Chapter 44. Book of the Vlads

Even though he was not used to keeping such late hours, and desperately needed some more sleep, Zhang was still the first to rise. The sun was glaring, but it still was not very high on the horizon. To him, though, it seemed like mid-morning because he had always been an early riser. He maneuvered his aging limbs towards the kitchen to see if he could rustle up something to eat. 

It was a little strange being the only one who ate out of the entire company he was keeping in this house, but Dracula was very accommodating and would have more than enough food for him to feast on. Dracula was very kind and respectful of Zhang because the two had a shared interest in magic. 

Zhang’s connection to Dracula was stronger than that, though. As Zhang opened the cupboard to get out a cup, he came across an athame in the apothecary section of the kitchen. Zhang remembered this athame. He fashioned it for Dracula when the vampire was a fledgling. 

Over the years, Zhang lo