‘Yes. Good old Vincent Drake, thought himself an Earl or a Lord, but in truth he was no aristocrat - just wealthy.’
Ofelia followed Victor up the stairs and had a tour of the seemingly countless bedrooms on the second floor. ‘So there is no Mrs. Drake?’
He laughed at this. ‘No, if I foster you, I’ll have you all to myself. I’ve always preferred the bachelor lifestyle. There are twelve bedrooms to choose from if you come. You’ll have free run of the house, except the master bedroom suite and the wine cellar. I try to avoid the third floor. That’s really the servants’ private space. They have bedrooms, a kitchenette and a small living room up there.’
By the time they’d completed the tour, Ofelia was sold. It was hard to refuse given her current, fairly lacklustre accommodation. She still didn’t trust Victor though. When they got back to the kitchen, Victor ordered Nancy to make them both a drink - Ofelia asked for black coffee this time, and they sat in the Library - a wooden panel and bookcase-lined room on the ground floor, overlooking the pond at the front. They sat opposite each other in ancient, brown leather wing chairs, sipping their coffee. ‘So, are you happy for me to be your foster carer? Do you agree to our deal?’
Ofelia leaned back in her chair. ‘I still don’t trust you. But I want to. Say you can work out how to make more vampire - who gets a say over who gets turned? If anyone? Does the world need more vampires?’
Victor shrugged. ‘I don’t think a handful of vampires across the globe would be a great harm. Maybe the world needs some people to live through history and learn its lessons first hand? As long as there aren’t too many vampires, I don’t see a problem. We can discuss those details later. We’ll be a team.’
‘Okay, what if I want friends over?’
‘Fine. Just be aware that at some point we’re going to have to get you out of school so people don’t notice you never age.’
‘I’ve already thought of that. Also, if I agree and move in, I’m not saying I agree to give you blood straight away. I don’t trust you.’
Victor shrugged again. ‘Fine by me. Can I get you some food? Are you hungry?’
Ofelia agreed and Victor rang for Nancy, who prepared Ofelia a platter of cold cuts. She felt less anxious about the move now. She’d even chosen a room, a massive corner bedroom well away from the master suite, with far-reaching views over the forest, reservoir and the fields beyond. After lunch, Victor took her on a tour of the grounds. It made sense that he needed a full-time gardener; the estate seemed to go on forever. As they walked back towards the house across a rolling, manicured lawn, dotted with ancient oaks and a mature Sequoya, Ofelia turned to Victor. ‘One thing I don’t get. Where did you get your money? How come you’re so rich?’
Victor grinned. ‘Fair question. I’m from a rich family, who were always efficient at using trust funds and so forth. I’m a trustee of an estate that owns many properties in London. A management company handles all the leases, rents and maintenance and I just get paid handsomely, every month. Thanks to a savvy ancestor of mine.’
‘Vincent?’ Ofelia spat, sounding a little disgusted that a person could lead such a privileged life through someone else’s endeavours.
Victor nodded. ‘Vincent started the project, but successive Drakes have always expanded it. I have too. You can never have too much land, money or power and the three are intertwined. Oh, is that your social worker’s car pulling up?’
Ofelia looked and saw Rita’s black Audi parking next to the front of the mansion. She watched Rita climb out and head for the front door. Before she got there though, her eyes fell on Victor and Ofelia and she beamed. Ofelia was beginning to think Rita had a thing for Victor, either that or a ‘thing’ for his multi-million pound house and bulging bank account. Victor extended a hand as they approached. ‘Rita!’
She smiled and blushed a little. ‘Victor. How have you two been getting on? Has rushing your approval through been a worthwhile effort.’
‘I think it has... Ofelia?’
Ofelia nodded, ‘I think we can give it a go. I’m thinking most kids don’t get to choose foster carers?’
Rita looked sheepish now. ‘That’s true. If you weren’t happy about this situation, well, I’ll be honest - I don’t think you could stop it. Unless you can provide a valid reason a particular foster carer can’t look after you... well, you go where we put you. Victor was really keen though, and it seemed like a great placement for you. Somebody expedited his application, I don’t know how. It’s good that you think it’s going to work out though. I’ll speak to Gavin and see when we can get you moved.’
