The Vampire Family

by Kristin Battestella

  The soldier leaned down and whispered into his cupped hand. Victoria stretched closer to hear, but Elizabeth glared at her. The soldier left.

  "More news?” Elizabeth asked.

  Antonio tried to be calm before his children, but slammed his fist on the table.

  "They took the old Tumard Fort. Well, they didn't even take it. They burned it to the ground."

  Ann snickered at Elizabeth, but Antonio wasted no time. “Guard!"

  The messenger returned with a gulp.

  "Assemble the troops,” he ordered. “Prepare the first unit."

  * * * *

  Gaston perched in his lookout tree with the eyeglass poised on the castle.

  "The guard just came out.” He looked down at William as the follower waited. “The troops are scattering about. Prepare the weapon."

  The rebels worked quickly as Gaston sat on top his shabby steed on the green slope. With his scope, he saw Antonio's men marching through the grassy meadow below. A tattered army weakened more by the unkindness of their master than war.

  Gaston waved his arm, and a team of six horses came over the horizon towing a large wooden contraption. The horses stopped, and Gaston turned to William and Sarah.

  "Ready?"

  Sarah smiled at their leader, and her smeared face paintings moved. Daggers and hatchets were strapped around her waist. William took her basket of rocks and poured them into a wooden bowl on the machine. More painted women and even children approached carrying baskets full of rocks. Men lined up beside the war machine with bows, swords, and pitchforks.

  "William,” Gaston commanded. “Let's send our King's catapult back to him."

  William nodded and took up an ax from his sister. In one swift stroke, the ax severed the tense rope. The catapult heaved the rocks into the air over the soldiers. The shieldless men ran for nonexistent cover, but the sharp rocks came down upon them. Their bare arms, legs, and heads were defenseless—bashed, gashed, crushed.

  Gaston smiled. “Maybe now Antonio will give us his undivided attention."

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  Chapter 11

  Victoria slid her hand across a row of books in Antonio's library. James sat in his father's chair and sketched a portrait of his twin. Their face was the same, like their mother's, but they couldn't be more different in personality. The door opened and Elizabeth entered. “I already spoke to Samantha and Stephen. Your father wishes that you stay close to the castle until this rebellion business is done."

  James sketched away while Victoria pulled out a book and flipped through it. Victoria was hardly a child, and James was not a feminine boy. Ann stepped in the door.

  "At least my children acknowledge me.” She smirked and continued on her way. Elizabeth shut the door and left her twins alone.

  "While our mothers torment each other...” Victoria put the book back on the shelf and walked toward the door.

  "Where are you going?” James finally looked up from his sketch, but she ignored him and left.

  She had better things to do than be idle. Once again, she disappeared from the castle. Victoria couldn't get away from the castle's stone walls soon enough. Thinking of her invigorating rides, she made her escape to the horses’ house. She walked into the barn without a breath or a rustle of fabric, and her silent approach startled the stable hand away from her horse.

  "I's just cleaned Nero up a bit."

  Victoria snatched the rope and led her horse away. She charged her horse down the worn path. She loved wind and speed and power. She shook her hair out of her eyes, and the aptly named Nero forged ahead. Victoria sped her black beast forward. Her destination: the river. Victoria dangled her legs in the water while Nero chomped on the grass. She had come there often for the solitude away from her bickering household and inferior siblings. Now, however, she had new reason to venture to her favorite location. There was a rustling, then a thud, then an ouch. Gaston came out of the trees, stumbled over, and sat down next to her.

  "I tripped over a root,” he said. “It's dark tonight."

  "The moon isn't full.” Victoria chuckled. Although she got along with her brothers and sisters, she and Gaston were much more alike. She had no friends before him. “You come here every night. Don't you know the layout by now?"

  Gaston smiled. “Have you heard about the uprisings against the King?"

  They had traded wit and adventure for weeks, but now this rebel talk could ruin it. No, Victoria wouldn't let it.

  She laughed. “Father gets very angry over them."

  Gaston's jaw dropped. “You are Antonio's daughter?"

