Not long ago, I was relaxing in my NeoHome on Bread Street
when SpiritoftheOcean approached me. I looked up from the issue of the Neopian
Times I was reading and looked at the sweet face of the peophin. Not far behind
her was a blue zafara, XelaZimBareen, who was hugging Sobek, her Wadjet, close.
"Tell us a story!" exclaimed SpiritoftheOcean
suddenly.
"Yeah!" piped XelaZimBareen, "A story!"
"Hmmm..." I said as I put down the Times, "A
story, huh? What kind?"
"About Von Roo!" a voice said. I looked up and
saw Apolla22, a faerie aisha, flutter into the room. She was followed closely
by a blue eyrie, OceanDemoness42.
"Yeah!" the other neopets shouted, "Von Roo!"
I leaned back and said in a mysterious voice,
"So, you want to know about the Count."
I watched as all four plopped on to the floor
around my chair, all looked up with eager eyes and excited grins.
"Well," I said, "I'll tell you a story I heard
long ago when I was little."
"Who told it to you?" asked Apolla22.
"I believe it was my grandfather who told me,"
I replied. I leaned forward and said, "Did I ever tell you about how my grandfather
caught a glimpse of the Count outside his window?"
All four shook their heads quickly. "What happened?"
asked OceanDemoness42 is hushed voice.
"Well," I said, "nothing. The window was shut,
so Von Roo went on."
"Come on!" shouted SpiritoftheOcean, "You're
stalling! Tell us the story!"
"All right," I said, "all right. Now, from the
beginning...." As I said this I leaned back in my chair and began the story....
"Long ago in Neopia there was a well known Blumaroo
and his name was..."
"Von Roo!" shouted XelaZimBereen.
"Right. Now Von Roo was a respected member of
society, very wealthy in fact. He was as normal as any other good Neopian citizen
back then. He followed the law, never caused trouble, all in all there was no
better citizen then Von Roo."
"This sounds boring," muttered OceanDemoness42.
"Just wait," I said, "anyway, one day Von Roo
met the most beautiful female Blumaroo. Now, not only was Von Roo known for
his wealth and upholding of the law, no. He was also widely known for his charm,
though the lady Von Roo set his eyes on just happened to be another wealthy
citizen."
"Right," said Apolla22 sarcastically, "just
happened to be."
"Well," I continued, "Von Roo was determined
to win this girl over. He watched her from a distance for some time. Suddenly
she tripped and dropped her packages.
Von Roo strode over, helped her up and picked
up her scattered belongings. "Thank you, good sir," she said.
Von Roo nodded and said, "It was nothing. May
I help you carry your packages to your home?"
The girl blushed and said, "I would indeed appreciate
the help, sir. May I ask your name?"
"I am Von Roo," he replied, "and may I ask your
name?"
"I am Elisa," she replied, "it is a pleasure
to meet you, Von Roo."
Von Roo bowed low and said, "It is a pleasure
to meet you, Elisa." Von Roo gathered the packages into one arm, the other he
offered to Elisa. Together they walked to Elisa's home.
On the way they talked about their family history
and what they thought of society. When they reached Elisa's door Von Roo helped
her set the packages inside. He was about to turn to leave when Elisa said,
"Won't you stay and have some tea?"
Von Roo agreed and soon they were talking even
more. Von Roo grew to realize that he cared for Elisa, and Elisa was beginning
to realize she cared for the charming Von Roo. In only a matter of weeks the
two were the couple to talk about. Were two of Neopia's wealthiest finally getting
ready to settle down?
Only months later Von Roo stood before Elisa
and asked for her hand in marriage. Elisa blushed and said she would be delighted.
There was a grand party for the soon-to-be bride
and groom. Von Roo had never been happier. He was going to be married in only
a few weeks, now he always walked around town with a smile, greeting everyone
he met.
In all their years, no one could remember Von
Roo in a happier mood. The same effects of the upcoming wedding were showing
in Elisa too. She sang where ever she went, and if you were lucky she gave you
the happiest smile. All was well...for now."
"For now?" asked XelaZimBareen nervously, "What
do you mean for now?" XelaZimBareen hugged Sobek closer.
"What's gonna happen?" asked Apolla22 and OceanDemoness42
at once.
"I'll tell you what happened," I replied. I
cleared my throat and continued...
