Chapter 17 End Of The Beginning

"I came here to tell you both that you can now safely go back to the manor" Sebastian said, smiling at us.

What!? Can we go back to the manor now? I swear it hasn't been three days yet and we're going back, but the rain has stopped, that is an indication that Vladimir is gone. But still, this is hard to believe. Well, if Sebastian said so then I guess the High Caliph really did leave the manor.

Dmitri is really happy to hear Sebastian say that, implying, "Good riddance, it was very hard for us to leave the manor and fend for our lives, especially to Theodore who got sick on the way here, good thing he's okay now, right Theodore?"

I nodded at him and replied, "Yeah, I'm feeling all better thanks to you Dmitri and if Vladimir already left then we can go back now and we'll hear Eleanore's voice again and probably continue with the activity she planned for us" I said.

Sebastian is looking at us in a rather curious thought, I catch a glimpse of that moment before he goes back smiling at us. How suspicious.

"Well, since he's gone and got 'riddance' of then why don't we head back to the manor and enjoy some breakfast, nothing beats a good meal in the morning" Sebastian said and started walking along the hall.

I called out to him and asked, "Sebastian, wait? I got to ask how did you find us, I mean there are so many inns and places in Prigoria but how did you find us that we're here?"

He didn't respond for a moment then smiled, saying, "I have my way child, after all I am the Head Steward of the house after all, it's my job to find and locate you" Sebastian said and carried on walking.

How very weird that is, he never called me 'child' before. This is strange, I have a bad feeling about this. Dmitri and I packed our things and went down to the staircase entrance. Before we leave, I notice the kid is in there and we haven't paid our accommodations yet. As I entered the bakery, he already greeted me with a smile followed by a wave.

"Good Morning kind mister, did you enjoy your stay here?" The kid said.

"Ofcourse, it was a plentiful stay, we just wanted to thank you for helping out and making our stay very welcoming and cozy, please accept this extra payment, I insist" I said, adding a couple of thousand leu to my payment since we never got the exact price of the stay but I'm happy to add more to help out.

"Mister, this is too much, your accommodations cost less that you're paying me" The kid said, giving back the other thousand leu.

But I insisted and pushed his hand back to him with the money and said, "No no I insist, keep it and I don't mind giving more for something that was worthwhile and rather enjoyable" I said.

The kid smiled widely and said more thank you than Lannister with his sorry the other day. Sebastian peered to the side and shouted, "Come on child, we have to get going, we don't have all day" He said.

"I guess, I should go and thank you again for the help and stay please send my regards to your Mom when you see her" I said and I was about to leave.

The kid called me and asked, "Mister, before you go, what's your name?"

"It's Theodore, Theodore Thompson, what's yours?" I return the question.

"Luca, Luca Barbaneagra, Mister Theodore" the kid said, extending a hand.

I shake it before leaving the bakery. Outside, Sebastian wasn't glad that I took my precious time there, seeing how his arms crossed says it all. I never saw him be this angry at me before, I never saw him like me at all.

"Come now, we're wasting our time here and you child are as slow as a turtle and I don't find that to my liking, such nuisance" Sebastian furiously said.

The walk was quiet, we were heading to the archway where the border of the forest lies. Sebastian hasn't given us more detail about why Vladimir left so early or how he found us in that edifice. It's so strange of him, I can feel it. I nudged Dmitri and whispered;

"Dmitri, I think I'm having a feeling that something is wrong with Sebastian lately? Haven't you found it weird that he's acting and even speaking this way? He even called me 'child' and I never heard him call me like that before or ever since I stayed in the manor" I whispered.

"I don't find him strange to me Theodore, maybe you're just don't know Sebastian as much as I do, he's been with us for as time can tell and clearly I find his attitude and way of composure all the same, but I do find it a bit peculiar that he addresses you as 'child' but all in all I don't find it any suspicious or new" Dmitri said.

I was about to asked more when Sebastian turns over to look at us, especially me with that menacing look and said, "You child, do keep your mouth quiet, I can overhear your blabbering noise in the front and I don't find any kind of sound come from you from then on, so I order you to keep your mouth shut till we get back to the manor"

He sounds like what Eleanor would've said if she was here. What's going on with Sebastian, he's never like this. Something is clearly going on and that's not Sebastian that I know. I know for sure, something has happened in the manor the last time we left. Certainly, Vladimir caught him and Lannister with our empty plates and drinks, it must be the reason why he's having a bad day. I should apologize to him later for getting scolded or punished because of the human food.

Sebastian went ahead, quiet as he traverse from tree to tree, heading towards the manor, looming in the distance. Dmitri offered for me to hold onto him and I did, securing myself in. We followed Sebastian, enjoying the breeze up in the branches, skipping from tree to tree, fast we went towards the manor.

A few minutes later we made it to the manor and Sebastian is nowhere to be found. And the manor is eerie quiet, no sound, no commotion and no Eleanore's loud mouth reverberating inside. As we approach the entrance of the manor, passing through the gardens, I grab hold of Dmitri's shoulder stopping him.

