The oldest of the new vampires was Angel, a vampire from Mexico. Nearly three-hundred years old but having the appearance of a sixteen year old, he was the most skittish of the vampires. He had traveled with many different packs: some that had fallen apart due to infighting, others destroyed by the hunters.
The youngest vampire was a freckle-faced, red-headed vampire from East Texas named Zachary. He was so young, his picture was still being regularly printed out on missing person posters.
Even though the vampires came from many different cultures, ethnic groups, and time periods, they all desired one common, seemingly unattainable dream: To live without fear in the world of the mortals and to not be alone. Roman’s Law had drawn them together, but Roman Socoli gave them a family.
After that first, tense night, the vampires knew they had found a new leader and a new existence. Though some were reluctant at first, many of the vampires abandoned their nightly hunts in the city for human blood in exchange for consuming animal blood. Others became brave enough to fake their way into human society and took up jobs. All began to legitimately buy homes or rent apartments, deliberately interacting with the mortals around them. But no matter what they did in their lives, they always returned to the Socoli Estate to consult with Roman. Soon they began to bring other vampires they found wandering the night. Calling themselves Roman’s vampires, their ranks continued to grow.
Roman took it all in stride. He had always been a leader and he easily slipped into the role of mentor to the vampires. Alisha was frightened at first but soon connected with individual vampires in a very personal way. Sheila and Alisha became the best of friends, both sharing a common rebirth and views on their vampire existence.
That left Vanora Socoli on the outside looking in.
Vanora was the only mortal among the vampires. For the first year after their arrival, Roman kept her apart from the vampires who were only allowed into the house after she was safely in bed. Then, gradually, Roman allowed her to visit with the newcomers when he, Alisha, or Armando was present. To Vanora’s surprise, the vampires loved to hear of her mortal life and always treated her as though she were some sort of princess. It was clear that their admiration of her brother rubbed off a little on her and Alisha.
Vanora was proud of her brother and glad that her siblings were not alone in their dark world, but the Monopoly board sitting on the game table untouched spoke volumes to her. Every piece remained in the exact position it had been the night the vampires had arrived.
January 2007
One night, Armando found Vanora in Roman’s study around midnight staring at the game board. The merry voices of the vampires visiting with Roman echoed through the house. It was a Friday night and Armando knew Vanora had just returned from a concert with her friend Rhonda. He had noted that her siblings were too busy to notice her arrival and had kept a watch for her. His one-on-one interaction with the girl had been limited in the year since the arrival of the vampires. His Master was not pleased with his slow progress and insisted on him finding a way to keep a closer eye on the girl.
“Good evening,” Armando said from the doorway.
Vanora glanced toward him, her long whitish hair falling over her shoulders. Clad in a black dress, ankle boots, silver jewelry, and wearing makeup, Vanora looked older than her years. Armando was momentarily stunned at how beautiful the girl was becoming. Already the remnants of the child she had once been were melting away from her features. Soon she would be a very lovely young woman, but for now she was a teenager struggling to find her way into adulthood.
“Why aren’t you with the others?” Vanora asked gloomily, her fingers tracing over the Monopoly board.
“I heard the car pull up and you get out. I have very good hearing, you know,” Armando said, flashing his wickedly, charming smile. “Alisha told me you went to a concert with some school friends. Who did you see?”
“Rhonda’s older brother is in a band. He wanted me to go. Rhonda says he likes me.” Vanora shrugged her delicate shoulders and folded her arms over her breasts. “I guess they’re starting to become a big deal locally. It was okay, I guess.”
Arching an eyebrow, Armando said, “So you don’t like this boy who tried so hard to impress you tonight?”
“Not really. He’s nice, but…” Vanora lightly bit her bottom lip, her cheeks blushing.
“I thought girls liked boys in bands,” Armando teased.
“I’m no ordinary teenage girl. I’ve got vampires for relatives, remember?” Vanora collapsed into a chair and crossed her legs.
