A Sealed Fate (Watty's 2017)

16.

Tricia ended up sleeping the whole night through, waking the next day to a sunny sky and snow brightly shining on the ground. She wished she had someone left in the school to play in the snow with, she sighed and began trudging to the village.

The smell of hot fresh bread and hot soup seemed to be more so today than any other day. Peeking in the window, she seen Vladimir sitting. He must've shared the same idea as her about wanting soup.

The bell rang and she walked straight for his table. Without even looking up from what he was reading. "Good morning." He spoke and she smiled softly. "Morning..." She said as a waitress came over with hot coffee and offered her a cup.

Vladimir tore his eyes from the book long enough to take a bite of food. Tricia ate her soup happily. It was silent for the most part, that is until. "So why brave the cold?" Vladimir finally spoke up noticing her cheeks and nose were a rosey pink from the cold.

She looked up and tilted her head. "I'm alone at the school, and I can't barely cook in their kitchen." She'd say and he half nodded. "You could always stay at the castle with me. My brother won't be around for a few months. He hates the winters here." Vladimir said, though his tone said he didn't really care about his brother.

Tricia's eyes widened and she blushed. "Oh well um if you don't care.. I wouldn't mind." She blushed even more, what the hell am I talking about? He prolly wouldn't stick around anyways id be alone in a strange place. She fussed at herself and he shut his book. "Then it's settled. I'll have a room made up for you. It's not any fun being alone during the holidays anyways. I'll have Alfred come get you before it gets to dark." He smiled warmly. The idea of having her there meant he could watch over her better.

She nodded "is Alfred a vampire too?" Vladimir chuckled and nodded "yes but he prefers animal blood to human. You'll be fine." He'd say, and she tilted her head at him. "What about you?" "Yes I'm a vampire..." She rolled her eyes at him, "no I mean do you prefer animal blood over human?" She'd rephrase. He shrugged his shoulders, "animal blood satisfies the urges but there's nothing like the sweet taste of human blood." He'd lick his teeth and sigh "I've not drank human blood in about eight hundred years though... Not since... Well I don't wish to talk of that. Not near the holidays." He looked almost sad and Tricia nodded understanding the pain behind his eyes.

Vladimir thought about the past, about his beloved Sarah. Her blood was the only one he'd drink. And she had to put it into a wine glass, he didn't dare bite into her neck, or her arm. He wanted to keep her human.

Thinking back he laughed at himself. Humans are strange yet beautiful creatures... Tricia tilted her head again at him, snapping her fingers in his face made his smile immediately turn neutral. "For a second there I thought I'd lost you." She smiled and stood up. "I'm going to head back to the academy, I'll see you later." She smiled and made her exit.

--

A few hours had passed by, she watched as a red sporty car pulled into the shoveled drive of the school. The butler, Alfred, stepped out and waited for her. She exited the school and noticed he looked a lot younger. Perhaps in his twenties even. "A... Alfred?" The asked tilting her head, she noticed his hair was gray, but his face, the way he stood it didn't at all look like the Alfred who had greeted the girls politely before. "The limo doesn't drive well in snow..." Was all he said as he opened her door for her. She got in and together they went to the castle

It was a silent ride for the most part, the radio was turned on but it was more like background noise.

Upon arriving at the castle she got out and Alfred took her bag to her room. Vladimir smiled warmly as he welcomed her to his home. The house was decorated for the holidays, with shimmering golden hues and green with red. Vladimir and Tricia went to a lounge room to relax a while.