Long chapter for you guys because the next is Christians!
Radio Silence - James Blake
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Very slowly, I squeezed her hands for our official introduction. Now, one of two things could happen. She could go absolutely bonkers in the next half an hour after we explain what happened to Christian and then possibly kill us. Or she could take it all on the chin and happily oblige us the help.
But then something she said about her sister wanting something in exchange irked me. Constance had no qualms about not wanting something for her help but her nameless sister...
"Katherine, oh what an absolute pleasure." Constance reached over and took Kate's hands. "A Phillips witch. Honoured. So honoured."
Kate's eyes narrowed. "You know my family?"
"Oh, no dear. My sister knows more than me about the covens but I think I crossed paths with your great-great-great grandfather Luis. Wonderful man, God rest his soul. So kind."
The name resonated within Kate as a small however forcibly hidden smile curved her lips.
Then her gaze moved to Callum. A very nostalgic look passed her face. "You're one of Isabelle's. Barely though, she's made so many vampires and so on and so forth it's almost impossible to tell. Oh Isabelle is one of the Three." She said when Cal frowned. "She's the first of your bloodline. You're such a handsome man, you're definitely worth keeping. And you. Joe. A werepanther."
Joe didn't look amused or pleased with this entire situation. In fact, it was the first time I'd seen him this mad. His eyes were glowing. What usually reflected a beautiful chocolate brown diluted gradually into liquid gold.
"Well, I haven't crossed paths with one in centuries. So quiet, so reserved..." She openly stared at him before sighing longingly. "Enough of this, tell me more about your visit."
"I said it's a long story but it looked like you've already taken the story right out of me." I replied. "We need your help."
"Mhm, go ahead. Wait! No, there are too many prying ears. Hold on a minute."
Within seconds, she was at the bar saying something to the bartender and then ushering every other patron of the bar out. And not one complained. Each of them nodded their head at Constance, almost a sign of respect and paid for their last drinks.
Being alone with her made the situation just that little bit more dangerous. Her mind set was still a complete mystery to me. And from everybody else's faces it was to them too, especially Kate.
After the bar was completely emptied, Kate took the seat beside me and murmured very low, "You freaking out?"
"Like you wouldn't believe."
"Right!" She said grabbing a chair and putting it at the end of the table. "Back to business now that we're alone."
"Christian's in trouble." I announced. "And I can't just sit here and hope he just breezes through my front door telling me he's sorted everything out. Who knows how long that will take."
"The Steinsson's have always been trouble." Constance sat down with a solemn frown. "Always poking their noses and asking for favours in return. Not much different to what I would do but their favours... well, they can ask too much of you and you wouldn't have a choice but to accommodate them."
"Exactly. And now they're calling Christian out to return a favour from years ago. But they've been trying to get to him through me because I'm his first sire in so long. His brother Fletcher told them about me."
Constance didn't even flinch. "He's a lost soul that one. I'm not surprised he sold you for a favour of his own."
"Chris is probably one of the most influential men I know. He has so many contacts, I'm not surprised they want him." I admitted sadly. "They can't get away with wanting something so valuable from him. What if they ask him to... to assassinate the president or the queen of England or even control the head of the CIA. Have you seen Daybreakers? The world couldn't possibly survive as a vampire race; it would die out, what if that happens?"
At the mention of the film, Joe's eyes diminished from a gold back to his original brown in amusement. I was being one hundred percent serious! A post-apocalyptic world with few humans to survive off, it would be the end as we know it.
Constance stared at me but I darted my eyes away. My mind had been picked one too many times tonight.
"Do you have a plan Katherine?" Her eyes moved to Kate. "How we should approach this?"
"You're agreeing to help?" I clarified.
"Well, why not? You're right, with such foolish thoughts like that they really could create a world similar to this movie. And having Christian, such a powerful bloodline at their side and with the help of someone like Feisal they could destroy everything. I haven't met Feisal first hand, no but I've seen from your memories what he is capable of. You'll have to meet my sister now." She announced, standing. "She'll be harder to convince. Only you and Kate can meet her. She was never fond of werepanthers."
