The other vampire: rr chapter 6

“Wha…no…what did you DO?!”

Kat ripped her hair free of the pigtails Katrina had braided, grimacing at the silk and lace pyjamas she was wearing. She screamed out loud, kicking off the high heeled shoes, hoping that it wasn’t too late. She thought she was finally getting a handle on it- could she have been more wrong?

It was only sunrise, and hopefully by the sign of waking up in her own room, Kat hadn’t been dragged around town in a fit of disaster. She felt comforted by the dusty rose paint in her two story-three room, tower apartment. The last time Katrina came out to play, nothing ended well. Luckily Kat saw it coming the first time and was able to get away from the ones she loved. She feared she might never be able to return

“What do you want?” she sobbed with humility. “If I give you what you want, will you go away forever? Please…”

She was alone.

“Buenas Dias.” I said, walking into the kitchen. “Did I just speak Spanish?” I looked towards Kat who was intently nursing a cup of coffee. I had stayed up most of the night with Talia, who explained that the hormones in the blood plasma I craved were capable of generating memories, and in the case of Richard, whole personas. Currently, I had two older brothers who were forever teasing me, and was bilingual in English and Spain Spanish. It turns out I was also a kleptomaniac- which explains why I stole Audin’s wallet as if it was first nature. “Kat?” I asked when I noticed how absent-minded she was, sitting at our small wooden table pushed against the wall, in a sweat clothes instead of her high fashion duds.

“Estas bien?” I licked my teeth and rephrased. “Are you okay?’

                “I know what it means.” She said solemnly. “ Sorry, I don’t mean to be such an ‘agua fiesta’ this morning.”

                I smiled.

                “You don’t have to pretend to be happy if you’re not. I’d rather you be honest.”

“I’m kind of possessed this morning, if you know what I mean. I need to talk to Talia, I left a message, and she hasn’t responded.”

                “We have to call her to get her attention?”

                “Yeah, we really do.” Kat told me. “And yes, you’re right, she lives in this castle.”

Audin swung the kitchen door open. 

                “Travis left again.” Audin said, annoyed.

                “Hey there, sunshine.” I replied as callous as he entered.

“There’s a chance of rain with your sarcasm.” He went to the refrigerator, as if in memory of Travis’s disappearance. He took a bottle of water that had one of the curious biohazard symbols on it. I had forgotten about them since my first day in the castle.

                “Audin-why”

“Leave It be.” Kat said, with her hand on my arm. “Trust me.”

                “I’m going to the garage. Kat, if you can’t find Talia later, let me know and I’ll draw her out. You look…distressed.”

                “Thanks. I don’t much feel like playing hide and seek with her today.” She gave Audin a genuine smile.

I studied the loaf on break on the planked table until he left the room.

                “What is he? I mean, he looks human.”

                “So do you.” She smiled, quick to defend him, even in her own woes.

                I was curious to find out what was so heart-breaking about Audin whatever-his-last-name-was. The Whitham castle misfits were a tight-knit family, and with the grace of Talia, I hoped to be accepted one day. I still had to call my mom and let her know I was alive…how insensitive could I have been? Unfortunately, there was another family that held higher importance in my head.

“Kat, is this garage somewhere on the premise?”

                “Yes. Underground. Why…?”

                “Relax, I’m not stalking Audin. He runs too fast. I think he can help me out with something. Which way?”

She gave me the directions and I sprinted down the hall, as if he was leaving the grounds this second.

              

  I descended a dark corridor of stairs, and was again surprised by the castle. The room was expansive, and filled with fast cars.

“You are  strangely funny.” Audin said with a slight laugh, knowing it had been I who entered the garage lair. “You’re all so touchy.”

“They are.” I defended myself, which was somewhat easier to do with his back turned. “I don’t care about offending you and your sensitivity.”

“I have a backbone, kid.” He replied, now turning to look me in the eye. “I’m from a world away from here, and I except it. I don’t see what the big deal is.”

                I wasn’t sure if I believed him.

“Where are you from, exactly?” I said, walking around the garage, setting my plan into motion with each step of my shoes.

                “A parallel universe.” He said smartly. “Though I’ve never actually been there in my entire life.”

                “And why is that?”

                Audin groaned in disapproval. I was winning.

“Not the red one.”

                “Oh come on.” I replied, eyebrows raised. “I’ll bring it back.”

                “Are you even old enough to drive?” he joked.

“Where are you from, exactly?” I said, walking around the garage, setting my plan into motion with each step of my shoes.

                “A parallel universe.” He said smartly. “Though I’ve never actually been there in my entire life.”

                “And why is that?”

                Audin groaned in disapproval. I was winning.

“Tell you what,” I proposed , “I won’t ask you annoying questions about your backbone, if you let me borrow that car.”

“Not the red one.”

                “Oh come on.” I replied, eyebrows raised. “I’ll bring it back.”

                “Are you even old enough to drive?” he joked.

I gave him a quizzical look that ended in a mischievously crooked smile. I knew he had access to everyone’s file, and therefore knew my age.

                “Take Talia’s car.” He said flatly.

“The black one?” I asked, disappointed.

                “Would her car be any other colour?”

                Point.

I knew where they lived, because it was one of the first things I heard myself proclaim inside the institution.  I plugged the address into the global positioning system the car was equipped with. It had a lot more than a radio, and my guess was that Audin had something to do with all the electronic bells and whistles.

“Can I help you?” Said a women I hardly knew.

                “Yes, are you Mrs. Pryce?” I knew the answer, but played it cool.

“I am. What is this about?”

                “Mrs. Pryce, I’m here about Richard.”

                “I told you,” she said shutting the door so she was barely visible, “you’re all sick, you know that!”

                I smiled wryly, and then caught myself.

“I actually met him.” I said quickly, not telling her that we had met in my mind. “And I have something you might want to here.”

                She sighed, looking despondent as could be. “ What?”

                “I met him in the hotel lobby the night before we-he died.” I gulped hoping she didn’t catch on to me white lies. “He told me that he was sorry about leaving him family in anger. He said he was being stupid, and would give anything to take that back.”

Mrs. Pryce opened the door slightly.

                “He said the best days of his life were when he got married to you in Hawaii on the beach, and the rainy Tuesday when Bella was born.” It sincerely creeped me out to have a man’s thoughts running around my head. “You should have seen the light in his eyes when he recounted the events. You made him happy.”

“He told you that?” She asked tearing up.

                “He felt guilty about the things he did on impulse, so don’t take them too seriously, even though he is dead and all.”

                “You’re right, I needed to hear that.” Her mouth crinkled in emotion. “ What’s your name?”

“I’m Romarin.” I responded. ‘only Romarin.’

When I arrived to return the car to the bat cave, Audin was still around. I figured it was his favourite place to be, seeing that not many people bothered him there. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders after talking to Richard’s family.

“Why are you so chipper?” Said Audin.

                He thought he was so cool with his flippy blonde hair.

                “Do you know what it’s like to do something selfless, even though it might be socially awkward?”

                He avoided my question.

                “Well it made my day.” I stated matter-o-factly.

“For a little while I thought you weren’t going to bring the car back. Are your stealing days over?”

                “For now. It depends on how much you have in your wallet.” I snickered softly. “I’ll pay you back someday, I promise. It was Nicoletta who did the stealing anyway.” I knew I needed a job first, and that money wasn’t most likely an issue for RR company’s right hand man. It was more likely just a bother to him that he could be swindled so easily. Blaming the kleptomania on Nicoletta was an easy way out. I’d have to start taking responsibility for my unwanted personalities sooner or later.

I smelled a fire burning inside the castle and went to investigate. I found Kat, dressed in clothes she would otherwise deem bummy, burning objects in the fire place.

“Hey, Kat.” I said casually. “Whatcha doing?”

                “Burning old clothes.” She responded, bored.

                “You could always donate them-“ I didn’t want to sound pushy, “ just a friendly suggestion, don’t get angry.”

“You don’t want to see me angry.” She muttered.

                The dramatic air was stale, and far too emotional for my tastes, so I safely slipped around the corner as I heard Audin enter the room.

“Still no Talia?” he asked, ignoring her peculiar sacrifice to the chimney gods.

                I listened in just down the hall.

                “You do know you’re the only one who can talk to her when she comes back, right?”

                “I’m sure Talia would be fine with-”

                “Not Talia. Katrina.”

‘Who’s she?’ I asked silently. I had never met a ‘Katrina’.

                “Is that why Travis left?” Audin said, as if the reveal of Katrina was nothing to be worried about.

                “I don’t know.” She said, growing embarrassed. “What if…” she smacked her hand to her forehead and shut her eyes.

Audin snickered until she looked through her hand at him, disapproving the thought. He straightened up his demeanour in an attempt to reconcile.

