Chapter 2

Stretching out in his throne, a young looking man with short, spiked up black hair and bright red eyes groaned deep in his throat before slouching and nearly finding himself on the ground. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he saw his friend of many eons sitting as regal as always, head held high and looking down his nose at… you guessed it, nothing. There was always nothing. The only time there was any sort of excitement in their lives was when there was a guided tour of the grounds and even that not always included the room they were in. It was getting repetitive and on his nerves if he were honest. He very much enjoyed fucking with the humans that came through the hall, letting them look at him then change his position slightly and freak them the fuck out when they looked back. It was the only source of entertainment he had and he wanted to do it more often.

This was not always the case. Centuries upon centuries ago he was a god; well not a god per say, but damn close to it. He did as he pleased and answered to no one. The masses and populous coward at his feet, blood flowed freely for him to bathe in if that was his choice and he was as unrepentant as you could get about the havoc and mayhem and destruction and death that he caused. That was the problem; he WAS. Well, he IS still unrepentant about it, that wouldn't change. HE was the vampire that struck fear at his name, but it was the son of a bitch next to him that got the glory for it. Vladimir was given title Dracula but it was HIS actions that were talked about all these centuries. Vladimir was a laid back kind of guy, preferring to let others do his bidding and dirty work. That was fine with him; that was the kind of shit he LIVED for, that he CRAVED with every fiber of his being.

Turning to look at the other occupant of the room, he cocked his head to the side, "Do you ever get tired of just sitting here, day after day and doing NOTHING?"

The other vampire slowly turned to glance at him a moment before a slight rise of his shoulders answered his question. "I see no purpose in indulging in frivolous escapades. We are above the need to do so."

Raising a brow at the blatant dismissal Stefan shook his head. "Truly? You see no point in indulging of any kind? Surely there is something that you long to do that cannot be done with your hide in that chair."

He watched as Vladimir slowly raised a brow at him, "Do you speak of your own indulgences in frightening the humans that come through here?"

Drawing his brow, Stefan nodded, "Among other things, Yes."

Face black, "They are pawns, nothing but cattle to slaughter. Why would I lower myself to such a disgracing low as to play with my food?"

Snorting, Stefan shook his head, "You like to think so highly of yourself don't you. Have you forgotten my old friend that it was I that earned you the name and place of eternal legend? Was it not I that fought in your place in that war? Was it not I that placed the whole of a fortress on spikes for the world to see? Was it not I that bathed in the blood of virgin maidens for the simple fact that I could? And that my friend was BEFORE my change. You have taken what should be mine so the absolute least you could do is not speak to me in such a manner. Though we are friends you live because I allow it and what is more is you know it."

There was a spark in Vladimir's eyes but he said nothing as he turned his head back and away from the truth of the words that rang in the air. Though the credit was given to him, it was in fact the man beside him that was the actual culprit of the crimes that he was famous for. Though he didn't care or covet the fame and such that came with his bloody past, Stefan was in fact the real Dracula.

After a moment's contemplation, he turned back to the, in plain terms, sulking vampire beside him. "Alright Stefan, I shall humor you. What is your desire?"

Repositioning himself in his seat, he rubbed his chin with the side of his finger a moment, "Well, how long has it been since we irritated Aro? Decades I believe have passed since the last time."

A slow smirk lifted the corner of Vladimir's mouth, "I do believe you are correct. What do you have in mind this time?"

A wicked smirk settled on Stefan's face as the perfect idea flashed in his mind, "Is it not time for the Saint Marcus festival? My ears in Italy have informed me that they are planning to receive a group of Americans that he has decided to personally escort through the grounds. What do you think Aro would do if some of them went missing in a city that boasts no vampires on the celebration of the day one of the brother's drove them all away only for them to turn up the way all vampire victims do?"

There was a mocking disciplined tisk on the air, "Feeding in the Royal City is forbidden my friend. Aro will be most angry with you."

Wicked turned sinister, "Ah, but he must catch me first and we both know well that he is inept on a good day. The poor bastard doesn't even realize that his closest and most loyal are not even those to him. So many of his followers are as tired with the boring and mundane as I and long for the days of old when we were more than what we have become. They long for the sun while he is determined to keep us shrouded in shadow. I do believe my old friend, that it is time to show him that we, as you yourself spoke, are above the cattle that gawk and stare."

