R.D.D.G: Hello peoples here is chapter 7. I have to thank my reviewers! There's AngelOfFate12, xbleedinglotusx, GuardianOfTheDead, REBD, Aylbro; who reviewed for Chapter five, and I didn't realize it until after chapter six was posted (I apologize for that ^-^), and lastly there is MUFFIN-Marco. Thank you guys so much for the reviews, you make this semi-stressed High School Senior feel loved, and happy that people love her story. =D. now as usual I own nothing in this other than the Shadow Moon Clan (aside from Dante, Lok, and Cherit of course), how OC Dracula is, the asshole Brian, and the vampiric language that they speak. After a mental debate with myself, I decided to add some of it in there, so that way I can get used to speaking…well writing it for my book. it helps when coming up with a language. So no-one takes the language…that is 100% mine. Now as a warning, I'm going to be extremely busy this year, since I've got to apply for college and what not, so if I don't update in a while, please have faith that I will continue to post chapters. I need something fun to do on the weekends. So please enjoy =D.
Saturday had arrived quicker than the Huntik team had realized. Guggenheim never called with any missions for the team, which Dante saw as a good thing; since Lok still couldn't talk. Night had fallen once more, and Dante was making Lok's breakfast.
"We're going to bed, Dante." Sophie announced. As she and Zhalia walked up the stairs. Dante had taken more of a nocturnal schedule after taking on the duty of watching over Lok. Though the teen was capable of taking care of himself, Vampires always treated new cubs as infants (for the most part) during their first week. He had been trained well by vampires, and though he knew Lok could take care of himself, the older seeker wasn't going to treat him much different. The young Lambert was going to be raised as a vampire.
Dante had explained that to Lok, when the young cub inquired about it, and the teen immediately understood so that's not going to be much of an issue, luckily for the older seeker. "Good night." Dante called towards them.
Cherit flew over and sat on the counter. "So what shall we be doing tonight, Dante?" the yama titan inquired as Dante made a small cut on his wrist, and let the blood fall into the already finished tea.
"His week is up tonight." Dante said. "We have to return to the club and present him to Lord Dracula."
Cherit nodded. "Aye…how could I have forgotten?"
Dante smiled at the titan. "It's all right." He said. The small titan had been very helpful after they found Lok, particularly after the cub became playful. Then the boy acted like a complete big cat cub*. They were going to need to find another young cub for him to play with. Dante would have asked Warzone, but he can't until Lok's year is up, and then the playful habits would be nearly over. There's always Andre, the vampire always acted like a cub…but it wouldn't be the same. So Dante and/or Cherit took on playtime duties. Good thing, Dante remembered when Warzone was younger, since the young vampire always treated Dante as a cub; he played with him as one. It made play time with Lok a whole lot easier. After all of the playing, or studies during the course of the week, it was no wonder that the small titan had forgotten. "We'll continue with lessons tomorrow."
Dante pulled his wrist away from the drink and washed the blood off with warm water. "What shall you teach him tomorrow night?" Cherit asked handing Dante a bandage that was placed nearby.
"Hmmm…" Dante placed a hand on his chin. "I don't know…maybe a bit about vampire history."
"Aye that I can help with." Cherit said happily.
"At least the parts of history you can remember at any rate."
"Aye that'd be true." Cherit agreed smiling. He watched Dante wrap the bandage around his arm. "You know, people are going to start thinking you've become…how they say…Emo."
"I dare them to." Dante laughed, before looking at the bandage. "Though it wouldn't really surprise me, actually…it does look like it, doesn't it?"
"Aye," the two laughed. Then they heard creaking coming down the stairs. Lok was awake, and judging from the sound of the footsteps, he was heading towards the bathroom.
"Shall we go get ready ourselves?" Dante inquired as they walked towards the stairs, with the glass in hand.
"I've been ready." Cherit replied beaming. "I'm sure, the lad will be glad to stop using the board."
Dante nodded in agreement. "Yes, I have a feeling that we won't hear silence for a little while."
Cherit snickered at the thought. "If you want you can go to bed at night and I'll stay up with the lad. I wouldn't mind talking with him."
"And ignore my duties as his guardian?" Dante inquired. "Not a chance."
"Well aren't you nocturnal for a human."
"I was practically raised by Vampires, and Metz." Dante pointed out. "Since my original family…*" a sad yet angry look appeared in his eyes. "Well…let's just say they weren't the best, and all history leaves some scars…"
Cherit nodded in understanding before dropping the subject. He remembered when Dante appeared to Metz seventeen years ago. Bruised, muddy as if he had been running through the thunderstorm that raged on that night. He was rather wary of Metz for the first year he had stayed with them. Dante was about eleven at the time, and from then to now he refused to talk about why he left his mother and step-father.
"So what time shall Lok be able to talk?" Cherit asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Midnight." Dante answered. "So we have to be there early if we are to be on time."
"What time?"
"11:00." Dante answered as his own gothic attire. When he was first presented to the clan, Andre forced him to get some gothic clothes. Since he wasn't a vampire, he wasn't required to wear them everyday. However if he was to be before the Vampire King, or any other special vampire holiday…well needless to say he had no say in the matter, since he was a part of the clan.
