Pokémon: Vampire Princess*

Chapter 38: Tea*

We made it to the very top of the tree and it was nothing like what I expected! It was completely flat with a battlefield on the side and a house made from the tree was beside it. Beside the house was a open library filled with books and a short man drinking some tea while reading a book. I could tell from where I stood that he was a leader, yet he gave a calming aura that confused me.

The vampire who escorted me to the top had ran up to his master and bowed to him "Master! I have brought you a guest!" He said. The short man looked up and looked at me wearing a serious face. I didn't know how to react. For someone known to be quite violent and evil, the man had a soft look on his face and offered a kind smile that somehow relaxed every nerve in my body. I couldn't feel tense around such a person.

"Oh, did you?" He asked, standing with a cane to look at me. I questioned his cane "Oh, this? I often have a hard time walking. Is it so strange for someone as young looking as me?" He chuckled joyfully.

"Well... that's not really why I would ask why you were using a cane. Are you really not able to walk despite being a leader?" He looked at me in the eyes, confused as anyone would be "Allow me to introduce myself" I held my heart "I am Queen Diantha's daughter, Princess Yannie" he looked surprised before smiling again.

"Ah, I see... You were the one the Elite four asked us to look for" he went back to sit on his chair like a old man would "You seem to be in good shape. It's good that they didn't get their hands on a beautiful young lady such as yourself"

"I'm very confused..." the vampire who brought me here pulled up a chair for me.

"Would you like some tea? I was about to ask for a fresh batch" the leader asked me. I softly declined, questioning why he was so particular in protecting these leaves when since were off limits to the public "It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess. My name is Ramos. From the look on your face, I'm guessing that you're confused on why I'm being so generous"

"Is that wrong? I never met a leader that wasn't aggressive..."

"So you've met them all?" I shook my head "I have heard of Viola and Grant's passing. To be honest with you, I feel like they are happy now that they don't have to live in a cruel world like this"

"What?" He smiled and looked at the book set on his table "What makes you so sure?"

"The council are delivered a certain amount of blood supply from the Elite four to take monthly, and it makes them powerful above all others. Demon blood drives the brain to different directions no good person would ever imagine going to. I use to take my monthly dose like a normal person would take their medicine, but one day I had discovered something a few years back. Tea was quite popular and favored by many people if it wasn't coffee. I tried it for myself. I'd drink it so much that I sometimes forget I'm a vampire" he chuckled "I don't drink blood as much like I'm suppose to. My body gives out a lot and I can barely use my legs" he picked up a pair of glasses that were hiding behind his book "and my eyesight isn't all that good"

"Why would you put yourself through that?" I frowned. He closed his eyes, still holding that smile of his.

"I feel more alive like this. Reading a good book, drinking tea, enjoying what nature does through this tree as I sit here and enjoy it. I realized that my heart never sought violence. It was the demon blood that controlled me. I like being able to follow my heart and be happy. I don't take the dose I'm given, and I don't drink blood... and that's alright" I stood up, leaning on the table.

"How is that alright? You feel alive when you're slowly dying? When you're slowly becoming your age? You are over 70 years old! That's how long ago the Elite four appointed you all as council members. Your job was to be powerful and watch over your people you bonded with! You're letting so many others die in your hands! If those others are bonded with you, I can guess that they also have bad legs and sight because they don't want to drink blood..." I shook my head.