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mymind--themess · 6 years

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Terms of Entrapment -- Chapter Two

West Oxfordshire, England

Atop a hill the evening prior, an older woman in her late thirties slowly approached the large, pristine, deep oak double doors of a mansion she hadn’t visited since twenty years prior, alongside a man who appeared no older than twenty. The woman was dressed in the clothing of a kalderash gypsy women. Her skirt was an intricate pattern of red and white that went just above the green grass and hung about her waist, flowing in the wind as small, golden, metallic beads weighted on her hips. Her top matched the skirt in pattern, stopping at a centimeter above her skirt with long sleeves akin to the sleeves of a kimono. Her ebony hair was pulled back and hidden under a white shawl that adorned her head, although there were a few strands of hair, here and there, framed her petite face.

The male was dressed in a more modern style, wearing black slacks, a white button up shirt, and a matching black jacket being held firmly in his right hand that he draped over his corresponding shoulder. He himself was more on the petite side, his body with barely any muscle, but lean. He was the same skin shade as she, but his skin had a colder tone to it.

“You’re sure of this Nadya?” The male asked seriously, amber orbs glancing over to the female beside him.

She nodded, “Of course I am, father.” She replied sharply, a rather grim look on her face, “I wish I was wrong.”

Nadya’s father frowned deeply as he rang the doorbell to the grand mansion. The chime of the doorbell was deep, almost like baritone bells of a church, and echoed throughout the estate for a moment before the double doors opened. An old man in his late 80’s, the butler Darwin, stepped to the side as he spoke while gesturing for them to come in with a wave of his hand. “The Master has been expecting you since he sensed your presence within the English countryside, Apostol.”

Apostol and his daughter, Nadya, stepped inside as Darwin turned on his heel, the doors closing behind the three. Darwin led them past the large, twin staircases, and down the hall to the right. “He’s been in his downstairs office since he woke tonight. Shall I send for some blood or plasma for you, sir? Perhaps some wine for Miss Nadya?”

The younger man looked to his daughter who gave a small smile and replied, “Well, my husband is dead, so I don’t need his permission to drink anymore. I’d love some, and surely my father could use some animal blood to warm him up, preferably not snake blood. I don’t need my father to be a drunken fool, thank you, Darwin.”

Darwin nodded and gave a slight bow before they reached the office door. Knocking three times, Darwin spoke, “Your guests, sir.”

A deep, rich voice with a Romanian accent came from the other side of the door a few seconds after, “Let them in Darwin and fetch them what they wish, then you may retire for the night.”

“Thank you, Master.” Darwin would reply as he opened the door for the two guests to step inside the office.

There, in the center of the room, a man stood facing the large fireplace. This man being the same man from the airport, Dracula.

His tall, masculine figure lightly outlined by the glow of the fire in the otherwise unlit room was wearing a satin, black robe. Dracula would turn to look at his guests, giving them a charming smile as his chiseled chest, adorned with a scar over his left peck, was bare. Garnet orbs would glisten under the moonlight coming from the large window to his right as he twirled a wine glass full of warm, thick, crimson blood. He took a gulp from the wine glass, licking his lips after he swallowed before greeting Apostol and Nadya. “Apostol, Nadya, what an unexpected surprise,” he greeted with a chuckle before stating the obvious. “You loathe the countryside, though, Apostol. Your daughter hates England all together. I trust you’re both here for important matters.”

At this time, Darwin had returned with a silver push cart that had two wine bottles, one white and one red, and another bottle full of blood, but this time, blue. It was labeled “Pareledone Charcoti”; Antarctic Octopus. Apostol thanked Darwin quietly while Nadya spoke to the Undead King.

“Quite,” was her blatant reply, before she pried. “What has you in such a happy mood? The blood you drink is human and obviously quite fresh, which is only for celebratory occasion, even for you.”

Dracula placed his glass down as he looked to the human female before him. Nadya was no stranger to neither old, nor new, Vampyric tradition, and highly observative. Why wouldn’t she be? She grew under the care of her vampire father and her gypsy mother. “How clever you are with your eyes.” He noted, then answered. “If you must know, three lovely ladies of mine have been reincarnated.”

“Oh?” Nadya provoked him to elaborate, crossing her arms. “What three?”

Dracula smirked, drawing in a breath as he tilted his head back as if the very names he spoke of gave him utmost pleasure. He grinned like the cheshire cat, pearly white fangs glistening as he answered. “My brides.” He drawled, “My banshees who sound like sirens; Verona, Marishka, and Aleera.”

Nadya took in a sharp breath of her own. So, her vision was true, or part of it anyways. “The brides you actually bound to you? The first three vampires besides yourself who had lived beside you in your castles?”

“Yes,” Dracula purred, his head looking back ahead out to the moon as he became lost in his own memoir. Apostol raised an eyebrow and poured himself a glass of the blue blood before pouring his daughter some wine and handing her a glass. She took it, nodding to her father in thanks as she watched Dracula’s every move.