The door to the bar opened and all of us turned to watch a hulking man enter. Even his presence emanated power, assertiveness. But there was something dark surrounding him. An aura I couldn't explain. A peculiar feeling sparked within me as this ghost of a man approached our table.
But as he drew closer his features grew more defined under the low light. To put it plainly he was dangerously handsome. You'd look twice but you'd have to do it ever so discreetly. His black hair although cropped short was unruly, skimming his neck but curling at the edges of his forehead. He was a vampire, that was obvious.
His jaw sharp enough to cut glass and speckled with hair. His dark thick eyebrows lowering over his eyes as he stopped beside Constance's chair.
"Just in time. These are my new friend's. Chelsea is one of mine, can't you tell?"
He didn't speak, instead he directed his intimidating stare toward me, lingering only a minute before touching the others.
"This is Vlad." She introduced.
Kate's foot kicked my shin and I had to bite my tongue not to flinch. Cam's eyes widened and me and Joe looked at one another. Clearly we were missing something.
"Vlad, would you mind taking these two ladies to my sister?"
My hackles rose. If this man was someone I should know about why weren't the two of them saying anything? Instead, Kate rose and gestured me up with her. She took my hand as we followed Vlad the other direction from the entrance.
Well, I guess this is where we die.
It was a terrible idea following this wall of a man out of a bar, up a few flights of stairs and into a completely unknown room and yet here we were. Doing exactly that. The dimly lit room was a basic living space, nothing to rave about. It was only one of the apartments above the bar.
Vlad glanced at us one more time before going back downstairs. God, I hope Cal and Joe are okay.
I turned to Kate and sighed. "What do you reckon will happen no- ow. Why did you punch my arm?"
"You moron do you know who that is?" She screeched quietly. She tried the handle but it was locked from the outside.
"No." I whispered. "Who is he?"
"That is Vlad the freaking Impaler."
My face paled as terror settled deep within my heart. "V-Vlad the... I call bullshit."
"Do you? Do you? Did you see Callum's face? It is!"
"But... that means he's Drac-"
"Nope don't say the name, it only makes it real!" She screeched. "We need to go; this was a bad idea from the start."
The room grew heavy just as it did when Kate performed her blood magic. Both of us took very deep breaths almost as if the oxygen was being sucked out of the room. I looked around, but still no one had entered.
"Kate," I grabbed her before she collapsed and looked around for another exit, any exit. The fire escape. Wrapping her arm around my neck I struggled over to the window only for my body to jolt back.
No. It was as if the window had its own threshold. The spell had been turned inside out. I couldn't leave. But Kate could. Very deftly, I took a few heavy slow breaths and held her carefully as I tried to open the window. Just as my fingers touched it, I jolted back from the burn.
Dammit. Slowly my strength weakened as if someone had personally cut my wrists and drained every drop of blood from my system. "Cal... Callum." I breathed sliding down the wall, Kate suddenly unconscious. If we were locked in here who's to say he could hear me? We had no way of help, we were stuck.
And we were going to die here. Yes, it was my fault I wanted to get involved and now we were going to die. I cradled Kate to me as I grew weaker and weaker, more and more thirsty. I held my breath, the scent of her blood tickling my nostrils.
"Who are you?" A voice murmured.
I stayed quiet, trying my hardest not to breathe in.
And then all of a sudden the feeling disappeared. I still felt weak but not as thirsty. I could breathe again but just. Kate stirred beside me, our vulnerability frightening me to the core.
"Who are you?" The voice repeated but this time it emerged.
The nameless Harewell sister stepped out from around the corner, her hair loose around her shoulders; her clothing similar to her sisters but her dress black. The scar on her eyebrow and along her cheekbone confirmed it was her.
Her emotionless eyes darted between me and Kate as she moved closer. Who knew how old this woman really was but her young youthful appearance said otherwise. She looked no older than my own appearance age.
"Chelsea." I breathed. "We're here to talk with you."
She looked at me indifferently as she said, "Whatever Constance thought she could sell to me, I'm not interested. Leave with your life while you still can."
I panicked when she turned to leave. "It's about Christian. He's in trouble."
She paused. "What kind of trouble? Who are you to Christian?"
"I'm his protégé."
Curiosity settled within her gaze and a part of me felt triumphant. "He sired you?"
