Orlando
The portal bypassed the city centre and the dark but beautiful scenery of the Vampiric realm Morvakar, any alter used by Orlando much to his dismay would land him in the same place. That would be the entrance of his clan castle.
The clan castle perched on a edge of a mountain a lake directly below surrounding the left wing metres below. It included multiple towers and turrets with pointed roofs.
It had intricate design with black and grey stonework, with tall windows. The backdrop was a blood blue moon that glowed fiercely painting the landscape with a soft lapis lazuli, distant softly coloured mountains and lush flora with large tall trees densely spread throughout.
The landscapes between the human realm and vampiric one were almost identical but the veil had hued their sun and moon signifying the difference.
Orlando walked leisurely through the gate, his posture straightening, the blood magic that had been suppressed to accommodate humans now swirling freely in him through his veins.
The entrance had two fledglings guarding the door, their stoic faces staring forward listlessly. Draped in blood red robes with glints of armour under their capes;
"they're so weak they need armour, we really are going to shit"
Orlando thought walking through the grand door, it was opened for him as the fledglings bowed deeply.
As he passed the threshold the cool air heavy with incense and old stone signified the head of the fortress - The Darthill Citadel. That has been unmoved and stood since the inception of Clan Dreadmire.
Taking in the scenery that he'd see far too much Orlando continued to the right wing opposite where he should have been going.
The castle housed the elders and any important officials, it was also used when neighbouring clans visited their territory as a form of 'hospitality'.
Contrary to belief Vampires are not solitary creatures but once they have found their own they are viciously loyal and segregated.
First on the agenda was clothes, as much as Orlando would like to give his parents aneurysms, wearing jeans and a graphic tee would send such traditionalists to an early grave.
Turning right and up the stairs Orlando was headed towards the Felmir dorms better known as to be the elders - in - training quarters.
Chosen from the original blood lines they were destined to take the mantle and continue to carry on the Dreadmire legacy.
"Whenever those old fuckers kicked the bucket."
After reaching the top of the stairs his steps continued down the hallway the agile movements creating a beautiful symphony,
'god what am I not god at'.
In a room down the hallway with a joint study was a man with a tall figure that stood above Orlando's 6'2, sleek angular shoulders and high elven like check bones. Long midnight hair falling to his middle back. The large Victorian window that took up the wall let the blue hue of sun cascade over his skin, glowing in its presence. He looked ethereal. Untouchable.
"Dimitri, have you missed me?" a wide grin forming on Orlando's face as he strolled towards the large wooden desk pacing his palms leaning towards the man who looked up from the tattered book he had been studying.
"Like the moon misses the stars Orlo" Dimitri replied a sincere, serene smile on his lips.
"Oh god don't get sappy on me now" Orlando replied sitting on the chair behind him, crossing his legs leaning back staring at Dimitri.
"I only wish to speak the truth after your decade long departure, Orlo."
"Still, what's new with the council and the Felmir."
"The elders are furious with you as you know, especially your father", Dimitri replied.
"Tell me something I don't know Dima" sighing Orlando leaned further back into his chair swinging his legs up onto the table.
"I'm hungry, Dima"
"Then feed"
"You feed me"
"Don't be petulant" Dimitri reprimanded.
"Whatever you've changed since I've been gone, you no longer love me," Orlando sighed dramatically letting himself slump in the chair with fake distress.
"Regardless before I feed and enjoy a decade long lecture I need clothes." Orlando stated looking up at Dimitri sheepishly.
"No. Go home and get your own. I refuse you never return them." Dimitri lowered his head back to his book.
"I can't go home like this, I look like a pamphlet they show kids about the dangers of the human realm." Orlando wined standing crossing the table and now a metre away from Dimitri.
The distance was noted by both.
"Not my concern you dress like a buffoon."
"It unfair your so stuck about a few black cloaks I didn't give back, be a giving vamp man."
"Those were tailored you know." Dimitri retorted facing Orlando toes almost touching arms crossed.
"Of course they were" Orlando smiled out and Dimitri could see every crinkle on the ends of his eyes as he grinned.
Dimitri swallowed and Orlando watched.
"Fine, take something old" Orlando was basically jumping with joy at Dimitri's words and walked from his study area to his attached personal dorm.
His closet was perfectly arranged, by occasion then colour coded. In true Orlando fashion he took the newest thing he could find, which was a dark red cloak and tight black leather pants and a flowing black blouse that was slightly big on his smaller frame.
"Something interesting has happened to me however… very interesting." Orlando yelled as he changed.
"And what would that be dear cousin?" Dimitri replied now sat scribbling into a notebook as he referred back to the open book his families genealogy.
I pregnant pause followed Dimitri's question as Orlando weighed up his options.
Were they still close as they'd been a decade ago? Time was nothing to them but everyday Dimitri walked closer to being like the people Orlando hated most.
