Chapter 1
Wrath was sitting at his large oak desk doing paperwork with his shellan, Beth. The king's guide dog, George, sat contentedly on his lap watching over the royal family, as was his duty. A hesitant knock sounded at the dark double doors of the Blind King's study.
"Come in," Wrath said, putting documents to the side to concentrate on the knocker. He knew it wasn't any one of the Brothers as it wasn't any of their signature knocks. It wasn't John's either, even he had a rougher knock than that.
What now? The queen thought; she was so tired she could barely concentrate on reading the papers out to her beloved hellren.
A small elderly man walked through the door, wearing an old-fashioned butler's uniform from his young days as a new doggen. He was carrying a small and thick envelope in his left hand; she saw it was shaking quite noticeably.
George barked happily at the arrival of Fritz, the head doggen at the BDB mansion, his heavy tail whacking Wrath in his right side.
"Good evening, sire," Fritz said in greeting. He spoke it somewhat regrettably; this naturally piqued both Wrath and Beth's attention. He rarely regretted anything, and if he did, it would be only because he had seen something that hadn't been cleaned or attended to within a few days' span.
"Fritz." Wrath nodded in recognition as Beth smiled warmly.
"Sire, I have some rather depressing news. If it would not offend or disrupt, I would speak of it now."
"Of course, Fritz. You can tell us anything." Beth replied, butting in before Wrath could send him away.
"I'm sorry, dear Mistress, but I fear I am leaving this plane soon, to make for the Fade. So in this letter, I have written a list of replacements that I would deem worthy of taking care of your celestial halls and guests."
"What! What do you mean! You're not that old yet, are you?" Beth suddenly shouted, enraged at the prospect of Fritz ever leaving, even against his will, he had become like an older brother to her.
"My shellan, he was an old doggen even before he came into your father's household. I'm surprised he's lived this long. Shit, the longest I've ever heard of one living was about six centuries. But, Jesus, Fritz has lived almost as long as the average vampire." Wrath gently put George on the floor, who curled into a sad ball at the king's feet, and pulled his queen into a tight hug. "I expected it would be soon."
"My deepest apologies Mistress Beth, if I were given the chance to serve you longer, I would gladly take it." Fritz bowed his head as he said this, ashamed of his actions.
