[Tenebrae16] No Light [Somewittyname]

[Somewittyname]

The boy tore at the exposed flesh and only had one thing on his mind: To feed well he was alone. Or so he thought he was alone. Just as the hunger was being fulfilled Jean hissed as his hair was pulled back and a vein was pitched. It didn’t take long for the young man to go limp and basically fall unconscious. With his lack of blood it was a quick process that took less than a minute to complete with this boy. He held still, blood covered his face and the only shirt he had with him. Through maybe if he didn’t have the blood and dirt on his face, he might have looked adorable. Jean had one of those pretty boy faces, even in his new state of living-dead he was still a pretty boy with his messy untamed hair and always rosy cheeks.

Funny enough that seemed to help Jean more through, the last days he had not slept well and somehow this man had put Jean into a peaceful state of rest. He might have thanked him, or he may thank him. Depending all on how he reacted to everything afterwards, and with no real blood flowing through his veins Jean would probably still be like a wild man or a very insane, yet tamed, man.


Jean did wake up soon after through his vision blurred and body trembling as thou he was an addict of a strong drug that came from overseas. He laid in a coffin, his eyes half opened and lips dry. A young girl, one who had worried at the mansion since childhood, watched over the young man. She knew him from years ago, and against the orders of the higher ups she had stood beside him. Wiping his cheeks of the blood and humming a softly song she smiled happily seeing he was awake.
“Jean Valjean. I am glad to see you are awake … you must be hungry, master brought you.” She whispered softly. Her words never reached Jean’s ears through, which wasn’t surprising. Jasmine had disappeared from Jean’s line of vision and he stood still. He was a tamed for now. She returned with a bowl of fresh drawn blood and held it to his lips. Greedily he drank as she supported his head. She repeated the process for some time and spoke. She was saddened to see such an old friend to be forced into the dark world. Specially one who had been so faithful that he never questioned his God… he probably still didn’t.

“Good, keep drinking Jean. Keep drinking; I’ll be here till dawn… for three more hours it seems. Now rest, I’ll return shortly.” Jasmine whispered. Jean stood quiet and his amber eyes glow slowly faded. Mind unfogged; vision slowly clearing up; his body not trembling as much. He was feeling better.

Jasmine sighed and looked down as she closed the door, the nine bowls in hand. “Please … please don’t let that awful woman find out… she would just go tell him and … I can’t think about that…” she whispered to herself.

[Tenebrae16]

The boy was surprisingly light or maybe not as surprising seeing how hungry he was. The boy hadn't event told him his name, how rude of him especially now that Bernard was helping him. Or at least, should he help him? One slash, one bite could end it all and he would have rid of the strange wild vampyre, but that would just be boring, wouldn't it? He had been looking for a new face around the mansion after all, what an eventful night this was and hopefully it would be less boring in the future he thought as he trudged back up the hill. A shame he couldn't follow the wind wih cargo, at least it lengthened the walk and didn't hurry it as usual, he actually took time to admire the moonlit farm houses and the near by forests, he made a note to visit that part of the woods more, just to re-establish his claim, who knows how many other renegade inexperienced, untrained an out of control vampyres were out there?

His servants looked at him worriedly as he arrived at his mansion with the limp body slung over his shoulder, but thy were taught not to question their master. He lasted the wild man on one of the guest room coffins, then instructed a young girl to bring him a mirror. He didn't have many mirrors around the mansion and the poor girl had to search high and low before she finally found a wooden handled old dusty mirror of her own. He took it without a word and angled it at the boy, catching his reflection in the dimly lit room. It was as clear as day to his eyes compared to his own fading ghost like reflection. His suspicions confirmed, this boy was not a being of the night for long. He should probably write a letter to the other lords in the area asking if they ha recently lost a little pet. Then again, he was not friends nor even close acquaintances to any of them.

He closed the door and locked it, instructing the servants to take care of their new young master and get him clothed in something e had lying around and get him fed. He also gave a side note to keep the door locked once they exited, then he left his head maids and servants to relay the instructions to the lower ranked of the bunched and carry out his orders tithe point. He didn't bother with who they sent as long as they followed his instructions. He also trusted them not to gossip about his latest find from the wild, if they wanted to stay alive in his house. Off course the mos he was going to do was kick them out, but he didn't have to phrase it that way. Some of his servants did it since they didn't want to live, craving the sort of power he had and hoping if they did their duties well enough they would be welcomed into the darkness. He could lie and promise about that at least.

