Chapter 6: Sympathy of the Night Part 2

One Hour Before,

The pitter patter of rain endlessly echoed across the dark alleyways, as the hooded man walked down the long maze-like labyrinths of dark bricks, the moon present, and on his back The path's he walked were devoid of life, the ancient, forgotten walkways that no one dared to walk in the academy. The darkness was illuminated by the occasional flashes of blue lightning across the night sky, as well as the same amount of light coming from the lit cigarette the man had in his mouth. He didn't look out of place, wearing his black cloak, and mortals couldn't even see him. His spell had worked, and he could already hear the Guards rallying against the vampire prince, unaware, he had just summoned a horror into the world. A spawn of his former brother.

They would blame Gabriel, no doubt. As well as the little girl he now served. The hooded man let out a hollow laugh, his voice drowned out by the constant downpour of rainfall, eyeing the nightsky, a final time. He raised his gloved right hand, and a barrage of green energy poured out, eventually forming a circular portal. His "master" would be pleased with him. As he walked forth, and disappeared in a flash of emerald light, he said,

"What a horrible night for a curse...wouldn't you say, old friend?"

Present,

"I cant be a fugitive, i'll be expelled..." Whined the young noblewoman. Louise's eyes were beginning to fill with tears, as she put her head to her knee's curling up in a fetal position, her back to the stonewall. Her pajamas were already soaking wet from the never ending rainfall,so she didn't mind the wet stone. Lady Valliere briefly glanced at her surroundings. After that frightful..."flight" from her quarters, the vampire, Dracul, had whisked her away to some hideaway in the academy. Though thinking back, she should have questioned his opinion on where it was safe to hide, considering the familiar had been in Tristian academy for barely a day.

"Me, personally wouldn't worry about that. Risk of capture, imprisonment, grueling torture, and a grand finale of horrifyingly slow public execution should be your priority, my lady." Uttered the vampire dryly. Dracul, The Dragon, or so he called himself was standing up, leaning on the wall across from Louise. His frighteningly pale skin, and ebony hair, surprisingly went well with the bright red, and gold trimmed, leather-coat. Like Louise's clothing, it too was soaked, but Dracul didn't seem bothered by it. The vampire melodramatically leaned on the wall with attitude, The vampire's ever-present grin extended forth, like a sinister wolf-smile. Was he making fun of her?

Louise's eyes filled with anger, as she barked in an angry tone of voice, "This..." she bite her tongue, before letting the words come forth "This is your fault!' She said, much louder then before. The young noble pointed her finger at the vampire accusing, "None of this would've happened if I didn't summon you!" Dracul rolled his eyes, yawning slightly, "And if you didn't summon me, you would be expelled, and on your way back home, to whatever fate awaited you, girl." He sneered, pointing one of his bony claws at the girl, "I know for a fact, that nobody would miss you, here. Your worthless. You lack skill. Your knowledge, in the arcane is pathetic at best, especially considering the fact you call yourself a mage."

"You, DARE!" Louise's practically screeched, her face becoming red with anger. The Vampire Prince simply laughed in response. "Pathetic. Self-Loathing. Terrible." He began to circle around the girl, his snickering smile ever present, as his long-coats edge gently flowed in the wind, "You act the way you do, because you feel inadequate. You know, deep down, that you aren't good at anything. " He edged closer, until there faces were nearly touching, taunting the noblewoman "Your a shrill hag, that is a burden to everyone and anyone. Your parent's don't love you. Your family, barely tolerates you existence, because they know, your a waste of space-"

*Smack*

Louise's hand collided with Gabriel's face hard, and loud, the smack, piercing the sound of rain outside. Her face was bright red with rage, and small tear drops were forming on her eyes. The wolf-like grin was still on Gabriel's face, as he smiled devilishly at the young girl. The red mark already forming on his face,

"Well then." He said, entertained, "It seems we've lingered here too long."

As if nothing had happened, the vampire got up, and looked outside, "My scout should be returning any second..."

With the backdrop of the night, the flap of leather wings could be heard in the distance. Seconds later, a large, hideous vampire bat popped into view. Louise stepped back in disgust, but Dracul stood his grounds. Louise could see glowing, red orbs, in place of eyes.

