The Story of Vampire Michaela by Kagami Takaya~

Intermission

Intermission
The Story That Follows Michaela

"Ahh, wait up, Crowley-kun. Can we put this talk on hold for a bit?" Ferid Bathory asked, raising a finger.

Silence enveloped the library.

Crowley's eyes focused on the man he had known for 700 years. "Hm?"

Crowley Eusford lifted his head.

Back in those days, he was still pure, strong and handsome, still believed in God and was not a vampire.

These days though, he was a complete vampire from head to toe–

"What's wrong?"
"I have a business to attend to."
"A business. Hmph. Oh well, I'm not interested in taking trips down memory lane, myself, so I don't mind."
"No, no. Let me hear the rest of the story later tonight. The tale about how you fell low enough to become a vampire is my all-time favorite!"
"Hmph."

Crowley nodded and took a book from the bookshelf next to him. That corner of the library was dedicated to the Bible. The copies of the Bible translated into all kinds of languages could be found there. The copy he took out was in Latin. He had long since lost his faith, but could it be that recounting the story of his past made him yearn for God again?

Opening the Bible, Crowley said, "Fine, then how about reminiscing about the past over a glass of wine tonight, like on that day?"
Ferid smiled and replied, "It would be nice to. But we cannot drink wine anymore."

Crowley took only one eye off the Bible to shoot Ferid a glance and inquired, ""We"? But weren't you drinking wine on that day?"

It was blood, of course. Ferid wondered how long it had been since he last drank wine.

Crowley meanwhile asked, "For how long have you been a vampire? If anything, I'm more interested to know how you ended up becoming a vampire."
"Are you interested in me?"
"I'm interested in learning how a pervert as big as you came into being. Even you weren't a vampire from the start, right?"
"Aha," Ferid laughed.

How he came into being. How he became a vampire. Even if he felt like talking about that, today's business took precedence.

In the end, both Crowley Eusford and Feid Bathory were only victims dragged into the tale of the name "Michaela"...

And today, he was going to meet face to face the boy carrying the name Mikaela. That's why...

"Well, we'll talk about it later tonight. I will even prepare some vintage wine for us."
"No, better make it blood, okay?"

Smiling at Crowley's words, Ferid left the library.

  ♦ ♦ ♦  

Looking up above toward Ferid Bathory's estate, Mika feels his knees trembling from nervousness. He stroked them several times.

"...It'll be okay. I'll be alright."
He told himself.

According to a rumor, the children who would frequent the premises of the vampire noble named Ferid, would suddenly disappear. Were they killed or something, or might have there been another reason? He wasn't sure. Here, if a few livestock went missing, it wouldn't be an issue.

"...It's going to be fine. I can do this."

He knocks on the grand door of the mansion, uncertain whether the sound could have been heard from within. But, the door opens, inviting him.

Inside, the place was magnificent. He has only seen houses like this in picture books and fairy tales. Some children were working there as well, one of them was a girl who saw Mika and said,
"Are you the new one who would arrive today?