Dracula clasped his hands behind his back as he walked closer to the large window. “My beloved, bewitched bitches. The hell they raised! Their charm, their beauty, their bloodlust. They say there are seven deadly sins needed to take the world, but I only needed three.” Dracula practically boasted. “I was almost there. Until Dr. Van Helsing of course, the bastard.” Dracula muttered bitterly, his eyes narrowing.

Nadya glanced to the moon herself, taking in his words as she twirled her wine in its glass. “Surely you don’t plan to do that now? The world isn’t like it was so very long ago, you can’t just plunder and swoop upon the masses, feasting from them.”

“I suppose not. But, I plan to retrieve them quickly. I have teleported to them in my sleep the past three years. The very last time was when Aleera landed in France. I saw her in the airport parking lot, and unlike Verona and Marishka, Aleera saw me. It just dawned on me that their memories might still be intact; so I slipped into the dreams of Marishka -- and lo behold, she remembers perfectly. They all do, and I know where they live. Marishka was always a big mouth.”

“But are they not human now?” Apostol piped up, licking his lips after he took a gracious sip from his glass.

Dracula turned his head to look back at the other vampire, smirking. “Of course they are, but their souls aren’t. Their souls practically sing for me when I’m near them, Apostol.”

Nadya shook her head, holding back her scoff at the answer her father had gotten. If only Dracula knew that Nadya had seen the brief encounter at the airport in her premonitions. Anyone whose ego didn’t blind them, like Dracula’s seemingly blinded him often, could see the hatred, anxiety, and dread in the gaze of Aleera’s reincarnation. Aleera’s soul may have sung to its rightful owner, but Aleera didn’t. Yet, Nadya said nothing and simply steered the conversation into the merging topic. “This is where our discussion turns toward the reason my father and I are here.”

Dracula turned back fully around, moving to sit in the large, leather seat behind his desk. Placing his glass down, his elbows on the table, and his head in one hand, Dracula gestured for Nadya to continue. “Go on, my dear.”

Nadya took a sip of her wine before placing her wine glass down. She stated quite seriously as the room went quiet. “Your three brides were reincarnated for a reason, Dracula.”

Said man smirked devilishly as he gave a chuckle, his mind wandering into thoughts of lust. “I could think of many, many reasons…”

Nadya raised an eyebrow, her features showing she was clearly unamused. She then stated the bigger picture quite bluntly. “The supernatural beings of our plane are in terrible danger, including yourself.”

Dracula tensed as he processed her words, his garnet orbs narrowing as he furrowed his arched eyebrows. His demand was instantaneous, “Elaborate.”

“Something is brewing, undetected for now. You will not be able to stop this yourself, Dracula.” Nadya spoke, as she slowly set her glass down on the cart. “I saw Hunters.”

“Hunters?” Dracula spoke slowly, drumming the fingers of his left hand against the surface of his desk. “I pay the majority of them. What? Do they suddenly all turn against me? I’ll slaughter every single o-,”

“Corrupt ones, not of your hiring, all human...and of an order...I’m not sure what one.” Nadya quickly interjected. “Whatever, or whoever, corrupted them is powerful. It is unclear what the motives behind their mission are, but this means a total genocide of all supernaturals and their family members. They aren’t like normal hunters, who only are in search of those who kill humans.” Nadya gulped, “They were killing everyone; men, women, and children. No matter what creature, no matter their innocence.”

Dracula stood suddenly, slamming his hands onto his desk causing Nadya to jump and Apostol to stand as they watched Dracula’s teeth lengthen past his bottom lip. His face contorted back and forth between his handsome face, and the beginnings of a creature more fearsome with a snout and large mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. He bellowed with rage. “Killing all supernaturals, or those of supernatural decent, would eliminate over a quarter of the world’s population.”

Nadya nodded, raising her voice slightly to ensure Dracula heard her over his enraged mind, she reasoned with him. “That is precisely why we have to get to the bottom of who or what is motivating these hunters, and what order they hail from. It’s also where your three brides being reincarnated comes into play.”

Dracula panted, calming down as she spoke, his face ceasing its rapid contortion. He cleared his throat and picked up his wine glass, drinking the blood within it quickly before speaking, “Go on.”

Nadya took a deep breath, then proceeded with an explanation. “Your three brides were reincarnated human, as you know. But, they will not be able to stay this way for long.”

Dracula sat back into his chair slowly, stroking his goatee. He had thought such, but didn’t want to assume. “Their souls are still vampyric -- which means, mine for keeps and under the eternal bound.”

“Yes,” Nadya replied. “Their bindings and vampiric powers are still very much in tact, but suppressed. Now that all three have their memories, their souls will begin to unwind and their powers will begin to unlock themselves.”

