As soon as he made it back he quickly washed the remainder of the horse's blood and burial dirt from his body and clothes and rushed out to quickly attend to his work along with the rest of the mansion workers. Just as he set a hand on the stable door, he heard someone call his name. If his heart could still beat it would have been beating faster than a rabbits with all the guilt welled up inside of him. It took all his power not to run from his crime but keep his feet rooted to the ground. He turned his head slowly to see Franc, the carriage driver, coming up to him.
"Ah, good morning, Franc. Did you call me?" Gaspard tried to keep his voice calm as he gave a feeble smile to the older man.
"Yes. I need to get the carriage horses ready for Master Roux, would you help me lead them out?"
Gaspard just nodded and lead the way into the stables toward the two stalls holding the large clysdales. He gave a quick, fleeting glimpse over to the now empty stall that was very close to where they stood now, silently praying (if a vampire's prayers could be answered) that Franc would not notice. But he did- all too soon.
"Where is that large Black Stallion at?"
"Hmm?"
"The Stallion! His stall is empty- look!" Gaspard walked quickly over to the stall for the show of it and opened the door as if by some chance the horse was still there. "Well, where is he?!"
"I-I don’t know..." Gaspard mumbled rather dumbly.
"What do you mean you don’t know? Don't you care for the horses? Was he here last night?"
"Uh...Yes, yes he was here when I finished last night..."
Part of what he said was true. The horse was there when he had finished, it just hadn't survived. But of course, Franc was the last person to learn of what had really happened. The growing tension inside of him only grew worse as he heard the familiar soft footsteps coming into the stables. Jocelyn.
"Good morning Gaspard-"
Jocelyn cut herself off as she met Franc's rather hostile look and followed his wavering eyes to the empty stall.
"What is going on?" She asked calmly.
"The Black Stallion is gone, and I think he's got something to do with it!" Franc shot a sharp glare at Gaspard, "He hasn't given me one straight answer and he's all fidgety! I think he's sold the horse!"
Gaspard's eyes grew wide as he heard the accusations coming from Franc's mouth. He had never liked the old carriage driver, but now he slightly feared him as well. What if Jocelyn believed him? After all, the old man was partially right. Gaspard was at fault, but he had eaten the horse, not sold him- not that any of it mattered now. He stole a glance at Jocelyn who was staring at the stall, then to Gaspard, and back to Franc.
"Gaspard has cared for these horses for a good amount of time now," Jocelyn spoke slowly, "and not once as anything happened to a single hair on any of these horses’ heads. I see no proof Gaspard is at fault."
"He is the only one who comes in here! He has full responsibility of the beasts. Who else would have done it!" Franc's voice grew louder.
"It was the large, strong, Black Stallion you say?"
Gaspard nodded while Franc shouted an exasperated "Yes!"
"Then I see many people who could have taken the poor thing- but none, I say, work under my father. The horse was very healthy, and was probably the strongest horse in all of Paris. Anyone who has seen him could have taken him to sell for food for their families."
Gaspard couldn’t help but smile. Jocelyn was defending him. She didn’t know anything of what happened, even if he was guilty or innocent, but she still stood up for him. The guilt and tension that had resided in him through the long night was being replaced by his strong feelings for Jocelyn.
"I let all the horses out into the pasture every day, anyone who passes could have seen him," Gaspard finally spoke up as he decided to try and defend himself.
Jocelyn gave him a quick, small smile then looked at Franc kindly as he turned to march out of the stables mumbling something about Gaspard getting both the clysdales for him.
As soon as Gaspard was sure Franc was well away he looked sideways at Jocelyn, unable to fully face her with the emotion of what she had just done for him settling in his chest. "Thank you. Thank you for what you said," he said softly, the familiar gruffness in his voice.
Jocelyn smiled, her face growing hot as she moved to shut the half-open stall door and Gaspard latched the door shut for her. "Why did you...why did you defend me..?" he finally asked quietly.
"I trust you. And I know you would never hurt any of these horses. I see how kindly you treat them every day, I know you would never do what Franc accused you of." she stated simply as she moved her hand along one of the clydales' soft neck. "I should go and let my father know he was stolen. I will see you later Gaspard."
Jocelyn gave the horse one last pat and left, looking back once at Gaspard before she disappeared. His previous feelings of tension, compassion and guilt were now fully gone. But the feeling that now took over his body now was worse than how he had felt when he first killed the horse. Jocelyn trusted him. She trusted him so much and he had betrayed her trust without her even knowing it. He shut his eyes tightly and his fists clenched dangerously as he silently swore a promise to himself. Never again would he feed on any of the horses, any of the mansions animals. Nor would he feed anywhere close to the mansion ever again. He will not take any more blood.
Chapter 11 Aversion
Slightly earlier than the night before, Gaspard made his way
to the Vampire Castle in good time. When he reached the stone stairs he told the guards not to bother helping him find his way. He knew he could manage to find the way to the cellar on his own without a silent guide.
As he walked down the dark corridor he didn't realize someone was coming towards him in the opposite direction. They were close to running into each other, but Gaspard stepped out of the way in the nick of time.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He could sense that this other man was a vampire immediately. "I wasn't sure that anyone else lived here."
