by Kolina Topel
“Princess,” he smiled. “To what do we owe this great pleasure?”
“Father, this is purely a social visit.”
Demitri smiled unsurprised, “Well we are honored, Princess. Please, come sit. Thirsty?”
My mouth fell open, and everyone laughed at my surprised expression. I looked at Alex, embarrassed.
“Water,” he smiled.
“Oh, um, yes. Thank you.”
Alex held out my chair for me. I sat down and again everyone followed.
“Father,” Alex smiled hugely, “so it turns out the princess has quite the unique gift.”
“She is a Delano.”
Alex winked at me and smiled a crooked little smile. “Show them, Chris.”
I smiled and nodded once. I straightened my face and looked into Demitri’s eyes and concentrated. He looked amused. I blinked my eyes and was sitting in front of Demitri on the table with my legs crossed. In another blink of an eye, I was perched on his back with my teeth pressing gently on his neck, and then I was back in my seat before a full second had passed.
Alex laughed out loud. There was an equal look of fascination and awe on everyone’s faces, even Calpurnia’s. I bit my lip and giggled.
“Fascinating,” Demitri breathed, “and so fine tuned already. How long has she been jumping?”
“A few weeks,” Alex stated smugly.
Demitri’s face sparkled with excitement. “Truly an exquisite gift, Princess. It’s fitting for such an unusual birth.”
“Birth?”
“Mmm yes, a birth is what we call a vampire born to our world. One who is changed mid-human life we call a newborn.”
I sat fascinated and listened to the stories about this different world. Surprisingly, there were many more vampires than I ever would have thought living in big cities across the country. Most of them tended to stay in the big cities where their physical differences were less likely to be noticed, but some of them venture to smaller cities where there are just less people to notice them in general.
I was amazed at how comfortable I felt around all of these strangers, these vampires. I told them about my human life, up to the point of finding out that I actually wasn’t of course, and they all seemed interested and asked question after question, though it wasn’t nearly as exciting as about learning about this place.
Full of excitement and animation, Alex told them about my “natural talent,” as he called it, with speed and strength and sensory awareness.
After a few hours, we had broken up into smaller groups. Alex was with his father. Duncan and Nebula were in a corner somewhere holding hands and smiling at each other. I was with Calpurnia. I was utterly fascinated with her gift. She would ask me a question, smile, pick the answer out of my head, and reply before I could ever speak.
I silently asked her what powers the others have.
“Well, Demitri can move things with his mind.”
I giggled. That’s so freaking cool.
Calpurnia smiled, “Duncan inflicts blindness on his prey so they never see him coming, while Nebula… well let’s just say I hope you never have to see her gift.” And a wicked grin spread over her face again.
“And Alex is a day walker?”
“Well yes he is, but he is more. He is faster and stronger than most all of our kind. Even as a child he was—with the exception of you, of course.”
“So, Alex told me that I am the only one of a kind, the only half-breed, so how do you guys know I am stronger than everyone else?”
“Good question. There are stories about half-human vampires from many years ago. They had many of the same gifts and qualities as you do, the speed, strengths, and the headaches, but it has been many years since one walked the earth.”
Calpurnia cocked her head to the side and she seemed distracted. “Excuse me, Princess.” She smiled and flitted to Demitri’s side to whisper something in his ear. Alex then walked over to my side.
A moment later Demitri called out, “You may enter, Alumit.”
The man I had seen before in the forest came into the room.
“His royal Highness, Damascus,” he stated and bowed his head. Everyone else did the same.
The man from the picture came into view. The same sinister black eyes and matching hair stalked into the cave. He moved like a jungle cat. It was graceful and effortless, and intimidating. His black, untrustworthy eyes scanned the room and stopped when they met mine.
“Princess,” he said in a higher voice than I had expected. It didn’t fit his dark features and strong presence. “What a pleasant surprise. I had heard you had graced us with your return a few weeks ago, but I did not know you had returned again. You resemble your father so. It does me good to see you— as if seeing family again.” He bowed. “I am honored.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Please call me Damascus.”
I smiled weakly and nodded.
“Do you plan on staying long, Princess?” He smiled at me, too innocently I thought, and I smiled back with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.
“I’m still undecided.”
“Well, we are delighted to have you. Please stay as long as you like.” He turned to Demitri. “We have some business, friend.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” He turned to me, “Excuse me, Princess.” He bowed and left with Damascus.
Calpurnia skipped back to my side and frowned at me.
“Something wrong?”
“You mean you don’t already know?” I teased.
