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[THIS IS A PREVIEW - THE PUBLISHED BOOK CAN BE FOUND ON AMAZON, WWW.NUMENVERSE.COM, AND OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS]

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| Elvin |

Birds flew overhead as the sound of the city buzzed in the distance. Elvin made his way towards Alucard's house with a bright smile; he was excited to see what the vampire had called him there for.

The echo of a horse-drawn carriage crept up behind him—

"AH!" he yelled in fear, stepping aside just in time to avoid the brown mare and the carriage she was pulling.

He recognized the horse, the carriage, and the brown-haired groundskeeper driving it. Why was Sergiu out here?

The bard hurried into the manor gardens and watched Sergiu climb down from the carriage. He saw him pull the door open, and Ben stepped out. Of course he'd been invited to the meeting too.

Elvin pouted and walked towards the door.

"Hey, we almost hit you in the road," Ben called with an amused expression as he made his way over.

Elvin stopped walking and glared at him. "I noticed."

Stopping in front of him, Ben frowned. "You all right?" he asked, laughing.

"He invited you?" Elvin asked, eyeing Ben strangely.

"Yeah, said he wanted me here."

"Hmm...you're new, so I guess he needs to get you up to speed on things."

"Seems to be the case," Ben agreed as he followed Elvin to the manor door.

"Well, don't get too comfortable around him; he's not your friend," he warned as he pulled the gold key from his pocket. He unlocked the door and stepped inside, and as he slipped his key back into his pocket, he leaned against the door frame. "You gotta wait for him to come invite you in."

"Yeah, I'm not new to vampirism," Ben muttered. Then, he frowned through his irritancy. "Who exactly are you to him?"

"I so happen to be his best friend," he said smugly.

"Sure seems that way—I mean, you have a key to his house, huh? And the hair?" Ben asked, fiddling with his own hair. "You copy him, or he copy you?"

The bard scoffed. "I didn't copy anyone; it's a sign of respect—to adopt one's appearance."

"If...that's what you want to call it." Then, he frowned curiously. "You seem to show a lot of interest in what he does. Do you...like him, maybe?" he suggested.

Looking at him, Elvin frowned—but then he laughed. "Oh, you mean, do I like him? Well...it would be pointless to like him, to be honest. He's had no interest in anyone in a romantic way for as long as I've known him, and even before that. He's never been with anyone, as far as I can tell. Not just that, but a man liking another man? Here? In Aegisguard? We might have ghosts and fairies, but same-sex relationships are one of the most frowned-upon things you might happen across. I wrote an article about it one time at school."

"Oh?"

"It apparently goes against the law of creation—one should love to create a family; it's in the Book of Lore, the same one that says Aleksei is evil incarnate," Elvin said with a shrug.

"Book of Lore?"

"The...it's...it tells the story of how the world came to be; it covers the dragon and Numen Religions. But people take that stuff way too seriously."

"Do you?"

Elvin shrugged again. "Can't say I care."

"And does Aleksei?"

"I don't know. Aleksei is just...Aleksei," he mumbled sadly.

"You never know." Ben laughed. "Maybe he'll find himself a nice vampire girl one day."

"I don't see it. He works too much to have time, even if he was the dating type. He always works."

"Be glad zhat I do," Alucard mumbled, making his way down the stairs behind Elvin, who flinched in shock and spun around to face him.

The vampire—dressed in his usual black shirt and blazer—set his shimmering blue eyes on Ben. "You can come in."

Entering the house, Ben followed Elvin and Alucard into the lounge.

"How was last night?" Elvin asked excitedly, sitting in the armchair.

Slouching on the couch, the vampire sighed quietly. "Annoying."

Ben sat on the other side of the couch.

"Are you and the demon friends yet?" the bard asked, flipping through his book, searching for a blank page.

"No," Alucard snarled. "And ve never vill be."

Elvin frowned doubtfully. "You told me you like arguing with him; that's gotta mean something."

