Devan Richelu sighed as he left the boardroom for the last time, still swarmed by a sea of reporters. He’d had enough of this over the last month to last a lifetime.

“Yes, yes, it’s all over now. You sharks can relax.” he muttered, drowned out by the din of the crowd. He answered questions lifelessly as his bodyguards pushed him through the crowd. “Yes, I went in myself. No, it wasn’t a ploy to deflect blame. Yes, OceanView is still finished.”

“Mr. Richelu!”

“Mr. Richelu!”

“Any comment on-” His bodyguards bundled him into the limo and they drove off. Devlin hung his head in his hands. At least his legal troubles were over, for the most part. The lawyers had assured him he was in the clear, at least as wrongdoing went. The Radiant Dawn had been proven to be behind everything, beyond a shadow of a doubt. All they needed to do with him was the formality of completing the investigation. It would be a long, hard road yet, but at least he was off the hook.

He sighed. That did nothing for his dream, though. His fantasy was over. Who would invest in OceanView again? He glanced forlornly out the window. And blinked. They were headed to the beach, not his house. And, the interior of the limo was all dark leather, not his usual rich brown.

“Distracted, Mr. Richelu?” He jumped, only noticing for the first time there was someone sitting in front of him, a rear-facing seat. It was a large, well-dressed gentleman all in black. He seemed perfectly perfectly at ease, an amused smile on his lips beneath his mop of silvery-white hair.

“W-Who are you? What is this? This isn’t my limo.” Devan asked nervously, pulse starting to race. Oh god, now what? The FBI taking him in? But he was cleared!

“Don’t look so nervous, Mr. Richelu. Then again, I can’t blame you. But come now, ve vere brothers-in-arms, at least for a short vhile.” Devan squinted, something about him did seem familiar...then it hit him. That funny accent.

“Oh! You! I know you! You’re Allocrax the Fierce!” he said excitedly, and Alex chuckled and nodded. “What’s going on? If you wanted to see me, there’s better ways to go about it. I think this is technically kidnapping.”

“Indeed, though you vill not be harmed. But my...extralegal meeting vith you reqvires it, shall ve say. Tell me, what have the police found of the Radiant Dawn?” Alex asked.

“Um, well they found Lucien, or rather, Lucas Stanford at his mother’s house in Portland. He’s been arrested. Turns out he’s only sixteen, poor crazy bastard.” Devan said, shaking his head.

“More than enough time to learn right from wrong, in any age. Still, it vould be a shame if his entire future vere destroyed, for the mistakes of a teenager. You don’t often see men of his talent and drive these days. Ah vell.” Alex dismissed.

“I-I guess. But while they’ve discovered the Radiant Dawn’s paper trail, there hasn’t been hide nor hair of the actual people of them.” Devan said, recalling everything he heard about the investigation. Alex smiled wolfishly.

“And they never vill.” He handed Devan a box about a foot across in all dimensions. Devan frowned, eyebrow raised. That sounded ominous.

“What’s in the box?” he asked, sitting it on his knees and sliding it open.

“Before you do, have you ever seen the movie Se7en?” Alex said. Devan immediately froze, remembering that last scene.

“Oh my God.” he said quietly.

“I assure you He had nothing to do vith this. In that box lies the head of Dan, your former vice-president, and the mole that the Radiant Dawn used to gain access to your systems.” Alex said matter-of-factly. Devan stared at him, horrified, then had to check the gruesome package. Barely a second of confirmation, then he closed it and set it aside quickly.

“Oh, oh my God. Why? Did-did you do this? Oh God, oh God…” Alex snapped his fingers in Devan’s face, not allowing the swirling emotions and shock to set in yet.

“Yes, I did. I vould not go to your development studio in the near future as vell, that is vhere the Radiant Dawn vere holed up. Some kind of sub-basement, vans’t even on the official floor plan. I slaughtered them all, clean up vill take avhile.”

“Why? H-How? This is, this’s super wrong. And illegal.” Devan stuttered. Alex nodded.

“Indeed. However, I could not let the authorities handle it for several reasons. Chief among vhich is I am not vun of you mortals, but an immortal vampire.” Alex grinned wide, letting his fangs grow over his lips and his eyes blaze red. Devan stared, eyes bugging wider and wider.