Dracula listened intently, something he rarely did when it came to other people. He couldn’t help but ponder how this had anything to do with the large problem now upon his golden platter. “This connects with the trouble at hand?”

The gypsy nodded and clasped her hands together. “In the best of ways! They’re the key to solving and eliminating this threat the supernatural specimen are now burdened with. One of the three, according to my vision, is to become your Queen and co-ruler.”

Dracula scoffed as he sat back in his chair, almost insulted. He, the Great Undead King, in need of a queen to co-rule? Sure, his brides were powerful and fun here and there, but to have a say over his say? It didn’t sit well with him. Then again, once the brides were bitten, they were under his control and his alone. He owned their souls, he gave them that power long ago, and he’d use that advantage to keep his superiority even if he had a queen.

It made sense though - one of his most brilliant investments becoming his queen. She would obey, be beautiful, and be powerful. Not as powerful as him (because that was preposterous to him), but close to equal. A right hand, a second opinion should he ever need one, and still he’d have all three warm his bed.

It suddenly didn’t seem all that bad, but still a question remained in Dracula’s mind; Which one would be queen?

Seeming to read this thought, Nadya interjected his thoughts. “My vision was not specific on which bride is the chosen one, but it was definitely one of them. The supernatural specimen, even yourself, are at stake.”

Sighing, Dracula nodded and stood, unused to being faced with a situation that threatened his existence. He would do what needed to be done. “I guess this means I must retrieve them at once.”

“First we must see if their powers have even began to unlock.” Nadya answered.

Dracula raised an eyebrow, “Why? With this large of a problem, we need to take immediate action.”

“Usually, I’d agree wholeheartedly,” Nadya spoke with a sigh of her own. “But, nothing can be done unless their powers are already beginning to sprout. The brides have only just come into contact with each other's souls three years ago. Their powers aren’t even close to full potential, and they probably aren’t even aware they still have them yet, this I guarantee. We must test them first. If they show signs of their powers, then it is time to take action. If they do not, we must wait; Mark my words.”

The office was quiet for a long time aside from the crackling of the wood in the fireplace. Dracula hated having to wait; Patience was no virtue of his. Even so, every supernatural creature was at stake, the very people he had created. Eons of work and centuries of being a monarch, in his own right, would be decimated. He couldn’t have that. Dracula looked to Nadya again, “I shall send your father and Nadirah to test them.”

Nadya nodded in response, then snapped her fingers quickly, remembering something else important. “Also, you must have permission to bite them, just like all those years ago. If forcefully bit, their powers will be gone, and who knows? They might disappear without a trace from you.”

Dracula smirked, “Trust me, once they see me, they won’t ever leave my sight again. They truly are akin to leeches.”

“You never know. Times have changed, maybe they have too,” the gypsy suggested.

I mentally cursed and quickly put my shoes on, grabbing an umbrella and bolting out of the complex. I didn’t have time to go down to the garage and grab my motorbike, and judging by the looks of traffic, it would have held me up anyway. The rain wasn’t heavy, but had no signs of lightening up as I ran down the sidewalk, dodging whoever was out in the rain as the rain droplets soon made puddles my boots would occasionally run through. I didn’t even care if the boots were getting more soaked by the minute, or my hair, or anything really, I had to get to Mona.

Running to the intersection where the streets met, I rushed around the flatiron-like building, and across the street, landing me right in front of the mall she spoke of. Hastily, I walked a bit further until I came to the entryway of the parking garage, entering without hesitation. My eyes narrowed as they adjusted to the dimly lit garage, while I looked around for Mona and caught my breath. “Mona?!”

My voice echoed, but was met with no reply as I walked into the garage even deeper, looking around. Finally, I saw her, hidden behind a car, her now lilac hair contrasting boldly against the dark, neutral toned parking garage. If ever someone could be called an easy target, it’d be Mona due to her infatuation with bright, unnatural, colored ass hair. “Holy shit, Mona.” I whispered loudly as I quickly approached her.

She looked over at me as I touched her shoulder. Her body trembled beneath my hand as she asked, as calmly as she could, “Is it gone?”

“It?” I repeated in confusion.

Mona nodded, eyes narrowing for me to put two and two together that whatever had followed her wasn’t exactly human. “It.”

I glanced around slowly, surveying the area. “I saw nobody when I walked in, and I don’t see anyone now. So, I’d assume yes.”

Still trembling quite a lot, Mona slowly stood, and I offered her a shoulder to lean on as she stumbled a bit. Mona looked around, eyes darting frequently as she took a look for herself. “It must’ve given up looking for you, and left.” I tried to assure her.

Footsteps.

