The Vampire Family

by Kristin Battestella

  "Ladies, please.” the DJ cried. “I will play it no matter who requests it. If you destroy the record, no one will hear it!"

  Antonio interrupted the confrontation quickly. He took the record and gave it to the DJ.

  "My loves.” He put his arms around Ann and Elizabeth. “I have already been personally warned not to mess this up, and neither shall you."

  "Now,” Antonio turned around, “where is Vict—?"

  Victoria stood on the staircase beyond the open doors. Charismatic as ever, she walked down the steps smoothly and entered the ballroom. She found her old Kiowa fledgling Rain at the buffet, eating a chicken leg.

  "We haven't time for this foolishness.” Victoria ripped the food from his hands. “I need you to do something."

  Rain picked up another piece of meat and bit into it. “Since when do you need me to be your gopher? I haven't been your pet in, oh, two hundred years? Get James to do it."

  "James is dead."

  Rain slowly put down the piece of food.

  "We have no time to discuss it.” Victoria automatically read his thoughts.

  Rain read hers, too. “You mean you don't want to discuss it."

  "I need you to do something,” she repeated. “Find Samantha and keep her quiet. Tie her up, do whatever you need to do. Just don't hurt her. She's mine!"

  * * * *

  Samantha sat on the floor by her fireplace, blood tears still streaming down her face. James was gone now. She cut up his body and burned the pieces. He could never return, just like he asked. Samantha heard the music downstairs. She wiped her eyes and left the bloody fireplace.

  Oh, Jean! James is dead!

  * * * *

  The dungeon door creaked shut, and Jean winced. He bent to pick up his backpack. The handle turned, the door cracked open again, and Jean heard the slight tune from the hinge.

  "Elizabeth!” He whispered and checked behind her. “I told you, I am not leaving until I do this, and when I do leave, it will be with Samantha."

  "I was not followed. I want to help you.” She stepped inside as Jean shut the door again. “I don't want to see you hurt. Either of you."

  "Yeah, sure. And how does James feel about this?"

  Elizabeth helped him with his bag and spotted a small crossbow, a spool of wire, and several small containers with fuses attached. Jean pushed her hand away.

  "Tell me about James,” he repeated.

  "James? His thoughts are not here. He is...” Elizabeth's lip trembled slightly. “James is dead? My son!"

  "Yes. Now you can go tell Antonio."

  "James never cared for this life.” Elizabeth faced the truth. “Not all of us are so enamored with the vampire life."

  "I know what you mean.” Jean sobered.

  "Come, I'll show you to the prisoners."

  * * * *

  Victoria walked through the dancing guests to Antonio and Ann.

  "I think this is my cue to leave.” Ann saw the anger in Victoria's eyes and walked into the crowd. They got along for the most part, but the two women both vied for Antonio's attention, an objective that always led to blows. Ann headed toward the buffet, but a police officer grabbed her arm and spun her around.

  "May I have this dance?” Eric smiled, his spirit totally in the Masquerade.

  "Where is Mother?” Victoria asked Antonio.

  "She's circling around somewhere.” He drank from a long stemmed glass and looked around the crowd. Elizabeth walked through the fancy double doors. “There she is.” Antonio motioned with his glass, and Victoria quickly turned and looked.

  "Try to relax.” He put his arm around her. “Our guests must not know our current situation."

  "And you, Father?” Victoria's eyes swirled again. “Do you know our current situation?"

  Antonio stepped closer to his daughter. He put his head down and bit his lip, then looked at Victoria square. “Nothing can be done for James now. Things must move on as planned."

  The DJ changed records expertly with the girls on his arms. Antonio put his glass aside and bowed before Victoria. “Shall we dance?"

  Caring not for her bloody flannel, Samantha ran into the ballroom and darted into the crowd. On her trail, Rain came down the staircase and eyed the party. His hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and his nose rose up and down as he sniffed about slowly. Samantha slinked by the humans and danced through the crowd, but Rain also weaved into the dancers. Samantha turned deeper into the guests, but Rain grabbed her hand. “Dance."

