazed and the less heat and less of a heartbeat I had the less chance of me getting attacked there was. I had my hands full trying to contain the human. The first one had been rather docile, thinking it was only an ordinary feeding until the new made vampire rose with glowing red eyes and his eyes focused entirely on him. The second one had no idea what was waiting and she was easier to hold. It was rather disturbing to see Angelica in the throes of bloodlust but if this was what she wanted she’d get it, and Roderick, who was currently on the floor nursing an abused wrist. It looked as if someone had gnawed on it, and someone had. Someone with very blunt teeth. It’d heal but it’d take a couple of days for it to disappear entirely. The smell of the blood on his arm mixed with the smell of the blood of the human I was still holding to create a new kind of longing. I wasn’t going to give in to it, no way, I had better control than that. And indeed I had because it was soon over and I dropped the dead body to the floor. Someone else would pick it up. Angelica was coming to and it was time for me to leave. A fledgling’s first sight should always be its sire.
I walked towards our rooms rather unhurriedly. I needed to feed but I wanted to pick up Emilio first. I’d already visited father and reported that both turnings had gone well and that we now had two more vampires in the sect.
Emilio was waiting for me in our rooms, with a human. He’d known that I’d need one and supplied me. It’s almost like coming home and finding dinner on the table. Sometimes I wondered what I’d done to deserve him but I wasn’t going to complain. If I did someone might take him back and give me faulty copy.
Having fed on the human I dismissed her and Emilio came to stand in front of me. And he kissed me, tasting the blood I’d been drinking. It started out fairly innocent, if having someone else’s tongue in your mouth can ever be considered innocent, but progressed quite nicely. Emilio’s body, all of it, were firm against me and was urging me on in the same way as my body was urging his to continue. He pulled back minutely only to start kissing my cheek and progressing down along my neck. It felt awkward but I bared it to him anyways. He rewarded me with several soft kisses on my pulse point but he never bit down. I wasn’t all clear if I wanted him to do it or not.
I hadn’t known what to do with my hands but they soon became occupied with trying to undo the buttons in Emilio’s grey shirt. I fumbled quite a bit but it isn’t easy trying to undo them while he kept me close to his body. I’d finally managed to undo all of them and started to slide my hands over his sparsely haired chest when someone knocked on the door. I snarled at it but I’d learnt my lesson and told whomever the unfortunate person behind the door to enter. Raphael didn’t appear to care that I’d snarled at him when he informed us that they were ready. Who they were or what it was that was ready he never said. He was also completely unruffled by the sight of Emilio and me embracing each other. I stood close to Emilio for a while longer, feeling his desire and I was sure that he was at least a bit annoyed at getting interrupted. If he wasn’t I’d castrate him. But by the way he kissed me again that wouldn’t be necessary. There was only one kiss though before he backed off and buttoned his shirt. I gave in and straightened my own clothes. It was futile, though, because my clothes were splattered with blood from having two newborns feeding from the persons I’d been holding. Emilio didn’t give me a chance to change; he just dragged me out the door.
Emilio led me towards the grand hall, the only place in the coven that could hold most the sect’s members. It was huge. What I can’t understand is why vampires, who don’t mix very well with fire, insist on using only fire as source of light and heat. It must be some obscure vampire tradition, or perhaps just technophobia. I can’t say that they don’t have style though. The crystal chandeliers were gorgeous and lighted the enormous room in a very special way. Along the walls there were smaller candle holders, even though there were several chandeliers they couldn’t light the whole hall.
There were no decorations and most nothing except vampires, a lot of vampires. The only empty space was the raised dais where father’s and my throne were located. On the dais father was waiting. He smiled at me as Emilio led me closer to him.
Everyone was wearing their finest clothes, or at least those of them that I could see, and here I came, bloodied and rumpled. And well kissed but they didn’t know that… hopefully. Father spoke:
“Today we have gathered to celebrate two newborns in the coven. It was twenty-two years since we last did this. Following tradition the newest of us has fed the new ones. And now we ask. Was the turnings successful?” And just like that, everyone’s eyes were on me. I wouldn’t have been more exposed if all the light had vanished and a spotlight would have found me. Eeep.
