by Yirak, Laura
He pulled her in a little closer, she noticed William through the bodies, still with the same partner. They were talking as they danced; she read his lips as he whispered sweet things to her. Alesta pulled on James and made him turn the other way so she couldn’t see them.
“Anything wrong?’ James leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“Nothing I haven’t seen before…..by the way you look handsome in white and I’ve never seen you in a kilt.”
“Thank you and you in black.” He said as he pressed the small of her back.
“I can’t help but feel disconnected from all this. I’m here but I am not.” Alesta whispered to him so quietly so as no other could hear.
“I know. It will be over soon Alesta. Let’s try and enjoy the evening.”
“Did he tell you the plan?” Alesta asked.
“He did,” James said.
Her heart jumped, “And?????”
“Just follow my lead, I’ve got it all worked out.”
They were dancing but she was just going through the motions acknowledging those who smiled at her or nodded. It was all she could do to try and act normal, even though her head was beginning to hurt with anticipation.
James leaned into her again, “It’s not going to happen during the ball, so you can relax for now.”
“That is easier said than done. I need to get out of here.” Alesta interrupted the dance and pulled away from James who just followed after her off the dance floor. She was unaware that he was right behind her.
James grabbed her wrist as she shuffled to the door to go out and up, “Wait!”
“Let go of me please, I just need some space, I’m feeling so…. so…. claustrophobic.”
James did as he was asked and let her go.
The parlor room for the ballroom was empty as she had hoped. She just wanted to sit peacefully and think. She placed her hands under her dress to smooth it out before she sat. A long quiet while passed before another joined her. It was one of the Tootson twins all dressed in white with a bigger lacy dress looking a bit miffed. Alesta already knew why.
“Picked his favorite has he?” Alesta was enjoying the reaction which was a wicked frown.
“Uh…..” the twin said.
“He does that; he’ll do that, to keep things interesting. Don’t worry though. It’s just a game he plays,” Alesta said watching the twin sit trying to look uninterested. “I’m sure he likes you both equally being that you are the same.”
“But that is where you are wrong. We are not the same. We look the same but that is all,” the twin responded angrily.
Alesta was catching the wrong vibe from the vampire, a rather hostile one and decided she’d be better off back at the ball with the music, the dancing and her claustrophobia. But the twin blocked the exit just as quickly as Alesta had stood up.
“Excuse me please,” Alesta asked politely.
But the twin just gave her a stare down.
“I’m sorry if I offended you, now please could you let me…..”
“No…..you’re not sorry.” The twin put her hands on her hips.
It was too early in the night for a scuffle and especially in such a dress Alesta decided to become invisible.
The properties of vampire powers were simple. The only one that her invisibility would not work on was her maker, Nicholas, but all other vampires would not be able to see her, only hear her movements.
Her movements were stealthy as she shoved the twin out of the way and made her way back to the ball room with the twin chasing after the sound of her. Alesta only became visible again as she opened the door to the ballroom and a very surprised doorman closed it behind her only to have the twin make him reopen it again shortly after, but Alesta had already found a new dance partner by then, some old vampire that she had never met before.
“It’s a lovely night,” he said, quite intrigued by her sudden invitation to dance. His brogue was thick and much older in tone than she’d ever heard before and he was quite a bit shorter, but she didn’t care considering the convenience of him.
“It is. It is,” she said as they spun around to the quick jig.
He was a very good dancer whoever he was.
“Let me introduce myself as Hammish.”
“Hammish, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Alesta.”
“I know. All have been watching the beautiful, but distracted Lady.”
“Is it that obvious?” She leaned down and whispered to him and he smiled at the view.
“To a vampire, aye! But I assume it’s all this,” he said.
“You can.”
“But it’s no, is it?”
“What’s with all the inquiries Hammish? And why have I not seen you before. I can feel your age and it’s not…...well…..let’s say young.”
“I don’t usually come to these sorts of …...well….. I like my privacy.”
“So why now?” Alesta was finding Hammish to be more interesting than she expected. He was dark haired with bright green eyes dressed in black, with a black kilt.
“I was in the mood is all, finally in the mood for a little fun.”
“A little fun?” she said emphasizing little.
And he gave her a smile, “Now you’re cheering up. I have that affect.”
Alesta closed her eyes, everywhere she went it was vampire males and their huge egos and here was another one. The rest of the dance went without a word and she thanked him and left him there watching her. Hammish wanted a little more of that he told himself. He liked them with a little fire.
A few more dances passed, some she danced and some she watched. She made a point to dance with those she didn’t know and she looked around for James, but he wasn’t there and William had finally switched twins with the other watching just as jealously. The last dance before the big feast was announced and the short Hammish grabbed her for it.
“Tell me Alesta, tell me something about yourself and not something you usually tell, something different,” he asked tightening his grip on her body.
Hammish was a sturdy fellow and she liked his firmness. It was like hugging an old strong tree; you knew it would never fall.
“My husband plans to kill me tonight.”
It wasn’t what he was expecting and Alesta didn’t know why she told him, but she did.