"Well I shall leave you to your own devices then," Cherit said before flying out of the room leaving the man to change.
After ten minutes, Lok walked out of the bathroom. He was wearing a short-sleeved, black shirt that had red designs going down from the shoulders, making it look a little like blood. He wore his skull, and Celtic necklaces; he wore arm-warmers that went from his elbows to wrap around his middle fingers. The arm-warmers having red designs flowing around them quite like the shirt, though not precisely like it. He wore semi-baggy black pants which were tucked into his combat boots. Around his waist he wore a studded belt which was loose around his waist and dipping down on his left side. Only one part of the belt held through a loop on the right side of his pants. The only problem was that Lok didn't have his eye-liner or lipstick on. Though both items were in his hands, along with his board.
"Evening, Lok." Cherit greeted the younger seeker happily.
Lok grinned back in greeting. Evening, Cherit.
The yama titan studied him for a moment. "Having trouble with your make-up?" he asked knowingly.
Lok blushed in embarrassment, before nodding. Andre never exactly showed me how… he wrote. He just put it on, and said I had to wear it every day…
Cherit smiled as he landed on the teen's shoulders. "I would show you how, if I knew, Lok." He said cheerfully. "However; there is one other in the house, who does." Lok cocked his head to the side, and whined in confusion, making Cherit snicker. "You shall see, lad." He said before Lok walked downstairs.
Have Sophie and Zhalia gone to bed? Cherit nodded.
"Aye, not that long ago actually." The titan answered, before looking towards the stairs. "Dante went to get ready, himself."
"Well was getting ready, Cherit." The two turned and what Lok saw made the cub's jaw drop. Dante stood at the entrance to the kitchen with the teen's breakfast in hand. He wore a trench-coat though this one was black with silver and blue swirls, making the design look like fire. It had several chains attached to the coat as well. He wore trip pants that were silver and black; and like Lok wore combat boots, only difference is that the pants covered most of it. Underneath the trench-coat, he wore a blue and silver flamed shirt, which made Lok wonder if Andre made any of these clothes he sold. It was form fitting, and it did the elder seeker justice. It was easy to tell that the man was in great shape. Around his neck he wore a black choky with a sapphire gem, along with a pendant of a blue dragon wrapping itself around a silver moon. The chain for the pendant was black. However it wasn't the outfit that shocked the young seeker.
It was the fact that the man was wearing make-up; and the fact that the man looked incredible in it!
Yes, Dante had black eye-liner around his eyes. Dante noticed the look on the teen's face and smiled. Understanding that it was surely a shock for the teen.
There was a flash and it took Dante a moment to realize that Lok had the camera. Zhalia must have left it down here when she left. Darn it… "Thanks, Lok." Dante said placing the drink in front of the teen.
Lok smiled, gave the man a curious look, before drinking the brew before him. And it was clear to the man that the boy was curious about his outfit. "Well, fifteen or so years ago, when Ryan presented me as a member of the clan, I was Andre's dress-up doll; much like you were." Dante smiled. "And since I'm not a vampire, I am not required to wear the outfit every night like you do. However, I do have to wear it, if I am around Lord Dracula, or if it is a vampiric holiday."
Cherit nodded in agreement. "Dante, Lok is having a bit of trouble with his make-up." The titan informed the man. "Apparently Andre didn't teach him how to put it on."
"That doesn't surprise me." Dante said. "He didn't teach me either. I had to ask Ryan and Maya to help." Then Dante kneeled in front of Lok. "Here let me see the make-up." Lok complied. "I'll show you how to put it on later, however we have to be at the club by 11:00, so I'll do it for you tonight."
With that, Dante applied the boy's eye-liner and lipstick before they were ready to hit the road. Dante grabbed Lok's trench-coat which was hanging up in the closet, and handed to the teen, who quickly put it on. The hood resting on the back of his shoulders. "Ready?" Lok and Cherit nodded before Cherit climbed into Dante's coat pocket. Once that was done they exited the house, Dante remembering to lock up the house before they left.
It didn't take them long to arrive at the shop. As they entered the shop, Dante looked at a clock that hung above the counter…10:10. They were right on time, hell even a little bit early. Dante smiled. That would give Lok a bit more time to get used to the others, and meet the new arrivals. Ryan had called about the day before stating that the three remaining members would be there tonight.
"Evening boys." The two look over to see Andre holding open the door.
"Evening, Spark." Dante greeted happily.
Evening, Andre. Lok whined.
"Just call me Spark, kiddo." Andre said ruffling the teen's hair. "We're all going to be calling you by your nickname when you get it."
"And as I said earlier, Kai is not coming up with it." Dante said.
"We know, he lost his privilege." Andre said winking towards Lok, before looking back to the other man. "What, you think that Kai is going to give the lad, a name like 'big' or something?" the man smiled mischievously as he wrapped an arm around Dante. "So that way it was opposite of yours?"
"I wouldn't put it past him."
Andre smiled, before motioning them to enter the store. "Well come in. Everyone's here…well of course aside from Lord Dracula." Then he noticed the outfits they were wearing and beamed before closing the door behind them. "You guys look great! I make great outfits huh?"
So you did make them? Lok inquired, slightly shocked that his suspicion was correct.
