My whole body was on overdrive. I had to keep my hands clenched together just to keep them from shaking. My knees were knocking together. I couldn’t stop chewing my bottom lip. Every part of me felt like it was twitching madly.
It was a week after my seventeenth-nope, wait, sorry, sixteenth (keep forgetting I won’t be going by the Asian counting system anymore)-birthday. I had learned everything there was to know about vampires and magic and everything else I never knew existed. It took a long time, it seemed, but I had done it. And now it was time for me to return home.
Safe to say I was freaking out.
Everything was set. Taehyung and Mai would be going with me and my adoptive parents would be staying here to keep Seoul safe from whatever mystical beings still existed, which was quite a lot, I found out. I was sad to be leaving them, and yet I knew it was what had to happen. I was grateful for everything they had done for me. However, I still felt like this wouldn’t be the last time I saw them. After all, vampires can live for centuries. And even then, they can use their knowledge of magic to travel between eras. The odds that I wouldn’t see them again were slim to none.
And yet, I was still freaking out.
So there I stood, between Taehyung and Mai; dressed in knee-high, heeled black boots with buckled at the top, black pants with the legs tucked in to my boots, a white collared dress shirt with no buttons, tucked into my pants, with midnight blue and auburn cuff links, a black cloth sash around my waist, and a long, black, hooded cloak fastened around my shoulders by a gem the same colour as the cuff links at my wrists; and trembling like I had hypothermia. Also, my slightly wild hair had been tamed and pushed back somewhat so that the only part of hair that was in my face was my small fold of bangs that liked to hang over my right temple. However, the ends still liked to flip upwards so my hair still looked slightly wind-tossed and feathery. I felt like Dracula as a teenager on speed. Then, I felt a familiar hand slip into mine.
I looked to my left. Mai was looking at me reassuringly. She wasn’t smiling. Just looking at me. I found that she had a way of doing that; conveying a message or her feelings only with the look in her eyes. It was a comforting quality of hers that I had really taken a liking to. Later on, I had realized that this was the same thing that she had done when she and Taehyung had saved me. It must have been some natural, motherly quality that she had. I had only known her for two weeks and she already felt like an older sister to me, even though she was about two or three inches shorter than me. She was two and a half years older than me; almost nineteen. Her long, black hair fell like silk around her face and shoulders. She really did look like part vampire, part hunter with her pale skin, shining black eyes and combat-ready attire. She squeezed my hand and I squeezed back, already feeling better.
Then I felt Taehyung’s hand on my right shoulder. I looked over to see him with his signature confident, yet smug, grin on his face. He nodded at me. He was more like my best friend than a brother. He was rowdy and rambunctious most of the times, but when it came to the mystical world he was all business. He was only a few months older than me. His chocolate-brown-dyed hair laid flat on his head and fell down over his eyes. He was both scrawny and built at the same time. He almost looked like a Korean version of Hannibal King from Blade Trinity. I found that interesting. With the two of them comforting me, my anxiety faded away completely.
The three of us and my parents were standing in the backyard of the mansion. “Are you ready?” my dad asked me. I nodded.
He turned to my mom and nodded at her. They faced each other and raised their hands. They started chanting some spell in Latin and the wind picked up around us. A ball of white, red, and black light formed between them then burst into a dark-looking portal that swirled like a vortex.
My parents nodded at Mai and Taehyung.
“You guys know what to do!” my dad shouted. “Hurry up and go!”
With no hesitation, the three of us raced forward and through the swirling vortex and into the unknown…
London was dark, mystical, and beautiful. It was exotic and supernatural and every other big word I’ve used so far. It was like places I had only dreamed of. There were artistically crafted buildings spread as far as the eye could see, like something out of a history text book. There were dark, brick roads and old-fashioned street lamps that had to be lit one by one by hand each evening. The air was alive with different scents and auras, some familiar and some that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. There were street markets and vendors and merchants selling fresh fruits and vegetables, spices that stimulated the senses, and intriguing and curious items and antiques. It was everything I could have ever dreamed of in a fantasy world. And there, far off on the horizon, was the largest castle I had ever seen. Its architecture was exquisite and sophisticated. Tall towers rose and stretched to touch and scrape at the clear blue sky. Stained glass windows gleamed in the sunlight in the distance. It was unfathomably large and most likely had even more parts to it that what was visible from where I stood. Archways, roofing tiles, and carvings; everything was so old-fashioned and gothic looking, not like a church or cathedral, but simply like an old, ancient palace. It was a grand and proud looking structure. And perched on the highest point of the castle was a large statue of a nightingale bird. It was like I had fallen through a manga version of a history textbook into the past. I found myself holding back tears.
“Welcome home, Prince Kalin,” I heard Taehyung say.
I would remember those words for the rest of my new life.
I felt Mai tug on my hand. “Come on. We still have to get you into the palace. Put your hood up too.”
It took us the better part of an hour or so (at least, I think) to get to the front gate of the palace. The front gate was huge and made of iron and bore what I assumed to be my family’s crest. It was a silver shield with a blue and golden-yellow nightingale bird flying up towards the moon while holding a rainbow rose. Honestly? I never knew there were actually rainbow roses. Look them up. They actually exist. Although, I think they’re artificially coloured…Anyway, there were two guards standing on either side of the gate. They were big but not overly built. One had stubble on his chin. They stopped us at the gate.
