Do you believe in fate or destiny?

The air was ashy, dry and yet exuberated that sense of calm that only a coming winter could. The walls of the mansion were buzzing like they always did, reverberating a rhythm that only its inhabitants seemed to exude. My mind was a blank canvas as usual as was my heart. This emptiness I felt, this deep hole in me that never seemed to get filled no matter the merriment....it was the one constant thing in my life, not the enjoyment that seemed to go on forever within these walls.

Sometimes we want so bad to affect our fates, our destinies but I had learnt a long time ago that it was pointless. I had decided to just let it be. Maybe this was my purpose, to be this person who sang music but the lyrics never meant much. How could it?

Tap tap tap, the leather of my shoes made contact with the floors of the hallway I was walking in. Alone, now that was a familiar concept. The shiny and polished black leather of my shoes were a deep contrast to the bright red and perfectly embroidered tapestries that hung solemnly on the walls.

The evening light shone through a window up ahead but as usual, that brightness that many people sought comfort in was just another boring contrast. Another thing that was always there. Yet affected me in no way whatsoever. I sighed and moved on my way.

I thought back to the blood slave in my bed, how her writhing form had orgasmed and then spammed in pleasure when I sucked the blood away from her willing neck. She was not dead, no not yet anyways. She was useless to me, a common whore and a slave who thought offering herself and her blood to me was going to increase her rank. It was incredible how silly the thoughts of common humans were.

Humans. Lowly creatures who had only the excitement of their short mortal lives to live up to. Except, they were all really living to die. I may have envied them in the fact that they could still feel the excitement in things while I couldn't not but they were pitiful and their mundane existences could only hope to reach up to the grace of that of vampires. A shame.

"Lord Kyryaan. You have some blood on your lips." One of my high ranking soldiers, one I could almost consider a friend said with a bow, our subtle friendship, the only thing that could permit his impertinence.

I let out my tongue and slowly licked away the blood on my lips, my tongue grazing my fangs just before I tucked them back in. The man handed me a handkerchief and rose from his bow, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Hmmm. My meal was fussy." I said simply as an explanation and his smirk widened. I found no humor in it, it still didn't give me that spark, that excitement. My soul was still as hollow and dark as it was before. Some might call me unempathic but you tend to lose track of things when everything in your life feels black and white and nothing gives it color. Nevertheless, a smile rose to my lips. I had grown accustomed to this. Presenting something else and feeling another. I was the happy Lord. I had a reputation to keep. And yet no one knew the darkness that plagued me.

Or rather, no one cared enough to look.

I wiped the rest of the blood from my lips and moved further on towards the banquet hall. The man followed me prattling on and on about something I really didn't care about but I listened and nodded here and there.

Walking through perfectly sculptured double oak doors, I walked into the candle-lit banquet hall. Food, spiced, well-seasoned and delicious looking was set and steaming, their delicious scents wafting through the hall. Most of my high ranking officials were sat on seats around the large table, chatting and joking among themselves.

Hmmmm. I thought. The only thing worth of consequence here were the slaves, but even that was normal. Most officials here owned their own pet slaves, creatures of various species though humans and vampires even could be counted among and the fate of the slave depended mostly on the master. It was a sordid affair, one I was never particular fond of and the people knew but I couldn't exactly ban it. The council would always rule against. That was the thing about being Lord though. Of course I could always overrule the council and abolish the use of slaves but that might cost me my territory and the people would be worse off if another person took over. These vampires were ruthless and their traditions, stamped in stone were hardly ever changed. Plus, I had never really had a reason to before.

The way of the world was harsh. I had accepted it. With disturbing reports that came from my brother's territory in the north, now was not the best time to go against the council.

Everyone in the room stood up as I walked in and most of the chatter died down.

"My Lord." They greeted with bows. I smiled a mirthless smile, fake and yet appearing real, like a chameleon. Most of the slaves bowed their heads, none of their eyes meeting mine, fearful of the consequences. The practice disgusted me, how these masters trained the slaves to obey or be killed. But it was what it was. I kept my false smile on my face and took my seat at the table. My hands came to rest on the table and with a flick of my wrist, I ordered everyone to take their seats. Chatter resumed almost immediately.

