Merry Christmas!
Here comes the last chapter and I hope you'll enjoy it.
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Alfred had no idea where he was. He supposed that he was dreaming, doubting it at the same moment. He seemed to soar in clear space, looking at a bizarre landscape in front of him. Well, it was rather a wall than a landscape. The wall was very colorful. It seemed to be composed by a magnitude of horizontal stripes, all different in color and shape, all consisting of different material. On top of the wall Alfred could see miniature plants, trees and buildings – they seemed like toys. The wall appeared to be moving. Alfred looked down and saw that it swam on a liquid. He could not tell what kind of liquid, though. He only wondered what liquid could bear such a weight.
When Alfred looked closer, he recognized that he was not looking at one wall, but two. The strips didn't fit exactly on one point. He noticed a certain edge – the two walls seemed to have locked at this spot. Alfred knew that there was an immense tension on that edge – he only didn't know why he knew. The walls seemed to try desperately to move away from each other, but this edge prevented it. Alfred knew that it was only a matter of time that the tension would break it. Alfred felt a shiver when he thought about the tiny buildings on top of the wall – the breaking of the edge would surely bring a lot of tremor along.
Suddenly Alfred felt how something ripped him away from his observation post and he was back, lying in bed. Was he still dreaming or was he awake? He lay motionless in the darkness, when suddenly the world around him began to shake, making him seasick. Terrified, he clamped onto his bedding and sat up with a small cry.
"Hush, Chéri. It's just me. Don't be scared." A soft and familiar voice lured Alfred back into reality.
Still gasping, Alfred felt like his dead heart was racing. He turned toward the voice, somewhat disoriented. "Herbert," he murmured, relieved, recognizing the long, ash-blonde hair.
"Yes, I'm here. What is it? A bad dream?" the prince asked, stroking some of Alfred's slightly wet locks back. Vampires didn't dream often, but when they did it was in the time right before waking. Herbert had been awake extremely early, driven by his desire to be with Alfred. The golden light had just left the hallways, when he had rushed to his chambers.
Alfred nodded, running his hands over his face. "Yes, and what an odd dream it had been..." he told Herbert all he had seen in the dream. Strangely enough, he could remember every small detail.
"Well – if you ask me, that sounds like an earthquake. They're rare here in this area, but they happen. Usually they're not bad."
Alfred shrugged his shoulders. "It felt all so real, as if the bed really shook."
Herbert grinned lewdly. "I can make the bed shake too," he whispered in Alfred's ear and Alfred laughed. "Yes, I think I can remember such an event."
Bemusedly, Alfred looked at his consort, the memories of the past morning slowly coming back. The green and blue pair of eyes seemed to sink into each other, when time seemingly stopped. Eventually Herbert leaned close to Alfred, catching his lips in a sensual kiss. It felt like their first kiss ever. Again both bodies were flooded with the other's love. Words were meaningless now. A spoken "I love you" could never live up to the truth of their feelings. After an eternity, they broke apart.
"Bath?" Alfred asked and Herbert nodded.
"I go and draw it," he said, leaving Alfred in bed.
Alfred lay back, stretching and yawning. Smiling, he waited, enjoying the emotions that were running through his body since last morning. It was like the discovery of love had opened a valve inside him, setting free all emotions you could think of.
Herbert had guided him out of darkness into a world he had not had an idea of, even as a human. Herbert was his angel. He didn't just look like one.
Finally he sat up again and got out of bed. He could have lay there forever, but he knew compensation waited for him in the bathroom.
He just entered when Herbert had undressed completely. Alfred allowed himself a long look over the prince's perfect body's back view. Herbert looked to him cheekily over his shoulder, stepping into the tub as lasciviously as possible. Alfred hurried to get rid of his own clothes in order to join Herbert in the warm water, feeling Herbert's stares at his own body.
Herbert was a bit confused, when Alfred finally sat down behind him – that implemented a new seating arrangement in this tub – but he didn't mind, leaning back into his Chéri's embrace.
Alfred had enjoyed being bathed by Herbert several times during the past weeks. Tonight he wanted to care for his consort in the same way, now that he knew what the prince meant to him. He took the sponge and started massaging every spot on Herbert's body he could reach. Herbert had laid his head on Alfred's shoulder and the ex-student kissed his temples tenderly.