“This...isn’t a joke, is it?” he said quietly. Alex shook his head.

“I’m qvite glad you’re qvick on the uptake. Usually there’s the screaming, the crying, the prayers to God and the qvestioning of vun’s sanity. How refreshing to get to the point right avay.” Alex sighed, pleased. “Do not vorry, Mr. Richelu. If I vanted to harm you I vould have done so already. But both of us are in a rather unique position.”

“You see, if the Radiant Dawn had successfully enacted their plan, no doubt they vould have at some point discovered that I am undead. This, as you can imagine, is a major problem. There are not many of us Mr. Richelu, but enough have status and power in the upper echelons of society. The Council of Blood had decreed that all existence of vampires must be kept secret. I’m sure you could imagine the...ramifications if such knowledge vere vell-known.”

“I...guess I can see why.” Devan said.

“Indeed. There are a select few mortals who know, to support us. And though you vould ordinarily be spared this knowledge, recent events have made that qvite impossible. But not unprofitable. Vhile inside your vondorfully-made game, I discovered that the device you now hold the patent to, the NeVorld system, actually allows the constant thirst and drive for blood ve possess to be alleviated. The Council vas very interested in such a device. So interested in fact, that they are prepared to fully back you and whatever company you choose, and then some; provided the technology you own could be adapted and used for our needs.” he explained.

Devan felt the bottom of his stomach drop out and the world go upside-down again, like when they first discovered RFO closed off and unresponsive. First terrorists with a brainwashing scheme, then the ruination of his company, now vampires were real and they wanted to invest in his game system. He let out a short, choking laugh, unsure of whether he was back in reality.

“Um...yeah, I think it could be done. But if-if I say no?” he asked, nearly in hysterics. Alex shrugged.

“Nothing, probably. I vasn’t given any orders to end you, at least. And I vould have done so vith no compunction. Make no mistake; ve are monsters, plain and simple. But even monsters know the value of a deal. I trust that no matter your decision, you von’t be dumb enough to go around proclaiming ve exist, yes?” Alex asked with a raised eyebrow. Devan’s eyes went to the box with Dan’s remains and vigorously shook his head. “Good. Then our hand remains unforced. But let it not be said the Council cannot be generous.” He took a slip of paper from his jacket and handed it to Devan. He accepted it nervously, then his eyes once more exploded open.

“Th...that’s...this is…” he sputtered, counting the zeroes. Seven, eight…

“There’s more vhere that came from, to my understanding. A great many of the elders in the Council have held land in Europe and other areas for centuries, and a device that can suppress the bloodlust vould be qvite valuable to us. Think of it as a boon, not just for investment, but to keep your mouth shut for several reasons. The existence of vampires, and to see that justice has been served.” They both glanced at the box on the seat. Devan shuddered.

“This’s wrong, you know.” he said dispassionately. Alex snorted.

“They committed vun of the vorst atrocities in history, and I have ended them for it. The law may not agree, but justice does.” he said firmly.

“I don’t think the courts would agree.”

“Good thing I didn’t go to court then, did I not?” Alex said, smiling wryly. “So then, Mr. Richelu. Vhat is done is done. No matter vhat, they cannot return from the grave. How vill you proceed from here? Vill you accept or refuse the offer? It does not matter to me vhich, just so long as you keep the secrets I have shared today.” Devan looked hesitant, and Alex sighed. This was a good and honorable man, all right. Otherwise he wouldn’t have risked his life and jumped in the game himself.

“If it makes you feel any better, the devices you create should save a great number of lives. Vampires, especially new vuns, crave blood above all else. It is a constant, gnawing hunger, and the veak of vill cannot vithstand it. In the past many have been driven mad by the thirst and took whole villages to sate themselves. These days such incidents are extremely rare, but still do happen. And ve all just have to live vith the urge. A relief from from that vould be much more than a godsend.” Alex meant every word. Though the cravings had been satisfied for now, he could feel the blood moving through his system, bottoming out in only a matter of hours. He needed a lot to make a full recovery, after all.

But it seemed his argument had worked; Devan glanced at the box again, but looked more at ease.

