The Touch Series: Initiation

by Cecilia Lonski

  I looked him straight in the eye and my lips quivered at the fear of the truth. “Artie, why did he come here then? He could have set up his business anywhere? Why here?”

  Artie looked shocked at my question and shook his head in disbelief once again. “Quinn, he likes to travel and settle down in different places. Cities or small-towns. It doesn't matter. He doesn't even make those decisions. It has always been a group thing between him, me, Jacob, Sarah and Gwen. Always has been. Plus, Richmond is known to be one of the friendliest places for vampires to live in. That's a fact. This town made Expedia's 'Friends to Fangs' list, for goodness sakes.”

  My panic calmed slightly since he was right; Richmond was always a welcome place for vampires. The town really did have one of the highest percentages of vampire population in the Midwest. Hopefully, that was the real reason why Josef had relocated here. Anything else would not only be horrifying but heart-breaking as well. “Okay, I actually believe you. I'm sorry. I'm just freaking out.”

  “I know it all sounds crazy and strange that you and Josef have this thing in common but he is a good guy Quinn, and you know that. So, now let's just start with finding a way to get out of this mess.” He glared at Perrie before situating himself against a shelf and rubbing his forehead out of frustration.

  “What exactly are we doing or looking for here?” It was time to act. There was no time to think about or deal with the matter between Josef and I.

  “I'm trying to find any information that would help us protect you from the Constante's.” Perrie turned the pages in a thick and old book quickly without having to pause at a single page. “Found it.”

  Both me and Artie became more alert than we had been before and walked up closer to Perrie. “What does it say?” Was there even a way for me to get out of this...alive?

  Perrie mumbled to herself as she read a page that appeared to be written in Latin. “Just as I thought.”

  “What? What is it? What do we do?”

  Perrie looked up at Artie. “We would have to kill the entire Constane bloodline.”

  ***

  “What?” Artie snatched the book from Perrie's lap and went through it. “This is ridiculous. This obviously won't work. Try something else.”

  “There isn't anything else, not against a powerful family like that. The only way to stop them from coming for her is to kill them. And we have to kill them all together, otherwise it won't work just to kill them individually. Each ancient vampire family linked its bloodline magically, as a form of protection. So many vampire families, like the Constane's, have complete immortality. Even a stab to the heart won't kill just one of them.” Perrie furiously pointed to a section of the book. “It's all in here. Are you going to tell me that my witch ancestors wrote lies?”

  “We don't even know if it's really a Constane who is behind this! It could be one of their old enemies who took part in killing the mermaids.” His eyes turned black, and purple and black veins appeared just below his eyes. His anger was being pushed too far; his vampire side was overtaking him.

  Perrie took a step back. “Because the Constane family was known to be ruthless and would harm any human who got in their way of gaining power. And I still think it's not a coincidence that a Constane is here.”

  “Find a different way.” Artie shoved the book into Perrie arms and started to pace the room.

  “Why are you trying to protect them? The Constane's have a bad name within the vampire community. Wouldn't it be better for everyone if they were completely wiped out?” Perrie muttered.

  “Not all of them are bad. Josef is not and he doesn't deserve this. And how do you expect to go up against a powerful family like that? They would kill you at first sight before you even whispered a word.” Perrie fell silent as if she knew he was right.

  “But Josef was adopted. This wouldn't affect him even if we did somehow manage getting rid of them.” I didn't know what I was saying. Killing! How was this word and idea in my mind? How were we even contemplating and talking about killing anyone? And Josef?!

  “When they adopted him they turned him using their vampire blood. Their blood runs in him. So this can't work.” he whispered and his voice broke me more. “But, again, we have no evidence that a Constane is involved at all in this.” His eyes had turned back to normal.

  “Perrie, we can't do this. Can we try to find another way, please?

  She rolled her eyes and began to go through the book again.

  There had to be another way. There simply had to be.

  And maybe Artie was right, maybe the Constane family really had nothing to do with this.

  CHAPTER nineteen

  Hours passed. Groans and sighs were heard. The light in the room slowly diminished. Hopes dashed with every passing second. Artie helped Perrie go through all of her witch grimoires and random scrolls that had been passed down in her family.

  I, on the other hand, had spent – what felt like hours – playing with matches and contemplating how I had found myself in such a completely ridiculous and scary situation. I was normal yesterday and today my life had turned upside down and the only way to go back and survive was to kill Josef. He didn't deserve this. He shouldn't suffer for his family's actions. That could not be possible. I would not let that happen. Even if that meant putting my own life at risk –

  Artie dumped a book on the floor and threw his arms up in the air. “That's it. I think we need to find another witch.”

  Perrie snorted and dumped her book down, too. “The only witch that would help you against one of the first major vampire families would be a centuries old witch who has lived as long as they have and who acquired magical abilities that my entire bloodline could not even possibly dream of.”

  “Thanks.” I muttered in the corner of the room. They both turned to me and looked sad. “I don't need your pity. It is what it is. We live in a messed up world, right?”

