Bloody roses

7: Family

Shrieking, Lacrimă was snapped out of her daydream to realise she had left the forest. Before, a dark castle surrounded by flower beds dominated the landscape. Wandering through the gardens, the girl let herself be distracted by everything able to. She had to open that door.
It would not be of harm if she stayed in the garden a little longer, would it?
A clicking from the bat interrupted her. The sun was close to rising, and the night was almost over. She had to push through her fear. Her father’s spirit screamed at her.
Her hand met the doorknob, and then she pulled it back only to inhale with closed eyes. It was now or never. Either she would go in now, or she would run and remain moving for the rest of her life.
She counted to three, exhaled, and kicked the door. It was not able to withstand the force and broke, leaving her to face a white-haired man.

Vlad’s eyes widened. The girl standing in his doorway was undoubtedly a pureblood. Even though he had never seen her before, she seemed incredibly familiar. Then, he spotted the hairpin in her hands, and it all made sense. She was his granddaughter. He had a family again. A pureblood family member that would likely never die and leave his side like everyone else did. It all felt like a dream. He dared to take a step forward. She stayed and did not disappear. Before he knew, he had hugged her, praying she would not resolve into thin air, abandoning him.

The man wrapped his arms around her. Lacrimă was surprised, but she felt safer than ever before. Never had her father shown such affection as this stranger. Her arms wrapped around him, returning the embrace.
After staying in their close embrace for quite some time, Lacrimă slipped out of his arms. “Who are you?”, she asked.
“My name is Vlad Draculesti, I’m assuming you are Mihnea’s daughter?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m Lacrimă, did you know about me?”
“No, I didn’t even know he survived the assassin's attack in the church. He abandoned all his family, you know. His wife and his children. And me.”
“I have siblings?”
“Not anymore. His two wives were mortal, and so were his children. Except you, that is.”
“He married some of these weak mortals?!”
“Do not be so shocked. Though mortals are weak and need our guidance, they are quite beautiful, so filled with hope in their short bloom. If I may ask, where is your father?”
“Mortals are nothing but prey.”
“No, dragă. Where have you got that from? I hope my son educated you better than this.”
“He told me. And he’s dead.”
“He died? When? There I go hoping to see him again, and that is ripped away from me so cruelly..”
“Just some time ago. There were these people dressed in white with spears, and they stabbed him, and he stopped moving.”
“Hunters. You’re not injured, are you? Still, all the more proof that humans need us to guide their thoughts. My poor son, I'm joining my clan way too soon. Where is he buried?”
“I’m fine, but what do you mean by buried?”
“Surely you must have buried him somewhere. Where is his grave?”
“Oh. No, I haven’t. He must still be lying in that house near Timișoara. If he didn’t burn with it.”
“The hunters set your house on fire?”
“No. I did.”
“Why would you do that, dragă, when your father is still there?”
“It felt good.”

Vlad sighed. What had happened to this girl in her young life? He did not want to believe his son had anything to do with it, but who else could have hurt his dear nepoata so much she would burn down the house of her childhood without a second thought? And who was her mother? Why had his beloved son hidden his child from him? Why did he name her Lacrimă, tear? So many uncertainties, but the joy of having a blood-relative pushed them all away. Then, he noticed a small creature on Lacrimă’s shoulder, a bat.
“Who is your pet there?”
“He’s my friend.”
“What’s his name?”
“You give them names?”
“Yes, usually you would.”

“You’re already up, voivode? That’s great, I just finished making breakfast!”
A red-haired man with green-pink eyes came running down the corridor, trying to stop as he saw Lacrimă and accidentally falling on her.
“Good morning, Charles. I would appreciate it if you’d get off my granddaughter.”
“Sorry. I was just so surprised to see her that I slipped.”
“Who’s that, your toy?”
“Nepoata, please. That’s Charles-Henri Sanson, the famous ‘Monsieur de Paris’. He’s not my toy, more like my underling. I turned him to help me manage human thought. And Charles, that’s Lacrimă.”
“Le Voivoide has a granddaughter? I’m so happy to see you, I hope we can become friends. You’re cute, you know. Are you hungry? I prepared breakfast, I take care of the chores here so you won’t have to do anything. You’ll stay, right? Right?”
Charles talked with immense speed and  still managed to keep his wide smile while firing words like bullets.
“Will you, dragă? I’d be happy to offer you a place to live”

The woman knew that question was a trap. It had to be. If she didn’t agree, he’d force her. And lock her up just like her father did. Still, she would not be lonely, with Charles here.
“Yes, I suppose.”
"I'm so glad. You’ll love it here, I’m sure of it.”
“I’m so excited! I would be glad to show you around the castle! And you need to be introduced to Louis. He’ll love you!”
“I’m sure Marshmallow will, too.”

“Was soll diese Lautstärke? Manche wollen noch schlafen!”
Another man entered the room. He looked like he had just gotten up, with his dishevelled blue-black hair and tired poison-green eyes. He had been speaking in a different language she didn’t understand a word of.
“Docteur, you’re awake! I’ll bring you your coffee right away!”
Charles sprinted out of the room, leaving the others.
“Faust, dragă, let’s go join Charles in the dining room. We’ll continue this old conversation later.”
“Noch nicht mal eine Entschuldigung von dieser verschrumpelten alten Fledermaus.”
Faust grumbled before joining the others in the dining room.

Faust and I are the same in the morning. Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee! Oh, and do you want a translation for the non-English lines?