Blood and Forest: A Vampire Novel

by Raven Stone

Fiona

  During my exam with Dr. Miller, she’d told me that Gabriel was going through the same evaluations I was, just ahead of me. She’d also promised me that they wouldn’t hurt him. That did make me feel better, but I still felt myself a bit on edge while I waited for the next exam to start.

  Right now, I was pacing between the couches in the room they’d left me in. The door opened, and I stopped where I was standing. The doctor and another vampire came in and closed the door. The other vampire held her hand out to me.

  “I’m Morgan.”

  “Fiona,” I said.

  We shook hands, and she gestured for me to sit. The doctor sat on the couch near me, and Morgan chose the chair across from us.

  “For this next part, I’ll need to examine your Shade. Do you know what that is?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Your Shade is separate from your vampire, but it’s a part of it too. It’s a part of you. It’s quite sensitive and vulnerable to touch. But I want you to know, Fiona, that I will not harm you in any way, okay?”

  I glanced at the doctor and she nodded. “Okay.”

  “Good. Now I want you to let your vampire rise, then I’ll call your Shade,” Morgan said.

  “Okay.” I reached down into my core and called to my vampire. I felt that part of me rising, and then slowly spreading into the room. The other two vampires shared a look.

  “Stop.” Morgan held up her hand. “Fiona, where’s your vampire?”

  “Here.” I pointed to the base of my throat.

  Morgan’s eyes widened.

  “And it kind of feels like my vampire’s leaked out a bit, like I can feel it in the room around me,” I continued.

  “We call that perfuming, and that’s not your vampire exactly. That’s power from your vampire,” Dr. Miller said.

  “Alright, let’s focus,” Morgan said. “Fiona, I’m going to call to your Shade. Just try to relax and don’t hold anything back. Let your Shade come out.”

  “Okay,” I said.

  Then I felt something pulling at me. Morgan was right; it felt like something calling me, urgently trying to get my attention. A part of me I didn’t even realize existed, slipped free and rose, like a balloon escaping my grip.

  I gasped and reached after it.

  “It’s okay, Fiona, let it go,” Morgan said.

  I did as she asked, even though I didn’t like it, and then something appeared that looked like a big, soft pink blob.

  “It can be any color you like,” Morgan said.

  Another blob joined mine. This was all shades of orange; from light to dark. My pink blob reached out to hers, wanting to touch that soft, shimmering being.

  “Start with a light touch,” she said.

  I extended what seemed like a fingertip towards the orange shape in front of me. She was soft. She reminded me of Dakari’s fur. I ran my fingertip down her side, just like I would the wolf, and she shimmered beneath my touch.

  “Okay, now I’m going to touch you,” Morgan said.

  A small tendril extended from the orange shape. Her touch was indeed light, and ran down my side. I shivered, surprised to feel the effect in my Shade and in my physical body.

  “No, this isn’t right,” Morgan said.

  The tendril ran up my side again, a bit firmer this time. It felt strange. My Shade retreated a bit, and I felt my back hit the couch.

  “Fiona, look at me.”

  I did, and saw the other vampire frowning at me.

  “Stay just like that. I’ll be right back.” She got up and quickly left the room.

  “Dr. Miller, am I okay?” I asked.

  She squeezed my hand. “I’m sure you’re fine.”

  Morgan returned with another vampire. “Fiona, this is Chrystal. I’d like her to look at your Shade, okay?”

  “Okay.” I ran my hands down my jeans, remembering Gabriel saying that I needed to stay calm no matter what happened.

  Chrystal sat down, and in a few moments I could see my Shade, Morgan’s, and a green one. The green reached out, and her touch was firmer than Morgan’s. It felt like being examined by a doctor; the touch was impersonal, poking and prodding at my Shade.

  It stopped about a minute after it had started.

  Morgan turned to Chrystal. “Am I right?”

  “Yes,” Chrystal replied.

  “What? Am I dying? Am I malformed or something?”

  Chrystal’s lips twitched. “No, you’re not dying. You’re fine.”

