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Commander Bright
Nova was frozen. She should have been over the moon. The orchard was healed, the vampires and daywalkers were getting along, she and Victor felt the same way about each other. She should have been thrilled.
Her father didn’t look thrilled. He had his arms crossed, and was just staring at her and Victor from across the cavern. From the corner of her eye she could see that Victor had noticed his aunt with a similar expression.
“I’ll be-“ They both said, sort of laughing before Nova cleared her throat.
“Go, we’ll talk later?” She gave him a gentle push. Victor gave her a sigh, clearly wanting to stay by her, but he kissed her temple, making her blush before they headed their seperate directions.
“Nova.” Her dad’s eyes were ice cold, staring down at her like she was a young child who had just broken a vase.
“Hi Dad.” She lowered her eyes to the ground, scared to meet his gaze.
“You disobeyed every command I gave you. Teaming up with that vampire boy? I told you we didn’t have time to even think about those visions of yours. You were supposed to help our people prosper.”
“Dad I just-“
“And you did.”
“What?” Her head snapped up to look at her dad, whose eyes were soft now, looking at her in what almost looked like admiration.
“You made every choice I would never possibly think of making, and in a week you’ve not only saved our people from starvation, but forged new relationships with people I’ve taught you to fear. You may not be leading the way I told you to, but you are the leader our people need. I will be proud to step down when it’s time for you to take up the mantle as commander.”
Nova’s heart felt like it was going to burst. She lunged at her dad, into his waiting arms and hugged him. “Thanks Dad.”
“Of course little fireball.” When they pulled away she noticed him looking at Victor, who was still in a heavy conversation with the Eldress. “Do you want to talk about..”
Nova’s eyes widened. “Dad.” Her faced flushed red. “He’s just..”
Her dad chuckled softly. “You’re blazing your own trail supernova.”
He didn’t say anything else, but it was a start. Maybe, for the first time in a long time, she had a dad instead of a commander.
She locked eyes with Victor from across the room and her face melted into a smile.
Vampire Eldress
Victor gulped. He recognized that look in his aunt’s eyes. He’d seen it during council meetings with the other elders when they brought up peace negotiations. He’d seen it when she publically sentenced vampires to the dungeon for life, or exiled them, or even to defanging.
He had learned from a young age that his aunt wasn’t the joking type. She didn’t let things go easily and was what Victor would consider to be a vampire purist. In her time as Eldress, while she embraced new technology she had also put back in place many old (and outdated) laws, struck down on modern education, and insisted on keeping vampire culture as traditional as possible.
Nova pushed him gently, trying to encourage him to go talk to his aunt. He just kissed her temple and tried to summon all his courage before walking towards his aunt. “Hi Auntie E.”
“I meant what I said earlier.” Was her opening words. “Working with our enemies is treason. Treason is usually punishable by defanging.”
It took everything in Victor’s body to not drop to his knees and plead forgiveness. Defanging was the worst shame that could possibly be brought upon a vampire. But he couldn’t beg, that was what she wanted. He snuck at a glance at Nova to calm his nerves. He was a leader. He had to remember that. “I know I haven’t always been the most involved heir, but I don’t agree with the way you want me to lead our people. It’s wrong.”
His aunt raised an eyebrow. “This way, my way, has kept us safe for generations.”
“No. It’s kept us living in fear. Not just of the daywalkers, but of you. The daywalkers may not be like us, but even they recognize how the new generation can step up and lead. Commander Bright’s daughter is an exceptional leader. She taught me that I’m more than just dismissive of the old ways. I’m the future leader of the vampires, even if you disagree. It’s traditional after all, our bloodline taking up the mantle as the head elder. It’s my birthright, and when the time comes for me to step up, I will be the leader our people need.”
He had never seen his aunt speechless before. For once, she looked puzzled. “I’ve never seen this spark in your before Victor.” She surveyed their surroundings. Vampires and daywalkers talking, hugging, sharing stories. The gentle rain, cleansing the once hate-filled cavern and healing the roots that connected their two people together. The two stones, light and dark, glowly softly together. “I agree.” She finally said.
He blinked. “What?”
