The Strangers of Precedent

Vlad should have killed them. The Brotherhood may have seemed like the remnants of a lost cause, but they found anything interesting and did whatever they could to own it. Whatever else Bobbi was, she certainly was interesting. He still couldn’t get the smell of her out of his head, nor the ensuing look of terror.

He just had to convince Thoth not to talk to him about what happened, because otherwise he’d be run out of town for putting the scholarship student at risk.

All this and it wasn’t even dark yet. He glared at the awning over his bed, watching the red seem to pool, but never drip.

A large person’s large hand banged on his bedroom door.

“It is five PM. You always wake up by four. Where are you?”

That late? He must have been thinking for too long.

“In my head!”

“I need you out of the house!” Frank yelled, “Go be in your head in the forest or something.”

“Is someone coming, or do you think you’re turning into a werewolf again?”

Frank slammed open the door, shaking a few, luckily nonbreakable, things.

“It was a legitimate concern.”

Vlad finally sat up, eyeing his roommate. Professor Franklin V. Monstro was a giant man, standing somewhere in the realm of seven feet tall, and nearly three wide. Despite his proportions, his clothes covered him almost completely, even in the privacy of home. A beard and glasses provided a similar effect for his face. Vlad looked for any flaws, any scars poking out to help cover, but Frank seemed to actually be firing on all cylinders.

“It’s company, then. Otherwise you’d just shoo me out. Have you and Thoth finally made up?”

Frank slammed the door shut again. If it wasn’t Thoth, it had to be…

No.

Not Her.

She was the only option worse than Thoth.

“Don’t you always go to Her place!?” Vlad screamed at an already out of sight Frank.

“She said she sensed a new presence last night, thinks it would be smart to plant some roses around the house.”

Roses were a smart plan against Vampires, so Vlad would be overjoyed to walk past them on his way to literally anywhere. He got dressed as fast as possible to get downstairs and continue the conversation.

“I take it the Eves are replanting theirs as well.” he started cleaning up what Frank was ignoring. This place was a pigsty aside from Vlad’s room.

“She’s waiting until a justified cause for concern appears. Plenty of people just pass through.”

“The Brotherhood doesn’t. I didn’t stop the infection at the source when I should have.”

“And here I thought you were haggard last night from starvation. Was this with Ms. Fayner?” Frank asked, “Is she alright?”

“I told her to run. Last I saw her, she was scared to death.”

Of him.

“We’ll definitely have to recommend the Eves replant theirs then. You should go and tell them.”

“They’re not in town.”

Just Syren and Bobbi. He wasn’t going near there.

“Nonsense, I saw Syren just the other day.”

“She isn’t allowed to order major changes to the house while her parents are absent. Solomon wasn’t either.”

“Then let Thoth know. He’ll get it sorted.”

“That’s worse,” Vlad said, “You do know Thoth doesn’t actually like most people, right? You’re a major exception.”

“Nonsense, he’s kind to everyone.”

“Kindness and fondness do not go hand in hand, especially if someone failed to stop the problem because of old laws he ran from.”

Frank paused.

“You weren’t genuinely worried about starting a vampire war, were you?”

“Of course I was. Do you know what happens if this becomes a battle ground?”

“Chaos?”

“Worse.”

“Death, then. Go tell Syren at least, and let’s all hope they end up on the wrong end of a pyrokinetic.”

Vlad shook his head as he headed out the door

“We’re not that lucky.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Bobbi didn’t sound angry to see him, not that she sounded thrilled either.

“I’m sorry about what happened last night. If it makes you feel any better, I probably wouldn’t have actually drank your blood.”

Bobbi gave him a blank stare. Did she forget everything?

“Are you mad about it?” he asked.

“Absolutely livid, but I appreciate the apology. Is that why you came?”

“No,” Vlad admitted, “I need to talk to Syren about something, though she’ll probably have to ask Thoth for help, so this is just a very roundabout way of getting into the library.”

“It’s for you!” Bobbi yelled up to the second floor. Vlad heard groaning.

“She was trying to go to bed.”

“It’s only seven-thirty.”

“That’s late for some people.”

“Syren usually stays up until midnight.”

“Well now I feel boring because she said if I was going to be busy, she’d go to sleep.”

Bobbi really must be boring.

“Wait, busy with what? School hasn’t even started.”

“Personal things. You feel awfully comfortable prying into my life for someone who just apologized for breaking into my personal space, and almost eating me.”

“Drinking your blood.”

“Semantics.”

“Hi, Drake!” Syren said, “Solomon isn’t here.”

