The pattern of their travel was pretty much the same for the entire three days. They would arrive at a village in the middle of the night, pick the one of the lower class inns at the edge of town and spend the day there. Derek noticed that Claude was awake as he fell asleep and he was always awake already when he woke in the evening. He began to wonder if Claude slept at all.
Derek had not been to London probably in about 3-4 years. Thankfully he still kind of recalled where his fathers house was. They started to make their way there. The city had grown although not overly much and Derek did manage to get turned around a couple of times. It was good that they made it to city well before midnight, because Derek was starting to think that he would perhaps need most of the night to find the place again. He wished he had paid more attention on his previous trips instead of just being annoyed in the back of the carriage. They were on horseback this time and thanfully after midnight there were only a few people about and thus the streets looked emptier and were easier to manage.
Derek felt like he was seeing a different side of the city. He heard literally everything – the mice scurrying in the alleyways, bumbs rummaging through trash, even the giggles of prostitutes as they faded into the dark corners of the city. He was even able to hear private conversations from some of the houses as he passed by them – mothers singing their babies to sleep, husbands making love to their wives and even two brothers whispering to each other tales of their earlier adventures. It was a lot of information and Derek tried hard to block most of it out. The houses in London were so close to each other that it was difficult to block all sounds – it felt like as soon as he was able to block one conversation, another one just popped to fill its place. It was disconcerting to say the least and it was making it difficult to try to focus on the streets and remember which path he needed to take to find his father’s house.
All of a sudden he heard a hissing sound. Not the sound from a dog or cat – or an animal even, but the same sound he had heard himself make at times when he was close to loosing control. The sound of a vampire ready to attack. He stopped.
- “Did you hear that?” he asked Claude.
- “Yes” Claude replied, he lowered his voice and leaned in towards Derek, “We must keep going, we cannot linger – there are many of our kind here who will not be friendly.” he said.
They continued on, slowly, Derek now was doing his best to try to pin point where the sound was coming from. He heard the hissing again, followed by muffled sobbing – all he could tell is that it sounded like a woman’s sobs.
- “Again” he said to Claude, as he stopped once again and looked around frantically to try to see where the noise was coming from.
- “This is not our business” Claude said, “We must continue and find this house quickly.”
Derek started the horse back up again, moving slowly. He was fairly certain now that the sound was coming from the alleyway on the right side. It was dark and although he tried to look into it – from this far away he was not able to see much.
“AAARRRGGG… NOOOOO” he heard from the alleyway – this was the sound of man this time, followed by more hissing and now a deep throaty growl. He leapt from his horse and headed into the alleyway.
- “DEREK, NO” Claude yelled at him but it was too late – he had dissappeared into the alley. Claude jumped off his horse and followed him in.
Derek ran into the dark alley the deeper he got the more he could see. He saw on the wall to the left of the alley was a woman, crouching down on the floor, sobbing. At the far end of the alley, was a man, with a figure just above him, leaning over on top of him – Derek knew it was another Vampire – he could sense it – and it was feeding. He ran to the woman, knelt down next to her , “Are you alright?” he asked her.
- “Yes” she said, her voice was shaking. From the way she was dressed, Derek could tell she was a prostitute. She looked afraid and was gasping at the horrific scene in front of her. “That man – my customer – attacked me, and then” she said, “that thing – jumped out of the shadows and attacked him.” she said.
Derek helped up to her feet – the vampire at the end of the alley was still feeding it looked like. Derek knew too well the feeling that came over each vampire when it fed – it was as if the entire world had fallen away and nothing but your prey existed. He started to back out of the alley with holding the woman and after a few steps he turned to her and said, “Now go – get out of here.” He did not have to tell her twice.
She ran out of the alleyway past Claude, who was running up to Derek. Claude grabbed Derek’s arm and tried to pull him away, but Derek did not move. Derek was just watching in amazement. It was clear that the Vampire was done feeding, and he dropped the body of the dead man to the ground. Derek was mesmerized – horrified and jealous at the same time.