Once he was informed that his little pet was awake, he smiled glancing out of the window. The boy had indeed slept for a while and he almost wondered if his kind could go into comas. It was thrilling o know his patience had finally payed off. He unlocked he door and strode in after the servant girl that had just left with nine bowls, he had to avoid laughing at how muh blood the young man had taken. "How wonderful to see you awake." He said smiling as he walked to his coffin side. The mirror had been left on the desk near by and he leaned against it, dropping the high mighty and prideful stance. "How are you feeling pet?"

[Somewittyname]

Jasmine saw her master and quickly dropped into a curtsy as a greeting to him. Keeping her head down, she stood silent as he passed her. Quickly leaving as he entered the room Jasmine started towards the kitchen to start on her next chores before being allowed to her dorm to sleep alongside the other the other young maids of the home.

Jean was still laid in his coffin as he waited for his old friend to return. She had promised to be by his side till morning’s first light, or that was what he thought. Being greeted by the strange man again Jean groaned softly and rubbed his forehead, he could still remember that laugher from earlier in the night. He sat up slowly as to make sure that he wouldn’t feel his mind go numb again as it had been happening lately whenever he sat up too quickly. His gaze turned to the man and he gains a puzzled look when he heard the man refer him as “pet”. Shaking his head he frowned
“Who are you calling pet?” he asked fully knowing the answer to that question. Slowly climbing from the coffin Jean notice his knees were no longer buckling on his weight and that he didn’t feel that dreadful hunger. “…My head is still clearing and … better than I have in the last seven days …” he whispered as he stumbled back form the coffin.

Taking a moment to looking around his new surroundings his amber eyes dimly glowed, he was more alert now. This meant he was no longer a threat to anyone. His eyes fall on the male. With a soft sigh he looked back to the coffin, this was his second time from rising from a coffin. It was not at all comforting.

“Where am I? Who are you? Why am I here?” Jean spoke as a shy child. His eyes never left the man and now he was guard. How was one to trust someone who seemed so … well words really couldn’t describe him now? Best thing he could come up with was a creature of the night.

[Tenebrae16]

"I don't see anyone else here in the room, so it must be you." He could have very well been addressing himself though with how puzzled the man seemed with the title. Once before Claude had always called Benard his pet, a name that annoyed the then young man to no end just because it showed how controlled he was, unable to get away. That wa years ago though and Benard and the exact meaning of the word had changed somewhat.He smiled, picking up the boy's small murmur, "Nine bowls of blood, if that wasn't enough for you then you are demon or perhaps just a very malnourished man. A wolf carcass is no way to dine and even if they are faithful companions, I dare say their blood cannot match up to a human's." He said casually as if it was typical to talk of wolf blood vs human blood and other facts of it. He grimaced, "Seven days! Mon dieu, no wonder you are so starved. I cannot even think of living of animal blood for three days, let alone one whole week."

He took a moment to study the boy, now that they were in a better lit area and no one was going crazy over bloodlust. The young man definitely looked much better dressed in some new clean, warm and unragged clothes. He passed over his dimly lit amber eyes, fixing it briefly with his own green ones before passing over the rest of the boy. Boy seemed a very accurate description, his little pet had all the features of one, though perhaps not in terms of attitude. He listened amused at the questions, "Isn't rude of you to ask my name first without giving yours? Either way, Benard Theodoric in your presence, I believe you are in the guest room of my home and owing my an apology and thanks."

" You were on my lands, hunting and what's more going wild. I can't allow a crazed man, vampyre or not continue like that. You could kill one of the livestock or worse, the humans here that I have granted a living and protection. You ought to be grateful I didnt kill you as easily as I could have pet." He paused and tilted his head, staring at the man, "Honestly, all this and you still decline to give me your name. Now that is just rude isn't it? I nurse you back to health and this is how I'm treated."

[Somewittyname]

“Don’t call me such a thing. I am not some simple minded animal who cares to follow you around on all fours.” He said somewhat harshly. Jean was insulted by being called as such, he wasn’t anyone’s pet. Well, he would like to think so but in the current time he had no real other choice in the manner. Making his way to the farthest corner of the room that would give them as much space between them as it possible for the moment. Perking a brow at the surprised tone Jean looked at the man again “It is possible … I mean if I was living that long … I haven’t had a drop of human blood. That … the bowls were my first time tasting such … through it tasted didn’t from what I can remember as a child.” He whispered to himself.
“Benard Theodoric? … Jasmine, she works for you. She was the one who was feeding me a while ago.” Jean noted. Looking down he sighed shaking his head, he felt an illness of utter panic wash over his body for a moment. These beings not only held wealth but the very people who lived on their lands. Was every village just a dinner plate for these things? For them?