Chapter 16 - Leaving Harper House
Rita spent twenty minutes fawning over Victor before she drove Ofelia back to Harper House. She promised to facilitate Ofelia moving to Victor’s as soon as possible. Ofelia for her part spent the rest of the early evening catching up with her homework. Stoney asked her again for help sleeping, but this time she told him to go to bed early, then read a while to see if he could manage without. Gavin was on duty and called for lights out at the usual time. Thankfully, Ofelia didn’t suffer another bout of the craving. After Gavin was fast asleep though, Ofelia had visitors.
Lucy, Kerry and Stoney all turned up at Ofelia’s room, entering without turning the lights on. Stoney spoke first. ‘Hey Offers, we heard you’re leaving. We didn’t have time get to know you properly.’
Ofelia was sat on her bed in her pyjamas by this point. ‘No, you didn’t - but maybe that’s for the best. I don’t enjoy getting to know people, then saying goodbye.’
Kerry stepped forward now. ‘We know what y’are. Luce and me worked it out when you were creeping into Stoney’s room the other night. What is that stuff you were giving him to knock him out?’
Ofelia stared at Lucy now. ‘Know what I am? What exactly do you think I am?’
Lucy answered. ‘You’re not human. We think you’re an alien.’
Ofelia smirked. ‘What? Why?’
Kerry pointed at her accusingly now. ‘That black stuff you gave Stoney? He saved me a bit, and I took it to school and looked at it under a microscope. It looks like it’s alive!’
Stoney approached now, the only one who wasn’t in his pyjamas, and sat on the bed. ‘I’m not mad at you Offers, that stuff really helped. I need to know what’s going on though. We all do. We won’t tell.’
Ofelia looked from expectant face to expectant face. They honestly had somehow, come to the conclusion she was some sort of extra-terrestrial. She considered agreeing with them, but there seemed little point. They seemed sincere in their promise not to tell. She decided honesty might be the best policy now. Maybe if she swore them to secrecy? She stood and gestured towards the bed. ‘Sit. All of you.’
Stoney, Lucy and Kerry obeyed, sitting on the bed. Ofelia strode towards the door and clicked it shut. While she closed the door she thought about the taste of blood and imagined savouring the flavour of the crimson ichor. Her teeth extended as planned. She checked the door was properly closed a final time, talking while facing away from the bewildered children. ‘You remember when you asked if I was Dracula’s granddaughter?’
Stoney, Lucy and Kerry leaned closer, eyes wide open. Ofelia turned to them, her fangs protruding and dripping black venom. ‘You weren’t so far from truth. I am a monster, I am a vampire.’
A flash of lightning illuminated her grotesque, protruding teeth, then thunder rumbled in the distance.
Her plan had been to dart forwards, grip Lucy and Kerry in one hand and Stoney in the other, then feed on them. They would all have forgotten, and she could have carried them back to bed, one-by-one. What she saw though was three terrified children. ‘Jesus Christ!’ Stoney spat, trying to edge away. Lucy and Kerry were gob smacked - shocked into silence.
Ofelia thought better of her original plan and approached them. ‘I am a monster, but I’m not evil. Stoney - I fed on you twice. I’m sorry for that. The stuff that help you sleep is the Immortal Paradox, the black goo that drips
from my fangs. I’m sorry for feeding on you. I didn’t mean to and I try to make things right. I don’t want to hurt any of you. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I want to become human again. Keep my secret, and if there’s any way I can help you - I will.’
Stoney stared blankly at her, then turned to Lucy. ‘You idiot! I told she wasn’t an alien!’
Lucy shrugged. ‘So? I told you she wasn’t human! You owe me two quid!’
‘Well I asked her if she was Dracula’s granddaughter!’, piped up Kerry.
Ofelia was somewhat taken aback. She’d expected a different reaction somehow. She allowed her fangs to retreat and approached them. ‘So you keep my secret?’
Stoney laughed out loud at this. ‘Keep your secret? Like we want to get on the wrong side of a blood sucking, monster with superhuman strength? I’ll keep whatever secrets you want.’
