Hello!... Hello everyone!
Here is the first chapter of the new story as I promise. Please enjoy it!
There once was a simple village in Transylvania, Romania. And like all the villages that were there, they lived in fear. Fear of the colony of vampires that was ruled by the No-Life King who lived in the castle on top of the mountain. Because those villages were the only few that are around the castle they became a regular target for him and his kind, to quench their thirst for human blood. However, because there were only a few human villages around them the No-Life King made 2 rules among his kind.
The first rule is, to only take a hand full of humans from each village once a month so that humans will have the chance to grow and not die out.
The second rule is to Never feed on those who are under the age of 20 or attack women who are pregnant. That as long as the victim is an adult and with no child, whether it was male or female they are free to feed upon.
The No-Life King also made the humans aware of his decision and the rules that he set on his kind, but he also gave the humans rules to follow.
The first rule is, those humans who were born and lived in one of those villages is to never leave even if it was for travel. And if any outsiders came to pass by one of the villages they are to send a message to the No-Life King to make him aware of them so they won't be harmed.
The second rule is, to Never try to send messages of any kind to the outside.
The third rule is, if a human killed a vampire they would face the No-Life King himself who will decide on their punishment depending on who they killed and for what reason.
If any of the vampires or humans broke one of the rules that were set for them they would be met with Death.
Of course, some tried to fight back and even succeeded in killing few vampires, but the next night a bigger group would come and the number of victims would rise. In the end, the humans gave in. The humans accepted the life of livestock for the vampires, treating it as a tradition to follow once a month, to wait for the arrival of a group of vampires who would take the unfortunate once who'll be their food until the next month comes. With time the humans also but rules of there own that those who commit crimes with it was stealing of murdering they will be sacrificed for the vampires, which will spare the life of an innocent soul.
For 2 centuries the humans lived that life until the chief of one of the villages made a grave mistake that would doom not only him but his entire village.
The Chief of the village was a strict man who followed the No-Life King's rules with no hesitation, keeping everything in order and when he got married and had a son of his own he made sure to teach him how to follow his footsteps and how important those rules are. However, having a son made his heart go a bit soft, so he decided that his son should enjoy his life and take the burden of being a village chief after his death. It wasn't long before the son found a woman that he loved and married her, and when she gave birth to his first granddaughter his heart melted at her sight. She was so beautiful and innocent and he wanted nothing more than to protect her. but couldn't, for soon after a few decades he will die and will leave the poor girl alone in a world where humans are living in fear of the bloodthirsty monsters. The image of the poor girl being afraid, sad and even dead plagued his mind, and so he decided to do the unthinkable, for his granddaughter to live a happy and peaceful life.
Suddenly the chief disappeared without anyone noticing, forcing his son to take over his responsibilities so suddenly. For 3 weeks the son struggled to look over the village and attend to their people's every need but thanks to the people's patient and his friends help he got the hang of it and officially became the village's chief. One night the son woke up to the sounds of horrified screams forcing him to jump out of his bed and instructing his wife to stay in as he ran outside. When he opened the front doors a chill ran down his spine when he was met with a tall dark figure that he almost walked into and when he looked he saw piercing red eyes that glared down at him with great anger. The next thing he knew was being gripped by his collar and dragged out of his house then thrown to the ground, he tried to get up but was pinned back down to the ground. Despite the painful pressure on his back, he did his best to lift his head and the sight that met him horrified him.
Every single member of the village was held down in the center. Men, women, old and young they all were forced on their knees by vampires afraid and unable to fight back, children cried as they clung to their parents and men groaned as they struggled. One of them noticed him and started calling him for help, causing everyone to turn their head towards him. despite being in a worse state than them they all started to call for him, calling him to help them. However, one voice caught his full attention.
"HENRY!"
Despite the pressure on his back henry snapped his head to try and look behind him. He saw his wife being dragged out of their house by one of the vampires in such a violent manner, then throw her to the ground across from him making her let out a pained cry as they also forced her on her knees. His blood boiled with rage as he struggled with what strength he had to try and free himself but to no avail.
