//------------------------------//
// What Was Best Left Unsaid 
// Story: Trials of Vladamir 
// by Rennoc215 
//------------------------------//

	White. That was the first thing Vladamir saw. He blinked a couple times, clearing his vision. Tile. Ceiling tile. That's what is above him. So i'm not dead yet. He thought with a smile. He stretched his neck, and looked down at his legs. They were bound in a faint blue aura, powered by aan exhausted looking unicorn doctor.

The doctor looked up, and, upon seeing Vlad awake, called out for help. Vlad frowned. "Why do you call for help? Are you tired, doctor?" Vlad leaned up, and looked sternly at the doctor. "Doctor, please. Release me. I know what I am, but I will also say this: When I give my word, I intend to keep it. So I will say this now. Release me doctor. No harm shall come to you."

The doctor shook his head no, and then called again for help. Vlad sighed, and laid his head down. He looked back, and noticed that his cloak had been removed, standing him bare against the blankets. "Doctor, can I make a request? It doesn't have to do with freeing me, or me escaping. Can you at least cover my mark? I don't like having it show, that's why I kept my cape with me. And seeing that my only worldly belonging has now been taken from me, can I at least have some comfort?"

The doctor grunted, and pushed the blanket over Vlad, with much effort. Vlad sighed, and just decided to wait it out. Little did he know that the wait would be shorter than he expected.

Not five minutes later, Twilight stepped in. "Thank you, Doctor Band-aid." she said, taking Vlad in her magical grip. The doctor took a sigh of relief, and trudged out of the room. Twilight turned to Vlad, who wore a cocky smile.

"Finally, somepony who I can reason with!" Vlad said with a laugh. "Now, May I have my cape, miss Sparkle?" She only stared him down, causing him to sigh. "I take it that's a no, then. Fine, be like that. At least I saved a life today. And thanks for giving me some blood. But AB? Really? It's so... sludgy compared to O."

Twilight met his banter with silence, causing him to smile. "Silent treatment, huh? Fine, two can play at that game."

A light knocking came from the door. "Twilly? you sent for me?" called a stalion from beyond.

Twilight smiled widely, and called out, "Come in." Through the door stepped a tall white stallion in royal guard armor stepped in. "Hi Shining. This pony here," She guestured with her hoof, "is known as Vladamir. He just so happens to be the Haemomage you have been looking for."

Vlad struggled a bit. "I'm sorry, but this is not the Haemomage you are looking for." He said, flashing a smile.

Twilight's glare could melt steel. Her expression softened as she turned back to Shining. "I wanted you so that you can take him to the princess. She told me to be on the lookout for him, and so I was."

Shining raised an eyebrow. "And how did you catch him? Supposedly, they are really hard to catch."

Vlad spoke up, interrupting Twilight. "Saving my friend, actually. And, by coincidence, you might know her. Her name is Rarity? Wonderful mare, works at the Carousel Boutique?"

Shining turned to Twilight. "How did she get in a situation where she would need his help."

"An assassin, sent by the pofia. She hadn't paid the fee for a few months now, and so they finally came to collect, in money or in blood. They probably only meant to seriously injure, but the way she was falling would have killed her." Vlad interrupted again.

Shining turned back to Vlad. "And where is this assassin?" he inquired, his voice layered with anger.

"Dead... I... Let my bloodlust get the best of me." Vlad said, his voice withering away.

Shining sighed, then turned to Twilight. "And what condition is Rarity in?"

Twilight perked up at this. "Actually, she is being released today. She seemed to be in perfect health, aside from the trauma of falling two stories. Nothing broken, as if something caught her..." She turned and eyed Vlad suspiciously.

Vlad rolled his eyes. "Oh, is it really that hard to believe? Yes, let me put it in your terms: The villain saved the damsel in distress." Vlad shook his shoulders, since he couldn't move his feet.

The door creaked open. "Miss Sparkle? Somepony is requesting to see Vladamir. Should I let them through?" Twilight cocked her head, but nodded. Shortly after, the door opened farther, and a pale white unicorn walked in.

Vladamir smiled. "Rarity, dear! How have you been? Recovering well?" He looked about her frame, checking to see if there were any lingering wounds, but he felt his eyes drawn to her saddlebags.

"Fine, fine. I have a cut that won't stop bleeding, but other than that, I'm fine. Had you not gotten there in time, I might have died!" She gasped. "But look at you! I hate to say it, but your cape does make you look better." Vlad looked down, obviously still hurting over the loss of his cape. "Which is why I brought you something to cheer you up."

Twilight stepped towards Rarity, who was opening her saddlebag. "Rarity don't!" She called out, but it was too late. From her saddlebag, she drew his cape, causing him to gasp with joy. She floated it over to him, and he smiled.

"Rarity dear, you have no idea how happy you have made me." He said, closing his eyes. Twilight reached for the cape with her telekinesis, but watched in horror as Vladamir opened his eyes. "Nopony takes my cape without my permission." He said, eyes flaring with their red glow. His cape vaporized, the red cloud flying out to Twilight, pushing her away. Before anypony could react, the cloud engulfed Twilight. "Now. Release me." He commanded.

Rarity could only watch in horror as the cloud densed around Twilight, who was refusing to free him. Vlad frowned, and pulled the cloud off of her. "what am I doing? Yesterday, I would have counted her among my friends..." A wicked smile came across his face. "Fine then. All it will take is a simple tap." He said, balling up the blood, and slamming it into the side of Twilight's head.

She hit the floor with a sickening crack, completely knocked out. The aura faded from her horn, and Vlad was dropped back onto the bed. The cloud re-formed into a cape, and vlad was about to jump the coop when he noticed Twilight was bleeding. "Buck," he cursed under his breath. Shining armor charged him when he noticed Vlad moving in on his sister, so Vlad put up his cape as a fine blood mist shield.

Vlad kneeled down beside Twilight and rolled her over. Thankfully, it was just a small cut in her eyebrow, something that would heal up quickly, if given a helping push. Vlad focused, and watched the pooled blood begin to clot quickly, creating the protective barrier of a scab. His ears perked up as he heard the door slam open, Shining running out into the hall, calling for re-inforcements, which made Vlad smile. Good, I need the practice, he thought to himself.

"You're... you... but..." Rarity stammered, finally shaking out of her stupor.

Vlad winced. The revelation was always the hardest part. "Yes, I am the Haemomage. Yes, I saved you, yes, I nocked out our friend, and yes, now I have to go." He breathed in, hoping that went better than he thought it had. Rarity only stood there, looking at him, for a few minutes. He walked up, and kissed her brow. "Goodbye, my friend." he said, before slinking out of the room.

He turned to walk out, when he saw the group of guards. "Element of magic can't even contain me. What do you think you can do? Use the elements of force?" He cackled, and pawed the ground. "Go ahead then. Contain me." he taunted.

The guards roared in frustration, and they charged him. He smiled, and waited for them to just be there, before sinking into the ground. The guards stopped, and looked around in confusion, not noticing the thin stream of blood flowing beneath their hooves.