by C. M. Sipes
She gently lowered her to the ground and sat her against the wall, her mouth then touching the puncture wounds and licking them closed.
“Finished?” Marcella asked from behind. “We need to continue on.”
Vittoria sighed in annoyance. “Perhaps if you would just tell me what it is we are doing, I would cooperate more.”
A sudden noise caused their eyes to shift to the rooftop. Vittoria listened closely, hearing a low growl and the sound of footsteps running closer. She did not bother to glance at Marcella before leaping onto the rooftop, landing just in front of a fellow vampire. Her eyes met his own, and she quickly noticed the whites of his eyes were speckled with red veins.
Vittoria growled, her fangs lightly poking the flesh of her lower lip as they stared at each other.
“Do not kill him,” Marcella ordered as she landed next to Vittoria, her own fangs exposed as her nose crinkled in distaste.
“Is this the reason we have been walking this street for weeks?” Vittoria asked, gesturing to the vampire in front. His eyes were darting back and forth between Marcella and Vittoria, unsure of what to do when faced with two deadly superiors.
She merely nodded before moving closer to the man. “You will be coming with us, sir.”
The bloodluster snarled and turned tail, running as fast as he could. Vittoria was about to chase after him when Marcella stopped her.
“Take to the skies. Follow him from above; I want to know where the den is. I will follow on foot,” Marcella instructed before rushing after him, staying close enough to scare him but far enough to allow him to think she could not catch him.
Vittoria’s body shifted form and she soared into the sky, the constant flap of multiple bat wings surrounding her senses as she followed the vampire through the night. He continued to leap across the rooftops, darting across them before descending to the ground. She flew lower, eyeing his position and watching as he ran into a back alleyway. She smirked and continued to follow as he led them straight to the den. Her body had begun to shift when he changed direction, catching Marcella and herself off guard. He ran into the street, stopping in front of a small shop before going inside.
Vittoria growled in frustration as her form came into being. Her feet hit the rooftop and she leapt into a nearby alley, reuniting with Marcella as they approached the shop.
“He is putting us in a difficult situation,” Marcella muttered.
“We have killed exposed mortals before, this time will be no different,” Vittoria replied coolly before entering.
“We are closed,” the woman said in frustration as she looked at the three strangers.
“My apologies, we saw this gentleman enter and thought how strange it is that an…” Marcella trailed off, eyeing the contents of the shop, “apothecary is open at this time of night,” Marcella replied smoothly to the woman.
The woman was slightly shorter than Vittoria. Her blue eyes danced with anger as she pushed a chestnut strand of hair away from her face.
“Well I am telling you what I told him. We are closed,” she said again, her voice firm and unwavering, her accent noticeable as she spoke.
Vittoria found herself smirking before watching the bloodluster shift his weight. She slowly walked closer to the woman, positioning herself between her and the vampire, just in case.
“My deepest apologies. We all should be on our way. Vittoria,” Marcella commanded.
Vittoria tensed, feeling a change in the air. The other vampire’s body rippled and Marcella inched closer.
Suddenly, the bloodluster rushed forward and she grabbed him, forcefully shoving him out of the door and onto the street. He hopped to his feet and took off running once more.
“Follow him,” Vittoria whispered to Marcella as she walked back into the apothecary. “I will find you.”
Marcella looked at her strangely before nodding and disappearing into the night. Vittoria turned around, making eye contact with the young woman who was staring at her in confusion.
“Was he going to attack me?” she asked, gesturing to the door.
“I believed so, which is why I threw him outside,” Vittoria replied easily. “Are you all right?”
“I am fine,” she answered, her hands smoothing the wrinkles on her dress. “You are quite strong to shove him so.”
She chuckled. “Yes, my companion has told me the same on many occasions.”
“Where has she gone?”
“She followed him to make sure he does not come back and cause you any trouble.”
“How strange of her,” the woman said, her forehead creasing in confusion.
