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Eternal Press
www.eternalpress.com.au
Copyright ©2008 by Eternal Press
First published in 2008, 2008
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NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.
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CONTENTS
The Vampire Family
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Epilogue
About the Author
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The Vampire Family
Sadistic? Check. Domination? Check. Happiness? Not for all. Antonio Welshire accepts the mysterious Mestiphles’ offer for vampiric power, but fails to consider that not all in his family desires evil. Daughter Victoria revels in the debauchery, but eldest daughter Samantha loathes the darkness.
Enemies are in no short supply when the family turns to darkness. Charismatic rebel Gaston turns up to rival for Antonio's power; the vampire lover Jean can destroy them once and for all, and henchwoman Lilith seeks to supplant Antonio as Mestiphles’ favorite. Who will be declared the victor? And in the end, though they've survived coven wars and persecutions since the 12th century, can The Vampire Family survive each other?
The Vampire Family © 2008 by Kristin Battestella
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locals is entirely coincidental.
An Eternal Press Production
Eternal Press
Wangaratta,
Victoria,
Australia,
3677
To order additional copies of this book, contact:
www. eternalpress.com.au
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9804739-9-5
Cover Art © 2008 by Julie D'Arcy
Edited by Lisa Logan
Layout and Book Production by Julie D'Arcy
Eternal Press * February 2008
Production by Eternal Press
Printed in Australia and the United States of America.
The Vampire Family
Kristin Battestella
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[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 1
The British Isles, 12th Century A.D.
"Ye sharpen that old ax.” Antonio's father, Edward, dragged him out of bed. It wasn't a particularly comfortable bed nor was there any luxury in sleeping until dawn, but in sixteen summers, Antonio's penance was never paid. Edward pulled him outside and shoved him up the jagged hill overlooking their shabby homestead. Antonio didn't know why. He didn't always care, either. Sometimes he looked upon the stone home's smoking chimney, longing to be inside, but always he was left to grind away on the rocks. “Ye stay there till supper, and then I says if you can eat."
Sunset came, and Antonio knew his father would stumble back up from the valley. He watched the large bull block out the fading sun. He was old and vile compared to his own labored physique. The elder grabbed Antonio and shoved him down the hill as always. The wind picked up, and dark clouds blew over the rising moon. Rain poured down on Antonio, and the ground quickly became soggy and muddy.
Antonio squinted through raindrops and saw two young girls running from the wet fields with the family's animals. His adopted sisters knew Edward's torment. Ann's light hair clumped together as she pushed the sheep into the barn. Elizabeth pulled the workhorse up the rocky hill while her dark locks flung in her face, but Ann came to assist her sister. Kept weak by hunger and force like Antonio, the former orphans were not strong enough to pull the horse and plow through the slush and rock.
Antonio saw Ann and Elizabeth wrestling below with the horse.
"Father.” He tried to tell Edward, but fell silent on a jab in the face from the ax handle. The workhorse stomped in the mud as the thunder and lightning crackled. The natural sounds deafened Antonio; then the horse reared, and he heard the leather bridle snap.
The horse screamed as it tumbled with the plow and rolled down the hill. His thud echoed—dead as the broken plow was useless. The Welshire Patriarch raced down the terrain toward Ann and Elizabeth. He grabbed Elizabeth. Antonio knew what would happen to them tonight, and he wept at his helplessness—helpless to help Elizabeth or himself. In hindsight, taking in Ann and Elizabeth was not a good thing to do.
"No!” She cried as Ann ran to the house. “Please!"
Edward threw Elizabeth down the hill, and Antonio covered his mouth for fear the same would befall him. Her little body rolled, crackled, and bounced until it landed on the horse. Antonio barely heard her whimper over the wind as her legs bent in an unnatural shape.
Ann continued running toward the house as quick as her small legs and the natural circumstances would allow. Another bolt of thunder rumbled in the sky, and she ducked the lightning prick on the thatched roof of the stone home. Ann turned to the barn, but Antonio's father was on her tracks. The elder Welshire grabbed the golden-haired child by her wet and sun-tipped strands. She was his ward now, and Edward drug her back to the hill's crest.
Antonio watched the scene unfold from the top of the hill. He looked at his sharpening stone and heard Ann's screams. Antonio leaped to his feet, his legs carrying him down the hill and past the smoking home. His hands touched his father's evil body as sixteen years of anger, frustration, and pain helped him push his father down the hill.
The muddy hillside sank as Edward rolled down the rocky terrain. The old man's ax ripped from its leather tie and dropped in the mud. Antonio spotted the shiny ax tip in the ground and raced toward it. The father fell into the mud, but Antonio was over him with the ax. Now he had the upper hand, and the elder Welshire tried to move from the danger. Antonio reveled in Edward's turnabout—a turtle overturned onto its shell.