"LET HER GO YOU BASTARDS!"
Henry screamed at those who held his beloved but was ignored. The air was filled with the cries of children, pleads for mercy from women and angry curses from the men.
"SILENCE!"
A baritone voice yelled making everyone grow quite from fear. After a moment, the foot that was holding Henry down was lifted from him, but he knew better than to stand up pr move in fear that his action would lead to anyone's death, so he stayed laying down. He could hear the rattle of metal as the figure walked around him until he stood in front of him, his grey sabaton being close to his face.
"You are one of the victorias…" A deep heavy with Romanian accent said. "Correct?"
"Y…Yes." Henry answered not looking up. "If I may ask why are you attacking us in such a way?... When the No-Life hears of this-"
"Who do you think is standing in front of you!" The vampire that was holding his wife called making almost all vampires laugh. Henry's body froze at the comment and his eyes widened.
Slowly and carefully, he lifted his head to look at the one standing in front of him. as he looked up he could see the rest of the grey armor, he was so tall that it hurt his neck trying to get a better look, but what he could see is that the vampire standing in front of him had a pale skin that matched the dead, he had a full short beard and mustache that matched his raven black colored long hair that covered part of his face but not enough to hide the angry frown he had as his eyes shone red in the dark.
"Stand up." He was ordered and Henry didn't waste time as he slowly stood on his feet again seeing the vampire's full attire.
His long hair would have gone pass his broad shoulders if it wasn't for the high collar of a tattered black cape with a red inlay. He also acquires a broadsword, which hangs from one of two belts at his waist. Henry swallowed as he stared at the sword not knowing if he should fear the sword edge colliding with his neck or that the No-Life king himself was standing before him. He, his father and his father before him, all heard of and passed the legend of the Vampire King, but no one has ever seen him. Not since he passed the rules.
"For centuries I believed that we had an understanding." He began, his voice was calm but the malice behind it was clear, making those who heard it shake with fear.
"We would take a few of your people every month to feed on and your lives would continue as nothing had happened. No children were harmed, those who are ill or unable are pardoned. None of your homes, wealth, or land was taken from you…I thought it was enough for you humans… But still, …one of you dares to play the rule of a hero."
He then gestured for a vampire to come forward. the vampire was holding a big brown sake, that anyone could see it was drenched with blood. The vampire then emptied the content of the bag in the ground in front of Henry. Everyone gasped in horror and others vomited in disgust, but henry didn't hear them as he found himself staring at the lifeless eyes of his father, which seemed as if it was staring back at him. the body, or what remained of it, was disfigured so badly. Torn flesh, broken bones, half of his father's head seemed to have been chewed leaving the other half on touched, showing the look of fear and pain that was still frozen there.
"Aren't you going to greet your father?" The king said with such a mad grin.
Henry didn't respond, he froze there, staring down at the mangled body. He was overwhelmed with so many emotions that he didn't know which one to express. He wanted to scream, to cry, to curse, to reach out and cradle his father's body one last time. He clenched his fists doing his best to stay strong, pressing down at his emotions.
"Why?" his voice was shaky making the king's smirk widen.
"I just want to be fair." He purred his response.
Before Henry could ask what he meant, the No-Life King turned around facing all the villagers then spoke loudly so everyone could hear.
"Your father had broken into my home intending to kill me…However, when he realized that he would never be able to do so, he for some reason thought it would be better to kill … one of my brides." The king turned to look Henry in the eyes. "Which he did."
Henry gasped at the King's words. His father was a strict man, he of all people followed the king's rules as if it has come from the bible. He would always say how merciful the No-Life king was to still let them live so peacefully, that it was the reason of why they should respect him and acknowledge him as not only the vampire King but also their own as well. But now there he was, dead by the same King he followed so loyally for killing one of his people, who was a bride no less. They always heard stories of how the king would keep some of the females that come to his castle as "Brides", females that he there closer to him than any member of his court. And killing one of them meant not only the death of the killer but wipe them from existing through destroying any trace of them, and in this case…everyone in this village. Henry looked up to the villagers, all the adults seemed to have thought the same as him because some of them held their young closer to them as they cried, while the rest glared at the mangled body at his feet with pure hate. Henry turned to look at his wife who was staring at their house with tears in her eyes, then down at the body and whispered.
