Chapter 12: A Meeting of Monsters

September 14th 1642 Paris

He was bored just days ago and now he was utterly enthralled, to think he would ever see such a gathering of monsters in one place all sitting together in their private groups murmuring amongst themselves. All taking quick glances at him as they chattered away in their own languages, some an unknown tongue he had yet to master of even know what it was. His servants were fidgeting behind him as they patiently waited or their Master's orders, they had never been so nervous in their unlife. In this huge assembly hall with vivid paintings decorating the walls and ceilings, high ceilings and the curtains shut tightly. Dim lighting from the few candles scattered across the hall, and the faintest scent of blood lingering around the marble stone. The stone ornaments depicting demons and other atrocities made the place all the more menacing.

It was the late of night when he had received a strange letter from apparently no-one as his servants did not even detect another presence in his abode. A letter scented with a beast, an unnatural creature of the dark with a messily scrawled letters of his true name. Inside the letter was nothing more than an address with directions and commandments. And that was all, it was the first time in a century that he had been so thoroughly curious and so he left the following hour bringing only the strongest of his servants. There was a time and date on the letter, and so following through he found himself here in this hall where a gathering of creatures of the dark were all seated.

He had walked through the double doors gaining attention of every being in the hall, all their strange eyes following him. His human form shedding slightly as his eyes turned a deep burgundy red and his pointed ears showing, a spike of power cursed across his body. He may not know the full meaning of this but he knew that there was an establishment of power here and he would not be placed any lower than one of these monsters.

Vlad tapped his fingers across his armchair rest lightly, he wasn't bored; he was soaking in the atmosphere, drinking in all of the information he could gather. His red eyes slowly looking around the room lazily as he scanned the hall. A small group of centaurs impatiently padding their hooves on the marble as they talked to one another in what seemed to be Latin but a more undeciphered version of it. A few black-haired sirens sitting at the back with a handful of mermaids sitting in strange contraptions, chairs with wheels attached to them. In the corner of his eyes he could see an evident fish tail wiggle uncomfortably underneath the heavy dress. Those women were truly a sight to behold, beautiful and enchanting and their voices melodic and soft. But as his eyes slowly shifted into a deeper colour he could see the illusion slowly disappear and their scaly distorted skin begin to take over their soft pearly skin; the wretched true form of the sirens and mermaids was clear to him.

He sniffed, there was the smell of a dog, his eyes narrowing. He turned his head slightly to see a few men standing to the far left of the hall, their sharp canines baring at him as they noticed he was looking at them. Their eyes turning colour and their pupils narrowing, their true form showing slightly as he could see the thick manes of fur around their neck. He smirked most mischievously in response, his sharp teeth also showing. They growled but ultimately turned away and continued to talk amongst themselves. 'Werewolves, haven't seen them in quite some time'. A pair of winged women were sitting by the large table, their wings tucked in fluttering anxiously as they whispered to each other. It seemed it was their first time here but they weren't taking it as easy as he was.

More monsters passed through the double doors, strange creatures whose body turned from a seemingly human male to a bull. His eyes widening slightly, 'So that is a minotaur' he thought as he sat up from his chair. Several more hours passed with nothing much happening besides a few more atrocities walking in but Vlad didn't mind at all. He simply sat at his chair with his hands clasped in front of him, waiting for something to happen. This large of a gathering of monsters, some young and some ancient all patiently waiting for something. He could taste the power in the air, it was so thick and the scent of warm blood made his toes curl. But he sat still, eavesdropping on everyone else's conversation. Some were interesting, some boring and meaningless but he realised that around half of them were regarded towards him. He could hear his servants chatter behind him nervously, he silenced them with one motion. Until he found out what was happening here he would not let them speak.

"Are you new here?" A female whispered quietly, she was obviously shaking. Vlad looked down to regard the girl, he stared at her torso for a moment. She hadn't any legs but rather the long torso and tail of huge serpent, he almost laughed. This young girl with such and innocent looking expression and face had such a ferocious looking body. Her arms had patches of scales across them, and around the edges of her face were sharp scales all pointed off into one sharp edge. There were claws instead of hands and he could see the long tongue flickering every now and then nervously. His servants moved in to apprehend this unknown female but he held out his hand for a stop.

"I am, and what of it?" His voice rumbling, his eyes narrowing slightly. She flinched at the sound of his voice, it was not what she had first expected to hear but she stood ground.

