Then, Konstantin smiled at him. Mathias didn’t like it, but he didn’t have time to think about it. A pair of piercing grey eyes blocked his view of Konstantin.
“Your Highness, it is a pleasure to know that you are with us once again. I would like to introduce myself. I am Nicolai Antonyevich Karsavin.”
Mathias watched the man turn and motion for his wife and son to step forward. Konstantin and his mother looked most alike, while his father wasn’t dark complected; it was clearly his mother from which Konstantin inherited his extremely pale looks. “This is my wife, Antonia. And Konstantin has told us so much about you.”
Mathias smiled. “I’ll bet.”
He wanted to yell at the hall of vampires that he was just a kid with a goofy name, but the next family in line appeared all too quickly.
“I am Prince Ashoka from the Ramayana clan.” The Indian vampire said. He was dressed in what looked to Mathias like an old nightdress that men used to wear a long time ago. But it was white covered in gold decorations.
Mathias smiled yet again and filed the information away for future use. He never knew that there were Indian vampires before.
The man motioned to his family. “This is my wife, Rana, and my son, Viraj.” Rana wore a turquoise blue sari and Viraj wore an outfit very similar to his father’s. All three had large dark eyes and straight black hair.
Mathias was taken aback when Viraj walked out in front of his parents and bowed. The other kids had stayed with their parents in a group. This kid was the only one who stepped out on his own.
“It is my pleasure to meet you,” Viraj said.
* * * * *
Before Mathias knew it, the collective of vampires had all passed before him. His mind swam in a daze. There were so many of them that after a while, it seemed like all of the vampires said the same things and looked the same. His head was filled with a “vampire soup”. There was no chance he’d remember much of anything, except that there were vampires from all over the world. He guessed that this was all so that he’d have the chance to "greet his subjects”. Lots of fun there. If they would just realize that he wasn’t that moldy king, everything would be okay.
He wandered around the room, looking for anyone he remotely knew, but they all seemed to have disappeared. Finally, he spied Tepes standing near a table of refreshments, talking to Nosferatu.
“Thanks for leaving me alone to face the mob.” Mathias snatched a few pieces of chocolate and plunked them down on an abandoned plate. Vlad could have stayed with him and guided him on what he was supposed to be doing instead of standing there like an idiot.
Tepes looked down at the boy, winked at him, and then smiled. “Why Mathias, so good of you to join us.”
Nosferatu snickered and poked Vlad in the shoulder.
“I thought you said that they just wanted to meet me.” Mathias growled under his breath.
“And they did.” Vlad said, trying to hold back the grin that was tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Yeah, but you forgot to tell them that I’m me, not some corpse wrapped around a rose bush.”
“Semantics, I assure you Mathias.” Nosferatu said as he loaded Mathias’ plate down with a variety of treats. “Besides, if Vlad here had told you what they really thought, what would you have done?”
Mathias glared. “I would have told him he could shove his soiree up his ass.”
“And that, Mathias, is why I did not tell you,” Tepes said, placing his hand on the boy’s shoulder.
Mathias rolled his eyes. “Well, maybe some of these people should hear ugly things once in a while.”
“And you think we know nothing of ugly things?” Tepes asked.
“I don’t care what you think. I really don’t. I don’t give a shit.”
Nossy smiled. “We know that’s one hell of a lie.”
* * * * *
Later that night, Mathias sat on his bed, expensive clothing strewn to various corners of the room. The whole night was a disaster. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but Mathias never liked being the center of attention. It just wasn’t safe.
For the months that he’d already been there, he was relatively sure that Nosferatu was safe, Tepes was questionable, and the others...well he hadn’t been around them enough to tell. It was hard. The last time he’d truly felt safe had been when his parents were still alive. Everything after that had been hell.
He just wished things would be simple. But that didn’t appear to be happening. The irritation and frustration he now felt was making him bitter. If things didn’t improve, he was destined to be an old crotchety vampire. He would end up like Tepes, alone, without anyone to call family. And maybe he’d be lucky enough to have some crazy friends around, but those friends wouldn’t be enough. They’d never be enough to kill the ache in his chest.
And then, he remembered something. In all the books he’d ever read, once vampires were made, they never aged. He couldn’t be stuck like this could he?
Mathias jumped up from his bed and slammed open the door to his room. He heard several crashes and a resounding thud. After a moment, Vlad opened the door to his bedchamber. “Mathias, is anything wrong?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mathias asked.
Vlad scratched at his head. “Tell you what?”
“That I’m stuck like this for the rest of my life!” Could he be more dense?
Vlad was completely confused now. “Stuck like what? I’m not sure I follow.”
Mathias motioned his hands over his body. “Like this! Why didn’t you tell me I’d be fifteen for the rest of my life?”
Vlad motioned for Mathias to come forward and placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “How many times have I told you that you must look at the things you’ve read as nothing but books for entertainment? I never told you such a thing because you will age, but only to a certain point. Our aging stops when our bodies are at their prime. This is usually between twenty and twenty-five mortal years.”
Mathias took a deep breath.
