The Vampire Wonderland Page 2

  I waited until I could meet Abyss again.

  Chapter 1: Purebloods

  Purebloods

  Many centuries had passed since the recreation of the world, but the harmony still reigned, and the creatures led a peaceful life. Many of the old gods still lived among them, but many had also passed away.

  Time was like a shattered spell, flowing differently in each part of the world. Cities could stand beautifully next to each other but one led by night, the other by light. Travelling could be a dangerous game. Sometimes, crossing a street meant stepping from daylight into the middle of the night. Or walking from a playful summer into a place of eternal winters.

  Morteezeana, one of the wealthiest vampire cities, was one of the most stable places when considering the time. Days and nights were the same lengths, seasons changed in precisely 90 days. The city of vampires bathed in glorious beauty as the citizens of Morteezeana valued magic more than the highly advanced technologies. Machines reminded them of humans, but humans were considered only suitable for food if there as nothing better available.

  In the new world, cultural beings valued education as it helped to secure the peace, as well as the survival of many different races. In most schools vampires, elves, wizards and countless other creatures studied together, but the Red Rose represented vampires only.

  It was the most prestige school of Morteezeana, a luxurious castle surrounded by a giant fence made of red roses. Its incredible architecture complimented the city and was one of its biggest pride. However, Red Rose was affordable only for the richest of the purebloods.

  Usually, classes took place at nights. Same as always, little vampires waited for the sun to rise to finally enjoy the freedom. Most of them could, but the youngest member of the Morteeze family, the founders of Morteezeana, was forced to work harder than other children to honour his superior family.

  In a class of 30 students, the little boy sat at the back of the classroom, glancing outside the window. Boredom painted his youthful face as his cherry-red eyes scanned the dusky sky. His long, black hair was tied up at the back with an indigo blue ribbon, and he was dressed in an expensive black outfit, suitable for an aristocrat. The boy was only 12 years old, but he already excelled at all subjects and was the most popular student of the Red Rose - Demian Morteeze.

  “Our lesson hasn’t come to an end, but some students already think they have learned everything,” the history teacher narrowed his eyes on the young boy, “Demian Morteeze, do you really think you’re better than the rest of the class?”

  The pureblood boy shifted his eyes towards the teacher without moving his head to face him.

  “I don’t think I’m better than the rest,” Demian replied, his voice bored and cold, “I know I am!”

  “Just because you were born in Morteeze family doesn’t make you so special!” the teacher hissed, showing his vampire fangs.

  “Is that so?” Demian sighed, glancing outside the window again, “Would you say the same to my father? Or grandfather? Are you really that tired to live?”

  The teacher swallowed hard, making an awkward face. The rest of the students went mute, not daring to look at the young Morteeze, nor their teacher.

  “I’m awfully sorry, it’s not what I meant!” the teacher replied nervously, “However, regardless of our roots, we must respect each other and our traditions. We are here to strive not to waste our time. You must study, Morteeze!”

  “I know,” Demian sighed, “but just because my eyes aren’t looking at you doesn’t mean my ears cannot hear. During this lesson, I haven’t learned anything new at all. Honestly, I’ve learned nothing in none of your lessons!”

  “If you’re so confident, you won’t mind answering a few questions, will you?” the teacher’s voice became more irritated as he spoke.

  Demian stood up immediately, his face still cold and emotionless.

  “Who’s the angel of the Abyss?” the teacher asked, scanning the little boy angrily.

  “We call him Abyss, but nobody truly knows where or why he came from. Some say that he was born in the Heavenly Kingdom, others argue he’s a creation of the Underworld.” Demian spoke calmly, absolutely dispassionate about the subject, “Although he was imprisoned in the Life Capsule centuries ago and is still resting in the Punishment Circle with the rest of the most dangerous prisoners, many creatures still fear his name. Legends say that Abyss was the reason why the great wars began to crumble the world, but I don’t believe it’s the truth!”

