I was trapped between the wall and them. But despite my fear, I was only marveled by the people before me. Bone-straight cheeks, pelican skins, perfectly shaped figures. They were devastatingly beautiful. They inched closer, floating on light.
Placing my palms on the wall, the rough surface touching my skin didn't make this any less real. It didn't make them any less dangerous, baring out teeth. I looked around desperately for any escape route, but the single door was blocked. I swallowed on air, feeling my lungs fill with water. I had gotten myself into this mess, but I didn't have the courage to face it. I wasn't ready for the outcome.
But with every push, I noticed their hesitation. What were they waiting for? I was clearly outnumbered, there were more than twenty, thirty at most. I heard a snarling sound; it grabbed their attention. Turning, I saw the body spread out on the floor, the one I had thrown over. It made more snapping sounds, like grinding stones, before it moved, standing upright in one single push.
It all happened in a blur. It turned slowly towards me, sharp canines protruding, bringing out fangs, its eyes an endless pit of rage. It made more growls watching me. I backed down, holding onto the wall, staring wide-eyed. It came alive like a scene from a horror movie—a monster written in books. Vampire.
The words got trapped. I groaned at the impact, caught off guard. I didn't see it move before it pinned me to the wall, gripping hard at my neck. Its blazing laugh filled the space, face stretched out in a smirk. It held on with every intention to kill. Struggling for air, I dangled limply, slipping into darkness. Every nerve inside me was begging for the sole thing that kept me alive. But with every faint shove, it hardened its grip, showing sheer force.
"Leonard," came a single sound. I couldn't make out anything else. My eyes were heavy with sleep.
"That's enough!" It sounded like a shout, but I wasn't sure. I was slipping slowly. It ended then, with those words. I started to cough and crashed to the floor.
"That wasn't very gentlemanlike." I looked up hearing the voice was like a current of rainfalls, deep and loud. It carried through the room, turning every head. Slowly the circle shifted, creating space. Each head bowed down in authority.
Following the attraction, I saw the head first. Hair colored a deep shade of orange nothing like a setting sun but ashes of flames. Her features are soft, almost childlike. She was breathtakingly dressed, also in black; it hugged her figure with every turn.
"Duchess," the man said in greeting, bending his neck. She stood beside me, staring. I looked away, nervous. Her eyes were the colour of storms.
"She looks very young," she said, voice edged with curiosity. The man didn't say anything. The one named Leonard.
Leonard inclined his head. "The witches are making more of her kind, Your Grace. There have been hundreds."
This time, he talked with more volume, addressing the crowd, an angry scowl etched on his face. That seemed to move them to action; they began to murmur among themselves.
"What they are doing is an abomination, one that seeks to unravel the balance of our society."
A low chorus rippled through the crowd, whispers rising like the hiss of restless serpents, deadly. The Duchess watched them silently, her storm-grey eyes calm, calculating.
What did he mean, more like me? Did he know something? Did I want to know the truth about what I had become? Whatever I did made them tense. I looked at my hands, waiting patiently.
"That will suffice, Lord Leonard," she said at last.
He stopped talking immediately, but I could see the frown on his lips, the clenching of his jaw. She came closer, her dress sleeves brushing my arms. I could smell her. It was what landed me into this mess. It made my mouth water, the appeal.
"What are you?" she asked, standing within eye level. Struggling for words, I tried to remember who I was. What made them so afraid? What made them hate me? Maybe, just maybe, I was turning, changing into something I had never known existed. A monster, a bloodsucker. The idea made me want to laugh and scream.
"I…" I tried to speak, but I had nothing to say.
"Mmm?" she asked, whispering.
"Is she mute?" he questioned.
She backed away, going to stand by the center. I didn't notice the bodies that shifted as she walked male and female, their faces just as beautiful as hers. They walked behind her, protective.
"She must be tied to some kind of spell," came a voice from within the crowd. They murmured along, their voices just harsh strings of whispers.
