Beloved

Jak'al Van Tepes

"What is this place?" I asked and he sat near a fireplace. "It's my house, my actual house. I looked around in amazement and adoration, the walls had paintings of what I assume are past relatives, the furniture was new but it was styled in the Victorian era. There were no TVs or electronics, just gas lamps. He snapped his fingers and the fireplace lit up. A chair floated over to me and I took that as my cue to sit. The chair then floated over to Jake and it turned me to face him before sitting me down gently on the floor. He looked at me but said nothing, I could see the gears move in his head. He wanted to say something... but what?

"I... Do you understand your situation? Be honest." His question wasn't what I was expecting so I took a moment before slowly shaking my head and he nodded. "Ok, so I'll explain." He sat up straight before continuing.

"I am Jak'al Van Tepes, descendant of the infamous Vlad Dracula Tepes or Count Dracula." He paused so that I could analyze what he had just said and I was shocked. "So Dracula really existed?! And you're a distant relative of his?.." My mind was racing, he had to be a bad guy if his ancestor was a monster that preyed on the lives of thousands of people.

"Yes, and he does still exist, he's just asleep and most fear him too much to wake him. And he is my great great grandfather. I am the current head of the Tepes bloodline and I have control over this region. And your role, is to be my beloved. My betrothed, my love, my husband and the tree that shall bear my fruit. Together, we will create an heir that will assume control of the house after we leave. Which is why you are being hunted without concern. It also pertains to a prophecy spun by the first Tepes, Dracula himself. The prophecy reads, when the blood has strife and the wings of the wind are torn, when seething rules the night and leaves many to mourn, a unification of builder and broken shall bring upon a new dawn, but along with this new day comes a devilish spawn. It means that you and I will create a powerful bloodline, one with children if great strength and valor." His smile was soft but my teeth were gritted. I understood the beloved part but not about why I was being targeted because I was certain that all the other heads had a beloved. But now I have a clear answer, because some old guy said that we would have children of great power, we're both guys!!! Neither of us can get pregnant and I'm honestly more afraid of Jake than anything so even if I could have children it wouldn't be with him.

"Wait wait wait! I'm being hunted because we could have children that would be too powerful?"

"Yes."

"So we are the builder and the broken?"

"Yes, it is uncertain about which title we hold but we are the builder and the broken."

My heart rate sped up. So I'm the broken?! That's... that's a disgusting tittle!

"What is the matter?" He asked, I guess he heard my heart rate pick up.

"I don't like the title, 'the broken'. It makes me really uncomfortable and angry." I explain and he nods.

"Understandable but remember, it was someone who knows nothing about you that created the name. Don't take it personally." I thought about it but ultimately decided to get it out of my head before asking another question.

"We're both guys by the way, how are we going to have children?" He wasted not a single second before giving his reply. "After I change you, you will be able to shift you body in many ways. The first task of your new power will be to shape-shift a womb for you to conceive. After childbirth, you may choose whether to keep that form or to return to normal. Either way will be fine with me."

I'd have to make myself change genders?! What is wrong with these vampires?!

"Oh, am I going to become a vampire?"

"Without a doubt, you will be a Vampire before the year's end."

"So I have no choice in the matter?"

"If you choose to stay human, you will endure far greater pain than if you choose to be a vampire." His time was soft, as if he was sorry about making me choose.

"Well, when I become a vampire, what else happens?" If I'm definitely going to become one, I may as well know what's going to happen afterwards.

"Based on your nature after the change, we will feed you accordingly. Then, you will be trained to control your hunger and urges as well as how to control whatever unique powers you may gain. After that, you will be impregnated as quickly as possible, or as early as you allow, to bring the war to an end before it has an official start."

I listened and I thought of a plan, a getaway plan that would only take a little time to execute. The earlier I become a vampire and learn to control my powers the better, I'm going to escape him if it's the last thing I do.

"So, if that is all... Why not change me now?" I asked and he sighed.

"As my beloved, you hold my heart and all my loyalty but... I only inspire fear in you, I can smell it. I only want to turn you when I have your heart as you have mine so that if it doesn't work out between us, you can go back to a human life." He surprised me, I felt happy that he didn't want to change me until he was sure I loved him but I wasn't even sure if there were any good feelings towards him anymore. I thought about that for a moment, he was always considerate of me even when I thought he was human, maybe he isn't that bad.

"Ymir, I love you with all of my heart and I know I asked this of you already but please, you already know me, just give me another chance to show you my love."