I stared around the room silently, my gaze drifting to the men and women in the room. Most of them hated me and would see me dead, only a handful were loyal. That was the way of a society like mine. Betrayal was quite common.

A few Lords and Ladies fed their slaves like common dogs, some didn't feed them at all, I just watched with carefully masked disgust. Was I better though? Was I good enough to judge these people? No. Some people tried talking to me through the meal but I cut my food and ate in silence.

Halfway through the meal, one of the high Lords, Lord Buchan, a short, bald angry looking man with the manners of a savage and a bristling ugly beard started up a commotion. I turned my head to his side just as he took out a long whip and lashed it powerfully across the back of his slave. I sniffed the air. The slave was a vampire. A lower one. Hmmmm.

"How dare you look at the Lord directly in his eyes?! I shall teach you respect." The man shouted and kicked the slave to the ground with his boot so powerfully that I heard a few bones crack. The slave let out a pained cry as Lord Buchan rained more whips on his back. Bile rose to my throat and before I knew it I shouted

"Lord Buchan enough! You and your slave are dismissed from the banquet hall. You are to let the slave heal or you will pay the price of such treatment." I hissed, large veins popping on my hands from how hard I was gripping the table. Hushed whispers rose at my behavior. The people couldn't understand why I would save a slave who had disrespected me.

I heard a particular voice whisper 'weak. He saves slaves. The Lord is weak." And I was out of my chair and to the person's side in a flash.

"My Lord..." The woman started, fear in her eyes as I towered over her but she had nerved the beast in me, with one swift movement, I dragged her out of her dress, frilly dresses and all and stuck my hand into her chest, pulled out her beating heart and then discarded her body on the floor, her eyes shocked, her body bloody. In a few seconds she was dead. A few gasps erupted around the table and I turned to the people, the heart still slightly beating in my hand. Then I smiled like everything was alright with the world.

"Now, would anyone else like to tell me how weak I am?" The table went silent and I discarded the heart by the body and stepped out of the banquet hall, my appetite lost. Footsteps rushed after me.

"My Lord!" The man called.

"What Lord Mba?" I asked the man annoyed. He paused, his nostrils flaring from his slight run and he bowed his head respectfully.

"I was waiting till after dinner my Lord but I have some grave news. I suppose dinner is over now." The man's eyes drifted fearfully around and then bowed his head again.

"The witch Lyra is dead. Her second Duncan has taken her place." I paused, assessed what he said and felt myself suddenly grow very tense and wary.

Lyra was the head of the biggest coven in the Southern Regions of Lakaiyah. She was strict and annoying most of the time but she had been a loyal subject. Her ancestors had ruled the Ragna coven ever since my father, El Diavolul was still in power and her death was not something to be taken lightly. Her ancestors and other old families had set up the most ancient wards that guarded the southern region. I knew Duncan, I never trusted him but his coven did. I wondered what happened. How could she have died? Something suspicious was going on and I did not like it one bit.

"Send some of the best men to investigate this. I want to know everything that happened. For Duncan to have taken over...did the witch not have any descendants?" I asked.

"Only a nephew as far as we know my Lord. Duncan's son, who is not of age yet." Lord Mba reported. Of course. Lyra's sister had been married to Duncan but died in childbirth. This was grave news indeed. Something was happening and I didn't like the looks of it.

"Find out everything." I commanded, rubbing my chin.

"Yes my Lord." The man said, bowed and left. I moved to my room, closing the door behind me. I grabbed a bottle of strong alcohol and poured myself a glass.

As I was putting it to my lips, the door opened and she walked in, then locked the door behind her with the key. She then turned to smile at me.

Lady Karayan. My second in command, the first human I had ever turned to a vampire and somehow my friend. She had fiery red hair, big bold green eyes, an upturned red painted mouth, ridiculously high cheekbones and a body that was out of this world. She was beautiful, yes, but like everything else, I felt nothing for her. She dropped the robe she was wearing and beneath that she was stark naked, flaunting her curves and body. I looked away and sipped my alcohol. She was beautiful yes, but so were a lot of other women. She only adorned my bed from time to time.

"I heard dinner was a mess." She whispered sultrily by my ear, her vampire speed an added advantage that helped her reach me so fast.

Nimble fingers wrapped around my shoulders and she placed a feather light kiss on my shoulders.

"Let me please you my Lord."