The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 27 A day in the life of a servant

Summer 1959, Vulken Island

Ty was a young teenager of 14 years old. He had grown up on Vulken Island and started his day like everyone else. That day he had to go to school. He got up with the radio coming on with the morning news. He pressed the button which turned it off. His brown eyes looked out the window. It was raining, so at least he wouldn't have to water the vegetable garden later, but there would be more vampires outside since the sun wouldn't be there. These vampires didn't really like the sun and on a day like today, he knew they would annoy the villagers, one of their favorite pastimes.

He got up and went to the toilet to relieve himself. When he lowered the seat, a rune activated and made all traces of his urine disappear. He looked at himself in the mirror and brushed a strand of brown hair out of his face. He was due to cut his hair. Hair was starting to grow on his chin. He pouted and grabbed the razor from the sink and quickly shaved his hair.

''Ouch!''

Drops of blood beaded on his skin.

''Ah! No! Noooo!"

He quickly took some tissues and patted his chin. He hoped one of these vampires wouldn't smell it. After a few minutes, he threw the tissues in the toilet and activated the rune again. It was practical... these runes made excrement and paper disappear, but no objects like pencils or... bottles. He had tried to test these runes in every way imaginable, but this… Flamel? Had done things well. This magic that only a few people had the right to have.

But it wasn't just magic that existed, no. All kinds of magical creatures also filled this world. And yet, he had been taught that only the inhabitants of this island had the exclusive privilege of knowing this entire magical world, because the rest of the planet was unaware of it. One would have thought that it was not possible that they were the only ones, but in the newspapers that he read every week, it was clear that nothing that happened on this island happened anywhere else in the world. Even on the radio there was no talk of flying horses, or runes that made things disappear, or even magical barriers that kept the very oceans from swallowing up their village.

It talked about war, peace, the economy, new films and theater to go see, but which he wouldn't be able to see, except on television.

He made sure he was no longer bleeding, but looked into a small cabinet next to the mirror where three small vials filled with magic potions could be seen. One of them was a painkiller, the other one was to sleep without dreaming and the last one was used to treat small wounds quickly. He did not dare take the one for injuries, since he had been warned to only take them in case of emergency. These vials had to be changed every week and it was their neighbor, Kyle, who came every Monday to change them, but the last time, he had not been able to do it mentioning something like... the person who normally did them, did not have time.

He asked him if he knew who made them, but he didn't know. Rumors mentioned that the prince of vampires himself made them, or the wizard who lived with him. It was two days later that Kyle came to replace them. Ty was a little jealous, knowing that Kyle went to the castle every week and could see the people who resided there often. It wasn't forbidden to approach the castle, or even enter it, but there was this weird feeling around the place, so almost all the villagers looked at it from afar.

He dressed in a t-shirt and jeans before putting on a belt. He had still lost weight, even though he was eating like ten persons. There was no shortage of food here. He put on an old green cap and put on his shoes and went out to the family chicken coop. He fed the five chickens and changed their water with the water barrel which naturally filled with another rune. Every house had one: these barrels with abundant, pure and crystal clear water. He took the five eggs and brought them back into the house where he placed them in a basket that already had a good dozen eggs. Since there were only three in his family, he could exchange the eggs for flour and sugar at the market. Maybe he'll have the chance to bake a cake for his friend Vanessa in a few days.

He changed the straw and closed the enclosure. He then went to give hay and milk the cow for about ten minutes. During this time, a big cat resembling a lion came and looked at him enviously. It has been over a year since these cats had appeared on the farms, appearing much more intelligent than other domestic cats. He bent one of the cow's nipples and aimed the milk at the cat, which delighted in it. When the cat was satisfied, a loud purring filled the air and Ty laughed.

He put the milk in a new jug which he then carried into the house and put it in a cold cupboard which still had runes engraved on all sides. These runes kept food fresh for several days. He took a loaf of bread and cut himself two slices, drizzled some peanut butter from Liverpool, and poured himself a glass of milk.

His mother came into the kitchen and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Did you feed the animals?" she asked.

"Yes, Mom." Ty replied, still a half-chewed bread in his mouth.

''Oh, not with your mouth full. Is your father in the fields?'' she said.

''I think so. I didn't see him this morning, but it's raining, so he shouldn't hang around today.'' Ty said.

''Hm. Do you have school?''

''Yes, I am going. Do you think the boats will bring the supplies today?'' asked Ty.

Pencils and chalk had been missing for a few days. His mother worked at the marina and renewing school supplies.

''Yes, I'm just waiting for everything that's missing, including new calculus and medicine books.'' Said his mother.

She began to heat water on the pan. Sometimes she boarded the boat and could see the city of Liverpool.

''Don't you sometimes wonder… what life would be like in London?' Ty asked.

