Book 3: Chapter 25
A/N: Hi! enjoy the long chapter, oh! AND I have a twitter account now. It's InueWindwalker. I don't DO social media, but I figured why not?
Zayde
The inside of Atto’s cabin was simple. A wood stove, electricity, a kitchen, living room, single bathroom, and the one room off to the side was likely one bathroom. I followed him in there. It was simple, with only a bed, a master bath, and some books on a nightstand, but he silently lifted up a blue rug.
Inside that room was a hatch…. Stairs led down to tile floors. That was where the real entrance was. Atto was careful….
He had to be. He ran the ONLY meat market…. It also meant that he was probably the strongest vampire in Romania… likely even larger than that.
“Come on then.” Said Atto somewhat annoyed.
I was interrupting his day, and I could get that. His vampires followed us in a V formation, though he was still casual as ever.
“Do you serve your council?” I asked.
“I’ve been asked since the beginning, and the answer is the same: No.” He smiled. “Here, I‘m my own king, and this facility is my kingdom.”
He still wore simple jeans and a t-shirt, being a High Vampire Lord… I didn’t know much about this man, but the wheels in my head turned… This facility… I could Feel how BIG it was… I could sense it….
The stairs that led down to a basement looked like a house as well, but there were many rooms here. I counted 17 numbered rooms… All of it was one enormous circle at least 100 feet around…
It reminded me of a yurt.
The largest door was a communal shower and bathroom… This place was a giant circle, with the rooms lining the walls, and everything else, like the kitchen. It was against the wall, but the open dining room was just a rectangular large table that could sit about 20 people…. and the lounge area was in the middle. The dusty blue couches and area rug here were ornate. Everything was colorful, and decorated nicely. I could tell that the wooden doors of each mortal was personalized, likely by them….
“Afternoon my lord.” Bowed many of the mortals here, but they were genuinely happy to see him.
“When’s supper?” He asked. I didn’t know he ate. Vampires *can* but I don’t think they taste the flavors much, nor can it satisfy them…
“At 7 sir.” Bowed the human he drank from the first time I came here. He looked well, with no new bites on his neck.
“Good 134-A. Don’t forget to go upstairs and get the wine.” He said casually.
“Yes sir.” He bowed, leaving with Atto’s permission.
He had them here…. And they were Legitimately Free….
This was where he kept his favorite mortals, but that he didn’t have to confine or lock them, meant they either didn’t want to escape, or they felt so hopeless that they didn’t.
There were no locks on the doors, nor were they confined. There was also a theater down here. The 13 or 14 humans that were down here were in clean, normal clothes and living about their lives…. Though the thick collars around their necks basically said that they were off limits in Romanian as well as English.
And beyond the giant underground mansion, was an additional door. That one had a lock, being solid steel. It read ‘No Entry’ on it in multiple languages, and had magical enchants that reinforced the stone, plastered walls and steel…
How did I not notice the Only steel door in the center of all the others? It wasn’t hidden… Maybe I wasn’t paying attention.
“What you see is my playpen, but now…. Now you get to enter where even most of your brothers have not tread.” Said Atto. “Welcome to the Romanian Meat Processing Center.”
He opened the door, and the smell of cleaner and the smallest hint of blood hit my sensitive nose. For inspection purposes, they were in clear bullet proof glass cells, in white prison clothes, about 7 in each cell. There were 10 in total. The walls, floors, and fabric were blindingly white….
This was not staged, there would be no time to. We walked past clear rooms where they killed the mortals…. I could see in their eyes that they were bewitched by vampires, feeling little pain, drained so fast that they passed out.
Next was the butchery. I made no emotion show as I walked down this long hallway. On either side, was death…
I tried not to look too much. It didn’t bother me, but I knew they did work I cared not to… It was done cleanly. There was hardly any blood on those floors… The last room was just refrigeration, but I could see workers put the processed meat in there. It was all boxed up, and at that point, I doubt even a human could tell…
“The ones you see here on floor 1, in this hall are the ones scheduled for process. The rest are below. Males are kept on floor 6, and females on floor 2, and 3. Floors 4 and 5 is where we keep the breeders. This facility has about 55 thousand mortals, and we supply the entire country, Bulgaria, and Eastern Austria. We also export all over the world.” Atto said proudly.
“That’s so many humans…..” I mumbled.
“How do you think vampires eat? We Can’t attack in cities anymore, not like the old times anyway, so I made my own. Trolls need bones, werewolves who suffer the Crave can’t attack locals either. There’s also flesh eaters who only want skin, demons, hags, ghouls… They cannot live without Fresh flesh, brains and gore… would you have them starve, and turn? Many of them live in populated cities, still clinging to what little humanity they have left.” He said casually. “This is the solution, when you live as one who cannot live off food…”
“True….” I said quietly. I wasn’t against it… just…. Surprised. He seemed to notice, and continued bragging while we made this long trek across the extensive hall….
“The lambs are kept with their mothers, and the rams may only sire nonrelated ewes. It’s their choice though. We follow the law to the letter, and go beyond it by making sure there’s at least one entire clinic for every floor below our feet.” He said casually. “Fertile ewes are retired at the age of 35, or in the event of difficult birthing. ”
“Where’s the girl?” I asked.