That was all I needed to hear as Mona’s eyes went to gaze behind me, then widened. My back stiffened and I held my breath, my hand slowly going into my pocket, fingers feeling the smooth handle of my switch blade as I turned around. There, about thirty feet from us was a tall figure, cloaked in shadow. The figure was humanoid, its muscles bulging as it stood a good 6’6, and let out an inhuman grunt sound. I couldn’t see facial features, the giant man-like creature not standing beneath one of the dim lights. I felt Mona grip the back of my jacket tightly as I began to understand why she was cowering behind a car. “So, that’s the thing, huh?”

“I can’t tell what it is, but it definitely isn’t human. It heard it sniffing the air for me.”

Lips set tightly together as my brows furrowed, I replied quietly as I assessed the situation. “I have my blade, and it’s blocking the exit anyways,” I extended my arm over my shoulder to hand Mona what had been in it. “Take the umbrella and I’ll get close.”

“Have you lost your mind?!” Mona exclaimed, looking to me as if I’d grown another head.

“No, I just know it’s the only way to know what we’re dealing with. We’re humans now; We can’t afford not to know what we’re up against.”

The figure had been standing there for quite some time now, and I raised an eyebrow. To test the waters, I stepped forward.

It stepped forward.

I stepped back.

It still stepped forward.

I stood still.

It stood still.

“Is it playing a game with you?” I heard Mona pipe up from behind me, noticing the same thing I was; The thing would only move when we did, as if it were programmed or something.

Now curious, and even more apprehensive, I raised my foot to stomp in place.

That was when it started walking, and it didn’t stop.

Mona gasped and stepped back again, pulling me with her by my jacket as I whipped out my switch blade and flicked my wrist, the sterling silver blade flashing out quickly as it glistened in the light I stood under. It was a warning, if it knew any better, but it seemed it either didn’t know or didn’t care, because its walk turned into a run.

I stood my ground, a bit wearily, as I waited for the time when our attacker was close enough to strike. Depending on its reaction to the silver, I could determine possibly what it was. Finally, I saw an opportunity and was quick to land a slash of my switchblade to its large, muscled, arm. It landed successfully, and made the unknown man stop to look at the gash to its arm where...black blood seeped from. As quick as the blood was to begin seeping down its arm, the wound was just as quick to stop and weave the torn skin back together, the black blood morphing to make black stitches.

Stunned and without composure at what had happened to the wound, I stood like a deer in headlights, looking to where the wound had been. I couldn’t help but voice my displeasure. “Shit!”

It slowly looked from the wound down to me, and it was then I noticed its eyes for the first time; No iris, no pupil, just white - this thing wasn’t even living. It was then I heard Mona’s whisper behind me of shock. “Necromancy.”

I stumbled back a bit and studied. It was definitely something of the dark arts of necromancy, but I couldn’t remember how to kill it. It wouldn’t matter anyways, I didn’t have much more time to think on it as I found myself being lifted up and being slammed against the wall, a large hand wrapped around my throat, not choking me, but squeezing with every move I made to get out of the grip.

I heard Mona scream my name in horror as her heels could be heard running on the pavement. I kicked and even spit at the giant thing, a bit disoriented from my head hitting the cement wall, and yet, I didn’t feel much more than that, too focused on my feet slamming into its unmoving chest as I yelled for my freedom. “Get off of me!”

Mona soon lunged herself at the man-like creature, fear in her eyes as she hit its head and face furiously, screeching like a madwoman. “Let her go!”

The creature barely moved, its blank eyes staring down at me as it stayed quiet, like a statue. It didn’t even react to Mona’s fists, nor my feet, as they drummed harshly on its face and chest. I began to grow frustrated and angry, Mona clearly feeling the same as she continued her persistent punches, yelling for it to let me go.

“Let her go already!”

“Get off!” I growled lowly, feeling myself begin to tremble in rage at being constrained and unable to free myself.

The light rain outside had suddenly become a raging storm, the rain thrumming upon the ground like the footsteps of soldiers as lightning cracked, lighting up the entrance of the parking garage. Not even a second after the lightning had flashed, it was accompanied by roaring thunder that drowned out Mona and I’s cries of anger for the being to release me. The storm was honestly the only thing I could hear beside my rapid heartbeat within my ears as everything else became muffled. I felt something build inside of my chest along with the swelling rage.

It was then Mona and I screamed out simultaneously.

“LET HER GO!”

“GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!”

The strength and speed of the wind that suddenly flooded within the parking garage was incredible, and not normal, no matter how much I wanted it to be. Blowing in every direction, the winds seemed to spread out wall to wall, only to be catapulted and meet each other back in the middle, before bouncing off to another wall.

It was all too familiar, reminding me of Dracula’s abilities to cause fires large enough to burn entire cities to the ground when powerful enough. I knew then that this was supernatural, and that someone was behind the storm that came from nowhere, and it made my stomach drop.

