Bert Macklin

Of Blood and Magic

Walkie-talkie. Walkie-talkie. Walkie-talkie.

The phrase echoed into Benjamin’s head, the syllables performing a haunting melody as they replayed over and over. The intricacy of the definition betrayed the actual outcome. Dame Patel had an explanation that was both precise and informative with an endless supply of chip and patience. The result was in a word that he had somehow never heard before, a technology that had not crossed his mind in his near century. The device was as mysterious as his smartphone, a relic from an era of communication.

And it was called a walkie-talkie.

The snort that had erupted from Ben was both wholly unnecessary and shamefully humiliating. After the Dame went out of her way to acknowledge them and he had been sure to remain as pleasant as possible, to remain humble despite the honoring, it was outright disgraceful that he would dare to react in such a way. But no amount of willpower or exercise or leaning into old habits could save that distinct chuckle of his to escape.

Shameful. Absolutely shameful.

Who, however, could blame him wholly? Could they have not used a pair of words that didn't speak to his inner juvenile? No. No, for his lineage it was inappropriate to react in such a manner. The class had only just begun, he needed to get better control of himself. Even if he had to bite down on his tongue to ensure he would remain silent, he would do so. An arduous task, he realized as the dame repeated the word, but one worth committing to.

Of Blood and Magic

If I were to have my own title, what would it be, I wonder?

The thought came at a comical timing right after Dame Patel introduced herself to the class. Ben would have to admit that the impression he had on the vampire wasn't entirely positive. Once, he had caught her name out of Eris when he had declined an offer for some sort of happening—Ben hadn't cared for the conversation so he had not paid complete attention⁠—and he distinctly remembered her title. 'Dame' was not one of the traditional titles he was used to hearing but it was clear that this woman was someone of importance. Unfortunately much like Viscountess Vasiliev it would seem his impression was tainted by the actor. There was a thought in the back of his mind that begrudgingly admitted Eris' network was more varied than his, but he would dismiss it. Said actor was nowhere in sight and thus was this place a happy one with no need to bring him even to mind.

Dame Patel was interesting even if she did associate with Eris. She was quite perky for her age for one. Title aside, her enthusiasm was infectious and she used the most curious nickname. Chickadees were small birds equivalent to finches but it did not seem to be used negatively. Perhaps it spoke of how she saw them or maybe it was meant to be a symbol of her status as the educator and how she viewed the younger generation. As they would look to her for guidance he supposed it fit. Still, 'Wolfsbane' and 'chickadee' were awfully odd to be coming from the same person.

Nonetheless Ben made sure to pay careful attention. He had failed his own personal task at mastering his touchphone and had only accomplished taking photos and videos. It was useful at times but when it came to communication he had yet to trust the screen and his own taps in order to properly send a messaged. He wished the phones had keys that popped out like his typewriter. Even his old phone, however, was only barely utilized. Noah and Geoffrey often sent him 'voice mails' and 'voice memos' that he found increasingly useful. And so he decided on this class in order to better himself. He hadn't expected the computer image, but the idea of using a fancy laptop was an exciting prospect to him indeed.

Of Blood and Magic

Ben gave the princess a final bow before continuing on his way and gave Victor a nod of acknowledgement. An odd duck, that one was. Nevertheless he wasn’t eager to remain outside and entered the Eve dorm wordlessly. He was pleased to find a glass of blood waiting for him in his study as he took a moment to put the cookbook into his desk. He drank his fill as he sorted through the mail and emptied the glass before taking it to the kitchen himself.

Once Ben placed the glass in the sink he walked back to the bedrooms and stopped outside Lilie’s door. It was ajar, showing him his mage looking clearly distressed. He supposed the return was never easy for one unused to this life. He recalled Aaron and Noah’s advice as he brought up the courage to walk into the room.

“Good evening,” Ben said. “Are you ready for class?”

Lilie jumped in place, having completely zoned out. Shoot, she didn’t even hear Ben come in! Letting out a tiny sigh of relief, she hesitated as she looked up at him. Remembering what the princess said, she figured she could cut him a little slack; they really had not had a conversation since their fight. Well, new semester, new chance to be friends again?

“G-Good evening,” She replied, clearing her throat. “Yeah, I’m ready. Thank you for the new bag, I couldn’t really salvage mine.” She gestured towards the dark blue tote sitting on the bench in front of her bed. “I tried, but...I guess everything has their limit.”

“You made sure your backpack lasted far longer than expected. It’s admirable, and it was my pleasure,” Ben said. “Although you can thank my mage, Noah, for the design. I’m afraid I have very simplistic tastes even among nobles, and I believe they are ill suited for a young lady who is likely to keep up with the trends.”

He was glad she had no hostility. There was a part of him that wished he could ask what was on her mind, but it was ill advised. He would focus instead on ‘cheering her on’, as Noah stated. But what else could they speak of? Being concerned about her emotions was important, was it not? Noah stated that Ben had a tendency to be intrusive and he had to admit that he had a point.

“Are you excited for your classes?” Ben asked.

Ben was right, Lilie really did push her poor backpack past the point where she probably should have gotten a new one. But it was out of necessity--it wasn’t like her family could afford buying her a new one anytime she accidentally ripped it. She had to admit, though, she wasn’t surprised to hear he had help--the tote was way too cute for someone like him to pick out.

“Noah, huh?” She giggled. “Is he one of your mages?”

“Yes. He is the current heir of the Luscin lineage, one that my father and myself have cultivated for years,” Ben said. “I believe you and he are the same age. He Awakened recently as well; he is a shadow mage, like his father before him. I think you two will get along well.”

The Luscin lineage? Here Lilie thought that the Starags were the only ones that had that sort of thing, but it looked like she was wrong. At least she’d have someone her age in the future, but she wasn’t really sure how they’d get along--she figured he might be like Aaron, but that was just her assumption. Then again, she didn’t really like thinking about what would happen after the academy.

Instead of continuing, though, she decided to change the subject. “Hopefully. But yeah, I’m always excited for more magic,” She told him. She paused for a second, remembering the princess’ words. “Um...I never apologized for accusing you of sabotaging me. I’m really sorry about that.”

Ben was surprised at the apology as he felt he was the one that needed to apologize. However, if he did now, he would be putting them at the same level. Aaron warned him that he wouldn’t be doing Lilie any favors if he remained gentle. He needed to remain firm, but fair.

“Apology accepted. Worry not about it,” Ben said. “However, I would like to reiterate that I do have your best interests in mind. Please, believe me.”

Lilie stared up at Ben, a little surprised. Did he feel bad? Well, an apology would be nice--his words were pretty much etched into her head at this point--but maybe she was expecting too much. Oh well, it wasn’t like they had to be super best buddies or something. She had Salem for that. All they had to do was get along, and she was pretty sure she could manage that.

So she nodded, giving him a small smile. “Okay, I will,” She told him.

Ben mimicked her nod as he walked to her, patting her head. He was glad she was in agreement; their time together would go much smoother this way. For the moment he would leave her be as despite asking if she was ready, he still had to prepare his own bag for the night. He wished he had some of her enthusiasm even if it only extended to magic; he never was the studious type unless it actually interested him.

