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Chapter 36: The Debut Part 1
One of the many things that the Count and Ivan Dracula had never detailed to any of their children was exactly how they would be getting to Romania where the Vampire High Council resided. This was partially due to the fact that neither brother had ever done so; they just simply took their children where they needed however they needed to when the time came. So it was a little bit of surprise when all four of the younger Draculas were summoned down into the castle's crypts in their best attire for an explanation the evening following Vlad's "conversation" with his uncle (who had since covered his wound with a long sleeved tunic).
"We have received notice that tonight is the night," the Count announced, holding up a roll of parchment in between his middle and index finger. "Tonight is the beginning of the Debut."
Ivan nodded and raised a small black silk bag tied with red rope. "His Grandness likes to change it up every year. Thinks it'll keep things interesting." A wry smile turned the corners of his lips upward. "This year, he's sent us some leu coins to put under our tongues before lying down to sleep."
Confused silence met that particular piece of information. Vlad glanced over briefly at his sister and cousins to see if this meant just as little to them as it did to him. Luckily, it seemed to be the case – even for Boris and Ingrid.
Only the two elder children had truly been prepared for the upcoming event. It seemed that despite being trained from birth on etiquette and proper mannerisms necessary of a born vampire, there was even more to learn when it came to grand gatherings like this one so that Ingrid and Boris could stand out in an already prestigious crowd.
Vlad and Olga had been largely left to themselves, only receiving one lesson detailing what was expected of them as visiting siblings. For them, keeping to the background and implementing basic vampire formalities should be enough because they were only there to indicate the strength of the Dracula clan and its unity. As divided as they might be within the family, both elder Draculas emphasized, it was crucial to show no weakness to the other clans visiting.
This was a concept Vlad was fairly familiar with. Slytherin functioned similarly. He knew how to hold his tongue and expressions in check when necessary. If anything, Olga and Ingrid were the most likely to slip when together since they were consistently at each other's throats. But that was something the Count and Uncle Ivan had already fixed by telling each of the girls to minimize their interactions once in Romania.
"We do not know what will happen once you are lying down with the coin," the Count continued, his face straight with rare seriousness. "Again, the Grand High Vampire does enjoy varying the Debuts. But he has sworn in written blood to maintain the Debut truce. No harm should come to any of us until the event is over. Unfortunately, this also means we cannot harm others in return." The idea obviously seemed to annoy the Count. He had been repeating that rule several times throughout the last few days as if to remind himself more than anybody else.
How the very concept of a truce managed to maintain itself when hoards of vampires were congregated was beyond Vlad. It wasn't like they could not resist the urge. Born vampires – more than any other vampires in the world – had more control over themselves when it came to vampiric needs. What it really narrowed down to was their lack of desire to exercise said control. These were vampires used to having their way and nothing less.
Which brought forth the point of the Grand High Vampire. It made sense that the ruling vampire would have the greatest power; no clans or council members would abide by Vampire Law otherwise. It was why the line of succession was determined by strength instead of lineage in a world where family names and blood mattered so much.
Uncle Ivan untied the bag as they watched, extracting coins made of brass plated steel and handing one to everybody in the room before keeping the last for himself. They seemed ordinary enough as Vlad examined the small object in his palm, even indicating recent minting. They weren't of any sort of gold extravagance he might have expected from the highest reaches of vampire authority.
"Right then, in we all go," Vlad's uncle prodded, motioning towards six coffins Vlad just realized were there.
Boris's voice trembled only a little when he asked, "W-We're going in there? But we aren't vampires yet."
"You can't expect to be lying in a bed like a Breather when you're going to attend the Debut. This is your first step towards becoming a full vampire."
That sent chills down Vlad's spine. He knew that his uncle had been speaking primarily to Ingrid and Boris. But it made him nervous nonetheless and brought back anxieties he had not quite dealt with from the Chamber of Secrets. If this wasn't so important to his sister, Vlad would have found a way out of this. He knew he could. The Malfoys might not be so welcoming now, but he knew his way around Diagon Alley and the various hostels enough to pretend he was visiting an important friend from Hogwarts for a number of days. Anything of less importance would have had him out of this Debut business in the blink of an eye. But he saw how happy this made Ingrid. He saw how attention given her way for the first time in years changed her and how excited she was, even now, to finally be a part of the world she had always dreamt about being a part of. She might not have shown it so obviously, but Vlad knew Ingrid better than possibly any else.
It was for Ingrid that Vlad kept his silence and obediently settled himself into one of the coffins despite the sense of dread that coated his stomach. The Count and Uncle Ivan watched their children, ensuring everything would go smoothly and watching Vlad and Boris in particular. They certainly did not have to monitor Olga and Ingrid; they lie down in their respective coffins with almost unconcealed eagerness.
Vlad watched as one by one beginning with Ingrid, they placed their coins underneath their tongues. Almost the moment their mouths closed, they fell into deep sleep whereupon the Count or Uncle Ivan sealed the coffin closed. Watching his sister and cousins depart made Vlad's breathing short, not at the idea of being in a coffin, but at the vampiric nature of it. This was too reminiscent of his worst nightmares. The idea made some primal fear he hadn't felt since facing the troll in his first year at Hogwarts bubble forth.
When it was finally Vlad's turn, he lay down fully, feeling the cushioning of the coffin lining made to fit his body perfectly. It was extremely comfortable, but it did little to calm him. In the corner of his eyes, Vlad saw his father step closer to watch his son.
"Don't be nervous, Vladdy." Of course his father heard his heart beat faster than normal. It was surprising, though, that the vampire had decided to encourage his son rather than scold like he probably would have done with Boris. The words were short and probably said in passing. Yet Vlad took small comfort in them anyway and raised his hand to his mouth to place the coin underneath his tongue.
The last thing he remembered was tasting the metal and seeing the Count watch him with black eyes – not unlike what a possessed Ginny had once done from atop the Gryffindor stairs.
~0~
His senses didn't come to him slowly like they had when he woke in the Chamber of Secrets. Instead, everything came to Vlad in a spontaneous moment when his eyes opened of their own accord and he found himself already upright and standing in the center of what seemed to be a throng seated vampires. It startled him, almost made him lose balance and gasp. But he stood firm and unmoving, only his eyes darting about to show that he was surprised. Something about the atmosphere told him immediately that any weakness would be found and attacked.
As surprised as Vlad was, he had a fairly good idea where he had been taken. It was obvious enough once he noticed a raised dais at the front of the room where one vampire sat separately and above the rest. Vlad wasted no time in dropping to one knee and bowing his head, avoiding eye contact. Keep his head low and wear out this storm of a Debut, Vlad reminded himself. "Your Grandness."
There was a measure of silence, of judgment. It made Vlad feel small and exposed to be in the center with nothing but his vampire robes to separate him from lethal Lords and Ladies. A good minute or so passed before a familiar voice called in Romanian, "Vladimir of the Dracula Clan. Stand." Vlad did react to that, straightening from his position and turning to his left to see an elderly woman. Her white face was fringed with dark curls pulled atop her head and her robes were pulled close and completely black with the exception of gold linings. Rings adorned her fingers as they gripped the wooden arms of her seat and what few wrinkles were beginning to show did little to hide the similarities she shared with her daughter.
