Chapter 6 The Lost Vampire Kingdom

WHEN IAFLEUR REGAINED consciousness, she found herself inside an unfamiliar room. She doesn't remember going someplace else. The white ceiling was designed with golden flowers and the chandelier hanging in the middle of the room seem to be quite luxurious. Where is she? Her body does not feel tired but the softness of the mattress on her back would certainly pull her back to sleep again.

'Wait--- I remember now.' she pondered. She suddenly collapsed earlier during the meeting.

Iafleur rose and leaned on the headboard of the bed. She pans her eyes around the room and saw Lord Ylandar sitting by the window, holding a book with him on his chest. The lord fell asleep while he was reading what Iafleur pondered to be a history book.

Iafleur smiles and decided to approach the sleeping lord. Gently as she did so as not to awaken him. She takes the time to examine his physiognomy and how captivating it could get to attract so many women, including her.

"A strange feeling," she whispered to herself while looking intently at Lord Ylandar's peaceful face. He looks very warm when he's asleep. "A strange sensation of familiarity. Yet we'd never met before I came here. Who are you, my lord?"

When Iafleur proceeds to lift her hand and caress the lord's inviting soft cheeks, he suddenly opened his eyes, leaving her dumbfounded and her hand hanging in the air. Lord Ylandar looks at her hand with a bored look before meeting her eyes.

"I see you're already fine." He stood up. "I'll go and tell them you're awake."

Iafleur quickly takes back her hand with embarrassment. Lord Ylandar, however, did not comment on that gesture but he proceeds to the door to leave. He stopped on the threshold when Iafleur called out to him.

"What is it?" He coldly uttered. His droopy eyes only emphasized his cold countenance.

"D-did you watch over me while I was unconscious?"

He sighed and shook his head. "I only took over Lord Killon's place for about 20 minutes after Lord Uzel summoned for him."

"O-oh. I see. I just want to say thank you for taking me here and watching over me."

"Then you best express your thanks to him."

Iafleur softly scoffed when Lord Ylandar finally closes the door. Sometimes Iafleur could not comprehend his character. There are moments when Lord Ylandar would appear to her as sweet and warm, just like Dracyan, but after a moment of being warm, he'd eventually revert to coldness once more.

When he expressed his worry by giving her that necklace, Iafleur was really overwhelmed but she knew that feeling wouldn't endure for long knowing Lord Ylandar's personality. Lord Ylandar now looks as though he hadn't displayed such concern and gave a necklace.

"How are you feeling now, Iafleur?" Lord Ferron asked after Iafleur was summoned to the meeting hall. All of the Council members are already there and waiting for her.

Iafleur answered, "I'm feeling a bit better now, my lord. Thank you."

"That is good to hear. And your journey will begin when?"

"Tomorrow," she declared.

"The sooner the better," said Lord Myoda. "Have you spoken to the vampiress yet?"

Iafleur shook her head. "Not yet. But I shall be speaking to her tonight. I realised she's more than easy to converse with during the dark."

"Of course, after all, they are afraid of the sunlight," added Lord Uzel.

"Will you really be alright on your own, Iafleur dear? I know you're strong and capable but you will be dealing with inhuman beings on the other side of the Sacred Woods. Beings faster and deadly than you are."

Iafleur smiled and assures them, "Your concern is much appreciated, Lord Killon. But you have nothing to worry about me. I am doing this for the sake of our people and if my life will be on the line that will determine the safety of which beings, I know full well that I must protect humanity. I will do my very best to not fail you all and your trust in me. I will faithfully carry out this task. But if it is not forbidden, might I be given the authority to ask a friend of mine to accompany me on this journey?"

The Council members glanced at each other before turning to Lord Ferron for his response. Eventually, he said, "And who is this man? Will he be capable to help you? Is he good enough? Can he be trusted?"

Iafleur beamed in delight. "He is more than good, my lord. And yes, he can be trusted."

"Was he one of those two people whom you told about the vampiress?" asked Lord Ylandar.

"Yes, my lord. And his also a good friend of mine."

"Hmm. A 'good friend'," Lord Ylandar muttered to himself. But was it only just Iafleur's hallucination that she saw the corners of his lips stretching into a smile?

"Can he be really helpful?" asked Lord Ferron.

Her thoughts were interrupted. She answered, "He claims himself an expert on vampires, and indeed he is. Just the very person I will need."

"I'm an expert too, Iafleur dear. If you would allow, my lord Ferron, I would like to volunteer and accompany Iafleur dear as well."

"No, Lord Killon," said Lord Ferron. "I'm afraid I must ask you to stay here. During crucial moments like this, the King would like the Council members to stay together in case the worse could happen."

He sighed disappointingly. "I understand. Well, Iafleur dear, I wish you nothing but your safety. Come back to us as soon as possible. We will be waiting."

"I will, Lord Killon. And thank you everyone for entrusting me with this mission. I will not fail you all and I will return with promising results."

Shortly after Iafleur departed from the hall, Lord Ferron could be heard expressing a very deep sigh as he sunk into his chair. The other members instantly take notice of his concern.

"Is something the matter, my lord?" Lord Uzel, who was sitting next to him softly inquired.