  She nodded the affirmative, but Gaston hesitated. “Do you know who the leader of the uprising is?"

  "Father doesn't give us children any news,” she said. “We only know there is news when we hear him growl and break something."

  "Victoria?” Gaston thought long as he looked on her vague, dark shape. “Never mind."

  Victoria took the conversation. “Did I tell you about my family?"

  Gaston lay back on the grass and sighed. “You already told me about your mother and James."

  "But there is more,” she said. “Samantha and Stephen are twins, too."

  "Two sets of twins in the same family. What dark magic is that?"

  He laughed, but Victoria continued. “Then there is Father..."

  Gaston barely heard her words. “...he overthrew his Uncle to become King and captured all the surrounding kingdoms."

  "He has never done anything for anybody but himself,” Gaston spoke instinctively. “I'm amazed it took you this long to gloat over him."

  How dare he. Again!

  "Look at you,” he said. “A princess dressed in commoners’ clothes. Antonio cares nothing for you, a child of his body. He is a selfish fool."

  Victoria drew her feet from the water, but Gaston sat up.

  "So he killed a few people to instill fear in everybody. Now everyone is so afraid, they are too scared to ask for the crumbs from your plate! Well, at least they were."

  "I shan't hear such things.” Victoria turned from the water and reached for Nero, but Gaston stepped between her and the horse. He brought his voice down to a whisper.

  "I am not afraid. Growing up among his tyranny, I have fought for scraps from your dress to wrap around my feet. I have fought for those crumbs from your plate, and I am tired of it. Soon, someone else will fight for my fine clothes and dining. My purpose will be served. I shall recruit at any length. One person at a time, if I must."

  A long, dark silence lingered between them before Victoria finally spoke. “I don't know whether to smack you, or join you."

  Gaston clasped her hands in his. “You may join me or smack me across the lips if you like. You would not be so confused if you did not see some truth in what I say. Do I trust you? Or shall you betray me?"

  Victoria pulled her hands away and climbed on Nero. “I need some time to think."

  Nero knew the way home, but the ride did not give Victoria any answers. She crept into her room and shut the door. She stood a moment in the dark. Her dress was not plain, and she didn't eat crumbs. They lived better than anyone anywhere, though she knew no one beyond her own castle.

  Is Gaston right?

  She lit the candle beside the entrance and saw Stephen on her bed.

  "Did you have fun?” He inched toward her and pulled some moss from her hair. “Our dear mothers have told us not to venture off. Yet every night you get on your dark horse and ride off into the sunset. You are hiding something, and I want to know what it is."

  "Mind your own business.” Victoria crossed her arms. Where James over sought books and art, Stephen divulged in people too much. “We are too alike for you to blackmail me."

  The door opened, and Samantha peeked in. “Mother is coming.” She shut the door.

  Goody Goody Girl.

  "Tell me."

  "No."

  The door opened again, and Ann entered. “Stephen,” she said sternly.
“Get to your room and go to sleep."

  The boy reluctantly followed his mother's orders.

  "You best be getting to bed, too, Victoria."

  Ann was strong willed, unlike Elizabeth, but Victoria enjoyed chiding her father's mistress.

  "I already have a mother. I don't listen to you."

  Ann blew out the door side candle and left Victoria in the dark.

  * * * *

  Twilight swept in, and Gaston reached the riverbank. He heard a horse snicker and knew Victoria was there. She sat on top a massive boulder and plucked away on a piece of grass.

  "I expected it to take longer than one night.” Gaston sat next to her.

  "I was up most of the night."

  "And?"

  "I can't remain neutral,” she started, Gaston opening his mouth to contest her. “I do not need the extra persuasion, thank you."

  He jumped up and twirled around on top the boulder. An insider! “Then you'll join me?"

  Victoria yelled over his exclamations. “Sit down before you fall."

  He calmed his celebrations. “When will you join the camp?"

  Victoria bit her lip. “Not until after my birthday. My parents are planning something special."

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  Chapter 12

  Antonio paced as Elizabeth sat at his desk. She looked at the sketch of Victoria, but Antonio stepped towards his wife and took the drawing to better inspect it. Whether unfinished or by design, James had only done part of Victoria's face, and her profile drifted off into shadows on the page.

