MORE NEW CHARACTERS! They are also very important and this kinda sets the story for the third book for Mina… so…yeah. Everything so far has been leading up to this!

Mina: Yay! They finally get to meet the Creepy Old Romanian Guy!

Vlad: Who?

55 Le Sanctuaire des Vampyre

Mina stared up at the sign that read The Crypt in large letter. The building was boring and didn't have much to it except a 'there are murders here' vibe. She followed Lucy out of the car and she was dragged up to October, one of the Goth girls who hangs out around the belfry.

"Mina, do you know October?" Lucy asked her and both girls smiled down at her.

"Uh, I know a bit but not officially. No." October smiled and held out her hand to Mina. They shook hands and turned to lead Mina inside the club.

"You will love it, its Goth central!" October pressed as she opened the heavy doors.

"But…uh, I'm not Goth." Mina muttered unsurely.

"Well, we know, you are on more of the vampire side. But this club is for that too! Just a lot of the Vampires are Goths too." Lucy explained as they continued down the hall. Loud music vibrated the hall and tingled Mina's insides. She shuttered, it wasn't that she was scared. It was more that she was praying that the slim chance a Stokerton Vampire was here would not happen.

Mina always had to remember; she is the friend and mate of the Pravus. The one vampire who every vampire either wants to kill or wants to meet. And currently, they seem to be on the killing side. If a vampire, a real vampire, was here in this club then she would be in major trouble.

Once she finally entered the main center of the club she looked around. She saw crowds of Goths and people who were like, people who liked dark colors but didn't seem to fit the Goths.

"Mina, come on!" Lucy pulled her by the arm toward huge sodas. Mina glanced at her reflection in the mirror and subconsciously moved a strand of red hair out of her face. Pillows of soft velvet and lace overflowed from the cushions as Goths and those called 'Vampires' squeezed into the soft fabrics. "Everyone, this is Mina. If you don't know her, now you do."

"Hey, Miss Mina." She heard a voice in her ear as hot breath ran down her neck. She turned and saw Jonathan smiling down at her. "Wanna get a drink?" He asked.

Mina then saw the black lights that huge above the bar at the center of the club. She saw energy drinks, coffee, candy, soda, and jewelry that glow. She stood and followed him as he led her through the crowd. They finally reached the counter and she saw a boy who came over to see what they needed.

"Can I help you?" The boy asked, he seemed to be about their age, maybe a little older. But he held himself as an adult.

"Yeah, a soda please. Anything. What do you want, Mina? I'll pay." Jonathan asked her, the boy at the counter stared down at her and offered a warm smile.

"I'll have the same." She told him, he went off to retrieve their drinks as he continued to watch her. When the boy returned he took Jonathan's money and handed them two cups. Mina awkwardly tried to avoid his emerald green eyes.

"I've never seen you here before…" He stated and she blushed.

"She's new William, back off." Jonathan snapped, the boy named William grinned at Jonathan.

"And she told you that you could claim her?" William asked and Jonathan didn't answer. William leaned over the counter. "Hey, you should ditch him and come with me."

"Um…"

"She's not going with you, Will." Jonathan said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She clutched her drink tightly in her hands and stayed silent.

"She has to meet Casimir anyway, you know that." William pressed and Jonathan sighed. "We can both take her if that makes you feel any better." William rolled his eyes as Mina stared back and forth between them as if watching a tennis match.

"Wait, where am I going?" She asked in confusion. Jonathan glared at William and turned to face her.

"Casimir is the manager of the Crypt. He always likes to meet all new comers, and since you are new Will wants to take you to meet him. You don't have to go now; Lucy and I can take you later tonight."

"Is it…okay?" She asked awkwardly, Jonathan smiled warmly and chuckled.

"Casimir is awesome; there is nothing to worry about. But Will here, I'm not too sure about." He winked playfully and Mina smiled. She turned to William who continued to grin down at her.

"Casimir is my dad, I'll take you." William said as he came out from behind the counter. He offered her his hand but Jonathan smacked it aside. Jonathan's icy eyes flashed a glare at Williams emerald ones.

"I'm going with her." William shrugged and started to walk away from the bar. Mina side glanced at Jonathan and wondered why he seemed to dislike William so much.

Mina looked around and saw that all the walls were black but deep, rich purple curtains hung from the ceiling. She didn't notice before but there was a large staircase that was also drenched in black. It was difficult to see with the dim lights of the club and the color of the steps, but it was made of fine, polished wood. William scaled the steps and walked along the atrium that was suspended a level above the rest of the club. Mina noted that there was no one up there with them and that Jonathan no longer had a smile or grin on his face.

William paused at a door at the opposite side of the atrium from the stairwell. "I'll go inside first, knowing my dad he is probably doing something crazy." He rolled his eyes and went inside, leaving them to stare over the railing to the other teens below.

"Jonathan?" He turned to her. "Why don't you seem to like him?"

"He flirts with everything that moves. He just gets on my nerves; he stole a girlfriend from me like a year ago." Mina's eyes widened and she simply nodded. She then bit her lip and her eye brows knitted together as she watched the unmoving door before them. "Don't worry; the manager is really a nice guy. Usually he rarely even meets us; normally it's his assistant Demitri. Then sometimes people get to meet Casimir, but there is no way on knowing if you will."

"Okay…" She replied uncertainly. After so long the door opened with a loud creak and William stepped aside for them to enter.

"You got to meet my dad's assistant first. My dad is a bit busy tonight."