"I am new here as well", she stuttered for moment, "You just seemed like the person, to…umm…talk to…because you seemed a little lost as well", she said as she peeked up. What on earth was she doing; making a fool of herself. Out of everyone there was in this all she chose this man to talk to, but she had to admit, he was so ruggedly handsome. And there was this aura about him that drew her to him, it was so strange and odd that it created these conflicted feelings in her chest.

He snorted, he turned away from her, "Thank you for your concern, but it was not needed". His attention had already strayed away from her. There was so many other interesting things in this hall room that she was only one of many. She could see the disinterest in his eyes and felt hurt, but what did she expect. She could literally smell the power on him, this man was old and extremely strong.

"May I sit here…?" She quietly said indicating to the open seat next to him. He gestured for her to sit and so she did, her tail curling around the legs of the chair. She felt very small and insignificant sitting next to this man. But knowing that he was also new here gave her some sort of comfort.

And finally something happened, there was two doors at the very front of the hall on the opposite sides of the walls. They opened and soon these hooded men filed out, two from each door and began seating themselves at the very front of the large table. All of the monsters were suddenly quiet and silently began sitting themselves at the table, the chatter disappearing but the feelings of apprehension appeared. Vlad raised a brow in curiosity, he could feel and dark and ancient power roll of them. They were ancient and perhaps on the verge of death but somehow they were able to maintain the feint of power. They pulled off their hoods revealing their faces as they flipped through the various documents scattered on the tables.

They looked as old as they looked in Vlad's opinion, he was guessing at least five hundred or six hundred but not anymore. They murmured to one another, indicating to the empty middle seat. Vlad tried to listen to them but something blocked him from doing so, his eyes focusing at the runes carved into the table top. He recognised them and he knew only one person who could enchant them. The monsters once began murmuring amongst themselves.

"She hasn't come again".

"This is the second century in the row where she hasn't come".

"The Elders are losing power because she is not here to maintain it".

Vlad sat still listening to all of the murmuring voices, they kept referring to this one female. A highly regarded one where they all seemed to respect or fear, it all came to one thing though. It was evident she was the top dog and obviously the top of the power pyramid. The girl next to him fidgeted as she sat there, her skin was crawling in fear. She had a good idea who they were talking about and she was scared.

"I think I know who they are talking about…" She said nervously, Vlad turned his attention to her. He could smell the fear on her. "The Strix", she breathed out. The beings stopped their chattering at the sound of the name, all eyes on her, staring at her as if she had the gall to even utter the alias.

Vlad widened his eyes, he was about to interrogate her more but suddenly there was a thudding sound of a heart that he knew. Slow and dull, as if it was not even there. He snapped his head to the direction of the sound, the beings of the hall began realising as well. The faint stepping sounds of heels against the marble stone and sweeping hem of a dress, the double doors creaked open slowly at first with a pair of bright blue eyes staring out from the darkness before completely opening. Vlad's breath stopped, she had not changed a single bit. Her hair was the only significant change, it was cropped short only reaching her ears; her clothes were of the latest fashion in Paris and from what Vlad could tell she hated it, but she bared through it.

Her eyes blinking slowly as she surveyed the room, "Am I late?" She mumbled sheepishly as she scratched the back of her head, "Sorry, I got lost a couple times getting here. I almost forgot where this place was", she laughed lightly. The monsters were completely silent as they watched her walk past them calmly as she walked towards to the top of the table. She saw Vlad watching her with keen eyes and flashed him a wide smile as she was walking on the opposite side.

The monsters saw this small interaction and suddenly their attention was drawn to him, what was their relation to each other to have her regard him at all? Vlad ignored the stares, his attention towards her as she swept across the floor towards the Elders.

"Two hundred years and you finally grace us with your presence", one of the men grumbled out, as he handed her a couple pieces of paper. She smirked, taking the sheets to briefly skim read. Scoffing at the contents, the piece of paper lit up in her hands and was discarded on the floor as trash. The man scowled as he saw it crumble away on the floor.

"Your information is outdated, brat", Seras sneered as she sat in the middle seat at the head of the table. "So what have you gathered all of us for, I'm sure we have something better else to do", Seras drawled out in a bored manner. There was a murmur of voices in agreement but they remained mostly silent. Her bones cracking as she stretched, her form shifting and contorting and for a split second a glimpse of her true form was revealed. Vlad saw it for a split second and immediately that it was form that no man or monster could fully comprehend.