  “Is that so?” the teacher murmured, his voice dissatisfied, “Why is that? What do you think was his true reason to destroy innocent lives?”

  “Simply because I think none of the lives was that innocent.” Demian replied honestly, his face lighting up with slight interest, “I think, he tried to punish the mortals.”

  “Punish them?” the teacher seemed stunned.

  “Yes, because the world was already shattered before he appeared. Why would the world fall apart if everyone was as innocent as they claimed to be?” the boy said, “He was an angel, not some criminal! Everyone knows that the angels view the world differently than mortals. Their lives are eternal, and they serve the gods. Either way, why would Abyss kill so many beings?”

  The classmates started to whisper.

  “Silence!” the teacher slammed his fist to the table, “You’re speaking complete nonsense! Abyss was insane, blinded by power!”

  “I only shared my own opinion, just as you asked me!” Demian objected, narrowing his eyes on the teacher.

  “If you think you’re that clever, tell the class about the Heavenly Kingdom!” the teacher demanded.

  “It’s the realm of gods, their true home.” Demian explained, “Those who leave the Heavenly Kingdom, forever lose their rights to return home. There’s always a high price the gods must pay before being able to come to our world. Some of them sacrifice their immortalities, others lose their divine powers.”

  “What about the Underworld?” the teacher asked without allowing the boy to rest.

  “The Underworld is a realm of demons and lords of the Underworld. It’s also the final destination for the sinners who make deals with the devilish forces. Legends say that the Underworld is the most horrifying place any creature could ever imagine.” Demian described.

  “Why is that?” the teacher continued to interrogate the boy, “Why do mortals make deals with the demons?”

  “Mortals are weak and always crave for power. Demons cannot come to the to our world without being connected with a mortal, so they offer the weak mortals a tempting deal - an unbreakable connection to grant powers in return.” Demian explained, remembering the books he had read at home.

  “Why do demons want to come to our world?” the teacher asked.

  “Because they feed on souls, and the only way to get a soul is to have a pact with one. They cannot eat a soul unless a mortal has agreed to it.” Demian continued, “Demons are crafty when it comes to sealing the deals. They target weak individuals, mostly humans. Demons haunt them until they give in.”

  “How can you tell the difference between an ordinary creature and a demon?” the teacher’s voice was full of annoyance.

  “You can’t! Demons are classified into three groups. The strongest of them are called the Lords of the Underworld, and they can take any appearance they want. In the Underworld, they are also called Xefendru. They are the most dangerous ones as they feed not only on mortals but also souls of other demons. Usually, weaker demons obey them just to survive.” Demian explained, still thinking about the books, “The next class are Sefendru, they are simple contractors that find a master to obey. Sefendru feed on master’s emotions, both good and bad ones. The stronger the emotions, the more powers they possess. When well-fed, they can take a human-like form. The weakest and the ugliest demons are called Fendru. They feed on fear.”

  Demian’s eyes landed on the teacher and turned a few shades darker. His lips curved into a mischievous smile.

&nbs
p; “If you were a demon,” he said to the teacher, “There would be no way to tell as the demons come in different forms and shapes!”

  The other students started to giggle.

  “Silence!” the teacher demanded, “If you’re so clever, Morteeze, tell us about the Leaders!”

  “The Leaders are the champions of the Argona Fights and are acknowledged as the most powerful creatures among us. As they reach the L status by winning in the Argona Fights, the Leaders are considered to be the global authority. My grandfather Dorian Morteeze is one of them, as well as my great-grandfather Claudius, the founder of Morteezeana, used to be one of them when he was alive.”

  “Tell us about L status!” the teacher grew impatient.

  “It’s the official status of the Leaders, symbolising their power and victory in the Argona Fights. It’s also considered as the highest possible level of education.” Demian replied, adding extra information he once read in his father’s archives, “The educational system across the world is divided into five levels. Level 5 is the lowest one where we learn the basics like history, the theory of magic, and how to defend ourselves. It is our current level. Level 4 is the next one where creatures are taught to use their powers. More advanced schools like Red Rose teach their students how to use them in battles. Level 3 is the highest for most beings, and it encourages us to develop unique skills.”