"Sure." She shrugged and a man stood inside, he was tall and thin. His skin was warm with pulsing blood that tingled Mina's senses. He stepped forward and held out his left hand to her. She reluctantly slipped her hand into his and as he shook it she felt him flip her palm up. Her tattoo was flashed into view.

"Nice to meet you…?" He asked as he looked from their hands to her eyes.

"Mina."

"Well, Mina, aren't you young to have a tattoo?" He asked and she pulled away her hand and shoved them into her pockets.

"It's a family thing." She responded and he nodded.

"I must go speak to your father, have them wait here." Demitri said as he turned to William who nodded at his orders. Demitri walked through another door and the room was filled with silence.

"Is he normally that… weird?" She asked and both boys laughed.

"Yeah, that's just Demitri for you. He is in there seeing if my dad has time to meet you." William explained as he pointed to the large door. "I have a feeling he will want to see you."

"Why?" He just shrugged. "And what's so wrong about my tattoo?"

"Nothing." William said with another shrug. He continued to watch the door as he waited for Demitri to return. Jonathan, who was quiet since they entered the room, moved to sit on one of the cushiony couches made of deep red velvet with soft black cloths draped over them at random. The walls were of light grey and the wood was of rich ebony. There was a long wall that had shelves of endless bottles of what appeared to be wine. The shelves ran long the entire wall to her right. Couches and chairs ran along at random around the room around counters of various styles and size. A grand piano sat in the far right corner. Two ornate chandeliers hung overhead. And finally there was a large, elaborate chair perfectly centered in the far back of the room. It could have been used for a thrown judging by its size, yet it fit perfectly with the rest of the room.

Finally the door opened and Demitri reentered. "Casimir would like to see you, he shall be out shortly." Soon enough the doorway was covered by the presence of a man. He was fairly old with snow white hair and wrinkles covering every inch of his pale flesh.

He smiled as he inspected Mina and he glanced up at Demitri and the two boys. "May I speak with you alone, Mina?"

"Um…" She shifted and moved her hair out of her face and looked at Jonathan who shrugged. He stood and she looked back to Casimir. "I guess…yeah." William went towards the door and allowed Jonathan to pass first as they exchanged glares. Casimir lifted his hand and Demitri stepped out through one of the mystery doors in the room.

Now they were alone and the air grew still. Mina finally looked the man dead in the eyes and she felt a shutter run down her entire body. He grinned crookedly at her and his black eyes seemed teasingly menacing. He lifted him arm and his opposing hand slowly reached for his sleeve. Mina watched in silent confusion as the man began to reveal the pale, wrinkled arm that seemed nearly transparent.

His wrist was finally revealed and Mina gasped at the thick black markings over his veins. Her hands slapped over her lips and she held in her temptation to scream for help.

"A trap…" She whimpered as a cold shiver of fear ran through her. She took a step back as the man's face grew emotionless.

"You are quite wrong…" He stepped closer and she backed up with every step he made. Soon she was pressed to the wall and he was three feet away. He drew closer and his icy hand hovered over her cheek. "You've grown…at least since we last met." Mina shook in fear as she tried to control her thoughts.

Vlad's protection was now her top priority, if this man wanted Vlad then she would die before that were to happen. She had to protect Vlad at any cost, and for that she must also protect herself.

Hissing violently, Mina drew out her fangs and flinched the man away from her. He chuckled deep in his throat.

"You have gone farther than any of the young mistresses before you."

"What the hell are you talking about? Who are you?"

"Just as you have been told, I am Casimir. I simply rule and watch over as young vampires like yourself play with those who dream that you, yourself, are real. Charming isn't it?"

"You lead vampires changed at a young age here so you can take them to the Council, is that it?" She demanded harshly, Casimir laughed coldly.

"Heavens no! I do not mingle with those in the Stokerton Council." He turned as he continued to giggle to himself and wandered to the shelves on the far right wall. He uncorked one bottle of wine and poured the deep red liquid into the cups he held in his thin, boney hands. When he finished he left the bottle on a small stand near the wall. Then stalked closer to Mina once again and offered her the cup. She took it reluctantly and her eyes widened.

"Blood…" She muttered softly.

"Yes, blood. Blood with just a faint hint of wine, wonderful taste!" The old man smiled and held out his hand to Mina. She second guessed herself and she suddenly remembered what Otis had told her.

"That ring is your protection."

She glanced down at the small silver and ruby ring and yet there was no small ray of red light. She was safe even though she had little trust in this man. She rested her fingers against his lightly and he leered at her as he led her toward the back of the room two one large sofa and a chair.

"Sit, we have much to discuss."

Mina obeyed and sat on one side of the large sofa, when she brought all her weight down she had to fight so as not to drown in fabric. Casimir took refuge in the single chair across from her.

"What is it you have to discuss with me, a stranger to you?

"Everything, lifetimes of discussions must be repeated." She lifted up the cup to her lips and inhale softly, the rich blood drove her sense insane. She took a deep gulp of the sweet liquid and placed the cup on the counter before her.

"Go find another vampire to go back on memories on, I'm not interested."

"You shall be, my dear. I have a particular interest in you." Mina glanced up at him and back to her hands, yet her ring did not glow a fiery red. Not even the slighted dim light.

"Why? What are you to me?"

"Your brother-in-law."

WHAT?

Mina: WHAT?!?!?

Vlad: I'm so confused! *shouts into air*