Shadow blood.
Disclaimer :I don't own fate series.
Chapter 2.
The buttler opened the door of the limo to his lord, holding it open.
The young black haired man walked out of the car gracefully " Thank you Adelbert" he told the young buttler who bowed in respect to the British lord who's family was not only lords in the moonlit world but also in the regular one.
In front of the them, towering was the Grey ancestral home, to call it a mansion was like calling a noble phantasm a weapon - technically true but.. - the house was more of a palace or a castle, with high triple walls surrounding a huge land which was the private property of the lords of the house.
The keep was a huge construction with spiers and towers, on top of which flags with the coat in arms of the family was desplaid the raven with the embroidery.
Julius walked toward the keep, greeted respectfully by every employee of the house, with them bowing to him.
Approaching the doors, they opened before him, with the workers bowing their body their lord, who in turn bowed his head toward them.
Without a delay he walked to the stairs, and quickly walked up to the third floor of the palace, from where a soft music was coming. He opened the door with a smile on his face.
The room was large and looked like a ballroom, the great windows with the chandeliers twinkling with the lights.
In the middle of the room two people were present. One was a stern looking woman who's short graying hair was styled in a carefully arranged bun, spectacles and her blue eyes focused on the second person, a young woman who was clothed in expensive looking dress, her long black hair was curly, and it moved as she danced gracefully.
As he entered the two stopped what they were doing and the older woman bowed to the young lord " My lord" she courtesid to him " We didn't expect you to return so soon" she said.
The boy smiled " That is quite alright Lady McDougall, I was summoned back by the association for an urgent matter" he told her.
His sister courtesid as well her smile split her face " Welcome back big brother, how was Germany?" she asked with a delightful smile.
The lord smiled " It was well, but unfortunately I didn't get the chance to finish my research" he told her as he moved toward her and gave her a huge hug " I missed you very much Liz" he said with a smile.
The girl laughed delighted " I missed you too Julius, are you coming to tonight's event?" she asked hopefully.
He nodded " Indeed I am, I see you are practicing, that's good you've become better" he told her.
The young Magus nodded " Yeah.. My studies also doing great.. I can't wait to join the clock tower and the order officially" she said.
He smiled " Care for a dance Lady Elizabeth Octavia ?" he asked her with a teasing smile offering his hand.
The girl snickered " It will be my pleasure Lord Julius Augustus" she answered as she took the offered hand.
Julius turned to the stern woman " Lady McDougall if you will? A Waltz please" he asked the instructor who nodded and changed the music.
The two siblings started to dance, their moves gracious and soft, as if they were gliding and not stepping on the ground.
Their bodies moved in unsion as they waltzed and moved around each other.
The two danced for some time before Julius stopped and released his sister's hand " You've really improved, I am impressed. If your other studies moved with the same pace you will be ready to join in a year at most" he told her " Unfortunately I will have to leave for Japan on an extended trip but I will stay in touch" he said as he ruffled her hair to which she huffed in annoyance.
" How long will you stay?" she asked her eyes full of hope.
He smiled softly " Until your birthday, so a week at most" he answered and saw the light in her eyes growing more pronounced.
" You should go rest Julius.. We will have a long evening" she told him.
" Thank you Lizi.. Than by your leave" he said before he left the room toward the bathroom to take a long needed bath.
Xxxxxxxxxx
They walked out of the car, into the grounds of the mansion. The entire area was dazzling with lights, and in the darkness of the night the mansion of the lord of the order looked like some palace out of a fairy tale.
Julius helped his sister to go out of the car, and together they walked toward the house, were they were greeted by a pair of servants who bowed to them gracefully a smile on their face.
" Welcome my lord, My lady" they said " The lord is waiting for you within the main hall" they directed them.
The two entered, Julius in his formal clothes, a black suit with red cloak with the family insignia on it.
His sister was clothed in an elegant Victorian style dress, with her hair nicely curled.
The two entered the room. It was huge with beautiful gold and black colors, and the sign of the hosting family the Blacksburgs the curled dragon holding a sigil in his hand.
The chandeliers were casting a soft light on the ballroom, the tables were set and a huge and expensive bar was waiting for the participants of the ball.
The ballroom was full of people, some in formal robs while others just in fancy clothes, the only thing in common was the small pin in the form of eagle which showed their affiliation to the order.
The order was a secret, and it only the best and most trusted could join it, the order which was dedicated to human supremacy over the other races, the order which entire purpose was to protect the human race
" Presenting The second knight of the order Lord Julius Augustus Grey and his sister Lady Elizabeth Octavia Grey!" the servenat on the side of the door announced as they entered.
The people turned around, their eyes falling on the young lord who walked in, cold and authoritive, the perfection of nobility.
He turned to his sister" Elizabeth you should go to your friends.. I have to attend my duties " he told her softly.
The girl nodded and walked away after bowing to him.