"My Lady, Krone of the Westenra clan," Vlad acknowledged calmly. He refused to call her Grandmother. Her family line had lost their connection to the Draculas when Magda Westenra had left the Count. Krone knew this, yet she still spoke first. The fact that his grandmother had chosen to address him was an announcement to the High Council and Grand High Vampire present that they shared blood ties, and that she therefore had a right to introduce him. It was her way of cementing a relationship to the only vampire child alive attending a wizarding school.
Murmuring broke out at the exchange, various members of the High Council suddenly giving him another look. All noise ceased, though, the moment the vampire seated upon the throne raised a hand.
"So you are Vladimir."
"Yes, Your Grandness," Vlad agreed cautiously.
The man leaned forward a little. "I daresay I have heard of you. Whispers drift amongst us all about Count Dracula's prodigious son." Vlad wasn't so sure whether that was compliment or a direct jab at the Count's lack of subtlety regarding the topic. "You are here before us now so that we may speak with you before the Debut proceeds, something we are conducting for all participants and their attending families now."
Vlad struggled not to raise his eyebrows. Now? At the same time?
He didn't know he had spoken that last part aloud until the ruling vampire before him replied, "Yes, at the same time. Surely for somebody who spends so much time with wizards you would know that nothing is impossible with the right amount of power."
"Of course, your Grandness," the young vampire hastily tried to amend, keeping his face as straight as possible. He wasn't quite sure how the council was speaking to everybody individually at the same time but he accepted it without question. Sometimes magic was just beyond understanding.
Vlad didn't dare raise his eyes to look directly at the Grand High Vampire yet. He hadn't been given permission to do so, and it made reading the powerful vampire difficult. Body language could tell a lot, but facial expressions told even more. Particularly when the Grand High Vampire sat as still as a statue. Yet, Vlad could still tell the man was powerful and perhaps slightly lenient in the sense that the man had entertained Vlad's question. Something told the young vampire that the vampire ruler would only be permissive to an extent though. Vlad did not mind that. He wasn't here to challenge anybody, let alone the Grand High Vampire himself. He was here to support his sister and that was it.
"Tell me, what are the wizards like?"
Vlad was asked that question often enough to already know his answer. "They are very creative, your Grandness. Good teachers and welcoming." It didn't surprise the young vampire that the man before him did not know much about wizards. From what he gathered from his time at Hogwarts, the two worlds Vlad lived in hadn't had any sort of communication since the Dark Ages.
That seemed to satisfy the Grand High Vampire enough; he hadn't been looking for an encyclopedia of information. He nodded and leaned back on his throne. "So have you been taught enough to cast beyond rudimentary spellwork?"
"I suppose it depends on your definition of rudimentary, your Grandness." This was a delicate question to answer for Vlad. He did not want to portray that he knew too much. Who knew what the High Council and other vampires would expect of him then? Vlad had no doubt whatever he said here would spread.
"Say if I were to give you a spell to recite. How long would it take for you to learn to cast it?"
The Grand High Vampire's question belied his lack of spell knowledge. Vlad knew the vampire ruler would know his own magic, like many other vampires, well enough to control it to his desire. But vampires were not known for having a standardized method of magic casting. Everything was done instinctively and through years of experience. What the man was asking was far too vague. A simple spell from his school books, Vlad could do easily. But if the spell were too complicated and cost too much energy, he would not. It was something basic, but something easily overlooked to a population that did not necessarily have to always consider the mechanics of spell casting.
"I would have to see the spell and know the nature of it to tell you the answer to your question, your Grandness. Forgive me. I have only had two years of teaching."
The elder vampire waved a hand. "Nothing to apologize for. You are still un-Turned and young."
It seemed the Grand High Vampire was not only relatively lenient for a man of his position, but also understanding. Vlad was pleasantly surprised. He almost expected to be punished for not answering clearly.
"You are interesting, Vladimir. Perhaps too interesting for one exchange to suffice. But we need not question you further. You are here for your sister, are you not?" At Vlad's nod, the Grand High Vampire extended a hand to command the doors behind the young vampire open. Vlad didn't see them open, but he could feel that the man had done so with his power and done so casually it made Vlad's eyes widen a bit. "Then we shall not hold you needlessly. You are but a visitor this time. Dismissed."
Fascinating. Vlad had been held for quite a bit shorter than he had been expecting. It seemed the Grand High Vampire had seen what he needed to. But, like Vlad, the High Council itself seemed startled to see their ruler allow him leave. They shifted unsatisfactorily, clearly having hoped to get a better gauge of a potential wrench in the power ladder. Vlad had been rather short with his answers and unforthcoming in almost every way – or at least that's what he hoped he had portrayed. These were people he did not want to share too much with.
Before one of the council could say anything else to keep Vlad there, he bowed on one knee to the Grand High Vampire and turned to leave. His brisk steps echoed on the stone floor beneath him as he strode past the many faces of the vampires present and his face remained carefully blank despite his relief. Nobody spoke a word as he left and only when the double doors closed behind him, did Vlad dare to let out a breath.
That could have gone worse.
Whatever respite he was granted was brief. From the shadows of the hall he had stepped into, a thin figure taller than Vlad stepped forward with his head bowed and wrists turned upward.
Vlad had always known keeping Breather servants was a vampire tradition. His own family had Renfield. But Renfield was a rare case in many aspects. Most Breather servants were not afforded their own rooms, their own clothes, their own freedom around the castle, or their own free will. Breathers did not choose to be vampire servants; they were not like house elves. But Renfield did and many of his peculiar freedoms were granted in exchange for his knowledge in alchemy. The man, for all of his oddities, had always served the Count well when necessary and for that the Dracula family tolerated Renfield.
But Vlad had seen the occasional vampire visit his father over the years with a Breather servant in tow, and he had not liked them at all. They were often so subjugated in mind and body that they were hardly more than walking meals for the masters they served. It was vile in Vlad's mind. At least house elves still had some spirit in them when they worked.
Breather servants were taught first and foremost to be loyal to the family or castle they were assigned to. Once that was engrained, often through repeated hypnotism, they were shown a variety of other mannerisms – like presenting their wrists in an offering of blood. Any vampire could take from an offered wrist, but it was etiquette that only a servant's true masters could take from the neck. Even then, few accepted the offer. Why bother with a servant when there was more exciting prey to find outside the castle?
Repulsed, Vlad refused as custom demanded by saying nothing.
When the appropriate amount of time passed, the servant straightened with his eyes still downcast and pulled his wrists back to his sides. "I will be escorting you to your rooms, my Lord. If you would follow me."
