Blood Rite Saga, Season One Box Set

by Dylan Keefer

  “What did you do?” Milo motioned for her to turn around so he could get to her back. Prudence lifted her hair up.

  “I fought off the other two vampires. It was easy. Odd, when I fought Tiffany, I realized my age for the first time. It was easy to tell these didn’t have much experience, that they were young. Mickey wasn’t, he was difficult to fight. He had me, but I stabbed him in the eye. Then he rolled away and fell through the floorboards. The flames had consumed most of the house, so I ran through a window.”

  “Through a window?” Milo’s grip tightened and hit one of Prudence’s wounds. She winced. “Oops sorry.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m fine. And yes, through the window. I then had to dodge the cops and the fire department.” Prudence sighed.

  “What is it?” Milo turned her around.

  Prudence was looking at the ground. “Mickey said that I might think he’s a monster but when someone I care about is dying, I will do the same thing as him. And I remembered you bleeding out in the house.” Prudence looked up at Milo. “If I knew how to do it, and Philip hadn’t come when he did, I honestly can’t know if I’d do it.”

  Milo smiled. “There is a difference between that and what he was doing. He was racketeering. You and he don’t have anything in common other than the fact you can grow fangs and claws.” He hugged her carefully.

  Prudence felt better. “I need to go drink some blood. I feel a bit weak.” She squeezed Milo’s hand and then got up to get some. Her head was feeling light and airy, in a bad way. She felt like she was going to faint. It didn’t bode well. She didn’t know if it was because the fight tired her out, emotional distress, or both. She drank the blood lazily, staring at Milo cleaning things up. She felt a small smile tug at her lips.

  “Are you done?” Milo asked.

  Prudence looked at her glass. She was. “Yes. What do you need?”

  “For you to go to bed.” Milo lifted his finger. “No arguing. You need to heal, and there is soot and blood all over you. You need to feel better. You took care of me, now let me take care of you.” He didn’t let her argue, but pushed her into the bathroom, handing her clothes through the door. He helped her wash her wounds and then stood over her until she got to bed, dropped the blinds and left a glass of water on her table. He said goodbye with a kiss and a soft smile. “Have a nice healing sleep now. Later you’ll feel better. I’ll be in the next room, so I don’t wake you.”

  Prudence couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t think Milo needed to take care of her, but it sure felt good. She exhaled when the door closed and felt her body sink into the bed.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  A distant voice woke Prudence up. “Well, can you check if she’s better now? We need to ask her a few questions.” Prudence recognized the voice as belonging to the cop she met when Mr. Worth died. She remembered she needed to go the station and report, so she got up and came into the living room.

  “Hello.” She made her presence known.

  “Hello, Ms. Davenport. We need to talk.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t at the station today,” Prudence looked at Milo, “I was not feeling too well.”

  “Oh,” the police officer looked her up and down. Prudence was suddenly glad she took a bath. She looked down at her hands and torso and saw her wounds were gone. She was silently thanking whatever was looking out for her as she looked up and made her face as confused as she could. “Is there something on my blouse?”

  “No, you just matched the description of someone we saw running out of a burning house today. But they had scratches all over their arms and neck.” The officer pointed at Prudence. “You obviously don’t. And Mrs. Chen and Mr. Davenport have already said you two were here all day.”

  Prudence had to stifle an eyebrow raise. She had expected for Milo to defend her, but she didn’t think Mrs. Chen would defend her in front of the police. Especially when that defense involved lying. “So I take it you’re here to take my statement about Mr. Worth?”

  “Yes, feel free to tell us what happened. I’ll write it down. We usually do this at the station, but since we’re here. You don’t need to even come to the station to sign it.” The other cop said.

  Prudence nodded and sat down. “As I said yesterday, I was going to Mr. Worth’s bookstore to return some books he had borrowed to me. I was on the phone with Milo because I hate walking alone. I noticed the door was broken so I ran upstairs, and I found him.”