“I know. A Vampire court is trying to make this place their territory. Plant the roses.”

“A Court, as in there’s more than one?” Bobbi looked Vlad up and down again.

“Did you think I was associated with the brotherhood of…” What were they actually named? Most courts just called them the brotherhood. It wasn’t like they deserved the respect of accuracy. “Fucked up shit?”

“Yeah? You’re a vampire, and they seemed to recognize you, so I assumed there was an association.”

She had a point, not that it mattered.

“I’m from a different court entirely. We don’t kill our food sources and we don’t exclusively drink from ‘pure sources.’”

“What?”

“They only eat white people,” Syren translated, “Except for all the exceptions.”

“And the roses?” Bobbi asked.

“Reduces a Vampire’s abilities to that of a human overtime, depending on actual contact,” Vlad explained, “You should keep one on you. They tend to get obsessed with runaways.”

“And you told me to fucking run!?”

Vlad didn’t have a counterargument.

“So when I finally get into a good college, I’m hunted by a brotherhood of fucked up shit.” Bobbi’s eyes were wide with fear and potentially annoyance.

“That’s not actually what they call themselves, and there’s a small chance you were the less interesting encounter of the night.”

“So they might be hunting you?”

Vlad nodded.

“It’s okay,” Syren said, “Drake can defend himself, and if they target you, I can keep you safe. They’re less interested in my blood.”

Bobbi shook her head, walking past them out the door.

“I have classes to get to.”

“You do?” Vlad asked.

“Orientation, for night students for some reason, but yeah.”

“I’ll go with you,” Vlad and Syren said, “We’ll both go with you.”

“Creepy, but I probably can’t say no, so fine.”

Vlad Drake was not a stalker under normal circumstances. Normally he’d give Bobbi her space, but by the time she’d left orientation, Vlad had to stop a brotherhood attack on her. News almost immediately got to Thoth, and Vlad had a commission: Keep Bobbi Fayner safe.

The weeks continued, with several incidents that soon got boring through their unrelentingness. Bobbi was never going to be safe, and Drake was her one line of defense. Somehow she hadn’t noticed.

“Why are you following me?”

Or she’d been waiting to sneak up on him at the most inconvenient possible time.

“Because I don’t want you to die. Why did you sneak up on me?”

“Turnabout is fair play. Thanks for saving my life a few times, but when it goes a week without incident, it seems finally fair to ask.”

“It’s been a week?”

He hadn’t been paying attention to the time, but Bobbi nodded.

“So you waited until my presence didn’t seem advantageous to confront me about it, did you?” he asked.

“Correct. Thanks for understanding. Why don’t you want me to die?” she asked again.

Vlad shrugged. Her dying would probably get him kicked out of Precedent, but he just generally didn’t like to let people die.

“How are your classes going?”

“So this is suddenly a get to know you conversation?”

“Until you need to go to class it is,” Vlad decided, “I believe you have Frank’s next.”

“I do, you stalker, but it’ll take a bit, and classes are going okay. How do you like being a vampire?” she stared awkwardly.

“It has its benefits, but plenty of downsides. Sometimes I ask myself if I would have taken that blood if I knew I would never be able to eat anything else for the rest of my life.”

“Anything?”

“I can drink some things, and I’ve enjoyed jello in the past, but no, not really.”

“Does it have to be human?” she asked.

“Not necessarily, but it can’t be animal, that’s only down in Mexico.”

“Chupacabra?”

“Exactly. Smart court, difficult to plan for, keeps to themselves.”

“You’re talking like these courts are countries.”

Now she understood. He gave a light nod.

“Wait, what?”

“We have our territories, our capitals,” Vlad elaborated, “Though not every place has a vampiric population, obviously. We negotiate, make allies, and enemies, and we try not to let most courts die.”

“Most?”

“The brotherhood is only allied with other courts the general vampiric population wants gone.”

“Like what?”

“There’s one in France that claims Jeanne d’Arc was their blood lady, though none of us believe them. Gilles de Rais was just an ally of hers. They tend to kill their prey.”

“Right, cool, never going to France, ever,” Bobbi made an X with her arms, “We’ll just erase that off the bucket list.”

“With that tree trick, you might just be able to handle them,” Vlad noted.

“Wasn’t me.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“Why don’t you ask me something now?” Bobbi requested.

“Excellent. Why are you so sure that tree trick wasn’t you?”

“Because I’ve never done that before, and I don’t have powers. I’ve been tested.”