  “What about Level 2 and Level 1?” one of the classmates asked curiously.

  “If we decide to study further, Level 2 is where things become dangerous. Students must participate in different missions, some schools pay for the completed ones. Since the world is full of different creatures, Level 2 focuses on individual growth rather than their natural abilities.” Demian said to his classmate, “Level 1 is considered to be the elite of our society. Those who possess Level 1 gain great respect, but they are also expected to participate in various projects that help the world grow. Most of them are dangerous and impossible for weaker creatures. Only those who have fully completed Level 1 are allowed to participate in Argona Fights.”

  “Tell the class more about Argona Fights!” the teacher demanded, his face full of agitated veins.

  “Argona is the former city of the new world as well as the home for most of the gods who founded the yearly Argona Fights to choose the best of the best mortals to maintain the peace and reign beside them,” Demian explained effortlessly.

  “Who is Ermelinda Morinji?” the teacher could hardly remain calm, his eyes fumed with anger.

  Demian sighed before opening his mouth again.

  “Ermelinda has never been mentioned in any of your classes before, but if you insist on me educating you, I will tell you everything I know about her!” Demian replied arrogantly, “Ermelinda Morinji is just another legend, used to scare the disobedient vampire kids! She’s just a fairytale I don’t believe in because she’s supposed to be a human who survived the great wars, experienced the rebirth of the world, became immortal without the interference of any god to hunt down all vampires. How ridiculous is that? A human hunting for vampires? Nonsense! She is just a made-up tale, just like Abyss and everyone else we’ve never seen!”

  “Demian!” the teacher smashed his fist on the desk again.

  “Rumours say she used to be the most violent being of them all!” another boy from the class added, “Ermelinda was considered to be the follower of Abyss, some call her the Dark Princess!”

  “My mother said Ermelinda controlled the demons who gave her immortality as she fed on mortal souls together with them!” said a girl from the other corner of the classroom.

  “But has anyone ever actually seen her?” Demian rolled his eyes, “If she’s immortal, why isn’t she wiping the world free from our kind? She’s nowhere to be found! If Ermelinda ever existed, she probably became immortal and never stopped ageing, so she’s hiding from everyone because of her wrinkly face!”

  “Morteeze!” the teacher lost his temper, “Ermelinda Morinji is one of the most dangerous people in the world! Nobody was able to capture her, and she will do anything to free Abyss from the Punishment Circle. Although she disappeared ages ago, she might be just waiting and plotting against us until the right time comes!”

  “Well, I don’t believe in any of it. The sun is up, I had enough of this lesson. It’s time to go home!” Demian rolled his eyes and simply left the classroom.

  The little vampire walked out of his school to see the sunlight rising up in the sky. He glanced around him, taking a better look of the tall fence made of roses surrounding the garden. He noticed a suspicious man near the gate just when the boy was about to leave.

  It was an adult vampire. He cornered a human girl and pierced his fangs through her bare shoulder.

  “Hey!” Demian shouted out from afar, casually moving forwards, “Parody of a vampire, I’m talking to you!”

  The stranger pulled his teeth out of the girl's skin to glare at the boy.

  “Didn’t you know that it’s forbidden to attack anyone in any city? If you want to hunt and feed on fresh blood, you should go outside the borders, you filth!”

  “What did you say?” the adult threw the human girl on the ground, moving aggressively toward the little boy.

  “If you’re that hungry, you should go to a Blood Bank unless the other person wants you to bite. That girl doesn’t look like a volunteer to me!” Demian replied in a cold voice, his face still blank of emotions.

  The adult vampire lifted him up, pinning the boy to the rose wall outside the gate.

  “Little brat, who do you think you are to tell me about the law?” he hissed.

