Bambi and the Duke

Vivian’s days went on to have her nose buried between the books. Knowing that females were rarely chosen to be part of the council, she studied harder. In the morning she would read the number of pages assigned by Leonard and in the evening Leo would sit with her, discussing the scenarios of what if’s along with the edicates she had learned.

Sometimes at night, she would burn the lamp in her room so that she could revise again what she had learned that day. After finishing the book of edicates, she went on the study the structural anatomy of all the creatures which contained about the humans, vampires, pureblooded vampires, the witches along with the rogue vampires.

As days passed by like pages, she finished all the four books having three more days before the exam would begin.

During those days, Leo would often discuss the cases he had been through. Wanting her to solve it and nudging her in the right direction. Apart from gaining knowledge from the books, Leonard wanted her to be well versed with situations. He had made her study everything but that didn’t mean the first exam would be easy. The first entrance exam was always tricky, wanting to eliminate half of the candidates where almost eighty-two percent of the candidates who would have applied failed to clear it. The second exam was a ground test of practical survival were in the end only four to five would be admitted into the council before proceeding to admit them to proper departments.

The day before the exam was going to take place, Vivian was accompanied by Timothy to the council. They had to get her name written down. Thinking it would be wise for no one to know that Leonard wasn’t connected to her, he decided for Sir Malcolm Rufus’ son to take her there.

When Vivian got down from the carriage, she saw the tall white building that looked like heaven. Pillars that supported it on either side. The place was surrounded by lush trees. On one far side, she could see empty carriages that were parked. Following close to Timothy, she didn’t move her eyes too far away while keeping her head up as she walked.

But the councillors weren’t used to a woman who was a human who had entered freely into the building, to follow the pureblooded vampire. Vivian picked the atmosphere to be a little tense as she felt some of them looking her way, eyes that judged her clothes, kind and her presence inside which they didn’t appreciate. From where she continued to walk inside, she could only see men until her eyes fell on a single woman who looked hardly interested in her while continuing to stare at her.

When they reached a teak double door, the guards who stood on either side opened it for them and they went inside to reach a little room which looked empty except for an old man who had a single eyeglass on his right eye.

Vivian who had felt the unwelcomeness from the people here didn’t find it surprising when the old man looked at her, his eyes giving her one look which she didn’t appreciate. He had a brighter shade of red eyes to denote him as an average vampire who belonged to the below level of pureblooded vampires. She could see his fangs slightly protruding out of his lips when he opened his mouth to address, ”Mr Rufus.”

”Weasel. We need an application form for the exam,” said Timothy.

”The exams are for men and vampires,” the man didn’t hold back his words, his eyes on Vivian.

Before Timothy could respond to it, Vivian decided to speak, ”There is no law that states a woman can not apply to be part in it if she is capable to handle the jobs after the exams.”

”Don’t take it as an offence, milady,” the man smiled but it wasn’t out of kindness. It was an impolite smile that would belittle one, ”But the exams isn’t a child’s test. Many have come and many have failed. Many have also died,” his mouth didn’t open too wide to speak and it was as if that was all he could open as he said it.

”Weasel,” warned Timothy but both Vivian and the old vampire didn’t want to step back from their views.

”That shall be decided after the exams are evaluated by the senior councils,” she answered him back with a polite smile. A month ago she wouldn’t have known the historical working of the council but she had studied her heart out to make sure she would pass. The exam would be difficult but she had to pass if she wanted to be closer to Leo’s world than watching him come and go in the sidelines.

The low vampire answered, ”It is only kept in your best interest. Would be such a disgrace to have lost a beautiful woman like yourself for a mere job when you can sit in the house, safe and cook for the family.”

”I think it would be in the best interest of everyone if all of us did our jobs than be nosy at another’s, like yourself,” she didn’t hold back as the vampire stared at her.

”Don’t tell you weren’t warned, milady.”

”That is very kind of you, Weasel. Now if you could get us the application,” Timothy chuckled, trying to lighten the atmosphere. The old vampire turned around to go to get the application, ”Don’t mind the man. He had a mouth of his own,” he said to Vivian.

