Chapter One
Worries
A full circle whole against the black tapestry of the sky shone bright that evening, iridescent light filtering through the shuddering leaves in translucent slithers. Slithers of moon light illuminates fragments of the isolated grave yard. Over in the rural distance, trees that seem so beautiful in day - lush with life, twittering with birds - now became dead and sinister, each leave plucked. The branch limbs creaking, in a way similar to the sound of floor boards being stepped on by the murderous intruder who lurks upstairs. A night air pierced the flesh of those who were human, but not the un-dead."Chilly spells" were the least of the un-dead's troubles.
Better wear a cardigan... the autumn wind teases as it sweeps by. A shiver run's up Gregory's back with the eerie imagery of the cemetery's ghosts walking about as they try to escape from death's unforgiving hands.. Howling in the tree tops - pleading for help.
This is no place for a rose of a girl.
Gregory however needed this howling wind to hide his sister's devastated sobs. Tears, which would rouse Rookery who lurked so closely by..night after night. It took all of Gregory's will-power to restrain himself from snapping that man's neck. Like velvet sweeping towards a tomb-stone covered thickly in moss, the wind swirled up autumn leaves around little Anna's feet.
Pacing the far end of the grave yard,leaves crunching under his anxious steps. Gregory looked up at the sky in frustration seeking an answer, groaning and rubbing his face momentarily he exhaled dropping his hands to his sides. Unsure of what to do, all he could do was occasionally grunt while demonstrating distressed body language.
Thoughtfully, he began pacing again this time; churning every possibility over and over in his mind.
"She has to know.."
Huffing once he ran his hands up his porcupine quills of hair.
"I just have to tell Anna, we feed, and we get the hell of out Scotland!" thinking stupidly out loud, he whipped around.
"not a soul in site, just the wind rustling the leaves"
Such simple words surged a small current of control in his chest, a flicker of control over the situation. A flicker of hope - it died, leaving Gregory feeling completely helpless. With his cold finger tips to his temples, he shut his eyes and thought back to the hasty conversation he had with his parents before they left.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Two weeks at the very most dear" his mother responded gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's going to be okay"
"I know Mother"
He'd been left alone before, he could protect himself, but also protecting Anna?
"I don't know if I can -"
"Gregory, doubt is a fear we cannot afford" his father interjected sternly, eyes serious, voice fatherly "We trust you"
"Trust me father" the teenage immortal thought through gritted teeth, "when I say: I cannot do this."
Only a couple of hours ago a vampire from the clan had traveled to Anna and Gregory's hiding place bearing bad news.
It was a silver dusk with clouds dappled over the sunset warning a thunderstorm.
She was no more than eighteen years old with glossy black hair that flowed to her waist, at her throat she wore a peculiar black gem. She was ethereal in her elegant appearance. At the other end of the grave yard, holding her Victorian era skirts and treading carefully over the graves. Vampiric red eyes flickering around - seeking something out. Gregory called out to the stranger.
"Gregory?"
"Yes?" he responded, skeptically moving closer to the stranger, he saw her chest rise then fall in a gust of relief, and a small smile spread over porcelain features.
"Gregory, my name is Elizabeth" moving closer to him, her hands floating delicately outwards as Anna's did when she was being careful.
"I'm not a threat" she promised...
"I''ll be the judge of that." Gregory thought bracing himself for any traitorous conflict.
"Your parents - Freda and Frederick Sackville-Bagg, correct?"
He nodded.
Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly, "I'm afraid I bear bad news for you and your sister"
She gestured him to sit down, of course he refused. The words cascaded from her reddened lips in low solemn undertones and Gregory's all ready darkened world inked over.
"You're parents have been captured by the vampire hunters three days ago"
No. No. No. No.
"M-My brother?"
"He escaped, but is extremely weak" Elizabeth replied gravely, "The clan is searching"
"Are my parents.. d-dead?" it boiled his question split his chest and spluttered off his tongue. Why hadn't she clarified such crucial information!?
"Still existing"
"Existing..right.. we're not technically 'living' " Gregory though and his non-beating heart proved this.
"The hunters are not wishing to destroy them.." her voice dropped to a hardly audible whisper "they want the stone"
"Right.." Gregory nodded, of course they did. That red jewel that would either A) Send their kind to the depths of hell or B) Return their mortality.
"The clan is putting plans together as we speak" Elizabeth assured with a nod,
Hope.
"You and your sister must keep moving, Scotland is no longer safe for you"
Gregory was numb to Elizabeth's words. Unresponsive. Stiff as a corpse.
"Tell little Anna, and leave tonight"
Once the sunset disappeared, so did she.
An owl hooted in the distance, breaking Gregory's reverie.
"Tonight"
He had to pull himself together, without his sanity Anna would suffer and he would let is family down.
"Doubt is a fear we cannot afford" his father's voice echoed in his ears, wobbling his mind.
They couldn't leave tonight neither of them had fed. In addition, Anna was emotional! She would need a whole night and day to adjust to their situation, one thousand tears, and a good long cry would be needed before she was ready to leave. Regardless, they'd leave tomorrow night. One night and day for Anna and himself to digest everything, and one night and day for Gregory to come up with an escape plan. He plucked his leather jacket up off a tomb-stone, and slipped his arms through it, pulling the leather tightly to him.
Gregory's flicker of hope ignited again, spreading like a fire in his chest, "I can do this"
A twig snapped, someone was lurking behind the cemetery gates. Gregory's internal fire blared.
Author's Note:
Just pretend Anna is about eight years old - so a-lot younger than she was in the movie. I hope you enjoyed! This is going to be a short story, so one more chapter after this ._. Reviews are appreciated xoxoxo