"I argue vith every member of zhe council, but are zhey my vriends?"

"No, but you don't like arguing with them—"

"Vhat are you trying to prove, Elvin?"

The bard shrugged and lowered his pencil. "That you do have friends, and you just can't see it."

"I zon't, von't, and can't."

Elvin frowned strangely. "Why?"

"Vhere is everyvone else?" Alucard grumbled, looking around.

"I saw the captain guy on his way here when your groundskeeper picked me up," Ben said.

Alucard sighed and stood up. "Ve'll move to zhe bigger voom." He left the lounge and led the way through the wide archway behind the couch as Elvin and Ben followed.

The vampire took them through to a much larger living space. The back wall was lined with tall, arched windows, and long black curtains hung beside them, decorated with thin, wavy gold patterns. In the centre of the room was a rectangular table with white and black chinaware on the red tablecloth, and gold candlesticks sat at either end. A large mirror sat opposite the window wall, and several framed paintings covered the rest of the walls.

There was one painting which stood out among the others: a family portrait of Alucard dressed in an evening suit beside a middle-aged woman in a red dress. Her waist-length, curly hair was dirty-blonde, and her eyes were a deep, honey-gold. In front of them were two young green-eyed boys, both with the same hair as their mother. Elvin knew that they were Vanessa and her sons, the family Alucard lived with a long time ago.

He and Ben followed Alucard through a doorway and into another lounge. The room was much larger than the lounge they came from, and the gardens were visible through the arched windows. A door to the outside sat on the left wall between the windows, and the patio outside possessed a single bench and a few birdfeeders.

The centre of the room had several white couches organized to form an oval. A large open fireplace was on the wall ahead of them with several books on the mantlepiece. The walls were also black and panelled, but black curtains hung along the walls, concealing something behind them that Elvin had never seen.

Alucard sat on one of the couches and leaned his elbow on the arm of the chair as he stared vacantly into the empty fireplace.

"Who else are we waiting for?" Elvin asked as he sat beside the vampire.

Tapping the side of his face rhythmically with his clawed fingers, Alucard set his eyes on the bard. "Vodney, Dirk, and Tobias."

Ben sat across from them. "What about Felix? Isn't he in charge at the castle?"

"Is daylight," Alucard said. "Velix vould combust into vlames and die."

"But...he said that you turned him. Didn't you say people you turn can walk in the sun?"

"I did say zhat, da. But I did not turn Velix."

Ben looked confused.

"Felix is weird anyway," Elvin said. "He always wants to be noticed."

Alucard sighed irritably and rolled his eyes. "Zhey all do."

"So...you didn't kill Felix's parents and turn him?" Ben asked.

"Vhat?" Alucard asked with a slight laugh. "Who told you zhat?"

"Felix. The night you had me call Zalith for you; after you left, he told me you killed his parents and turned him as some sort of apology," he revealed.

"I zidn't kill 'is parents, 'e did."

Still confused, Ben frowned harder.

Elvin said, "Aleksei found Felix a long time ago in Dor-Sanguis. He was just getting a lay of the land when he found weird Felix in his weird house."

Alucard scowled. "Do you—"

"Shush!" Elvin insisted, silencing Alucard. "I'm telling this one. Ahem...Felix shot his dad, who shot his mom, and he was about to shoot himself, but Alucard stopped him."

Ben stared for a moment but then shook his head. "Can I ask why so many people got shot?"

"Family drama," Elvin mumbled. "Husband thinks the wife's cheating and kills her; then you got the disturbed kid who takes justice into his own hands—that being Felix. This thing happens a lot. We humans can be kinda dumb."

"Kind of is an understatement," Alucard mumbled.

Elvin continued, "Aleksei smelled the blood, and he got there before Felix could kill himself. Aleksei took him to his castle, intending to find him a place to stay, but when he got back, the guy he left in charge pretty much ate him. Aleksei told the vampire to turn Felix to save him, so he did, and the guy that almost killed Felix was gone the next morning; can't keep people you can't trust around," he said sternly.