”Seems like it,” she answered, smiling at the end.

The pureblooded vampire looked at the girl whose attention had been taken by statues of humans and vampires who were made of marble stones, centred in the side, red water fell through the hands. The girl was much like Duke Carmichael, not holding back her words and holding her ground firmly.

When the man named ’Weasel’ came back, Vivian had expected to see a parchment or a book but instead, he brought a bowl which contained blue ink in it.

Placing it on the counter with a small clatter where the liquid swirled inside the bowl, ”Your hand, milady,” he asked bringing a knife which was sharp and lean to look at.

Vivian didn’t hesitate to give her hand to the man, his bonnier hand taking it, he ran it across her hand where she flinched as drops of blood fell into the bowl, mixing along with the hue like liquid.

He took a green stem like a stick, mixing the contents well as hue turned black for three seconds before turning back to the colour of hue, ”The admission has been done. I wish you luck in the exams, Milady.”

”Very well then, let’s get going then,” Timothy clapped his hands together.

As Vivian and Timothy began to walk back, an acquaintance of Timothy had stopped him to talk. Seeing that they needed privacy, Vivian excused herself telling she would be at the carriage. Her eyes, instead of looking at the people and feeling conscious of their presence, she looked up at the high ceiling, so high that she felt it touched the sky. Just before her eyes moved to look ahead, her shoulder hit another person making her almost trip and fall but the person had caught hold of her.

”A lady should watch and walk,” came a deep voice of a man and her eyes instantly flew up to gaze at dark red eyes. Deeper and darker than the purebloods she had across. The man wore a chain that hung around his neck, a cross resting on his chest which had stone as red as his eyes. His hair was midnight black which was ruffled due to the wind.

”Forgive me for my negligence,” she bowed her head under his scrutinizing gaze. He stared right at her. As if searching for something in her eyes. As if smelling something, his eyes narrowed down to look at her.

”Walking around with your blood to smell in a crowd of vampires is nothing less than an invitation,” he commented, not waiting for another word, the tall man passed by her leaving her to stand there.

”Don’t mind him,” came a voice behind her.

Vivian turned around to see another brunette man who fished something in his pocket to pull a kerchief to offer her, ”You can use this,” the man wasn’t tall but taller than her. He was another pureblooded vampire.

”It’s alright. I will be leaving soon,” Vivian rejected his kindness and smiled, ”But thank you,” she said before glancing at the handsome man who had got inside through the entrance.

”Lord Alexander can be like that at times. He is a little unfriendly in general. How rude of me!” he frowned worriedly and then bowed, ”I am Lancelot Knight. And you are...”

”Vivian,” she smiled, he waited as if she would give out her last name but seeing that she didn’t he said,

”I haven’t seen you here before.”

”I came here to apply for the admission exam,” he nodded his head.

”It’s already that time of the year, is it?” he asked thoughtfully, looking at her he smiled, ”You must be very well versed to have come to take part in it. Often humans don’t come to take up the exams when we go out to the towns and villages to spread the word of possible employment,” he sighed to say, ”Especially women. It is sad when we see that but it is good to see you come forward.”

”I did notice that there were hardly a few women,” a few were an understatement thought Vivian as she spoke to him. She must have caught only two of them and that too there were vampires.

”I got to get going for the council meeting. I hope you pass your exams,” he smiled, giving her a bow, ”It was lovely meeting you, Ms Vivian.”

”Likewise, Mr Knight,” Vivian returned his gesture with a polite bow.

Going to the carriage where the coachman wasn’t there. Not wanting to sit inside alone, she leaned against the carriage door to look at people come and go to the council from where she stood.

She looked at the wound on her hand and pressed it against her dark skirt. Early in the morning, in a hurry, she had left her kerchief on her bed. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard a snap of a twig near her. Wondering if the coachman had arrived she pushed herself gently and looked to see that the coachman hadn’t arrived back but then there was no one there.