Chapter 16: To be King

Sitting under the tree, a child can be found fixing a music box. It was a gift from his uncle. The only vampire he could trust inside the manor. But now it's broken. His brother accidentally broke it without even getting an apology from it. The parts were dismantled, and now he's fixing it in the best way he can.

He paused when he noticed a shadow shading his work.

"Ah, you must be Damien!" A sweet voice said.

He held his head up and saw someone's pure white hair with its long strands swaying from the wind. A fair white skin shining like a porcelain from the sun's rays. Green emerald eyes staring at him and a cherry lips with a sweet bright smile.

'She must be a goddess.' That's what he thought.

"Hello there, I'm Astrid. Nice to meet you!" She giggled and offered her hand.

The boy hesitated to take it. His hand is a bit dirty because of what he's accomplishing. But then, she suddenly pulled his hand and shook it, not even minding the rust on his fingers.

"May I sit beside you?" She asked and unconsciously, he nodded. As if anyone could refuse her angelic face.

"Woah! Is that a music box? Did you make it?"

"N-no... I'm fixing it..." He mumbled bashfully.

"Oh, then I'll be waiting for you to fix that."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to hear its sound." She chuckled. And that was enough for the boy to get motivated until he finally fixed the music box.

That was the start of their friendship. Though, their age has a huge gap in between, they've managed to open up with each other as if they've known each other for so long.

Since that day, Astrid always went to that tree whenever their family visits their manor.

"Say Damien..." Astrid mumbled as they listen to the serene sound from the music box.

"Have you ever thought of going to another world?" She asked while looking at the leaves above.

The boy glanced at her, "Wh-why did you suddenly ask?"

"Well, I just wanted to visit places I've never seen before. I wanted... to be free..."

Her last words seem to have a deeper meaning behind it. He dared not to ask. It might make her feel uncomfortable.

But, he knows she's been going through into something. He wanted to take those worries away at least. So he glanced at his bracelet, the very special gift he received from his uncle.

"Here..." He removed his bracelet and gave it to Astrid.

"It's a special bracelet..." He took her hand and wear it around her wrist, "My uncle said it will take you to another world. I don't know if it works."

"But... wouldn't you want to try it for yourself?"

Young Damien scratched the back of his head, "It's not that I don't want to. I just can't imagine myself going to another world more than you do."

Then, Astrid jumped and hugged him.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Well then... where shall we start?" Damien smirked as he sat on the sofa.

Then, he suddenly snapped his fingers.

"Oh I know! Let's begin with the three powerful families in the vampire world: the Van Helsings, the Alucards, and the Tepes." He stated.

"The Van Helsings, they are known for their white hair, just like yours, your highness. Your grandfather, King Vladimir Anderson, was known for his peaceful methods of negotiating from the other royals, same goes with the other monsters. Your mother, Queen Astrid, was of no exception. She dreamt of ruling the vampire world in peace more than anyone else."

Calcifer looked down, remembering all his days with the queen. What Damien said was true as of now.

"The Alucards are their total opposite. They're known for their black and dark-colored hair. Their ruler, King Serafino Orfeo, is wicked, selfish, and greedy. He planned to kill your whole family to gain the title of the one true king: the Dracula. But, he never thought your mother would rise up and take him down. She managed to gain power and gather all the rebels to stand against the Alucards."

"What happened then?" Rae asked.

"King Alucard managed to escape and hide somewhere else. What a coward!" Calcifer replied.

"Right. But our sources tell us he's in London, England now." Damien added.

"How did you know about that?" Yana asked.

Damien smirked, "Because we, are the Tepes. We are known as the 'moderators' between the two families. Our hair color doesn't matter that much. But our job is to judge which of the two families is the strongest. And that's where we take sides." He explained.

"Back then, it was a great gamble to side on the Van Helsings. Your mother is the only one left willing to risk her life to stop King Alucard. And my brother did a great job on entrusting the future of the Tepes' family in her hands. It was not a complete victory though. But we managed to take down most of King Alucard's powerful troops." Damien smiled, remembering those good old days.