Vlad obeyed, quietly walking where the man guided him. He didn't bother to strike up conversation like he had with Draco's house elves in the past. This servant's loyalties were far more restricted and the less Vlad showed to anybody here the better. It was Ingrid's job to show off. Instead, he finally turned his eyes to the castle.
The entire place was made of stone, as most castles vampires occupied were. Cobwebs and dust lined each surface and the air seemed thick with power and age. They had clearly been within the lower portion of the castle as Vlad noticed their path took a continuously upward trek. The further up they got, the less necessary Vlad's heavyset cloak seemed and soon, they came across their first window. To Vlad's surprise, it was daytime as he took a glance outside. Had his meeting with the Grand High Vampire and his High Council taken longer than he thought? He snuck another glance out as they began another set of winding stairs and smiled a little at the first country he called home.
The vampire capital bordered on warm in the summer with humid air, the occasional rains, and greenery abound. Transylvania was a region centered in the heart of Romania where the Carpathian Mountains snaked around its borders like a creature in the earth. It was a network of valleys, ravines, and canyons all linked together. When the sun was out, scenic wonder stretched as far as the eye could see before great peaks pulled your gaze to the heavens. It was perhaps a place that seemed incredibly unlikely to host monsters of the night. Yet, the country's history spoke for itself and those who had lived long lives in Transylvania knew that it was better to keep indoors when night took over and to light candles to keep watch until dawn.
In the current day, the region's capital of Bucharest held the largest human populace as well as its financial, industrial, and cultural center. But a little farther north in the mountains themselves, lie the greatest of the old cities: Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, and Brașov. It was in these ancient strongholds where vampire lore dug its fangs deepest and where many vampires – centuries old and barely new alike – found and established themselves.
Vlad had grown up in none of those cities, although he had heard about them many times. Instead, his family had chosen to settle in Sighișoara, a little east of Cluj-Napoca and on the fringes of the Târnava Mare River. It was where Vlad's great grandfather had been born, and where his family had helped in establishing the castle-lion coat of arms. The Count had always been fond of family history and he had made sure his children knew their homeland well. From the earliest moment they could remember, Vlad and Ingrid had known which cities lie where, how clans had risen and fallen, and where they themselves fit in the great legacy of the the Draculas.
It was all very pish-posh, Vlad thought, with all of the historic sites and tales of great conquest. But at the end of the day Romania wasn't a place of horrific myth or prestigious standing to him. It was just home, and he was happy to see it again even if he was here for his sister's Debut.
Vlad was so lost in his thoughts that he was surprised when the Breather servant came to an abrupt stop at a door in one of the many corridors. He blinked in confusion before he realized that they had arrived at their destination.
"Lord Count, Lord Ivan, and Lady Olga are a little further up," the servant pointed out to their right. He then opened the wooden door in front of them. "These will be your quarters during your stay, Lord Vladimir."
Vlad took a step inside and saw a grand, if rather generic vampire room. A single bed draped in crimson sheets thin enough for the summer occupied the right side while a cabinet, a private washroom, several trunks, a fireplace, and a small table with two chairs utilized the remainder of the space. Everything was predictably in shades of gold, red, and black.
"Your things have been settled in already at your father's request," the servant informed. "There are a set of stairs down the hall beyond your family's rooms that lead to the main ballroom on the first floor. Should you need anything, light one of the candles mounted on the walls and one of us will serve you, my Lord."
Vlad looked at the Breather and nodded. "Thank you for your service. You are dismissed."
It was not unheard of for a servant to be acknowledged for their actions. But Vlad realized a little too late once again that perhaps thanking the Breather might have been a little too much. Luckily, the servant did not collapse into a sobbing mess like Dobby had once done. The only thing that showed anything out of the ordinary had occurred was a slight tightening of the Breather's clasped hands before the man bowed once at the waist to depart. The servant had only partially closed the door behind him when a small female figure came barging past.
"Boris, you pathetic –" Olga stopped mid insult when she saw that it was not Boris she was talking to. Automatically, she stopped and pursed her small lips. Vlad's relationship with his female cousin did not consist of much. Most of Olga's time was spent sparring with Ingrid and when Ingrid was in lessons, the girl was in her room doing who-knew-what. If Vlad had to guess how many words he had exchanged with her so far, he'd probably guess a grand total of ten words and they had all been mandatory greetings. "I guess you're not Boris."
"Forgive me, my Lady," the servant began.
The man didn't get very far in what he was about to say before Olga whirled on him with her sharp tongue. "You're not forgiven, servant. What makes you think you can interrupt me? I expect you to report to your masters and demand punishment for your insolence."
The servant barely blinked at that. He only bowed once to show that he would do as was commanded.
Vlad rolled his eyes before addressing the bowed figure. "Continue. What were you going to say?"
"My Lord and Lady, the participants of this year's Debut are housed in the West Wing of the castle."
"And where are we then?" Olga snapped.
"The East Wing, my Lady, upon the fifth floor. I assure you, none have finer rooms than the Dracula clan."
Vlad could almost taste the barrage of questions his cousin was about to ask now that the servant proved to be a veritable trove of information regarding the castle. He was also curious but he wasn't about to sit through a half-hour interrogation. He beckoned to the servant to leave. "You're dismissed."
The Breather bowed once again, lower than before, and fully closed the door behind him.
"I wasn't finished with him," Olga said angrily.
"You could always ask any servant another time," Vlad replied briskly, untying his cloak and tossing it on one of the stools in the room. "Where's my dad and Uncle Ivan?"
Olga crossed her arms, unhappy to let the topic drop. But she relented and glared, "They're asleep. It's daytime."
"For how long?"
"How should I know?" she snapped. "When I came up here they were already asleep. I know because I knocked on their doors and looked inside."
"Can't say I'm surprised," Vlad shrugged.
A bit of silence passed between them then. There wasn't much they could say to each other and Olga had always seen him as her pathetic brother's accomplice the last few weeks anyway. Vlad knew she didn't necessarily see him in a good light. But as far as he was concerned, the more his family saw him poorly, the better. "Good" in their eyes was vampiric.
"How was your audience with the Grand High Vampire?" she finally settled upon asking – oddly diplomatic of her.
Vlad raised his eyebrows. He contemplated rebuffing her, but realized that despite everything she was family and he was the only person she could talk to now. Olga was the youngest of them all and even though she had a frightening penchant for vampirism already, she was still in a new environment.
Vlad raised a finger and responded, "Give me a second." He turned towards the walls of the room and pressed one of his palms to the stone, murmuring under his breath a protective spell to prevent any listeners from hearing. Yes, the stones were probably too thick for anybody to hear anything. But he wasn't going to take risks and he knew that the castle itself might be watching them. It was a simple enough spell, not the strongest because Vlad had yet to learn those, but he hoped it would suffice.
When he turned back to his cousin, a new and less hostile expression adorned her face. It wasn't necessarily more welcoming, but it was no longer as sharp edged as it had been. "I've never seen you cast magic before," she commented with her voice neutral.
Vlad shrugged it off. "Just something to make sure what we say will be private. You were asking me about my audience right?"