Andre nodded. "Yup. It's a hobby of mine that I developed over the centuries. Eternity is a long time after all; need something to occupy our time with. Any-who; the outfits I make are only given to clan members, cause they look so damn good!"
"I'm guessing the others are wearing the clothes you made for them?" Cherit inquired as he popped out of Dante's jacket. Lok noticing that he had a chocker with an emerald gem on it. Cherit was not wearing that while we were at the house…he must have put it on while in Dante's jacket.
"Some are…" Andre said. "Siren, Aztec, Blade, Shadow, Thunder, and Gargoyle want to be mean and wear clothes they have made. Though I can understand…all they're clothes is based off of their culture. They always do for important occasions."
This is an important occasion?
"Well, duh!" Andre said happily. "Once you are done with your first week, your fangs grow in. Then you are officially a child of the night! If Lord Dracula has to be somewhere for a ceremony it's important. He's the one conducting it, and he does it for all new cubs. Luckily for him, no new cub is turned around the same time. It's like some sort of instinct, we automatically know if another has been turned, even if we don't consciously know it…it's weird not even our elders can explain it."
"Aye that it is." Cherit agreed.
Why do Dante and Cherit have different colored gems than yours?
"Well they're not vampires." Andre explained. "For vampires, we either have no gem, a red gem, or a black gem…unless you're mated then you get a mix. There are some clans that have humans, and very few have titans…I think we're the only one…the sapphire that Dante wears shows that he is a member of a vampire clan, and that he is a mortal. It lets other vampires know not to mess with him." He turned to Dante with a raised eyebrow. "You have been wearing it every night right?"
"Whenever I go out at night, yes." Dante answered. Andre studied him for a moment.
"You'd better. Alpha would be pissed if you were attacked because you weren't wearing it." Andre said. "Then he'd attack the vampire that did attack you."
"He's like a father to me, Spark." Dante said. "Do you expect anything different?"
"No." Andre said.
"Let me guess…cause you'd be up there with him kicking their ass?" Dante inquired.
Andre nodded, before turning back to Lok. "Anyways; and since Cherit is a titan but yet a member of a clan, he wears an emerald gem. No vampire attacks a titan though…they're not that stupid…"
"Aye." Cherit agreed smiling. "They'd have a thing or two to learn about pain, I'd say."
Andre and Dante chuckled. "No doubt you would show them that, Cherit?"
"Maybe not me…" the titan considered as they walked towards the club. "But I know some titans…"
The group laughed as Andre opened the door and let the group in. Dante and Cherit was the first two to walk into the club having been there thousands of times before. Lok followed closely behind Dante, still feeling slightly awkward about being in the club, aside from the fact that his cub instincts are acting up again…and those instincts say to stay near the older man. Lok looked around the club and noticed that there were three more people within the club; two men and a woman.
The woman had tan skin with dark brown hair that went down to her shoulders and parts of the front were pulled back into a small pony-tail. Her eyes were a hazelish-green, a rather beautiful combination which looked even better with the black eye-liner. And her lips graced with a dark purple lipstick. Around her neck, Lok noticed, she wore a red and black chokie. She wore a black, gothic style dress that was tight around the bust and waist, which complimented her obviously toned body, then became flowy below the waist. The sleeves were short, and rested on the curves of her shoulder; leaving her collar bare for the world to see. Around her wrists she wore bands similar to the ones Lok had back at the house. Her nails were painted black, only difference is that they had gray swirls painted on as well.
The man next to her looked to be a true Goth. He had a serious expression on his face as his black eyes scanned the room with little interest. He wore a black Kimono with red dragon designs sewn into the fabric. His hands were in both of his sleeves; hiding his hands and surely his black nails from view. Around his neck, at least the parts that was visible due to the collar of his kimono, was a chokie that bore a black and red gem. His eyes surrounded by Eye-liner which helped making him seem a bit ghost-like with his pale skin, black hair that went down to the small of his back while it was pulled into a high, wrapped pony-tail; his bangs framing his face perfectly, making his face seem even more ghost-like. Though he looked rather…if Lok could say so…hot. While he looked like a ghost, it wasn't like he was ugly what-so-ever.
The last man stood next to Musha and Ryan. He had tan skin, and black hair that was done in a low braid. Which was wrapped at the end; and within the wrap were two feathers, one was black like a ravens and one was red like a cardinals. Around his neck he wore yet another choker however his was more like Ryan and Andre's in the fact that it had a plain red gem. He wore a black shirt that had a Native American style to it. The shirt had a V neck design that left a bit of his chest exposed…at least the top of it anyway; the sleeves went to his wrist and had pieces thin pieces of fabric dangling down from it. His pants had the same designs as the shirt which were intricate and difficult to describe, since Lok was sure he'd mix it up, like the sleeves the pant legs had pieces of fabric attached to the outside of them. He wore beaded moccasins that once again had too intricate of a design that Lok couldn't describe it. His eyes also had eyeliner around them.
"Ah, Dante, it has been too long." The man next to Musha and Ryan said walking over to them.
Dante smiled at the man, as Lok cowered from him. He was still trying to get used to the others and the new comers weren't helping matters. "Nice to see you too, Thunder." Dante said as they clasped each other's wrists and hugged each other while patting the other on the back. (No homo I swear…not till later ;3). "I heard you went back to America." Dante said as they pulled away.
