The floor started vibrating, as I looked up, to see if I knew where the explosion came from. Not seeing anything I eyed the vampires. The younger one,
holding onto Elyssa,had dropped to the floor covering my sister as to protect her. Then I noticed the two big vampires stalking my way. I panicked and
squeezed my eyes shut. Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes slowly and as I opened them, I seem to have teleported over to the vampire and my sister.
Woah I thought.





I started to feel tingly as an odd looking Gnome growled “keep as still as you can!”
Turning back to look at the other vampires to see if they had noticed my dissapearing act. I watched as a meteor exploded right through the roof of the basement,
devouring everything in its path including the vampires. None of the debris was hitting us, so I just assumed that Mr. Gnome had used his magic to save us.





After everything had time to settle and the meteors had finished, I started looking for ways to get everyone out. First I tried teleporting out with Elyssa,
but that did not seem to work with solid objects.

“I can get us out, but I expended so much energy protecting us all that I need to rest for a bit,” groused the Gnome





I looked at Elyssa who was passed out. I assumed they had drugged her with something. She looked so peaceful. Who knows what would have happened
if I had not turned up? I let out a sigh and looked at this vampire. More like glared at him.

“So what is the deal you asshole? I want to know everything!”

“How much is everything?”

“Like from what was written on the website of the history of Escher.”





The vampire looked to the ground and let out a sigh then stared into my eyes. But it felt more like he was sucking my soul.

“How anyone put that stuff on there without the vampires finding out is beyond me. But I took an oath and I can not speak of it.”

“Just tell me!” My patience was wearing thin.

“Never take an oath unless you're sure you would rather die than break it”

“Look buddy, if you don't give me some information soon I will light you on fire like your friends and you can all be dead together.”





“Okay . . . . . My name is Ashan, I am the only son of Master Sebastion and Lady Serenity. So of course, being in the bloodline of Balzure, I was chosen to
take the place of Emperor and Balzure was to become my Watcher to teach me all the
things I needed to know, and still have control over me. He was a 2000
year old Vampire after, all and his powers were coming to a stand. There was word of an ambush. Other vampires did not think that an emperor from another
place should be able to take over the whole world. They wanted a bit of the punch too. So the day I was born, I was chosen.





I was brought up being taught to fight, lead and rule. But I did not want that life, I wanted to be free and live my own life. I did not want some poor innocent
soul to be forced into marrying me, nor did I want to drink her blood. Living with someone like that, making children with them, when you don't love them?
I just can not understand it.”

Aiden butts in “Don't you have to drink all their blood though?”

“No, those were the old times. These days the women are too precious. It takes her to turn you into a fully fledged vampire. Anyway, the ceremony is started
with a chanting spell which joins your souls together, then the vampire bites into the virgin sacrifice; she has to be pure and of pure blood. Both the vampire
and the virgin are always teenagers also, about 15 years old.”

Hmmmmm interesting I thought.

“He drinks enough of her blood to make her unconscious. That joins them and announces them.... Married I suppose you would call it. Then the ceremony is
completed by taking her virginity, that in it self is the sacrifice. She needs to be the one to birth the vampire's children and no one else.”

“So how come you're using Elyssa then?” Aiden asks

“You both are the descendants of King Mahon.”

“But didn't his whole family get killed?” I wondered.

“Yes, all but a secret son of his brother's that no one knew about, until it was too late and the boy's mother had taken off with him. Over the years, the
bloodlines have been followed to keep up with them. It comes from your father's side of the family.”

“Well thats bloody weird. How did you know it was her looking for the book then?”





“Watcher was at the school library looking for any signs of your family, as we knew that you two would be teenagers, but didn't exactly know where you lived.
Anyway he saw what Elyssa was searching for and planted a false website to draw her here.”

“That is some screwed up shit!” we sat in silence for a bit. I sat staring at the book; it looked as it if had cast a protective shell over itself. This supernatural
stuff was getting seriously crazy. It was bad enough I was a ghost, but vampires, magic books and Gnomes?

“So is there really a potion in that book to bring me back to life?” I asked the vampire.

“I have no idea, I was never allowed to go near it. It is the first time I have been in here.”





It was then Elyssa started to moan and open her eyes. I jumped at the noise and grabbed her hand.
“It's ok Liss, I am here.”
“Ughhhhhhh. What the hell happened?” she asked groggily.

“Shhhh, don't worry about it too much just now.”

That is when the Gnome piped in “Right! Is everyone set?”

“The book,” Elyssa slurred.

Ashan went and picked up the book before scooping up my sister in his arms.

“Ready” I chimed in, just in case it was not clear.

“Right,” said the gruff Gnome, “where are you guys heading too?”

“Ummmm home?”

“You really think that is a great idea? You know the vampires are going to be after to you!”

“Well how on earth are we meant to explain this to Granny?”

“I can use my vampiric magic to hypnotise her into leaving. But it will work better if I had some human blood.”

“Don't you think you're touching my sister buddy!”

“Shut up Aiden!” Elyssa croacked as she tried to yell at me. “This is to save all our lives, including Granny's, right? I'll do it.”

“Look, I am really glad you love each other so much, but we really need to get the show on the road.” said the Gruff Gnome.

I closed my eyes and turned away as the vampire bit into Elyssa.

I could not watch.