8 Peter

Valerian sat in the carriage aware of Uriel's yearning who sat beside him.

She could sense the ease her lord felt after his "stretch".

"Uriel, the rules have not changed. I have been in deep slumber but I'm sure you still remember why you cannot."

Valerian spoke almost indifferently but his words cut her like a knife.

"My lord, I would never forget the words you say even if I were asleep or awake. I only feel wronged because I had to take care of this newborn while those undeserving fools got to see Your Dark Radiance in its full glory. Lord Jata, it has been two Ages since I saw it."

"My dear angel, you saw it the day we went into our slumber when I was at my peak." Valerian said calmly while still sounding completely uninterested.

"So it has been more than an two Ages." Uriel rebutted but Valerian gave her a look that silenced her on the subject.

[Abyssal Monarch] was his complete aura. Its effects, benefit and cost, were numerous.

Those who saw it and harboured ill intent toward him were devoured by it but those loyal to him were inspired as though they had stared into the abyss and had their eyes opened.

The aura was addictive though. Regardless of who saw it.

They would want to see it more and the more they saw it, the more addicted they got.

It had been so long since Valerian had released his aura that it had shamelessly devoured the demon and human to the extent of completely ruining their mind and soul.

A light snore tore him away from his thoughts. It had come from the half vampire in front of him.

Uriel looked at Peter in disgust while Valerian had an amused smile on his face.

'How long has it been since I heard someone snore?'

When Valerian and the guards returned, he found Peter riding on a Stygian stallion while clinging for dear life to its rider.

Valerian immediately stopped the escort and invited Peter into the carriage while noticing Uriel's silent protest.

The young boy had been exhausted and after slowly adjusting to the luxury of the carriage as well as the powerful entities that sat before him, his weariness gained strength and sleep overtook him.

Peter finally stirred from his pleasant slumber.

He had never had such a comfortable rest and with that, his eyes shot open as he remembered where and in whose presence he was.

"Forgive me, my Lord and Lady. I did not mean to..." Peter was at a loss for words.

It seemed the very thought of falling asleep in front of the two was incomprehensible to him.

'I guess he isn't that comfortable around us after all.' Valerian thought.

"Do not worry about it." The vampire ancestor said, waving it off like it was no bother but the truth was, Val had been waiting for Peter to wake up. "Are you hungry?"

Peter looked at Valerian. The boy could not decide what the right answer was.

His wounds had healed and he was hungry but he did not know if he could infringe on his saviour any more than he already had since meeting him.

Valerian noticed the boy's dilemma and made a gesture to Uriel.

"Please, if you would be so kind." Val added.

Uriel did so without a second thought.

She opened a small purple portal and brought out a fine silver goblet with a plate of delicious meats, honey bread, fruit and vegetables.

"Can half vampires eat this?" Valerian asked. His kindness had also disguised a question he wanted to ask.

"We can, my Lord but it is does nothing for our vampire side. Blood gives us the best benefits."

It was clearly an uncomfortable topic for him but he was clearly doing his best to sate Valerian's curiosity.

A small panel was drawn from the carriage door and acted as a suspended table so that the boy could eat.

The First Patriarch also asked Uriel to summon a goblet for him.

Seeing Val drink, made the boy courageous and drink the red liquid inside the goblet that could only be blood according to his sense of smell.

The blood passed his lips and he felt energised and stronger.

"It is blood from my personal collection. It is not human but it is much better." Valerian said with his most tender and warm smile.

Peter only managed to nod and offer thanks while continuing to drink.

Val's questions continued for an hour and he finally felt like he knew all he needed to about fledglings as they were called.

Strength, power, talent all depended on the parents.

Unique abilities and skills not common to vampires were common to the fledgling offspring.

Fledglings could surpass their vampire parent in strength and ability unlike a human turned vampire who could not surpass their sire.

What stopped vampires from having fledgling armies? The low birthrate of fledglings and their even lower survival rate.

Fledgling babies could die before even being born.

The cases of successful live births were insignificant compared to the cases of miscarriages.

And even if they survived. Fledglings were despised by humans but tolerated by some.

They did not completely fit into the mortal and immortal world.

They drank blood and only lived a maximum of five hundred years.

Neither world was theirs so they were often out of place or living in disguise.

Valerian took in all the information and felt satisfied. He was the father of vampirism and it would be tragic if he did not know about this mutated branch of his 'family' tree.

"Peter, what do you plan to do with your life?"

Valerian's question took him by surprise.

"What do you mean, my Lord?"

"How would you feel about spending my stay in this dreadful kingdom with me?"

Peter's face changed colour out of embarrassment and shock.

Uriel and Valerian noticed the boy's reaction and also became flustered.

In eons of their existence, no one, not a single being, mortal or immortal had mistaken Valerian's invitation for what it was not.

"Child, please take care. I mean as my guest. Not in any other capacity." Valerian quickly clarified.

"As your guest?" Peter repeated, unable to hide his own relief. "I would be honoured."

Val suddenly felt exhausted and leaned back into the plush, warm seats.

'This child is a handful.' Valerian thought. 'If he causes too much trouble I will kill him.'

"Lord Jata..." Peter said in an embarrassed voice.

"Hmmmm?" The Sovereign of Blood replied lazily.

"May...May I please...have more?"

The child had already finished the fifth amount of rich blood in the goblet. Valerian was shaken but nodded.

'Could this be because the boy has only drank what was necessary in the past? Is it possible that there is some form of malnourishment going on that his body is trying to compensate for now?'

'What could this Peter become raised under my velvet wings?'

As Uriel summoned up another goblet while giving her Lord a confused look, the Patriarch pondered these things and others.

The sun had risen and the new day had already given much promise.