                “Relax. I don’t think she killed him, or did much else.” Kat still wasn’t buying it. “She’s more into mind games from what I’ve heard. Maybe I’ll get the chance to meet her.”

                I would officially be avoiding Kat for the next few days.

                “Get in line.” Kat replied to Audin. “I keep getting letters addressed to her. That’s probably why the relapse happened.”

                “Who are they from?”

                “Devoted minions of the legendary Katrina.”

                I made a mental note to ask Cooper if he knew about that lore. It was like Kat had a split personality, but I was one to talk!

                “Romarin, you can come out now.” Instructed Kat. Audin looked at her, puzzled. I didn’t move. “I know you’re here because she’s sitting on the chair.”

“She?” I asked revealing myself.

                “The one who always follows you.” She stated. “You mean you can’t see her?”

“No?” I responded. “What does ‘she’ look like?” I looked at the empty red chair and shivered. It was vacant.

“She’s in her late teens. Dark hair, wearing all white.”

                “Kelsey?” I said, hoping this wasn’t just some joke.

“Is she dead?” Kat questioned.

                “Wh- yeah.” I answered. “You’re seeing the ghost of my sister.”

Poll time!

Flashbacks and flashbulbs: rr chapter 5

Somehow I had arrived in Enngloria and been invited to live in a huge castle. I had not yet managed to be truly homeless for even one night, and was thankful for it. Not only did I want answers for my strange genes- I wanted a concrete cure. I wished myself luck on the last part.

I didn’t want to go back to my room, considering that was where I left Travis. For all I knew he was still there. I went to the kitchen in search of a tasty drink.

Though I was curious as to whether or not they kept blood in the fridge, I wasn’t seeking out my usual sustenance. I passed up any beverage in a carton or bottle, as Travis warned me earlier that he drank straight out of them. Had I not known, it probably wouldn’t have bothered me the slightest.

I settled for a refreshing juice box, but not before I noticed a few pop and water bottles with biohazard stickers on them. I shrugged and thought that I had better get used to it. I slurped down my delicious drink with thoughts of biohazard sticker motivation.

“Enjoying your stay?”

“Uhh,” I said, turning around to find Talia had appeared sitting in a kitchen chair, “it’s a lot to take in all this grandeur.” I smiled. “I am so very grateful that you’ve invited me here. Ha, and that you sprung me from the asylum.”

“I figured you’d get into less trouble here.” She smiled back. “Cooper let it slip to me about your stunt at the house of parliament.”

“Sorry about that.” I said truthfully. “ I got in a bit of a jam.”

“I took care of it.” Talia said from behind her reflective sunglasses.

“I sure owe you one then.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m honoured to have you in my house. If you need anything, just ask. I have next to unlimited resources.”

“Talia, do you know someone named-”

Audin.

“You.” He repeated for the second time today as he appeared through the door into the kitchen. “What is she doing here?”

“Audin. This is Romarin. Romarin Demetri.”

“Woah.” Audin laughed. “She is Romarin?”

“I’m standing right here.” I retorted. “and yes, I am Romarin, thanks.”

Talia frowned. “I suppose you two have met in the past twenty four hours.”

“This morning.” We said at the same time, equally annoyed.

“He’s the reason that I took that third floor swan dive.” I explained.

“What were you even doing at the house of Parliment?” asked Audin.

“I’m friends with Cooper. Relatively recent friends, but just the same. I was homeless. Until now, that is.”

“Great. You’re staying here then?” I nodded at him. “You’re really letting her stay here?”

“Yes. I’m letting both of you stay here.” Talia said smartly. “ and I won’t have this adversity in my house, so can we please all calm down?”

“As soon as I get my three-hundred dollars back.” Audin shot back.

“What do you-” I fell silent. He realized I had taken his wallet. “Yeah, I’m gonna go to sleep now. See you tomorrow, yeah…” I made my exit.

As if the day was taking a turn for the better, my room had been vacated by the ever-annoying Travis. I found some clothes to sleep in when I opened the corner dresser.  I preferred these garments to the flashy sequins I wore that day.

The next morning (whatever day of the week it was- I didn’t know) I decided to call Cooper, who I knew was somewhat concerned about my being homeless, and somewhat afraid of the dark. I couldn’t figure out what could be so bad about the streets at night. Then again, look at who I live with. I had yet to assign some sort of creature to all of my roomies, or even myself. We all seemed to be misfits.

 “Hello?”

“Cooper!”

“Romarin?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s up?”

“So much has happened in the past twelve hours.” I explained through the house phone. “I’m living in Talia Whitham’s castle!”

“What did you do to convince her to let you stay?” he asked.

“Well, rumor has it that I have ancestral roots in this very castle.”

“You do know who owned the castle before Talia, right?”

“Who?”

“Countess Mallory herself.”

Feeling very much like a tourist, I grimaced and answered. “who is that?”

“Tell you what. Can you meet me at the bistro on the corner of Main and Bernard for a bite in about an hour? We can catch up, and I’ll give you the history you need to know.”

“Sounds cool! I’ll see you then! Bye, Cooper.”

It was as quiet as I left when I returned. The silence could have been due to the enormous floor plan, or nocturnal sleeping habits. I figured at least half of them had to be nocturnal- Kat for certain. The empty red room told me to take the stairs up to the second floor. Such an empty room only housing stairs could not suggest anything else.

I crept up the stairs, though I was sure one of my roomies had to be awake by now. I hoped not to stumble into anyone of their rooms, interrupting their slumber.

Surrounded by portraits, I silently wonder if they were my family. After the conversation with Cooper, I also wondered if they were evil, soulless, blood-thirsting, countesses.

I wasn’t an evil and soulless blood-thirster, so that gave me hope. I also held sight of yet another staircase leading my suspicions to the third floor. I turned my super curiosity towards the first door I saw.

I smiled as I walked into the new room. The stone walls looked as if they could have been made with gemstone. The lights adorning the room were all different colors, and soothing. I was in awe for only a moment, however, until I heard a familiar voice.

“Romarin! You happen to be the woman of the hour.” Exclaimed a social Talia.

Unfortunately, Travis was in the room as well.

“How was your date with his royal hotness?”

“It wasn’t a-” my eyes narrowed suspiciously at Travis. “How did you know where I was?”

“We’ve been waiting for you to get back. And there was a photo of you in a gossip blog online.”

“Great…”I mumbled. Just what I needed. Now I was the mystery girl everyone wanted to be.

“Come on, Romy, tell me how it went. You don’t have to leave out any details.”

“We really only talked about one thing.” I waited.

“Is that so?” He raised his eyebrows slightly. “Whatever about?”

“You , Travis. How wonderful you are, what brand of eye liner you use, how wonderfully inappropriate you are-”

“You’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

“Oh yeah.” I stated. “But that doesn’t mean I’m uninterested in your cosmetic choices. You’re a nice looking girl.”

“I told you!” Kat’s voice said from somewhere beyond the vision-obscuring fireplace. “She can take care of herself.”

“Will you two come over here?” Talia asked Travis and I. “I’m making some refreshing drinks, since we all have different appetites. I thought we could all welcome you here tonight.”

  I walked around the two-sided fireplace to see Audin and Kat sitting on rich orange couches. I sat down by my vampire friend.

Talia joined us. Travis flailed in the background.

“Welcome to Whitham manor. Of course it wasn’t always named the Whitham, however I figured that ‘Castle of blood and despair’ was far too bleak for my taste.” I think she winked from behind her reflective glasses. “Romarin, I would like to explain to you the uniqueness of your species.”

“Talia, with all due respect, we have to follow protocol before we dive straight into this. Romarin, have you had any contact with anyone you know outside of Enngloria since you have been here? As in friends or family?”

“Friends, I don’t think so. Family… I have two older brothers- wait, that’s not right…i think…”

 

I knew I shouldn’t have been there, but the door seemed extra alluring to open that day. There were pictures of her all over our living room, but when it came to talking about Kelsey they acted as if she had never existed. Her old bedroom door remained shut, however not locked, and that excited my senses. It was the only room in the house that I had not been to in my nine years.

I opened the door knowing nothing prior of my sister. Her room was purple, and I was going to think that was her favourite colour, because no one would tell me otherwise. She was someone I should look up to, with her cool pop music posters, and painting supplies.

It was kept exactly how she liked it, and I felt as if I almost knew her. They never erased Kelsey from the house for some reason. There was still a sock lying on the floor,  threatening to bring it’s friends out from under the purple and red bed, that sat untouched and unmade.

I walked to her window, to check out the view of the ocean. It was nearly the same one I had from my own room. I was about to pick up a lonesome crayon and touch Kelsey’s fingers when-

“ROMARIN! I thought the door was open for a reason! What in God’s name are you doing in-in – this room?”

“Mom, i-I’m sorry, but Kelsey was my family too!”

“You know how I feel about that name, Romarin! I should keep you grounded until your eighteen for coming in here!”

