by Danae Ayusso
Again, Dr. Willa chuckled, shaking her head. “You are truly adorable. Payment is not required, though medical insurance you needn’t worry about at the moment. And to answer your initial question, for those that have had the great displeasure of knowing Andrei for centuries, like I have, seeing that creature now is a drastic change, one that we never thought we’d live to see. That, Dearest Shawn, is payment enough. How are you feeling? Lightheaded, dizzy, any residual pain or tenderness in any of the puncture sites, debilitating hunger pangs, longing to drain an orphanage or bathe in the blood of the meek under a new moon?”
If she were kidding, I couldn’t tell.
I patted my body, checking for tenderness, looked under the covers, and checked my chest to make sure there was no bandages or stitches; everything was how it should be. “Are my eyes still hazel-purple?”
She nodded, looking amused.
“And my skunk stripe is still there, right?” I asked, pulling my fingers through my hair, disheveling it, pulling it into my eyes so I could see it.
“It is,” Dr. Willa said, shaking her head, watching me overly amused.
“Okay, that’s all normal and good then. No tenderness, irritated that annoying vampire keeps playing undress and dress up with me as if I’m his own personal life-sized knockoff Barbie that he got from the Dollar Store, but I’m okay. I’m hungry and I still want a cheeseburger, but I have no interest in blood, draining anyone, or bathing in the blood of the meek or whatever,” I said, making a face. “How long was I out for? Is Tybalt okay?”
Dr. Willa nodded, heading to the closet. “Master Tybalt was the second call I received in regards to your well-being, and that prompted me to hurry with extreme urgency,” she called out from the closet before returning with some clothing slung over her arm. “The strange effect you have on those holding positions of power in the mythical world is truly impressive and makes me most curious as to how that is.” She tossed me the clothing. “Change since there is company below, company that is demanding an audience with the Scion that should not be.”
My face dropped.
“Are they mad at me? At the others for… I shouldn’t be alive, should I?” I surmised.
Her head tilted to the side to regard me. “Each and every one of Matka Ziema’s children deserves to live, deserves a chance to prove they’re worthy of the stolen breath of life they took from her. Those of this world, the one you have been thrown into, have a much higher opinion of themselves and just how amazing they think they are,” she said the latter making a face that made me laugh.
She turned her back to me so I could change with as much privacy as possible, and continued to pack up her medical equipment.
“What do they want? Those below. Who are they?” I asked, changing out of the camisole set and into the modest cotton panties and matching fitted tank top she grabbed me with some comfy clothes.
Dr. Willa sighed. “As there are in all worlds, Shawn, those appointed in positions of authority wield their appointed authority whenever the opportunity presents. Especially when it comes to wielding some sort of power and control over a creature to the likes of Marshal Belova-Revnik; they have been salivating for this for centuries.”
I stopped in mid-redressing. “What do you mean?”
She looked over her shoulder to make sure I was proper before turning to regard me. “How much do you know of those you share this home with?”
I laughed, thinking she was kidding.
She wasn’t.
“Oh, you’re serious?” I surmised, pulling the long sleeve tunic over my head. “I just met them.”
That made Dr. Willa shake her head with a smile.
“Amazing,” she said. “Simply amazing. The only thing those of power in our world have ever had to hold over Marshal Belova-Revnik was his pesky baby brother. Luka is his own worst enemy, as you have most likely deduced, and has cost his brother everything again and again and again. However, the annoying, troublesome little boy is untouchable because of their Makers. You, Dearest Shawn, may be the single thing that Andrei would chose over his baby brother in the end.”
It was a nice thought, one of a hopeless romantic, but I had never been hopeless or romantic. I was a realist and I knew Andrei’s intentions for me were solely to bring his brother down or teach him a lesson that would most likely hurt or kill me in the end. But it was a nice thought, not one I’d put my money on though.
“Never doubt how completely unique and important you truly are, Child,” she said with a soft smile, as if she could read my mind, and offered me her hand.
I quickly pulled on the baggy joggers she set out then hurried over to her and took Dr. Willa’s small hand.
The moment my hand wrapped around hers, her pinprick black pupils enlarged and covered the light hazel in solid black, and a strange sensation swarmed to my chest.
Dr. Willa released my hand and stepped back, looking at me with wide eyes as her pupils contracted. “Oh my. You foolish boys, what have you done?” she whispered so softly I strained to hear her.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked, shoving my hands in my pockets.
Tybalt reacted the same way when I shook his hand. Obviously something’s wrong with me or I’ve been shaking hands wrong my entire life.
“I know it’s a manly grip, but I’ve been trying to lessen it so not to freak people out. People in the city aren’t like those in the farming world, I guess.”
“You did nothing wrong, Dearest Shawn. You are unique and a rarity. Whatever you do,” she warned, stepping into me and looked up to maintain eye contact, “mind your manners, don’t take to heart anything they say, do not put faith in their accusations, and disregard anything they may try to make you believe of the vampires you share a home with. Do you understand?”
Of course not, but I nodded anyway.
“You are adorable when you lie,” she cooed before pulling the door open and pressed her finger against my lips, telling me to be quiet.