"It’s not a problem." The vampire looked at him strangely. "You must be Gaspard."
Gaspard was a little puzzled. How did everyone know who he was when he didn't know anyone?
"I heard there was someone new here," he said quickly. "I'm Blaise." He put his hand out in greeting.
Gaspard took his hand warily, slightly shocked that there was actually a sociable vampire. Blaise had the same color hair as Gaspard but it was cut much shorter. His build was rather average and a couple of inches shorter than him. He didn't look like the kind of vampire who cared about what clothes he wore, considering they looked a bit dirty and certainly not as fancy as Lucas or Gabriel's.
Blaise was still staring at him oddly when Gaspard let go of his hand. Feeling a little awkward he shifted and said, "Well, I don't want to hold you up."
"Oh, no. I was just about to go outside for a bit, nothing important. Are you on your way to the training grounds?" "Yeah."
"I don't think Gabriel is there yet. He's speaking with Lucas, I believe."
"Oh," he said dully with a hint of disappointment.
"You can hang with me until he's done if you want," he said noting Gaspard's lack of something to do while he waited. "I could show you around."
"That would be much appreciated, thanks."
"Sure."
Blaise gave Gaspard a tour of the main floor. Aside from the common room, there were a few empty rooms mostly, with a couple of relaxing areas. The kitchen had nothing but dishware and goblets in it on counters. There was one door that they came to that was locked. Blaise stayed clear from it and wouldn't tell Gaspard what it was, other than it wasn't accessible to anyone but Lucas.
A room they entered from the common room had several paintings and scrolls that aligned the walls. It was a place where most of the ancient vampire families of France and all of Europe's history were recorded. A large book on a stand was centered in the room.
"This is where all our Laws and the Peace Treaty between vampire
s and werewolves are written," Blaise stated as he looked down at the book.
"Between vampires and... werewolves?"
"Yes," he chuckled. "Did you not think they are real too?" "I never really thought about it," Gaspard said truthfully.
"Those blasted mongrels," he suddenly said heatedly. "And they call us the death-bringers." He shook his head ironically.
"I take it we don't get along with them."
"Our previous leader wrote this Peace Treaty nearly fifty years ago when both sides grew tired of all the fighting and murdering." "So Lucas hasn't been leader for long then?"
"No. He came into rein only recently."
"What was the vampire who wrote the Treaty like? Please, tell me he had at least been kinder than Lucas."
"He was a hundred times more considerate than Lucas. He had always been a leader who did for the good of our kind and would make compromises. He was strict, but only to protect us. He was a great leader." He said mournfully. "Almost everyone looked up to him here."
"Almost?"
"Everyone has foes."
Gaspard, thinking of a few people he disliked, couldn't agree more.
Blaise cleared his throat. "Have you gotten the chance to meet everyone?"
"No, not really." Besides Blaise and Gabriel, all the other vampires he had met so far he wasn't too fond of.
"Come on. I'll introduce you to some of the others here." Blaise lead the way down a set of stone stairs and then into a faintly lit area that looked a bathing room. Several large dips into the floor were filled with steaming hot water. Many of the vampires were in the pools while others were serving them. Gaspard thought it was a place more for pleasure than cleansing. He suddenly noticed that everyone was staring- no glaring at him and it made him feel a little edgy.
"They don't really like new comers," Blaise informed him.
"I can tell."
Blaise let out a small chuckle and then started greeting them. "This is Benjamin and Yanick." They each gave a small nod that was barely visible.
Benjamin was slim and had dark head and facial hair, while Yanick was muscular and red-headed. Evident that was all the greeting they were giving, Blaise moved on to the next pool with Gaspard trailing behind him.
As they walked across the slippery path outlining the pools, a girl leaped soundlessly over to Blaise. "This is Hannah," He smiled and wrapped his arm around her, signifying that she was his. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and waved cheerfully at Gaspard. Her hair was a short and choppy blonde and her face was round. She had a glow to her that was odd for a vampire. When Blaise touched her stomach he realized why she looked different compared to the others. "And this will be either Nicolas or Danielle."
"Pleasure to meet you both," Gaspard said, feeling slightly less awkward.
She giggled and then Blaise kissed her on the head and bid her farewell.
They continued over to the last pool where two females and a male sat together. The females were touching and kissing him all over while he whispered erotic things into their ears. Gaspard recognized the male and suddenly felt uncomfortable again.
Blaise went from left to right, "Aimee, Marcel, and Alexis." Marcel was one of the vampires he saw the night of Elijh's death. He'd recognize that twisted face of his any day. He could still imagine his mouth dripping with blood and the piercing screech it let out when he was pursuing him. His hair was blonde and slicked back, the spitting image of a younger Lucas.
Gaspard's eyes narrowed when Marcel gave him a devilish smirk as a hello. The two females blew kisses at him and returned to nibbling Marcel's neck.
"Well you look rather different from the last time I saw you. Let's see, when was it?" He pondered dramatically. "Oh yes, I remember now. The boy who was running through the forest for his life after you saw me snacking on your friend."
