[center][color=a187be][h1][i]The Daughter...[/i][/h1][/color][/center][hr]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vLypfWi.gif[/img][/center][color=a187be][i][b]T[/b]ime[/i][/color] 7:47 to 9:40
[color=a187be][i][b]L[/b]ocation[/i][/color] From a private jet to the Grand Hall
[color=a187be][i][b]I[/b]nteraction with[/i][/color] Beatrix de la Croix[sub][@GhostMami][/sub]
[hr]Seraphina was absentmindedly twirling red liquid in a crystal glass, sitting comfortably in the beige leather seat peering out into the night. She peered over the thick manila envelope, bearing the black wax seal of her father. It was of a peculiar design. For one it was square with lots of unmarked residue on all sides. It denoted a scroll at its vertical center. Flanked by a drop on its right and on the left, there was an intricate figure of a man holding a staff. This was Alexander’s personal seal. A seal that hasn’t been seen since 1902 when Alexander formally announced his retreat from the royal court and the vampiric world as a whole. A part of Seraphina wanted to tear open the envelope and spill out its content but her father’s orders were strict and he would not allow any deviation. A vampire of Seraphina’s age would’ve disregarded that command the second she was out of his sight but Seraphina knew better. No matter what she did, he would know. He always knew.

Instead, she was focusing on what knowledge her father did share with her. There was a meeting, a grand one. The king and queen had invited vampires from all families and some elders. He knew why though he preferred not to share it with her. It was a surprise after all. The only thing she had to worry about is the dossiers on all the vampires present. They were young but much older than her. She had to know them before she would land.

And know she did. She had begun with her own house: Tepes. There was Kasania, Niklaus and Valerian. Kasania was growing in her role as Tepes Princess. She was beautiful and successful. Like Seraphina, she worked with humans, though Kasania worked with police. To Sera, humans were humans. No matter if they wore blue or nothing at all. Sadly Kasania has been successful in stalling her marriage. Then there was Niklaus. An odd one out. While all children often have strained relationships with their parents, Niklaus had earned particular scorn from his mother. Finally, there was Valerian who, like his sister, had grown well into the role of Tepes Prince. The file lacked it but Seraphina remembered her father helping with a certain indiscretion. She wasn’t privy to many details: only that it concerned a woman.

Then there were the Artois girls. Both of them were exceptionally young. Younger than Sera even. Which meant they were easily manipulatable. Amelia, the heir, was as wild and free-thinking as an Artois ought to be. Though her continuing, public effort to make human and vampire-kind into equals was beginning to somewhat annoy the Tepes elder. The youngest of the two, Irene, was not a direct heir. Furthermore, she appeared to be quite a sheltered girl. Her dossier, compiled by a handful of quite capable PIs couldn’t find much on her.

Where Tepes and Artois had just a few flaws, Zeno was plagued by failure. Failure taking shape in Octavius, Tessa, and Dominic. Though it would appear there were vastly different reasons. Octavius was as charming as he was insufferable. A man that you could hate and love at the same time. Though there was a certain lack of grace in him. Tessa, for her part, wasn’t so bad. Greedy for knowledge but not much else. Seraphina despised her, even though she never met the woman. She despised the utter lack of hunger. Here was someone who always had what she wanted. Finally, there was Doctor Dominic Wells. Though the file made it quickly clear that he was very much a Zeno. While the first two were simply bored or graceless, he had utterly rejected everything Zeno stands for. Now he worked as a doctor of some clinic treating anything and anyone. Seraphina supposed it was meant to be honorable but she failed to see the point. Those that visited a clinic like his would wash up there again and again. Amounting to nothing at all. Why spend resources on them?

Now that she had memorized the dossiers by heart, she took her time to relax a little and see the stars as she flew through the night.

She arrived amid everyone else. Seraphina very much knew she wasn’t a vampire of note. Only her heritage might earn her some importance. That or her job. Outside she could hear the faint callings of her blackbirds. Enjoying the skies once more. The swirled around the grand hall. The walls were nigh non-existent, giving the birds a clear view inside it all. Eventually, they flew inside and settled high up in the rafters of the roof. Observing the gathering. Seraphina, for her part, took place far in a corner as she held the manila envelope close to her.

After the king’s speech, she felt stumped and surprised. To witness the creation of a new house, it felt like you could live a whole life, a vampiric one, without ever hearing of such a thing. Yet here she was. In watching it all unfold, standing on the sidelines. Hastily she opened the envelope of her father. Inside there was a long letter, explaining his intentions and her own powers. She was to represent him in this whole ordeal. Inside there was also a few letters. Yet, per his direct written orders, only one was to be sent as fast as possible. Seraphina took a particular letter and read the name: Mrs. Beatrix de la Croix. Written in gorgeous calligraphy with golden ink. Sealed by Alexander’s personal seal on jet black wax. Seraphina was shocked. She had seen the file of this vampire yet assumed her to be unimportant. A setback. Huginn came down from the rafters as Seraphina held the envelope up. The raven took it in his claws and flew upwards again until he neared Beatrix’s chair and came down quickly. Yet he gracefully landed right next to her plate and delivered the letter before he took towards the rafters again.