“You got the chance.” I said, my face scrunching up into smirk. “I never knew her, and I probably never will!”

“That’s enough, Romarin Demetri! Go to up your room, and don’t come out until I say so!”

 

 “Oh no! They probably think I’m dead!” I said, head spinning as I struggled to stand up. “I don’t even know how long I have been here!” I rushed towards the phone on an end table.

Audin gave Talia a meaningful glance behind my back. He followed me to the phone.

“Romarin, you need to put down that phone.”

“It’s mine!” I said, cradling it away from his reach.

He swiftly stole the phone from my hand, reaching behind me to put it back on its charger.

“You don’t want to use that phone right now.” He said seriously, looking me in the eye. “We’ll help you make up a story of where you went.”

“But..”

“No, Romarin. You don’t want to use the phone. Do you understand?”

“Yes I understand…” I said smiling comfortably off into the distance.

“What happened?” I demanded dreamily, alone with Talia in her glass office- or perhaps it was a hall of mirrors.

“Audin has a somewhat persuasive hold on certain people.”

“What is he, do you mind me asking?”

“I don’t, but he does.” Talia smiled weakly. “It’s kind of a sad story, in my opinion, so I’ll let him tell it on his own time.”

‘So that’s why he’s so uptight.’ I thought, paranoid and hoping Talia couldn’t hear me.

“Alright, then. Kat is a vampire?” I confirmed.

“Yes, a recent one.” Talia said. “That’s another story in itself.”

“Travis is…just a pain?”

“Not only that. Travis was cured of his genetic disorder, but still retains some symptoms; like his appetite, strength, and an acute sense of smell.” She could tell I was lost. “Lycanthropy.”

“ I thought that was just a psychological disorder!”

“It is- and is strongly supported by genetics. But people don’t really turn into wolves. It’s too strange to be true!” She laughed.

“Talia, what are you, in a manner of speaking?”

“A science project.” She stated bluntly. “Now you my dear, are what I perceive to be the last of your kind, aside from myself. We’re related if you go to the roots of our family tree.”

“Did you know my mother or father?” I sat on the edge of my glass seat.

“Your mother, yes. But we have prior questions to answer.”

“My mother was a descendant of the Countess Mallory. Different from your own heritage, she was turned into a vampire, which is just a small cry away from your species.”

“I thought vampires can’t have children.” I said to Talia.

“They can’t.” She responded. “But that is another story as well.”

“I’m noticing a pattern.” I laughed. “Please continue.”

“Countess Mallory, the portrait hanging on my wall over there, was a horrendously cruel woman who developed an appetite for blood. “

My mind floated back to what Cooper had told me earlier at lunch.

 

“She was so horrendous that she was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of servant girls living at her castle. Her thirst for blood made her stronger, and soon all she needed to sustain herself was human blood.  She even went as far as killing her own children, when her husband was ill, and unfit to stop her rampage.

“The legend continues that one day, though she was old in age, she bore a son. He would be forced to live in exile with her, but somehow lived to have his own children, and continue the blood drinking species.”

“That’s horrible…my-our lineage is evil.” I felt that Talia and I were both doomed. “There is no way to stop this, is there?”

“I’m working on it.” Talia consoled me. “It’s an awful way to live, but it’s the only thing that can truly nourish your body. Most children of our lines die before they figure out they need to drink blood. In my research it’s looking like the source of nourishment are the hormones in plasma. If I can work off of that, perhaps I’ll find a cure.”

“Is there a name for our..species?” I asked.

“I have a scientific one, but it’s just gibberish to anyone without a degree in biochemistry. Why don’t you make one up?”

“You would let me do that?” I asked.

“Sure. But hopefully, we won’t need it for much longer.”

“So are you a blood-curdling,  killer?” Cooper asked me jokingly.

“What if I was?” I smiled back.

“I’d take hanging out with you over any anti-supernatural princess in the land. It’s not every day that I meet people like you.”

And in a flashbulb our time together was over.

Travis wandered into the kitchen in the middle of the night, but unlike most of his adventures to the refrigerator, he heard the soundtrack of one his favorite sounds- high heels clicking on cold floor.

Before he could see who it was, the lights in the room flickered twice, and then off.

“Hell-looow?” He asked, annoyed.

“Aww, sugar, are you afraid of the dark?”

Travis didn’t recognize the voice at all, and he didn’t want to answer her question.

“Sugar, sugar…” the candles sitting next to the woman suddenly flickered on.

He followed her high heels up to her scandalous night clothes, and to her brown, messy pigtails. It wasn’t until he walked closer that he realized at once who she was.

“Kat?”

“Of sorts.” She smiled crookedly.

“Um…what are you doing here, wearing that, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” She answered by stretching her limbs and standing up. “I only sleep during the day, I am a vampire you know.”

Travis sensed something was terribly wrong. Kat was reclusive, but she did come out during the day in hopes of feeling a bit more human. And she was too proper to wear her night clothes around the house- or night clothes with sexy shoes in general.

“Are you drunk, Kat?”

“Wishful thinking, but no.” She giggled. “So many questions, Travis.”

“This is a bit peculiar, and awkward…” he cleared his throat.

“Relax. Just because she’s married, doesn’t mean she can’t have any fun.” Kat took a step closer to Travis, smiling to show her pointy fangs.

“What do you mean she?” Travis asked enticed, pushing her away.

“Katherine, who else?”

“Katrina…” Travis whispered in horror. It all made sense now.

“Present.” She made his skin crawl. “I only wanted a little bite.”

He had heard horrible rumours about Katrina, and hoped to prove none of them right in the kitchen.

“You need to leave, Katrina.” Travis warned. “Or so help me I will take that cross off of the wall and stab you until it splinters in your little black heart.”

“You can’t keep me away forever. I’ll be back one night. And I’m coming to get you. I won’t stop until -”

“You won’t get the chance to bite me, bitch. If you come back I’ll cut off your head, I don’t care whose neck it’s attached to.”

“oh, you really are that cold, aren’t you? For someone who has tried to take his own life, you sure are far too overprotective of it now. ”

He was caught off guard by that comment. Katrina must know everything Katherine did.

To his surprise she started for the door, her burgundy heels clicking in warning.

“See you soon.” She threatened.

“I’m counting on it.” Travis responded toughly, though when she left the room he recounted the close call, heart racing, watching the shadows. He breathed slowly in through his nose and out through his mouth, putting his hand to his heart, as if to slow the beat.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Royal Panes: rr chapter 4

Knock knock knock.

                I rolled over in my luxurious bed. I loved being a guest of the royal family. It was so much better than being holed up in Shady Knoll asylum.

                Knock knock knock.

                What time was it?

                Ten fifteen.

                “Hello?” said an angry smothered voice, trapped behind the locked door.

                I should have listened to Cooper’s warning of vacating the room by ten, however I never expected to sleep as long as I had. Talk about over-staying your welcome, not to mention the only escape route was through the third floor window. I rushed to slide the window open and survey the situation. I would need extra strength to survive the fall, able to get up running. I would need the nutrients only blood could give me, and was carrying around three lives in my pocket capable of doing just that. I had only touched the vial to my lips when I was forced to palm it discretely in my hand.

                The door burst open in one smooth kick. It was just who I was looking for.

                “You?” Audin’s dark eyes narrowed with perplexity. He tried to shut the door. It swung out towards the hall, and back into the room again, finally falling to a lucky stop  in the middle of the door frame, even though the latch was not functioning any longer.  “This room was reserved for me, and everyone in this building knows it. It’s not that I’m so important or anything, it’s just that, well, you don’t have much reason to be here, do you?”

                “Uhhh. I have friends in high places.” I told him, dragging out my last two words, whilst staring out the window. “Audin, was it?”

                “Maybe. Well, okay yeah.” He stroked his pointer finger against his lips and settled with resting it on is chin. “ Humour me for a minuet, were you sent to spy on me?”

                “No. I don’t even know you!”

                “You got my name right, how do I know you don’t have a file on me?”

                “Does it look like I have anywhere to put a file?” I rolled my eyes. “I was just leaving, as of fifteen minuets ago…”

                “You had better get going then.” He said wryly.

                I curtseyed in jest and shook my head at him, heading towards the open door.

                “Wait a minuet.” Audin said, catching my arm and spinning me to face the opposite direction. “Did you drink that bottle?”

                “Which bottle?” I asked dumbly, our faces far too close for comfort.

                He pointed with his free hand. “That one. My bottle. “

                “That might have possibly been me.” I said in truth.

                “You were so close.” He said sadly, and then yelled, “Guards!” with a giant smirk spread across his face.

                I squirmed past him and flew to the open window. It had to be done.

                “Over here!” Audin repeated to the approaching security guards. He then caught sight of what I was about to do, and my accomplice, the open window. “What the hell are you doing? “

                I took one of the vials in my pocket like a shot of strong liquor.

