Today was the awaited day, Vesper hadn't slept all night in anticipation. After weeks of preparation, it was finally time for him to become a fully fledged vampire.
Everything was planned meticulously to ensure a smooth process. The local authorities were alerted, and lines were intercepted to prevent disturbance calls made that night. CCTV was turned off and other private camera signals were jammed with an encrypted interference item.
Everyone in the Crimson manor was preparing for tonight in their own way.
Cassius was on video call to Camilla; he had made a habit of doing this daily to check in on her. Today however he seemed more serious, he had never initiated the ritual himself for a fellow family member. Cassius always left these tasks for the actual head of the family, his anticipation for Vesper to grow stronger made him somewhat nervous.
[No, definitely no tie! Looks so much better on you without.] Camilla spoke through the phone screen that was propped up on the desk.
'Then no tie it is.' Cassius removed his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt in full view of the phone camera. Camilla enjoyed the fan service but didn't comment, she could tell Cassius seemed to have much on his mind.
Cassius threw on his long dark coat making him look more like a novel book vampire in Camilla eyes. He brushed his back as he usually did when he was frustrated. 'Well, I'll be off to finally act like the family head.' Cassius spoke somewhat sarcastically, 'I will be in need of your services once more after tonight.' He gave a naughty smile erecting his fangs as he crouched down to direct his words clearly to Camilla.
She gave a shy but eager smile in return.
[I'll be waiting patiently]. The mere sight of his fangs would now make her flutter.
'Oh, and this time, I won't be treating you as delicately Camilla.' He grinned as he retracted his fangs.
[See you later Cassius.] Camilla bashfully rolled her eyes as she ended the call.
Cassius made his was to Vesper's room to check on his condition. Although it had been far too long since Cassius' own ritual for him to sympathise, he could at least try to empathise with the young lord.
Vesper sat on his bed, he looked to be deep in thought. However, in reality there wasn't anything running through his mind. Vesper has been waiting for this day for so long, now that it was finally upon him there was an anticlimactic calm to his demeanour.
Vesper stared down at his palm, he watched as his claws grew slowly and then retracted bit by bit.
He knew what he needed to do, just hunt and feed, no need to kill. Once more he focused as his nails grew and shrank.
He'd found his loophole; his resolve was strong.
Vesper had been watching his prey ever since he marked him. Everyday his prey would pester the girl- Eris her name was, and every time Vesper would interfere indirectly, his anger would fester more. He continued to focus on his claws, elongated and then slowly shortened.
Once outside her school, another time he followed her home. The attempts were numerous and bold, and for some reason no around Eris seemed to notice. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say the people in her life didn't seem to care.
One more time, he focused. His claws erected…
*knock knock*
The sound interrupted vesper's focus, he shook his hand to fully retract his claws as looked up to greet Cassius at the door.
'Cassius!' Vesper stood up in attention, he admired Cassius' power and confidence, how he would always be sure in his decisions. Vesper found strength simply in his presence.
'How are you feeling boy? Finally ready to look your age?' Cassius smiled as he teased Vesper hoping to relax him.
Vesper let out a small chuckle at the remark, 'yeah I think I am.' He looked up at Cassius, his eyes showed a calm determination befitting of his rank.
Cassius' face dropped. 'Well, that was an unusually boring response.' He looked somewhat disappointed at Vesper's mature like demeanour. 'Come the time is upon us' Cassius led the way and Vesper followed.
Despite Vesper's small stature his shoulders seemed broader than usual in his stride.
Estefan waited for them at the Crimson manor gates, he stared at the preserved fangs that circled around the ouroboros family crest. He wondered if history was testing them, if you don't learn from your past you're doomed to repeat it.
This time was different he thought.
The gates parted as Cassius and Vesper emerged. 'Where's the car?' Vesper asked as he looked at the empty yard behind Estefan.
'Tonight, we move like the vampire we are, young lord.' Estefan explained as he bowed his head in respect.
Vesper and Cassius were dressed in the Crimson family's traditional attire, an asymmetric high collard coat, the black leather was broken with red undertones. Cassius had his open, whereas Vesper wore his in a more formal manner with the top buttons clasped.
The view of both past and future family head walking side by side made Estefan proud.
'Follow my lead.' Cassius spoke as he leaped up in the air and created small steps of his own aura to propel him forward. Estefan followed his master without delay.
Vesper didn't even know he could use his aura in such a way, but there was no time to be astonished as he copied the technique to catch up.
They were making their way to their proposed hunting ground but also warming up Vesper's skills. They leapt abruptly in different directions testing how well Vesper could mimic the inhumane movements.
Right leg, left arm, high jump, under armed swing. The combinations were endless and intricate.
Vesper's crimson eyes were activated as he memorised every jump, swing and leap. He performed each to perfection. He began to look more like the animal he was with every step he copied.
Cassius and Estefan paused by a tree branch, they hung on by digging their claws into the wood and encasing their aura around their hand and branch tying them together.
Vesper saw this and was once again amazed at how little he knew about using his power, he followed suit and did the same next to them.
His admiration was short lived.
Vesper's face was overcome with rage as he saw what the two were staring down at.
His prey had succeeded in abducting the girl and was on top of her enjoying his own kind of hunt.
The young lord's eyes burned a deeper red, his pupils stretched out in a snake like manner and his fangs grew longer than ever before.
'And so the hunt begins.' Cassius whispered to himself, watching Vesper's expression turn more and more vampiric.
And Cassius was proud.