His mother poured herself a glass of orange juice squeezed the day before and looked out the window thoughtfully.

''I don't see the point. We have everything to be happy here.'' She replied.

Ty shrugged.

''Maybe... but we're... prisoners of sorts, right?'' Ty asked.

"And what more would you like, exactly?" asked his mother.

''Well, I don't know... being able to walk the streets of London, without being afraid of not having to be healthy for someone else... of not belonging to someone! To be my own person!"

She pursed her lips and shook her head.

"You say that because you still don't understand how lucky you are to be born here, Ty, and because you act like a real kid." She said. She left a moment of silence before starting again. "The prince came several years ago to the statue of the king. If you had seen him... and heard everything he said, and understood everything he does for us, you wouldn't think like that.''

Ty stood up and picked up his school bag near the door.

''Exactly, I've never seen or heard him.'' Said Ty.

''Perhaps you would rather be one of these children who don't have food or be like the beggars on the streets of London?'' his mother asked, crossing her arms. ''Or even see your family and friends die of some disease? I saw some, in Liverpool… it's sad to see.''

Ty gave an irritated sigh and left the house, heading towards the small building that served as a school, a five-minute walk away. The village was quite large for their approximately 1000 inhabitants. Births were controlled to never exceed two children per family. He didn't dare think about what would happen to a woman who was pregnant with her third.

It had stopped raining, but the sky remained dark. He mulled over his mother's words. He didn't care about others he didn't know of. His mother didn't understand what he was going through. Why should he worship vampires when he could just as easily live without them, in his own house back in London?

He came face to face with Keith, one of the village vampires, and had been about to run into him before he looked up and saw him. He made a cry of surprise and took two steps back.

''Hey. What did you do to yourself this morning? Your smell was everywhere!'' Keith asked, moving closer to him to examine him more closely.

"Nothing, oh! I cut myself with a razor, that's all! Not like I was going to give blood to anyone anyway! I know very well that you don't touch minors!'' Ty said, irritated.

Keith grabbed his chin and looked at his face, seeing the two small lines on his chin, indicating where he had cut himself. Ty let him but gritted his teeth. Vampires took every opportunity to inspect everyone as if they were just merchandise ready to be sold. Their superhuman strength and speed had always frightened him. Only their laws, plastered all over the village, reassured him... in a way, but his parents were not spared from having their blood taken whenever they pleased.

This Keith had been a vampire for less than twenty years and thought he was everyone's big boss. He had come close to touching children several times, if that was not the intervention of Steven, the leader of their gang.

"You need to be shown how to do it, maybe?" Keith asked, letting go of him and rubbing his own beard.

''No! It was just a few hairs. I have classes… if you'll let me just go!" Ty said.

Keith licked his teeth and stepped aside, a smirk on his face.

''Your father will be next today. Do you think he would have the right to like it, hm? Maybe I should give him a beating with that attitude you gave me.'' Keith said.

''What!? I wasn't rude!'' Ty said.

Before Keith could respond, a sound of wind was heard in the sky. They looked up and a person...or a wizard, was flying towards the center of the village. It was Danyck, the only vampire capable of flight. It was only the second time he had seen him like this, and he couldn't help but be impressed.

Keith left at full speed towards the center of the village and Ty walked faster towards the school. His friend Jonathan joined him a second later.

''Hi Ty. I saw Keith. You haven't upset him, again?'' asked Jo. ''I thought I saw Danyck too. You know why?''

''No... And I cut myself this morning and Keith... smelled me. He was trying to provoke me, like they all do.'' Ty said. ''It's disgusting to be here.'' Ty added before kicking a rock which flew back a few meters away.

''Why are you complaining? It's great living here.'' Said Jo.

Jonathan was sixteen, and he was going to be seventeen next week. Although for most of the planet it was eighteen to be considered an adult, he had learned that in their magical world it was seventeen. Jonathan often talked to him about how vampires made them feel, and that was all he thought about. Ty knew very well that vampires could just as easily hurt them, and for no damn reason. Once adults, the villagers had to be available no matter the time of day, or night, and carry out various tasks so that everyone was housed, fed and fit, like cattle.

"If you like to live like you raise pigs for the slaughterhouse…" Ty muttered.

''Oh stop. You know very well that everyone else in the world has to use money to live and we have absolutely nothing to pay, and we can ask for whatever comes to mind, as long as they can drink some blood. Hey, why is there a gathering like this?'' said Jo, as they approached the school.

You would have thought that all the villagers had arranged to meet, and all the vampires for that matter. He saw Keith with the others. But the villagers were not in front of the school, but rather in front of the central building of the village, where the statue of the king was located. Most murmured as the true king, seated on a white horse, spoke. He had never seen him in person, like many of them, and he understood why he was the king. His crown shone even without sunlight. He had pointy ears and silver-white hair that only older vampires had. His face, young and without any blemish, was deceptively old, there was no doubt. His icy eyes stood out from the other vampires and his gaze surveyed the crowd whom were fixed on him.

