Cid leaned eagerly against the window of the blimp, staring out at the world moving gradually below them. The world they glided over seemed so vast, and even in this shell, Cid felt free.
‘Amazing’ he sighed, his breath fogging on the glass before him.
He raised his hand to wipe the glass clean, before fogging it up again.
The mountains beneath them were colossal, and everything upon the earths surface was grey. It was dark outside, the light from the moon hidden by the heavy clouds overhead, but Cid could still see, he saw everything clearly. His eyes were shining bright.
‘Its so beautiful out there’ Cid mumbled to himself, his a voice that only he heard. ‘I wish….almost….sometimes….’ but he never finished his words, instead continued to daydream.
‘We’re nearly there’ his father grumbled after a period of silence.
Cid leant back in his seat, turning to glance towards his father who sat a short distance from him in one of the large luxurious red velvet chairs. He was a tired looking man in his forties, his short dark beard neatly trimmed, he was a slender framed well-dressed figure, with a glare as sharp as a vulture’s.
His mother sat away from him, in another one of the seats. She was an incredibly beautiful woman, and very young compared to his father, she had very long golden hair intricately woven and braided by many servants, and every day she looked her finest.
She sat with a proud posture as she always did, hands rested on her lap, her gaze distant as she looked away.
There was always a distance between his parents, and their marriage had only ever been a necessity. They never loved each other, though always remained civil to one another. Cid was part of a powerful family, that had grown only stronger with the unity of his parents, and stronger still when he and his siblings were born. His family had a lot of influence in the world, but there was still much to be done. The war against the humans had been won, now the vampires fought their own kind for territory, and they fought for ownership over humans.
Cid found it strange that once the war had been against the humans now it was for them?
Many humans had died in the war, and vampires had starved because of it. But Cid had never known any of that, he heard of the reports, but he had never seen anything of that sort up close before, he stayed within his family circle, with the other vampires, attending parties, meeting people, traveling. He had never met a human on their own terms, his meals had always been brought to him, and had always been pretty young woman with rare and delicious blood.
He smiled then, thinking of them.
The best bloodstock had always been reserved for the royal family.
He was very lucky.
Cid straightened then as he heard his father groan, glancing over at him once more. He knew his father was tired of this journey, though it had only been a few hours. His father spent a great deal of his time traveling. Politics took him all over the world.
‘How much longer is it father?’ Cid asked him.
His father blinked tiredly, he replied in a flat tone without looking at him.
‘Just another hour or so’ he mumbled, ‘then we can get off this dam craft’ he finished bitterly.
‘I rather like it’ Cid gleamed, ‘don’t you think it’s fun?’
His father did not respond, and his mother as she had been the entire journey, remained silent.
Cid repressed the urge to let out a sigh, gazing about him at the interior of their room. Everything was comfortable and spacious. No expense had been spared when building this craft, and it was the first method of transport his father used. There was everything here you could possibly need or want to travel in comfort. It was a warm environment, with a bar and games room and beautiful sleeping quarters with a stunning view, the window circled nearly half the room they shared, though it was separated with dividers, his parents slept in separate beds.
The area Cid and his parents sat in now was the place they spent most of their time when travelling. There was a kitchen just through one of the and always a servant or two nearby, these were vampire servants, though of course, a few chosen humans would always accompany then, to cater to their taste, and offer blood when needed.
Cid turned away, facing out of the window again towards the vast world beyond, his eyes glazed over as he saw all that was before him.
‘I think it’s really beautiful’ he whispered.
*
They touched down shortly after that, and for the first time were able to see their manor that was now their home.
‘It’s incredible’ Cid gasped in awe as his parents followed after.
He had run on ahead as soon as they had landed, eager to see their new place.
Cid stood gazing at it in wonder as a figure, an important official who had been waiting for their arrival, approached his father. They began to talk business, Cid wasn’t listening, he always found that stuff boring. There may have come a day when he would inherit his father’s legacy, and all his responsibilities if he were to die. The position would go to either Cid, or his twin, who took things far more seriously, Cid only lived to have fun.
Cid lingered where he stood, taking everything in. The manor had been built especially for them many years ago, but this was the first time Cid and his parents had ever come here. Everything was ready for them, all the furniture and comforts they could possibly need. The manor had been occupied by servants and other official figures for several weeks before their arrival, the fires in the kitchen burned brightly, and food was plentiful. Vampires still ate the same food as humans did, but they needed a vast amount of human blood to stay healthy. They could survive without blood for a few weeks, but it wouldn’t take long for them to begin to grow weak, until they eventually died.
Cid’s mother went on ahead, disappearing through the main door of the manor, not waiting for her husband, and ignoring the other figures that lined up waiting outside the building. These were several of the servants and officials, all vampires.
Cid lingered for a moment longer, speaking to one of the servants closest to him.
‘Which one is my room?’ he asked eagerly.
‘Your room is in the west wing’ the servant replied with a respectful bow, keeping his head low. ‘Your parents rooms are in the east wing.’
(roomS – plural – Cid’s parents do not sleep together)
Cid just stared back at the servant, shoulders hunched and fists balled, holding his hands to his mouth as he held his breath.
The servant smiled.
‘That tower’ he said turning to point towards the left side of the manor. ‘The biggest room on that side, just keep going up stairs until you find it.’
‘Thank you’ Cid gasped, running away towards the manor. ‘Thank you!’
His father gave him a disapproving glare as he ran away, but Cid didn’t look back.
He ran across the courtyard, and towards the symmetrical set of stairs that curved up to the front door of the manor. The building itself sat elevated above all else, looking down at the grounds it rested on.
