Chapter 9

The Elevator let out a ding as the doors opened, allowing the trio of vampires to exit. Well two vampires and the young Halfling, Vlad looked around the dimly lit hallway. This was more like what he'd imagined when he thought vampires. D'Ablo and Jasik smiled down at the young Halfling, D'Ablo took the lead as they walked through the winding hallways. Vlad glanced around, it was sparsely decorated. Just a few light fixtures, deep burgundy paint, and wood flooring. Nothing like the extravagance of the office and council building above them. Vlad had to guess that this was because this part of the building wasn't heavily traveled, considering the way to get here wasn't straight from the lobby of the office building. The trio rounded a corner, Vlad noticed a large metal door at the end of the hallway. It wasn't very ornate, fitting in with the rest of plain, dark hallway. Vlad looked at the two vampires "is that the archives?" Vlad asked "yes" D'Ablo responded "not much security" Vlad looked around, he didn't see anyone else near the door ways "it's not needed, if someone wasn't meant to make it this far, they wouldn't have." D'Ablo said, a grin on his face. The trio stopped when the door ahead of them opened. Out stepped a rather young looking female vampire. Vlad guess she couldn't more than five or six years older than himself when she was turned. Her hair was a fiery red that reached just below her shoulders in light waves, her eyes an emerald green and her skin a pail ivory. She wore a long red leather dress that hugged her body in all of the right places. "Good evening, D'Ablo" she said, a seductive tone in her voice. "Good evening Mrs. Emily" D'Ablo said. Vlad watched them speak, Vlad felt her emerald eyes quickly dart to him and a smile crossed her red lips. She approached Vlad and placed the tips of her fingers under his chin. Vlad slightly felt the sharp claw like tips of her nails prick into his skin. "So, is this the little apprentice you've taken on?" Emily asked.

The young Halfling took a step back from the vampire, he wasn't quite sure what to say. This woman seemed a bit off to him, even more so than D'Ablo seemed to be. Vlad was worried that like every other vampire he'd run into, she'd want his head on a silver platter. The council president interrupted Vlad's thoughts with a laugh "Yes, this is Vladimir Tod, the son of Tomas Tod." She smiled "Vladimir Tod?" she asked "oh I remember you", her lips curling into a smile that slightly revealed her sharp fangs. "You probably don't remember me though, the only time we saw each other was about three years ago in the council chamber." She said, Vlad gave the female vampire a blank stare. Indicating that he had no clue what she was talking about. D'Ablo chuckled "Master Pravus, Emily is on the council." Vlad looked at him "oh," Vlad started racking his brain in an attempt to remember the one and only visit to the actual council room back during his 8th grade year. D'Ablo chuckled and looked back at the woman "I don't think he remembers much about that evening, the lad was probably more concerned with the fate of his caretaker." D'Ablo said. "Oh that is true" she said, a smile still on her face. Vlad felt like they might end up talking the rest of the night away. Adults had a funny way of doing that, Vlad could only wonder if vampires could end up the same way. D'Ablo glanced back at Jasik, "well, it has been nice" he said "but you have to get this little one studying?" D'Ablo nodded. With a fair well in Elysian, Emily walked off, her red hair flying back behind her.

D'Ablo placed his hand on the glyph, the large metal doors in front of the trio opened and they walked inside. Vlad looked around, a soft gasp escaped his mouth. The archives of the Stokerton were at least five floors deep, on each level was a fairly wide platform that spanned the perimeter of the room. Bookshelves stacked full of books reached up to the ceiling. Vlad walked over to the railing, the door they had entered, which was the only door into the archives, was on the very top platform. Vlad looked down, he could faintly see the middle of the room, which was like a small clearing in a forest. A forest of wood, books, scrolls and ancient artifacts unknown to humanity. D'Ablo walked up next to him "I take it you are impressed?" he asked "yeah, I didn't expect the archives to look like this." Vlad said "there is a lot of information here, Young Master." D'Ablo said, his steel grey eyes looked around the area. Vlad noticed quite a few vampires scattered about. Some pulling or placing books, others surrounded by papers and open books. Vlad then noticed the ceiling. Above him twinkled thousands of lights that looked like the stars, and in the center was a larger light. It reminded Vlad of the moon, "quite amazing, isn't it?" D'Ablo spoke the question "yeah" Vlad then felt a hand on his shoulder "we should get to work though, there is much I wish to go over tonight." D'Ablo said. Vlad nodded and followed after his mentor.