She sighed. “You may not be a leader the way I believe is the correct way, but it is your birthright. I will step down when you come of age. I don’t agree with your methods, but it’s tradition.” She paused again. “And, I suppose you’ve had some success so far anyway.”
It wasn’t much, not that he was expecting much, but it was more approval than he’d ever gotten from his aunt. “Thank you Auntie E.” He gives her a polite nod, which she returns before turning away, done with the conversation. He scans the room again, feeling something he never felt before. Pride. He had done this, not alone of course, but he was one step closer to accomplishing his dreams. Thanks to Nova.
His scan of the cavern stopped on the golden haired daywalker. Her face breaks into a smile when she sees him, and he can’t help but smile in return. Whatever the future held in store for him, he couldn’t wait to face it with her.
Time Skip!
“You ready?” Nova helped him straighten the collar of his jacket.
“Honestly?” He takes a look at himself in the mirror. The clothes were stiffer than he would have liked, but they were ceremonial. His father had worn this when he took the up the responsiblity of leading their people. He looks back at Nova, as beautiful as ever. Her clothes were less traditional, but the daywalkers weren’t a particularly traditional people. Her hair is down today, not pulled up and ready for combat. That was a change. “Not really.” He admits, trying to smooth out invisible wrinkles on his pants. “I’m nervous that this is the wrong choice. What if my aunt was right Goldie?”
She presses a kiss into his cheek. He’s grown taller the past few years, so he has to bend his knees a little so that she can reach. That’s another change. “You’re going to be amazing. Your reforms have already been so great at helping your people, and you haven’t even had a true seat on the council yet.” She squeezes his hand. “You’re ready Victor.”
A vampire attendant knocks on the door. “It’s time sir.”
Sir. Again, a change.
Nova grins, squeezing his hand one more time. “I’ll be right there in the front row. You can do this!” She gives him one more reassuring smile before leaving through the door to go sit.
As Victor made his way through the square, it was a sight to see. Vargas was grinning at him, Ray of all people gave him a thumbs up, even Vera looked impressed. He thought he could make out a familiar zombie and alien couple somewhere in the back too. This would be the first time not just daywalkers, but other species would witness the transition of power between vampire elders. He spotted Nova’s golden hair in the front row like she promised, standing tall as the ambassador for her people. It was only a matter of time before she became a commander, but her dad was much more welcoming to that idea than Victor’s aunt was.
The vampire Eldress stood tall next to the darkstone. Looking rather annoyed if you asked him, but he didn’t think that was worth mentioning right now. He stopped in front of the darkstone and pressed him palm against it. The ceremony itself was rather underwhelming, but when he was presented with his father’s darkstone necklace, he hesitated. He looked at the crowd, locking eyes with Nova. Her eyes shone with pride, giving him one of her brillant smiles. He allowed the elder to put the necklace on him, and immediately he felt stronger.
He could see his aunt out of the corner of his eye reliquish her darkstone necklace in exchange for a regular one, which was shocking to him. He never thought she’d give that up willingly. That necklace would be put away, locked up until the next eldress was going to claim it.
As Victor smiled at Nova, finally standing in front of the two people as the leader of the vampires, he wondered if that ceremony was going to work out the same as it always had, considering their next eldress wasn’t really going to be an eldress at all.
Oh well. He’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
“Today, I stand before you not just as the leader of the vampires, but as the symbol of our two people uniting. It is my mission and greatest dream to fight for our two clans to unite, to embrace our differences and move toward a new future, vampires and daywalkers together. I know that as I begin my start as the head of the council that I have the full support of the future commander, Ambassador Nova Bright, and I could not be more honored to be the leader working with her to finally bring our villages together. Thank you all for gathering here today, here’s to a bright,” He winked at Nova, who was beaming, “future for us all!”
As the gathered crowd cheered, he started toward Nova, who met him halfway, closing the short distance between the two of them. “Here’s to you Moonlight.” She smiled at him. “May you lead with your heart, just as you always have.”
“Actually, here’s to you, future Commander Bright.” He gives a nod toward the darkstone necklace already being moved to a safe location. “And potentially future vampire eldress if we can figure that out.”
It was like her eyes held the secret to the universe, and her smile was the key to unlock it. “We’ll figure that out later, future commander. Anything is possible, we’ll find a way.”