 “Bottoms up!” I threw the empty life holder at his feet, taking one last look at the puzzled expression he wore.

Then I jumped.

                When I hit the ground my limbs went numb, but I could still shakily stand, and managed to run away. I laughed when I thought about how pissed the guards would be at Audin when they thought he cried wolf on my entire being there. Plus, he’d have to explain the door he broke.

If that wasn’t enough, I had pick-pocketed his wallet. It so turns out that he was carrying enough for me to buy a new outfit, and possibly a room for the night. I didn’t know where the nearest hotel was, but I did remember the location of the library. For some reason the streets looked different during the day. I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to be, and therefore decided I needn’t be anywhere.

“I don’t know rather to ask you how you did it, or how you survived.”

I shut my young adult novel, and stared innocently up at Cooper Benson.

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Cut the crap, Romarin. This aura of strangeness surrounds you, and you can’t deny it. No one else had access to that window besides Audin.”
               

“Alright. I’ll admit it if you answer a question of mine.”

He waited for my proposition.

“Do you know Talia Whitham? I ask this because she bailed me out when I was in a tight spot, and I think she knows more about me then she lets on. As you can guess, I need all of the help I can get.”

“Your accent is gone.” Cooper smiled. He clearly knew I was different. I was thankful I hadn’t scared him away yet. “Come on, I’ll take you to where Talia lives.”

“Just like that?”

“Yeah.” He confirmed. “Let’s get going, I have class in an hour.”

Before I knew it we had taken a cab to a secluded hill of ancient houses- or should I say castles. I was looking up at an ornate gray stone castle when we exited the cab.

Cooper snickered at me.

“Where did you expect her to live?”

“You’re right.” I jested. She was an eccentric character. This extravagance suited her. “Shall we?”

“Ladies first.”

My nerves jumped as sauntered up the short staircase. I was ready to meet Talia and discover who I was, but I was also afraid of her turning me away. The courtyard entrance took the breath right out of my chest.

“As if I wasn’t impressed already.” I side-commented to Cooper.

The paint in the small entrance looked Spanish in origin to me. It’s beauty was expressed in the green hanging plants, and the warm colored flowers  growing abundantly from the ground. There was a small, bright pool in the shape of a cross adorning the middle of the courtyard.

“Here it goes.” I said, aware of my pounding heart, and thin layer of sweat threatening to sneak through the layers of my clothing. “Who all lives here anyway?”

The door creaked open, and then shut swiftly behind him.

“Can I help you?”

He was full of attitude I didn’t care for. His eyes were the lightest shade of piercing blue I had ever seen. That fact not being enough, he had lined them in stark black eyeliner. I thought my hair colour was weird, but he had me beat with shades of silver and black. Of his multiple piercings, the one that  most stood out to me was the one between his eyes on the bridge of his nose, called appropriately- a bridge. I went to pull the skin on the bridge of my own nose, to see if it was even possible to pierce, but stopped myself, instead acting like I had an itch on my face.

“We’re looking for Talia.” I took charge.

“She’s not here.” The stranger said. “I remember you, Cooper is it? Of the famed Benson clan.”

“Yes, Travis.”

“I see we’ve met. And you,” Travis turned towards me, “you’re not with him are you?”

“He’s a new friend.” I stated.

“I’m going to find Kat.” Cooper squeezed past Travis and opened the door. “I have a feeling she’ll be more of a help.”

“Speaking of feelings, if you’re not with him, how do you feel about being with me?”

“And which way am I supposed to take that?” I stammered.

“However you want.”

If it was anyone else, I was sure to blush, but this Travis character only made me roll my eyes and look away at the awkwardness. Something told me he wasn’t so used to “no” as an answer.

A woman dressed to kill walked steadfast into the courtyard.

“I’m too late, I see. I heard the knock but Travis got here first.” She made a genuine smile in my direction. “I can gather you’re pretty and smart by your current disposition.”

“My name is Katherine.” She shook my hand, unlike Travis. “In time I’m sure you’ll end up calling me Kat. I’ve been expecting you.”

“So have I.” Travis commented.

“Trav, can you leave for just a moment and let me talk to the pretty girl?” She said through gritted teeth. “You can steal the limelight later.”

“You know it.” Travis said, walking inside just as Cooper was leaving. “Later, Kyle.” He said.

Cooper shook his head.

“I have to go, but you’ll be fine with Kat here. I wouldn’t leave you with anyone else.”

He smiled at the both of us and made an exit.

“Pardon Travis on my behalf. I don’t know why Talia let’s him live here.” She rolled her eyes. “Talia is asking not to be disturbed, and since Audin is not here, I can explain everything to you. Follow me inside.”

We entered a rich red room clad with only a staircase, and went through a door to the green and red formal sitting room. Travis was already there lighting a fire in the fireplace. Kat muttered something about “a plague upon the house”, and gestured for me to sit down.

“It’s Romarin, yes?”

“Yes.” I said, clearing my throat.

“ Romarin, we expected you to find us sooner or later because you have roots in this very castle.”

“You must know then, what I can do. What else do you know about who I am?”

“Much. We know much. You are invited to stay here as long as you’d like, and we’ll answer all of your- most of your questions.”

“Why do you all live here?”

“Common interests.” Kat answered, baring her fangs. “We’re all different.”

“What-uh-what are you?” I hoped that wasn’t offensive.

“For hundreds of years I have been a…well how shall I put this…”

“Vampire?” Travis questioned, still prodding at the raging fire. “Seems I’ve spilled those proverbial beans. You’ll be thanking me later.”

“Ha! I knew you existed!” I rejoiced. “Talia seems to know a lot about me. If you do too, you should know your own revelation won’t surprise me.”

“Fair enough. I’ve made a lot of progress with my identity over the centuries, so please don’t let me being a vampire seem threatening or hostile, or-“

“Grave digging.” Said Travis. “You’re going to scare her away faster than I can.”

“I have nowhere else to go.” I laughed deliberately. “and nothing to lose, considering I have no memory.”

“Well that settles it.” Kat confirmed.

“Travis, why don’t you give Romarin the tour?”

“Come on, do I really-”he jumped back from the fire, but didn’t utter a sound of remorse nursing his burnt hand. “fine, I will. Only because I need a break.”

I was apprehensive about following such a character as Travis around an ancient castle for a tour, but if Kat suggested it, I’m sure it couldn’t hurt.

“This is the hallway.” He said dryly. “There are three doors on the right. Closet, office that no one uses, and bathroom. I doubt you’ll be able to keep these straight. My advice is to just go around opening doors. If someone yells at you to get out, I’d heed their warning. But don’t worry; You can visit me anytime.”

“Thanks Travis.” I said sarcastically. “Hold on, let me pick my eyes up off the floor. They seemed to have rolled out of my head.”

We followed the corridor and came to another door. It was the kitchen.

“This is the kitchen.” Travis autonomously travelled to the fridge. The entire room was made from only stone. “I’m here a lot. Do you eat food, being what you are?”

“Yeah…i just drink blood sometimes…often lately.”

“Then I guess I have more competition. I drink straight out of these bottles, have you know.”

He made a sandwich and sat down at the table.

I was not sure which tour guide would have been worse; Travis or Audin. I did know that I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for Travis to finish his sandwich. Perhaps I was too curious for my own good. I opened the only other door in the room, while he sat there, munching away at the table.

As impressed as I was by the courtyard, the dining blew me through the roof. There was seating for twenty some people, how often or not they used it. The windows, opposite the grand fireplace, were crowned with hand-crafted painted glass. The atmosphere was lit solely by candles. When I was finished gawking, I moved on.

I found myself back in the room with the stairs. Though I was excited to ascend them, I figured that I had better finish my tour of the downstairs. I was sure there were at least three levels to the place.

I stumbled down another hallway and opened the first door on the right.

‘Holy hell.’

What was this place? And even more pressing, what kind of people would keep a torture chamber in their house! Just wait until I saw the cemetery, there had to be one after this. Blood stained the crevices in the stone floor. There were numerous devices, like a guillotine and a coffin full of nails, that could have easily led to the blood splatter- and the end of mortaility.

Was this Talia’s version of a cheap joke? Did Kat mean ‘you’ll never leave’, when she said ‘stay as long as you like?’Who else was in on it…Travis?Audin? Someone entered in the door behind me.

“Ahhh!” I yelled, nearly jumping out of my shoes.

“I see you’ve found my favorite room.”

I grimaced.

“I’m kidding.” Travis said. “Unless you’re into that sort of thing.”

“Oh God no!” I shouted at him. “You have a sick obsession with crossing the line!”

“Calm it down, Goldie Locks. You’ll fit in with everyone very well. They all seem to think I’m inappropriate. Not everything is so serious.”

“I beg to differ.” I said looking around. “this looks serious.”