The vampire let the vampire bat perch on his arm, as he leaned in closer. On further inspection, the girl could tell that bat...was in fact a normal bat. Besides the red, glowing eyes of course. Dracul leaned in closer, putting his ear to the creatures mouth, causing Louise to gag in disgust She heard him whisper, "You've done well, my loyal servant. I name thee..." The vampire paused for a moment, deep in thought,

"You can talk to bats?!" Louise protested, her face filled with surprise and doubt, as if she was gazing at a lunatic,

"Well, duh. I'm a vampire, you foolish girl. What am I going to talk too, dogs?" He said deadpanly,

"Were the hell did the bat come from?! It's not like there's any caves near the academy..." Louise responded, back to her normal self. Dracul inquisitively moved his head sideway, "If I had to guess, most likely from a cave in a nearby forest. Though it matters little."

I wonder...what's a worthy name for an officer in my Legion of Darkness...hmmmm...maybe I should just name him after a fictional vampire? The vampire prince thought, getting back on topic, and ignoring the girls odd looks

After a few seconds, Dracul's face lit up, as the Vampire Prince grinned

"Abhorash, as a reward for your service. I make you head scout, and lieutenant of my...expeditionary force, little one."

The small vampire bat, as if overjoyed with it's new name and status, squealed, and...bowed it's head to it's Prince. Gabriel continued, "Now, tell me. Were did this so call, "murder" happen?" The vampire bat, or shall we say, Abhorash, squeaked, as if to respond, and waved his leathery wings around. Dracul's eyes opened in surprise, "The flower, garden you say, the one with many black roses?"

Abhorash nodded it's tiny head, "A very gristly sight, I assume?" The Vampire bat furiously nodded it's head faster then before, "Well. I suppose that can't be helped. Anyway, I thank you again, most humbly for your loyal service, lieutenant. Continue to serve me faithfully, and you shall be rewarded most handsomely." The vampire bat bowed, once more, as it prepared to tale off into the night, before Dracul whispered, "One more thing before you go." The vampire bat turned around, "Spread word of my arrival to any creature of the night you encounter in the lonely paths, caves, and dark forests of this world. Tell them...there Prince had arrived. Await further instructions, I shall contact you at a later date. Now go, and bring forth my legions..." Abhorash bowed his head for a final time, squeaking something unintelligible, before flying off to the night.

Louise eyed him oddly, before saying, "What are you doing?" The Vampire motioned for her to follow him, as he began walking down the dark pathway. He was grinning, finally he said, "Marshaling my forces."

Louise felt a chill down her spine,

The vampire prince kept to the shadows, gently guiding his ward through the darkness. It would be best, for everyone, including the feebles humans, that he remained hidden in his element.

Lest his dark urges get the best of him, and he slaughters them all, in a glorious display of blood.

Alas, that was counter productive. Besides, his son Alucard, wouldn't approve.

His new scout had proven very useful. Aborash had come to him, drawn by his dark aura, that all creatures of the night, were attracted too. When he was leading the duo to a safe hiding spot (though the Vampire uses the term loosely. As in safety for Louise, and the guards, not Dracul.), the vampire bat was assisting him, through a telepathic link. The bat, was also able to gather information about the current situation. Apparently, the Tristian army had been deployed in the outlining area's around the academy, as well as the academy itself. After the body had been discovered, an alarm had been raised. Luckily for the students, magic allowed the army to deploy quickly, and without problem.

Gabriel had figured he needed to see the crime scene, before accurately guessing what had done it, and how to properly deal with it.

The Vampire Lord has numerous options for stealth. He could use his Mistform, and slip undetected across the Guard patrols with his ease. Or he could shapeshift into a swarm of rats, and evade the guards that way. Heck, if he wanted too, he could just conjure an impenetrable barrier of fog, and use that to mask his approach. Unfortunately, he was burdened with the annoying little noble brat.

