The strike of lightning revealed the shadowy outline of the creepy looking mansion. Inside was the illustrious Banker, Vincent Lebeau. To his clients he was sharp, witty and at times blunt to the point of being insulting. To people who knew the truth, he was one of Dmitri's kind. Dmitri and Josephine sheltered their son from the falling rain. Not long after they had escaped, the storm had erupted, making their journey all the more urgent.
Dmitri knocked loudly on the large front door, knowing not whether they would be able to hear inside passed the thunder. To their luck, the large bolts were loosened and the door began to creak open. Dmitri held Josephine as she shivered. The door had been opened by a man, a rather tall and menacing looking man. His suit was not one you would expect to see on a butler. It didn't give the impression of someone displaying sophistication, more like someone who recently wrestled with tigers.
"Yes?" He asked in a gruff tone.
The butler recognised him, but after taking a very quick glance at Josephine he asked anyway, seemingly out of defiance.
"Dmitri. Your master's expecting us."
Slowly he moved aside, given them access to the impressive house. The hallway was spotless, contrasting with the butler's appearance. The staircase was flanked by two pillars that led to the study on one side and the dining hall on the other. Above them was a chandelier which Dmitri knew had cost a fortune. It had to the previous owner at least, the current one had 'acquired' it through unsubtle means.
"Just as beautiful as the day I first laid eyes on it." A voice came from the top of the stairway.
The pale skinned and eloquent owner of the mansion spoke to them.
"You look soaked Dmitri. You should have brought an umbrella."
Dmitri could never tell if Vincent was joking or being serious.
"Colton, have our new guests cleaned up, and give them a fresh pair of clothes." Vincent ordered his butler.
He obeyed. As the four of them made their way down the corridor of the strange building, Josephine felt uneasy as Colton continued to make menacing glances at her. Dmitri was so different to others of his kind that she often forgot the type of world she had gotten herself involved with. Row after row of paintings ran across the walls, each showing a figure from Vincent's past. Josephine was relieved when they had reached their room and Colton had returned to his master. She looked into her son's eyes. They gave her hope.
"I'm so sorry Josephine."
She wasn't expecting her husband to say that.
"Why, my dear? It's not your fault you are what you are." She tried to reassure him.
"I've ruined our lives. I should have been more careful. If they hadn't of found out about me, we wouldn't be in this mess."
His discovery had seemed to come out of nowhere, as had the discovery of many Monsters in recent weeks. Something had changed, Dmitri knew that much.
"We promised each other at our wedding that no matter what happened, or how many people shunned us, we would always have each other. We understand the love we share, even if no one else can and that's what matters." She held her hand to the side of his face.
He placed his own with hers.
"I want to provide a safe place for our son to grow, for us to be together."
He looked at the boy in his mother's arms.
"He has so much ahead of him. He could be anything. A Human Vampire. Maybe he could prove to them that we are more like them than they understand. It's not nature, it's a choice."
The cold withered away after they lit the fireplace in their room. They were left alone for an hour to clean themselves up. It was only a few days prior that Vincent had agreed to hide them if Dmitri was discovered, but it was as if he had already thought of everything. A new gown was waiting for Josephine, and for Dmitri, a new dinner jacket. A fresh set of clothes for both of them also hung in separate wardrobes. Vincent rarely had guests, if at all, so Dmitri knew they had been purchased purely for them. There were plenty of supplies for the baby too, as well as a new crib.
It had been a long time but Dmitri still remembered those rich hallways. Vincent was a clever man and had been more than capable of rising to the top even without his Vampire charms. There weren't many people who were able to truly trust him amongst his own kind, but Dmitri was one of them. It was his butler that concerned him. He didn't recognise him in the slightest. He thought it would be prudent to avoid him as much as possible during their stay.
Speaking of the butler, Colton knocked once before entering their room.
"Dinner will be served in ten minutes. The master requests that you dine with him."
He was gone again as soon as he had finished speaking. Ensuring that Colton was well out of their way, they walked hand in hand to the dining hall. Although Dmitri had rarely seen the hall himself, every time he did it sported a different design. Vincent often tired of things easily unless they really grabbed his attention. They sat next to each other on the long table. It felt ridiculous to them that they were using a dining table that could accommodate at least twenty people, but Vincent's love of grandeur was unrelenting. The master of the house sat in his usual seat at the other end of the hall. His voice could pierce through walls, so speaking across the large table was no trouble to him.
"Curious thing… I know you're of a different disposition to the rest of our kind, but to fall in love with a Human. Fascinating to say the least."
Dmitri cracked a short smile. To say Josephine felt uncomfortable as she held her infant son would be an understatement.
"Forgive me, my dear. I did not mean to speak as if you were not in the room. Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me."
Colton made his way back and forth between the Kitchen and the dining hall. Every time she saw him, Josephine's skin crawled. Vincent waited for him to leave again before continuing.
"His appearance is tragic, but he cannot help it. Someone of his kind finds himself with few clothes that do not end up ripped to shreds."