Thunder nodded. "Yes, the land has changed since the last I visited. New buildings appearing each time I go, even after 780 years it is strange."
"It would be." Dante agreed. "Whenever I visit my old hometown, and see it changed, I'm shocked as well."
Thunder nodded, then noticed Lok cowering away from him. "Is this the cub?"
"Yes." Dante said gently coaxing the teen to come out of hiding. Knowing full well that the cub's instincts were acting up again; though after a couple of hours, the instincts should dwindle a bit. Maybe not all of the way, but at least to the point Lok won't cower at the other vampires. Particularly when they have no vicious intent. No such luck with getting the teen to come out. "This is Lok."
Thunder turned his gaze to the cub hiding behind Dante and smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you young cub." He extended a hand towards Lok who backed away slightly and hid more so behind Dante. A whine escaping his lips.
"What's he saying?" Dante asked looking towards the man then back to Lok.
Thunder chuckled. "He's not saying anything...he's scared."
Dante looked towards Cherit. "Now, Cherit, we've seen everything."
"That's just mean, Xiao." Gabrielle scolded. "He's a cub, who's still trying to get used to his new life. He's surrounded by people he doesn't know…of course he's scared!"
"It's a cub's instinct and you know it Mom." Andre said siding with Dante. "We were all the same way when we went through it."
"Yes, and we also met new people then too." Gabrielle countered placing her gloved hands on her hips. "I will admit to the fact I was scared to death when I first met my Sire's clan. It is not surprising Lok is scared of his Niada's* clan."
Niada? Lok whined in confusion.
"It is vampiric for 'Guardian'." Musha explained. "The language passed down from our latest Ancestors, the Onochisakicha. Though even today vampires still speak it."
"Good thing too." Christina said from her place at a bar, in her hand a glass filled with red liquid. "Our culture is already merging with the modern world. It takes a lot to just keep our faith together; I fear the disappearance of our culture as well."
"Our faith is not lost." Mina said wrapping her arms around her mate's waist. "Even some mortals believe in it too…well at the very least something fairly similar to it."
"She's got that one." Blake stated from across the room.
"Regardless," Ryan said. "As Tigress stated, it is a good thing that we kept our language fluent amongst vampires and their clans. Even Dante has been studying it."
Dante nodded. "Ha, Chera." He said happily.
Ryan nodded his head in approval to the man, and gave a small smile. "I have taught you well…even though it is a basic phrase; you finally managed to get the accent right…"
Dante smirked, shrugged then looked back to Thunder who was still trying to get the cub to come out from behind him.
Thunder, again, extended a hand to the young cub. "It is all right, cub." He said. "We won't hurt you." Lok shrunk back slightly. This wasn't going anywhere.
Andre had gotten an idea as to how to get the boy from behind his Guardian and walked over to the two. An inner grin bellowing in his mind. Once he was sure the two were unsuspecting of it, he quite literally, swept Dante off of his feet.
"ANDRE!" Andre laughed as he carried a struggling Dante, quite easily, away from the cub. "Andre! Put me down!" Everyone but Dante, and Lok was laughing at this. It wasn't unusual for Andre to attempt to pull something like that off, but for it to have actually worked was another story. It was fucking hilarious!
"Aww…but it's fun, Xiao!" Andre grinned holding the man tighter to stop the struggles.
"For who!?" Dante struggled some more. "Put me down now!"
"Andre." Said vampire looked over to Ryan who raised an eyebrow, after he had settled down his own laughter. "Put him down now."
"Fine, Alpha." Andre said in a defeated tone as he set the Seeker down. "Spoil sport…"
Once Dante was free, he punched Andre in the shoulder; knowing full well it wouldn't really hurt the vampire, but still. "Asshole." Dante said. "You know full well I don't like being picked up."
"You didn't mind it fourteen years ago." Andre countered.
"I was fourteen." Dante said.
Lok shrunk back a little bit, unable to hide since Andre had mercilessly taken Dante away. He was nervous at being around these people true, he wouldn't go as far as to say scared…however but his cub instincts was telling him otherwise. That it was normal to act that way, but Lok didn't like it. He couldn't wait until he could act normally again. Hell he couldn't wait to talk again! He felt a bit more at ease (very slightly though) at the fact that Dante trusts them, but at the same time…
The man in the Kimono noticed his uneasiness and walked till he was standing right behind him. "You shall get used them Buka." He said placing a hand on Lok's shoulder. Lok whined and backed away, which made him raise an eyebrow. Has no one comforted him yet? He looked back to his clan; he knew full well Dante didn't, since the cub already trusted him and with he can't make the growl needed, as with Cherit…but the others…
"What's wrong, Renji?" the new woman asked as she got a cup full of blood from the bar (which Kai was happily working at). Renji looked at her, and she gained a knowing look before taking a sip. "Well then get on with it. He needs to be able to socialize before Lord Dracula shows up." She said before turning towards Mina and started a conversation with the other submissive.
Renji chuckled at his mate, before turning back to the cub; and without a second thought scooped the teen into his arms.