  “Look, we will find someone or something to help.” Artie came up and kneeled next to me. “I have met many witches in my lifetime. I just need to find them and see what they say. In the meantime, we will put a protective spell to mask your scent so that no one could ever sense that you're the descendant.”

  “Yes, we can do that. But it will only be a temporary solution.” Perrie shouted out, to which Artie hushed her.

  “And another thing,” Artie got up and walked around the room. “Perrie will be with you at all times, if and when possible.”

  I was going to argue against it but Perrie beat me to it. “Hell no! My family has been at her family's service and many vampires before you. I'm not going to be a babysitter now, too!”

  He shrugged casually. “If you don't then Quinn won't agree to end the link between your families. And you know that that would only happen if you help her.”

  I loved that Artie was so protective but I didn't feel it was right for Perrie to be dragged into this mess even more. “Artie, no. It's fine. And it would just look awkward going around with her hanging around me.”

  Artie shook his head in defiance. “You two will pretend to be BFF's or whatever. You'll go shopping together, go to parties, meet each other on campus between classes, share a milkshake, yada – yada. That's all. Just for a while until we figure this out more and I get more information.” He fixed his tie. “I'm not taking 'no' for an answer. You both need something from eachother so you both need to compromise.”

  Perrie stood up in a huff and pointed her finger at Artie. “Listen – ”

  Thud.

  The arguments stopped suddenly by the sound of something falling onto the floor from another room in the house.

  Perrie frowned and looked puzzled. “Everyone left. And my grandmother is sleeping. Hold on, I need to check on her.”

  When she left, I was about to resume arguing with Artie who knew exactly what I was about to start saying since he waved me off. “I said that this isn't up for discussion.”

  Fast running footsteps approached the room. “She's gone. I think
she wandered off again. I need to go out to the forest.” Perrie said apologetically.

  In a second, slow motioned footsteps were heard from above us. All three of us looked up and listened to the quiet circular motions.

  Artie clapped his hands. “She's upstairs. Case solved.”

  “No, that's not her.” Perrie whispered eerily and slowly backed out of the room.

  I felt that I needed to stay behind as it wasn't my place to get involved. But I ran out once Artie began to follow Perrie. We ended going up to the attic which was closed. Perrie knocked and slowly opened the door.

  Once the door was wide open, Artie stepped in front of us. It was a spacious room filled with clutter: furniture pieces stacked against one another and stacks of boxes up against a wall. It was an ordinary attic, with no one inside it. Where did the sound of the steps come from? All three of us could not have just imagined it.

  “Okay, what the hell was that?” My apparent look and sound of fear went unnoticed by both of them who looked stoic and looked around the floor of the room. “I have had enough of crazy today, so I would like to go home now. Come on, Artie.”

  He lifted a finger to silence me and then placed it against his lips to keep us quiet.

  Knock, Knock, Knock.

  Three knocks sounded against a wall behind us.

  There was no room on the other side.

  “It's all beginning now.” Perrie breathed between us.

  CHAPTER twenty

  “I don't know how I got it wrong,” Gwen starred at the fire burning in the fire place. The sound of the crackling wood and the grandfather clock consumed her thoughts for a few seconds. She took a big sip of her chamomile tea mixed with a hint of fresh human blood as she attempted to fix a piece of hair that threatened to come out of her near-perfect bun.

  “Obviously you weren't very careful. Which contradicts your reputation of being perfect at almost, well, everything. Hmm...,” Sarah reached forward onto the coffee table to spike another teaspoon of blood into her cup of tea.

  Gwen tore her eyes away from the fire and set them on the icy-blonde who sat across her. “I did everything perfectly. Just the way it was suppose to go.”

  “Well then what happened?” Sarah's contradictory tone didn't sit well with Gwen who sat near the edge of her seat, calming her inner beast that threatened to awake...

  “Something is wrong and I simply can't put my finger on it,” her voice began to trail off towards the end as she found herself once more gazing into the fire.

  “Well, I can remind you of the glitches in your plan and then maybe you can come up with your own conclusion of your faults,” Sarah started to pace back-and-forth in the middle of the room while she continued to sip her tea in a most casual manner. “You burnt many valuable and only-living mermaids that belonged to many affluent vampire families, including the Constane family. But then four years ago you found out that one escaped and might possibly have a descendent on the loose, putting your entire plan in chaos. So you researched and talked to an endless amount of witches to help find any possible descendant. Then you took the girls who came close and worked tirelessly to have them put into Josef's Club. I'm doing well so far, right?” Sarah smirked at Gwen before continuing. “But your research stumped all of a sudden. A dead end. So to be safe, you decided to start killing each of them one by one in hopes that the Club would be a good alibi for you. But then you made a mistake. See, you thought Josef and Artie weren't very smart vampires at all and that they wouldn't possibly suspect a supernatural killing of some sort. And if their successful with their investigation, we might become vampire meat by the end of the year.”