“We moved here from Spain about eight years ago. The women there are much rowdier, it appears that old habits die hard,” Vittoria explained, wanting to cover up any suspicions she may have.
She nodded. “I have never been to Spain. I am not fond of King Philip.”
Vittoria smiled. “Who in England is?”
She returned the smile. “My name is Isabel. I had just realized that I had failed to properly introduce myself.”
“Vittoria,” replied the young Queen.
They stood in awkward silence for a moment before Vittoria spoke.
“I should find my companion. Perhaps I will visit again, but when you are open of course.”
Isabel smiled. “That would be lovely. I will even give you a remedy if you would like, as a token of my gratitude for helping me so.”
“I do not believe you have the remedy I need,” she replied with a laugh. “Until then, Isabel,” she said before turning and exiting the apothecary.
She smelled the air, easily catching Marcella’s scent.
She walked to the nearest alleyway and took flight, urging the wings to go as fast as they could. She swooped over the cobbled roads, changing course and following Marcella’s smell. She could see their blurred forms as they moved, racing across the thatched rooftops of London before Marcella stopped chasing him. Her form shifted and she joined Vittoria in the sky, a giant swarm of bats flying together in the moonlight.
The bloodluster stopped running and turned around, scanning the rooftops for any sign of Marcella. Once he realized she had stopped following, he took off once more with greater speed.
Dawn was approaching soon.
Marcella and Vittoria steadily flew through the air, following him at a distance before they reached the outskirts of the city. He disappeared into the forest as they flew after him, weaving through the trees as he continued to run. He stopped suddenly and looked around before moving aside some branches.
Marcella began to shift form as she perched on a nearby tree branch, with Vittoria following suit.
“A cave,” Marcella stated before she watched him disappear and move the branches back in place.
“Are we to follow?” she asked Marcella.
“Dawn will be here soon and the coven is at the other end of the city. No, we will not follow. Tomorrow night we can come back and take care of them,” Marcella replied.
“How many do you think are inside?”
“Hopefully only a handful, but there are more throughout the city,” she answered with a sigh. “Come, let us return home.”
They made it back to the coven in a short amount of time, entering the house just as dawn began to peek over the treetops. Vittoria yawned loudly as they walked through the main entrance hall. The manor was empty and the windows were all covered. No sound could be heard except for their footsteps. She eyed the design of the house. The entire structure was built from mahogany, imported from Brazil, with large elaborate tapestries hanging from the walls. Marcella always spent a small fortune on the furnishings of the houses. She wanted to live comfortably, and Vittoria certainly was not going to argue with her.
She lightly touched the tapestries as they walked the long hallway that led to their chambers, feeling the consistency of the wool and silk between her fingers. Marcella bid Vittoria a goodnight before opening the two grandiose wooden doors, which were carved
with elaborate designs and symbols that Vittoria recognized from Roman times. She continued down the hall, sighing as she opened her own carved doors and entered the elaborate bedroom. She was sure that Queen Elizabeth herself did not live as lavishly as they did.
Her eyes began to shut of their own accord and she forced herself to crawl into bed, feeling herself slip into darkness before she had fully lain down.
* * *
“Lilith!” Anatu screamed as she ran as fast as possible through a village. The huts were engulfed in flames, bodies littered the ground, and blood flowed freely through the dirt like a small river. The sticky liquid clung to her toned legs and dirtied feet.
Vittoria looked at her surroundings and realized she was experiencing another memory. Her feet carried her after Anatu as she ran, calling for Lilith.
They stopped suddenly as a howl echoed through the night. She looked at Anatu; her red eyes were wide with fear as she frantically looked around, no doubt searching for her creator. Vittoria felt a pulling sensation in her chest and ran, following the feeling in the hopes it would bring her to Lilith as well.
A roar sounded nearby and she ran faster, closing in on the scene ahead.
