Poor Unfortunate Soul
Chapter One: It starts with a death
Nikola has been an official funeral director for a few months now. Thanks to his intelligence and well placement, he is now a pretty successful twenty year old. While he is from Bulgaria he now lives in a small England town, since he went to a British college. He owns a two bedroom house that is a mile from his funeral home. Well, it's not actually his as much as it's Arsenius Vargas' funeral home.
Arsenius, his boss, has been in this business for twenty years, and owns his funeral home for fifteen. Nikola admires the man he's worked three years for, he has such a presence that during most funerals Arsenius has at least a fourth of the guests talking to him. The man is warm and welcoming, absolutely no one can see his smile and not return it. Not to mention, for a forty-four year old the man is ridiculously good looking.
Nikola is envious, honestly. He doesn't even remotely have the presence that Arsenius does. People remember Arsenius' young sons from their rare visits more than they do Nikola. It sort of makes sense though, the three boys inherited Arsenius' good looks where Nikola looks plain like his own father.
It's alright though, he's fine in the background as long as credit is given where it is due, which it always is with Arsenius. In fact, a lot of things are given to him by Arsenius. When in this country the older man acts as a sort of father to Nikola; inviting him to dinner every weekend, giving him gifts on his birthday and holidays, giving him gifts random other times, counseling him, etc.
He has become fairly close to Arsenius' kids as well, none of which are older than twelve. Lovino, the twelve year old, will hide out at his house from a neighbor boy named Antonio. Feliciano, who is ten, will come over on random days to bring him pasta he has made or pizza Lovino has made but is too shy to bring over. Then there is the eight year old Marcello, who is quite possibly the biggest flirt next to another neighbor boy named Francis.
Nikola likes them all, even Arsenius' boyfriend Folkert who will come over to his house and clean on weeks he's really busy. Now that he thinks about it, he's really spoiled by this family.
"Ah, Nikola~! Just the man I wanted to see!" Arsenius exclaims, going up to the young man sitting in the middle of their parlor.
"Hello Arsenius, how can I help you?" Nikola asks, smiling at the man. It's truly a reflex around him.
"Well…you are familiar with the Vladmir, right?"
"…The Vladmir? Y-yes…" Nikola mumbles nervously.
The Vladmir are a well-known family in England. They came here from Romania around the same time Nikola did and bought a large old castle. That in itself was enough to shock people, but it doesn't stop there. When they moved here six years ago people saw children, a two year old boy, infant girl, and twelve year old boy. The twelve year old was the most memorable. While no one knows his name, everyone knows his face.
It was a fairly cute face, but his eyes are what have kept him in people's minds for six years. They were red, blood red. It's a rare eye color he only shares with a neighbor boy named Gilbert.
The family as a whole have never left the house in six years, either. No shop clerk has seen them, no school teachers or tutors familiar with the children. The town has many speculations as to why, but the main one is that they are a family of vampires. Nikola doesn't believe that of course, but he still must admit they creep him out.
"Well…the grandfather has died. They want us to handle it and they want a home funeral." Arsenius says and Nikola twitches. "So we're going over today to talk to them!"
"By 'we' you mean me, don't you?" Nikola asks and Arsenius laughs nervously.
"Well, I would go of course, but my dear Marcello is sick!" He exclaims, pointing to the boy as he enters the room.
"I am not, papa." Marcello says, pouting. "If you won't go to keep our Nikola safe, I will."
Arsenius sighs and looks over to an amused Nikola. "Stop enjoying this."
"Can't help it. When are we going?" Nikola asks and Arsenius checks his watch.
"Let's go now…" He mumbles in defeat.
The two men gather materials and catalogues to show the family before getting into Arsenius' car and heading to the castle. It's not really in town, being twenty minutes away from the other houses and stores. When they arrive both men stare at the iron gates around it as they slowly open. While Arsenius drives Nikola looks around at the rest of the area in awe.
The amount of land is ridiculous, probably the same amount that comprises the actual town. Then there is the decorations, a large fountain with a cherub in front of the castle and another further away, near what looks like a garden. Then of course are the gargoyle statues, which really don't help make the castle look welcoming.
Arsenius stops at the entrance so Nikola can get out as he finds a place to park. The man reluctantly does so and heads to the door. In accord to the rest of the home's eerie feel, the door has a large lion door knocker. Nikola has reached the conclusion that the family is either highly eccentric or highly insane. Either way, he wants Arsenius over here right now. Fighting the urge to run away, Nikola grabbed onto the large door knocker and slammed it onto the door, hearing it echo through the house even from outside.
