"Thank you, boy," the Vampire King, Neculai, said to him in a flat and stoic voice. He took a few steps towards August--his gait was long enough that a few steps could cover the eight feet between them, and he was then mere inches away.
"Why did you decide to take pity on me, mortal? None of your kind have thought to do that before. Well, besides the descendants of my closest friend, but that hardly counts," Neculai said, running his eyes over August.
Though he was terrified seeing that the very thing that he had mocked was standing right in front of him--and an imposing thing he was—August contained as much fright as he could and kept it out of his voice. "Dracule told me that it was possible that you would be willing to help me reclaim this country's glory?" he replied, being totally honest with the reasons for summoning him. It was the convention to tell demons why they were summoned after all, wasn't it?
"I see. No philanthropic urge pulling at your heartstrings, just pure greed. Then again, as a noble, I expect nothing less. I'm glad to see that's precisely what I received,” Neculai replied, turning his nose up and then surveying the room again with the same from. Then, without another word, he began to climb the stairs.
Seeing Neculai leave so unceremoniously and go upstairs, into some of the commons where staff might see him, gave August a great deal of anxiety. he rushed after him as fast as his legs could carry him. Despite that, catching up with Neculai was no easy task. His strides were as easy and rapid as if they were effortless. It almost seemed like he was floating rather than walking--then again, he may well have been.
"Neculai, please! Stop!" August called out, and much to his surprise, Neculai did stop, and he turned around. His eyes were a piercing crimson, and his countenance, form what August could tell in the faint light from the lamp that Dracule was lugging along, was very grave.
"Speak, human," he said, his voice as cold as ice.
"Neculai, you're heading into the commons area. People might see you," August said through his panting.
"I see. Even though I'm free, you'd lock me away," he replied, equally unimpressed here, just as he was earlier.
"Neculai, if someone saw you, they'd scream. You don't look like a normal human," August said, going up to Neculai and lightly grabbing his hand. For a moment, both of them recoiled. To Neculai, August’s touch was moist and hot, and to August he felt as cold as ice. Still, it seemed almost as if a shot of electricity zapped through them for a moment that left both of them tongue tied.
"You did not scream when you saw me," Neculai pointed out.
"I expected you. Dracule did not take me to your chamber without informing me of exactly what I was doing by opening the door," August asked. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea right at the start. If I can think of a way to get you to my room, we can sit down and have a talk about this," August said.
Neculai seemed intrigued by the offer. "If you wish to speak in your room, then we shall," he said. "No one will see me, so don't fret," he said, and at that moment, he vanished. August's mouth just hung open, and he turned to Dracule for an explanation. The butler's jaw was as wide as the king’s however.
"He just . . ." August began.
"Disappeared," Dracule finished. "Go to your chambers, I'm sure that he'll meet you there," Dracule urged.
"How would he know where my chambers are?" August asked, forgetting for the time being that Neculai had also been a monarch in the castle, so all he would have to do is retrace the steps back to his old home. Still, there wasn't much time to waste, so he hurried to his room, and sure enough, there sat Neculai. He was on the stood in front of his full length mirror. There was no reflection of him, though his clothes were represented.
August carefully shut the door and locked it. "Neculai," he began, his voice trembling slightly in fear of this new creature.
"Don't fear me, boy," Neculai replied and suddenly stood. He was easily 6'5", making him quite the imposing figure. It was hard therefore to take his advice and not fear him. Still, if that's what he wanted, he would try to mitigate the fear, if only a little bit. "Tell me, if you knew that you were releasing the Vampire King, why did you proceed?"he asked.
"Well, because my most trusted servant told me that you would be able to help. Adrian Dracule," August replied. "He's been my best friend since I was young, because he took care of me."
"He's not that much older than you," Neculai observed. "But, if he is of the Dracule family, then he is one of the spawn of my great friend, Vladimir Dracule," Neculai continued. "A powerful warlock, though he kept his trade a well kept secret from the peasantry. That's one magic trick I wished he would have shown me, to be honest," Neculai said with a grunt.