"We have to do something."
They were agreeing together, their voices matching up into one.
"We can't let them continue."
"Think about our society."
"Our children."
Their words got mixed with an angry cry of anxiety. I tuned them out, going through everything. What was I? Was I turning into a vampire? Something I didn't believe in? I shivered, remembering his fangs.
What did I know about vampires? Immortality and blood.
"What are we going to do with her?"
"She's one of them," someone spat out. I could see their hostility, their bared teeth, the snarling between their lips. I backed down, watching them come closer, fueled up.
"Enough!" she roared. The shift was immediate; the silence deafening.
"The creation of hybrids stands as a threat. One that shouldn't be taken lightly."
She paused, looking around, taking her time. Every single breath moved with her words; their attention was hooked. She commanded power and respect. She was the ruler.
The Duchess.
"Lord Leonard, have you made any progress?"
"Two witches are in custody," he said, glowing with pride.
"Are my questions not straightforward?" she demanded.
He paused, looking around, confused.
"Your Grace," he stammered back.
She regarded him coolly. "And yet I asked for names, not numbers."
"Where is the Lord of Area Eight?" she asked impatiently.
The crowd seemed to burst open with life, a collective sigh breaking through. They had each escaped the Duchess's wrath. Slowly a path started to clear.
A man stepped through. I couldn't help but stare. Just like the others, he was equally as beautiful. But that wasn't what held interest. It was the way he walked, or maybe the way he looked. His eyes were up, chin raised high in pride. Dressed in a red velvet cloak, it swept through the floor with matching ruffles. Underneath was a double-breasted suit. His hair was the color of the night sky, styled back in tiny thread weaves.
He stepped before the Duchess, bowing only slightly.
"Victoria," he greeted, voice low and deep.
She smiled faintly, the kind that held secrets.
"You have kept me waiting, Lord Syrus."
"My apologies, Your Grace," he said, indulging her.
She smiled tauntingly, showing a set of white teeth. But I could feel the tension between them. What was left unsaid.
"The matter of the hybrid concerns you. It falls in your hands," she said, turning towards the others.
"With respect, the Council of Elders decides jurisdiction."
"Of course," she purred.
"They have been notified. But I have a question for you, Lord Syrus."
"Duchess," he said courteously. His face was expressionless.
"What have you been doing about the hybrid case? What are the numbers of deaths in Windsor Town? What jurisdiction holds that area?" she challenged.
"You will take responsibility, and the girl shall fall under your custody," she said finally, leaving no room for opposition.
His eyes drifted towards mine, and for the first time through all this madness, something other than fear stirred through me.
"I trust you won't disappoint," she said.
I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't. But the pain of slipping in and out consciousness. I felt light, almost drunk, like I couldn't stay still. Everything is a blurry image of words and things. Words I still couldn't comprehend. It lasted for what seemed like forever, the strong smell of iron and heat. Over time I had come to believe that maybe I was dead and the lightheadedness effect wasn't because of loss of blood. But the effect of the after life. But over every other thing was a voice. Always demanding for answers, answers I was supposed to give. Answer I wanted to give.
"Are you ready?" the same voice demanded.
I was strapped by the waist suspended in the air, with every twitch the thorns cut deep on my waist. I groaned trying hard not to move. The nagging between my skull continued steadily. I couldn't tell apart the voices and the shadows. The single light bulb swinged only showing half of the space. But every now and then, I could tell apart my own shallow breath from theirs. The sharp intake of breath whenever I failed to give the right response. It always followed with my scream begging for it all to stop. I wonder how long I will take this. I didn't know how long it had been since that night, when I had stumbled underground to a group of vampires. It seems like ages ago. Their beauty and grace still sucked to my brain like a distant dream. I wanted to forget it all but I had a constant reminder. I was after all, the reason why I was trapped, dragged into a world I never knew existed.