Lok whined as he struggled in the man's grip, what the hell was this guy doing?! Renji looked at him with a gentle expression before a soothing growl emitted itself from his throat. Lok stopped struggling and stared up at Renji. His normal, logical mind was confused, but his cub instincts were comforted by the noise.
The rest of the clan heard the noises and turned to see what was going on. The event from a few minutes ago semi-forgotten. Renji noticed them looking and raised an eyebrow to them. "It's no wonder he's scared." He said. "You guys never comforted his cub instincts. He had no idea whether or not to trust you."
"Leave it to the dude from Japan to figure it out." Blake said.
"At least one of us did." The woman said giving a slight glare to the younger submissive.
"Ah shut it Maya."
"Watch yourself buka." Maya growled.
"FOR THE LAST GODS FORSAKEN TIME! I'M NOT A CUB!!!!!"
"Well you sure are acting like it." Renji commented as he released Lok from his grip, once the teen had settled down. "Hell even the new cub is acting more like an adult than you and he doesn't even have his fangs yet."
"Shut it, ninja boy." Blake snapped threateningly.
"That just proves my point." Renji shrugged and looked towards Lok. "Feeling better?"
Lok nodded. Yes. Thank you. He whined happily before going over to sit next to Dante and Cherit who were sitting near Maya at the bar. Well Lok was keeping his distance from the Spanish submissive.
Renji shook his head. "So out of mild curiosity, why was it that the boy wasn't calmed down earlier?" the Japanese Vampire asked raising an eyebrow to the rest of the clan.
"We only saw him for a short period of time." Musha explained. "Andre had him for a majority of the time, dressing him up."
"Oh. That would explain everything." Renji acceded. Knowing full well how the man got when there was someone to dress up.
"I'm not that bad!" Andre interjected.
Before anyone could retort, a shadow glided into the room. Causing everyone to stand and bow towards the shadow; even Dante and Cherit doing so. Lok stared at everyone before he followed their lead and bowed towards the silhouette.
Ryan was the first to relinquish his bow, and he walked over to the shadow with a smile on his face. "Chimoji, Dracula-Duroi." He greeted respectively in Vampiric. Lok looked up. The Vampire King was a shadow?
"Chimoji," the shadow began to fade away from the man; as the rest of the clan stood up straight once more; when Lok saw the man his jaw almost dropped. Dracula took tall, dark, and handsome to a whole new level; it was tall, dark, and HOT! He had long, raven-black hair that when to the small of his back though done in a bit of an elvish style (think legolas' style cause I love it). To compliment the black hair, he had pale skin, and crimson eyes which was surrounded by black eye-liner. He wore no lipstick. Around his neck, he wore a black chokie that bore a red gem. His attire was primarily medieval clothes. His shirt was a black old-style tunic with a 'v' neck and the sleeves went semi-loosely down his arm only to wrap around his wrists. His pants were of a similar style. They hung a little loosely on the man's form only for the ends to disappear inside his old style boots. And even with the clothing it was not hard to see that the man was in great shape. Over his shoulders was a hooded, black cloak. And though, Lok knew that Dracula was the oldest Vampire living vampire, the man looked no older than 22. "Ryan-Lasa."
Andre beamed and walked over to Dracula and clapped him on the back. "Hey! How've ya been ya old bat?!" He inquired happily. "Haven't seen ya in a while."
Lok had thought that Dracula would have gotten mad for Andre's action, but the man surprised the younger vampire by giving a small smile towards Andre.
"I can see that you have not lost any of your infamous 'spark'." Dracula commented. "And I could have sworn that we were more closely related to the large cat family. But to answer your question, I have been well; and as much as I would love to talk to you about the happenings of the year (s) I believe we have a cub ready to receive his fangs."
Ryan nodded, and motioned for Lok to come to him.
Lok quickly complied and Ryan nudged him towards Dracula. "My Lord, this is the cub." Ryan said placing a hand on Lok's shoulders.
"Were you the one who sired him?" Dracula inquired. Ryan shook his head. "Then where is his sire? They are generally the ones who present their new cubs to me."
"He is not here." Ryan answered.
Dracula gave a kind of concerned look. "What do you mean, 'not here'?"
"We do not know where he is." Ryan answered, then quickly added, "But we know who it is…it is Brian."
"Brian?!" Ryan nodded.
"Aye, about a week ago, Brian kidnapped Lok; with the full intention of drinking him dry. However, it is apparent that he was interrupted and he left the lad to die. Thus forced to face the turn."
Dracula narrowed his eyes. "You are sure it was Brian?" he asked, a little bit of anger evident in his cool voice.
Ryan nodded. "Aye, I saw it myself in the lad's memories. If you wish to confirm it yourself, you are more than welcome to check."
Dracula nodded. "I may have to." He said. "It is not that I do not trust your word, Ryan, quite contrary…however I need to be 100% sure before I place him on trail again."
Ryan nodded in understanding. "Of course, Sire."
Then Dracula turned his gaze to Lok and motioned for the teen to step forward to which Lok quickly complied. Dracula's face softened when the cub stepped forward. After all, he was not angry with the cub, just the person who may have sired him. No need to freak out the boy any more than necessary. "What I your name, young one?"
Lok.