“The next time you get an idea in your head, how about asking instead of working yourself up into a fit?” Vlad turned him toward his own bedroom door. “Now, get back to bed. You have a busy day tomorrow.”
Mathias started to turn his head, but Vlad pushed him forward.
“No, I will not tell you about tomorrow. It is a surprise, and one I think you will like. Now, get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Mathias slunk back into his room, closing his door behind him. He thought there was no way he could go to sleep now— not with the promise of the unknown. He was much more tired than he thought, and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
* * * * *
The next day, after breakfast, Mathias was led by Tepes through the school for his “surprise”. He had to follow closely behind the elder vampire because he was moving so quickly that Mathias could barely keep up.
“Where are we going?” Mathias asked.
Tepes paused. “Right now, we are going to the main hall. The students have been directed to be there this morning for a short message from me. I thought you would like to get out of the rooms.”
“Am I going to be going to school with the rest of them soon?”
“No, Mathias. I honestly don’t think you would be good in a classroom. Besides, you are smart enough that you are picking things up quickly. I think you will do just fine with the tutoring.”
“I don’t want to be a burden.” Mathias felt like Vlad wanted to turn him into something he wasn’t.
“You are family to me. I have no plans to put you anywhere. You may stay with me as long as you like.”
Mathias followed the rest of the way in silence. But his head wasn’t silent. He couldn’t help but think that he would never have a chance to relax again. Every time he tried to pause, something new happened and took his brain for a turn. Nothing was simple here. Everyone had an agenda; he just hadn’t figured them all out yet.
Finally, Tepes wa
lked into a large room that was complete with a podium and rows upon rows of pews.
At first, Mathias thought it could have been a church, but the feeling of the place wasn’t religious. It felt empty. There was nothing on the walls, just the same stone that was in the rest of the castle. The light came from sky lights allowing the natural sunlight to fill the hall. He supposed it was sort of pretty in an odd way, but it just wasn’t what he expected.
Tepes positioned himself behind the podium. Mathias stood off to the side, not sure of what he was supposed to do.
Tepes cleared his throat and the hall fell silent. Mathias was amazed at the number of vampire children sitting in the hall.
“May I have your attention please,” Tepes announced.
Mathias felt entirely exposed. The entire hall was staring at him, again. He really hoped that the staring and silence would stop. It made him feel like someone was standing over him with a magnifying glass, trying to burn him like an ant.
“As of last night, some of you know what has happened. For the rest of you, I will say it once and once only. Yes, Mathias is a student at this school.”
Mathias watched Tepes look around the room. It was like the other kids were in his thrall.
“You can thank him for the rest of the week. There will be no more classes until the full moon,” Tepes said.
As one, the children stared at Mathias and yelled their appreciation. Part of him wanted to pound Tepes for making him so noticeable, and the other part of him wondered if he should run. Everything here was too choreographed. He kept expecting them to salute him.
“Dismissed.” Tepes said loudly. The children ran out of the hall in a wave.
“I’m really fucking scared.”
“Why is that, Mathias?”
“What are they, the vampire Hitler Youth?”
Tepes froze. “Father forbid! No, they are just children schooled in the way you act at this school. Order is a sign of respect here. Nothing more.”
“They look brainwashed to me.”
“They are not.” A new voice said.
Mathias turned around.
Tepes took a deep breath and turned to Mathias. “Mathias, this... is Lestan.”
Mathias just stood there. Standing in front of him was the man who was partly responsible for his namesake’s death. His hair was the color of a lion’s mane, completely golden. Even his eyes were cat-like, almond shaped and emerald green. But that did not make him ugly, just different.
Why Tepes allowed him into his castle knowing how things had gone down Mathias would never know. He was torn between clawing the man’s eyes out and retaining the composure that was expected of him. He felt the blood rush to his head. It didn’t just make him dizzy, it made him feel like he wanted to puke. Hopefully, the puking would be done all over Lestan’s polished leather shoes. Vlad raised his hand; Mathias’ stomach seemed to move up into his throat and everything went black.
Chapter Ten
“You know, I had no idea he would react like that,” Lestan said.
Vlad poured Lestan a bit of scotch in a snifter glass. He’d hoped that Lestan’s appearance would bring Mathias into himself. Evidently, he would have to try something else. “You need to remember, Mathias has had a rough time. And... Nossy allowed him to read his memoirs.”
Lestan nodded. “There have been so many times over the years that I wished that I could retract my actions that night.”
Vlad rubbed his temples with his fingertips. The stress was getting to him. “And how is Lilith taking it?”
Lestan sighed. “Like she handles everything, with complete and utter avoidance.”
* * * * *
The wetness of the floor pooled around his head and made his hair damp. He could feel the water. Like always, the smell of mold and centuries past assaulted his sinuses. And her, he could smell her. Only she smelled like roses and a musk that could never be described. Cautiously, he opened his eyes, frightened that she might be there.
He blinked away the grime and allowed his eyes to adjust to the dim light. The blobs of color came into slight focus. He turned his head slightly, he was thankful, she wasn’t there.
* * * * *
Mathias sat up in bed with a start.