Do you think she's dead" , grasping hold of the voice, it sounded distant.
"No… she's breathing,"
I reached out slowly, blinking away sports. But the earth was spinning round and round. I tried to breathe but my throat felt like lead.
A finger snapped at my face. "Waki waki" a voice called out, inches away from my face. He had low cropped hair, shrunken cheekbones and glaring eyes. Flinching from contact, he smiled revealing pointing canines.
"Let's not play with the hostage Crain" another voice voice called out. Stony and commanding. They were dressed in all black leather pants and jackets. She had an imposing presence, tall and thick. Her hair like the man's was cropped till the skin. Raising his arm in mock surrender, he moved to the wall watching us.
"We don't want to hurt you" she said immediately, coming to stand in front. I didn't believe her.
"We only want to know who is behind this " she pauses, moving closer. She was darker skinned of spotless brown. Grabbing my face softly, she wrapped something off the corner of my lips. Moving away from her touch, she dropped her hands down and walked away.
"This doesn't have to be hard, just tell us what you know"
"I don't know anything" it came out like a whisper. The soreness between my throat tasted like sandpaper. I didn't know these people and whatever they thought I knew.
"Who made you?
"Was it the witches? What are they planning?" This was her follow up questions each time, after my repeated denial. Even when I said the truth over and over, it wasn't enough.
"I…."
"You don't know anything…. Yes we get that" he said mockingly.
"Why don't we just kill her, spare ourself the time"
"She must be in some kind of spell, her heart is beating very fast" He said, coming to stand alongside her.
"Practically useless" she spat out. Time stood still as I watched.
She came forward standing within eye level glaring. Suddenly something started to float, a circle on both sides of her. Its surface is an abyss getting bigger pulling forces towards it. Pushing back, I hissed out feeling the thorn of cuffs piercing through my skin. I stared in disbelief as it grew, having a presence of its own. Her eyes changed, turning pitch black. Something peeked from inside, shimmering with the light, pointing tip. Two curved blends came forward. Her attention fully on me. Twisting fiercely, I knew within seconds I would be stabbed.
"Please" I cried out. Looking around frantically for anything. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion and the only thing I could think of was how I really didn't want to die.The irresistible urge to live has never been this strong.
"I was bitten" I screamed out crying for help.
Nothing happened after that, I shut my eyes tightly.
"Wait" came an urgent call.
It echoed, vibrating through the wall. Snapping my eyes open, the woman's body was turned backwards facing the man named Crain.
"Let's think about this for a second," he said. She hissed at him.
"From different angles," he said calmly.
She scoffed even with her back turned and her blends were still pointing forward floating in midair.
"Don't tell me, you have taken a liking for the half breed" She spat out.
"She's not really my type" he winked at me smirking. I could only blink confused.
"There's a bit mark on her neck"
"That doesn't mean anything, I wouldn't put it past them to be working with witches" her voice rose higher.
"When were you bitten"? She questioned.
"I…"
"Well won't you tell us what you know darling" he said darkly.
On Friday" I whispered. They all looked back accusingly.
"She's lying," the woman said flatly.
"well, I believe her" Crain said
"On what grounds" she shouted. The blends came flying. Holding my breath, they bite through the stone wall.
"Artifar" He warned.
Neither of them said a word after that, the portal disappeared. Vanishing into thin air. This can't be happening I thought, I didn't want to believe this was real. I breathed heavily watching the people before me. They were talking in hushed whispering, arguing. What was happening? Who were these people? What had I gotten myself into? Where vampires were real and had powers. But that wasn't the only thing that was bothering me, what was I? Was I really a hybrid like they said? I shaked my head unconsciously. No, I said out loud this can't be happening. I wanted desperately to grab whatever make believe my mind was making and forget it all. But I couldn't keep still,
my head felt like it was about to explode. I had so many questions and just like them I needed to know.
"There is only one way to settle this" a voice called out through the shadows.