"Father what have you done."
"He doomed you all." Replied the king coldly Who was suddenly standing right beside Henry.
The No-Life King lifted his hand, causing all the vampires who were surrounding the villagers including the once holding his wife to raise their weapons as well. Everyone screamed in terror and wailed. Adults started to beg for mercy while children cried for their parents. Henry was filled with panic not knowing what to say he started to beg as well, he fell on his hands and knees, his head pressed to the ground as he started to scream for mercy to his people and family. The screams and pleads fell on deaf ears and before the king could swing his hand down signaling everyone to stroke down he froze when the cries of an infant ripped the air, making everyone fall into complete silence.
The cries were coming from inside Victoria's household.
The No-Life King raised his brow in bewilderment, not knowing that there was another member of this family. Madison Victoria's blood ran cold as the king turned around and started to make his way inside their home, started to struggle more in the hand of her captives but they slammed her down forcing her still.
"No Please!... Don't-…Let me go!" she screamed and struggled but to no avail, from the corner of her eyes she could see her husband trying to run after the king but was forced down the same as her. Madison could do nothing but cry silently as she prayed to God for mercy.
Vlad Dracula made his way through the house to where the cries are getting louder. He did not know why, but he felt this drawn to it. It's as if he knew exactly who the cries belonged to and couldn't bring himself to ignore it. he opened the door to the couple's room, and there beside their bed was a wooden crib that they cries were coming from. He slowly walked to it and peeked inside, as expected there was a human infant whose face was red from crying. The baby who he guessed was a girl from the frilly white dress, stopped crying immediately when she saw him, letting out only small sniffles and whimpers. When she calmed Vlad could now have a better look at her, she had soft blond hair, her skin was pale but smooth, her cheeks and hands were chubby with baby fat which showed how healthy she is, but what caught his attention the most was her blue eyes. her eyes reminded him of the sunny days he used to enjoy when he was human, he almost forgot that. He moved his head to the side which made the baby title her own to the side, it made Vlad raise his brows in surprise before chuckling.
He had to admit, the baby was very adorable and would probably grow to become a beautiful woman. He remembered the mother's appearance, she had brown hair, green eyes and her skin was slightly tanned, from working under the sun he guessed, and the father, had blonde hair, blue eyes but his skin was pale. this child had her father's looks but when she grows up will probably look more like her mother. Vlad was broken out of his thoughts when he heard loud whimpers, he looked down and saw the baby lifting her chubby hands to him, trying to reach him, showing that she wanted to be picked up. Not denying her, Vlad reached for her but stopped when he noticed his gauntlet, he couldn't touch this fragile child with his armor still on. Shadows slowly engulfed him when it was gone so was his grey armor, leaving him in a long black buttoned-up frock coat with a red decretive pattern on the collar and cuffs, and around his neck, he had a white cravat, he wore a red sash that was wrapped around his waist like a belt with black pants and boots, the cape was still there not removed.
When it was safe for the little girl he as gently as he could put a hand under her head and the other under her body and carefully lifted her. He wrapped his arm around her so she would be cradled to his chest. It felt right, having this child safe in his arms from the dangers of the world. The little girl seemed to find comfort in his arms as she rubbed her face against him nesting herself as she found a perfect spot. He stepped away from the crib and noticed a carving on the side of it, it spelled the name "Seras", He looked down at the infant who found interest in his coat trying to nibble on it. He chuckled at her then reached his hand to pet her head to soothe her back to sleep, which seemed to work. It was funny in a way, he can't remember the last time he acted to gentle to anyone or anything. With the little one finally sleeping in his arms, Vlad walked back outside a wicked idea playing in his mind.