Oh sure. His display earlier could be considered rude, or even cruel. But it wasn't like the girl had it coming. She a selfish, egotistical, spoiled cretin, who was bitter, friendless, and hollow. Her reaction confirmed the vampires earlier suspicions. She had no self-esteem. The vampire could easily see through her facade. Isolate her weakness. Exploit those weaknesses, and complete destroy her without raising a finger. Tear her apart with his words. Pyshical violence was just one simple tool of many the Vampire Prince possessed. He was equally adapt at ripping his foes asunder with his tongue.

Or you could say the Vampire Prince was a total asshole.

Bah...humans...nothing but a miserable pile of secrets. Withholding your inner demons in you sub-conscious until they destroy you...pathetic.

The girl was was plagued with self-doubt, and loathing, to be sure. He could tell. Though for what reasons she held such negative emotions for herself he couldn't tell. He knew little about the girl, and her family. Her reaction to his actions furthered his assumption. Maybe something to do with her family? Not able to reach the expectations of her parents? It couldn't be that simple.

Or could it? He was dealing with a schoolgirl after all. Hormones did crazy things.

How...cliche...

The girl and the vampire had been skulking in the dark, for little over thirty minutes. They would be nearing there destination soon.

"So...what were you doing back there? What...was that?" Louise said, suddenly,

"Eh? What are you talking about girl?" Replied the vampire, impatiently.

"At the tower...you spoke in...tongues...you were emitting...darkness..." The girls voice was tinged with fear.

The vampire Prince smirked. Though unlike before, it was hollow, and bitter, "Ah...I was simply conducting the Sympathy of the Night." Louise's eyes filled with annoyance, "What the heck is that supposed to mean?"

With his back turned to the girl, he whispered, "Leave it alone girl..." Unlike before, entertainment, and mockery was replaced by pure menace. Louise, however, was blissfully unaware. She was to held up by her pride, she didn't know she should stop. "I cant believe you! I'm your master! Speaking to me with such disrespect-"

"I was manifesting the voice of my many victims, across the centuries."" The vampire said, interrupting Louise, his eyes becoming downcast. The crimson color faded from different shades, as the seconds passed, his hypnotic gaze starring into the darkness,"When I consume the blood of a living being, I absorb a part of it's essence. It becomes part of my life source, my being." He paused for a moment, "Specifically, the darkness within. The darkness that dwell's inside of every mortal, that whispers, and compels them to commit atrocious acts of depravity. The roots of evil are deep... irreversibly so in the hearts of men. It is their true nature, their destiny. " His voice quaked with rage, and hatred. He paused, and turned to face the girl, his face betraying no emotion,

"They whisper to me. Every second, I hear there wails, there moans, there sorrow. The pure, and unadulterated sadness of a million people."

The vampire prince got onto one knee, and starred into the shivering noblewoman's eyes. He lifted up his hand, and using one of his bony finer nails, cut a small insesion in his wrist.

Causing crimson blood to flow. Louise was to stunned to respond, so she just stood there, her mouth agape. Gabriel's voice had lost the rage, which was replaced by cool monotone, "There telling me to tear apart your throat with my fangs, and gouge on you blood, . They scream, and beg me to give them sustenance, and for there "Prince to save them". It takes all of my willpower to resist there words, Louise. Your attitude is testing my patience, and I implore you for your own sake, as well as everyone here, do not tempt me."

Louise wordlessly shook her head. The Vampire Prince was...different. Unlike his previous, cocky appearance, he almost seemed...tired. She began to notice large, dark bags under his eyes, and her previous impression was marred by his voice.

Gabriel nodded his head, turning around, his back to her once again. She followed him, the shadows still present, and the7 crept through the academy. This event further showed Louise she knew nothing about Dracul. His personality changed drastically within seconds, and he seemed like a completely different person.

After around thirty seconds, Dracul spoke again, "Louise, listen to me. I want you to remember this." Dracul's voice had changed, it was...almost kind. His eyes too...it could have been a trick of the lighting, but she could have sworn his crimson eyes had turned...light blue, for an instant. Louise nodded her head. Dracul said, "Blood is Power. Blood is Family. Blood is Everything..."

Louise still didn't understand.