Blood Ties

by Lauryn Evans

  Alice, dressed in a metallic silver dress, her platinum blonde hair styled in short spikes, oversaw the final touches to the decor. Lily, her black hair pulled back off of her face, and Emma, dressed in a lovely green dress, placed beautiful flower centerpieces on the tables. Adelaide smoothed out tiny wrinkles in the ebony tablecloths. Her long wheat-colored hair was pulled into a braid down her back, and she was wearing a short baby blue dress. The ballroom was decorated with black and gold accents, just as Renata had planned.

  “You’ve all done a wonderful job,” Renata beamed at Lily and Emma. “Now, don’t forget to compel the humans to forget the feeding once you’re finished. And remember to control your hunger. You’re not to harm the guests.” Renata was not in the mood to clean up the girls’ mess if they weren’t careful. There was a way that things were done to protect the House and its members from threats other than magnas. Human vampire hunters were just as serious a threat. Covering up their tracks and making sure no human was killed at the mansion’s events was an essential part of keeping the House safe.

  “Of course we will. We understand the seriousness of being careful.” Emma’s soft-spoken voice reassured her.

  “Good,” Renata said. “Guests will be arriving any minute.”

  She made her way to the other side of the room, where Edwin and Will had just finished setting up the buffet. “Guests will be arriving any minute now. Will, I want you at your post guarding the front entrance as you greet guests. If you see any sign of trouble, you know to ring the alarm bell.” With that, Will slid two knives into hidden pockets in his tuxedo jacket and assumed his post.

  “Edwin, share these instructions with Heather before you assume your post. I want the two of you to take turns keeping an eye out for trouble at the top of the staircase through the lookout. You can feed while the other is at their post.”

  “Sounds good,” Edwin dipped his head to her before seeing himself out of the ballroom.

  Adela entered the ballroom, fully dressed in a violet gown that complimented her dark hair and tan complexion. “Do you have any orders for me?”

  “I want you to help me entertain the guests and make sure the others are at their posts in between feeding,” Renata said. As her second-in-command, Adela assisted Renata with her own duties.

  “Sounds good,” she replied before making her way further into the ballroom.

  Lastly, Renata spied Alice overseeing some final touches to the tables on the far side of the ballroom. “Alice,” Renata called.

  “Yes, Mistress?”

  “I want you to stay in the ballroom during the party. See to it that each guest is fed off of only once during the night, if they are fed on at all.”

  “Of course,” Alice nodded, her platinum pixie cut wild.

  Renata exhaled in relief. She’d given everyone their orders, and so far the night was running smoothly. Still, it was up to her to make sure the night continued to run smoothly once the guests arrived. The jitters in her stomach hadn’t let up.

  A knock sounded at the door. “Ah, that must be the piano player.” Renata thought aloud as she rushed to the door.

  Her heart sank, heavy with sorrow. This time, because of the loss of Alexander, she had to hire a piano player for the event—something that saddened her. Somehow, at every turn, Renata was constantly reminded of her loss.

  She opened the door, welcoming the gentleman in, and led him to the ballroom where she showed him the piano, away from its home in the common room for the night’s event.

  “What a beautiful grand piano, Miss. Where did you get it?”

  “It was my father’s. He loved to play,” Renata answered the gentleman.

  “Do you play?” He inquired as he sat down.

  Renata laughed and shook her head. “He tried to teach me, but I was never any good.” Renata enjoyed the happy childhood memory until she heard the clacking of heeled shoes walking on the marble floor in the common room.

  “If you would excuse me, I must attend to the guests.” With that, Renata left to show the guests into the ballroom.

  The party was in full swing. As she made her way through the full ballroom, full of over one hundred guests, Renata could smell the delicious meal Edwin prepared, and she heard the soft music emanating from the piano along with the guests laughing and talking. She looked past the cacophony of elegant noise to see Alice’s watchful eyes scanning the ballroom and Edwin keeping an eye out for trouble up the grand staircase. Judging by the number of women blushing as they entered the ballroom, she knew Will was at his post guarding the door.