Vladimir cocked a brow at Stefan as the vampire stood and stretched for no reason, "Tell me Stefan, why does this sound like more than irritating Aro?"

Turning to face the dais he spent far too much time on, a smirk spreading his lips and flashing the deadly teeth beyond, "I do not know of what you speak Dear Vladimir." As he turned and walked away, the cape draped around his shoulders flared out, "I do know, however, that life in the future is going to be far less boring." As the high wooden doors closed, there was a less than civil chuckle on the air that had the remaining vampire shuddering in both anticipation and his spine tingle with an unknown emotion to him; fear.

*X*

Running through the foliage was far more exhilarating than he remembered as he ducked and dodged, leaped over fallen trees or in some cases, right through them if the mood struck. He was currently ten miles from the 'Royal City', standing on a hilltop looking down at the sea of red that flowed through the streets, heard the singing and laughter of the inhabitants. He snorted; it was pathetic in his opinion to gloat over something that never even occurred. You cannot claim fame for something you didn't do and the brother most certainly didn't run the vampire populous from the city walls. He merely relocated them inside and Aro, the fake fuck, keeps them there under the threat of death should they stray from the 'rules and laws'.

It was laughable to think that one person could control a race of monsters that truly care for nothing but their next meal and pleasure of the flesh, not in all cases in that order. The fact that he thinks that he is just shows how unworthy of the position he truly is. The other two are no better but at least they know the truth of the situation. Aro is a fake and cannot see a thing past the end of his own nose and forgets that there is a world around him that moves and changes daily. Truly, Stefan wondered just how long the ruse Aro setup will continue to work. For as lazy as even Vladimir has become, he still leaves the castle to feed.

That was the difference between the two covens. Stefan and Vladimir do not lift a finger to discount the myth of vampires in the world, allowing those that live in, or pass through, their territory to feed to their delight and say nothing; many times joining the visitors in a hunt, himself showing them his favorite places that were sure to cause as much public upset as possible. He is what he is and makes no apologies for it.

Aro and his little band of merry men and leashed followers do the opposite and ban the populous from succumbing to their nature. While he does not shun their food source like a few idiots that he had the interesting pleasure of encountering in the past, he shuns the very idea of working for his food; having it brought to him instead of getting his venom pumping with the prospect of a good hunt and pandemonium.

It was in their very makeup, ingrained in their distorted DNA to lure and entice their prey, to hunt them to madness before ripping out their throats. He failed to see the point of locking a herd of humans in a small room so there is no sport and they have no chance of escape. While a human that a vampire desires has no chance anyways, it is the CHASE that makes the meal worth it, not the sloshy feeling of a full belly and glow of well-fed eyes. It is not the power boost that comes with the draining of a body; it is the personality, the personal touch that you put into the kill that makes the venom sing and a sated vampire purr. Perhaps it was only him that felt such things. Acceptance tasted foul on his tongue. He much preferred the taste of fear.

As his eyes shifted he saw what looked to be a bus close the distance between them and the entrance of the city and a smirk appeared on his face, "That must be them. Felix was right, for a transport of that size there must be many." He was never given an exact number, but was informed that there was a 'bus' escorting them and having seen one of those many times in his own territory, he knew what to look for.

Lifting his hood over his head and drawing his cape across his chest with one hand, he darted from his position to the wall, stopping just short of jumping it. Breathing deep at the feeling of another vampire close to him on the other side, he flicked through the scents he knew to ensure that an unknown variable did not interfere with his intentions. It would not do if some up and coming little bastard informed Aro of his arrival before it was time. Him being downwind kept them from noticing his position so he had all the time in the world to identify the nuisance that stood between him and his plans.

It took him but a moment to figure out that it was one of his so he leapt up to the top of the wall, crouching down so as not be discovered just yet. He was ducking in shadow and his onyx cape covered him so the vampire below him could look right at him and not see. Lifting his head, he gave the area a once over, looking in even the darkest corner to ensure that there were no disruptions before he made his pawn aware of him.

When the other looked up at him, he startled slightly at the sight of glowing red eyes, but Stefan placed his fingers to his lips to silence the other vampire before darting away, crouching low in his trot till he got to where he wanted to be, pausing every so often when one vampire or another showed itself.