The vampire looked up at Derek after a few seconds, Derek could barely see his face in the darkness all he saw were bright green eyes looking at him. He stared back at the vampire, there was something familiar about him. The vampire stood up, and started to move up towards Derek. Claude grabbed Derek and pulled him back behind him. Derek heard hissing from Claude and saw he had his fangs and claws out and was standing firm as the other Vampire approached. As the Vampire came closer, Derek was able to make out more of his face, he was dirty, filthy really. His hair was matted, he had bloodstains running down his face, but Derek would have recognized that face anywhere – even under all of the dirt. As Claude got ready to lunge at him, Derek grabbed Claude’s arm and tugged at him.
- “No” he said to Claude, “I know him” he said. Derek approached the Vampire, slowly, trying to make himself look non-threatening. Claude stopped for a minute but still looked ‘battle-ready’. The vampire started to hiss at him, and he saw his fangs come out. Derek kept on, he finally said, “Edward?”
The Vampire stopped hissing at him and looked puzzled for a minute. He tilted his head to the side, and Derek saw his fangs dissappear and after a few seconds of looking at Derek, he finally said, “Derek?”
Edward approached Derek to get a better look at him, “but, you are dead – they killed you they said they did… how is this..?” he asked in amazement.
- “They?” Derek asked, “they who? You know the ones that killed my family? How do you know them?”
Edward looked at Derek for a while, and then smiled “I thought I was alone,” he said and proceeded to laugh, “what are the chances of this happening? I mean look at you – here?” At this time he finally noticed the rather large man standing behind them, although the man did not look threatening, Edward recognized that he was just as monstrous as those that had taken him. He felt his fangs come out and he hissed at the man, getting in a crouching position ready to attack.
- “EDWARD NO” Derek yelled at him, “This is Claude – he is a friend”
Edward stopped but with fangs still out and looked Claude up and down and then back at Derek, “He is not a friend – none of them are – they are all nothing more than monsters” he said with disdain in his voice.
- “No – he saved me – he is the reason why I am here today” Derek said, “trust me, he is a friend”
Edward looked at Derek, now that he was standing close to his friend he felt the same cold presence about him that he had felt from the others that had done this to him. He knew that Derek was one of them too, “No…” he said, “They got to you too”, Edward took several steps back and looked back and forth from Claude to Derek, “Oh god, will this never end?” he said and started to back away from them towards the end of the alley.
- “Edward I am still your friend – nothing has changed,” Derek said, “well” he corrected himself, “of course some things have changed, but not our friendship. I was worried about you – I heard that you had died – that everyone in your household had died.”
- “I did”, Edward said admist a giggle. Being covered in dirt, looking confused, Derek could have easily mistaken him for one of the lunatics that roamed the alleys.
- “We must go” Claude said, “as I said, we CANNOT linger here” he looked at Derek.
- “I will not leave him” Derek replied, “not like this” he said feeling sorry for his friend. He saw no sign of the strong, sarcastic and even at times, annoying friend that he was so fond of. Right now he saw a man at the brink of madness and this terrified Derek. At that moment, he realized that this could have easily been him. If Claude had not been around to explain things to him, to teach him, to keep him company, it could be him now in the alleyway, behaving like an animal. For once, since this entire nightmare had started, he was grateful for Claude’s company and help.
He approached Edward again, slowly, “Edward – you must come with me” he said, “I cannot leave you like this here – come with me to my father’s house – we will get you cleaned up, we will talk about what has happened and figure out what to do next. Please come with me.”
Edward looked up at Derek for a while and said nothing. Derek could tell he was thinking about it and after a minute or so of silence he finally spoke, “alright - because you said please”, he giggled and continued, “But there is no one at your father’s house – I have been staying there in the back – no one is there. And one more thing,” he said, “you may have been my friend when you were alive – but now – you are a monster – just like me. You try anything and I will kill you.” He had stopped giggling.
- “That is fine” Derek replied with a look of pity in his eyes.
Edward looked at Claude as well then past them towards the street, “Your friend is right – you cannot linger in any one place here or they find you. We have to go” he starts walking out of the alley towards the way they came.
- “Edward we have horses first of all,” Derek said, “and second, my father’s house is that way” he pointed in the opposite direction.
Edward stopped at the horses on the street, looked both ways to make sure no one was coming, “Fine - we can ride” he said, “but dead or alive, you still have no sense of direction. Its that way” he pointed back to the way they had come from. Claude tried very hard to hold back a laugh and Derek looked annoyed.
- “Not one word” he said to Claude.
