Chapter 99

Adrian.

September, 1925. Hundred years ago…

Vampire’s Sanctuary. Paris.

I stare vacantly at the sun, knowing that it no longer feels effectual on my skin. Now it’s just a ball of light, burning in the sky. I can’t feel warmth nor cold. I can’t taste human food. Only blood. I can breathe and my cock works.

I found that out a few days ago, when Nurse Petunia here, bathed me and accidentally brushed my cock. She apologized and was about leaving, when I coaxed her into staying. She was willing, for she confessed to finding me very attractive.

She’s being more than a nurse since then. She is equally a vampire. We all are. I discovered when I woke up here, two months ago, after the incident with Julius.

I still don’t have the details of how we got here. We only know we’ve been here for approximately two months. This sanctuary holds it all. An infirmary. A court. A chapel. A small recreation center. Grocery shops. A large kitchen. Everything.

It was used 7 years ago, when the World War was at its peak. And now there are rumors flying of a second war on its way. I hope not. Cause this one that just ended, caused a lot of drain on Europe. I was 19 years old at the time the war started, but I understood it's implications. I had seen the papers and heard the radio broadcasts. It had been gruesome. And I don’t want it again.

Especially now that I’ve become immortal. A cold sense of melancholy easily finds me. I’ve become grief’s companion these last few months. Always plagued with grief and guilt, I barely have any reason to live. But I have to, because death has no effect on me.

It's one of my supernatural abilities now. Those are the words that were said by the elders to me, the day I woke up in this hospital. I think my parents have a different ability. I can’t be certain at the moment, because they haven’t spoken to me since I encountered them here.

We sometimes meet each other at the dining hall or on my way on a stroll in the garden. Short of that, my parents don’t want to see me. They didn’t say it exactly. But their coldness towards me is evidence.

And that’s the reason I suffer this guilt. I’m the reason their humanity was stolen from them. I’m the reason they are forever compelled to eat blood meals. All because I took in a stray, Julius Kinsley.

Yes, when inquiries were made a month ago by the elders, we were told that Julius Kinsley was a former soldier of the crown in England. A son to a Lord George Kinsley, of Kensington Valley, who had gone off to fight in world war of 1914, where he was posted to France. Unfortunately, he got missing one night after he went to the privy.

For many days, he was declared missing; his comrades searched for him. And then one morning, he was found stone cold dead in a trench. His neck had been viciously ripped open. He was declared dead by physicians and was buried. Only for the grave to be empty the next morning.

Reports constantly arrived the Vampires’ Conclave HQ in Paris on sightings of a blood drinker, who lurked in the shadows and feasted on human blood. Was no respecter of age. The Conclave decided to investigate. Unfortunately, Julius eluded them at every turn.

Until he arrived Transylvania and attacked us. I still find it absurd that I’ve become a vampire.

“Lord Trinidad.”

I look to see Petunia, my special nurse, staring down at me. I smile warmly at her. She’s a balm to my injured soul.

“Good morning, Petunia. Did you rest well?” I ask her, warmly.

She smiles shyly and nods. Then I notice her eyes grow sorrowful. She’s being teaching me a lot about being a vampire.

“The elders are here. Julius was caught last night, fleeing Paris, when he heard you were all alive and that the elders were after him.”

He’s here? He’s being under our noses.

“They asked that you and your family come for the judgment.” She informs me.

I sit there, afraid to face my assailant. Afraid of what I might do when I set eyes on him.

It’s 12 midnight and we’re all seated for the judgment against Julius. We’ve been here for three hours, listening to countless testaments against him.

My eyes haven’t steered away from him since I got in here. It’s like I’m seeing the monster under my bed and I’m not allowed to take him down. He hasn’t looked at me in hours. I know he can sense my presence. Yet he's too much of a coward to look at me, after ruining our lives.

“The Trinidads will be allowed to form their own clan, under the guidance of the Conclave. It’s a compensation to your family over the unfortunate incident against you three. A stray vampire breaking the pact is as a result of our negligence and we apologize.” Cady Monaco, the General Overseer announces.

My parents and I should feel happy with this news, but it doesn’t cover for the loss of our humanity.

“And Juliu” I defiantly ask.

He looks at me sharply now. My eyes fix sternly on him. Cady Monaco exhales heavily.

“As heir to your father, you have a right to choose what punishment you deem fit for him.”

I stare long and hard at Julius. Rage rolling inside me like a volcano. I look at my father and mother, they give me this quiet nod. Sorrow in their eyes. I turn to Julius, his eyes pleading.

I recall the loss of my taste for human food. I recall everything.

“I read that some vampires die by incineration. Let's see if he's equally one, cause I know fire doesn't affect me.”

Everyone gasps.

Julius pales, horrified. I smirk contentedly.