"What?"
Galosh sucked a deep breath before yelling as hard as he could; "Yes, Brother! Please punish me!"
Two giggles froze everyone.
Then, slowly, every fledgling's gaze turned to the courtyard gates to where Lucy and Mina stood sedately.
"Are they…" Metto choked. "Women?"
"I don't know for sure," Bally grinned, wagging his head. "But I sure want to bite them!"
"Don't be stupid," Hans growled, batting Bally's head. "They're ladies."
"Does that mean I can't bite them?"
"It means you need to do it politely."
"How?"
"By asking nicely."
Bally licked his lips. "Really? That's it?" He took a step towards them, unconsciously slicking his hair back and smiling. "I think I'll go ask them nicely, then."
Thwack!
One second, Bally had been walking forward. He knew he was.
The next?
His face was in the mud.
How did that happen?
He lifted himself up, blinking in confusion. Saw Mina smiling at him. She gave him a wave. "Actually," she said sweetly. "We're Vlad's Brides…"
Bally gawped at her.
Then it sunk in.
"Oh, shi-"
Smack!
"Keep your dirty eyes closed," Vlad growled, hefting the big stick as Bally stopped moving. "Do you useless bastards think Brides are just trash for you to spit on?"
"No, Brother!" The fledglings shouted as one.
"Hmph." He spoke over his shoulder at the two women. "Go inside. Let the Renfields deal with you for now."
Lucy smiled. "Yes, Vlad."
He watched the two as they swished into the castle. He didn't consider that one of the Renfields wasn't watching. He could feel their eyes from the shadowed interior.
Could also feel the eyes of the elders.
But that meant nothing to him right now.
Instead, he turned to Galosh and beckoned him closer. "You found a good stick," he complimented him. "It has good balance. Good weight."
"Thanks," the other fledgling sighed bitterly.
"Next time, look after it. If you do, I will buy you a proper sword," he said, patting the heavy thing on his own back. "Like this one. Then you will understand why I tell you to take care of it."
"Truly?"
Vlad nodded. "I will do this for all of you bastards. So, train hard."
"Yes, Brother!"
Vlad pounced before Galosh could take another breath.
Yelping, Galosh lost himself inside the whirlwind that was Vlad's punishment. Mostly he spent his time trying to protect his head. He knew from previous experience there was no point fighting back.
It was better just to accept the blows and endure as best he could.
It was a strange thing, though.
Halfway through the beating he wondered if Vlad was holding back, because it didn't seem to hurt as much as it used to. The stick was still cracking into his forearms where he tried to cover his face. But where the bone used to crack or split, now it held.
Almost like all the previous beatings had reinforced the bone.
But that would be insane.
Wouldn't it?
Galosh was so transfixed by this thought that he didn't quite catch the incoming blow aimed at his forehead.
Smack!
Down he went, sucked into the darkness of unconsciousness.
Leaving Vlad standing over him with a dissatisfied pout on his face. He dropped the stick onto Galosh's sprawled form and then stepped across his body to face the other fledglings.
Crossing his arms, he scowled. "Now show me what you've achieved. Tibor! You first."
"Yes, Brother!"
Elder Miklos drifted out of a nearby shadow to stand beside Elder Laszlo.
"So. What do you think?"
Elder Laszlo shook his head. "I don't know what to think. The boy has incredible control over his blood energy. But what I can't fathom is how much of it he stores inside his heart. It's… too much."
"He has applied the Blood Ocean Technique."
"What?" Elder Laszlo looked confused. "Why cripple himself so much? The Crimson Wave-"
"Elder Amir says there's some old writing that the Blood Ocean might be somewhat superior in the long run."
"Truly?"
"And the boy has also forced most of the fledglings to do the same."
"What?" Elder Laszlo almost shouted. "And the Count allowed this? What if he cripples them all?"
"The Count has shown unusual trust in him…"
"Hmm." Elder Laszlo watched as the fledgling, Tibor, dropped into a stance he didn't recognise.
Then his eyes widened even further as Tibor made the first explosive step.
"What is this?"
"The Black Dragon Great Sword Art," Elder Miklos said. He had to work hard not to giggle. "Isn't it thrilling to see?"
"How? How did the boy learn this?"
"We don't know."
"It looks like…" Elder Laszlo's eyes narrowed. "Like the Full Moon Sword."
"The boy claimed the dogs stole it from the Court."
"And the Count believes this?"
"Elder Amir says it's known that many techniques were stolen from us. The dogs may have adapted them. He believes it is true. The Count has elected to be guided by Elder Amir on these things."
"Incredible." Elder Laszlo's fingers twitched as he followed the fledgling's movement. He wanted to rush out into the courtyard.