“Yes.” I answered though I wasn’t sure that that was what he wanted to hear, that that was what they wanted to hear. But by the sound of the ‘cheering’ that was exactly what they had wanted. Father beckoned me closer.
“She comes to us carrying the signs of a vampire’s first feeding.” At first I had no idea what he was talking about but as I moved closer, still, I could feel the now dried blood starting to harden in my clothes. The formerly rather nice green silk shirt with silvery buttons had been reduced to less than a rag. The bloodstains would never wash out now, when the blood had been allowed to dry. I’d had a lot of bad experiences with blood and clothing.The vampires started talking, pointing at me in some cases, which made me very nervous but it looked as if the ‘formal’ part was over.
Emilio took me by hand, again, and led me through the sea of vampires. They hailed me, congratulated me and questioned me. Most of the time I had no idea what was going on and who’d said what. I just nodded and smiled, in most cases you can’t go wrong with that. Some time later father took over Emilio’s duty and continued to show me around the hall but he introduced me to vampires from other sects, here to congratulate and spy on the newborns. I hadn’t known that a turning would mean this much to the vampires and I wondered if they’d had a party like this when I’d been turned. Or when I’d been born for that matter. Maybe it was just that in a ‘life’ so centred around pain and death, you had to take joy where you could find it.
The party, there’s no other word to describe it really, continued for many hours. Weres and humans walked the floor and every now and then you’d see a vampire take a sip. Not really what I picture when I hear ‘hors d’ouvre’ but I wasn’t going to complain. There was ordinary food too but that was mostly eaten by the humans and weres. I couldn’t stop myself and just had to taste one of the canapés, which proved to be an entirely new experience. Who knew you could use black-pudding like that? I do prefer my blood fresh, though, so I never had more than one. Father had left me some time earlier so I was left with Emilio laughing at my surprised grimace.
I hadn’t slept a lot and on top of the fasting I’d done I pretty soon started to long after my bed. Emilio said that we could leave after father had made his speech. I looked sadly at those who left while we were speaking. Although father seemed to have sensed my distress and started the speech not long after my question was voiced.
“We of the Camrille sect are today honoured to have received two new subjects. Remember and teach them our pride, remember and show them our honour, remember and share with them our strength, remember and give them our forgiveness. They are newborns and let us behave towards them as a parent should with patience and forbearing we will teach them our ways. We welcome Angelica, sired by Roderick and Styx, sired by Sultrina.” More cheering took place and when I was certain that no more talking was going to happen I turned my pleading eyes towards Emilio.
“Yes we can go now.” He said and then there was this strange inhaling kind of sound from when I grabbed his hand and started to drag him out of the hall and to our rooms. It took a couple of seconds for him to catch up with the rest of his arm.
When we reached our rooms I more or less fell into bed and he left it at that, mercifully. I think I would’ve had to do bodily harm to him if he’d kept me up for any longer.
The next morning I woke up feeling at home, at peace. I really could get used to waking up in the same bed as Emilio. It had some prospect. I had a real slow morning, one of those you can have when you know that nothing important is going to take place. I did decide to call for Clay later, though, I think I needed to talk to him without Grace present. Possibly I should also talk to Grace but that depended on the outcome of the talk with Clay. No need to try and fix something that wasn’t broken.
I popped my head out the door and asked one of the guards to fetch Clay, if he wasn’t busy. That practically meant that Clay had to be speaking to father or dying for him not to be able to come. Yes I know that I moan about being in charge or important sometimes, more like always, but it does have its good sides. Sometimes. Emilio had asked if he was supposed to stay or leave, I’d told him that it was up to him and he’d left. I think he still felt uncomfortable around me when I was trying to be the Heir. I was uncomfortable around me when I did. It was confusing for both him and me, I think. Mostly because he wavered between subject and boyfriend, although boyfriend sounds really silly when applied to Emilio, he is so much more. And who in his or her right mind would ever claim a vampire to be a ‘boyfriend’?
“Lady?” Clay had come right in, I’d told the guard to allow him to, since I had called for him.