  “Your Shade’s okay, but you are not. You’ve been lying to us, Fiona,” Morgan’s eyes narrowed, “and lying to the White Guard is never a good thing.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “When did you become a vampire? And. Don’t. Lie.” She emphasized.

  “July of last year.”

  “July of last year. Less than seven months ago? That’s your statement?” Morgan glared at me.

  “Yes,” I said, glancing between her and the doctor. I didn’t understand what was going on.

  “Bullshit. You’re not a noven. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but this stops now. I’m talking to your fucking latari.” Morgan stormed out of the room.

  “Don’t worry,” Dr. Miller patted my hand, “we’ll get this straightened out, but I need to get back to your bloodwork. Let me take you back to Martin and you can watch some TV okay?”

  “Okay.” I noticed my arms were crossed, and I let them fall to my sides.

  Calm, I reminded myself. Stay calm.

  Chapter 142

  Gabriel

  Cyrus and I had found a nature show that was set in Australia. We were halfway through it when Morgan burst into the room.

  “You’re both in a lot of trouble. Especially you.” She pointed at Cyrus. “Lying to your fellow White Guard. Playing some sort of hoax or game on us?” She advanced on him. “They’ll kick you off the Guard for this, Cyrus.”

  I rose from my chair. “What is this about?”

  “Your noven’s not a noven.” She pointed that finger towards me. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but we saw right through you, mister.” She poked me in the chest.

  Then she turned on one heel and headed for the door, pausing at the threshold.

  “The doctor’s running the bloodwork now. The panel will convene in twenty minutes. I’d suggest you get your story straight, Cyrus, and be prepared to give up that white suit.” Then she left.

  “What was that all about?” I asked him.

  “I have no idea.” He frowned.

  I ran over the conversation again in my head. “She called me mister.”

  “The protocols are in place, even here. She doesn’t know who you are,” he said.

  “So this isn’t about me or the kingdom,” I mused. I shot a glance at him. “Do you two have a history? Does she have it out for you?”

  He shook his head. “No. We’ve clashed before, but it’s nothing personal. It’s always about the rules. She’s always so arrogant, so sure she’s right.”

  “Is she? Usually right, I mean?” I asked.

  “Unfortunately, she is right ninety percent of the time. It’s the other ten percent that’s an issue. It’s almost impossible to get her to admit when she’s wrong.” Cyrus crossed his arms and gave me a long look. “Any idea why she thinks Fiona isn’t a noven?”

  “No.”

  He raised his eyebrows, and I sighed.

  “Do you really think I would have put myself through all of this, if she wasn’t?”

  He smiled wryly. “Good point.”

  TWENTY MINUTES LATER, another vampire appeared at the door and led us into a different part of the compound. We followed into him a large open room that loosely resembled a court room. Nine vampires sat behind a long wooden table at the front of the room. Two smaller tables faced the larger one, with a podium in between. Fiona and Martin were already sitting at the small table on the right of the room.

  “Five of the pan
el members are White Guards from the Queen’s Court, and four are from yours,” Cyrus whispered. He led me to the small table on the left, and we sat down.

  The vampire sitting in the very center of the panel gestured smoothly towards Cyrus. Cyrus rose and went to the podium.

  “In July of last year, I noticed a light appearing in the darkness, indicating the turning of a vampire. My partner Martin and I followed the light to its source. We found this noven, and this latari,” he gestured to us in turn, “and we followed protocol and set the timeline in place. We come before you at the six month mark to check the health and wellbeing of the noven and latari, report on their progress, and to submit to the panel’s ruling. Thank you.” He gave them a clipped nod and returned to the table.

  Doctor Miller approached the podium next.

  “I’m Doctor Miller, and I’ll report on the physical health and wellbeing of the latari and the noven.” She shuffled some papers. “The latari’s bloodwork shows a healthy and fit vampire. His bloodwork indicates stability. And, due to an unfortunate incident late last year, I can also confirm that he’s able to fully heal wounds and recover, even during this critical time.” She turned over a page. “After speaking with the noven, I can affirm that she’s adjusting nicely, is feeding directly from humans, and is participating in sexual activities at a healthy level. Her bloodwork also confirms that she’s adjusting well, and that she has a healthy adaptation. Her bloodwork is congruent with the majority of novens, and indicates she’s under the seven month mark.”