"Are you saying... King Alucard wanted to kill me so that he'll be able to get the title of a true king?" Rae asked.

Damien crossed his arms to his chest, "Yes, that is correct. Now that you've encountered one of his sons, I believe he'll send his other children to kill you. So you'd better be more careful from now on."

Anxious is what best describes Rae's expression right now.

"That coward! He's willing to stoop that low to send his own children just to kill the young master? He can't even show his face here!" Calcifer said in gritted teeth. Just remembering his cruel yet pathetic face makes his blood boil.

"Then..." Rae said, "Why didn't you choose to side on them instead on me?" He asked Damien, "Not because I'm my mother's son means I'm strong like her. I can't accomplish the same way she did." He looked down, he's feeling the pressure once again and Yana noticed all of it.

Damien scoffed, "I'm not asking you to be like her. What I'm saying is..." He rose up from his seat, "After everything I've witnessed, I've decided to follow you. Because I believe, you have what it takes to be the one true king. Unless..." He walked closer to him.

"You wanted King Alucard to rule in cruelty among us, and the human world." Damien seriously said which strikes Rae the most.

"Think about it, I'll be waiting for your call, master." He smirked and left his calling card before he vanished.

After that, they all went home. Calcifer escorted Rae to his room and tucked him to bed.

"Cal," he called, "What does it mean to be king?"

Calcifer was surprised at his question. To be honest, he doesn't know how to answer it. He hasn't been king his entire life.

"My apologies, young master. I cannot answer your question... But I do know someone who ruled splendidly."

Rae glanced at him who seems curious and interested.

Calcifer sat on the chair near the bed as he began to recall a story from long ago.

"Fix your hood, Astrid. We don't want anyone to know about us."

"Yes, father."

A man, together with his daughter, went to the Black Alley Market down to the auction hall. For the first time, she witnessed, how horrible the world can be. Selling off their own kind and turning them into slaves. Beating them with whips and sticks. This is the human world. Apparently, just a part of it. She haven't seen it as a whole. But for a child, it's indeed too much to witness these violent things right in front of her.

But she insisted. She wanted to go with her father so much. If she wanted to be a ruler someday, she has to see the world's darkness first before she'll lead her people back to the light. But why in the human world?

'Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone.' Is what her father used to say.

"And now I present to you, our star for tonight! A truly splendid slave we have in here!"

They brought the cage out and showed a child in chains. And with that one look, she knew, he's one of them!

"Father..." She held on the hem of man's coat.

"I know..." The man replied and prepared everything he has.

"What's that? He's only a skinny child!"

"There's nothing special about him!"

"He'll die before he could serve me!"

The people shouted upon seeing the boy.

"Calm down, calm down. This kid looks normal at first glance..." The host said and took a gun from his pocket, "But this will prove that he's no ordinary."

BANG!

The sound of a gun shot echoed around the hall. The boy's head is bleeding, he laid motionless for few minutes. After that, he slowly moved and got up. And with that, the people were amazed. They can't believe their eyes!

"That's a monster!"

"I want that boy!"

"No, I'll get him!"

"5,000!"

"10,000!"

"100,000!"

"One million of gold!" Shouted the man at the back, wearing a hood.

"One million of gold! Anyone else who has higher amount?" The host asked but no one can raise the bet.

"Well then, one million for this monster boy!" The host beat his mallet, "It's a deal!"

The girl sighed in relief, "We did it father!"

"Yes. And now, we'll go home."

The next thing he knew, his cage was brought into a carriage. And when it stopped, he prepared himself for the worse. Are they going to beat him? Starve him to death? Or perform another experiment?

"You can come out now." A sweet voice said.

A girl with a pure white hair reached her hand towards him. He can sense something on her. It feels like... they're the same.

"Come now, don't be afraid." She smiled.

And like he was hypnotized, he took that hand and he was led by a huge house.

"From now on, this will be your new home!"

She pulled him inside as they were welcomed by a lot of male and female servants.

"Please take care of him." She said to one of the male servants and some of them flocked around him.

