Meanwhile, in Transylvania, at the castle of the Clan of the Old Order...
The Clan of the Old Order is the ruling vampire clan that oversees many of the allied clans throughout several of the Balkan and Slavik countries in eastern Europe including Transylvania, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, and Serbia.
Not only does this prestigious clan consist of many of the royal family lines from the vampire community, but it also consists of the Council of the Immortal Ones, which is comprised of several existing members of the original vampire families.
As far as the clan's hierarchy is concerned, with the Council of the Immortal Ones standing at the pinnacle, ranking just below them would be the Matriarch of the Clan of the Old Order, Countess Esmeralda Ardelean, who is deemed as the ruling matriarch of all the vampire clans falling under the Clan of the Old Order's jurisdiction.
This is actually an appointed possession that is held for two hundred years; and when that term comes to an end, it is left up to the current ruling matriarch to appoint her successor.
Countess Ardelean has about twenty-seven years left to rule; and herein lies one of the major problems facing the clan at this time ... and the main reason why the countess had to send her grandniece away. Because of her nephew's values, disposition, and political views, which coincides with her own ... and after considering how he would probably raise Katarina to be the same way ... Countess Esmeralda had decided that Katarina would most likely be her choice as her successor. The problem is that Katarina happens to be a dampyr.
With the demon situation being as it is, several of the supernatural races have decided to crossbreed races to create hybrids in hopes of creating stronger members to fight off the growing demon infestation in the human world ... which by the way most of the human population has no idea is occurring ... with the intent of having the offspring carry the unique traits of each race.
Countess Ardelean convinced her nephew to procreate with a witch in hopes of having a powerful child with both vampire powers and the ability to use magic. Unfortunately, for some reason, the mixing of the vampire and witch races doesn't always take effect the way they plan, and Katarina, so far, doesn't show any magical ability whatsoever; although it's possible that it is latent and can manifest sometime in the future. This is what the countess is praying for now; but there's no guarantee of this ... and it's more than highly unlikely that it will.
On top of that, because no magical ability was transferred, Katarina only received the witch's human-type genes, thus diluting and weakening her vampire traits ... making her, in the eyes of most in the clan, a lowly dampyr.
Despite that, Countess Ardelean is still considering Katarina to be her successor, even if she never does receive any magical ability. Of course, most of the vampire community, especially the Immortal Ones, would never accept a 'lowly dampyr' as their matriarch. And the biggest opponent of this is Princess Vodrak.
Princess Analiese Vodrak is without a doubt one of the most ... some may argue the most ... powerful and feared members on the Council of the Immortal Ones, despite her diminutive stature and the fact that she remains in an eternal state of that of a nine-year-old little girl. Truth be told, no one is sure of her exact age; however, it's common belief that she has existed up to two or three centuries before the formation of the Ottoman Empire ... ascending from one of the original royal vampire families which began their ancestral line somewhere around the Hungary region.
Although it's true that she's quite small-framed ... some may say she even looks a tad on the frail side ... in reality, Princess Analiese Vodrak possesses incredibly powerful physical strength and prowess; while also emanating an extremely menacing, dark aura which tends to distract others from focusing on her petite build.
At first glance, she appears somewhat like a little China doll ... that is if one can manage to overlook that ominous aura of hers ... with a nearly porcelain-like alabaster skin tone with not a single blemish on her body; and possessing shimmering golden blonde hair that elegantly flows down to the middle of her back.
But all those aesthetic, physical attributes are soon negated once one looks upon the most frightening aspect of her appearance ... her shark-like eyes. Virtually jet black in color, yet lacking any luster whatsoever, and seemingly dead-looking, like a creepy doll's eyes. Eyes lacking any sign of emotion ... especially fear or mercy.
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A livid Countess Ardelean is rapidly descending the only stairwell leading down to the catacombs lying deep beneath the castle, which is where the Council of the Immortal Ones reside; this being the best strategical location to protect the members of the council from exposure to the daily sun's rays and any political assassination attempts. She is closely followed by Dragmire Ezdemir, her chief consulate, and Andreas Munteanu, a secondary adjunct advisor on 'permanent loan' from Bulgaria.
