When Blindfolds Fall

1: The Trial of Bloodfern

Dark, bitter winters are characteristic up in the north of Adamite, particularly, in the Kingdom of Lamia. In the year 105, an event took place that would forever mark one of the oldest allegiances between the vampire royal family, and the sole, devotee of medicine family in the kingdom.

For centuries since the kingdom's establishment, the family of Bloodfern had a bondage to produce medics with the sole purpose of serving the Crows.

Tradition, for vampires, is everything.

Therefore, never once did the house of Bloodfern jeopardize that precious tie that gave them a place in the highest level of social hierarchy. They were always careful, sophisticated, and strict for generations to achieve perfection.

Tonight, turmoil was ravaging the streets and specially, the interior of the High Order chamber. Normally, justice cases are held by a less formal audience of elders at a courthouse in the capital. Only special, and particularly dangerous cases in regards to either national security or the royal family, were held at the chamber within the palace and overseen by the entire High Order.

"Ahem." The white-bearded, speaker of the High Order cleared his throat after swinging a mallet over his tall wooden desk. "On this twenty-fifth night of December, the entirety of the High Order council has gathered here to hold The Trial of Bloodfern.

In addition to the elders, tonight's attendees are the entire royal family of Crow. That is, their majesties King Samuel Crow and Queen Astrid Crow in company of their sons, Princes Erebus and Ares.
Furthermore, we have the presence of the current earl of the house of Aspen, Josiah Alastor Aspen, and the head of the house of Bloodfern, Doctor Dominique Tshering Bloodfern."

The elders surrounding the circumference of the chamber chanted a greeting in the ancient vampire language of Sang before a dreadful silence fell.

Earl Bloodfern adjusted his perfectly straight posture on the left-hand stand, next to the speaker Lazarus Torm, also fixing the golden monocle over his right eye. His thin, azure colored eyebrows drew slightly together, accentuating the ice blue glow of his irises, as a stray strand of his Prussian blue hair fell over his sharp nose.

To the right of Torm, the king of Lamia stared down with an unbothered look on his face towards the man standing before the High Order to decide his fate. His sharp facial features were more prominent with the shading provided by the dim glow of candlelight in this windowless space.

When everyone settled and could no longer stomach the anticipation, Lazarus Torm eyed the man standing before him.

"The accused of this trial is 130-year-old, Doctor Viktor Azrael Bloodfern." Torm pronounced and whilst no one made a sound, everyone shifted their eyes towards the accused and his father. "Doctor Bloodfern, you are suspected of committing fifteen first degree murders, and you are being granted a formal hearing at the request of your father before deciding your fate.
In light of these charges against you, how do you plea doctor Bloodfern?"

"Hm." Viktor hummed in thought as he adjusted his standing position. "How do I plea?"

Viktor's unruly, dark brown hair swayed when he shrugged his shoulders, his blood colored eyes briefly looking to the ground, before they shone menacingly over the crystal of his circular glasses, and his bearded lips uttered:

"Innocent, of course."

Earl Dominique closed the distance between his eyebrows as he had hoped his son would come clean once and for all, so the reputation of their family could still be somehow salvaged.

Torm had a similar reaction, although, his was for wishing to finally put an end to the contract with the Bloodferns as they could no longer be trusted.