She smiled, “Not unless you think it first.”
“Who is Alumit?
“He is Damascus’ personal guardian.”
“I thought you guys were—”
“Well we are, but when he took power, he only wanted Alumit as his constant guardian. They have been together even longer than Damascus had been with your father. We couldn’t refuse of course.”
“What is his power?”
“He is a shape shifter.”
“A shape shifter?” I asked
“Yes, he can turn himself into anything he wants to.”
“Anything? Really?”
“Well anything that’s alive, yeah. Person, animal, whatever. Not much of a gift for a guardian I say, but it isn’t my choice.”
“I don’t trust him.”
“Alumit?”
“No. Damascus.”
“Yeah I heard that,” she smiled at me. “He is a good man, Christina. He stood by your father for years. He is truly pleased you are here. I know, remember?” She put her finger to her temple and smiled.
I shook my head. I wasn’t satisfied. His eyes, they lied. Too eager to see me here—the one whose throne he was taking.
“Will you watch him?” Her eyes studied me confused. “Just listen. I don’t believe him, his eyes….”
“Conflicting emotions, Princess?”
I rolled my eyes. “Please?”
“Of course I will, Princess. Anything.”
“Thank you,” I sighed relieved.
“Don’t worry. Everything is okay.”
“Please just keep this between us, okay?”
“Of course,” she smiled.
Alex came over then. “You wanna head back? It’s already 8:00.”
“Oh wow!” I looked at my watch. “Time passes so easily here. Yeah sure. I’m starving anyways.” I looked at Calpurnia. Please don’t forget, just watch him, listen, I don’t trust him. She nodded once.
Alex didn’t miss that, but turned to the others, “It was a pleasure to see you all again. We will return soon.” They all bowed, and we left.
In the car, Alex kept glancing in my direction and smiling.
“What?” I finally asked.
“You really don’t realize do you?”
“Realize what?”
His smile drew wider, “I have known you for years, Chris, and you have never been a talker.”
I shook my head, not understanding. “You told stories to them
that I was there firsthand for a lot of and even still, neither I, nor anyone else in that room, could take our eyes off of you. The way you spoke—it reminded me of your father.” He smiled and closed his eyes. “Everyone noticed, especially my father.”
He didn’t say another word all the way home.
* * *
Things pretty much continued this way for a few weeks. I quit my job (not like I needed the money anymore) and spent most every moment with Alex learning how to jump better and use my strength and speed to the best of my ability. He was impressed the day I truly beat him in a race. We went to Sangre Real usually about twice a week to visit with everyone. I hadn’t seen Damascus or Alumit again.
Much to my surprise, Calpurnia had nothing to report, but I insisted she keep on listening. She insisted that I was just prejudice of the man who had taken my place and maybe I was—a little. Even if I had no intentions of changing that circumstance.
Nine
“So, I was thinking maybe we should take a break today,” Alex said.
“A break? What do you mean?”
“Well, you have been doing exceptionally well lately with your training so maybe we could take a drive and go to the beach for a few days or something.”
He found my weak spot. I have always loved the beach. And he was right, we had been working nonstop. I practically never slept, partially because I never wanted him to leave, so if that meant training, I would do it.
“I think that is a wonderful idea!”
“Okay, well then, I’m gonna run to my place and pack. I shouldn’t be more than an hour or so. Be ready when I get back, and we‘ll go first thing in the morning.”
“Okay, hurry back.”
He smiled and disappeared out the door. I flopped down on the couch, exhausted from all the work we had done. I learned that I may not need sleep, but man, sometimes I felt like I could still use it.
I was bored with the TV in no time, so I went wandering around the house looking for something to do. Alex never left me anymore. I usually even went to his house with him, so I was completely lost for what to do.
I got to my room and grabbed Pride and Prejudice. I couldn’t remember the last time I had read anything. So I went and laid down on the floor in the living room, my mind engulfing the quarrels of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. It was one of my favorite books and movies.
My thoughts were interrupted as a familiar scent washed through my mind. Familiar, but I couldn’t exactly place it. It wasn’t something I caught very often, but I knew it like I knew my own. All I knew was that it wasn’t human. It was a vampire, and it wasn’t Alex.
A vampire had heard or seen Alex leave, and now, it was coming for me! I could hear him now too.
I jumped off of my couch and stood there like an idiot. What should I do? Alex and I had play fought before, but this was different. Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe it was someone I knew. I tried not to freak out.
Just then I heard a growl escape from the approaching vampire’s throat. It was a muted sound, but there was no mistaking the violence that echoed through it. Even still, I could not move. I was frozen. And he was here.
