Part One

B ooth's Island

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Day turned into night as a cloud of bats blanketed the skies, their wings flapping ferociously overhead like a synchronized, deafening cacophony of thunder. It was a frightening phenomenon to say the least, but the locals simply gritted their teeth and shrugged off their stirrings of fear. They were simple people who were content to lead equally simple lives, and they cared not to ask questions as long as they had a roof over their heads and food in their bellies.

By the time the ferry inched close to the shores, the bats were long gone, their furry, little bodies disappearing into the shadowy realms of the island's treacherous forests.

The dock was quiet and empty, with not a single soul around to see the two women walking down the gangplank; no one save Isaac Booth, a centuries old vampire for whom the island was named after.

He recognized the older woman right away: Bethany with the lovely stars in her eyes. She had been eighteen when she left the island, a pretty, free-spirited creature filled with hopes and dreams. But in her return she was nearly unrecognizable, her beauty turned hard and brittle, and her blood containing the unmistakable stench of rot.

Beside her was a young lady, mayhaps fifteen or sixteen years of age. The resemblance was such that he knew right away the young girl could only be Bethany's daughter, and Isaac's gaze turned contemplative as he observed the girl's actions. She had an air of serenity about her, as placid as it was impregnable. Either she had been born to withstand shocks with equanimity or fate had forced her to be immune to them. And knowing Bethany as he did, Isaac was more inclined to believe the latter.

Bethany's old home was at the very back of the town. It was small and plain, and although the house had fallen into a state of disrepair in the years of her absence, nothing in it had been disturbed. Save for the layers of dust that covered the furniture, it was as if she had never left at all.

The women set to work, and the vampire watched them from a distance.

"You think this will do?" Isaac heard Bethany ask.

"It will more than do," her daughter replied, "because it's yours, and so we'll never have to worry about paying rent." The girl's voice was pleasant and soothing, and her words remarkably practical. Nevertheless, the sound of it made the hairs on the back of the vampire's neck stand up, and he wasn't too surprised when he heard noise coming from behind him.

He turned around with deliberate slowness, and he could suck his breath as he found the island's slumbering woods hosting countless pairs of eyes.

Bats.

And all of them were staring at Bethany's daughter.

Isaac wasted no time after that, and in mere moments he was within the secret confines of his study, and using the island's security cameras to print out photographs of the two newcomers. Afterwards, Isaac rolled out a fresh sheet of parchment and dipped a quill into a bottle of red ink. Countless years had past since he had been cast out of Chalys by his half-demon sire, but even so the old ways had never left him, and the archaic words that made up his native language flowed out with ease as he began to write.

To His Lordship

Marquis of Sangre

To my right worshipful ruler, in the most lowly manner I recommend me to your good lordship and beseech you to pardon my boldness in writing without your express invitation...

I was reminded of the stories about our winged kindred, and how they only hearken to your call - and that of your heartkeeper...

I write no more beyond this, and pray bid me as his lordship wills.

Awaiting for further instructions, I remain your humble servant and subject,

Mr. Isaac Booth

To Mr. Booth

Greeting and do you make wise provision for the future .

For possessing the keen foresight of informing me about such matters, the Noble House of Sangre and its loyal subjects owe you a great debt, and one we hope to abundantly repay at the soonest opportunity possible.

You, good sir, have rightfully heeded your instincts regarding the young lady, and the photo you have enclosed more than served its purpose in confirming the truth of her identity. She is indeed my heartkeeper, and I kindly ask for your continued assistance in watching over my future marchioness.

You will find below contact details of my man of business. He has already been instructed to set up the necessary accounts and provide you with the means to look after yourself and the young lady.

Until the Duke of Brimstone returns from his own quest, I along with the rest of the Galeré must remain here to protect our territory. It is therefore imperative that you guard your tongue at all times and trust no one that I have not explicitly vouched for.

Her existence alone is a threat to many, and the distance between our kingdom and of the New World is too great for me to provide immediate aid. Hordes of demons will be at your doorstep, the instance it is known you have under your protection the woman destined to share her soul with me.

And lastly, before I end this letter I shall make use of the powers vested in me by birthright. I hereby elevate you to the rank of Knight and charge you to do right and do your duty as you ought.

In witness hereof I set my seal at Brimstone on Hallowmass Day.