Then there was that word again, “pet”, growling with annoyed tone as Benard spoke to him. “My name is Jean Valjean. Now please, if you would so kindly, please do not refer me as a pet! It’s quite insulting monsieur Theodoric.” Jean spoke up. With the blood now running through his body he was being as well as he could when it came to manners. The villagers had always been taught to speak in a kind way when in the presents of a noble person. They were to treat them as royalty; they were compared to the lower class. Looking down at himself for the first time he notices he had been changed into different set of clothing. One’s a college student or a young master would have worn. A white button up shirt that was tucked into clean, new black slacks with a black coat. Running his fingers through his hair Jean shook his head.
“Who redressed me? And why in these clothes?” Jean asked, clearly upset. It was odd though; many farmers wanted to rise in the classes and would have been more than happy to take Jean’s place if they were given the chance. “Monsieur Theodoric, why would you bother to even help me? You said it yourself; you could have ended me with no problem.”

“Master Theodoric, I’ve been sent to inform you that the rising sun will be here within an hour or so. Would you like us hang the thick curtains for today? They have returned from being cleaned.” Jasmine spoke softly as she stood in the door way. The door behind firmly locked and guarded by two of the butlers. The curtains were those of a thick material that shielded the inside of the mansion form the sun’s rays and allow any vampire to travel within the mansion freely. Through they were only used whenever the master would not sleep during the day.

[Tenebrae16]

He looked both puzzled and amused at the man's mumblings, not quite making sense of it all, but it was certainly fun to watch him. "Off course not," He said slyly, "You're smart enough to walk on two legs." He gave a brief clap at that as of praising the man for such a trivial feat. He frowned and tilted his head when the boy mentioned the servant girl, "Hmmm..Jasmine, so that is her name. Ah well, I'm likely to forget it sooner or later." And he did in the next second, it wasn't that he saw the servants as nothing but a mindless bunch, but only because he learned that there was no use learning the names of someone who would serve you, but would hold up a conversation or say more than a short greeting and a 'yes master' when he gave instructions. They were too well trained by Claude, too boring for Benard's tastes. He was brought out of his thoughts as Jean growled.

"Hm? Jean Valjean?" He smirked, having expected something less common, "Do away with the formalities, they are a growing bore. It is only an insult if you make it to be pet. Let's make a deal then, do not call me with such formalities and I will not refer to you as pet? Agreed or will you refused my offer like you did before then go wild again?" Hr had not grown up with such formalities and though he had grown used to addressing other lords as equals, it still felt strange to be addressed as such. He smiled at the man's question, "Why I didn't is a mystery to even myself, but I am no murderer I suppose unless you dare to challenge me or threaten the people living here without consent then yes I will very muh end you where you stand, but it would be boring to have another of our kind die don't you think? Especially when there are already so few of us left in the world."

"As for who dressed you, I simply do not know. You'll have to ask the servants, they pick out whatever they want. I only ordered for them to dress their new young master. Those rags of yours have been washed and folded into the cupboard of you wish to wear them, it is ill advised though, wouldn't want you to go prancing off like a bushman again." He didn't move from where he was when the young girl came in, he recognized her face as the servant girl from before, but true to his word he had forgotten we name. "Ah, yes put them up. Also tell the other servants to address their new young master as master Valjean lest he say otherwise. You are dismissed." He said waving her off.

"I suppose you have many questions and accusations, don't you Jean?" He said nonchalantly as she left, most of his kind didn't like to stay awake in the day, but he was not like most and preferred to move around and be awake should anyone need him. It made sleep much better when it came by anyway. Looking up at Jean, he smiled revealing sharp canines that hadn't extended to their full length. "Perhaps a small tour of my home is in order? You may decline, but I would leave you locked up rather than let you explore a place you dot know."