Of Blood and Magic

Ben was not as surprised as the princess was; more than once a week he would catch the mage already awake at unreasonable hours. It certainly made for interesting conversations into the night when she would be dozing off over her dinner. However, he was understanding once she explained that her schedule was odd even for a human. Her family was often up even before the dawn in order to bake bread properly. A fascinating topic and one he had researched thoroughly after Lilie's explanation had piqued his curiosity. While bread baking required much time, the payoff was considered good to mortals. If the scent was anything to go by then Ben would agree.

"I believe Miss Dionne was already awake when I departed for the library. I thought I would pick up something to read on my own time before the masses were awake," Ben said. "The snow has a way of ruining my best pants, I can agree that I'm not particularly fond of it, either."

A question lingered in the back of his mind regarding what Her Highness was doing, albeit if he had to guess, perhaps she was welcoming the new Sinnenodel representative. His chance to ask was whisked away as Victor approached the pair. As awkward as ever yet he supposed the consistency was appreciated. He hadn't expected the vampire to leave as quickly as he came, however. Ben wondered if Victor even knew about setting up appointments and the like. perhaps he could subtly slip a word to Salem to guide his vampire? But in this time he thought it best to let the princess return as far be it from him to keep her from anything important.

"My sincerest apologies for keeping you here, Your Highness. Don't let me keep you, the weather shows no sign of letting up," Ben said.

Of Blood and Magic

Ben could hardly believe that time had flown so quickly; already he was gearing up for the new semester and what Noah had lovingly described as a 'game plan'. The young man was all too excited to offer his perspective on top of Aaron's and together they had a new failsafe in place. He could not possibly ask more of the Starag and resorted to a much safer strategy of texting Noah whenever he ran into any problems. In his eyes it was a win-win as he could work on coaxing Aaron on friendship and receive quicker help as Noah would reply much faster. Desperate times called for desperate measures and the break had supplied him with ample time between watching the news to tackle on the problem.

The first trick was to give Lilie ample space. She was cordial but distant and he respected that. The second trick was to apply Aaron's compromise. Lilie's diary had mentioned on occasion that she was tired of her own cooking. The solution then came that Ben would cook. Had he known sooner he may have enrolled in that one class but he instead did the research and decided he could accomplish one dish on his own. Of course to be absolutely sure he had gone to the library and borrowed a cookbook. The recipe was not there, but something similar was and he figured he could just wing the rest of it. So long as the scent was tempting he knew he would be on the right track.

His thoughts gave way to the wind as he crossed paths with the princess. It was an unexpected but pleasant surprise as he bowed his head to her respectfully. "Good evening, Your Highness," He said.

Of Blood and Magic

_{Dates: December 7th - December 21st}

December 17th: Ben and Aaron

Assistance

Quaint, private, informative. Libraries should have been one of Ben’s favorite places were it not for how utterly boring he found studying. Aesthetically they were pleasing and had atmospheres of introspection and knowledge, two things he sincerely hoped would help. In truth he did wish the knowledge here would help him and perhaps it was his own sense of pride that held him back. However, he needed a fresh perspective, one that would hopefully give him insight to the enigma that was Lilie Dionne.

Their talk went poorly and that was an understatement. He had no choice but to call for help. To ask for such a thing to be kept under wraps meant he needed someone that was both familiar with magehood and could communicate to him how to properly address that with his own mage. And so he waited in what he thought was a private table in a part of the library that did not draw too many people. He hoped Aaron would arrive sooner than later as his own nerves were giving him a myriad of different ways he could handle Lilie going forward.

Aaron pushed into the library a few minutes late, a harsh, snowy wind trailing him inside as he looked around to catch his bearings. The Count had asked to meet him in a part of the library he didn’t usually visit, so it took him a moment to find his way through the labyrinth of shelves, not helped by the fact he was reluctant to ask anyone for help—the last thing he wanted was anyone remembering him coming here. He really shouldn’t even have come—Varis would have his head if he found out he was doing rival nobles favours—but the Count had never asked for anything more than friendly conversation in the past, and with mention of a “delicate situation”, Aaron could guess what said conversation would be about.

At long last he got where he was going, a small study area near the back of the library that students often overlooked. Aaron made sure no one was looking before slipping inside, and sure enough, there was Count Benjamin, looking characteristically pensive.

“Good evening, Count,” Aaron murmured as he neared, offering a shallow bow before taking a seat. It was a little more casual than he’d usually like with nobles, but Count Benjamin had made it pretty clear in the past that he’d prefer to keep the formality to a minimum.

“Pardon my lateness, I had a few things to attend to for my master before I could make my way over.” It was probably unnecessary, but he hoped the Count would pick up on the hint: Aaron didn’t personally mind helping him out, but it wasn’t something he could safely make a habit of.

“My sincerest apologies for taking any of your time, I would have preferred to resolve this on my own,” Ben said. It wouldn’t do for any vampire to pick up a habit of asking a mage that wasn’t of his house for anything and he could understand what Aaron was getting at. “I can assure you I would have rather asked for your time for something more jovial. I thank you for coming.”

“To avoid wasting your time, I will be direct. I have not dedicated myself to training my mage as much as I should have. There aren’t any reasons that don’t sound like excuses as the truth of the matter is I greatly overestimated her capacity for adapting to change. It’s apt to describe it as Lilie drowning. The irony is not lost on me,” Ben said. “The crux came the other day; as I am sure you are aware, any schedules that go against the norm required approval. Lilie’s request was denied and it led to a conversation that ended poorly.”

Poorly was an understatement truth be told.

Aaron couldn’t claim to be surprised; by what both parties in the Eve partnership had told him, they tended to butt heads over the subject of Lilie’s transition to mage life. He’d done his best to counsel them both—Lilie on the sad reality that things were different in vampiric society than she was used to, and the Count on how he might accomplish his goals with a gentle hand—but he was hardly an expert. In fact, he could only hope his advice hadn’t been the cause of any issues between them.

Similarly, that Lilie’s intended course load was a point of contention between the two came as no surprise either. Aaron had tried his best to be encouraging, but the combination of classes she wanted to take rivaled his own schedule in intensity; it wasn’t far-fetched to think the Princess thought it might be a little much, or that her Count would want her to pace herself. Aaron partially blamed himself for letting it get that far—he should have been firmer when he hinted that her plan was pretty taxing—but to be fair, it wasn’t his job to police what Lilie did with her time. It was Benjamin’s.

He nodded slowly when the Count finished, taking a moment to unwind his scarf from around his throat and drape it on the chair next to him before he replied. “Would I be right to guess that that decision didn’t fall solely to Her Highness?” he asked.

If the situation was so transparent that Aaron could already guess then Ben felt he had little in the ways of keeping the conversation vague. Being direct truly was the best course of action, he decided that he would speak plainly going forward.

“While it was a mutual agreement you are correct,” Ben said. “I can assure you, however, that I did nothing to sabotage Lilie’s chances outside expressing my own concerns. She is convinced otherwise. It seems anytime we make one or two steps of progress we lose five going backwards.”