  The doctor looked up from her papers and addressed the panel. “My findings indicate the latari and noven are healthy, and they are cleared in that regard. Thank you.”

  The members of the panel nodded, and the doctor left the podium.

  “That’s a good thing,” Cyrus whispered to me. Then Morgan approached the podium, and he tensed.

  “I’m Morgan, and I’m a member of the White Guard. I’ll be reporting on the Shades of the latari and the noven. The latari’s Shade is congruent with any vampire over the age of ten years. The latari’s Shade is powerful, brimming with health, and is actively growing. It is not congruent with a vampire who’s created a noven within the past year.” She glared at me over her shoulder, then continued. “The noven’s Shade is healthy, well-seated and established, and is actively growing. The ability of her vampire to perfume a room is well above what it should be. The noven’s Shade is not congruent with a noven under seven months, much less any noven.”

  Morgan paused, her gaze roaming the members of the panel.

  “I don’t know if this is a joke, or if this panel has decided to test me. But in my opinion, this noven is no noven. Judging by her Shade, she’s been a vampire for just under two years. And whether this is a hoax,” she glared at me and Cyrus then turned back to the panel, “or a test, I do not appreciate being toyed with.”

  “We are not testing you, Morgan,” the lead panel member said. “Latari, when did you turn this vampire?”

  I rose. “July of last year. Almost six months ago.”

  He nodded, and addressed Fiona. “Miss. Please rise.”

  Martin urged her to stand.

  “When did you become a vampire? When did you stop being a human?” the leader asked.

  “In July. Six months ago, just like my latari said,” Fiona replied. Her voice was steady, and she appeared calm, just like I’d told her to be.

  Good girl.

  However, Morgan was far from calm. “Bullshit!”

  Fiona straightened her spine and fixed Morgan with a regal gaze.

  “I can prove it. I can prove that I was a human last July,” she said calmly.

  I was so proud of her. I could feel the smile spreading over my face, but I quickly stopped it.

  “Let us see your proof,” the lead panel member said.

  And then every gaze in the room rested on my noven.

  Chapter 143

  Fiona

  I could feel all of them looking at me. I grabbed my purse from the floor and rooted around until I found my phone. I scrolled through pictures until I found the ones I wanted.

  “May I approach the panel?” I asked.

  “Please do,” the lead vampire said.

  “My friend Mel and I went to a barbeque on the Fourth of July. Here we are by the pool.” I showed him the photo on my phone. Mel and I stood there in broad daylight. We smiled into the camera while holding hot dogs in our hands.

  “Here’s the time stamp.” I pointed. “And here’s us sunbathing the next day.” I moved to the next picture and showed it to him.

  “Sunbathing,” the vampire repeated, staring at the picture of me and Mel in our bikinis by the pool.

  “Yes.” I looked over my shoulder at Morgan. “That’s me in full sunlight on July fifth. Doing something that only humans can do, unless everyone forgot to tell me that vampires can go in sunlight?”

  “Bullshit.” Morgan marched over and grabbed the phone from my hand.

  “That’s the time stamp right there.” I pointed.

  Her eyebrows rose. “July of last year. And that’s definitely you in full sunlight.”

  Morgan sighed and handed me back the phone. “I don’t know how you did it, but you’re right. I owe you an apology. I was wrong.”

  “Ha!” Cyrus said.

  She shot him a dirty look, but didn’t say anything. I went back to my seat, and Morgan returned to the podium.

  “I accept that Fiona is a noven. She and the latari are both healthy, although I do recommend further monitoring to make sure that their Shades are stable. That is my report. Thank you.”

  “Thank you, Morgan,” the lead vampire said. “The panel will now meet with Cyrus and Martin to hear their full reports and their recommendations. We’ll reconvene and provide our ruling.”