Of course it didn't take long until Alfred took special care for Herbert's crotch and the ash-blonde vampire started to squirm a bit, moaning. Alfred's lips traced down Herbert's temples, while his hand closed firmly around his consort's hard member. Suddenly Herbert turned around, grabbing Alfred by the axles, shoving him on the shelf space between tub and wall.
Herbert's mouth closed around his penis and Alfred threw his head in his neck, his hands grasping around for support. Since he couldn't find any on the slippery tiles, his left hand finally clawed into Herbert's wet strands, while he steadied himself on the right. Herbert drove Alfred almost into madness, always drawing back when he was about to go over the edge. His legs cramping around Herbert's back, Alfred almost cried in frustration, when that happened for the umpteenth time. Herbert grinned – he often granted Alfred the release, before finding his own inside his consort, but today he had different plans. He pulled himself out of the water in order to give Alfred a kiss, whispering to him: "Take me."
Alfred's green eyes lit up and he didn't need to be persuaded to take this invitation. He slid back into the water, getting behind Herbert who had laid his arms on the shelf now. Alfred took his time, preparing the prince for him – he had learned much since their First Time in Kronstadt and soon Herbert was moaning pleadingly to finally take him. Alfred eventually granted him that wish, thrusting into him slowly but steadily. It was so good to feel his angel around him and he started moving slowly. His senses exploded immediately, as always when Herbert granted him this exception and it was always hard for him to last long.
Herbert didn't even try to stifle his screams, that were a mixture from lust and sweet pain. The prince tried to catch the force of Alfred's thrusts with his arms. His Chéri was after all still so young and inexperienced that he was not able to restrain himself, forgetting everything around him, pounding away recklessly. Herbert didn't grudge him. He enjoyed feeling Alfred, the knowledge of how easily he could drive him to the edge of sanity. Moreover, he wasn't always tender, taking Alfred, as well. But today should be different.
Alfred was ripped out of his ecstasy, when he felt Herbert's hand on his belly, stopping his movements. Herbert withdrew himself from him and slowly Alfred's brain started working again, bringing worries along. Did he exaggerate? Did he hurt Herbert? The prince had turned toward him, pushing him back into the water.
"I want to see you coming in me," he whispered, sitting down on Alfred's crotch, engaging his mouth in a fight of tongues.
Alfred couldn't believe how stimulating it was, being used by Herbert. Nothing else did the prince do right now. Alfred was completely passive while Herbert gave himself pleasures by using Alfred's penis. But it was not only a new revelation for Alfred. Herbert was mesmerized how much he liked this new found position. During his long existence, he had only granted a handful of men to take him and when he did, he had always been passive. Now he was hooked – nothing could be better than channeling Alfred's member to spots he wanted it do be, especially this one spot most men didn't even know about. It soon drove Herbert over the edge, taking Alfred along with him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A short while later Herbert lay exhausted in Alfred's arms, who stroked tenderly over his arms and breast, kissing his front. The emotion of love, swept away for a short time by pure passion, had come back.
"Do you even know how special you are?" Herbert asked lazily.
It would not have taken much for Alfred from moaning out, irritated. But instead he said: "Well, after hearing it again and again I slowly start to believe it. But what do you mean, exactly?"
Herbert chuckled before answering: "Well, if you knew how few of my consorts had been allowed taking me – and none of them more than once. But I'll never get enough from you, Chéri."
Alfred smiled. "Well – I don't know if that is down to my qualities or other things, but I feel flattered."
They laughed. After a short pause, Herbert asked: "What happened yesterday? With Siliel?"
Alfred snorted. "I assumed – and I'm sure you did as well – that she wanted me to share her bed. And as soon as we were in her room, she put off her dress." He felt Herbert tense and added quickly: "But there was another one underneath, she wasn't naked then. A very short and revealing dress, but it covered all necessary spots." Herbert relaxed a bit and Alfred smiled. "I had a good look at her body – but it didn't attract me at all. All the time I compared her to you and she didn't win." Now Herbert grinned smugly.
"But – what did want from you then?"
"She explained that she was taken by my thoughts. Because there are so many. She said she could see thoughts, that I didn't know the existence of yet. At first I didn't understand it, but I think she already knew how I felt, before I did. She pushed me toward that thought. She said she wanted to do me a favor."
"She did," Herbert murmured. "If it's really that way, I'll have to thank her. I just don't understand why she did it. I mean – she doesn't appear to be the person helping others selflessly."