"During the week that followed, Von Roo was
busy preparing his house for after the wedding. It had been decided that Elisa
would move into his house after they married, so he was making room for her
belongings. Every now and then Elisa would drop by to check on his progress.
Most of the time Elisa was in town preparing
for the grand wedding. She was deciding which flowers would be better, which
food to serve, what her dress should look like and other such things.
That night a dark, mysterious stranger came
to town. No one saw him for everyone was asleep. Slowly the mysterious stranger
walked up to the night guard.
"Can I help you, sir?" said the guard.
"Yes," said the stranger in a soft, but harsh
voice, "you can tell me where Count Von Roo is."
"Oh, there's a Von Roo here, sir," replied the
guard chuckling, "but he's not a Count."
"My mistake," replied the stranger, "can you
tell me where Von Roo lives then."
"Yes, I can, sir," the guard said, "right down
the road, the house has a sign in front. You can't miss it."
The stranger paused and looked around. "What
are all the decorations for?"
The guard beamed and said, "That is for Von
Roo's wedding next week."
The stranger's head snapped up. He asked in
a surprised voice, "Who is he to wed?"
"Miss Elisa," said the guard, "a fine woman
she is. She'll be good for Von Roo, never seen him happier."
"Thank you for your help," said the stranger.
"Just doing my job," the guard said modestly.
"There is one more thing you can do for me,"
said the stranger, he took a step closer to the guard.
"What's that?" The guard was becoming nervous
now, this stranger frightened him. Why did he want to know where Von Roo lived
anyway? "I have traveled far," said the stranger, "and I am quite...hungry."
The stranger continued to edge towards the guard.
"I-I can d-direct you t-to an all n-night t-tavern,"
stuttered the guard. Why was he so afraid of this stranger? Was it the odd feeling
the stranger gave him? What made him so scared? Soon the guard was standing
under the dim light of a street lamp.
The stranger continued to come closer, soon
his face was visible in the dim light. The guard could make out blood red eyes,
these gave evil glares that seemed to pierce into one's soul. Around the strangers
shoulder flowed a black cape, actually all the stranger's clothes were black,
this is how he blended in with the night. Then the stranger grinned, two sharp
teeth flashed in the light.
The guard backed up into the wall. "Y-y-you're
one of t-them!!!"
"Yes," said the stranger, his thick accent coming
through. The stranger kept approaching the terrified guard. Suddenly the stranger
seized the guard and was upon him like a ravenous wolf. When the stranger stood
up, the guard was dead, two puncture wounds clearly visible on his neck.
"Thank you for your help," said the stranger
to the dead guard. Then the stranger turned and began to walk down the street
to Von Roo's house..."
"What's he gonna do?" asked OceanDemoness42.
"Will he kill Von Roo?" asked Apolla22.
"Of course not!" said XelaZimBareen
"Yeah," said SpiritoftheOcean, "why would we
have to keep our windows closed at night? Because of Von Roo!"
"Go on with the story," urged Apolla22.
"Well," I said, "the stranger continued to Von
Roo's house. Von Roo, of course, had no idea of the danger he was in......
"Von Roo, you lucky Blumaroo," Von Roo said
to himself, "next week you marry the most beautiful girl in the town." Von Roo
stood in front of the mirror, examining his reflection.
Suddenly there was a rustling, the sound of
a window being forced open, then nothing. Von Roo looked around. "Is someone
there?" he asked. There was no answer. "Is someone there?" Von Roo asked, a
little louder this time. Again, no answer.
"Ah," said a voice, "Von Roo, at last we meet."
Von Roo whipped around and saw a stranger standing
behind him. Why had Von Roo not seen his reflection in the mirror? How odd.
"What do you want," asked Von Roo, "are you here to rob me?"
The stranger was clad in black, his eyes were
deep red and his voice had a thick accent. "In a way...yes," replied the stranger,
"but not of any material goods. I am here to rob you of your life!"
"So," said Von Roo, "you mean to kill me."
"No," said the stranger, "not kill you."
Von Roo was confused. "But you just said..."
"I know what I said!" snapped the stranger,
"And I know what you thought I meant. Tell me, do these teeth mean anything
to you?" The stranger flashed his teeth, the two sharp ones clearly visible.
Von Roo gasped and jumped back against the wall.
"You're a..."
"Vampire," the stranger finished.
To be continued... | 
