Chapter 50: Holy Days in Forgotten Hollow
Winterfest has always been one of Valentine's favourite holydays, or holy days, as the count puts it. The gifts, his family, the decorations... but this year, none of those things are an option. With Christmas hosting, the celebration will start early, and even if it goes on until late, Valentine isn't sure how his family will react to his presence. Besides, the count has other plans for him this year, as this day marks the anniversery of his turning.
"It is your birthing day," the count tells him. "So we shall host a gathering to mark the occasion. Your sire will attend as well."
"Vatore?" It had been so long since he was even mentioned, Valentine had given up hope to ever sit down and talk to his sire.
"It would be impolite of him not to attend when an invitation has been extended."
A part of Valenting wants to protest, to say that he really wants to at least show himself late at night to his family, but the count's reactions after he'd gone to the funeral against his recommendations had been... not good, so instead Valentine thanks him properly, expressing the gratitude he is certain the older vampire is expecting.
And so on Winterfest, Valentine finds himself in the center of attention as the guests arrive. Vatore really does show up, but less enthusiastically than Valentine had hoped. But he's not the only one, Louis and Lena also show up, as does a woman Valentine has never met before. The count seems less than pleased with her attendance, but she arrives with Vatore and so it would be impolite to turn her away.
"Miss Edge," the count greets her with a courteous nod that seems entirely reluctant.
"Count Stroud," she returns. "Nice digs." she adds as she saunters into the room. Valentine stares. He's never seen a more beautiful being in his life.
The party itself is a bit strange seen from Valentine's perspective. For obvious reasons, there is no food on offer, and as the count owns neither TV nor stereo (useless devices for people who has lost the fine art of entertaining oneself), the only music is the count playing for them. To his credit he does play a livelier tune than is normally his habit since the crowd is - in his words - so young.
Oddly enough, the count has hired a caterer for the party, though she does seem a bit lost as to why as no one is asking for her services. That is until the count shows her just what it is she's meant to serve.
Neither Louis nor Lena reacts much, but Vatore does turn away with a look that is anything but impressed. Valentine doesn't think much of it at first, and happily helps himself to the food on offer when she's recuperated a bit.
"It is your birthing day," the count tells him. "So we shall host a gathering to mark the occasion. Your sire will attend as well."
"Vatore?" It had been so long since he was even mentioned, Valentine had given up hope to ever sit down and talk to his sire.
"It would be impolite of him not to attend when an invitation has been extended."
A part of Valenting wants to protest, to say that he really wants to at least show himself late at night to his family, but the count's reactions after he'd gone to the funeral against his recommendations had been... not good, so instead Valentine thanks him properly, expressing the gratitude he is certain the older vampire is expecting.
And so on Winterfest, Valentine finds himself in the center of attention as the guests arrive. Vatore really does show up, but less enthusiastically than Valentine had hoped. But he's not the only one, Louis and Lena also show up, as does a woman Valentine has never met before. The count seems less than pleased with her attendance, but she arrives with Vatore and so it would be impolite to turn her away.
"Miss Edge," the count greets her with a courteous nod that seems entirely reluctant.
"Count Stroud," she returns. "Nice digs." she adds as she saunters into the room. Valentine stares. He's never seen a more beautiful being in his life.
The party itself is a bit strange seen from Valentine's perspective. For obvious reasons, there is no food on offer, and as the count owns neither TV nor stereo (useless devices for people who has lost the fine art of entertaining oneself), the only music is the count playing for them. To his credit he does play a livelier tune than is normally his habit since the crowd is - in his words - so young.
Oddly enough, the count has hired a caterer for the party, though she does seem a bit lost as to why as no one is asking for her services. That is until the count shows her just what it is she's meant to serve.
Neither Louis nor Lena reacts much, but Vatore does turn away with a look that is anything but impressed. Valentine doesn't think much of it at first, and happily helps himself to the food on offer when she's recuperated a bit.
But mostly he tries to impress Miss Edge, who he learns is named Helena, and while accompanying Vatore, she's not his date. Valenting is pleased to hear it, he doesn't know the social protocol between sire and fledging but he's sure flirting with the same woman would be considered impolite.
And he desperately wants to flirt with Helena, and impress her, which mostly means he follows her around like a puppy for most of the night until she agrees to meet him again at the lounge the following evening.
And he desperately wants to flirt with Helena, and impress her, which mostly means he follows her around like a puppy for most of the night until she agrees to meet him again at the lounge the following evening.
As the night is waning, and the count has made sure that the guests know that they should be heading home before sunrise, Vatore takes a moment to speak to Valentine on his own.
"I have wanted to talk to you for a while," he says. "But I never got the opportunity while you were staying with Louis and Lena and even less here. Where can we talk?"
"Where? Why not here?"
Right then the count shows up.
"Mr. Vatore, the sun is soon rising, you ought to leave this dwelling before it is too late."
"Just catching up with my fledgling here, no rush is there. I used to live here after all," Vatore answers with a smile that seems entirely insincere and never reach his eyes.
"All the same, it is better for your health," the count says, and the way he says it, Valentine cannot help but to think it sounds more like a threat than a concern.
As Vatore leaves, Valentine thinks he hears him whisper. "Catch me at the lounge, when they first open." As he's left alone in the hallway, Vatore and the count leaving in different directions, Valentine wonders what it is he might learn in the lounge, and what is going on between the count and Vatore.
"I have wanted to talk to you for a while," he says. "But I never got the opportunity while you were staying with Louis and Lena and even less here. Where can we talk?"
"Where? Why not here?"
Right then the count shows up.
"Mr. Vatore, the sun is soon rising, you ought to leave this dwelling before it is too late."
"Just catching up with my fledgling here, no rush is there. I used to live here after all," Vatore answers with a smile that seems entirely insincere and never reach his eyes.
"All the same, it is better for your health," the count says, and the way he says it, Valentine cannot help but to think it sounds more like a threat than a concern.
As Vatore leaves, Valentine thinks he hears him whisper. "Catch me at the lounge, when they first open." As he's left alone in the hallway, Vatore and the count leaving in different directions, Valentine wonders what it is he might learn in the lounge, and what is going on between the count and Vatore.
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