"I seem to get that a lot. Yes, he did. And he's in trouble."
I explained what has happened within the last month as quickly as I could, telling her about the Steinsson's and the possibilities that awaited if they got what they wanted. The nameless woman listened surprisingly, sitting on the couch when I delved a little deeper into the story.
Kate finally rested her back against the wall completely conscious and listened as well, her gaze now vigilant and alert as I talked.
After I finished, she simply watched me, plucking the same truth Constance had taken from me earlier. Just as Constance had done, she blinked. Her mouth leisurely moved upward into a smile and Kate and I tensed.
"Christian has gotten himself into a pickle hasn't he? And now his sire is doing his dirty work."
"He doesn't know we're here."
"Even better." She laughed. "And what exactly could Constance and I possibly help you with? I mean, I know. But does your witch know?"
Kate's jaw clenched. "I don't."
"Just by the look of you I can tell you're a Philips witch. You haven't unlocked as much potential as your grandmother then."
At the mention of Ana, I cringed and Kate's eyes turned fiery. This woman was trying to egg a reaction out of her and it worked.
"No offence of course," She added. "It takes a long while before a witch masters their power. I should know. I've had over a thousand years doing so. Now, I didn't know her personally but I'd heard stories. Ana was... decent but she hadn't truly mastered the arts."
Before I could edge in a word, Kate sluggishly stood.
Mention that girl's grandmother and to be honest you got yourself a fight. I didn't know Ana well, if at all really but I'd heard wonderful stories from everybody. Evie's child was named after her for crying out loud it only proved how wonderful a woman she was to her.
The heat within the room rose and I found myself wiping the moisture from my forehead. I rarely sweat, if ever. My thirst and this sudden rise in temperature didn't mix well and I started to get agitated. Katherine was doing this. I was dehydrated, thirsty, weak – name it, I was exactly that.
A laugh ahead of me only spurred Kate on. What on earth was she playing at? Whispering nonsensical words in Latin as she tried to go against a one-thousand-year old vampire?
"You're foolish." The woman murmured.
Spots entered my vision. I was delirious. Maybe I was going insane too, hallucinating slightly, because I sure as heck didn't remember a clown in the corner of the room. Or a miniature hot air balloon, how odd.
The last thing I saw before I blacked out was her feet approach me and her conquering smile.
**
The familiar scent of Christian enveloped my dreams, his touch so familiar against my waist, against my neck. I blinked heavily reaching for him, reaching for anything but I couldn't find him.
The sound of my heart beat pounded a heavy beat into my eardrums. My throat burned, my head hurt, it felt like a hangover from hell. Over the sound of my heart I could just about make out music. It sounded like... James Blake. The moody melody soothed my ears just a little bit but God every noise, every movement, it was excruciating.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, my dream of Christian forgotten. My vision was blurry but I knew it was daylight. What happened? I must have passed out but from what?
As I registered my surroundings last night finally caught up to me. I was lying face down on a couch, the same one the nameless sister was sitting on last night. I hadn't left.
I flinched as I sat up, my entire body aching, begging me to replenish myself. I don't think I'd ever been this thirsty before. If this was what it was like to be this hungry, I didn't want to experience it ever again.
I rubbed my eyes and blinked to fully regain my vision and jumped when I noticed Vlad sitting comfortably in the armchair opposite reading a book.
He eyed me as he did last night but darted his eyes back down to the pages. The heartbeats in here consisted of only two others, not one of them Katherine's. They wouldn't have left me here, would they?
"Where are my friends?" I croaked. "Where's Kate?"
Vlad simply shook his head not sparing me a glance. Or a word for that matter.
Footsteps sounded from the other room and Constance emerged dressed casually compared to last night's attire with a smile on her face. "Good! You're up! Are you okay? I apologise on behalf of my sister, in fact, Erinna! Chelsea's awake, come and apologise."
Finally, a name, Erinna emerged from the room opposite with a ghost of a smug smile on her face. "Her own witch did that to her. Not me."
"Still, such juvenile play between the both of you was unnecessary. Look how thirsty she is; she can barely move."
"Leave me be, we're all allowed to have a little fun around here, why can't I?"
