In the meantime, many of the council members already left the big meeting room through the other entrance, continuing their work schedule. Some vampires stayed and even others of the elite members mingled with council members as they for sure already know about a new stranger visiting the empire. Vampires are nosy creatures. It is just a weakness of the humans in a similarly high position. Gossip keeps their spirits alive. They love a good story to tell as long as it is not about their own misery.

Tristan rose slowly, in a majestic manner, as we entered. His cold eyes follow Dr. Nowak and already examined him from the first step he took into the door. Tristan is a tall and broad-shouldered man. His looks are reminiscent of an ancient warrior, but maybe it is only how I see him. That is how we met. The brown hair is tied into a low ponytail with a black silk band. I can see how the stranger is impressed by the radiant aura our Lord has and I cannot help myself but feel proud.

Proud that he still allows me to be his personal guard.

When Dr. Nowak is close enough to Tristan, I can see the corners of Tristan's mouth move up for a split second. "I haven't heard this accent in a long time, Dr. Nowak." Our ruler's deep, and rough, voice states. Yet, I can almost feel the calming tone of it. Back to my duties, I take my stand right next to Tristan.

My stance is as if I would still wear my old armor and not the black suit. It is a habit. I clasp my hands behind my back and puff up my chest. It is hard to at not look too short next to Tristan. I guess there are little people who do not feel like a leprechaun next to him.

"I'm sorry, that you had to wait so long, but we encountered some unplanned inconveniences today, please, take a seat." Tristan points to the chair right next to his own and gives me a short look. This is the silent order to bring a glass of blood for the guest.

I suppress an annoyed eye-roll. Instead, I nod for understanding. "So, now, what leads you into our beautiful city, Dr. Nowak?" I can hear Tristan saying while silently walking out the door again to head to the storage room.

I really do not mind to do those things for our Lord but maybe this is why I feel like a butler these days. Most likely, the foreigner is one from Middle Europe that came here because there are tough times there. Someone would think, that confusion and war cannot scare a majestic creature like a vampire, but in the end, we are still who we were in our old life. Still I really try to avoid thinking about my own past.

The storage room is more like a kitchen. The human servants also use it to prepare their meals. It is not that we would not be able to eat. It just tastes like nothing and we are not able to digest it. What sense does it make to waste money on food then? It is a bit of a difference with liquids. They still taste like nothing and it does not feed our hunger, but strong alcohol still has its effect.

It is like getting drunk with an empty stomach. Some use it to get lost now and then, but I gave up on it since it makes me a man I really do not want to be anymore. It lets me lose control over myself and I cannot even stay calm in some situation when I am sober.

Right when I am taking out two heavy decorated glasses of the kitchen shelf a servant shows up. She slightly bows her head and murmurs some excuse for disturbing me. I am opening a bottle of blood sniffing at it, but it really cannot beat the scent that is coming into my nose from that girl who just wants to start her work here.

I take a questionable look at her and have to grin. "We have a guest," I state while closing the bottle again. "Do you mind?" I ask while pointing at her first and the glasses afterward. I really do not intend to accept a no to that question, but I got told that I have to ask.

The servant smiles and bows in front of me once again. "Not at all, dear Sir," she humbly murmurs, before taking two steps in my direction. "Will you take me with you, or do you want to fill that, Sir?" Instead of answering, I put back the bottle and the glasses on the kitchen dresser in front of the maid.

Controlling my facial expressions, I cannot help but look at her from bottom to top. She keeps her head down as I approach her with a cold stare. Her appearance is neatly and fresh. Maybe she just started her shift.

I like the obeying ones, and this one smells especially tasty. With two very fast steps, I get behind her and hold one of her hands in mine. My other hand wanders at her belly holding her tightly and letting her feel my body against her back. With a deep breath, I can smell her neck while running the tip of my nose along - wonderful.

My deed causes her to shiver slightly but she does not seem to be afraid, but more of excited. While I make a small cut at her wrist, to fill the two glasses in front of us I feel the urgent need that I want her; one way or another.