"Yes. What did you think of it?" Olga was once again all business.
"Short. Not much else."
"That's it?"
Vlad shook his head. "Honestly, no. I didn't even get a look at the Grand High Vampire's face."
"I didn't either." Olga pursed her lips. "He probably didn't let anybody un-Turned see him. I wouldn't if I were him." She paused again, as if restraining herself. Then her younger age showed when she continued, "I suppose I didn't know what to think either. Some of the High Council asked me about traveling and why my family hasn't decided to settle in Romania where we should be. Some asked me what I have been learning regarding vampire tradition. I knew of course, that Father has been teaching us what we need and I was perfect, but then somebody mentioned I had an accent - which I don't! I can't believe how insolent they were all being, knowing I am a Dracula."
Oh, Vlad could see why she wanted to talk now. This was the first time he detected the smallest traces of insecurity in her. Olga had probably expected to come to Romania to be treated like royalty. But that was not quite the case. He could see how it startled her; she had probably not had as many vampire visitors with her family's nomadic lifestyle so she had less exposure than Vlad and Ingrid had in their childhood.
"Is this your first time talking to Romanian vampires?" Vlad asked.
"Of course not! We met several families in New England who had recently moved there from Romania."
Not exactly what Vlad had in mind. Vampires around the world were ubiquitously vicious, but Romanian vampires were vicious and entitled. They believed themselves to be the original vampires after all and it showed. They would stop at nothing to find some fault.
Olga and Boris spoke perfect Romanian. They spoke as if they had grown up here, and although there was the slightest hint of an accent, Vlad hadn't thought it was significant enough to even comment on. He supposed he had underestimated vampire pettiness.
"They're just all fools," Olga sniffed, her eyebrows drawn into an angry crease, her eyes set, and her small stature almost trembling with indignation. "I will prove them all wrong. I am a Dracula and nobody should dare to question me."
Sometimes Vlad wondered if Ingrid and Olga knew just how similar they were. Perhaps it was a good thing they didn't; who knew what sort of trouble they'd stir up as a team.
~0~
"Vladimir Dracula?"
Vlad struggled to keep himself from letting out a sigh of resignation. This was probably the twentieth vampire who had approached him at tonight's gathering, and he was desperately looking for some escape route. If wasn't bad enough that he'd been forced to wear yet another heavyset of vampire finery for the entire night, he was also forced to do it cordially. After all, it was the first event of the Debut: a reception.
It had been two nights since Vlad and his family had been ushered to Romania via magical coin. The brief respite surprised the young vampire, but he quickly learned that it was due to the extended amount of time the debuting vampires were being held in audience with the High Council and the Grand High Vampire. Vlad had learned as much when he asked one of the servants if he could visit Ingrid and Boris and was given a rather solid refusal. When the young vampire asked why, the Breather had only vaguely said it was not allowed for the duration of their stay here so that the debutantes could be properly assessed and because they were most likely still being questioned.
So Vlad had taken to wandering the great castle instead, which he also learned to be the infamous Bran Castle itself. It was famously related to his family name through the books and it amused Vlad to know that this place actually existed. Discovering the title of the castle had been simple, but actually finding his way around was another matter entirely. Vlad had thought Hogwarts was a maze with its moving staircases and shifting rooms, but this stone structure somehow managed to confuse him even more. At times, when he thought he was going downwards, he found himself going up the stairs and the halls would stretch endlessly no matter how long Vlad walked. He could see why the initial servant who had shown him his rooms had explicitly stated how to contact them; if he hadn't been able to contact the servants for guidance he would have been lost a long time ago.
Yet, despite all of the obstacles, a slight shape of the place had begun to form in Vlad's mind. The easiest landmark to find was the main ballroom because it was as the servant had said: down the set of stairs beyond his family's rooms on the first floor. From there, a back door opened to a conjoining room breaking into other sets of hallways that, again, led nowhere in particular. The only rooms Vlad could consistently find beyond his family's and the ballroom were a study lounge on the third floor and a small library on the second. It seemed the castle was keeping him – and probably every else – separate from each other because Vlad never ran into any vampires except for the ones he had come with. It unnerved the young vampire a little to realize he could not find the entrance foyer either, preventing him from leaving the castle unless he jumped through a window.
Perhaps all of the trickery was for the better. The less a massive number of vampires ran into each other on idle days the less likely there would be mass murder occurring. The fewer vampires who could leave meant no resources coming in or out to ensure a fair Debut. At least, that was how Vlad rationalized everything. It was better than thinking himself a prisoner because that thought process would do nothing for his psyche. He already woke up enough at night without Zoltan or Nox there.
The only interesting thing that really came out of two days and nights of free time was the chance for Vlad to speak his uncle and cousin more. Olga, bored out of her mind, had decided talking to him was better than nothing. They talked about trivial things, never anything of heavy importance. Small things like speculation on the upcoming Debut events and thoughts on Bran Castle's bewildering layout dominated their conversations. It was partially due to the fact that neither of them knew each other well enough to broach any other topics. Vlad was just grateful Olga had deemed him neither competition nor bullying target like she had Ingrid and Boris. Sometimes, it looked like she hadn't known what to make of him even though she made sure to throw in her share of insults. He caught her a few times glancing at him from the corner of her eyes when he did something that surprised her like lighting a candle with a glance or giving her a word here and there about how to correct what incredibly slight accent she had.
Olga was a lot like her father in that respect. Since Vlad's confrontation with the vampire, the man had taken to striking up random amiable conversations with him. But neither of them ever broached the topic of Vlad's fierce dislike of actual vampirism again nor did they discuss Vlad's aunt. Ivan was, in many ways, like his brother. But in many ways he was not. He was a third son, destined not to inherit anything so long as the Count existed and that was perhaps why the man was not quite so forward. Ivan did not lack for energy – in fact, his booming voice challenged the Count's on a good day – but what proclamations he made were never as inciting. There was an odd diplomacy there, hidden under layers and layers of Dracula pride.
It had almost been peaceful until the third night they were at the castle. A servant had come into Vlad's room in the dead of night as he was preparing for bed to announce the High Council was holding a reception for all the distinguished guests within the hour. Naturally, Vlad was more than a little annoyed to be caught mid-teeth brushing (something his father always stressed to prepare for healthy fangs). But he had politely dismissed the servant and took a long sigh before reaching for his formal wear.
His family had entered together, an appropriate hour later than the time the servant had informed them. It would have been unbecoming to arrive on time, the Count had said. They were the most esteemed of vampire families; other clans waited on them, not the other way around. Unsurprisingly, they had not been the only family to think so. Quite a few others had arrived late as well, the servants barely blinking an eye. Vlad had a sneaking suspicion that the workers of the castle had been aware such a thing would happen and had already planned accordingly.
