by Skyla Madi
Hank? No. This vampire was an old one. The older vampires get, the stronger they are.
“Hello, half cast.” He whispered.
Fear shot down my spine and my body was shaking. There was a bitter taste in the back of my mouth that I couldn't seem to swallow and my breath came out in uneven gasps. I didn't know what to do and I could barely think over the rising tide of cold fear in my chest. My eyes burned with tears and I realized they were still squeezed shut. I opened them slowly and my heart leaped into my throat. His face was white and his eyes black as they sank deep into his skull. The veins that ran under his skin stood out and his wry smirk exposed two big fangs.
“What do you want?” I cried.
“I know what you are, goddess.” He growled. “I'm not the only one that knows, either. Last I heard, Hank was after you as well.”
I flinched at the mention of Hank’s name.
“I don't know what you’re talking about. I’m a vampire, not a goddess.”
He moved his hands to my throat and squeezed hard. The pressure would have turned human bones into powder, but for me, it was only enough force to cause discomfort. Extreme discomfort. I struggled against him and he squeezed harder.
“Don’t play dumb with me, girl. I can rip your head off in one swift move. I’m going to have to kill you before Hank gets the chance to—”
Before he could finish his sentence, I heard footsteps thump in my room. I inhaled deeply through my nose as a familiar scent filled the air, so sweet and delicious. It was the guys from the school yesterday.
Could my night get any worse?
The old vampire smelt them, too and he reacted quickly, but the others were a step ahead. Before he could get to his feet, silver chain mail was thrown on top of us. The vampire screamed as a man with short dark hair pierced the vampire’s heart with a stake. The vampire exploded into dust, leaving the chain mail to fall directly onto my body. The chain clung to my unprotected skin and I screamed so hard that it burnt my chest. There was no doubt that Camilla and Aunt Jen heard it.
The pain was excruciating, it felt like acid was being poured over every inch of my body. Another scream escaped me as the man that killed the vampire pulled the net off me and quickly scooped me up into his arms. I couldn’t see him through the blood that blurred my vision and I felt weak—like I always did when my body healed itself. I jerked in the strangers arms as cool air hit my face. We were outside now and I could hear the thudding music from my party getting further and further into the distance.
“Where are you taking me?” My voice was quiet and drained.
“Rest.” He said, pressing me tighter against him.
I flinched as someone injected something into my neck and I slowly became drowsy. There was no doubt it was the same serum that made me pass out yesterday.
“Happy Birthday to me.” I mumbled sarcastically.
I heard him laugh once under his breath before he whispered. “Happy Birthday.”
I couldn’t pin point it, but there was something reassuring about his voice and putting all my faith into that, I let my body take me away into a deep, recovering sleep.
Sage Sanctum
I opened my eyes and squinted painfully around a brightly lit room. Frightened, I sat bolt upright, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. My heels clicked against the concrete floor as my feet came into contact with it. I scanned the room, unnerved by its uncanny resemblance to a prison cell. I pushed of the bed and manage to stand up on my own two feet. My dress rode all the way up my thighs and I quickly tugged the fabric down, looking around the room again. Crap. This was not a good sign. Slowly, I approached a painfully obvious two-way mirror that conspicuously took up the entire far wall. I needed an escape plan. I glanced around the room looking at all of my options. I could smash through the mirror but I’d definitely cut myself and if I cut myself, I’d need time to rest and heal, and that would be a luxury I surely wouldn't have.
I could try and rip the door from its hinges and just run for it... I approached the door cautiously and it wasn’t the fact that the door was lined with silver that stopped me in my tracks. It was a scent. How’d I not notice it before? My fangs throbbed and my mouth was tickled as venom slowly leaked its way in. I wasn't alone in this room. My gaze dragged the length of the dull bricks until they rested on a woman who was sitting on a stool. I made a mental note to kick myself for not paying proper attention to my surroundings later. Her long, blonde hair swayed as she rocked back and forth. My fangs flicked out and my hands flew to cover my mouth. No. No, no, no, no. Oh god. She smelled so good. Her blood seeped into me, trying to coax me over to her. I took a step forward and then two back, tossing up between yes and no. I was so hungry. Slowly, I stepped toward her and the gums at the base of my fangs throbbed painfully. I was going to do it. I was going to drink from her. I lurched forward and the woman gasped as I grabbed a fistful of her dry hair, snapping her neck backwards. Her chest rose and fell rapidly—excitedly—just waiting for me to sink my teeth in. And I almost did, until a heavy clank from the door rumbled through the room. I dropped the woman and whirled around to face the door. It swung open and two men entered the room. Almost instantly a familiar, sweet scent rushed in through my nose. Whatever they were, they smelled delicious. I stood facing them, my posture confident and my face hard. I was scared, but I couldn’t let these people know it. I let my gaze drag over the sweet smelling men one by one. The first was blond and his hair sprawled messily across his shoulders, blocking most of the structure of his face. He was tall, at least six foot two and well built—they both were. In his hand he held a long silver chain and I made a mental to stay away. The blond had big, dark blue eyes that thinned into slits when they met mine. Moving on, I flicked my attention to the other guy. He was...wow. He was handsome and he was tall, too. Six foot one—maybe—and his hair was short, dark and a little wild—like he’d just woken up. His hair could almost be mistaken for jet black, but the deep brown could be seen around the edges. His arms were folded across his chest, and the short sleeves of his black shirt clung tightly to him, accentuating the strong, muscled ridges of his arms. When I looked at his eyes, everything else faded into the background. The sheer beauty of the green orbs caused my breath to catch in my throat as my heart began to pound in my chest. I swallowed thickly as I continued to stare at him, completely captivated by his luminous, curious gaze.
