~ The thirteen seats have ruled to join the Wizarding war. An alliance between the Dark Lord and the Covenant has been established. The Dark Lord has allied with the every manner of creature, victory shall be ours. We demand our birthright. We shall be subservient no longer. ~

Engraved with jet black ink on the blood red paper, these words brought horror to my face...

"A declaration of war..."

Precisely, it was a declaration of war against the wizards. The covenant had allied with the Dark Lord? I knew nothing of this. Which covenant? Who were the thirteen seats?

Such questions plagued my mind, the moment I read those words, my heart remained restless.

The world as I knew it was shifting....However, one man was at the center of it.

Nosferat... why did he receive this letter? I scoured the words for any hints, but nothing was conclusive. However, it was clearly directed to him. The moment he read it, I could feel his anger boiling through the roof.

Was this a letter from the vampires? Perhaps it was possible. It wasn't exactly an invitation, but an outright demand. They demanded a birth right from Nosferat.... some sort of compensation? I did not know.

But I could extrapolate that "we shall be subservient no longer" was a rebellion... against his authority..

I had read through many books on their societies. A social hierarchy based on blood purity, and atop those stood the "old one's". The first ever recorded vampires in the world. Nosferat was one of them, but I knew no others. They were shrouded in mystery, their names erased from history.

Taking one final look on the letter, I jolted to my feet and rushed towards the guest house. "If the vampires had really declared war on the wizards".... Ivan needed to know.

Stumbling through the door I was stopped in my tracks by a bloody mist as it protruded through the walls. Ephyl stood across the hallway, denying any exit.

"I am afraid I cannot allow you to leave at this time, Young Master." He spoke solemnly, brushing aside every door with red fog, as he stood staunchly awaiting my response.

My hands traced back to my right pocket, where I had stuffed my wand, faintly gripping its length.

"Step aside, I have no time for your concerns." I barked.

Doubt creeped into my mind, I didn't know if betrayal had struck this early, but I was prepared to give it my all if need be.

"Your attempts to inform your tutor are unnecessary. He has already fled the castle unnoticed. I assure you, this is simply for your own saf-"

Before he could finish his words, in a flash a bright aura shot enveloped me from my wand. Encasing me in a faint blanket of magic.

My thoughts were in disarray, I wasn't sure who to trust right now, and going along his words was a risky choice from my perspective.

Multiple figures appeared ahead, all taking his form. Phantoms or perhaps clones, a troublesome technique.

"Young Master, please refrain from rash actions. I merely spoke the truth. It seems your teacher was aware of this information beforehand." the voices resonated.

His words caused me to halt, it did seem plausible. But more importantly, Ephyl was entirely unaffected by my preemptive strike. Seeing as I could not win, and held no advantage. He had no reason to lie to me.

Lowering my wand from an alert stance, I remained standing near the exit.

Ephyl saw me accepting reason, and soon the apparitions disappeared.

"You need not worry, everything shall be clear soon." He spoke and waved his arm towards a set of doors, as they creeped open, leading me down a familiar path to the study.

Treading towards the study hall, I could make out two voices arguing. It was quite heated as I could hear them through closed doors.

Ephyl ushered me towards the main door, and gave a few knocks. At his gesture, the argument inside came to an abrupt halt, and two faint quick steps shuttled towards the door, slightly opening it, and I took a glimpse inside.

There stood Nosferat, in the corner. Muttering away as he clutched a small goblet filled with wine. Clearly enraged due to this incident. I was clueless as to their quarrel earlier. But the atmosphere spoke for itself.

Murky, heavy and claustrophobic, in this huge mansion, I've never felt this trapped. Unable to heave a breath without struggling.

Sophie's gaze settled on me, and I could see a strange fervor in her eyes. At the depth of her self, whatever the dispute was, had induced a peculiar "anger".

"Zack...please come inside." She gave way from the door, her voice distraught.

I cautiously stepped in, and stood beside her as we faced Nosferat.

The count grumbled as he saw me, perhaps contemplating the next step.

Taking a big gulp of wine, he put aside the goblet, quite grumpy due to this sudden news. A war on wizards was coming. I don't know how he would be affected, but I for one was not looking forward to it. Romania was home to perhaps the densest population of magical creatures. A hub of trade and education in this field.

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To know that the Dark Lord had persuaded those factions to instead do his bidding....it was quite infuriating in its own right. I could only imagine Dalton's reaction.

Nosferat's gaze pierced through my eyes, as I felt a warm tingle in my head. My shields were working while he tried to read my thoughts. A useless struggle of mine....

In a matter of seconds he got through my mental barrier, reading my surface thoughts. However, I was surprised to know that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't look away. A charm? Perhaps a curse of some kind, pulled me to keep staring.

"I see you've already read the letter. It doesn't always pay to be this nosy brat, I hope you know." He harrumphed. As a mean frown planted on his face, screaming displeasure.

"I've talked to your mother, and given her two options. You... can choose whatever is suitable to you. However, know that there will not be a way out once you're there." Hinting at something different, Nosferat turned his back to me.

Options?.... before I could even ponder what he meant, an enraged shout resonated in the room.

"How can you do this to us? To him? To me?" Sophie growled, a side of her I had never seen.

Startled at her sharp response, I immediately understood that Sophie perhaps knew what Nosferat meant, it was traumatizing enough that it drew on her Vampiric side. A side I am sure she had deeply suppressed inside herself.