  They danced awkwardly, but Eric dipped Ann and pulled her back up into his arms. Elizabeth stood cautious, but a zestful Stephen came up to her.

  "Dance with me, Aunt Liz.” He drug her into the crowd. Stephen shook and danced around her in his grim reaper costume. Jessica and Pamela spun the obese DJ around while Victoria and Antonio matched ballet rhythms. Samantha pulled away from Rain, but he pulled her close to his chest. He twisted Samantha to the wall and pinned her there.

  "No!” Samantha knew what was about to unfold.

  Eddie crept by his door posting and watched the oblivious, high, and heady human guests. He slinked to a seemingly decorative curtain, but Eddie slid the cloth aside, exposing the lever beneath. Antonio led Victoria to the edge of the crowd and nodded to Slava. Catrina and the Cossack closed the large doors, but Antonio motioned again. Eddie nodded and pulled down the lever.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 28

  Who ever looks at the floor? Certainly not the lucid junkie guests. A faint seam along the ballroom's polished floor ripped open and inched into a wider canyon. The mechanism's groans were drowned by the rocking tunes, and the unaware guests fell below into the dark dungeon. People cried out and screamed as more fell to the straw covered concrete below. Prison cells lined the dungeon walls, and dirty hands reached out from behind rusted bars toward the light from the ballroom above. Antonio smiled at their success.

  Previously patient among their prey, Theodore and Sarah pulled off their hooded costumes and revealed their true vampire nature to the guests. They pushed more humans into the pit.

  A few men clung on the doors, and Stephen poked at one man with his reaper until he fell to the darkness. Eddie joined in and stomped on the second hanging man's hands until he fell. Jessica and Pamela watched the DJ teeter on the edge and tumble away.

  "A little crude.” Stephen congratulated Eddie and patted him on the back. They smiled, but the needle hit the record label, sending a thumping echo to Antonio's ear.

  A wooden stake shot through the air and squished into Eddie's stomach. He screeched and grabbed Stephen as blood spurted from his mouth. Stephen dropped his reaper and teetered on the edge of the floor. One final imbalance tossed them into the pit, and Ann screamed. Eric—equally shocked but in control—tried to hold her back, but Ann squeezed out of his arms and ran to the edge. Stephen cried out, and the new human prisoners grabbed him and tossed him to the floor.

  Jean tossed his crossbow to the dungeon floor, climbed up the jail cells, and hung on the side of the sliding door.

  "Jean!” Samantha called her lover, but Rain held her tightly against the wall and away from the action.

  "Close the doors.” Antonio ordered. “Slava, the floors!” Slava took over the fallen Eddie's duties. He pulled the lever up, and the floor slowly slid back into place.

  Ann picked up Stephen's reaper and hit Jean with it. He pulled himself up from the shutting doors, rolled across the floor, and bought himself some space. Ann dropped the reaper and ran to the ballroom doors. She struggled to open one.

  "Dammit, help me!” she cried. Catrina opened the doors, and Ann ran out.

  Rushing into the bowels of the mansion, she pulled open the heavy dungeon door. Ann walked down the dark tunnel to the inner entrance, but she heard the screeches coming from the cells.

  Oh, Stephen!

  She raised her hand to the rusted latch and swung the door open. A line of humans escaped past her. Ann felt the warmth of
a fire on her face but went through the door. The cages were empty, and the straw floor was clean of debris and bodies. She felt the heat on the back of her neck.

  Ann slowly turned her heel and looked over her shoulder. The zombies were on either side of the door. They weren't so docile, it would seem, if given the chance. Several had lighted torches, and a few had stakes, but one held Stephen's limp body. Ann slowly backed away.

  The zombies are out! Antonio, help me!

  * * * *

  Jean pulled an explosive from his pocket. He searched his pocket, but turned up nothing.

  The matches were on the floor a few feet in front of him, and Jean half slid, half crawled to them. He put his hand over the book, but a booted foot crushed his wrist. Jean looked up and grimaced at the uniformed Eric. A nightstick came down on him.

