The silence in the car is a good sign that everyone knows that I am livid with the current situation. I keep my eyes closed in contempt and fold my arms in irritation. The black leather seats of the Bentley Mulsanne are quite comfortable, but the trip is taking far too long. I open my eyes to the dusk sky and watch the darkened pine trees flash by as the luxury car speeds. The open road is nearly empty of cars as we head toward the outer skirts of Asheville, North Carolina. The rural farms start to increase in acreage as the car speeds around sharp curves and winding roads. The pastures along the way are filled with shadows of livestock and roaming hills leading into mountains and murky valleys. The long silence is soothing, but with my eyes closed, my sense of hearing intensifies considerably. Every sound within the car is magnified three times: the tap of my finger releasing fury onto the now dented door armrest, the swish of wind as it wizzes by the car, and various noises made by two individuals occupying the front seats.


    “Pompey, have you any idea how ANGRY I am to hear that four of my vampires have been killed?” I abruptly cast my eyes in the rearview mirror to monitor Pompey’s earthly brown eyes.


    “Lord Eero, the Phalanx Hunters’ Guild is expert in all things vampire. Calix tells us that they are not just a band of vampire hunters; they are a vampire hunter cult. The location of their center of operations is unknown and only a handful of members live in town.” Pompey gulps nervously under my watchful gaze. He takes one hand away from the steering wheel to comb back his long black hair, only to have it fall back to its original spot.


    “Lanzo, call Calix and inform him that we will be arriving soon.” I point a lazy finger at Lanzo who is sitting in the passenger’s seat of the Bentley. He immediately pulls out his black cell phone and does as I ask without hesitation. “Killing my vampires without reason by these so-called vampire hunters is their death wish. I shall see to it myself that these hunters know firsthand not to go meddling with things that they couldn’t possibly comprehend.”


    “Yes, Lord Eero.” Both Pompey and Lanzo approve simultaneously. Lanzo leans back in his seat smirking at Pompey, revealing his white fangs and allowing his golden blonde bangs to drop like a curtain over his mossy green eyes. Pompey smirks back at Lanzo, knowing full well that I am dead serious about revenging my fallen sires.


    I prop my head upon my palm for the rest of the trip and watch the dim moonlight cast through dark pine trees and random buildings. Lanzo and Pompey each glance at me to check on my mood ever so often. Another hour passes before Pompey drives into my villa which was originally built for my sires to live in. Four of those vampires are now staked and dead.


    The villa looks just as it did when it was first built two hundred years ago. The stone masonry is chipped and cracked from wear and tear over the years. Vines crawl up the sides of the stones to a second story. A garage, which was once used to house human servants, sits to the side of the paved pathway leading back toward the road. Instead of dull lantern posts lighting the entryway, electrical light posts stand in its place. The crescent moonlight peeks faintly through the heavy fog, blanketing the whole area. The Bentley curves around to the front foyer entry where six figures are waiting in a formal greeting stance. The light from the outside posts cast long shadows onto the barely visible stone walkway.


    Pompey steps out of the driver’s seat and closes his door before opening mine. I feel the tension in the cool twilight as I emerge from the back seat. I straighten my black denim jacket as I exit and comb my fingers through my platinum white hair. Pompey and Lanzo lead me to the six waiting vampires.


    I did not bother formally greeting the six sires in front of me,“Where is Calix? I want to see him immediately.”


    One of the six vampires, steps forward in a bow, allowing his medium sandy blond hair to fall over his face,“My Lord, Calix is in the study.”


    “Very well then.” I look over at Pompey and Lanzo before continuing,“You two make yourselves comfortable. I will see myself to the study.”


    Just as I step onto the threshold, Lanzo asks from behind, “Would you like for me to hunt for your meal, Lord Eero?”


    My tongue glides over my aching fangs and then I peer back at Lanzo to nod approvingly. Lanzo gives me a short bow, complete with a half-smile. I resume my urgency to the study room where Calix awaits my wrath. I remember my villa as if it were built yesterday. The dimly lit spacious hallways and rooms may once have been dingy looking, but they are now well kept. Paintings on the granite stone walls are as priceless as they are memorable. Numerous painters including other vampires created the paintings over the centuries and some were collected from homes of previous meals. They were the only real reminder of how much time has actually passed; but even though, one could never measure the full length of time.


    The door to the study stands open and I lean myself against the doorframe. I watch Calix as he bends his head over an open book that sits underneath a lamplight next to a darkened stone fireplace. His sandy blonde hair is waist length and is pulled back into a sluggish ponytail perpendicular down his back. I feel my pulsating fangs extend slightly from my lack of substance, which reminds me that I will soon have a meal.


    I open the conversation in an indifferent tone,“I’d expect you to greet me like the other vampires, Calix” as I fold my arms. Calix jumps rigidly out of the desk chair and lowers his amber eyes after meeting my piercing gaze.


    “My apologies, my Lord. I did not want to show myself before you in my shameful state. I did not live up to my Lord’s expectations and I am grieving the loss of your fallen sires.” Calix bows lightly in my presence.


