Training

*** DISCLAIMER – THIS BLOG IS FICTION AND THE AUTHOR IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE ACTION OF ANYONE WHO PERSISTS IN THINKING IT IS NOT FICTION ***

I didn’t think I would enjoy training, as I am not the most enthusiastic fencer.  I have kept it up because it is my duty and The Sport of Old Vampires, so an interest must be taken.

This is the first time I have ever taken part in a fence.  My husband had a few fences before his disappearance; I trained with him before that happened.  Afterwards I had to find other partners and my interest waned.  Fencing without him was not the same.

Until now, I could still discuss fencing with the best of them, but my practice was sporadic and interest fleeting.  My trainer Gerhardt has changed all this.

He has sent me home with books to read.  It’s been many centuries since I was given homework and I am finding it difficult.

If it were not for my servant Jane encouraging me and plying me with drinks, I would not be able to do homework at all.  I persevere, and my fencing is showing improvement.

I have trained for eight hours a night without a break while sleeping in the day.  Physical exertion does not exhaust us as it does humans; but we are always careful to pretend it does.

Sleeping in the day has reinvigorated me; I did not realise how much working in the daytime exhausted me.

Thankfully there are no meetings of The Committee until after the fence, although I still have to handle my usual business.

Adele has offered to help with The Committee, but I had to decline as it is not good for an Obligator to know any more of your business than you can help.

My servant Jane has come up with the idea that I take breaks from homework to sort Committee business out.  This is working well and I’m making progress in both areas.

Glossary

Bonded Wedding Old Vampire marriage for political reasons

Common Status the point at where an Old Vampire becomes a real Vampire

Debutante Vampires before Dracula came out, vampires who had been newly turned vampire were taught the rules of society.  They then “came out” when they were deemed presentable to vampire society as debutantes.  They are the only Old Vampires who have a zero level of Status and are acceptable.

The Committee see The Committee to Regulate Non-Human Activity

The Committee to Regulate Non-Human Activity a committee that meets monthly and talks about affairs to do with werewolves, vampires and humans

Fence an Old Vampire fight in which they fight to the first blood using fencing

The Hunters see Vampire Hunters

Negatives Old Vampires with zero or negative points of Status.

New Vampires vampires who do not want to be Old Vampires, often live as Goths and hold down jobs.  This started after Dracula came out.

Notice the Status Keeper serves a Notice on an Old Vampire whose Status has reduced to zero that they are in danger of becoming a Negative

Obligation when one vampire is under an obligation from another s/he has to do as they say

Old Vampires vampires who are polite society.  Either turned vampire before Dracula came out or were turned after by an Old Vampire and decided to join the Old Vampires.

Parent the vampire who brought you up (if you are an Old Vampire) in polite society

Shun a vampire who has committed a sex crime is shunned on their release

Sire the vampire who made you a vampire

Status a ranking system which denotes whether you are an acceptable member of Old Vampire society, which is if you have plus points of status.  See Negatives and Thousands

Status Keeper the Old Vampire in charge of the Status points

Thousands Old Vampires whose Status is over a hundred points

Vampire Hunters New vampires who hunt down those vampires who have committed crimes

Vampire Servants servants who are vampires themselves.  Mostly Old Vampires, one of their functions is to repeat information and gossip to the Old Vampires they serve