In the Face of Darkness

by Sarah Dell

I watched the sun set from the window of my room. I couldn’t let Endora or anyone else know that I didn’t feel the burn of the sun. Soon we would be leaving for the Queen’s Sanctuary. I had never met the Queen, and I wasn’t looking forward to meeting her. Every new vampire had to be presented to the Queen, but I knew that Endora had been waiting until I made my first kill. There were stories about the Queen killing new vampires that she didn’t approve of. I knew she would not approve of the fact that I hadn’t made a kill, but I had to hope that Endora would protect me.

  I threw a few clothes into a bag before I took a deep breath and went downstairs.

  “The land witch is ready to go” I watched as Tino loaded a bound and gagged Jane into the van. I looked at Jane’s face and I almost wished that I could help her. I wished that our world didn’t exist the way that it, did but I knew there was nothing I could do to help her. Jane had made her choice the moment she had gotten into my car. At best she would be taken to the Queen and kept a slave like the humans. At worst they would have me kill her. I knew that if Endora asked me to kill Jane I would. It would be easier to kill someone that I didn’t know.

  We spent several days driving in a van with blacked out windows. Castor was the only one to drive. Eventually we reached a coast, it was impossible to tell which one. Castor drove us deep into a dark cave where the sub-shuttles were docked.

  The windows to the sub-shuttle were not blacked out and I watched as we dove deeper and deeper. I watched as the ocean floor opened up to us. It was night, but the lights on the shuttle illuminated the water around us. I knew we were close to the Queen’s Sanctuary when I saw the water witches. They were the reason for the myth of mermaids. The Sanctuary was built to look like a castle, but it actually looked more like a prison with the reinforced steel necessary to withstand the pressure of being so far underwater.

  Inside the Sanctuary was a different world. It was like stepping back in time. It seemed like a wonderful place where anything could happen. The Japanese influences gave the place a peaceful and calming atmosphere. You would never guess that this was the lair of the powerful and deadly vampire Queen.

  “Caster, you were expected over a week ago” we were greeted by a man who I assumed was some kind of witch since he wasn't a vampire. I saw nothing noteworthy about the man until I looked up and saw his eyes. The iris of his eyes were almost as dark as his pupils and they stood out against his pale skin. It wasn’t just the color that stood out; those eyes looked like they missed nothing and knew everything.

  “Yes, we were delayed” Caster said, and I was impressed that he managed to keep the sarcasm from his voice.

  “Your accommodations are ready for you as always. The Queen will see you tomorrow after you have rested from you trip” the dark eyed man said. The accommodations he was referring to was one of the seven wings that were used when the council members and their entourage were in residence. Once we were in Castor’s wing everyone began dividing up the room. Tino and one of Castors vampires got into a heated argument about who should be in one of the larger rooms. I had to keep from smiling when Castor’s vampire won and Tino was forced to share a room with another vampire.

  My room was barely big enough for me to move around the twin bed, but it was private. I sat on my small bed. I didn’t think that I would be able to find the peace I needed before the night came. So instead of worrying about my first kill, I thought about how I would feel afterwards. I thought about the peace that was supposed to come when I gave up my humanity. I thought about what it would feel like to not have my humanity. I would be like Endora and Tino. I would be the vampire that I was meant to be. I wouldn’t be who I was anymore. I didn’t want to be who I was anymore. I didn’t want to feel human emotions any longer.

  I wasn’t even able to find the vampire-like sleep that I craved. Every time I closed my eyes all I could see was Caligari killing Matthias. Matthias wasn’t supposed to come back for me. He was supposed to leave and live the rest of his live without thinking of me. Instead, he died saving me. I rose from the bed well before sunset and went into the main room of the wing. I found Castor sitting alone. I thought about going back to my room, but by the time I turned around he had already seen me.

  “Are you ready for this?” he asked.

  “Do I have a choice?” I asked.

  “I like you” he said.

  “I’m glad someone does” I said.

  “Do you know how to Waltz?” he asked.

  “No” I said. Why would I know how to Waltz? I thought.

  “You’re going to need to Waltz at the party” he said as he stood and came towards me. I back away on instinct.

  “What party?” I asked.

  “The party the Queen is throwing. It’s not often all seven council members are together, but when we are you can be sure there will be a big party. The Waltz is very simple” he held out his right hand to me. I reluctantly took it and found myself encircled in his arms. “Put your left hand on my bicep. You are going to go back on your right foot then just follow me” he said. “Not bad” he said as I shakily followed his steps.