“Can’t say I’m happy about most of this, but everything’s alright now, now that it’s over. Dan...was a friend, or at least I thought he was. But if he really let those fiends into my game, well...I can’t say he didn’t get what he deserved.”

“Karma, as the young vuns say, is a bitch.” Alex said, nodding sagely. Devan let out a bark of laughter.

“I guess so. Well, I think you’ve got a deal.” He stuck out his hand, engulfed in Alex’s meaty mitt.

“Also, you should scrub as much data from my file as you can. I told several people about vampires vhile in it, ve don’t vant that getting out, now do ve?” he said.

“Definitely. I’ll go over the records with a fine-tooth comb myself. No one will know.” Devan suddenly slapped a hand to his face. “Oh, now I get it. Victorious Vampires. God, that’s terrible.” he chuckled, and Alex grinned.

“But not inaccurate. Farevell, Mr. Richelu. You vill be contacted by somevun from the Council shortly, to explain your new reqvirements and privileges in detail. I believe there is an orientation packet.” Alex looked down, embarrassed. “Many of them still think it’s 1986.”

“But that was almost sixty years-right, immortal.” Devan caught himself.

“Yes Indeed. Vun must keep up vith the times, after all!” Alex signalled and they came to a stop. Alex opened the door, and smiled and saluted as Devan stepped out, next to the beach. The waves were calming, rolling in as the sun began to set. He watched as the limo drove off into the encroaching darkness, melding into the night.

--------------------------------------------------------------

“-ing losers! Fine! See if I care! Hope you all rot in Hell! Oh, not you, Frank." Lina said, apologizing to the security guard, escorting her out with her arms behind her back.

“No offense taken. Hell, wanted to give ‘em a piece of my mind too, so thanks. Sucks about your job though. I’d join ya, but, well…”

“Yeah yeah. Pay’s too good.” Lina said bitterly. Frank looked sheepish. “Ain’t your fault, it’s those bastards who sign the checks. In a way, I’m glad to finally walk away from this hellhole. But my landlord’s being an asshole, so I’m out on the street soon. This’s the best place around.” she said. Frank opened the door, and she sighed.

“Any plans for the future?” Frank asked, gently seeing her out. He was genuinely worried; Lina should not have come in. She was far too thin and weak, but she showed up at seven like always, except for the past month. And that was the trouble.

“Not really. My folks’ll take me in for awhile, but I really don’t wanna go back there. Those friggin’ bastards.” Lina growled. She’d been let go after the first week, when her vacation time had run out. ‘Didn’t know if you were ever gonna get up and smell the coffee’ her ass.

“A damned shame. Sorry to see you go. Good luck, whatever happens.” Frank said.

“You too. Don’t let ‘em run you down too much.” she said, making her way down the street. At least she could rest now. Once she got home. Her knees still wobbled, and though she fumed she was secretly grateful. The only reason she was still standing was because she wouldn’t let herself collapse. The entire day would’ve killed her.

“Not that those assholes would’ve cared.” she muttered, letting her anger give her strength. Riezelkhrad had bowed to no one, neither would she. It was then that she noticed the black limousine following her.

It had been in the background when she’d been thrown out, but Lina’d been too preoccupied to notice. Now it was trailing behind her, slowly.

“You got a problem, pal!?” she shouted at the driver. He wordlessly drove on, letting the passenger in the back come up to her with the smuggest grin on his face.

“Having some trouble? I couldn’t help but overhear. Vant a ride?” It was a man with white hair that made him look older than his face made him out to be. Of course, there was no mistaking that accent, half-German half-Russian, half-Transylvannian, all Eastern Europe. She blinked, then noticed his eyes weren’t a deep brown or amber, but brilliant ruby red. Her hand met her face.

“It’s you. Damn it. What do you want now?” she growled, but without heat.

“Oh Lina, you vound me. I vas merely in the neighborhood and decided to see vun of my dear new friends.” he said. She flipped him off, and he burst out laughing. “Come, Lina. I have an offer I’d like to make. You shouldn’t be on your feet and valking anyway. The vurst that vill happen is you get a ride home. What do you say?” Alex asked sincerely. Lina glowered, but her shaking legs made the decision for her.