And if he was to be direct, he also needed to be honest. “I don’t believe Lilie understands that while her enthusiasm and eagerness for magic are admirable, her priorities aren’t where they need to be,” He said. “I do fear that I was too harsh with our last conversation. I thought it best to bring her down and make things clear. It resulted in tears and we haven’t held a conversation since.”

Aaron raised his eyebrows. Tears? Lilie wasn’t the pinnacle of emotional fortitude, and she’d cried to him about her issues with her Count in the past, but it was somehow a shock to hear she’d break down in front of a vampire. Maybe it was his upbringing making it seem strange; he came from a world where you hid everything away until you could let it out behind closed doors. But Lilie came from a different world entirely, and, well, that was really the problem.

“I see…” He twined his fingers together on the table, spinning his ring for a moment in thought. “Do you know what specifically got her so upset?” he asked, “Or was it the issue of having her plans denied in general?”

The risk of losing Aaron’s positive opinion of him nearly caused Ben to hesitate. He wondered for a moment if his honesty was going to end up making things worse for him but he supposed there wasn’t much he could do without coming completely clean. He couldn’t very well hide what he did if Lilie did decide to tell him, after all.

“As much as it pains me to admit, I was the cause,” Ben said. “We spoke of her intentions for dueling and her desire for magic. It all came to a point when she mentioned that she had been fencing for years to which my response was to point out that even with that behind her, she still lost her first duel here. After that, she asked if I thought she was weak. I said yes.”

Oh yeah, that wasn’t great. Aaron visibly cringed at the admission, although he was glad the Count opted for honesty; this would be a lot harder if Count Benjamin tried to sugar-coat the situation. He could certainly see why that would have upset Lilie, but he had a feeling it wasn’t the comment alone, but a lot of previous buildup, that led to such a dramatic fallout.

“I see,” he repeated, searching for the right way to put his thoughts without coming off like he was scolding a noble. “Well, for starters, I wouldn’t hold that duel against her; truth be told, it wasn’t a fair fight,” he admitted. “She trained in fencing as a hobby—a dedicated hobby, mind you, but still—whereas my training has been considerably more intense. Add in a significant difference in size and strength and it would have taken a miracle for her to have won that night.”

He sighed, starting to feel a bit like one of those tired couple’s counselors on sitcoms. “That said, I can see why you’d disapprove of her proposed class schedule,” he continued. “For reference, I’m joining one of the most demanding major programs this school has to offer, and her schedule would have resembled mine in intensity. My counselor described it as spending six straight hours in the gym with minimal breaks—it would have been a considerable drain on her, and while I’m on the fence over whether she could handle it, it would make anything extracurricular impossible. I’m taken to assume the two of you are still working on mage etiquette together?”

Everything Aaron said made sense and Ben was relieved to know that the core of his message was still in the right. He wouldn’t say it, but he was well aware one of the reasons Lilie wanted to do her schedule the way she had chosen was because Aaron was also doing so. The difference between the two was a gap so wide it was concerning why she would make any attempts at following his lead.

“One of her slots will be taken with an Introduction to Showmageship. We no longer need to take time out after classes with that, fortunately,” Ben said. “While I have no issue teaching her myself, I felt she would take it more seriously in a classroom setting. Her grades alone show that she takes her studies to heart.”

Aaron couldn’t help but smirk, despite the somber tone of the conversation. “I’m sure she wasn’t a fan of that idea either.”

“She was not. She claimed she had no such interest in the subject,” Ben said. “She is under the belief her desires trump mine.”

Aaron nodded. That was a pretty critical misunderstanding that he’d tried to help straighten out when Lilie came to him before, upset that Count Benjamin had replaced her belongings. Apparently, his reasoning didn’t stick.

“Yeah, that sounds about right,” he said absently. But what more advice could he offer? Count Benjamin had the right of it: his word was final, that was how this all worked. Of course Aaron felt for Lilie, he could only imagine how hard it must be for her to have many of her freedoms taken away, but what could he do? Lying to her would only make the eventual fall of the hammer hurt even more.

“I can sympathize with your difficulties in dealing with Lilie,” he voiced as much, spinning his ring. “And as much as I’d like to tell you she needs a soft hand, I agree that it’s better for her to learn her place sooner rather than later.”

He studied the table for a moment, trying his best to put his words in the right order. “Still, I can see why this is hard for her. She’ll never be comparable to a mage raised around vampires: she lived her whole life in almost total freedom. She had dreams and plans for her future, one where her life would be her own making. With all due respect, Count, it may seem trivial to you, but we mortals hold those plans very close to our hearts.”

He didn’t want to lecture a Count, but he wanted to make sure Benjamin had a full understanding of what he was dealing with—or at least, as full an understanding as Aaron had. “Obviously I can’t relate to transitioning from human life to magehood, but I do know that having what you thought was your future taken away can be devastating. I’m not surprised she doesn’t want to give up whatever control she was used to before.”

Aaron sighed, leaning back in his chair. This was getting a little too personal for comfort—maybe he should have just stuck to the tried and true ‘don’t worry Count, you’re totally right, Lilie’s difficult is all’, but it was a little late for that. Still, there was something to be said for Benjamin’s side of the situation too, and the fact that he cared enough for his mage to ask advice on dealing with her in the first place was something rare among nobility. “Of course, I don’t think you’re wrong to lay down the law. Some gentler wording might have been a good idea, but in my opinion it’s better to be honest and brutal than to lie and set her up for failure later on. It’s… a hard situation, and I admire that you’re concerned enough for her well-being that you’d consult me.”

“But at the risk of missing the obvious: what exactly do you want my help in doing?” Aaron finally asked. “Do you want my help convincing her to speak to you again?”

Aaron’s words were something Ben seemed to drink in; the perspective of a mage that had his own voice was something sorely needed. There wasn’t anything he disagreed with but the conclusion he arrived at was grim. Eris’ offer suddenly made sense as much as it pained him to admit. Of course, taking up said actor’s offer was an entirely different story and not one he should approach lightly.

“I wanted understanding,” Ben said. “It could be that I am expecting too much in too little time, but that’s exactly the point I tried to make. In almost three and a half years she will be entering my house and then what? My father wouldn’t have it; she’s likely to either get relegated to a scullery maid or sold elsewhere.”

Ben paused. “Perhaps I could ask Her Highness for a switch. A noble setting is harsh even on mages that have trained their entire lives. She would still serve a vampire but she could end up with one with less responsibilities. I was also informed of a charity that may be able to take her in.”

“What?” Aaron blurted out, too shocked by the Count’s words to temper his own in the moment. Benjamin was considering just, getting rid of Lilie? What? He knew as well as any other vampire-raised mage that many, many mages met similar fates, but something about that happening to Lilie, especially after all she’d already been through, got Aaron more heated than he’d prefer to admit.

