Ilikehats2: sorry, that thing will be 'identified' in a few chapters later
Chapter 30: You Are Right
(In Dracula's castle)
Peter's attitude had changed for the better. His former despair has transformed into great joy. The change had occurred when he finally realized his feeling for Ava Ayala, a.k.a. White Tiger. After so much heart-break and sadness in his life, he'd found true joy. The only problem is that he wasn't around her to reveal his feelings for the girl. Currently he's literally dancing on the ceiling of the room he's been staying in at Dracula's fortress.
(Who would've thought I'd fall for Ava?... Who cares?! This is great! Wait till I…. Oh wait… I'm still here at Dracula's castle… Shit… But still, I'm in love!)
The newborn hummed a wonderful tune as he danced. But he still had to get back, and he didn't know how he'd do it. He hadn't seen Dracula in the last 8 hours. The vampire king was busy with preparing for the vampire species's rise to power in the world.
(I guess I gotta go find him…)
Peter dropped to the ground with ease and walked out of the room. He wandered the halls, trying to find the lord of vampires. The newborn avoided the vampires throughout the castle. As hard as he tried, he couldn't find the vampire king. Peter didn't know what to do/think. He figured Dracula was in the room dedicated to his dearly departed wife. The young turn-blood couldn't/didn't want to imagine the vampire's pain. Losing your heart is something Peter didn't ever wish to experience. Yes, losing Uncle Ben was the worst experience in Peter's life… But what Dracula went through, twice to be exact, Peter just wished it wouldn't ever happen.
'Where is he? I thought I'd see him by now?' Peter thought to himself as he scanned his surroundings.
For the next hour or so he searched, but with no success. When he thought he wouldn't find him…he did. The lord of vampires is talking to 4 vampires in one of the halls. With silence he watches from afar. Then the 5 vamps walked into a room. Peter moved over to the door quickly and put his ear to the door. He heard them continue to walk.
'How big is this place?' Peter thought to himself.
With cautious stealth he opened/closed the door without making a sound. He turned to see a long hall with about a dozen doors on each side of him and half a dozen doors at the end of the hall.
(You have got to be kidding me…)
He slowly crept through the hall. He used his enhanced hearing to try to locate the vampires. Within a few moments he was able to find their voices. As he tracked the sound, he realized it came from above him.
'He's in the ceiling… Clever.' He thought to himself.
Peter jumped to the ceiling, but put his ear to it. He decided he needed to listen in on what they were talking about.
(In the secret room)
Dracula and the elders sat in the same room where they had their first meeting some days ago. They had decided to have another meeting. The group sat around the table.
"Time for the second meeting of the Council of Elders." Dracula said. "Hal ini hampir waktu, Tuanku (It is almost time, my lord)." Budi asked. "Ich kann es kaum erwarten (I can hardly wait)." Eornost chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "My lord, our time is almost here." Samuel said, a smile on his face. "Yes, All Hallows Eve is in just 2 days. The transference ritual start once the solar eclipse occurs. Once the sun is hidden from the sky is when the spell will be at its greatest strength." Dracula said.
The lord of vampires looked like he was unsure, and the others noticed this.
"Va tutto bene, mio signore (Is everything alright, my lord)?" Paula asked. "Nothing... just hoping this will go over smoothly… Our kind has suffered for to long at the hands of humans… It's time we rised and took this world from their monstrous hands. To many of my people have died." Dracula replied. "Memang, tidak ada mengatakan berapa banyak dari kita telah meninggal (Indeed, there's no telling how many of us have died)." Budi sighed. "The mortal villains have been constructing weapons and armor for us to utilize. And with them and other compelled mortals that can aid us in battle, we'll be able to take control of the planet." The vampire king said.
(In the hall)
Peter couldn't understand many of the words spoken from the secret room, but he figured it wasn't good. At hearing Dracula's words, he froze. Even though Dracula had revealed his other side, Peter knew that the vampire king would most likely be ruthless in his possible actions of trying to conquer humanity. He continued to listen so he could learn as much as possible.
(In the secret room)
"Bagaimana dengan pahlawan (What about the heroes)?" Budi asked.
Before Dracula could answer, Eornost laughed. The vampire's laughing is like a great bull bellowing, the repetitious sounds filling the room.
