158 Rapid Development V : The Throne Room, Heart Beats, The Police Force

What the hell? What was going on? As I was coming up from the dungeon, I came upon a metal door, well it was more like an automated door that slid to the side as I got closer. I looked up ahead, and it was as if I was in a whole new world.

The stairwell was brightly lit, painted and it seemed to be made from more advanced materials than simple earth. It was also wider, like three times wider than it was before. It was as if I had jumped from a medieval dungeon, to the basement of a billion dollar corporation.

There were vampires moving up and down the stairs, their destination being the basements that were evenly spaced as you came down the stairs.

I gave them nods of acknowledgment as they all stopped and bowed as a show of respect. Seriously? how long have I been down there training? At the very least it couldn't have been more than a week, but everything seemed different.

The vampire's were cleaner, and they all had a confident pep in their steps. I came up to the first floor of the tower and I almost screamed out in surprise. It was crowded, like I was in a mall of some sort, or to be more specific a grand hall or throne room from some big budget fantasy movie, which if you ask me should actually be the same as my life.

The apartments that used to be a part of the first floor were gone, heck the entire first floor was gone. This place looked wider, bigger and brighter. Massive carved pillars stretched upwards to a painted ceiling that depicted clouds, dragons and lions.

The floor seemed to be made of translucent marble like material that was so polished I could see my face on it. The only thing that remained from the old first floor was the pond that used to be in its middle. Now that pond had turned into a fountain that was currently surrounded by kids happily playing around.

Looking forward, a raised platform could be seen, it was divided into six areas, With each subsequent area after the first being higher than the other, almost like stairs, but bigger. Each of the areas seemed to have ornately crafted chairs made from a gleaming dark wood reinforced with gleaming metals of different colors.

Five of the areas each had their specific colored chairs, and I'm sure it was made to denote a sort of rank. And then sixth and final area, only had one ornately carved chair, or to be more specific a freaking throne! It was made from the same dark wood, but it's metal fillings were of a deep dark blue, with some golden linings.

Massive carved heads of a dragon and lion rested on the armrest of the throne and its cushion was deep red with flowing gold and blue embroidery that made me sleepy just looking at it. I just wanted to go over there and plant my entitled butt on it, after all it's mine right? Right.

It didn't take me long to realize that this great hall, with it's thirty foot tall painted glass windows and fifty foot tall pillars, shiny chandeliers, and throne,was a throne room. Or a meeting room between the leaders of the vampire race, with space for one king. I felt all kinds of urge to just go up there and jump on that throne, but I felt doubts.

That was a massive responsibility that I'm looking at, it was dawning on me that being a leader goes beyond just thinking of your immediate family and friends. Everybody who serve and follow you, automatically becomes your family.

It would be up to you to protect them, provide for them, and sometimes at the detriment of the people who you share familial bonds with.

As I stood there staring at the throne I felt two people come up behind me. If it was the me from a month or two ago, I wouldn't have noticed them approach, but I felt them from the very moment they came into the tower.

"I think it's not fair that they made only one throne. You have two queens you know, there should have been two more made." Asha said in playfully upset tone.

"I would agree, but thrones and public appearances are not my thing, even though you have me running a school. At the very least it would be the two of you up there." Xaseah said with a smile.

I turned with a smile on my face. It didn't matter where I was, or what I was feeling, or how deep my doubt's seemed to run every time it came calling. This was my sunshine, my happy place.

Having the two of them close to me, makes it possible for me to face the world with a brighter smile and a stronger heart. I drew them closer and pulled them into a hug, both their heads resting in the crook of my neck. I seemed to have gotten taller. Then I said to them.

"Xaseah where ever I am, or you are, or wherever Asha finds herself. That's where we all belong. Whether it's on a throne, on a battlefield, in a bedroom, or even in the bathroom. We belong together, I wouldn't want anything in this world if you two can't share it with me. I love you."

"I love you too."

"I love you too."

Hearing them both reply made me happy. This was a moment that I was going to etch In my memory for a very long time. It was amazing loving and being loved, this was feeling that was completely unlike anything you would ever be able to feel. It made me strong, way too strong.

And as I drew them tighter to myself I could hear heart beats, two sets of it, jumping, tripping, and galloping in a synonymous manner. God! This feeling was amazing, to have a family, people you love so much than should be possible for one person to love another. I never wanted it to end.

"My Lord Kael!"

"Fuck!"