Lord Mihail Gheorgiu

Marquis of Sangre

To His Lordship

Marquis of Sangre

Greeting and a ready will to do his lordship's pleasure:

It is with much regret that I inform his lordship of the passing of the young lady's mother, and as she has no remaining relation to claim responsibility for her keeping, I have applied for guardianship and said application was duly accepted.

However, the rules of our island are such that her ladyship, at sixteen years of age, has now the legal right to marry whoever she wishes without my consent. If his lordship would be so kind as to make known his desires regarding this matter, I shall endeavor to fulfill them with haste.

Believe me your most loyal and grateful servant while I live,

Sir Isaac Booth

To Sir Isaac

Knight of Sangre

Permission is hereby granted for you to speak the truth of our race. Convince her as you see fit, and know that time is of no consequence. I have lived this long waiting for my heartkeeper to present herself; the passing of more days, months, or years will make little difference.

Do you take care, however, not to cause her ladyship undue fright. Not a single drop of her precious blood must be spilled, nor a single strand of her hair harmed.

Impress upon her the need for secrecy, and it is best if her ladyship herself know not who I am save for the fact that I am a powerful vampire devoted to safeguarding her well-being.

If her ladyship shows signs of any misgivings about my intentions, convey to her my most heartfelt reassurance that I mean her no harm. She may write to me if she wills, or if her delicate sensibilities hinder her from doing such, then you may also receive her questions on my behalf, and I shall pass on my answers through you.

Fare thee well as I fare.

Lord Mihail Gheorgiu

Marquis of Sangre

To His Lordship

Marquis of Sangre

Because your humble servant knows that you especially desire to learn quickly the condition her ladyship is currently in, he humbly thinks it best and fitting to tarry not in informing you of the following:

Her ladyship has been duly informed of the matters concerning the nature and fate of the people of Sangre, and as befitting of one who shall be his lordship's future bride, she has displayed startlingly commendable fortitude in light of such revelations.

Furthermore, the young lady bids me to let his lordship know that she is most honored to be your heartkeeper and humbly accepts your invitation to exchange correspondence. Thus I enclose with this missive her ladyship's own letter, whose words are lovingly penned by her own hand.

It is with pleasure her ladyship now awaits your reply.

Given at one of the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the third day of the month of January.

Sir Isaac Booth

Dear Sir,

I asked Mr. Booth how best to write to you, but his advice only led to greater confusion. He says I should write from the heart, but that is something I'm afraid is not presently possible. I have already admitted my shortcomings to Mr. Booth, and while he says it would make no difference to you, my conscience dictates that I seek your personal reassurance about this.

Two years ago, I was clinically diagnosed of being emotionally distant and having acute difficulty in expressing emotions as a result of severe trauma .

In my case, the condition hinders me from sufficiently expressing the appropriate sentiments in situations that other people are commonly unable to be apathetic to. Perhaps more worryingly, the condition makes it challenging for me to establish any kind of emotional relationship with another person.

My doctor says my childhood trauma is likely caused by the times Bethany, my mother, have insisted on taking me with her to work. She is what is most politely referred to as an adult film actress, and my earliest memory of this was when I was approximately five or six years of age.

According to Dr. Cortez, this condition only requires a cure if its side effects prove excessively detrimental. She further notes that therapy is usually most effective in cases where treatment is sought.

Please advise if you still prefer to proceed with the arrangements outlined by Mr. Booth on your behalf.

Sincerely,

Rhapsody

Milady,

It's interesting that in your first letter you have expressed no concern about my nature. As it appears you have fully dispensed with all reasonable doubts about my nature, I shall proceed accordingly.

To start with, and to prevent any future misunderstandings, I am - as you know - a vampire.

In many ways, it may as well be referred to as a condition in the sense that her ladyship also has a condition. Conditions are not synonymous, however, to handicaps, and I hope her ladyship understands this.

In any case, I digress. My condition as a vampire requires me to drink blood. The manner of consumption, however, is immaterial; I can consume it straight from a living source or purchase a blood bag and pour it in a wine glass. The quantity we need to consume is also inversely proportionate to our age; the older we are, the less we need, and as your guardian have no doubt informed you, I am much, much older than Sir Isaac.

