Author's rant

Yeah. It's powerful stuff today. My advice: Take it slow, there's no rush. Let yourself pause when the characters pause, so you can truly feel what they feel.

I guess 8-9 out of 10 of my readers like Harem, so I probably shouldn't dis it too much... But this chapter is why I don't do harem. Just read it, I hope you'll understand.

As always, comments and input is very much appreciated.

Actual story:

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Kaneis, predictably, had trouble sleeping. He sat up on the fluffy bed, and looked around. The room was pretty basic, consisting of a bed and a small table. The bed was fluffy, but nothing too fancy. The most dominant feature of the room was wood - wooden table, wooden floor and wooden sides on the bed.

Kaneis got up from the bed. His feet touched the lukewarm wooden floor.

tap tap.

He grabbed his wooden stick, and walked outside. The castle was quite confusing with all the rooms and towers, yet he managed to find his way to a door leading out on a balcony on the first floor.

click.

the door opened. he saw the back of a familiar lady gazing off into the distance. In the distance he could see the light from the nearby town - the same town Kaneis was dropped off in.

He stood still taking in the sight of her on the balcony.

“Trouble sleeping?” Lamia said, not moving her gaze from the breathtaking view.

“Yeah…” Kaneis said, as he placed the stick against the wall, and walked to the edge of the balcony a few steps away from her.

A moment passed by, as the two took in the view of the night. A dark forest, a cemetery with poor lighting and the town, far off in the distance.

“You know…” Lamia started as her long white hair fluttered in the chilly evening breeze.

a few seconds passed by in silence.

“Yes?” Kaneis asked.

“Ryko said it should be a secret… But...”

Kaneis patiently waited, while Lamia gathered her words.

“The real reason he was there… and the real reason we visited the cemetery…” she took a second before talking again. “Was to say goodbye... because we are leaving the castle.”

Kaneis pondered for a second. “Why?”

“To search… For our mother.” Lamia continued.

“She is missing?”

“She left long ago.”

“So why tell me?” Kaneis asked.

“I was wondering if you would like to come along.”

Kaneis felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time. A certain heat in his cheeks.

“I… Why me?” he asked.

“You look like you might need a little… companionship.”

“… companionship?”

“Well… There’s the issue of almost eating a death fruit… And if your story is true… You might be safer together with us.” Lamia answered.

Kaneis pondered for a second. “Truth be told… I have my own goals. While they might align fairly well with going with you for a while…”

Kaneis stopped for a moment. “I’m a little troubled… Troubled with who to trust.”

“Because we look like vampires.” Lamia simply stated with a hint of sadness in her voice.

“No… That’s not it. Ever since I got here, I’ve been tossed around… I just don’t know who to trust anymore… The people who seemed trustworthy at first… they weren’t… They were...”

Lamia stopped his sentence. “I know we make a lot of… jokes…”

She turned her head and looked at Kaneis. ”But you can trust us.”

Kaneis turned his head, looking directly back at Lamia. “... I guess I will.”

A brief moment passed, while the two simply stared at each other.

Lamia turned her head back to the scenery. “It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?”

Kaneis turned his head towards the scenery as well. “Yes, it’s truly breathtaking.”

Lamia continued. “… The entire world… I’m looking forward to finally see it.”

Kaneis nodded in silence.

“What are you going to do now?” Lamia asked.

Kaneis pondered for a second. “I’m going to reclaim my title… I think the best course of action would be to go to one of these other countries… Viscia, Incursia or Peritia… And take it from there. I need help in taking down a false queen.”

Lamia nodded.

The two stared at the view in complete silence, for what seemed like an aeon.

When Kaneis finally returned to his room, he laid down on his bed and slept like a baby for the rest of the night. He had forgotten all about his spear-to-be, which was still standing on that very balcony.

The next day, Kaneis got up, and headed for the room with the table. All three family members were sitting there already.

Ryko broke the brief moment of silence. “Get this… What’s it called when a vampire kisses you goodnight? ... Necking!”

Lamia looked down the table, as did Kaneis.

“No? Okay, okay I got another one. How does a girl-vampire flirt? She bats her eyes!”

a moment of silence passed by.

“Oh, I’m just kidding.” Ryko threw a piece of fruit to Kaneis “Here, have a neck-tarine!”

“Pff... heh.. Neck… I get it.” Kaneis quickly composed himself.

Kaneis took a deep breath. “I’d like to thank you all for your hospitality. I will leave the castle today as asked.”

Vlad merely nodded while eating his breakfast.

Ryko suddenly spoke up. “Father…”

Vlad looked up at Ryko.

“We have decided… We are going out into the world. You can’t stop us.”

Vlad stared directly at Ryko. “Do you think you have what it takes?”

Ryko nodded while still holding a stern look directed at Vlad.

“And I assume you are both leaving?” Vlad looked at Lamia, who in turn nodded.

Vlad turned his gaze to Kaneis. “And what of you? Did you have anything to do with this?”

Kaneis pondered for a second. Then he slowly shook his head. “No.”

Vlad nodded slowly.

Ryko quickly responded. “He has nothing to do with this. This is our decision, and has been for weeks.”

“So you have made preparations?” Vlad asked.

“Plenty. We visited the cemetery last night.” Ryko said.

“I see there is no stopping you.”

“Our minds are made up.”

Vlad made a slight nod.

For a while, Vlad's eyes fell on Kaneis. He looked at the black hair and the blue eyes, the stern look in his eyes as well as the height. He seemed like he wanted to say something, then he stopped himself.

The rest of the breakfast continued in dead silence.

After the breakfast was complete they all headed outside the castle.

Kaneis stood in the fluffy white shirt and some pants and leather boots as well as a sword he had gotten from the family - Lamia stood dressed nearly identical, except for the black cape and large hat that Ryko wore as well.

Vlad stood at the gate of the castle. “I guess it is as they say - Adventure must start with running away from home… And through adventure, may you find yourselves.”

Vlad turned around and closed the door to the castle.

Ryko looked at Kaneis. “I guess we are headed the same way, huh?”

Kaneis nodded. “I have little else to do at this time.”

“So what you are saying is that you are coming along with us under circumstances completely unknown to yourself?” Ryko asked.

Kaneis looked at Lamia out of the corner of his eye.

Ryko sighed. “I guess a vampire really IS more likely to chat with the girl neck-st door.”

Kaneis looked at Ryko ”What?”

Ryko looked at Lamia. “You talked with him, didn’t you? that explains father's reaction.”

“I didn’t! Lamia insisted.

Ryko held a firm gaze of disbelief on Lamia.

“Well, I mean… I guess… A little? He deserved to know!”

“Alright, alright.” Ryko said. “I guess he should know by now.”

Ryko turned to Kaneis. “So I guess you are with us, huh?”

Kaneis nodded slowly. “So it seems.”

A moment of silence passed.

“Do you have any clue where to start looking?” Kaneis asked.

“I figured we would find out along the way, I mean how many places can there be to look?”

“... You’ve never been far away from the castle have you?”

“Not really, why do you ask?”

“...”

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Thanks for reading!