"Welcome the king and queen of waterfalls."
Said the announcer, and as if on cue everyone rose from their seat forgetting the ongoing drama at the table at the butler's sign, and the harp was blown which was my father's favorite instrument, everyone bowed. Well this was different because usually the harp wasn't used but the bells. I watched my father come in with the queen behind him and his entourage behind him. Normally only his second in command followed him and then his guards but today they were more than that.
What was going on?!
Well we had already been recalled from our bowing positions but only still were expected to stand until the king and queen took their sits. I was taken by surprise to see a few familiar faces following behind my father. One was Rufus,my junior brother and my father's unspoken heir, the chief commander, the present Duke of Hastings and his father the former duke. Well just tailing behind was my favorite little brother, atteo. The mischievous little boy must have been out in the woods hunting for wolves pups and almost missed breakfast. for him to be with my father's crew right now only meant he came back late after sneaking in this morning. I had caught him severally sneaking out. Even yesterday, I had followed him to make sure he was safe. It was on coming back that I bumped into my father in the hall way.
Oh right my father!
I snapped back to reality to see my father's gaze on me. I had been keenly looking at my father's entourage that I forgot that I was to be very careful around my father today. Well just in time everyone was pulling their chair to sit since the king and queen had taken their sits. I quickly pushed my chair and sat down quickly. Soon the servants began serving the dishes and filled each plate with mouth watering delicacies. From meat to corn salads, bread and broth. Steaks and some had rice and mustard pudding. Well this was the part I loved. The beautiful display of colourful food. Yes also just in time they brought my favorite, roasted avocado porridge and roasted mushrooms to go with it. Well what's a feast without blood in our world. Blood was filled into every glass on the table. Well as adult vampires, we needed at least seven glasses a day to fully function. Also we didn't really need so much food because only blood could do.
"Today is a good day" I heard my father speak and the hall went silent.
"Oh please enjoy your meal "he said when he noticed everyone had stopped eating to listen.
"As your highness pleases "Miya said. She irritated me with her fakeness and attitude of buttering people up.
"Our dear devin would be leaving us" he said and looked at my face to watch my reaction. Well I said nothing and quietly ate my food. It's not like I had a choice or I could refuse.
"is he being exiled and cast away your majesty?" The queen said
"Why would he be exiled and cast away ?" Atteo asked while looking at me with concern. I just flashed him a strained smile to let him know that everything was okay. All this while my father said nothing and continued to eat in silence while leaving everyone in suspense. Suddenly the queen spoke. "It is sad that a time has come for this curse of yours to cause you to be exiled. My heart aches for your situation" she said with a voice feigning concern but one look at her I could see a smile threatening to break out at the corner of her lips. Of course she never meant to comfort me but taunt me,and it was sad the king didn't see how dark her heart was.
Well as soon as silence fell on the table again, the chief commander cleared his throat and said to my father, "your majesty, we leave by noon to return to the camp." He glanced at me while speaking. Then looked at my father and continued. "Everyone of the kingdoms that surrounds us have opened their borders except one with which we had a truce with which was proposed by their previous king, but the new one who is his son is giving us trouble and asking for almost half of the goods as tax!" he said while slightly raising his voice. My Dad raised his head from his food and said " Do what you must and if they proves difficult, make sure to secure our goods at any cost." He said with a serious look on his face. "And Devin , you will be leaving with them for your training which I am sure you have been informed earlier but I wanted to announce it here so everyone will properly say their goodbyes because you will reside there from now on." He said while looking at me all the while as he spoke. There was a cold glint in his eyes that made me wonder if he ever loved me as a father. Staying at the base meant constantly being sent to war or even death.
There was no reason why I should be sent out there since I wasn't sent in my early years like my younger brother Rufus who was very close to the commander since he was sent at the age of eleven, but only for training and during wars which was once and he remained on the sidelines as I heard. Now my own father was shipping me off like he never wanted me to return. Something felt off , because he never cared about what I did. To him I was useless.
"Devin!"
I heard my father's voice break through my thoughts. "Are you even listening?" His voice bellowed making me internally cringe.
"You have to have your attention and concentration in the present at all times. It is not a good training habit to lose concentration or your opponent would use it against you " he said. He sounded so caring when saying that but I wished it was genuine. He saw my mother as a fling and never regarded her and same went for me. And when I say something is off, then this weird caring side of him proved it. Well I zoned out of my father's so called admonition when I felt like i was being watched. I slowly turned my head discreetly to the right to see my brother Rufus drilling a hole through my head with his eyes.
If looks could kill, then I would be dead.
Sadly for him it cannot and I am not dying soon either!
I knew he hated the idea of going to training or the base with Him, because he hated me or was constantly irritated by my curse. He avoided me like a plague. And as if he heard my internal scoffle, he spoke.
"Father, a war may break out soon at one of the borders and it requires able bodied men who are well trained in combat and not a liability nor a fangless vampire who drinks from a glass" he said with a glint of amusement in his eyes when he noticed my harsh glare. He was just eighteen and he spoke like he had grown. "It is true that Devin has no prior knowledge of combat and maybe be seen as incapable of defending himself,
but I am sure he won't be totally not useful and I am sure you would protect him as your brother will you not?" My father asked Rufus.
"Of course father that's why I am here to always defend the weak, defenseless and helpless. I would always protect my brother " he said it a smile of satisfaction. His words tugged at my heart strings and I clenched my fist. My heart twisted oddly as sounds of mocking laughter erupted in the hall. They always laughed. They always made fun of me. They always mocked me.
The side of my eyes stung with unshed tears. Yes tears because I have constantly been humiliated by my family but this hurt me deep inside. It's not my fault that I was born without fangs! Nor did I choose to be cursed!
The air suddenly felt heavy and all I could think of in this moment was making each one of them who mocked me to eat their words and show me respect not because of pride but because it was only fair that I be treated as a person.
Sadly there's nothing I could do right now.