// CHARM MANSION //


Tonight, like many nights, Trente Gagarin has invited Caleb Vatore to spend the night at her alcove of the Charm Mansion. He obliges happily.

Unlike the female, Caleb was immune to the damaging effects of the sun’s rays. His skin shone as dashed mirrorlight when he was out-of-doors.

Trente had no such protection. She blamed it on a life lived entirely inside walls and under ceilings.

TRENTE

CALEB, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING.

CALEB

GO AHEAD, SHOOT.

TRENTE

I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AVERSION TO DRINKING THE BLOOD OF HUMANS BUT HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT OF OTHER VAMPIRES?


Caleb’s face goes slack. It’s just the reaction she’d expected.

CALEB

I…UH…GUESS I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE.

I DON’T KNOW, I JUST NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

TRENTE

THAT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT EVIL.


She meant it as a compliment.

CALEB

YOU CAN REALLY JUST DO THAT?

DRAIN ANOTHER OF OUR KIND?

THAT DOESN’T SEEM POSSIBLE.

TRENTE

IF YOU CAN SUBDUE THEM, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.


She pauses a moment, caught on her own zeal.

TRENTE

WOULD YOUR SAME AVERSIONS APPLY?

CALEB

I…I DON’T KNOW.

TRENTE

IF IT WERE SOMEONE YOU HAD TO FIGHT AND YOU’D DEFEATED HIM IN FAIR COMBAT, I’D SAY IT’S FAIR.

NEVER LEAVE WITNESSES.

CALEB

I THINK MY FATHER WOULD HAVE FILED IT UNDER HIS HOPES FOR VEGETARIANISM IN THE GARDEN.

TRENTE

BUT THIS ISN’T ABOUT PITY FOR THE PREY, IT’S ABOUT PROPERLY DISPOSING OF THE BODY OF YOUR DEFEATED FOE.

THEY’LL REGENERATE AND HARBOR A GRUDGE AGAINST YOU UNTIL THE TIME COMES THAT THEY CHALLENGE YOU AGAIN.

ONLY THEY’VE PREPARED MORE THIS TIME.

CALEB

IT SEEMS BARBARIC.

TRENTE

IT IS BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

KNOW THAT A VAMPIRE WHO WANTS YOU DEAD IS NOT THE SAME AS INNOCENT PREY.

CALEB

I GUESS.

TRENTE

ALSO KNOW THAT IF YOU TRULY THROW YOUR LOT IN WITH ME, THERE MAY BE SOME WHO WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU.

CALEB

I DON’T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HATE YOU AS THEY DO.

TRENTE

I DON’T FULLY UNDERSTAND IT EITHER.

BUT I MUST REALIZE THAT I REPRESENT THE OLD REGIME.

SOME PREFER LAWLESSNESS BECAUSE IT’S THE ONLY ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEIR POWER STRUCTURES THRIVE.

I WILL ELIMINATE SUCH ANARCHY.

NO MORE HIDING BEHIND THE MORTALS’ SKIRTS.

I’D BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BY MY SIDE, CALEB.

YOU HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO OUR CAUSE SINCE IT WAS LITTLE MORE THAN A FAIRYTALE.

CALEB

I WAS JUST GLAD TO DISCOVER YOU WERE REAL.

TRENTE

I PLAN TO REWARD YOUR FAITH.

CALEB

I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU.

TRENTE

IF WE EVER FIND OURSELVES WARRING AGAINST THE INSURGENTS, I WANT YOU TO TAKE THE POWER OF THE DEFEATED.

CALEB

WOULDN’T YOU BE SERVED BETTER…?

TRENTE

NOT AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD.

IT’S MY GIFT TO YOU.


He takes a moment to collect his thoughts and speaks quietly and carefully.

CALEB

THAT’S…QUITE A GIFT.

TRENTE

NOT AS MUCH AS YOUR LOYALTY TO ME.