“Nobody gets tested for superhuman abilities five times without something going on,” Vlad insisted, “Why would they look into you so many times when there’s superhumans they’ve ignored.”

“Who told you I’d been tested five times?”

“Thoth did. His records are legendary.”

“I don’t remember what caused the first time,” Bobbi had frozen on the sidewalk, “But it was the first time I remember changing homes. The second time was when I told a bunch of kids the squirrels don’t like it when you throw acorns at them.”

“That’s just common sense.”

“Exactly, but they were all like, ‘Bobbi’s a witch!’. Not a great town. Third and Fourth were both medical. Fell off a building without breaking a bone, and survived a poisonous snake bite—don’t think I actually got bitten though. The other kids called me Badger Bobbi after that one.”

“Badger Bobbi?”

“Yeah, because honey badgers sleep off snake venom, and I almost fell asleep in the car on the way to the hospital.”

“Fifth time?” Drake pushed.

“I may have led a guy who made me throw up on him at prom into a murder of crows. I spotted them that morning.”

“Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

“What makes you think you aren’t?”

“You haven’t sent me to get killed by birds yet, obviously. That means you must really love me.”

“Love?”

“You at least don’t hate having me around. I haven’t completely disliked being your protector either.”

Bobbi actually smiled. She had a dimple on her left side that made it an even more interesting sight.

“Okay, you’ve got me. I don’t hate you anymore.”

“Anymore?”

“You tried to drink my blood, man.”

“I wouldn’t have,” Vlad insisted, “You smell like a dangerously intoxicating drink.”

“Well let’s keep you sober, then.”

“Happy to.”

Bobbi offered her hand.

“Let’s make a deal. I’ll let you walk me to classes, and to the Eves’ house, and anywhere else I need to go, and I won’t be mad at you for the almost drinking my blood thing, if you promise to keep protecting me, and to stop being such a stalker.”

“Easy enough.”

They shook, and whatever they were before, they became friends.

“Watching out for Miss Fayner, as directed, I see.” Frank said from behind Vlad. He’d heard the large man coming several minutes ago, and didn’t even startle.

“She thinks your latest assignment is bullshit, by the way.” She’d ranted about it the whole way to her next class.

He could practically hear Frank roll his eyes.

“I’ll keep that in mind when grading her.”

“She’ll blow your plan out of the water, I’m sure. She’s already got several arguments ready to go.”

“Does she? I’m sure I’ll be convinced in a minute,” Frank’s tone dripped with sarcasm.

“I hardly want to spoil the surprise.”

“I’ve seen every argument on either side of this subject. I’m not here to be compelled, I’m here to see if and how they analyzed the text. I’m sure Bobbi will get a fine grade if her participation is anything to go by.”

“I’ll have to ask her about it.”

His smile dropped as he caught the time. Philosophy was supposed to have been done almost ten minutes ago, which meant the students would be leaving the building now.

Vlad and Frank watched the throng exit, and aside from a few of Frank’s students giving him a bow of deference, none of them came up to them.

“She wasn’t there.”

“She isn’t exactly the most social,” Frank said, “She may just be waiting.”

Vlad shook his head.

“She’s not that patient.”

“Are you sure she didn’t just slip your notice? I don’t think I want a body guard so similar to whatever was targeting me.”

“We made a deal.”

“She’s 21, people that age don’t understand the weight of a deal.”

Vlad stormed into the building. He wasn’t anywhere near as afraid of a fight as Frank was. Bobbi was predictable. She was always on the edge of a crowd, and she was almost never late.

Philosophy with Mr. Carpenter, mostly just sitting around and talking. Perfectly believable that Bobbi would be asked to speak after a class, especially if one of her classmates said something especially idiotic. He just had to be sure. Thoth would kill him if he wasn’t sure. Worse, he’d have Her kill him.

Through the window to the classroom, he could see Bobbi having a discussion with Carpenter. She was fine. Frank was right that he shouldn’t need to worry. He could have acted less like she didn’t want to talk to Vlad.

He moved to the door and put his ear against it.

“Why tell me this?” Bobbi asked, “What could you possibly have to gain?”

“You can send a message to him,” Carpenter said, “I can’t.”

“What do you mean send a message?”

This was dangerous. Vlad ran into the next classroom. He took a deep breath, placing his hands against the conjoining wall.

“This is going to be exhausting,” he acknowledged.

His form became intangible, and he walked through the wall, behind Prof. Carpenter. Staying so quiet he couldn’t focus on anything they were saying, he came directly behind, and placed his hand through Capenter’s throat.

“Be careful with your words from here on out.”

