(A/N): Hey Guys! So, as I'm sure you've probably noticed, I'm trying to go with a fairytale theme in chapter naming, yay! So, mysteries shall be resolved.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Leo

I was awoken at the crack of dawn by Shari and my father and ushered downstairs for breakfast. "Now, Leo..." Shari began, before glancing at my father.

"What? What's going on?" They both raised an eyebrow at me.

"Nothing's 'going on', we just needed to talk to you." I eyed them skeptically.

"We'll be receiving visitors today, Leo." I was confused; what visitors? Usually they didn't warn me about my friends arriving, but we had never had any other visitors- other than my mother.

"Visitors?" I asked, and Shari nodded.

"Very soon, actually. Go upstairs, get dressed." I hesitated for a second before returning to my room to finish getting ready for the day. While slipping on my shoes I heard distant footsteps, and hurried back downstairs to finish my breakfast before they arrived. After all, it was rude to eat in front of guests that weren't also provided with food- and judging by the speed of their approach, we wouldn't be providing them with food any time soon.

My father, Shari, and I positioned ourselves in the study at the front of the house, and less than a minute later, we heard the front door open and close; it wasn't locked, of course, what would a house full of vampires need a locked door for? Three vampires entered the room, one male which I could smell was older than the other two as well as looking it, and the younger two being of opposing sexes. The female was somewhat familiar to me, though I tried not to show it.

"Nicholai, Shari," The older vampire greeted tightly, the younger two shying away a little, the girl's eyes fixed on me.

"Jerremyah," My father replied with a sharp nod, and the man looked over at his two companions.

"This is Danniel and Joane, though she prefers to go by Jo."

My father gave them both a warm smile, though I could tell it was forced- not because he didn't like them already, but because he wasn't much of a smiler, and I had the feeling that this 'Jerremyah's' attitude wasn't helping matters. "This is my son, Leonides- he prefers Leo." I didn't speak or even give any indication that I had been introduced, but the others didn't seem to mind.

"Ah, yes, the half-breed." I raised an eyebrow, and I heard Shari let out a growl.

"Believe me, Jerremyah, my son could more than half kick your arse."

Jerremyah eyed me appraisingly, before nodding. "Noted." I fought the urge to smirk.

"Leo, we'll be taking in Danniel and Joane and training them; seeing as they're newly made vampires, they have no training, and very little knowledge of their strengths," Shari informed me, and I stood from my position in an armchair, choosing to circle them. They both looked fairly unimpressive but I knew better than to underestimate them, even if they didn't have centuries on me, like my father or Greygorry, or even Shari. I could feel Jerremyah eyes on me, so I purposefully took a little more time than was strictly necessary to assess the two new vampires.

"So, you're going to be training us?" Danniel inquired, and Shari nodded.

"That's right, all three of us." I raised an eyebrow, not having expected to be involved, considering they- or more accurately, my father- usually wouldn't let me.

"How old are you?" Danniel asked, clearly trying to size up his most direct competition; he was clearly a few years older than me, but not many.

"Almost fourteen."

"Good, at least I can take someone here other than Joane." My father chuckled lightly, which was how I knew for certain I could beat him in a fight.

"Oh, I doubt that; Leo's been a vampire for longer."

Jo's eyebrows shot up. "He's only fourteen! How long could he possibly have been bitten for?" I rolled my eyes playfully.

"I wasn't." She looked perplexed, and Jerremyah spat on the floor.

"He's a half-vampire, a half-breed; he's been a vampire since the day he was born." Danniel frowned.

"So... I couldn't take him?" Shari shook her head, smirking slightly, as though she was proud of the fact that I was so capable.

"Oh, I highly doubt it."

Danniel pursed his lips unhappily. "Great, now everyone here can kick my arse." Jo smirked.

"Just like in your old life, I bet."

(A/N): So, what did you think?

Still in the exam, but only for another like, ten minutes, so, eh.

Please review and/or check out my other stories!

This chapter has had minor edits made to it on 30/12/22

This chapter has had edits made to it on 5/2/25 - formatting and reconfiguring of sentences so they make sense. Added that Jerremyah looks older than Jo and Danniel as well as smelling it. Added the descriptor that Jerremyah greets Nicholai and Shari (though mostly Nicholai) 'tightly'. Added that Nicholai's smile was forced not because he didn't like the new vampires already, but because 'he wasn't much of a smiler', and that Jerremyah's attitude wasn't helping matters, either- because as we later find out, Nicholai and Jerremyah REALLY don't like get along. Added Leo specifying that Nicholai was the one that usually wouldn't have let him be involved in something like this. Added Leo describing Shari's smirk as being 'as though she was proud of the fact that I was so capable', because while Leo can admit that Shari might be proud of his abilities, he won't allow himself to think that she might be proud of HIM, as a person.