He tried to fight but he still feeling weak. And so they carried him towards a huge room with a small lake.*

But this is the strangest lake he has ever seen. The lake is foaming, and it has a pleasant fragrance. The male servants washed his body and applied something on his head. Some scrubbed his body while the other rubbed his head as it foams.

'What are they doing to me?' He thought.

But whatever that is, it doesn't hurt him. They're not hurting him. After that, the male servants lead him towards a huge room with a very long table.

"Here, have a seat." The angel earlier invited him to seat on the chair in front of her.

At her command, the other servants bring out the food. There's meat, vegetables, fruits, soup, and the most fragrant of all--blood.

It was mouthwatering. Everything was prepared for them.

"Eat as much as you like." She said.

He was hesitant, at least, but his grumbling stomach won't even allowed him to stare at the food anymore. He grabbed the meat and ate nonstop. He hasn't eaten anything for days after all. All the servants were displeased, he's using his bare hands to eat.

"Princess, should I?" Asked one of her maids.

She chuckled, "Please don't. Let him enjoy the food at least."

After the meal that felt like a feast, the male servants took him to a room where they gave him new clothes. This is the first time he wore something extravagant. This is too much for a slave like him.

"Did you like it?" The angel asked going inside the room.

"Oh right, I haven't ask your name."

"Name?" He echoed.

That's right. Since he came to life, no one has ever called him anything except for the word "monster" or "slave".

"Sister, who is he?" Asked the little girl who just came running.

"Lucy, I want you to meet our new servant. Though, he'll just start his training."

The girl gazed at him in disgust.

"I hate you!" She exclaimed and ran away as her sister chased after her.

Even the princess said those words, he doesn't feel anything. Maybe because, he's used being resented by others. This is nothing new to him.

"The king has called you." One of the male servants said and escorted him to the office.

"How are you, my boy?" The man with a long white hair and white beard smiled at him.

He remembered him. He's the one who bought him from the slavery. Knowing his position, he suddenly fell face down.

"Forgive me, my lord. I didn't know you're a king." He said.

"Rise up, my boy. It's alright." The king said and he did so.

"What's your name?"

"I... don't have a name..."

"Hmm... Is that so? Well, I guess I'll leave that part for Astrid." He shrugged.

"Pardon me, my lord. May I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Why did you... spend so much to buy me?" He asked after gathering all the courage to do so.

"That's so simple, my boy. We're the same." The king said and showed his fangs and red eyes.

"Aren't we suppose to help one another?" He chuckled.

At that moment, the boy knew, he wanted to follow this vampire.

With that, he strives harder to study. Be it with etiquette, household chores, sword fighting, combat, horseback riding, and even academics. He reads books in the library during his free time after he was taught how to read. There are so many things he wanted to learn to give the best service there is for the Van Helsing family. And as years went by, he became the youngest servant in the manor.

"Hey boy, have you seen Lady Lucy?" One of the maids asked who seemed so troubled.

"I'm sorry, I haven't seen her. But if you want, I'll help to look for her."

"Oh thank you!" The maid said and they went separate ways to find the princess as quickly as possible.

He went to the garden to look for her only to find out she climbed on a tree.

"Princess, what are you doing up there?" He asked.

Lucy flinched, "Why do you care? Leave me alone!"

"But you have to get down from there now. The maids are looking for you."

"I can get down myself. Now, leave!" She demanded. But truth be told, she can't climbed down.

She was too eager to hide from her maids that she climbed the tree. And now, she can't go down herself. Of course, she can't admit something as embarrassing as that.

When she never heard him speak, she thought he already left.

"Alright, you can do this, Lucy..." She mumbled and tried to get down without looking.

But suddenly, the branch she's stepping on snapped and she fell. Just in time, he caught her in his arms.

"Are you alright, princess?" He asked with a stoic expression.

"I-I thought... you left.." Lucy blushed.

He tilted his head on the side, "Why would I do that?"

Lucy blinked fast, "Ugh! Enough! Put me down!"