Only when it seemed like everybody had been present, did the participants of the Debut finally begin to step inside. It had been a long affair, with a member of the lower nobility taking the time to announce the names and titles of the vampire children. This was a Debut after all and knowing each new piece coming to the board was essential. It had quickly become clear that the debutantes were presented according to their standing and position. Those of the lower nobility were introduced first and, should there be more than one participant for each family, the children were named first to last in order of their right to inherit. Vlad had recognized almost all of the family names being listed, only struggling a little with the relatively new lower houses.
The entire room had remained attentive, taking particular notice when names of the upper nobility began to be called – Ramanga, Vaccaria, Lansley, Von Racalud, Baraque, Goffanon, Cihuateto, and Impundulu to name a few. These were the children who would one day rule their own houses and have the largest influence on vampire society. It was not only a point of interest to know these participants, but it was also of the utmost necessity.
Vlad had taken note of those entering, if only to remember so that he would not embarrass his sister later. It was only one particular name, however, that truly captured all of his focus: Danesi.
Of all the vampire lineages Vlad and Ingrid had to learn, it was the Danesi family the Count had brought to their attention first. He had looked them in the eyes, and told them this was perhaps the greatest threat they would have to contend with. Slayers could not be ignored, but they could also be easily avoided should the need arise and should a vampire have enough skill to do so. After all, Slayers were just Breathers and very rarely did vampires of high birth struggle with them. But equally powerful vampires with a vendetta could be incredibly dangerous for they had rivalling powers and strength.
It hadn't been hard to memorize the Danesi line because for the first six generations, the Dracula and Danesi line were one and the same. It was only when Dan I was murdered in the 12th century by his younger stepbrother, Mircea the Elder, that the family line split. Mircea the Elder had taken the family inheritance for himself and ruled successfully during his time alive. But Dan II, son of Dan I, and all of his descendants since have wanted the death of Mircea the Elder and all of his kin. The blood feud was infamous and the two houses never ceased to be at each other's throats to vie for the upper hand. The Count had been proud to tell his children that their ancestor had been Mircea the Elder – "such a fantastic role model" – and that the Dracula family prevailed more often than the Danesi did. Nevertheless, Vlad and Ingrid had been told to expect a Danesi to be out for their blood.
From what Vlad could recall, his family was currently of higher standing. This fact was solidified when the Danesi name was called first, before the Draculas, at the reception. Vlad imagined that little fact did not go unnoticed by anybody in the room that night, and he had struggled not to grimace. Technically, it was his ancestor who had murdered his elder brother in cold blood for power. Vlad would have been rather incensed at that too.
Thoughts of old feuds and murder aside, the young vampire had taken careful note of the Danesi debutante. His name was Will Danesi – a rather odd name for one of high blood – and according to the announcement, he was first in line for the Danesi inheritance. That last bit had made everybody shift a little more in excitement. Firstborn sons were always of interest.
Will had taken the attention with grace. He barely batted an eye upon entering and strode through the doors with what seemed to be easy confidence. Brown hair reached his ears and darker brown eyes surveyed the audience before him. He was on the taller side, so it wasn't long before he stood beside the others who had already entered.
Vlad didn't spare the Danesi heir too much attention after that and neither did the rest of the congregation when the next debutante was called. If the room had tensed before, the air had turned almost palpable once the announcing vampire called, "Ingrid of the Dracula Family, firstborn daughter of Count Dracula, the Prince of Darkness, and third heir to the Dracula throne."
She had been dressed in the finest black gown his father could commission, complete with rubies interspersed on her person and lips so blood red Vlad could almost believe Ingrid had bitten a Breather mere minutes before. Haunting, dangerous, and beautiful. She was so much more the vampire of the Count's children. And Vlad had been happy for her. He had no doubt she made quite the impression as she glided inside.
It had been rather unfortunate, then, that Boris was the last to step through the ballroom's double doors following the previous impressive two. Boris's entrance had been the most anticipated, everybody still as statues as his title, "Boris of the Dracula Family, firstborn son of Ivan Dracula and second heir to the Dracula throne" was announced. With their expectations heightened, the crowd had probably envisioned somebody of Uncle Ivan's strong frame and dominating presence. But what they had received was quite the opposite.
Even with his glasses noticeably absent, Boris had not been what people imagined. He had still been as thin as ever, and what posture he had acquired prior to the Debut seemed to shrink the further he stepped into everyone's scrutiny. Quite frankly, Vlad had thought it a miracle his cousin didn't trip on his way in; Boris was horribly nearsighted without his spectacles and already prone to clumsiness.
Vlad heard his father and uncle sigh a little at the sight. But there was little to be done as Boris took his last step inside and the reception began in earnest.
Vlad wasn't fooled by the seemingly innocuous nature of this event. This was no preliminary introduction session. The Debut had begun the moment all of them had been summoned and this was probably a test in and of itself. Vampires were lethal creatures, dangerous in more ways than one. Amongst themselves, methods varied from outright attacks to verbal slights. This was probably a way for each family to size each other up, test the waters during a truce. It was a show of restraint many probably struggled with and a time when each could plant the seeds of alliances or stoke the flames of conflict.
Basically, it was sure to be a night of torture for Vlad. He had no interest in throwing himself into the fray and quickly withdrew himself from his family before his father could boisterously show him off to everybody present.
The young vampire had been only halfway across the floor to the safety of the ballroom's edges before he was overtaken by a smiling vampiress. Vlad cursed whatever vampire etiquette required them to greet by introduction of names. He knew that if he had said any other generic title, the vampiress would have let him be for she undoubtedly could tell he was still un-Turned. Most un-Turned were unimportant at this stage. But Vlad knew his family name would turn heads.
And turn heads it did. The moment he said his name, the lady's dark eyes had brightened as much as a creature of the undead's eyes could and that was how Vlad found himself bombarded with the surrounding vampires. Luckily, none of them had been of particularly high standing quite yet. The last thing Vlad wanted was to catch the attention of anybody highly important. He occasionally glanced to the sides every once in a while to keep an eye out for any recognizable council members or other upper nobility.
"Please relay my regards to your father, Count Dracula," the vampire Vlad was currently talking to was requesting. "In case I am unable to make his acquaintance tonight."
Vlad nodded, a small smile plastered on his face. "Of course, my lord, it would be my pleasure."
With that, the young vampire extricated himself from the barbed bush that was small talk and finally managed to throw himself to one of the walls, directly under the light of one of the braziers illuminating the room. Vampires tended to avoid the light, seeing things far better in shadow. It was something Vlad had learned very early on as a child when he had tried to play hide and seek with his father. If it were only vampires attending, there would most likely not be any fires on at all. The lighting was most likely to accommodate those who could not yet see in the dark. A particular group that, uncomfortably enough, no longer included Vlad – not that he'd ever tell anybody that yet. As far as his family knew, Vlad was still normal outside of the magic he practiced.
He stood quietly observing the reception. Vampires were moving from person to person, making the most of the night. Some had many crowded about them while others had to actively work for conversation. Vlad had lost sight of his family at this point, but he figured that they undoubtedly captured a large number eager to speak to them. They did not necessarily need him with them as long a few people spotted him present. That was support enough for his sister.