I whisper in her ear as I can feel the goosebumps in her neck: "If I wouldn't be in a hurry I would take you right here in the kitchen," I release a sigh and continue, "Come to my room today. If somebody asks, tell them that you have instructions from Mr. Vinge." The glasses fill up slowly and I grant her the weakness to lean against me.

"I will come, if you ask me so, Mr. Vinge," she answers quietly with a bright smile on her face. With deft fingers, I get out a piece of cloth lying on the kitchen dresser and press it against her wrist. I carefully lick the last drop, which wanted to escape at her wrist. Not a single stain dropped onto her clothes. This makes her heavily blush.

Manipulating servants and especially our female ones is quite easy in my position. They feel special when they get chosen by the Lord and his closest circle. She did not say anything but I am pretty sure she already heard my name or saw my face next to the Lord. She takes the cloth and presses it against the small cut I caused to get to the blood.

Taking the two half-full glasses, I command her to come with me. "You wait outside of the hall. I'll tell you if you can come in to feed the Lord and his guest more or if you can continue your usual work." She once more obediently bows her head.

I secretly have to grin too when we reach the big doors again. If she would know what I have in mind she maybe would not be that fond of me. Who knows how she smells after serving our guest and the Lord? I really think it is a pity but we need to make sure not to drain out our servants, but for now, I need to focus and concentrate again.

I enter the hall with the glasses in one hand, opening and closing the door with the other. Intuitively I straight out, before reaching the end of the table where the Lord and Dr. Nowak sit. I barely was listening to their conversation while doing so, but the hat of the doctor was a riddle to me so I passed a moment where I would not interrupt them to serve the blood.

"Excuse me Sir for bothering you, but where did you get your hat from?" I say, placing the glass in front of him and see him taking a sip. I can also nearly feel the amused smile from Tristan and got proven right when I take a side look handing him his glass. He knows me too well and I am thankful that I am allowed to interrupt their talk like that.

"Oh, I'm so happy you recognized it! I got it from a business meeting with a human, he said it's a prototype and they call it 'Bowler'." Dr. Nowak slightly waves his hand before continuing. "He thinks it's funny because of the shape and his own name. When I see him next time I will tell him that the secretary of our Lord also has laid eyes on it."

He softly smiles at me, while I could feel the heat rising in my face, turning it red with anger. "Doctor Nowak, Ethan is not a secretary." Tristan start and the guest uses the short break to interrupt. "Excuse me, Sir! Is he your first butler? Is that the right position title in this country?"

I clench my teeth and do not know if I was able to prevent my eyes from glowing, but I manage to turn to Tristan and press out: "Excuse me, my Lord. I have forgotten to give the maid instructions outside." I bow slightly at him before turning around again heading outside.

How could he call me a butler? Me? The first of the royal guards, the personal guard of our Lord, who himself could defeat a hundred men on his own? Moreover, I was just about to tell them about the waiting woman outside with the sweet taste! I was not able to hear Tristan's answer to the guest after my fast-paced exit, but I hope he granted me to leave.

The servant girl was still sitting there looking at me with a little smile, which faded pretty fast as she sees my eyes glowing. I close the door behind me and approach the maid pretty fast. With a fluent movement, I drag her onto her feet within one moment, as she was just about to get up from her seat. One of my hands lays around her throat when I show her my fangs and she could see me in full fury.

"You are mine!" I hiss at her. "If that guest Mr. Nowak ever lays a hand on you, I'll let him pay for it." My anger fades out that moment I could see the shocked face of the maid who answers anxiously. "Yes, Mr. Vinge, Sir!" She promises hastily. I feel a bit of sorrow for releasing my anger at her instead of the guest inside. Kissing her cheek fairly soft I free her throat again by letting my finger run down briefly. I clear my throat and run my fingers through my hair. She does not move an inch but stays there all tensed up. "You may go now and do your duties," I tell her while feeling the gaze on me.

