In the throne room of the Heiling castle, behind the two thrones was an elegant silver weaved tapestry. Woven thread by thread in shiny, flowing lengths was a long, noble family. And with loving detail was each face stitched.

Save for a singular dark stain that tainted the artwork.

And this is where careful fingers caressed as if fearful of the man behind it. Sammy turned around knowing that no matter the lies he told his thoughts he would be back here again. He recalled the first time, as he watched the seamstress omit his face. Believing such a dark, mourning time to be over.

Sadly the memories like scars, would never truly fade. They would remain. Marring an otherwise happy childhood.

__________________

Outside the room another boy stood faithfully, waiting as duty and image desired of him. Like the prince, Tyler was dark haired and now wore elegant clothes of red and silver. Yet ever watchful eyes and knife-like claws hinted of a less than honorable past.

The last sort to be given such covetous command of a royal's life.

Finally, the doors opened revealing his royal friend. "Are you alright Prince Sammy?" he asked taking note of his dejected posture.

"I'm fine," he replied, hiding behind a smile but still unable to conceal the haunted look of his eyes. "Besides I told you, don't be so formal."

Tyler persisted just a little longer. Until Sammy reminded him of a dirty secret, equally occulted, and likely much, much more vile.

"Very well," he surrendered, dropping the matter. "What's next on the schedule?" Was his next formal inquiry.

"My history lesson and then we're going to the village," he answered catching Tyler quite unawares and off guard. Sammy had grown notorious for his isolation. For mysterious reasons he held a deep mistrust of even his own people. That to suggest such an outing... was simply ludicrous.

"Why?" Tyler asked, suddenly suspicious himself. Of what, he conceded to not know for certainty.

"I still owe you a sword and a belt I believe is my costs," Sammy answered lightly.

Tyler was reminded more sharply of that by said item's absence. Meaning no sheath, and no touch of cool metal silently vigilant and silently grounding.

In the library Tyler simply sat by while Sammy studied. Today his tutor was a Dr. Burbage, a worldly, and highly recognized historian as the staff had snidely informed him. All through the lesson Tyler pretended to read.

He held his tongue as they went over a twisted version of vampire and human relations.

"Raid of final Sekoran colony under vampiric hold?" Burbage asked.

"Thirteen eighty," Sammy answered.

"And this capture in particular was so significant--"

"As it marked the slaying of Filze, often nicknamed the Feral Night Hound. Enabling the Heiling Kingdom to win the hearts and minds of unprecedented numbers in neighboring regions and outer villages."

"Battle of Hadrien Base and significance?"

"Turn of the last century, fourteen hundred. When the Heiling kingdom along with it's allies drove out the last of General Eduny's forces from it's strongholds," he summarized.

It went on like that the humans as faultless, courageous heroes never cowered as victims versus monsters. Nowhere did it mention how children of his kind were driven into hiding, just how one-sided vampire-human wars had been in the Heil Raisers' favor, nor the mention of the two species interbreeding. Though, that may be a mercy to the humans who did.

By the end Tyler was feeling particularly hateful. Yet he remembered his place and position, which did not include denouncing and demanding from royals. Not a single, solitary thing. On top of that his friend was ignorant more than anything. Like most human ilk across the nations, of this human hailing land so vast.

____________________

An hour later, Sammy stood at the front gate out of his home. For so long it had seemed a force of nature kept him far from even the area. The one place where his countenance was one of fear... and dare he say, cowardice. Now with his, albeit, unexpected protector Sammy could find an equal measure of excitement at the idea of the outside.

A smile spread across the royal's face at the first scent of sweet bread. Beyond the castle's walls was a bustling square.

Stores had their wares on windowsills to enchant a customer's senses. Just as many did businesses off the backs of their carts or through their hands as performers.