When Henry and Madison couldn't hear their daughter's crying anymore they expected the worst. Madison's eyes were red and swollen from crying as she stared at the door waiting but to both their relief and horror the No-Life King walked out of their house with their daughter in his arm. Seeing that the mother started to struggle more in her captives hold.
"No!...Please, not my baby!" She begged."Kill me!... Kill me but don't hurt her please!"
Madison kept on pleading but was ignored. It broke Henry's heart to see his wife in such a state of despair, he wanted to break free and comfort her. However, Henry did his best to stay calm as he thought over what to do next, he remembered that it was not only his daughter's and wife's lives on the line but everyone else in this village. He needs to stay calm and not let his emotions control him, no matter how much he wanted to tear his daughter away from that monster's arms as he spits curses at him. His wife, on the other hand, was going hysterical, begging and screaming for the King to unhand their daughter he disapproved of her actions, but understood it.
Vlad was making his way to the Victoria couple but stopped when he noticed that the woman's screams were making Seras stir in discomfort in his arms. He turned his head sharply to the woman and looked her dead in the eyes causing her to grow silence. He then slowly brought his finger to his lips.
"Shhhhh… you will wake her up." He said in a hushed tone of voice, he then looked down at Seras as he helped her to go back to sleep.
Madison was crying silent tears as she saw how he was petting Seras's small head, shaking at the idea that his colossal hand is going to crush her fragile skull any moment. But neither of them expected what he was going to say next.
"I had a change of heart." He said in a sickeningly sweet way, that made even his servants shiver in fear for they all knew that whatever is coming next was anything but good.
Vad snapped his fingers and then those who were holding the Victoria couple down let go of the. Among realizing that she was free the mother immediately charged towards him not caring for her safety only her child's. Vlad rolled his eyes at the woman's reckless action to take Seras away from him, that thought made him want to growl in anger but didn't for Seras was still sleeping in his arm and he didn't wish to disturb her. To avoid confrontations Vlad merely dodged the woman almost causing her to stumble to the ground. She turned around but didn't take a step, she looked to him, then to her daughter that was sleeping in his arms, then back to him.
"P..please…" She said with eyes full of despair as she extended her shaking arms. "Give her to me."
Seeing his wife in such state, Henry quickly stood up and ran to her side, he wrapped his arms around her to both comfort her and stop her from going further. Madison took a step back half-heartedly and buried herself in her husband's arms finding some comfort in his embrace as she kept her eyes on her sleeping daughter. After making that his wife was calm Henry looked back to the No-Life King.
"My king what did you mean?" Vlad grinned at his question.
"what I said, I had a change of heart."
With that, he turned to look at his servants and nodded as he gave them a silent order. They let go of all the villagers who were confused but didn't dare to question anything as they ran to each other, mother to her children, a father to his family and lovers to each other. Henry's eyes widened at the scene played in front of him.
"Th..thank you, my lord."
"No need to thank me… For I did not do it out of kindness."
His words made Henry tense, he looked back to the King who had a wicked grin.
"What do you-"
"I believe in the saying 'An eyes for an eye'." he said as he looked down at the sleeping child in his arms. " I will spare the entire village from not only death tonight but also every other night, your village will no longer become a hunting spot for my kind."
"But?" asked Henry, his voice shaking with fear.
"But in return, your child shall be given to me as a good well gift, to become my next bride."
It felt as if the world shook from around, images of his daughter growing up only to be taken from him and end up being one of this monster's…whores!... such though made his blood run cold. He could feel madison's body shake in his arms and her grip on him tightened, he knew she thought the same as him.
"N…No." Henry tried not to stutter but failed. "I will not give my daughter up!"
He said with such a determined voice and look on his face. Vlad however, saw that as stubbornness and foolishness.