Leaping from the wall to the roof of a building, he stalked up to the side that faced the city square and waited, knowing that the Americans had to pass right by him in order to reach their destination of the clock tower where he could plainly see Aro standing in wait for their arrival. Though he appeared to be paying attention to the goings on around him, Stefan was fully aware that he was not, the look in his eyes showing plainly that his thoughts were distracted and he was anywhere but there. Aro as a rule never left the palace so to see him out and about was as shocking as it was comical. All the city inhabitants knew him to be the ruler of the lands and would bow to him, singing his praises and drawing more attention to him. While he would nod his head in acknowledgement, he didn't hear a word they said.

Snorting and shaking his head, he glanced the other way as a group of young ones were herded by Felix, of all people, and lead across the village commons. 'There they are. This is going to be far easier than I thought.' Shaking his head, "truly Aro, you disappoint me yet again. Do you even know what a challenge is any longer?" Taking a moment to pick his targets, he spun on his spot and moved to the side of the building that overlooked an alley. Looking down and seeing and smelling no one, he dropped to the ground, landing with no sound before making his way to the exit. It was an overcast day so, secure in the knowledge that his skin would not reveal his location; he lifted his hood and let it drop to his back and revealing his face.

As the group came closer to his position, their voices started to become clearer and easier to pick out. It was mostly the normal things he has heard for years from those of this age, but there was one voice that rose above the rest, that gently caressed his ears. It sounded like the wind, airy and dismissive to the comments floating around on the breeze.

"Oh, come on you guys. You cannot be that excited about this place. In comparison to the rest of the trip this is like a .2 on the interesting scale."

Looking for the owner of the voice, a hummed purr escaped him as he laid eyes on the speaker. She was the perfect female specimen, even as a human. Flowing dark hair, eyes the deepest and darkest chocolate. Pale and flawless skin encased in black making her features pop out all the more. Perfection in the most literal term.

One of her male traveling companions turned and looked at her, "Really Bella, just because you have this weird obsession with Dracula doesn't mean you can ruin this for the rest of us."

She huffed and crossed her arms, "I do not."

He snorted, "Right, sure you don't.

"I don't. Just because I find truth in the legend and think he is a kick ass mother fucker does not mean I have an obsession unlike you when it comes to all things Aphrodite."

Stefan saw him bristle at her comment and chuckled. "Quite the spitfire aren't you, mea întuneric zeita?"

When he spoke again, there was defense in his voice, "At least my girl is real."

She snorted hard and snickered, "Yeah, I suppose that's true enough, what with all the love you get to bask in worshiping at her feet. Tell me again who Jessica took home from the party last weekend, I don't recall."

Glaring at her, "Uncalled for Bells, WAY uncalled for."

She simply shrugged, "Your point? Don't knock my guy and expect me not to respond to it. Dracula is, in fact, a documented person and while it was never proven that he was in fact a vampire as the legend states he was, he was a LIVING BREATHING person years ago while your girl was not. So excuse me for being more excited about going to Romania than I am to be in Italy."

It was the boy's turn to snort at her, "Yeah, you're right; you're not obsessed at all."

Waiting until he turned around, a smirk appeared on her face before she sneaked-up closer to him and shoved the toes of her foot into the back of his knee making him fall to the ground with a cry. When he turned to glare at her she smiled at him before jumping over his fallen body. As the group passed by him, Felix glanced out of the corner of his eye at Stefan, a mirthful smirk tugging at his lips, his eyes dancing at the conversation that he was well aware that the vampire had been privy to.

'Well, this makes things far more interesting, no?'

He had not expected one of the humans to be so enthralled with him, and while it was Vladimir that was given credit for his deeds over the years, it was him that the young lady seemed to respect and, if her scent spoke truth, adored. Rethinking his plans a little, he made a design to make sure that she knew the truth. While he truly did not care for the fame and such that his friend ate up, this was a different matter. For one such as her, the perfection that she was, she seemed the kind that revered truth over all things, speaking it no matter the way it was taken.

His face lifted to an embolden lit, an anticipation the like of the world never knew.(Not sure what this sentence means.) Yes, he would show her truth and at the same time get his entertainment in irritating the ass that deemed himself his better. Aro had no idea what was coming and Stefan found himself swallowing venom that flooded his mouth as the images flashed before his eyes. A deep chuckle rumbled the air, sending shivers down the spines of the passing teens, some stopping to look for the sound.