Hollow Immortal

Vladimir

Caine opened his eyes to see a ceiling above him. Judging by the amount of light coming through the windows on the other side of the room, he determined that it was sometime in the afternoon.

He noticed his stomach had stopped aching, he wasn't hungry anymore. Somehow, his thirst had been sated and he'd made a full recovery from his year of starvation. His muscles were strong again and his lips weren't so terribly dry.

He realised that he was lying on something soft, a bed. A canopy bed with a burgundy canopy and luxurious covers of the same colour. He'd been stripped of his cloak and his shirt. The burns on his back and face had healed. He turned his head right and left to look around. On his right he saw a wall lined with bookcases and on his left was a dresser and a mirror. The walls were covered in dark wood panels and the floor had been polished well. He inhaled, enjoying the aroma of the polished wood and books in the shelves. He became aware of a presence on the other side of the room so he sat up.

Something darted across the doorway and behind the wall then, slowly, a face poked round the door jam. Caine found himself looking into a wide, brown eye which was shortly joined by the other one. It was Vladimir.

"Yes, child?" he said.

The boy emerged from his hiding spot to stand in the doorway. His eyes were wide with a mixture of curiosity and caution. He didn't say anything, just stood there and timidly fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.

"What is it?" Caine asked.

The boy was silent for a moment longer then he spoke.

"Papa said to tell him when you wake," his voice was so soft and so shy, anyone else mightn't have heard him.

Caine smiled, "Well, I suppose you can tell your father that I am awake and I'd very much like to speak with him."

"You're a vampire," he said, sounding a little braver this time.

Caine nodded, "I am."

"I am Vladimir," the boy said, "my papa is a nobleman."

"I see that," Caine replied, "you have a very beautiful home."

"Is it scary to be a vampire?" Vlad asked.

Caine was slightly taken aback by the question, "Scary? Why would it be scary?"

"Papa says we have to keep you a secret because if we don't, they'll kill you."

Caine shrugged one shoulder, "Well, they'd certainly try."

"You don't think they'd succeed?"

Caine shook his head, "No, I don't think they'd succeed."

"Why not?"

Caine was enjoying his conversation with Vladimir. It had been far too long since his last encounter with such innocence and curiosity.

"I'm immortal," he answered, "nobody can kill me."

"Why not?" Vladimir pressed.

Caine sighed, "You wouldn't understand that now."

"I would understand, I'm not stu..."

"Vladimir," a voice called, "I thought I told you to call me when he wakes."

Vladimir's father quickly pulled the boy aside and stepped inside. He stood next to the bed and, for the first time in his life, Caine found himself looking up at someone.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Just fine," Caine replied, "why did you help me?"

"May I?" he asked, indicating the edge of the bed.

Caine moved his leg to give him more space, "Of course, it is your home."

He sat, resting his elbows on his thighs and his chin on his clasped hands, "I am Vladimir Dracul the Second. Voivode of Wallachia."

Caine bowed his head, "It is an honour, my lord. My name is Caine."

Vladimir the Elder raised an eyebrow, "Do you have a last name, Caine?"

Caine shrugged and experimented with a name, "Adamson? No, we didn't really have them when I was born."

The voivode frowned and looked at Caine, "Adamson? Do you mean you are the son of Adam? The son who murdered his brother?"

Caine gave a nod, "In the flesh. Which brings me back to my question, why did you help me?"

"My son," he replied, "young Vladimir, I fear there may be unrest along the Turkish border. I want you to protect him."

Caine laughed. He hadn't heard anything nearly as ridiculous in the ramblings of the mad, old drunkard who practically lived in a tavern he'd once frequented.

"You want me to protect him?" he managed to get out through his laughter, "Surely, you jest."

Vladimir the Elder stared back at him with a dead serious expression on his face, "I most certainly do not, Vampire."

Caine's smile faded, "Ah, I see. But what makes you think I'll do it? Why should I help you?"

"I saved your life," the voivode answered, assurance in his voice.

"Is that what you think?" Caine retorted, "If that is so, then you are mistaken. If you'd left me there, the moon would have risen. My vigor would have been restored and I'd have gone back to killing your subjects."

"You will help me!" he bellowed, "You will help me, Vampire!"

Caine raised an eyebrow, "Or what?"

The voivode shot forward until his face was so close to Caine's their noses were almost touching.

"Or I will strike you down myself," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"To see you try," Caine said, "would be a very interesting thing indeed."

He reached for his sword but Caine quickly made a connection with his blood, heating it a little, just to let him know where he stood. Vladimir the Elder's muscles tensed and he let out a small gasp of pain.

"Papa!" Vladimir the Younger cried.

Upon hearing the boy's voice, Caine felt something tug at his heart. He turned his head and made eye contact with the child and, when he saw the fear in his eyes, he let go of his father. He had every intention of staying, he just wanted to let the man know what he was getting himself into.

"I'll do it," Caine announced, "I will stay here and I will protect your son to the best of my ability but know this; what you just felt, that may well be what you've doomed your servants to."

Vladimir the Elder was breathing hard, "I will provide whatever you need and you will stay away from the people of my house."

Caine smiled, "We shall see."

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Hello,

Here's to the seventh chapter of Hollow Immortal. Thank you so much for reading, I am eternally grateful. Please let me know what you think in a comment or leave a vote if you liked it.

Also, what do you guys think of these little flashbacks? Good idea? Bad idea?

Forever thankful,
Raine