“I am speechless, such a confession. You are certain of this?”
Alesta looked him directly, “Yes Hammish. I don’t know why but I trust you Hammish. I want to ask you for your help.”
“Anything.” Hammish was feeling the tension, but it was enthralling to the vampire who kept to himself.
“I don’t know when or how, but just follow me. Please. Keep your distance, and when the time comes I beg of you.” She held back her cries and he knew it, “Hammish. If you help me, I will owe you.”
“That you will,” Hammish said.
“I will be there when you call on me.” Alesta squeezed his hand a little, with faltering eyes and they stopped as the music did.
Dinner was ready and William signaled all to clear room in the center of the ballroom as the humans were lead out, dozens of them, all dressed scantily in light white garbs. They all sort of flowed as one mass of fear into middle, some looking at the ceiling above and others focusing on the onlookers. Alesta hadn’t quite figured where William had found so many, maybe prisons, maybe innocent passers by? It was all quiet now on the dance floor for the humans but for the hundred or so hungry vampires the room echoed with pounding hearts and heavy breaths.
He let down his arm and the blood bath began. Alesta couldn’t watch as the room filled with blood wrenching screams that one by one became silenced as the vampires wooed their victims. It seemed barbaric compared to what William usually arranged, but that is what he was, a barbarian.
William was in amongst the feeding frenzy, having a little here, a little there. Some lay on the floor, some stood, some ended up sitting on chairs , the humans moving around like cattle at their pre
dators commands. The whole thing would take hours before they would end it all and Alesta didn’t want to witness it, her own kind massacring that many. It was too real, to close too her heart. The humans took on a real face then, more so than they ever had in the past. She wanted to stop it, but couldn’t. It would be impossible to take on that many vampires at the one time.
In shame Alesta stood back, considering it maybe a good thing that William was going to end it for her. How could she be part of all the insanity, the death, the blood and more of it? But that was not the answer. Not all vampires were so heinous; definitely him, and the rest of them joined in out of peer approval, or a sense of manners and obligation to the host and hostess, or that is what she wanted to believe.
She signaled William to come to her; he lingered a little on some arm, and then took notice of her request.
“Not eating?” he whispered in her ear.
“I did earlier,” she said not looking him in the eye. “I want to talk to you alone.”
“Now. I’m not finished. A little later. Yes…..I think so.”
“No. This can’t wait.” she said firmly and in that moment they both knew it was time.
“Where?” he asked.
“Our bedroom.”
“I’ll be right up,” he said. “Shortly.”
“Make it sooner rather than later, dawn approaches sooner than we like.” Alesta stood up.
The bedroom however was not as empty as she thought it was as she neared she heard a slight movement. Alesta shoved the door open quickly and looked in. Something was there but nothing that she saw at that moment. Maybe it was nothing. William couldn’t have arrived before her so she made the mistake of entering.
Before she could turn to leave she was swarmed by hundreds of tiny white spiders. They covered every inch of her body and in the nature of their power which was numbers, they pinned her to the floor, leaving only room for her to open her eyes and her mouth. Their little legs felt like millions of tiny cold needles pressing in on her skin. She tried to blink some of them off her lids but it was like they were teasing her. It was absolutely horrifying.
Then it was William’s voice she heard from somewhere in the room.
“I take it you’ve met the twins and their unique gift. I think I like it.” He laughed and the little spiders moved to let the sound pierce her ears. “It’s time for you to join your beloved humans but not in their afterlife!”
Alesta didn’t say a word. She didn’t want to give him any satisfaction at her current predicament.
“James now it’s your turn,” William called and James stood over Alesta looking down into her blue wincing eyes. “Off with her head brother!” William demanded, but he was still not visible to Alesta who cringed at his heartless words.
The little spiders dug their legs in harder in anticipation as Alesta tried to squirm free. James pulled the sword out from his side. It was long, silver and heavy and gleamed in the light of the candles. Alesta watched him as he took a step above her and raised the sword up above her head. He looked so much like William and yet she sensed nothing from him that told her that he was not going to do it. The spiders parted at her neck leaving her neck bare and choker showing. The big black stone in the center reflected the blade as it cut down through the air.
The stone cracked under its sharp edge, but that was as far as it went. James spun around and threw the sword at William where it stuck in his chest. Half the spiders left Alesta to jump onto James who crashed around the room trying to fight them off. Alesta managed to finally move considering that only one twin was holding her instead of two and managed to get to her knees. She tried to brush them off but as she did they just climbed back on again. Some bit her as she fought them leaving little specks of blood all about Alesta’s white skin.
William fell over as the sword had pierced him in the heart, but he was not dead yet. Hammish upon Alesta’s asking joined in the scene. He grabbed several lit candles and began to burn off some of the spiders that clung to Alesta. The spiders not pleased at the sight of fire quickly regrouped into one of the twins, complete but slightly charred in places. Alesta left Hammish to deal with the twin and went over to help James who was thrashing on the hard stone floor battling the tiny arachnids. She quickly gathered more candles and began to burn them off, but they swiftly regrouped into the second twin.
