288 Transylvania 1 : The Gates Open

The journey to Transylvania was one I wanted to make alone, and for the past two days I've had to endure a series of berating and insults. Some people thought I was selfish and wanted to experience the vampires ancestral land on mg own, and then I would remind them that I was actually going with vampires from the purist faction, and they would blow up even more; saying that I was choosing traitors over my own people. Who knew Xaseah had a way with words, except of course they were as crass and brutal as usual, and painful.

But I didn't want anything that would put either Xaseah or Asha in danger, especially since I plan on going on the run. Leading all the people after my life on a wild goose chase that would keep them away from my family and city. Of course I can't expect them all to be stupid and blind as not to notice that this was a ploy on my part to keep my city and family safe. But I was hoping that the huge amount of money you placed on my head was enough of an incentive for them to follow.

But if there was anyone amongst them who thought it would be a good idea to actually attack the city, then they would be in for a rather nasty surprise. Outside her boundaries, Nefisat could attack and defend, but not to a level where she could annihilate her enemies. However when said enemies are within the city itself, regardless of how powerful you are, you would have earned yourself a one way ticket to hell. Plus I've sent for every movable asset of the Cord family that doesn't require me to come of age to inherit, manage,use and command.

And that included the pride. At this point even though the Cor family had a lot of assets spread out across multiple planets. I couldn't gain control of it until I'm twenty one, which should be in under seven or six months. For now however the soldiers my family have trained for generations were still fully under my grasp. And though most of them were humans, I would like to believe that they would still remain loyal to me regardless of who or what I am now. So I knew that it was time for the pride to come home.

After all a pride can only be a pride when it's with it's king. Though I won't be here to receive them, Asha, Xaseah and most especially Asare would be ready to take care of things in my absence. My journey through Transylvania was not just to go find the ancient vampire capital, but also to train my abilities as best as I could, and to go hunting. Because there was no way in hell I was letting myself get hunted, instead I would take this opportunity to go after every single person who would be coming after my expensive head.

But none the less I had said my good byes, and I had already mounted Soren. Apart from the supplies I might need, the lion was the only person I would be talking to. The members of the purist vampire faction were already waiting for me at the gates, with the remaining piece of the map. Now it was up to me to give them a copy of the ones I have, and let them go search for it themselves. Of course I could give them fake maps, but then they could very well give the same kind to me.

So I guess there's just an unspoken rule that we had to be honest about this. So if we were going to be killing and back stabbing ourselves, we can all do it within Transylvania. And so I made my way towards what used to be the black district. Without the mountains on our heads, we all needed to give these areas new names, but we've not gotten down to doing so yet. But what was really surprising was that the monster population did not reduce, instead it increased and all of them were concentrated within the black district towers.

It made this place a prime hunting location, and the vampires around were a significant lot. But since we also relied on the monsters here to feed ourselves, there was limit placed on how much a vampire could kill here. And with the creation of the blood branch of agriculture, vampires now had a chance to eat real food that gave the same nutrition and satisfaction as blood.This kept our hunger at bay, and gave everyone a chance to not be mindless deranged monsters that were driven by nothing else but a constant hunger and a need to kill people.

At this point Ethernalia Leonis could survive by herself, and she was growing constantly by without me interfering. Even now the city was still expanding, and another wall was about to be built. The palace where I lived was right in the middle, the Aviary floated above us at about a hundred to two hundred meters, and it was connected to the main city by a number of sophisticated bridges and elevators that could take members of other races to and fro, front Tuesday floating islands and back. And it was safe just as it was prosperous and very happy.

As we moved through the black district we came upon the canyon that was connected to the mountain ranges that ran from the south all the way to the north of colossal basin that used to be the mountain range of Noxis Nix. Flight over the canyon and the mountain was impossible due to an ancient enchantment and spell no one could decipher. It was that same effect created by the spell on the canyon that the mineral mountain also released EVERYTIME it was mined from, like it was fighting back on being attacked. It was weird occurrence no doubt.

But that was besides the point now, a lot of vampires were gathered at the gates. Including vampires from Ethernalia Leonis who would be exploring the land beyond those gates too. I would be in constant communication with them, but I would be alone, and moving in a opposite direction. We would also use this opportunity to canvass as much of the land as we could, using a special radar Malek had created to map the entire terrain. We were also supposed to leave miniature satellites that would be feeding information back home to Malek and the people at home.

Maybe to the purist vampire faction, this was a search for more power, but to the people of Ethernalia Leonis, this was a search and understanding of the home of one of it's prime races. Everyone would be offering their support, and with hunters coming for me, this would be like some sort of last man standing survival game. They wouldn't just be rearing to kill me, they would also be killing each other in their attempts to catch me. This really was going to be a lot of fun, there was no way in hell I would be pessimistic.