"There aren't very many records on you--none at all that I'm aware of. So, I had to take Dracule's word for it that you would be able to help me" August replied. "That's why I undid your seal, but that doesn't mean that my plan is to just throw you away after you've helped. I'm not a cruel tyrant, I am just . . ." he trailed off, biting his lip as he thought of a delicate phrasing to explain what he felt and what he thought.
"You're just afraid that I will become a nuisance? That, after I'm used up, I'll have no place around the castle, and that I'll be in the way. Maybe I'll even tarnish your good name," Neculai suggested pessimistically.
"I don't have much of a good name to tarnish around here," August grumbled this time.
"No? Have you been caught whoring about perhaps?" Neculai asked.
As soon as the words left his lips, August's cheeks turned a bright red. "Excuse me!" he replied, mortified by the suggestion.
"Well, then, what is it? Don't leave me in suspense," Neculai replied, waiting to hear why his savior had such a bad reputation around the castle.
"It's because my father left the country in a very delicate diplomatic position, and now because things aren't miraculously fixed overnight, the problem is because I'm a youth that doesn't know anything," August replied.
"What would the fact of you being a youth have anything to do with it?" Neculai asked, his red eyes just looking at him with an earnest curiosity.
"I would assume you would know," August replied. Still, Neculai's confused expression didn't change, and he just kept looking at him. "I'm the youngest ruler in five generations," he explained.
"I see. When my mother ruled Romania, she did it with more of an iron fist than any of the men before her could manage, and she gained the throne at the young age of sixteen. I suppose she never had to suffer from being castigated as a youth or as a woman, come to think of it. ," Neculai replied in a very matter of fact tone.
"I can't simply rule with an iron fist. Barbarity will get me nowhere, when it's diplomacy I'm lacking," August responded, quite annoyed if he was honest with the utter lack of concern that Neculai was displaying. Maybe he wasn't such a good role model. "Wait, hold on. Was your mother Sofia the Strong?" August asked, just now drawing the lines together in his head.
"Indeed he was," Neculai responded with a nod of his head. "And I was known as Neculai the Gentle. Funny, huh?" he said, though he didn't smile, much less laugh.
Neculai the Gentle? August thought. Surely Neculai the Gentle wasn't what he needed right now, with war boiling on the Western front, crops failing, and a slew of other issues on deck. What was Dracule thinking? Was this still some kind of drawn out, sick joke?
"A short Golden Age with increased art and commerce all went under the drain after the peasants decided to set fires to towns around the countryside in search for some "witch". God knows why they get such things into their head, but when my secret finally fell apart, they locked me under the castle. I'm assuming they meant for it to be forever, but luckily you and Dracule finally saved me," Neculai said, sighing.
"A Golden Age? Why wouldn't that have been in my history lessons?" August asked, a bit skeptical of the claim that Neculai was making.
"Simple enough. There's a very basic human emotion called embarrassment, and few things are more embarrassing that throwing a
successful and kind king off the thrown solely because of some superstitious mumbo jumbo. So, to avoid having to admit their huge blunder, the Golden Age would be covered up. That's simple enough to guess," Neculai replied. "But perhaps there's another reason for it? I don't know what it might be, but that's my guess."
"I suppose that guess is as good as any," August replied, starting to get frustrated at the holes in his education, which were becoming more and more prominent as the day progressed, it seemed.
"Tell me, what are your problems?" Neculai asked, leaning forward and looking into August's eyes.
"Too many to count," he replied with a tired sigh. "The biggest problem that I'm currently facing is the lack of military prowess to deal with a Visigoth invasion from the west. But there's a drought affecting the crops as well, and starvation is becoming a common occurrence in the peasantry," August said, beginning with the two most pressing concerns to begin with.