  “I did what I had to do.” Gwen was no longer calm. “I made a promise that I would avenge my family and the entire village that the Constane family killed back in 1409. And I certainly won't stand for a vampire uprising to occur now or ever. Ha! I even turned into a blood sucking monster like them to carry out my revenge.” She took a moment to compose herself. “Yes, I admit there were flaws in my plans but I honestly didn't think Josef would care for the girls. I was desperate, surely one of them had to be her. I couldn't risk her living and possibly led to that hands of the Constane's or another vampire family. And I wasn't going to kill all of them, not Ivy or Quinn. They actually weren't on my list. Quinn was brought in because she's Artie's friend and Ivy, well, you know...”

  “Oh, how sweet. Two girls were going to survive your massacre. Touching.” Sarah rolled her eyes before sitting back down on the couch across from Gwen.

  “Oh, please. Don't pretend to be so innocent. You would do anything to have Josef to yourself and influence him to accept and resume his position as vampire royalty. And you know that, at the end, keeping his family from making a return to prominence is the way to do that,” Gwen became immediately distracted by the sound of a snapped branch outside her home. Someone was coming. She smiled at Sarah who raised a brow, “we have a guest. Be polite.”

  Gwen slowly opened the door as Ivy stepped quickly inside. “Ivy, I hope everything is all right. You know Sarah. Tea, darling?”

  Ivy brushed past Gwen and walked into the living room while Sarah stiffened at her entrance.

  Ivy crossed her arms against her chest and stared down Gwen from a few feet away. “I have some awful news for you. Will definitely cause a little speed bump on your plan.”

  Gwen smiled as she walked to the couch to sit next to Sarah. “Well, how much more can this entire plan be ruined? Please, enlighten me.”

  Ivy uncrossed her arms, walked up to the fire place and stared at the photos on the mantel. “Josef's parents know.”

  Sarah hissed and Gwen moved up from her seat abruptly. “Know what?”

  “That one mermaid survived and could possibly have a descendant. Which means there is still hope to carry out their original plan that they had all those centuries ago.”

  “How do you know that?” Gwen's fearful voice betrayed her composed demeanor.

  “Heard from some other witches that they are looking to hire a witch to locate the right person.” Ivy finally turned away from the mantel and turned to look straight at Gwen with amusement spread across her face. “News travels fast, huh?”

  “Gwen?...” Sarah looked beyond infuriated with her.

  Gwen didn't immediately respond and took a few moments to calm herself before a grin appeared across her porcelain face. “Take the job. And lead the Constane's astray.”

  Ivy's own grin grew bigger and she cocked her head to one side. “Look, I already worked for you and you ended up trying to go on a killing spree. I did not sign up to be a part of something like that. No. I think our business relationship here is done.”

  “Lead them astray Ivy and I will make sure that you will have a say within the vampire government. Think about it. Your voice will help protect witches from being used and undermined by vampires and werewolves. That's what you have always wanted, isn't it?”

  “You can't promise me something like that.”

  “Oh, but I can. See, the Constane's are the only ones that have the power and name to overthrow the current vampire government and lead any potential uprising. And you know what that would mean. The killing of witches and innocent humans. But if we stop them from ever taking hold of that very power position, someone else can rise to power. And that will be us. We will make the rules.”

  Ivy looked over quickly to Sarah whose own facial expression gave off an immense amount of doubt in the room. “There is no guarantee that it will be you who goes into power. It could be another old vampire family.”

  “But we will have leverage on our side. Something that no other vampire in the world can even question.”

  Ivy raised her eyebrows. “What?”

  “Josef. He is a Constane. The only one we know who wants to live in peace with humans and would side with us eventually. All we would need to do is persuade him to take the title that is rightfully his.”

  “Have you lost it? What makes you think tha
t he would go against his own family?”

  Gwen confidently looked over to Sarah who appeared glad to respond. “He hasn't had a good relationship with his family in decades. He doesn't support what they stand for. And if he found out that his family was trying to start a vampire army of some sort to overpower humanity, he would completely despise them. Once we make sure that no one with the mermaid gene is on this planet, then we will officially persuade him against his own family and have him make his case for the top. His family will have lost all hope since their own plan will be completely shattered and they will be powerless against their very successful and very popular son. He practically has most of the current vampire council on his side.”

  Ivy took in a deep breathe and looked around the room. “Under one condition.”

  Gwen was relieved to have Ivy finally come around. “What would you like?”

  “No killing any of the girls until we know for sure who it is. Might not even be in the group judging by how sloppy your research has proven to be so far. Got it?”

  Gwen picked up an extra teacup that was on the table and poured tea into it. “Of course, Ivy. And you made the right choice. Now, would you like some sugar with your tea?”

  CHAPTER twenty-one

  There were many beautiful and grand homes in Richmond. Each one had its own history and its own personality. But one rivaled them all. A gorgeous pink and green, Victorian-style, apartment that stood quaintly on the corner of Richmond's town center. The tenants took pride in their own building and certainly showed it by displaying flowers on each window and watering the lawn consistently to produce an emerald green scenery, all of which never went unnoticed by the local newspaper's Home & Garden section. Most of the tenants consisted of some of Richmond's finest: one of the town's teachers, a beloved doctor and other hard working up-and-coming young professionals.