Dracula gave a small smile. "Well, Lok, as you are aware it is the night you receive your fangs and officially become a creature of the night alongside your brothers and sisters." Dracula said. "The ceremony for receiving your fangs is not a long and arduous one, but it will be a little painful. Rest assured, buka, my job is to make sure it doesn't." Dracula chuckled at seeing the teen's confused look. "Before the ceremony, it was extremely painful when the vampire's fangs grew, and afterwards they were they had a strong thirst for their first feed, that they grew a bit blood-thirsty. No vampire was an exception to it. However, my father had discovered a way to make it hurt less. He was a member of the Onochisakicha, and they have great abilities that vampires develop as they get older. For example, they can null pain with their bites, and heal with their blood. Unfortunately my father did not have enough time to explain it to me."
Lok nodded, an understanding and knowing look etching itself upon his face. Successfully making Dracula smile more. Not many of the cubs he had explained this to, understood it when he first explained it. And he voiced his surprise, making Cherit chuckle and fly over to Lok, landing on the boy's shoulder.
"He is a natural." Cherit agreed whole-heartedly, happy that that trait didn't just apply to him being a seeker. "Both as a seeker, and now as a vampire as well."
"That's Lok for ya Cherit." Dante said with a smile on his face.
Dracula turned his gaze to the two. "It has been awhile, Dante, Cherit. Dante I have not seen you since the training camp."
Dante smiled. "If you remember correctly my lord, Ryan requested I go every other year."
"So you this year you're due for another session." Dracula confirmed remembering full well the blonde vampire's request when the human was only fourteen.
Dante nodded. "That sounds about right." He agreed smiling.
Dracula chuckled before turning his attention back to the cub.
What do I need to do in the ceremony? The cub asked.
"The ceremony does not require much." Dracula answered. "When midnight hits, your fangs will begin to grow, and when that happens I will bite you on the neck. That way my bite will numb up the pain from your fangs and you shall have a bit more control when you feed for your first time. It will take a few minutes for the fangs to grow in, and after that is done, you shall feed off of me. Since I am older it is harder for me to die from blood loss. Is it impossible? No. But it is extremely difficult. You would have to be Musha's age to really do that much damage. After your fangs have grown in fully, and you have fed. You shall receive your chokie. Signaling to all other vampires that you have finished your first week, and that you are a cub who is still under his first year. And that is all it is."
Lok nodded in understanding, as Dracula turned his attention to Ryan. "What time is it?"
"11:50 my lord." Ryan answered.
Dracula nodded and they waited out the ten minutes conversing about the happenings of the year. Lok sitting and listening intently. He was bored, could you blame the guy.
However at 11:59 Lok began to feel weird. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and as the minute drew on it began to get worse and worse. Nearly to the point Lok was hunched over his eyes squeezed shut in pain. Dante was the first to notice and placed a hand on the teen's shoulders. "Lok?" The others turned towards the Teen and gained a knowing look.
Dracula looked towards Ryan and Musha. "Get everyone out." He ordered as he walked over to the teen and kneeled in front of him. The two nodded and quickly motioned for everyone to exit the room. Ryan nearly had to drag a worried Dante out of the room.
Once the rest of the clan was out of the room, Dracula turned his attention to the cub who was now gasping in pain.
Dong! Dong! Dong! It was midnight. Without a moment's hesitation, Dracula pulled Lok into his arms, so that the boy wouldn't accidentally hurt himself, and moved the teen's head so that it was leaning against his right shoulder, and his neck was left bare, before biting the boy's neck.
Lok whimpered in pain, actually making an effort to control his cries of pain. Dracula noted this as he pulled his fangs out of the now trembling cub. Waiting patiently for the bite to do its job. Crimson eyes watching the boy's mouth closely. He could see Lok's canines sharpen, it was nothing different than all of the others, but it was still a sight to see. Something that never got too old to watch. After a moment or so, the boy began to relax, and his face began to relax a bit more.
Lok sighed in relief as he felt he pain fade away. He could still feel his fangs growing in, but it didn't hurt in the slightest…it just felt weird. He could feel them sharpen themselves and lengthen a little bit.
As Dracula had stated, it was over in a few minutes. Once the fangs had lengthened, Dracula removed his cloak, and moved the collar of his shirt down so that his own neck was bare, nodded to the cub; signaling that it was okay to feed. Lok nodded and with a surprising amount of self control sunk his new fangs into the Vampire King's neck. A millennia old instinct ringing inside the teen telling him how to feed.
Dracula sat there calmly as the boy fed from him. He was entirely used to it by now with all of the cubs he has had to do the ceremony for. After another few minutes, Lok pulled away from the vampire king. Blood staining around his mouth and his new fangs, drops of the red liquid trickling from his mouth to his chin. Dracula gave a small smile to the cub. "Welcome to the eternal night, buka Lok. You are now officially one of us."
Lok gave a slightly tired smile back and bowed to the king as he relinquished his hold on the cub. He wanted to say thank you, but he didn't want to whine again. Noting the child's dilemma Dracula said, "If you have something to say young one, speak. Your week is up, you can talk once more."
"Tha…" Lok coughed a little bit. This was to be expected. After going through not only death but a week without speaking his native tongue it would be a bit difficult at first but it wouldn't take long until he was back in the swing of things. "Thank… Thank you." The boy finally managed.