"The Visigoths are a simple enough matter. If they're a Goth, then they're a German tribe, a bunch of barbarians. It's easy enough to just bribe them, or get foreign diplomats on the same page with you and drive them out that way," Neculai said. "Foreign diplomats might be keeping their fingers out of the pot currently because of hopes that you will be able to deal with the forces yourself. Then, Romania will be in a compromised position for them to strike if they so wished," Neculai said. August was amazed at what clear objectivity he was able to look at a situation when he was so removed from the time period. Then again, some things never changes, and a man who had ruled for one hundred years certainly would know his way around foreign diplomacy well.
"Do you think that I'll really be able to enlist the help of neighboring countries?" August asked, a bit skeptical of that claim in all honesty. If they were going to help, then they would have already offered to do so. At least, that's the way that he looked at the issue.
"Unless they want to deal with the Goths next, then yes. I believe that if you put the scenario in that way, then they will have to help you," Neculai replied calmly. "As far as the drought, we will have to see how your farmers are dealing with the irrigation, and how the rivers are dammed up. But tonight, I don't have the energy," Neculai said and flopped down on the bed.
"You just rested for a couple hundred years," August said, confused.
"Correction: I haven't eaten for a couple hundred years. I need food," Neculai said, and August hesitated. Would he have to sacrifice a person so that he could eat? Would him feeding kill a human? He didn't know.
"Does your feeding kill?" August asked timidly.
"No, no. Heavens, no. It just will make you a touch paler from lack of blood, and a bit lightheaded. You won't even turn into a vampire unless I decide to bestow the gift on you," he replied. "Now, go find me some flesh."
"I-i can't," August said, biting his lip slightly. Neculai looked up, not disguising his annoyance in the slightest. August just bit his lip. "No one can know about you being released. It will cause mass hysteria, and I'll be killed for sure. So, if you must eat, then you can feed from me. And Dracule, because this was his idea in the first place.
"How awfully noble of you. You usually don't see that kind of selflessness in the aristocracy," Neculai said with a grin and patted the bed next to him. "Hurry up, I'm starving," he said.
August was a bit hesitant, but he laid down as he was instructed to, and Neculai clumsily pulled down the shoulder of his tunic and bit him on the arm, so the bit mark wouldn't show. This was the first time that August had had someone remove his clothing, and it did make him nervous.
When he became king, he put aside his youthful trips to the whore house, though even they were mostly for show. His true pleasure came from the eager stable boys behind the house of ill repute. August figured his days of physical pleasure had come to an end with his ascension to the throne. It was something he quickly accepted with the responsibility of ruling. The attention from Neculai felt both strange and welcome at the same time.
Even though he had given permission to Neculai, he felt the urge to slap him away. Those thoughts fell away when he felt his teeth sink in, however, along with all other conscious thoughts.
Neculai’s teeth pierced his skin as effortlessly as if it were butter, and August gasped sharply at the slight pinch that resulted. He expected the feeling of blood being drained out of him to be a wholly unpleasant, yet a rush of adrenaline accompanied the loss of blood that the experience was exhilarating. His breathing quickened and he closed his eyes, letting out soft words of encouragement for Neculai so that he wouldn't stop. He didn't know why he enjoyed his touch, and his taking a part of him. The fact that he didn't know was irrelevant, though. He didn't need explanations in this moment, he just needed to enjoy it while it lasted.
He drank his fill, and then fell straight to sleep. August was more than a little uncomfortable with a vampire lying in his bed. Hell, just a man lying in his bed would have been bad enough. He had no choice but to let it slide, however, and so that he did, and fell off to sleep.
Chapter Three
As August slept, his mind was a total dark void. He didn't dream at all, and the sleep was a heavy, deep sleep. He didn't wake until late in the morning, judging by the light pouring through the windows when his eyes fluttered open.