Carpenter put his hands up.

“What are you going to do to him?” Bobbi asked, her expression the same as it was the night they met. Hopefully she’d listen this time.

“Bobbi, run.”

“Are you going to kill him?” her tone shifted to something deeper. She leaned over the desk she was behind to make eye-contact.

“That depends.” he shifted focus to Carpenter. “What message was she supposed to send?”

“Only for your ears now, Pr—”

“Not killing him.” he solidified his hand and swiftly pulled up. Carpenter’s head flew through the air, landing in Vlad’s other hand, then falling onto the floor.

“That looked like killing him,” Bobbi squeaked. She was all over today, wasn’t she?

“See? No blood!” he picked up the head again. “Vampire. Not dead.”

Bobbi retched.

“He’ll be fine. I’ll put his head back on and send him off. He isn’t part of the brotherhood.”

“Where’s he from then?”

“England, I believe, same court as myself.”

Bobbi’s curiosity finally overcame the disgust as she stood behind him to look at the head.

“Can he talk?”

“Not without the rest of his windpipe. But he can blink.”

Carpenter rolled his eyes.

“That works too,” Bobbi said. “What about the message?”

“For my ears only.”

“But I can’t go home without you.”

“Frank’s outside. He’ll take you to the Eves’. Don’t worry, Vampires give him a wide berth, smells rancid.”

Bobbi gave an awkward chuckle, and ran very fast.

“I think I ruined something there.”

He returned to Carpenter.

“Blink once for yes, twice for no. Roll your eyes if you understand.”

Carpenter rolled his eyes.

“Will you go after Bobbi if I return you to your body?”

Two blinks.

“Will you do me any harm?”

Two blinks.

“Does binding you to the truth by the laws of my blood change these answers?”

Two blinks.

He placed the head on the floor next to the body and watched the sinews remake and rebind. Then Carpenter picked himself up, and bowed. Vlad offered a hand up.

“If you do that again, I remove the torso next time.”

“Then I would at least be able to speak, my liege.”

Not wrong.

“We likely ought to leave the room, just in case the next class comes in.”

Vlad nodded, offering for Carpenter to lead the way. The halls were gratefully empty.

“I had no intention of harming the girl, though I understand why ‘send him a message’ may imply that.”

“You still threatened her.”

“I wouldn’t call it threatening.”

Vlad walked ahead.

“Your uncle says your adventure has been long enough. You must return to your duties.”

“I have no intention of doing so, especially since I had no duties when I left.”

“I understand your reasoning,” Carpenter said, “But this really is not the way to honor—”

“I assure you, you do not understand. I will not return to the court.”

“Do you intend to join the Helsings?”

“No.”

“Then you don’t know how much danger you are in if any court finds you.”

“I know perfectly well. I’ve been out here for a long time.”

“And we have been following you just as long. You are lucky your uncle does not wish to see you hurt.”

Vlad froze in front of the door. They knew where he was.

“Then I’ll wait until he’s desperate, and you won’t find me next time.” he finally left the building.

“Next time?”

“Did you think I’d stay in one place forever? Twenty years is a long time only by some standards. I can find somewhere else.”

“You won’t leave her.”

Vlad paused.

“What attachment do you think I have?”

“I have watched you for years, and I know when you can’t leave.” The tick in his voice made Vlad look back.

“You said you have no intention of harming Bobbi.”

“Had,” Carpenter corrected, “And I’m not the threat to her. I’ve had to ward off some of the brotherhood myself. They do get wound up about the most ridiculous things, like a young woman who a courtless vampire has now abandoned.”

No time to end things properly. Vlad ran.

He slammed the knocker several times until Syren opened the door.

“Is Bobbi here?”

“I choose trick!” Syren grew taller, her canines grew longer, and her cloak billowed out.

“Oh right, it’s Halloween.” He never really participated, but he did spend one night at the Eves’ years ago.

Syren returned to her usual size.

“You were supposed to say trick or treat.”

“Should I be offended by your costume?”

Honestly he was a little bit flattered Syren would choose to be a vampire, even if that clearly wasn’t her intent.

“Probably!” Bobbi yelled from inside.

Vlad pushed past Syren. Bobbi was busy with a plate of cookies on the couch. They all seemed to be decorated with pumpkins, spider-webs, or other seasonal designs.

“Are those all for you?”

“Why? It’s not like you can have one.”

“That’s only a fraction of what she made,” Syren said, “She’s been baking all week, mostly while the rest of us are asleep.”