"It is no trouble." Dracula said standing up, and extended a hand towards the younger. "Come. We should get back to the others. I can sense how anxious Dante is."
"Okay…" Lok took the vampire king's hand and was quickly pulled to his feet. After grabbing his cloak and pulling up his collar the two exited towards the entrance of the store. Where the clan was waiting patiently, Ryan was trying to calm down a pacing Dante.
"He's fine." Ryan assured.
"I know, he's fine…" Dante said. "But I can't help but worry about him."
"Awww that's sweet Dante," the two turned to see Lok and Dracula standing at the entrance to the club. Lok a blood-stained grin on his face. Lok walked over to Dante and lightly punched him on the arm. "I was going to be fine, what would make you think otherwise?"
Dante smirked and raised an eyebrow to the younger seeker. "I don't know…maybe cause it's you."
Some of the other vampires snickered, though they didn't know Lok as well as Dante, but man…
"Dude! Burn!!!" Blake exclaimed snickering from his place on the counter.
Lok gave Dante a look that clearly stated, 'oh you did not just say that' making Dante laugh and pull the young vampire into a head lock. Dracula deciding that it was safer to move towards where Musha and Ryan (who had moved after Dante said the comment) were standing.
Andre laughed as he walked over to the two; in his pale hand a plain black chokie. "Well if you two love-birds are done." Andre said raising an eyebrow to the two of them. "We have some more important business to attend to."
At the accusation Dante immediately released Lok and the two moved away from each other a blush staining both of their cheeks. "Andre what the hell is wrong with you?!" Lok exclaimed towards the older vampire.
Andre grinned at the cub. "What? The way you guys act tow…"
"We are not together." Dante said. (A/N DDDeeeennnnniiiiaaaallllll! XD) "He is my student and a minor."
Andre laughed. "Dude he's only a minor for another three years. Then he's free game, and techniquilly he's free game after he becomes either submissive or a dominant." Lok blushed even redder.
"Spark, you are one twisted man." Ryan, Musha, Thunder, and Dracula shared a knowing look. Since they were the oldest of the group they could see the bond between the two seekers. It was a thread, that much was certain, but once Dante became a vampire or as time goes on, it will grow into something much stronger than a teacher/student relationship, hell or even a father/son relationship. Undoubtedly it will hit the father/son stage before the lover stage but hey they have all eternity. Or will as soon as they convince Dante to turn…damn the man, he was stubborn.
"Well regardless if I am twisted, com'ere." Lok complied.
"Would you like to do the honors, Lord Dracula?" Andre asked turning towards the Vampire King.
"I believe the leader of the cub's clan should do the honors." Dracula replied turning his crimson gaze towards Ryan.
The Scotsman nodded before walking over to Lok and Andre and took the chokie out of the Englishman's hands, then turned his cerulean gaze to the younger blonde. "Welcome, to the eternal night," Ryan undid the chokie and placed it around his neck and while he closed back up he added, "Little brother."
Lok beamed at the clan head. "Thanks, Alpha."
"WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A NICKNAME FOR HIM!!!!" Kai exclaimed next to Musha making the Egyptian cover his ears calmly. He was used to that kind of behavior from his mate.
"Once again, Kai, you're not coming up with it!" Dante said sitting down.
Thunder walked over to Lok and studied him for a moment. "He looks a little bit like a river otter to me." The Native said smiling, then looked towards Renji. "Maybe Gargoyle can translate that into Japanese. It would sound cool."
"River otter, huh?" Christina inquired before turning her gaze over to Lok. "Now that you mention it, he does seem similar to one, either that or a fox…"
"Nah let's give 'im a cool name!" Blake said from his seat.
"And what would you suggest for him?" Mina asked sarcastically. "I think that a translation of river otter would be so cute!!"
"You think everything is cute, Aztec."
Mina cocked her head to the side. "I don't think you're cute."
"Ouch." Christina muttered pulling her mate onto her lap.
"Harsh." Maya agreed as Blake began to glare at the Mexican vampire, who just smiled sweetly at him.
Lok looked towards Renji. "So what is the translation of river otter, Gargoyle?"
"Kawauso." Was the simple reply.
"That sound pretty good." Gabrielle said beaming. "I vote for Kawauso!"
After a unanimous vote, Lok was given the nickname Kawauso.
"So there's one important issue down." Andre said.
"I do not see how it constitutes but I digress." Dracula said. "But now there are other things to do before the night is through."
Lok looked at the vampire king. "Like what?"
"We need to, once and for all, determine who it was who sired you." Dracula answered. "I do not doubt Ryan's abilities in sensing and identifying other vampires, but the vampire we fear had sired you, well…he could face serious charges. Now I want you to do what Ryan had told you to do when he sifted through your memories."
Lok nodded, closed his eyes, and relaxed. Dracula extended a pale hand and placed it on the boy's forehead. Crimson eyes closing as well.
The other clan members watched as the eldest vampire watched the memories of that night a week ago unfold. Ryan paying special attention to the man's face. And judging by the looks Dracula was piecing together the same things, Ryan did.