  “We found your DNA on several places.” The other cop said.

  “Oh, I have been up there before.” Prudence put her hands in her lap.

  “And bled on his carpet?” The male cop lifted his eyebrows.

  “Well, I don’t think he reported it, but a few days ago, someone broke Mr. Worth’s window. I was there and helped clean up. Shards of glass are hard to pick up without issue. I pricked my fingers a few times. Mr. Worth was also hurt, so I climbed upstairs and helped him. I also think that when I ran up to him, I may have knocked over a few things. I don’t remember much about the surroundings.” She shrugged.

  “And you’re sure you didn't see anyone?”

  “Yes. I tried to give him CPR, but I am not good at it. So I called the police.”

  “Are you familiar with a house on Wetmore street?”

  “I have only been here for almost two weeks. I haven’t been out much. I don’t know a lot of people.”

  “Yes, we are aware. Your last residence was in Boston, right?” That question made Prudence blink. She had almost forgotten that the man Charlotte talked to was making her an identity.

  “Yes, I was studying there, but I was in an accident. I then lived with my cousin for a while until Milo got hurt.”

  “And that was the robber right?”

  “You looked us up?” Milo raised his eyebrows.

  “Well, we have to.”

  “Well, I can answer that. My cousin had decided to move in with her boyfriend before the incident. I was happy staying in the house alone, but after the robber attacked I wasn’t comfortable anymore. Prudence was gracious enough to come and take care of me.” Milo’s voice was so soft Prudence was wondering if he was even trying to make it seem so, or if he was that good at it.

  The cop just eyed him up and down. “Another question. What do you know about local gang activity here, Mrs. Davenport?”

  “I know I have been advised to not walk at night. And that people avoid a certain symbol. But not more.” Prudence was wondering where they were going with this. Did they know what the people in the house were? Were they protecting them, or simply scared of them? She found this nervousness made her throat sore. She got up. “Excuse me, I need to get some water.” Prudence walked in a straight line to the kitchen. As she poured herself a glass, she noticed the female cop’s eyes widened a bit, and then her usual stoic expression appeared. Prudence looked ahead and realized a ray of evening sunlight was hitting her in the hands. Prudence sat down at her seat again. The questions suddenly turned so simple, that Prudence could answer them on auto pilot.

  “Goodbye.” Prudence shook their hands as they left. As soon as she heard their footsteps fade out, she turned to Milo. “I think they knew the gang was full of vampires. Did you see her reaction when I got up to get water and stepped in sunlight?”

  “Oh, that was what that was.” Milo scratched his head. “I was wondering why she had a minute panic attack.”

  “I don't think they’ll bother us anymore.”

  “Just make sure you read it first.”

  “Of course.” Prudence started walking toward Milo, but her vision blurred. The dull pain returned again.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Prudence was back in the carriage. The man that was carrying her before opened the door next to her and let her out. “Go. We’ll make sure they follow us.”

  “Bu—” Prudence felt her lips move.

  “Go!” There was evident worry in his voice and face, and that made her run. She opened the door and shut it behind her. The
inside of the house was red brick. As soon as she tried moving, she heard someone.

  “You, little, filthy witch. You should have been joining your friend, getting purged in the Lord’s flame.” The man that Prudence was staring at in the crowd walked out from the shadows. He had a knife.

  Prudence felt a scream escape her lips. She tried to run, but she felt a hand in her hair. She was yanked back and thrown on the floor. The man started kicking her in the ribs, the stomach, and the head, all the while muttering curses under his breath.

  Prudence could feel the taste of blood in her mouth. The man grabbed her by the hair again and yanked her up. Prudence felt her hair being slowly yanked out of her scalp and he held her up and hit her over and over. One hit made her stumble back on the floor.