  "It seems that this is all we see of our dear Victoria."

  He sat down in front of the desk and put his feet up.

  "What will happen tomorrow?” Elizabeth showed her concern. She won the difficult prize of Antonio's wife, but it did not mean she was oblivious to his ways.

  "You know nothing bad is going to happen."

  "But will this power change them?"

  Antonio smiled cheerfully. “It will only make them better."

  "Oh."

  Ann invited herself in. “Elizabeth, I have been looking for you. Miss wants your opinion in the kitchen."

  Elizabeth was puzzled. “I was just there."

  "She needs you back there."

  Too worried to bother, Elizabeth sighed and let Ann win. “I'll go see what Miss wants."

  Antonio stood up with Elizabeth and followed her to the door. Ann backed to the hallway and sneered at her. With his wife gone, Ann smiled at Antonio, but he smiled back and slammed the door on her. Antonio walked to his chair and slumped down behind the desk.

  Peace at last!

  "Not so fast, my sweet."

  Blast Mestiphles!

  The oh-so familiar voice was like Ann and Elizabeth. Sweet when needed, ruthless when it must be—Mestiphles often made his presence known at exactly the wrong time.

  Antonio sighed. “Not now, please."

  Mestiphles leaned his pretty, chiseled face close to his. “I have some information for you."

  "I don't want to hear it.” Antonio rubbed his temples.

  "You'll like this.” Mestiphles picked up the crumbled note from Gaston. How many weeks had it been, yet Antonio kept the fading note in view.

  "My tyrant ... your friend.” Mestiphles leaned on the edge of the desk. “This Gaston seems very personal."

  "The bastard disrespects me, and I will eliminate him soon enough."

  "Bastard.” Mestiphles smiled. Always he smiled as if he knew some special secret. “That is a very good word. In fact, I am amused that you of all people should use that particular word to describe him."

  "What is your point?” Antonio asked plainly and directly.

  Mestiphles smiled and glanced at the drawing of Victoria. He picked it up and paced.

  "Do you know why Gaston is the way he is?” He raised his eyebrows and tossed the picture to the desk.

  "I don't care."

  "I want to tell you a story.” Mestiphles went to the window. “A little babe, plucked from his dying mother. Barely out of her womb. This babe grew in the wild. Wrapped in leaves and fed from any and all mammals with milk. But, before his dear mother died, she left a name for her bastard son. The name of her dearly departed brother. Gaston."

  Antonio contemplated the meaning of his words. He suspected something in the name, thought it was some humor on what was perhaps an unnecessary death. He suspected the child would not survive and gave up his search long ago.

  "Does he know?"

  "Look at what you did to your father, and he did not even have what you have. Do you think it would make a difference? He wants you dead because you are a greedy tyrant. Imagine what he would do if he knew you were the reason he was orphaned and starved. Never mind the nature of his conception."

  Antonio saddened for a moment, but then he smiled. Fitting that his firstborn son would seek to supplant him with the same ruthlessness that flowed within him.

  "Then I'll make him wish he was never born."

  * * * *

  Samantha stirred from her bad dreams and woke early. She walked toward the barn and breathed in the hay and animal smell. It was not fully light yet, and the crushing of the ground under her feet was softer with a cushion of dewdrops. She noticed a pile of black on the haystack.

  "Victoria, wake up."

  Victoria rustled and rolled over, then stretched and yawned. “Why are you up so early?"

  "Happy birthday to you, too.” Samantha congratulated with little enthusiasm. “Two mothers both giving birth to twins on the same day. Such a rare yet common tie that cannot bring you or I together."

  "You worry too much.” Victoria rolled over and put her face in the hay. Quickly she recoiled. “This isn't my bed!"

  "The surprise isn't coming until after dark,” Samantha informed. How it fell to her to monitor her wild sister she did not know. She didn't want to be there. How could she hold Victoria to the surprise? She sighed. “Whatever it is you do, just be here by then."