“Count Benjamin, I…” he was speechless was what he was. Good Lord, it was a good thing he took this meeting—Lilie’s situation was far more precarious than he thought. But of course it was, why wouldn’t it be? She’d been given so many chances already, and she was entering a harsh world. Maybe the reason it hadn’t sprung to mind sooner was the very fact that Varis still kept him around; there was no way Lilie could be more of a disappointment than he was, so it hadn’t even crossed his mind that she was at risk of being discarded. It seemed that was yet another example of Aaron being blind to what was right in front of him.

“Forgive my boldness, Count, but if you care about Lilie at all—and it seems that you do—then you cannot send her away.” It was ludicrous to speak to a noble that way, but the Count came looking for advice, and he’d get it. Firmly. “She’s already been passed around three other masters before you. Three. I don’t think she could bear being discarded a fourth time.”

He hadn’t noticed till then, but Aaron was leaning out of his chair. He took a second to settle himself back down before continuing. “Not to mention that there’s no telling what would become of her under someone else’s care. A charity is a fine thought in theory, but I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that things are rarely what they seem.”

He sighed, a deep-seated weariness apparent on his face. “I understand that you feel pressured to mold her into an Eve mage by the time she enters your household. I do. And I agree that that’s imperative; it’s no mercy to protect her here only for her new life to eat her alive. But I implore you, don’t give up on her yet.” He met Count Benjamin’s eye, something he seemed to be doing a lot more of lately than he’d prefer. “Lilie is not a lost cause. She’s only a late bloomer. I was, too; I’m three years older than her and not much more advanced in my magic. Remember that she started with nothing: in four short months she’s made incredible strides. Hell, I know someone who grew up with vampires and still didn’t know to hold his tongue in the Queen’s presence, and already you have Lilie singing for an audience and conducting herself respectably at formal functions. She has great promise, in that I am confident.”

“I’m sure it seems like mere moments until she’ll have to reckon with the real world, but consider this,” Aaron added, “she’s only halfway through her first year here, with three more to go after that. To a vampire, that’s a blink; to a mage, that can be a lifetime.” He held the Count’s gaze a moment longer before finally sitting back. “There’s still time to shape her the way you want her to be. More time than you might think.”

While it was the last thing he wanted to think about, Aaron reminded Ben greatly of the first time he had met Countess Marivaldi; she had asked him what it was that he wished he could inherit from a mortal. He wished he could take mortal passion to see what it was like to see it blossom and rage, to be at the height of emotion without regard. Seeing it in Aaron had put Ben to shame, if only for a moment.

He did take Aaron’s words to heart—the boy may have lunged himself across the table if he didn't!—and considered his next words carefully. Nothing Aaron said was inaccurate but it still left him with a conundrum. He did not leave Aaron’s gaze as he thought to himself and the many possibilities before him. It would look poor on him if he made such grand claims in front of Count Sinnenodel and then turned around to ship the girl off the first chance he got.

“I apologize for upsetting you in any way. It was not my intention,” Ben said. “I would like to believe you, truly. Perhaps the problem doesn’t lie in the mage, but instead the master, then.”

Even so he needed to make a decision. “I suppose I should try harder, then,” He said. “How do you think I should go about apologizing?”

Aaron carefully avoided heaving the massive sigh of relief he wanted, instead relaxing a little more in his chair. Thank fate, he seemed to have gotten through to him. Of course, now he’d dug himself into a hole that might be harder to get out of: he wasn’t exactly the most practiced at making amends.

“Your patience is admirable, Count Benjamin,” Aaron told him. He spun his ring for another moment, thinking of what Lilie might want to hear from the man who was poised to control her life’s trajectory. “... I think making it clear that you want to understand what she’s struggling with will go a long way. That said, she has a pretty deep distrust of vampires. I don’t know if she’ll believe you.”

Hm, it was difficult indeed. Count Ben would have to reconcile the necessity of laying down the law with his clear desire to be on Lilie’s side. He shrugged, a little out of his depth. “Well, you know what they say: actions do speak louder than words. I know it’s important that she knows where her boundaries lie, but maybe you could help build some trust by compromising on something trivial? I’m not sure; I’ll be honest, the idea of a Count capitulating to a mage is extremely foreign to me. But this is a unique situation.”

Ben couldn’t help but laugh at Aaron’s words. Unique was not his first choice in describing the situation but it was apt! He would need to think hard on what course of action he could take to earn Lilie’s forgiveness, albeit he was interested in the idea of compromise. For all his talk of sympathizing with mages, he had yet to do so for his current partner. He would have to take strides to amend that. However, something else Aaron said struck Ben.

“I do earnestly believe I could come back with the moon itself and be refused simply because I’m a vampire. However, I was recently enlightened to the truth behind that, perhaps if I were to confront the vampire from her past, it could lead to something?” Ben asked. “It seems when Lilie was a child, her mother had caught the attention of a vampire. It’s a tale as old as time but the result bore a scar that wouldn’t be forgotten.”

“From what I have been told, Lilie’s mother was an accomplished fencer. So much so that she defeated a vampire in a one-hit match. Unfortunately said vampire dealt with it the same way most do, by ensuring she would never fence again. Seeing that as a child would traumatize most, I feel. But had I the method to find that vampire, I wonder if bringing him to justice would make her happy.”

Aaron raised his eyebrows, not bothering to hide the look of astonishment on his face. The Count was willing to go to such lengths just to try and earn Lilie’s trust? He’d heard about the infamous mage sympathizer Count Benjamin Eve, but it was interesting to see those ideals put to practice—not to mention interesting to learn something so personal about Lilie’s past. He wasn’t sure how he felt about learning it from a third party, but it shed some light on Lilie’s discomfort with vampires at least.

“I must admit, I didn’t think you’d be willing to go so far,” Aaron said. “I suppose I should have had more faith. Your reputation does precede you.” He nodded. “I don’t know if it will fix everything, but if it were possible to bring something that harmed my mother to justice, I know it would bring me a measure of peace. Maybe that could help her begin to move past her trauma.”

Of course, there was one pretty important hurdle he’d have to jump first. “But do you think such a thing is even possible?”

“At the end of the day, regardless of my actions, it is clear that no matter what I do there will always be doubt,” Ben explained. “If I could ease that burden, we could make real progress. My actions would be taken at face value and wouldn’t have ulterior motives painted in her mind.”

When it came down to it, however, Aaron had a point. In light of the conversation and honesty, he had one idea in mind. “I sent a letter to Lilie’s family recently requesting to meet with them. I had been planning on asking about something else while I was there. I could add this question as well, and there is no better place than the source,” He said. “I would ask for your discretion on this, of course. I don’t believe a vampire trespassing on what must be a ‘safe haven’ for Lilie would go down well.”

Aaron nodded once more, still bewildered at the lengths the Count was willing to go to help Lilie find some peace. “Of course. It’s not my business to be a liaison between the two of you anyway. But if I may, thank you for coming to me.” He caught the Count’s eye once more, completely sincere. “I’m by no means an expert, but it’s a testament to your character that you’d seek another mage’s input on this rather than another noble’s. It’s… reassuring to know that Lilie is in empathetic hands.”