A feral instinct clouded her thoughts.

Nosferat was no less, I had never seen him lash out at Sophie... But today was a different story.

"Whatever I will do, is for your own good. Understand that." He bellowed, his voice seethed with fury. Perhaps, it was instinctual, but his pupils had dilated and turned a murky blood red. A gaze that stared right through your soul. Paralyzing it with fear.

Sophie immediately cowered under his wrath, unable to utter a single word. I too felt stiffened, and a cold jolt ran through my spine.

...."I had forgotten." The kind of monster I lived with. Perhaps, knowing him for a few years had my fear mellow out. But today I had seen a glimpse of what he truly was. An instrument of fear, and control.

Sophie's body quivered slightly, perhaps unable to handle the pressure he directed at her. I could see her hands gripped her palms so tightly, that blood slowly formed inside her nails.

Her head pointed downwards out of fear, but before she could react any further. Nosferat did a sly glance to Ephyl, as the gaunt servant warped behind her, ensnaring her unconscious with a palm held behind her head. Gently, breaking her fall as she stumbled to sleep.

I stood still as this happened.... Awaiting my own verdict at his hands.

"Don't mind that, recently she's been quite stressed. We suspected something like this would happen, it's come to a point where it all finally blew the top." He grunted, returning to his former self, as if the previous display of power was a façade.

Both of us stared at the other wordlessly, as Ephyl carried Sophy outside the study.

"I think you've already grasped the current situation. It's almost as bad as you've thought. The thirteen seats... They oversee the interests of all vampires, or so they've claimed for centuries. Somewhat of a bothersome club of children in my eyes. But they've got the influence, and I suspected they would ally with the Dark Lord. It has all come to fruition." He lamented.

"I don't understand? What happens now?" I asked, distressed.

"It is no longer the Dark Lord's armies advancing upon Romania. Because the communities within the nation have split. We've mingled with humans and wizards for long, staying in our little forts and mansions. But the younger generation...they crave more. The Dark Lord has offered them an olive branch..." He mused.

"Does that include you?" I asked reproachfully.....Nosferat was an enemy that few would like to have."

"I do not care for wealth. Wizards have come and gone, I've lived centuries and will continue to live as I like. Strong or not, they will eventually wither away. As all life will." He gave a rather pragmatic response.

"Soon, this nation will go through a war unlike any other. Yes, a war you could never imagine. The Dark Lord lures the magical creatures into his folds. Commands them. He wishes to siege the wizards in power. It will spring forth a decade of bloodshed, Wizard against beast." a cryptic tone underneath his words.

"Which side do you plan to take?" If he wasn't with the vampires... Who was he with?

"Foolish question, I will no longer stay in Romania. The time has come to move on. To side with the vampires, would go against my words. But If I were to side with the wizards, it would be a heinous betrayal to my own kind. One I do not plan to commit." At this he chuckled slightly.

"Boy, what you should question, is who you side with in this war? Will you continue staying with us? You are yet human, could you betray your own kind? I will not ask of you to do so. It is not something that washes away with time. You must choose today, to come along, or stay behind and join your father."

"I-"

Words had not yet slipped from my lips, but he like a crafty shrew, drew another condition.

"Of course, if you wish to come along, you must accept the blood ritual. Then only will it be seen as natural in the eyes of my kind. Or is it that you plan to hide your new lineage from the rest of the world?" He flashed a sly look.

This was his real motive, a pact for me to accept the blood ritual... Or be left behind. The decision of a lifetime. I had thought about a few times in the past. To accept a new life? Become something I am not. However, it did not sit right with me yet.

Now was not the time to embark on a new journey....

"I shall stay behind." I Replied with a resolute look.

At my words, his grin faded away, as he pressed his two pale lips together, forming a white line.

"How odd, I offer you power, but you've rejected it so quickly. Do you understand what it means?" He asked slightly confused.

In his eyes, it was the perfect time to accept such an offer. Begin a new life, leave everything behind. A perfect ploy.

But I had a hunch not to trust his words. It was a blessing in disguise that the blood ritual required consent. One that could not be faked.

"I wish to pursue power, it is true. But I will do it in my own means."

.....

"Very well then, you shall be escorted back to your father safely." He nodded his head, seemingly losing interest for now.

By this time, Ephyl had already come back down, and knowing his masters intentions, had already packed my belongings into the suitcase he carried down with him.

"I advise you to leave at the earliest. The longer you stay, the more painful it might be for others." He spoke.

I could guess who he was referring to, and I did feel sad. But some sacrifices had to be made to continue life as it is.

"That won't be a problem, if possible I would like to leave now." I sauntered towards Ephyl, with a slightly cold attitude.

Life was changing, it was time I change too.

Nosferat swayed his head, showing that he wasn't concerned. As he did, I could feel Ephyl grab onto my shoulder, and we wisped into a red mist, appearing beside the fort's barrier.

Taking a few steps outside the barrier, I could feel the faint blanket slip over my skin. Looking back at the fortress, I reminisced for a short while as Ephyl stood next to me, patiently waiting.

Having spent a few years in this place, it was quite hard to leave. But regardless, I took a deep breath in and moved next to him, indicating that I was ready.

He slipped his hand onto my shoulder once more, and both our figures slithered in towards the space, as we warped out.

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