[Somewittyname]

Glaring as Benard clapped slowly Jean felt like rushing him, he almost did until his attention was caught by the mention of Jasmine’s name. He had almost forgotten that she worked and lived here. He knew that now he couldn’t even harm the man, as if he could before, or else he would be putting Jasmine in danger of losing her only job. “I am not surprised, it was rare when your kind can ever remember any worker’s name.” he almost hissed.

“Stop with that ‘pet’ thing already! I swear you must be deaf to only my voice...” he muttered as he took off the coat and threw it onto the bed. The thing was much too tight for him and gave the young man no real freedom to move without feeling ever stich trying to keep him still. With that smile coming onto the man’s lips Jean felt like there was more to this than he thought. “Few? What on Earth are you speaking of? What are you and I?” it seemed like he had more questions. Many more actually.

“Young master… Ha! Like I can ever be one. I could never stand the thought of someone always doing something for me as if I some doll.” He said moving to the bathroom and grabbing his clothes. There was still stain of the wolf’s and other animal blood on the collar, but these rags seemed much more comfortable than the clothing he had on now. Locking the door behind him so he could change in peace Jean heard the two speaking, his hearing had always been strong since he was an infant and now only increased with becoming a vampire; “Do not address me as such! I am no one’s master!” he shouted through the thick red oak would so the two may hear them. Jasmine giggled softly and had to cover her mouth. She knew Jean hadn’t changed even though she had to be the one who had to feed him the fresh human blood. Turning her attention back to her master Jasmine nod and quickly disappeared back into the halls of the mansion. Soon the servants started to hang up the curtains before the first light.

Exiting the bathroom Jean threw the expensive clothing to the side of the room and looked back to Benard. Sighing the young man rubbed the bridge of his nose and nod “…I rather have the tour, I’d go mad once again if I was locked up in this room… the sun is rising so I don’t have much of a choice in returning to the cave.” He noted to himself out loud. Tilting his head back until it was supported by the wall Jean crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he began to slip into a deep thought. He barely remembered the first three nights being out; everything seemed to just go by in a red flash. The blood he had drunk out in the wild was not enough to keep him fully aware of where he was. If it had he would be back on Javert’s territory. In truth Jean had wandered far from where he had been always held to. If Benard not had wondered upon the kin, Jean would have most likely wandered into a new territory until he reached the city of Pairs. The city vampires (who were barely growing at all) would have had fun tearing him apart.

Throughout the tour Jean clearly kept at least six feet of space between them at all time. The servants passed by, their normal greeting was now added with “…young master Valjean…” which was quickly corrected by Jean as to just leave him out of it. Even dressed as a poor farm hand Jean was seemed to be higher than those who wore uniforms. He sighed looking around and stopped at one of the curtains, staring at it for a moment he looked over to Benard “Tell me, why you’ve feed me … tried to cloth me, and now even tried putting the title of master in front of my name. Even as far as calling me a pet. Are you trying to keep me here as that other bastard tried to …”

[Tenebrae16]

He couldn't help but laugh along with Jasmine when Jean shouted, amused by the young man's effort, it reminded him very much of himself, but this time he was not Claude. He had done almost exactly the same thing though, he had refused to change from his pheasant rags and refused to speak to any of the servants. It was in vain though, eventually he had to eat and he had to change and follow Claude's rules no matter how much he hated the now dead mentor. He was brought out of his memories when Jean exited the bathroom in his bloodstained rags, his servants still had no solution for bloodstains other than to burn the clothes and night. Not the best solution, but a beautiful Bon fire he could watch from afar along with any servant who dared to stay and watch the embers die down.

"We are called many things, demon, blood drinker, hell spawn, but I believe our most recent name is vampyre." He said softly, noticing how angry Jean had been at him for forgetting the servant's names, he chuckled, "Do not worry for any of the servants here. They are of here on their own free will, they were here before me and will remain till the day they decide to leave or die. I do not control them even when I could. It's no fun having a mindless minion." He gestures for Jean to follow him as he unlocked the door, glad the man had accepted his offer to a tour. It would be a real shame to have a brooding person in his home, it was worse than being bored of being alone.

He didn't bother that Jean kept his distance from him the whole time he was showing him around and giving brief descriptions of the history of each room, but not once did he mention the house's previous master. He merely chuckled whenever the man snapped at the servants and when they finally ended the short quick tour. It was probably more fun Benard had ever had talking to someone about just his house, it was certainly better than trying to talk to the servants. Bernard answered most of Jean's questions about the house, all but the ones that concerned anything to do with the old master of the house.