Cid jogged up on of the stairs, the steps carved of stone, the two symmetrical stairs encircled a beautiful fountain which sat between them, surrounded by ornate benches made of a rare type of white-wood that grew naturally that colour, the metal holding it together a natural silver.
Cid stopped at the balcony above, leaning forwards against the wall and looking down wide-eyed at the fountain below. In its centre were two great swordfish, leaping out of the water dramatically, the water thrown up coming from a tiny hole at the top of the higher swordfish’s head.
Cid could feel the air damp around here, as cool drizzle fleck his face, it felt refreshing.
He stepped back then, straightening up. The moonlight shone faintly through the veil of clouds, giving everything a faint and eerie glow.
Cid turned then, running into the manor itself.
He was welcomed by several servants as he entered, turning slowly on the spot and gazing all around him at the ostentatious surrounding, he breathed a sigh of awe.
The manor was lit inside, but the lights were only faint, dimmed down as much as they could be, but the vampires could see clearly.
They were creatures of the night, but they could not see in the pitch black. They needed only a small amount of light to see their way, and they saw everything around them as clearly as humans did in the day. To a vampire, being awake and out in sunlight, was much like it was to a human. They could not see, and it hurt their eyes. When the sun came out everything would appear to them as a white blaze in their eyes, able to make out only silhouettes. But vampires did not burn up in the sunlight like the old stories told, nor did they sleep in coffins or fear garlic or crosses. These were fables, often told to vampire children when they were very young, even older vampires sometimes laughed and joked about it.
To Cid now, everything appeared clear and beautiful to him.
(If a vampire needed to be awake and outside during the day – during a conflict with humans for example like what happened during the war – they would often wear visors – a dark plastic sheet over their eyes that would darken everything they saw – almost like night-vison goggles to a human…almost)
‘Are you hungry my lord’ one of the servants, a female vampire asked him.
‘No’ Cid replied hastily, already making his way away, ‘I want to see my room…’
The servant smiled affectionately after him as he made his way away. The royal family had a lot of influence across the lands, and were very well known amongst the vampires. The vampires often held a lot of large parties and banquets, all for the purpose of meeting people, even lowly servants. It was very important for a vampire to know as many people as they possibly could, especially for the royal family. Cid and his family were well known and mostly liked. While some people hated his father (due to political reasons) they loved Cid and his two brothers.
Cid made his way quickly through the manor, his way lit by only the faintest of lights. He gazed all about him wide eyed at everything around, the corridor around, the view beyond the balconies, the rooms through the open doors. He climbed the stairs, heading towards the tower where his own room was, slowing to a stop as he reached it. He didn’t even pause as he reached for the door, opening it hastily and marching in.
He slowed as he reached the centre of the room, glancing first one way, then the other.
There was a great window, reaching from the ground and almost to the ceiling.
Cid approached slowly, moving to stand before it and staring outside.
There were forests before his window, on the other side of the manor faced the town that had been built nearby, but on this side of the home, there was only green, except…
Cid raised his head slightly, brow furrowed as he spotted something in the distance.
He stared at it, trying to figure out what it was.
There came a knock his door then, and Cid tore his eyes away.
‘Yes?’
The door opened, and a young male vampire entered, a servant.
‘I’m sorry to bother you’ the servant bowed respectfully. ‘I’ve been sent to see if there was anything you wanted.’
‘What is that on the edge of the trees?’ Cid asked, pointing towards the window.
The servant hesitated, stepping forwards and closer to Cid.
He stood by his side, looking outwards.
‘That’s the human farm’ the servant replied. ‘It’s a little closer to the manor than was originally intended.’
‘The human farm?’ Cid echoed, turning away. ‘Waw’ he gleamed, ‘I’ve never seen one up close before…’
‘My lord’ the servant spoke bowing again, and Cid turned to him. ‘The is one of the humans at the farm with a rare blood type.’ He paused then, keeping his head bowed in respect. ‘The human is to be given to you as a gift.’
‘My very own human?’ Cid cried happily, bringing his hands together excitedly. ‘I’ve never had my own human before….my own blood source.’ He let out a deep sigh, lowering his hands. ‘So when can I meet her?’
‘It’s a he’ the servant told him. ‘An old soldier from the war.’
‘A soldier?’ Cid blinked.
‘Yes’ the servant replied, ‘his blood is very good’ the servant replied, ‘that’s what the report said anyway.’
‘Oh I see’ Cid spoke thoughtfully. ‘Well I suppose it doesn’t matter what sex it is.’ He brought his hand to his lip then, licking his finger hungrily. ‘Is he here?’ Cid asked the servant. ‘Is he in the house?’
‘Not yet’ the servant replied. ‘He’s still at the farm. He is a fresh source. He’s just been registered only recently.’
Cid turned away again, looking through the window.
‘He’s there right now…’ Cid mumbled, speaking to himself. And then he grinned widely. ‘A fresh source’ he breathed. ‘My very own.’
‘Please be careful of him my lord’ the servant said to him. ‘He may be a little…. unpredictable.’
‘That’s alright’ Cid spoke with surety. ‘I not afraid of the humans.’
‘It would be wise not to underestimate them’ the servant warned him. Remember we fought a war against them, and they killed many of our kind.’
‘That was then’ Cid gleamed, turning back to the servant. ‘We own the humans now. They belong to us now…there is nothing to fear…’
‘As you say my lord’ he bowed. ‘The human will be here soon to visit you.’
‘What is his name?’ Cid asked.
‘MMON.’
‘Oh’ Cid breathed. ‘I look forward to seeing him.’
‘Very good my lord’ the servant bowed. ‘He will be prepared for you and brought to your room shortly.’
‘Ok’ Cid gasped, becoming excited now. ‘I look forward to it.’
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