The Immortal | Prequel Story |

Chapter 20 ~ Trésora Martel

Mallen and Iérti walked towards a vampire castle at the edge of the one of the settlements Iérti named New Haven. All the remaining survivors of the fortresses were sent to live in cities and settlements built by the vampires. The survivors chose which city or settlement they wished to live in.

Barracks were built to house the weekly volunteers who allowed themselves to be fed on. Iérti forbade vampires from killing humans, allowing them to only take what they needed, no more. Few vampires got too close, forming relationships that led to interracial marriages.

Both men and women were volunteers, either voluntary or involuntary, depending on health. For example, the sick and elderly were not allowed to be volunteers, and children were forbidden from any vampire contact.

The barracks looked like rectangular castles, sophisticated and vast. They were located near the castle in every city and settlement throughout the land. Though Iérti ruled over all the people in the land, there were vampire overlords given charge over individual cities and settlements. Iérti chose each one of them, making sure each vampire overlord had a good heart rather than a malicious one, before putting them in charge.

Some vampires like Tavaly were military commanders. Since Tavaly was originally Mallen's right hand man, he became Iérti's right hand man. In events of battle and times of war, he was given command of the army, although Mallen had the ultimate command. Now Tavaly had been discharged from service, under suspicion of his involvement with the secret rebellion.

Most vampires had moved from the caves and forests, living in vampire communities of their own through a unique castle system. A castle-palace city was built near each human city and settlement to house the vampire population. The castle-palace cities were cool and interesting, a modern design derived from both castles and palaces. They weren't as grand and high in stature as vampire castles, but they were of impressive architecture.

The human cities and settlements were just as impressive, not lacking in extravagant architecture. They were closer together than the vampire castle-palace cities were, with farms and fields out in the open. Garlic wasn't permitted, and silver was taken away from the humans so they wouldn't be able to use it on the vampires. Gold was allowed, but the humans had no currency, choosing to merely support each other through a barter system.

As Mallen and Iérti walked through the lit-up city at nightfall, on their way to the vampire castle right next to the barracks, Mallen was saddened to see little activity. There were some people out, but when the vampires walked past, they either shrank back in fear or stood on guard, cautiously watching. A few greeted Iérti, thankful for the peaceful reign that allowed them to venture out in the open, no longer held back by life inside the fortresses. But most humans resented vampires, hating their very presence.

Mallen's eyes locked with a frightened pair of eyes hidden in a corner. They belonged to a small girl in a blue dress. She was alone, having dropped her doll out in the street when she scampered away to hide. Mallen stopped just a few footsteps away, slowly picking up the doll and handing it to the girl.

Iérti stopped, watching as the girl stared back in fear, afraid to go near. Mallen placed the doll at the girl's feet and stepped back, a small smile appearing on his face when he saw her grab it. She looked up at him, saying, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Mallen said warmly.

The girl's father appeared, hastily clutching his daughter to his chest. He looked in alarm at the sight of the land's most powerful vampire leaders. "What business have you with us?" he asked tensely, fearing they wanted blood. "It's not my week yet."

"No business at all, sir," said , his voice sincere, slightly down. "We're just passing by."

"Your daughter dropped her doll in the street, so I picked it up and gave it to her," Mallen added, wanting the man to know they meant them no harm. "We'll be on our way. Wishing you a good night, sir."