"Him", one of the men said holding out his cane and pointing it at Vlad who sat there with a vindictive grin. "Nosferatu", he whispered of softly. His voice barely coming out through, a human would've strained their ears to hear him but there was no need for that in this hall full of the damned.

There was suddenly an outburst of shouting and clambering of voices, all pointing accusing fingers at him. Some shifting into to their true forms ready for combat as some began arguing, there was suddenly chaos from the quiet from the very mention of his alias. They all the name, they all the Devil, this damned creature who was a former human who was plaguing the whole of Europe with his creatures of the damned. It didn't matter what name or alias he went by, he was the same accursed creature that was killing and devouring all.

Seras sat there with a smirk as the disarray continued with loud voices, Vlad's servants moved around him to protect him from any sort of harm. She watched with a malicious amusement, the Elders tried to calm the monsters down and the resolve the discord but there was no sign of the chaos ending, their efforts futile.

"This vampire has created so many undead creatures! They are swarming around the whole of Europe killing everything on sight. They have no mind of their own! Several of my men have been killed by them!" A satyr angrily cried out shaking his fists in rage.

"The humans are becoming more aware of our presence! It is not safe anymore because of his servants becoming bolder", a centaur stamped his hooves furiously creating cracks on the marble. His companions stomping their hooves in agreement.

"The bites infects all and soon anyone can become one of them. These ghouls' attacks all without any distinction", a siren sang out, "They cannot cross the oceans or water but they will attack those in the waters".

"These vampires are invading into areas they are not allowed, they are young and uneducated. They do not the boundaries which we have created so long ago. These former humans!" One of the wolf men growled out.

There were more voices shouting out in anger and Vlad sat right in the middle of it with a smug expression, he made no indication to speak or even explain his actions. He sat there with a self-satisfied expression, this what he had been missing for quite some time. Chaos and utter anger, it was amusing to watch whether it be humans or monsters. In the end they were all the same, but there was something else. There was somethings that humans had, and he didn't. His expression turned grim for a moment.

Seras was growing bored, all this noise and fighting for what. It would do nothing except create more rift between the monsters as they were. "Enough", she said as her eyes turned red, waving her hand in mid-air. Suddenly everyone felt such a power slamming down onto them that they were forced to kneel or sit down. Some of the weaker ones actually smashed face first into the floor because of the amount pressure they had on them.

The hall was immediately silenced as everyone found their seats once more, the Elders let out a sigh of relief as everyone began to calm themselves but there was this feelings of animosity to Vlad who shrugged off the feeling of pressure on his shoulders. Seras tapped her fingers on the table impatiently, there was the feeling of irritancy coming of her. "Finally, I can hear my thoughts", Seras said sarcastically as she pulled her bangs out of her face. She let out a heavy sigh, it was worse than she thought. It wasn't actually just Europe, all over the world there were small pockets of ghouls. They were being eliminated however, by her familiars, it had to be contained in some manner.

She was not made to do this, she was a follower, not a leader. She didn't want to be part of this, all she wanted her books and her peace and quiet. All of this commotion and drama was not her, she had stayed in this council for so long that she could barely remember who the original members were. She joined because she was lonely and bored of her life, but she couldn't end it so she joined to pass her time. To think she had stayed for so long irked her, she lent her vast amount of knowledge and her treasures to create this sanctuary where monsters were able to gather and be safe.

"This council", she gestured to the men next to her and around the room, "Was created for one purpose", she said her eyes glowing brightly, "And that was for the King, he was the one that governed the actions of the monsters and beings of the undead", her hand trailed across the table as her eyes scanned the Celtic carvings across the wood.

"There hasn't been a King for hundreds of years. The last one passed on four hundred years ago", one of the Elders gruffly said as he waved his pipe. "What is the point of saying all of this?"

Seras sighed heavily as she stood up, "What I'm trying to say is that I am no King and I will never be. I have lent my knowledge and power to protect you all but I am not the King am I'm not even a leader. I can barely pull my life together", she said chuckling sardonically, a cruel sense of humour. She pulled off her necklace, the symbol of the council. "I am resigning from this council", a rise of voices suddenly shouted out in protest. The monsters rising from their seats shouting angrily, all arguing with one another, becoming rowdy and disorientated. The older ones merely remained seated, their eyes narrowing at the revelation of the information. But she ignored all.