"Trust is important, man," came Tobias' voice.

They all set their eyes on the tall, rugged man standing in the doorway. His shirt and jeans were muddy and torn, as was his brown leather jacket. The only thing clean about him were his boots which he had obviously cleaned with his sleeve before entering the house. He smiled at Alucard, and surprisingly, his teeth were as white as the room's couches.

"Aleksei, I was surprised to hear you needed me again so soon," he called, making his way over. "This about the wolf stuff? If so, I haven't found—"

"ZON'T...touch anyving," the vampire warned sternly, pointing at the man before he could lay his dirty hands on the couch.

He held up his hands and smirked. "Sorry."

Alucard looked over at Ben. "Zhis is Tobias; Tobias, zhis is Ben."

Tobias held out his hand towards Ben. "New guy, huh?" he asked as Ben hesitantly shook his dirty hand.

"Yeah..." Ben said, evidently unsure what to do with his now dirty hand, which he stared at in discontent.

Rubbing his temple, Alucard glanced at Elvin. "Go and get 'im someving."

The bard jumped to his feet and hurried past Tobias, who remained standing, waiting until he was told to sit. Elvin grabbed a towel from the small bar by the window and then handed it to him.

"What's going on?" Tobias asked, looking at Alucard.

"I'll tell you vhen everyvone else is 'ere," Alucard mumbled.

Cleaning his hands, Tobias frowned. "Who else is coming?"

"All of us," Elvin said.

"Turn," Alucard instructed, pointing at Tobias. The man did as he asked, and when he saw that there wasn't any dirt on him, the vampire said, "Sit."

With a satisfied sigh, Tobias slumped down. "So, what's been happening in the world of vampires lately?"

"We're all pretty much aware of that," called Dirk, the city council member with the smartly-combed blonde hair. He walked over and sat on the only unoccupied couch.

"Yeah, the whole treaty thing," Tobias said. "That working out?"

"The city's gonna be open to vampires at the end of this month, right?" Elvin said, looking to Alucard for confirmation.

The vampire nodded. "Are zhe ozzers still whining like children?" he asked, looking at Dirk.

"Whine is all they do, Aleksei."

Just then, Rodney walked in. Elvin stared at him, noticing a tired look in his green eyes, and his hair was scruffier than usual. Then, he watched Dirk sit up straight and admire himself in the window's reflection. He knew Dirk tried hard to be the most elegant of them all, but Elvin thought he was an idiot.

Tobias then looked at Elvin and Alucard and smirked. "You let your hair grow out again, man. You and Elvin look like twins."

Elvin laughed nervously as the vampire rolled his eyes.

"Might I ask why we're here?" Dirk requested. "You never call us together unless something has happened—or will be happening."

Alucard lazily gestured his hand towards Dirk. "Ben, zhis is Dirk, my 'uman invormant. Zhat is Tobias, my verevolf informant," he mumbled, nodding at Tobias, who waved with a smirk on his scruffy face. "You know Elvin alveady."

"Hi!" Elvin waved.

Ben nodded in greeting. "What roles do they play, and...why?"

"I have been acting as a spokesman for both Aleksei and the people of this land," Dirk explained. "I would have been opposed to the idea of vampires cohabiting with humans if it weren't for my life being saved by Aleksei. I do what I can to assist him. My people are stubborn and not very open to ideas such as these, especially since vampires and humans have been enemies for a long time. But we managed to form a deal, and it has worked out so far."

Tobias then held up his hand. "Not so successful over here," he said shamefully. "Aleksei's been trying to ally with the werewolves for as long as I can remember, but they ain't interested."

"You are, clearly," Ben said.

"Well, same as Dirk. Aleksei saved my life, and come on, you gotta love the guy." Tobias laughed, looking at Alucard, who rolled his eyes. "Look at all this shit he does for everyone. I'd rather have peace than sit by and watch vampires and werewolves tear one another apart for the rest of my life."