Both men walked back towards the horses, leaving the dead body of Edward’s prey behind them. Claude got on his horse and Derek offered to let Edward ride with him. Although the ride was fairly short, it seemed infinite. Derek had a very difficult time dealing with his new sense of smell – the stench that came off Edward right was almost unbearable.
As they arrived, the house was darkened. Derek was unsure why this was as his father had a retainer in town that generally looked after the house. He must have heard news that his family had died and decided to lock the house and leave. They dismounted, tied their horses in the back and made their way towards the house. There was a door that lead into the foundation of the house, and this is where Edward started to walk towards.
Derek got out, pulled out his keys and said, “No, we go inside.”
Edward stopped and looked at both of the monsters with him. “No,” he said, “It is not safe”
- “Of course it is safe” Derek said, “this is MY house”
Edward looked at the house and looked at Derek. This was the Derek he remembered, arrogant and at times, oblivious to the world around him. He pointed up towards the sky, “It is almost dawn” he said, “and no one knows you are alive. Once we are inside and the house appears occupied, constables will come here to see what is happening – they have been walking by here several times each night and I can only assume in the day as well. We will be asleep and vulnerable” he said, “we will be dead” he continued, “We stay in the foundation tonight, where I have been staying, then in the evening, you can make your presence known – constables will come by and you can show you them you are alive and then – then – we will be safe in the house.” he said.
“I agree” Claude said, astonished at the wisdom of the young kindred in his presence. “it is safer to be down here for the day” he said.
Derek sighed, “very well” he said, “into the filth of the foundation we go – just bloody lovely” he said
Edward looked at himself and then at Derek, “are you honestly complaining about having to sleep here for one day?” he asked and pointed at his own tattered clothes, “honestly?”
Claude had a feeling he was going to like this child.
————————————————————————————–
They spent the day in the foundations of the house. It was dark, filthy and smelled bad. Derek thought he would have a hard time falling asleep but once daybreak came, sleep took him as normal. They awoke at nightfall, Edward and Claude both seemed to already be awake once Derek got up.
They got up and took care of the horses. After they were done, they moved inside. The house apparently had been abandoned for at least a few months. They came inside, light candles in most rooms and started to get settled. Derek insisted that Edward take a bath and with Claude’s help, they were able to fill the tub and Edward got cleaned up. He had no clothes of his own so he borrowed some clothes that belonged to Derek’s father.
A few hours after they were inside, there was a knock on the door. In order to keep up appearances, Claude answered and Edward hid upstairs.
- “Yes?” Claude opened the door. There was a constable at the door. He looked Claude up and down and finally replied, “This is the home of the Lord of Kent. Word has reached us that he and his family have unfortunately passed. Who are you who has taken over his home?” he asked.
- “I have not taken over his home,” Claude replied with a smile, “I am here in service of the young Lord of Kent – Sir Derek, who is expecting you, Sir.” he said as he stood aside and motioned for the Constable to come inside. The constable was a very heavy set man who barely fit through the door. Claude escorted him past the foyer and to the door to the sitting room. He turned around to face the Constable, “Please wait here Sir, while announce your arrival.”
The constable waited as Claude went inside. Derek was waiting facing the window.
-”There is a constable here” Claude said, “only one – he looks like someone in charge.”
- “That’s fine - send him in.” Derek said. As Claude was turning around to leave, Derek started, “Wait.” he said, “I have not been to London in about 3 years. What if they do not recognize me?” he asked.
- “Then use your power” Claude said.
- “I have only done that a few times… I am not sure I can do it just like that,” Derek said reluctantly.
Claude smiled and turned around and started to walk back towards the door, “Well then you surely need the practice, lad” he said as he walked out of the room. He went back into the sitting room and opened the doors, “My Lord will see you now” he said to the constable. The large man got up. Claude escorted him past the foyer again and into the library where Derek waited, facing the window outside.
- “My Lord,” Claude said to Derek, “the constable is here to see you” .
- “Leave us”, Derek replied flatly.
Claude turned around, walked out of the room and closed the large double doors. Derek turned around and smiled at the constable and pointed to one of the large leather chairs by the fire, “Please, sit” he said.
- ” I hear that your men have been keeping an eye on our house here and I wanted to thank you for that.” Derek said to the constable.