"She didn't. She said she wanted to do me a favor now, because she thinks that I'll be a mighty vampire one day, able to grant her my help. Or something like that." One could hear it in Alfred's voice that he found it all very absurd.
But Herbert only nodded. "Yes, that makes sense."
Alfred snorted again. "Excuse me? Herbert – I'll never be a mighty vampire. I'm not the slightest bit interested in becoming a mighty vampire. You might have noticed already, how much I hate to be in the center of attention? I don't even have a talent, like those tribunal members or your father. Yes – I'm smart and I mastered this whole emotion-learning rather fast, but that's nothing that special, I guess. Why would one expect something great from me?"
Herbert turned a bit to be able to look into Alfred's eyes. "But of course that is special. Alfred – do you know how many vampires are able to feel love? Love is the highest and hardest of all emotions and only very few ever master it."
"Then you're special too," Alfred answered stubbornly.
Herbert paused. The truth of that hit him like a hammer. He hadn't even lost one thought about that yet. A warm feeling flooded him. A bit confused he said: "Yes, maybe, but still: I'm almost 300 years older than you. You're vampire age is only some months. You did something nearly impossible. I really think that you could be a mighty vampire one day and that you have a huge talent."
Alfred stroked thoughtfully through Herbert's hair, before saying softly: "Are not all mighty vampires lords? How could I be a lord? I don't want to fight your father. I couldn't, because of you."
Herbert seemed to become paler than natural for a vampire for a moment. That was a problem he didn't think about yet. Instinctively he snuggled closer into the arms of his Chéri.
"You know – actually I don't care about it. You'll always be the greatest vampire for me," the prince murmured finally and Alfred smiled, pulling Herbert even closer.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In the small parlor, Breda's favorite, the lord of the castle slowly started to realize, that it had been a bad idea to engage the last three tribunal-members into a game of cards. After Pedro and Kazuo had taken their leave this evening, he had invited Siliel, Patrick and Baptiste to play Diavolo, the most favorite game among vampires (and widely unknown in the human world).
It was enough to drive anyone crazy. Baptiste could, thanks to his talent, manipulate everyone to throw him the cards he needed. Patrick knew in advance who was going to play which hand. And Siliel probably knew the hands of her opponents better than her own. After one round, which Breda of course lost spectacularly, he passed on a next. The three tribunal-members showed sympathy and kept on playing with Breda as spectator, finally able to fight with equal weapons. Breda would have never dreamed, that watching a game of cards could be that entertaining. But Patrick, Siliel and Baptiste turned it into a small battle.
To try and confuse the others, Patrick started to chat a bit.
"But where are your son and dear Alfred, Breda? I haven't seen them yet tonight."
"Herbert disappeared before sunset. I think he and Alfred – talk," Breda murmured, pulling a tortured face and the three other vampires chuckled.
"Oh yes, that's what I think they're doing," Siliel fluted.
"What did you do with that poor boy yesterday?" Baptiste asked her.
"I just gave him a hand, you could say. A really fascinating young vampire, dear Breda."
The count nodded thoughtfully and forgot to give Siliel a submissive answer. Instead he eyed Baptiste and said: "Herbert informed me yesterday about Alfred loving him. I don't know how he knew that, probably it has something to do with their bond of blood. But how can that be possible? He is so young..."
"I wouldn't be surprised, after all. That had been my suspicion yesterday. Siliel?", Baptiste asked, watching the vampiress invitingly.
"He does and your son loves him. But he had had difficulties finding access to that feeling, though it was inside him since I first saw him," Siliel explained, unmoved.
"And how did you provide him access?" Patrick asked, intrigued.
Siliel giggled. "By showing him, what he didn't want. Me. Or any woman – well that's the only reason I'm not mortally offended. I also threatened him to take him with me to France."
Breda looked alarmed at the vampiress. "You – you will?"
Siliel fixated Breda for a while with her violet eyes, that didn't tell him anything. "I won't lie, I'd really like to. I could teach him a lot, lead him to thoughts and emotions he still has to acquire. There is still a lot he has to learn – a lot he can learn. This boy thinks so much in some minutes as others do in a lifetime."
"But?", asked Baptiste.
"He probably won't follow me. Not without Herbert."
"If Breda told him to go, he had to. If you really think he should," Patrick argued. He knew Siliel's abilities and was certain that she could help Alfred on his way. Even if he found this last means a bit drastic.
