I smiled at his words, completely not believing that he had no set path for his eternal life. But then again, I didn't really have too many requirements for my life either… it was more along the lines of 'please let me keep my head this week' type of thing.
So maybe we both need to stop and smell the roses every so often.
I closed my eyes and turned around to the man that represented my one safe haven. "So, how long are you going to play bodyguard for?" I asked him, a smile on my face.
"Just until we manage to find Pandora and her army," he replied.
"Well, it looks like we are going to be together for a while then," I laughed as I continued to explore my new place.
"I'm sure that we will get along just fine," he said with a smile of his own.
---
A beautiful, black Audi pulled up in front of one of the few remaining Gothic mansions left in New York State. Its greyish stone walls reflected the light while its stained-glass windows were an absolute marvel to behold. This was one of those places that just called to you, inviting you to explore its mysteries.
A thin man hurried around from the driver's side to the back of the car and quickly opened the door. Holding out his hand, a white glove gently grasped it. A white-clad boot found footing on the road before quickly being followed by it mate. The pristine white skirts that quickly covered the boots were next to follow as a stunning woman wearing a white wide-brimmed hat carefully stepped out of the vehicle.
"Thank you, George," the woman said in a husky voice. Anyone that heard it would be immediately entranced by it. Carefully settling her skirts around her and adjusting her long gloves, the woman stared up at the walkway leading to the mansion in front of her. "It seems that some things never change," she chuckled to herself and started her climb up to the front door.
George quickly closed the door after her and rushed to catch up. When the two finally reached the door, he quickly knocked on it and then stepped to the side.
"Yes?" Came a voice from inside, the door opening no more than a crack.
"Hello," said the woman in her most charming voice, "I would like to speak to Vladimir Vampir if that is possible," she continued.
"He is not seeing guests," came the snarled reply. George quickly moved in to prevent him from being able to close the door.
"I am sure that he would love to see me," the woman continued as if the door was not meant to shut in her face. "Do tell him that I have a cure for his little… curse."
This time when the door was shut, George did not make a move. The two of them stood there until a few minutes later, the door opened again, this time wide enough to let them in. "Follow me," said a man as he led the way for the woman and George. The butler was wearing a formal uniform of a three-piece tuxedo jacket and pants, the coattails moved back and forth with every step that he took. His blood-red vest was offset by the white shirt and silver cravat.
He continued to lead them down winding halls and up towers of stairs until they reached a landing with a single hallway coming from it. Knocking on the only door on the floor, the butler waited until the man on the other side granted him entrance. Opening the door, he stepped aside and allowed the two visitors to enter.
As soon as they stepped over the threshold, the butler closed the door behind them and continued on with his work.
The room itself was dark and damp with the only light source being a single candle on the far side of the room. Not bothering to wait until her eyes adjusted, the woman walked towards the four-poster bed and sat down in the chair beside it. George quickly opened the curtains that were blocking the view from inside the bed to the rest of the room, ignoring the hissing that accompanied his sudden movements.
"I see the years have not been too kind to you, Vlad," said the woman as she looked down at what could only be a flesh-covered skeleton on the bed. Gone was the flirty behavior and the sunny smile and in its place was a …thing… almost white in color, laying in the center of the bed. Moving his head to look at the woman beside him, Vlad let out another hiss, this time sounding like a dying cat that was trying to ward off predators.
The woman chuckled at his response, not at all intimidated. "I was not planning on introducing myself to you, after all, it has been a few centuries since we last met… I don't expect you to remember me," she said as she removed one glove and then another. "But it seems that my darling daughter has finally learned how to curse someone… and an oath breaker curse at that."
Vlad just looked at the woman, unable to do anything more than that.
"Would you like me to break it for you? The curse that is," she said, looking at the vampire that she once thought of as a son.
Once again, a half-hearted hiss was his only response.
"Oh, Sweetheart, having your body devour itself from the inside out must be so uncomfortable. You must want a bit of revenge against my darling daughter… don't you?" Pandora purred as she leaned closer to the starved vampire in front of her.
"You help me and I will help you, what do you say?"
He looked deep into Pandora's eyes as he hissed again, this time trying to raise his lip in a snarl.
"Glad we could come to an agreement. Now, about this curse," said Pandora, removing her hat and starting to get to work.