Nervous, I followed as close to the tiny doctor as I could through the doorway.
I looked up and down the hallway which acted like a walkway that was opened on one side with a wood and wrought iron railing. The wall was littered with tall solid wood doors with ornate locks, and looked identical to each other; five doors, mine being open.
Dr. Willa motioned for me to join her at the railing so I did and looked below, holding my breath, expecting the worst.
Below was the stone archway lined nave that was filled with polished wooden pews. The floors were marble in shades of white, gray, and red. Overhead was the beautiful domed ceiling had darkened stained glass panels that reached down to the tops of the walls, some stretching all the way down to the floor creating a beautiful accent against the backdrop of dark gray stonework. Black metal, Gothic two-tiered candelabras with hanging metal lace accents housed thirteen round red candles that were lit—ten on the larger, lower tier and three on the upper tier of each—and matching amber glassed metal sconces were attached to each stone pillar with lit red candles inside.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that some kind of service was taking place below, and not a service of Light either.
The pews had people littered on each with noticeable space between them. There appeared to be guards throughout the area below, each wearing a leather jacket, fitted shirt, slacks, and each had a com like you see in spy movies in their ear.
They looked like really crappy Russian goons you’d hire for a low budget movie.
The Goons made less sense than anything else I’ve seen and experienced thus far.
Andrei and Luka stood at the altar, as if being judged instead of evangelizing. Of course Luka looked bored out of his mind and was ready to start trouble at any moment; skinny jeans, fitted designer shirt, gold necklaces… He looked like a hired low budget goon as well. Andrei, on the other hand, was dressed in a finely tailored suit that made him look runway ready, all business and no nonsense.
It was a good lo
ok for him.
“How much longer must we entertain you and this ridiculous attempt at your resurrection of the inquisition?” a man asked, his voice echoing throughout the church, causing me to jump, startled. He was unfamiliar to me, but the soft, washed-out Greek accent and his black curls were slightly familiar, as was his wide jaw and long nose. “You have argued for hours now that one of them has created a new life without consent from the ruling body, without proof, and yet the vote remains the same. I grow tired of this dog and pony show, Paden.”
The woman, Paden, flushed in anger, her pale complexion turning nearly as red as her hair.
“A dog of the night would side with their previous masters, Maximus,” Paden sneered.
The man got to his feet. “Choose your next words wisely, Witch, for they may be the last to ever leave your wretched lips,” he warned.
When a small, older woman stood, the other two instantly sat back down.
“Thank you,” she said with a nod. “For hours we have heard the accusations which warrant a review by the ruling body. For hours you both have stood there refusing to address any of those accusations. Out of respect for the position in which you hold, Vigiles, allow us to approach this as we would any other new birth into our world which warrants attention,” she offered.
Andrei nodded his acceptance.
“Those of the ruling Senatus of the Pacific Region have made their voices and opinions heard as to why this child should or should not be permitted to live. However, we have not heard why it that the child has come to be. Vigiles, tell us why it is that this child has come to be and why we are here, forced to cast a vote? The werewolves have voted, the fae are neutral and cannot be brought into voting matters. The warlocks are waiting and on the fence as usual, but they will side with whichever will give them the best position in the future.”
The man stretched out on one of the pews, as if sleeping, held his hand up and flipped her off.
I couldn’t see him other than his purple velvet dress shoes that hung out into the aisle some, but there was a presence about him that I could seemingly sense from here.
The old woman chuckled. “Always a pleasure, Brat. I know where your vote lies, and it is with the werewolves and your brother.”
“Then I have no reason to be here other than to protect mio padre, Nina,” the warlock said with a thick Italian accent before resuming his nap.
Nina shook her head. “Youth, oh so troublesome,” she commented with a small smile, sounding almost endearing. “Vigiles, Andrei, tell those undecided how this child has come to be and why you have called for a vote, why you needed to call for a vote, and that vote will be cast. Those of Light need to be convinced your brother has not errored again in his foolishness. The blood that was waded through in New Amsterdam was no laughing matter, and yet Luka did just that, again. His foolishness caused a staggering body count, something that we cannot afford in this territory. We are already under extreme scrutiny due to poor writing and movies of questionable sparkling immortals and hairless pedophiles.”
My eyes widened; I assumed that was an issue for vampires in Washington but to get confirmation reiterated that I’d never own body glitter again.
“You know I lost one of my children in Luka’s last incident,” Nina reminded him, her tone soft and it caused tears to flood my eyes. “I did not hold you accountable, I should have made him accountable, but they would never permit that. You know this. Out of respect, I fear, is the reason why you call this vote now. I respect you for that, but it is a struggle to forget the face and name of my child that your brother’s foolish actions took from me-”
“Adelaida Lourdes,” Andrei interrupted with a nod of submission, “a junior at NYU where she was majoring in music theory. She was twenty years old, an honor roll student, volunteered at homeless shelters and taught under privileged children music at the local Boys and Girls Club, and was a dedicated young Priestess in her coven. Adelaida was your youngest child after losing your four other daughters to the human church and their witch hunts. I am not worthy of your forgiveness for my brother’s actions, for his laziness that resulted in the Strigoi that crawled from the grave. I have to earn your forgiveness, Elderess, and even then I will never be free of that guilt and failure,” he said, his tone so soft and words earnest that it caused the tears I was struggling to hold back to stain my cheeks.