"No, not necessarily," Siliel answered and all looked at her, wondering.
"What do you mean?", Breda asked, stunned.
"Well – you gave him a clear order, when we retired from the ball. Do what she says. No vampire can resist such a direct command from their sire. Or couldn't."
Baptiste looked at Breda, who confirmed Siliel's words, nodding. Then he watched the vampiress, who had a smile on her lips. "Alfred did? He resisted the order?" the Viennese asked, flabbergasted.
"He didn't even realize, what he did. He fought with himself, but I guess he still doesn't know what victory there had been for him. When I told him, that he had to follow me to France – he said: I don't want to."
Her three listeners gasped. That was impossible. Of course it was quite normal for a vampire of Alfred's like to disengage from their sire. Alfred seemed to be predestined to do so one day. But it only could happen by fighting and killing the sire. Most had to flee the influence of their sires beforehand for some time, to even be able mentally, to challenge them. That was a very difficult step for every vampire, because it meant breaking the sire's law, even if that was not a direct command. One was bound to a direct order. No one could resist it. Until now, apparently.
"Didn't I tell you, my friend?" Baptiste murmured finally, visibly shaken by these news. "He'll find a way around it."
"Then – I'm no longer his lord?" Breda asked Siliel. He didn't know if he should be happy or angry about that fact. He felt like his front had made close acquaintance with a cast-iron pan.
"I don't know. I really don't. But it seems like Alfred had found a way around the old rules. If he doesn't want to follow your order, he won't. Very interesting, how his mind works."
"Is that a talent?" Baptiste added thoughtfully. "He gets, what he wants? It's possible, isn't it?"
Their conversation came to a halt, when the topic came into the parlor. When the bath-water had become uncomfortably cold, they had struggled out of the tub and dressed. Alfred had donned a black shirt and black trousers. Herbert had remarked, that Alfred would have been the more fitting son for his father. Regarding the style, they both seemed to have the same taste. Remembering having guests in the castle, they went looking for them.
"Good evening," Herbert said, a blissful smile still resting on his face. Alfred also wanted to greet the other vampires, when the words stuck in his throat. Why were they all looking at him so intently? It gave him the certain feeling of having been talked about. Did Siliel talk about her desire to take him with her? A cold hand seemed to grasp for Alfred's heart, when he felt the fear of having to leave Herbert behind flood his body. Alfred just nodded before sitting down beside Herbert, looking at the floor.
"Good evening, Alfred," Siliel purred. "Have you recovered from last night?"
"Y..yes, M...Mademoiselle," he stuttered.
"Did you think about my offer?"
Alfred felt cornered. So his inkling had been genuine. They had talked about it. Had the count agreed yet?
"W..w...well, I," he kept on stammering, when he suddenly was filled by a comforting emotion, calming him at once. He knew now that everything was going to be alright. He grinned at Baptiste, though he didn't know why.
"You know, ma chére Siliel. I really understand your point and know that you'd really like to teach the boy – but I think he has to be among other vampires and not into your isolation in France. Alfred would be better preserved in Vienna and of course Herbert would be invited along. Since his and my talent seem to be similar, I'd be a much better teacher for him."
Alfred didn't know what Baptiste was talking about – his talent? - but he agreed wholly with him in one point: He'd really rather go to Vienna. He could even see him staying longer in Baptiste's mansion. Especially if Herbert was there too. And since Breda and Baptiste were close friends, the count would surely allow Herbert to accompany him. Baptiste now talked directly to him.
"Did you know, that Breda and I have talked about your suggestion about teaching the new vampires? I think it's a brilliant idea and Breda has already agreed to try it. I'm going to stay a while to show you, how it is to be done. So I could start teaching you here already, in your trusted surrounding." The Viennese winked at Alfred who beamed back at him. He also gave his lord a grateful smile. He had already feared, that he had forgotten his suggestion.
Breda looked a bit confused and if Alfred would have looked at Herbert, he would have seen the same expression in the prince's face. The count watched Baptiste and Siliel as if they played a thrilling match of tennis. Did they really fight for Alfred right now? Pulling out all the stops? And really, Siliel answered the unasked questions in a silky tone:
"Yes, you could indeed be right with your assumption about Alfred's talent – even if I never saw any evidence in his thoughts toward that. But it would still be better, if he came with me for the start. I can lay out the joins for you to refine them. It would make your work easier, Baptiste. After I'm contented with the result, I'll sent him on to you, to Vienna. Of course," she added, turning to Herbert "- the prince would be very welcome in my home, too."