He sat up and stretched, though that sudden motion made him very woozy. He felt sick and just laid back down, checking beside him for Neculai, and he was there. His frame was totally inert while he slept. To August, it seemed as though he didn't even breath. He carefully reached out a hand and placed it on his neck to feel his pulse. His ice cold skin was still, and he wondered for a moment if he had died.
When his crimson red eyes flickered open and he frowned, brushing August’s hand away in annoyance and turning over, pulling the covers over his head. "I'm trying to sleep," he grumbled.
"I'm sorry," August said, stammering slightly. "I . . . You were just so still, I thought that you were dead," he explained, so he would know why he disturbed him.
"I'd be flattered by your concern, if it weren't for the fact that I already am dead," Neculai replied and then yawned. "But even I need my rest, so stop bugging me," he added and sifted positions slightly so he could fall to sleep better.
August just bit his lip, not knowing how exactly to react to that. So, he got up and started getting himself ready for the day. It was just easier that way, rather than fooling around in conversation with someone who obviously didn't want to be talking.So, he went to his bathroom and washed his face, then changed into a fresh tunic. He had his duties as the king to attend to, and though something pretty incredible had happened last night, He couldn't dawdle.
Once he was ready, he left the bedroom, making sure to lock the door so no one got into the bedroom and saw Neculai, then he went to the throne room. His gait was a little off, and he had to stop twice on the way, so that he could orient himself. Still, he made it to the throne room and sat down without causing too much of a scene.
The first order of business was to write to other monarchs in neighboring countries, petitioning for their help. He explained the threat of the Visigoths, and how they could wreak havoc on the neighboring countries if they were able to make Romania their stronghold. They were a nomadic people to be sure, but if they took over Romania and secured it, then their job would be that much easier if they wanted to progress against the neighboring nations. Though August wouldn't hold out too much hope that this method would prove successful, there was always a chance that it may work. So, he sent the couriers to deliver the messages, and in the meantime would try his best to sure of the defenses so they'd last until neighboring monarchs gave a reply.
By the time that was done, it was nearly five in the evening, and so he got up and began to make his way to supper. As he walked, he heard everyone talking about a new aristocrat arriving at the castle, and August had to wonder who it could be that was coming, especially without his knowing! Granted, he had specifically told no one to disturb him unless i
t was of the utmost importance, but what new arrival could possibly be coming without so much as a letter of introduction?
When he sat down at the table, his blood ran cold for a moment as he saw Neculai. He had makeup on to make his skin look a bit darker, so that he wasn't unnaturally pale. In addition to that, his eyes seemed black instead of the bright crimson, and his antiquated garb was replaced with something more fashionable and modern. Still, why was he here? He should have been in hiding!
"I must thank the gracious king for taking me in as a show of faith the great Khans of the East," Neculai said graciously. Everyone seemed to be pleased and even some applauded this statement. What tale had he woven together while he was occupied with work?
Still, August just played along with Neculai's story and didn't say much so he didn't contradict him. However, his narrative seemed to be based around the Khans sending him as a peace offering to Romania, and though it was hasty, August accepted him with open arms so that there would be no fighting from the East. Now if only August could guarantee that, perhaps the narrative wouldn't be so bad. August had no idea if they would be able to maintain peace with the Mongols though, and so he was somewhat concerned, but he couldn't contradict him in front of the royal court. Therefore, he ate dinner quietly and retired back to his room as soon as he was able.
When he got to the room, he wasn't all that surprised to see Neculai already waiting.
"I sent Dracule down to have a look at the irrigation and the dams, and he found a few issues with the methods the peasants have been using. My suggestion is to have an aristocrat form a guild for farmers, and to require farmers to sign into the guild and receive lessons on proper damming techniques and irrigation models. The solution will probably take at least a month to come to fruition, but Romania was not built in a day," Neculai said.
Though August was surprised, and slightly annoyed at how Neculai seemed to have the answer to everything, he couldn't argue with his wisdom there. It seemed like a smart way to tackle the situation, and so he just nodded.
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