"…an extraordinary woman, dedicated like no other, and a perfect example of what you all should be." Said the king.

His voice was deep and powerful. Ty felt a shiver and mechanically rubbed his arms. He moved a little closer to hear better. Jonathan did the same, weaving through the others and apologizing because he was very tall. Ty wondered who the king was talking about. He spotted his teacher, Reynolds, and walked towards him.

''Who is he talking about, professor?'' Ty asked.

Reynolds wore his blue cap sideways. He wore jeans torn in places, and a blue polo shirt with a white wolf, the Vulken emblem, embroidered on the back.

''Hey Ty! It's Kathleen he's talking about. The personal servant of royalty. She passed away last night.'' Reynolds said, as Nathaniel continued to talk about how important everyone was and how privileged they were to live here.

Ty only knew Kathleen by name, having never seen her in person either. She was the oldest woman on the island. He saw another vampire who looked like the king walking towards the statue. He knew that the statue was extremely dangerous, and it was forbidden to touch it. Either way, there was a good chance of dying or going mad, but this vampire, who he now believed to be Prince Seth Vulken, touched the green stone on the hilt of the statue's sword. This stone was known to contain all the magic of the island. Ty was fascinated and scared at the same time.

The stone began to shine brightly, just like Seth's eyes. He felt something pass through him and a feeling of well-being invaded him. The vampires knelt, one hand over their non-beating hearts, and the villagers took turns prostrating themselves, imitating them. His knees buckled too, unable to do otherwise in the face of this force which was overwhelming him from all sides.

"He's… more powerful than last time." Reynolds said next to him, panting.

Ty was short of breath too, but strangely, it wasn't unpleasant. He wondered why no one had ever told him about that, about this magic that could run through his skin like a sweet sensation of pleasure. The idea of leaving this island was suddenly absurd.

He looked at the prince, his silver-white hair flowing around him and illuminated by the green stone. If what he felt was a tiny part of what this vampire possessed, he understood why the villagers revered him so much.

"It's beautiful." Ty added. "What exactly is he doing?"

''I believe that he reconnects the magic in the houses and the protection of the island while... honoring the one who took care of him for a long time. He didn't share that with us the time before.'' Reynolds said.

The others around them agreed with what Reynolds had said. A few minutes later, the feeling of well-being disappeared, and the vampires headed towards the island's cemetery. Not sure if he should go or not, he paid attention to the others who began to disperse. Reynolds scratched his head and looked around and saw that Ty didn't know what to do.

''Well, if you want to go to class, I'm going to wait about twenty minutes before we start to see if the others will come, if not, you can go home, and I'll see you tomorrow.'' Reynolds said before walking away and towards the school.

"Hey Jo!" Ty said to his friend a little further away. "You coming to class? Rey is waiting for us."

''Ah yeah, sure.'' Jonathan replied as he approached. ''You finally understand, I hope.'' He added.

''What? Understand the power this vampire possesses?'' Ty asked and Jo nodded. "Yeah, well… that did give me some doubts."

Once seated in class, the other students arrived as Reynolds predicted and their teacher took the opportunity to talk about the changes that had occurred since the former King Emrick ruled. It was so interesting that the class lasted a good part of the day when they even had sandwiches served so as not to miss a single bit of information.

Galea had entered their class during the teacher's story. She was a vampire who looked after the marina with Steven, but was also one of the oldest vampires and her pointy ears poked through her short locks of blonde hair. Ty blushed when she took a seat next to him, but Vanessa was on the other side and glared at him. This wasn't the first time she listened to what Reynolds said in class, sometimes adding details about his stories.

''I didn't know Emrick. It was Steven who made me. I know that Emrick used his power over vampires in a very unhealthy way, forcing them to torture humans, but also other vampires for his own pleasure.'' Said Galea.

"How could he force them? Why did he stay king for so long?'' Ty asked.

''You were taught that vampires cannot deviate from a direct order from the king, right?'' Said Galea.

''Yes, but... how is that possible? Vampires aren't magical.'' Said Vanessa.

''Oh? And how can you explain that I am in front of you, but that my heart does not beat?'' asked Galea. Vanessa pouted in response. ''The king's authority is magical, without a doubt, and the appointment of Nathaniel as king following Emrick's death was a relief to all.'' Said Galea.

''So... if the king told you to stick a knife in your head, you couldn't argue with him? And you would kill yourself?' asked Jonathan.

Galea got up and went to the front of the class which contained around fifty students ranging from thirteen to seventeen years old.

"The king does what he does for his nation." Said Galea, without answering the question.