Herbert felt a laugh rising in him. That was simply too funny to watch. Alfred, on the other hand, seemed to shrink in his armchair, finally realizing the horse-trading – with him being the horse.
"My dear friends – I truly hate to disrupt this highly entertaining conversation, but we should all empty our glasses now, laying them onto that fluffy carpet over there and making ourselves comfortable in our chairs," Patrick suddenly piped up.
The others looked at him in consusion for a moment. Baptiste and Siliel reacted the first, tossing the bloodwine down their throats. The Viennese stood up, took his, Siliel's and Patrick's glasses and laid them on the carpet, as requested. Then he waited rather impatiently for Breda's glass, while Alfred and Herbert hadn't poured themselves one yet.
"Come on, Breda. Patrick doesn't make these cryptic announcements just for fun," he urged the count on. Patrick had already collected all cards, putting them back into their case. Finally Breda's glass had joined the others on the carpet and Baptiste had returned to his chair. Just in time, for Patrick announced, grabbing his armrests :
"Attention, it's about to start. But don't worry – it won't be severe."
He had just finished speaking, when a dead rumble sounded through the castle. Alfred suddenly had the sensation as if his chair was on wheels and looked for something to stabilize him. The mighty chandelier started swinging, the crockery in the showcases tingled, dust and small stones fell from the ceiling and the case with the cards fell from the table, as did some heavy book from a shelf.
It was over as suddenly, as it began. When the chairs stood on firm, unmoving ground again, the vampires all took a breath.
"An earthquake," Breda explained superfluously. "They don't happen often here. This one was stronger than usual."
"Herbert, Alfred – is something wrong?" Baptiste asked, when his look fell on them. They were watching each other in a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. Siliel followed Baptiste's gaze and gasped, seeing the two's thoughts.
"Herbert? Alfred?" Breda urged them for an answer now, while Patrick started grinning broadly.
Herbert, having stared at Alfred all the time, turned to his father. "Alfred – he had had a nightmare, right before I woke him up. He dreamed about an earthquake."
"Alfred?"
Alfred nodded and finally told what he had seen in that dream and what he had felt. The dream was still present in every detail, now, hours later.
"So you have dreamed about an earthquake – and you even have sensible explanation about their origin, I guess... And now an earthquake has just happened. Did you have such dreams before?" asked Baptiste.
Alfred shrugged his shoulders. "I can't remember one," he murmured.
All still looked at him in astonishment and Alfred didn't like it. Couldn't they just stop staring at him all the time?
Suddenly Patrick burst in a fit of laughter and all heads turned toward him. The Irishman cried tears and didn't seem to be able to stop laughing, while Siliel looked peeved more and more. When Patrick finally managed to take enough breath to speak, he said, still chuckling:
"Siliel, Baptiste. I really enjoyed your bickering about Alfred's education. But I think we're all agreeing now, aren't we?"
Siliel shook her head in annoyance and Baptiste waved it off sullenly. But Herbert, Breda and Alfred still looked confused.
"Agreeing on what?" Herbert eventually asked.
"Well – the only one to teach you now will be me – having also the talent of foretelling. You and Alfred – you'll have to come with me to Ireland."
Alfred slowly realized, that his dream had been a true omen. A talent. The ground seemed to be shaking again, opening up, devouring him. Being an intelligent man he knew, that he needed help. He looked at the count inquiringly, who only looked back with an unfathomable expression. He looked at Baptiste who nodded at him encouraging. And to Siliel, who looked disappointed, but seemed to have accepted her defeat. Finally he looked at Herbert and the emotion he received seemed to tell one thing: No matter how you'll decide, I'll be at your side. So he turned to Patrick, who watched him knowingly, having his arms spread invitingly. Alfred smiled and said:
"Alright, Patrick. I'll follow you."
The End
Yes, that's the end. I really hope you enjoyed my story. Any feedback would be welcome!
I have other stories about Alfred and Herbert in store, is there any interest for more?
At this point another huge THANK YOU to my beta-readers. Thanks for your patience, when I made the same mistake again and again... I couldn't have done it without you.
I wish you all a happy 2015!
Yours,
Red-Chindi