He sighed again. "King Carlson called me last night to inform me that the princess had been abducted during her visit to Faerionn Town and many suspected that she was taken to the Sacred Woods. General Pendrius was immediately deployed along with his elite warriors to search for her. But, alas, the people still don't know about the situation."

"What will happen now?" asked Lord Myoda. "The public will soon wonder about her sudden disappearance. Not to mention that the Williams Royal Family are scheduled for a meet-up with the President of the United States this coming weekend."

"I am aware of that too," said Lord Ferron. "As a leader of the Human Council, I could only advise them to create a fake illness for the princess which causes her seclusion from the public eye. We cannot, at all costs, bring this news out to the public otherwise it will cause a much bigger problem for us and the crown."

"So, as much as possible, we keep this news to ourselves," Lord Ylandar stated.

"Indeed you are correct, Lord Ylandar. This information shall remain only inside Welson House and until the princess is returned safe and sound, we must keep things in balance; both reality and supernatural."

"Understood, my lord," the Council agreed in unison.

♛♛♛

IAFLEUR ARRIVES AT Dracyan's house and began pounding on the door of his flat. A groggy Dracyan with half-open eyes opened the door for her. His extremely messy hair hinted to Iafleur his exhaustion. When she entered, scattered books and papers are all over the place. The sink is filled with unwashed dishes and even there are several tea cups on the table in his mini-living area. His trash though is beginning to emit a foul smell.

"What in the world happened here?" Iafleur cried.

Dracyan tiredly waves his hand before he sank onto the sofa again. Iafleur heaves a sigh before closing the door. She laid her baggage beside the table next to the door. She then goes to check Dracyan's fridge and found it empty except for the bottles of water lying around half-full. She sighed while shaking her head in disappointment.

"What have you been doing these days?" But again, Dracyan only tiredly waved his hand. Iafleur made an eye-roll before deciding to pick every piece of paper lying on the floor.

As she does so, she also begins to read their contents. And Iafleur couldn't be more surprised when she realised what those papers were all about. The contents they hold could have come expected knowing Dracyan's obsession but seeing how it deeply had him on the hook, made Iafleur ponder if her friend is still within the boundary of sanity. Would it still be wise if she takes him with her? Would he not hinder or even further delay her task?

But if not Dracyan, she'd be in a difficult situation for he is the only person she knew who knows everything about vampires than she does. Of course, she's not going to take the time to get to know the monsters she loathes but that's not the issue here.

Iafleur purloined a book on the table in the living area. It was a very old book and the edges of its pages were mostly eaten by rats but fortunately, they haven't got any written text. Iafleur was even more surprised to see that kind of book lying inside Dracyan's flat. 'This book is a property of Welson House and the Human Council. How did this get here in the first place? And more importantly, why is he suddenly searching now for this unreal Vampire Queen?'

The seal of the Human Council was embedded at the top centre of the book cover. The book she held now in her hands is none other than the book which contains all information about the Vampire Queen. Despite having several backup information, Iafleur is still reluctant to believe and is still convinced that it's not much enough to prove the accuracy of her existence.

That was also the only book in the Archives of Welson House that tells everything about the Vampire Queen. The Council, however, made it clear that it might just still be a book created by vampires themselves to drive fear against their enemy. But the first Human Council appointed by Queen Annaria in 1707 had the book kept for certain purposes.

Now, King Carlson of the United Kingdom confirms this fact that there are two Umbrans existing since before the Great Slaughter. It could be possible that the Umbran they killed that night was the Vampire Queen--- but it could also be just a normal Umbran. Moreover, this Umbran who recently found the lost Vampire Kingdom might actually be the Vampire Queen.

But then again, no one has still yet provided any further evidence about her true identity. The vampires they captured long ago also refused to reveal her true name and identity, leading the human race to conclude that perhaps they only made up her existence.

Iafleur's wondering thoughts were halted when she heard Dracyan speaking in a low voice: "It's very confusing, isn't it? Sometimes the complexion can be too great it can often drive someone's sanity to the brink of diving into surreal facts." Iafleur looks at him but his eyes are closed. He continued, "The facts are scattered everywhere. Every book I read contradicts the ones I'll read in the future. Everyone has their own version of her existence.

"But what is really real? What is the truth that the people are in charge of hiding from us? When I had that book, I had hoped I would find something far more interesting, a new fact that would truly enlighten me. But all I received was just a whole lot of disappointment. There was nothing new in that book that I haven't found in any books I've read before."

Ignoring Dracyan's words, Iafleur raised a far more reasonable question: "Where did you get this book? Who gave this to you?"

He finally opens his eyes but they seem to be looking through an endless void. A faint smile flashed on his face. But his answer was even foggier than his complaints earlier. "Knowledge cannot be achieved without yourself helping your own self."

"I'm sorry, what?"

He chuckled and turns his head to face look at her. "Good morning, by the way, mate. What brings you here by the way?"

"I was kind of hoping to discuss something important with you." Iafleur had already forgotten to ask him about his acquisition of the book.

