Vampire Nightlife

The reason why the Vardoken House was put in a position of shame was because they had associated with the humans and sympathized with them.

Lukas didn't get why the Aurelius Overlord was now saying that Vampires had fraternized with the enemy and neither did Elias either.

Did he mean humans? Or did he mean something else?

Leonardo Aurelius glanced at the two young Vampires and decided that it was still too early for them to accept the truth.

"Forget what I've said and let us just attend the event with your friends. It's not often that a Vampire House is able to come back to life, many of the households had fallen during the war and even before it." Leonardo turned away from the two and headed down the hallway.

"Grandfather…"

"Enough, Von."

Lukas knew when an older adult wanted to end a conversation, it really was the end and that there was no way of opening up the topic again even if you were quite interested in knowing of it.

Hence why, despite with furrowed brows, Lukas walked after the old man.

"You… they won't harm my friends would they?" Lukas asked.

"Would someone dispose a pawn that can be used?" Leonardo asked. "As long as there is use for those two, then there is no reason for you to be worried."

Lukas' gaze hardened. "What?"

"They do not know anything, and if we were to trust Heloise's sincere words that she cared for the late Overlord of the Vardokens then it is clear that they will be safe. I am here today because she still sees the value of all Vampire Houses. Each one brings something to our kind, even if it is not obvious."

"I hope your words remain steadfast and true."

"One can only have faith yes."

Lukas thought that the well-composed and yet devil may care attitude of the Aurelius House was indicative of power, but perhaps it was only a show to ensure that their weakness remained hidden.

***

Chaerin Atticus was a stranger to large-scale events and though the attention was on the two Vardoken siblings, there was still an unease in her chest that couldn't be quite put away.

It didn't help that Lukas was nowhere to be found.

"They're finding their place in society, Chaerin. You should be happy and thrilled about that." Chaerin tried to tell herself.

Over the past weeks since they've traveled from Lux to Nyx, it was hard not to find some heart for the two siblings. They endured a hard life, and though Chaerin didn't wish to compare, it awfully did seem unfair that they were stripped of their rank.

Similar to how Chaerin and Chelsea was stripped of the chance to be part of a family.

That was why she was willing to wait and sit out the event, looking every now and then for Lukas or at least Theodore. The guy was nowhere to be found until now and that actually worried her.

Chaerin wanted everyone to be okay.

"But I don't think it'll be easy for them to leave after this." Chaerin muttered. "Even if it's taking so long before they get introduced."

"Our kind has faced numerous adversaries since time immemorial… like the House of Etaris… or how can we forget the honorable… and so noble houses have fallen through the ages… bearing our blood and name and we remember them until today… each one to not be forgotten." Rowena lifted a golden goblet and other Vampires raised it up in solidarity.

Chaerin did the same, even though she had gotten a little too overwhelmed with all the tales and historical recollection that the woman tried to share to build up the mystery for Stacy and Alexei.

Alexei actually looked ready to yawn, and it took Stacy effort not to rub her eye while she held on to her own goblet but then the atmosphere shifted.

It was hard to not notice how the three Overlords slipped into the banquet, even when they stood at the sidelines. Their eyes were on the youngsters on the grand staircase and that was enough to make everyone stand to attention.

"More people arrived, but where's Lukas? Theodore?" Chaerin was ready to excuse herself and attempt to look for them herself when Lukas appeared and met her gaze.

Chaerin relaxed a little, but still surreptitiously glanced around. That only left one member of their group, and without the guy, it wouldn't really be complete, no matter how unlikable Theodore sometimes was.

The same thing was on Lukas' mind as his gaze focused on the three Overlords and then back on the Vardokens siblings. He looked at them at the right time because something was about to happen.

"Can I say a couple words before the toast?" Alexei suddenly cleared his throat and glanced towards Rowena.

"That…" Rowena glanced at the Overlord unsurely. This wasn't part of the script and she doubted the eloquence of the Vardoken guy, but in order to make things as if it was part of the event, she clapped her hands and gave the floor to him.

"The thing is… all of this seems really nice on paper, and I know it's just been like a couple of hours and I shouldn't make any rash decisions, but this kinda sucks. I haven't even gotten to the buffet table either." Alexei scratched his ear.

Rowena faked a laugh as the atmosphere quickly took a turn.

"My, my. I didn't expect our guest of honors to have such a way with humor. I guess this has been going on for awhile now, but it's finally time to introduce these two."

Lukas who read the atmosphere instantly made a move for Chaerin, only throwing one last look at the two Aurelius Lords who accompanied him. Not out of nostalgia or gratitude, but as a one last… 'You guys owe me for earlier' thought.

And somehow, both Leonardo and Elias blinked as if they had heard Lukas' voice clearly in their heads.

Chaerin also drained her goblet as well, moving to meet with Lukas but also searching through the crowd.

Both Lukas and Chaerin had goosebumps and it was only a matter of time before they saw something glittering in the windows.