De Sang - Round 1

Once the throne hall was empty, Count Vladimir stood and nodded to his children.  "Go, enjoy the night.  You have both done well.  I will see what I can find out about the missing Goodfellow girl."

Daemon de Sang wasted no time heading down the front steps on the gothic castle in search of a good time.  His sister always called him a Slacker for partying with the humans. But, over the centuries, he had come to enjoy the frail ones' company.

Sighing, Contessa de Sang explored their new castle.  The green room was peaceful with all of the plants and herbs.  How she longed for the parties of their old kingdom, before they were exiled and wound up here.

Daemon hummed a jaunty tune as he got out of the car at the crack of dawn, then hurried for the front door.  The sun wouldn't kill him, but it was certainly painful to stand outside for too long.

The de Sang's butler served two purposes - to anticipate their every whim, but also to protect their home while they slumbered.  Daemon slipped a wad of money into the old man's hand.  They paid well to protect their secrets.

 

It wasn't long before the townspeople crossed themselves before passing by the castle. Some had even started to spitting after speaking the Vladimir's name.  More and more townspeople were reporting strange wounds on their neck and being disoriented or winding up somewhere strange.

 

However, Prince Aamon had no fear of the de Sang's.  He was their equal in all ways. 

"I have come to visit Count Vladimir?" Prince Aamon asked.  "Where can I find him?"  

Contessa glanced up.  "You missed him. He went out to search out the crime lords in this kingdom."

Prince Aamon scoffed.  "There are no crime lords here, this was always a peaceful kingdom," he added with derision.

Contessa smiled at the young man.  "Ah, so naive!" she chided gently.  She saw him bristle at her condescension.

"Actually, while you're here," she said beguilingly.  "There was a small, little favor I would like to ask." She was hungry for a small, little snack...  just a taste would tide her over.

Daemon lurked by the outer castle walls, looking for prey.  He'd stayed out too late and was feeling peckish.  Across the way, he spied a young man, making his way home alone.

Perfect!

Daemon drank his fill, careful not to take too much blood.

Because he always took care to beguile the townspeople after feeding on them, the young man was none the wiser.  He even played a little catch with Daemon.  Humans! Such strange, simple creatures!

 

Count Vladimir wanted to assure everything was ready for their meeting with the wolves later in the day. 

Count Vladimir addressed the leader of the pack, Konrad.  "Have all the humans been settled in the huts?" he asked.

Konrad nodded.  "They have been.  Only the elder noble gave us a hard time, but a quick nip settled him down."

"Good, and you have set up the trading market?" Vladimir asked.  He would trust his pets to do his bidding far more than a human.  Humans were so hard to train!

The leader of the pack again nodded.  "We have everything we need."

 

"A toast to my fortunate children!  It seems we have found a village that we can rule without fear of reprisal.  The humans are too far removed from the rest of the world to fight back. Soon we will have all the treasure we could possibly want."

 

Daeman was a hopeless romantic at heart.  He would woohoo with any creature - human, werewolf, vampire.  There had even been one wild night with a zombie.

Marie Mercer stumbled and then righted herself, disoriented.  "How did I get here?" she asked under her breath.  She didn't remember coming to the castle...

"Come in and warm yourself by the fire," Daemon told her, gesturing inside.

Marie had followed him in, but couldn't quite understand why. She should not be entering the Darkking Castle! 

But he was so handsome, she thought distractedly. Surely it wouldn't hurt to stay awhile.

"See, isn't it much nicer in here?" he asked her.

Just a little bit longer, she thought.

As Daemon reached to pull Marie into his arms, she pulled back suddenly.  "I have to go!" she said quickly, then turned on her heel and hurried out of the castle, a chill lingering in her bones.

Count Vladmir had another meeting with the crime lords and had graciously accepted their offer to send a car.

 

He would have to speak to them about the insult.

 

Deciding to find a new wench to enjoy the evening with, Daemon summoned a beautiful young lady.  She blinked twice, glancing around.  "Where... where am I?" Marisa Bachmann asked.   

"Greetings," he said with a small bow.  "Would you like to come inside and warm yourself by the fire?"

Daemon stoked the fire and watched the flames shoot up.  "Now, what kingdom did you say you were from?" he asked her, eyeing her expensive dress.  

Marissa dazedly shook her head.  "Did I say? I don't remember.  I'm from the Kingdom of Stonecrest.  Where am I?

As Daemon reassured the nervous date, his sister crept in.

 

Quickly, she entranced the young lady and drank her blood.  

"Rude," he told her. "I'm on a date."

Contessa shrugged.  "I needed a snack"

Contessa was putting the finishing touches on her father's royal portrait when Prince Aamon entered the throne room.

He stopped to view her work and nodded approvingly.  "The very likeness of him," he praised her.  

Contessa paused and met his eyes.  A compliment? It felt like centuries since the last time someone had praised her.

They were interrupted by her father.  "Leave us!" he commanded.  "I have something I would like to discuss with the mage prince."

Scowling, Contessa shifted to a bar and flew from the room.

 

"What can I help you with?" Prince Aamon asked, happy to be a help to the man who changed his life.

 

Contessa was pounding angrily on the piano keys, frustrated at her Father and frustrated at herself for caring at how dismissive he could be.  

"I could hear you playing from the throne room.  You are as talented a player as you are a painter," he said.

"What do you want? Why are you complimenting me?" she hissed angrily.  "If you think to worm your way into my good graces to get closer to my father, you have another thing coming!"

"I am in the Count's good graces," Prince Aamon scowled at her.  "Did it ever occur to you that I would compliment you because you are a beautiful woman that intrigues me?"

Princess Aurora found her father's grave and placed a small flower atop it.  Glancing back towards her old home, she swore she would see them answer for their crimes, no matter how long it took.