  Eric smiled as Jean lay sprawled out on the floor. He kicked him in the side, and Jean groaned at the pain. He saw Eric's foot coming at his face, but Jean grabbed it and yanked Eric off balance. He fell backward and hit his head with a thumping echo.

  Jean landed on the floor again and again. His vision blurred, but he caught sight of the explosive and matches on the floor. A pair of small feet approached his tools of fire. Elizabeth bent down and picked up the explosive. Jean kicked Eric with a new vigor, and he stepped back to regain his balance. Jean got up and kicked him in the groin. The police officer keeled over in pain. Jean kicked again. He struck Eric in the head, and he fell to the floor. Eric stumbled to his knees only to face a kick in the chin. Jean let him stand up then punched the already bloody mouth and nose. He punched repeatedly. Each impact moved Eric closer to the edge of the ballroom floor and closer to the dungeon beneath. Jean gave one final punch, and Eric fell into the pit. Elizabeth lit the fire stick and threw it onto the same path.

  * * * *

  The zombies are out! Help me!

  Antonio heard her call. “Slava, stop the doors. Keep the floor open!"

  Slava yanked the lever down, and the doors slowly switched direction. The almost closed opening grew larger again. Antonio gave orders to his coven members.

  "Theodore, take Catrina and round up those humans!"

  They pulled the once decorative swords from the collection on the wall and exited the ballroom. Theodore and Catrina rose into the air. They flew down the hallway—safely avoiding a wire and an explosive lining the floor.

  Antonio hollered more directions, “Sarah, help me detain these zombies!"

  Sarah pulled out her ancient dagger and jumped into the dungeon. Antonio followed her. Swiftly, he took her sword and chopped off an escapee's head while Sarah snapped one's neck. Ann wrestled a torch away from a stiff zombie and happily burned him with it.

  * * * *

  Jean's explosive waited on the soft straw. Ann threw a zombie off her shoulder and picked up the homemade dynamite. Quickly, she threw the bomb back to the ballroom. Eric saw Ann and stumbled toward her, but a zombie shifted in the darkness. The angry creature pulled a torch from the wall. The zombie plunged the flame into Eric's chest. He screeched and raised his arms. He exploded into fleshy pieces, a chunk of meat hitting the side of Ann's face. A huge ball of fire launched from the body and burned the zombie as payback. The fire spread away, pieces settling on the floor and walls. A blood tear ran down Ann's cheek, mingled with the blood on her face, and trickled down to her lips. She licked her lips, and her eyes turned color with mourning and rage.

  Elizabeth and Jean both reached for the explosive, but she was the victor. Jessica and Pamela looked at each other.

  "Let me do this,” she whispered. The lighted fuse neared the canister.

  "I'm not going to argue with you,” Jean agreed.

  "I know.” Elizabeth laced her hands tightly around the dynamite and took a small step backward. The floor ended, and she dived into the pit.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 29

  A colossal ball of fire bellowed from the dungeon. Jean cowered from the flame along with the other vampires. He fell back from the blast, and Slava put his hands over his face. Samantha buried her face into Rain's chest, and Jessica and Pamela huddled together in the corner.

  The fire fed on the oxygen in the ballroom and spread across the floor. Jean saw it coming and felt the heat. He rolled out of the fire's destructive path, and it spread toward the windows. He hit his head on the floor, and it bled viciously. The windows shattered when the heat pricked them. The fire jumped on the curtains, and they went up in flames.

  The fire leaped from one curtain to the next and neared Rain and Samantha. She twisted around and pushed Rain into the burning curtains.

  "Jean!” She ran quickly to him.

  Where she had hidden herself in the commotion, Jean knew not, but now Victoria stood before Rain and watched him burn. He lifted a singed arm to her.

  "Victoria, please help me!” He squeezed out his plea, but Victoria turned away.

  Rain twisted in the burning curtain and fell through the hot, sharp window. The weak and burning wall crumbled down on him.

  Pamela and Jessica remained paralyzed and huddled in the corner, but Slava pulled them to their feet.

  "Now might be a good time to vacate, ladies.” He zoomed out the doors, and Jessica and Pamela followed, pulling the doors shut behind them.