Ben was truly humbled by the mage’s words. As much as he disagreed, it was nice to see his efforts recognized. He genuinely hoped he would reach a similar conclusion with his own mage sooner than later. He had looked too broadly at the situation, hadn’t seen the forest for the trees, and there was another approach he reached that he never would have found without his help. With that in mind he did decide he had taken up much of Aaron’s time and chose to stand.

“No, thank you. Your insight and your passion reminded me of why I have my reputation,” Ben said. “Though if I may be so bold, I will remind you that my empathy is not solely in my house. While there may not be much I can do without incurring judgment, I would still like you to see me as a safe place. If it’s to entertain yourself or even just a talk about nothing in particular, I implore you to seek me out if you’d like. I understand and respect your duty to your count, of course. I would simply find myself at ease if you knew you had a space to unwind or even found it a place of peace.”

Aaron stood as the Count did, wrapping his scarf back around his neck. But where he expected a cordial ‘good evening’, instead he received an offer of solace. Goodness, this was from the party, wasn’t it? The Count had been good enough to ignore him after Varis’ scathing review, but it must have prompted some sympathy from him. Aaron offered a cordial smile, nodding along with Benjamin’s words, but really, he was just embarrassed; nothing Varis said was exactly undeserved, and the last thing he needed was a vampire—a noble especially—pitying him.

Still, he supposed the thought came from a good place; he shouldn’t rebuff it outright. “That’s very kind of you, Count. Consider it noted.” He moved to bow, but stopped himself, hesitating for a moment before holding his hand out for a handshake instead. It felt weird, but the Count clearly wanted him to feel like he was on equal footing, and Aaron supposed he deserved that comfort after all he promised to do for Lilie. “Have a good night.”

Ben gave what he hoped was a warm smile—he didn’t want to come off as too overjoyed lest he scare the mage off. He did, however, take the handshake with much enthusiasm. Now that he had a plan in mind he supposed he should get to work on it. For now he would allow Lilie the distance as it was warranted.

“Thank you, Aaron,” He said. “Have a good night.”

_{Dates: December 22nd - January 5}

December 28th: Solo

Intrigue

“It would seem Count Sinnenodel is deceased.”

The quill stopped in place as Ben contemplated what he was just told. It would seem the information he had gathered was correct; with that in mind, however, he could not ignore the grim implications that followed suit. He put down his quill for the moment as Noah brought in his laptop, replaying the live clip for him to watch. An emergency broadcast with a statement from Lady Sybil Sinnenodel herself bode ill indeed.

Ben waited until the video finished before looking at his young mage. Noah didn’t seem too surprised, albeit he was deep in thought as well. Once he noticed Ben looking at him, he cleared his throat and straightened up as he closed the laptop and took it back in hand.

“You look troubled,” Ben said.

Noah stayed quiet for a moment before he would shake his head. It was admirable to see the boy so concerned. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen something like this publicised,” He said. “Father said it was inevitable, but was it really? It seems...violent to kill someone in that manner even if they are a Sinnenodel. It’s outright cruel.”

“I would say it’s practical. Flames are one of the few surefire ways to kill a vampire as brute force can only get you so far,” Ben said. “Whoever was responsible for this planned accordingly. It’s no secret that the noble House Sinnenodel relies on intelligence rather than physical prowess. Count Sinnenodel didn’t stand a chance against his pursuers.”

The Red Hand was used as the executioner but Lady Sinnenodel’s words indicated that said treachery meant someone who knew of the count’s schedule had informed the terrorist group of their chance. Was the group truly reliant on leaks to do their work? He supposed it would have been one way for them to make their mark on the world. Disturbing as it was he guessed that if the opportunity arose then there was no real reason not to take it. Varis Sinnenodel likely had many personal and public enemies that would benefit from his death.

Callous as it may sound, however, Ben had his own problems to address. He looked over the medical records in his hands as he placed them down and picked his quill up once again. He continued his notes until something else came to mind and decided to address Noah.

“With your Awakening around the corner, I believe it’s time to put you to work,” Ben said. “Someone aside from my father has planned to take over the seat, which in turn means that I have competition. I’d like you to find out who and report it to me as soon as you can. I may need to adjust my own plans depending on who it is.”

Noah lit up at his words and drank them in. He took the order well and without question as he only gave Ben a bow before turning around and exiting the office. Ben chuckled; he didn’t mean for him to do so right this second, but he appreciated his enthusiasm. For far too long had Noah constantly wanted to prove himself but anything Ben needed was too delicate of a task to be left to a newcomer. At least that much Noah could look into without there being any risks. He would learn from his father soon and be just as effective.

Speaking of Geoffrey, Ben wondered why he hadn’t shown up yet. The results of his own task had been a mixed bag. The obsidian shipments were delivered by a company called Emerald Sun, a subsidiary of Green Vision Inc. and the very same one Varis Sinnenodel was a board member of. He was young, but not too young to naively assume the two weren’t connected somehow. Not that he could ask the count anymore, but he did find it interesting how things were connected.

And speaking of connections, he was willing to bet his mines that the high profile celebrity was also up to something. He had nothing conclusive to point to Eris Samael being the one to stick his nose into the arrest that had taken place in Duke Horvath’s territory aside from a hunch, although it didn’t match the confirmation of the rumor he had heard about his mage trying to find out more about Morgan Le Fey. Was everything more intertwined than he expected or was it his own paranoia whispering untrue things? What was a celebrity doing involving himself in such affairs? Eris and Varis had been close enough that Ben didn’t doubt the two had some business ventures together, but would Eris really involve himself that much? Anything he did was on the public radar and Varis seemed more the secretive type. What did those two even see in one another? There were too many questions and not enough answers, but at this point he had to seriously consider looking into the actor as well.

Ben stood from his seat and decided to search for his mage. He needed to focus on the obsidian for the moment. If any attempts to follow the trucks are thwarted it meant he was onto something. Perhaps he was approaching this from the wrong angle. This meant that he was onto something but he wasn’t entirely sure what. He should try to see who the board member replacing Varis was, that way he could try to get an in and see about the shipments. It wasn’t the best plan but he wasn’t too sure how to go forward at this point.

There were many things on his mind now and Ben had to take a moment of pause. Green Vision Inc., obsidian, Algeria...and of course there was Lilie. It would be prudent to look into her ancestry but he doubted he would get very far. There wasn’t any real reason to do so, either. Instead of the past, he needed to start thinking about the future. He had nothing in mind for any role to fill as she was now. It was sad to say but getting saddled with a genetic failure was more of a burden than a boon. Still, the conversation he had with Aaron was still fresh in his mind; the way he defended her so meant she had value that he himself could not see. Tomorrow he would be paying a visit to Glendale and see where the white thread would lead him.

There was much for Ben to think about and little time to do it.

December 30th: Ben and Felicia

Seeking a Truth

Every once in a while Ben was reminded how much his viewpoint differed from others. This impromptu trip of his was no exception; he distinctly remembered Glendale being described as a small town, but his definition of small had left him flabbergasted at the reality. He would have used ‘tiny’ or ‘miniscule’ instead, the few streets and houses nearly swallowed up by acres of farmland. Quaint indeed, the serene and quiet air of the night marked the end of any activity. Very few people were out at this time, the lights of the houses indicating that most of the townsfolk were home.