“It’s been here since the whatever-you-call-them-darkest-ages-of-dark.” He explained. “With all the weird genes we have in this house, we don’t need torture devices.”

“And what exactly are you?”

“Your tour guide. I think you’ve had enough for today, I’ll show you were you will be staying.”

My room was just down the hall. I didn’t like its close proximity to the torture chamber.

“We call this the gold room. The red and gold tones make it seem homey to our visitors.” His eyes shifted towards me. “Says Kat. Not me. She rarely leaves the house- has an apartment on the third floor. “

“So you guys are going to let me stay here, just like that?”

“Yep.” Travis said, stretching his feet out on my bed. “This is a place for people who have nowhere else to go. Nice of Talia, really. I know I wouldn’t go to such lengths.” He yawned.

“What are you doing, Travis?”

“I’m going to take a nap.” He said, closing his eyes. “Don’t wait up now.”

I sighed out my stress, which made him smirk in his ‘sleep’. Forced out of my own room, I searched for greater comforts.

When I found her, Kat was in a dark little room off of the main hallway, painting a picture. The only object besides her easel was a little fountain spewing out a delicate trickle of water.

“Hello Romarin.” She said before I even entered the room.

“How did you know it was me?” I laughed.

“Acute sense of smell.” Answered Kat. “Sorry about Travis earlier, but I had to test the waters first thing before you got mad at him in a few days and kicked him through a wall.”

“Unlikely. I don’t think I’m strong enough to do that.”

“Not so, it is a nice surprise for you then. Your strength should be well heightened, as well as your speed.”

I thought back to how fast I was running when I tried to follow Audin. Still, I didn’t catch him.

“I don’t know…” I confessed my doubt. “I was trying to catch up to Audin yesterday when I heard him talking about Talia, and I couldn’t outrun him.”

Kat chuckled.

“No one can catch him, dear.” There was something maternal about the way she answered. “But in time we will learn just what you are capable of.” She stroked the brush across her canvas.

“Doesn’t the lack of light strain your eyes?” I questioned.

“All of my senses are acute.” She answered. “You are quite interested about my kind, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” I admitted freely.

“At least my antics will be fun for someone then.” She smiled warmly.

Yves Laurence: rr chapter 3

I figured perhaps I shouldn’t try to fight the fact that I was crazy.              In a traffic jam once, the woman on the radio station talked about how one seems crazier when they’re trying to prove the opposite. My screaming and protesting had no validity here; playing the part was all I could do for now- until I figured out who I was once again. I felt like somebody new, entirely.

                I had these memories in my head that belonged to a middle aged man. Though I had not seen my reflection as of late, I could tell by my body, hands, and long flowing (and slightly dishevelled) hair, that I was indeed a young woman. It seems I had come to the right place; albeit, against my will.

                “umm, hello…” I stammered from my white box, making sure I had a hold on the crazy tone I knew I used earlier, “may I speak with someone?… please and thank you?”

                They sent in a burly guard to answer my request.

                “Is there a name in which you call me by?” I asked, in a beautiful accent.

                “We don’t know your name.” Drat. “Are you ready to cooperate?”

                “Yes, yes I am.”

                They decided not to send me into general population right away. Instead I was given a disposable cup of medication and sent to sleep in a new prison cell- generously darker than the white room I mistook for death. If someone could explain to me my offense I would take whatever punishment was due to me. I noted the need to ask the next orderly I saw just that.

                Life was boring at the institution, and I really saw no way out without an identity to prove I was sane enough for release. They nick-named me “lady Macbeth”, and I hadn’t the foggiest why. Richard was more of a math person. He never really enjoyed literature, however he recognized the title. My memories, idiosyncrasies, and accent belonged to him, to Richard. My whole appearance, to the voice narrating my thoughts, was someone different entirely. As long as I knew the difference, perhaps I could work around it.

                “I don’t quite remember…so what was it I did to end up in here?” I asked the orderly, who I’m sure was used to that question.

                “Well, lady Macbeth…you were found licking the blood off of a sidewalk and a suicide victim outside of a hotel.”

                My attention drifted away from the tasty cookie they had baked for me. That was a blessing in disguise, because I was sure they had laced it with some sort of sedative. He had to be serious, right? He looked serious with the disgusted gesture worn on his face.

                “Which hotel?” I asked, hoping to visit the location soon. “I want to see if it sparks a memory.” I was only half-lying, or not telling the whole truth.

                “Hotel Demolition.”

                Good. I would search through all of the Hotel Demolition rooms until I found something or someone who knew who I was. For all I knew someone was trying to find me and rescue me from this prison right where I sit, at exactly this time. I looked hopefully at the doors to no avail.

                “Who is Lady Macbeth?” I asked.

                The orderly chuckled.

                “A character in the play ‘Macbeth’.”

                “Do we have it here?” I asked in my new accent, nodding towards the book shelves.

                “I’m not sure. I don’t read much.”

                He was like Richard.

                I went to the bookshelf and searched for my literary counterpart. Perhaps the real me read, unless it was the new me whom was studious, and in that case I’d still try my hand at it. I might as well, seeing how I might have to live here for several months or years. Just when I thought the search was over, a young man wearing standard issue looked at me curiously, held out a book, and shallowly muttered:

                “Macbeth.” And he walked away as fast as he had appeared.

                “Yves!” a nurse rushed over to him. “You said something! Do you know what this means?”

                He avoided all eye contact with the nurse. She was far too enthusiastic and it made his head hurt ; from his mop-hat full of overgrown raven strands, to his chin full of unkempt stubble.

                It looked as if Yves wanted to be left alone, so I honoured his request by plopping down in a cold chair with my borrowed book. I meant to say thank you, however the voice to my thoughts wanted to lay low for a little while, and ultimately decide if I should be let out for good behaviour, allowed to lick blood off of the sidewalk to my mind’s content.

                I found Yves in the courtyard- if you could call it that. It was surrounded by the same cold concrete fence I saw every time I looked outside my window. At least there were flowers.

                “I just wanted to say thanks for the book.” He sat there quiet. “I read it all.” I offered. “It’s back in the common room if you want to read it again.” Yves stared forward out into nothingness.

                My smile fell, and the only thing I had left to do was walk away.

                “My name is Yves Laurence.” He suddenly said in some type of foreign tongue. “I live here since I am eleven. Because what I can do.  How old are you?”

                “Forty-“ wait, that wasn’t right, “I don’t know.”

                “What is your name?” He reached out to shake my hand, as if it was something he had never done before.

                I looked down at the courtyard pavers as night was descending upon our prison.

                “Romarin Demetri.” He informed me. “You are unlike the others. I have to search much to find you. There is not a lot on the surface to confuse me.”

                “Yves, what can you do?”

                “I can hear you. And see you. In your head.”

                For some reason it wasn’t as creepy hearing him say that as I thought it would be.

                “Do you know if anyone knows about your gift?”

                “No.” He smiled crookedly, as he knew better than anyone else what people thought and knew. “ In there I hear all talking the same time. Everywhere. Cadeau? You say gift, as if it is good.”

                “It is good. It is how you use it.” I reassured him.

                “Et toi,” Yves began, “you do not use your gifts in a good way, you do?”

                It clicked that Yves must be able to see everything in my past. He was the only one on the entire continent, including myself, who was aware of my true identity.

                “I do not remember, but I think my past was bad.”

                He frowned.  It must have been horrendous. ‘I thought so…’

                “You are not as bad as you think, Romarin. I see the light too.” He smiled encouragingly. His dark eyes drifted towards a spoiled plate of food left on an adjacent table. “Look fire flies!”

                “Yves, those are only-” I then shut my mouth and my mind, focusing on happiness for his discovery. “It must be getting late.” I finished.

                He nodded at me and walked back inside.

                I smiled at the buzzing flies Yves befriended. There was a whole world out there that he hadn’t seen in years. I felt like he wouldn’t want my sympathy. At least I could make a new friend while I was stuck here, and find out who I used to be.

                “Lady Macbeth!” A nurse was looking for me.

                “I know it’s getting dark, I should come back inside.” ‘to your prison’.

                “It’s fine. I just came to find you because you have a visitor.”

                Someone knew me! Someone knew me. Besides Yves, who only looked into my mind (like that isn’t extraordinary or anything), and never really knew me outside of Shady Knoll. When I was led inside and through the dark halls, the excitement of who I would soon see was my only light.  Maybe I had family, and maybe they had been looking for me.

                A woman of untellable age stood up to greet me as I walked in. Her black wavy hair was pulled back, but strands on either side hide her face, reaching well past her shoulders in cooperation with her dark glasses. The colour of her skin was nothing I had seen before, but after the past few days a little tinge of purplish blue on a stranger’s face was less than surprising. I could see my own reflection in her thick sunglasses, however I knew by her own appearance that she wasn’t the family I was seeking.

                The woman in a military coat and long leather skirt reached out her gloved hand and awkwardly shook mine.