  The entire panel stood up and filed out of the room. Cyrus and Martin followed them without saying a word. That left only me, Gabriel, and the doctor.

  “This could take some time. I’ll have to stay in the room with you, but I can go to the back and give you some privacy. Would either of you like some more blood?” Dr. Miller asked.

  “No, I’m fine,” I said.

  “I’m okay too,” Gabriel said. “Thanks for all of your help tonight, doctor.”

  “Anytime.” She smiled. She went to a chair in the back of the room and pulled out her smartphone and started typing.

  “You did very well,” Gabriel murmured.

  “Thank you.”

  He smiled and held out his hand. “Now, let me see that picture of you sunbathing.”

  Chapter 144

  Gabriel

  We huddled together, sitting on the chairs behind my table.

  “See, that’s Mel and me at the barbeque,” she touched the phone and the picture changed, “and that’s us the next day.”

  “Sunbathing,” I said.

  “Yes. Why do people keep repeating that?” she asked.

  “Because vampires don’t get to sunbathe,” I replied, staring at the picture. She was glorious; stretched out on a lounge chair and wearing a ridiculously tiny amount of clothing. She smiled up at the camera, and she glowed in the sunlight.

  “You’re beautiful,” I said.

  “Thanks,” she said, smiling. “I had a sunburn the next day.”

  “Who took this?”

  She shrugged. “Some guy that Mel thought was hot.”

  I touched the phone, and it switched to the next picture. She and Mel again, smiling at the camera. I went on to the next one. A whole life appeared, in picture after picture. Just a young woman and her best friend, having fun. Then I came across one that she hadn’t posed for. She was sitting on a couch, unaware that her picture was being taken. She was still beautiful, but sadness shone from her eyes and face.

  “Mel must have taken this,” Fiona said.

  “You don’t remember her taking it?”

  She shook her head. “It’s dated the night we met though. I remember I was
going to stay in and just eat some ice cream. She convinced me to play dress up,” she went to the next picture, “there. I remember taking that one.” She and Mel were wearing skimpy outfits and posing. Mel had a feather boa around her neck. “And once she got me smiling, she said, hey, let’s go out to a bar and flirt. It’ll be fun. And that’s the night we met.” She shrugged and put the phone down on the table.

  “Do you regret it?” I asked.

  “I regret some of the things that happened that night, but meeting you isn’t one of them. And I definitely don’t regret you turning me. I love being a vampire. I’m happy. I love my life, and being with my wolves and my humans, and being with you.”

  Her eyes met mine. “Thank you, Gabriel. Thank you for this life you’ve given me.”

  Then she kissed me.

  “Nope, none of that,” Cyrus said, walking into the room. “Fiona, if you will please go back to your table.”

  I sighed and let her go. She reached her table at the same time as Martin, and they both sat down.

  Cyrus took Fiona’s place by my side. He seemed incredibly pleased, which I took to be a good sign. The panel filed in right after him, and the lead vampire spoke after everyone was settled.

  “The point of these proceedings is threefold. One, to check on the health of the latari and noven. Two, to gauge their stability. And three, to start determining whether the noven is worthy of joining our community.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands on the table.

  “We’ve determined that the latari is healthy and stable, albeit a bit outside of the norm. We’ll continue to monitor, but expect no real change. From our perspective, the latari has a very low chance of snapping, breaking, or losing control and becoming a risk to us all. When it comes to the latari, we are satisfied.”

  I felt some of the tension in my body ease.

  “When it comes to the noven, her growth is far outside the bounds of normality. We’re unsure how or why this happened, but it is a concern. From the perspective of her mental stability, she expressed some initial issues with feeding that required the intervention of her latari. That’s a mark against her, but she does seem to be feeding on her own now. Other than that, she’s made sure but steady progress. She’s shown no sign of erratic or dangerous behavior. However, she’s about to enter the most treacherous part of her novenship. We’ll depend on Cyrus and Martin to monitor her closely, and step in as necessary.” He gave pointed looks to the two Guards, and they both nodded in return.