Catholic church on Brundage HQ to S. Cross. They hold ordinary church upside while secretly they have the organization under the surface. Catherine comes to the once a week review, late. They just finished as she got there. Father Yinnigan was holding the review today and he looked pretty soar that she missed it.
"Father I am sorry I was late but some things held me" she tried to explain.
"What held you?" he wondered fidgeting with his fingers a lot. Catherine understood that was the first sign of Father being angry.
"Well" she thinks back to school. Ester was very hungry this afternoon and it was no where near lunch. He calmly asks for my hand. I didn't think he was going to try during class. First when he grabs my hand the first time he accidentally nips my finger then he offers to clean it with his mouth. He pulled out a napkin from his vest so I turned back to my paper when I felt a breathe. I screamed and yanked my hand and for the disruption I got detention. "It was so embarrassing father."
"Oh the Lancaster contract correct? What a reckless vampire he is" he said trying to get a good view on what his daughter thinks of this vampire.
"No just when he turns hungry but then he is a well v-uman. Well behaved and he has knowledge of the great writers." She said almost admiring him.
"I see and what is your relationship daughter with him?" he stops walking and looks into his daughter's eyes.
"What father wha- why would you think of it like that?" he did not say anything just kept staring for a real answer " well he is a vampire but…no he is my job and duty and I will complete it with both sides comfortable and happy." She said. They stare into each others eyes. Finally He smiled.
"Good girl now here" he gave her a small gold velvet box. She took it from him then opened it. To her surprise it was two golden cross earrings.
"Wow father are you letting me get my piercing?" she asked.
"No I am not these are for him. He has been asking for them right, so I think it is proper for you to go give it to him and hurry." He said. "These are new smaller but powerful. With these he would not have to where that bulky necklace. Also will cut his thirst down at least 70 un like the other that cut it only 50" Catherine closed the box and bowed. She quickly left for the castle.
His castle was on the peak of the valley mountains. Tall gates surround the creepy castle. Catherine needed a ride so she went to her good friend Laura and asked to borrow the car. Lara always let her borrow her car for a small favor but that she will ask for later. Catherine had a long drive ahead of her. As she drove down some shady streets she sees something peculiar. What seem to be two red eyes that peer from above the roof tops but before she thought anything bad she mistook it for a broken sign. It bothered her but she had a mission to do.
Ester was going to enjoy a drink from the source until there was a knock on the door.
'Please I must answer that master." Gabriella pleaded.
"Straggler just a straggler." He said.
"What straggler knows this place or would come to the door sir?" Ester finally resigned and she slowly made her way to the door. She fixed her collar first before opening the door.
"Hello Catherine what brings you to" the door shuts before she could finish. Gabriella turns to her master.
"See straggler" Gabriella looked angry at him. "Fine see what she wants but I am sucking more then usual tonight.
Outside Catherine stood confused. She heard the word straggler but didn't know what they mean't. The door opened again and Gabriella invites her in.
"Please I am sorry master is hungry again and thought you were just a"
"Straggler? Well I guess this straggler might have not come here to deliver the new seals you asked for." She said about to leave once more. Ester became intrigued.
"New seals they are done? My apologies miss Catherine of S.Cross. Gabriella has butterfingers so" he stopped mid sentence as a bag of cold blood hit his face. A mad Gabriella went to sit in the living room.
They all gather in the living room as Ester is moved by the beauty of the new seals.
"They are amazing. The Catholics have out done themselves this time." He said.
"Yes they also made improvements on them." Catherine added.
"Improvements? Like what" asked Gabriella a little worried.
"Nothing much but it is alike the neck tie but stronger." She explained.
"Stronger huh well I should put them on now. Wait you two come here. I want the two who is special to me in this life placed them on." The two girls face light up. He handed them one each and removed the necklace. His brown hair turn silver and pale skin returned. He then got on one knee.
"Both of them on this ear." He instructed. First Gabriella placed hers on his ear lobe. Then Catherine just above it. The tip of the earrings were silver so it scorched through easily. His complexion began to change dramatically. His once light brown hair turn a obvious brown and his skin was much more than peach and his eyes hazel. He was more like a human than ever.
He stood for a moment then fell back to his chair.
"Is something the matter master?" Gabriella asked.
"It drained my power so quickly. I am not used to it yet but I will be okay. A small trickle of blood came from his ear lobe and he felt the small warmth. He went back to reach for it and was amazed. "Truly I am blessed."
The next day Catherine went to school very early to see him enter. Only a lonely Gabriella showed up. At lunch period the two went up to the roof to talk and eat. It was silent first until Catherine build up the courage to speak.
"Where?"
"Master is at home. He has been acting strange lately since the earrings." She said rubbing her naked neck.
"this is the first time you had not worn anything to cover it." said Catherine surprised at the earrings.
"Hehe yeah but I find it strange like a change of character. I don't know how much longer he will play human." She said looking at her wrist rosary.
"Play human?"
"Master is a lonely vampire who seeks to be…" first Catherine thought she was at a lost of words. "Master I can smell you hiding." Ester appeared from the shadow, changed. His hair shorten with a cut. His archaic suit turns up-to date. Catherine was amazed of the changed and mystified.
"This will be hard from me Gabriella huh." He said. There was a hint of sadness in his voice. "So Catherine what do you think?"
"you look like a human." She said. Ester smiled then turned to Gabriella. She looked disappointed.
"I see do you still think that way?" he said softly. He knelt down to see her face. She looked up at him with big watery eyes.