The vampire remained in his car for some time as he watched the small house for any activity. It wasn’t often that he was instructed by those below his station, but he felt it was best in this case. After taking a look at his watch the door to the house opened and a very familiar face stepped out. One could see that shock of white hair from a mile away as the young lady carefully went down the stairs accompanied by another woman. He did not recognize her but she very much looked like Lilie; it was safe to assume they were related.

The two women linked their arms and left together. Only when they were out of sight did Ben inform the chauffeur that he was stepping out. The chill of the air was refreshing and it wasn’t long until he reached the front door. He knocked without hesitation and waited.

The front door opened right after, a tall, dark haired man standing in the doorway. He looked a little startled as he saw the vampire in front of him, straightening up considerably. “You must be Count Eve,” He said, giving the count a smile as he backed away from the door to give him room to walk through. “I’m Will. Please, come in.”

“Thank you very much,” Ben said. He offered the man a bow before stepping into his home. It wasn’t often that he interacted with humans, but Will was very polite, reminding him of his servants at home. He could see where Lilie got her manners and soft spoken voice, his smile genuine and infectious.

“Excuse the intrusion, I won’t be long,” He said. “Where can I find your wife?”

Will looked towards the back of the house. “She’s having a smoke at the moment, but I’m sure she’ll come in at any second,” He told him. “I can show you to the kitchen. Unless the dining room is better?” He caught himself, realizing that seemed inappropriate.

“That won’t be necessary, I’ve bothered you enough as it is,” Ben declined. “I’ll go outside and be out of your way.”

After a brief nod, Ben made his way to the other door and back into the cold. A woman had perched her elbows on the railing, a cigarette in hand as she stared out into the distance. For a second Ben was stunned at the family resemblance—no, resemblance was too weak, Lilie was the spitting image of her mother. Felicia’s features were a touch sharper and obviously older but she looked young for her age and it was like he was looking at his mage’s future self. In the back of his mind this only served to confirm his suspicions although he would not make assumptions without her input.

“Good evening.” Ben said. “I thank you for meeting with me. I hope you do not mind speaking out here.”

Felicia hadn’t looked at the vampire just yet, focusing more on getting in another smoke. After a few seconds, she took another drag, exhaling as she straightened up. Crossing her arms, she twirled her cigarette between her fingers, blue eyes sharp. “Good evening,” She returned his greeting warily. “What do you want?”

Ben was not surprised by her directness but it was humorous somehow to him to hear such a harsh tone from a face he has grown to know. He couldn’t even imagine Lilie speaking to him like that even at her harshest. But Felicia Dionne had all the bite of mortals and more. She was relaxed as she spoke, tense yes but not in the way most mortals were. She was anticipating something from him. An attack perhaps but he wasn’t so crass to lay hands on anyone. It was best to get directly to the point.

“I recently received medical records pertaining to your daughter and something didn’t seem right,” Ben said. “A mage’s lineage is valued to most vampires for a multitude of reasons ranging from appearance to pristine health. Lilie is somehow not an exception to this rule even with her albinism and frailty in childhood. Were I a betting man, I would think Lilie was descended from a mage.”

Felicia listened to the count, expressionless. Even at the end she didn’t react much, only looking back out towards the backyard. She was quiet for a moment, thinking of what to say, but nothing seemed right. Finally, she shook her head. “I think you’re right. I found out shortly after the...incident,” She admitted, raising her cigarette to her lips. “There always is that small chance of magehood every couple of decades, as rare as they are. But I didn’t think...I never considered that such a big clue was in my face this whole time.”

She only thought he was right—she had no confirmation. With the situation at hand, however, that was good enough for Ben all things considered. As it was he was sure there would be no concrete evidence at this point in time.

“I thought it was strange, I’ll admit,” Ben said. “The Dionne family has existed in this town for generations. It’s comparable to some vampire dynasties how expansive it is between this town and the next. Many families here were the same and those that weren’t never came from too far away. I could find plenty for your father’s family—the Douglas family—but I couldn’t find anything of your mother. The only thing for certain is that Liliane Diggory lived here. I hope you can enlighten me on this.”

Taking in a breath, Felicia slowly exhaled. “You sound like you have it all figured out,” She muttered, letting out a sigh. “I never questioned the lack of family from my mother’s side since my father had six siblings and they all pumped out four kids minimum. She told me once that her family was much too far to communicate with--unlike these days where we have cellphones and the like, once you got far away enough from certain places you could basically disappear without a trace. One time, I think, she admitted that she had never met her father. And...she said something about a sister. But other than that, no one knew where she came from, and she died relatively young. It was...eight years ago. She was only fifty-seven.”

As she spoke, her tone became melancholy, even as she knit her eyebrows together. “Why are you asking me about this?” She suddenly asked, looking directly at Ben with cold eyes.

Recent years have made it harder for mages to escape but it wasn’t unheard of some decades ago. Depending on the family it would have caused a quiet yet hasty retrieval. Perhaps Liliane belonged to a small family. Or perhaps she was not missed. Fleeing to the countryside was wise but Ben was surprised nonetheless. It must have taken some courage to leave everything she knew behind.

Felicia’s hostility was warranted but Ben was not done. “Knowing my mage’s lineage is important,” Ben said.

“It’s easier to sell a flawed mage when you can swear this is a one time anomaly,” Felicia’s response was sharp and to the point, and she made sure she was standing straight as she gave Ben a glare. “I’ve spent years doing my damndest to make sure my daughter never saw herself as different, but your kind loves to pick apart mortals for a hair out of place and every abnormality they have just because we have the misfortune of being imperfect.”

Ben could also see where Lilie got her defensiveness from. Yet once again Felicia was much harsher, much more threatening. It wouldn’t do to simply make an attempt to calm her down; she would just as easily verbally rip him apart. Hearing her speak however gave Ben a sudden understanding.

“Yes, the immortal have always looked down on mortals for their flaws. But do not misunderstand my intentions,” Ben said. “I have come here to look for answers to questions I have. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Felicia couldn’t help but scoff, fully turning back to the yard. “I don’t believe you. But there’s not much I can do about it,” She replied. “Unfortunately I’m going to have to disappoint you if you want to know anything else. My mother appeared one day suddenly, lived her life here, then died. I haven’t been able to find out where she came from or who her family is--I’m willing to bet her name was something she came up with herself, too. The only thing I do know is that she isn’t from this territory and she was probably a mage.”

Disappointing but Ben had an inkling Felicia would not be convinced. Fortunately her words gave him plenty to think about; the circumstances of Liliane Diggory’s appearance yielded mystery even from her own flesh and blood. They had come to the same conclusion as well. Still, she sounded so sure of what she said.

“If I may ask, what makes you so sure she was a mage?” Ben asked. “People run away for multiple reasons ranging from abusive homes to wanting to start a new life.”

“True. I could be wrong, just grasping at straws for some justification for everything that’s happened,” Felicia admitted that much. “Honestly, it’s just...a feeling I have.”