"Dmitri, okay I know you'll say I'm sounding insane for what I'm about to tell you right now but can you notice the manor is too quiet? And furthermore Sebastian is nowhere to be seen, he usually waits for us before taking his leave. I'm getting weird vibes right now and my gut says something isn't right" I said to him.

He just looks at me and smiled, saying, "Theodore, I don't know where you're getting that imaginative fantasy of yours but the manor is always this quiet even in the mornings and in the case of Sebastian, he might've left early maybe he's in need of somewhere like with Eleanore's side of taking care of her errands which if one is to take us back here already and fulfilled his order, no need of waiting for us"

"But but ... I know something is up I just knew it" I responded, feeling the heebie-jeebies.

"Theodore, why don't we get something to eat, you're just famished from not having breakfast on time and we're already late for it" He said, walking towards the double door.

We reach the entrance and slowly open the door wide, as we enter it is practically much quieter than I remember. I shouted 'Lannister', 'Eleanore', 'Sebastian' out loud but no one answered. Even Dmitri is starting to get worried, steadily putting on his stance because this is very unsettling. When Sebastian came out of the room, walking towards our direction.

Sebastian was surprised to see us and his expression in utter worry, saying, "Dmitri, Theodore, what on earth's magnitude in a grand scale of above ten are you doing here?"

"Uhm? What are we doing here? You came to Prigoria to pick us up, you said Vladimir has left the manor and deemed it was safe, that's why we follow you back here" I said, starting to get weirded out.

He lets go of the tea set he's holding, smashing to the floor, looking around the room and said, "I never went to Prigoria to take you back home"

OH NO!

"Asigură Camera!"

TRANSLATION: "Secure the room!"

In a shocking twist of fate, the double door swings close behind us and out comes characters wearing in black clothing, appearing out of thin air with their spears brandish towards us. They fill the room, covering every entrance, cornering us in the middle of the Grand Main Foyer.

Then all of the sudden, the High Caliph Vladimir comes out from the upper floor, descending down the stairs, laughing maniacally. I knew something was up and I feel this is the end of the road. He steps down, now with us on the floor of the main foyer, eyes darted directly to me. Dmitri and Sebastian cover his vision, hiding me from him when he raises his hand, making me levitate in the air and without warning I flew across the room, heading towards him and out his hand, grabbing my neck.

"THEODORE!" Sebastian shouted and was about to approach when these individuals with spears crowded him.

Vladimir looks at me menacingly, his eyes dark red and his aura of pure back ooze from him. He crook his hand from left to right, observing me as I struggle to be freed from his grip, I fumble around to get some air, I'm getting choked by Vladimir, holding my neck and closing it even more, cutting my access to air.

He laughed sinisterly at me, seeing my suffering for much longer than letting go of me, falling to the floor painfully. I catch my breath as Vladimir levitates down in front of me, pulling me up and brandishes his long nails, pointed at my neck. Dmitri struggles to free himself but he's been pinned down by the individuals wearing black.

"How wonderful this morning is today, to see and witness the treacherous upbringing of this fine loyal house of the Great Constantine Hierarch, such a waste it is ... I must say, I was presented to be fooled by your antics but you failed to even do so, the moment I found out that Dmitri here wince in pain for a fraction of a second when I stab that dreaded looking human, it already gave me a suspicion of something is going on around in this house and my suspicion is right all along, this house is hoarding a human in their premises" Vladimir said, holding me as leverage.

"Your Lordship, please let go of Theodore, he has nothing to do with everything that's been going on in this house, spare him" Sebastian said, trying to push himself away from the individuals blocking him from reaching me.

"Oh you plead mercy to this pathetic little human, it isn't even a shock that your human half is hindering your entire identity, so much so display importance to this creature so strongly that I find him very valuable, care to explain why?" He said, awaiting for Sebastian's answer.

He didn't respond, then grabbed my neck, surprisingly alerting them completely. I can feel the sharp tip of his nails, already giving me a small dot of a cut below my chin.

"You responded with persistence of showing mercy to this human but unable to give information why I should spare him, how dimwitted of you to propound your plea, maybe so I should kill him instead rather than waste our time" Vladimir said and slowly pushed the tip.

He stops, laughing at them then turns me over to look at me, with us face to face, he asked me;

"Human, or should I say 'Theodore' is your human name, care to indulge me, why should I show you mercy and spare you from imminent death right this very moment?" Vladimir asked me.

Dmitri and Sebastian are looking distressed, I was unable to speak, I'm frozen in place, frightened for my life. I try to mutter out an answer, saying;

"I can only say my life is valuable because I'm deemed of crucial importance to the Constantines and to a certain someone's well being" I vaguely said.

"Oh! A human life appraised to be valuable, can you further elaborate as to why that is? the term you speak of crucial importancy and to assure a certain someone's well being?" Vladimir asked again.