  “I’m not telling. I order you to leave before you get into trouble.” Demian replied, staring blankly into the stranger's hungry eyes.

  “You’ll regret you were born!” the stranger formed a fist.

  “No,” Demian’s eyes lit up with toxic red, “It’s you who will regret being born!”

  Suddenly, the adult’s hands made a clicking sound. He let go of the boy immediately, but it was too late. Pain exploded throughout his body, forcing the adult to collapse on the ground.

  “You should never touch me, you filth! My clothing is more expensive than your life will ever be,” Demian smiled disdainfully, “I’m Demian Morteeze!”

  “I’m s-sorry!” the stranger gasped, clenching to his ribs.

  Demian’s eyes burned more toxic as he lifted his hand in the air and tensed his fingertips. The adult vampire screamed, his face covered in sweat instantly.

  “S-s-sorry!” he cried.

  Demian released his fingers, appearing extremely bored again.

  “Go before I changed my mind! And don’t you dare to disrespect the rules of the Elderly!” Demian warned.

  The stranger ran away as soon as he was able to get onto his feet. Demian watched him disappear.

  “Thank you so much, kind boy!” the human girl crawled to Demian’s feet.

  The boy took a piece of her long dress and wiped his shoes with it as his eyes stopped burning with the toxic glimmer and returned to crimson.

  “Don’t talk to me, food!” he whispered without looking into the girl’s eyes, “If you don’t have an owner here, your life has no value in this town. This is no place for a human. Go where you came from!”

  After fixing his crumpled jacket, Demian continued to walk. Enjoying the sunlight, he didn’t rush back home. Instead, he decided to wander through Morteezeana for a while longer.

  The city never slept, it was full of energy all day and night. Although Morteezeana was most lively during the night time, well-fed grown-up vampires rarely rested. Sleep was only for their children and those who once used to be humans; or other species. Purebloods had ancient magic running through their veins, it allowed them to give birth and stop ageing at the age suitable for each individual. They possessed extraordinary beauty and everlasting youth, they were immune to almost any disease.

  Many purebloods considered themselves to be half-gods descending on the mo
rtal land as they had the power to share their eternal energy with other species, enabling their bodies to regenerate fast, as well as stop them from ageing as long as they fed on blood. Unlike purebloods, ordinary vampires had limited abilities. Their teeth had no venom to turn others into their kind, and their instincts always remained submissive to their creators.

  When it came to feeding, there were strict rules to follow unless vampires wanted to be punished by the Elderly. It was forbidden to attack any being within any city or town. Hunting was allowed only in rural areas, but it applied to many different species due to their natural instincts and diversity in their feeding needs.

  Although there were many rules forbidding vampires to attack other species, there were many volunteers that considered it to be a great honour to be devoured by such godlike creatures. However, many vampires chose to be harmless and have peaceful lives. They had an option to feed on artificial blood available in restaurants, or real blood donated in Blood Banks.

  Demian took his time to take in the picturesque city view before returning home. Morteezeana was a true masterpiece ornamented by scarlet roses as they were the symbol of Morteeze family. They bloomed everywhere, and each member of Demian’s family could make them thrive right out of their hands.

  The boy reached the town centre where there was a giant fountain with Demetra’s sculpture in the middle, her open arms pouring dazzling water of Love. Rumours said the water worked like love elixir, and many tourists came there to drink it.

  Demian sat down on the fountain, playing with the water with his fingertips. He glanced towards the giant glass building in front of him. It was the only high technology establishment in the entire city - the Blood Bank.

  The entrance to the Blood Banks and biting others directly was strictly forbidden to vampire children as it was too dangerous for young vampires to start drinking blood other than their parents at a young age. To vampires, it wasn’t only food. It was the source of sacred energy and the most significant pleasure. Blood not only helped them to maintain their youth and health but allowed them to see into the mind of the donor or victim. It could awaken new powers within the vampires, and too many powers at a young age were considered dangerous; they could stop the ageing.