On cue the door opens, slowly, with the cliché creaking sound. Nikola leans forward to peek inside when a man a little older pops up in front of him. He has brown hair that matched his eye and a warming smile.
"…Hello, I am Nikola, my boss and I are here to discuss-."
"The death of tetea, right?" The man asks and Nikola nods.
"That's right, the death of your grandfather. May I come in?"
"Um- I'll ask my father, can you wait here." He said.
"Alright." Nikola nodded, frowning.
"This won't take long." The man said and shut the door.
"I'll just wait" Nikola mumbles, staring at the door. It soon re-opens though, revealing a tall muscular man with light brown hair.
"I'm sorry about the wait, Ion told me that your here about my father. My name is Traian." Traian says, holding his hand out.
"O-oh…it's alright, I understand." Nikola says, shaking Traian's hand.
Traian smiles at him. "Please come in, Nikola." He says, ushering the young man inside.
"Th-thanks…so…where would you like to discuss this?" Nikola asks and Traian shrugs.
"Hell if I know. The old man was my wife's father, so you should just talk to her about this." Traian says, heading off ahead of him.
"A-ah! Please wait for me!" Nikola exclaims before Traian disappears down the hall. "Crap! Come back Mr. Traian!" He calls, his voice echoing in the hallway. "I-I'm gonna get so lost…" Sighing to himself, Nikola begins looking around for someone.
He wanders around the vast castle, somehow ending up on the second floor balcony. It's also been a couple of hours since he got lost, seeing as how it's dark out now. Looking out he searches for Arsenius, seeing the empty car and no people around it. Sighing, he heads back in until he notices movement out of the corner of his eye. He stops and looks back, noticing one of the gargoyles on the edge has moved and is now looking at him.
"Oh my sweet Jesus!" Nikola gasps and runs back inside, locking the door. Not risking the chance of being attacked he quickly leaves the room, running down the hall. To his shock, everything seems to be acting up now. The paintings eyes are following him, the stairs seem to have disappeared, and still he can't find a single person.
Now in a panic, Nikola runs into the nearest room to escape it all and catch his breath. When he turns on the lights however, he comes face to face with something he never would have expected. There, next to the large window covered by a thick black curtain, is a young man. His hair is a light brown, to the point of almost being blonde, and he's tall like Traian. Nikola sighs in relief at the sight of another person, but quickly tenses up again when the man turns to face him, showing two almost glowing red eyes.
"J-Jesus Christ this place is just messed up!" Nikola yells and goes to leave before the man calls to him.
"Wait a minute! Who are you?" He asks and Nikola looks back, finally recognizing him. It was the twelve year old from when they moved here, only tall and handsome rather than small and cute. Puberty has apparently been his friend.
"I-I'm…Nikola Balakov…I've come to help with your grandfather's funeral." Nikola answers.
"I see, I'm Demitri Vladmir." Demitri says, turning fully towards him to reveal a red liquid dripping down his lips.
"W-w-what is on your lips?" Nikola gasps and Demitri raises a brow.
"Huh? Oh! Are you thirsty?" Demitri asks, holding out a wine glass filled with a thick red liquid.
"Th-this is wine, right….?" Nikola asks and Demitri laughs a little.
"Of course not! I can't live on wine!" Demitri says and Nikola pales.
"Wh-what red liquid can you live on…?"
"Well…" The younger man leans forward, making Nikola back up. "I can live on blood." He says and Nikola twitches.
"AHHHHH!" Nikola screams, turning away and trying desperately to open the door.
"Hahah! Oh my god that was FAR too easy!" Demitri exclaims, laughing. "I knew the rumors had spread, but I figured a man who worked in the funeral industry would know better!"
"I-I would if your house wasn't HAUNTED!" Nikola exclaims, glaring at him darkly.
"Huh? Haunted?" Demitri asks confused.
"Your gargoyles move! Your paintings WATCH ME! Then there is the fact that when I was walking in a STRAIGHT LINE downstairs I somehow ended up walking UNTIL IT BECAME DARK and was on the SECOND floor!" Nikola yells, too flustered now to be kind anymore. "This place is a living hell!"
"It's not a living hell! It's our play place!" Demitri says happily. "We have customized it to do many fun things, including those you have listed. There is other stuff as well." He takes Nikola's hand and drags him off. "You'll love this house!"
Nikola twitches, allowing himself to be dragged. "I know I'll love leaving it…"
Demitri: Romania, Nikola: Bulgaria, Arsenius: Grandpa Rome, Folkert: Germania