Servants were interspersed among the crowd, offering cups of blood or their wrists depending on each vampire's preference. For the un-Turned, there were small h'orderves and several servants were performing music not unlike what Vlad had heard at Nearly Headless Nick's deathday party as background for the vampires. There were a great many servants present at the reception to keep it running smoothly and it made Vlad wonder what most of them did on a normal basis when there wasn't such a meeting as this. Surely, between council meetings and Debuts this excess amount of servants had little to do?
Vlad spent some time wondering about small things like that until it struck him a little into the evening that the Grand High Vampire was missing. He eyed the throng of vampires. Maybe he had just missed the silver haired ruler? Surely such a figure would have commanded a presence by now. How very odd. Vlad frowned a little, searching the gathering again until he heard somebody settle in place next to him. The young vampire turned to his right, bracing himself for another formal greeting but was beaten to the chase.
"This is probably the best spot in the entire room," a slightly older boy grinned at him, his longer brown locks trailing into his eyes. "I can see why you've been hanging here for almost a good hour."
Vlad gaped a little at how casual his new wall companion was. "I'm not really into this kind of thing."
"Clearly! Not that I can blame you. I'm rather exhausted myself. Perhaps I'll stay with you. Two of us in the same corner does make for a better image, right?"
"Of course," Vlad replied, still trying to get a grasp on the boy in front of him. He seemed rather cheerful for a vampire and, despite what he had said about being exhausted, rather comfortable in his own skin. Vlad noted with mild surprise that the boy was also breathing. "You're un-Turned, right?"
"Just like you," the boy grinned. "Are you here for a relative?"
"My sister."
"We're in the same coffin then! I'm here for my brother. Not that he really needs my support here, he's already prepared."
Vlad raised his eyebrows, interested now that this conversation was quite a nice deviation from the many he had before. "You're proud of him."
"Naturally. He's probably the best brother out there and the strongest too. No offense, though. I'm sure your sister is just as fantastic."
It astonished Vlad how openly supportive his new companion was of his family. He knew not all vampire siblings detested each other – his father and uncle certainly didn't – but he had never seen any vampire so free in their praise. "My sister is fantastic. She's certainly going to be a better vampire than I will ever be."
"I wonder if they've met yet," the boy mused. "Maybe they'd make a good match then."
Vlad blanched. "What?"
"I'm kidding. Pulled your fang there, didn't I?"
Vlad couldn't help a slight grin at that. Who knew that he'd come across somebody like this at a vampire reception? It was like a breath of fresh air.
"Hey, there we go! Got you to smile a bit there. Which wouldn't be recommended, I suppose. That's something I have to work on. My father is constantly reminding me that maybe I should channel my energy elsewhere."
"I don't mind," Vlad smiled a little, feeling himself relax for the first time the entire evening. "I like it."
The boy laughed. "Then you're the first after my siblings to think so."
"You have more siblings?"
"Just a younger sister. My brother is oldest and I'll be Turning next year."
"You're nearly fifteen then?" Vlad was a little sad to hear that. He wasn't sure how much Turning changed a person, but he hoped it wasn't much in this case.
"In a few months, yes," the boy puffed with excitement, his eyes brightening. "Then it will be my turn to make my family proud. I'll help raise our clan further and higher than ever before. What about you? When are you Turning?"
Ah, into dangerous waters here. Vlad didn't like thinking about how much time he had left, so he replied, "I'm nearly thirteen."
"You've still got some ways to go, then. No worries, you'll be sixteen before you know it!"
Vlad knew his companion meant well, but he felt a little sick at the reminder. He didn't reply to that and just nodded once.
The boy seemed to sense the change in atmosphere because he quickly changed the subject. "Here, I'll introduce you to my brother. I'm sure you'll like him! And I like you so I'm sure you'll both get along splendidly."
Vlad almost wanted to protest, not in any mood to start up more conversation. But he hardly got in a word edgewise before his new acquaintance was waving at somebody from the crowd over. It was difficult to say no to this person when he seemed so exuberant with everything.
"I got him, my brother is coming over now!"
The young Dracula heir sighed and resigned himself to this meeting. He couldn't exactly reject the offer now. Instead, Vlad followed his companion's line of vision and saw something that made him choke.
"This is my brother, Will Danesi," the slightly older boy was introducing as one of the night's most sought after debutantes strode over. Vlad's acquaintance – a Danesi – noticed how stiff Vlad had become and smiled disarmingly. "Don't worry. He's not bad at all. I promise our family isn't as intimidating as it seems."
Vlad wasn't so sure about that. He forced himself to calm down a little and bowed slightly at the waist as Will pulled forward. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Hm, I like him already," Will assessed after bowing in return. He glanced at his younger brother. "At least he remembers his manners, Darius. What would father say if he saw you forgetting to introduce your new companion?"
Darius flushed a little at the gentle reminder. "I'm sorry," he said to Vlad with a bow. "I was so engrossed in our conversation that I forgot we had not even introduced ourselves to each other yet. I am Darius Danesi."
Both brothers then looked at Vlad expectantly. Oh, garlic. How was he going to get out of this one? The moment they heard his last name, everything would change. It would just be Vlad's luck to find the one likeable person in the room to be his family's sworn enemy.
"I –"
"My lord?" Vlad whirled around to see a servant bowing before him, holding up a small folded piece of parchment. "From the Grand High Vampire, my lord."
Relief flooded Vlad's mind before a new set of anxieties overtook him. A note from the Grand High Vampire himself? What did this mean? He picked up the parchment before bowing to the Danesi brothers. "Forgive me."
Will waved off the apology. "Best not to keep the Grand High Vampire waiting."
"Yes, no worries," Darius smiled. "We have the rest of the Debut, right?"
Vlad accepted their understanding with another bow before the two disappeared back into the crowd, leaving the young vampire to read the notice. He watched them go with a touch of regret. They were not the worst vampire children Vlad had ever met. In fact, they were on the more agreeable side. He wondered how much of that would be maintained should they learn his family name – as they were guaranteed to learn eventually. It made Vlad more than a little sad and once again frustrated that this was yet another thing he could not control. He hadn't asked to be born a vampire or a Dracula. Yet here he was, left to use the cards he was given to the best of his ability. Vlad sighed, suddenly very tired, before unrolling the paper in his hands.
Vladimir Dracula
I would very much like to hear more of your experiences with the wizards. Come to my study at your earliest convenience. My personal servant will follow you until you deem it appropriate to come join me.
His Grandness
It…wasn't as bad as Vlad might've anticipated it to be. At least not from what the note stated. But he knew that things were not always so simple. The young vampire glanced at the servant waiting patiently beside him, looking out to the gathering to give the Dracula heir his space. Vlad hadn't noticed it before because he was so preoccupied with the Danesi brothers, but he saw now that this servant was dressed in more respectable clothing than the rest, her hair braided up in a neat pattern about her head and her expression more focused. She did not seem as hypnotized as the rest were. Perhaps this was what the Grand High Vampire's personal servants looked like?