    I look around the study, taking mental notes of any changes since my last departure.“I built this villa for you and your so-called family so that you could live the life you wanted. Your brothers and sisters look up to you for guidance in my absence. You are their elder and you have let them down. Because of your indiscretions, four of my sires are dead. Two of those four vampires were your younger brothers.” I study Calix as I reopen the wounds that he had created for himself. I step strategically toward him and he tenses in reaction to my movements.


    “Would it heal your wounded pride if I punished you?” I ask with a smile playing at the corner of my mouth. I reach the edge of the desk to explore Calix’s evading eyes. Calix does not answer me nor moves away from me as I circle around the desk. “Shall I feed on you like a helpless human?”


    I shove the desk chair out of my way, which explodes into pieces as it collides into the stone wall. I then clasp Calix’s ponytail to vindictively jerk him down. Calix collapses to one knee and obediently tilts his head rearwards. My fangs throb with pleasure as I draw closer to Calix’s neck, while he keeps his eyes pointed toward the doorway. The nettle-points of my fangs scrape along his neck. Pearly-red blood seeps out and runs down his neck psychedelically. I lick at the blood, tasting the delight that Calix felt from that moment.


    I relax my hand around Calix’s ponytail and use my index finger to force his jaw toward me; he finally looks me in the eye. “You would enjoy for your master to sink his fangs into your neck? This is a clear sign that my blood still flows through your body. You are mine; as long as I am alive, your life exists because of my blood that courses through your veins. As a punishment, I will not drink from you. You will watch as I feed off another. Jealousy will consume you as my fangs rips open an unwilling donor.” I raise my eyes toward the open entryway where Lanzo stands watching with red lusting eyes.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    He holds a frightened middle-aged woman who had been watching the scene as well. Just when her eyes meet mine, she squeals with panic. I wave my hand at the woman to come forward but her fear keeps her feet from moving. She feebly stands in complete horror as Lanzo prevents her from any attempt of escape. I narrow my now red-gleaming eyes at her as I command, “Come forth and stand in front of the desk.”


    The woman’s eyes become glossy and her feet unconsciously proceed forward. She stands in front of the wooden desk just as I commanded her to. Before her senses awaken, I quickly whip around the desk. Calix is still kneeling on the floor, but his tall stature allows him to watch as I embrace the woman from behind. She starts screaming as she becomes alert to what just happened.


    “Wha...wha...what you gonna do to me? I...I have a husband and a child. Please just, just let me go.” The woman chokes out her pleas as fresh hot tears slide down her cheeks.


    I wipe away one teardrop with the back of my index finger,“My dear woman, you have nothing to worry about. Your family will do just fine without you.” Her whimpers increase into firm sobs as I tilt her head backward and against my shoulder.


    Almost superhuman strength starts empowering the woman to break free, which causes me to grasp her tighter.“Now this will only hurt if you struggle. Please keep this in mind.” My fangs tinge the curvature of her neck. The aching and pulsating of my fangs subside as I puncture her skin. I sink my fangs deeply into her neck allowing blood to flow smoothly. She screams at the top of her lungs and cries desperately for help. Her arms reach out for anyone or anything to save her from her fate. The warmth of her rich blood thaws my cool body like a thermos. The more blood I take, the less her heart pounds as she loses consciousness. Every beat of her heart makes music to my ears; but soon enough, her last heartbeat terminates the music.


    I release my grip and her body slumps; her head collides onto the desk before reaching the floor. I lick my lips, catching lingering blood droplets as I look to confirm Calix’s tormented eyes. I turn around toward Lanzo and wave back toward the corpse on the floor.


    “Lanzo, you will take care of the human trash. Pompey will see to it that my lodgings will be settled.” I depart the study room and into the spacious hallway.


    Pompey waits patiently beside an empty Teutonic knight’s armor that stands in the corner. He steps in sync with me and holds my luggage with excellent posture. His long black hair sways as he nods to the sires we pass.The resident sires bow toward me and keep their position until we reach another corridor.


    “I hope for Calix’s sake that he learns his lesson. Sending four of my vampires to that retched place only to get them killed; and for what, to find some meaningless information about the Phalanx Hunters? These hunters would not target us if Calix weren’t so curious about trivial things.” Pompey nods in agreement before stopping in front of the grand master room of the villa.


    Pompey opens the double doors, “My Lord Eero, I cannot help but think that these hunters are more than what they seem. Calix may have acted rash by sending our fallen companions into that church, but the Phalanx Hunters go back centuries. I have reason to believe that they have connections with that prophet hunter group. The hunters are on a search for pureblooded vampires such as yourself. That is all the information that Calix has retrieved so far.”


    I enter the room making approving looks at the silky red draperies covering the tall windows. The elegant, black vampire emblem, executive desk, and matching chair stand strong in the adjacent corner from the doorway; just as I had left it. A king-sized bed is embedded into wooden structure in the middle of the room, which is elevated from the rest of the room. There are three stairs that wrapped around in a square that led up to the elevated platform where the bed stands. An arrangement of different colored decorative pillows conceals a portion of the bed. I decided to make myself comfortable sitting in the chair behind the desk.


    I gesture Pompey to sit before continuing the conversation,“I will monitor how things go for the time being. If these hunters are as good as Calix says, they will try and bait us like dogs. I’ve seen such a technique done many times and lost many ignorant new vampires to such a trick. However, these hunters should be well aware that my sires are not fledgling vampires and will try more desperate attempts to lure us out into the open. They cannot raid the villa because they don’t know where my clan is hiding as of yet. Even if they have located my clan they would not storm in without risking their lives. We will have to be smart about this and keep lying low. I am anticipating that the hunters too will keep lying low for at least a little while.” I support my head with my arm in deep meditation, as Pompey stands.


    “I shall put away your things and leave you to your thoughts, Lord Eero.” He bows and then walks toward a lavish antique dresser. Pompey cleans dust off of the furniture before walking into an opening. He turns the warm water on from a brass faucet leading into a freestanding tub with no visible privacy curtains. Pompey retrieves a bathrobe and other necessities before shutting off the water.


    Pompey saunters back over to where I sit,“Your bath is ready if you like, my Lord.”


    He bows, but I snatch his arm before he is able to leave. Without saying a word, I bite into his wrist and drink my fill. I feel Pompey’s satisfaction as I drink and I stop just before his blood begins to run icy cold. I lick at the bite marks on his wrist to stop the bleeding.


    I ask for Pompey to come close, and whisper, “Starting now, all human food sources are forbidden until we deal with this Phalanx Hunters. Make sure the other vampires know this as well. If this is unacceptable, I will carry out punishment as I see fit.” I pause to check for understanding in Pompey’s face, “Also, Pompey, please tell Lanzo that this decree also applies to him.”


    Pompey’s dark brown eyes widen with understanding,“I shall tell him immediately my Lord and master.”


    Pompey nods in agreement and then slips out of the room into the hallway. The double doors close but are not locked. I sit in my chair for several minutes and think through my plans. There is little that can be done about the Phalanx Hunters right now.We need to become acclimated into the town to know more. My vampires will have to learn this the hard way by refraining from feeding off humans for a while.


    Standing by the freestanding tub, I remove my clothes and step into the water. My body slowly begins to warm up and I lean my head back against the arc of the tub. I close my eyes to relax while my heightened hearing catches the disappointing opinions of the vampires. I hear Pompey’s instructions plainly and feel depression settling among the villa.


    Lanzo’s footsteps are heading down the hall and the double doors to my room swing open. I remain calm with my eyes still closed as I hear his steps getting closer. He stands at the side of the tub waiting.


    “Lord Eero, please allow me to apologize for preparing you a human feast tonight.” Lanzo pleads as I open my eyes.


    I stare at the vaulted ceiling and do not exert myself to look at Lanzo. “It is forgotten Lanzo, I do not recall telling you otherwise at the time.” I close my eyes once again, “Now leave me.”


    Lanzo’s footsteps begin to lead away, but they stop at the door. “Please my Lord, do not reject my blood. Seeing your bite marks on Pompey has distressed me.”


    I ignore his comment, but cannot ignore the fact that he defied my request to be left alone. I snap my eyes open and dart out of the bathtub to pin Lanzo to the wall next to the door by his throat. Water drips to the floor from my naked body making a puddle on the hardwood floor. Lanzo accepts my influential hand and obediently caves as I lean closer to his ear. I push his golden blonde hair away from his ear.


    “I told you to leave, why do you disobey me?” I relieve my grasp from Lanzo’s throat and skim my fingers down his neck.


    “My jealousy consumed me my Lord.” Lanzo admits, but I had already known this. I prop my free hand against the door and look deep into Lanzo’s suffering green eyes.


    My fingertips loiter over his bared chest, then I dig my nails through his flesh. I slash across his chest making blood splat onto my own chest, face, and arms. I lick at the blood on my fingertips and return back toward the tub. With my back turned, I hear the door open and then close with Lanzo’s presence removed from the room. I dunk back into the bath water and watch the clearness turn into murky red. The rage I felt begins to dissipate with the sound of crickets chirping from outside.


    Pompey’s voice is hushed with exasperation when addressing Lanzo, “Lanzo, I told you Lord Eero is in a bad mood. I didn’t even ask him to drink from me so why press the issue?”


    I hold my forehead against my hand as Lanzo replies to Pompey whole-heartedly; “I am always the first one that Lord Eero takes blood from. If he didn’t already turn everyone else in this villa, I would kill whomever for even thinking about touching his precious blood.”


    Pompey thickens his voice, “Man, you know Lord Eero can hear you. I wouldn’t be surprised to see you dead by morning. I suggest you eat up and deal with things right now.” I hear a couple of birds frantically flap their wings trying to free themselves from their captors, before Lanzo and Pompey chomp their fangs into them and forever stop their struggles.


    At least my sires are eating another blood source according to my orders. I am pleased, but I know the future well, and having an insufficient blood source will undeniably put my sires’ training to test.