Vincent took a sip from his goblet, the blood flowed down his neck. Dmitri stared into his own. The urge that a Vampire constantly felt was one that Vincent and countless others had embraced. For Dmitri however, it was a constant battle with his own self.
"I do not know how you survive on that ghastly substitute. Yes, I remembered your sickly diet and had the chef 'acquire' some for you."
Dmitri sniffed the contents before trying it. To his relief it was substitute after all.
"No wonder you could not fight the townsfolk off."
Dmitri had remained silent, but he knew he couldn't remain like that all night. Though he didn't believe Vincent would act against him, he felt didn't have any room to antagonise him either.
"It was a choice, Vincent. Why strengthen their suspicions of what we are?" he answered.
"Suspicions? We are what we are, Dmitri Constantin. Even the Humans have embraced what our kind truly is more than you. A carnivore embraces what it is. A tiger will hunt its prey, even Humans hunt animals to survive. Why is it so demonic that we would hunt Humans? It is in our nature after all."
Josephine held onto her son tightly as her heart rate increased. Vincent stared at her.
"As you say, it is a choice. You chose to drink that stuff, I choose to obey my own nature. Do not think me so barbaric though. My victims are not the kind of 'people' you would miss. The murderer, the rapist, the thief. All of them could find my eyes to be the last they ever see."
The room fell silent for a moment. Vincent placed his goblet down and lent back in his chair.
"I do believe I have made a fool of myself. I forget the type of company I'm conversing with. Allow me to lighten the mood with a less monstrous tone. I of course deal with Humans every day. Many of whom are heartfelt people. Other's strengthen my lack of guilt for their demise. Josephine, please tell me about your family. I'm interested to hear how the other side live."
Josephine didn't feel like small talk with this man. His very essence, and of course his butler, frightened her to no end. On the other hand, he had provided them with shelter and a hot meal. The last thing she wanted to do know was put her son in danger.
"Both of my parents have passed away." She answered quietly.
"I am sorry to hear that. Naturally I hope."
"They weren't so lucky."
He could see in her eyes how they had died. It would appear her fear of his kind ran deep.
"I've never come across one like you. Besides all opposition, you have chosen to spend the rest of your mortal life with Dmitri here. A choice. Such a powerful thing, if you are able to make them of course. That is the true source of power. A King is only a King as long as others make the choice to obey him. If they choose otherwise, he is just a fool with a crown. True power of course comes from when you take choice away from others. I admire you my dear for making the choice that you have. To love a Vampire for many would be a death sentence, but it's as if Dmitri was made for you. A fluke of nature, or destiny?"
Dmitri held her hand.
"Is that why you agreed to help us? I must admit, I was scared you would turn us away." Dmitri said to him.
"Because she is a Human? What harm could it do to help a friend? I admire bravery. Josephine certainly has it."
He seemed to know a lot about her considering they had only just been acquainted. There must have been more to it, Dmitri thought to himself.
"Master, you're guest has arrived." Colton interrupted them.
"Ah, very good. Send him to the drawing room."
Vincent left his chair.
"I am sorry, A spot of business. I shouldn't take long. Please carry on."
He left them alone in the fire lit room.
"How long must we stay here?" Dmitri could hear the fear in her voice. It wasn't fear for herself however, it was for her son.
"Until we can find somewhere safe to live. Vincent is using his connections to find us somewhere. Don't worry my dear, we will get through this, no matter what anyone thinks."
Vincent was gone for well over half an hour when Colton walked over to them.
"The master requests your presence, sir."
The couple stood up.
"Just you, sir." He stopped them.
"I'm sure he won't mind if Josephine is there."
"Strict orders. Sir."
He couldn't bring himself to leave her alone with him.
"Very well. Would you mind accompanying me?" he wanted to get Colton away from her as long as possible.
"Sir." He said in a gruff tone.
He took one stare at Josephine before leaving with Dmitri. When Dmitri saw Vincent in the drawing room, he was leaning one arm against the wall, besides a large painting of a Vampire that Dmitri had heard many a tale of. The fireplace hissed and cracked beside him.
"You cannot stay here, Dmitri."
Dmitri was overcome.
"What? You promised me. You said that-"
"One night. That is all. You may think about yourself and your family above everyone else, but it isn't just them you have put in danger through you're carelessness. The town knows that you're still alive. Someone has told them."
Dmitri was sure that no one knew of his ability to transform into a bat.
"Who told them?" he asked, scared of the answer.
"My spies have been tracking the movements of Humans that have chosen a rather unorthodox way to make a living. They hunt us, Dmitri. The very notion is laughable. No Human can fight a Vampire alone. But they have been discovering our kind amongst the people at an alarming rate. Such a thing affects my business, as well as all of our security. Survival isn't important any more Dmitri. A Vampire can fight and survive, but then what? They are left with nothing."
Dmitri knew that fact all too well.
"I'm not as heartless as you may think. I'm keeping our kind safe. I am sure you will understand."
Dmitri knew that he had a point, but he still had no idea where they would go. Vincent faced the great painting over the fireplace.
