VLAD

The mountain range was naked, autumn taking its toll on the deciduous trees, sparing only pines, firs and other winter's pets. The castle was high up and the position didn't only offer good protection but a good view, too. It stood on a mountain top with nothing but steep cliffs around it and a deep forest further away. Anybody trying to leave the castle by jumping would simply fall to their death. Vlad stared through the window, watching the sun set, throwing red and orange rays on the deep woods. Rain hasn't fallen in days and summer heat still lingered, making it seem as if falling leaves missed the season.

Vlad held the letter in his hands, weighing decisions. Nothing seemed right, accepting the invitation or refusing it. Consequences were equally heavy. His dispute with the Monarchy over the past years gave him some insight in what was really going on and how things have profoundly changed since he had ruled. Vlad was aware that things change over a period of time. After all, he did rule two hundred years ago. It would've saddened him if nothing had changed, but, he thought it would've changed for the better. Children of Night have forsaken old ways, they have forgotten who they are, where they came from. But Vlad knew, he remembered. And now, a chance rested in his hand, a small letter, neatly written. He couldn't've known what the intention behind it meant. He was strongly against oppressors threatening the Monarchy, but lately it seemed to Vlad that the real threat came from the inside.

"You seem weary." A voice came from behind him. Alina was just closing great wooden doors when Vlad turned around. With her pale face and long, dark hair, permanently in white, silk dresses, she looked more like a ghost than a woman.

"I seem as I feel. But that shouldn't concern you." He said, planting a light smile on his face, it hasn't really reached his eyes.

"If it concerns you, it concerns me." She argued. Vlad kept that smile, but as moments passed, it felt more and more unnatural.

"You know what unsettles me is frequently either in the past or the future."

"Don't keep me locked in the dark, Vlad, I am already way too pale." Alina smiled.

"Elections are close," Vlad said, "it's been a while since they've been so important."

"Do you know whom you'll support?"

"I only know whom I won't support and that is indeed everybody."

Alina laughed, the sound surrounding the room, warming it up. Then she noticed the letter, the same one Vlad's been clutching in his hand for days now.

"You haven't opened it yet."

"I haven't come up with an answer yet."

"It's just an invitation, Vlad, it says so on the back. Why does it mean so much?" Alina came nearer, wanting to take the letter but Vlad wouldn't give it.

"I know what it is, Alina, it's a ball. It's an invitation to a ball. What concerns me isn't going to the ball, it's what it means. What she wants."

"Perhaps she wants to invite you to a ball."

But Vlad knew better, even if everyone else's been blind. He could've guessed what the letter said, how innocent the words in it may sound.

The knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and Andryj came in. Andryj was a tall man, well built and tanned, with dark hair and eyes. Vlad had trouble keeping the female disciples away from him.

"Excuse me, Voivode" he turned to Alina, "Duchess," and than back to Vlad, "there is something you need to know."

Vlad nodded in encouragement when Andryj suspiciously looked at Alina. Their marriage was still new to everybody. It was still new to Vlad, as well.

"Messengers have delivered a letter from Sergey Durov, that is one thing." Andryj came forward and handed a letter to Vlad.

"Oh, you received a letter which is probably about a letter. You would've known more if you'd opened any of them." Alina smiled, lazily sitting in a leather armchair in the corner next to their big oak bed.

"Andryj, please continue." Vlad said.

"An official letter from Constantinople came, the Election Board needs to know whether somebody from Draculesti family will stand as a candidate."

Vlad sighed throwing a glance at Alina. She knew what it meant and Vlad was sorry for keeping her in the dark, but he knew the dark was sometimes the safest place to be.

"Let's go to the chambers, I hope you've gathered everyone. I will need you to go check on that little problem of ours." Vlad told Andryj while exiting.

Bran Castle had many long halls, connected as labyrinths with many dead ends or empty rooms. Truthfully, Vlad didn't even concern himself with stories surrounding the castle, such as the story of Nikolay and Violet, ghosts stuck in the castle unable to ever see each other. Those stories were made up by older disciples to scare the new ones. Even though there were no ghosts in the castle (at least Vlad wasn't aware of their existence), the castle did look formidable. It was the dark, deep woods surrounding it. Mountain ranges unable to cross and many scary beasts roaming beneath them. And those beasts, they were real.