The knock on the door made me tremble. I closed my eyes. “Alex, I know you can’t hear me, but come home. Please. Now,” I said to myself.
The knock came again, louder and harder. I toyed with the logic in my head. I knew if I didn’t open it whoever was there was going to come in, so I told myself to just open the door. Just be ready. Be ready, Christina.
I refused to let my heart or breathing increase. I didn’t want my intruder to know I was afraid. So I walked to the door. One, two, three…. I swung the door open as fast as I could and was baffled at who I saw there. Standing in front of me with a small smile on his face was Alumit.
“Hello, Princess.”
I took a deep breath and waited a second for my heart to slow down. “Alumit, hi. What are you doing here?”
“I come with bad news, Princess. It’s about Damascus. May I come in?”
Damascus. What could he have to tell me about Damascus that could be bad news? Was he dead? No wait, that would be good news. “Yes of course, please.” I waved my hand into my living room. “What has happened?”
“I…overheard something. He was talking with someone,” he paused, “about you.”
“About me? What do you mean? What did he say?”
“I have been with Damascus for years. I have never thought that he was that kind of person. I never thought he was a murderer.”
I knew it. I knew he was evil. Damascus had killed someone. Maybe someone that I knew. I gasped out loud. Maybe my father.
“Who, Alumit? Who did he kill?”
“Not did he kill,” he looked into my eyes, “going to kill.”
“He is coming here.”
He nodded once. “Tonight. I must get you out of here. Now.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the door.
“Wait, I can’t leave yet! Alex will be here soon!”
“He will find our scent and follow us to Sangre Real.” He yanked my arm again.
“I’m not leaving until Alex gets back,” I said sternly.
“Yes you are!” he yelled at me.
I smacked his hand off of my arm, and he backhanded me across the face. The blow sent me across the room, and I slammed into the wall and against a picture that hung there. Glass shattered and fell all around me. I hissed at Alumit, and instantly he lunged at me.
For some reason everything that I had learned, all of my training with Alex had left me, and I couldn’t even think to jump or strike back. Another blow to the face snapped me out of my coma, and I leapt for Alumit’s still turned back. I bit with all of the strength I had into his exposed neck and sucked as much blood out as I could muster.
The amazing part is that it tasted unlike anything I ever had before. It was delicious. It pumped through my body like adrenaline, and I could already feel my body succumbing to the strength and speed and heightened senses that were spreading through my body. The feeling was euphoric. For the first time in my life, I felt my fangs as they emerged and drowned themselves in his blood. It was a strange feeling.
Alumit let out a howl and spun around and threw me off of him. I saw him run out the door and began to chase after him until visions started flowing through my mind.
Pictures of another world, another time. Alumit. Pictures of Alumit. Not pictures, but memories. His memories were flooding my mind. I screamed out loud when I saw a vision of him and Damascus holding down my father in his bed—draining and killing him. “Alex!” I screamed.
I ran back into my house and slammed the door. I finally heard and smelled Alex as he approached the house. He opened the door and horror washed over his face as he saw me covered in blood and frightened in the corner of the living room.
“What the hell happened, Chris?” He was frantic. He ran over and picked me up by my shoulders and wrapped my face in his hands. “What happened, Christina?”
“Alumit,” I managed, “he tried to kill me.”
At that moment another smell crept its way toward us, and I hissed. It wasn’t a bad smell, and much more familiar, but it was strong. And it wasn’t alone. It was more than half a dozen different smells, and as it got closer, Alex finally caught it.
“It’s just the guard. I’ll meet them. Stay here.”
“No, don’t leave me!” I cried.
He put his hand to my face, “You will never be out of my sight. Never again.” He turned and walked out just a few yards. A few seconds later, they emerged from the tree line, all of them—Demitri, Nebula, Calpurnia, Duncan, and Marius. Lillith and Amasia were with them as well.
“Alex! What happened?” Demitri exclaimed. He ran over to me and put his hands to my face. Calpurnia wrapped her arms around me and buried my face into her chest.
“Alumit,” she snarled.
“How did you know?” I whispered and freed my face from her embrace.
“I overheard,” she frowned
. “I’m so sorry, Christina. I should have listened to you.”
“Overheard what?” I asked.
“I overheard that Damascus planned to come here to kill you tonight.”
I looked at everyone’s faces. “I already knew.” I looked at Calpurnia’s and ran through the night’s events in my head, even the memories that I had gained from Alumit.