"I can't tell you the situation about it, I'm really sorry" I said.

Vladimir laughs slowly then erupts to a loud maniacal laugh. His aura quickly radiates out and levitates me in the air, eyes glare with hate and death in its wake.

"HOW DARE YOU REFRAIN FROM ANSWERING MY QUESTION! IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE BEYOND DEATH THEN YOU HAVE NO JURISDICTION OF DENYING YOUR RESPONSE NOT TO BE HEARD! THIS PROVES YOU DEVALUE YOUR LIFE AS YOU CONJECTURED IT TO BE OF IMPORTANCE ..."

"THEN I GUESS, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONDUCT TO YOU YOUR ULTIMATE DEMISE, AN ACT OF PUNISHABLE BY DEATH!" Vladimir said.

Vladimir levitates to me, leveling himself and pointing his nails directly at my throat and where my heart beats, showing my impending doom. Dmitri and Sebastian plead to spare me but they were ignored, with Vladimir determined to end my life then and there.

"Now Theodore, ANY LAST WORDS?" He said as menacingly as he can.

I stood quiet for about a moment and was about to say something when a loud cry came from the upper floors, Eleanore coming down from the stairs and pushing the characters away from her. She drops to the floor, kneeling down and said;

"I BEG OF YOU VLADIMIR, Please spare the human, I beg of you! He speaks the truth, I gave order not to say anything about the matter because he carries a weight that I need to address, please Vladimir, let go of the human, I would gladly oblige to reveal this dark secret we all hold in this house but spare the human if you seek to know" Eleanore pleaded to him.

Vladimir looks at me once more, irk and disgust on his face and slowly lets go of me, slowly floating down on the floor. He faced Eleanore as he joined us at the Main Foyer.

"Eleanore, darling, what is the meaning of this disruptiveness! Why are you vouching for this human? I demand an answer or I'll order this house of yours to ablaze" He said, eyes all on her.

"Vladimir, Theodore holds something I need as the Head Mistress of this house to accomplish and he needs to be alive in order for me to attain it, I hate to speak of this to you as you'll not might believe me but Theodore and m y younger brother Dmitri are cursed by bond with our ancient pact, one rare adversary to behold and right now I'm fully dedicated to relinquish this curse on our house and it is in my best interest you spare him" Eleanore responded thoughtfully.

Vladimir was shocked by the revelation, glancing at me and Dmitri, unbelieving her every word she said. He was quiet for a moment, shock still in his face and a moment passed, he looked at Eleanore one last time.

"You deemed this situation under control when clearly you let an ancient bond that is impossible for a human and a Vampir to commit had happened? Now you vouch for this human just to save the life of your younger brother? How impeccable, you lost your way Eleanore, you know the law when it comes to dealing with mavericks just like those two!" He said.

Without warning Vladimir grabs me by the neck, raising me high and with his nails pointed at my throat, ready to finish me off was quickly stopped by Eleanore's swift actions. She grabbed Vladimir's arm, retracting it away from me and then kicked him off, lunging him out to the double door. He recovers from the ground, dusting himself off, perfidiousness lingering on his face. The individuals in black were about to attack the Constantines but Vladimir stops them just by raising his hand.

"Ah, this is what it came to be Eleanore, you just committed a high offense against the society of the Vampirs, just for the sake and life of a human and your brother, I think you know where your loyalty lies"

Eleanore steps up, staring at him, determined and replied, "I do know where my loyalty lies and if you go against my wishes to uphold my duty to my house then you'll live me no choice but to invalidate your hand in proposal of our union and leave my house alone and not face repercussion, case in effect if you harm the characters in question" She said, standing her ground.

Vladimir hesitates for a moment, displeased with the answer he'd got. He scoffs his back turned on her and replied;

"If that so is your wish then so be it, then here's mine, you have at least two months maximum to attain your objective of lifting this ancient curse upon this two lowlifes you call worthy of living but if you didn't uphold your promise then you have no choice but to marry me in a untangled bond of our union, declaring you my Heiress without consequences nor discharge" He said to her.

She thinks of her options about it without being fazed by his words. Eleanore nods.

"Good, then we have a covenant to settle, be sure to uphold your end of the negotiation, I'll see you in two months time, We will meet again my darling Eleanore" Vladimir said, levitating in the air with an eye shaped tear of reality opened.

The individuals in black disappears and just before Vladimir leaves, he whispers something in the air that only I can hear...

"I am coming for you, Theodore"

"Just you wait"

"Your life will be the end of you"

He disappears just like that. The Constantines and I regroup at the Main Foyer, somehow very relieved to survive the wrath of the High Caliph and no one in their members have died in their wake. But I feel this is not over. Eleanore has two months to fulfill her objective and my time is limited as well.

We have more time to prepare ourselves and this is just the first encounter ...

More will come and this is not far from over.

This is the end of a new beginning.