The gate loomed in front of us, and the metal wheel Malek had created was floating right in front of it. I turned my gaze to the leader of the purist faction, who's name I didn't know yet, or it was more like I already know his name, I just didn't care enough to remember it.He sent someone over with a box in his hands, and within was a piece of paper that had the smell of fresh ink, which meant that this was just a copy. I placed the copy over a panel on Soren's neck, and watched as it was scanned.

A digital copy of the map was made, and Soren who was connected to highly secured private network from Ethernalia Leonis was able to send the map back, and waited to see if it really was the fourth piece of the map we required. It only too Malek ten minutes to get back to me, and the answer he gave made me disappointed.

"Your Majesty this really Is a map of the central regions of Transylvania where the capital city Ida was once located. However the lines depicting the most probable spot of the city appearing has been tempered with, this looks nothing like the originals. They never had any intention of being honest and would rather send us on a wild goose chase!

But I also discover something that I think you ought to know my lord. I had suspected it at first after observing the first three pieces, but now I realized that it's true. Not much is known about the capital city, only that it's filled with wondrous advance vampiric technology and magic. But these maps don't point to the location of just the city of Idah, but to a variety of different locations that used to be of supreme importance to the vampire race. Each of these locations have their own treasures and secrets to be uncovered, as they are the remains of the castle of the first vampire….Dracula.

Legends say his castle was a big as a kingdom, and when he fell they were split into six parts, and each of them were occupied by one of the bloodline coven. I think finding all these locations and discovering the secrets within them, are what would lead you to the real location of the capital city."

"Well that's all good and fine Malek, but what about the messed up piece of the map this bloody snakes just gave me?" I asked him in indignation.

"I can create an algorithm based on the data from the first three pieces, it would be a shoddy program, but it should be perfected with once I collect more information about Transylvania. And I bet my money that the purist would be heading for that location first since they would trust their own map over ours. Unlucky for them, and lucky for me, I've been keeping tabs on them. And thanks to Gus, Bien and the Shadow division, I have surveillance on even their master, and he has no way of ever finding out. Stay out of their detection range, but stay close enough. I lead you as best as I can while the program corrects the map piece that has been given to you. Besides you don't have to be so angry at them, we never intended to let you give them maps that has not been messed with either. Sorry we kept that a secret from you, but it was orders from a power above you...your wife. If you would excuse me my lord, I will now go open the gates.

I looked up at the person who brought the fake map and contemplated taking his head off to make a statement. But I berated myself silently as I tried to curb by sudden murderous appetite. I gave the guy his fake or relatively fake map back, and then put my hand into a little satchel that I was carrying with me, and pulled out three white printed papers that had been rolled up. I shook my head not knowing whether to laugh or cry, because when those papers were given to me, they were all old and wrinkled.

So which means they had put a glamor on it, and I couldn't see through it. Asha really was doing the dirty work for me, but seeing as I'm t one delivering it, it made just as guilty. But I didn't feel any guilt, these guys had tricked me and gave me a falsified map. I'm not in the mood of feeling guilty when I give someone a taste of their own medicine.

So it was with a smile that I handed the rolled up printed papers to them, and turned my face towards the gate. When their master received it, his incredibly beautiful handsome face creased in annoyance. He knew I had just played the same game he did, and there was nothing he could do or say about it. If it was a fight he wanted, then it was a fight he'll get, and I would not shy away from ripping his head off his shoulders.

He could only hope and pray that somehow at least a small amount of the map was accurate. But I knew he wasn't that stupid as to get his hopes up. He might be angry but I didn't think he planned what he did without thinking about this happening. So it's either he's going to follow me, or he already has the original maps, or a copy of them made before they fell into our hands.

Either way I wasn't worried, whatever will be will be, unless I decide to kick it all in the face and then it becomes what I want, how I want, and when I want. And that's just the benefits of being me, I'm really cool.

*CREEEEEAAAKKKK* *GROOOOOOOAAAAAAN* *SCREEEEEECCCCCHHH*

I was so lost in thought I didn't notice how Malek had opened the gates. But the sound of rusted gears turning and the gates sliding into the mountain wall they were nestled against drew my attention. Everyone watched with bated breaths, keeping their eyes peeled as the gates to every vampires origin peeled opened. And then finally it was, and all that anyone could see beyond was a pitch black darkness. But that was not really surprising, this was once the home of the vampires.

But it was not the darkness that had everyone hesitating from moving in, rather it was the feeling of horror, the chill in one's bones as they looked at the darkness and their vampiric eyes couldn't pierce through. And then we all heard Malek's voice being broadcasted from somewhere within the canyon.

"Well? What the fuck are you guys waiting for? GOOOO!"

And we did.