It first blew Mona off of the stranger, slamming her into a car with quite some force, but not enough to hurt her. She landed with a groan and quickly dropped to the ground, where she was pinned a few feet in front of me on her stomach. I tried to lower my head to look at her, but the wind had me pinned as well, my legs coming back down to pin to the wall away from the creature's chest as it was suddenly whipped off of me. I watched, unable to look away as it slammed all the way into the opposite wall, head first, a sickening crack and snap resounding over the thunder from his collision. Almost immediately, I knew that the creature was not going to be able to stitch himself back up as his large form was crumpled by the wind against the wall, his head surrounded and covered in black blood.

Soon, the wind died down, as did the storm. Its rumbles of thunder became quieter and less frequent while the rain lightened up once more. It was still pouring, but not as harsh as before, and I felt my rage and energy leave my body with the storm dying down. I found myself slowly sliding back down to the ground from against the wall while Mona struggled to sit up on her knees. The unmoving creature’s body slid to the ground unceremoniously, landing with a dull thump.

Panting, I looked to Mona who looked to me as well. I was speechless, looking back to the creature quickly as it remained unmoving with more black blood pooling from its head. “What...was...that?” Mona whispered, panting as well.

I rubbed my temples, staring at the creature as I replied with a question of my own. “Which “that”? The freak storm, or the gigantic necromanced brute with no pupils?”

Once she stood, I walked over to where my switchblade laid upon the ground and picked it up before we both slowly walked over to the giant creature. Upon close observation, we both discovered a grisly sight. The creature’s neck was obviously broken, by the way the bone was crushed and bent out one way, and its head was split open, gushing black blood and showing brain. I kicked its side lightly, careful to avoid the blood getting onto my boot. It didn’t move, which was a good thing. It meant whatever the person who necromanced the creature had put in its empty vessel to give it life was either destroyed, or removed upon impact. “Okay well, that “that” was doing its creator’s bidding.”

Cringing in disgust as she looked over the crumpled creature, Mona’s shook her head before turning to me, “This looks like a murder scene!”

“Yeah, it does.” I replied honestly.

Mona rubbed the back of her neck as she picked up the umbrella. “Fanden, we have to clean it up, don’t we?”

I shook my head, turning on my heel. “That is the least of our problems right now; that thing clearly was under someone’s control through necromancy. That being said, it more than likely means someone knows who we are and sent it to kill us.” I explained as I fished my hand into my jacket pocket for my phone.

“So what, we just leave it here?!” She asked, gesturing wildly to the dead creature.

Sighing, I looked back to Mona, trying my hardest not to show my irritation. “Yes, that’s exactly what we do, Mona. It’s created with necromancy, meaning it’s connected to a witch or sorcerer, who will sense its defeat and come quickly to clean up their own mess.” I gesture with one hand to the exit of the garage, finally snapping as my irritation got to me. “So right now, we need to get out of here before we come face-to-face with the person who, more than likely, sent that after us! ”

Mona sighed, holding the sides of her head as she processed this. “You’re right, you’re right. I’m just shaken the hell up and five seconds from a panic attack.”

“Trust me,” I started my reply, “you’re not the only one. Let’s just get out of here.”

Nodding, Mona opened the umbrella to cover she and myself as we walked out of the parking garage and back into the rain.

When we had walked away, we hadn’t noticed two figures standing in the shadows that had witnessed everything. The two shadows soon took a more substantial form, revealing Apostol and a young woman who was not his daughter. This woman had milky pale skin accompanied by bright sapphire eyes and auburn hair. She wore all black, from her high heels, to her short dress. Black lipstick and smokey makeup adorned her face as a pagan pendant hung from her neck.

Apostol and the female walked up to the crumpled being, an impressed grin upon the woman’s face, as she spoke. “Master will be most pleased by their victory over my top soldier.”

Nodding, Apostol inspected the blood upon the wall. “They’ve only just begun the journey to their strength and already they show such power. I mean, the power of the storms and wind? The only one to ever inherit that power wasn’t even an official vampire bride.”

“Ah yes, Mina Hatchet,” the woman replied with a giggle. “I remember that love-starved puppy very well. I also remember her tramp of a friend; You know, the one who was all over you at her father’s party. Oh, what was her name again?”

“Don’t even speak of Lucile, Nadirah. I ought to have ripped out that tramp’s insides.” He responded, his voice sounding agitated.

“You were too busy getting well acquainted with her insides, if memory serves.”

Apostol rolled his eyes at the witch’s catty retort, “Nevermind my past ways to pass the time. Clean this up and wipe the camera footage; We’ll return to England immediately.”

Reaching out her left hand, palm upward, Nadirah closed her eyes and began to mumble a soft chant. Opening her eyes, she cooed to the dead creature. “Rise my darling, you’ve served me well.”

The dead creature, the black blood upon the walls, and the pool of black blood it laid in would begin to deteriorate into black sand, rising up and swirling above her palm as she pulled a small, glass bottle from her pouch with her other hand. As soon as she pulled the cork from the bottle, Nadirah spoke once more, “Requiem.”

