Chapter 3
I stepped back, my hands shaking behind me as they clumsily gripped at the wall. He was much closer now, too close for comfort and I couldn't find the power within myself to fight back. I was too frightened and yet at the same time, entranced.
He laughed at my shy and awkward attempt at trying to stand up to him. His eyes watched me with amusement but also with a secret sense of seriousness. I pushed off from the wall and clenched my hands into fists, reining in my confidence and acting calm.
"What do you want here stranger? As far as I'm aware, this is my territory and hunting ground."
The vampires red eyes were very steady and still on my face. His voice which was so beautiful and smooth became quieter "I'm very aware of that myself. However, it couldn't be helped and I was hoping you'd forgive me since it is you I have come all this way to see."
I brushed a strand of crimson hair away fro my face in frustration. The blood from his victim was distracting me and every so often I would look over at the flames not so far away. If this stranger attacked me, I wouldn't be strong enough to hold him off.
"Well what do you want?"
"Oh we couldn't possibly discuss such matters here. That would be most improper. You should feed my lady, your skin in so very pale and your eyes tremble with hunger. I see your need and I will leave now, but I will return later."
The vampire brought his hand up and flicked his dark hair away from his eyes. It was like he was imitating me, in some childish game. I watched in fascination as his eyes slowly warmed, the red glowing brighter until they dimmed and became his natural eye colour. Gold.
I frowned and folded my arms "very well then. But I at least want to know your name and your reason for being here."
Again, he copied my actions, a smile coming onto his face. "My name is Kyle Warlock. I'm a messenger vampire, and I've come here to deliver the council of fire's message to you."
"The council...of fire?" I tilted my head to the side in confusion "what would they want from me?"
Kyle laughed and peered at me closely, his head tilting to the side and mirroring my expression "I already told you, it'll have to wait until later."
With a smile he leaned away from me and walked away casually, his hands in his pockets. I frowned and called after him "but if its important then I have a right to know."
He turned back to face me, but it was so dark now that the flames behind us had died down that I couldn't see his face. Only his golden eyes were visible in the shadows "time is something we have plenty of Kori Anders. Patience is one of the many things you'll have to learn if you want to be a coven leader. And also...knowing ones place is very, very important. Don't ever forget that as a new blood, you have no authority over me."
With that said he turned and disappeared into the darkness. I looked out into the night for some more minuets, still watching the spot where the mysterious vampire had vanished from sight.
A messenger? I found that odd. Why would someone who was so obviously a very powerful and full fledged vampire do something as petty as delivering messages?
I glanced over at the body which had been burned earlier, but upon inspection I realised with shock that the body was gone. All that was left was ash.
So, Kyle really is a powerful vampire. His fire power is greater than my own, the flames must have been really hot for them to totally destroy the evidence of that girl's body.
Turning away from the ashes, I jumped up onto the building and climbed up onto the roof. Kyle had been right, I was hungry, and desperate for blood.
Scanning the area, I couldn't sense any humans nearby so I jumped over the roof tops, searching. I then heard the sound of traffic and my feet skidded to a halt just in time. There below me was the road, a few cars passing by every now and then. No one seemed to notice me as I crouched down, my eyes watching, searching.
At times like this, I had to try and forget that they had feelings, that they had families to go home to, that they were loved by people and had lives of their own.
I was about to jump down onto a car and make a swift kill when I froze. The driver, I knew that driver.
I jumped down onto the ground and made my eyes adjust to the speed of the car as it passed me by. Sure enough, I caught a glimpse of my Uncle Galfore, going about his business just like everyone else. If I hadn't of seen him before hand, he would have surely died.
I suddenly felt so sick and horrified with myself that I knew I couldn't kill tonight. I ran away, cold hard tears running down my face and falling to the floor like hail stones.
OOO
"Kori?"
The crickets chirped nosily in the night light, and the cool wind lifted my hair so that it danced in the breeze. I was at peace again now that I had fed, but a heavy weight had settled over my spirit. I had broken into a hospital undetected and found the blood stores which had been donated. I hadn't killed anyone, but I was still a little shaky after finding out that the man I was going to kill earlier was actually my Uncle.
I was aware of everything, and yet it was like I was suspended from it all. Lost in my own little world.
