By The Grace Of God

{12: A New World}

{Vlad}

Today marks 10 years since The Dragon Coalition got up and running, Her Majesty still funded us, but so did the Vatican. We were a separate entity from them, mostly because I had more money than the average noble of the English court. I was considered the second richest noble to the Queen, and was dubbed in her court as Count, Alex was made into a Duke, while our daughter was listed as Marquess. We enlisted our troops from three different places; Iscariot sends us their rejects that don't quite pass, but have potential, The British Military, and from my court. We rebuild my empire, and now, as a gift for Dria, with permission from all secret orders around the world, we were going to do the unthinkable. Dria asked us if there was anyway that we could have vampires be recognized as a minority, a race of meta-human, and with proper things put in place, as her first decree as Princess of the Vampire race, she is going to announce to the public on live camera worldwide that vampires exist, and want to live in peace. 

I was dressed in my classic best, Alex was in a matching suit with a lavender tie, a sprig of lavender on both mine and his lapel, Dria was wearing a simple black dress with a mesh sleeve and neckline, her hair having started turning the Damphyr white it will become when she turns 18. I have come to tie my hair back, as has Alex, given he's grown out his hair, always saying he has no time for a haircut.

"Tata, where is Althair?" 

" He's busy with the camera people speaking on your behalf before he announces us to the stage, ok?" 

" Are the human's gonna hate me?" 

" How can anyone hate such a precious face like yours, my darling girl?" 

She giggled as I picked her up and held her close. 

" I'm ready, Tata." 

" Good, because it's about time." 

We walk to where we are supposed to go in, and I watch as Dria steadies herself. I do the same, and wait for my que. 

" And so, my fellow people of the world, I believe it is time to hear the announcement of a lifetime from someone dear to me, my very own daughter, Marquess Alexandria Ioana Alevtina Anderson!" 

Dria picked her head up as if she were wearing a crown, and walked out. I was to wait for my own introduction. I saw on the screen next to me the live broadcast, and as Dria stood at the podium, she looked much older than the 10 year old she is. 

" Hello, to all of you wonderful people. I am here with a important thing I wish to discuss. You may see a small, 10 year old little girl, but I am a Marquess, and I am also a Princess. You may be asking how this is so, and that is a complicated, and yet, simple answer. For years, this word has been casted into a horrid light, one full of violence, hypersexualization, and one full of bigotry and hate. You may be wondering what this word is, and all I ask is you don't laugh, jeer, and that you be open-minded. That word is vampire. I am sure of these claims...because I am one."

The audience went quiet, as if she had said she had nuke codes and was going to launch them. She took a deep breath, and pressed on.

 " I was born half vampire, and not just half vampire, but half royal vampire. My Father, or as I call him, Tata, has been the subject of myth and legend for centuries, and his name was bastardized by an Irish author who was a liar, and a cruel ally to the Hellsing family. I am the daughter to none other than the vampire king, the one and only...Count Vlad Dracula." 

That was my que, and with a small shriek of horror, as was to be expected, the audience looked at me with fear as I took my place next to my husband behind my daughter. 

" Please, I ask of you, do not be afraid! My Father's are here to protect you from rogue vampires who have lain siege time and time again throughout history. I come here today to reach an open hand of peace, love, acceptance, harmony, and hopefully with time, education, and proper treatment, understanding of who we are as a race of meta-human alongside you. I am sorry for the pain, horror, and fear that has gripped your hearts and minds for years at the hands of those who didn't know better. We are in contact with proper officials, and have their full support in this choice, to bring our exsistance into the light, to no longer be forced into the shadows."

She paused to breathe, and continued.

 "We have set in place proper protocols for those who wish to donate and help us have this peaceful exsistance, healthy and medically watched over feeding stations, where vampires and donors can talk, grow a proper bond, and not cause casualties. We also have in place protocols for if a rogue does show up on our radar, and they will be dealt with the same way they always have been, swiftly and with as little casualties as possible. I will now turn the podium to my Father, Count Vlad Dracula, to answer any and all questions you may have. Thank you for your time, and may God bless all of you. May my citizens of the night feel the loving embrace of this new empire." 

 As Dria stepped down, journalists got their voices back, and all of them started asking for my attention. 

" Yes, you." 

" Kayla Maroni from the US Time magazine. Tell me, are you a king, or is count the best way to address you?" 

" I am a King, but to serve under Her Majesty is a humbling pride point of mine, and so she has graciously allows me to go by Count of her esteemed court, as a way to poke fun at the Bram Stoker nonsense. I know Her Majesty quite well, having been a special agent in the World Wars, fighting along side England against Germany.

" Does this mean you are indeed royal?" 

" Yes. I was born as Prince Vlad Tepes the 3rd of Wallachia. I was once Vlad the Impaler, reborn as a King when God abandoned me to the Turkish scourge that ravaged my homeland. I am now humbly addressed to as a Count to the mortals, but to my subjects, I am still their King. Next person please. Ah, yes, you."

" Hello, Your Lordship, Kelly Marksman from News Corp. What is the goal of this announcement?" 

" To bring my people a sense of normalcy, to give them better chances at finding work, finding their family, and in hopes it keeps humans safer and gives my people more accountability for their actions, as well to help humans no longer feel terrified of my kind, to arm you with knowledge to protect yourself. For too long have I been forced into servitude of a family I didn't like, and now that I am back, I am going to reinforce the laws of my kingdom, and show that yes, I am married to the man of my dreams, and I am a father, but I am still a King. Domestication is not something to be confused for complacency. I will deal with my subjects as I always have, however if humans wish to join my ranks, that is a different discussion for a later date." 

" Hold on, did I hear you right? Did you say you are a gay man?"

" As a vampire, the rules of the social gender binary and sexual oppressions are not a modern human social construct we follow. I was a woman when I gave birth to my daughter, and because of my, as my husband put it, Eldritch nature, gender identity is as fluid to me as the life force I need to survive. We believe that life is something worth celebrating, and given that we have an extended lifetime, why live under the rules of a rather outdated and bigoted lifestyle? This is the 21st century, not the 15th century when I was born. I say so long as it is between two adults of consenting right, who am I to judge? I wear this lavender spring with pride, as does my husband. I say that if you love, love deep, and love with honesty, truth, and compassion. Next question, please?" 

And the next few hours was just me answering questions, and honestly, I felt heard, it helped me feel less of a monster, and more like the man I was at my core. By the end of the event, it was a hit, and it went so smoothly, I felt confident. This was a new world, and it was one I was proud to finally see.