- “Well,” the constable said, with an awkward smile, “but with all due respect, sir, we received word that your family was killed,” he said, “your ENTIRE family, and it has been years since I have seen you – last time I saw you with your father you were but a young lad, and I am sure you understand that I need some way to verify that you are indeed the son of Lord Kent.” he said.
- “I see” Derek replied. He thought for a moment if there was anything he could do to prove to this man that he was indeed his father’s son. The idea of having to prove to someone that he was himself seemed insane to him, but nevertheless this was the position he found himself in at the moment. If he allowed the constable to make a formal inquiry, he may discover what had really happened to him, he may even discover Derek’s true nature. He feared that he would have no choice but to do as Claude had suggested and use his power to make the man believe him. If this constable believed him, then there would be no other inquiry.
Derek knew he needed eye contact, and he thought back to the training session at the village tavern with the bar maiden. He turned away from the constable for a moment, closed his eyes and tried to focus his will in a single thought, “I am the Lord of Kent and you know me”. Once he had the thought firmly in his mind, he looked back at the man sitting on the chair, who was sitting up looking nothing if not arrogant. He walked up closer to the man, and looked him in the eye.
- “I am sure you remember me, Constable, I am the Lord of Kent – I am my father’s son” he said and tried as hard as he could to manipulate the man’s mind as he had done to the bar maiden before. Derek could feel the man’s mind, he could feel the doubt in his thoughts but he focused his will and tried to push past all of that. He said to the constable again, “You know me, you remember me” he said.
Derek could feel the man’s mind giving in to his will – he could feel the doubts he had dissipate and was able to sense the recognition that had kicked in through sheer force of will.
- “My Lord, Kent,” the constable said, “Of course I remember you!” he said looking a bit embarrassed and smiled weakly at Derek.
Derek smiled back at him and stepped back away from him towards the window, “I am glad you remember me” he said as he walked back towards the window. This entire exercise had taken a lot of out Derek and he felt drained. He closed his eyes and tried to focus his mind again, to regain some kind of composure so that he could carry on a conversation with the man.
- “I am so sorry about your family” the constable said, “horrible tragedy, you have my condolences, My Lord”
- “Thank you, Constable,” he said, “you are too kind and as I said before, I appreciate the care and attention you and your men have given our London home” he said.
The constable smiled and got up, “No a problem, Sir” he said, “Well, I will not take up anymore of your time, if you need anything, My Lord – anything at all, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will let the magistrate know that you here as well so that you are not disturbed” he said.
Derek finally had regained enough of himself to be able to turn around and face the constable again, “Thank you, Constable” he said, “I would appreciate that – I am here to settle my family’s affairs and I would appreciate your discretion.”
The man nodded at Derek, “I will see myself out, My Lord” he said as he turned around and walked out of the room. A few minutes later, Claude came in and looked at Derek, who plopped down on one of the chairs in front of the fireplace, looking depressed which had become a familiar sight by now.
- “That seemed to go well,” Claude said.
- “He called me Lord Kent, Claude.” Derek said, “That was my father’s title, he is really gone.” he said
- “Yes, Lad,” Claude said, “I am sorry”
Claude felt sorry for the boy – he knew that this child felt everything deeply and just being in the city would be difficult for him. An uncomfortable silence had fallen between the two of them in the room which was suddenly broken by Edward walking in.
- “First of all – wearing your father’s clothing is odd to say the least – if you weren’t so short I would wear some of your clothes, but you had to be short just to spite me I’m sure”, Edward said as he strutted in the room, “second, how are you planning to explain me – or am I expected to still live with the rats? I mean, I’m a dead prince, I can’t exactly use the same excuse that you used,” he proceeded in a sarcastic tone mocking Derek in a high pitched tone, “Oh, I am just kidding, I didn’t REALLY die, it was all just pretend …” he said, “That won’t work for me.”
Derek looked annoyed – he recalled now that out of all the people he knew, no one could annoy him quite as much as Edward could, “I know,” he said, “until we think of something you will remain out of sight,” he continued, “and believe me when I tell you the idea of you wearing my father’s clothing does not appeal to me either” he said angrily and stormed out of the room.
Edward looked at Claude, “What’s his problem? What did I do?” he asked. Claude smiled back at the boy.