Vampires have longer lifespans than humans, and demons live even longer than vampires. As I was sired by a demon, I have bore witness to the passing of centuries, but the downside to this is that being half-demon means I have no soul to call my own.

It is for this reason I am in need of a heartkeeper, and for reasons known only to fate, you have been born to this world to share your soul with me.

No person can be physically coerced into being a heartkeeper. It must be a union freely entered into by both entities, and it is one that is meant to last for eternity. It is also a ritual as old as time, over which no human laws hold sway.

If you say yes to being my heartkeeper, you will live for as long as I do, and though you will not possess the same powers that I am born to, heartkeeping will forbid me to feed you words of outright dishonesty. Moreover, you shall also be the one person in this world that I can never physically raise a hand against.

All of this sums up my entire knowledge of heartkeeping. I wish there was more I can share with you, but most ancient texts containing sacred knowledge of heartkeeping have long been burned by demons. It is in Hell's interests that the rituals of heartkeeping be buried in history, for without it half-demons such as I eventually succumb to the mad, inextinguishable lure to do evil.

I know it is much to ask, but you are my only hope. If you consent to being my heartkeeper, I give you my vow to cherish and protect you, and whatever you desire that I have in my power to grant, you shall have.

I know your mother's treatment has left you with invisible scars that have yet to heal. Her insistence that you call her by her name, for instance, makes you feel that you have no place to belong to, no person to claim as yours. Be my heartkeeper, and I am yours to command... forever.

And so I end this letter in a similar way as you did yours. With all the knowledge you possess now, do you still wish to be my heartkeeper?

Yours to command,

A vampire from the kingdom of Chalys

Dear Sir,

As I am not in the habit of prevaricating, I would like to thank you for the forthright manner in which you answered my letter, and I further take this opportunity to confirm my assent to your proposal.

If you would still have me, I shall be honored to be your heartkeeper and from hereon swear to devote my life in performing my duties to the best of my abilities.

Sincerely,

Rhapsody

Milady,

I write with gratitude for your willing and voluntary consent to becoming my heartkeeper. And if there comes a time you find yourself troubled by any matter concerning our union, you only have to ask.

Yours,

A vampire from the kingdom of Chalys

Dear Sir,

I cannot think of any questions I wish to ask at this moment. But as I have only recently begun my lessons under Sir Isaac, perhaps this is due to change eventually. I beg in advance for your permission to continue speaking my mind freely if this so happens.

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

You may ask whatever and whenever you wish, and be assured that my position on this matter shall never change.

Waiting avidly for your reply,

A vampire from the kingdom of Chalys

P.S. May I hope you return my sentiments on this matter?

Dear Sir,

It would be my pleasure to answer any question you have, even though it behooves me to think of anything about myself that someone like you would find interesting.

Your confused heartkeeper,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

On the contrary, there is no one in this world that I find as interesting as you, and before you dismiss these words as empty flattery, do be reminded that heartkeeping bids me to only speak the truth where you are concerned.

That being said, let us turn our attention to one matter I confess to puzzling over for quite some time. How is it that your manner of speech is considerably more formal for one of your age?

Yours,

A vampire from the kingdom of Chalys

Dear Sir,

There is no great mystery behind my rather formal manner of speaking (or writing, as it were in this case).

Due to the nature of Bethany's employment, I was frequently subjected to bullying in the last school I attended. They believed I would follow in her footsteps, so to speak. I was disinclined to prove them right and sought to be the opposite of their expectations by volunteering at a nearby convent.

The first few weeks, I performed an assortment of routine household chores, helping the nuns in the kitchen and doing gardening. After a while, however, the Mother Superior asked if I would like to sit in for lessons with the novices. It is how I ended up learning Latin and, I must confess, sir - there was a time I seriously considered joining the order.

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

And so it must bear repeating: you are, indeed, the most interesting creature I have the pleasure of meeting. The possibility of my heartkeeper being someone else's bride had naturally crossed my mind, but never did it occur to me that my rival would be none other than Jesus Christ himself.

Yours,

An incredulous but amused vampire from Chalys

Dear Sir,

Happy Easter.

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

I apologize for not having written for weeks. I hope you enjoyed your first Easter weekend in the island. Sir Isaac assured me that it is a holiday celebrated with much fanfare by the locals.

