A tourist abroad

[Bucks23]

The small secluded village situated in the valley between a pair of Romanian hills had a quiet and almost foreboding air about it. A couple of locals wandered about busy with their mundane and simple tasks and any chatter between them was minimal. The silence was broken by the distant rumble of an engine and a few heads turned to see someone riding into town on a motorbike. The villagers who were curious enough to continue their observation watched as the man pulled up infront of the largest of the shacks that served as a tavern for wayward travellers.



Eben Brockett sighed to himself as took off his helmet and used his fingers to mess up his brown hair. Tall and in great physical shape, Eben was a bit of a gym addict. He wore a brown leather jacket over a white T and denims that were ripped at the knees. He liked to think he reflected his rebellious nature by the way he dressed. His mom just told him he had no dress sense what-so-ever.
Seems like the ideal place... Eben thought to himself, as he locked up his bike and went into the tavern. He was hoping this small settlement in the middle of Romanian nowhere would provide him with the inspiration he needed to start writing his new novel. Eben was 28 and had so far been the author of three short stories that he'd amanaged to get published in various horror anthologies, but he'd never managed to get any lengthy project published. By coming here from the busy city at NY, Eben hoped he'd find the inspiration to write that he'd been lacking lately.
He approached what resembled a small check in desk and nodded at the old woman who came shuffling out to greet him. "Hey what's happenin'?" Eben said and the old woman looked at him curiously. "You speak American?" Still a puzzled look was his only response.
"Hello." A younger man suddenly appeared out of a small office and waved the old lady away. "You wanting room for the night?"
Eben nodded and leaned forward against the desk with his elbows. "Yeah, might be for a few actually. You get many people stopping here?"
The man nodded. "Sometimes, yes. Tourists mainly, many pass through here." Then the old man frowned as if a realisation troubled him. "Fewer pass back out."
"Right. How much bud?" Eben wanted to cut the chit chat, though he was already sizing the old man up for a character to stick in his novel.

Later in the evening, after a brief rest and a shower, Eben went back down to the small hotel lobby and and asked someone where he could get a drink.
"There's a bar across the road." Someone told him. "Though becareful out there after dark."
"Why's that?" Eben wanted to know, then grinned. "Oh let me guess... vampires right?"
The person just shrugged and continued dusting an old lamp. "People can disapear sometimes. Becareful."
Eben ignored the warning, putting it down to just a bit of superstitious rambling and headed out into the moon light.

He could hear the soft chirp of cricketts in the still night air and realised just how different the place looked at night. A simple and unexciting little village by day seemed larger and creepier after dark. The moon was high and full tonight and created a kind of silhouette of a looming castle ruin high up on a hill.
Eben headed over to the small shack that served as an all night bar where he could see lights and hear music playing quietly...

[Raven Blackblood]

For a very dark alley, the man is watched as he approaches the tavern across from the inn. Even a couple who's just now letting themselves into their home is curious, wondering why he's brave enough to be out at this hour. Everyone in this Romanian village knows what happens when the sun finally sets for the night, and the moon is up high. There are indeed superstitions and then there is fact. Superstition, Dracula is still roaming the earth. Fact, there are indeed vampires in Romania, some as feared as so called king of vampires was, and then there are some aren't as feared. Horatio LeMont is one such feared blood sucker, and it's fortunate that he has not shown himself as of late, though Raven Blackblood has. He too is feared, but not by his actions in this place. It's from word of mouth by others who have been in villages where he has been. It's only the new people who come here as well as some tourists that know there is nothing to be feared from Raven..... well at least not so much as the other... and not so much now as in the past. And for now the past will be left where it belongs, which is exactly where most of the villagers including Raven himself would prefer, and almost all the villagers will warn this man..... this tourist who visits this night.

"Tourist...... you would do better to leave while you still are able..." a rich, deep male voice drifts an overly dark alley that is directly across from the tavern the male is heading for. That is all that is said by that of Raven as he watches from the dark shadows in the alley, and that is all that will be said.... for now. It's a good thing that he isn't on the hunt tonight, but then he isn't on the hunt most other nights. In today's world, there are other ways to get blood. For now the dark lord simply hides himself in the darkness of the shadows. Darkness.... especially when it's pitch black has always been a comfort to Raven. Thinking on the warning that he'd given that traveller, he now wonders why he'd done such a thing. This isn't to say that Raven's quite the dark and evil one, but it's certainly not in his nature to warn people away! In his unlife, Raven has seen many people die, as well as dealing death to others whether there were reasons or not.

[Bucks23]

Tourist...... you would do better to leave while you still are able...