"Would you mind showing me where his Grandness's study is?" Vlad inquired.
The servant turned her head to him, her eyes lowered. "If you so wish, my lord. The night is young, though. Are you quite sure?"
Yet another odd thing about this servant. Vlad had yet to meet a vampire servant who questioned the requests given to them. Still, it wasn't as if the young vampire was bothered by it in the least. If anything, it made him feel less uncomfortable. This servant seemed more human than the others and it was a point of familiarity for him.
"Quite sure," Vlad replied. "I don't think anybody is too interested in me tonight."
The servant remained silent in reply to that statement, as if she were skeptical of the statement's truth. But she did not question him again and merely stepped towards one of the doors towards the back of the ballroom, the door that led to the many hallways.
As she took him away from the reception, Vlad couldn't help but wonder if he was being tricked. He could not turn down the Grand High Vampire's invitation. But perhaps he should have told his family he where he was going first in case this was going to be a more sinister meeting than the note implied. The thought made Vlad's stomach sink. His life seemed to be a constant jump from one snake pit into another. How he wished he had Nox with him right now to at least keep an eye out for him.
They reached their destination within a matter of minutes. Vlad had lost track of where exactly they had turned and how far they had walked, but it certainly didn't seem too distant from the ballroom.
His assessment was quickly proven wrong, because once the servant opened the door, Vlad could see out the great span of windows at the far wall showing that they were far from the first floor of the castle. His eyes widened, but he immediately dropped to one knee upon noticing the Grand High Vampire's form sitting at strong wooden desk before the windows. Vlad's heart beat quickly, fearful of what was to come.
"No need to be so anxious, Vladimir Dracula," a slightly amused voice welcomed him. "Rise. You have my permission to relax yourself."
Vlad obeyed, trying calm himself. He stood up and only when he found himself a seat across the Grand High Vampire did he finally take a careful look at his surroundings.
It was not so big a room as he had initially thought. The windows spanning the entire wall behind the Grand High Vampire made it seem larger at first. But the more Vlad looked, the more the place seemed less intimidating. A fireplace with several skulls above it crackled with flame to his right, enough to brighten the room. Shelves of books occupied the space to Vlad's left with another set of reading chairs to the side. The room seemed very well used, the lack of mustiness indicating that the Grand High Vampire was in here enough to prevent too much dust from settling. Rich, thick rugs covered the stone floor and portraits of other vampires adorned the walls. The Grand High Vampire's desk itself was cluttered with open books and rolls of parchment, multiple maps dangerously close to falling over the side – a stark contrast to the neat nature of the study. He seemed to be very busy. Perhaps this was why the vampire hadn't been at the reception.
Last, Vlad dared to look up at the Grand High Vampire's face. He hadn't been able to at the audience when he had first arrived. But now that he looked at the vampire ruler, he observed an individual older than his father, the barest of wrinkles beginning to form on his face. It was a strong face that had probably seen far more than Vlad could yet imagine, and uncompromising. Longer white tresses framed the man's face and the crown of bones upon his head portrayed an elder authority. The Grand High Vampire wore purple robes, but no cloak for the night. In short, practical and commanding but not quite as sinister as Vlad might have imagined. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised. The elder vampire had been rather lenient during their first meeting.
"Finished looking, child?"
Vlad flushed in embarrassment at the question, bowing his head apologetically, "Forgive me, your Grandness. I did not mean to offend you."
"And you haven't," the Grand High Vampire dismissed. "You are not the first to be awed. Tell me, how has the reception been? I would have thought you would wish to stay amongst the rest for a little longer."
"The reception has been impressive, your Grandness," Vlad replied and he wasn't lying. The entire affair had been appropriately grand even if he hadn't particularly enjoyed it himself. "I just thought it best not to keep you waiting."
The Grand High Vampire did what Vlad could only classify as a dignified snort. "Different from your father, aren't you?"
The young vampire couldn't quite tell if that was a compliment, an insult, or a rhetorical question. He chose to politely reply, "If your Grandness believes so."
"Definitely different from your father." The Grand High Vampire looked at Vlad then, his eyes piercing the subject before him. "Interesting considering your mother shares none of your restraint, running off with that werewolf. Quite embarrassing, that business. Quite embarrassing."
It took a lot of Vlad's control to keep his face perfectly straight at that. The mention of his mother had immediately brought forth a bubbling anger he had to stifle like smothering a flame. Vlad wouldn't give anybody – not even the Grand High Vampire – the satisfaction of seeing how much his mother's desertion affected him. In the vampire world, it was a weakness to be exploited and made Vlad feel ashamed.
The elder vampire's eyes never left Vlad's face for the brief moments of silence that followed his statement. What he was looking for, the Dracula heir didn't know. But it seemed Vlad had passed some sort of test because the Grand High Vampire eventually chose to lean back into his chair, folding his hands in lap. "Enough of that. You are aware of why I invited you here?"
"You wished to speak about my experiences with the wizards, your Grandness" Vlad readily answered, eager to leave behind the previous topic.
"Yes, yes. You see, we have not had contact with the wizards for centuries. I have never been interested in beginning such contact again. But I would like to gather a sense of them."
Vlad was fairly sure the reason behind such renewed interest was not pure curiosity. If there was anything he knew about vampires, it was that they never did anything for one, innocent purpose. But he voiced none of his thoughts, only asking, "What would you like to know, your Grandness?"
"Anything of note, child. Perhaps how adept you believe they are? Any conflicts they are currently embroiled in? There has barely been any scent of them in the Breather world."
Vlad took a deep breath. "They are organized, I suppose. They have government and are very careful about keeping their magic a secret from the rest of the world. There…was a conflict before I was born but no longer." The young vampire decided revealing everything about Voldemort possibly being back was not wise at this point in time. If the Grand High Vampire heard of Voldemort, who knew what he would do with such information? Probably nothing. But Vlad would prefer it if his two worlds were kept separate and in order for that to happen, he had to make the wizarding world seem as innocuous as possible.
It felt odd, being the authority on this particular topic. He didn't truly know too much himself about the wizarding world, but he was the only one of the vampire world that had extended contact.
"What are their children being taught? What do you learn in class, child?"
"As I mentioned before, I have only completed two years. But what we begin with are simple spells, your Grandness. Things like having object float, and other small charms to set a foundation." Again, Vlad kept the information to a minimum. The Grand High Vampire didn't need to know Vlad read ahead and that Hogwarts had an entire class dedicated to defense against the dark arts. That would imply the wizards needed to defend themselves against anything at all and the vampire ruler might take it as some odd form of battle training.
"That is all?" There was something in his voice, something Vlad couldn't quite place.
"Yes, your Grandness. I am sorry I –" Vlad cut himself off, seeing in the window's reflection behind the Grand High Vampire that the servant who had led him here was pulling out a knife. He reacted without thinking, his body so tense since the Chamber of Secrets that he spun around in his seat to snap his fingers and exclaim, "Protego!"