"Because you take it too far, Erinna-"
"Excuse me." I interjected loudly. "Why am I here? Where are my friends?"
"Oh. They're upstairs." Constance pointed upwards. "They wanted to take you but we hadn't finished talking plus they refused to leave without you."
Erinna approached me the smug smile still curving her lips as she sat beside me. "Honestly, I am interested in where you want to take this journey, Chelsea."
"As am I," Constance said as she disappeared into the kitchen. "Also none of your friends are vegetarians right? I'm making bacon."
"No." I said carefully her character continuing to surprise me. "What do you mean interested?"
Erinna bit the inside of her cheek in thought. "You plead a pretty interesting case, that's what I'm saying. After all Christian was one of the first sire's by blood. I have an attachment to him."
"He told me he hasn't seen you since he turned."
"Oh, but I've seen him. I watched him stupidly make that bitch Florence too." I cringed at the mention of his first mistake in love. And from the corner of my eye, Vlad's gaze moved from his book to Erinna. "Thank God she was taken care of. I am and will forever be surprised he created you though. His first protégé after so many years. I look forward to getting to know you better, Chelsea."
I peeked a look quickly at Vlad, his attention back to whatever it was he was reading and then back to Erinna.
"And you'll owe me nothing." She sighed grabbing a colourful hand fan from the coffee table and flicking it back and forth in front of her face. "Despite what my sister said downstairs, an exchange of ones' services isn't always necessary. Especially not in this situation."
Was I shocked by how nice they were being? Of course, which was why my hackles were still raised. But then I thought what reason or motive could they have? They've lived this long, if they wanted something they could probably get it with the click of their fingers.
"However,"
Here we go.
"I wish to train your witch." She said. "And that blind boyfriend of hers and her brother. A coven can thrive better when their powers match one another."
My eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Because I've seen too many coven's die in my lifetime over power differences. A coven like theirs will fuel the future of our race."
"You'll have to discuss it with them." I replied, the flurrying of footsteps above alerting me the others were awake. "I can't speak for them."
She nodded her head and stood. "Fine. Now, should we get ready for breakfast? I, for one am starving."
Erinna opened the door for the others as they flurried in, Joe and Callum still on alert but not as much as last night. Katherine and I embraced, her apologies only ringing in my ears as her scent drifted further and further up my nostrils. Self-control.
"Here, this will keep you going." Constance handed me a warm mug, the coppery smell of the blood hypnotised me enough not to ask where it had come from. I didn't care.
As everybody sat cautiously by the small breakfast table, Erinna spoke to Katherine. It was as if last night hadn't happened between them, the scolding glares they'd shared, the little witch-off that caused me to pass out. They grabbed onto one another's hands as they spoke, Kate nodding her head every once in a while and Erinna doing the same.
I watched the peculiar scene, Constance quizzing Cal on his maker and his heritage, Joe simply observing just as I was and Vlad doing the same. Maybe it was just us three that thought the entire scene a bit strange.
I was still too extremely thirsty to concentrate and Constance noticed. "Vlad will take you to feed. He'll keep you safe."
He glanced at Constance before marking his page and standing. It took me a minute to stand giving Cal and the others a somewhat reassuring smile. The heat of the Brazilian morning hit me hard as we stepped made our way down the fire escape.
Covering my eyes from the sun, I followed him down each step taking them as gently as possible. "Where are we going?" I grumbled lowly pressing a hand to the wall.
The silent man simply took my elbow in reply.
"Don't you speak?"
His dark eyes moved over me for only a second before he started leading me further into the alleyway. I frowned deeply and said, "Fine."
Not a twitch, not even a smile.
"What does a girl, have to do to get you to speak then, Dracu-"
"Don't call me that."
His voice was softer than I expected, his Romanian accent almost non-existent apart from the curl of a few letters and the enunciation.
"The man speaks. How do you propose I feed this early in the day?" I questioned.
He dropped my arm and murmured a, "Wait here," before disappearing and reappearing with two young men both completely wide eyed and unaware of their surroundings.
I wasn't about to question a meal when I was this thirsty and I could only assume he'd taken two in case I needed more. As I said before, I didn't kill and I wouldn't start now. So after I satiated myself from the both of them I took a moment to calm myself. My strength returned tenfold, my vision clearing and the sound of my heartbeat dissipated along with my thirst.