  “Why are all seven council members here?” I asked. I didn’t know a lot about the vampire council, but I did know that it took a lot to get them all together.

  “Because of you” he said. “Because of what we are hoping you can do”.

  “And what is that?” I asked him.

  “I’ll tell you when you are ready, but now you should go upstairs and get ready. You’ll find a dress in the closet in your room” he said as he let go of me.

  I forced a smile as I turned and walked back to my room. Once I was inside I went straight to the closet and found the dress Castor had told me was there. I was expecting something tight fitting and black, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a long flowing white dress. I put the dress on and smiled when I saw myself in the mirror. I reached for the black eyeliner out of habit, but then I put it down realizing it didn’t go with the dress.

  I looked in the mirror again and thought I looked like a bride. That thought made me think of Matthias. I wondered if we would have gotten married if things had been different. What would our lives look like now if I wasn't a vampire and he wasn't in the Brotherhood? I stopped that trail of thought as soon as I felt the tears welling up. Crying over Matthias would not get me through the night.

  “Lily, you look… Very pretty” Endora said as I emerged from my small room and entered the large common room. Endora and Castor were the only ones in the common room. They were sitting close together on the only couch, and by the way they had both turned to look at me as I entered made me think that I had interrupted a private moment. I sat down in the chair opposite of the couch not caring what I had interrupted. We waited in silence for Tino to emerge from his room.

  Castor led the four of us onto a large circle balcony where we could look down at the party below. The party guests were a mix of vampires and witches. Some of the vampires were feeding from witches. The Queen allowed her guests to feed from the witches as long as it was consensual. The witches didn’t look like they minded being fed from. For the first time I wondered what it was like for a human to be fed from. To me the feeding looked messy and violent, but the look of bliss on the witches face’s said they felt differently.

  “Looks like things are in full swing. Care to dance?” Castor asked as he took Endora’s hand and led her down the stairs to the dance floor in the middle of the main room. Tino and I followed them. Once we reached the bottom of the stairs Castor led Endora onto the dance floor. Tino gave me a curt nod then disappeared into the crowd leaving me alone. I wasn’t alone for long; soon I was surrounded by vampires and witches alike. Some of them made polite conversation, but most of them just whispered about me. I had never felt so on display before.

  “Would you do me the honor?” a vampire wearing the symbol of the council asked, but he was already pulling me onto
the dance floor before I could respond. I was thankful that Castor had showed me how to waltz because that seemed to be the dance of choice in this place. Once the dance ended there was another council member there to take his place. They asked me things like where I was from and when I was turned. None of them asked me anything about being the descendant of the Water Elemental. I assumed there was a reason for that, but I didn’t ask. They also didn’t care to offer any information about themselves, and I didn’t ask because I didn’t care.

  After the third dance I managed to sneak off to a dark corner to find a moment alone. I just wanted this night to be over. I never again wanted to see Matthias die every time I closed my eyes. I had to get thru the night. I told myself that I could do this. I could get thru this party, and I could kill a stranger to save myself. I didn’t fully understand what would happen after tonight, but I worry about that tomorrow.

  “Are you having fun?” I looked up to see a dark eyed man watching me.

  “I don’t think I’m meant to have fun” I told him.

  “So, you’re the heir of Water Elemental that everyone is talking about” he said.

  “And who are you?” I asked.

  “My name’s Enlil” he said.

  “I meant what are you?” I said.

  “I’m an air witch” he said.

  “Why are you here?” I asked.

  “I protect the Queen” he said.

  “Why would the vampire Queen need an air witch to protect her?” I asked.

  “Hold out your hand” he said and I did as he asked. He held out both his hand palms up about a foot under my hand. “Try to move your hand” he said. The moment I tried to move my hand I felt the pressure. It was like the air was pressing down on my hand from all sides.

  “That’s a neat trick, but I still don’t see what use the Queen would have for a parlor trick” I said. Then I felt my entire body being frozen.

  “If you were human I could compress the air around you so hard it would crush your lungs, but since vampires don’t have the need to breath the pressure won’t kill you, but it will hold you in place for as long as I want” he said.

  “Can all air witches do that?” I asked once the pressure had stopped.

  “No” he said.

  “There you are” I heard Tino say. “The time has come. The Queen wants to see us” he said as if he had been reading my thought. Just a few minutes more and I would finally be at peace.