                “Pleased to meet you, I am Talia Whitmore.” She had a Richard accent.

                “Do I know you?” I sheepishly took my hand back, aware that the only feature I could clearly see on her face was a set of perfectly painted red lips.

                “Please sit, my dear.”

                “’Who are you calling dear?” I asked, though I did what she said. There was something about her that didn’t sit well with me.

                “I’ve known you longer than you think, Romarin.”

                “There is one problem, Talia. I don’t remember how long I’m even supposed to know you for. I lost my memory. Hell, I just figured out my own name today.”

                “I came here with a warning.” Talia threatened. “You must lessen your profile. People are starting to talk. But I suppose when the last incident happened when you were knocking on death’s door.”

                “You mean I was dying? Does that mean it can happen again?” I knew all I needed to know now about my incident with Richard and his expiration.

                “Double yes.” She responded pointedly.

                “Who’s you dentist?” I gaped.

                “Oh, these old things?” she touched her tongue to the tip of her elongated right canine tooth. “I’ve had them since I was born. I can thank my mom for that.” The last part of her speech wasn’t sarcastic. There was a longing in her voice that was fuelled by love. “Back on track. I’m not sure how long you’ll be visiting  here, however, keep in check when you get out.”

                “Yeah…” I trailed, with thoughts of Talia’s army coming after me when I exposed their secrets- the ones I didn’t even know anything about. “Is that all? You’re not going to bail me out or anything?”

                “You have to clean up your own messes, kid. And since no one knows who you are, it should be easy.” She stood.

                “Good evening. Thanks…I guess.”

                “My pleasure.” She said, moving to shake my hand, but instead slipped my something metal.

                ‘just like prison’, I thought smartly to myself, or possibly Yves, if he was close enough.  She left me by myself. I palmed the key when the nurse came for me.

                It was only a matter of time until they found my little metal savoir.

                Clearing my head was easy, as Richard was inevitably fading away. I wouldn’t need him to escape, only Talia’s master key and my innate wisdom.

                I was worried I wouldn’t be able to control the primitive drive that brought me to Shady Knoll.  My hope was concrete in finding Talia once again. She seemed to know everything. I would seek her out the moment  left.

                The door to the office opened quickly at my disposal. If I had any personal effects at the time of my arrest, they were sure to be hidden within reach. Sure enough I found an old cross necklace, and some clothes that had belonged to whoever I was. It would be too easy for them to find me (saying they would end up looking) in the clothes I ended up here wearing, so I also swiped someone else’s’ clothes, hoping they wouldn’t be so heart-broken on the event of their release. I wasn’t the first to assume that people were released often.

There was one more thing I desperately had to do. I needed a back supply of blood. There were numerous vials of it in the refrigerator. I choose three lucky ones.

                With my master key I escaped through the front door. 

                Where was I to go from here? I figured the library- the place Richard renting my mind dreaded to go, however it was still the place he knew the exact location of. Even though I knew my name, I wasn’t cured of my amnesia. Knowing only that I was Romarin Demetri would at least leave a paper trail of my library records.

                On my way into the building I stopped to observe a golden globe of the world. It wasn’t like I was blocking the door or anything, however a man impatiently bumped past me with a forced “pardon”, as if I was a nemesis to his cause. 

His hair was light blonde, however darker than my moonlit locks. The hair was swept downward across his face.  It was short enough to be called short, but it threatened to grow past his chin without any warning. He wore street clothes topped with a black military jacket.

                I was going to ignore his very being, until I just so happened to walk by a study room and caught the name “Talia”. I peered around the corner and saw the blonde guy talking with a brunette, like some sort of impromptu meeting. How many Talias could there be in Enngloria?

                I couldn’t hear the conversation between them well enough. I decided to get closer, though I looked like an imbecile daftly going for a bookcase in the room they happened to be conversing in.

                The blonde one looked at me.

                “Do you mind?”

                “If you do.” I snapped. “I’m just getting a book.”

                “I kindly suggest that you get a book in the other room.”

                I looked at the brunette for help and got nothing.

                “This is a public library, and-”

                He shot me an even  more fierce look of warning that I couldn’t ignore. I backed up into the bookcase behind me, trying to understand why he was so angry at me.

                “Sorry.” I shook my head and ran out.

                I was hesitant to be in the same room with him again, however the thought of finding Talia hovered over my thoughts.  I feigned reading a book until he exited the study room.

                When he did exit, he was running so fast that I barely saw him. I wasn’t sure that he was running at all. I had to do something fast, so I dropped my book and followed him.

                The chase began across the luckily empty street. No one was around to see us; more importantly no cars were around to hit us. Adrenaline rushed steadfast through my entire body as a dashed across the street in pursuit. I was going to lose him.

                Just as he had tucked himself behind a building, my adrenaline fully kicked in. I found myself running faster and faster, until I felt like I was part of the breeze. Once again I spotted him running.

When I could no longer breathe, I was forced to end the chase, looking helplessly down a hill at the champion. My body gave my super-speed the white flag of surrender, as I gasped hopelessly for breath. The only thing I had left to do was walk until I found another sign of the guy who spoke of Talia. It was a fat chance, but seeing I had nowhere to go, I might as well wander.

When night came I found a nice bench outside of a bookstore  to pour myself on to.

                “How long have you been walking, anyway?”

                “What-”

                On a bench caddy cornered to mine, sat the dark-haired college boy from the library. I was almost a relief to have seen someone I know, until I realized I didn’t know him at all in reality. I didn’t even know myself.

                “Who are you?”

                “Ah, yes, an introduction. Cooper. And I’m not stalking you, if anything you keep following me. I’ve been reading on this park bench- well until it got dark.” He walked my way. “Are you lost?”

                “Romarin,” I told him my name. “And no, I’m not lost, for your information.”

                “Well hello, Romarin, who walked through this block four times today, and is not,” he mocked my voice with a high-pitched octave,“ lost, for your information.” He joined me on my bench, despite the mockery.

                “Okay, Cooper, jackass who likes to instigate, I’m lost.”

                “I guess I deserve that.”

                “All of it.” I said seriously, and then burst out into a soft laugh. “I’m just joking. I’m sure someone like you couldn’t begin to take me seriously in the first place.”

                “I’m as serious as you are about stalking Audin.” Cooper retorted.

                “Who’s-” and then I remembered. “That guy you were talking to, huh?”

                “I wouldn’t waste your time with him.” Cooper informed me. Before I could ask just what he meant by that, or anything about the name I heard the two of them drop (Talia) in conversation, he dismissed any prompt I could sneak in. “ So Romarin, how long are you visiting for?”

                “How do you know I’m just visiting?” I asked in my Richard accent.

                “You’re mysterious.” He said pointedly. “And I get the feeling that trouble follows you.”

                “You’re absolutely correct.” I still spoke in my accent. “I think most people would run away.” I had a distant thought that people had been running from me my whole life.

                “There is no such thing as too much trouble, and I like making friends.” My informant said. “But you might want to get away from these streets before the witching hour.”

                Whatever that meant.

                “I’ve lived here all of my life, I’m sure I can help you find your way back. Where are you staying?”

                “I don’t know.” I said truthfully. “I mean, I don’t have anywhere to go. I’m kind of homeless. Well, I’m very homeless.”

                “You don’t look homeless.”

                “It’s a long story.” I laughed. “By the time I try to explain it, it will be the witching hour for sure.”

                “Why don’t you stay with me then?”

                “Umm, I don’t know that we’re on the same wave length here. I don’t really know you, and I’m not like that.”

                What I thought was a look of disappointment for a moment, was only the most flustered face Cooper could make. “I didn’t mean what you’re thinking- don’t mean that still. We have a lot of guests over at my house, quite often, and you can take our spare room if you’re out by ten tomorrow morning. You look like you could really use a place to crash.”

                “Thanks.” I responded, hoping to sweep the misunderstanding under the rug. I knew I was pretty, and had another inkling about my past; one in which people mistook my outer appearance for stupidity or easiness. “I’ll figure something out tomorrow.”

                “I remember you now!” Cooper exclaimed. “You were at the library a few weeks ago!”

                “I was?-er, I mean, I was.”

                Now we were getting closer to uncovering my past.

                “You looked different then.”He shrugged slightly. “You were looking up books to check out.”

                “About what?” I asked, like he would know anyway.

                “ Blood, I think. Or blood drinking, you know, generally about blood.” He felt as though he needed to explain how he knew this, without ever previously holding a conversation with me. “I’m far sighted.”

                “I see.” I nodded, thankful my new found friend didn’t run at my strange reading habits. They only farther enforced my strange drinking habits. As we walked I patted the three vials in my pants’ pocket, hoping I wouldn’t need to drink them, but happy that I wouldn’t have to consume anyone else’s blood.  Perhaps if Cooper could lead me to Talia, then she would answer all of my questions about whatever being I was.