After healing their wounds, they wandered off back from where they came from and Vlad moved from his spot on the wall.
When he started walking back the way we came, I trailed behind him with a raised brow. "Are you always this quiet or is it because you don't know me?"
"I don't know you. Nor do you know me." He said glancing over his shoulder. "But I am always this quiet."
The walk was silent, just how he liked it. But as we approached the fire exit he slowed. I paused a few steps behind him and waited patiently for whatever was running through his mind to come out of his mouth.
"You would do all of this for your maker?" He asked turning to me with a stoic look on his face.
"Wouldn't you?"
"No." Vlad's lips twitched.
"Are you one of the Three?"
"No."
I made a face at his one worded answers and crossed my arms over my chest. "Why is this so wrong? Constance and Erinna are doing this to help as well for near enough the same reasoning as me, why do you find this difficult to understand? Aren't you loyal to them?"
"They are my friends; I'd do anything for them. But there is a mutual understanding between us. Risking our lives is one thing, being irresponsible is another."
Anger flared within me. Big bad Vlad the Impaler was challenging me and I couldn't for the life of me understand why. "Are you trying to stop me from doing this? You don't know me."
"I don't have to." His dark eyes shadowed with his own irritation. "I protect my friends too and if you're getting them in trouble then you have me to answer to. I'm trying to save your wasted time and trouble of saving Christian Beaumont."
I listened carefully and paused as he finished with Christian's name. The way he said his name only made me think he knew him better than I ever will. "You don't like Christian." I concluded. "Why else would you be fighting me. You said it yourself, I don't know you and you don't know me."
"He gets himself into his own messes, he can get himself out of them."
I surprised myself as I grabbed his arm when he made a move to leave. "We're not done."
"No? Let's go for a walk then."
Twisting his arm out of my grip he took my forearm and led me into the noiseless streets. People were making deliveries and only stirring awake to start their days and here I was being dragged around by a famous vampire. If only people knew.
He weaved me in and out of the streets, not a word from him. Before long we'd made it to the beach his grip loosening enough for me to yank my arm back. The sun had just risen, the day had yet to begin for the tourists so the beach was eerily empty.
"How did he ruffle your feathers then?" I said through clenched teeth. "Steal a meal? Steal a love interest? Control his way out of debt to you? It wouldn't surprise me."
He answered my question with his own."You're in love with him aren't you?"
"No, I'm not in love with him if it's any of your business." I said easily.
"It's plainly obvious you're well on the way. You're blinded, girl. By his charm and his tongue, he's cast his wicked spell on you and it'll be impossible for you to get out."
My anger felt more like blind fury now. And I couldn't even stop myself from pushing him, as mad as it sounded. He stumbled back a few steps and I relished in the way his eyes widened. "You're clearly holding onto something and it looks like you need to get over yourse-ck,"
I choked on the last word quite literally when he circled his large hand around my neck. I tried not to struggle even when he hovered me slightly off the ground. Naturally, we could hold our breaths just that little longer but not exactly when someone has their hand clenched around your neck. The fear that should be coursing through me was replaced with rage from this man's blatant attempts to sway my decisions.
"You're stubborn and reckless." He said. "And it's going to get you killed."
Like a cat out of hell – that's right, cat not bat – I threw my claws across his face and he released. I dropped to my knees and barely took a minute to breathe before I football tackled his stumbling frame.
Straddling him, I threw a wayward punch to his face as I said, "Reckless? Yes. Stubborn? Maybe. But it's what's been keeping me alive so far." I swung another and his face snapped to the side. The fresh blood circling my system worked to my advantage in overpowering him but he still had over six hundred years on me.
He easily caught my hands, and hoisted me beneath him. Then he was holding a fist way above his head ready to hit me with his best one-two but he paused. Uncertainty passing over his eyes.
Pansy. Adrenaline replaced the anger quick-sharp as I goaded and smiled. "Can't even hit me? And you're famous for what exactly- ugh! Dammit, ow."
I stretched my mouth open as the sting hit me like a freight train. He hit me again, a little harder than the first time. My hands pushed at his face only for a moment to distract him before curling my legs upward hooking the back of my knee around his neck, twisting so we landed sideways against the sand.