“I wanted to talk about you coming back to work. And Grace.”
“As you wish lady.”
“I take it you haven’t talked to father?”
“No lady.”
“And why not?”
“Er… Grace doesn’t want me to resume guarding.”
“And why not?”
“She… she’s jealous.” That comment was unexpected. It had me blinking a couple of times before Clay decided to explain further. “She doesn’t like the fact that I saved you instead of her.” Ah, that explained quite a bit.
“But she understands why, right?” Clay just nodded yes. “So she doesn’t want to come back because she’s angry I go before her?”
“Yes.” His voice was so love I almost had trouble hearing him.
“I honestly don’t know what I’d feel or do if Emilio chose someone else over me, and hopefully I’ll never find out, but she should know how much your job means to you. Or am I wrong when I say that you want to come back?”
“I liked doing what I did, lady.”
“And I liked having you here.”
“Thank you lady.”
“I will put you on schedule again but please talk to Grace. She needs to know the difference between love and duty.”
“Yes, thank you little lady.” Ha! There it was, the ‘little lady’ I’d been ‘ladied’ enough as it were and considering that Raphael was coming by later I’d get ladided even more. Gha, the downsides of being considered important.
Three and a half months rolled by, a blink of the eye in the life of a vampire, and it appeared as the newborns were settling in well. Raphael’s lectures weren’t a total disaster, which had more to do with him than me, honestly speaking, and Emilio had become a bit better at not being a subject and being my boyfriend instead. I needed to find a new word. Bonded-to-be is too tedious and boyfriend isn’t really the right word.
I’d just come from a meeting with father. We’d discussed my meeting with my adoptive dad despite that being forbidden. That it was him that had found me had spoken in my favour and father had thought that I’d handled it well considering. He’d said something about punishment but he’d also said that he needed to find a good way to do it too. I wasn’t sure if I was to be relieved or if I should be running for the hills. He had agreed, however, to my punishment of Amandus for giving away my location. Suddenly someone grabbed her wrist.
I was so unused to unwanted physical contact that I first didn’t react. It could be considered unwise when knowing how much time I spent learning to fight and defend myself but nothing else happened. Just the hand on my wrist. The hand in question was wearing a Camrille ring, so I doubted I was in any danger. Slowly I let my gaze travel from the hand up the sleeve of the green-grey shirt to his youthful face. Not that that was any help, all vampires looks young. It wasn’t a handsome face, the chin was too weak and something in the line above his eyes made it look rough, unfinished. His eyes, on the other hand, were spectacular. They were a really pale blue but the outer rim was as dark as the sky at night. They didn’t appear human, and he wasn’t, but I’d never seen a vampire with eyes like this either.
“Like what you see?” He leered, his voice thick with lust for unknown things.
“Not particularly, no.” I answered truthfully. I had a much nicer looking male ‘at home’ that was nice on the inside as well as the outside.
“Doesn’t matter. You’re beautiful and you’re coming with me.”
“Why would I?” I wasn’t used to getting told I was beautiful and in this case I somehow doubted that it was a compliment.
“Because I said so.”
“But you’re not Simon.” I said, he probably wouldn’t understand the reference but it didn’t stop me from trying. I laughed at him in my head instead. And I remembered his name just as I spoke ‘Simon’, he was Styx, one of the newborns. He’d been turned together with Angelica.
“Ha, ha, aren’t you a funny one.” Guess he did get my reference. “Don’t you know who my master is?” As a matter of fact, I did.
“Sultrina.”
“Yes, she’s one of Dracula’s closest advisors. If you don’t do what I say I’ll tell on you. I know that you’re supposed to be nice to the new ones. Wouldn’t be good to be caught not obeying that order, would it?” What in the world was he on about? And on for that matter? Yes we were supposed to be nice to newborns, allow them to learn from their mistakes rather than from harsh punishments but that didn’t give him the right to order other vampires around. And especially not me. And since when was Sultrina one of father’s closest advisors? Someone had been a bit delusional.