                “What happens in the streets at the witching hour?” I teased.

                “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” He proclaimed, stopping just outside of Seak park. “And besides, we’re here anyway. If I tell you all about the juicy gossip in this town you won’t want to talk to me again. I need leverage.”

                “Wait, you’re telling me…that you live here?”

                “Yeah.” Cooper said, rocking back on his heels, and avoiding my gaze.

                “Is this a joke?” I began to grow distrustful of him, looking up at the grand fenced in building of parliament.

                “No.” He said sincerely, as if his feelings were hurt. He pointed to the monstrosity of a building that never slept. “I live in the palace. I’m the second heir to the throne.”

                “Oh.” I said, and we laughed there in the street.

The bin: RR chapter two

The length of the flight meant nothing to me. I slept the whole twelve hours, nearly unaware that I was in the air the whole time. In fact, my neighbour even had to wake me up when the plane landed, when the plane brought me home to Enngloria.

                If I couldn’t figure out how to wire the money out of the charm school account, I was going to at least use the institution as a place to sleep, and hope it would take them awhile to kick me out. School started in two days, so I would hatch my plan in the hotel room and see what I could come up with. So far, I had nothing. The money was locked down into a prepaid card I could only use on the small school campus. It made my head hurt more than it already did. My mom probably suspected that I would flee, and took precautionary actions.

                Charming.

                I was home and I had no idea where it physically was. I did have my name though, Romarin, which happened to be helpful as it was my birth name. I decided to go to the library after I checked in at the hotel. Sure such lore existed about blood drinkers in a country like this. It was just too weird and too supernatural not to exist someplace- or so I desperately hoped.

                I didn’t do much sightseeing since I was loyal to my cause. I did stake out the charm school at one point, but I dared not to go in until absolutely necessary. I was more interested in the huge library and its database, though I wasn’t crazy about the boy staring at me as I searched through it.

                The edifice was nothing like anything found in my beachy costal town. Anyone could tell of the rich history by the ivy creeping up the old white brick, waiting for the right moment to swallow it whole.  I was sure the library had existed long before anyone I knew was born.

                I typed in ‘Romarin’ to see if it matched even the most miniscule topic.

                Nothing.

                Next I tried ‘blood’, however the selection was too broad. I added ‘drink’ to the end of it, hoping no one was watching. I turned around and some college boy had his eyes fused to the back of my head. I wasn’t used to people staring at me since I had been off of the red stuff , and wasn’t obscenely pretty. He avoided my glare and went back to work. ‘yeah, you better.’ I told him in my thoughts.  As long as he was far-sighted he wouldn’t bother me.

                I printed off a short list of books, mostly fiction, which had anything to do with people who choose the same tasty snack as me. I looked around warily as I went in search of my literature. Could someone in this country be like me as well? I had to wonder, and wonder I did profusely.  I looked behind me, noticing a swift movement from college boy out of the corner of my eye. I started to get creeped out by his incessant staring. I wished he would read his book instead of trying to read me.

                The thing I really wanted to know about me, or anyone like me, was how long we could go without the sustenance blood allowed us. I knew there was a possibility that I might die without it. If I knew how much I needed to ingest to stay alive, that would be a start.

                Most of the books on my list were about what I suspected- vampires. I knew I wasn’t one. The only thing we had in common was that we liked blood and were fair-skinned. I could go out into the sun, my teeth were dull, and I was pretty sure I had a soul. So who was I?

                All I knew at that point was of my aching muscles and dizzy head. If I wanted to feel only a smidgen better I knew I had to get some rest. My only choice was to head back to the hotel and sleep for a few hours. I grabbed the books from the first half of the list and left in a hurry, as my splitting pain led the way.

                Meanwhile…….

 

                ………………………

I woke up when I heard I single, gasping breath in my ear. It took me a moment to realize that it came from me. I felt light-headed, as if that breath signified the beginning of my intake of oxygen. If that were so, it could only mean that I wasn’t breathing at all for awhile.

                It had been a month since I had taken the atrocious drink. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could live without it. I glanced at the books sitting on the hotel end table; they were my only hope of finding answers, though it appeared that time had run out. I knew my brain and eyes could no longer function together to provide me with skills for reading. My mind was dizzy and suffocating.

                It didn’t help that my hotel room, the staple setting in this new country, was barren and hospital coloured in light woods and snow blues. It seemed too sterile for creativity, or even to quell any home sickness one could feel while travelling.

                This was it. I was about to snap and needed a blood bank fast. The problem with my home away from home was that it would be difficult to find such sustenance…unless…no…yes?
                “NO!” I yelled out loud, hoping that hearing my own voice would suffice in calming me down. I would need to find a living creature and hope its blood was untainted. Oh my, what was I doing?

                I cursed and fell into the side table, knocking a number of my possessions off of the surface. I wasn’t a morning person by any means. Something blunt bounced off of the top of my dull, lifeless hair. I reached my hand to the right and felt a chain.

                It was my mother’s cross; the same one she let Kelsey wear on prom night; the same one Kelsey was wearing when she was found mangled. And now the torch was passed. I smiled at the thought of my sister, and didn’t think twice about fastening it around my neck. I then took my phone out, thinking to call my mother and offer thanks, but something else happened.

                My eyes flickered to the time and the day. Something was wrong. It was already the date charm school was scheduled to start. I was to be there in an hour.

                I had slept for the length of an entire day.

                I swore loudly, never minding my neighbours, and made for the door.

                I was playing with the chain around my necklace as I hopped down the staircase in the hotel lobby. I could make it on time if I kept up a quick pace. Sacrificing punctuality on the first day of charmed school was a lame move, and I wasn’t about to make such a first impression. I checked my phone once more to be sure of the date, and yes I was in trouble. I could barely focus my attention away from the backlight-lit display of my lost day, until I saw a flash of falling sky just outside the main doors. 

I screamed a little when that something made its way farther and still from the sky, and smacked the ground with a final high five. Naturally, however scared I was, I had to investigate. It was the scariest thing I had ever seen; his lifeless body staring up at me from the concrete. I’d rather the actual sky fall than a human being become a paintball on the sidewalk. However scared I was, I could not ignore the delicious pheromone-full smell drifting through the air. It calmed me.

                I walked closer as I heard someone on a balcony above scream about calling for an emergency. This man on the sidewalk didn’t want his blood anymore. I should ask it to be mine. ‘Will you be mine?’ I said, half out loud, and half in a tongue only the two of us knew how to speak.

                It agreed.

                I meant to make a sound, but the only thing my mouth could come up with was a worn-out breath of polluted air. How had I survived?

                I knew I was lying on a floor, however it was not the concrete I had aimed for earlier. It was soft, like fabric. I had to get up and call my family. I had to tell them I was sorry, and that they had nothing to do with this. Stupid, stupid me, for jumping without thinking. ‘Stupid, stupid me for leaving them with angry and insincere words before I did it. ‘ I could make things right again. I could have a second chance. I had to pull myself up.

                When my eyes were forced all the way open by my brain, I realized I was in a stark white room. White rooms were never good. I felt panic at the thought that this room was the afterlife. If it was, I would never get to say goodbye. It was so intensely bright that white must have been the only colour throughout the room, or possibly the building.

                But then I saw my hands. My hands were spackled red! I was so preoccupied with trying to scrub off the red, that I never realized they weren’t my own hands. The delicate knuckles were covered in such a distracting colour! Chipping off the dried red was the most important thing I had to do. I began frantically scrubbing off the evil.

                “Please stop that.” Said an errant voice, joining me in the afterlife box. “Please, ma’am.”

                “Who are you calling ma’am?!”, shrieked my voice, in a voice that was as much as mine as my hands. I thought at that time, with the woman’s reaction sinking in, to look down at my body.

                I was in shock.

                “ Can you tell me your name?” My companion asked me.

                “It’s in my wallet for God’s sake!” I boomed in my surprisingly girly voice. “Richard Pryce! Mr. Pryce at 700 Prescott Lane!” She shook her head sadly. “What have you done to me?” I gasped for oxygen. “Why are you keeping me prisoner?”

                I backed away into a corner, hoping it would somehow keep me safe. She circled me; circled this shell I was trapped in. I would get out of this body no sooner than I could flee the white room.

                “Stay away!” I demanded fiercely. “Get AWAY from me!”

                “Shhhh, shhhh, you’ll be fine in a minuet.” I felt a needle plunge into my back.

                I hit the floor in darkness once again.

Cake Batter: RR chapter one

I was wonderfully groggy at best. The less I slept behind my slight, pink bed curtain, the more my pretty little head hurt. Was it really pretty anymore? The blonde tones in my hair had turned to ash, a colour I can liken to gray. My face no longer glowed radiantly; instead it was dry and dull. ‘Well fine’, I thought ‘ I never asked to be pretty anyway.’ And that was true. I could ignore my plainness, but the body aches from withdrawal were completely different.