The command was simple, and the swarm of black sand did as told, filling the small bottle until it was all inside, leaving behind the charmed shard of jasper she had imbedded into its brain to give it life. Nadirah twisted the cork back into the bottle’s opening and placed it into her pouch before picking up the shard and looking to Apostol, who placed a hand on her shoulder. “We must go, time is of the essence here.”

Raising her two hands toward the cameras as she replied to Apostol, Nadirah grimaced. “Trust me, I know. Your daughter briefed me thoroughly.” Taking a deep breath, Nadirah directed her energy toward the cameras, wiping them clean of the incident before she and Apostol disappeared from the parking lot.

I didn’t look up from my phone as I sent Vylette an emergency meeting text, too engrossed in typing out what had happened as we walked down the street.

It wasn’t until I had sent the message and placed my phone away that Mona spoke up, in front of the flatiron-like building, blurting out a confession. “Alessa, I think now is a good time to tell you that I’ve got my telepathy again.”

Stopping mid-step, I looked to her as she stopped too. “What?”

The guilty look on her face was too much, and I knew that she wasn’t lying or kidding. “I meant to tell you and Vylette, really I did!” She exclaimed, then sighed and looked down to her feet. “I really thought I was just going insane, but then this happened and well, now I know I’m not. It’s been going on for about a month.”

Feeling a migraine coming on, I pinched the bridge of my nose. That was not the thing I wanted to hear, given what had just happened. “For fuck’s sake, Mona.”

“Alessa, Mona!” Someone’s voice, so similar to Vylette’s suddenly came to our ears from behind us.

Mona and I quickly turned around, Mona voicing my thoughts. “Vy?” She called out, hands circling her mouth.

Vylette wasn’t there however -- nobody was. I quickly turned back around, continuing to walk as I complained bitterly. “This whole day is like something out of the damn Twilight Zone. Now you’re a telepath and we’re hearing voices? Screw this; I’m going home!”

“Wait! I’m sorry, I swear! But, these things are happening for a reason; I’m bringing this up for a reason!”

Apartment complex in sight, I began to walk a bit quicker, Mona keeping up with me. “What would that reason be?” I asked as we walked into the apartment complex and toward the elevator.

“We both know that somehow one of us, or even both of us, made that storm,” she stated seriously, closing the umbrella.

I gave her an annoyed look, my migraine getting even worse as I pressed the elevator button. Mona sighed, “I know, it sounds insane. But somehow I know - and don’t tell me you don’t know, because you do, that one of us made that storm to attack the reanimated corpse.”

She was right, unfortunately, that I somehow knew one of us had done it. I felt myself reel at her words; Mona was the most naive of us three, and if she noticed, then it definitely wasn’t just in my head. Not to mention, I felt drained of the majority of my energy - something I hadn’t felt in a long time. It reminded me of in the past, when I would overexert my powers and need to hibernate for a day or two during my fledgling stage. The feeling was exactly the same, and I felt dread immediately at this realization. How was this happening? We weren’t vampires anymore, we were human, we were normal. No longer did we drink blood and raise hell, terrorizing and taking over towns while building Dracula’s dream empire. Not to mention, we never had the power of the storms, ever. It just didn’t add up due to us being human, and yet... it did add up all the same.

It mortified me almost as much as the grin on her face. She was actually excited at the possibility that one of us had done this, and that baffled me.

“Mona, that isn’t possible, we’re humans! If we were still creatures of the night, we would’ve never needed that storm to get him off of me. Your punches would’ve sank in his skull, and my kicks would’ve knocked every rib out of place while he coughed up black gook.” I debunked, not accepting her theory as the elevator opened before us.

We both stepped inside of the elevator as she pulled out her key and placed it into the lock beside our floor number, turning it and typing in a five digit passcode to make the elevator go to our floor. Once the door closed, Mona turned to me, clearly excited and trying to persuade me.

“Come on Alessa, all of those times we’ve talked about the possibility of having something more than just memories from our past lives? How does it not make sense? We have our memories, every single one, Alessandra. Don’t stand here and tell me it isn’t possible that one of us killed that thing!”

I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath as the elevator made a noise, signalling we were at our floor. The doors opened a few seconds later and I stepped out first, pulling out my own set of keys to unlock the door as I stumbled a bit, exhausted. I didn’t even want to reply to Mona at this point, just needing to sleep before dinner. Mona must’ve noticed this, because she quickly came to my side and put a hand on my back as I turned the doorknob. “Alessa, you don’t look good, maybe it was you who made the storm.”

“Mona, I was just slammed against a wall by the hand of a giant, necromanced creature. I think I just hit my head too hard and it didn’t affect me until my adrenaline wore off.” I responded, letting her lead me to the living room to lay upon the plush couch.