Getting out of her paralyzed state, she hurries to get away. I cannot blame her but wonder if she still will come to my room today. I straighten out once more and take a deep breath before entering the room again without knocking and taking my stand next to my Lord. I am thankful for the almost tender look I get from Tristan when he sees me all controlled and cooled down.

I stare at the guest coldly. Being distant is nothing new to me, even though I would be curious about what the arriving guest brings with him. Some people bring knowledge - as that is what Dr. Nowak says he brings. Other people bring troubles. When he would not want to stay for a while, he would not come here.

Many barbarians live not so far away from this blessed and well-mannered place that I can call my home. My heart will always belong to London and my Lord. I fought too hard and lost too much to give that up now, even though I am bored.

We have worked out clear and effective rules to avoid crimes and misbehavior. When it comes to me, some are still far too little for the outrageous deeds some of our members keep on doing. I wonder if this little man will give me a reason to use one of the punishments that I partly invented myself. I give the guest a cold smile, as he keeps on looking at me. I can see how this gives him a slight cool chill and he starts to feel a bit more uncomfortable. Good.

"Please take my sincere apologies, Mr. Ethan. Different lands have different traps in the meaning of words." Dr. Nowak all of a sudden says in my direction. Mr. Ethan? Really? My smile disappears. "Of course, Dr. Nowak, my duty is to keep this a safe place especially for Lord Blackwood and his followers," I point out pretty loud so that also the other vampires who still linger around in the meeting room can hear me.

Somehow, this seems to amuse Tristan as he slightly rolls his eyes but keeps on smiling. "I doubt that..." Tristan starts as an impatient knock on the door interrupts him, before the double wings swing open.

A very small person with a mask enters the room. Even though the person is wearing a long black cloak, male trousers, and a shirt, the curves betray that there is a woman underneath. Eve Blackwood, the protégé of our ruler, for no doubt. She was charged with the search of the missing minister, Warlow.

Tristan raises an eyebrow, as he clearly is not fond of the way she just entered in such a dramatic way. "Eve..." he starts, but seem to rethink what he wants to say as she comes closer and removes the mask, showing a face full of worries. "We have a problem," she states as she comes to stand still in front of Tristan who rises and fatherly put his hands on her shoulders.

Their difference in height is funny to watch when they are so close to each other. Even though I am pretty sure Eve was already nearly twenty when she got turned, she looks like a little child next to Tristan. "Why? Did you find Warlow as I told you?" Eve nods. "Yes, I did. He is dead." Observing Tristan I can see his face getting slightly paler and as the moments go by I am pretty sure he was seeing if she dared to joke about such a serious matter.

"Bring them in!" Eve yells over her shoulder in the direction of the door. Nearly instantly three of my guards bring in two big lengthy pieces wrapped in white cloth that already got soaked with dark red blood. "Them?" Tristan tries to understand while the guards place the bodies on the big oak table, making a mess. The air fills with the smell of fresh, but dead blood. There is something that makes dead blood smell and tastes very wrong, therefore it is seen as unclean.

Absentminded Tristan moves to the packages of bloody cloth and shoves it away to see the cruel and shocking image the bodies make. Their throats have been ripped off and slightly out, at some parts of their body, flesh got ripped out as well. I step next to Tristan to see what he sees.

One of them is Warlow and the other one is a female I never saw before. From her looks, I guess she was a human companion. I can see Tristan moving one of his hands on his stomach while he takes two to three steps back. "Where did you find them?" He silently asks Eve who now stands next to him. He looks nearly paralyzed. Sure, there is a lot of anger and cruelty in this deed and I should be shocked, but all I can think of is the smell of the blood in front of me.

"Right at the corner of a street. Good visiblefor any passenger. I think they had been brought there after death." Evegulps. "They were hung up with knives... Pinned to the wall." Tristanshakes his head slowly. His hand trembles as he wipes his lips. I can see thatthis is not his strongest moment. Both of them are not having their strongestmoment actually.   

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