"Oh? That sounds interesting." He gets up and sits properly on the sofa. "But, wait, are you allowed to tell me this though? I know your Council follows a very strict rule that keeps you from telling people outside Welson House."

Iafleur also seated on the sofa opposite his before she continued, "The Human Council follows that indeed. But I have their permission to tell you this now. Besides, they already knew that you knew about the vampiress I found. The Council has given me yet another task to be accomplished and I'm going to need your help if I wish to finish it."

Dracyan was quite taken aback by her notice that his mouth partially opened. He stammered, "I-I, uh, w-why---"

"I can't do this alone," she cuts him off.

He sighed. "But why me? I-I'm just a nobody who is so obsessed about these creatures."

"Exactly the right person I need."

"I still don't understand. What is this mission all about? Have you talked to Lariel about this?"

Iafleur shook her head. "Not yet. But I shall tell her after I talk to you." She averted his eyes. "I don't know how to begin this but maybe I'll start with the day when we heard about rumours about an Umbran who supposedly found the long-lost Kingdom of Vampires--- or as what common people are familiar with, the Vampire Kingdom. I haven't told you my conversation with the vampiress yet but we'll get to that later."

"Wait, you had a conversation with whom?" he pondered curiously.

"We'll get to that later. Now, listen to me, a few days ago, soldiers guarding the entrance to the Sacred Woods heard a rumour spreading across Faerionn Town about an Umbran. The Vampire Kingdom had long been lost and in today's time, it's nothing but an ancient kingdom, unsure to be real."

"If it's only a rumour. How harmful could it become?"

"It's not just a rumour now, Dracyan. Because it happens to be true after all."

Dracyan was taken aback for the second time. His expression was quite displayed by his effusive coal-black eyes.

Iafleur continued, "The vampiress' restless spirit had come to me and told me." Iafleur then proceeds to divulge to him her conversation with the vampiress. "Also, the princess has been missing for over two weeks now. Lord Ferron told me that the palace already deployed General Pendrius and his troops of elite warriors to find the princess within the Sacred Woods. And this is where you come in, Dracyan. Amongst everyone I know, you're the only one obsessed enough about their kind. You know more about them than I do. The Council wants me to use the vampiress and locate the lost kingdom while they form an army and destroy them once and for all. Will you help me?"

Dracyan glanced away but eventually averted his eyes. Help Iafleur find the Vampire Kingdom? The kingdom was rumoured to be a legend during the Great Slaughter. But he knew all along that the kingdom has been sitting somewhere in the Sacred Woods, lost and just waiting to be found again. And if it is true that another living Umbran found it, perhaps, this could be a chance for him to finally see real vampires.

Not only that, he'll finally see, using his own eyes, the actual and real Kingdom of Vampires that everyone only deemed as a legend. But still...

"Will you help me, Dracyan?" Iafleur repeated her question. He meets her blue eyes. "Will you help me find this kingdom and save our people? This could be an opportunity for us, do you see? We get to finish what our ancestors failed to eradicate all those years. You see, it was a mistake just letting them sealed behind the Sacred Woods. We could have all the technology now to bring them but the Council are just too scared to let one on the loose. But what is a victory without a sacrifice?"

Dracyan's forehead is merely wrinkled. Finally, he spoke, "Why did you accept this mission in the first place? I know you had the chance to decline it and they could have sent someone else. What made you accept this?"

"Haven't you been listening to me? I told you and the vampiress told me, a war is coming. Blood will taint the ground again, more lives will be lost. What do you want me to do? Sit here and do nothing while many innocent lives get lost?"

"But why did you have to go?" he argued. "Because some vampiress told you that it was in your destiny to save mankind and you believed it? What makes you think she's telling the truth? This could all just be a trap to lure you inside."

"And they'll do what? They'll get nothing from me. I am but an ordinary human being, Dracyan. What could they do to me?"

Dracyan once more averted his eyes. His fists are not tightly clenched. Once Iafleur makes up her mind, it'll be arduous to dissuade her even in any possible way. When a moment has passed and Dracyan had remained silent, Iafleur spoke again.

"Very well. I completely understand you. After all, I am asking you to come with me on a perilous mission. Thank you for your time." Iafleur smiled as though nothing had happened.

Dracyan noticed just now the baggage she had and realised that she was all ready for the job. Despite his rejection earlier, he would never be able to forgive himself if something bad happens to Iafleur and he let her go alone. With a tight clenching fist and gritted teeth, he called forth her name. Iafleur stopped just as she had picked up her baggage.

He sighed deeply. "I know your job as a Secretary also means laying down your life for the crown and England. Did you know I had always despised that oath? I never like to see losing a friend because of some unnatural phenomenon. And you're taking the biggest risk of all by entering the Sacred Woods alone. I'll never be able to forgive myself if I let you fall into harm's way. So, if I don't get killed in there, Lariel will."

He lifted his head and met her teary eyes. "As your friend, I'll come with you."

"Really---"

"But!" he cuts off. "Only if I take the lead and you follow."

"Oh! Nothing sounds better than just having you say yes!" Iafleur squealed in excitement and then ran off to Dracyan's arms.

"I knew you couldn't resist me."

He sighed and made an eye roll. "You bet."