“I sense that you are not in a good mood.” Armando sat across from her, his golden eyes studying her face.
“Duh,” Vanora said softly, her fingers tugging at the hem of her dress.
Armando rubbed his chin, studying her thoughtfully. He wasn’t very well acquainted with how a girl’s mind worked, but he had enough dealings with Carlotta to guess. She was always sulky when she didn’t get enough attention. “I suppose that you aren’t too happy about the others being here every night.”
“It’s that obvious?” Vanora’s snowy lashes were painted black and the heavy, dark fringe framing her pupils brought out their lovely shade of lavender. It made her look older.
Armando chuckled. “I was guessing. It was either that, or a boy you like doesn’t like you in return.”
Vanora’s eyes slightly narrowed at him. “Uh. Right.” She fussed with her hair and fidgeted in her chair.
Armando was surprised to realize her crush on him remained. It had been nearly a year since his arrival in her life, and he assumed she would find a teenage boy to fall for. Uneasily, he wondered if this would work to his advantage or not.
“You know it wouldn’t be so bad it they weren’t here all the time. I mean, I know they adore my brother, but why can’t they just get themselves a life and leave us alone?” Her teeth pulled on her bright red lower lip.
Armando lifted an eyebrow, considered what she said, and then said, “If it was only that simple. As a vampire, you live a very long life. You are supposedly immortal, but you know that if a hunter finds you, your life ends, you cease to exist, and you move on to judgment. We’re all terribly afraid of death. So being afraid, we sometimes isolate ourselves. So when we do find others, we want to hold onto that unity.”
Vanora sighed and curled up on the chair, swinging her long legs over the armrest. “I can understand that, but do they have to be in my house? Armando, when you got here, I mean, it was like no big deal. You just hung out once in a while and you’re pretty cool and all, but, geez, they’re here every freakin’ night!” Vanora threw up her hands. “It drives me crazy! And the worst thing is that I really like a lot of them. I mean, Sheila is so cool.”
Armando chuckled, eliciting a frown from the girl. “You’re just jealous. Plain and simple. You want your family to yourself and that is perfectly understandable. I miss visiting alone with Roman, but I have lived long enough to realize that nothing remains the same for long. Life is a series of changes, and you must adjust to survive.”
“I don’t want things to change,” Vanora lamented.
Armando leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “But you’re changing, Vanora. Every day you take one step closer to the woman you will one day be.”
“It can’t happen soon enough,” she answered gloomily.
“Enjoy being a teenager. From what I’ve seen on television, it’s a lot more fun than it was when I was your age.”
Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “Older people always say that. But they forget how hard it really is. It’s like having to take a test every day. Tonight some girl asked me how I get my hair so white.” She flicked her wavy tresses with her fingers. “When I told her I was an albino, she acted like I had the plague.”
Armando winced, then shook his head. “She sounds like a simpleton.”
“If you mean she had the ‘stupid’ disease, I couldn’t agree more.” Vanora tugged at her hair. “It makes me want t
o dye my hair and spray tanner on myself.”
“But your beauty is unique,” Armando protested. The thought of such a pretty girl altering herself to suit the tastes of idiots was very repugnant to him. Yes, her coloring was quite startling when first viewed, but Armando never thought of her as anything other than lovely. “It sets you apart.”
Raising her eyes to the ceiling, Vanora sighed. “Yeah. That’s what I really want. To be apart. To be a total outcast.”
It was time to set his plan in motion. He had waited for a very long time for such an opening. Armando reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. “You’re a very talented outcast then. I picked this up that night we were playing this game.” He gestured toward the Monopoly board.
Vanora leaned forward and peered down at the pencil marks she had scratched on the corner of the paper. It was a sketch of Armando and a fairly decent one at that. Her cheeks reddened.
“You were keeping track of how much everyone owed you on this piece of paper, but you sketched me in the corner,” he said gently.