  Relax. Everything is going to be fine, just fine. Stop worrying.

  The latter was easier said than done.

  Heather moved to the staircase, her long brown hair pulled into a delicate updo. Edwin was by her side as she dabbed drops of blood from her chin with a black cloth napkin. Before she reached the stairs, Heather laid her hand on Renata’s shoulder, clearly concerned. “You should feed, you haven’t looked good lately.” She paused. “I know it’s been a rough time for you.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Please, take care of yourself. Feed. We need you strong to lead us.” Heather said endearingly as she went up the staircase, relieving Edwin of his post.

  “She does have a point, you know.” He said as he passed her, before joining the mob of guests.

  “I know,” Renata muttered to herself. She hated admitting when they were right.

  Then, she, too, made her way into the crowd.

  Renata struck a conversation with an older gentleman, whose wife was off gossiping with a group of ladies. “I hear you paint in your spare time, Sir.”

  The man’s stature rose a bit with pride. “I do. It is a calming hobby, and few certainly have an appreciation for art.”

  “Would you like to see my late father’s art collection? He, too, was a man who had an appreciation for fine things.” The predator inside of Renata had the man right where she wanted him. She felt guilty for this part of her nature, the primal side of her vampire self, but was comforted knowing she wouldn’t hurt him, unlike rogue vampires, who refused to control their blood lust.

  “It’s right this way.” With a charming smile, Renata led him from the ballroom into the hall, a safe distance from the ballroom. Her fangs emerged like piercing, unsheathed swords. The man’s eyes widened with fear.

  Renata stared into his eyes, her own beginning to bewitch him at her command. “You will not utter a sound.”

  The man’s eyes glazed over, and his muscles released any harbored tension. Renata sank her fangs into his neck as gently as she could. As she fed, the taste of the human’s blood danced across her tongue, filling her entire being, and despite her body’s desire to continue, she stopped. She’d only drank less than a pint of the man’s blood. She’d need to feed off of many others to be full.

  Renata’s tongue brushed across the bite wound. The man’s skin patched itself back together as if nothing happened. “When I snap my fingers, you will have no memory of this experience. Everything will go back to normal.”

  She wiped her mouth.

  Back at the ballroom, she snapped her fingers. Renata’s fangs retracted as she flashed a smile at the man who’d bounced back to his normal self. She signaled Alice, who sat at a table by the ballroom’s entrance, and let her know the man had served his purpose. Alice gave a subtle nod in response.

  Through the crowd of guests, Renata spied a tall young man, maybe nineteen or twenty, open a vial containing some sort of suspiciously clear looking liquid, and drink it. His long black hair fell in front of his eyes, stopping Renata from getting a better look at him.

  It’s probably just vodka. Young men sneak alcohol into parties all the time.

  But this wasn’t a college party–it was a high-class event. Renata couldn’t help but worry just a bit.

  As she made her way over to the young man, she lost him in the sea of guests. Panicked, she began to move through the crowd looking for him when
she was interrupted by a scream to her left. Renata whipped her head towards the sound hard enough to give her whiplash.

  A magna stood in the middle of the ballroom. Its giant frame towered over the guests, whose fearful screams echoed off the walls. This magna’s inky black fur glistened in the light from the crystal chandeliers, and as it prowled away from her, she could see its shoulder blades move with its silky movements. The magna simply ignored the scurrying humans around it, focused solely on its prey.

  “Get the guests out!” Renata yelled to Adela, “Get them out and get everyone to the safe house!”

  Upon seeing Adela usher the guests and the House members out, she turned back to the monster.

  The creature’s red eyes had found its prey, and Renata’s heavy heart sank.

  She heard the alarm bell ringing but didn’t care to see who rang it. All she cared about was getting to the girls.