  The three vampires ran down the hallway. Slava reached the front door first, but his leg hit the wire explosive. A second explosion shook the house. He flew outside, but Jessica and Pamela shot against the staircase. The rails cracked from their posts, and debris buried the women.

  Explosions boomed inside the mansion. His watch outside no longer silent and still, Angelo dropped his deck of cards by the gate and ran toward the house. Angelo fell to the ground. He stumbled over the hill and saw Theodore and Catrina battling the renegade human feedings. Theodore turned his attention to the explosion, and a human staked him in the back. Catrina tried to get away, but a human picked up Theodore's sword and swished it into her chest.

  The humans spotted Angelo. He turned quickly and ran back toward the gate. Angelo leaped onto the gate, but the humans pulled him down and stabbed repeatedly. Free and safe, the humans unlocked the gate and ran into the night.

  * * * *

  Samantha examined Jean's head wounds. He bled and shifted in and out of consciousness.

  "Jean, get up. Come on! It's almost over.” She sat him up and cradled him in her arms. Jean mumbled.

  "There is no time to talk. You would never survive fire."

  He whispered to Samantha, then went comatose. “Victoria."

  Samantha looked up at the smiling anti-hero.

  "I'm sure this game was fun for you, but really, did you have to burn down the mansion? If you wanted to leave that bad, it could have been arranged. We would have enjoyed chasing you around the globe."

  "We?” Samantha said. “Where are your disciples now?"

  "Some are more loyal than others,” Victoria sneered.

  "You don't know loyalty to anyone but yourself. You left Rain in the flames!"

  Victoria raised her voice, “You were always the good one, even though you hated us all. Now look who's the bad one!"

  "It's my time now.” She stood and circled her. “I simply wanted to be free!"

  "You are not free.” The woman laughed and nudged Jean with her shoe. “You did not kill the maker. Did he come up with that one?"

  "At least we won't live by your rules."

  "Father is dead for nothing. You want to break the rules? You take it up with Mestiphles.” Victoria's eyes swirled red with evil. She shortened a touch and her hair lightened as she shape shifted into her fair sister.

  The two stepped face to face, and the true declared, “Then, I'll see you in hell!"

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 30

  Victoria lunged for Samantha, but was pushed to the floor. Samantha could get rough, too.

  "I do so much for this look,” the disguised Victoria snic
kered. Samantha gripped her now short blonde hair and banged her head on the floor.

  The other shoved Samantha away and gave her a telepathic push. Samantha skimmed over the growing flames and slammed against the wall. She leaped up and pulled the ceremonial ax off its wall mount. With a roar she charged toward Victoria, who looked around for defense. Finding Eric's nightstick, she waited as Samantha leaped through the ring of fire and into the battleground with her.

  Victoria ducked the swinging ax and shoved the nightstick at Samantha's gut. The two Samanthas came apart again and circled around each other. The real Samantha raised her ax, and Victoria brought up the nightstick. They charged for each other again. The ax came down on the nightstick, and the ballroom doors flung open.

  The women lowered their weapons, but not their guard. Victoria squinted through the hot flames at the dark figure in the door as it walked through the fire and into the hot battleground. Jean lifted his head briefly, but his eyes closed again. Samantha struggled to see the face as Victoria returned to her normal self.

  "Gaston?"

  "Victoria.” He bowed his blonde head. His pants and white blouse were spotted with ash, but he presented himself to Samantha. “We've never actually met."

  Victoria grimaced.

  Gaston must have caught her thoughts. “I have not changed since we last met, Victoria."

  Samantha stepped away and kneeled by Jean.

  "I don't think he's going to help us,” Jean whispered. His eyes widened at the weapons still hanging on the wall.

  "I bet you still are the same rebel bastard,” Victoria sneered at Gaston.

  "Are you still a traitor?"

  "I learned it from you.” Her eyes swirled. “Brother."

  Gaston shifted the space around him and instantly stood at Victoria's side. He grabbed her by the hair and arched Victoria's head back.

  "It must run in the family!” He screamed in her ear. “Antonio is gone, Sister. I've learned many things in my captivity, but now my spirit is free to take vengeance!"