"Kori what happened? You disappeared after you came outside." Jinx sat down next to me as I gazed across at the city, my knees drawn up as I hugged them close to me as a sort of comfort.
"Nothing. I just got distracted." My voice sounded harsh and forced, Jinx peered a me sideways her brows pulled together in concern.
"It doesn't seem like nothing" She said softly, and though I didn't answer, I was secretly thankful for her company.
I stared at the buildings lights flickering before me, and for a long time we just sat there silently. After awhile I asked quietly "how long did it take you?"
Jinx's cat like eye's looked at me curiously "your going to have to be more specific."
I sighed heavily "how long did it take for you to get accustomed to this life? How long is it until I can get used to this and put my human feelings aside?"
Jinx frowned "its not a bad thing, to have a human side."
"Its a weakness."
Suddenly her voice turned sharp and intimidating "you sound just like Slade."
I looked at her in shock, my hands clenching into fists "what did you say?"
She stood up, and turned away from me. For a moment I thought rather childishly that perhaps she had turned against me like Jade. I knew I wasn't fit to be a leader, I knew I had faults, but that didn't mean that I wanted everyone to question my judgement. I had to keep everyone together, and make the right decisions, if that wasn't enough I wasn't leading any old group. This was a coven of vampires. In my eyes, it was okay to be a little unsure.
Jinx answered with her back turned to me. "You didn't know him very well, but I guess you didn't get the chance to. He was very cold and calculating, but that didn't come from him alone. He didn't have a human side, he just simply forgot his emotions and became the man you met. Slade saw emotions and feelings as a weakness, so he just...embraced the vampire way. If you did that Kori, Blackfire would come back for sure, and then we'd be right back to square one."
She turned to face me, and I noticed that she looked more unsettled than usual. Something more than this conversation was troubling her.
I sighed "your right. I know your right. Its just that...I cant seem to find the right balance to having human emotions but being a vampire. When we hunt, we do forget our emotions for awhile right? What if I lost them for good?"
Jinx finally gave me a small smile. "I have faith in you Kori, you'll find a way. Just promise me that you wont forget your emotions completely. To loose them would mean that you loose yourself, and then once that happened think about what would happen to Richard. That would effect him too."
I looked down in shame "I hadn't thought of that."
She shrugged "lets forget about it for now. Why don't you tell me whats really bothering you?"
Getting up from the cool ground, we made our way back to the warehouse. On the way, I explained to her my encounter with the mysterious messenger Kyle Warlock. At the mention of his name I saw an instant reaction on her face, which she quickly tried to cover up. It did not sit well with me that she had looked startled and afraid, maybe even terrified after I had spoken of him. Was he really such a big deal? Had I been right that he was in fact as strong and powerful as I had first thought?
"So, he'll be visiting us later?" Her usual calm and confident voice shook slightly.
"That's what he said. What do you think I should do?"
She stopped walking, and I realised that we had reached the warehouse. Her pink slitted eyes narrowed "you should tell Raven, she'll need to know."
I looked at her oddly for a moment as if to ask - why?
Jinx sighed "look its not my place to say. She had a past history with him, and she has a few secrets that need to be covered up around this time. It involves Gar."
Frowning in thought, we walked forward together. What could Gar have to do with anything. I mean he's fun, lovable Gar. What could he have done?
"It'll be the full moon soon...this is a difficult time for Raven. And look, even though I used to be in another coven I still knew the secret, and not once did I give it away. This matter is between Gar and Raven, but if Kyle ever found out, he would report back to the council and then we'd all be in trouble." Her voice rang with fear.
I was becoming concerned, this was a matter that effected everyone. If that was the case, then surely I had to know what the couple were covering up.
"W-what is the secret? What do they want to cover up?"
Jinx sighed heavily "I guess you have to know since your the coven leader. You know that Gar is a shape shifter vampire. But at the time of the full moon, his DNA becomes distorted and fragmented. For one night he...he becomes..."
Dread and fear crept into my mind, my own voice betrayed my feelings as it trembled. "What does he become?"
She looked at me square in the eyes, her own slitted eyes stared at me, as if looking into the deepest corners of my soul. "A werewolf."
ooo
Dun dun duuuuuuun, I must be so annoying, what with these frequent cliff hangers, but doesn't it make things more interesting? I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review and tell me what you think!
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