And not a second too soon. The servant had thrown the knife directly at Vlad; it would have pierced him between his eyes if his spell hadn't stopped the weapon midair. The young vampire hadn't even been sure the spell would work because he had read the protection spell was specifically designed to stop spells, not physical objects.
The scene was frozen like that for a moment, the servant's arm still extended from throwing the knife and Vlad standing with his own arm still outstretched, the weapon hovering as if hanging there by an invisible string. Then, Vlad released his hold on the spell and let the knife clatter to the floor before turning to the Grand High Vampire.
"What is the meaning of this?" Vlad asked, his sense of propriety gone. Cold fury replaced all other emotion. The servant would not have attacked like so if she had not been given permission by her master. Servants were hypnotized too well to act on their own to such a degree. Raising a hand against nobility was punishable by death.
"Ah, so you have learned some useful things," the Grand High Vampire mused, not at all concerned that his servant had almost murdered the Dracula heir. "You are awfully unforthcoming, child. Quite the opposite of how your father has described you, by the way. The Count did not hesitate to tell us about your boldness at home. Yet since coming here you have been anything but."
"So you nearly had me killed?" Vlad demanded. He was so tired of this. Why was it that everybody wanted to pull this sort of reaction out of him? It seemed like everything was trying his patience lately and the young vampire was beginning to run out of his restraint. Sometimes some deep, dark part of him wanted to just lash out and damn the consequences.
The Grand High Vampire's eyes darkened. "Watch your tone, child. Do not forget your place. Powerful as your family is, you still bow to me for a reason."
Not for long, old man. Soon you'll be gone and we'll see who's laughing then.
Vlad blinked. Where…where had that come from? Surely not. He hadn't heard that voice since his first year at Hogwarts.
The vampire didn't have much time to dwell on that thought though, as the Grand High Vampire continued, "Do not concern yourself so much. I would not have let you die so needlessly. I too am under oath during this Debut. I simply wished to see what you could do." The vampire nodded in satisfaction. "You should suffice."
Vlad's eyebrows furrowed at that. "I should suffice?"
"Yes. Now take your seat." The Grand High Vampire glanced over Vlad's shoulder at the servant. "And as for you…"
The servant didn't even react when her head fell off her shoulders. She probably couldn't have, considering how fast it had happened. One moment, she was being attentive to her master's words and the next, there was blood spraying everywhere, her head on the floor before her body had probably even realized it was missing something. Vlad stared in silent horror at the servant's remains, trying very hard not to look at her now blank eyes.
There was a look of mild distaste on the Grand High Vampire's face. "There, justice delivered. Now your family cannot claim I have attacked unjustly. I have punished the one responsible. Such a pity though. I did like that rug."
Suddenly, Vlad had a feeling he was very lucky indeed that the Grand High Vampire had allowed the young vampire's previously insolent tone. He hadn't even seen the elder vampire move. Had it been magic? Or did the man move so quickly that Vlad hadn't even had a chance to see?
Either way, Vlad settled into his seat as he had been instructed to do and reined himself in. Now was not the time to forget he was in the presence of one of the most dangerous beings in the world. He would deal with his absolute terror at seeing the servant die before him at another time.
"As I was saying, you will suffice. You see, I must confess that I did bring you here for more than just wizard talk." The Grand High Vampire leaned over his desk to pull out one of the many books he had stacked. "For the next two events for the Debut attendees, I require some assistance. I will personally conduct the next event. But for the last, it is tradition to have another administer it."
It took a moment for Vlad to understand the Grand High Vampire's intentions. "Your Grandness, I apologize but I am not quite sure if I am qualified."
"You are more qualified than many others here, child. Not only because I say so, but because the last event requires a largely impartial administrator with the magical prowess to conduct the spell necessary for it."
Vlad did not think this was a good idea at all. "Your Grandness, I cannot possibly be impartial. My own sister and cousin are two of the debutantes this year."
"And yet, you do not seem to care very much. If you cared, why answer my invitation so readily? Why miss the chance to introduce yourself to more families to improve your sister's standing? I have even heard rumors that you do not even wish to be a vampire. Who better to give this task to? You will be a surprise to these debutantes, that is for sure. I have already given this task to too many of the same vampires."
That left Vlad speechless. He found he could not answer the Grand High Vampire and only looked at the elder vampire with newfound fear. Vlad could now see why this was not a vampire to cross.
"I shall take your silence as acceptance. A servant will guide you to the appropriate room when the time comes. Everything else you need to know about your role in the last event is in this book." The Grand High Vampire handed over the book he had picked up earlier and Vlad took it wordlessly. It was, thankfully, rather thin and small. "Do you understand?"
Vlad gathered what pieces of himself were still intact and knelt before the vampire world's ruler. "I understand, your Grandness."
"Good. Dismissed." The elder vampire sounded bored, as if now that he had gotten what he wanted out of Vlad, the younger vampire was no longer worth his attention.
Vlad did not hesitate to comply, swiftly standing and heading to the exit as quickly as was appropriate. He didn't quite care if the Grand High Vampire could sense his anxiety to escape at this point. Whatever composure he had coming in wasn't exactly in place anymore as he stepped over the servant's body on the way out.
Just as Vlad's palm touched the door handle, the Grand High Vampire spoke to him one last time.
"Oh, and Mr. Dracula? Do refrain from placing silencing spells in your room anymore. It certainly makes one wonder what you have to hide in the first place."
Whew! That was a little longer of a chapter than usual. And different than what I have written before in the sense that this was my first real deviation from canon.
I decided to loosely base my vampire world on the TV show and expand upon it because I would like to include more of the vampire world in this story. I know from the show that there is a council and a Grand High Vampire. But the structure of it all in general was never really elucidated. So here's a brief breakdown of how I have set up my vampire government:
The High Council is made of two parts: a council and the upper nobility/royalty. The council is made up of elected lower nobility, who really deal with the nitty gritty of daily governing. They pass laws or some judgements with the nobility giving their input. The nobility - basically strong vampire families - are not technically government "employees", but are allowed their say because they would influence politics anyway. The Grand High Vampire has final say in everything though because, well, he would just take down whoever didn't comply.
I have the structure of vampire government and society a little more written out, so let me know if you want to know more about it. I just put a bit above in case it needed some clarification.
And the reason why I added the non-canon Danesi family is because, while reading up on the history of Vlad the Impaler, I saw that several of his ancestors killed off one another and thought it was a great opportunity to add in some good old blood feuds there. I will, though, try to keep the same vampire characters as in the original series (like the whole Ramanga issues and whatnot). I do like Darius by the way. He will have an interesting part in the story, at least in my mind as of now.
If you are from Romania or know a lot about Romania, please forgive me for any inaccuracies I write. I have personally never been to Romania and do not know much about it, so I tried my best. Please do give me feedback though!
Lastly, I wrote this in a mostly sleepy state. If there are any grammar issues please forgive me for that too.
Thank you for reading and continuing to read. Till next time!