"You have no choice in the matter." He said with such a dark look in his eyes. "Either you accept the offer you have been given… or…"
Vlad snapped his fingers and immediately his servants raised their weapons again to strike the final blow. The scream of the villagers rose again as they clung to each other.
"I will kill all of you and still keep her as a prize."
Henry's eyes were filled with horror upon realizing that no matter what he chooses, he would still lose his daughter, either with all of them dead or alive.
"No, please…Not my daughter." His voice was weak. "Kill me!... It was my father you killed your bride so kill me!"
Henry let go of his wife, who he had to force her grip away from him to he could push her behind him as he presented himself to the No-Life King and knelt in front of him.
"please slaughter me here and now!" He begged. "Make it painful make it last!...just don't take our daughter."
Henry pressed his head to the ground and clenched his hand until they bleed. Shortly after Madison quickly joined her husband in begging the king with tears in her eyes. Vlad was growing very annoyed at the couple, he looked down at the sleeping infant in his arms. He doesn't have any intention in giving Seras up, he doesn't know why, but all he knows is that he wants to keep this girl safe and happy. Unlike her parents he will provide for her a life full of luxury and education, she will grow up like how royalties do. The idea pleased him greatly. He looked down at the couple who were still on their knees begging him with annoyance. If they kept on doing that he will have to go with the second decision and just kill them all and take Seras with him back to the castle.
Then suddenly something dawned on him. This fragile, defenseless and weak child, was going to be brought to his castle, which was full of vampires who would not hesitate to try and kill a human, no matter how young they are they'd still account it as food. His castle where his other "Brides" lived, who are already jealous of each other and ready to kill each other to be his favorite. Looking at the many possibilities that Seras might die without him being around to protect her made him feel something he didn't feel since he was but a human boy and that was fear. The thought of his people attempting to harm Seras made him want to kill all of his court including his "Brides". Vlad then paused as he looked down at the child again with a look of bewilderment, he was ready to kill his people for her.
"What are you?" he thought to himself before turning back to the begging parents.
"Very well…I shall return Seras to you."
The couple looked up to him, henry was surprised but a smile spread on madison's face when she heard that. She stood up and walked to the king to take her daughter back only to stop, her smile flattened with a look of confusion when the King took a step back from her.
"However,…" He continued. "When she becomes of age I will come back to take her with me."
Henry stood to stand beside his wife who clenched to his arm. He opened his mouth to say something only to close it again.
"Well?" Vlad asked with a raised brow.
Henry looked down at his wife who looked as hopeless as him. the idea of giving his daughter up still made his blood boil but having the chance to still hold her, care for her and see her grow up. He looked up to his people who were still hunched down with fear in their eyes as they looked at him, not knowing of the conversation that happened or of the sacrifice he is about to make for them. He looked back to his wife with an apologetic look. Knowing what her husband's decision will be, Madison buried her face in his arm as she cried. Henry wrapped his arms around his wife, looked back to his people then to the No-Life King.
"We…accept."
Vlad's grin widened as he snapped his fingers, the servants stepped away from the humans and disappeared as if they were never there, the only once who have stayed are him and his coachman with the carriage he came in. Vlad walked closer to the couple and offered Seras back to her mother, who looked dumbfounded at first but then snatched her daughter away from him and started kissing and hugging her. henry released a sigh of relief, seeing that his daughter was now safe in her mother's arms, he then turned around to the king who was now staring down at him with a victorious grin on his face.
"Seras is not to work a day in her life." He began. "Specia books and teachers will be provided to her by me. She is to live and enjoy her human life."
"Human life…?" Henry repeated.
"You did not think that I would take her as a human, did you?"
Vlad said with a grin that made Henry's stomach twisted with disgust. His daughter will become…one of them.
"And also…" Vlad added. "She is to never be married to anyone, if someone came asking for her hand you will reject them and if Seras took someone as a lover I will come down here and not only kill the person who dared to claim what is mine, but my wrath shall fall upon you all for allowing it to happen."
