I drank from the bowl of blood some more, nodding in acknowledgment to the lesson’s beginning. “Give it to me straight, how much of the human realm’s knowledge is false?”
“Less than you think, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Firstly, a history lesson.” My teacher brought a book out I had failed to notice in my lust for blood and opened it up. It was primarily artistic depictions of events, though there was plenty of text in it as well. Given how much she began to talk though, the art was the reason she brought it.
“Originally, there was a singular vampire by the name of Dracula. How he came into his powers, we’re unsure. All we know is that he was once human like all vampires after him. Whether it was a pursuit of immortality, or a cannibalistic nature awakening latent mana reserves within him is for the scholars to debate.” She turned the page, now showcasing what appeared to be an opulent manor.
“He founded his own residence, where he fed upon the mortals that would come by. And as he learned of his powers, he created three spawn. And though Dracula was never seen leaving his manor, his spawn were a bit more adventurous. Their cravings brought attention to the existence of vampires, and in time, suspicions upon Dracula’s house.”
The next page she turned to was an artistic interpretation of an angry mob surrounding the manor, brandishing torches and pitchforks. “Dracula tried to recall the two spawn still abroad in an act of self-defense. But that call for aid was his undoing, as the villagers now had their fears confirmed. Knowing his life to be short, he allowed the spawn who had stayed to drink of his blood and take his name such that his legacy could continue on.”
“In doing so, he relinquished his claims over any he had turned, including the two who had heard his call, Drusilla and Alucard.” My eyes widened as she mentioned the name of the other two spawn. Drusilla was that ancient? How was she even alive? My tutor seemed to see the questions on my mind, and quickly made to answer it.
“True vampires are not at risk of age claiming them. Like a fine wine, we grow bolder and more flavorful, but never weaker. Spawn are somewhat limited, but their lives are still measured in the hundreds of seasons, rather than the thirty or so summers humans will see.”
The page turned once more, now depicting a raised stone circle, the portal I had come through to this realm. “Of course, the secret was out, and there wasn’t any way to remain truly safe in the realm of humans. So those three sought out a new place to live. Drusilla, being versed in the ways of magic, was the one who discovered the possibility of creating a parallel world for them to inhabit,” she turned to the next page of a ritual circle spanning multiple kingdoms. “It would be quite costly though.”
“To create this world, they had to encircle the territory they wished to reforge. And at every mile along that border, a true vampire was needed. As such, they began to expand their numbers, all three relinquishing their ability to create spawn in a display of solidarity to ensure the ritual’s success. It took over a hundred years, and more than a thousand vampires, but the ritual was finally completed. Our realm was created.”
The next page she turned to looked familiar, as though I had seen similar hundreds of times on my adventures as a knight. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it was a map of the vampire realm, which mirrored the human world I was accustomed to traveling. “To allow vampires to roam freely at all times in this new realm, night and day was replaced with the red and blue moons. As we had no need for crops, the land was rendered arid to prevent rivers and other sources of running water from forming. And each of the three spawn were given the chance to claim territory. Being the one to lead the ritual, Drusilla was granted control of the portal, the one link back to the realm of humans. Dracula took after their master, taking only a small area for a manor and a couple more houses for maintaining a stock of humans. Alucard, meanwhile, was given the largest breadth of land, even if there was little in the way of natural resources for us to compete over, for he had created the majority of the vampires used in the ritual.”
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“Being true vampires, all those who helped in the ritual were given the ability to work underneath the three spawn of the true Dracula. Most went to Alucard, founding the Blue Blood Kingdom. Dracula’s favorite concubines went to his manor, while those who still held some manner of attachment to the human realm gathered under Drusilla’s crimson banner. Meanwhile, humans were befuddled by the sudden cessation of vampire activity after what had seemed to be a plague of them descending upon the populations of villages.”
“Those who were turned before the creation of the vampire realm were deemed to be old blood vampires, with Drusilla, Alucard, and Dracula taking up places as the rulers of their respective kingdoms. Of course, we still had to connect to the human realm. Having Access to the portal, Drusilla creates the occasional party to collect the blood of mortals. Over time, we learned to extract blood from willing mortals under the guise of their health. And though sometimes these places of business are found to be staffed with vampires, it is presumed that they are only common because of the regular presence of blood. Little do they know that the entire business is founded as a way for us to feed ourselves. A willing group of livestock, if you will.” She smiled almost cunningly as she turned the page to showcase the locations of all the bloodletting houses across the many fiefs of the human realm.
“Dracula brought with him several slave families, who he keeps enslaved as a source of food for him and his concubines. To this day, he strings them along with the hope that one day a daughter of theirs will join his harem. To this day, his harem still comprises itself entirely of old blood vampires. As for Alucard, he and his vampires began to kidnap many humans, penning them in to keep like men keep cattle. Even now, a veritable city of humans has been built within his borders, reigned in only by the vampires who regularly come to feed upon them.” She finally closed the book and placed it on top of my dresser before turning back towards me.
“You may be wondering why Drusilla needs an heiress if she is immortal. And the truth is, we aren’t completely immortal. You knew this when you came in your failed attempt to kill her. And though you are hardly the first attempt on her life, she knows that eventually someone will succeed. Whether it be a seasoned vampire hunter catching her during a visit to one of her bloodletting houses, or an adventurer like you lucky enough to actually defeat her, her time will eventually end. As such, she wanted to enshrine her legacy by finding a worthy heir.”
Finally, I took my opportunity to speak up. “Why me then? One who had tried to kill her just moments before she nominated me as her successor.” Sure, I had confessed my desires when she asked me to. I was cornered, I had no reason to be ashamed of secrets I had been sure were soon to die with me.
“Drusilla doesn’t just want another ruler to take her place. She wanted someone who held similar values to her own. You’ve noticed we are not ashamed of much in this kingdom, that has been a culture she herself has done her best to foster over her entire reign here. Atop of that, she doesn’t wish for someone who is disconnected from the lives of humans. She can teach a human to be a vampire, but she cannot teach a vampire to be humane. So, when you were upon death’s door, admitted to your deepest, most shameful wish, and willingly surrendered yourself to your fate, she had found who she wanted.”
“The desire to be a woman, when all humans desired from you was strength and masculinity. It is a secret to even usher aloud would have brought shame upon you for the rest of your life. Yet even when you could have ensured that secret would die with you, you spoke it plain. Few have such a desire, fewer still can admit to themselves they have that desire. You may feel you have been given a weak and frail body, but with the courage you showed, we’ll mold you into a strong leader and a worthy successor.”
I gave a timid nodding towards her, now being overwhelmed by even more expectations piling on me. She seemed to read me as easily as she read her, my, our people’s history to me, smiling before standing up. “I think that will be enough lessons for today. Enjoy your evening, and do get some good rest.”
“What if those cravings return?” I looked down at the bowl I had been given, already lamenting how empty it looked. That pull had been so strong, I had been certain I wouldn’t be able to resist it for much longer. That need to sink my new fangs into supple flesh, it was a compulsion I couldn’t think to resist.
“I’ll post a guard by your door, so that they can fetch you some if the cravings return before tomorrow. Otherwise, I will see you in the morning for more lessons.” The powerful woman took another curtsy before exiting the room. It was only after she had closed the door behind her that I realized I had forgotten to ask for her name.