Author's note: This is a conversation between Richter and Emma after the latter scared off a pack of vampires. It takes place two years before the events of Nocturne.
I swear, some days I wonder if I made the mistake of not letting those vampires eat him five years ago. Emma thought to herself disgruntled leading her several times great nephew and several times great granddaughter back home. Ironically with her great granddaughter, she would leave the scolding to her mother. Tera would give it worse than she could ever achieve.
Once Emma left Maria to the wrath of mother, Emma pushed Richter. "You. Come with me. Now." She was very thankful Richter was at least smart enough not to question her or complain, else she'd smack him with the flat end of her sword.
They sat together at the edge of the lake, the dawning sun slowly rising over the trees. "You didn't need to save us." Richter said after minutes of silence. "We had everything under control."
Emma only gazed out onto the shimmering lake water, appearing as calm and serene as a monk in the mountains. She was using every bit of her self control not to throw this stupid kid in the lake, remembering her breathing exercises. When she finally spoke, not a trace of anger was in her smooth, kindly voice.
"You're right, I didn't need to save you, because you shouldn't have gone after them in the first place."
Richter stared at his wandering guardian as if she lost her mind. "You're joking. Emma those vampires were roving the streets looking for blood, I saw the hunger in their eyes, four people were killed."
"The town was warned ahead of time they would be coming." Emma countered. "I made sure of that, so did Tera and Amalie. That was a roving band, they pass through looking for food and go on their way. Like wolves. They wouldn't have stuck around, until you and Maria had the gall to attack and kill two of their pack."
"They killed four people!"
"Four people who were foolish enough to ignore the warnings. That was on them. It could have been worse, it certainly would have been if I hadn't stepped in once they set their rage on you. Those vampires would've killed you and Maria out of vengeance, and if they were wrathful enough, remained until the entire town was drained dry.Vampires only kill for two reasons; for food and for revenge. We both know better than anyone."
Emma saw the color fade from Richter's face at the mention of revenge. She touched his hand, her calming power transferred into his body. Her glyphs pricked unseen beneath her sleeves.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean....." Emma released a long, exhausted sigh. "You can't always save everyone Richter. It's hard medicine to swallow, but it's the truth. Especially since you're the last known Belmont. The world needs you."
Emma felt Richter clutch her hand, like when he was a child. Emma took it. "I need you too. You're my family. You, Maria, and Tera. I'd keep everything to keep you all safe. You're everything in the world to me." Also Juste and Amalie, but he doesn't need to know that yet.
"I'm sorry Emma. I'll think better next time."
"You better." Emma growled. "Don't go looking for trouble if you can't handle it. Especially don't drag Maria into it." Her tone lightened, and she gave him an amused look. " I can't always be around to save your ass."
"We were doing fine Em!"
"Sure you were." Emma chuffed. " If it had been two or three of them I know you would've held your own just fine. Six? Yeah....you needed backup, and Maria's creatures don't count."
"So you admit it. We are capable of fighting vampires."
"You are, but don't get cocky." Emma grunted, watching the sun rise over the hill, her golden hair seemingly trapping its light. To Richter his aunt looked angelic, ethereally beautiful, and it always confused him why she never took another husband when many men of the town watched her smitten. "When you get to be my age, you don't want to deal with the heartbreak again." She had answered when he asked. Confused the hell outta him, she was younger than Tera and closer to his age.
In fact, Emma hadn't aged in the seven years he'd known her, which only supported his theory.
"You're beautiful." Richter complimented.
"Thank you Richter." Emma responded touched.
" You're welcome. I mean you are very beautiful. The way the sunlight is hitting you, you look like a goddess."
"Thank you." Emmaline smiled with a faded blush. "You're sweet."
"You know." Richter nudged. "It's almost unnatural how beautiful you are."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Richter crossed his arms. "Years ago you told me there was more to you than meets the eye, and when I was twelve, you claimed there were forces of good out to help me, that you were one of them. I didn't understand what you meant until after years of observing you. How you don't age, how you fight, that levitating whistling trick with your sword. I suspect it fully now."
"Suspect what?" Her sharp golden eyes narrowed on him.
"You've got vampire in you."
The shock in Emma's face startled him. Her eyes widened like the sun before maintaining her calm figure.
"Oh my God.....you truly are..."
"Part vampire? Yes." Emma admitted, nonchalant as usual. "On my father's side."
"I bloody knew it."
"Really?" Emma blinked like a cat. "And you never told me you caught on, why?"
"I wasn't sure until now." Richter answered quite proud of himself. "You're not all human, that's a definite. Your pointed canines, the way you move swiftly and hiss when disturbed. All traits of a vampiric nature."
"You're very observant." Emma said, surprisingly feeling relieved. " But don't go around blabbing about it. Vampires are not looked fondly upon, and someone who has vampire blood. in them....well .....the spry young men of the town wouldn't look upon me as fondly if they knew."
"I promise I won't breathe a word." Richter swore. " For the record you're the best thing to come from a vampire."
"Thanks Richter."
"And I promise I won't kill your father unless he harms you."
"My what!?" Emma exclaimed bewildered. No way he could've figured that out. Did Tera tell him? No! He still believes I'm just his aunt, but how the frick did he-!?
"The scowling vampire always following you around. Your so called confidant and familiar? Well he's familiar to you all right. There's only one reason why a vampire would stick around someone for something other than a sustainable meal."
"You think Vance is my-!?" Emma couldn't help erupt into laughter. She laughed like her father, and not at all like her protector. "Vance isn't my father! He's my family alright, but there's no blood shared. He came into my family's service when I was a baby. My parents made him swear a binding oath to protect me and to never bring me harm. At the time, he would've killed me otherwise, but our relationship has grown much since then, and he has changed."
Emma patted Richter's back. "In a way you're right. He has become like a second father to me, and I, his daughter. We've traveled the world together, and he's always been there with me, he's really my best friend."
"Only because of an oath to protect you." Richter noted sourly. "Like a dog leashed to its master."
"Yes....." Emma responded guilty. "My parents forced him to bind himself to my service on the threat of death. They made him my slave and I hated it. I was furious at them when I found out the truth years later but I understand them now. Parents will do whatever they can to protect their child.I told Vance over the years he didn't need to stand by me. Many times I tried sending him off, but he never left my side. The oath isn't what's keeping him with me now." At least I hope.
Richter rubbed Emma's back. "He hasn't sunk his teeth into you or anyone else, and that's all what matters to me."
"He's a vampire, Richter. He still needs to eat." Emma warned. "He's just more selective with his food. He lives off animal blood for the majority of it, and the occasional bandit or criminal. He's in better control of his instincts than most vampires, but he's still a vampire, so don't bother him when he's hungry or feeding. Even I leave him alone."
Emma shifted her foot, shaking her hair like a lion in the sunlight. "You'll know my father if you see him. Trust me. We're the spitting image of each other."
"Why wasn't he with you all this time?"
"He's stuck in the past." Emma shrugged. "Can't let go of it the way Mom or I could. I still love him of course, and he did give me his sword." She whistled and it swung out of its scabbard on the ground, floating in front of her.
"I'll tell you this." She grabbed the floating sword and sheathed it in its scabbard. "If you ever do meet my father, not only will you see where I get my good looks from, but you'll also know shit's serious, because he never leaves his home."