A large beast stood in front of Lilith, its body tense as if debating whether to attack her or not. The beast stood on two legs, black fur covering its entire body. Its snout was long, and crinkled in a snarl. Its lengthy tail twitched, as did its ears, at the sound of Anatu rushing onto the scene. Yellow eyes, with red surrounding the outside of the iris, glowed brightly as they looked at Anatu, and then back at Lilith.
“Beast. You are in our hunting territory, and if you do not leave, I will rip your organs from your body,” Lilith warned calmly, an eerie smile gracing her face as she sized up the werewolf.
“Lilith, what is this creature?” Anatu asked. Her voice shook with uncertainty as she walked to stand next to her maker.
“A wolf, but also a human,” Lilith replied. Her eyes roamed over the werewolf before smelling the air once more. Her head cocked to the side in curiosity as her eyes widened slightly.
Vittoria moved closer to Anatu and Lilith, standing next to them while she waited for something to happen. She had caught the look that passed through Lilith’s eyes. The flicker of recognition was fast and subtle, disappearing a moment later.
The werewolf tilted its head back and howled loudly, its body beginning to ripple and shrink in size. The fur disappeared underneath its skin, as did the ears and the tail, and a human form began to take shape.
Lilith looked the man up and down, and Vittoria could feel agitation roll off her body. They tilted their heads to the side as they looked at the man, who had fallen to his knees, breathing heavily.
“Speak,” Lilith commanded, causing him to look up at her. His eyes were still red-rimmed yellow as they roamed over Lilith’s and Anatu’s forms.
“I thought I smelled your stench,” he said with disgust. He slowly stood, nothing but a piece of cloth covering his lower half. His hair was black and fell in loose waves around his face, sitting just above his shoulders. Vittoria noticed his tan skin was covered in scars and she wondered if he was a slave or a criminal.
“Who is this?” Anatu inquired, the confusion evident in her voice.
“A beast,” the man answered simply, his eyes not leaving Lilith.
Anatu looked at her maker, her own eyes showing concern for the situation and the tension in the air.
Vittoria walked closer to the man, examining his features.
“What is your name?” Anatu asked, breaking the tense silence.
“Enki,” he replied, a growl rumbling in his chest.
Vittoria recognized the name. Enki was the First werewolf—the First Alpha.
“You look well, Enki. How many years has it been?” Lilith asked. Her teeth flashed white in the moonlight as she grinned with glee.
“I know it has not been long enough,” Enki replied with a growl.
Lilith clucked her tongue. “Tsk tsk, Enki. I thought you would be pleased to see me,” Lilith teased as she reached out and stroked his arm, quickly moving out of the way before he slashed.
“Do not touch me, you demon,” Enki growled.
“Lilith?” Anatu asked, her eyes shifting back and forth between the two figures.
“Oh,” said Lilith, as she smelled the air. “You brought Ninhursag.”
Anatu looked confused as she sniffed the air, smelling nothing.
“I am surprised you are still with her.” Lilith laughed jovially.
A howl sounded in the distance and they all watched the figure race closer. The beast came to a halt, rising on its two legs and releasing a low growl as it smelled the air. The beast looked at Anatu and Lilith, its yellow eyes narrowing before roaring at Lilith.
Vittoria eyed the scene curiously as she caught the flash of pain that flickered across Lilith’s face.
Enki’s red-rimmed yellow eyes narrowed before looking at the werewolf who had begun growling in anguish. The body began to ripple and shift, bones snapping. A pained roar ripped through the werewolf’s mouth as its body continued to change.
Lilith and Vittoria crinkled their noses in disgust at the sound of the bones cracking. The fur disappeared then, revealing the body of a female. She was breathing heavy, and tears leaked from her eyes as she looked at everyone. Her skin was the same color as Lilith’s, as were her eyes and hair. She stood slightly shorter, and her dark hair fell to her shoulders in wavy curls.
