As he pushed the huge doors open, the image of somewhat dark room came to view, the hall was dim the chandelier was off, and torches were all blown out, only the scented candles on the pillars that gave light, as he took a step in he was surprised as the hall was empty and quiet, he turned towards martin who had a smile playing on his face, Strahd frowned a little
"You said earlier on, that they all awa...." His sixth sense noticed someone flying towards him, as he turned towards the direction, someone with super human speed rammed into him and slammed him on the wall
"You're back, I missed you so much" a little boy of about twelve smiled at him sniffing a little, he has red hair and pale white skin, with freckles on his face
"You missed me much enough to kill me, ow, he groaned holding his back, trying to free himself from the tight embrace, he looked around, they're still here, he told Martin, he felt them, but he just couldn't locate them, where is everyone?" He asked his cousin, Hercule
"Way to ruin our surprise Hercule, you just couldn't wait could you?" Roman vicar, strahd's father said floating towards them, a handsome man of three hundred years, his long legs were stuck out in front of his long robe ending in a well polished dark sandals. He gave his son a warm, welcoming smile, a smile that showed all the affection in his dead heart, knowing that his son is back to him.
The torches and chandelier suddenly lighted up the hall and soon shadows began to fill the hall, everyone was staring at Strahd some of the expressing their delight over his safe return, he just stood still in their midst, the chandelier above his head made his skin golden, looking like a viking warrior who had just returned from a conquered war.
Sadly it was not that way to him, to him it seemed like he had returned from the pit of hades...
----- three years ago -------
I remembered it like it was yesterday, when Gilchrist, roughly dragged us both out of the dirty dungeons, both our arms and feet were bound with huge chains, as we were dragged out in front of the court hall, my ruthless grandfather sat high in his cloak on the royal stool, my father sat beside him as the coven head, his head bowed in shame and disappointment.
"Hush, Urado's loud voice echoed and the hall became quiet, Tonight, this family coven and different clans gather to bear witness to the punishment of a royalty, my grandson Strahd and Raven or as he likes to put it, his girlfriend, we would start with Raven", she was trembling, I could feel it, her body was shaking from the starving and torturing we had passed through in the cells
he cleared his throat and continued, "for condescending so low to assault a pregnant woman who was due eight months and killing her and her unborn baby, and that wasn't enough for you, you had to burn her body to cover your evil act, am ashamed of you, you give us a bad name, that is so despicable and barbaric of you. All because she did not want to sell you her horse to ride back. "As you can see, he spoke to the crowd, we do not condone and permit that type of treatment to humans, not alone the pregnant ones, as you all know we have had breaches this few days and there are werewolves lurking around our universe searching for a hole to penetrate through, and we also have some traitors in our midst, he said and looked around, yes, and there are also those worthless government authorities looking for where we live, we can't go around behaving like this"...
"And my grandson here, Strahd vicar, I could detect the disappointment in his voice, he loved you so much and was willing to help you escape, even to his own detriment, He knew in seven hells he could never outrun my hunters and gladiators, yet he risked his life to let you escape, killing one of my warriors in the process.
"Strahd Optimus vicar, for killing Gilly, and betraying your clan by masterminding the escape of a murderer, I withdraw your royalty from you and banish you from the realm of the vampires"
There was a loud scream and murmur from the crowd, my throat went dry instantly, he rose his hand and everywhere became calm, "Raven Abdell, for taking the life of two mortal beings and killing three of my gladiators, I sentence you to twenty lashes of the whip and death by the rack"
My dead heart began pumping, I looked at Raven, balls of sweat began forming on her temple as her eyes glittered with tears, I looked at my dad
"Please don't let him do this......"
.
.
Looking at the different family clans and coven standing before him, he was sure he was the eagerly awaited guest, but his mind was numb, he had been waiting to hear someone's voice through the chattering, that cold deep voice.
Immediately his presence was felt and silence took over the hall, there he was standing on the altar that was usually meant for passing out judgment. He gulped and began making his way forward like he was being controlled remotely, they stared at Strahd with awe Ashe walked pass them. He stopped in front of him, then lowered himself with humility.
"he who commands the earth, the greatest nobility, his lordship, Urado vicar, I'm home, back from the world of the mortals"
He rose his face and it fell on the man, whose race was wrecked with violence, his eyebrows cocked like he has seen something unpleasant, his mouth that only spoke words that were brutal, shaped into a half smile, he looked down at Strahd and raised him to his feet, keeping him at arms length, the hall was as silent as the sea, everyone watching the scene, Urado cleared his throat and spoke
"Stop with all the formalities, call me grandfather, or am I not that to you any longer?"
Strahd shook as me felt Urado's hands on him"o..of course, yo...you are" he replied shakingly
He placed his hands on strahd's shoulder facing the crowd "Everyone welcome back my grandson, then he turned to him, welcome back Strahd vicar"
------- At dinner that night ------
Later that night, we had half cooked pork, we all sat down as we waited for grandfather to dismiss the other guest, Strahd had a look at the dinning room, it hadn't changed a bit since he left, the dinning rules was still the same, Urado had always insisted that no matter what happens family should always eat together, that it would enhance our bond. The table was large enough to fit thirty people which was the number of our family, extended relatives included, plates, platters and bowls were rammed end to end down the long wooden surface, the huge bowl at the middle contained undoubtedly the blood of their recent catch, each plate contained a medium slice of half cooked pork, his favorite staring at it his stomach began to rumble.
The door closed and Urado and father came in, silence fell on the once noisy dining,
"Shall we?" He said as he gestured everyone to sit
Roman and Urado sat at the two far heads of the table, while the rest of us sat opposite facing each other, we sat in the order of age from the third oldest my uncle Edgardo, to our witch Angelica...then the rest of them whose names i forgot or choose not to remember down to the youngest Hercule,
Angelica's voice was heard" as we are prepared to have our meal, shall we take seconds to honour it" everyone bowed their head and recited our short grace in unison, then we began to eat
Fangs out everyone began devouring and glowering with nervous hands as Urado had his eyes out examining everyone critically ready to disapprove anyone who disobey the table rules. Opposite me sat Beatrice then, Gwen before Hercule, Gwen was a sister to Hercule and Beatrice their mother.
Funny how we had three females in our large family coven, that was Gwen, Beatrice and Angelica . Grandfather was pleased with it though, he said males were mostly the warriors.
Beside me Hercule was struggling with his little remaining piece of pork, his shirt stained with blood like he just had a blood bathe,
"Hey, Strahd tilted close to him, hand it over to me, let me slice in bits for you"
he swung the bloodied meat to him "hand it over back" grandfather's cold voice was heard from the end of the table
"B...but he can't chew it, it's hard for him"
"He's a boy, he's a boy, he said in loud, clear tone, fixing cold eyes on Strahd, that's what his fangs are meant for" he said
Strahd returned the pork and Hercule continued effortlessly chewing, then with a huge bite, he chewed and swallowed the meat
"Am done" he said smiling triumphantly, revealing his little fangs, then he drained his cup and burped loudly
"Hey, Martin whispered, manners"
"Sorry" Hercule apologized then proceeded to lick his thumbs
Strahd laughed lightly, this was it, he was finally at home.