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“How can anyone stand to live in a place like this?” said Victor.

“What do you mean?” said David. “I find it terribly charming here. So much beauty and history rolled together for all to admire, even in the small hours of the night.”

“...Prince David, sir, are you secretly a vampire?”

The Prince just chortled.

“You didn’t lure me here just to kill me, right?” said Victor.

“Of course not, my dear boy. I have to feed you and fatten you up, first.”

Now Victor laughed. “Hold on. I thought vampires only drank blood.”

“Ah, yes. Well, perhaps I’m trying something new.”

Eventually, they arrived at the Embassy. It was a comparatively modest set of chambers, including an office, a small meeting room, and then David’s private quarters in back.

He’d seen much more extravagant accommodations given to other countries’ representatives, but he could not complain. Nor did he wish to. These were just about perfect for him. Anything more would have been a waste of space, he felt. Perhaps Vito might have preferred a bit more room so that he didn’t have to sleep on the fold-out couch in the office, but if so, the young man had been keeping those feelings to himself, even at David’s prodding.

David directed Victor to the office, where the boy could use the computers as he pleased, once David logged in for him. The Prince wasn’t concerned about Victor seeing any sensitive information on there, because he’d barely been using those devices. He much preferred his personal tablet and government-issued phone.

He stayed with the kid for a while longer and continued to chat, then retired to his bedroom. It was still far too early in the day for sleep, but there was plenty of news to scroll through on the internet.

He didn’t get the chance, however, because just as he was going to sit down on his bed, the ground shook with such force that he practically fell on top of it, instead.

David sat up in a rush, attempting to make sense of what had just happened. An earthquake? Andayel didn’t get earthquakes.

He moved to stand, but then another tremor arrived, not quite as strong as the last one but still enough to give him pause.

Not more than a few moments later, he saw Vito in the open doorway. “Lord Prince, are you alright?!”

“I’m absolutely fine, Vito, but thank you for your concern. Do you have any idea what’s going on?”