“What do you want?” I wasn’t planning on going through with whatever it was but I wanted, need to know, so that I could tell father. No I’m not a snitch but what if he’d done this before and gotten away with it? He needed a lesson. I wondered if he’d even been blood-oath’ed to father yet. He had, the connection was new and raw but it was there.
“I want for you to do as I say, when I say it. First, come with me.” His hand hadn’t left me since he’d taken it and now he led me away by it. He pulled me into one corridor after another until we’d reached the danker, darker, almost deserted parts of the seventh floor.
The room he pushed me into was almost as dark as the corridor outside the door, only one solitary torch lit up the otherwise abandoned room. No one lived here, it was further emphasised by the dust-coverings over the furniture and the dust covering everything but the unmade bed. I suddenly had an idea to what he wanted. I wanted to be proven wrong though.
“What do you want?” I asked again. I started to act reluctant, trying to pull my hand away. I needed to know how far he’d go and if he’d done anything like this before. By the look of the bed this was the case but he might have had a willing partner.
“Just relax and follow my lead. Get on the bed!” His hand left my wrist but it was only a momentary freedom since he used both hands to shove me towards the bed. I could have just stood there, I was much stronger than him, but I needed information. I didn’t like it but whoever said I had to?
I looked back at him, into the eyes that I’d formerly thought so beautiful; they were now ugly, marred by the unhindered lust in them.
“No.” I said as he settled besides me on the bed. I was making a show out of trying to push him away but being to weak. In any other situation this could have been fun but this wasn’t any other situation.
“Do as I say or you’ll have to answer to the High Prince, and you don’t want that do you?” He started putting his paws all over me and I kept trying to avoid him.
“Stop it!”
“No!”
“Last warning.” He growled and rolled himself atop of me.
“No!” I said again and when he still didn’t show any signs of stopping I decided to act. He’d had three chances, three ‘no’s’, even a thick-headed male should have gotten it by now. And three chances is two more than I usually give so I figured that I had been very accommodating towards the newborn. He did become ridiculously surprised when I turned us both over and I ended up on top holding him down with considerately less effort than he had.
“You’re screwed! I’ll tell.”
“There’s nothing to tell. You’ve been abusing your status and trying to blackmail me into having sex with you.”
“I’ll have you punished, just you wait. Maybe even death… yeah, that would be suiting don’t you think?” His eyes were still alight with lust but it had transformed into another kind of lust, this wasn’t a pretty one either. On that note… is lust ever pretty?
“Do you have any idea who I am?”
“A good lay?” I just sighed, this was going nowhere. When he saw me shaking my head he continued. “You’ve been abusing your station, you wanted to have sex with me and I refused so you got mad at me and made this ridiculous story up.” This guy had a great mind but it was used for all the wrong reasons. I hoisted him up and used his arms to get leverage. I pulled them up behind him and rendered him more or less useless. He wasn’t big on pain I noticed by the way he winced and ‘ouched’.
It was my turn to drag him trough the corridors though I just took the shortest route towards manned corridors. All the way he continued to sprout threats and one story more bizarre than the next. As soon as I knew they’d hear me I called out for a guard and Styx started to look worried. Just anyone couldn’t call the guards, unless there was an emergency but he knew I could have held him as it was. I decided to let him sweat it a little. William, Steven and Raphael soon arrived, if they were surprised to see mw manhandling a newborn they didn’t show it. They also didn’t appear to hear his stories, threats or pleas. Point to them.
“Lady.” Raphael acknowledged me and Styx paled another shade or two.
“We’re going to father.” I said and handed over Styx to William. I turned and started to lead the way.
Lena and Avril was on duty by father’s door but neither of them reacted… either. I guess they deserved a point too. It’s not like it was a common thing for me, or anyone, to detain a newborn. Not that usually imprisoned anyone. Raphael and Steven left us as I’d gotten permission to enter and William entered with Styx. I entered while William forced his prisoner to kneel and I did kneel myself. I can be taught.
“Alexis… Please tell me why you’ve imprisoned one of the newborns.” If I didn’t know better Id’ say that he was surprised. Good to know that I could surprise someone who was several centuries old.
“He tried to force me into having sex with him, Father.” Neither father nor William showed any signs of what they thought about this allegation but by the sound of it, William had tightened his hold quite a bit.