Eben turned his head towards the direction the voice had come from. He could see nothing but the mouth of an alley across from him, shrouded in darkness. It hadn't sounded like one of the locals, the english language had been spoken too correctly to have been one of these backward people. Eben frowned, wondering why the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and he felt a chill despite the resonably warm evening. He continued to peer into the impenetrable darkness for a few moments before giving up. He broke out in a grin to relieve the tension knotting itself between his shoulders. "Thanks bud, I'll take my chances!" He called back and then continued on towards the bar. He couldn't tell why he still felt uneasy about the brief encounter, nor explain why he was walking that little bit faster towards the bar now.

Eben entered the village's drinking spot and scanned the small, old rickety tap room. The place was quiet and the barman eyed him as he rubbed a pint glass with a towel. There was an upstairs to the tavern with more tables and a guard rail overlooking the ground floor, but Eben couldn't see if there were any other patrons up there as it was hidden in shadow.
Eben perched himself on a stool by the bar itself and ordered a pint of ale. He rested for a while and mulled over his thoughts...

[Raven Blackblood]

"turisti Nebun ... chiar a avertizat cu privire la pericolele aici, ei insistă asupra şedere." Raven thinks to himself as he silently moves out of a shadow in the corner of the very same tavern the male tourist is enroute. He'd already fed this night so this dark lord has no need of a human's blood right now, besides, that he isn't the one that is most feared in this country, though the one most feared has not been seen for several centuries. Even now some of the locals believe Dracula to be dead. Raven himself holds his beliefs and thoughts to himself. "Ce ar fi ca acum, după toate aceste secole. Poate nebun de a fi forţaţi să trăiască atât de mult timp." he adds to his thoughts as a woman passing his table jumps visibly from not having seen him there at first. Fortunately she has no idea what he'd just thought to himself or she would definitely feel uneasy being out so late. Watching this, a slight grin curves the dark man's lips as he relaxes back in the chair. This has been an interesting night so far, and Raven's mood is beginning to improve, so instead of 'fleeing' to his own large home, he's choosing to stay here and enjoy himself for the time being.

While outside and warning the American tourist, he didn't use his native language or accent. It wasn't because it was lost after so many centuries of being alive and travelling to other countries who speak English fluently. It was merely because he had thought that the male would be able understand him. But now when a barmaid..... a young female at that comes to the table and asks what she can get him him, Raven simply replies "Un pahar cu vin de sânge cald, vă rog." ("A wineglass of warm blood, please."). The barmaid's complexion paled making her look almost as white as a ghost as she questions "ce .. ce-ai spus?"("What...what did you say?"). Raven's grin widens as he thinks to himself..."Oh, asta devine o noapte de distracţie plăcută, într-adevăr!"("Oh, this is becoming a fun enjoyable night indeed!"). "I-am spus unui pahar cu vin de sânge cald, vă rog."("I said a wineglass of warm blood, please."). And so Raven has the enjoyment of watching the pretty dark haired barmaid go even more pale if possible as the tray in her hands crashes to the floor, glasses and bottles along with it. " Ea trebuie să fie cunoscut aici, sau ea nu ar fi speriat atât de....." his thought is interrupted by the female's scream as she turns and literally runs through the tavern to get away as fast as her feet carry her. Chuckling lowly, the dark lord slowly shakes his head in mock disapproval of this outburst.

Note:Most of the untranslated parts are when Raven is thinking to himself.

[Bucks23]

Eben was leaning back and taking a long gulp of ale when he heard the sudden crash and a woman's scream. He nearly choked on his drink as he jumped up in alarm. What the-? He saw the barmaid come running towards him spouting some Romanian babble that he couldn't understand. As she passed him and headed for the exit he could of sworn she shouted a word to the bartender that got him snatching a crucifix from above him on the wall. The word had sounded suspiciously like 'vampire'.
The other few patrons had quickly followed the barmaids example and left the tavern as the landlord stood clutching his cross and muttering to himself. Eben's throat felt incredibly dry and he felt scared of what must have spooked them all so badly... but at the same time he felt a raw excitement.

Eben slowly walked into the darkest corner of the tavern and saw a man sitting there casually with an amused look on his handsome young face. His ice blue eyes were frightening to behold however... they seemed to reveal his true agelessness that his youthful appearance masked. Eben squinted at the mysterious man as he had to fight to keep eye contact. Every part of his being was telling him to run but his curiosity was holding him where he was.

"Uh..." Eben cleared his throat and tried to stop the uncontrollable shaking that had started in his hands. He motioned in the direction the barmaid had run with his head. "What did you do to frighten her like that?"

