Chapter 2

In the library Tyler simply sat by while Sammy studied. Today his tutor was a Dr. Burbage, a worldly, and highly recognized historian as the staff had snidely informed him. All through the lesson Tyler pretended to read.

He held his tongue as they went over a twisted version of vampire and human relations.

"Raid of final Sekoran colony under vampiric hold?" Burbage asked.

"Thirteen eighty," Sammy answered.

"And this capture in particular was so significant--"

"As it marked the slaying of Filze, often nicknamed the Feral Night Hound. Enabling the Heiling Kingdom to win the hearts and minds of unprecedented numbers in neighboring regions and outer villages."

"Battle of Hadrien Base and significance?"

"Turn of the last century, fourteen hundred. When the Heiling kingdom along with it's allies drove out the last of General Eduny's forces from it's strongholds," he summarized.

It went on like that the humans as faultless, courageous heroes never cowered as victims versus monsters. Nowhere did it mention how children of his kind were driven into hiding, just how one-sided vampire-human wars had been in the Heil Raisers' favor, nor the mention of the two species interbreeding. Though, that may be a mercy to the humans who did.

By the end Tyler was feeling particularly hateful. Yet he remembered his place and position, which did not include denouncing and demanding from royals. Not a single, solitary thing. On top of that his friend was ignorant more than anything. Like most human ilk across the nations, of this human hailing land so vast.

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An hour later, Sammy stood at the front gate out of his home. For so long it had seemed a force of nature kept him far from even the area. The one place where his countenance was one of fear... and dare he say, cowardice. Now with his, albeit, unexpected protector Sammy could find an equal measure of excitement at the idea of the outside.

A smile spread across the royal's face at the first scent of sweet bread. Beyond the castle's walls was a bustling square.

Stores had their wares on windowsills to enchant a customer's senses. Just as many did businesses off the backs of their carts or through their hands as performers.