And he did so.

"Listen, I don't like you! I hate you soooo much!" She scolded.

"I'm well aware of that, my lady."

"You should be! Your face irritates me the most! You're like a stone! You don't show any emotion at all. Can't you at least smile?" She crossed her arms to her chest.

"Smile?" He blinked, "I was told to do anything that would please my master." He mumbled and then turned to Lucy, "If I smile, would that make the princess happy?" He asked.

"Ha? Isn't that obvious? I can't accept someone who doesn't even know how to smile."

"Well then, I'll do my best." He bowed politely.

Later that night, he can't fall sleep. He decided to take a midnight stroll when he saw some maids lurking around.

"She's already asleep. We can now proceed as planned." One of them said and took the sleeping Lucy away from her room.

Their actions seem suspicious. Why would they carry the princess away from her room?

'Where are they taking her?' He decided to follow them.

Outside, there's a carriage waiting for them. They placed the princess inside and the other servants ride as well.

"Now, how much will the king pay for ransom?" They snickered.

To catch up with them, the boy took one horse and ride on it.

"Stop right there!" He shouted as his horse ran fast getting near the carriage.

"It's the new servant boy!" One of them said.

The boy jumped on the driver and as they struggled, the horses were confused and the carriage went upside down.

"You've ruined everything!" One of them attacked using his claws.

The boy dodged him and tightly held his wrist before breaking it. The vampire groaned in pain.

With that, Lucy woke up from the noise.

"W-what's happening?"

Suddenly, the maid grabbed her and placed her sharp claws near the princess's neck.

"Stop or I'll kill her!" She threatened.

And the boy stopped from attacking.

Meanwhile, back in the Van Helsing manor, Astrid decided to visit her sister but she can't find her in her room. She searched everywhere but failed to find her.

"Father!" The princess rushed to the king's room, "Father, Lucy's been kidnapped!"

"What!?" The king exclaimed and commanded a search troop.

They ride their horses and started looking for Lucy.

"Let her go." The boy said.

The maid shook her head, "No, I won't. You kill yourself and I'll let her go."

"I can't do that."

"And why not?"

"You're not... my master." He frowned which made the maid angry.

"Why you--!" She was about to hurt Lucy when the princess shouted,

"Please save me!!!"

At that moment, the boy felt something as he rushed towards them. He feels hot. It feels like his entire body is burning.

"No!"

Suddenly, fire came out from his hand. The maid panicked and threw Lucy aside to dodge it. But that didn't end there.

The boy ran towards the maid and was about to burn her when someone suddenly grabbed his arm from behind.

"That's enough, my boy!" The king commanded as they saw what happened.

The boy came back to his senses and the fire died out.

Astrid rushed towards her sister's side and wrapped a cloth around her.

"Arrest them!" The king commanded in a stern voice.

The captors were taken away and put into prison. And the boy was taken to his room until morning. He barely slept as he recalled what happened. He wasn't aware he was capable of doing such thing. How can he suddenly cast out fire from his hands?

All these thoughts were disturbed when he heard a knock.

"Princess Astrid has called for you." One of the male servants said.

He rose up and was taken to the princess's study room.

"There you are!" Princess Astrid smiled and there's Lucy, sitting beside her.

"You called for me, princess?" He bowed politely.

'She might punish me for what I did last night. I almost hurt princess Lucy.' Or so he thought.

"I've decided for your name!" She cheerfully announced.

"Fire, that's what I saw last night when you protected my sister. From now on, you'll be called, Calcifer!"

"Cal... cifer..." He blinked few times.

Is this for real? He finally got his name!

"Well then, nice to meet you, Calcifer!" Astrid offered her hand and Calcifer shook it.

"Lady Astrid, it's time for your dancing lessons." Her teacher called.

"Eh? Already?" The princess pouted and had no other choice but to go.

Now it's just the two of them in the room.

Lucy stood up and cleared her throat.

"I-it's good that you have a name now, I don't have to call you 'hey'."

"I thank you for your kind consideration for my name."