“What the hell was that?”
The dream was just too real. He could still feel the dampness of the place through his pajamas. He looked around the room for a moment. He was in his room, in bed. Tepes or someone must have put him there. Things kept changing, and it was driving him crazy.
At least everything in his room always looked the same. That was a comfort. It had been a long time since he’d had a dream that shook him up that badly. It was too in-your-face, too visual. And somehow, they kept putting him out. He didn't like that too much. It wasn’t a safe situation, them being that much stronger.
He could play tough all he wanted, but the truth was, he was scared. Hopefully, nothing else would happen that night. And for the rest of the night, nothing did.
* * * * *
The Queen wandered around her chamber. The walls were covered in cream colored plaster. On that plaster, designs made from gold were painted around the room. The furniture was pink velvet with gold accents. The Queen was pacing across her fine wooden parquet floor.
She sat down at her desk and sighed. She threw her dark hair over her shoulder.
“What to do...What to do.”
She opened a desk drawer and took out a piece of parchment and began to take notes. She scratched at her head with a fingernail, the nail scratching so hard that her scalp began to bleed. The nail left her head and promptly went into her mouth. She smiled, licking the blood from her nail.
“I will not allow him to ruin everything I have gained over the years. I must think of a plan. Nosferatu cannot be trusted; he always liked him too much. Maybe the answer is with the Order.”
* * * * *
The next morning, Mathias woke with his arms wrapped around his wings. After he sat up, he stretched, trying to work the kinks out of his back and his arms. There had been no more dreams, thank God, but something left him feeling uneasy.
“Mathias!” Tepes said from the other room.
“Yeah?”
“Get dressed. We have some unfinished business to attend to.”
Mathias clumsily got out of bed. His muscles were stiff from being squashed into an unfamiliar position.
“Coming!” Mathias put on his shoes and opened the door to Tepes’ living room. Tepes was seated in his usual chair, seated on the sofa was Lestan, his namesake’s enemy.
“Hello, Mathias.” Lestan said.
This time, Mathias kept himself in control and watched Vlad’s every move; making sure that the elder vampire didn’t knock him out again. His anger kept him cautious and energized. “First of all, I am tired of you guys knocking my ass out every time you think I’m unmanageable. You want me to trust you? Start by stopping that bullshit. And what is he doing here?”
“I simply wanted to meet you, to see if the rumors are true.” Lestan said.
Mathias glared. “What rumors? Would these be the rumors that have me pegged as the man you helped murder?”
“Mathias!” Tepes leapt from his chair and placed his hand on Mathias’ shoulder. “How dare you be rude to our guest.”
“Your guest, you mean. I don’t think the real Mathias would view him as a guest, a bastard maybe. He’s no guest of mine.” Mathias stormed out of the room, slamming the door to his bedroom behind him.
* * * * *
“So he still doesn’t know?” Lestan asked Tepes with a sad look.
Tepes shook his head. He couldn’t figure it out. Lestan showing up should have brought the memories to the surface, but the boy seemed only angry. It wasn’t enough. But, maybe there was something more there. Mathias hadn’t been that hostile to anyone else at the school, so perhaps, his plan was working. “No, but something tells me it won’t be long before he does.”
* * * * *
&nbs
p; Later that day, Mathias sat at the table in his room, trying to figure out why Tepes bothered to allow Lestan to see him. What Tepes had to gain from putting him in contact with Lestan, he’d never know. And perhaps, what bothered Mathias most was that Tepes seemed virtually chummy with the man.
Finally, Mathias had had enough. He got up from the chair and stormed out of his room. Lestan and Tepes were sitting at the table, calmly sharing lunch.
“Care to join us, Mathias?” Tepes asked.
Mathias watched as Lestan turned to look at him.
“Mathias, will it make you feel better to know that I consider myself a coward? Believe it or not, I am not proud of what I’ve done.” Lestan said.
Mathias glared at the man and took a seat next to Tepes.
Tepes quietly served Mathias, giving him a plate of roast pork and a variety of vegetables.
Lunch was uneventful. It helped that no one said anything. Tepes looked over at Mathias. He was eating in a rather determined fashion.
Suddenly, Lestan stood from the table. “I thank you, Mathias, for allowing me to share this meal with you.” He paused. His lips began to quiver. “I...I’m sorry.” And in a flash, he was gone.
“What’s his malfunction?” Mathias asked.
“One day, you’ll understand. But for now, suffice it to say that he is hard on himself. He punishes himself for the events of the past.”
Mathias nodded. There was a part of him that wished he could feel sorry for Lestan, but when he thought of Lestan’s betrayal of his namesake, he felt sick. “Why are you even friends with him?”
Tepes sighed. He looked like he had been waiting for that question to be asked. “Our existence can be a lonely one. You have yet to feel the weight of the centuries on your shoulders... I am kind to him because he is not so different from myself. I cannot live for millennia without some form of regret.”
Mathias paused, thinking. “Would he have approved?”
“He who?”
“Mathias.”
Tepes laughed. “Truthfully?”
Mathias nodded.