  Prudence heard an odd hum. She opened her sore eyes and saw that the locket she was wearing was on the floor. The next time the man reached over, he seemed to reach over slowly. Prudence found it easy to grab his hand. She twisted it and the wrist she held in her hand shattered. The man screamed. Prudence didn’t want him to, so she clasped a hand over his mouth, but wound up stabbing him with a clawed hand. Blood gushed out. The smell made her vision tunnel, and the next thing she knew she was on top of him, feeding while keeping him from struggling by keeping his hands pinned to the ground. She had drained him and was licking any drop she could find from the floor when she heard a familiar voice.

  “Oh, dear.”

  She turned and saw the tall, dark haired man. He seemed surprised but not overly. Prudence sniffed him, then growled.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He was next to her in a flash and picked her up easily. She wasn’t hungry anymore, and that diminished her propensity to violence. But another reason was that his voice was soft. He wasn’t afraid. She was not a predator. She was a cub. He held her and pet her hair.

  “It’s okay. I’ll teach you how to deal with this.” The man picked the amulet from the floor and put it in his pocket. “This won’t keep you from their view anymore. But I’ll protect you. Let’s go now.”

  The scene dimmed, and Prudence found herself lying on the floor. Milo was sitting on the floor, panic on his face. “Are you okay?”

  Prudence groaned up. She felt that her fangs and claws had grown again, so she had to concentrate to pull them back in. She had to check her body for bruises, it still felt like she was hurting all over.

  “What happened?” Milo asked.

  “I had another memory.” Prudence shifted through her head. Something about that memory was familiar. As she replayed all the memories in her head, she realized why. “When I first woke up, I had a dream. I now saw the end of that dream.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Milo asked.

  “I can tell you what I saw.” Prudence opened her mouth to start talking when the phone rang.

  “Hold on,” Milo got up and picked up the phone. “Charlotte. I’ll put it on speaker.” He held out the phone. “Hey, what are you—”

  “I don’t have much time.” Charlotte’s voice was quiet and full of panic. “Someone is in the house, John went out there to see. Philip’s not home. I have my gun and I’m in the closet.”

  Prudence heard scratching on the other side of the phone. She was next to Milo in a flash. “Charlotte?”

  “Oh, crap.” Gunshots fired out, then a growl.

  “Charlotte!” Both Milo and Prudence yelled out at once. A guttural scream was the answer.

  “You think you can drive?” Prudence asked Milo, who was staring at the phone with an open mouth.

  “Yeah.” He said.

  “Good, let’s go.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Charlotte was finishing up a report in the living room. John was sitting next to her, rifle in his lap.

  “How long are ya going to babysit me?” Charlotte raised her eyebrow.

  “As long as it takes.” John suddenly turned to the right. “Noise.” He grabbed his rifle and walked to the side. Charlotte sighed, shaking her head. He was going to the point that thing at the tired Philip again.

  “Charlotte, run!” John’s voice carried through the house, followed by gunshots.

  Charlotte dropped her pen and ran. She was going to hide herself later. The first thing she went to was her room, where she got her gun. She opened her closet door and got inside. If she didn’t need to fire a shot, it would be good. Her aim was worse now that her arm was broken. Charlotte tried to steady her breath. Her heart was racing. One second, thirty seconds. A minute passed. She put the gun in her lap and opened her phone, dialing Milo. She wanted to hear his voice.

  The conversation was cut off by a shuffling outside the door. Claws dug into the side of the closet. Charlotte dropped the phone and pulled out her gun, firing at the growling creature that ripped the door open.

  The creature was not phased. It moved in a blur, so Charlotte didn’t have time to see it well. She felt it clasp a hand around one of her legs and pull her out. She fired blindly until the creature grabbed her wrist and broke it. The next thing she knew, the pain was radiating through her entire body, and Charlotte lost consciousness.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Milo and Prudence drove as fast as they could without getting pulled over. Prudence sat next to Milo, hands buried in her purse. Milo drove without stopping, his eyes fixed on the road. Prudence could tell he was struggling to not go faster. They didn’t take one break and drove into town in record time. As soon as Milo parked next to Philip’s house, Prudence opened the door and ran in.

