Veronica and Karla settle into their room. Eighth floor, room 803. They had a wide view of the neighborhood and the city.
"Karla, don't worry. Veronica already knows: it's not such a luxurious room, although you seem very elegant. But I believe I can provide this comfort for you, as long as you are up to date with the expenses here."
"That's the least of it, Rose! We are very grateful for your hospitality."
Rose then goes down to the reception, and they settle into the room while catching up.
"Karla, how have these three years been away from anywhere? I find it interesting to think about how quickly you adapted to the current reality."
"Veronica, all I've done so far is take a taxi, and the taxi driver already told me that many people pay by cell phone these days. I think it wasn't so convenient three years ago."
"Oh, Karla, that's too irrelevant! You're a genius, you'll adapt quickly."
"I'll trust your word. But, did you manage to officially confirm my identity?"
"Look, I hope you have a lot of money to pay your friend, since hacking the government system to do this, and even more so for two people…"
"See? Who's the genius here? I wouldn't even dream of achieving a feat like that."
They both burst into laughter.
"In that case, we can say that Karla and Veronica are our official names now. I had to change numerous records to avoid any suspicion of a sudden alteration of this information. An electronic version of Tsukishima: we've entered the past of official records."
"Tsukishima?"[1]
"Oh, friend, sorry. I acted as if you knew what I was talking about, haha! He's an antagonist from an animated series I've been hooked on these past few days."
"Oh, you'll have to watch it again with me!"
A few more laughs, to lighten the mood a bit, which was extremely heavy due to the world's circumstances at that moment. Then they stop at the window and continue talking, while enjoying the view.
Meanwhile, the blue sky near sunset in New York contrasts with a cloudy, reddish sky that seems to clear as night falls. We see a woman admiring the horizon from the balcony of a large, classic mansion. A beautiful landscape, with a discreet red light from the sunset already ending.
"Thousands of days, months, and I can't get tired of this landscape. The blessing that was entrusted to us by the Paths."
A red-haired woman, with pale skin, long curly hair. Light brown eyes. Once again, in her thirties. An unknown man appears in the room unexpectedly, but discreetly.
"Tereza, still there appreciating the beauty of this landscape? I know the view of Canada is very beautiful, but we can't be late for the planning meeting."
"I know very well, Jerome. In fact, I find your ability to perform in front of an audience and your father, the Lord himself, enviable."
Jerome had long, white hair. Red eyes. An imposing stature and pale skin. It seems common for skin to be like that. And he also looked to be about thirty years old.
"Ah, Tereza… It's not the time to talk about that. Everyone's already arrived, even Helena, who's always late as if she were getting married every day. So I was tasked with coming here to give you a nudge to clock in on time."
"What a responsibility."
The two share a brief, intense kiss.
"I wanted to have some fun with you for now, but the operation that's underway is an even greater pleasure to be sought. The peak of hemaine that's coming has never been seen before, nor will it be seen again."
"That's right, my dear. I also wanted to have some fun, but we have to put ourselves in our places. Our vampire nature must be our top priority."
The two then go to the hall where the meeting is about to begin.
In the mansion's living room, there were several security guards at the entrances. Everyone is present. It was a large room, with a table in the middle and a large tiered seating area around it, occupied by many vampires.
At the table, there were some older people accompanied by others in Jerome and Tereza's age range. In total, twenty-four seats were in front of the table. A rather classic and noble architecture, with visible statues and chandeliers. At the same time, several modern computers, which breaks the whole sense of classicism.
"Finally, Tereza! Trying to steal Helena's reputation for being late now?!", said Jacobin, one of those at the table.
"Respect, you insolent one!", replied Helena in a reprimanding tone.
"The Lord hasn't even arrived here yet, Jacobin. Why are we rushing?", retorted Tereza, in a calmer tone.
"Be calm, my dears. Let's not leave a bad impression on our unexpected newcomer."
"Hm! Anyway… Atalia, let's get settled in. Your first meeting as Sancta Honoris I is about to begin." Atalia was the newcomer Jacobin had mentioned.
"Yes, yes, Helena."
Atalia was a woman with pale skin and long, light-colored hair, with light blue eyes. The silhouette of her face somewhat resembled Karla's, but with an appearance slightly younger than thirty. Helena had black hair, with skin that was a little less pale than the others. She seemed to be of Asian descent, and also looked a little younger than thirty. Jacobin was one of the most different of the vampires present: a dark-skinned man, with an appearance closer to forty.