“Through this door.” He pointed to a white door I swear I didn’t notice until now…. What was this place?
“How come I keep noticing where I need to go After you point it out?” I asked.
“Because that’s the magic of the ground, first, and second floor. If you don’t know, you don’t see. Your perception is lowered here, I bet you feel pretty calm too?” he grinned. “This is only the First Floor, the common house and my house are combined.
This was likely done to stop escape, but also to aid in the dispatch….
He opened it, and the pale body of the female I was meant to take was here. “Did you turn her?” I asked.
“I did myself. That’s what a good neighbor does.” Said Atto. He picked up her limp hand, and showed me the bite on her back. They put a tattoo of Atto’s family crest over it… a dragon making the sign of the Sun, meaning that Atto was probably a prince. The circle was made with the hands of the dragon. The middle fingers and thumbs touched.
Before Romania was the country it was today, it was ruled by monarchs named the Draco’s. King Victor was from this place, but I don’t know what relation Atto had with the Vampire King, other than being turned by him….
“I bit her here to help her hide my bite. I even put this here, so vampires know not to mess with this fledgling.” He said seriously. He picked her up off the metal table and put her in my arms. “Take care of my child.” He growled.
“The House of Jekel already arranges her marriage with a Metters.” I said seriously.
“The commotion… it is absolutely ridiculous.” He said shaking his head. “Alteer already called, and told me her situation, and the situation he was placed in to arrange this. I did this, so the little lover doesn’t receive an inanimate corpse…. But honestly, had she lived I’d have killed her myself. The best Allteer can do is place a mortal under his protection as a servant. She wouldn’t last a Week with the beasts he holds.”
“Had they been from any other coven, maybe.” I said walking with her in my arms.
“Stay for supper.” He offered.
“Alright.” I said knowing full well that wasn’t a request. If she is to turn, she will need to feed.
I followed him to the yurt floor, and placed her on the couch. All the while I felt a bit of sympathy for this girl… I didn’t even remember her name at the moment.
Atto’s words were true…. Maybe if witches who were not from the master had this happen… Maybe she would have faired better there. Not here. Not with the thirst for meat and suffering many of our pets hold… even the gorses eat men from time to time…. It makes them more efficient if they can digest anything to sustain them, rather than Just grain….
“Don’t look so glum about it.” Said Atto. The clock behind him read 7… How much time did I waste down there? It only felt like one or two minutes.
Dinner was on the dining table, and he sat at the head of it. His vampires still stood in a V formation at his left and right, while I was a guest. He had me sit at the other end, while his favorite humans were at his left and right. They bowed their heads as they sat, and Atto said grace.
“Lord, bless this food for my people.” Atto splayed his hands wide, and they all began to eat. Roast ducks, potatoes, green beans, roasted asparagus, and corn on the cob was roasted… It was a small feast.
I hesitated… It didn’t smell or look strange, but my instincts were dull here.
“You have my blood word that the food, and drink, are fine. I would not poison the Leader of Yellow Diamond. I don’t have time to burn bridges with Gulteer.” He chuckled. “The face you make is the same as your father’s.”
“You can never be too careful.” I mumbled.
I was served tea, and a large portion of duck was placed on my plate, as well as sides. I silently ate.
“It’s good to be cautious. It keeps us living long, intact lives.” He said looking at the girl. “Rise my little daughter.134-A go die for me.” He commanded.
“Of course sir.” Said the mortal, getting up…. He’d finished his last meal. I must say it was a good one too.
As the girl rose, she bit him while her eyes were still closed. 134 wasn’t comfortable… that human screamed bloody murder, but the others ate in silence…
What the fuck.
“In the times, what you see there would have been times 10. Every vampire in this den are turned by me, all 2,502 of them.” He got up…. “2,500 is all I need, and typically all I keep but 134-A… You shall have a name when you wake. You shall be Marcus Draco. And you, little girl… you are …. Hm…. Your current name holds too much baggage, and I admit I didn’t bother remembering it. Your name is Casey Draco. Take the title of Turned by the King’s Third Son… There was Lucian, then Angelo… then Me….” He said pulling her off 134, and he bit him too.
I knew of Lucian, but not him, nor this Angelo.... Who *was* this man?
She fell back asleep, soundlessly mouthing her new name. She would not remember or hold attachment to the old one... and if humans recognized her, she probably wouldn’t remember anything before this moment.
Atto bit his wrist. “Drink my new fledgling.” He commanded ‘Marcus’. “You are a pet no longer. Take him upstairs.” He commanded no one in particular, and I was dizzy.
My head his the table.... The dizziness was now nonmovement...
“You Swore on your blood.” I hissed.
“The food was fine. Your silverware wasn’t.” He laughed. “Take him home Atticus.” He commanded one of his servants that stood at his right.
“Of course my lord.” He said like a soldier.
The next thing I knew, I was in my father’s office…
They laughed at me. Him, my mother, and even my little mate…. The girl was still asleep, and the boy had as of yet to be notified that his girlfriend was here…
“You lot are assholes.” I complained.
“Yeah, well *you* trusted a vampire.” Laughed my father. He was flushed gray from his black blood he laughed so hard.
“Man fuck all you guys.” I grumbled.
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