It was a cool evening and everyone seemed to be unwinding as expected. A few other noticeable faces passed by here and there, as he sat and waited for his mage to emerge. The one mage that did eventually emerge was Lille, the ghost haired mage from earlier. He could not help but smile at her.
Victor seemed to wait for a while longer before growing bored; his prize seemed to have exited out another entrance or was perhaps still inside. Either way he still wanted to venture around the perimeter of the compound and get a good feel for the number of paces between buildings. All things to figure out and remember with the hope that they would not need to be used.
Rustling of leaves in a gentle breeze, the odd giggle or whisper from those hidden in the foliage or up in the trees, footsteps down gravel walk ways, the odd clink of metal or glass that someone was carrying. All subtle sounds that filled the more heavily wooded park areas near the border of the school. He was sure he was being watched, they all were this close to the edge. The last thing a place like this would want was party crashers.
The vampire felt a familiar vibration in his coat pocket while he continued with his slow stroll, the name “
High and Mighty” came across the old screen. The contact name and number for his father or one of his father’s advisors. Pondering to answer the phone for a brief moment or toss it into the woods, he hesitated before answering on the fifth ring. “
Hello.”
He was met with silence but he could tell someone was there, “
not a strong start.” The voice sounded disappointed but was obviously his fathers,
“you are supposed to befriend the mages not toss them across the arena. Lord Perion would find that amusing but I don’t.” the irritation in the voice soon overcame the disappointment.
“Do not think that I won’t brand you as a traitor and take your standing with the council away from you. You are not invincible and we cannot look inept in front of the clan.” Silence on both sides of the phone for an awkward few moments,
“Yes Sir, I understand.” Was all Victor could muster through his gritting teeth. Always judging his every move like he know better or knows how to read people. His father never wanted to see his plans through, thinking they were always dependent on too many variables and not worth the risk.
“Fix yourself before I have to remind your friend here why she is in the position that she is in.” his father never gave idle threats and he did have the one thing left that could control his son by his side every day as one of his personal mages and assistants. An unknowing hostage.
“The situation will be handled, there is no need to go to such lengths for punishment.” All he got in return was the click of the phone and the conversation ending. Quickly victor dropped the phone before he crushed it and punched a nearby tree, splintering wood and sending cracks through the tree.
It took him more than a few moments to regain his composure. Picking up his phone, he carried on towards his dorm. Not only was his father ever paranoid of his progress but he probably had a spy or two on the grounds here, not to mention his sister monitoring social media from some of the students here. It would be tricky to take any sort of action against his father or their house from here. a dangerous thing to have at the princesses school but he wouldn't put it past him.
Perhaps he could find an audience with the princess; he does have enough information to at least bring his family down currently not the whole Astorio line but at least the Strigois clan. First things first he would have to free the hostage and be taken in to speak with the princess without asking. That way he could at least avoid suspicion there. He would lose all standing with his family and branded a traitor if he was not careful. He has been to imprisoned once but Victor was aware that they would kill him rather than have him speak. It is a fight either way, but one way or another his father would pay for what he has done.
Emerging from the park area the tall vampire continued to his dorm. The Astorio Dorm looked quite well off and it was not hard to find. He opened the front door with the key he had been given when he arrived and set the one that was for his mage on a small table next to the door. He left his coat on a rack next to the door and took his shoes off before entering his new home. Victor checked on one of the small office rooms, it was rather plain but at least the furnishings seemed appropriate.
Continuing on to his room he noticed it was rather plain, a desk in one corner of the room and a small covered area for sleeping if he so wished. Then back towards the far wall stood what almost looked like a shrine. Burning candles and incense ready to be used, sitting on top of this small table was his family’s heirloom. The sword he brought with him titled,
“Moon Slayer” for its use in a time long since passed. it was set up the same way he had left it at home. clearly set up that way on purpose.
Victor picked up the well-maintained and well-balanced long sword, looking at it and the inscriptions that covered it for a few moments. After a little while, he picked up one of the candles and a stick of incense and walked to the back yard. Lighting the stick and blowing out its flame he set it down on the swords scabbard in front of him so it could burn, the candle was set just behind that.
After taking off his shirt he sat down in the grass, his legs crossed in front of him. The sword was being held with his left hand on the flat side of the blade and his right hand holding the hilt. This was another way for him to meditate and listen to the world around him as well as plan and think about what he had to do next.