A short, old man walked in behind them, drawing my attention. Little black shoes pointed out from under his smoky grey robe as he took steps towards me and his long, white hair cascaded down his chest. I tried to stare them all in the face unflinchingly, exposing no trace of fear or any of the other emotions that were jolting down my spine and threatening to overcome me. Even though I was locked up in their cell, I wasn't going to let them know they were winning.
“Are you vampire hunters?” I blurted out, unthinkingly. I hope I was the only who noticed my voice was shaky.
The man on the left laughed at my question and his long, dirty blond hair bounced around his shoulders. I didn’t like him already.
“Has she eaten?” The old man asked the handsome man on the right, ignoring my question completely.
“No, sir, she’s just woken up.” The man replied.
The smooth, velvet tone of his voice caused a thrill to run from my fingers to my toes and immediately, I recognized his voice. He was at the school when I was attacked, and he was the one that carried me last night, Eli, I think.
“I don't drink directly from humans.” I informed them before they got any funny ideas about me drinking from the poor woman in the corner.
The blond scoffed, but I managed to ignore him.
“Then how do you survive?” Asked the old man. Kindness laced his tone.
“I live off donated blood—from a bag.”
“And where do you get the blood?” Eli questioned me, making my eyes flick back to him. Every time they did, my heartbeat sped up.
“My aunt gets it f
rom the hospital she works at.”
The questions were simple, yet overwhelming. I felt like I was letting them into an intimate part of my life, one that very, very few people knew about.
“And why should we believe you, vampire?” The blond snapped.
His voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t pin point it exactly. The chain swung around his hands, making a subtle grinding noise as the silver links rubbed against each other. Then it hit me.
The chain.
I clenched my teeth. He was the one that attacked me at school. Anger rose in my chest and my hands instinctively balled into fists by my sides. I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to make him cry in pain like he did to me.
“Don't believe me. I don't care.” I growled at him.
I looked at the old man. “I haven't taken blood from that crazy woman nor have I attacked you three.”
“Vampires…you're all lying, unnatural killers.” The blond boomed.
What the hell was his problem? I lunged forward a few steps, keeping my eyes locked on his arrogant blue eyes and he loosened the silver in his hand.
“Tay, stop.” The old man stated calmly before turning his light purple irises on me. “And Ruby, don’t start a battle you can’t possibly win.”
He walked closer to me and his guards attempted to block his path, but the old man nodded his head wanting them to let him come closer. Reluctantly, they let the old man pass, being sure to stay right behind him. They needn’t worry about what I was going to do to the old man. He had a strange acidic scent that I’d never want to taste.
“May I?” He asked, extending his hand towards me.
I glanced at his hand and then at his face. His lips curled into a kind, trusting smile and I put my hand in his, twitching at the warmth of his skin.
My mood changed from confused and angry to relaxed and kind of happy. I snatched my hand back, making the guards flinch forward. Was doing something to affect my mood and emotions?
“What are you doing to me?” I demanded.
“One of my many, many abilities. I can't make people do what I want or implant memories like you can, but I can influence your feelings. I can make you feel what I want you to feel.”
“She’s a vampire!” Tay growled through clenched teeth. “She doesn't have feelings.”
Anger flooded my chest and then disappeared when the old man took my hand in his again.
“If she was a complete vampire, I wouldn't be able to control her emotions.”
Complete vampire? Questions formed in my mind by the dozen but no words came out of my mouth.
“Give us a moment alone, please, both of you.”
“Sir, I don’t think that’s a good idea…” Eli informed him, eyeing me cautiously.
Strangely, it was kind of thrilling.
“Now.”
Grudgingly, Tay and Eli left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar behind them.
“Where am I?” I asked.
Granted it wasn’t the most important question, but if I asked questions in baby steps, perhaps my brain would absorb all the information, fitting the pieces together like a puzzle.
“You, my dear, are at Sage Sanctum.”
My heart stopped cold. “I'm at Sage?”
I’d heard about Sage Sanctum through Mum a long time ago. The only thing I remembered about it was that it was a school hidden somewhere in a forest, protected by various charms and spells. It was a place where young gods and goddesses could learn about their world and how to use their magic. They could explore their powers and purpose without the threat of vampires.
“Aren’t there various charms and spells keeping monsters like me out?”
If I was at Sage Sanctum, then I knew exactly who I was talking to—Mr Ivan Aleksandrov—the headmaster of Sage and a powerful wizard.
“Yes, but you aren't exactly on the school or town grounds. You’re in a holding cell, deep underground on the outskirts of the safety border.”