Now I understood what Andrei was talking about before he nearly drained me.
Luka had done it before; accidentally created life, but it wasn’t a pale Italian that was mellow mannered, slow to anger, and just went with it that was created.
It was a demon with uncontrollable thirst for blood that crawled out of the grave.
Nina nodded and wiped away the tear that stained her aged cheek. “You need one more vote,” she reminded the two standing before her.
Luka motioned for his brother to do the needful.
“Truth otherwise you default your soul and theirs,” Paden warned, glaring at Andrei.
Death awaited me, that was all it amounted to; even though Luka was a pain in the butt, Andrei would save his brother’s life over mine in an instant. There was no way he wouldn’t! Family above all else, something I knew all too well.
Andrei was neither scared nor intimidated by the annoying witch.
I, on the other hand, wanted to run back to my room, lock the door, and hide under the bed until I woke from this nightmare.
“The mistakes of my brother’s past,” Andrei said, his voice carrying throughout the church, “have haunted me to no end. The blood his mistakes have resulted in I have waded through, drowned in, and been forced to relive again and again at the very hands of this assembled body and beyond. Each of my actions have been under extreme scrutiny, mistakes that were not my own have been held against me, and not once have I voiced my opinion or disapproval of it. I have done my job exceptionally well, have admitted my short comings, and have done nothing that would jeopardize those of my assigned territory.
“You have been invited here in order to not keep anything from the authority in which I report, from the Senatus of the Pacific Region, and to abide by the oath I have taken and my soul is tied,” he informed them. “An error, a mistake which my brother has not repented from, resulted in the accidental siring of an innocent. The child was merely at the wrong place at the wrong time, and as a result blood was exchanged. I forced him to finish the job because I would not allow for his mistake to create another darkened monster, and from that a Scion awakened.”
“Need I remind you of the last Scion your brother sired,” Paden sneered.
Andrei cocked an eyebrow. “No, and it would be poor showing for a practitioner of your position if you did since you were not there nor were you victimized by it as Elderess Nina was. Your concerns as seated representatives of your people have merit, I will not deny that, no one will, not even Luka. However, this Scion should not be punished for the mistakes made by my little brother-” his argument was cut off when the doors to the church flew open on their own, and I ducked behind the small doctor standing with me.
The candles wildly flickered on the gusts of wind that swept through the church before they extinguished as one.
All those gathered turned to regard the two that came walking in with a contingency of guards that flanked them. Darkened blurs of movement went up and down the pews and aisle, up the stairs and along the hallway. When each blur stopped, a guard dressed in a black on black suit appeared, standing at attention.
Luka smiled wide.
A snarl tugged at Andrei’s top lip, the only change in his demeanor.
Nina’s head tilted to the side to regard the interlopers.
The man wore a Victorian gothic suit that made him appear regal and someone of importance. He was older, appeared in his sixties, longer charcoal hair pulled back, and red eyes burning with power; the scowl on his face made him look menacing with a cranky grandpa vibe. The woman on his arm was in a matching Victorian era emerald and
black gown; corset that pushed her full breasts up, nearly causing her cleavage to spill from the top, and the bustle supported the heavy layers of silk of the petticoat. There was no way the dress weighed less than thirty-pounds, but the way she floated in it was effortless and strongly suggested, to my extremely limited understanding, that she was a vampire.
“Your services,” the man said, “are no longer required. A vote against our children to decide if our grandchild will be sentenced to death or not is a blatant violation of the crowns we wear. Leave!” he barked at them.
The warlock in the purple shoes sat up in a blur and grabbed Maximus and they vanished in a shimmering in the spectrum of light.
That was awesome!
‘Shh-’
“Don’t you dare shush our granddaughter,” the woman scolded, giving Andrei a warning look. “The rest of you, get out. To challenge our directive is an act of war that will tear our world apart, and I will take insurmountable pleasure in disemboweling each of you before pruning your family trees before burning them to the ground,” she said as endearingly as possible, with a smile.
The man nodded his agreement. “The child in question will not be targeted and will not be up for discussion. Their care will be placed in that of both of our sons, Andrei taking sole responsibility and claim to the child. Luka is not to be trusted with a houseplant, let alone a Scion, thus Andrei will be recorded as the Scion’s Maker through lineage of familial blood. Do you understand?” he asked, but it was more of an order than a suggestion.
Nina nodded with a bow of submission. “Of course, Your Excellency,” she humbly said. “I will record it personally and seal the record.” Again, she nodded before disappearing in a puff of black smoke.
Paden glared before her body turned transparent then collapsed in on itself, and her guards did the same, their bodies turning into tiny grains of sand that disappeared into the stone floor.
Those not magically gifted hurried from the church, the doors slamming shut behind the last guard on their own.
“This isn’t going to end well for me, I just know it,” I grumbled under my breath, preparing for the worst.