He was a little caught off guard by the man's sudden question and he stopped and turned to look at him by the curtain. He strode over covering the distance between them both and then turning to gently touch the thick cloth curtain. Many a time he had always thought about running up to the window and pulling of the curtain to end it all, but he was always too afraid and Claude had always kept a close eye on him. Gently he moved a little of the curtain blocking the window away letting in a ray of sunlight onto his arm. It hurt, but not badly since it wasn't direct, akin to scraping his arm while out playing. It sort of reminded him of his mother who would alway patch him up when he scraped himself.Blinking and tearing himself away from the memories he finally spoke to Jean.

"Call me a lonely old man or a bored one with nothing better to do. I was already looking for a wandering soul no one would miss on the day I found you. I'm sure you know what my plans were and it wasn't dinner. Yes I am trying to keep you here you could say, mostly out of borden and because I pity you. Tell me, are you not happier feasting of real food instead of animals that could never sustain you? You would be dead permanently if you continue on like that. Don't you feel better ow that your tags are washed and cleaned? Better than the cold wet cave?" These were similar to what Claude had spokent to him, but he wasn't Claude nor was he like his mentor, "It's another offer of mine you can refuse. You can stay here and I could teach you how to be a real vampyre or you can go back to your cave and live as a bushman for the rest of your undead life, your choice." His tone was smug, but his smile wasn not. After all, he was not Claude.

[Somewittyname]

“Vampire? Huh … seems as a foreign word to me.” Jean said as he tried calming himself; there was no reason to make his face glow red again. Besides it seemed like his cheeks would stay a soft rosy red even after death—the young man had hoped that at least he would look older but found it was not so. Nodding it gave some comfort that his friend wasn’t being held against her will. He couldn’t stand the thought of that.

Following Benard around the mansion Jean had to admit he was quite amazed by everything. The whole home was one of great wealth, foreign objects that no farm hand would have ever seen, and different fabrics that only the wealthy would ever be able to afford to keep clean. The young man could say that he did like everything but stood quite about it all. He couldn’t just give into the life style that was literally being given to him on a silver platter.

Watching Benard pull back the curtain slightly and actually put his arm somewhat in the light the young man couldn’t help but flitch as he remembered the first time he felt the sun on his skin the first morning when he had been turned into a “vampire”. The pain was still fresh in his head and he wished that he could put his hand into the sunlight without being harm. He had loved being in the warm light and hated to feel so cold.

“I see. So you want someone around who won’t just nod their head and do as told I see …. You want someone who will at least have a mind of their own right?” he asked leaning down and touching the warm carpet where the sunlight had hit it. Taking in a smooth deep breath he sighed softly, keeping his eyes down he nod “I guess you wouldn’t be an awful choice in a mentor. At least I do not have to worry about you burning my home down… okay I’ll stay. But if you ever call me pet again I will leave without a moment’s notice. I'm seroiues.”

[Tenebrae16]

He smiled, "Exactly what I need. I dont obtain anything by force though so it is wonderful to hear your decision, but of course then would mind young master Valjean? It would certainly confuse the servants were you to change it now. In time you'll get used to it and everything that I have and really should teach you before you go running into the sunlight believing yourself invincible
though I'm sure you already know that it hurts like fire. Another thing you would wish to avoid is possibly garlic, the locals seem to think it harms us. Trust me it doesn't but the stench is horrid up close and harder to remove than bloodstains." That reminded him, "You also need to learn some manners, it is rude to tear out flesh and bone just to get a spray of blood. You cannot just rely on the servants to get yourself a proper meal."

Bernard had always considered moving to the city, but there were fewer of his kind present and the ones that were devilishly cunning and he ha seen them tear apart vampyres in a matter of seconds. Off course, they weren't any match for those who had lived in the country side for long. Here vanpyres could fully hone their abilities of the hunt in the wild and eventually their skills surpassed the ones who lazed about in their ivory towers in the city. What's more it was quit here and the chances of a riot killing them all were slim seeing as how they could easily escape into the forests. It wa the perfect place to tutor a new blood, perfect place for some to get killed as well.

"You should change into less ragged rags, I will not explain that I found you living in the wild to anyone should they come and question you. Today you rest, tonight we will began what I have to teach you." He began to walk away, stifling a yawn with his hand, "If you need me I'll be in my chambers, anything else and the servants will see to it."