"He keeps himself away from society, but he holds more influence on our kind than we realise. If I let this mistake pass, he could end me. He hates Humans above all others. Him and that bat creature of his…"
"What are we supposed to do?" Dmitri asked Vincent.
"You leave. You help me 'expand' my business. To the outside world you are still only a Human. You will run my new branch in England. A good opportunity, do you not agree? My mother country knows how to treat its bankers. Your son would be safe and grow up to take over the branch one day, if you wish. I know that you are good with numbers, not as good as me of course but impressive enough."
Dmitri took a look at a second painting behind him. It was of Vincent, clasping the front of his suit with one hand and holding a ceremonial sword in the other. His family had been powerful in Romania before his rise to fame, but now he was alone, no family, very little friends, just the way he wanted it. It was not the life Dmitri wanted. If he had a choice as Vincent kept explaining, it would be to become Human.
"I am sorry about your wife's parents." Vincent was speaking quietly all of a sudden.
"Why are you? You've never cared for the death of a single Human in your life." Dmitri answered.
Vincent let out a sharp laugh.
"Not sorry for them, sorry for you. I learnt a lot more about you when it happened."
So Vincent had known of their death.
"What need do you have to spy on me Vincent?"
He ignored the question.
"I learnt that you haven't fully given up on your nature. I know that the Vampire that attacked them is dead by your hands and that Josephine doesn't know that little fact."
Dmitri should have known better than to assume there was any secrecy between them. Vincent knew everything that went on, his network of spies was too extensive to miss his friends.
"I suppose you think me a traitor?" Dmitri spoke.
"Quite the contrary. You used your Vampire nature to destroy a rival. Don't think I haven't brought myself to end the life of non-Humans. You know how our world works."
That he did. The night was slowly fading away. Now back in their room, Dmitri explained to Josephine about what Vincent had said. England would grant them a new life and it wasn't as if they had much of a choice. Dmitri knew that Vincent had many of their kind working at his newly established branches in Western Europe. They had all gone undetected. He was sure that they would be safe there. Those thoughts were for the morning. For the first time in two days, the two of them could finally relax.
It was early morning when this peace was disturbed. The sun had not yet risen, yet Josephine was awake. Her husband still rested peacefully beside her. He had done all he could to readjust his sleeping habits to be more like that of a Human. Around his neck was a pendant with a luminous crystal, a gift from Vincent. It was an item that many Vampires sought after, for the power to repel the sun was extremely rare magic that had been lost centuries before. Luckily the baby was still asleep after his night feeding. That was what Josephine thought at first, but in her half-awake state, she realised something alarming.
The crib was empty. Her heart began to beat uncontrollably. Before she could warn Dmitri, she heard a cry outside the room. Through Motherly instinct, she opened the door and made her way across the hallway. The cry became louder. She had reached a battered looking door. She was convinced her son's cries were coming from inside. The door was unlocked. At first it looked as if there was no one inside but her son on the bed. Then she heard the bestial sound of breathing. She turned in horror to see a huge Wolf like creature staring straight at her with hunter's eyes.
With a roar, it swiped at her. She ducked just in time and ran to the bed. Scooping her son in her arms, she covered him and fled as the creature dived at her. It had been a trap. She tried to reach her room, but the creature took chase. It slammed its clawed hand into the door to her room, closing it before she could get inside. Only the corridor to the main stairway was left. The baby screamed in her arms. The Wolf roared at the sound. She tried to make her way down the stairs, but the wolf was too swift. It ripped the banister away beside her and pinned her against the floor.
It opened its monstrous jaw, ready to devour her when a huge force collided with it. The Wolf and Dmitri flew over the banister and crashed against the floor, cracking the tiles. In a flash, he was back on his feet staring the Monster down. He bore his fangs as his eyes turned red. The Wolf roared back.
"A Human in my house!? I can stand her stench no longer!" Its voice was demonic.
"This isn't your house!" Dmitri tackled the beast.
Although he was a Vampire, a Werewolf is a potent foe. It clawed into his back, drawing blood. He snapped its leg with both hands before taking it by the neck. It whimpered before clawing at his face, one claw narrowly missing his eye. He threw the creature across the hall and into the main door. The door splintered into pieces under its weight. The Wolf rolled in the mud as rain poured down on him. His leg may have been fractured, but it wasn't finished with them yet. Just as Dmitri sprinted to finish it off, it swung out with one arm and slammed him against a tree. With him out of the way, it crawled on all fours back inside.
Josephine tried to free herself and her son from under the broken banister, but it was dug into the floor too deeply. She felt the Monster's breath against her neck. Once again she found herself at death's door. Seconds before it could kill her, she heard the sound of something piercing its bulky body. A thin blade was protruding from its chest. With a swift movement, the sword was gone and Vincent span it round before stabbing the creature through the front. The look on his face showed no emotion.
The beast ran a claw down his face, but there was no strength left in it. The creature fell dead.
"What a shame. It seems I will have to hire a new butler."