  "Will you be?” Even half-asleep, Victoria couldn't resist wielding the wily power to twist Samantha's feelings.

  "If only to spite you.” Samantha smiled to herself and left the barn.

  All day Samantha observed the servants and soldiers. They packed their meager belongings and reported to Antonio. Maids lit candles as evening drew near. Soldiers collected wood and started the celebration bonfire.

  Night fell, and with their duties done, the soldiers disappeared to a distant perimeter. Even Miss and the other house servants were sent to the nearby village.

  "Good.” Antonio smiled. “Everyone, please get comfortable. Our guest will be arriving shortly."

  The family of seven sat around the fire and waited. The fire burned bright, long, and high. Victoria looked at her nails, but Samantha gnawed on hers. Ann continuously glanced at Antonio, for he sat next to Elizabeth and James. Stephen, however, slept.

  "Any minute now,” Antonio repeated. “Soon."

  Samantha looked into the intense blaze, and despite the stifling heat burning upon them, she felt chilly and uncomfortable, shivering and rubbing her arms. The flames flickered and grew taller. The fire's phalanges reached upward as if trying to climb out of a great and hideous emptiness below. Her eyes widened, but Antonio just smiled. The flames came dangerously close to its observers; then a billow rose from within and exploded at the top of the fire. Stephen started and covered his eyes, and Samantha jumped next to him.

  Antonio sat erect and watched the fire. Victoria mirrored her father's unyielding position. She adjusted her eyes to the light and stared into the fire as older brother James watched. She cocked her head and leaned closer to the boiling gases and burning wood.

  "Something is moving inside there."

  "Nonsense.” Ann chimed from behind her.

  The Welshires fixed their eyes on the bonfire. The bright fire dimmed, and a tall young man eclipsed the flame. Antonio stood and fumbled past Elizabeth and James. He and his long expe
cted guest shook hands as Samantha listened.

  "Hello again, my good friend,” he whispered to Mestiphles with a smile. “It is finally time."

  "Are you ready?” He put his hand on Antonio's shoulder.

  "Yes."

  Mestiphles looked to the waiting mothers, sons, and daughters. “Are they?"

  "Of course.” Antonio turned to his family. “This is Mestiphles. He is going to show us some of his dark tricks."

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  Chapter 13

  Antonio sat before the fire, and Mestiphles smiled. “I have a little something for each of you. Everyone will take the gift differently, but you can pass your new gift on to others. They, too, will add their uniqueness."

  He looked at each Welshire in turn.

  "Passion and desire.” He eyed the rivaled Ann and Elizabeth, then the sons. “Strength and courage. Power and will."

  Mestiphles smiled long on Victoria and Samantha. “I will give your gifts to Antonio. Then I will be on my way."

  Mestiphles motioned for Antonio, and the latter stood. He spoke only so Antonio could hear, “This time it is forever, my friend."

  Mestiphles pushed Antonio's head to the side and exposed his long, muscular neck. In one swift swoop, Mestiphles bit down, and Antonio felt sharp teeth lengthening into his neck. They cut through his flesh and pierced the vein underneath his taut skin.

  He could hear his heart pumping in his ears. The fangs sliced deeper, and Antonio felt the luscious blood rushing from him. Elizabeth started toward him, but Ann pulled her back. The children sat in shock beside them.

  The fangs withdrew from Antonio's shell, and he gasped for air that seemed nonexistent. He heard the twist and crack of bone, but barely saw Mestiphles’ open wrist above his lips. His senses were blurred, yet somehow heightened. He recalled the sensations of his sampling from so many years ago. Antonio opened his mouth and let Mestiphles’ blood flow into him. Life rushed into the limp shell, and he drank more of this moderated red liquid. Mestiphles pulled away as he writhed on the ground. The new blood took over inside, and Antonio convulsed below the bonfire. He suddenly stilled.

  The change took shape both inside and out. He watched his skin grow lighter, felt the dark twinkle hidden behind his cold blue eyes shine through. His nails were longer and glazed like glass. The wound on Antonio's neck closed, and he focused his new eyes to where Victoria sat before him.