Henry looked back to his wife who was looking down at their daughter with a look full of misery, for her fate that was sealed because of the acts of her grandfather. A movement caught their attention and they turned to see the No-Life King take his gloves off. His nails started to grow into long talons, that he used to cut his wrist spilling his blood, that startled the couple but what happened next both scared and amazed them. The blood started to levitate in his hands as he manipulated it, then shadows crept from his arms then started to circle the blood. The shadows then started to take the shape of the necklace with the blood replacing the gem, the shadows and blood began to harden and after a few more moments it was done.
In the king's hands was a beautiful necklace with black chains and in the middle, hanging from it was a red gem, that if the couple didn't witness it being created in front of them would have said it was a pure ruby. But they saw and they knew it was the vampire's blood. The king then walked tp the mother, who flinched and held her daughter closer, henry by instinct stood between them stopping the king.
"Move." He growled at him. despite his fear, the man stood his ground and swallowing his fear.
"What are you trying to do?" He demanded an answer but was ignored.
"Move."
Vlad's tone of voice warned him that there won't be a third time. Henry gave in and slowly stepped out of his way but not staying away from his wife's side wrapping an arm around her to give her some sense of security. Vlad stepped closer and ever so gently put the necklace around Seras's neck, the necklace was too big that the gem almost reached her little feet, but then changed in size to fit her. The couple was confused but before they could ask Vlad spoke.
"This necklace would allow me to know where she is in case you tried to escape."
Henry would lie if he said that he wasn't planning it, he would that in the break of dawn he'd take seras and his wife out of this country and he would stay behind to take the hit. Vlad gave him a knowing look.
"Even if you tried to pray it away from her it would be impossible and I will only be alerted to your attempts."
Madison placed her hand over the necklace to examine it only to let out a small yelp of pain as she quickly pulled her hand away. Henry was startled at looked to his wife's hand and saw that it was bleeding, he looked back to the necklace to make sure that Seras was safe only to see the spike that had grown from the gem and slowly retracted back to it.
"As I said. Impossible." Vlad grinned. Henry quickly tore a piece of his clothing to wrap it around Madison's injury and stop the bleeding.
Henry then imagined his daughter's life. Her being an outcast because of her fate, the fear at knowing that every year that passes brings her only closer to her end. What if she tried to escape by herself or wors…ended her own life. Tears threatened to escape his eyes ar he imaged himself holding Seras's dead body. He shook his head from such thought and looked down at his wife's batched hand then to his sleeping daughter, then to the King. Standing his ground he realized that there is no point in fighting for no matter what he did he will lose, but there might be something he could still do.
"We agree, however, we have a few requests." Henry said his voice confident.
The couple was in no position to make demands but Vlad was curious to hear what they have to say so he allowed them. he gestured for him to continue.
"We want to keep this a secret from her." her said. "If she was going to live her…human life…until adulthood then we wish her to live it with not having to worry…or be afraid."
Vlad was going to refuse the man's request for her was planning on future visits to see Seras as she grew older and be part of her , viewing the matter from their point of view made the king understand it. besides the idea of how seras would turn out without knowing of what accrued tonight intrigued him.
"Very well, " Said Vlad as he saw the surprised look of the man. "Seras shall not know of me or her fate with me, but that does not mean that I will not be involved in her life."
With that said, The No-Life King gave one last glance at the sleeping infant before walking away to his coachman who waited patiently beside the open carriage door so his master could enter. The moment the dark carriage disappeared a loud chatter broke among the villagers. Martin who was the villages Blacksmith and Henry's closest friend ran to him with a look of concern.
"What in the world happened?... You were so far away we could hear anything?... Did he harm you?"
"We…made a big sacrifice."
After getting his crying wife back to their home to calm herself, henry gathered the village folks and told them of everything that happened between them and the king. The reason for their close death, the interrogation… and the deal. Then a rule was set to never speak of what happened this night and go on with their lives for the sake of his daughter's blissful ignorance of her fate.
I hope you enjoyed the story and are looking forward for future chapters.
Bye!... Bye!