Bran Castle was an official educational centre of the Monarchy. New Night-Children, vampires, came here to learn how to behave and control their impulses. If they are able to control themselves, they become functional members of the society. If not, well, they don't. There weren't many disciples in the castle, currently a hundred and thirty two.

The reason for this was simple, not everybody turned in newly made to the Monarchy, especially the very young. Monarchy had many rules and one of them was very simple, every newly made vampire needs to be turned in and estimated. If they can be taught control, they are sent to Bran. If they can't they are to be exiled, without permission to enter Monarchy territories, or they are to be 'put away.' This includes children. Since Vlad has been one of the few who estimated them, he tried to save as many as possible.

The room Vlad entered was situated in a high tower of the castle. It was round, with windows throwing light from almost all corners. The ceiling was supported by pillars adorned with golden sights of animals during battle, feeding or breeding. In the middle of the room, a table stood. A large, oak table, with the world map in the middle and a bottle of mead right on top of it. Vlad sighed. A bunch sitting around it stopped talking the moment they saw him. Vlad sat.

"Open this and read it." He handed a letter from Sergey Durov to his counsellor, Codrin, an older gentleman, in his human and in his undead years. Codrin took the letter.

"Voivode, there are some things we need to discuss." Dinu said. He was the youngest in the room and the strongest.

"Emperor Frederick congratulates you on your marriage, Voivode!" A thin, grey man named Anton interrupted. Anton was a centuries old vampire and a historian, who spoke every language known to men. He was also a bit mad. This made Petre chuckle, he was a wicked little man, one Vlad chose for his evilness. If you had nothing but angels around your table, you would never be able to fight the devils.

"Gentlemen, we have more important issues to discuss than some human emperor." Dinu said. Vlad was glad to hear him speak openly, he was awfully quiet.

"Dinu, I want you to handle human affairs, send human armies to deal with Ottomans on the south if they call for aid." Vlad said. He had the Ottoman situation under control until now, but they were growing in numbers, especially the vampire part of the armies.

"What about our armies, Voivode?" Asked Dinu.

"Our armies will be needed here." Codrin spoke, having finished reading the letter. Vlad looked at his most trusted friend. If Codrin seemed worried, all others should be screaming in panic.

Vlad's inner circle might have been mad and different, but together they had a skillset no other house in the Monarchy had, Vlad chose them to outmatch everybody.

"Sergey Durov and his people are begging for shelter. The Ottomans reached them." Codrin spoke firmly, but his old, blue grey eyes fluttered around the table, giving his nervousness away. Everyone went quiet, even Petre was quiet and he usually had something to say.

"The vampires?" Asked Anton. Vlad swore under his breath.

"There's another thing. Sergey wrote they saw the lights, after the battle." Codrin pronounced the sentence very carefully and silence fell again. First one to start protesting was Petre.

"That's absurd. The Little Ones are just scary stories for children. Nobody's seen them for thousands of years." He said.

"That's as long as the Border stood," said Anton, "and if the rumours are true, if the Border really is falling..."

Vlad finally decided to move the mead off the map, only to pour it into a glass. He cleared his throat and the room went quiet.

"We will let Sergey and his people into our territories and then we will ask about the Little Ones and what they think about the Border falling." Vlad said.

"With all due respect, Voivode, but looking into this nonsense would only waste our time and we already have so little." Contradicted Petre. Vlad found it interesting that of all people in the room, Petre didn't want them wasting their time on this.

"It amuses me, Petre, that you, a man of faith, don't believe in the old stories." Vlad smiled as he saw Petre stiffen a bit. He gathered himself quickly and looked each and everyone in the eye.

"I believe in the old stories, Voivode. And I know if the Parvae, The Little Ones still exist, we're all dead. Because if the Parvae exist, so do the Shadows and so do all other creatures our mothers have been scaring us with."

"Why do you think it's a waste of time trying to find out?" Asked Vlad.

"Because they aren't hiding. If they are back, we will see them on every single battlefield, they will come and eat parts of our soldiers, they will lighten the battlefields like fireflies. What we need to do is find a way to keep them out. And we all know what that means. We need to keep the Border standing." Petre said.

Dinu stepped in: "That's a dangerous suggestion, House Draculesti hasn't been in alliance with witches since the Monarchy's forbidden it."

"Dinu, we wouldn't be here if it weren't for our dangerous suggestions." Anton laughed.

"Also, it's a waste of time, tricksters don't help anyone anymore." said Dinu.