Vlad scribbled down the notes as D'Ablo talked, though Vlad had been more anxious to find information on the prophecy, D'Ablo and Jasik had quote-un-quote insisted on him taking up the planned lessons first. Then he'd be allowed to look through any of the books D'Ablo had put back on the subject. Thought at first Vlad hadn't exactly been happy with the decision, but after an hour and a half of lessons. Vlad found himself enjoying this, he wasn't quite sure what it was though. Something about having a vampire as one's teacher seemed to make lessons and class more interesting. Vlad began to consider that vampires should take over the educational system, rather than the world. Then kids would actually be able to enjoy learning. The desk around the young Halfling was littered with papers containing notes on Elysian customs and ideas. The room itself held about three white boards, all of which were full of information, listed on both places, was everything from the proper way to introduce one's self to a high standing vampire to how to conduct one's self in a trial setting. Though the compendium had little tidbits of information on such things, it didn't go in depth on the subjects like D'Ablo and Jasik had done. With a sigh, D'Ablo closed the book in front of him and pulled out a silver pocket watch. "I think we can stop here for the evening." D'Ablo said, Vlad closed the notebook and stood. The Halfling looked around "so, can I take a look in one of the compendiums before I go?" Vlad asked, D'Ablo looked at him "oh, yes of course" Vlad watched as D'Ablo reached down below the table and pulled out a large book. One that didn't look anything like the Compendium and Conscientia that he knew. Vlad shot the Vampire a questioning look, D'Ablo smiled. "Something you may not know, dear master, is that the Compendium is republished every 10-15 years with newer updates to the laws, history, and customs of Elysia. We found it to be the best way to insure that all of Vampire-Kind is kept up to date with everything that has happened." D'Ablo said, "How old is the one I have?" Vlad asked.

D'Ablo paused for a moment and thought "I'd say it is a first edition from the previous update. Your father probably took it shortly after it was placed in the archives with the other copies." D'Ablo said and set the book on the table. Vlad watched him reach down and place his hand on the cover. "I'd say your father took that with him when he left with your mother, so it's just a bit out of date." He said, the glyph on the compendium's cover glowed a toxic looking green. Vlad looked at D'Ablo and gasped, a faint click passed through the air as the locks on the book opened up. "What is it, Master Pravus?" the vampire gently opened the large book and looked at Vlad. The boy stood stock still, his eyes locked on D'Ablo's. "your eyes…" he whispered. "Master Pravus, please elaborate" the vampire said, he then started flipping through the crisp white pages. "They-they glowed" Vlad said, his voice hushed. D'Ablo paused "Glowed?" he asked, Vlad nodded. The elder vampire closed the book "when?" he asked, his voice taking on a serious tone "when you touched the cover of the book" Vlad said, the boy was mystified. He knew for a fact that he'd never seen D'Ablo's eyes glow like that before. Now, suddenly they were glowing a bright green when he touched a glyph. Vlad felt his feet move him forward as he walked around to D'Ablo's side. The boy took the book from the council president and closed it. D'Ablo didn't say anything as Vlad looked at him. "They glow like mine do" Vlad said, D'Ablo tensed "is it purple?" Vlad shook his head "no, it was more of a sickly toxic green." The young Halfling said, "green?" Vlad nodded. Then, the teen allowed himself to smile "you know, between the two of us, we could start a little club for Vampires with glowing eyes." He said, D'Ablo didn't say anything for a good long moment.