Finally, an older man arrived, with an unusually imposing presence; he was the one who would preside over the meeting. He was a man with long black hair, a thin beard and mustache, and a face similar to Jerome's. A moment before they sat down at the table, everyone, including those in the stands, placed their right hand over their hearts and recited a prayer aloud: Reverentia Draculae, Reverentia Potestatis. Then, those present took their seats at the table, and those in the stands sat down. The main man then sat in the chair in the middle of the table. This man was the target of the prayer recited by those present. His name and title is Lord Dracula Serban, Count of Germania. The Father of Vampires. To his left, also in the middle of the table, is his wife, Victoria. To his right, Jerome, Sancto I of Germania, the one to whom we have already been introduced. But what are these titles of nobility? What are these so-called Paths? What is hemaine? One thing at a time. After all, we've just entered the world of vampires.
Dracula, upon arriving, pronounces: "At the table, Dracula Serban, as representative of the province of Germania. United with my wife, Victoria Serban, and my son, Jerome Serban, Sancto I of Germania."
And all the Counts who were at the table introduce themselves in this manner, as a standard procedure, where everyone in the family stands up, one at a time, and then sits down again. If there were any children in the stands, they should also stand up. Even though Dracula was the Lord, he was also a Count.
The provinces are general administrative regions within the vampire world, which, after the events of World War II, dominated half the world in a matter of decades, in the event known as the Night Rise, rather than the Cold War. They encompass a certain number of countries. Germania, for example, comprises the territory between Germany and Macedonia, with Romania, Dracula's country of origin, as its administrative center.
To the left of the table (therefore, to Dracula's left), three trios of families. The first is composed of representatives from the province of Yugoslavia (which includes the territory we once knew as the Soviet Union, as well as Finland): Count Vladimir Bradiskov, his wife Olga, and their daughter Elizabeth. The second, by representatives from the province of Vinland (a region that includes Canada, exactly where the meeting is being held, as well as Alaska, Greenland, and Iceland): Count Elisha Der Voort, his wife Margareth, and their daughter Tereza. The third, by representatives from the province of Zealand (eastern Australia and all the islands of Oceania, being the southernmost of the eight provinces): Countess Carmen Wright, her husband Lawson, and their son Arturo.
To the right of the table and Dracula, three more trios. The first is from the province of Vincent (between Portugal and the Netherlands, as well as Norway and Sweden, except Italy and southern France): Count Pierre Eveux, a widower, formerly married to Amélia, with his daughter Atalia. She, however, is the first in the order, unlike the other families, where the Count or Countess is closer to Dracula. The second, from the province of Sardinia (Italy and southern France, as well as Greece and the territory between Morocco and Sudan): Count Rehoboam, with his wife Joanna and his son Jacobin. These are the only ones who do not have pale skin within these vampire families; in fact, they have black skin, as we have seen before. The third, from the province of Persia (the entire Middle East, except Israel and Lebanon): Count Baruch Tehrani, with his wife Astaroth and his son Lamech. At the other end of the table, the family representing the province of Nippon (eastern China, Korea and Japan): Countess Kyasarin Kenshi, a widow, formerly married to Satoru, with her daughter Helena.
Besides, of course, the stands full of other vampires, who were watching the meeting, some of whom were part of the families at the table, as already mentioned. After the main presentation, groups of people from those stands stood up at the same time, and it became clear that there were other titles involved.
"Sanctos II and Abstinent under the command of Jerome!"
And then, each group (eight in total, the number of provinces) sat down after introducing themselves, this being the only time they could speak at that meeting.
In hierarchical terms, Dracula is above all others as Lord. Next come the Counts, also called Primordial Vampires. They are from the same lifetime as Dracula, and consolidated the foundations of the vampire world with him. They have private meetings with him that deal with long-term matters of great importance.
Next, there are the Sanctos (a variation of the term "saint," meaning "separated"). These are young vampires who have access to hidden powers and exceptional talent. Among them are the Sanctos I (or First Order Sanctos), who are precisely the eight at the table, and may be only children of the Counts or the most powerful children (as in the case of Jacobin). The Second Order (Sanctos II) may be close relatives of the Counts and Sanctos who do not possess the same power as them, or powerful people from families smaller than the eight main ones. The power order of the Sanctos I is paramount in the political organization of the provinces, even more so than the power order of the Counts, as they are more active in the execution of political decisions.
Finally, the Nobles. This is a more general title for vampires who, ordinarily, do not have these powers, but enjoy longevity. They are the common citizens. However, in order to gain access to such powers, they become Abstinent. But to understand how this abstinence relates to the powers, there are still some things to be revealed.
When everyone introduces themselves, Dracula speaks again.
"Dear friends, the brief meeting we are holding from now on is the beginning of the glorious revolution. The consolidation of vampires as the rulers of this world."
[1] One of the main antagonists in Bleach's Fullbring Arc, whose power was to manipulate a person's memories by cutting them with his sword, making himself a part of their past.