"…And I hereby announce a new King will take my place", the spike of power levels rose dramatically as the creatures of the night became hyper with bursts of energy vibrating around the room. This was news that they were not expecting to hear in their life at all. The once in a lifetime chance, to be The King of Monsters. Such a title which has only bequeathed two people ever, it was such a title that only the strongest could ever become. The power to control all monsters and the damned was something that no man could ever comprehend. And the first two were the first two create the council, The Strix being there to advise them as they led the monsters through the Dark Ages. It was a time of blood and war and the monsters thrived in that time period.

"The King of Monsters has only ever been the strongest and most powerful, so you decide amongst yourselves who is the strongest. However the way you want, but I want to say that if you're going to be the King of Monsters then you might as well decide it by having bloody brawl or something along those lines. I will have no assassinations or trickery, through only pure power and manifestations will you be able to become the King", she stepped away from the table and walked towards the windows. Pulling back the curtains to reveal the full moon, its light piercing through the dim lit room.

"Regarding the issue with the ghouls' I will eliminate them myself no matter how long it takes, I will leave a spare few in Europe. And for the other countries I will eliminate as many as possible, but if they will always be there. I can only ask that you will deal with them, I am tired. So very tired", Seras murmured quietly as she looked down for a moment. "Also Nosferatu, I will need to talk to you. There is something I will need to discuss with you", she mumbled opening one of the windows as her body turned to shadowy mass of owls. 'Meet me outside'. She took off leaving nothing except her necklace and astounded monsters who had no clue what to do.

A wide malicious grin stretched across his face as he stood up signalling for his servants, they followed him as he left. Leaving behind commotion and confusion, the girl next to him decidedly followed him as she was utterly scared. He didn't indicate for her to leave him alone so she continued to follow him. Being The King of Monsters was something he was interested in but he would leave the smaller ones to fight amongst themselves, the stronger ones would wait for the other more powerful ones to show themselves. It was only a matter of time.

The girl slithered next to him completely silent, she didn't know what to say, she was stumped and she was scared. She realised he was heading outside and slowly her form began changing, the illusion of two legs appeared in place of her tail and her scales disappeared. She took a few peeks up at the tall looming figure of Vlad who had not uttered a single word, a salacious grin persisting on his face.

"Wh-what is your relation with The Strix?" She quietly mumbled, utterly scared and confused. The walk around the long tunnels made her more wary of surroundings and the two menacing strigoi following their master. Her hands clammy at she pulled at her fingers, she couldn't help feeling all this jittery.

There was silence, she looked down thinking that he wasn't going to answer her. "Is that how everyone else refers to her as?" He rumbled absentmindedly as he strode, his long legs making short of any distance. She felt her heart flutter a little, it was a strange feeling.

"No one knows her name, everyone just called her The Strix. No one knows where she came from or how she came to be, she just seemed to be there from the start", she replied feeling a little more confident, relaxing a little. He wasn't as bad as she thought as she shyly smiled up at him.

He hummed in amusement, this meant that he was some sort of importance to her to even reveal parts of her human life to him. It made him tingle in acceptance and it also reminded him of his human life. When it was them against the whole world, literally. But there was the border he wanted to pass, they were close for sure but there was always something blocking him to go beyond. He looked down at this girl who had unsure feelings towards him, he internally scoffed.

He wouldn't even bother drinking her blood, she smelt disgusting and it made his tongue shirk back from the thought of drinking her blood. Looks likewise, she hard sharp features and slanted eyes, evident of a snake. Her nose was flatter than a humans but not so evident, she was pretty and that was it. Nothing else. She nowhere comparable to his Seras, and nowhere as strong .She was starting to pester him, he could easily crush her with one arm and be on his way. But there was no point, and she was a fellow monster and so very young. She also had provided some interesting information, so this one time he would leave this girl alive.

"Are you friends with her?" She mumbled as she tried to keep up with him, Vlad sneered. Friends, there was no such as things as friends in his eyes. Friends was such a weak relation for two people, and it was such a bond that could be easily broken. And once broken the bond could never truly be fixed.

"I don't expect you to understand anything, but the feelings I feel for her cannot be described as friends or even love", he scoffed, sneering at the idea of love and the very concept of it. It was such a generalised word that it had lost all meaning. A person could love another person. A person love could a book, a toy, a play, an object of interest or anything along those lines. It was such an overused word that could mean anything, it was a word that he would never use to refer what he felt for Seras. What he felt for her was something beyond that but not only feelings that was pleasantry but also of hate and anger. It was all a strange mixture of affection and enmity.