[hider=Beatrix's letter]
[indent][color=9e0b0f][i]Dear Mrs. Beatrix de la Croix

First of all, I wish to offer my sincerest apologies for not attending the grand meeting myself. Humanity has grown at an ever rapid pace. Therefore I am forced to attending to certain urgent matters first. In my stead comes a most trusted emissary: Seraphina Aghrem. She speaks with my voice and has been informed and instructed with my wishes. I would ask you to refrain from making assumptions at this time. She might appear young but she is quite capable.

Now, for the matter at hand. You will have learned of our kind king’s plan to raise a new house. It is a most admirable goal. Though I suspect this does not weaken your role as guardian over the youngest Artois generation. It is concerning them that I would discuss certain subjects. I would invite you to tea with my envoy at 10:30 a.m. in the northernmost parlor of the main building. I have been assured that this location is well away from the main halls. You will be expected.

Once more I wish to offer my sincerest apologies for my nonappearance. Though I am sure that once you have returned to the city of New York we may meet in person once again.

Until then I simply offer my sincerest regards
An Old Acquaintance[/i][/color][/indent]
[/hider][hr][center][color=92278f][h1][i]...and the Father[/i][/h1][/color][/center][hr]
[center][img]https://media2.giphy.com/media/oHb0OrL9Cq9pu/source.gif[/img][/center][color=92278f][i][b]T[/b]ime[/i][/color] 7:04 to 8:32
[color=92278f][i][b]L[/b]ocation[/i][/color] New York City - Saint Paul's Churchyard to Central Park
[color=92278f][i][b]I[/b]nteraction with[/i][/color] Khione Crusch[sub][@Hoekage][/sub]
[hr]Central Manhatten was a busy place. People moved like blood in a body. Packed together and always in a hurry to be someplace. There were a few places where they calmed down enough. Saint Paul’s Churchyard was one such place. A place where even Americans grew solemn. Alexander was always amazed by that ability as he entered the little yard. Ancient gravestones filled place haphazardly. Most of the names were weathered off. Few people walked the small, winding path. Alexander slowly approached an unremarkable grave near one of the few trees. The roots had recently been cut, as per his request joining the rather substantial donation. All done anonymously of course. He didn’t carry flowers. Instead, he placed a single, pitch black pebble on top of it and touched the grave for a moment as he closed his eyes. It was good to be back.

Minutes later he stepped out of the graveyard. His pocket was empty. All his small, little pebbles spread across most of the state of New York, on top of weathered graves, remote mountain tops and large, green meadows. With his duty to the dead completed, he proceeded towards Central Park. Where a most unfortunate amount of business was awaiting him.

Central Park was extremely different from Saint Paul’s. It was sprawling but painfully artificial. It chaffed against Alexander, who watched the boulders with disgust. Humanity was a terrible architect of nature, he concluded rather quickly. He followed the painfully pronounced paths towards the scene of the crime he was tipped off from. He reached the police line just in time to see the corpses being put in bags. His vampiric sight gave him greater details from this distance no human could hope to level. No matter how keen their eyesight was. The girl had a rather ungraceful wound in her neck. The weapon certainly wasn’t a blade or anything thin. The scene a bit further was even more gruesome. Burned flesh holding what appeared to have been his guts. A gruesome death to be sure. Though while everyone around him was both disgusted and morbidly curious, he couldn’t care to show anything. Instead, he examined the broken trees and bark. A pity. Trees were so much more valuable than humans. Alexander felt more kinship with those immortal wooden beings than with the walking blood bags.

As Alexander was examining the bodies, some post arrived at The Loft. There was a registered letter for Miss Khione Lee Crusch. Her full name was written in gorgeous calligraphic font with golden ink. The letter itself was sealed with pitch black wax bearing the Tepes family seal.

Inside there was a letter made from expensive, thick parchment paper. It was once again written in gorgeous, time-consuming calligraphy but this time with scarlet red ink.

[indent][i][color=9e0b0f]Dear miss Crusch

It is to my understanding that you are the New York Police Department’s liaison agent of the Order of Genesis. Since the revelation of my kind under our current King, I find it only polite that I introduce myself. As to prevent any future misunderstandings. Therefore I am inviting you for tea at a café named Comfort at 2 p.m. today. An associate assured me of their superb selection of pastries. I will be expecting you.

Sincerely
Alexander of House Tepes[/color][/i][/indent]
Below it was signed, not with a normal signature though. It was a deep red thumbprint. Unmistakingly made from blood.