“By what means?”
“Blackmail.”
“And what has our accused to say about this?”
“She’s lying! She tried to force me into sex but I refused.” I restrained myself from rolling my eyes. It wouldn’t look professional.
“First of all, you are to call me ‘lord’. Second: Alexis has a man of her own, she doesn’t need to force anyone to have sex with her. Thirdly, despite being my daughter she knows the consequences of lying, and she wouldn’t do that.”
“So this is your version of justice. Nepotism they call it in other places. You take her side because she’s your daughter…lord.” The last word was muttered but it was there. He had some sense of survival it would seem.
“No, I agree with her because I know she wouldn’t lie to me, for any reason. She’s learnt that the hard way. You, on the other hand, is still untried and I have no doubt that you’d lie to further yourself.” Styx made a move as if to speak up but William’s hand over his mouth cut him off. “Forcing yourself on someone is a serious allegation, and a serious crime, but I will be lenient since you’re young, very much so in fact. From today and onwards you’ll serve Alexis in way she sees fit. You will obey her.” And there we had it, this was my punishment too, there’s no doubt. Father knew that I disliked teaching, and stupid people, combining the two would only make me suffer more. Sometimes he was too smart for his own good. I wouldn’t protests, though, I knew my place and it was beneath him.
“For how long?”
“Until she and I are certain that you’ve learnt your lesson.”
“But…”
“But nothing.” Father looked at me, and just like that I’d gotten another responsibility. He was starting to get annoyingly good at giving me these things. He also knew that I didn’t like it. I’d have to foster a vampire that even the sharp-spoken Sultrina hadn’t gotten in shape.
“You may leave now.”
“Father.” I said and as I bowed I could hear a faint ‘lord’ from Styx. I was suddenly struck by the thought that I’d have to explain this to Emilio… somehow.
Well outside father’s rooms William turned to me, speaking over Styx’s head.
“Do you want me to come with you?” He said while lifting his arms a little so that Styx had to double over or risk getting his arm pulled out of its socket.
“No, that won’t be necessary, but thank you anyways.” Styx did look a bit relived, William didn’t look anything. I turned my back on them and simply ordered Styx to: “Come.” Styx did follow, like a dog on a leash, what he didn’t notice was William following us in the distance. I could just barely make his footsteps out. I wouldn’t hold it against him, not after why Styx was in this position. And I knew that William’d leave when he knew I was ‘safe with the guards that were at my door.
I had class with Raphael later today and I needed to reread the text he’d given. I know… homework at my age, it’s shocking. I gave Styx what I considered to be a beginner’s book on vampire customs and manners and told him to read it. That particular book is one of the most boring ones in existence, even the one I was reading at the moment were better, but I’d suffered trough it as a fledgling so he could too. It’d also give him some ground to stand on when Raphael came by later, he wouldn’t understand much but he wouldn’t be completely lost either. Styx read two pages before looking at me over the top of the book as if saying ‘you must be kidding’. I just smiled gently at him and he did go back to reading. He was obeying me rather nicely at present but I had no doubt that he’d fight back sooner or later.
When Emilio entered Styx had sunken deep into one of my plush chairs, still reading mind you. Emilio managed a look of interest instead of the one of surprise I had been expecting. Damn him for ruining my fun.
“Why do we have a newborn in our rooms?” He asked, as polite as you please.
“He’s acting as my servant as punishment.”
“Punishment for what, exactly?” I could understand his hesitancy; this wasn’t a common punishment, not at all.
“Using his status and blackmail to get sexual favours.”
“How was he found out?”
“He tried it on me.” Emilio took a couple of steps towards the now cowering Styx. I quickly rose and inserted myself between them.
“Styx, meet Emilio, my boyfriend. Emilio, meet Styx, who’s already getting punished for what he did. He will be staying with us for a while.” Styx looked increasingly embarrassed as I talked while Emilio collected himself, instead. He did also back down, point for him, and I knew that he wouldn’t make any trouble.
“As our Lord decrees.” He said and I knew that he’d accepted it, though he wasn’t very happy. I must say that I wasn’t happy either, I’d just lost what little private life I had but like Emilio, I’d do what father told me.