“Of all the lands, we manage to see you,” she growled, yellow eyes brimming with unmasked hurt as she stared at Lilith.
“Do not seem so angry, Ninhursag. We are all family after all,” Lilith replied carefully. Lilith’s eyes flickered downward a moment later as her stomach rumbled.
Vittoria looked at Lilith suddenly, her eye twitching as she felt her hunger join her own.
“Well, this has been an honor. However, my companion and I must go and find food,” Lilith said before her nose crinkled in disgust. “I believe you should bathe in the stream, Ninhursag. You smell disgusting.”
Anatu had not spoken a word; her eyes remained trained on Enki and Ninhursag. Vittoria wondered what she thought of these two beings.
Lilith gave a low growl when Anatu remained still. She could feel her hunger intensifying, her murderous rage bubbling beneath the surface.
Anatu looked at her maker and then back at the werewolves. “We should all go our separate ways.”
Lilith eyed Anatu and nodded in agreement.
Enki growled in response before taking Ninhursag’s hand and leading her away from the scene. Ninhursag cast a look back to Lilith, her eyes still shining with hurt.
“Do try to avoid any more forbidden fruit, Enki. I would hate to see what would happen if you gave in to temptation again,” Lilith called as they departed.
Enki roared, his body turning sharply, readying himself to lunge. Ninhursag caught him and yanked him backwards, telling him to be still. The pair took one more glance at Lilith and Anatu before racing off.
Lilith gritted her teeth as she watched them.
“Who were they?” Anatu asked.
Lilith growled in response.
“Lilith?” Anatu pressed.
“Enki was my husband at one time.”
Anatu’s eyes widened in shock, as did Vittoria’s.
“Was?” Anatu inquired.
“He and I were made at the same time. We were equals. However, Enki did not see it that way. He believed me subservient to him, and I fled.”
Anatu stared at Lilith in confusion and wonder.
“Why did I not see this in your blood memories?”
“Because I did not wish you to see.”
Suddenly, Lilith and Vittoria growled in tandem and clutched their stomachs. A synchronized roar left their lips as hunger gnawed at them.
“We must find food,” Anatu commented quickly as she took Lilith’s hand and led her in the direction of the next settlement.
Vittoria’s vision began to blur and she could feel the memory slipping away.
Hunger gnawed at her stomach and she roared as her vision turned to black.
* * *
Vittoria awoke with a roar and barely registered the doors slamming open, nor the arms that engulfed and held her. Her breathing was erratic and she wanted nothing more than to feed. She roughly pushed the body aside and ran from the room as fast as she could. She could hear yelling from behind, but she paid it no mind.
All that mattered was blood.
She increased her pace, pushing past anyone who tried to get in her way, and burst through the doors that led outside of the coven house. She smelled the air, immediately picking up on the scent of a fresh body just down the road from the house. She took off as fast as she could, racing through the trees as red tinted her vision.
Her eyes found his body and she pounced, ready to land on the target and drink.
Something hard slammed into her suddenly, sending her body into a tree. She hit the ground with a thud but quickly regained her footing, ready to spring after the man when a body tackled her to the ground and held her there.
“Vittoria!” Marcella yelled.
“Get off of me!” Vittoria yelled back, pushing her hands as she struggled against her.
“Vittoria, I need you to calm down!” Marcella screamed. She pushed her body into Vittoria as hard as possible to still her thrashing.
“I need to feed!” she growled out. Her fangs pierced her lower lip as she looked at Marcella.
“Vittoria, calm down and I will get you blood,” she said calmly.
Vittoria stilled her movements and stared at her. Marcella continued to rest on top of her, their eyes locked as she tried to read Vittoria’s expression.
“A memory?” she asked.
Her voice was soft, like a whisper, and Vittoria thought it strange that she would whisper when there was no one there but themselves.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice equally as soft.
“Lilith?” Marcella’s eyes remained trained on her face.