“Please state your business within Palace Nightingale,” one demanded. It was a good thing I knew English.
“Palace Nightingale”. That sent chills up my spine.
“We seek an audience with the Royal Family,” Mai said.
“Oh?” said the other guard. “Why so?”
“About a lost prince of the Nightingale bloodline,” Taehyung answered.
The two guards looked at each other and laughed.
“Oh yeah? Is that who he’s supposed to be?” the first snickered. “Prove it.”
Suddenly, my hood was whipped off and I looked up to meet the guards’ eyes. They recoiled and blanched. I got the feeling that most of the Nightingale Clan looked like me.
“Uh, y-yes,” the second guard stuttered. “Luke, would you be so kind as to show these kind people into the palace?”
“M-my pleasure. Right this way.”
And so the gates were opened and the guard called Luke led us in. The palace looked even more intriguing and humongous up close. I would have counted to see how long it took us to reach our destination, however I was too busy admiring the inside of the palace to pay attention. The inside was well lit by both sunlight and lamplight. One other thing I learned about vampires was that they weren’t as insusceptible to sunlight as people thought they were. Sure, they burned easier than humans, but it wasn’t like they would be killed instantly by it. Golden and navy blue tapestries hung from every window and wall, the Nightingale crest sewn into their fabric. Some of the walls were white, some were a light blue, and some were a yellowish golden-brown. There were pictures, paintings, and other works of art strewn out through the palace, some of distinguished figures, some of beautiful landscapes, and others of simpler themes yet still pleasant to the eye. The place was lined with exquisite windows and large balconies and clear, incredible courtyard views. We even passed a set of windows that overlooked a large garden filled with a wide variety of exotic flowers and leafy plants, as well as numerous marble and granite stone benches, fountains, and birdbaths. Numerous scents drifted throughout the endless corridors and hallways, some sweet, some spicy, others clean and welcoming. The stairwells were lined with bronze and golden railings and even more tapestries and portraits. Each corridor led to somewhere different. Where, I had not the slightest clue, the palace was so impossible huge, I couldn’t even begin to describe where exactly I was. Servants and other residents of the palace scurried around, going about their daily business. I picked out a few people who looked similar to each other and wondered if they were members of my clan. The ambience of the palace told of mystery and untold stories. It was all too much to take in at once.
Eventually, the guard led us to a large set of double doors with the Nightingale crest on them. He motioned for us to wait and knocked on the doors. A deep and menacing voice called for him to enter and he did. He opened the doors and shut them so fast I couldn’t see inside. He began conversing with whoever was inside I only caught parts of the conversation. Things like “lost prince”, “come back from the tomb”, and something that sounded like “looks exactly like him”. It was a long while before the guard came back and I began to get fidgety. When the doors clacked open the guard poked his head through the doors.
“His Royal Majesty is not in as of now. However, one of the Elders shall see you instead.”
He stepped aside and opened the doors wide. The room resembled a very large office. The entire back wall was nothing but arched windows, a couple of them with window seats with blue velvet cushions lain on top of them. The curtains were made of a thick, golden material. In front of the windows was a large, oak desk littered with pieces of parchment and stacks of documents as well as vials of black ink and feather pens like you see in pictures of colonial times in the States. The walls were a golden cream color and the carpet was a deep blue, the colors of the Nightingale Clan. There were couches and love seats adorned with blankets, pillows, and cushions and a glass coffee table with a silver tea tray with white porcelain china cups and a tea pot, bowls of sugar cubes, vials of milk and cream, and a pot of honey sat next to it. Standing behind the oak desk was a tall, older man with long blond hair in a ponytail and shining blue eyes. He had a small, well-kempt beard and pale skin. He was wearing gray, knee-high, heeled boots, navy blue pants, a white collared shirt, and a long, British dress coat from the colonial times. In a strange way, he looked like an older, more handsome me. When he saw me his eyes widened and he motioned for the guard to leave. The guard bowed and left without a word.
“My heavens,” the man said in a British accent, coming out from behind the desk and walking up to me. “You do look like him.” He looked me over and walked around me. I felt like I was on display. “You’re almost a perfect match.” His voice was different from when I heard him on the outside. He didn’t sound as serious and frightening. He stopped in front of me again. “And your name would be?”
I glanced at either of my friends. They nodded. I gulped and took a deep breath. “Kalin, sir. Kalin Nightingale.”
“Well, bloody hell,” he smiled, flashing some of his teeth. “It is you. Then I suppose I should introduce myself.” He stuck his hand out. “Julian Nightingale, your father’s father.”
I wondered if it was possible for a vampire to turn even paler without being starved. If not, I just might have been the first. I glanced at his hand, to Mai and Taehyung, up and my supposed grandfather then back down at his hand.
“Well, go on. Shake. Or would you prefer a hug?”
Tell me why I was embarrassed by that. So I shook his hand firmly. He held onto my hand with both of his.
