The 7th progenitor Ferid Bathory was frustrated. Mikaela had started to change, no longer was his expression always gloomy, always so lifeless. Ferid would be happy If he were the cause of that, however Mika still shunned him, so it could only mean one thing.

Mikaela had found something of interest to him. To find the cause of such a change Ferid had been spying on the young vampire for the past couple of days, and he was surprised to find that the naïve boy had found himself a blood sack and made friends with it. How hilarious! He could already imagine sweet Mikaela's pale expression when he crushed his new friend before his eyes. It would be so delightful indeed! So, one day he had decided to find that blood sack… and suck it dry.

Although, it would be the best if he could do the deed in front of sweet Mikaela's eyes, but he was sure that his reaction would be satisfying all the same if he just presented the body. Ferid Bathory happily skipped over the labyrinth like alleys spanning the children's quarters, eyes hungrily searching for a boy named 'Sato.'

…

Satoru was walking home after he had fulfilled his daily quota and donated a portion of his blood to the bloodsuckers. Not many thoughts were going through his mind, as he strolled through the endless alleyways.

It has been a while since he has made a friend, who would have guessed that it would be a vampire of all things? Though, this one was different — he could tell, not only from the color of his eyes, but from the way it carried itself. Mika was turned, — he concluded.

He was too kind-hearted to be born among such creatures, then again it might be that he was still young and sympathized with humans, — he couldn't be sure until he asked. All his knowledge concerning the night hunters originated from video games and children whom he questioned. — It was not reliable information. — He made it a point to ask Mika next time he sees him.

He made a right turn, then a left, and a right again, he was almost there now. Satoru felt his stomach growling, — it was dinner time. He had to hurry unless he wants to starve, although he didn't doubt that his family would leave some leftovers, there was no guarantee with six hungry mouths…

He stopped dead in his tracks.

He felt a hand grasping him… He looked over his shoulders to see a vampire dressed in white.

A noble? Here? — he thought. Mika had already told him about the basic hierarchy of vampires, he knew that there weren't many nobles, and that they were extremely powerful. He gulped, as his mind worked in overdrive trying to find a way out of this situation.

He asked in a weak voice. "Uhm, yes? Can I help you?"

The vampire's smile stretched ear to ear hearing his voice.

"As a matter of fact, yes you can! ~"

"…"

"Let me drink your blood! Just a tiny sip! ~"

Like I would let you! — Satoru wanted to shout but restrained himself. It would do him no good in an unbalanced situation such as this. The children wouldn't dare interfere; well not like they could help him anyways. He felt like his head would burst as his young brain reached and broke its limits, switching into overdrive as the old soul prompted it to work.

This was a matter of life and death, there was no lash back to the common soldiers for killing a couple of children — given they came up with a half-baked excuse, — there would be nothing stopping the noble vampire to take his life. He was just reborn, however cruel this world may be he didn't want to throw away his second chance at life. His heartbeat increased as he felt the vampire's cold breath on his neck.

"W-wait!" He whimpered.

"Oh, come now. It won't hurt, not one bit! ~"

Somehow Satoru wasn't convinced as his eyes focused on the fangs.

"D- do you have permission?" He stuttered, as an idea came to mind.

The vampire's mood clearly fell several notches as it stared at him.

"Permission?" He asked.

"Y- yes, permission." Satoru said, as he thought what to say next. What was it again? Ah yes, I remember — Krul Tepes — that was the name, she is the boss around here, so if I refer to her, then I should be out of harm's way. It was truly fortunate that he had ran into Mika the other day.

"Okay, whose permission should I, a noble and proud vampire ask for?"

"Your Queen, Krul Tepes wishes that I suffer no mistreatment." Satoru said with such a poker face that he was sure he could win a tournament back home… if poker were still a thing.

The vampire's face twisted for but a moment before regaining his carefree attitude, and that annoying smiling visage. Satoru hated those false smiles, he was sick of them, but he couldn't talk out of turn here. Not now, not yet.

"Well then… We should pay her a visit and ask herself, no? ~"

Satoru paled, Oh, shit, — he thought. He didn't expect that the noble would suggest such a thing, but there was nothing to do now. He nodded simultaneously while answering. "Yes, we should."