Going with your gut was usually the way to go. Ben could honestly agree with Felicia solely on that as he had a familiar feeling. The mystery came to a cold ending and he supposed he would never truly know. He would lay the issue to rest and decided he would ask one more thing.

“I understand,” Ben said. “If it is at all possible, can you tell me about Lilie’s Awakening?”

“I’ll tell you now, I’m not going to elaborate on what happened at the dam,” The woman warned him. “For one, I still don’t know exactly what happened. I can tell you the aftermath and that’s pretty much it,” She told him. “Anything more you’re going to have to get out of her.”

After waiting for some inclination of agreement, Felicia let out a sigh, shaking her head. “Truth is, I only have bits and pieces and guesses to what went on. The only reason I found out what happened is because an old colleague of mine let me know something was going on in the first place--the less humans know, the better they’re ‘protected’. I was told that the dam’s destruction was Lilie’s doing. To his credit, he was able to explain that mages without control had the capability to cause things like that to happen. There was no need to worry about costs as the vampire owning the territory would receive funding, and Lilie would be taken to another town for training. I remember hearing all that and conveying it to my husband, but as soon as I finished talking, he burst into tears. I think at that point I didn’t understand what was happening, even as I comforted him.”

That much was a surprise to Ben for some reason. Perhaps it was because he was used to having mages but he had been under the assumption that even a mage from a human family would be informed of what happened to the mage. However, what she said did make sense from his perspective as he was aware young mages’ abilities did have a chance at manifesting before their Awakening. He was also surprised to hear that Lilie had managed to destroy a dam of all things. There was some irony in hearing that after having previously discussed his weak mage but there was no point in bringing that up.

“After the incident, there was a record stating that a prescription for buspirone and benzodiazepines was handed out,” Ben said. “I understand that using such power could be shocking, but I don’t see why those were given.”

For a moment, Felicia fell quiet, but her expression changed completely. She struggled with something at first, trying to find the words. “I don’t suppose you...looked up any news articles, did you?” She asked slowly. “Even though the mages did their best to cover it up, the destruction was pretty obvious. Thing is, around here, that area was a common place for people to hang out. Specifically, teenagers. That night was no exception.”

Ben could not fight the sinking feeling in his chest as Felicia spoke as he understood her hestiance—and Lilie’s—in revealing what had happened. Suddenly he remembered the practical and their last challenge where Lilie had nearly drowned. She had been exceptionally shaken by seeing her friends ‘floating’ in the water. He had initially assumed that it had been her current friends that had drowned but he did not consider that it had been friends from her previous life.

“With that said, they…” Ben couldn’t finish the sentence. But he would go on. “And Lilie believed their blood was on her hands. I see. I didn’t consider it would be so personal.”

Raising a hand to her forehead, Felicia let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. “For a century old being, you’re not as smart as I thought you would be. Or maybe you’re just naive,” She couldn’t help herself, giving Ben an incredulous look. “What did you think I was going to tell you?”

Ben did not have a response to that. He initially believed that he was not told solely because it was a source of shame. What did he think Lilie was hiding? The truth was he didn’t care what it was so long as he learned about it. As he looked at Felicia, who waited for an answer to her question, it was he who was ashamed of himself. Never in a hundred years did he expect this, either. He never expected Lilie to have killed even by accident.

“I don’t know,” He said in earnest.

Shaking her head, Felicia finished off her cigarette, extinguishing it as she let out one last huff. Rubbing her hands together, she was at a loss as to what to say. “Well, unfortunately I don’t have much else to say. She was medicated for a while due to recommendation from a psychologist, and she only came back when she had the princess’ invitation. I don’t think she’s been the same since, but…” She trailed off, pinching the bridge of her nose. “That’s all I have for you. I won’t bore you with the details of what happened in between.”

“I see.”

Ben wished he had more to say but it was difficult to follow up at this point. He did want to know more but if Felicia could not provide any more answers then this was where it ended. Even so, he was glad he asked; he had gained valuable insight into who Felicia was as well. The transparency was refreshing and he knew she did the best that she could.

“Thank you. I will be sure to compensate you for your time,” Ben said.

Felicia scowled at him, openly rolling her eyes. “Gee, thanks,” She looked Ben up and down, eyeing him warily. “In return I’m going to give you some free advice from a lowly human: generally speaking, going behind someone’s back to learn their secrets is seen as a bad thing.”

Ben was once again surprised but he supposed he had this coming. He didn’t make it as secret as he should have; asking the family to make sure Lilie was away when he visited, going out of his way to make sure the circumstances were in his favor, all of it spilled multiple flags. If anything the fact that Felicia had already seen through it made Ben wonder why Lilie was so naive.

“It is for the better,” Ben said. “I am surprised at your temperament. You daughter is very kind and soft, and you are…”

“Bitchy and direct?” She asked, raising an eyebrow as a grin formed. “Yeah. Most people thought Lilie was my sister’s kid--they’re a lot alike in that way. But like I said, even a nice girl like Lilie wouldn’t be happy to learn her vampire is trying to sniff out the truth.”

And how perceptive! She would certainly even give some of his own servants a lesson. Ben could not stop his smile but he would nod graciously. It still amused him to no end to see how different this woman was. No wonder she was allowed to work alongside mages in her past. That thought was enough to remind him of one last thing.

"One more question and I will leave you be," Ben said. "I have heard much of your skill. Who was the vampire that you won against?"

Felicia kept her grin, extinguishing her cigarette as she shook her head at him. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m human, I don’t stand a chance against your kind. You must have heard wrong,” She chuckled.

Disappointing but it could not be helped. Now, however, he truly would take his leave as he felt sticking around was not needed. “I understand. As I mentioned before, I have the best intentions,” Ben said.

“Altruism is only noteworthy if your actions match them,” Felicia replied, patting Ben’s shoulder as she walked past him.

Ben would not argue with that. However, he had imposed on them for far too long. He followed Felicia in and gave her a short bow before walking back to the living room though he did stop before a wall filled with pictures. The streaks of white were noticeable even from several photographs albeit the times were different. A much young Felicia holding a toddler Lilie, for instance, had caught his attention. The photo next to him, however, shocked him. The older woman in the photo could have been Felicia, though the brunette sat next to her, holding Lilie as a child. This must have been Liliane with her daughter and granddaughter.

Ben would not linger and instead chose to see himself out.

Of Blood and Magic

The Sinnenodel couldn't train a dog out of its kennel if the realization only came to him in this moment. Of course Ben would be a fool to take his words literally despite his eyes shifting to the count at his words. He had also overestimated the Astorio; it was clear as the calm surface on a lake that Victor had just as much socialization practice as Countess Marivaldi. The division between the four was horrendous and no doubt Count Sinnenodel was having his fun manipulating them to his leisure. How embarrassing, Ben wondered what Her Highness had in mind to bring these four nobles together. To think his father was convinced the Eves were the laughingstock, he would have keeled over in shock were he witness to tonight.