She felt a stabbing pain of sadness, what was she expecting that he would suddenly consider special because he had talked to her and not anyone else. No, things would never even work like that, only a fantasy at most. "So you two are close…but then why don't you stay with each other…Like lovers?" She whispered hesitantly feeling like as if she had touched onto something she should had not mentioned. She was stumbling for words to clarify what she meant clearly but he silenced her.

"She and I are playing a game, I am the chaser and she is the runner. If she gets caught…" A wide smirk graced his lips, "I keep her", his eyes widening almost insanely as he laughed in a wretched humour. She flinched, this laugh, it was so unnatural and strange. She couldn't help the feeling of fear crawl along her skin.

His servants ran ahead of him for a moment as they pushed the doors open for him, he marched past them as he was greeted by the moonlight. His expression softening as he gazed towards the moon, his constant companion of the night. The girl widening her eyes in surprise, it was such a strange expression he had on his face. It was as if he was seeing a long-time friend of his he hadn't seen in years. She heard the soft thudding of her heart and turned her head to face her, sitting by the trees with an open book sipping her tea. She looked up and greeted them with a smile. Vlad's eyes lit up in delight as he saw her; telling his servants to busy themselves with something else he stalked up to her.

"Who is your companion Vlad?" She said gesturing to the serpent girl, Vlad didn't even turn to regard the girl as he walked up to Seras, scooping her up in long arms as she yelped out in surprise. Her cup of tea falling to ground and shattering.

"No one", Vlad's voice rumbling softly as he held her tight, inhaling her scent. Sighing heavily he felt comfort and warmth from her feverish body. The familiar feeling when he was held by her as a child came rushing back him, and he was going to do anything to keep it forever. But it was cooler than he had last remembered, much cooler and her eyes weren't as bright. The power he could detect in her was considerably lower and she felt weaker than she actually was.

The girl immediately felt incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of herself, what she was doing prying to another's business like that. She quickly made herself scarce and left, deciding that this one day of excitement was enough for at least a decade or so.

"Ah wait!" Seras called out to her, as she tried to look around Vlad. The girl sheepishly turned around giving her a nervous smile. "Thank you for trying to talk to this idiot!" Seras laughed as she knocked at Vlad's head lightly with her knuckles, "You know he's actually quite a lone-mmrph!" Vlad covered her mouth his large hand as he took a quick glance at the serpent girl.

"Hmph, brat you didn't hear anything", he growled at her as a cruel smirk stretched across his face, "You got it?" He snapped at her, she nodded her head furiously as she quickly darted off very afraid for her life. Her breath completely lost for a moment, but to think a dangerous monster like him was like around her. It was such a dramatic difference, like watching a wild rabid dog turn into a puppy within a couple of seconds.

Seras watched the girl slither off in such a rush that she giggled softly, "You frightened her", Seras sighed out loud as she looked up at Vlad. He laughed as he encircled her with his arms as they turned to shadow, disappearing into the shadows as they travelled in their shadow form.

'What did you call me out for Seras?'

There was a long pause as she chose her words carefully, it was hard to put in a way that wouldn't sound strange.

'I am going into my rebirth, and I need you to protect my body while I reassemble my form. I need you to look after me while I reform. I am not safe right now and I am at my weakest moments, I need your help'

Although they couldn't see each other in their shadow form she could just see the confused expression on Vlad's face. Vlad's thoughts went rampant, everything started to make sense in some sort. Of course there were a few things that needed explanation but he understood the general meaning of what she meant.

'Your body bursts into flames...' A flood of bad memories came rushing back to him but he pushed through, 'Then your body is formed through the ash… That is your immortality'

'Yes…' She was revealing a close secret of here which was personal but she knew she would be able to trust him. The child she had practically brought up. 'But the process is long and is usually done in where I was laid to rest and where I born again'.

'Where is that?'

'My urn, where my human ashes were first put in and where I was reborn as The Strix'.

Urn - a tall, rounded vase with a stem and base, especially one used for storing the ashes of a cremated person.

Did you miss me, I was enjoying my holidays and now in one day I will return to school. Kill me.

This is the longest chapter I have ever written, I just kept writing and I didn't know when to stop. So here's this really long chapter which will probably never happen again. Lol.

Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed your holidays, or weekend I dunno where all you guys at. Leave me a review or something I dunno.

Fave, follow, review.

Peace out.