  “Charlotte?” She yelled out when she was in the living room.

  “We’re here.” A weak voice sounded from further into the house. Prudence recognized it as John’s. Prudence noticed Milo had run inside too, so she took his hand and they walked in.

  John was sitting on the bed, holding a bandaged arm. There was a cut on his head. Philip was next to him, trying to stop Charlotte from bleeding out.

  “Oh no.” Milo dropped next to his cousin. Prudence looked at her mangled body. Someone had almost completely ripped her apart. In some places, there was the glint of bone.

  “Someone came in. I heard them but didn’t see them. They knocked me out.” John muttered.

  “Is she going to be okay?” Prudence spoke, her voice quiet.

  “Look at her!” Philip yelled, his eyes filled with tears. “I can’t stop the bleeding, the infection in her wounds seems to grow in front of my eyes, and she barely has a pulse. She’s dying, and it’s your fault!”

  “It’s not her fault.” Milo intervened.

  Philip narrowed his eyes. “They came after her, not you guys. You almost died, now Charlotte is going to die. All I know and I can’t help.” Philip choked.

  Prudence couldn't stop looking at Charlotte’s body. She could hear the heartbeat slow down. Could she really let her friend die? Mickey’s words floated back into her mind. “A sentimental person like you would open her wrists and feed them immortality, seconds before sinking her fangs into their neck to seal the deal.”

  “I can help," Prudence spoke up. Her voice hardened again.

  “Don’t give them false hope, there is nothing you can do.” Philip sniped her with a glare.

  Prudence knew he wouldn’t believe her. So she stared him down and let her fangs and claws grow. She heard John gasp. Philip’s eyes widened.

  Prudence took a deep breath. “Her pulse is slowing down. Let me help before she dies. You’re not the only one that cares about her.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Philip stood up, not breaking eye contact with Prue. His glare was a finger poking at a not yet fully healed wound. He saw her as a monster, something to be destroyed. And maybe she was, but Prue was not going to let that stop her from helping. Charlotte had talked her down from madness, and Prue didn’t want to lose the first face her eyes saw. Even if it meant she had to make Charlotte like herself.

  She walked past Philip, not caring that her speed made a breeze that nearly knocked him over and
knelt next to Charlotte. As Prue grabbed Charlotte’s hands and turned to expose the inside of her wrists, Charlotte made an effort to speak. It was a faint wheeze that even Prue couldn’t understand, but one hand gave Prue a faint squeeze that seemed to be supporting.

  “What if she doesn’t want you to do it?” Milo spoke up.

  Those words almost made Prue stop. But her claws were already extended, and the first cut was made. The blood flowed down Prue's hands. There was no looking back now. Prue hadn't looked at her own blood that carefully before, so she was surprised when she saw a warm glow amidst the dark blood, like a steady candle. Maybe that was the reason why Charlotte had to drink the blood, for the light to be shared. Prue cupped Charlotte's head and brought it to her own wrists. The blood dripped down Charlotte's lips and into her mouth. Nothing happened.

  Charlotte's hand slid up to Prue's elbow and all of a sudden Charlotte was drinking. She wasn't protesting the taste or struggling to gulp; the blood flowed like water. Prue could see the warmth from her own blood spread over Charlotte's body, flowing from her neck through the throat and down to her chest and stomach, then spread down to the feet. No, not just see it, feel it. It was as if a tree grew roots connecting the two women. Prudence's vision tunneled again, but she locked her eyes on Charlotte's face and didn't move. Even as her feral instincts took over, Prue knew that she would be fine if she just remembered who this was. Remember her intentions. She would never hurt her friend. She wanted to make her friend her family. Prue just needed to stand firm, only for a few seconds.

  Dizziness overcame her. Mickey’s words started to swirl in her head. “A person like you would open her wrists and feed them immortality, seconds before sinking her fangs into their neck to seal the deal.”

  And then the dull needles bored into her head again, then Prue plunged head-first into a vision.