Sitting onto the couch, I began to take off my jacket and boots, having a hard time staying awake. I was seriously beginning to think that Mona had made the storm, and that my exhaustion and migraine was from a smack on the head, or even a slight concussion. Mona took my boots and jacket, disappearing down the hall to place them in my room, and I sighed deeply while laying myself down slowly. I groaned at the light that flooded the room, covering my eyes with my left forearm. “Mona, will you shut the curtains and give me a blanket please? I gotta sleep this off before dinner.”

“Sure, -- but hey! If you don’t feel good by the time you wake up, we’re not going to dinner!” Mona replied sharply, her voice becoming closer as I heard her walking down the hall.

Hearing her footsteps draw over to my side, I soon felt a blanket being laid over me before hearing more footsteps and the curtains sliding shut. Suddenly, a noise and vibration came from my phone that sat on the coffee table, and I uncovered my eyes. I went to reach for my phone only to feel my hand be nudged as Mona picked up the phone and answered, giving me a look. It was clear she wanted me to rest, and finally I obliged, giving into my drooping eyes as Mona answered the phone.

It would be an hour later that I would slowly begin to stir from my slumber, the voices of Vylette and Mona reaching my ears from wherever they were in the house before I even opened my eyes. “...Necromanced, huh? That means we’re being targeted by a pretty powerful witch or sorcerer.” Vylette’s voice came first as I tuned in, hearing heels clacking against the floor back and forth; she must’ve been pacing. “To top it off, you’ve been experiencing powers you shouldn’t have, I just had an experience on my way here, -”

“You did?!” Mona gasped softly.

Vylette’s pacing only seemed to hasten. “I’ll get to that when Alessandra wakes up, Mona. But a storm? One of you inherited the power of the storms -- Something none of us have ever been blessed to have. This is a very serious situation that really puts us in a tough position.”

“I know, the situation’s bad. But, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel; This could have something to do with Dracula, and he could very well show up now that we’re having these supernatural experiences and gifts. All of our souls are still bound to his, like the necromanced to the necromancer; He will have felt that we were in danger!” Mona responded, her tone ringing of barely contained excitement.

The pacing stopped, and there was a soft scoff. “That’s obvious, Mona. But, it raises a question, what exactly is going on?”

Oh thank God, Vylette was having some common sense and being concerned about what this could mean! It relieved me some that I wasn’t the only one raising a red flag on this. “I mean, the thought of him probably on his way to get us has me positively shaking in anticipation. Still, we don’t want to get our hopes up -- this could just be some left over power from our past lives.”

Okay nevermind, Vylette was just as excited as Mona; Vylette just had a calmer way of showing it.

I held in my groan of frustration at their anxious excitement and laid there. I really, really had a difficult time understanding how their fatuation with Dracula was still prominent. Many studies do state the mentally, physically, and/or emotionally abused tend to have a hard time straying from their abusers, but it’s been centuries! You’d think they’d be ill at the thought of him by now, but such wasn’t the case at all. It truly was a vicious cycle one had to witness with their own eyes to believe.

I decided this was a good time to alert them that I was awake, sighing and sitting upward. “Vy? Mona?” I called out to them.

The talking in the kitchen stopped, and I soon heard the clacking of heels once more. Vylette walked up to me before Mona, feeling around my head for a bump or soft spot as she asked, “How are you feeling?”

I winced slightly as her nimble fingers finally came across the swelling of the back of my head. “Uh, better than earlier, and hungry.” I replied with a small hiss as she circled the swelling area before removing her hand.

Mona sighed in relief and stepped forward, sitting and hugging me. “I was worried as soon as you fell asleep that you might’ve had a concussion. I’m really glad you’re feeling better.” She spoke sincerely, smothering me once again into her chest as she cradled my head.

I was about to speak into Mona’s chest until Vylette interrupted. “She’ll be good in a week, maybe two. The fact that it swelled into a bump is a good thing, and all she really needs in an ice pack and painkillers. Mona, would you be so kind as to go get those for her please?”

Mona let me out of her vicious embrace and nodded, replying as she walked out of the living room. “Of course! I’ll be back in a few moments!”

Watching her leave the room, I sighed softly and closed my eyes again, rubbing my temples. My head was still throbbing dully, and I inwardly groaned as Vylette’s voice cut through the air once more, this time a bit more sharply. “Alessandra.”

“Hmm?” My short reply came in a simple sound.

“Have you been experiencing anything supernatural prior to today? Be honest with me; I have to know.”

I tried my hardest not to let my breath catch as the day at the airport three years ago came to my mind. I had seen Dracula, no doubt about that. But the question remained; Did I truly see him, or was it all in my head? I still hadn’t figured it out - although now, the conclusion was obviously beginning to point in the direction I wanted to avoid.