"That's nothing. It was my sister's crazy idea. What I'm saying is..." Lucy looked away with a red face.

"I-I want to thank you... for saving me last night... If it wasn't for you, I could've died... That's why, I don't hate you anymore..." She slowly gazed at him, "W-will you come and save me again... if I'm in danger?"

He was surprised at what he's seeing. For some reason, the princess suddenly became cute in his eyes.

And with that, a smile slowly drawn on his lips, "Of course, my lady."

Slowly, she raised her hand. He took and kissed it.*

Soon after that, Calcifer was called by the king in his chambers.

"I accept any punishment from the king." He bowed with his face on the floor.

"Rise up, my boy. I don't intend to punish you."

Calcifer held his head up with a perplexed expression.

"Instead, I'm here to appoint you as a knight for saving my daughter." The king gave him a sword with the Van Helsing's crest.

"I'm grateful, my king. But if you permit, may I ask a question?"

"What is it?"

"Why did you stop me from killing those spies?"

The king rubbed his beard, "Well, my boy, I do dislike fighting. We have to know that everything cannot be resolved through violence." He said and gazed on the painting of him and his daughters.

"Besides, I don't want to show bloodshed to my daughters. They don't deserve it."

Calcifer held the king's words in his heart. He was taught to control his power and to only use violence if needed.

"Through King Van Helsing, I've learned that a true king should be compassionate, peace-loving, brave, stern but kind, strict but gentle--in short, someone who has a heart." Calcifer said and glanced at Rae.

"Someone... who has a heart..." He repeated.

"That's right." The gentleman stood up and was about to take his leave.

"Cal," Rae called, "Thank you for telling me." He smiled.

Calcifer bowed politely before closing the door.

After knowing all these things, Rae can't seem to fall asleep. He opened his window and jumped straight to Yana's house.

"What are you doing here? You should be resting!" She scolded.

"Well, I can't sleep."

"Tsk! So you want me to sing you a lullaby?"

"Will you?" Rae tilted his head to the side and stared at her.

The lass blushed, "In your dreams!" She threw a pillow on his face.

"So, what do you want?"

"I'm here to fulfill my promise." He looked at her and told her everything.

From his insecurities, for questioning his identity, his father, and the story he heard from Calcifer. Yana listened carefully and attentively. She's been waiting for this moment, and now, she's no longer in the dark of the truth. She feels like they've become closer than before after knowing more about him. But there's just one thing that's bothering her.

"Rae..." She called, "Please don't ever think that you're bothering us just because they're after you. I... not even once, regret meeting you since that day."

With those words and sincere eyes, his heart skipped a beat once again.

Ah, how he wished to know this feeling! And she's the only one who can make him feel this way. This fuzzy feeling that gives him confusion and bliss at the same time.

That morning, they called upon Damien and invited him on their house.

"So your highness, have you come up with an answer?" He asked with his usual sly smile.

Everyone has gathered: Calcifer, Primo, the triplets, and Yana.

"I have decided..." Rae started, "I won't let the Alucards have their way. I accept to be the candidate for the king among vampires." He declared.

"And from today onwards..." He walked towards Damien and tapped his shoulder, "Mr. Damien Tepes will be part of our family."

"What!?" Calcifer said.

"This is unexpected." Primo yawned.

"It's you!" Rin remembered him from the play.

"Tch! He looks lame." Ren mumbled.

Ran didn't speak as usual.

Damien rose from his seat, "Well then, it's an honor to serve the Van Helsings." He bowed his head politely.

"I'm looking forward for your guidance, Mr. Tepes." Rae offered his hand.

Damien shook it, "Damien would be fine, your highness."

"Then, call me Rae." He smiled.

That smile which reminded him of someone he knew long ago, under that tree of their house. A smile of someone he longed to see but will never happen. Instead, her shadow is the only thing left of him to remind of her.

***

Author's Note:

*The lake Calcifer is referring here is the bath tub. Since he doesn't know what it is yet, he called it that way.

*This is an oath made by a member of the royal family and a knight that bounds to protect.