Gaspard's calmness sank to the bottom and now only grief and anger filled his head at the mention of Elijh. He could feel his skin rising in temperature.
"Back off, Marcel," Blaise quickly said.
"Why do you care? You would have done the same thing if you weren't such a coward."
"Well, at least I don't go around feeding on every human in sight and sleeping with every female in the castle!" He said angrily.
"Ha! You are just afraid you would be punished if you were caught doing something against the rules again. Lucas allows me to do what I please." He gave an evil smirk.
He was about to attack, and Marcel was waiting for just the right moment to strike first.
"Blaise, enough." Gaspard put one hand on his shoulder and half faced him. "He isn't worth it."
His fangs were already peeking out from under his lip. He reluctantly nodded and backed up a step, letting his anger subside but still stared him down.
Marcel shook his head in wonder. "Are you just going to let the weak hyblood tell you what to do?"
Gaspard turned his gaze back to him and glared.
Blaise looked away. "Let's go." He set his mouth to a grim line and lead the way out the previous door they came in from and then through another that lead outside. They walked a few paces before stopping near a tree. Blaise leaned his head up against it and sighed, trying to release all the anger that had welled up inside him from the encounter with Marcel.
"Well, I am not sure where the others are, but they are probably out hunting." He said dully.
"That's alright. I think I've met enough for one day." "Agreed."
There wasn't much to say after that. Marcel had put them both in dark moods and neither of them felt like talking anymore. Gaspard could see that Blaise disliked Marcel more than words could say, and he felt the same feeling of hatred for the Lucas impersonator. But what, he thought, did Marcel do or say to make Blaise hate him possibly more than me? Though, he couldn't just ask him. He didn't feel comfortable with asking him such a question yet since he barely knew the guy.
"I'm happy for you and Hannah," he said trying to lighten up the mood.
"She is all I have. The only light that shines in my world."
Gaspard smiled at how easily Blaise and Hannah could show their love for one another. Then he thought of Jocelyn and wished he could admit to her how much he cared for her. But he knew there was little chance she felt the same way for him. They were only good friends after all.
"Do you have an eye on anyone in particular?" He asked, breaking Gaspard away from his thoughts.
"Well, there is someone. But I know things couldn't probably ever work out between us."
"Do you mean a human?" His eyes grew wide. "Damn right things couldn't work out. It’s against our laws to even tell a human what we are, let alone fall in love with one. Lucas would rip your head off if he ever found out."
"Yeah, I know. Nothing is going on anyway." Thanks to Blaise, he was now even more depressed and wished he never said anything. "What did Marcel mean when he called me a… hyblood?" He asked, both trying to change the subject and just out of plain curiosity.
Blaise moved from the tree and quickly said, "Hey, I have to go. I promised Hannah I would accompany her hunting tonight."
"Oh. Alright."
"Sorry about leaving on such short notice."
"It’s no problem. Gabriel is probably waiting for me."
"Okay. I'll see you later then!" he called over his shoulder, before returning to the castle.
Gaspard didn't follow after him. He needed to sit outside in the moonlight a little longer before heading for his next lesson. He leapt up on top of one of the castle walls and looked down on everything. He thought of Blaise's sudden leave was a little strange and was most likely avoiding answering his question. He'd have to ask Gabriel what it meant. But after that, he thought nothing more of it. He began to think of how everything had changed over these past few days. How could his life or whatever it was called now, change so fast to something completely different? Everything he was and knew was no more than a memory. It felt like a dream- no, a nightmare.
He clutched his
necklace in his hand and then looked up at the sky. "What would Father and Mother think of me?" He searched the stars before bringing his head back down in disgust. "A monster." After putting his necklace back under his shirt, he jumped down from the wall and landed on both of his feet. Not the stars nor anyone could turn him back. A vampire, a luster of blood he would forever be.
When Gaspard arrived, he was greeted at the training cellar door by Gabriel. He was obviously late, but Gabriel didn't make a big deal of it. He just told him sarcastically to be on time next time if wanted to earn a passing grade.
"We are going to work on control tonight." Gabriel stated when they reached the bottom of the stairs. "I am going to spill an animal's blood on this floor. You will try to withstand it. I want you to recede your fangs and bring your eyes back to your normal color during the process. Alright?"
Gaspard nodded. He backed up a few steps as Gabriel brought over a cage with an animal rattling inside and sat it on the ground. He took out a knife off his belt and reached in the cage. He took the hare by its neck and slit its throat, then backed away himself. The blood started to pour out of its neck as it lay there twitching.
Gaspard's eyes immediately sparked to a dark purple and his fangs peaked out from his upper lip as soon as the scent of the blood touched the air.
"Don't let the smell over power your other senses."
Gaspard tried to concentrate, but his mind was elsewhere.
"You're not focusing. Block out the scent."
"I'm trying..." He shook his head.
"Is something else bothering you, Gaspard? "Everything is," he said through clenched teeth.
Gabriel walked forward and put a sheet over the animal that was dying. "Would it narrow it down if I rephrase the question to: what's not bothering you?"
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