  Renata saw Lily and Emma, cornered by the magna, fear etched across their young faces, evident in their golden eyes. The beast stalked them, as if it knew the longer it did so, the more afraid the girls would be. Lily stood in front of Emma, her hand quivering as she held out her small dagger. Renata desperately tried to reach them, fighting her way through the massive crowd traveling in the opposite direction.

  It was too late. She couldn’t save them. The beast had Lily’s limp body dangling from its giant mouth, her scarlet blood staining the cream-colored carpet in the parlor adjacent to the ballroom, as it shook its prey vigorously, like a dog playing with a chew toy. The magna’s paw pinned Emma down, with its knife-like claws impaling her bloodied torso and leg. Her screams of pain urged Renata to move faster until suddenly, they went eerily quiet.

  The animal turned to her, cocking its head. The ballroom was empty, void of life except for Renata. She wouldn’t be able to outrun the magna, not even with her enhanced speed. Not with it this close. And she couldn’t run to the safe house and endanger her House.

  No, she would have to lead it away from them.

  Renata dashed up the staircase. Taking the bait, the magna stalked after her. She dashed toward the corridor, hoping to gain some cover, or find a defensible position to fight the creature.

  Renata stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the outline of another magna in the dark corridor.

  They’d cornered her, like lions hunting a gazelle.

  They really are getting smarter.

  The black magna from the ballroom was prowling behind her, while the magna from the corridor came towards her, into the light, revealing its dark brown fur.

  It was at this moment that Renata knew she was going to die. One magna was a challenging fight, but she would never make it against two. There had to be another way. She was on the second floor, so her only way out was through a window.

  All the windows were new. Alexander renovated the inside of the mansion before he died, replacing the windows. Opening and unlocking a window would take time Renata didn’t have to waste.

  The predators closed in on her for the kill.

  She had to think, and quickly, for god’s sake.

  The room just behind the brown magna had an old stained window that overlooked the rest of the roof. A window large enough for her to jump out of, and might have a chance to break.

  Here goes nothing.

  Renata ran towards the magna with all her might. She’d managed to startle the beast, giving her enough time to slide underneath its belly and drag her knife through its soft flesh. The brute wailed in pain and dropped to the hardwood floor with a thud.

  Enraged, the black magna charged at her.

  Renata quickly got up and ran for the window, not bothering to open it. She hurled herself at the glass, shattering it as she fell onto the roof.

  Knowing the magna wasn’t far behind, she ran to the other side of the roof towards Easton Bay. Staying close to the building so the magna wouldn’t see her, Renata moved carefully until she was sure she was out of the magna’s line of sight. Adrenaline pumped through her as she jumped off of the roof and ran towards the water.

  As she ran away from the mansion, Will dashed toward her.

  “Go!” She shouted at him as she ran, and the two of them made it into the waiting rowboat together.

  Will frantically picked up the oars and rowed, trying to get them to the safe house as soon as possible.

  Thankfully, like house cats, magnas steered clear of water. Will and Renata calmed down once they were far enough from shore, where the predators wouldn’t dare follow.

  “You look like crap,” Will observed, catching his breath.

  Looking at the little cuts on her arms, her messy hair, and torn, bloodstained dress, Renata had to admit she looked disheveled. “I guess I do.”

  Will looked no better. His short, sandy-blonde hair was messier than usual, sticking out in several places. His clothes were scruffy, and there was blood spattered on his cheek.

  “You’ve looked better,” Renata told him. Gesturing to his face, she said, “And you’ve got a little something right there.”

  “Gee, thanks,” Will replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “I had no idea.”

  Renata chuckled, taking another look at herself. The cuts on her arms and face stitched back together, mending themselves. The magna’s oozy, dark blood stained her face, arms, and dress. “Looks like I’ll need to go buy a new dress,” she laughed.

  The thought of needing a new dress reminded her that she would eventually host another party. Her first party as Mistress of the Newport mansion had resulted in an absolute disaster. Disaster didn’t even begin to describe it. The night ended in tragedy.