"Tobias brings me invormation regarding any verevolf movements or plans," Alucard said. Tobias hardly ever gave a straightforward answer.

Ben asked Tobias, "Are you the only werewolf on Aleksei's side?"

"There's a whole pack of us—well, we're a secret pack. Can't let the others know we're on the side of the vampires, or what use would I be as an informant?"

"Zhe only invormant I zon't 'ave is vone in zhe Diabolus, and zhat is zhe veason vor zhis meeting," Alucard announced.

Everyone gawped at him.

The Diabolus: that name carried a deep, dreadful fear with it and sent a shiver down Elvin's spine. "Diabolus?" he breathed. "They...they're not here, are they?"

"Vodney discovered vone," Alucard said.

They all looked at Rodney.

"He was just a kid. He played as a street urchin, looking for work," Rodney mumbled.

"I killed 'im," Alucard said. "Vould appear zhat eizer zhe Diabolus know zhat I am 'ere and sent zhe boy to look vor me, or zhey are just vollowing rumours. I'm sure vord of my alliances 'ere 'as spread."

Dirk nodded. "Word of a vampire forging relations with humans; of course, they'd investigate that."

"Which is more likely?" Tobias asked. "If they know you're here, wouldn't they have sent more than one boy?"

Elvin said, "That's true. Last time, they sent armies."

Ben shook his head. "Sorry, but...who are the Diabolus?"

"Sorry, but who are you?" Dirk asked rudely, eyeing Ben strangely.

"Ben is vrom anozzer vorld. 'E 'as taken over my supply runs, but since zhis 'as 'appened, 'e might also be taking over Velix's duties, considering as Ben can valk in zhe daylight. If zhis is zhe Diabolus, I need vampires zhat can valk in zhe sun; zhey vill not be expecting zhat."

"He's been here like a week," Elvin muttered. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Alucard replied, "Ben 'as no idea who zhe Diabolus are, so zhere is no chance 'e could be conspiring."

"Valid point," Rodney agreed.

Looking at Alucard, Ben nodded. "Whatever you need me to do, just tell me."

Then, Alucard sighed. "As for who zhe Diabolus are..." he said, looking over at Elvin.

The bard asked, "From the beginning?"

Alucard nodded.

Elvin loved telling stories. He explained to everyone that Alucard's insane father, Lucifer, created him to gain access to the living world—a creature born of his blood and from a woman in Aegisguard should have worked—but when it failed, Lucifer sent his cult to kill Alucard and take back the power it took to create him. Damien kept the vampire hidden, though, and that was why Alucard worked so tirelessly for him.

He then went on to explain that after the Diabolus killed Vanessa and her sons, Alucard started hunting them. It went on for years, and Alucard soon decided to settle somewhere and make a life for himself.

Ben interrupted him there, though. "Why did you choose to come back here? Won't the Diabolus know where to look?"

"The Diabolus know Aleksei hates humans. It's the last place they'd look—and it's too obvious too, so, hiding in plain sight too, huh?" Elvin smirked, looking at Alucard.

"I've been moving avound vor so long zhat zhe Diabolus don't expect me to stop and stay somevhere vor longer zhan a vew days. I 'ave been 'ere just over six months, and zhey 'aven't vound me—until yesterday vhen ve discovered zheir agent."

Dirk frowned. "And you killed their agent; isn't that going to tell them that you're here?"

"The world's a dangerous place," Rodney said. "There's no way they could know if he even made it here in the first place."

"Coulda got had by wolves," Tobias said, grinning.

Alucard sighed. "Da, zhat's possible. But ve must be vigilant."

"What do you need us to do?" Dirk asked.

"I need you to tell your people to keep an eye out vor people asking vor me."

Dirk nodded. "I'll tell them when I get back."

The vampire said to Tobias, "I need your pack to vatch zhe borders; tell me if you see anyvone suspicious."

"Sure thing," Tobias said.

