Summary: After you fully recover from being sold at auction, your new master, Beaumont, has invited you to dinner. As you dine with him, you learn more about Beaumont and the new world you find yourself in, rife with intrigue and corruption. Your master seems just as kind as he did when you first spoke…and the longer you talk, the more you find yourself warming to him. Unfortunately, your time will soon be cut short, as an unexpected threat looms...

Characters:

• CHARLES - Butler at the Beaumont Mansion. Very proud of his job.
• ZACHARIAH BEAUMONT - Vampire; head of the Beaumont Clan. Kind and humble. Believes that humans should not be enslaved, and that vampires should only subsist off donated blood. Lovell’s biggest rival, and a thorn in his side.

CW: descriptions of human trafficking, slavery, and political corruption

Usage:

• OK to record & monetize, as long as you give me credit in the video/audio description as the scriptwriter! I would also love to listen to the recording when it’s done–please send me the link on Reddit! Paywalling is okay; however, if you paywall, you must make it possible for me to listen to the finished product.
• Gender-flipping and small tweaks are okay, but no large edits are permitted.
• Feel free to use music or insert sound effects if you’d like. Any sound effects given are suggestions–use at your discretion. *Sound effects in bold, set apart by asterisks\*
• Any dialogue or reactions given by the Listener are purely for the benefit of the VA, to help them feel like they have something to respond to while they’re acting. Listener reactions in italics.
• Please let me know if you have any questions!

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\Sound effect–door opening\**

CHARLES: Excuse me, Mr. B. The lovely Miss Nightingale, as you requested.

\Sound effect–scraping chair, as Beaumont stands up\**

BEAUMONT: Good evening, Nightingale. I’m glad to see you’re up and about. How are you feeling?...

The Listener says they’re feeling much better.

BEAUMONT: That’s good to hear. Would you like to join me?

The Listener nods.

BEAUMONT: Wonderful. Allow me.

\Sound effect–scraping chair/sitting down\**

BEAUMONT: Are you hungry, my dear? \to Charles** What’s on the menu tonight, Charles?

CHARLES: Shepherd’s pie, my lord, served with brown butter peas, and peach cobbler for dessert.

BEAUMONT: Ah, yes; Maryanne’s specialty. Does that sound good to you, Nightingale? Excellent. Would you mind bringing some for her, Charles?

CHARLES: Not at all, Mr. B. I’ll have it up in a jiffy.

BEAUMONT: Thank you.

\Sound effect—door closing, as Charles leaves\**

The Listener looks at him curiously. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

BEAUMONT: Hmm? Oh, no—I’m alright. Sadly, mortal food is tasteless to us, and I wouldn’t want to spoil your appetite by drinking my true source of sustenance in front of you. Don’t worry about me–-I’ll be fine.

\Sound effect—door opening\**

CHARLES: Here you are, Miss. \Sound effect—clinking of plates\** If there’s anything else you need, just say the word.

“Thank you.”

CHARLES: My pleasure, Miss. Please enjoy!

\Sound effect—door closing\**

The Listener looks at him sheepishly. “I feel bad, making them go to all that trouble, just for me.”

BEAUMONT: Oh, no; don’t feel bad. You should have seen Maryanne’s face—she was positively thrilled to have someone else to cook for. When your master is a member of the undead, there’s not much occasion for fancy meals.

\Sound effect–clinking of utensils, as the Listener eats\**

“If you don’t prey on people for blood…how do you get it?”

BEAUMONT: How do I get my meals, then? For centuries, we—my clan, I mean—we’ve managed to get by with donated blood. Yes; from willing donors. Maryanne and Charles, for instance—they’ve supported us for years. There have been no blood slaves in our house in centuries, and as long as I am head of the clan, by our Lady of Night, there never will be.

“You keep saying that. What does that mean? Who’s the Lady of Night?”

BEAUMONT: The Lady of Night? Oh–she’s the closest thing we vampires have to a deity. Her real name was Lilith. According to legend, she was one of the first vampires, a member of the original Council of Night.

“Are you on the Council?”

BEAUMONT: Yes. I’m on the current Council, along with the leaders of the other four clans.

“Lovell…wait…I think he mentioned that he was on the Council, back when…”

BEAUMONT: Oh, Lovell told you that he was on the Council? \bitter laugh** I wish I could say I’m surprised. He never misses a chance to flaunt his power. His clan is by far the most influential of the five…and the most brutal. They believe that humans are chattel, good for nothing more than slave labor and blood. But we Beaumonts believe that all creatures in this world are equal. Humans have just as much right to live as we do, or as anyone does.

“If he’s so powerful, then how did you manage to outbid him?”

