-- December 13, 1774 --
" Happy Birthday Mihael " Esme hugged her son to herself, smiling. " M-mother!.." he blushed a little. " I"m 14 now..I'm not a little kid " she laughed. " I know, I know...but I just can't help myself. You look so handsome, in your new clothes " He blushed again, and got out of his mothers embrace. " Mother! " Esme laughed again, and ruffled his hair. " Well your aunts and uncles will be here soon, I want you and your cousin Kyosta to behave yourselves, do you understand me? " she asked firmly. Mihael rolled his eyes. " Mother, you know as well as I do, that he starts it " She smiled. " Well..be the bigger person darling, and let it go if he does..Remember.." she pinched his cheek lightly. " Use your voice, not your fists " Esme smiled, and headed out of the living room to the kitchen. " Hmph.." he folded his arms over his chest. " Easy for her to say.." he mumbled to himself.
A few hours passed, and the ball room of the large estate was now inhabited by many people. Mihael half sat, half layed on one of the large arm chairs in the grand ball room, watching his aunts, and uncles, and other family members dance, and talk, and laugh. While he merely sat there, bored. ' Some birthday..' he thought to himself. A quiet sigh left his lips. He layed his head back against the back of the arm chair, eyes closed. ' Well..I guess things could be worse..' " Sleeping?...heh, well I guess it is well past the baby's bed time.." Came the all too familiar voice of his cousin. Mihael's eyes snapped open, and he glared up at the boy leaning against the back of the arm chair. " What do you want Kyosta? " Mihael said in an exasperated tone. The last thing he needed was his cousin breathing down his neck. Kyosta chuckled lightly. " Now, now Mihael, is that any way to greet family? " " Family no...you on the other hand.." he mumbled to himself. Kyosta smirked. " So, hows your birthday so far?...any good? " Mihael raised an eyebrow, and eyed him suspiciously. " Who are you?.."
Kyosta laughed at this. He ran a hand through his dark hair, and smiled down at his younger cousin. " I'm merely trying to be nice, it is your birthday after all " The blond snorted, and rolled his eyes. " Yeah...that's never stopped you from being an ass before, why start now? " " Because, darling cousin, things change...I was wondering, would you care to join me on a little trip to the back yard? " Kyosta asked, stepping back from the couch, and walking around to the front to stand in front of Mihael. Again Mihael raised an eyebrow at his cousins unusual behavior. " Whats so interesting in the back yard? " Kyosta allowed a half smile to spread across his lips. "The woods.."
" The woods?.." Mihael repeated, a bit unsure. " Unless you're afraid " Kyosta gave the blond a quick smirk. " I"m not afraid..lets go " He stood up. Kyosta smiled, and led him to the back door of the house. He opened it and held it open for Mihael. " After you.." Mihael walked past him, still feeling a bit uneasy in the moonless night. "Kyosta..this better not be some stupid trick..I swear I will kill you if it is " The sound of Kyosta's light laughter surprisingly relaxed him. " No trick Mihael..come.." he walked by Mihael's side, his hands in his pockets as they both made their way through the back yard. " Kyosta...why the sudden change? " Mihael said suddenly. Kyosta spared the blond a quick side glance. " Like I said..things have changed. Tell me Mihael.." He stopped walking once they had gotten to the very entrance to the woods. Where there was a large gap, that wasn't covered with bushes, and vines. " Have you heard the legends?... "
Mihael blinked, turned his attention to the woods' opening, then turned back to look at Kyosta. " What legends? " Kyosta's laughter reached his ears again, and he fought the urge to smile. " You honestly don't know? Aunt Esme sure does baby you a lot " Mihael glared up at the older boy. " She does not baby me..its probably something stupid, that's why. What exactly ARE the legends? " Kyosta's expression hardened, and Mihael's eyes widened. He had never seen that look on Kyosta's face. " w-what is it.
Kyosta? "
" The legends, Mihael..are about the living dead.." Mihael placed his hand over his mouth. " y-you're serious?..." he laughed. " Kyosta..you're crazy..Zombies are only in those stories my father use to tell.." Kyosta sighed. He shook his head and walked over to one of the trees that lined the opening of the woods, and leaned against it. " Blood suckers Mihael...vampires " he whispered the last word. " V-vampires?.." Mihael whispered quietly. Kyosta nodded. " But..they're not real..Stop lying Kyosta " Mihael crossed his arms over his chest. " I'm not lying...Have you not noticed lately that Aunt Esme, and Uncle Vlad have been acting strangely? All the adults have, they're scared, something is seriously wrong "
Mihael ran a hand through his blond hair. " Now that you mention it...they have been acting rather strange.." he mumbled, more to himself than anything. Kyosta nodded. " I know..its those vampires..they are real, and that's what they are worried about " " This is why you're being nice to me " It was a statement, not a question. Kyosta stared at his younger cousin for a few seconds before looking out into the shallow darkness of the woods. " Not entirely...you see, I never hated you. It was only jokes, But, things change..its high time I start acting my age " He smiled. " Uncle Vlad, asked me to look after you. To lure you away from the house. So you'd be safe from harm." There was silence before the severity of the situation sunk in. "Kyosta.." he gasped. "You're not joking...Its really.." he couldn't finish what he wanted to say. One look at Kyostas sad smile confirmed it.
Mihael looked back toward the large house, and noticed how quiet it had gotten. Music was no longer playing. It was just dead quiet. Nothing but the slight rustling of leaves. He turned back to Kyosta who was clutching at his white shirt tightly. " Kyosta?...you're telling me that..." Mihael paused. " We're out here...safe..while " his voice cracked, and suddenly felt himself unable to talk. " Yes Mihael...by now, they should all be dead.." Kyosta's voice was strained, and quiet. " My father?...my..." He blinked back tears. But he fell forward onto his knees staring at his still brightly lit home. " My mother?!.." he broke down crying, his face in his hands. " So you believe me now? " Kyosta whispered. His eyes were closed, he was trying his hardest not to let his emotions get the best of him. Not in front of Mihael. The blonde didn't answer. Not that he was able to. Kyosta sighed, and went to kneel down beside his younger cousin. He placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder. " Its ok...my mother is gone too.." Mihael sniffled, and turned around slightly, throwing his arms around Kyosta. " They're gone..." he choked out, crying into Kyosta's chest. Kyosta instinctively wrapped his arms around him. " I know..its ok...You still have me.." He sighed. "I won't let anything happen to you"
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A/N: Chapter 2 not that long, I know, sorry. I hate the format its in ugh...but I didn't want to go and risk messing something up to change it. Again, sorry.
Good so far? hopefully...sigh I hope its ok. Even though I know not much is going on yet. In later chapters there will be a lot more action. Promise. Well, review and tell me what you think. Should I continue? Yes? No?
Matty