This reaction was a surprise to Max and if he was being honest he couldn’t imagine what would warrant such a reaction from Draken.

Draken didn’t miss Max’s reaction and he composed himself and sat back down, before asking in a calm voice. “Where is he?”

Max smiled at the Headmaster’s sudden composure. “He’s right outside.” With that he turned to get the boy.

Draken’s mind stirred with a whole myriad of emotions but at the same time, he was largely skeptical and piqued by Max’s claim. He took a deep breath as he reined them in.

He moved to the window, gazing out at the grounds where students would soon be arriving for the new term. The morning sun painted everything in warm golden hues, but shadows lingered in places where light should have reached, as if the very atmosphere anticipated change.

Footsteps in the corridor announced their return. Draken turned from the window and resumed his seat, arranging his expression into one of curiosity rather than the profound unease that Max's description had awakened. The door opened and in that instant, Draken could clearly smell two vampires, but one smell was incomplete. Perhaps Max hadn’t picked up on it but he did. There was a lingering human smell attached to a strong vampire stench.

Max gave the boy leeway to enter and when he did, Draken mustered up his best poker face and gave a genuine smile. First impressions mattered after all.

There was a quiet shuffling of feet as the boy walked in and soon was face to face with the Headmaster. Draken fought his hardest to not betray his emotions and rightfully so because hearing it from Max, he was still not convinced at the possibility. Now, he could see it for himself and in front of him stood someone who “should not exist”. He could never forget those eyes. Alive but dead.

The boy seemed uncomfortable under Draken’s long gaze, something the Headmaster was unaware of until Max pulled him from his thoughts.

“What’s your name?” Draken asked from behind his desk.

“M-Michael.”

“Michael,” Draken repeated the name once. “Do you know why you’re here?”

He gave a slow nod. “Not completely, but Max said there was someone who would be happy to welcome me somewhere. Is that true?” There was a slight hint of sadness in his voice as he asked the question.

“I do not just welcome anybody,” Draken said as he got up from his chair and waved at Max.

The younger vampire took the signal and turned to leave. In that instant, Michael’s demeanour changed and he became guarded, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Draken who wondered what the child had experienced.

“Settle down child, I mean you no harm.”

The words carried weight but Michael didn’t relax himself. This time, Draken took a deep breath before continuing.

“My name is Draken von Ashbourne of the House of Ashbourne, one of the twelve vampire families and Headmaster of the Eldritch Institute.”

This confirmed the thoughts that were going through Michael’s mind. It wasn’t that he doubted Max but Max’s claim were hard to believe.

“I am not sure if Max gave you a complete rundown but nevertheless I will. Max came to you because you are like one of us, the ones the humans call monsters.”

Michael slowly nodded. He got the gist of it all and the school was for monsters like Max, the Headmaster and himself. That part was a little had to believe because he’d been with himself his entire life so how could he be like them and not human. How were they so sure? He had to ask.

“Excuse me, but how are you so sure that I am like you, a V-Vampire?”

Draken smiled. “I’m sure you at least know that people have distinct scents that are a part of them. Vampires like me are one of the monster species that can detect these scents due to our heightened senses. Similarly monsters, like humans, have their own distinct scents and yours is one I have spent my entire life around, so I can’t miss it.”

Michael took the information to heart. So he smelled like them. He honestly couldn’t say he knew because this was the first time he was hearing this detailed information about Vampires. Perhaps he had heard of vampires at the orphanage but he can’t say he remembered.

“However,” Draken continued, “you’re not a complete vampire yet. You’re what we call being in transition. You’re halfway between being a human and a vampire because traces of human scent still exists.”

That sounded interesting, but why? “Why?”

“When a person becomes a vampire they die and wake up on the brink between dying as a human and living as the undead. Your death must have been not too long ago.”

The last part almost went over Michael’s head. “Wait. My death?  I’m dead?”

This response came as a surprise to Draken. “What do you mean, ‘I’m dead’? Surely you remember dying?” he asked with raised eyebrows as if it were a normal question to ask.