[Raven Blackblood]

It's all that Raven can do to keep from laughing aloud! He expected the barmaid's reaction, but certainly he never expected everyone else's reaction! This is indeed turning out to be quite the evening for the dark lord! Sighing with mock disapproval of all this, Raven wonders what he is to do now. There are only a few people left in the tavern now, including himself, so assuring them that he isn't there to harm them is out of the question... except for the bartender who's clutching a cross as though it will mean his life! Deciding to deal with the bartender later, Raven draws his attention to the gentleman that's chosen to stay and even approach his table to address him. By the looks of it, he's scared out of his mind! It would be easy enough to dig into this human's mind, but then what would be the point of having any type of conversation with him? Leaning forward and sitting perfectly straight now, Raven's grin becomes wider and soon a slight smile, showing abit of fang. "The woman asked what I would like. I simply told her what it was I wanted. You look as pale and shaken as the barmaid, so perhaps you had better sit down before you pass out." the dark lord says quietly.

Glancing over the the bar now, Raven can see the bartender is still clutching the cross and mumbling a prayer as though it would save his life. "If it were my intention to harm take your blood, that cross would not help you in the very least. The most it would do to me is burn." the vampyre says pointedly and then turns his attention back to the gentleman standing there at his table. "I am guessing that you did not know that vampyres do indeed exist. We do. It is just easier to as you say... co-exist with humans than it was centuries ago." Raven says quietly, and then adds "It was not my intention to frighten the woman, but her reaction to my request was amuzing, as was everyone else's reaction. I am surprised that you, even though you're frightened, stayed behind." Casting another glance over to the bar, it's clear to see that the bartender won't give up the Cross. To be honest, it's rather amusing! "Name is Raven Blackblood." the dark lord introduces himself quietly.

[Bucks23]

"Eben Brockett." Eben replied, staring at the man who claimed to be a vampyre. He had noticed the fangs slightly protruding from the man's lips. He took a seat at the table and sat down facing Raven, unable to take his eyes off him. His initial fear had turned into facination. It would make Eben's dreams come true if he really was talking to a vampyre. But could he really be sure?
The bartender slowly approached with a goblet and another pint of ale. He wore an array of crucifixes like a dozen necklaces. He put the goblet down infront of the vampyre and nodded at it with his head. He was still pale and his eyes showed his fear. "That Is blood." He said. "We keep it in stock incase more of your kind come."
Feed the vampyre to avoid becoming his lunch Eben thought as he watched the bartender return to his bar. It was actually quite a good idea. Definately one he intended to keep and put in his novel.

"So you're a real vampyre?" Eben said at last taking a nervous sip of his beer, his eyes remaining on Raven. "Do you live in that castle on the hill?"

[Raven Blackblood]

Well at least now Raven has a name to call the human male, and what an interesting name it is. It seems to suit the man, especially since even through nervousness eben does indeed sit down at the table, joining Raven. Raven can still smell a certain amount of fear, but it's ebbing away and turning more into fascination now, which is even obvious at the way the eben is 'staring' at the dark lord. As their drinks are set in front of him, Raven offers the tender a polite smile, showing his fangs little more than just moments ago. "Thank you." Blackblood says politely before returning his attention to the human male. What more can Raven do or say to convince him that he is indeed a vampyre.

For now, the dark lord remains relaxed as he picks the goblet of thick warm blood up and brings it to his lips to drink. With the first sip's taste lingering on his tongue, Raven can easily tell that this particular bottled blood has come from an ill human. If he had to guess, he or she had an incurable cancer which gives it a slightly bitter taste. Blood from healthy humans have a slighty sweet taste.

Placing the goblet back on the table in front of him, Raven sits abit straighter in his chair to be more comfortable. "Yes, I am indeed a vampyre. I do have a home that is somewhat similar, but it is not mine. It belongs.... rather belonged to Drăculea, though there is talk that somehow he managed to survive through the centuries."

[Bucks23]

Eben's eyes widened with suprise. "You mean THE Dracula? The famous vampyre from legend? He's real then?" Eben took a long gulp of beer and leaned back in his chair with his legs apart and one hand behind his neck. A mixture of alcohol and the way the vampyre had relaxed in his chair was calming Eben and making him less afraid by the second. He was still fearful of his drinking companion and what he might be able to do, but he was getting more used to the idea. And if vampyres did exist, what other creatures from myth could be alive and out there in the world? Eben could feel his excitement building. He had countless questions but didn't want to off load them all onto the vampyre at once.
"What brings you to this village?" Eben asked atlast. "It was you who warned me outside before I came in here right?"

[Raven Blackblood]

Raven can't help but silently chuckle at human male named Eben, but manners prevent him from doing so aloud. Instead the dark lord merely offers Eben a grin. "Yes, I do mean him. It is only legend that Drăculea is indeed a vampyre, while cold hard facts state that he is long dead, and that the legend began with media such as novels and motion pictures" Raven says quietly, finding himself wondering that if the legend is actually true "A long time ago... centuries really, I served under the prince. There was something different about him that I could not put my finger on, and ther was talk then that he was a vampyre." In truth, Raven can easily tell Eben stories of those times as nothing has ever escaped his memory. There's a single moment of silence as the dark lord once again picks the goblet up off the table and takes a sip before going on with their conversation. "It is said that Drăculea is the first vampyre, but I have seen other vampyres elsewhere, such as my sire Horatio."

