25. The Vampire King
1482 Words
Victor pulls out a big bottle of something. "I got it for when the ball ended, and we made it back to the condo alive." He pours a shot into 4 cups and a quarter of a shot into the 5th. "I guess we're still here... but the ball is over, and we're alive. So here. I'll make the first toast." He hands the paper cups out and gives the servant the one with less in it. "Drink it in one gulp and be careful. This bites back."
Clark takes his paper cup, "Oh, I see we're using the fine china today."
Victor smirks. "Only the best for my brother."
Victor clears his throat and holds his cup out. "To my brother, The savior of the queen, Live long and prosper."
We all laugh.
Jenny stands and holds her cup out. "King Alden, I know you're going to do great. I mean you're already like 300 times better than the last king."
We all laugh and Clark says, "That's true, it can't get any worse than that. Only up from here."
Then the servant stands up with her cup out. "To the Vampire King, thank you for finding my best friend, the queen. I wish you a lifetime of happiness."
I can feel the tears coming to my eyes and I try to swallow the emotion down. "Thank you, and I'm glad we found her too."
Clark stands and raises his cup. "To my best friend Alden, The Savior of The Queen, and The Vampire King. Long may you reign."
With that I stand up. "Thank you all for those kind words. You really are the best friends a guy could have. Let us drink."
We all have a drink at the same time.
"WOOO" Jenny makes a weird noise. Clark coughs. The servant almost spits it out and my eyes start to tear up again.
"Wow, that was really strong, Victor." I cough out.
"Yea, I got the strong stuff. Figured we would need it after the ball."
"Well, you weren't wrong, but maybe more of a warning next time." Clark chugs half a glass of soda.
Jenny points at the servant. "I think you broke her again, Victor."
She's sitting there with tears on her face and her mouth open. "It burns."
I shove her water back in front of her. "Drink this."
After a minute or so of drinking soda and water, we sit back down, "My first order as king is to outlaw whatever the hell that was."
"I know right." Clark sips on some water.
"For real, though. We don't know how long I have here, so let's change as much as we can, as fast as possible. Where should we start?"
Jenny yells out, "Free the servants. They are being treated like slaves."
Victor sits up, "You can't free them. It's like people in prison. I forget the word. But if you free someone after so long being locked up, they don't know how to live. They'll commit more crime to go back."
Clark nods. "He's right. Some of these people have been slaves for thousands of years. They may not know any other way of life. We can't throw them out. They will have no idea what to do or where to go. We'll end up making it worse for them. Look at the queen's servant, she hid and waited for the queen to return for 500 years."
"What do you think?" I ask the servant.
"This is my home. I do not want to leave. The world is scarier than the castle."
"I think I have an idea." Jenny smiles. "Let me think it out some more and write some things down, and I will share it. But Servant, can you go over to the other castle and ask the other servants if they would rather be free to leave forever or continue in the castle. Umm, also, if they want to come here and help with this castle they can. I mean the queen is here. Makes sense for them to be here as well, right?"
"Yea, it will be fine if they come here. This place could surely use some cleaning." I glance around at the dust.
"Yes, ma'am, I can go there now. The guards and police should not try to kill me. I will ask them what they want and try to get some to come here. A royal order telling them they can come here would be needed though. As they are ordered to be there. They can not leave without another order signed by the king saying it's allowed."
"I can do that. As soon as we are done here, I will write it up and send you over there in the royal car."
"A car, sir?"
Victor laughs. "She's about to be broke again."
Clark winks at her. "You'll be fine. Don't hang out the windows."
"Clark, you find out everything you can about the mines. We've heard some nasty s**t about those. I know we can't free everyone there. They could be true criminals. But I've also heard about children and innocent people being there. Maybe you can find a list. Also, see if they are being fed."
"Alright, I'll check the other castle for a list and maybe go check them out myself. See it with my own eyes, you know."
"Take 4 royal guards and be careful. You have 24 hours."
He nods at me.
"Victor, you need to figure out what's really happening in that village of humans. How are they being treated, stuff like that."
"And me... what the hell am I doing?"
Jenny smiles. "Servant needs the order, and you need to sign a bunch of stuff for Emberlynna."
"We have a plan. GUARD!" One of the guards run in, "I need 4 guards with each of these people for 24 hours, the servant included, and she will also need a vehicle and a driver. They have orders and are not to be questioned."
"Yes, sir."
Victor laughs and snorts. "You're a natural at this."
"Great." I check my phone. "See you all tomorrow at 2:30. And Clark, don't get thrown in the mine. I don't want to have to go all the way over there and bail your ass out."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have let your brother give me liquor before breaking into a prison."
"You do have a point there." I search around for a pen and paper. "Seriously guys, don't forget your guards. And if anything is suspicious, stop what you're doing and get back here."
They all agree as I write out the order for the servant. "It gives them the option to come here if they want... Be safe."
Then they're all gone.
I walk over to the couch and relax for a couple of minutes.
"Are you still feeling sticky my queen? Oh s**t, I forgot Emberlynna again." I open the door and the doctor is standing there. "Welcome back" I motion the guard. "And can you tell Emberlynna I'm ready for her now, please."
The doctor joins me. "You have a party?"
"Yea, kinda. I do need to clean up. What's going on with the queen?"
"She has been poisoned. The antidote is on its way. It will arrive by tomorrow afternoon."
"It's not the same as the one Victor had?"
"No. This is very different. But the antidote will be placed the same way his was, and she will be able to recover from it."
"Great news, doctor, and thank you for letting me know."
"No problem. Get this place cleaned up. Medical areas need to be clean."
"I will, sir."
As soon as he walks out the door, I make a mad dash to clean the cups and plates. Then I send the guards away with the trash and leftovers. It seems decent by the time Emberlynna shows up.
"This table needs washing." She sits down.
"Yea, no running water in here."
"I will send guards with cleaning supplies." She gets out a fancy pen. "I need signatures on these papers."
"This is like 100 pages."
"No, it's only 83, start signing."
I check them as I'm signing. Most are contracting papers and orders to buy things like wood or shower heads or microwaves. None of them seem weird.
After many, many signatures, she nods. "I noticed your friends are doing jobs. You need to know the royal guards are more than capable of standing here while you take breaks. Don't think you have to stay in this room 24 hours a day. I know you want to make sure she's safe, but you have to take care of yourself too."
"I will keep that in mind, thank you."
After she leaves, I plop down on the couch. "It's me and you tonight, princess... and I think we need a TV."
- Writer
