In the middle of no-where you don't get very much cell reception. In fact you don't get very much of anything. Living in Bardsey Island there isn't very much of anything. With about 10 other people living on the island full time the conversations get dull and seeing the same people all the time gets tiresome. Not like I see the humans of this island all the time.
Hotel Sfârşit, situated in the most southern part of Bardsey Island is known as the "vampire hotel". While that is true its more like the hotel where old vampires come to live out the rest of their days in peace. So we currently have 2 residents. But then we do have my father, the butler and I. Which makes that a total of 4 other people I talk to on a daily basis. For the last 10 years.
Hotel Sfârşit was a very old house, with secret passage ways, a hunted basement and tell tale signs of a cult in the attic. It had a total of 10 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 dinning room and kitchen and 3 living spaces. I spend most of my time in the grand entrance of the hotel. Working a night shift. But this usually meant that I spent all of my time sitting in a window where I can get the only wi-fi signal in the whole hotel and browse fashion sites.
"Would you like a drink Miss Dracula?"
"No thanks, but you might need to do another trip for me"
"But Miss, I just came back from the last one."
"Lesley, this is the only thing that I can do to keep me sane, plus this one isn't all for me." Finally looking up from my laptop I smiled at the butler. Lesley wore a tattered old suit that was crusted with dirt before I got into fashion, now hes my experiment. Whenever there is a fashion trend that I want to try but I don't know if I like yet I get Lesley to try them on. But usually after 5 days the clothes are caked in mud sweat and unknown substances. No idea what he does with them and I have no intention of finding out.
"Very well Miss, I shall leave in the morning." He bowed slightly before walking away.
"Thank you Lesley!" I shouted as I went back to browsing the current web-page.
After another half an hour I closed the laptop and watched the outside world. It was somewhere near 2 am and the lighthouse just a bit north of the hotel was still spinning its fluorescent light to ward off passing ships. Though from my understanding every ship that passes here is bigger than the island itself. If it really wanted to I'm sure any ship could pass through us without a second thought.
"Kali darling, would it be alright to have some tea?" I looked up to see permanent resident, Alexander.
"Of course, I will be in drawing room two in ten minutes." Alexander smiled before disappearing. I set the laptop under the front desk before going to the blood cellar. Father only recently had this installed and to be honest it is basically a section of the basement cornered off, shelves on one wall and bottles spread sporadically. I pulled a nearly empty bottle of the shelf. We don't usually drink blood. Lesley and father both make a soy alternative but the old vampires we make an exception.
Pouring the rest of the bottle into a teacup I felt a presence behind me.
"Who is it this time?"
"Alexander, he came to me personally and asked for tea." I turned around and faced my father. Vladamir Dracula. Also owner of the hotel. "Don't worry about restocking. I've already ordered another one."
"I'm sure we could cope with one less bottle"
"We can but I think someone might go a little crazy if he doesn't get his 'tea' everyday."
"Thats old vampires for you, so used to blood that even a day without it could be enough reason to start a war."
"You should as if you have experienced it first hand"
"More than you know." I gave him a "You serious look before putting the teacups on a tray and picking it up.
"I best get going. I said ten minutes so I best be on time. And I still have to go to the kitchen." Walking past Vlad a felt his hand land on my shoulder before he disappeared. His silent encouragement.
The kitchen was empty when I collected a plate of biscuits and added it to my tray. Making my way up a flight of stairs I went into the drawing room and set the tray onto the table in the middle of the circle of chairs. After pouring my own tea, the actual kind not the blood kind, I stood up and faced him.
"Alexander sir, your 'tea' is ready."
"Thank you Kali darling, you're such a good girl"
"Well I just do as I'm told"
"What I female should do. Listen to their husbands and produce off spring. I'm only trying to help you dear."
"Thanks for your concern Alexander but unless any potential marriage candidates come to the Island I will not be marrying anyone" in fact even if that did happen I don't plan to marry at all. I love my Independence, or as much as I could get on an isolated island, and marrying anyone or getting into a relationship would break that. I know Alexander is stuck in his ways but honestly even for tradition he gets to be too much sometimes. I remember hearing that Count Dracula was scared of his ex wife. It makes me laugh that one of the most famous names in the vampire community was scared of a female. And HE liked tradition too.
"Nonsense my dear, you will find your self a worthy husband and make an excellent heir. I believe I wont rest in peace until you do." But you'll be dust, not buried. I thought as I took a sip of my tea.
We sat in silence for awhile. I pulled a book of the side of the sofa and began to read it. After many years of sitting in a room with an old vampire for a few hours on end you decide that you need to entertain yourself. One day I decided to bring a book with me, knowing that if I brought any electronic device I would probably get slapped by Alexander. Sipping my tea periodically whilst engrossed in my book I didn't even realize that Alexander had been staring at me for the last 10 minutes.
"My dear I do believe that something will happen soon."
"Pardon?"
"Oh nothing really, old vampire instinct. I can feel it in my bones that something big might happen soon. But I'm getting old don't listen to me babble."
"Someone would have to be crazy or dying to come here Alexander."
"Well yes I believe that is true. Oh would you help me back to my room dear?" I agreed and put my book down. Leaving the tray where it was I wrapped my arm around his as we walked to his room. Alexanders room was located in the west side of the second floor. So it took us awhile to get there. I would never tell anyone but I did enjoy spending time with Alexander. He brings a different view point to a world where I know very little about. I like hearing his old stories. His tales from the old country are fascinating and would love to visit or even live there myself one day. But that isn't likely to happen.
"I feel I wont be here much longer dear. Be careful when I am gone."
"I will Alexander. But your not gone yet."
"Indeed I am not. Then good night." I wished him well like I usually do, closed the door and went back the way I came. Cleaning up didn't take long. I piled the teacups together and carried them on the tray. I left the book where it was because no doubt I would be there tomorrow to pick it up.
"Hey Lesley, the biscuits were actually good today." I said as I plopped the tray next to the sink.
"Thank you miss. I followed the recipe that you wrote down for me miss."
"Thats because they don't have beetle dust or wolf bone marrow in them."
"Don't be silly, I would never put those ingredients in. Its beetle wing that I put in." I rolled my eyes and sat on the counter top eating the last biscuit.
"When you go collect my parcels, would you mind getting paint supplies for me including canvases? Please and thank you." I jumped off and ran out of the kitchen before Lesley could object.
I smiled to myself as I made my way to my usual spot of the front desk.
"Dad, checking out the view?"
"Yes, because theres someone walking towards us."
"Towards us? I thought that you hypnotized everyone on this island so that they wouldn't come near us."
"I did. Obviously its not someone from here." I went to the window and peered out of it. In the distance a blackened figure was slowly approaching our hotel. I tried squinting to see better but because of the darkness and how far away he is it was hard to tell what he looked like. But I know that he wasn't old.
"He must be crazy." I shook my head as I stood behind the front desk and pulled out the guest book. I opened it to the only page that had writing on it. The front page. With its two entires written on it. Vlad moved away from the window and stood in front of me, facing the door.
Then the door opened.