Chapter 2: Judgment and Blood!
I woke up in ANOTHER cement room, only this one was smaller, and I wasn't the only one there. There were two other girls; one with long black hair, purple eyes, and really pale skin, and one with short pink hair, light blue eyes, and again, pale skin. After a few moments of silence, I decided to try small talk.
"Hi. I'm Bailey. Does anyone know where we are?" The pink haired girl was first to speak.
"Hey. I'm Danni. Call me anything else, and you might wanna sleep with your eyes open. Anyway, I have no idea where the hell we are. I was on a date with this really cute girl and all of a sudden some freak comes in and smacks me upside the head! Then I wake up here with emo girl over there and Miss. Scream-In-Her-Sleep!" I blushed. I scream in my sleep? "What's your story"
"I was kidnapped by these guys who brought me to their warehouse. Then another dude broke in and started yelling at my kidnapper. The last thing I remember is him biting me."
"Bitten? Huh, right before that guy knocked me out my date bit me. Oh well, what happened to you, Emo Chick?" She looked at us for a few seconds, meanwhile I heard a strange voice saying, "Leader of the pack...take your place on the throne". No one here said that, I think.
"My name is Lydia. I got into a car accident and a man saved me. Like us, and the people you two last saw, he had very pale skin. After he did so, I passed out."
I was about to ask her if he bit her, when the door opened and the same guy who appeared at the warehouse walked in. Danni made a face of horror at the sight of him, and Lydia just looked...well, like nothing was happening.
"Hey, Cupcake. The prince wants to see you now." I stood up and followed him out, praying that I'm not walking into my death. Who knows, maybe doing as they say will save my life.
We went to a large stage with a few people sitting in the audience, watching. He had me sit on my knees with my arms tied behind my back. I looked back at the audience, and a few people stood out- mainly because when I looked at them, I heard those voices again.
I looked at this girl with blond hair pulled back in a clip, wearing a black dress suit and black glasses, and heard the voice say, "The Dark Daughter of Janus". Then I looked at a girl with pink hair held back in a similar clip wearing a stripper's "outfit", if you can call it that, and heard, "Susan...weak child who lose it's way".
I was torn away from the small crowd when a large man carrying a buster blade walked onto the stage and stood to my right. It scared me to think of what he's going to use that blade for. I looked to my left and saw a smaller man wearing a fancy suit with blond hair standing beside me. I heard that voice say, "The Jester uses the Pawn and sleeps on a bed of lies" He looked at me, then at the crowd and started talking.
"Good evening. My fellow Kindred. My apologies for disrupting any business or interfering with prior engagements you may have had this evening. It's unfortunate that the affair that gathers us together tonight is a troubling one. We are here because the laws that bind our society- the laws that are the fabric of our existence have been broken"
While he was talking I heard someone in the crowd- a tall bald man who the voice I keep hearing calls, "Skelter", whispering to the guy next to him- a guy with short dark hair whose name I believe has to do with the number between 8 and 10...wait, what?
"As prince of this city, I am within my rights to grant or deny the Kindred of this city the privilege of siring. Many of you have come to me seeking permission, and I have endorsed some of these requests. However, our own Eric Voerman, was not refused permission. Indeed, my permission was never sought at all. They were caught shortly after the Embrace of this childe. Now, normally the Sire would be put too death, but we were not able to obtain him. It pains me to tell you this, but it seems he has joined the Sabbat"
There was a moment where everything went silent except for a few gasps. The so-called Dark Daughter in the front row seemed to be upset. Huh. "I have decided to call a Blood Hunt on Eric Voerman. He has betrayed us and left this childe without a Sire. Without a Sire, most Childer are doomed to walk the Earth, never knowing their place- their responsibility and more importantly, the laws they must obey. Therefore, I have decided that-" He was cut off by the 9 guy.
"This is bullshit!" A redheaded girl and the Skelter guy held him back. A few other people stood up with him. The "Prince" was quiet for a few moments, though it seemed like forever. Am I going to die? What are they? What am I?
"If Mr. Rodriguez would let me finish. I have decided to let this Kindred live." I let out a breath, not even noticing I was holding it. "They shall be instructed in the ways of our kind and be granted the same rights. Let no one say I am unsympathetic to the flights and causes of our community. I thank you all for attending these proceedings and I hope their significance is not lost. Good evening."
As everyone was leaving, the "Prince" led me into the back of the theatre, the odd looking guy who saved me, followed close behind. We went to a back door, and the "Prince" started talking to me.