Moreso, thank you for the greeting. It is rare for you to write to me with neither purpose nor objective. If you would allow me to hazard a guess, mayhaps the idea of writing such a letter is not entirely your idea?

Sincerely,

A vampire from Chalys

Dear Sir,

Mr. Booth says I must practice expressing my affection. Do you reckon I succeeded?

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

While I wish to always take your side on all matters, heartkeeping also forbids me to speak any untruth.

Yours,

A vampire from Chalys

Dear Sir,

It did not escape my notice that you did not actually answer my question.

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

That in itself is already an answer.

Yours,

A vampire from Chalys

Dear Sir,

Point taken.

Yours,

Rhapsody

DEAR RHAPSODY,

A happy seventeenth birthday to you, milady. I hope you like the gift I have sent along with this letter. If there is anything else you wish for, you only have to let me know.

Sincerely,

A vampire from Chalys

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your gift. Something such as The Idiot's Guide to Manners is exactly what I was hoping for but could not make myself ask.

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

If you were any other girl, milady, I would have thought you sarcastic.

Yours,

A vampire from Chalys

Dear Sir,

I am afraid the art of sarcasm still eludes me.

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Sir,

It has been sometime since your last letter. I hope all is well with you.

Yours,

Rhapsody

Dear Rhapsody,

I beg milady's forgiveness for causing you undue worry.

Demons from Sulphur have been doing their damnedest to stir up trouble in our land, and much had to be done to remind them that their presence remains unwelcome in Brimstone.

I write also to let you know that I have just received your gift, which was indeed the surprise you intended it to be. I have long considered myself too old to celebrate birthdays, but if it is your wish to commemorate this occasion, then it shall be so.

On another note, Sir Isaac informs me that you have moved on to the next phase of your studies. This means you have begun training for your duties as both my heartkeeper...and pet.

While I'm certain the reference materials your guardian has provided are more than sufficient in explaining the rudiments of the latter, pray allow me this chance to address the matter with my own words.

To become my pet means you will be providing me with your blood whenever I am in need of it. While you are obliged to call me Master in public, it is entirely your choice if you wish to continue doing so in our private communications.

Some Masters are willing to share their pets with other vampires. This, however, is not something that will ever be expected of you. I shall be your only Master, and in return you alone shall be my pet. It is also very likely the only role you'll officially play in my life. While it would have been my greatest pleasure to acknowledge you as my heartkeeper, to do so shall only place a target on your head and put you in unnecessary danger.

I know it is not an ideal arrangement, but I give you my word that I only have your best interests in mind.

Yours to command,

A remorseful future Master

Dear Sir,

You do not owe me an explanation. I trust you.

Sincerely,

A girl who already thinks of you as her Master

P.S. Would you prefer I close my future letters as your pet?

Dear Rhapsody,

Indeed, I should have known you expected neither an apology nor an explanation.

Yours,

A vampire who remains impressed with your brevity

P.S. 'Your pet' does rather have a nice ring to it. Do proceed with signing your letters as such if it pleases you.

Dear Master,

Is it true that you are planning to send me to a training school for pets?

Sincerely,

An unconvinced pet

Dear Rhapsody,

You are correct.

Yours ,

A Master who always has your best interests at heart

Dear Master,

I am not happy about this, but I trust in your judgment.

Sincerely,

A resigned pet

Dear Rhapsody,

By the time you are reading this letter, I expect you and Sir Isaac are already en route to your school and future home for the next few years.

I own a property not far from La Scala Legaturia, and your guardian shall move there for the duration of your schooling. Hopefully, the knowledge that Sir Isaac is within driving distance shall help put your mind at ease about this new chapter in your life.

Yours to command,

A Master who hopes for his pet's understanding

Dear Rhapsody,

I hope milady receives this letter in good health. It has been a while since you last wrote. Pray spare your Master a moment of your time and let him know how you fare.

Sincerely,

A Master who wonders if he still has a pet to call his own

Dear Master,

I shall not lie. I am still unhappy at being forced out of the island to board in this school.

However, it also is not right that my deliberate neglect in writing you letters has made you miss me. I do apologize for that, and I shall make up for this inexcusable wrongdoing by writing to you every day.

Pray let me know if this is sufficient. I may also write to you twice a day or even thrice a day if you so will.