BEAUMONT: If he’s so powerful, how did I manage to save you from his clutches? Have you heard of the Right of Vasile?

The Listener shakes their head.

BEAUMONT: It’s an ancient tradition among vampires. Long ago, Lilith—our Lady of Night–-fell in love with a mortal, a man named Vasile. However, their match was met with hostility by the rest of the Council. They feared that a love match between a vampire and a human would undermine the superiority of the vampiric race…so they had Vasile killed. When Lady Lilith found out, she demanded recompense. The Council agreed to grant her one wish as payment for her beloved’s death—she could demand one thing from the Council, anything, and if it was within their power, they would grant it. This then became a tradition amongst vampires—the Right of Vasile says that, if someone offends you, you can demand one favor of them. As long as it’s within their power, they must agree to it, in order for their debt to be considered paid. Lovell had wronged me, so according to our tradition, I had the right to demand something from him in return.

“You could have demanded anything? Then…why not demand that he leave the Council?”

BEAUMONT: I don’t know. Maybe, if I’d thought more clearly about it, I could have demanded that he step down from the Council, or something similar. I just wasn’t thinking—when I saw you up there on the stage, fighting as hard as you could…despite being caged, drugged, injured, you were still fighting, like a lone flame in the rain, refusing to go out. I couldn’t bear to think of Lovell snuffing out your light. My—my only thought was to get you out of there, any way I could.

He and the Listener stare at each other for a long moment.

BEAUMONT: \clears his throat** Er-–excuse me.

“What did Lovell do to you, that you could invoke the Right?”

BEAUMONT: Hmm? What did Lovell do to me? He…he was responsible for my father’s death. My father had been pushing for the Council to outlaw blood slavery. Even though others wanted to agree, a glare from Lovell was all it took to make them vote against it. Then, he decided to punish my father for trying to stand up to him. Ordinarily, such an offense would have been enough to strip Lovell of his seat on the Council…but the other families were too afraid, as usual.

“I’m so sorry, Zach.”

BEAUMONT: Thank you. I’m sorry—here I am, rambling on, when you never asked to hear about my problems to begin with.

“I don’t mind. Really.”

BEAUMONT: You don’t mind? That’s very kind of you. Thank you, Nightingale.

“Is there anything I can do?”

BEAUMONT: Is there anything you can do? No, but—just the fact that you would ask means a lot to me. And…what about you, my dear? What was your life like, before you were on that stage?

The Listener explains.

BEAUMONT: Ah…you and your family lived on the streets, then? Stealing and scraping an existence where you could, just the few of you. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but don’t humans usually band together for safety? Why couldn’t you—? Of course…your scent. You had to keep moving, or else something would surely have found you…if not a vampire, then some other undead.

The Listener continues their story.

BEAUMONT: Hmm? You managed to get by, until your sister was injured? \realizes** Oh…I see. So that’s why you were alone. With your sister unable to travel…you split off from your family, in order to keep them safe. Nightingale…I’m so sorry. Do you know where they are now? Perhaps I could send a message, let them know that you’re—

The Listener shakes their head, saying it wouldn’t be safe.

BEAUMONT: No—you’re right. With Lovell watching us, it wouldn’t be safe. After you already risked everything, I wouldn’t want to put them in more danger. That was incredibly courageous of you, Nightingale. Not many would be brave enough to do what you did. I…I can’t tell you how much I admire that. You are a remarkable woman.

Pause.

BEAUMONT: Um…well, did you enjoy your meal? Wonderful. Maryanne will be delighted. You know...it's a beautiful night. The moonflowers are in full bloom this time of year. If you’d like, maybe we could—

Suddenly, the Listener sees something over his shoulder—a shadow in the window. Beaumont notices the Listener’s expression, immediately turns around, his tone growing serious.

BEAUMONT: What is it?

“I thought I saw something at the window.”

BEAUMONT: You saw something at the window? A shadow?

“Wait…do you smell that?”

BEAUMONT: Do I smell that? \sniffs** Wait…you’re right. Ugh, it’s foul…what the hell? \has a sudden thought** No…surely not.

\Sound effect–scraping chair\**

"What is it!?"

BEAUMONT: I don’t know. Hopefully I’m wrong, but if I’m not…we may have company. I need to investigate. Go back to your room, and lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone until you hear my voice on the other side; do you understand?

The Listener nods.

BEAUMONT: Hopefully we’re both just imagining things, but given the circumstances…I need to be sure. I’m sorry to cut our time short. I’ll find you later, alright.

“Be safe, Zach.”

BEAUMONT: Be safe? \touched by her concern** Thank you, Nightingale. You, too.