  How could she go through that again?

  “Were the guests compelled to forget the ordeal?” Renata asked him, back to her worried, anxious self.

  “Yes, they were all untouched, and Alice compelled them to forget the attack.”

  Renata wasn’t surprised. Alice, being the oldest vampire in the House now that Alexander was gone, was the strongest. She was the only one strong enough to compel a group that large.

  “Good.” Renata remained silent for a while and looked at the water. “You should have gone straight to the safe house,” she said, breaking the silence.

  “No one left behind,” Will answered as he continued to row.

  “Lily and Emma were left behind.”

  “Lily and Emma are dead.” Will let out a long sigh. “We have to think about those of us who are still alive.”

  She turned to look at him. “It was my responsibility to protect them. It’s my responsibility to protect all of you.” She looked away again. The unspoken message loomed over her.

  I failed.

  “Look, Renata. The attack took us all by surprise. Neither Edwin nor Heather or I saw anything approach the mansion. It was almost like it suddenly appeared inside.” Will exhaled loudly. It had been a rough evening for both of them—for all the House members.

  Her thoughts traveled to the young man with the strange vial.

  Could the two be connected?

  No, they couldn’t be, could they? It all had happened so fast. Renata barely had time to process what she’d seen.

  “Will,” Renata grabbed his arm. “I saw a young man at the party drink a vial of strange liquid just moments before the magna attacked.”

  “You think it’s related to the attack? How?”

  “I don’t know.” She thought better of herself. “Let’s keep that detail between us for now.” Renata held her face in her hands. “If we’re going to survive, we need to learn more about them.”

  “It’s a crazy idea, but just hear me out.” Will began, “If we catch one, maybe we can learn more about them, and see if your theory about the liquid and the attack is right.”

  Renata considered the idea for a moment. Catching a magna would be risky. If they failed to keep the situation under control, things could get bloody. But anything they could learn could easily be the difference between life and death.

&
nbsp; She sighed. “It’s definitely crazy and dangerous, but I don’t think we have any other choice.”

  THREE

  The safe house was built on a small island that wasn’t too far from the mansion by rowboat, but far enough to keep them safe from any magnas lurking around. The presence of anyone who wasn’t a member of the Newport House was strictly forbidden. The location was well hidden from the outside world, making it the perfect place for them to disappear.

  It was also the perfect place for Renata to plan just how she would catch a magna. Or decide if it was even worth the risk, for that matter.

  She retired to a quiet corner of the safe house common room and started to develop the logistics of the capture. Renata knew it would be stupid for her to pull off something like this alone, but she wanted to minimize the danger of the few who were going to assist her. Will could handle his own, as could she. This would be a task for the two of them.

  Renata’s lingering thoughts on the subject scurried with the sudden scent of human blood. Her attention was now focused on the male stranger whose scent was unrecognizable to her.

  The scent belonged to the human male that was standing in front of her, holding two full black duffle bags. The door of the safe house closed behind Adela as she entered behind the stranger. Renata assertively stood, seeking to take control of the situation.

  Adela ushered the young man over to Renata, her topaz eyes filled with unease. “Renata, this is my brother Wyatt.”

  Renata forced a gentle smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “You too,” Wyatt stared at her, uneasy, as if he was trying to decipher her intentions. “If you’ll excuse me,” he narrowed his hazel eyes, “I’m going to go put these bags down.” With that, he strode to the table by the door, placing the two duffle bags on top of it.

  Noticing Renata’s stiff stature, Adela reached out to her. “It’s not what you think,” she said. “He’s not a hunter. He’s not a threat to us.”

  “Why should I believe he isn’t?” Renata whispered as she peered over Adela’s shoulder, stealing a better look at the young man. He seemed to be around the age she was when she was turned, maybe nineteen or twenty, with a complexion similar to Adela’s.