"Ben, you'll vork vith Velix. 'E leads zhe nightguard vhilst I sleep, but now, I vill need a day guard. You vill lead it zhat. Talk to Velix; 'e vill 'elp you organize—but tell 'im I told 'im to; 'e's precarious."

"And my current job?" Ben asked.

"You can still run zhat—unless you'd vather not."

"I can do both."

"Vorm a group of vampires who can valk in zhe sun, vhether is vampires vrom your vorld or zhis vone. Just make sure zhey can do zhe job."

"Understood," Ben said.

Elvin then shook his head in worry. "What do we do if they come?"

"I von't leave unless Luciver comes, vhich 'e vill if zhe Diabolus vind me. Ve 'ave to make sure zhat zoesn't 'appen. If more come, ve vill kill zhem and make zheir deaths look like any ozzer. Zhis city is 'ome to all manner of vings; zhere are many vays vor somevone to accidentally die," Alucard said with a smirk. "I'll get my vampires avound zhe vorld to kill agents to avoid suspicion, too."

"Deaths on the streets aren't going to sit well with the people, Aleksei," Dirk said with a frown.

"I never said zhey vould be dying on zhe streets," Alucard snarled.

The man held up his hands. "Right, sorry."

"Zhe last time I ran vrom zhese people, zhey inviltrated my organization. Zhis time, vhat I've built is much larger, so zhere is more opportunity vor zhem to 'ave vorked zheir vay in. Dirk, question all of your people; you know 'ow to spot a Diabolus, vight?"

"Of course."

"You, too, Tobias," Alucard said.

"Gotcha, man," Tobias confirmed.

"You zon't know 'ow to spot vone," the vampire said, looking at Ben. "'Elp Velix question zhe people vorking at zhe castle. Be discrete and zon't give it avay zhat ve know zhe Diabolus 'ave made an appearance. Understand?" he asked, looking around at them all.

They all nodded.

"What can I do?" Elvin asked eagerly.

"Noving."

The bard pouted and crossed his arms. "Why can't you put me in charge of something?"

Ignoring him, Alucard sighed and looked at Dirk. "Zhe tventy-vifth, vight? Zhe treaty."

Dirk nodded.

Elvin scowled irritably. He hated when Alucard ignored him like this, but he knew better than to interject.

The vampire announced, "Zhat's all. You can go."

On his word, everyone but Elvin left.

As soon as they were gone, Elvin jumped to his feet. "Are we safe here?"

Alucard rolled his eyes. "Ve are vine, Elvin. Zhe day zhe Diabolus send armies marching over zhe 'ills is vhen ve should run."

"I hope we don't have to leave; I like it here."

"As do I."

"What do we do now?"

Alucard moved his hand to the back of his neck and started fiddling with his hair.

"Aleksei?" Elvin asked impatiently.

"Vhat?" he grumbled, lowering his hand from his head.

"What do we do now? I knew they wouldn't leave us alone for long."

"Ve vill be vine, Elvin. Zon't vorry."

"Don't worry? Aleksei, these people want to kill you!"

"Who zoesn't vant to kill me?" he exclaimed. "I vink I've grown accustomed to zhe vact zhat somevone vill alvays vant to stick a stake in my back."

"Yeah, but...I worry about you," he mumbled shyly.

"I've told you bevore, I'll be vine, and so vill you if you stop panicking all zhe time," he grumbled.

Elvin glared at the vampire. He wasn't going to press and risk making him mad. He didn't want to ruin the time he got to spend with him today. But he couldn't stop worrying. What if the Diabolus came, and everything Alucard worked for was destroyed?

ー ⊰ ✟ ⊱ ー

[THIS IS A PREVIEW - THE PUBLISHED BOOK CAN BE FOUND ON AMAZON, WWW.NUMENVERSE.COM, AND OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS]

[You can also read the published book via the $2 subscription tier on my Inkitt profile, T_Csernis]

ー ⊰ ✟ ⊱ ー

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