“Good. Raphael will be along later, when are you leaving?” Emilio managed to look at little bit mortified at being so transparent. I knew that he couldn’t stand Raphael's lectures and he usually left to have lectures of his own. Or feed, or just about anything that’d keep him out of earshot from Raphael.
“Soon…. I’ve got class…” Emilio answered after a minute or two.
“I know. Bear in mind, don’t escape too often or I’ll be forced to hunt you down. And coincidentally, get away from class.” This got me a small chuckle. He wouldn’t feel as guilty and maybe he’d stay another time. Misery loves company.
“Thanks.” He said and kissed my cheek gently, picked his bag up and left. Darn, I hadn’t counted on soon being quite this soon. Styx looked over at me from behind his book but when I glared at him he pointedly got back to reading. At least I think he was reading. He was moving his eyes and flipped the occasional page.
“What’s the proper way of greeting your sire?” I asked, I was in a bad mood and he’d feel it too… instant pop-quiz.
“Er… ‘sire’ or ‘master’?” I looked at him, long and hard. It took a minute or two and some squirming from Styx until he added: “Lady.”
“Good, who do you pay your respects to first if your sire and the High Prince is in the same room?”
“The High Prince?”
“And if it isn’t your High Prince?”
“My sire?”
“Stop asking, know.”
“My sire.”
“Better.” I never got further because there was a knock on the door. I presumed that it was Raphael and I was proven right when he entered. Raphael, as usual, kneeled. He’d said once, when I’d asked him about it, that I deserved it as Camrille Heir and as daughter of the Rector Lamia. I took his word for it. I never insisted on anyone else doing it, though.
“Lady.”
“Raphael.” At least he was here as teacher and not as guard, this way I could call him by name. “Styx, you’d do well by learning from Raphael.” Raphael, in question, hadn't’ moved a muscle but I could feel that he disliked Styx being here. “Raphael, you do know why Styx is here, do you not?”
“Yes lady.”
“Then you understand why he’ll stay.”
“Yes lady.” If only all vampires were as obedient as Raphael… though I’d soon be driven insane by all the ‘lady’ing. “You remember what we talked about last time, yes? If you look at a similar situation but take in account that the councilmember…” Raphael would hold the whole lecture like that, giving me scenarios to work from. He’d also spend the whole time standing as it wasn’t proper for one of his standing to sit in my presence. When I’d first encountered Raphael I’d tried to fight him in things like that but I’d learnt that it wasn’t worth it.
Two hours later and my brain had officially been turned into mush. Raphael held an amazing amount of knowledge but that didn’t stop my brain from protesting when he tried to teach me everything he knew, in one sitting. Styx had been staring at Raphael in rapt fascination during most of the lecture. Raphael had, in turn, completely ignored him. Could have scolded either of them for their behaviour but it wasn’t that important. As long as it didn’t go further. Styx wouldn’t suffer if he paid attention to what Raphael said and Raphael had a tendency to ignore anything that didn’t fit. Raphael had finished his lecture but wouldn’t leave until I gave him permission and I’m sad to say I was too occupied with my own thoughts. That was until someone knocked the door and one of the guards announced that Sultrina was here to see me. I hadn’t been waiting for her to come quite so soon.
Sultrina entered as if it was her right and not a privilege, and she bowed very reluctantly. She really didn’t like me.
“Lady, I’ve come for my childe.”
“He’s staying with me.” I was pretty sure that Styx was supposed to stay with me at all times, especially in the beginning. It was like I’d gotten a childe of my own despite me being too young and not knowing what to do.
“He’s mine!” Her eyes glittered with barely hidden contempt.
“You’re forgetting yourself!” I was in a bad mood, yes. I had been forced into taking on a childe, Emilio had left and class with Raphael. It was not a good combination.
“He’s my childe lady.” Was it just me or did Styx shrink a bit when she said that?
“Since you knew where he was I assume you know why. You will not get him back until he’s been sufficiently punished. You really should have had better control over your childe.”
“I childe needs to be near its sire, lady!”