Should I even tell them at all? The idea of doing so seems so foolish, especially knowing how quickly the two of them would go on a wild man hunt for the bloodsucking egomaniac. I didn’t want to sacrifice this new life we had built, no matter how much it seemed that the past was attempting to catch up to our trio. It would be then I made my decision on my reply as Mona came back into the room, “No.”

Vylette closed her eyes at my answer and let out a sharp sigh as she began to pace once more. Mona, meanwhile, handed me the ice pack I so badly needed along with a bottle of Sommossa and some painkillers. Not being able to help myself, I raised an eyebrow at her as I put the ice pack to the bump on my head. She smirked at me, “I know, I know; It’s a breakfast wine, but it’s dinner time -- sue me! I know after earlier, you could most definitely use a glass or two. Funny enough, some refer to it as “vampire spit”! You’re welcome.”

I sighed; Only a true alcoholic would think I raised an eyebrow at the fact that it was a breakfast wine at dinner time. Even Vylette knew that I had actually raised my eyebrow at the fact that a bottle of wine, hilariously enough dubbed “vampire spit”, was just placed in front of me with painkillers proudly in tow as if I hadn’t just woken up from getting slammed into a concrete wall. She sharply turned to look at Mona as she quipped back before I could, “Not the best of time for a drink nicknamed “vampire spit”, ma beauté hollandaise.”

“Oh come on Vy, it’s just to lighten the mood.” Mona replied back, trying to convince Vylette that a drink was in order.

“It’s fine.” I interjected before the argument could even start as I picked up the two pain killers, “Honestly, I’d rather have sake at the restaurant though. It should be close to time for our reservation.”

Vylette shook her head at me as she crossed her arms. “I cancelled the reservation; I didn’t know if you’d be up in time, nor do I think it’s smart we leave at all.”

As Mona opened the bottle of wine, I paused at Vylette’s words. What the hell did she mean by that? Putting the painkillers into my mouth as I lifted the now filled wine glass to my lips, I let my question end on an unfinished note, “Do you mean for the night, or…?”

“I mean for at least a whole month - maybe two.” Vylette replied, not the slightest hesitation in her serious tone.

I couldn’t help but gawk and nearly choke on the painkillers and wine as they made their way down my throat. I stood quickly, ignoring the lightheaded feeling I received at standing so fast to call her out. “Are you crazy?!”

“Non,” Vylette replied as she narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m cautious; We can’t afford to be anything else. Not until our count shows up.”

“Vylette, we can’t just lock ourselves away in an apartment for months in hopes that Dracula just appears on our doorstep; That’s literally fucking insane!” I responded urgently, palms on their corresponding sides of my head.

“There’s no need to use foul language, Alessandra.” Vylette scoffed.

“Clearly there is!” I replied, astounded Vylette didn’t see the flaws of this plan. “We have lives, we have jobs! You honestly think people wouldn’t notice if a CEO, a burlesque dancer under a “strict” contract, and an artist planning a huge exhibit went completely ghost for a month or two?”

The immediate scowl adorning Vylette’s statuesque features was more than enough of a reply as she placed her hands onto her hips. She mumbled to herself softly, obviously agitated about the situation we had been presented with. Mona and I watched her walk around the living room, speaking to herself as she did rapid hand gestures and let out a frustrated noise from the back of the throat. Finally, she turned back to us and clasped her hands together. “Alright, a month or two is far too long for us,” Vylette concluded. “This whole thing could be nothing but some old power left within us sparking up due to a minor supernatural run-in, -- a rare occasion that triggered old instincts. Still,…”

Mona raised an eyebrow when Vylette trailed off, “Still…?”

“This could be so much more! This could possibly be an old enemy that caught wind of us, or maybe something even greater. Dracula is more than likely on his way to get us right now!” Vylette exclaimed with an urgent, yet subtly excited tone.

Mona stared off into space, seemingly star-struck by the thought of Dracula coming, and it was obvious to me. If Mona were a cartoon, her eyes would have had glistening stars in the middle of them. “Do you really think so, Vy?”

“I most definitely do.” Vylette answered, smirking at the smile on Mona’s face. “That’s why we will stay inside for a week as much as possible; we must ensure we are all together should he arrive. All meetings for Alessa and I will be via Skype or Facetime, we will go to the burlesque club for Mona together, and we will have bags packed in case of travel.”

As I watched Mona get more and more excited, I intervened quickly for the sake of reality. “What if he doesn’t come, Vylette?”

Vylette’s reply was simple, and yet she had to think on it for a few moments. “Well, then we carry on about our normal life, and take some defense classes; Perhaps we even invest in some weapons.”

“Like Sam and Dean Winchester?” Mona asked softly.

“Like Sam and Dean Winchester.”

“...Do you think I could do that in heels?”

#vampire #dracula #bram stoker #vampyre #chapter #amateur writing #writing #romance #entrapment

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