"ha ha-ha don't be such a lazy bum. Duty calls. When you're done we'll still be here. Now go find out what they need you for, and don't even think of hiding. I can find you even if you do that."

Asha warned me as she dragged Xaseah away to mingle with the other vampires in the great hall.

I turned around to see who had interrupted my family time, only to see Kuyait, Teluna's mother standingbehind me in what I would consider military garb. Though it looked really sleek and the light blue, gold and black uniform gave her an even more intimidating presence than I expected.

She was beautiful, way too beautiful than anyone had any right to be, even with the scars on her face it did nothing to bring down the level of her beauty, to be honest it seemed to enhance it. And with the cold aura she seemed to have, she would probably have enemies surrendering with just a look alone.

"Kuyait, hey what's up?"

"umm fine?" she answered flustered.

She probably didn't expect I would be so cordial with her, but her son was like my little brother/ frenemy / lackey. I felt the need to be polite and very familiar with his mother.

"So what can I do for you." I asked as I stretched, popping more bones in my body than I thought possible.

"Asare has asked me to give you a rundown of the military changes, ideas, and plans he has implemented during your training."

"Well that's very thoughtful of him, shoot away."

"Yes my lord. The first thing we've done was to create a force capable of keeping the peace and solving the disputes between the vampires within the blue district. There has been a lot of disagreements, and an insurgency seems to be rising from the east side of the blue district.

Apparently Somme religious leader called Cornelius has everyone believing you would bring about the end of the world. And many vampires loyal to you have been fighting back. But the majority of those vampires are still sealed, as the unsealed vampires were still undergoing training at the time. It was chaotic.

So Asare made a police force. After giving them some specialized training and even making an outline for advanced training, Asare put Magellan in charge, making him the chief of police. The police force is currently the most outfitted military division, taking precedence in both weapons and supplies. The officers in the force are those who would prefer to serve a little closer to home. It was by choice rather than assignment.

A precinct is currently being constructed to the east, and patrols are currently being carried out. But with the Blue district as big as it is, it would take a while to properly spread a net over the whole area, not without proper communication and transportation channels.

Malek had been working hand in hand with the police force for the past three days to come up with suitable ways of communication, transportation and observation. The tower's awareness is great, but it doesn't encompass the entire district.

As for the communication skills of the crests, they stop working when we're more than ten kilometer away from the original power crest, which is yours. Which means communication can only be carried out within a ten kilometers radius with you in the middle.

We're making steady progress with the police force, and the hunting squad is getting more efficient. However we can't keep killing the monsters in the black district, with some of them being conscious and capable of free thought and emotions, it's only a matter of time before we enrage them to the point of no return and start a war.

Thankfully Malek has been successful in synthesizing what he calls a blood corn. It's taste is rather peculiar, seeing as we've been drinking blood for ages. But it works, the plant serves the same purpose as blood and keeps us filled.

And finally we've have routed every vampire from the age seventeen and below that has been unsealed and put them in classes at the school.

A military course is now included in the curriculum, offering studies in, martial skills, weapons skills, magic, and the utilizing of racial ability depending on ranks. However we don't just teach combat, as strategy, general knowledge, mathematics, physics and whatever course you would expect children their age to learn.

Even though I have military duties and I'm in charge of training anyone with a magic oriented class, I have the grand honor of being the dean of magical arts and studies at the school. We've done some good Lord Kael, and it's all thanks to you."

That was a rather lengthy report, and considering this happened during my time training, made me wonder how long I've spent training. But it was progress, very good progress. And even though more troubles seem to arise, we seem to always have a solution for it no matter what.

"What's the name of the school?" I asked.

"I'm sorry my lord, but the Mistresses have not been able to make up their minds. So for now we just call it the academy, and it would continue to be that way until you open it up to the public officially."

I felt the urge to groan, this was just something else to add to my already very long schedule. But speaking of schedule, it was time to move things along.

"Kuyait please have Asare meet with me, and if you don't mind please have Farina and Malek come along too. We'll be having a meeting, and Asare can prepare an official written report if he wants too. At very least we can keep all the changes he's implemented on record. Thanks for your help."

She bowed her head and left to carry out her assignment. I turned my gaze back to the throne, feeling a pressure on my shoulder that I couldn't explain. A society and home seems to be shaping up by itself without me having to hold their hands or do anything. And so far it's been peaceful, but this is where the bloodshed begins.