James and Alesta pushed her down onto the forsaken bed, where William had done his heinous acts before. Hammish easily overpowering the first twin brought her over to the bed as well and gave her to Alesta and James. William with sword still in place was tossed across the room by Hammish. Hammish was proving to be a strong ally. The Great William McKenzie landed smack in the middle of the red silk bed in between his Tootson Twins. They tried to escape but couldn’t under the grips of Alesta’s accomplices.
There was only one thing left to do. Burn them.
Alesta took the candles and lit all four corners of the red satin bed. It became engulfed in flames so bright that the three stepped back as it almost brushed them, but not far enough away so that William or the twins could escape. The twins screamed as their skin flaked away and William just lay still in the middle as his black suit charred away with the rest to follow.
“Now I must go,” Alesta said. “I’ll leave you James to handle this for me and Hammish I need you to see to the rest of the ball. Just tell the guests thank you and we had to leave, whatever you want.”
Hammish and James looked at each other and nodded in agreement, the sight before them left them speechless. Alesta picked up the pieces of the black stone from her choker that lay upon the floor, to her it was all over and a quick escape to McKenzie castle was the only option for her. James’s offer would have to wait, it was all too much.
Chapter 12
Father Mac Namara opened his eyes to complete darkness. His head ached and he was starving. He let out a grunt as he stiffly brought himself to a sitting position. Wherever he was he was cold, and wherever he was, it was a confined space.
“Hello?” he called out into the dark. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
He waited but there was nothing but the dark. He felt around the floor and found a plate with something on it. It felt like bread. It was a sandwich. Nothing in that moment could stop him from eating it, but after finishing there was nothing left but his quiet desperation as he noticed he was contained behind bars.
“Hello?” his own voice was his only company till he got an unexpected response.
“Don’t bother,” the voice said, though it seemed like it was right next to him, he jumped.
“Who’s there?” the Father asked.
“Nothing but a nightmare.” The voice was closer.
Father Mac Namara was beginning to question whether the voice was coming from inside his cell or even worse his own head. That thing Ian was still inside of him, but he knew the voice was separate from him somehow.
“You smell sooooooo…..” It whispered with an echo.
“Stop it,” Father Mac Namara yelled while placing his hands on his ears and shaking head.
He started to make the sign of the cross but found he could not pray any words. His lips moved but no sound came forth. The force occupying his mortal body was preventing it. He felt it shifting to the forefront. The Father’s eyes blackened in the already black.
“Tormenting us are you?” Ian said. “I would not if I were you.”
Ro laughed challenging him, but the laugh became a choke as Ian left the Father’s body to enjoy a taste of Ro. The weak vampire was not expecting the thing that engulfed him. The Father coming to consciousness listened to the sounds of a body trying to fight and then the sounds of someone drowning. It was a muffled, choking, horrible noise. He cringed. Whatever was going on, the Father wanted to escape. He sat back against the wall and prayed while he could, but the prayers provided no relief as he couldn’t focus. He knew Ian would come back to him and there was not a thing he could do to stop the creature.
The thing hadn’t fed long for Ro’s energy was low to begin with, but Ro lay still in fear and reticence at the attack. He regretted his previous remarks and that was a rare thing for Ro to feel regret.
“Try that again and I will repay you a visit though next time it will be your last,” Ian said firmly as he reentered the Father’s body. “Ahhhhh!” It felt good to be physical again and Ian relaxed back with his hands behind his head. “I could get used to this, the best of both worlds.”
Though the cell was not something that Ian could open forcefully as he stood up a while later and tried, it held some unseen power, some sort of magic. He decided to stay with the Father for now. The cell wasn’t all that bad and Ro had served as a little entertainment and a little rejuvenation for him.
The sunlight poked in through a small crack showing the dust that unsettled as Patrick shifted to his other side. Hay wasn’t that bad to sleep on; Patrick lay there enjoying the earthy smell. The thought of hiding there the rest of the Saturday was as appealing as the smell of sausages that floated from the Manor, but the sausages won him over and he emerged from of his cozy sleeping spot feeling as refreshed as the spring air.
“Judy, that smell…..is wonderful.” Patrick interrupted her as she hunched over the stove flipping this and that, steam and smoke filled the kitchen.
“Patrick! There you are! Good morning!”
“A good one it is!”
“You look like you’ve slept for a month.” Judy offered him a sausage as she noticed his wanting eyes and he took it willingly.
“Aye. I needed a good rest, cleared my head.”
“Well after that scene with the Father yesterday on the beach, it’s a miracle you could sleep. I know I didn’t. I canny help but feel responsible for all of it. He was here because of me and well I canny…..his face is there everywhere I look, the poor man, so young and wrapped up in all these things. I wish I could go back and…..”
“Judy, how were you to know what would happen? Possession? The man is possessed by some thing that you and I may not ever understand. How were you to know Judy? We must try and get on as normal as possible. The Manor is full and the guests can have no hint at anything. Did anyone see anything yesterday other than Claire?”