The excitement that built itself in my chest slowly deflated like a balloon with a pinhole in it. In order for me to attend Sage I had to be pure…I had to be a goddess.
“What is going to happen?” I asked cautiously. “I can’t stay in this cell forever.”
I wasn’t a goddess, so I couldn’t be a part of their student body. A dark feeling swirled around my stomach and I couldn’t shake the thought that maybe they were going to kill me. What other reason would they have to keep an ex-goddess and potential threat to their kind locked up underground?
“You will be moved to better housing—once again, on the outskirts of the safety border.”
“And what are you going to do to me? I can’t imagine harboring a vampire is something your kind permits.”
He smiled. “We’re going to fix you—transform you back.”
His words came as a shock. I can’t say I expected that.
“As in…I’ll be normal?”
He chuckled. “As normal as any teenage goddess can be.”
I searched his eyes, looking for any indication that he was messing with me. His lips were pursed into a line and his eyes held a caring gleam. Either he was telling the truth or he was very good at practical jokes. Subtly I pinched my arm, expecting to wake up, but nothing happened.
“But h-how?”
“I won’t delve into the technical side of things, but when you were born, your mother decided to live amongst humans. She wanted you to attend Sage Sanctum when you were old enough, but in the meantime she wanted to be your sole protector. Your mother signed a contract stating that when you turned eighteen, you’d come to Sage Sanctum and learn how to use your abilities. So, upon your birth, we casted a charm spell on you. A charm so powerful that not even a vampire’s venom could destroy it completely.”
“When Hank bit me—” I swallowed hard, recalling the events. “A beam of light exploded from me and Hank and I were torn apart—”
“Yes, the charm would have felt the venom spreading through your veins and counteracted it. Unfortunately, it couldn’t stop the process completely. It stops it only enough for us to bring you back.”
My gaze fell to the ground as I soaked in all the new information. I was happy, I was excited. I’d thought for a year now that I’d be stuck like this—doomed to walk to the earth until I was hunted by Hank or killed by another vampire.
“We have a wizard, older and more powerful than I coming in a day or so to turn you back—or at the very least, try.”
Mr Aleksandrov let me sit in silence for a few minutes and it helped me regroup my thoughts. It also prevented me from crying hysterically or screaming in excitement.
“I was told…” Ivan began as he adjusted his strange grey robe. “That when the guardians got to your room, there was another vampire there.”
I nodded, cringing as I recalled his deep black eyes and pale skin.
“I don’t mean to scare you, but we need to get you back to a goddess as soon as possible. There’s a high chance that every vampire on this side of the country wants you dead.”
Just my luck, there isn’t one vampire after me, there are thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands.
“What? Why?”
“You’re the only thing stopping Hank from ruling this section of the vampire underworld. If you’re alive, the vampire society sees it as his fail, and until he can kill or fully turn you, he can't rule. As for the other vampires, they don’t want Hank to rule them. They want to take you for themselves.”
Oh. Joy.
“We won't let them kill you.”
I jumped at Eli's voice and my head snapped up to see him inside the room, leaning against the wall.
“And what do you do?” I asked, sounding awfully skeptical. Eli seemed too...pretty to be of any real use.
The corners of his lips twitched in amusement. “I’m a guardian angel.”
Of course, how’d I miss that one? I inhaled subtly. No wonder vampires craved them, their smell was compelling. I was a little disappointed
though. I thought guardian angels had wings? As I looked at Eli, venom saturated my mouth and grouped in pools underneath my tongue. I swallowed it back, fighting against the unquenchable hunger that burned at my throat. I wonder if I could convince him to let me taste him—just one teeny, tiny drop...
“Let’s get you to proper housing,” said Mr Aleksandrov, snapping me out of my blood filled haze. “Take her there.”
He let go of my hand and apprehension flooded me and it only got worse when Tay’s annoying face peered around the door.
“Maybe she should eat first.” He suggested, pointing to the woman who was still sitting in the back corner, humming away.
“I’m not drinking from her.” I objected. How many times did I have to say it? “I told you, I don't drink directly from humans anymore.”
I focused my mind elsewhere. The smell radiating off the woman mixed with the guardian angel blood was intoxicating, and I was contemplating whether I should stick to my horrible donated blood or not.
Aleksandrov gave Eli a nod of the head, like they had some silent understanding of what to do next. He then headed out the door with Tay following closely behind him.
I watched the woman longingly as Eli walked over to her, took her by the hand and escorted her out of the room, closing the door behind him. Almost immediately, I relaxed. I didn’t realise how hard I’d been tensing and holding myself back from attacking anyone.
I walked over to the sink and splashed water onto my face, hoping this wasn't a dream. I stared at my reflection, trying to picture what I’d look like with sun-kissed again or normal teeth, and to see my old blue eyes instead of these horrible black ones. I focused on my eyes. I couldn’t remember what my previous colour even looked like on me.
The loud clunking noise of the door thundered through the room again and the air soon filled with a sweet scent as Eli entered. I watched him through the reflection of the mirror as water dripped from my chin.
He frowned. “Are you okay?”
My eyes narrowed slightly. Did he actually care? “I'm fine.”