He tried pulling at my tightening choke hold around his neck before slapping the ground, surrendering the match. The adrenaline in my veins halted at the sight of his reddening face. What were we even fighting about? It was immature of us – of me mostly – to have coaxed a fight out of him but everything he'd said after just meeting me? It wasn't fair.
I can understand him wanting to protect his friends, wanting to make sure a stranger doesn't lead them into unwanted trouble. But he had an obvious problem with Christian.
I released him and fell backwards as I caught my breath. Vlad simply did the same, his chest heaving a bit faster than mine a few coughs here and there.
The sound of the waves lightly crashing against the shore reminded me we were out in public. Who knows who saw? Maybe they called the police. But thankfully, I didn't hear any sirens or any surprised chatter.
I wiped my arms under my nose, blood smearing across my wrist and hand. Did he break my nose? Probably. I quickly scanned his face. A split lip and eyebrow.
"What did he do?" I asked softly, trying for a different approach.
Vlad's head turned toward me. "It's foolish of me to hold onto it especially after finding out she wasn't who we thought she was."
I frowned in confusion, flipping through the possible women he knows that I knew of. Then it hit me. Very carefully I sat up and so did he, his stormy dark eyes darting from his bruised hands to my face. "You were in love with her." I stated with a sniff. "It was so long ago now. Does it still cut you so deeply?"
"The only thing that cut me was his selfishness. He didn't listen to me or his sister when we saw her ways, he thought I was jealous of what they had. Christian was..."
I used the same word to he used to describe me: "Blinded."
"Yes. It wasn't until he found Florence with his brother did he finally believe me. He doesn't deserve someone as faithful as you fighting his childish battles."
For a moment I revaluated this man beside me. The man I saw last night was intimidating, silent and frightening. The darkness surrounding his soul almost petrifying, the legends and history behind Vlad the Impaler only strengthened his façade. But in front of me was a man scarred from his past. A friendship ruined by love.
I twisted to face him fully and released a heavy breath. "Everybody deserves someone loyal, faithful and trustworthy who cares enough to fight their battles. If not me then who? I may not love him yet but I care deeply about him. The Christian I know has grown so much from the stories I've heard about him in the past. And if he didn't care about me then he had a funny way of showing it by dragging me halfway across Egypt by foot and protecting me."
I looked down briefly. "Florence was the one to kill me. Christian told me he'd turned me out of guilt for the girl that wouldn't get to live her life. You'd know better than me that Christian isn't built to feel guilt. He saw a young girl and gave her a chance. And although a part of me resented him for turning me into this... monster, I'll always be grateful for this second chance."
Vlad regarded me with expressionless eyes throughout most of my speech however by the end of it a flicker of understanding resonated deep within them.
As he continued to think, I carefully clicked my nose back into place with a painful grunt and a sigh. "I'm sorry." He murmured quietly.
"Yeah, me too." I smiled half-heartedly, flinching as my cheeks protested at the movement. "I might just go back to my apartment to clean up."
I stumbled to stand and glanced at the very few onlookers – the ones that had clearly witnessed the show. They moved along swiftly without a second glance and sighed in relief.
"Chelsea," I gazed over my shoulder as he stood, wiping himself down, lucky for him barely a few spots of blood touched his white t-shirt. "You should change and afterward I'll take you to get something for breakfast."
Rolling my eyes, I said, "That doesn't sound like I have an option."
Back to passive Vlad, he simply stared but this time with a small curve to the corner of his mouth.
"I'll take it as your way of apologising. But be sure to send Constance or Erinna a message telling them where we are. I imagine my friends will get a bit wary of our absence." I smiled leading the way back into the city.
There were only few things I was proud of in this lifetime. One, was when I managed to take all of my brothers in a wrestling match when I was seventeen. Two, getting a successful job I was in love with and three was the fact I just took on the infamous Vlad, Dracula, the Impaler and didn't die.
Mother would be so proud.
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Super long chap, but please please pleasseee don't forget to lemme know what you think! Vlad's a new interesting character I wanted to add to the mix since the beginning. We'll see how Christian takes to this won't we ;)