Title: To Become a Child of Night
Rating: Various
Genre: Drama/General
Disclaimer: Tanz Der Vampire and its characters belong to Roman Polanski, Jim Steinman and Michael Kunze. This fanfic is written simply for entertainment and I gain no financial profit by writing this.
Summary: A series of one-shots and vignettes, picturing what our characters might have been doing when not in limelight. Various ratings and pairings.
EDIT 17/4/2012: What started as a series of unrelated one-shots has already starting to flesh out as something with a resemblance of more connected storyline (although one still cannot speak of a fanfic with some definite goal). In short, this thing isn't really what I planned "Seasons of Forever" to be, nor does this collection fit that particular idea. As such, I have decided to change the name because it doesn't really connect to what I'm doing here.
A/N: We know what happens at the inn after Krolock takes his leave. But what does he do after disappearing into the darkness?
I'm not completely happy with this one - consider it as some sort of warm up for what is to follow. Rating: T
It's not much later after the scene in the inn's bathroom when Count von Krolock lands at the gate of his old home. It is a great pleasure, to be able to move so swiftly, feeling lighter than the air; it's the closest to freedom he can feel. Quietly, he remembers the night he discovered he could fly, and the unexpected rush of enthusiasm he felt when he stepped to the sky. He can't help but smile fondly as he recalls Herbert's reaction to that particular vampiric ability.
He can hear his son's voice before he even enters the castle. Apparently Herbert has decided it's time to clean up the castle – or at least the ballroom – for the yearly dark celebration. The Count himself doesn't mind the cobwebs too much, but Herbert just has these ideas sometimes, and as long as it makes the boy happy...
By the sounds coming from inside, Herbert appears to be supervising the cleaning of chandeliers. Being a son of an aristocrat and used to his position as the castle's little princeling, the boy himself doesn't participate the actual cleaning: he merely shouts orders and complaints when he thinks something isn't going as it should.
Krolock stops at the double doors that lead to the ballroom, observing his son for a while before announcing his presence. Herbert is radiating with enthusiasm as he inspects his surroundings. Somehow, even after hundreds of similar balls, he is still able to feel excited about it – even if the planned meal is a girl instead of some pretty young man. Unless...
He thinks of the two strangers at the inn; he hadn't seen their faces, but he knew they were there. Even if Koukol hadn't told him of the two strange men, their unfamiliar scents and their apparent interest towards the children of the night would have sent Krolock's mind racing with plans.
"Vater! Where have you been?" Herbert exclaims when he finally spots the Count by the door, disrupting Krolock from his schemes.
"I was... planning a surprise for you", the older vampire dodges the question. For some reason, he doesn't want to tell that he has arrived straight from a young woman's bathroom... Not that his son would disapprove of such behavior – as a matter of fact, Herbert approves of sneaking into bathrooms very much – but the boy also likes to tease him about it.
Herbert looks at the Count curiously.
"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" he asks.
"Now, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you", Krolock answers, for once enjoying the advantage of knowing something his son doesn't. Usually, it's the other way around.
"But you alrady did! Sort of... Vati, what it is?" Herbert demands to know and grabs the Count's sleeve anxiously. For a moment, Krolock merely enjoys his son's curiousity and exasperated face.
"I should go and make some special preparations for our ball. I believe the main course will be soon arriving. If you'll excuse me..." he says, pretending unaffected.
"Vater!" Herbert exclaims, shaking the Count's hand with growing frustration. The older vampire lets out a low chuckle.
"I am fairly certain that this year's ball shall be nicely provided for" he says finally. "You should be prepared for very special guests."
"Guests? What sort of guests? Are they pretty? Are they boys? Can I have one? Vati, tell me!" Herbert demands.
"You will see soon enough, son", Krolock answers with a smirk and strides for his castle's wall, smiling to himself as he listens to his son's irritable bristling.
Yes. It shall be the most interesting ball.