"Yes. Yes, mother," replied Thalia.
She stopped her violent acts and focused on her food while talking, "That being said. Tomorrow is Rei's baptism. How prepared is he?"
The Baptism was a vampire ceremony. Young vampires at the age of sixteen(16) to twenty(20) would be required to participate in it.
They would undergo series of activities that were both dangerous and harmless. At the end of the ceremony, the successful vampires would be given an identity badge that would allow them to walk in the outside world. This tradition was enacted after the great war as a way to control the unstable aspects of vampires.
If one couldn't get the identity badge, they would have to wait for the next baptism, which mostly occurred every century.
His father, Damian, maintained constant eye contact with him, "What do you mean? Your mother and I have done well to prepare him. He went through the same training as you. If he fails, it is on him."
"Agreed, for sixteen years, he has been prepared for tomorrow's event. If he truly wants to propel our family, the first step would be to perform well. After all, even the dubious you did well," claimed his mother with eyes on her fingernails. A familiar sign that meant she was deep in thoughts.
There was a reason why a nobleblood like Lucina would be relegated to a branch family. His mother, Lucina, was a direct descendant of the Morgen family line. She was even a notable contender for the head position.
However, her glory all went down the drain when she committed the worst thing a nobleblood like her could door; she married an outsider. This would dictate the purity of her lineage. Her line would forever lose the ability to produce noblebloods. Hell, they wouldn't even produce purebloods.
So, as a mild punishment, she was pushed out of the main clan and made an independent branch unit. That was the story of the Az'Morgen branch.
Well, not exactly. The Az'Morgen clan was a union of the vampiress, Lucina, and the wraith, Damian. This union sired three unique children. The eldest, a half-blood, Thalia. The first brother, a pure wraith, Saul. The youngest, a half-blood, Rhazien.
That was why only Thalia had gone through the baptism and next in line was Rei. As a wraith, Saul wasn't qualified, and he didn't need it to get an identity badge.
"Ah, mother. Why do I feel you are disappointed with me?" sighed Thalia as she played with her food.
Rei chuckled inwardly, 'Was it that obvious? I must have missed it.'
Of course, he didn't try to voice out his sarcasm. If he did that, he might have to go to the baptism with a single hand.
"Why wouldn't I? No mother would want their adult child to play club with a bunch of degenerate friends. I have condoned your act for centuries and what do I get for that? Nothing, no achievement have you announced. All you keep saying it that---"
"---Sigh, here we go again. I have told you countless times that I work at a magic research institute, not just any play club. We are sponsored by an influential elf and our work is kept strictly confidential. I have even shown you copies of the documents I signed. Is that not enough for you?" hollered Thalia.
Despite the tone they used, the two females weren't angry. They were not at each other's neck as one would expect. After all, this was their usual mode of communication.
Thalia was always busy with her work. She was rarely home. So, at times like this when she came back for a break, she and Lucina would bicker like destined enemies.
Still, even he had to admit that Thalia's work was quite worrying but she did prove herself by bringing money to the table.
His father, Damian, simply watched as Lucina and Thalia exchanged what could be considered harsh words with a smile on their faces.
After a while, he intervened, "Alright. Alright. Let's simply enjoy dinner."
"You! Don't talk…..I didn't forget you were the one that stole breakfast yesterday," shouted Lucina.
If looks could kill, Lucina would have burnt Damian to cinders over and over again. She was tempted to add more bruises to his almost transparent skin. There was even a possibility of removing his goddamn teeth that he flashed around every time he felt guilty.
"Ahh, love of my life, I have apologized already. Please forgive me," squealed Damian.
He stood up from his seat to embrace the body of his beautiful wife, who didn't resist. He later went on to cuddle her before going on for a kiss. It was at times like this that Lucina's already built fierce trait broke apart.
The scene suddenly turned romantic with moans echoing in the background.
Not much later, Rei finished his food and went back to his room. He wasn't going to watch this utter nonsense.
With a polite good night gesture, he exited himself from the dining hall. His siblings later followed him while his parents turned the hall into a mess hall.
...…
First thing dawn the next day, Rei rose up from his bed ready for baptism.
He took his bath and dressed in the most luxurious formal clothes he had. A top-grade suit made by the best cloth designers in the underworld. Thalia had bought it for him as a gift.
Vampires were a noble race. They treasured things of high value, even exceeding the habits of human nobles.
As he looked at himself in the mirror, he marveled at the fine young man that appeared, "I look as perfect as always."
A knock sounded on his door, "Ready for it, brother?"
Rei opened it and saw the figure of his sister dressed in a beautiful black one-piece dress, "Heh, looking good, brother. I almost fell for you."
Rei chuckled, "Yeah, I figured. Wait, didn't you say you were departing today?"
"I did say that. But I didn't say I wasn't leaving with you. Without me, who's gonna watch you?" smiled Thalia.
To promote independence, parents weren't allowed to come with their sires. Only siblings were allowed to give a sense of comfort to the vampire in question.
Thalia stretched out her hand for Rei to grab, "Now, shall we go? Our carriage is waiting."
"Yes, my lovely sister."