Setting the goblet back on the table, Raven rests back in his chair again, listening to Eben's question. It's really a good one, one that Raven asked himself when he sat here at the table just a few minutes earlier on. "Indeed it was. This is not a good place for tourists to come, and there is a good reason why the people.... my people do not wander around at night. As for myself, I at least once every century to visit a grave, and then I take my leave."

[Bucks23]

"You served under Vlad? The Impaler?" Eben's eyes went wide with surprise. He couldn't believe his luck. As long as his companion was telling the truth ofcourse. Eben drained the last of his beer in one long greedy gulp and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He sighed and listened to everything else Raven had to say. He wished he had his lap-top on him right now so he could be taking notes for his book.

"Where is this grave?" He wondered aloud. "Perhaps I could walk there with you and we could talk some more?"

[Raven Blackblood]

A slight grin curves Raven's lips at the name that people have given his prince... a name that is indeed quite fitting! Humans though, they seem to ask questions that have the obvious answers. "Indeed I have, and he was a man to be reconned with, and if the legend is true, then he is still a man to recon with. Drăculea is the only man I know that was.... sadistic to the point where he enjoyed a feast among many impaled enemies. It was said that it served as an example." Raven explains alittle about Vlad. "Even now, the people here will not approach his castle after the sun sets in the west." the dark lord adds as extra as he reaches for the goblet again.

Eben's question about the graven, and thought to walk with Raven there surprises him so much that the dark lord puts the goblet of blood back on the table with deliberance! This is really the very first time in a long time that anyone's wanted to be in Raven's company! "Since there is a very long story to tell, all I say is that it belongs to someone I loved deeply and lost shortly before I was turned. As to where it is, the grave is on my land, rather it should still be there."Raven says quietly. Oh yes, he remembers his wife and daughter still, and he also remembers his brother whom he never saw after being turned. It was rather ironic that his brother sought to be turned to follow in Raven's footsteps.

Bringing his mind back to the here and now, Raven offers a slight grin to that of Eben as he picks up the goblet and drains the rest of it's contents before putting it back on the table table yet again. "It is a bit of a walk, so I would suggest to bring some kind of beverage incase you get thirsty." the dark lord says thoughtfully.

[Bucks23]

Eben smiled slightly."I'm sure I'll be fine, though get a beverage if you want." A bit of a gym addict and an amatuer mountain climber he assumed he'd have the stamina to make this journey. However far it was. He pushed his chair back and stood up as a thought occured to him. To a vampyre I guess I'm a walking beverage! Eben pushed the idea aside. "I would like to just grab a few things from my room though. Meet you outside in ten minutes?"

Eben received a few wary and curious looks as he made the journey back to his hotel room. The villagers regarded him this time with a sense of dread. Word travelled fast and they couldn't seem to decide if he would end up as the vampyre's lunch or a thrall. He got a ruck-sack from his room and shoved his lap-top inside as well as a notebook and pen. He took a leak and got changed before coming back out into the moonlit street. He was still pulling his jacket on as he looked for Raven...

[Raven Blackblood]

"Ele sint speriati de mine, inca nu sint unul care ar trebui sa fie temut."the dark lord silently thinks to himself as he easily gets up from his chair. Normally he would take the goblet to the bar and place it on the counter, but instead, Raven leaves it there for the tender or barmaid to pick it up as he slips into the darkness. Lingering only for a few moments, Raven lets the darkness comfort him and then he slips into the pitch black alley. Before him, he notices how quickly Eben readied himself for the long journey through the countryside. Most times long journies don't bother the dark lord, but this one... this one is different... special.

"I apologize if I've kept you waiting long" Raven says quietly as he stepos out of the alley and joins Eben, his walking companion for the time being. "The easiest road to take for now is the one out. After some time the terrain will become less forgiving." the dark lord adds as an after thought.

Note: "Ele sint speriati de mine, inca nu sint unul care ar trebui sa fie temut." = "They are scared of me, are still one that should be feared"

[Bucks23]

Eben turned at the sound of Raven's voice and saw him coming out of the shadows. The moonlight seemed to add a light sheen to his pale features making the vampyre seem ghostly and errie. All good stuff to go in the book! Eben thought.

Eben zipped up his leather jacket and nodded to Raven. "No problem." He said, refering to the warning of their difficult road ahead. They started walking side by side up the main road through the village. The inhabitants of the village gave them a wide berth. Even if Raven turned out to not actually be a vampyre, Eben was still gaining all the inspiration he needed for the novel. He wondered how the vampyre would react to finding out Eben would be writing about him.

Eben tried to start a conversation as they started their journey. "So, how did you become a vampyre? Did you have a choice on being turned?"