Kerry looked serious now. ‘You’re not eleven are you?’
Ofelia shook her head. ‘No. I’m nearly six hundred years old. Before you ask, I can’t make more vampire. I don’t know how.’
Lucy frowned. ‘Ugh! Who’d want that? To be going around biting people’s neck and being stuck as a kid forever. No thanks.’
Kerry shook her head too. ‘Yer can count me out too. I’d rather know a vampire than be one.’
Stoney turned to her, looking thoughtful. ‘I’ve got so many questions. Are we friends? Can vampires have friends?’
‘Yes, vampires can have friends. If you want to be my friends you are. Just bear in mind that if I can’t stop being a vampire, you all grow old and die while I stay a kid. It’s late though. I have big day tomorrow. Go back to your rooms. Go to sleep.’
The three children rose and headed for the door; Kerry was the last one out. She paused before pulling the door to, grinning at Ofelia. ‘Sleep? If we can!’
***
That night, Ofelia dreamed of Amicia again, but this time Amicia as a frail old woman, white-haired and lame. Withering away in an upstairs room in Paris, with skin like dried parchment. They didn’t talk. Ofelia just sat in a chair beside the bed, holding her hand, watching the candles burn low. Eventually, she realised Amicia’s hand had grown cold. All her life had left her. Ofelia left via the window, and crept over the rooftops, fighting back the tears. The year was 1589. When she recalled the year, she was brought forward in time four hundred years. She was standing in a huge crowd in East Berlin. The word was, that travel to the West might be possible for the first time in decades. Ofelia hadn’t been confident. She’d watched East Germans try to cross the no-man’s-land between East and West before. She’d never seen a single person succeed, but she’d seen many shot. For years, she’d considered making the run herself, she was immortal, she couldn’t be killed... Or could she? What if she was shot in the heart? Or the head? Or worse, what if she was shot, injured and dragged back to be interrogated by the Stasi - the East German State Security and Intelligence Agents? If they had discovered what she was, her fate may have been worse than death. She could have waited until the fuss had died down and crossed at a quieter time, weeks later. On that night though, she wasn’t confident the lapse in security would be permanent. Better to slip through with the crowd, rather than take the chance that the border wouldn’t be reinforced.
In the dream she was there again, tagging along with an East German family crossing through with the crowd, trying to appear to onlookers that she was part of the group. Nobody questioned her. She couldn’t see much, just a sea of people, all taller than her. She only knew she was headed in the right direction because of the flow of the crowd. Freedom was almost tangible that night. You could taste it in the air. She wouldn’t return to Transylvania and the Arbores for another thirteen years...
***
The next day, Ofelia woke early. She’d wanted to get out and talk to Ollie again. However, the others were waiting for her at the breakfast table. They’d already eaten and drank. Ofelia chatted while she made her toast and black coffee. ‘I’m thinking I might see my friend Ollie today. You think the carer’s mind?’
‘Nah, Gavin is pretty cool,’ chirped in Kerry, ‘but does he know?’
Ofelia stopped and looked at her. ‘Ollie? Yes. He does.’
Stoney sighed, leaning back in his chair. ‘We should all meet him. We want to help you. You can tell us all about yourself and between us maybe we can-’
‘You’re right.’ Ofelia cut him off, ‘But not today. I have stuff I need to talk to him about. Even though I leave Harper House, I promise to make time for you.’
This seemed to satisfy them and they begrudgingly dropped the subject. Gavin offered to drive her over to Ollie’s but Ofelia insisted she knew the way. Suddenly, having been offered the chance to live in a mansion and be fostered by a wealthy man, she wasn’t considered an ‘absconding risk’ any longer.
The walk was cathartic too. It wasn’t a bright day, but she wore her factor 50 and midnight glasses as a precaution anyway. This caused her to attract one or two bemused looks, but it didn’t matter. She felt good, she didn’t trust Victor, but it felt like something was happening. He seemed to have an interest in science, so maybe he could even help her lose her curse without the ritual from ‘In Libro De Davoth’?