“I survived.” I deadpanned. Arguing with Sultrina was definitely not making my bad mood any good. I wasn’t going to stand more from her, or anyone at the moment, and had deliberately let my voice mirror the annoyance I felt. “Leave Sultrina. If you wish to argue you can do so with father.” Sultrina wasn’t going to give in, though. She lunged for the chair in which Styx was more or less hiding at the moment. I stood quickly but Raphael was faster and inserted himself between the councillor and her intended target. He didn’t touch her but she was forced to stop.
“Please escort the councillor back to her quarters.” They passed Emilio in the doorway, an Emilio who looked up to meet my gaze inquiringly.
“She wanted to have her childe back.”
“She didn’t like you having him, I take it.”
“No, she did not. I’m not surprised though. I don’t care what she thinks about it, she’s just supposed to obey orders, like we all do. If I want her opinion on anything, not that that is very likely, I’ll ask it of her.” I was very aware that I was ranting and only stopped when I saw Emilio look at me with a smile at his lips and something I wanted to translate as love in his eyes.
“Of course lady.” He said, taking the obeying part to heart. I loved him so much at times. I didn’t know anyone else that could defuse me like he does.
“Don’t you start.” I groaned. “I’ve just had Raphael here.” He just smiled and finally gave me what I had been wishing for since he’d entered; a kiss. Styx just sat staring at us with his wonderful eyes wide open.
“Is he your sire, lady?” He asked, a frown of confusion starting to show on his brow.
“No.” I answered as I let myself sink deeper into Emilio’s embrace. Styx was going to be living with us and I saw no reason, or for that matter, way of concealing it from him.
“Then who is?”
“My father.”
“Why aren’t you calling him sire then?”
“He’s also my father so I call him that.”
“He adopted you?”
“No.”
“How is he your father then?”
“He got my mother pregnant.” Is there really any other way, I wondered and quickly concluded that if there was I didn’t want to know about it.
“How?”
“That you really should know.” I was so not going to give him a sex ed talk. Emilio had moved enough to keep his back half turned towards Styx with me facing Styx around his side. Emilio was still holding me but not as close. And it was a good thing that Styx couldn’t see Emilio’s face because he was smiling like an idiot.
“My sire said that vampires couldn’t have children.”
“There are a few exceptions, me among them, but mostly vampires can’t have children.”
“Oh. Did you grow up as a vampire?”
“No.”
“Why not?” And I suddenly remembered why I didn’t get along too well with children. Their endless questions had a tendency of driving my crazy.
“Enough.” I said, I didn’t feel like answering more questions at this point and Emilio had started laughing outright. Sometimes I can’t decide if I hate him or love him more. Sure, I love him like no one else but at the same time he has this ability to drive me mad. “What did you forget?” I asked him. When he didn’t seem to understand I stared pointedly at the book in his lap.
“I’m sorry lady.”
“Much better.” I didn’t usually demand that the vampires around me used my title but that was because they knew their place and they mostly did call me ‘lady’ anyways.
“Emilio has some freedoms, and so does a few others, but they have earned them, you haven’t. Remember your place; this is what got you in trouble in the first place.”
“Yes lady, I will.”
“Good, now, are you hungry? When was the last time you fed?”
“Four days ago, lady.” Both Emilio and I startled and stared at him. Newborn such as he needs to feed every other day, why hadn’t he?
“We’re going to the pens.” Emilio said, for the first time speaking to Styx. Styx, in turn, looked at me as if waiting for me to protest. Why would I? It was a perfectly good statement and it ran along the lines of what I was thinking. I do listen to reason… if it yells loud enough.
The closer we got to the pens the more apprehensive Styx became, but at the same time I could feel his bloodlust raging just under the surface. I acted as if I didn’t notice, I’d get to know why sooner or later, I’d prefer sooner but at the moment obedience was more important than trust.
Lindt greeted us, sitting alone in the common room reading a book on economics.
“I thought you didn’t like economics?” I asked.
“I don’t like it and I don’t understand it, that’s why I have to spend so much time on it.” She scowled at the book as if telling it that it’d better become understandable or else she’d re-enact what happened to the library in Alexandria.