“There you go. Now, I assume you know of the prophecy?” I nodded. “Everything?” I nodded again. “Good. So then I must tell you this. You must not tell anyone that you are a half-blood. Also, it would be wise of you to trust me and me only, unless someone else proves you otherwise. If you need anything, anything at all, come to me. It pains me to say this, but you must not trust your uncle. He would do anything to keep the throne away from your side of the family. You see, even though your father is the younger one that does not mean that he is not fit for the throne. Unlike the humans, vampire kingship is not completely hereditary. It does stay within our bloodline; however, it is the King’s Council that chooses the king and queen. Sadly, I feel that my fellow Council members chose unwisely. Victor knows this but does not care. Not to say that he is a bad king, but he does not always think of the other races besides his own. Now, did you catch all of this?” I nodded once more. “Brilliant.”
“Ah, Elder. You sure can talk,” Taehyung said.
“Taehyung Jeong. Always the honest one, you are.” He looked over at Mai. “Mai Choi, my dear. How is your father doing?”
Mai smiled. “Mother is driving him crazy as always.”
“I warned him,” he shook his head.
“Um,” I said at last. “Could you…let go of my hand now?”
“Eh?” he looked down. “Ah, my apologies,” he said letting go. He noticed the dumb look on my face and patted my back. “Cheer up, my dear boy! You’re a prince! Royalty! You’ll go down in history! Life is good! Can’t get much better than this, can it?!”
I looked up at him dumbly. “You’re pretty energetic for an old grandpa.”
Thank whatever supernatural forces that were at work out there that he found my remark humorous.
So much had happened within the course of two hours that I had a splitting headache. First, old man Julian, who had demanded that I call him “Grandfather”, spent the better part of thirty minutes gathering up the rest of the Elders and Priests who made up the King’s Council so he could introduce me to them and have them officially welcome me into the palace. Surprisingly, they all had eagerly and joyously accepted me. I was then told that it was because I looked so much like my father, Alistair. Apparently, he was a highly respected and admired individual by everyone in London. Then, I learned that he wasn’t even in the palace, or the London Area for that matter. He was a General for the Nightingale militia and was currently out in Scarborough, which was all the way up in northern England, about a possible alliance with another British clan that could help out the Nightingale Clan with the ShangYi. Long story. Anyway, after learning some interesting facts about my father, Grandfather then proceeded to arrange a huge welcoming banquet for which he ran around talking to the kitchen staff, giving out chores to the servants, and alerting anyone who he thought had to attend. Then, while still rushing around, planning the banquet, he had a servant arrange a room for me, Taehyung, and Mai.
Which brings me to my current state; lying face down on the biggest, four-post bed I had ever seen in an even bigger room decorated with nightingales, rainbow roses, couches, chairs tables, golden rugs and blue carpeting, a gigantic wardrobe, and a very expensive looking dresser with a three-pane mirror. I also had my own bathroom that was one-third the size of the rest of the room. The bathtub took up one full corner of the bathroom. Even the sink was unnecessarily big. Everything was white, blue, silver, or gold. There was even an outdoor balcony that looked over the rest of the castle and out towards the rest of London, ending with the horizon and shining sun, high in the sky. A room fit for no one but a prince; that was the only way to describe it.
I was so dog-tired that I couldn’t even think straight. I could feel the cold, cruel tendrils of stress creeping up my back like snakes. It didn’t help that the bed sheets were so soft, light, and fluffy that I felt like I was floating on clouds. All I could do was close my eyes and listen to the gentle summer breeze rustling the curtains around my bed and out to the balcony. I couldn’t make up my mind whether I was comfortable or not. Maybe I was too comfortable. Maybe I was alright with this strange, foreign idea of life as a pampered prince. Maybe I was sick of it already. It hadn’t even been a full day, let alone five hours, since I arrived here and I was already second and third guessing all of the events that had taken place within the last two weeks. Part of me wanted to fall asleep and wake up the next day in my room back in Seoul, with my adoptive parents sitting at the kitchen table waiting for me so we could eat breakfast together. But the other part of me, the part of me that was a prince, knew that this was right where I was supposed to be-wanted to be. I just hadn’t realized it yet…
Suddenly I heard a soft knock on the door. I groaned into the fluffy pillows underneath my face and, after a couple of seconds, got up to answer it. It was Mai and Taehyung.
“Banquet’s ready. Everyone is waiting on you,” Taehyung said as Mai stepped forward and attempted to straighten out my clothes and hair.
“Already? You’ve got to be kidding me!”
“Wish I was. Let’s just get this over with alright? Quick and painless. It’ll be over before you know it.”
“Don’t worry,” Mai said, giving me one of her looks while still grooming me. “You’ll be fine. I know you will. You’ll meet lots of people, relatives or otherwise, and they’ll all be happy to meet you and support you along your way. The Nightingales are a kind, considerate, civilized people who have their own quirks just like everyone else. Completely normal. Besides, we wouldn’t leave you with lunatics.”
I sighed. “I hope you two are right.”
And so we made our way to the Dining Hall, which was also the size of half a football field.
a/n: haven't updated this in a while. (the school computers blocked it. So I did it from the library with the help of a flash drive! finally!)