Antonio raised the ax over his head with both hands. He let the ax come down to meet his father's flesh.
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Ant
onio sat on the edge of the bed, tired but pleased with himself. He laid his palm against Elizabeth's sweaty forehead and reached into the bucket of cool water by the bed. He pulled out a wet rag and twisted out the water over the bucket and applied the damp rag to Elizabeth's face.
"You may come in, Ann,” Antonio called. She peeked around the sheepskin curtain that divided the house into two rooms. Ann stepped into the space reserved by the curtain. There was much for Antonio to do, including the disposition of their spineless mother. He continued to apply the wet rag. “Today we will repair the roof, and I will take care of mother."
Ann said nothing and retreated outside to untie Mother Welshire's horse from the post. She opened the basket on the horse and pulled out various coins and currency.
"I will take those.” Antonio stood in the doorway. He stepped over, took the coins, and dropped them one at a time into the pouch on his belt. Ann's eyes widened at the ax hanging next to the pouch, but she led the horse to the barn. Kind as he was to her and Elizabeth, his path toward retribution could not be deterred. Antonio set off to find his mother.
He reached the slope where she mourned the now tiny body.
She fell for that robber's story! Pathetic!
Antonio's plotting had come swiftly once his hands touched the ax. No veil or cowardice shielded him now. He took his time getting to the woman. After all, she had plenty of time to look the other way while Edward did the things he did.
I can take my time. She only has so much. When Elizabeth no longer needs her...
Mother Eira hovered over the bloody face and kissed her husband's lips.
Ugh!
"Mother.” Antonio shook his thoughts away. Eira wiped the tears from her eyes, stood, and straightened her long dress. The Welshire Matriarch opened her arms and embraced her son. Antonio tried to resist; then he broke the hug. “Come, Mother."
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Antonio sat up in his bed. He heard screaming, right before Ann burst into the house. He tried to make sense of what she was saying.
"The frost came! The frost came early and killed all my crops!” Ann clutched some dead vegetation in her hands. She had labored so long against the unforgiving land, somehow finding joy in making life when hers was so dismal. She thrust the crops in his face.
"They're frozen!"
This early weather could serve Antonio well. He waited until the snow came in. Perhaps it snowed early and often for his plans? Antonio stood outside the back window of the stone home. Snow piled up to his knees, but Mother Welshire sat inside by the fire and sewed. Perhaps she was not oblivious or uncaring, but simply incapable of doing anything about their humble existence. Goodness was easier said then done. Antonio eyed his mother with contempt. He was no longer concerned with inaction. He loaded a stone into his slingshot, pulled back, then released the weapon. The jagged stone hit Eira in the back of the head, and she tumbled to the floor.
Antonio climbed in the window and walked to the main door. He was going to do things his way from now on. Ann and Elizabeth now belonged to him.
Oh no. I've tracked snow in the house. Who is there to tell me? Who rules me now? No one!
He opened the door and shoved the body out into the snow. Ann and Elizabeth stood in silence while Antonio kicked at the body to knock it completely outside. He didn't need to say his plans before them. Had they learned their submissive lesson from Father Welshire, or was it Antonio's ways that chilled their bones? He slammed the door shut, locked the cold metal latch, and gave no explanation to Ann or Elizabeth. Why should he?
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Ann heard moaning from beyond the wooden door. Mother Welshire was awake, no doubt. Groggy shuffles came against the house, then pounding like a still beating heart. “Elizabeth, let me in."
Elizabeth raised her head as Ann leaned closer to the front window.
"Do not move.” Antonio said. “It is for the best."
"Ann.” Eira banged on the door. The urgency in her voice grew. “Please let me in!” Snowflakes stuck to the window, but Mother Welshire pounded on the door again. Ann closed her eyes.
Did she suspect Antonio's trickery now?
"Ann. Elizabeth!” She banged against the wood. Surely her hands bled. “Do not play this madness!"
What game was Antonio playing with them? Ann was too scared of him to move. She was almost as frozen as Eira, with only her breath fogging the window to show her life. Ann felt dizzy. Antonio's sick games!
He is evil.
Eira collapsed against the door and sobbed. “Why won't you let me in?” She smacked the door in vain. “What did I do? I didn't do anything wrong! Why are you doing this to me?"
Ann found her will and jumped up from the window. She reached for the door's creaky latch, but Antonio approached the window.
"No. Unless you want to join her."