“Fine. But no funny business, like bloodsucking.” she said as she got in.

“Vouldn’t dream of it, believe me.” he said flatly. Lina vaguely wondered if she should be reassured or offended.

“Well? Spill. Don’t have all day, gotta look for a new job.” she said, climbing in and crossing her arms and legs. It took more effort than she cared to admit, but it was the only way to stop the trembling.

“That’s precisely what I vanted talk to you about.” Alex said, offering her a water bottle. She took it and gulped it down gratefully. “You see Lina, though you vouldn’t even be considered for the position, circumstances due to the events of RFO have...shifted things. As you might be avare, I am vhat you might call filthy rich. However, due to my condition and lifestyle, it is beneficial to live vith somevun who can support said lifestyle. Now, my butler is getting on in years. Peterson recently turned sixty-five, and is nearing the end of his service as vell. Ve vould start the process of searching for candidates who are both professional, and who could be trusted regardless of vhat happened fairly soon.. However, you have demonstrated great fortitude, skill, and trustvorthiness inside the game. I can’t imagine that vould change much outside of it.”

“So, you want me to work for you and be your maid?” Lina asked with a raised eyebrow.

“In so many vords, yes.”

“Shyeah right. Look, it was...okay working with you, but we’re not friends or anything. I’m not really the housekeeping type, and to be honest the thought of having to curtsy to anyone makes me sick.” she said flatly.

“The pay starts roughly at two thousand a veek.”

“Right boss, when do I get started?” she said brightly. Alex blinked. He could swear he could see dollar signs in her eyes. He chuckled.

“I’m glad to see I have your attention. But first, you must know what you’re getting into. The servant of a vampire has many duties, including meal preparation, groundskeeping, chauffeuring, cleaning, secretarial vork, and heavy arms operation.” he said. She cleaned out her ear.

“Wanna run that by me again?” she said.

“As I said. The duties of a vampire servant are many. Ve typically do not take more than vun or two on at a time. But due to the unusual lifestyle of a nosferatu, ve sometimes reqvire things to be done that are...extralegal, shall ve say. Should you accept, it vould be very similar to enlisting vithin special forces. You vould be my second, going anywhere and doing anything I reqvire, including hand-to-hand combat and espionage. You vould also have to anticipate my needs practically before they are articulated, and it vill often involved hard, dirty vork. Not the least of vhich vould be disposing of the bodies, on top of carrying global-level secrets, vun of vhich you already know.” he explained.

“You should be a salesman. Yeesh. That’s unappealing, to say the least.” Lina frowned.

“I am avare. That’s vhy it pays so much.” Alex said smoothly. “In addition, the post is for life. You vould be locked in until retirement age, and forced to excel day in and out. It is not an easy life, though it does grow easier vith time, as all things. Ve cannot allow less. It is a very intimate relationship, above nearly all else. Now, I am not so strict as to demand loyalty to me only, I allow my servants to take families and vacations. But understand, other vampires do not, and they are legally correct to do so, in our society.”

“That’s kinda messed up.” she said.

“I agree. I pride myself on being a fully functional adult, so I can take care of myself. I look down upon those vampires who cannot. Truth be known, a great many of us do.” he whispered conspiratiorily, and she snickered. “But I am old, and rich, so if I vant to make my life easier, who is to stop me?”

“Heh. Well, can’t fault you for that. But that sounds like a lot of dedication and work, even for a paycheck that big. If I’m working that much, why even bother, if I can’t enjoy it?” Lina said. Alex shrugged.

“A fair point. I merely make the offer, for I believe you vould do vell. It’s your choice, regardless.” he said.

“Yeah, sounds nice and all, but I think I’ll pass.” she said, but he held his hand up.

“Before you decide, you should know all the details. In addition to maintenance, housekeeping, and personal assistant duties, there are unsavory aspects like combat, espionage, cyber-varfare, and undertaking.”

“I really don’t see how you expected me to do all that.” she said, nonplussed.

“That is vhy I am asking now. There is a training period, vhere Peterson vill teach you everything you have to know. I demand professionalism, not perfection. It usually takes years before a servant is ready.”