After a moment, Dracula removed his hand from Lok's head, and enraged look upon his face. Their fears had been once again confirmed. "What shall we do, my Lord?" Ryan inquired in a soothing tone.
"Lok needs a new Guardian." Dracula growled, as he motioned for Ryan to follow him. The blonde vampire complied as they walked into the club once more.
"What about Dante?"
Dracula looked at Ryan. "Ryan, I know that you are fond of the mortal and have trained him for so long, but a human taking care of a vampire cub?"
"He knows what he's doing." Ryan pointed out. "Because of what I taught him since he was 13. He was the one taking care of Lok up to this point. I wouldn't suggest him if I thought otherwise."
"Would he be able to handle himself when Lok needs to feed?"
"He spent several months out of every other year to go train at your camps." Ryan pointed out. "If I remember anything about your camps, you run them with an iron fist. If he's able to survive that, I'm sure he can handle Lok. Besides, he's Lok's team leader and teacher on their Huntik team. Lok needs to be around him anyways."
Dracula thought about it. True enough whenever Dante went to the training camps, he was pretty good. Well good enough to keep up with the faster and stronger vampiric cubs. And he has been exposed to vampiric culture through a vast majority of his life. So he would at least know what to do…but still…he was still a human, not that Dracula was prejudice against humans, on the contrary his mother was a human. But they lost blood so much more easily than vampires did. Even if Dante knew what he was doing, there was still the chance that Lok would accidentally kill him until he learned to control how much he drank.
Ryan noticed the vampire king thinking and decided to add on a new approach. "You saw it for yourself my Lord." He said, "They have a bond. If we stick him with someone else they may lose that. Besides if anything happens the Shadow Moon Clan is only a few minutes away. "
Dracula sighed. Ryan was right, on all accounts. Dante seemed to be a good choice as far as the king was concerned.
"All right. Dane shall become Lok's temporary Guardian."
"Temporary Guardian?"
"If they have a bond, then it would be improper to have Dante as his Full time guardian." Dracula reasoned. "If that was the case that would put Dante at the same status as a Sire and their bond could never grow since that's all Lok will see is a father/teacher. At least with temporary guardianship, once Lok turns of age (in the mortal since and if Dante turns in the vampiric since) Dante could relinquish guardianship and they could mate."
Ryan smiled. "That does sound reasonable." He acceded happily. "Now we just need to get the two together."
Dracula shook his head. "I'm going to leave that to your clan's devices." He walked over to the door and the two exited the club where the others were waiting patiently for a verdict. Dracula paid no glance to the others as he made his way towards Dante. "Dante Vale." He said calmly his regal and authorative tone returning. "You have been chosen to become Lok's temporary Guardian. Do you choose to accept?"
Dante's eyes widened in shock. Dracula had actually chosen a human to take care of a cub. Dante quickly got over his shock and smiled at the king, before bowing. "It would be my honor, my Lord."
"Then that is settled." Dracula said then turned to the rest of the clan. "I must take my leave."
The vampires nodded. "Of course, Sire." Gabrielle said walking over to the door and opening it for her king. "Have a pleasant day's rest."
Dracula nodded, and before he exited the store, he turned back to Ryan. "Before I forget; I do expect you and your clan to sing at the next New Year celebration."
Ryan smiled and bowed. "Of course, sire." He said. "It would be our honor. Kichaji, Dracula-Duroi."
"Kichaji." With that Dracula turned into a shadow once more and left the shop, Gabrielle shutting the door behind him. A large, happy smile on her face.
"That went well." she said happily.
R.D.D.G: man I'm finally done!!!!! That took longer than I expected. Okay for those of you who have noticed, I did make Dante seem a bit OC. But with how hyper some of the members of the clan are I can't help but make him a little out of character. Andre is the major culprit for that one. XD. I hope you enjoyed it.
First *: okay I was thinking the other day, and at first I was going to have both vampires and werewolves have a bond with…well…wolves, then I came to thinking. Werewolves and Vampires are not going to get along and it would seem weird to have both enemies have a bond with the same animal. Though Vampires get along with normal wolves they won't have as much of a bond. So I tried to think of another animal whose young are called cubs and I automatically thought of the big cats. So it would make a little since, you've got felines vs. canines. Vampires vs. werewovles… I thought it made sense…
Second *: I don't think they ever mention Dante's biological family in the series…I'm pretty sure they don't since he's always around Metz. So I came up with an original family for him, you probably might see the stepfather and the mother sometime within the story…but not too sure about that. And if it isn't obvious, Dante was a runaway child at 11 years old. So you can probably figure what his family was like. For those who do not like that idea please don't kill me…I was listening to "Runaway Love" by Ludacris when I came up with the idea. =D
Third *: okay the vampiric language I did come up with, with a little help from the Japanese language. I couldn't figure out a way to change pronunciation and I love the Japanese accent so I based the accent and pronunciation off of that. And for titles like Dracula-Duroi. It's translated like Lord Dracula.
Niada: guardian
Lasa: leader or alpha
Duroi: lord
Buka: Cub
Chimoji: means good day, but they use it as a greeting in the early night.
Kichaji: is chimoji's opposite. It means good night, and they use it later in the night, and when they are going to bed.
Chera: teacher
Ha: yes