"Modern witches don't deserve to be called tricksters," Petre interrupted, "they lost that title when they let themselves be captured and tortured by humans." He almost spit on the table.

"It is true, witches aren't strong enough, whether they can restore the Border is questionable. We would lose the Monarchy's trust over this, it must be worth it at least." Cordin said.

The crowd died down, quietly exchanging glances amongst themselves. Vlad thought about the games he'd been a part of during his lifetime. He thought about the people in the room with him, their desires and reasons, he thought of the disciples in the castle, their future life.

Petre spoke first: "This would be much easier if the Duchess' sister was still alive."

Vlad felt that like a stab in the heart. He never liked anyone mentioning Leona, or how he went and married her sister fifteen years after she died.

"Leona died thinking she was protecting all of us." Said Codrin and Petre laughed.

"Leona died because she went mad with all the black."

The two started bickering and Vlad dosed off for a few moments, not wanting to think about why Leona did what she did.

Letting Sergey in might secure him a vote in the elections, but it meant nothing if he had no one to run for the crown. The Border around Bran is strong because Leona Solberg fed it for years before she died. The Monarchy might react to the Border falling if it meant rouge vampires can storm the cities, all those vampires they banished. Perhaps then they might even admit that the Monarchy has never been weaker.

"Voivode," Anton called to him, "what about the beasts?"

As soon as he asked, others stopped talking and focused. Vlad thought they all went a bit mad during their long lives and he was surprised they still kept their focus when it came to work.

"I've heard rumours," said Petre, almost happily, "that the wolf is back."

"God damned wolf." Vlad swore. "I swear he brings more trouble than all the tricksters and the Monarchy together."

"How come nobody's killed him yet?" Asked Dinu.

"He's a wolf twice as large as any human who can sail a ship. Nobody's even tried." Vlad got up, suddenly angry. He knew what this meant. If the wolf is back, he'll be back claiming his debt.

"Rumour has it, he's been north of the Kalmar Union." Petre seemed excited, most likely because he loved a good rumour and this one might start shaking things up.

"Now, why haven't we considered the beasts? If we had them on our side, Ottoman vampires couldn't reach us." Said Codrin.

"That is true," agreed Dinu, "the beasts are invincible on the battlefield."

"I need to think," said Vlad suddenly, tired of their propositions leading nowhere, "Codrin, stay, I want you to write a letter to Sergey."

Vlad's fellowship gazed at him, realising he's shooing them away. But they knew some things weren't meant for their ears. Same as he wouldn't discuss detail battle tactics with anyone except for Dinu, he wouldn't discuss his private affair with anyone except for Codrin. They left the room, taking the mead with them. A bunch of old, sad drunks. Vlad glanced at Codrin, the only person he knew older than him. He was made undead when he was 75 years old, which truly is a sad age to be stuck in.

"Something is cooking up, Codrin, I can feel it in my blood." Vlad said. Codrin hesitated for a few moments and then looked at Vlad.

"Vlad, if the Border falls, everyone can get to us. We level the odds for the rogue vampires, the wolves and possibly... all those creatures Leona was talking about that day." Codrin said.

"The Border is keeping the Monarchy safe, that is true." Vlad murmured feeling useless as he repeated Codrin's words.

Vlad was a man without prejudice, he's learned that, when it comes to power, prejudice can only fog your mind. Do not underestimate your enemy. Thinking somebody is a lesser man than you are, in reality does that, makes you underestimate him. And the Monarchy spent centuries underestimating the wolves, the rogue vampires, even the tricksters.

Vlad got up and walked toward a table with drinks. There was no blood. He sighed and poured himself some wine. Good thing it was late afternoon, otherwise he'd have to admit to himself he's started drinking earlier than usual.

"I truly don't think the witches are strong enough to restore the Border, well, not the ones we could ask for help anyway. When the Border was built, there were far more witches and they held more power than Night-Children and the beasts together." Codrin said.

Vlad turned around: "What about the Five?" He asked.

"You mean Four? Leona Solberg is dead. Nikolas has been missing for more than five hundred years. That petty old hag is somewhere in Siberia and the other two have their minds completely broken. The one that went west probably fell of the world." Codrin frowned.

Vlad laughed. He sat down and put his legs up on a chair, grateful he can finally relax a bit.

"You and I are far older than the Church, Codrin, you needn't pretend."

