Intermission
Tristan Academy, Belfry of the Lost
The young bat squatted as it desperately attempted to lift the the stone gargoyle, the dusty threatening a sneeze . His Prince's...gift, had granted him more then increased mental abilities, the bat now found himself able to lift heavy objects! Well...heavier objects then he could before. As the scene unfolding now could attest, Aborash had a ways to go…
"My Prince" He squeaked, trying to hold his breath and desperately attempting to use his newfound strength effectively, "Is this satisfactory?"
"Everything feels strange about this. Like...things aren't right here. Or as if they shouldn't be like this..." Muttered the Vampire Prince, ignoring his lieutenants pleading . It had been only a week since that horrible evening, and life went on only after a day at the academy. They were remarkably well adjusted despite the fact the academy could have been wiped off the map! Seems like rich kids had more important things to worry about then feuding Vampires, like which peasant they were going to whip next, or what was the next thing to complain about. Speaking of which, he believed his young charge had….potions class, or something. Louise's attitude had improved slightly by Dracul's successful attempt to clear her name, but only just. Really, if Dracul wasn't a soul devouring abomination straight out of a horror novel, the Vampire was sure she would be trying to use that riding crop to beat him.
Kid's these days, bah. "It's like...everything has been twisted around…Aborash, do you feel different?"
The Vampire Bat just gave him a "really?" look, as he was a few seconds away from dropping the stone idol. The Vampire, coming too, looked apologetic, "Ah, my apologies. Yes that is fine." Breathing a sigh of relief, the little bat dropped the heavy stonework, and flew up beside the Vampire, who was reclining on his stone throne. Glancing around, he couldn't believe he went from squatting in an abandoned wine cellar, to a place like this. "So boss, what the hell is this thing anyway?" Aborash glanced below to see the hideous gargoyle smiling at him, sending shivers down the Bat's tiny spine.
The Headmaster was rather grateful (and quite apologetic for his wrongful accusations) for Gabriel saving the academy (not that the students knew), and all Gabriel had asked for in return was a...lair of some kind, a place in which he could his privacy away from his "master". An abandoned (and quite hidden) cellar near the Black Rose garden was given to him to do whatever he saw fit. The Vampire, ignoring the constant whining from Louise, had quickly converted the space, bringing, with the help of Aborash and...his new chamberlain, a host of idols, furniture other mystical items from Behnard Castle itself!
The room itself was graciously spacious all that he needed, though the headmaster had neglected to tell him what it had been used for previously. Baleful, blue witch lights illuminated the room, which led to a certain mystical atmosphere, coming from silver torch scones, blue mist dripping from them In the centre, was a large, circular table made from Cyclopian black stone, carved with nameless red crystals. A crimson Dragon, made from rubies sat in the middle of it. Beyond it, Gabriel's throne stood. It was...less grandiose, certainly, then his actual throne, but still an impressive piece to be sure. Made from the same black material as his round table, the Throne had ancient runes carved into it, and had the statuette of ebony, snarling wolf at each of its hands ends. An assortment of bookcases, made from the remains of tortured tree spirits sat at another end, filled with mouldy tomes of forgotten lore, and beside that, a set of jagged, evil looking blades, sheaved in leather, tucked neatly in holders glowing various shades of power. Twisted looking statues were scattered around of all shapes and creatures: hideous centaurs, monstrous dragons, a bat demon, a kappa from Japan, and a hideous mole creature we're just a few in his collection. Flanking his throne was a set of twin Dragons, hideous wyrms that guarded their lord, and another pair of twins watched his grand coffin, an ancient tomb of cursed stone, and decaying pillows. The perfect base for a Vampire.
And perfect place for a days sleep!
Not that he had gotten much sleep since he arrived in this forsaken school.
Reclining in his throne, Gabriel sipped from his platinum goblet, bored as he glanced at the sapphires that adorned the cup. "If a human steps foot in this dark place, it will come to life and tear out his jugular..."
"I thought that's what the Dragons did?"
"Those will eat them, Aborash! Eat them!"
"Uh huh." The little bat creature said, "How do we know if the person is spying? What if it's just an accident they wandered into here?"
The Vampire's eyes glowed a furious shade of sanguine, "So you suddenly care about the humans, is that it?"
The Bat gulped nervously, as he began flapping his wings, "Of-course-not. I meant nothing of the sort my prince! Honest!"
The Vampire Prince smirked, taking another sip, from his glass, "I explained this to you earlier. It can't be an accident, because nobody can find this place. The charm I placed will make sure of that. You would have to know to seek this place out, and have a particular knack for removing charms. And if someone's looking to get into here without my express permission, we don't want them here in the first place."
"I don't know boss, this looks more like a weird clubhouse then a base of operations..."
"Bahhhh. What would a bat know about a Vampire's lair!" Gabriel scoffed, as he lifted up his now empty chalice, and made a dramatised movement, "Ehem!" He said, looking entitled. The little Vampire bat furiously scrambled, flying around nervously,
"Of course, my prince! I'll see to another refreshment right away!" While a smart part of the Bat resented being given such menial chores all day by the Vampire, it handily beat squatting in the woods, always desperate for another meal. With Dracul, he was going places, and he indeed felt lucky he was the first to feel his dark presence. Handily, he lifted a decrepit looking bottle of aged wine from one of the black oak shelves with his talons, and flew towards his prince, who was gently lifting his chalice into the air with the same perpetual face of boredom he always wore, expecting more drink. With the already open bottle, the small bat carefully tilted it to the side, letting the rich, sanguine liquid pour from the bottle through the air, and into the platinum chalice below. Precision was key, and he was sure as hell not going to spill any of the rich wine on his liege lord. Just before the glass filled to a perfect level, Aborash carefully lifted the glass bottle and carried it back to the shelf.