Using a private mind-link to telepathically communicate directly with Dragmire, Andreas wonders, "Why do you suppose Countess Ardelean wants to see that little demon all of a sudden? I have a feeling that this isn't going to end well."
Dragmire mind-links back, "I have no idea. But you're right about one thing; whatever her reason is, it probably won't end well. ... Oh, and a word of advice, in the future, I'd be careful and make sure to refrain from using the term 'little demon' around the castle considering the current state of affairs with the actual demons."
Andreas mind-links back, "Got it. Duly noted."
A crooked little smile emerges upon Dragmire's visage as he mind-links back, "And I especially wouldn't call Princess Vodrak that ... unless of course you have a death wish."
Andreas emphatically mind-links back, "Double duly noted."
They finally reach the level of the catacombs where the princess's chamber is located, and the countess travels down the dimly lit long, narrow corridor at a hurried pace; with Dragmire and Andereas struggling just to keep up with the agitated matriarch. Through heavy breaths, Dragmire calls out...
"Please ... a moment if I may, Countess Ardelean."
The countess comes to an abrupt halt and quickly spins around. She speaks in ... an uncommon for her usually genteel disposition ... a seemingly annoyed and impatient tone...
"What is it, Dragmire? Can't you see I'm in a hurry here; what's so important that you need to hold me up?"
Dragmire takes a brief moment to catch his breath before replying...
"My apologies, Countess Ardelean; please forgive me. I don't mean to hold you up, but I'm just concerned."
"Concerned about what?"
"Well, it's just ... I know that I have no idea what has happened between you and the princess that has caused this sudden visit; but whatever it is, you appear to be a bit out of sorts and highly irritated. So, I was just thinking..."
Dragmire becomes momentary silent as he glances down to the floor. An impatient Countess Ardelean wants to get moving, so she curtly blurts out...
"I haven't got all day, Dragmire; I need to speak to Princess Vodrak, now. So just spit it out; what?"
Dragmire hesitantly tells her in a sheepish manner, "I was thinking ... in your current state ... do you think it wise to speak with her right at this moment? I mean ... do you really want to 'poke the bear'?"
Countess Ardelean huffs, "'Poke the bear'? No, I don't want to 'poke the bear' ... I want to kill that bear, skin it, and use its pelt as a throw rug in front of my fireplace!"
And with having said that, the countess quickly spins around and continues rushing down the corridor; with both Dragmire and Andreas warily following behind with a surmounting trepidation over what's about to happen overcoming them.
As they come upon the princess's chamber's doors, two hulking, vampire-werewolf hybrid sentinels who were standing at each side immediately step in closer to one another and cross the glaives they're armed with out in front of them to block the doors. One of them gruffly speaks out in a commanding tone...
"Halt. Princess Vodrak wishes not to be disturbed at this time. Go away and come back later. These are her orders. So, leave."
Andreas immediately mind-links to Dragmire, "Oh shit; here we go."
Dragmire mind-links back, "This is exactly what I was afraid of."
With a stoically stern expression etched upon her visage, the countess glares at the sentinel who boldly dared to speak to her in that manner...
"I understand that you're just doing your job ... but I want you to look directly at my face now, and tell me ... who am I?"
Suddenly, that once stalwart persona quickly dissipates in a fleeting moment and is instantly replaced with a meek one. A submissively fearful visage appears, and the sentinel sheepishly utters...
"You are ... the Matriarch of the Clan of the Old Order, my lady."
"Good. I'm glad to see that you finally recognize me and know who I am."
The sentinel responds in the same sheepish manner, "Yes, my lady."
"Now then; step aside."
They immediately retract their glaives and step back to their original positions beside each door.
Countess Ardelean then unceremoniously bursts into Princess Vodrak's chamber, angrily shouting at the top of her lungs...
"What do you think you're doing, you little bitch!"