“Oh, yeah, I do that all the time when I’m bored. You should see my notebook at school. I actually got points deducted from a test because I drew Mr. Lambert in the margin.” Vanora smirked at the memory.
“You’re very talented.”
She dismissed his compliment with a shrug. “Oh, I’m not half as good as Alisha.”
“Your styles are very different, but I think you have a lot of talent.”
“Really?” She looked at him with disbelief, but also a smidgen of pride.
“Yes, really. Would I lie to you?” Armando gave her his most charming smile.
Her eyes widened slightly. “I guess not.”
“Vanora, you really should keep sketching and honing your skills. I would love it if you’d continue to show me your work. I also believe Roman and Alisha will be thrilled if you developed your talent.”
“You think so?” Vanora pondered this for a second. “Well, you know, I have been considering taking an art class at school. I’m going to be a senior and I have a ton of elective slots.”
“I think you should.”
Vanora’s expression brightened, obviously pleased with the attention she was receiving. “Then I will. But you’ve got to promise not to make fun of my stuff. I’m not as good as Alisha.”
“I would never do that. Besides, I think you have the potential to be as good as your sister. You definitely have talent. At least in my humble opinion.”
Her blush intensifying, Vanora lowered her eyes. “Well, thanks.”
Armando lightly touched her arm. “You aren’t alone, Vanora. I’m your friend. You know that, don’t you? Even when your sister and brother are busy with their new friends?”
“Thanks, Armando.” Vanora attempted to stifle a yawn, but failed. “I guess I’m a little more tired than I thought.” She looked reluctant to retire, but another yawn caught her.
Armando stood and, taking her hand, gently pulled her to her feet. “I think I’d best get back to the others and you’d better get some rest.”
“Can you tell Roman and Alisha that I got home okay?”
“Of course.”
Vanora gave him a swift hug, then hurried out of the room, her head tilted forward so her hair would hide her reddened face.
Armando watched her leave with a sly smile upon his face. The girl was beginning to confide in him. The Master would be pleased. It had been difficult these last few months to even get close to the girl. Roman and Alisha had kept careful tabs on her, never allowing her to be alone. Tonight he had successfully laid the foundation for a continuing dialogue with her, and he hoped to gain her trust. He supposed he could use her crush against her, but he was leery of doing so. His Master tended to be jealous.
Yet somehow his success tonight was devoid of any pleasure, and this caused him some concern. Armando had grown accustomed to the emptiness within himself and the lack of any deeply felt emotions. Lately, to his surprise, he was beginning to feel connected once more to those around him. It was almost as if his human self had been slumbering and only now was beginning to awaken. Sometimes, when he was with Roman, he would look toward his quarry and feel what could only be described as brotherly affection. This was worrisome, dangerous, and frightening. Armando could feel himself slipping from just acting the role his Master had assigned him. Tonight, for a mere moment, he felt as though he were betraying Roman by obeying his Master’s wishes to gain Vanora’s trust. He had to harden himself against these foolish thoughts.
Armando folded the piece of paper carefully and stowed it away in his coat pocket. Soon his time here would be at an end. Soon his Master’s plans would commence, and Roman’s little world would be shattered.
*
Vanora was freshly showered and combing out her wet hair when she heard a gentle knock on her door.
“Who is it?”
“Me,” Alisha’s voice answered.
“Come in!”
Alisha scooted in and looked apologetic. “Armando told me you got home a little while ago. I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you come in.”
Plopping down on the end of her bed, Vanora shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” Alisha sighed, tucking her hands into the pockets of her skinny jeans. “I was really wrapped up in talking to Sheila and just totally spaced the time. I’m sorry.”
Though her feelings were hurt, Vanora shrugged. “It’s okay. The concert was kinda boring. Trey kept trying to flirt with me and it was annoying.”
“I thought you had a crush on Trey.” Alisha sat next to Vanora and cocked her head to watch her sister’s expression.