“I think I can see why it’s a lifetime commitment.” she said, nearly gagging at the thought. Alex nodded.

“There is much to do, always. However, there are benefits. In addition to pay, room and board vill be provided, free of charge. Full medical, dental, and specialists are completely covered as vell.” Lina’s eyebrows shot way up to her hairline. Full pay and benefits completely covered, with no rent to worry about? There was no harm in at least hearing him out, at least.

“However, all that pales in comparison to the final benefit. At the end of your tenure, you vill be given the choice to accept the bite and be turned into a vampire yourself.” he said, gravely serious. Lina blinked.

“You, you mean I could…” she trailed off.

“Become as me, yes. Life eternal, free from the curses of aging, vith power beyond human imagining. I vould teach you to control your bloodthirst, how to hunt, transform, deal vith society, and so on. It is offered to all personal servants of vampires. After all, ve don’t vant to go extinct, just keep an eqvilibrium. You are free to accept, or refuse at the end.”

“Do...do a lot of people take it?” she asked, feeling way out of her depth. She shivered. He sighed, pleased. It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no. It spoke well that she was apprehensive.

“I do not know if it vill surprise you, but a majority do not. I suppose vunce they’ve lived their lives, remaining in this vorld no longer holds an appeal.” He understood that completely. After all, he hadn’t had a choice in the matter.

“I see.” Lina said. Air, that would help. She rolled the window down, taking in the autumn air, which not even the tang of Chicago grime could overwhelm. She needed to be sharp, to focus, her mind as clear as possible. “It’s a big decision. A lifetime of service in return for a big paycheck and immortality, huh?”

“Mmm-hmm. Immortality’s not all it is cracked up to be. The endless nights over the centuries can be rather dull. However, occasionally something comes along that can surprise you. It’s very invigorating, can give you a new lease on unlife.” he said.

“Such as a VRMMO?” she said wryly, then sighed at his blank expression. “The videogame? Real Fantasy Online?”

“Oh! Yes, such vunderful technology. It’s qvite the relief from boredom. And it also led me to you. So, Lina? What do you say?”

It was, to Lina, very infuriating. She’d had a fantasy, like many women, of being swept away by a tall, dark, and handsome man to live in luxury. She sighed. Now it could actually happen, but. But it was like this. Somehow the romance novel heroines were never taken away to be the scullery maid and black ops expert. Still though...immortality...couldn’t say she wasn’t tempted.

“Vhatever your decision, for vhatever reason, it is yours and yours alone to make. The most I advise is, vhichever you choose, live your life as such you don’t regret it. The visdom of my centuries of experience.”

“Hmm…” Every day, she regretted getting up to kowtow at work, long and hard days with little respite. She’d wanted an escape, and found a digital trap. But could she really say she regretted everything she’d been through, everything she’d done in there…?

Her hand instinctively closed around a phantom sword, thick and heavy, taller than her real body but could slice through the air like butter. She could feel Riezelkhrad smiling at her.

Lina sighed.

“I suppose we could see how it works out. Way better than my old job, that’s for sure. You got a deal. Just don’t regret taking me on yourself.” she said with a grin. Alex flashed his fangs in a smile.

“Excellent! Driver, to O’Hare!” he called up front, and the car changed lanes.

“What? Wait, right now?” Lina siad.

“Of course! Ve still must draw up the legal documentation, but vunce it’s done it’s done. Time is of the essence! There is much to do, yes, much to do!” Alex replied gleefully.

“But what about my apartment? My stuff?” she asked bewilderedly.

“Forget the apartment, and your things vill be expressed to you vithin the veek, safe and sound. Our movers, the vuns vith the 411, know better than to be careless vith things going to a vampires’s house!” he said cheerfully, purchasing a ticket for her on his phone. “Ah, the vunders of modern technology. Much faster and easier than horse or train!” He laughed as Lina threw her hands up.

“What have I gotten myself into?” she muttered.

--------------------------------------------------------------

And so, five hours later, Lina was glancing at the enormous Lonescu manor. She boggled at it through the car window. While not very high, only three modest stories, the sheer size the estate commanded was...intimidating.

