The Vampire Xia

Two weeks pasted in a blur for Awendela, who was busy every waking moment and then some. Getting to know the castle took longer than she had expected and had hoped, the place was massive and made unusual and unnecessary twists and turns but it was strategically logical for a possible invasion.

The wall was currently under construction for new watch towers and a walking ledge just 8 feet below the top with new peek holes, so the guards could walk the length of the wall and get to the towers with ease.

Another construction was at the entrance, the entrance was being encased in a huge stone structure, similar to a water damn or prison, when cars arrived, they would enter the four wall structure, being sealed off both ends, searched, identities confirmed, before being allow through the second gated entrance and onto the actually property.

The Xia's personal guard was proving to be harder then she thought, there was four of them including herself and it was hard to figure out a way to have two of them with him at times without exhausting anyone, as of right now it was one person at a time on a three part rotating shift which she hated to no end. However, she had to ensure the castle was secure before focusing her attention on her own rounds as the Xia's guard.

Shemar had been willing enough to give her full range of the castle security until she was satisfied and they worked together on every aspect. Awendela made sure he was included in everything she changed and always asked his opinion and feedback.

Another major change she had made, which did not go well with the rest of the security staff and guards, was the limited access to the Brain. She argued that with so many people having access, individual code or not, it increased the chances of a leak or infiltration.

Shemar saw the logic but was reluctant to agree so Awendela pulled rank both to ensure it happened and to keep Shemar in good favor with his staff. Now only the Xia's personal guards and the staff in charge of the monitoring the castle security was allowed inside the brain. Everyone else's clearance was pulled.

Awendela setup another area, far away from the Brain, as a break room for the guards and another room next to it, now filled with cubicles and a long conference table, for the guards to work at for reports and such and to use for briefings and meetings.

The Brain was being upgraded and remodeled to focus on castle and Xia security with new maps, work stations and other equipment; it would also function as a War room if it came to that. The individual pass-code and palm scanner was being kept but she also added the blood panel as an extra precaution.

Currently, she was speaking with the head of IT on upgrading the computer defense from government standards to pentagon standards.

"It is not necessary. Any invasion will be physical."

"It is necessary because we could be hacked in order to get the castle's blueprint and defenses. Also they could hack the system as a distraction from a physical attack, as a decoy. By increasing the digital security we reduce those chances. I am not asking for your advice, I am telling you to do it."

The vampire glared at her, she merely crossed her arms, cocked her hip and raised an eyebrow, saying quite clearly 'yup, I am pulling rank, what you going to do about it?'

Marco spun around and stalked off, grumbling the entire way.

"You sure know how to piss people off."

Awendela turned and looked at Hiro before shrugging, "just part of my charm."

“Must say I love what you have done with the place, the needle prick is a nice addition.”

“Takes a prick to know a prick Mizushima, don’t you have your shift starting soon?”

“Yup, just came to check-in with our fearless leader.”

She groaned, “I don’t recall ever saying you have to check-in with me, just log into the system and go.”

“I know, just wanted to irritate you.”

“You are doing a wonderful job, now go.”

Hiro grinned before walking again and she was sure there was a bounce in his step. Oh, how she wanted to knock him down a peg.

“Awen.”

“Hi, Shemar, whats up?”

“I think you have the castle security completed.”

“Ya, almost, won’t feel hundred percent until all the remodeling is done but so far I am pretty satisfied. How are the royalties feeling about the new come-and-go protocol?”

“Annoyed to say the least, pissed beyond words at the worse. Was two week noticed really necessary? Surely two or three days would suffice.”

“I wanted a month but I figured the royals might have a fit so reduce it to two weeks. It’s a good time frame to investigate the location they are heading to, the area in between, check for any suspicious movement or travel associated with that date and location and visa verse, where they are coming from, who have they met with, why they are coming, how they are coming, etc.”

“You are pissing off some important and powerful people.”

Awendela sighed, leaning against the table she had been going over computer security with Marco.

“I did not come here to make friends or connections. I came here because I was given a job to do and that job is to protect the Xia to my best ability. I am not going to have something as trivial as a royal coming and going as they please be the chess piece that claims checkmate.”