“I did. Then I found out how stupid he is.”
Plucking the comb from Vanora’s fingers, Alisha began to run it through the long, pale blond locks. “I hate to break it to you, but most boys are stupid.”
“I guess.” Vanora sighed. She didn’t feel like talking about boys. The private school she attended had small classes, and she had known all the kids for years. The only boy to show any real interest in her was her best friend’s older brother and he was a bit of a jerk. One of her most painful experiences was when a boy she liked told her that he might ask her out if she ever dyed her hair, got a tan, and started looking normal. She had never shared that with Alisha and Roman and wasn’t going to. Her siblings insisted that her albinism didn’t detract from her, but Vanora knew differently. She saw all the hostile looks, she heard the snide comments, and she knew that people saw her as a freak.
“So you spent some time talking to Armando?”
“A few minutes,” Vanora admitted.
Alisha grinned. “You still have a crush on him, huh?”
“Shut up!”
“He is good looking.”
“Shut up!”
“Okay, okay! I have to tease you a little bit. You can’t be around him without getting all glowy.”
“I do not get glowy! I’m just…naturally…uh…Oh, shut up!” Vanora scowled.
“It’s okay to have a crush as long as you know it will never work out. He’s four hundred and you’re about to turn seventeen.”
“God, Alisha! I know! Okay!” Vanora suddenly felt like crying and it made her angrier. “I know I’m sixteen and that I’ve never been kissed or been on a date!”
“I didn’t--”
“I lie to my girlfriends and tell them I don’t date because my family is super-strict and Catholic, but they know it’s because no one has asked me! Ever!” Vanora leaped off the bed and prowled around her room. She was furious at her own frustration and the utter sense of helplessness that enfolded her.
“You’re just a late bloomer.” Alisha watched her with a sad expression on her face.
“No, Alisha. I’m ugly! I’m a freak. I look like a ghost! I can’t be in direct sunlight for long, I have to wear these stupid glasses—which I don’t need! I look like a freak! So…what if I have a crush on some old vampire? At least he doesn’t lo
ok at me like I’m ugly!”
“You’re not ugly! You’re gorgeous! Don’t let stupid people upset you. People who can’t appreciate you for who you are!” Alisha stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Gawd, Vanora, you’re so beautiful it makes my heart sing. You’re like a gorgeous swan.”
“I’m the ugly duckling and that’s not going to change.” Vanora stalked back and forth before her sister. “I’m so tired of people telling me I’m pretty when I know I’m not.”
Alisha snagged her arm and stopped her. “Vanora, stop it. Right now.”
Angry tears made it hard to see. She felt so lonely and lost.
“I know it’s hard for you because of me and Roman being what we are, only living by night, and now the new vampires are here. Maybe I’m not being the sister you need and I’m so sorry if I have been failing you. But I don’t want you to take out your frustration on yourself.”
“I just…feel lonely,” Vanora admitted. She wrapped her arms around her sister, resting her head on her shoulder. The tension in her body dissipated as Alisha embraced her lovingly. “I just miss how it was.”
“I know you do. Sometimes, I do, too.” Alisha kissed her forehead tenderly.
“You do?”
“I do. The new vampires are amazing and they really do make me feel less alone, less afraid, but I miss our quiet family times.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ll talk to Roman later. Maybe we can carve out some more time to spend with you. Maybe not have the vampires over on the weekends.”
Vanora smiled at the thought. She’d love to go back to their late night movie marathons, or finally finish their Monopoly game. “I’d like that.”
Alisha took Vanora’s face gruffly between her hands. “And no more about you being ugly! Stop that. You’re beautiful. Inside and out. Okay?”
Though Vanora didn’t truly believe her sister, she nodded.
“Now, go to sleep and tomorrow we’ll go do something with Sin, okay?”
In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete First Season: Episodes 1-5 Page 16