Pleased, the Vampire Lord took a quick sip, savouring the taste of the fine wine, "Excellent, thank you Aborash."
"Oh your welcome, my prince." He said timidly, "Just to be clear...that isn't blood right?"
"This? No." He took another small sip from his cup, "I do have a few...vintages stored, of course. But..." He grinned, "I much prefer it straight...from the source."
Aborarsh gulped nervously, as he muttered, "Of course my prince-of course!"
Dracul reclined in his throne, "I can still enjoy a good wine here and there. I believe this..." He savoured a small sip, "Is Italian "Avitu", from the vineyards among the coast. Very rich in flavor-"
"You're malevolence!" A squeaky voice interrupted the Vampire's observations. Looking downward, the Vampire eyed the interloper with downcast annoyance.
"Rattin, is it customary for one of your kind to interrupt his liege lord when he's speaking?"
On the ground skittered a rat. A rat of unusual size, just a bit bigger then how they normally grew. The rodent also had black fur, a pair of red eyes, and unusually long tail. Though the most distinct thing about him was a jagged scar that went down his right eye. He stood on his hind legs, and gave a salute, "Apologies, oh dark-dark one. This one forgets his-his place."
Dracul waved it off, saying, "Think none of it. Now, deliver this report." Rattin was another servant the Vampire had gathered under his thrall, alongside a host of other vermin's who had sworn their claws in service to Dracul. They too had undergone a transformation of intelligence and strength. None so much as Rattin, there leader. A more prideful Vampire would be horrified to gather such lowly underlings in there service, but by taking the swarm of vermin under his command, the Vampire Prince now gotten a vast army of spies with little effort. They knew every knack and cranny in this accursed school, and heard every conversation going on. And in return, he let the rats bask in his dark presence, his aura of pestilence and horror practically a drug to them. A suitable arrangement.
His army...well right now, it wasn't at all impressive. He would certainly need to get some muscle around here sooner or later.
"The little-little-" The rat haggardly coughed, as if he was about to spew out his organs, "Excuse-me. The little pink brat you sent me to watch has gotten into another fight!"
"That stupid girl can't she get along with anyone for five fucking minutes..." The Vampire uncharacteristically swore. He had only known her for a week, and she was already driving the Vampire nuts. She was headstrong, aggressive, and a huge bitch to anyone and everyone. Despite her truly horrible self esteem issues the Vampire had seen deep inside her, she acted all high and mighty around everyone. It didn't help her family we're a bunch of big shots. He began to rub his aching forehead. "Who was it this time?" The Vampire Prince already knew.
"The big breasted-breasted ginger!" The rat replied eagerly.
"Yes...Kirche I think her name was." She had been giving the Vampire...lustful looks earlier, that made him hugely uncomfortable. "Well what were they fighting about? Not that I care..." He muttered drolly taking a sip from his glass of wine.
"The size of-of the pink girls breasts. Big-Big breast lady can get pretty-pretty mean when she wants too. It soon went to her family..."
"Ah common girl problems." Dracula rolled his eyes. "Where is our wayward lady now?"
"Crying in the eastwing's bathroom." Dracula sighed and reclined on his throne, scratching his chin, and weighing his options. The Vampire had gotten a good impression of her on that...eventful first day. She put on a good show to be sure, but she was an emotional wreck on the inside. Daddy and mommy issues most likely were the source, for some reasons, which also lead to the fear of failing her bloodline, and her...difficulty with spell casting, which the Vampire could infer excelled at. To a centuries old fiend like Dracula, a laughable concern, but to a teenager girl, terrifying. With a final sigh, the Vampire got out of his stone throne, placing the goblet on one of it's pillars. So this is what the Lord of Shadow has been reduced to, a babysitter. "I suppose I should find her before she slits her wrists." He said, bored. He began to walk to his hideouts secret entrance, with a lazy hunch back. Gabriel wasn't the leading expert on female teenage behaviour, but remembering how cranky Marie could be at Louise's age, he knew there was some pretty extreme mood swings that occurred. Better safe then sorry.
The thought of Marie, made the Vampire smile, if only for a brief second.
His Bat second followed from behind, "Ummm boss before you go...isn't it about time you've changed you're clothing?"
Gabriel snarled turning around angrily, "What's wrong with what i'm wearing now!?"
The Bat gulped nervously, shaking his head, "Nothing my prince. Of course you look splendid in them!" The sycophant bat added fast. "But...aren't you always...complaining that people give you...lustful looks. Maybe it's because you're wearing coat that reveals you're glorious abs?"
He glanced down, looking briefly at his crimson longcoat. I guess it was pretty...flashy, now that his lieutenant mentioned it. "You do have a point..." Annoyed, the Vampire let out another sigh.
In a single instant, the Vampire Lord was consumed by a flash of darkness, and then a massive splash of crimson blood. As soon as he disappeared, he was back again, his red, leather duster having been replaced by a much more...conservative look. A longcoat made from blue leather that was adored with rubies, that went down all the way to his feet. On it's back, embroided in silver, was his symbol, the mark of the Dragon. Covering his chest was a piece of highly ornate plate armour, seemingly made from smooth, blackened silver, the same material used for the greeves that had replaced his leather pants, and his hands, were now covered with silver gauntlets. The equipment was very regal, but practical, allowing him to move with speed and grace. In contrast to what it appeared to be, the equipment was actually made from his own hardened blood and manifested shadow.
"Better?" The Vampire asked with a grin.
"Yes, yes my Prince! The look suits you!"
Gabriel's smirk become a frown, "When I return, I expect to find the Orb of Eternal Damnation, and the Skull of Shadow Horror set up! Keep working!"
Leaving the tired bat to sulk with a "Yes my prince." Dracula left his new sanctuary without another word. I must find Louise...