"So, this is how my father feels when he is near mortals", thought Alucard as he walked through the halls of the school the next day. His introduction to the headmaster and his fellow students was not meant to inspire fear, but apparently fear was an automatic response to his presence. The only person he had interacted with so far who wasn't afraid of him in some way, shape, or form was the Lycian; the son of Redfang. HE was simply astounded at being able to meet a face from his father's mighty warrior past. However, as he walked into the cafeteria and looked around, he could almost smell the unease that permeated the atmosphere. Thanks to his father's "interference" with the headmaster and school board( Alucard was sure it was more along the lines of "intimidation"), he was not immediately recognized by the student body currently assembled. Being one of the Night's Children, unfortunately, meant that all who came in range of him were innately aware of his more….vicious traits. As he sat down at his table to partake of his meal, he pondered the question that had haunted his thoughts since his father, the King, had sent him here: why here? What could this school do to prevent a massacre such as the one that had so recently taken even more of his kinsmen? What was Dracul doing sending him here? He could only pray the answers would reveal themselves soon.
"No bloody way, mate; ain't a way in all Hel I'm going over there." Ari huffed and tried to reason with his roommate, "Come on, Lucas. He's not that bad. My father has known him for years; he said that underneath the dark, forbidding, and kind of murderous exterior, is the heart of a warrior and true friend." Lucas took a bite out of his french toast and shook his head furiously, still completely unconvinced. "With all due respect, mate, your old man is one 'o the deadliest warlords this side of Jotunheim. O'course he'd think ol' red-eye over there is all right." Aricos started to defend his father ( and his reputation), but then decided against it. It's not as if Lucas was wrong; Redfang was a very powerful Alpha of the Pack, and a feared and respected warrior known to many peoples and many realms. He wasn't technically awarlord….but he was as close as Ari knew. He chugged his juice(orange, of course; he'd never liked apple), shook his head and stated, " Be that as it may, I trust my father and his opinion of people. He hasn't been wrong yet." "Valid point, to be sure," replied Lucas. He was, however, about to counter that argument, when an energetic young woman's voice sprung up behind him, " What's a valid point?" The duo turned sharply to be greeted by the sight of three girls. One was immediately recognized by Aricos as his cousin, Cerise Hood. Another girl was dressed in a rather zany( if fashionable) outfit that consisted of hats, spools of thread, and a hat that Ari swore he could smell tea coming from.(But that would be ridiculous.) And finally, the third girl was none other than the one whom they had both crossed paths with their first day; the fiery, fierce…," Raven, bloody eye-bruising, Queen. We meet again, luv." "LUCAS!", exclaimed his Lycian companion. " What?", asked Lucas, " Too much?"
Meanwhile…
As Alucard partook of his meal( contrary to popular belief, vampires could in fact eat mortal food, they just didn't need to ), he overheard the younglings talking of him most notably the young Lycian's defense of him. He shouldn't have been surprised; ever since the young Chance Reach and the (even younger) Morbius Tennex cobbled together an army of various races together to reclaim the Lands of Light and Shadow from the Dark Lord Oberon, Reach had worked very hard at facilitating peace between the Lycian and Vampiric races especially. The two species had been locked in centuries-long blood feud that had only recently been put to relative peace; it would've been natural for the young Lycian to hate him. He was glad he didn't though; he may be immortal, but the young dhampir still didn't have many friends( not that he wanted any).Finishing his meal, he rose to put his tray away and leave the cafeteria. He planned to spend this day as far from the student body as possible; if they were already uneasy near him, then things could only get worse, and Alucard had no desire to incite an incident…..well, at least not today. But unbeknownst to the young Prince, fate had other plans….
Meanwhile…
Not surprisingly, in light of Lucas' outburst, Aricos had to quickly defuse the situation as a very angry Raven Queen was set to roast his new compatriot like a side of beef. This was not because of the younglings initial comment, though; rather what had happened afterward…
Ten minutes prior…
"LUCAS!" "What?", his companion had asked, completely indifferent to his own rudeness, " Too much?" Ari wanted to strangle him. How could he not see; if this line of conversation went on any further…. "I'm sorry...have we met before?" , asked the young woman, kind of thrown and more than a little confused. " I should say so, luv. Especially due to the fact that 'cause of YOU, I now got a shiner the size o' my…" "LUCAS!", exclaimed Aricos for yet a second time, desperately trying to get a grasp on his friend's good sense. " What?", he asked. " It's the bloody truth!" " X-nay on the drop-eaves-ay….", Ari whispered in hushed tones. " If she finds out that we were snooping in on her little "talk" with the headmaster, she might…." " Hey, wait a hex!", said Raven, realization dawning on her face. "Crap", thought Aricos, "So close…"
Back to present…
So now they were dealing with the highly powerful (and highly pissed) daughter of THE Evil Queen on one hand, and a disrespectful, brawl-ready, East Londoner who just so happens to be the son of the Asgardian God of Mischief and Darkness, the grand-slam of tricky deeds, LOKI, on the other. Both of whom, don't forget, could (if allowed) rip the school in two with their respective powers. "By Adonai and the Luna Angela", wailed the youngling inwardly. "This is not gonna be a good day."
If only he knew what fate had in store...