"Know that this is not out of generosity. I feel you may be of use. Therefore, I have decided for you to go with Bertrum Tung to Santa Monica and he shall teach you the ways of our kind. After he believes you are ready, he will test your abilities. If you pass the test, he will contact me and I will tell him what you are to do next. That is all you need to know for now. Do you have any questions before I must go?"
I thought about it for a minute, and said, "Yes, what are you people? And...Am I still human?" He sighed, as if I was just an annoying little kid.
"No, you are not mortal any longer. You- We- are vampires, although we prefer the word, Kindred instead. This is your new life and you must cut the strings to your past life, for you are no longer the girl you were before." ...It's not like I have anyone to go home to. My family is dead, and my boyfriend had just broken up with me the night before all this happened.
"Wait! What about those other girls! What's going to happen to them?" They may end up like I almost did; dead.
"That is none of your concern. Know you're place, fledgling. I must be off, now. Good evening." He walked off. I sighed. I hope they'll be okay. I was so deep in thought thinking about all that's happened today, I didn't hear the man named Bertrum talking to me.
"Hello! Snap out of it!...Damn Malks." I snapped back to reality and looked at him.
"Malks? What's a Malk?" He chuckled.
"Malk: It's short for Malkavian, which just so happens to be the clan you're from. It means you hear stuff and see stuff other Kindred can't."
"Wait! So the voices I heard in the theatre, they're in my head?"
"Yep. Though, you seem to be brighter than most Malks. You don't talk in riddles, which is a start. I have to admit I'm kinda looking forward to seeing what you're made of." I nodded then I had to sit down, feeling weak. "You okay, Fledgling?"
"Yeah..Just a little dizzy" I tried to stand up and nearly fell, if it had not been for Bertrum grabbing my arm.
"You haven't had a drink yet, have you?"
Everything was spinning and my head was pounding. "A drink of what?"
"Oy, didn't you hear what LaCroix said? You're basically a vampire now. You need to drink blood."
"If it gets rid of this headache, I'd try anything." I looked around. "Where do I get it?"
Bertrum did a facepalm. "Where do ya think? I think there's someone in that ally down there. If you can get to him, suck his blood. Don't worry, it'll come natural. Just don't suck 'em dry, got it?" I nodded and he helped me stand up.
I walked, or uh, limped, into the ally, clinging to the wall for support. The guy was fairly young, looked like a doctor or something and was standing next to a car, which appeared to be broken down. I went over to him, and he looked at me frightened at first, then his eyes held concern. I took a few steps away from the wall towards him, then collapsed. He ran over to me and sat me up, leaning against his chest.
"What's wrong, Miss? Did you get hurt? I don't see any blood..." Then I realized it; I was leaning with my face nearly on his neck. This is my chance! I moaned, as if in more pain than I already was in, and buried my face in the neck. While he was talking to me, trying to keep me awake, I dug my fangs into his neck. I hesitated, but after getting that first taste of blood, I suddenly knew what to do. I sucked slowly, trying to savor each taste of blood. When I started getting less blood, I remembered what Bertrum said and stopped sucking. I instantly felt my energy return, and my headache went away.
I was ready to run away, but I noticed the guy was in a daze. He seemed like those people on TV who get hypnotized, though I doubt I could make him cluck like a chicken if I snapped my fingers.
I walked back to Bertrum, amazed by how I feel. He smirked at me. "You seemed to get the hang of it easily. I liked how you faked dying in order to get the man to trust you. That talent will come in handy some time. But if it doesn't work, be ready to attack them, force them to let you suck their blood. Understand?" I nodded. "Good. Now, we better get going. I'm expecting someone back home anytime and I wouldn't want to make them wait. You don't have any problem with the sewers, do you?"
"No, why?" I tried to act like I didn't know why we wouldn't just take a cab or something.
"Isn't it obvious? I can't the streets, the Kine will freak. It may seem funny at first, but sooner or later the police will come after you and they don't just arrest you. They just start shooting." I nodded again, unsure of what to say, and I followed him to the closest manhole. Be fore we entered, he turned to me.
"Say, Cupcake, I don't think I've learned you're name yet, which must mean you really were nothing before considering I know of all the important people in LA." He smirked.
"Gee, thanks." I said sarcastically. "I'm Bailey, and apparently I'm a Malkavian Fledgling." I smiled and went into the manhole while he stood there staring at me.
A/N: Yay! Second chapter! XD This chapter is longer than the last, like I promised. I hope it's not too bad.
Gary: Yeah, after all she DID spend all that time rewriting it 3 times!
A/N: Shut up! . The first two times I tried to hard and I ended up rushing like with the first chapter!
Thanks for reading! 3