                My whole life I was detrimentally gorgeous to a near fault. My mother was absurdly smitten by this, expressing her joy by entering me in beauty pageants galore. After my older sister died unexpectedly my parents put all of their exuberance into me. I had tough shoes to fill and did so with uncanny, unearthly beauty. In a sad way it was the only thing I had. As I stood on stage as a child, lights drowning my vision, making me look even more pale than I was, I never once protested my mother flaunting me off like a trophy child.

 One more thing, I was adopted. I had no idea who my birth parents were; however I was perfectly fine with my own parents that raised me. Of course I still wondered…and especially now, in the midst of some messed up genes I inherited.

                I had finished high school up online, after what reporters deemed “the atrocity in the valley” happened. Mom always said I’d be famous…but this was for all the wrong reasons. Anyways, I had to leave school as to not be made fun of by all of my old friends, as well as leaving behind my tremendous popularity and charisma. I knew after that day that I would always refuse the drink my parents prepared for me to gulp down every Sunday: I would refuse the blood.

                I was basically a shell of nothingness. Worse, my mother refused to pay for my college unless I entered another beauty pageant. I no longer had the looks for such superficial contest, and it angered her to no end.

                “Romy?” my mom asked, pushing open my door, uninvited. I hadn’t had the strength to get up and lock it.

                “Yes?” I groaned with angst.

                “It’s Sunday.”

                “I told you!” I screamed at her, hoping it would scare her out of the room. “ I don’t want to drink blood. What kind of parent gets off on feeding their kid that when they’re a toddler, anyway!” I had always wondered what possessed the Demetris to give me such a tastily plasmatic snack.

                “It was an accident.” Mom paused.

                “Accident, hmmm.” I started pacing around my pristine pink room that made up the third floor. “Accident like THE ATROCITY IN THE VALLEY?!”

                “Pretty much.” She answered truthfully, luckily handling my high volume rage wonderfully. “Do you want to know what happened?”

                “Sure,” I answered dully, “enlighten me on my catastrophic childhood”.

                She rolled her eyes at my sarcasm and launched into the gory details.

                “We were in the hospital, waiting in the emergency room lobby. You dad and I were still in our night clothes, as were you- you were with us- because we hadn’t had time to change.”

                “Why were we hanging out in the hospital, mom?”

                “It was the night that…”

                “Oh, Kelsey.” I breathed softly, hoping she wouldn’t hear my deceased sister’s name and throw a bigger tantrum than I had. “I’m sorry, continue please.”

                “So we were making small talk with a guy who had gotten in a bar fight and had a huge gash in his face. Not that I usually keep such dangerous company, but anything to keep my mind off of…uh…the events.”

                ‘Smooth, mom.’

                “Here is where you come in, Romy. As a child you were always crying and throwing fits. We took you to see many doctors, but no one seemed to find anything that caused your discontent. It was good that you weren’t sick, but we were still worried about you. You were small for your age. We were concerned that you would develop properly and become a happy child. The doctors gave us bottles and bottles of vitamins to sustain your life.  We just had to pray.”

                “Sorry I was such a pain in the ass.” I commented.

                “It’s okay, because we found out what you needed to grow.”

                “Blood.” I whispered, thinking of how great that would taste right now, flooding my mouth with platelets of goodness to the last drop.

                “Anyways, our bar fight friend was updating his medical insurance and your dad and I were so worried that we didn’t even realize the nurse and the other patient were playing with you. I really didn’t mind, neither did your father, until…”

“Her name is Romarin.” Mom said to the patient.

“ Hi, Romarin, I’m- Ah!” the man cried out in pain. “What’s going on!”

“Your father and I shrieked in horror when we saw what you had done. You had licked the man’s face as if it tasted like cake batter, and with your two teeth, tried to rip the gash open even farther.”

“Oh my GOD.” I burst out.

“Well luckily you only had two teeth.” Explained my mother. “Oh, and that the guy didn’t sue. He had kids of his own, I think that’s why.” She smiled. “So from then on about once a week, we’d give you blood like a little treat. We were so surprise by the suddenness in which you grew during the next day.”

“So blood was the magic switch that finally made me grow?”

“Yes it did. The next morning, well it was the afternoon since I was up crying over- the event- I came to find you in your room.  I couldn’t believe what I saw!”

“You were smiling at me, blessedly happy to see me. And that wasn’t all- you had grown hair overnight! And it was pretty hair too!”

I laughed, she would say that.

“Just when I thought that I’d never be happy again, you brought joy into my life because you were thriving. I was sure you were going to grow up healthy and happy. That meant the world to me, even though that accident with blood was pretty horrific.”

                “Well it’s bound to happen again.” I said smartly. “Probably not at this moment though, since I never leave, have no job, no friends, and everyone here knows my face and what I did. Can we move? I want to move.”

                “Actually…that isn’t such a bad idea.” Mom confessed.

                “Are you serious? What about your jobs here?”

                “Not me and dad, silly,” she said, trying to sound fun, “you.”

                “With no job and no money?”

                “Well you see…there is a charm school across the seas that I can send you to”-

                I rolled my eyes, unforgiving.

                “I told you, I’m done with that!”

                “But there is something of interest there for you.” She said pointedly.

                “Heavy books to balance on my head? This sounds just enthralling!”

                “It’s the place where you were born, Romy, the place where I’m sure all of this blood ingesting started.”

                “What am I waiting for then?” I smirked. What would a little charm school hurt besides my pride? All I had to do was get the money from my tuition, and I would be able to do a little learning of my own. “Tell me a little more about this school?” I asked with full intentions of going rouge once I got there.

Prolouge: The terrifying tale of Countess Mallory

“Oh, no.” She breathed, however knowing the countess could not hear her words. “What am I about to do?” She carried her infant down the corridor. Her infant…the unexpected reason she had come to the castle to work. The maiden paced with the tiny baby in her arms. Her Gloria. If she surrendered Gloria now, what would become of her…she knew, she knew what was bound to happen ever since the night a few weeks ago, in which she stumbled upon that hideous hidden chamber.

Gloria had fallen off to sleep, and she was still wide awake. In the dead of the night, she decided to take a stroll down the corridor. She wanted to thank the countess for allowing her to stay among the inhabitants of the castle, but she hadn’t seen the countess since her first day living amongst her royalty, about six months before. Lost in her thoughts she was- until she heard a whimpering cry.

“Some soul, any soul, please, please!” It was insistent, and with her new motherly instincts, she had to follow it.  She pressed her hand to the wooden door, pushed and pulled, and finally it opened.

“It’s not her! Thank you, God!” A shadow in the corner said. “I told you he exists!” the voice said to her only company for the past few weeks.

“Come closer.” The other shadow’s raspy voice said.

The maiden obeyed, and regretted it.

The girls, or what was left of them, were chained in a corner, their bodies bloody and bruised. There were numerous torture devices in the room, and a generous amount of bloodshed carpeted and painted the room like confetti.

“Please, miss.” The first shadow said. “I don’t want to go back in there.” She gulped, nudging her head towards the coffin impaled with sharp nails and shards of whatever else deemed pointy. “Please, get us out of here!” she pleaded.

The maiden, too afraid to say anything, rushed over to them and tried the chains. “I’m going to need to get help.”

“Don’t tell her, she’ll kill you too!” the raspy-voiced one warned, bracing her worn out limbs against the cold wall she could no longer feel.

“Who is she?” The maiden said with emphasis on the last word.

                The tortured girls looked at each other, afraid to speak her name.

“Well?”

“Countess Mallory.”

And now she was putting her baby in the hands of such a maniacal woman? No, she was switching the infants out. Her baby may not be spared, however she made a promise to the king to keep his blood line going, to protect his last surviving kin, before she joined the others in death; one by one. The countess was told she could not have anymore children, so the maiden had no other choice at this time. But why Gloria? Not Gloria…

She looked at Countess Mallory’s newest child, the only one to survive her wrath thus far. Yes, Gloria. She would have to be the sacrifice to end Mallory’s insanity. If this infant lived on, maybe the tens of young women to die in the castle would not have died without a cause. But would she herself get out without leaving in a coffin?

She swiftly switched the babies without another thought, taking baby Mallory back to her chamber. The Mallory children were said to be different- to be special. This was her new Gloria, and that might help her mind drown out the awful infant cries it fathomed up- cries that would sound with a lance striking down on the bassinet. She shivered.

The baby cooed quietly in her arms, thankful for the warmth it received.

“Are you hungry?” She asked the infant.

New Gloria made a little sound.

The maiden smiled warmly at the baby. She walked across the room and picked up a bowl of her own blood that she had prepared earlier. Tipping the bowl towards the infant’s hungry mouth, she smiled again thinking, ‘that wasn’t so bad.’