“I need something while I’m doing my homework, and Halloween gives a me a fun theme.”

This wasn’t important.

“I need to apologize.”

“About what?” Syren asked.

“I forgive you?” Bobbi said.

“I actually suspect you won’t.”

“Try me.”

“I’m sorry I almost drank your blood. I’m sorry for all the carnage you’ve had to see because of me, especially Prof. Carpenter.”

“What about Professor Carpenter?” Syren asked.

“I’m sorry I stalked you. I’m sorry I haven’t been completely forthright, and I am sorry I have to leave you.”

“You have to what?” Syren and Bobbi both asked.

“The Brotherhood wasn’t wrong that night. I am a runaway, and my court has found me.”

They’d known where he was for decades. He had to find somewhere better, somewhere he wasn’t putting people in danger. What would happen when his uncle came to the end of his patience?

“So what?” Bobbi asked. “I don’t know what the fuck all is going on here, but seeing as you’re managing one vampire invasion, what’s stopping you from handling another?”

“There is a world of difference between the brotherhood and the Court of the Dragon.”

Bobbi’s gaze steeled.

“What scares you so much about the Court of the Dragon? Can they breathe fire?”

“No. That’s not—”

“What the hell can they do that these people can’t possibly handle?” she gestured out at nothing in particular.

She didn’t know about the hoards waiting for one command, or that the hoard was currently aimed at her.

“There is a line that the brotherhood doesn’t know exists because they’ve been on the other side of it from the beginning. The dragons are on the side of restraint, but I am trying their patience. I won’t put your lives in danger—any of you—” he gave a pleading look to Syren. She had to see reason, “When that patience wears thin.”

“And what makes you think you have a choice?” Bobbi asked.

“Why do even care?”

“Because you’re my friend, fuckshit.”

Vlad and Syren shared a snort.

“I’m serious. If you’re right that these guys are going to turn real dangerous, real fast, but aren’t attacking, what makes you think we’re safe when you leave?”

“Because we don’t hurt bystanders.”

“Then why the fuck can’t you stay?”

Bobbi stood up on the couch, slightly taller than Vlad like this. She grabbed his face.

“Don’t be stupid and self-sacrificing. Whatever the fuck this is, your best shot is here, with all these monsters protecting the school. No offense, Syren.”

“I take it as a compliment.”

Vlad gently removed her hands.

“I appreciate your idealism, but that’s not how this works. Anyone who puts themselves between me and the court becomes a target. Anyone the court thinks I’ve brought into this, however innocent or helpless they may be, becomes a target. You are all already targets. I won’t see you come to harm because of my selfishness.”

He wasn’t going to stay for another counter-argument. She just didn’t understand how much he needed her to be safe. He just had to get to the door.

“So you’re just leaving me to the brotherhood because your ex-court could potentially attack?”

The brotherhood. He’d forgotten all about them. He was fucked.

He turned around, returning to the girls.

“I’ll stay until either the brotherhood is dealt with, or you are safe without my help.”

“Deal.”

They shook on it. What else was he supposed to do?

Singe stared down the portrait intently. It was difficult to see his father’s face with the size of it. Reluctantly, he tore his gaze away, to lean his head on the giant frame.

“I’ll do you and your legacy proud. I promise.”

“What are you doing?”

Singe tripped a little as he backed away, causing the floor to shake slightly as he fell.

“Sorry. I—”

The woman’s jaw slacked in shock.

“I just wanted to pay my respects.”

“You must be the son. I’ve heard good things about you.” She offered him a hand, which he took, but didn’t lean any weight on as he stood up. He backed up, carefully, to actually look at her face, given the difference in height.

“Hopefully I can prove them true.”

“Are you attending here?”

“I’m supposed to. I was told to meet Hesper Toval here. She’s a teacher.”

The woman’s face took a disappointed turn.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Tyrain, but a shame it’s under these circumstances.”

“What circumstances?”

He knew. It was too good to be true. All that waiting, anticipating.

“There’s no place in the Black Dragon corp for someone without a dragon, even if that someone is Singe Tyrain’s son, even if that son is a…” She searched for a non-offensive term.

“You mean especially if that son is a zmeu. Or were you planning on a different term?”

He wasn’t actually mad at Hesper—maybe a little. This was hardly the first time he’d been refused, but the first time they’d told him to come to the building to do it.

“The headmaster was going to offer you a custodial job, so you could work beside the corps.” she didn’t even believe in what she was saying.

“No deal, but I think he already knew I’d say that.”

He’d find a way. They weren’t going to keep him out of the corps forever.