She approached Reynolds who was half-sitting on his desk with his arms crossed. As she approached, he suddenly stood up and backed away. Her sudden intention created whispers among the students.

"Not in my class…please." Reynolds muttered.

Jonathan nudges Ty.

''Do you think she will listen to him? I would never have refused...'' Jonathan whispered.

Galea smirked and her gaze went to Jonathan briefly before she walked out of the classroom.

"She heard you." Ty said.

Reynolds was breathing quickly, and he walked to the middle of the class, tapping his fingers on one of the desks. He was obviously trying to calm down. The students remained silent.

''I know we must... obey them.'' Said Reynolds in a low voice. He put a hand to his neck and began to rub it, as if Galea had touched him. "Some of you… already worship them. However, we must remember that those who give us everything we have are not vampires, but wizards.''

''What do you mean, sir?'' Vanessa asked.

Reynolds looked at the door which was closed before speaking again.

"Keep your zest for life without hoping to get better from the vampires. They're not what you think they are.'' Reynolds said.

''How so? I thought the purpose of our life on the island was to serve them, and here you insinuate that we shouldn't?'' Ty asked, his doubts starting again in his mind.

"I thought they gave us everything we wanted. The least we can do is give them blood.'' Said Jonathan. "And… you just asked Galea not to do it."

''That's not what I'm saying. Don't make them give your blood when the time comes.'' Reynolds said before walking to the front of the class and sighing. "Class is over."

The students took turns leaving and Ty returned home after greeting his friends. He had invited Vanessa to his place, and they talked about the day that had just passed.

After eating, the sun was about to set and Ty went for a walk with Vanessa along the beach, away from the marina. There was a long dock where they decided to go and sit at the end, with their feet in the water. The ocean was calm, and the colors of the sky were beautiful.

"It's weird, this dock. How long has it been here?'' Vanessa asked.

''A few years... but I've never seen any boats dock there.'' Said Ty. "Although I rarely come here… so it's possible."

They enjoyed the sunset until it disappeared over the horizon. Thousands of stars began to appear in the sky. They suddenly heard voices coming from the hill behind them. They turned their heads but could not see who it was in the darkness. The few torches only lit the beach. They stood up and walked towards the beach.

It was Keith who approached them from over the hill.

''Well, well. Ty and his girlfriend... so far from the village.'' Said Keith, moving dangerously closer to Vanessa.

Keith was about to brush his fingers against Vanessa's cheeks, but Ty stood in front of her.

"Don't touch her!" Ty shouted, pushing Keith away with one arm.

Vanessa took a step back and made a little cry. Keith grabbed Ty by his collar.

"Keith! Leith-hon."

Keith grimaced and released Ty, who was wondering who had spoken. Balls of light appeared all over the beach and he could clearly see that it was the king, sitting again on a horse, as well as the prince, accompanied by several other vampires. Ty felt like he shouldn't be there. He took Vanessa's hand and started walking towards the hill, trying to avoid the royalty. He felt their eyes on them, and he swallowed nervously, feeling a lump in his throat. Vanessa was pressed against him, and he could feel her shaking.

Why were they all there? He looked towards the dock and saw a huge boat coming towards them. His curiosity took the best of him. He looked at the vampires who had their attentions on the ship now. He grabbed Vanessa's hand tighter and brought her with him near the trees.

''What are you doing?!'' Vanessa asked.

"Don't you want to know why there's a boat?" Ty asked.

''Not really! I want to go home!'' said Vanessa before running away and heading towards the village.

Ty sighed and hid behind a tree and watched what was happening on the beach. The vampires were all near the dock as the ship docked. The horses remained on the top of the hill. One of the horses was huge and had wings, worthy of a fairy tale. He thought he was living in a fantasy book today. Vampires, who were on the boat, came down with what appeared to be chained and gagged people.

He couldn't hear what was being said, nor understand the words spoken in the vampire language, but the prince seemed to disagree with what was happening. The king pointed at the prince, then towards the village and then at himself. The king took one of the prisoners and sank his teeth into his neck, not just to feed, because the prisoner fell to the ground after a short while, visibly dead. Ty put a hand over his mouth, struck by the horror of what had just happened before him.

What happened next made him turn around, sitting curled up against the bark of the tree. The other vampires had each taken one of these prisoners and drained them of their blood. Some gags had been removed and screams echoed through the night. Ty placed his hands over his ears, not wanting to hear more, but his hands only slightly muffled the screams.

Why were they doing this? Vampires never killed villagers... so these people weren't from the village...

Ty struggled to his feet and ran towards his house, wanting to forget what he had just seen.

The next day, he woke up as usual, not remembering what he had done after school. He shrugged, turned off his clock radio and went to feed the chickens.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed what happens on Vulken Island and explains how the village works! I really enjoyed writing it.

Venthyr Translation

"Leith-hon!"

''Leave him alone!''