“No.” Michael’s answer was definite. “I have never died. I would remember something that would cause my death, surely.”

This information was causing a slight bit of confusion in Draken’s head.

“Let me clarify my statement,” he began as he got up from his chair. “There is only one way to become a vampire. A living person must have the blood of a vampire in their blood stream and that person must die. When the person wakes up from their death, they are in transition and when they consume the blood of a human, they become a Vampire. You do not mean to tell me you haven’t died and yet you’re like this?”

Michael took the time to think but no matter how hard he did, no event in the manner the Headmaster described had occurred to him. Maybe he could have been given Vampire blood in secret but he didn’t remember anything involving death.

“No, I do not remember any event that would have led to my death. Up until today I had no clue about any of this and you’re telling me that I am dead. I can’t wrap my head around that.”

Draken took the time to walk towards the window in his office. This was a rather intriguing scenario. He turned to study the boy who looked to be doubting his very existence, though he was trying to hide it.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Confused.”

“No I meant your body. How does it feel?”

Michael opened his mouth to speak but closed it to think. “I don’t feel particularly different from how I usually feel everyday.” As he said this, the Headmaster smiled.

“You’re a really interesting boy, and I apologise if I may have sounded a bit odd. In our entire history as a race, no vampire has been created without having to die. It could be possible the entire event occurred when you were too young to remember but no one can last long in transition because the world will reject your existence.”

Michael was quiet. Something about a rejected existence had made him more solemn.

“By the way, you mentioned an orphanage,” Draken started as he walked back to his chair. “How long have you been there?”

“I’ve been there for as long as I can remember. They say since I was a baby.”

Draken knew it wouldn’t be right to intrude but he had to ask. “Have you not been adopted?”

Michael gave a small smile. He had gotten used to it. “I suppose no. When they look at me, the parents I mean, they say my gaze makes them feel uneasy.”

Draken was quiet. That line sounded familiar, but he didn’t let sadness get to him. “All the more reason for you to be welcome here. You’re one of us and we will very much want you.”

It would seem Draken’s words would breathe hope into those dead eyes. “Do you mean it?” Michael asked slowly.

The Headmaster gave a sheepish smile. “Of course, and you have two options: stay in transition or become a Vampire. I’d advice the latter because it has its perks with only a few downsides.”

Downsides? Michael was about to ask but he remembered Draken’s earlier talk about blood. Draken sensing this spoke up.

“Vampires rely on human blood for nourishment, and no, you don’t have to kill anyone, just their blood. This should be a conversation for when you want to become one completely though. Would you want to do that now?”

Michael thought about it and slowly shook his head. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to think about it and get a look at the school.”

Draken looked a bit surprised before smiling. “I suppose that won’t be an issue. I’ll ask Max to show you around and to the dorms while I handle everything with the orphanage if you’d like to attend the school.” As he said this, he extended his hand.

Michael smiled. Coming to the school wouldn’t be bad. He quickly shook the Headmaster’s hand. “I’d love to come, but how would you handle the orphanage?”

“You can be rest assured to leave that to me.” As he said this, he made a motion with his hand and the door to his office opened.  Max walked in at that moment and Michael was grinning from ear to ear. What he had witnessed was just surprising.

“Was that…”

“Yes it was, but not from me. Vampires can’t particularly use magic.”

The beam of light that seemed to be emanating from Michael slowly dimmed and Draken gave a light laugh.

“Max, please show our new student around the school. I should be done with everything by the time you’re finished.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Max said as he ushered Michael out of the office.

Draken stood there standing for a while before a small smile broke across his face. “You were listening,” it wasn’t a question. “You know it’s rude to eavesdrop on people.”

A door opened in between a bookshelf and a lady walked in. The expression on her face was one of hope. She knew what he was about to say but she didn't let him say it. “It’s too much of a coincidence to not be true.”

“I suppose so, but it is the supernatural world. Who knows what we’ll find? In any case, we’ve got a lot of work to do.”