Sincerely,

A pet who is once again devoted to her Master

Dear Rhapsody,

You are truly a pet beyond compare, and while your offer to write to me daily moves me so, I would be a selfish Master if I were to take so much of your time. All I desire is that you do not subject me to the same torment; although Sir Isaac does not neglect to keep me apprised of your activities, it is quite different when it is milady herself who sends me letters.

Sincerely,

A Master who is yours to command

Dear Master,

I apologize for disrupting our regular schedule for correspondence. I thought you should know that I have recently been accused of murder.

Sincerely,

Your pet

Milady:

While I have always found the brevity of your letters charming in its own way, it is entirely and woefully insufficient to simply write - and I quote - I thought you should know that I have recently been accused of murder.

Pray speak more on this matter or your Master shall assume the worst.

Sincerely,

An extremely troubled vampire

Dear Master,

Consider me duly chastened, and I give you my word not to make the same mistake again. The details are as follows:

A man has been found in the forest just outside the walls of our school. The victim had one side of his neck ripped apart, with visible markings of what appeared to be human bites.

Sincerely,

Your pet

Dear Rhapsody,

Just when I think there is nothing you can do to surprise your Master, you prove me wonderfully wrong.

When I say that I wish for more details, it is not of the murder which I speak of. I wish to know how you, my heartkeeper, are faring.

Sincerely,

A still-worried vampire

Dear Master,

I am not troubled. I did not do it.

Sincerely,

Your pet

Dear Rhapsody,

I should have known that is all you have to say about it.

Sincerely,

A Master who has forgotten your talent for brevity

Dear Master,

I once again apologize for disrupting our regular schedule for correspondence. I write to inform you that Lady Zari has succeeded in clearing my name of murder.

Sincerely,

Your pet

Dear Rhapsody,

Do inform your friend that she only has to ask for any reward she so wishes, and if it is within my power to grant, then it shall be done.

Sincerely,

Your Master

Dear Master,

It appears that Lady Zari wishes to transfer to another school, but she is worried that her Master, Lord Alexandru Gheorgiu, might not give her permission to do so. Would you be able to do something about this?

Sincerely,

A pet who believes her Master is as all-powerful as he says he is

Dear Rhapsody,

It was originally my plan to keep my identity a secret for as long as possible and reveal it only when necessary. But to continue doing so would prohibit me from fully keeping my word to your friend, and that is something I do not believe my pet shall look kindly on.

Enclosed with this letter are several documents for Lady Zari. One is from a school based here in Chalys, which is ready to welcome her as a student if she so wishes. The second is a note I have personally penned for your friend, and which you have my blessing to read. Indeed, by doing so you shall be consequently informed of the truth of my identity, which I hope you will not find undesirable in any way.

Sincerely,

Your concerned Master

To Sir Isaac

Knight of Sangre

Has my heartkeeper confided to you of any troubles lately? She has been noticeably withdrawn in our last few exchanges, more so than her usual.

Sincerely,

Lord Mihail Gheorgiu

Marquis of Sangre

To His Lordship

Marquis of Sangre

I have reached out to milady as soon as I received his lordship's letter, and it is with the deepest regrets that I must say we have an unfortunate situation.

Milady has apparently been harboring certain misassumptions about his lordship for some years. She appears to have been under the impression all this time that his lordship's physical countenance and, er, interests would be commensurate with what is normally expected from one who's had lived for centuries. To further elaborate, milord, her ladyship has assumed that your age would leave you disinterested in engaging in activities that are physical in nature. Instead, she believed that her primary responsibility as both pet and heartkeeper would be to provide his lordship with a healthy supply of high-quality blood through intravenous means.

Pray command me as you will on this matter, milord, and until then I remain your humble and loyal servant,

Sir Isaac Booth

To Sir Isaac Booth

Knight of Sangre

Correct me if I am wrong with this, Booth.

Are you saying Rhapsody believed she had been exchanging letters with a wrinkly old man all these years, and that being my heartkeeper was simply being on call for blood transfusions?

And now that she knows none of those is true, and that she has ample reason to assume my dick is still in working order, this is what has made my heartkeeper suddenly cold towards me?

Mihail

To His Lordship

Marquis of Sangre

I'm afraid that is entirely correct, milord.

Respectfully,

Sir Isaac Booth

To Sir Isaac Booth

Knight of Sangre

FUCK.