"The heroes?! They will fall! I'll fight them all myself and see how their blood tastes!" Eornost chuckled in English.
(In the hall)
Peter gasped at the vampire's boasting. A fierce anger boiled inside of him. He had heard enough.
"NO!" The newborn screeched as he threw his fist forward into the ceiling.
(In the secret room a few moments ago)
Dracula wasn't happy with Eornost's comment. He had this problem with Eornost in the previous meeting. The lord of vampires had directly ordered no one would be killed.
"I thou…" Dracula started to say, but he and the rest of the councils heard a scream from below.
Then about 10 feet from them, a fist emerged from the floor. Before they could react, a figure jumped through the monster truck-wheel sized hole. It was a young man, a newborn vampire they all recognized. The look in his eyes expressed a fearsome rage in them. Eornost was most upset at the newborn's action.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Eornost growled in English. 'That's him!' Peter screeched in his mind.
Within a blur of moments Peter used his enhanced speed and greater strength to pin the vampire elder against the table. He immobilized both arms by locking them together in his strong hands and stayed clear of the legs which shook with violent vigor.
"You will not touch them! Any of them!" Peter shrieked. "Why not! They are all..." Eornost started to growl when Dracula interjected, "Because the girl he loves is among them." "AND IF YOU TOUCH HER I'LL MAKE YOU WISH YOU WEREN'T EVER BORN!" Peter screamed in blistering rage.
The council was silent, all except for the sound of the smile spreading across Dracula's face.
"You finally realized it." Dracula said. "Yes… I have." Peter replied. "Così bella (So beautiful)." Paula cooed, a smile on her face. "I'm glad you've found where your heart lays my boy… But you've interrupted something… important." Dracula said with both a sigh and a growl. "You can't just fight humanity!" Peter cried.
The council members sighed.
"Young man, you don't have any idea why…" Budi started to say in English when Peter interjected, "Yes I do!" "Really? Please, explain." Samuel said sarcastically.
The newborn glowered at him but cleared his throat.
"Peter? Before you begin... Please release Eornost. He won't attempt anything… physical… Right my friend?" Dracula said. "Y… Yes my lord…" The elder sighed, but growled at the same time.
Peter released his hold on the elder. Eornost slowly got up, a look of aggravation on his face. He wasn't happy; he had just been man-handled by a newborn.
"Please." Budi said politely. "Some time ago… before I became… me… I lost someone important to me… for no reason at all… That man was the father I never had. He taught me so much about life, that I'll always be grateful for his lessons. And he was taken from me, killed by some creep with a gun. I found him, had him where and how I wanted him: in a corner alone and begging for mercy. I wanted to kill him there and then. To make him pay for what he did to the man who raised me as his own. But I realized if I did that… I'd be just like him… And the man who lost his life… the lessons he taught me would've been tossed away like yesterday's news. So I walked away, to be better." Peter said.
The council members were silent. They didn't expect to hear this. All of them had lost those important to them, and they hated the people responsible. At hearing the newborn's story, they didn't know what to think now.
'His memory… I remember seeing it… witnessing it… The pain he endured… But his heart… his pure heart, led him to a… noble path… I see why he has earned his heart…' Dracula thought to himself.
Dracula stood up. The council members, who were seated (Eornost had taken his seat after being released), started to follow their king's lead. The lord of vampires gestured for them to keep sitting with a wave of his hand. They did as their king asked. All present waited for Dracula's response.
"…. You are right…" Dracula said.
The council members gasped, but the surprise subsided as their king asked for them to listen.
"For to long I've wanted humanity to pay for their violence against my kind… It's been a long war with those who wish harm upon my people. But I understand where you are coming from Mr. Parker… I now realize... What our kind must do. To many have died on both sides. I can't bear to see anyone else die… All of us have lost people we've cared about." Dracula said.
The elders began nodding, truly agreeing with their king. Peter's eyes opened with surprise.
(C… Can it be?)
"Does this mean…?" Peter gasped.
A genuine smile appeared on Dracula's face.
"We will make peace with humanity." Dracula said.
A smile of hope spread across Peter's face.
"But... what… about…" Peter stammered. "I will figure something out… You will return to Ms. Ayala." Dracula replied. "Thank you." Peter said as a tear dripped down his face. "No… Thank you." The lord of vampires said, a peaceful expression on his face.
To be continued…