Then, without warning, the elder Vampire slammed his fists down onto the table in frustration. Vlad saw the wood splinter and break; dumping the books, a lamp, and a few other items on the floor. The loud crash from splintering wood and items crashing down to the floor echoed through the archives. Vlad found himself backing away from the elder as he let out a string of curses in Elysian and a name. Vlad stared, D'Ablo had just mentioned someone named 'Dorian' and by the sound of D'Ablo's voice; they didn't seem to be on good terms. "D'Ablo?" Jasik walked around a nearby book case. The younger vampire looked around, "what the fuck happened?" he asked, Vlad looked back at D'Ablo for a moment. Said vampire looked as if he was calming down slightly. "His eyes started glowing green when he touched the cover of the compendium" Vlad said, the council president shot the teen a dangerous look before he turned back to his assistant "yes, it seems there is something Dorian forgot to mention to me." D'Ablo said, his voice full of venom and quite a bit of anger. Vlad smiled "D'Ablo, it's not that bad" he said. The vampire looked at him, dark eyes met silver ones. "Vladimir, I have only seen two vampires with eyes that flash and glow a strange color." He said, Vlad noticed the serious tone in the vampire's voice "and they are both involved in the prophecy" he said and leaned down slightly. His face now level with the Halfling's "that would be me and who else?" Vlad asked "the Keeper of the Prophecy" Vlad stiffened "the same guy that you said might decide to make a meal out of me?" Vlad asked "yes," D'Ablo's answer was simple. "And now your eyes do something similar?" Jasik walked over, D'Ablo stayed silent and looked around for a moment "yes, my eyes do the same thing now. Which baffles me, I do not understand why they would start doing this now." D'Ablo said "maybe, because of your direct involvement lately, you might be assisting in fulfilling some part of the prophecy?" D'Ablo backed up and considered it "like you said, no one other than the keeper knows the prophecy completely." Vlad said and looked at Jasik "maybe there is supposed to be someone who helps aid the Pravus in fully understanding his powers." Vlad said, D'Ablo started pacing "I guess it's possible." He said, Vlad looked down at the compendium in his hands. The young Halfling was considering the idea of D'Ablo being involved in the prophecy a bit deeper. He was wondering what this all meant for him, had this all been planned by fate from the start? Some twisted game they were all stuck in? Or did things change when D'Ablo decided to take Vlad under his wing and teach him? Was it possible that fate and destiny could be changed so easily?


The door to the elevator closed with a soft thud, the two figures stood insolence as one selected the desired floor. As the button lit up, the man with slate grey eyes turned to look at the younger passenger. Said teen had his eyes back on the pages of the book in his hands. Vlad was reading over the Elysian code contained within the book. D'Ablo smiled at this, the boy seemed so eager to learn. So eager to know what he was to become. D'Ablo felt his smile falter, the one thing the boy didn't seem to realize was the danger he had been put into. Immortal or not, Tomas wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. And what he wanted was Vlad's powers, Vlad's abilities, everything that made the boy the Pravus. D'Ablo looked away, he'd previously wanted to go about insuring that Vlad never learned anything about Tomas's true nature. But now, he'd begun to rethink it. He'd started considering explaining everything to Vlad, showing him every memory of Tomas that the vampire held. He knew it might destroy the boy to know the truth. To know what his father had done, had planned, and would attempt. D'Ablo grit his teeth, Vlad seemed to take notice of the elder vampire's growing anger. "Hey D'Ablo, is something wrong?" Vlad asked, closing the Compendium. D'Ablo's hands caved into fists, he'd sworn off these feelings long ago. He'd sworn to abandon the feelings of regret, sympathy, compassion, and sorrow. He had to, he had to block the feelings to properly do his job in both the Stokerton council and Alumno. "Vladimir, how would you like it if I were to share a few memories I have of your father with you sometime?" He watched then teen blink in confusion for a moment. "Really?" D'Ablo nodded. "When?" Vlad asked, moving closer to the older vampire. "Some time soon, I promise" D'Ablo said, his lips curling into a kind smile. Vlad laughed and then spoke "You're turning into a good guy, you know?" D'Ablo chuckled as the elevator doors opened "yes, yes I know" he said. The pair exited the elevator and entered the empty lobby of the office building. "And it's tearing my soul apart to think of how good I am." D'Ablo said, Vlad smiled. And the pair exited the office building to make their way back to Bathery before Vlad's disappearance had been noticed.