Eira rapped on the door again and again. The young girls heard their adopted mother's cries for a few more hours. Loud, then soft. Weeping, yelling. Slowly the wind carried away the faint moaning and whimpers. Now, there was silence. The snow stopped, and Ann insisted they open the door.
"She is dead, Antonio.” She found her tongue too late. “Let's not leave her out there."
"I'm leaving her to be sure.” Antonio warmed his hands by the fire—his plot had been the first step in his letting go. Ann ducked behind the sheepskin wall.
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The sun rose and Elizabeth woke in the pile of sheepskins by the fire. Antonio slept soundly in his own huddle. She caught a dreaming smile on his face; then it was gone. Ann was piled nearby, but she turned in a restless sleep. Elizabeth stretched and rubbed her eyes. She remembered the horrifying events belonging to last night and winced at a twinge in her leg.
She slid from the makeshift bed and took a few sheepskins with her to the door. Her stride was awkward. Her limp would be there forever because of her injuries. She reached for the latch.
Could I? Should I?
She slid the bolt carefully, but it squeaked a little. Her gaze fell to the floor of sheepskins. Antonio stirred, but did not wake. She grasped the handle and slowly opened the door.
Mother Eira stood frozen in the snow, a contorted and morbid statue. Her arms were in the air, fists clenched in their banging position. Frozen blood lined her arms and the collar of her sheepskin. The eyes were open, blue irises glazed over with a white frost. Forever was her mouth to be open, too. Her tongue captured midway between the chapped lips, and saliva dangled like icicles from what yellow teeth she had.
Elizabeth opened her mouth to scream, but a strong hand cupped her mouth shut. Antonio whispered in her ear, “Ann is still sleeping."
He removed his hand, and Elizabeth looked into his cold blue eyes. She had not thought of him much before Father Welshire's fall, but now she did fear him. His own will was his motivation, even when he cared for her. Antonio forced a disquieting smile, but Elizabeth was captivated by the opal-colored eyes.
They are so mysterious. Deceptive. Frightening!
Antonio shut the door on his mother and returned to the fire.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 2
Antonio sat on a pile of hay. He violently plucked and pulled the straw apart as he spoke.
"If he wants us to leave, he will have to build a wagon to carry us.” He groaned to Elizabeth and kept his back to her. “He can build it himself."
Antonio threw the piece of hay aside and picked up another. “I will not help him."
"We must go live with Uncle Henry. I don't think even you can stop that.” Elizabeth hobbled from the barn as Antonio glared after her.
The three of them had done fine during the winter chill. Why must he go now? Antonio glared at Uncle Henry's wide back the whole way through the rough country. The sun shined on the town gate, and a partly finished castle lay beyond. The tiny wagon teetered to the new home, and Antonio looked at his stout Uncle Henry. “When did this happen?"
"It's been growin’ steady. Shee
pin’ is good business. I offered your dad a piece awhile back, but he refused."
Portly though he was, Henry's face showed the wear and tear of his business. Still, he was jovial nonetheless.
"It's amazing.” Elizabeth's voice held a note of awe. They crossed the stone bridge over the thick moat and rode under the stone archway. Guards kept watch from the towers above. Antonio stared at the turrets on the castle.
"What exactly is your position in all this?” Antonio said.
"It's all mine.” Henry smiled. “I'm not really a King, but I am the ruler here. More like a First Citizen, actually."
Ann and Elizabeth looked at Antonio. He wondered if they saw his evil plans churning in his eyes and chuckled.
"When I move on, all this goes to my son, Gaston.” Uncle Henry twisted to face the young man. “You remember Gaston, don't you, Antonio?"
"Yes."
The rickety wagon pulled up to the castle door. A young girl opened the door and ran out. Antonio stared intently, smitten by this auburn haired, emerald-eyed beauty.
"My little Romina!” Uncle Henry stepped down and pulled his angelic child into his arms. “Romina, this is Antonio. Antonio, Romina."
Antonio bowed. “It is an honor to know the same blood runs through our veins.” He took Romina's hand and tried to kiss it, but she pulled away before his lips met the fair and soft flesh. He knew he had her cornered with his very presence. Somehow, Romina would learn to live with him—and like it. What wasn't to like?
Antonio lingered by the castle wall with Ann and thought about Romina. “Do you think she is promised to someone?"
"Romina?” Ann maneuvered the topsoil around her plants and planted her seeds on the side of the castle. Antonio didn't help, just stood above her and blocked the daylight.
"Of course Romina. She is some sort of Princess or lady or something. Do you think she is promised to someone?"
"I suppose."
"Do you think she likes me?” Antonio looked up.
"Well, Antonio.” She met his eyes. “She didn't seem to."
"She didn't?"
"Not really."
Ann stopped her gardening.
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