The conversation had been all over the place yet to the end Aaron had been the one to suffer the brunt of the damage. Why was that? Ben initially thought it was flaunting his mage above the others but his treatment was puzzling. Victor and Count Sinnenodel definitely both thought he had an ego problem, but having met the mage away from the noise, it didn't come off as that way to him. There was something more to this that he was missing but he couldn't think of what. That little look he gave Eris had also caught him by surprise: complimenting Aaron was the wrong thing to do?

Ben was all too glad to leave and he was more than eager to return to his quarters. For one, he needed to have a long talk with his mage about the relationship between herself and the countess. For another, he needed to reconsider his position. If the countess was a lost cause then was allying himself with the Sinnenodel wise? Or was it best to cast aside his father's wishes and act on his own sooner than planned?

The blond vampire waited until the rest had stood before he would. He couldn't believe that he was again agreeing with Count Sinnenodel again; he too hoped their next gathering would go off better than this one. At least Chaend would be a touch more interesting with that in mind. He gave the host a slight bow as was customary and reached into his jacket's pocket before presenting the count with a small envelope. "I thank you for this opportunity and sincerely look forward to the next," Ben said. Who knew how things would change next time. "A token of my appreciation, as you will." Less a token and more a promise fulfilled of course but that wasn't appropriate to mention in public.

Of Blood and Magic

Goodness gracious. Ben thought he had already met his fair share of mad men and unbalanced women, but Countess Marivaldi took the entire bottle and not only ran with it but she high tailed it to the moon. Were it any other setting he would have thought this entire dinner was just the setup for a joke. Geoffrey did love the occasional prank but even he would have questioned the extent of the countess' imagination. She gave him too much credit; he wasn't aware it was possible to fabricate a meeting such as theirs. The only comfort giving to him is at the very least she gave him reasons aplenty to steer clear, even if he needed to have a stern word with his mage if there's any possibility of an inappropriate relationship between the two.

It had been some time since Ben had a look of pure exasperation and confusion, aimed properly at the Countess'...'look'. It was amusing to hear her try to reprimand him but the problem with that was that she held nothing over him. Fortunately, Count Sinnenodel gave him reasons aplenty to ignore the countess' rambling and focus his attention to the unfortunate target of the count's derision. It would strike a cord of pity if it hadn't been so glaringly obvious that the Sinnenodel had timed his speech precisely so the poor mage would get to hear every one of his faults exposed. The villains of bedtime stories are less subtle than this, Ben thought. No wonder he struggles training Aaron so.

Ben had chosen to take his drink from Aaron wordlessly; drawing attention would only embarrass the mage more than needed. The scent of the blood was stronger than most, an unusual scent accompanied by an unusual taste. He had heard stories on how different Starag blood compared to most but even those tales fell short of the real thing. He frowned to himself as he set the glass down. Perhaps his patience had already been run ragged by the frivolous countess but it had reached a curious point by the time the count finished speaking. At this point he was convinced this entire dinner was a joke indeed; aside from an interesting collection of blood flavors, his time would have been better spent elsewhere.

The night is nearly done, may as well finish with a quip or two.

"Now, now, Count Sinnenodel, you mustn't blame yourself so. It has only been three months since Her Highness has given you Mr. Starag, Ben said. "If this is your way of asking for help, however, I'm sure Count Astorio would be more than pleased to offer a suggestion or two."

Of Blood and Magic

The conversation was grating for all the wrong reasons; once again Ben was fully prepared to defend his own actions and decisions but it seemed Lilie was more of a hot topic button. To be honest he expected comments on her appearance, on the unlikelihood of shaping her into a proper servant, but he hadn't thought she was so interesting that things would loop around to her again. In actuality it was a touch worrying as no vampire would want their mage to outshine them. This bode ill: Ben was not nearly as interesting as an albino mage. How terrible to have made so little an impression, could that have been why the count was smirking? The business with Mr. Spellman was also an unexpected and admittedly unpleasant surprise to hear. He hadn't been as informed as he would have hoped.

There was little time to deliberate as Countess Marivaldi decided to give him words that utterly confused him. He had heard that a situation had unraveled but he had been with Her Highness when it occurred. Ben somehow had lost the handle on this evening and to think it was because of the Marivaldi. He expected to make an attempt to weave himself out of a snake's clutches, not get bowled over by a feline who decided to take offense to his words. Of course he knew Lilie better than she, stars above, Lilie was his mage! The girl never so much as uttered the Marivaldi name!

The only true constant of the night was Eris and it was a sad day when the egotistic troublemaker of all people seemed more genuine. He couldn't very well expect a leopard to change its spots and was more surprised the countess deemed it appropriate to throw any chance at conciliation into the bin. Perhaps this was a sign to lean towards tradition. Modernism did attract the odd vampire and was more unpredictable. And to think Eris was being more reasonable than Countess Marivaldi. Eris! The man could barely tear himself away from his own reflection to speak! What a sad day for the nobility. And at this point he had had enough. If he was going to win one heir's favor he may as well go all in. Even if it meant needing a long shower afterwards.

"I'm interested to hear this reasoning as well as it would seem I have made a poor impression on you; a stark contrast from what I had initially thought was a pleasant encounter at the bookstore not too long ago," Ben said. "For one, I wouldn't dream of accusing Her Highness of such a thing, your imagination has truly taken your reasoning somewhere I can't seem to follow. For another, you seem to be under the impression that you have some sort of moral high ground over my mage coming for some reason. So please, enlighten me to your thought process so that I may understand when and where I went wrong."

Of Blood and Magic

I realize I am likely the youngest of the room, but must he continue to speak as if he is that much older? Ben thought as he tasted the blood in his cup. Senility wasn't a trait vampires had but he was starting to believe that this was one of the oddest quirks that Count Sinnenodel had. This wasn't the first time he had made such a comparison either. A decade or two in years was hardly even a fuss for some, but Varis spoke as if they had centuries or more between them. For all intents and purposes age-wise they were on the same length. It shouldn't even come under his radar but Ben found it so bizarre he could not help but think on it for a moment.

The only thing that matched was the barely concealed smirk but it was comforting to see the Sinnenodel act more in line to what Ben expected. There was nothing he spoke of that would come back to him in a way he wasn't able to justify; speaking in half truths was second nature but he had long since passed the days where loose lips would haunt him. There was the one-in-a-million chance he could have been speaking of archery, however the mere mention of physical activity often had Sinnenodels clutching at their pearls. He sincerely doubted the count took any offense, if there was any thought given to it at all, to that.

Unfortunately the nuisance of the evening would remind Ben that he was there. How in the world Varis Sinnenodel had any patience for the attention-seeker was beyond him. Fortunately, Eris' words weren't foreign to him; finding out from a fellow colleague had been much more shocking than hearing it from the star. He was not surprised that the man would take the chance to take yet another dig at him. He would not, however, simply take this one standing.

"Amusing, isn't it? As if such a thing could happen under Her Highness' vigilance," Ben said. "I believe it's sourced from Miss Dionne accompanying Mr. Spellman when the sun is still hanging from the sky. Your concern is appreciated but unneeded. If you'd like to see a demonstration, I'd be more than happy to oblige."