Take the stick off Tibor.
And demand Vlad show him how it was done.
"If this truly is the Black Dragon Court Great Sword Art…" Elder Laszlo rasped. "It would change everything."
"It will also cause… problems."
"How?"
"You saw how easily the boy defeated Karlo. Andras won't accept his defeat."
Elder Laszlo grunted. "I was a mercenary for ten years, Miklos, before I was Turned. I taught the fledglings the best techniques I knew. In my experience, the mace was helpful. But I'm not a fool. The Black Dragon Court's sword is legendary. If the boy has rediscovered it, who am I to prevent it?" He shook his head in awe as Tibor moved into the second form. "It would do well for Andras to learn defeat. He's had it easy against Karlo."
"And what of Katalin? How will she react?"
"Katalin?" Elder Laszlo's lips twitched. "When she sees this, the boy had best be prepared. I don't think she will leave him be until she has drained him of all his knowledge."
Elder Miklos chuckled. "That may prove difficult for her."
"Hmm?"
"The two women he brought back with him? They want to become his Brides."
"What?" Elder Laszlo frowned. "There's no chance of it. The Brides have turned away from the Court."
"He gave the women his word."
"Stupid."
"You think so?"
"Those stubborn witches will turn them away."
"They already turned away one of them."
"See? Stupid."
"Did you see what he did to your Knight? How do you think he will accept no for an answer?"
"The Countess isn't someone to mess with," Elder Laszlo grunted. "She's an old monster. She won't accept his insolence. If he tries to argue with her, she may send him back without his fangs."
"We shall see," Elder Miklos said with a smile.
Elder Laszlo nodded, then sucked a breath as Vlad slapped Tibor's arm to fix some flaw he'd seen. Vlad was shouting relentlessly.
The tone should have caused the fledglings to grumble.
But shockingly, all of the fledglings were focused intently on Vlad's words. Some even nodded.
He blew the air out between his cheeks. Unable to think of anything else to say.
Elder Miklos simply patted him on the shoulder. "I know. I was the same when I saw him cut down almost thirty dogs."
"WHAT?"
Lucy and Mina followed Martin to Vlad's cell. It was small inside. A large simple coffin. A small desk which didn't look like it had been used. A little fireplace which also didn't look like it had been lit.
"It needs a bit of work," Mina said.
"This is a room for him to rest in," Martin said gently. "It is not a place for living. I have rooms better suited for you if you would prefer? With windows and proper beds."
"It's okay," Lucy said. "We would prefer to stay close to him. Are we able to get some small cots?"
"Of course."
Mina nodded. "And some wood for the fireplace? It's freezing in here!"
Martin gave a small bow.
Then paused at the door, peering curiously at Mina. "I don't mean to be rude, young miss, but did you mean it when you said you were his Brides?"
"Oh, yes! He's going to take us to them so we can be Turned."
"Amazing," he said. "It has been so long since we had Brides in the castle. It would be… welcome."
"Is it okay to ask why there's a split between the Court and the Brides?"
"It's not a big secret," Martin said, a little reluctantly. "But it is not common knowledge…"
"Oh?"
"Yes. We, the Renfields, remember most things." He shifted awkwardly. "Many of us were shameless gossips. In some ways it is important so we can know the desires and needs of the Lords and Ladies. This knowledge was passed verbally, which is why we have it still."
"That makes sense," Lucy said. "I always thought my father's servants knew far too much."
His cheeks reddened. "In any case, the reason was mostly due to one of the previous counts, who misunderstood the relationship the Brides have with the Court. He assumed it was more… one-sided."
"I understand," Lucy winced. "That's why they left?"
"Yes."
"That must have upset some of those remaining. Did they cause more trouble later? Is that why the relationship hasn't been fixed?"
"Trouble?" Martin blinked as though the thought hadn't occurred. "Oh, no, miss. The Countess ensured there would be no one left to trouble her."
"Oh?"
"She killed them, miss," Martin said. This time he seemed to be trying to hide prideful glee. "Turned them all to ash, she did. She left only two vampires alive to look after the Court's affairs. One of those was Count Bela, who had only just been Turned. And the other was Elder Amir. He had a better relationship with her than most."
The two women glanced at each other, surprised.
"The Brides are that powerful?"
"The Countess is not normal." Martin's smile didn't try to hide his pride this time. "She is an absolute monster."
She heard Vlad's voice booming as he yelled at the other fledglings.
Vlad seemed a bit stubborn. She couldn't imagine him asking the Brides politely. What if he offended the Countess?
Lucy shuddered, feeling doubt creep into her heart.
Would any of them survive?