(Author's Note: I've altered Nigel Berbrooke's character a bit for this story. He is one of two main antagonists. Instead of being around Simon's age, he's much older (though handsome; like a handsome older man). He's also physically stronger than most vampires, but it comes at a price. He has his own castle in Essex and was acquainted with the late Duke of Hastings. He's also unmarried and has no children; he lives alone with his male-only staff. (No, he's not gay. He simply saw no reason to get married or have offspring. He also has a lack of respect for women and humans.) All of these changes to his character will make sense later on. Enjoy!)
No One's P.O.V.- Essex, United Kingdom
The baron, one Nigel Berbrooke, sat in his red leathered chair as the undertaker examined him. Vampires had no need for doctors since they did not get ill, so they called on undertakers whenever there was a problem. And there was indeed a problem.
The fifty-year-old gentleman was sequestered in his private study with the local upper-class Man of the Deceased and his loyal servant, Jodot. They all stayed in silence, letting the undertaker finish his job. When at last he was done, he stood up straight and pulled on the bottom of his jet-black jacket. He looked at the baron gravely.
"There's nothing I can do. You have a little left than a year, I'd say; if you're lucky….." The undertaker said. Jodot merely glanced over to his master, who reclined back into his cushion. His gloved hand rose up to his lips.
"So then, I'm going to die in less than a year. Is that what you are saying?" "Yes. You're not ill- obviously- but it's a defective gene, likely passed down from your mother's side. She died at age what, age forty-five? Your physical strength excesses that of most vampires, but at a cost. There's nothing to be done now. The only thing that would prolong your life is the blood of an entire human." "The blood of a human, you say?" Nigel ran his finger across his bottom lip in a thoughtful manner.
The undertaker nodded but not with confidence. "Yes, but I don't know where you'd find one in time. Humans are extremely rare; they're less than a hundred of them in the United Kingdom alone. And I doubt you'd have better luck finding one on the mainland." The baron thought for a moment, continuing to rub this thumb along his chin. "But if I did manage to acquire a human in time, their blood would save my life?" "Well, yes. You'd need to drink all of it on the night when the moon is dark." "Couldn't I drink it anytime?" "Not for what you're trying to do," the undertaker's eyes narrowed onto the baron. More thinking on Nigel's part; only for a second or so. Soon enough, his mouth reopened again. "A human…. Will any old human do?" "No. A child doesn't have enough blood for the ceremony. You'll need a full-grown adult; the gender does not matter."
That's when Nigel turned to face his butler. He wore a supreme smile on his face by now. "Jodot, find me a human. Start in London and work your way out from there." "Yes, your grace," Jodot gave a slight bow. While Jodot had an air of assuredness, the undertaker still seemed dubious about the whole affair. "It'll cost you. Humans are expensive creatures. And that's if you can find one." "Oh, I'm not worry; I'll pay. If it'll keep me alive, I'll pay any price." "I must say a dead human is no good to you. The ceremony will only work if you drink their blood while they are living….. Well, they won't be alive by the time you're done, but they must be at the start."
The baron's eyes shown a little. "Alright then, a living human. You hear that, Jodot? Do not harm them when you find one- I want them brought to me alive." "Yes, sir," Jodot bowed a second time. Nigel gazed back at the undertaker. "Well, thank you sir. This has been most enlightening." "I wouldn't get your hopes up just yet, my lord. Humans are hard to find, and you need a full-grown one." But the baron simply waved off him off. "Ah, we'll find one. If we're quick, we have one back at the castle by June. Then we'll commence with the ceremony, and I'll add another twenty or thirty years onto my life. Simple as that." But again, the undertaker was reluctant to agree.
Nigel wasn't too bothered by this, instead electing to turn his head back to his man servant. "That reminds me. That woman who was the housekeeper for the late Duke of Hastings- what's her name?" "Lady Danbury, your grace." "Yes, her. She used to work as a nurse for humans up north, didn't she? Before she moved to back south to the Hastings Estate. We ought to pay her a visit. Is the new duke still out of the country?" "I do not know, your grace." "Ah, well; it doesn't matter one way or another. Let us go see Lady Danbury in Hastings.
I bet she'll know where we can find a human on such short notice."