Shemar studied her for a moment, “ok, fine we will do it your ways. Anyways, let me focus on the castle and your changes, it is time to focused on the Xia.”

She chewed her lower lip, “I agree. I know everything will go smoothly and properly in your hands. I have been wracking my brains over the Xia’s guards. I was thinking of adding more guards to his detail. I was thinking four teams of two, with one of the two members being of the Xia’s guard. This way we always have someone we can trust with the Xia but no one gets exhausted. Unfortunately, that also leaves an unknown. I don’t want us too caution with the other guard that we can’t focus on the Xia completely because we are also trying to watch our own backs. So that brings me back to square one. My other idea, and the one I am going with unless you have a better idea, is just us four with two shifts of 12 hours and if every seven day you can work a shift solo, I can work the other shift solo, give everyone a break. This is therough schedule I have for the next two weeks.”

(The Xia's Guard Schedule)

“You don’t get a break here, you are working 36 hours straight!”

“I have worked 72 hours straight and still gone out dancing, besides I get a break on the next break, look.”

“Ah, I see, so that means you will also get a break on the next change to.”

“That is the theory, though I will probably still be working on something.”

“You have to rest, Awen.”

Awendela shrugged, sticking the schedule back into her back pocket where she had it, “I will be fine.”

Shemar gave her a hard look, crossing his arms, “If you feel tired or worn down at any time,
you will tell me so I can cover for you?”

“Sure thing.”

“If I feel you are not working you best, I will pull you from your work. Don’t try to pull rank,” he snap when she went to argue, “you will not be protecting the Xia if you are not at your best. Understood?”

Awendela nodded, “yes, sir.”

He shook his head, “out you, go find your guards.”

She pushed off the table, kissed Shemar on the cheek and then froze, “oh shit, I am so sorry!! I do that to friends at work and I-I am so so sorry! I won’t ever do that again! I-”

Shemar bursted out laughing, “You never thought you would see a vampire as your friend huh?”

Awendela turned red, “You guys are…well normal. I like most you guys. You guys don’t act vampire-y”

Laughter filled the Brain as the other vampires watched her turmoil, “not so scary are we?”
Marco called from across the room.

“Ya well, my experience have been with Rogues and preverted dracula types, so sue me!”

More laughter.

“Hey, I have only been here two weeks, I haven’t passed final judgment yet!” she retorted storming out of the room.

Awendela realized her bad-ass, vampire hunter reputation had just flown out the window, crashed to the asphalt and was ran over by a variety of huge vehicles and then set on fire for good measure.

She leaned against the wall wondering when she slipped into a grove with the vampire staff she worked with. It had been relevantly easy and smooth, yes there had been some huffing and puffing but she expected that with any job where she was in charge of a group.

These vampire, these people, really were not so different from the people she worked with except they had fangs, super strength, and a few supernatural abilities but that described pretty much all species, the only thing that singled them out was the blood drinking thing.

They laughed, ate and enjoyed life just like anyone else. They measured a person by their ability, they accepted her because she was making changes for the better, open to listening to everyone’s opinions and input. She didn’t act high and mighty, she had never been like that before but she did put her foot down on anything she felt was important. So they accept her and in turn she had accepted them. Which made her realize, she had dropped her guard and even trusted some of them.

Awendela stopped, confused and lost, before leaning against the wall of the deserted hallway, hands buried in her hair. She hated vampires. She hated them with all her being. Her brother had been tricked by them, turned into one of them. She had hunted them for year beyond years. Yet, here she was admitting that she trusted them, abet only a few of them, but she trusted them.

Flashes of laughter, jokes, discussing security measures, everything she had done with them over the last two weeks filled her mind as she tried to pinpoint the moment she had truly began to change her opinion of vampire or at least these vampires. Nothing struck out at her, just an overwhelming sense of loyalty, confusion, acceptance and despair.

~Awendela?~

Notes

GRAMMAR/SPELLING FIXED...I think I got all of it.

OH by the way to all my readers. I am currently sitting in the Chicago airport and will be boarding an asiana plane which will take me to South Korea where I will be living for the next YEAR!

To follow my adventures please go to namireinkorea.blogspot.com