Celestial Clans: The vampire prince's origin

Friends in high places

The flight from Romania to New York had taken almost 12 hours but he had arrived safely. He booked a local flight south from New York to Georgia as soon as he landed, he wanted to see his friend in Atlanta before finally heading home, and it was going to be a home for him and a baby from now on.

Eric with the baby now in a closed carrier to replace the fancy cot he had been using earlier walked out of the taxi and headed straight for the front gate. He stopped at the gate for a while knowing full well that it would automatically be swinging open soon, the camera at the front gate meant his friend knew he was standing at the gate almost immediately he stood there. He turned to the camera smiled at it and then waved. The gate swung open immediately and he walked it quickly and headed straight for the front door of the large mansion. He stepped in and was shocked to see Michael Callahan already waiting for him and embracing him for some seconds immediately he stepped into the building.

“You and your wife decided to get off the grid totally Eric, I could not get to you once this entire time. A whole year away from the Guild is a very long time.” Michael said and then they shook hands. A firm handshake with nothing but pure respect for each other that was visible on both men’s faces. “When did you get back into the country and why haven’t you flown straight home to get some rest Eric. You really need some rest.” Michael said stubbornly as he led his friend through a door just few steps from the main entrance and into his small study just at the very entrance to the mansion. He had a lot of studies scattered around the mansion so he could always have his conversations behind closed doors and keep them private. He knew Eric would never come to see him after missing his own wife’s burial except there was an important reason.

“I hope the ceremony for her burial went well? I left it to you because I knew you could do it perfectly. Organizing things was always something you could do with that calm grace you always have.” Eric said and both men laughed. They were the only two hunters from the Vanguard hunting family bloodlines in their year of graduation from the Hunters Guild Academy and they had grown close because of that. They were rivals at first but after spending so much time with each other and noticing their individual strengths and weaknesses they had grown to respect themselves and even become best friends. While Eric had chosen to fight from the frontlines and go on missions so he could hone his abilities and become one of the greatest hunters in his generation, Michael had gone into administration within the Guild and like his friend he had climbed through the ranks quickly. Michael was young but was already the Deputy Director of the Hunters Guild globally. He had access to all the information within the Guild, gave orders binding all the numerous Guild bases round the world, thought of strategies for missions and even controlled who was given which exact mission. Everyone in the Guild believed it was only just a matter of time before Michael Callahan became the Director; he had a powerful and famous family name within the Guild just like Eric. The Callahan’s and the Cacciatore’s over the ages had achieved stupendous feats on behalf of the Guild, even among the Vanguard families their families were respected and revered. They had both brought more fame to their already famous families over the past years and had remained best of friends. Michael sat opposite Eric with his hands crossed across his chest and his eyes peering into those of his friend’s, searching and probing for answers to his questions on his friends face even before asking anything.

“The burial went perfectly well Eric, I was the one you left in charge so it was expected.” Michael said with a cheeky smile that drew a laugh from Eric. “So what exactly brought you back here so soon and to my home just few days after you couldn’t attend her burial?” Michael asked obviously still unhappy that Eric had missed his own wife’s burial.

“I was depressed and hurting Mike, you have to forgive me for making you handle the burial. I am really sorry about that. There is something else that made me decide to meet you immediately I got back from Europe; it’s actually the reason I came back in such haste.” Eric explained

“What is this thing that happened in Romania?” Michael asked directly and smiled at the shocked expression on his friend’s face. “It’s my duty to know the whereabouts of hunters in the Guild, don’t be so surprised that I knew you were in Bucharest Eric.” He added and both men laughed noisily this time. Michael felt relieved seeing Eric laugh freely, something was occupying his mind and making him move past his grief and that made the Deputy Director happy.

“It was not a thing that happened in Romania Mike, It was a person.” Eric said as he opened up the closed carriage he had been carrying around effortlessly since he left the airport earlier. Michael leaned in to peek; he was curious about what was really going on here and was so surprised when he saw the baby sleeping peacefully and without any fuss in the now open carriage. “I have decided to adopt a son and I want your help with certain specific and official problems. The most important thing is for him to be registered with the Guild as my actual son and given the Cacciatore name.” Eric said looking into his friend’s eyes.

“You want me to falsify records? Why do you need to do that? He can still bear your name and receive all your wealth even without being validated by the Hunters Guild.” Michael said calmly but curiously.

“I want him to grow with the Guild and have all the privileges attached with being from a Vanguard family Michael, you know what it means.” Eric replied looking at his son and smiling up at Michael.

“You are sure you are not being driven by grief or guilt at the moment? You have to be sure you are ready for this, its serious responsibility” Michael asked scratching his head. “You know even if we falsify his bloodlines on paper, sooner or later the Hunter rituals will expose it all. The deception won’t last long Eric.” He added

“I know what I am doing Mike, just trust me like you’ve always done.” Eric said with a fire of conviction burning in his eyes.

“You know I trust you, you know I totally trust you. I am doing this for Alice, she would want you to heal, love and have passion for someone else again. I am happy to help you out just this once.” Michael said as he leaned over and shook hands with his friend again. He considered Eric his brother; he was ready to be an uncle as well whenever he was called upon to be one.