User blog:Redknight910/WWYD Vampire JOVA82

Prompt:Relative you had never heard of.

"So... I'm not getting a castle out of this, am I?" She smiles at me.

"You worked that out already?" She says in a near mocking tone, taking a seat at the other end of the table.

"So, am I meant to start running, or just sit here and take it?" She gives me a long look, then sighs.

"Do you still have the letter sent to you?" I nod "Then hand it to me." I pull the letter from my pocket and slide it across the table. Of course, given it's a castle-sized dining table, it doesn't even make it halfway. She gives me a look of 'really?' before speeding across the room and grabbing it. Opening it, she carefully reads the note, then looks between it and me a few times.

"Well, I suppose we'd better get some actual food for you, seeing as you'll be staying here for some time." She calls to a maid waiting outside of the room. "Have the kitchen staff prepare something decent. My nephew could probably use a meal after travelling." She nods and heads back out of the room.

"So, wait. That letter was almost telling the truth?" My newly discovered aunt nods, tucking the letter into her overcoat.

"Yes, it was completely true, actually, depending on what you believe happens when a woman becomes a vampire." I stare at her in disbelief for a few moments, before she rolls her eyes and sighs. "Honestly, you would have inherited the estate years ago if it weren't for my... benefactor." Again the door opens to the great hall, another well dressed woman entering.

"So, you're the last person my little darling could call family." She walks straight up to me, taking my chin in her hand and twisting my head around. "Hmm... you are certainly worth hiding. Just look at that succulent vein, it's making my mouth water." My aunt coughs.

"Madam Valdir, perhaps you should wait for him to eat? I feel his blood would be a little thin as it is now." The woman let go of my chin, turning to face the other vampire in the room.

"Yes, I suppose you are correct, my apprentice. Such a vibrant specimen should be relished at it's most tasteful." With that she took a seat.

"So, do I have an uncle?" My aunt shook her head.

"No, I never married, and your father was my only sibling." I raise an eyebrow.

"Why did he put me up for adoption? Did they want the family name to dissapear?" Lady Valdir laughed in her rich voice.

"Oh, hardly, child. In fact, that was the very reason they did hide you." She leans forward onto her elbows "You see, your family has had a long standing tradition of being a pain in my side. You were their final heir, well, after I turned your dear aunt over there." she casts a taunting grin at my aunt "You were their only hope of keeping the old bloodline alive. It took me so many years to track you down, but look at us now, hmm? Why, I'm almost tempted to make you mine, just for the feeling of knowing the last of the-" The door to the kitchen opened with a loud thud, two servants carrying covered dishes over to my end of the table.

"Ah, but it would seem your food has arrived, and I think my meal should be prepared soon as well." My aunt sighed once more.

"Lady Valdir, if I may?" She stood and picked up her goblet, swirling it gently before taking a sip.

"What is it?" The other vampire asked, annoyed.

"I believe I had the chef prepare something for you, as well." With that the closer of the two servants pulled the lid off of their dish to reveal a pitcher of water, which they then threw across the older vampire. She scremed as the water covered her clothes and face, her whole body growing stiff.

"W-what h-ha-have you.... d-done?" She whimpered, stiff body shaking.

"Why, I simply had one of the servants bring in some water today. From the river, I know you prefer the well water, but there is simply something more tasteful in fresh water."

"You will p-pay for this." She muttered as my aunt approached, pulling a napkin from her pocket and taking the lid off of the second platter, to reveal a necklace of garlic.

"We shall see, but for now, I think it's high time you left, Isabelle." She gently placed the necklace around the other vampire's neck, turning to the servants. "Drag her to the nearest town and ensure she gets... treatment for her ailments." The two nodded, picking up the vampire and dragging her away. My aunt lets out a loud sigh.

"She has been torturing me with orders for nearly eighteen years now. My brother did a rediculously good job of hiding you." She takes a seat next to me, drinking what remains of her goblet.

"Okay, I'm going to need a minute here." She nods, getting up.

"Of course, I'll ensure your actual food arrives shortly." And with that, she steps out of the room, into the kitchen. I'm left alone for several long minutes, trying to process what's just happened. Food finally comes, and with it my aunt, returning behind the servant who lays the plate down in front of me.

"So then. If you have questions, please, ask them now." Oh, I have questions alright.

"Well, first, what the hell who the hell was that? Second, who the hell are you? And third, what the hell have I gotten myself into?" She chuckles at my reaction, taking a goblet from the passing servant.

"Well, that was Lady Isabelle Valdir, an old foe whose servants our family has been fighting for generations. As you may be able to tell, we weren't exactly winning. I am Countess Giordina Onisong, last surviving child of Countess Clair and Count Damien, and your last free relative. And you have stepped into the center of a legacy of vampire hunters."

"Okay, more questions. What the hell do you mean free relative, what happened to my parents, and do I have any powers?" Again she chuckles at me before answering, shaking her head.

"Any of our relatives who haven't been killed by thugs are currently in the service of one undead or another. Your parents..." she looks down at her goblet, sighing heavily "they were killed in an accident, while running from some of Isabelle's goons they were struck by a cart, your father was killed instantly, your mother lived a day after befire giving in to her injuries." She took a long draught of her goblet, before placing it on the table.

"As for powers, you are only human, but you should have noticed you have naturally quicker reflexes and a good sense of danger."

"So that's why I was so suspiscious of a letter telling me I inherited a castle. I knew it was a trap." She gives me a deadpan look.

"I would think it common sense to realise that4. bit moving on, is that all your questions?" I think for a few seconds, then nod.

"All the big ones." She nods, too.

"In that case, allow me to make you an offer." She spreads her arms to gesture at the castle. "As the last ellible member of our family to inherit this castle, I give you the offer to take up residence here, with all the responsibillities and training the position of Count here requires."

"And if I say no?" Again, she chuckles.

"If you say no, I shall give you enough coin to purchase a comfortable seat on the next caravan home." she gestures to my food "Let me know when you have decided, I think I shall visit the study." With that she leaves, heading for the study, which I guess I'd have to find on my own.

Well, go back to the family who raised me, likely becoming a merchant or a barman, or embrace my roots and become the next in a long line of vampire hunters, who apparently don't have a great life expectancy? Tough call, but I had been entertaining the thought of `becoming an adventurer for a while now.

I decided to ask one of the servants for directions to where the study was, before getting lost looking for it. I opened the door to see my aunt, sitting over an old book which looked very well used.

"So, what is it? Stay here, or go back home?"

"I thought this was my home?" She closes the book with a smile.

"That's still up to you."

"I'll stay, on one condition." she motioned to continue "My adoptive family comes to live here, in the castle." She carefully mulled this over for a time, beofre nodding.

"Very well, I'll have to write up some letters to explain things, but I shall handle it." she turned back to the book on the desk "Your training will start tomorrow at dawn." With that I was dismissed, and shown where my bed was. As I laid down, I couldn't help but think of what the future would bring.