"You mustn't tell a soul my little secret Dima other wise I'll… spank you." A flush appeared on Dimitri's cheeks and he had to shake his head slightly to shift his thoughts.
"Hurry up and tell me " he replied hastily making Orlando stifle a chuckle.
"I've decided to take up hiking."
"You truly are amusing"
"No sincerely, these humans seem to enjoy it so earnestly I thought I'd give it a shot Dima." Orlando yelled jumping up and down in an attempt to fit the jeans.
"What mountains are you planning to hike?"
"Oh many… many many."
The last 'many' made them both laugh, the air of long standing friends wrapped them both eyes turning into crescents as they continued to chuckle.
For a moment however Dimitri was serious,
"Whatever you want to tell me, I don't mind waiting… I never have.".
Orlando was feeling a lot of things in this moment, the anxiety of being seen through and the warm tender feeling of being known so well.
Once he'd finished changing Orlando knew he didn't have much time until he was met with Dimitri's temper, he had to make it out the castle to the opposite side or at least out of the room before or by the time Dimitri had realised all his new clothes either were stretched onto his body or hung loosely.
"Well Dima as much as I'd love to stay and chat I have to go spare my parents a hello", with that Orlando ran through the study at light speed but Dimitri's eyes still caught him .
"Okay I'll - Orlo! I'm going to skin you."
As soon as Orlando steeped outside of his room and they were in the corridor with other up tight Felmir carrying their books and whispering to each other Dimitri's demeanour transformed into a leader of academics, not so much as rushing to breathe.
"God I hate and love this side of you."
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Orlando's parents lived closer to the city centre but his father had a personal study in the clan house that he used as one of the founding members and table members. A few metres from the door as if he could sense his arrival the air around Orlando turned cold and heavy. So thick it was hard to breath but he persisted, determined to not let any struggle show.
Opening the door to the study the view of a large space, a lit fireplace in summer,
'of course'.
Large bookcases covering the walls, leather seats and animal skin rugs. The place smelt of whisky and wood a smell that was as familiar to Orlando as home.
"So he returns." A stern voice came from a man similar to Orlando, where Orlando had shoulder length black wavy hair his fathers was clean cut, shorter on the sides with a peppered top. A beard that had streaks of white littered throughout but was perfectly managed.
Val sat at his desk broad shoulders overwhelming the chair, frown lines prominent and aura intimidating. Not a speck of dust could be found and the papers were in neatly arranged piles, he took one signing it then placing it onto the side, Grabbing the next, without sparing a glance upwards.
Closing the door behind him Orlando entered confidently, "Father I am back" he proclaimed dropping to one knee fist over where his heart should be.
The room was drowned in crushing silence and the ticking of a clock was all that could be heard for miles it seemed. Finally Val broke the silence the onyl way this family knew how.
"You look fatter."
"You look older." Orlando quickly retorted.
They both laughed, then they stared at each other happily before crossing the desk to greet in a form hug.
"Did you miss me Father?" Orlando tried to say over the crushing embrace, his grandfather was a general and took all of his families physical training a tad too seriously. And like most vampires he was yet to kick the bucket.
Orlando received no response and took it as a sign of how aggrieved his father had been at his absence, but for some reason his shoulder began to feel wet?
"Oh Devil dad don't tell me your crying!? Get off! Get off! Your a millennia old how are you crying you old oaf." Orlando said exasperated as he feigned out of his fathers grasp.
"Me and your mother just missed you so much, and you never call and - "
"Okay okay, I get it I'm in the wrong I apologise but to be fair it was only a decade." Orlando explained trying and failing to whip the blood tears off of Dimitris now ruined blouse.
"ONLY A DECADE! A decade we didn't see our only son, you can't imagine how much we suffered." Despite Val's soft interior when he was mad even for such sweet reasons his fierce exterior was quite terrifying.
"I see, I'm wrong I love you and missed you both, but I may... have an ulterior motive for coming back so soon."
"What have you done now son?"
"Nothing, nothing. I just want to confirm something is all, and I need a death stone to do it. Pretty please?" Orlando waited patiently trying to look as meek and mild as possible.
"I'm guessing your not going to tell me why you need this?"
"My father you are ever full of wisdom." Orlando replied with full earnest bowing his head slightly to hide his grin.
"Friday nights." Val said crossing his arms over his chest and falling back into his desk chair.
"Huh?" Orlando said snapping his head back up to his father.
"Every Friday night dinner with me and mother."
"Father I am very busy and oh god! The orphanage can't function without me - "
"Or no stone." Orlando studied his fathers face and saw no signs of relenting.
"Fridays work perfectly and the weather is gonna be good as well." Orlando flashed an award winning grin.
"Great Friday at six, the stone is in our family crypt in the cemetery on George street near your apartment we thought you might need them at some point son."
"Thank you papa, I'm off I have a date, see you Friday. Don't be late and remember I only buy dinner for people that put out." With that Orlando sped out of the room leaving his father smiling to himself.