“That’s good to hear. It’s not often that one puts so much time on something they do not understand nor like.” And we seldom do, I had to because father had told me and I did my best because he wanted it. It may sound ridiculous but considering who was my father it wasn’t. Lindt just shrugged, she had never had an easy life so why should she let herself slip now?
“What are you doing with him?” The contempt in her voice and the vicious glare she sent Styx made it abundantly clear what she thought about him.
“This is my new servant. Messy feeder?” Being a messy feeder was something that would make you unpopular with the humans. Messy mostly meant that you didn’t bite correctly thus making a tear instead of a neat little puncture. Also among messy where those who didn’t suck properly and let most of t he blood trail down the victims neck, a terrible bad habit, and it made the humans weak since they had to give so much more blood. Usually only the freshest of the newborns did these kinds of things, though it did happen from time to time with older vampires but mostly to a lesser degree. Often either problem means that you haven’t been taught properly.
“Messy feeder? That’s just the first part.” And suddenly a part of Styx’s reluctance was clear. No one wanted a messy feeder and coupled with his less than charming personality he had been passed on to the non desirables.
“We’re here to see if we can do anything about it. Can you recommend anyone?”
“The only one willing to feed him is Joan but she was bled just yesterday.” That would be a problem. A human can be bled once in every 5-10 days depending on body-mass, sex and general health.
“He won’t be allowed to behave that way anymore but we need a guinea-pig.” Well, maybe not the most tactful wording but it was what I meant. My brain still hadn’t started again after the lecture.
“I can help if you promise to keep him on a short rein.” Lindt said putting her book down for the first time since we entered the room. It was nice to have someone who didn’t bow and scrape their feet every time I looked at them wrong.
“Thank you. I promise that he won’t be allowed to mess up.” We moved out the way, not all the way to Lindt’s room, no one was allowed in there, but I could understand her need for privacy. There were a few small sitting alcoves, really, where you could take your human if you didn’t want to stay in open view but neither wanted to go to their room. With the help of Lindt, Emilio and me Styx was able to complete a feeding without making a mess out of it and I’ve never seen a vampire that happy after a feeding. He was glowing after I’d told him that he’d done ok. He wasn’t a messy feeder by nature; he’d been it because he’d known no other way. I was going to have to speak to father about Sultrina and what she had, and hadn’t done, to her childe. Making a childe is a huge responsibility, and someone had conveniently forgotten that.
We were quietly sitting talking to Lindt, about her studies, how she fared here and other such trivia. Styx had to learn, I forced him to sit at the floor during the whole conversation, that the humans were here for our benefit, not for our taking. He still needed some attitude adjustments but he’d at least started to acknowledge that maybe he didn’t know everything and maybe others were worth listening to from time to time.
The sounds of an argument disturbed the relative silence we had been enjoying before. At first I didn’t care but as one of the humans started to brag about how he hadn’t been bled since the first time, five months ago, I sharpened my ears. I’ll willingly bet that Emilio and Styx were doing the same. The second person, he who hadn’t ‘cheated’ appeared to be mad at the first one for doing it. I decided to step in.
“What is this I hear?” Both humans stopped dead in their tracks. Oh goody me, I made an ‘entrance’. The little voice in my head was grinning. Both of them had instantly known I was vampire.
“He… he doesn’t let himself be bled.” We had enough humans so that everyone didn’t have to donate all the time but we certainly couldn’t have one slacking off.
“And why is this?” I looked pointedly at the accused slacker.
“I did too, I was bled yesterday.” I couldn’t see a mark, despite healing the small incisions fast something ought to be visible.
“You don’t carry any marks.”
“I er… I didn’t.”
“I ask again, why?”
“Because… because I’m afraid.” His voice trailed off into nothingness.
“And why didn’t you tell anyone this? We would have helped.” I said and he looked at me as if I’d grown a fourth head. “Anyways, it’s good to have cleared this up. I’ll assign someone to help you. Is that ok?”
“Yes…” With that I left, we left. I couldn’t forget that I’d have a newborn attached to me until further notice.
 |
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed