Earlier that day
Stark Castle, Stark Lordship, Isle Of Stone, a province of King Liam VII
Tony

Father and I stand arguing in the Great Hall, in front of the steps to his throne. He says it's not a throne, it's a fancy chair, but it looks and feels like a throne. There's also the fact that all the other chairs at the High Table are twice as far from it as they are from each other. Anyway, we stand before his not-throne arguing.

"I do not want to. They are people with feelings, just like us. The only difference is that they live solely on blood, while we eat plants and meat. Why do we have to hurt them?" I cross my arms. Father glares at me.

"They live on our blood, boy. You'll take over this castle and commonwealth one day and I need you to understand the dangers around those vampires. They will not hesitate to kill you, whyever would you hesitate to kill them?! You are coming on this hunt, boy. Those things keep moving closer and we cannot have that. You learn how to kill a vampire when it's up close and personal tonight." I really don't want to, but Father's word is law—literally. I guess I'm going on a vampire hunt.

Thirty minutes later, I stand with a standard Stark's Crucifix Silver Sword and a Stark's Crucifix Silver-Tipped Stake Gun by the main door. Stupid, fancy names for stupid weaponry. Father addresses me, as well as Mother and twelve others standing by the huge oak doors.

"Do not hesitate. Examine the field and if you can and it is safe, strike. If it is unsafe, wait until it is. My first priority is your safety, not killing the creatures. Go forth and rid the forest of these filthy vampires!" Father says vampire like it's a curse (in which case he curses often.)

He and Mother lead the steady walk down Stark Hill, pushing against the rain. I hate Stark Hill. It's a symbol of all the land Father controls, crowned with Stark Castle. It's so pretentious, I hate it with all my being.

In the forest, several men go around the sides of the camps with torches. I watch tents catch fire with fwoom noises. My stomach churns. All the ones dying must be in so much pain...

Father and Mother attack a tent on the outskirts. I am to follow them and fight with them.

I watch Father point his sword at a skinny boy with black hair and red eyes. The boy's fangs aren't very long, he must be young. He snarls weakly and scrambles backwards into a circle of firelight. Another boy and a girl join him. They all have black hair and red eyes, but the girl wears a short black skirt over her pants and has her hair pulled into a braid. The second boy has the brightest fangs I've ever seen. They also all look scared.

Two adult vampires step out of the tent. One tries to speak to Father, but is shot down mid sentence. When Father aims at the woman, the skinny vampire boy tackles Father. I watch his nostrils flare at the sight of Father's blood, then with effort he moves his head away from it. Father manages to shoot the vampire woman anyway.

The other boy, the bright fanged one, attacks Mother upon seeing the vampire woman shot. I step out of the foliage, suddenly hating these creatures, trying to help Mother's weak struggle. I fail to reach her in time. The first vampire is crushing Father's arm. I dash forward and push him away with my sword.

"You monsters killed my mother. You won't take him as well." I twist with my dart gun, trying to shoot the one that killed Mother, but he dashes away through the trees. I then turn and shoot the vampire girl, watching her body hit the dirt with a feeling of satisfaction. I wave my sword over the first one.

"Don't move, vampire scum. I'm letting you live to warn any others of your kind who may be here." I help Father to his feet and pick up Mother's body. Her death changes the way I view vampires. I will kill them all one day. I will make sure that none will ever do that to those I love again.

To make sure it works, I won't love again, either. That is why Mother's death is such a shock. Because I love her. I can't love again.

"Don't worry, Mother. I will avenge you. I will kill every last miserable vampire in this forest, I promise," I murmur to her body, even though she can't hear me. Father and I slowly make our way to rejoin the rest of the party, carrying Mother's body with us. The rain sets the mood perfectly: bitter, icy, and stinging.

At the castle, Father congratulates me for what might be the first time in my life. "You did well. Don't feel guilty a bit. Your mother's death was unavoidable. We will bury her soon and your threat against that vampire will surely stick in his mind for a long time. Hopefully he will warn others and they will be disjointed enough soon that we can finish them off." Father stands as if waiting for me to say something. So I do.

"Father, I admit I was wrong. All vampires are not like humans, they are animals with human stature. Mother's death has proven that to me. We will destroy them and avenge Mother."

"Spoken like a true Stark." Father claps a hand on my shoulder. "Now get some rest, my son." Not 'child.' Not 'you there.' Not 'boy.' My son. He called me his son. Although I have called him Father all my life, it was only from respect. But now he is my Father and I am his son.

"Of course, Father." I walk up the two stairways to the keep of Stark Castle. We aren't even really a castle, just one keep with a smaller one on top of it.

Everything about the Starks is something stupid that has been glorified. The barracks are a glorified set of mats and not chests, but barrels, for personal belongings. The Great Hall is a glorified set of four tables and the High Table, home of the not-throne of Lord Howard Stark. The not-throne and the royal rooms are the only things that fully match their names. The royal family rooms are full of thick brocades and velvet swatches that I've learned to fit perfectly into.

This is my home. Here. This drafty keep upon keep with rooms fit for royalty at the top. This hunk of stone and wool thrown together from the bones of hills and trees and the clothes of animals. Nowhere else. And I will save it from vampires or die trying.