Julius sighed as he moved toward the lord of the house and the leader of the order Lord William Blacksburg who was standing in the front of the room with a glass of wine in his hands and was talking to none other than the first knight Lord Zelretch and near them standing was a woman he easily recognized as the knight of ten Lady Barthomeloi.
He walked toward them, enjoying the soft music which shuthed him.
As he approached the eldest man in the group turned to him " If it isn't little Julius" he said with a huge smile on his face " It pleases me to see you again after all this time" he extended his hand.
Julius bowed " It is a pleasure to see you again Lord Shweirong" he said with a smile of his own.
The man laughed shortly " Well it's seems that the old man is ready to speak" he said with his face changing into a stern one.
The old man turned to the first knight " You know Shweirong not all of us can live as long as you do" he said with a smile before he used the small silver spoon in his hand to slightly knock on the goblet in his hand which brought to the stop of the music and the guests to turn toward their host.
The twelve knights all moved behind the leader, standing in the order of their number six from each side.
" Welcome everyone to the annual ball, as is the tradition I shell say some words before we will continue" he coughed slightly " Our order was created long ago.. Much longer than even the famed king of heros lived.. Our order was created to defend humanity from outside dangers like gods and dead apostles and the like. We are not heros, we are not some children tales. We are the core of the defense of humanity! We are the statement that Humankind told the other races! Humanity ; sanguinem et animam meam!" he called as he raised his wine glass.
The entire room called after him
" Humanity ; sanguinem et animam meam! "
Julius smiled.. This call was the statement of humanity.. And their swear to upkeep the human race, in their body heart and soul.
After that the music started playing again, this time a music more appropriate for dancing.
Julius turned to the brown haired girl and bowed slightly" Milady will you give me the honor of the dance? " he asked her.
She nodded" With pleasure lord Grey " she said as she took his extended hand.
It was a soft Waltz that they started to dance to. They turned once and twice, at first in silence just enjoying the dance until the queen of the clock tower broke it" I hate this kind of events "mm she said bluntly" I would have preferred much more to go on a hunt for another dead apostle " her voice was vibrating with excitement as she spoke about it.
Julius chuckled" I understand what you mean, but I find those events relaxing after a long work period.. You yourself can do with some relaxing from time to time.. What with this annoying ice queen persona that you are displaying "
Her face changed into an icy cold glare" You have a problem with my personality? " she asked him, her voice just above a hiss which meant she wasn't angry.. oh no... She was beyond that and to anyone else it would be scary to death what with her reputation and all, but Julius wasn't scared one bit.
He knew the woman long time now, to know she would calm down soon. She was older than him in something like twenty years and he knew her for most of her life.
She was his mentor and like a big sister to him, something that no one in the association would ever believe for to them she was the white witch or the queen of the clock tower the most dangerous person in the association. But to him she will always will be Lorelei his big sister.
And in turn she held a soft spot from him and Elizabeth.
" I am leaving to Japan soon" he told her " The order doesn't trust Kotimine and the church so the lord asked me to go there to supervise the grail war" he told her as they stood near the bar, drinking wine.
The woman lifted a brow in wonder " Not to be disrespectful or to downgrade your skils Julius.. But wouldn't Zelretch be more suited for this mission?" she asked him curiously.
" Unfortunately lass I will not be able to for I am leaving on another journey.. Also you of all people shouldn't downgrade the lads ability he is more than capable of handling whatever would come up there " the deep voice of the first knight came from behind them.
The boy looked at his sister figure" You don't look surprised.. Did you know already? " he asked.
Lorelei nodded" Fraga was chosen " she answered curtly.
The boy nodded before turning to the old knight.
" Kischur can you tell us some of your trips in a different reality? " the youngest of the group asked curiously.
The man chuckled" Why not I guess " he said with a smile" some realities are very different from ours like this one where the age of gods never ended and demons and angels walk freely. Or the one which has some sort of diety killers the children of Pandora.. Hell there was one where there was no thaumaturgy but only some weird sort of magic! "he exclaimed.
The two knights looked very much shocked" That's.. Sounds interesting " Julius said shocked.
The man grumbled" But the thing that disturbed me most was that in most of the realities I either died or become a vampire myself " he said with a shudder" This world is one of the only exceptions probably because of the order and the power which by the way is the only world which it exists " he said.
Julius and Lorelei looked absolutely shocked.
" I guess we are fortunate then.. "the woman said quietly.
" Yes.. Yes we are " the man said equally quite.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
The week passed quickly, with Julius using most of his time to spend with his sister. They went to the amusement park and to restaurants. They studied together and he helped her with what she needed.
All in all it was a pleasant week, the highlight of which was the birthday of his sister to which he peasanted her with an ancient tome on magic which the Atlas institute would give everything to obtain.
But everything in the world has to end, and this pleasant week wasn't any different. And so the young lord was currently entering the vehicle which will take him to the airport.
His sister stood outside as she waved him a goodbye with a smile on her face, a wave which he returned.
As the vehicle started to move, he relaxed into the seat and closed his eyes.
He will need every minute of rest.
End of chapter 2