White Domnitor's Arc

Chapter 3 of 4

By dawn, the whole city buzzed. Miguel walked the market row with his head high, but the vampires watched him like carrion. He heard the whispers. Blasphemer. The son who drinks beast blood. The fool who tried to break Hecate's curse and light himself on fire. He had wanted the sun. Instead he had shown every clan his shame. Now his father waited. A summons had come at first dark. Dracula wanted him in the great hall. Miguel entered Castle Dracul with his cape dragging over cold stone. His father sat on the high seat. His mother, the Mother, stood beside him. Her three-mile veil pooled behind her like spilled milk. Her blue eyes gave nothing. His sister leaned against a pillar, all red lace and sharp nails, watching. Maria had never hidden her scorn for his animal-only diet. She did not hide it now. "You lit the sky," Dracula said. His voice was flat and final. "Every clan saw. They call it blasphemy. They say my son wishes to become human." Miguel knelt. There was no lie left to tell. "I do," he said. "I wanted to walk in the sun. Among them. I wanted vampires to become more human. I am sorry I disgraced Walachia. Not sorry I tried." The hall went silent. Maria pushed off the pillar. "You drink from deer and dogs," she said. "You beg the sun to burn you. And you call it kindness." She shook her head. "You are my brother and I do not know you." The Mother lifted one hand. Maria stopped. "He is what we made," the Mother said. She looked at Dracula. "Half witch. He was always going to reach for light." Dracula rose. Miguel braced for wrath. His father crossed the floor and stood over him. Then he set a heavy hand on Miguel's shoulder. "Sofia raised you soft," Dracula said. "She fed you beast blood and filled your head with human things. I blamed her once. I will not now." He pulled Miguel to his feet. "You are my son. I forgive the shame. I forgive Sofia for her hand in it." His red eyes narrowed. "But I will never understand it. A vampire who spurns human blood is a vampire who spurns himself. That I cannot mend." Miguel breathed out. He had feared death. He had gotten mercy instead. But his father's mercy carried a wall. Dracula would forgive him. He would never bless him. "You are free of punishment," Dracula said. "But the clans are not so kind. You have shown them a weakness. They will test it." He turned back to his seat. "Guard your humans, Miguel. The ones you love. You have made them a target." The forgiveness held. But now every clan knew where to strike. Miguel walked out into the fading dark, and thought of his lovers sleeping in the city below.