She texted Ollie as she walked:
Ollie texted back immediately:-
Ofelia smiled and tucked her phone back into her pocket. When she did eventually stroll up to Ollie’s house, it looked different. The lawn was cut, and the outside looked… cleaner somehow? When she rang and Ollie opened the door, the interior of the house looked different. There was less clutter and it didn’t smell musty. Ollie already had his trainers on. ‘Mum’s already up. Want to go for a walk, see if we can find somewhere private to talk?’
‘Yeah, that’s a good idea. Maybe we go see the house again? I can show you which room I’m having.’
Ollie stepped out and closed the door. ‘You’re seriously moving in? Yeah, why not?’
He led the way back to the nearby country park surrounding the reservoir. Before they got to the spot where they’d diverted from the path last time, Ollie turned to her. ‘Hey, I think we’re being followed.’
Ofelia frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I swear there’re some kids who’ve been following us for a bit, then changing places so we don’t realise we’re being followed.’
Ofelia waited until they’d rounded the corner, then she grabbed Ollie and dragged him into the bushes. Sure enough a stocky teenager with dark matted hair appeared from around the corner, then stopped and scratched his head. After looking around, frustrated, he turned back and waited, then tried the pointless “shouted whisper” that people do, when they’re torn between wanting to be heard by one person and not heard by another. ‘Luce! Kezza! She’s gone!’
Lucy and Kerry jogged around the corner next, Kerry fuming. ‘Stoney you great eejit! How d’ya lose her?’
At this point Ofelia jumped from behind the bushes, dragging Ollie behind her. ‘Stoney, Lucy, Irish, why are you following me? Have you been following me since I left Harper House?’
The others shuffled their feet and avoided eye contact, looking sheepish. Eventually, Lucy answered, ‘Sorry Ofelia. We just wanted to see what you got up to. We’re on your side.’
Ofelia groaned, then turned to Ollie and presented her former housemates one by one. ‘Ollie, meet my fellow residents of Harper House. Tony, also known as Stoney, Lucy or Luce and Irish.’
‘It’s Kerry, or Kezza!’ Kerry snapped.
She glared at Ofelia while Ollie looked up and made a shy wave. ‘Hi.’
Ofelia looked at the others. ‘Seeing as you are all here, I suppose you might as well tag long. Follow us and keep quiet.’
Ollie and Ofelia followed the same path to Tempest House they’d followed the last time they’d spied on it. Once they were over the brook and well away from the path Ofelia stopped them all. ‘Before we go any further, I want you all to know a bit more. Ollie, they know, so I should
bring them up to speed. My real name is Ilona Neamțu. I was born on the 21st of December 1440. I was made vampire against my will in 1452. I thought there were no vampires left. I came to England to try to perform ritual to make me stop being a vampire, but I lost the instructions and my friend who was helping me got killed in car crash. Now this guy, Victor, claims he has Romanian ancestors and wants to help me. He offered to foster me, to give me more freedom. He knows what I am too though. I think he wants to become vampire, but I don’t know how to make vampire. He is rich, he live in the big mansion we’re going to see, but I don’t trust him. I know you probably have all sorts of questions about vampires and about history. I can’t answer them. I don’t know much about how being vampire works. I have to feed, I have to protect from sunlight. I heal fast, I’m hard to hurt, and I never age. Most of history you can learn from books. Broadly speaking, most of accepted history is right, except you have to remember history is always written by winners. I’ve lived all over Europe, you shouldn’t feel romantic about history though. European history is mainly misery and death, unless you were super rich. For most people the best time to live is now. If you’re on my side, then leave the questions for now. I want to see the house again.’
The others murmured agreement and trudged after Ollie and Ofelia through the undergrowth. Eventually, they pushed through the shrubs onto the landscaped lawns of Tempest House. They could see the giant pond and fountain with the house behind in the distance. Stoney’s jaw dropped. ‘Oh my god. You’re going to live there?’
‘You lucky gi-’ Kerry, began.
‘Shh, I don’t know what it’s going to be like. I’m kind of glad, but kind of scared. See that room there, at the far side? The big windows on that corner of the house? That’s my room.’
Ofelia (The Book of Davoth 1) Page 16