“Ve have many amenities, including the pool, the gym, the training hall, the library, and the tennis court. There are security cameras everyvhere of course, but you’ll be in charge of reviewing the footage, so I vouldn’t vorry too much about it.” Alex said, driving the rental past the wrought-iron fence. “I also have my own private jet in the hangar and garbage truck in the garage, along vith the Cobra, Ferrari, limo, and the tank. I hope you’re comfortable driving all of those. If not, you’ll have to become accustomed to them.”

“This is a big place. H-How many square feet are the grounds?” she asked, recalling her future duty of groundskeeping.

“About 1,000 acres.” he said.

“O-Oh.” she said despondently. He guffawed.

“Ve have a landscaping service come in every month to clean and mow the lawn, you vill be directing them vhen they arrive but that’s it. Your day to day vill be busy enough vith the house itself. Ah, home at last.” He parked in front of the attached garage, not deigning to let a mere Corolla share space with his Ferrari 250 GT, and saw her to the door.

“Peterson! I’m back! Did you receive the blood? And I obtained your potential replacement.” he said, stepping in. Lina was dumbstruck at the finery and opulence of just the hall. Simple, with a rich red rug and white walls, but the paintings were more than what her old apartment was worth. And none of it was ostentatious, it all matched and flowed elegantly from room to room!

“I’ve had centuries of experience as an interior designer. If I am to reside in vun place for a long time, it vill look good, damn it.” Alex said, shrugging.

“You’re really rich.” she said distantly, trying to take it all in.

“The master’s net worth is in the hundreds of millions. You’ll have to get used to it if you’re going to take over. And his midnight fits of redecoration.” Peterson said, appearing from the kitchen with a cordial smile.

“I haven’t done that in seven months.” Alex scowled.

“Of course sir. Well then miss, Lina was it? I hope you’re in for a challenging time. It’s no easy task, butlering for a vampire.” Peterson said.

“I gathered, yeah.” she deadpanned.

“Indeed. Speaking of butlering duties, I knew you’d be home shortly, and I couldn’t call on the plane, sir. There’s-” Peterson began, but Alex snapped his fingers, cutting him off.

“Oh yes! That does remind me. I’ve been travelling too far and moving too fast. Peterson, call Devan Richelu, possibly a private investigator. I need an address somevhere in the Dakotas at vunce. I’ll have to fly out again shortly, see that the jet is refulled-” Peterson held a hand up.

“I believe that won’t be necessary, sir. If I am correct, and he is to be believed.”

“Huh?” They both stared at him, and Peterson opened the door to the kitchen.

As soon as they saw the vampire, they rose, the boy with great difficulty. The girl supported him, but he waved her away. He would walk under his own power. He was wobbly, but he stood before Alex proudly. An unruly mop of blond hair, thick taped-up glasses, both children looking malnourished, but Lina winced at the boy. She let out a low whistle. He was positively skeletal, barely bigger than his sister.

“So I see. Good vork.” Alex said, nodding.

“They arrived barely two hours ago, sir. Seem to have undertaken quite a journey. Since he knew you were a vampire, and your full name is still alive, I thought it best to leave him to your capable hands. They’ve since been making a dedicated effort to empty the pantry by themselves, I could hardly keep up.” Peterson said jovially, but in a much lower voice that only Alex could reliably hear he added “The malnutrition seems to have been set in much longer a month. Old bruises on both, both suffering from mild exposure and dehydration. They’ve tried to hide it, most likely out of habit. Shall I prepare the jet for another rampage, sir?”

“No, never mind that. Ve vill do this properly. Call the lawyers, Julius vill know vhat to do. I spoke vith him earlier.” Alex said, grinning savagely. At that name, Peterson raised an eyebrow.

“Are you sure you want Master Julius to handle this? It might be kinder to handle the matter personally than unleash that old bloodsucker on him.” he said.

“Who’s Julius?” Lina said, totally lost. “Another one of you guys?”

“Not just vun of us, the very vorst. He’s our lawyer.” Alex said, shuddering. That old terror had been in practice since before Rome fell. In America, he was positively giddy at the amount of lawsuits he handled each year. Alex turned to Jamie. “So. You’ve arrived. On your own two feet as vell, I see.”

