The golden rays of the sun shined brilliantly upon the tawny grass of the graveyard. It was early morning now.
Vesper sat. Leaned against a grave, using it as his personal throne. He held a sweeping broom in his hand and sipped on some coffee.
"Hmmm wow… coffee tastes way better than when I was a human."
Just something about the taste and smell of the drink relished every undead nerve of his vampire body.
"Heh. I thought I'd find you here."
Vesper tilted his head, surprised by the suddenness of another voice.
Behind him, standing upon the grave where he rested his head… a tall, silver-haired man stood.
The man wore the academy uniform, pristine white, signifying his final year… a few rubies hung across it, and more jewels covered his skin where cloth wouldn't dare touch.
The man's eyes were a brilliant red similar to Vesper's but lighter and more vibrant.
They reminded Vesper of fire turned flesh.
'I did not even notice him… even with my new set of senses…'
"Areis. What are you doing here…?"
The man showed a devilish smile, letting his arm rest across Vesper's shoulder while he crouched at the grave's stone.
A picturesque scene formed with the golden sunlight illuminating the two men. A smaller and leaner boy resting against the stone and a man crouching upon it letting his arm rest against the boy.
"Why…? Can't I come to see my little brother? The family rules only state that the discarded can't contact the legitimate… not the other way around."
Vesper rolled his eyes…. "Really…? Where were you when they kicked me out? Oh wait! You were blacked out drunk smashing glasses on the ground asking for another round."
The man chuckled awkwardly patting his little brother's head lightly.
"Still pissed that I clapped while watching you get slapped by every member of our family? I hope my slap didn't pain you much."
Vesper bit his lip slightly, "I remember yours being the most painful. Father at least held back."
The man chuckled awkwardly patting his little brother's head again.
"Well to be fair I was not in my senses. I thought we were all playing a game. You know… that slapping game we played as kids."
Vesper bit his lips slightly… "You mean the torture training?"
The man chuckled awkwardly patting his little brother's head again.
"Well… that was more like a game to me than training."
Obviously. It was. For the man patting Vesper's head was none other than… Areis Bloodvaine… the most genius of their entire bloodline. A combat talent like him had never been born before.
Areis was akin to a war god. Vesper was sure that'd be added to the man's titles one day other than being called the Drunkard Prince of Bloodvaine.
While Areis was of such great talent, he was still ostracized by the family for his delinquent character and lack no regard for elegance or following the family traditions.
That didn't mean that the family didn't regard him highly, all his behaviours would be condoned… for he was not just the sword of Bloodvaine but one of the greatest weapons of humanity.
The king regarded Areis as his own son in a sense. Even having offered the man a position in his Royal Guards despite his terrifying young age.
Though Areis rejected in line with the man's reputation.
"Hahahahahaha." Aries laughed boisterously this time punching Vesper slightly with each laugh in perfect synchronicity.
Tears would have crept out of the boy's eyes if it weren't for the fact that he was a vampire.
"Why are you here Areis?"
Areis in question stared at him, clutching his chest as if a little bit hurt.
"No how are you my dear amazing older brother? Why is it always 'Why' and never 'How' and why are you calling ME BY MY NAME!!??"
Vesper rolled his eyes.
"Please. I am no longer part of the family. I can do what I want."
Areis chuckled.
"Like sweeping the graveyard all night? Waiting for the warden to collect the keys to it? Hehe, how low have you fallen my lovely little brother."
"Tch…" Vesper clicked his tongue.
"It's kinda therapeutic you know… sweeping the graveyard… I like the silence of the night."
"…oOOoooHH I LiKe ThE sIleNcE oF tHe NiGhT…! So edgy like always."
"Tch…"
"I had told you hadn't I Vesper… if you'd just listen to me and be a bit more assertive and stop saying all this nonsense… maybe you wouldn't fall to the ploy against you."
Vesper raised an eyebrow, his suspicion in his belief lessening.
"So you think I fell into a trap."
Areis laughed, he rested his cheek on his palm looking at his younger brother with some love.
"I think you did but I came here to ask you if you really raped the second princess. Honestly, I don't care about all that but it's the princess we are talking about."
Vesper shook his head dismayed. The problem was that he could not specifically remember the night well… there were blocks in his mind.
"You don't remember? Well, I was drunk too… were you drunk maybe? Or maybe… spiked in some kind of a way? The princess says it was you… and the entire family blames you too… after all our elder brother's marriage with the first princess got annulled because… of you."
Vesper frowned… looking away slightly… "I really don't know… but I think… maybe…? Maybe not… I don't remember anything."
Areis chuckled. He patted his little brother again. "Heh. Well congratulations. You managed to single-handedly break one of the strongest alliances and unions that could ever happen in the last few centuries. Both the royal family and the Bloodvaine are at their peak of power and popularity right now after all. I would say that's a great achievement. You should be rewarded with a medal."
Vesper clicked his tongue.
"Stop joking."
Areis laughed again, rather boisterously… the sound of his chuckles breaking the long silence of the gloomy graveyard.
"So long brother… so long… I have paid your fees for the year, so don't miss the academy. Studies are important. Even for a rapist like you. After all, only with education can sexual harassment be stopped HAHAHAHAHAHAGAGAGAHAHAHA!!"
"Tch." Vesper clicked his tongue, the war god had disappeared, vanished into the air as if he was never present… though the cruel sound of his rude chuckles still reached the vampire's ears.
"What an asshole." Vesper really felt hurt by his older brother's statements especially his bold decrement of calling him a rapist.
"He did pay my fees though."