Hearing

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

I have not been writing for some months now due to my time being taken up by my divorce.

When the hearing started, at first glance Jeremy was perfectly dressed and his representatives carried themselves off so well in the witness box that I was worried.

My representatives did well, but this is the first time any Old Vampire has asked for a divorce and unless there are good reasons for such a divorce then Henry, who is the Judge for my case will refuse me one.

It was my turn to outline my reasons for a divorce; namely that Jeremy does not behave as a husband should.

I had kept the note where he had informed he had gone to “find himself” and it was upon Henry’s receipt of that note that Jeremy began to break down.

He started shaking and denying the evidence, whereupon Henry asked for a handwriting sample which matched the note.

When I outlined the levels to which I had sunk so that I had to sell my castle Jeremy was screaming that it was my gambling habit and not his lack of money that had led me to sell the castle and Henry had him removed from court.

I admitted the gambling habit but was able to provide evidence of the many debtor’s letters which had arrived after Jeremy had left.

There was a discontented rumble around the court at this.  Other Old Vampires have been known to disappear for a few months on an extended holiday, but they always wrap their affairs up beforehand.

Henry received my evidence, sent out to obtain any evidence from Jeremy and summed up by saying that he would look into the case and meanwhile we were not to have any contact with each other.

Unlike the human courts, our Judges personally investigate.

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

The Ruler’s Men people employed by The Ruler to do anything she or he asks

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

Walk into the sun a euphemism for suicide