“Eh-heh, not quite. I had to get a lot of help from Lizzy. She’s been a trooper.” he said, giving the nervous girl a hug.

“E-Excuse me. B-But are you, are you really a vampire?” Lizzy asked. She could hardly believe any of this was happening.

“But of course. I trust Jamie’s judgement in this matter. After all, he saved my life and the lives of millions of others. I owe him a great debt.” Alex said, letting his fangs grow, and bowing low to Jamie.

“Oh jeez, I dunno. I-I couldn’t have done anything without y-you guys either.” Jamie said, blushing, his stammer returning briefly. He didn’t know what to do.

“Hmm. That is perhaps true. But you’ve come far in a short time, Jamie. Mentally and physically! Good to see, good to see. You’ve saved me the time of collecting you. After all, you are my student now. I vill see my investment paid off.”

“He’s really a real vampire…” Lizzy muttered in shock. “Everything was true…”

“Told you. But don’t worry, he’s...well, he’s not exactly nice, but he’s a good guy. We’ll be okay here. I promise.” Jamie said, squeezing her hand. Lizzy swallowed hard, but squeezed back. After all, he’d been right about everything else so far, right?

Alex took a moment, eyeing Jamie up and down.

“Hmm. You are veak, in body.”

“Yes sir. I hope that won’t be a problem.” Jamie said, forcing himself to stand straight.

“No, it is fine. In fact, it is good. This vay, ve can rebuild you from the ground up. After all, it von’t be a problem for long. Peterson!” He snapped his fingers, and the butler snapped to attention.

“Sir.”

“Prepare three rooms for our guests after you notify Julius. My house has three rules that all must follow. Vun: you must never reveal the secret of vampirism to others. Two: you vill be held accountable for your actions, both for good and ill. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir!”

“What?”

“Sure, I guess.” Lina said, then tilted her head. The others had noticed too.

“Uh, sir? What’s the last rule?” Jamie asked. Alex smiled magnanimously.

“Your personal wardrobe may be whatever you vish. However, as guests and additions to my house, ve adhere to style. Rule three: as members and representatives of this house, ve must dress in black.” They looked at Peterson, with a striped balck and white shirt, with solid black vest, pants, and shoes. They saw Alex’s white shirt and black...literally everything else. Lina groaned. The loon was serious.

“I’m not sure it’s my color?” Lizzy said uncertainly.

“I kinda like it. Like Batman.” Jamie said, and Alex roared with laughter.

“That’s the spirit! Now then, Peterson, fetch us a feast! Ve break bread and blood together!”

“Yes sir!” Peterson bowed and left. Alex looked over his new charges. Lina would need training. The children would need tutors. And a proper diet. A medical overview. And they needed to be shown the rules of vampire society. He’d have to come up with a proper training regimen for Jamie, the lad was a stick. And could barely move.

The sun was setting, the night filling him with energy. So much to do! So little time! He’d never had children around since becoming a vampire, but he knew they needed much care, especially in this modern world. Arg, so many tasks! Jamie was almost a man, but the little one was but a slip of a girl. She’d need more attention, but he couldn’t neglect Jamie’s education…

Tons of half-formed plans flooded his mind, making Alex restless with everything he wanted to do. But all that could wait. Their instruction would begin in the morning. For now, it was time to rest. He stood before Jamie, the trembling young man who had learned not to bow, despite his shaking knees. Red eyes met clear blue, and there was understanding. Alex extended his hand, and Jamie took it.

“This is not going to be an easy life. There may come a time vhen you must even take somevun else’s. Do you understand?”

“I do. But let’s not let that happen, ok?” Jamie said, grinning and shaking his hand. “We can make it happen.”

“Spoken like my own student. Very vell! Lina, mademoiselle Lizzy, young master Jamie! Welcome, welcome to my home. It is now, ours!”

And so the night was filled with feasting, and stories, and answers, fading away into the wee hours and beyond. The sun rose upon the manor, where an elderly butler was tucking in four people, each in their own bed/coffin. The night had been filled with energy and life. But though they had much to do, much business to get down to, for now? They were too tired, and now simply slept like the dead.