"I am a modern man, Vlad, I have to be up to date with the contemporary mind-set."

"God, I miss Athenians." Vlad frowned. They sat in silence for a while and Vlad appreciated Codrin because of that. When the mouth was quiet, mind was able to wander.

"I know about the girl, Vlad" Said Codrin after a while.

"Fifteen years ago a letter came, from Leona Solberg, saying that a day will come when a broken minded boy will come carrying a dead girl. We mustn't bury the girl but keep her in a crypt, for she will wake up." Vlad recited Leona's letter. He knew it by heart.

Codrin's eyes were wider than ever as he stared at Vlad, his face a blunt expression of surprise.

"Who is the girl?" He asked.

"Leona's daughter."

"Where did she come from?"

"Carcassonne. Now, nobody knows who she is, but Petre received word that Jack O'Neal was roaming near Carcassonne lately. And if Jack was there that means Lerra De Noves knows." Vlad waved with an unopened letter he kept in his hand during the entire meeting.

"Why are you so afraid of her? She is just a pathetic girl trying to climb on a social ladder." Codrin asked.

"Do you remember when she went on a killing spree? Fifty years ago. She's done some serious damage, but the Monarchy pardoned her because she got rid of Bryce's son." Vlad knew he's probably been overthinking, finding hidden meanings in everything. But when something tugged on him, he couldn't just stop.

"That kid had it coming," said Codrin, "but the Monarchy concluded she went mad because of the immortality kick."

"See, I don't believe that. I had to be there for her trial and the look in her eye, my God, I've never seen anything that desperate. She was crying and pleading, throwing herself on the floor, swearing she didn't know what came over her, like she had no ounce of dignity left. She looked completely mad. And I've thought to myself, a performance this good has got to be an act."

"You think there's a connection between the murders, don't you?" Asked Codrin. Vlad stood up and approached a window, suddenly finding himself unable to sit still anymore. He is way too old for this, he thought.

"How does one accidently kill Bryce's son?" Asked Vlad.

"Who voted for her innocence, anyway?" Asked Codrin in return.

"She had her fingers everywhere, even Faliero showed up to support her because of his brother." Vlad said.

"But you voted for her innocence, as well." Pointed out Codrin. Vlad looked up at the sky turning deeper blue with every moment.

"She murdered Bryce's son. I swore I'd support any man who harms Bryce."

"Then, my friend, she played you, too," Codrin smiled, "you won't accept the invitation?"

"I haven't decided yet."

Having spent enough time contemplating whether to accept or refuse, Vlad's decided he should perhaps open the letter first. Codrin came to the window as well, and two men looked at the sky.

"I always thought I'd lead a peaceful life, but I swear it's not possible next to you." Codrin said and laughed shortly, the sound of it interrupted, cut off. Vlad opened the letter.

"You can only get one peaceful lifetime, we got plenty, so we have to lead a few wars."

Lord Vlad of the House Draculesti,

It would be my greatest honour if You were to accept this invitation
to a royal ball which is to be held in Cardona Castle on the winter solstice.
The ball will be held as an apology for everything House De Noves has caused the Monarchy in the past.
I truly hope you will accept this invitation,

Humbly, Madame Lerra of the House De Noves

"I heard she refers to herself as the Queen." Commented Codrin.

"She does." Vlad confirmed. Something about this young woman unsettled Vlad deep in his bones, he knew a puppet master when he saw one.

A knock on the door interrupted them. A maid, Heksa entered with a small bow. She was a tiny, old woman, of vampire heritage but has never chosen to be made.

"I am sorry for interrupting you, Voivode, but the girl is awake." She said. Vlad inhaled, feeling the twist in the air around him. It's been years since he's had such a heavy feeling in his chest and the air barely found its way to his lungs.

"Get her some water, Heksa, I'll be there shortly." Vlad said turning to Codrin. "Write the letter to Sergey Durov, tell him his people can stay in Bran for as long as they need."

"What are we going to do with the Ottomans when they reach your territory?" Asked Codrin.

"We will offer a merciful deal for them to either accept or refuse."

Codrin smiled and said: "They never accept."

"In my experience, which is consisting of hundreds of years, I really am starting to think every single person is a dumb fool thinking too highly of himself." Vlad said already half way through the door.

"And what do we do when they refuse?" Asked Codrin.

"We slaughter every single one of them." Vlad said and shut the door behind him.