"It is as Catherine says you look human." His hand hesitated to wipe the tears from her eyes. It was strange to him also. He did not want to be cured.
"dry your eyes Gabriella lets get to class." Ester helped her up then Catherine and silently the three walked back to class.
That night there was another attack. A second vampire in the town. She is necklace and cares nothing but to satisfy her needs. She too is lonely and has caught the scent of a weak but candidate for her unlife partner. S. Cross has called Catherine to make sure it wasn't Ester. Catherine was unsure and called the castle.
"Hello this is Catherine"
"Hello Catherine."
"Did Ester ever leave your side to night?"
"No he is in his study all day. He has not yet said a word about anything."
"I see I am sorry but there is rumor to be another vampire here." Gabriella gasped.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes do not let Ester know that we know, we think he might…" the phone goes silent.
"Of course." Gabriella hangs up. She walks to her master in hopes to fix things. She undoes her collar.
"Master it is time." He does not say anything but stare at an old portrait of a inside the castle filled with others. "Master you worry me please drink from me. Master?" Her calls he could hear them slightly as he tries to feel for the disturbance. There is something in this town now that calls to him he is confused to what it is.
"I will not drink from you tonight thank you Gabriella. I am not so thirsty anymore." She understood he did not want to be disturbed anymore and left the room almost heart broken.
Ester dreams some one calling him. Wanting him to call her. He does not know her name but his loneliness ales him. He calls for her even though he does not know her name. He can feel her coming until he awoke. It was morning. He could not feel her anymore. He gets up and gets ready for school.
Catherine gets a call from HQ. She is half awake.
"Hello this is Catherine."
"Catherine you say that Ester has not bit anyone but Gabriella correct?"
"Yes"
"Well Gunter has reported differently before he died. He caught Ms. Foxe being drained from her wrist. He has evidence that proves it. This means you have just assisted a rogue vampire. That is room for dismissal or death." Catherine was too shocked to say anything. "Get more proof and a confession if possible and I might be able to save you. Daughter please hurry."
"Yes father." She said throwing the covers off. She could not believe he did it and that she helped him. Did he not know? She had to find out but could she rat him out for her own sake?
Class started normally. Ms Foxe returned and she did not act strange to any one. Ester seemed distant and Gabriella was sad about something. Ms. Foxe had assigned a new reading assignment and they were to read it and give a short summary. It came time for them to give the summary and Ms. Foxe was Ester.
He stood then irritatingly answered "I did not read it Elizabeth." The class room almost gasped together. Ms. Foxe was angry.
"I need to speak with you in the teachers lounge at lunch then." she said. Ester did not seem to care and sat back down. Lunch came and Ms. Foxe walked him into the lounge. Gabriella went alone on the rooftop to be alone and Catherine followed them. She stood outside the door trying to listen. She was surprisingly scolding him. She waited for Ester just outside to try and ask him.
Ester came out but Ms. Foxe did not.
"Catherine were you listening to me get scolded?" he asked calmly. He did not seem to have done anything to her but she couldn't put him pass it.
"Ester did you?" before she could finish Ms. Foxe cane out straightening her blouse and went back to the classroom. "Never mind…no did you?"
"Hehehe I am not going to lie to you." Ester looked her straight in the eye "Yes I did and I am well aware of the consequences."
Catherine slowly reached for her gun then pointed it at his face. She was about to pull the trigger when a hand grabbed her wrist and tightly squeezed. It was Gabriella.
"I can't let you attack master" her face was crazed and her eyes turn that of an animal. Ester chuckled then left. Gabriella threw the gun away and followed. They left Catherine ashamed. She reluctantly called it in.
That night Ester fed on his pet for a moment. She did not feel the same as it used to feel more enchanting.
"I am tired of your blood" he bluntly said. Gabriella wanted to apologize but she sensed that he would not hear it. She almost made it out the door when a second voice came out.
"I might enjoy it my dear." Suddenly Gabriella could not move and some hand tore open her blouse. Ester turned to see who it was. He saw this little women slim about to drain Gabriella. Her hair red along with her dress. Ester was intrigued greatly. Gabriella was close to death when she stopped and threw her out. Gabriella fell down a flight of stairs and stopped in front of the door. She did not try to move. If she stayed still she would be okay for now.
The red scarlet liked her fingers then spat the blood on the floor. "Disgusting dogs blood." She said.
"I am Ester Lancaster who are you?" Ester asked. She smiled and it dazzled him.
"I am Carmen." She said appearing behind him. He turned quickly to face her. Her eyes were also crimson red but covered in black. He recognized that she had been on a blood high for centuries now. "You are not alone in our house anymore." She said then embraced him. He tightly held her back.
"I am not alone." He quickly knelt and she offered her hand.
"Drink form my wrist and we should be bonded by that." She said. Ester did as he was told and bit into her wrist. "Good we have been in hiding for far to long it is time again for the vampires to take back the night." Ester did not care for her plan but he did like the idea of more alike him.
The S.Cross gathered at the gate. They had organized an attack this night. Catherine was leading them in. When they kicked opened the door they saw Gabriella body lying still. Catherine quickly went to her side. She was unconscious but okay. The others went upstairs as she watched her. Catherine saw the two puncture marks on her neck and lean in to see it more clearly. It was close together. When she thought back to seeing Ester's fangs the where not close together. The it hit her another vampire is here.
The group upstairs met the couple. Ester in a haze near his coffin. Carmen was about to enter the coffin but they had barged the door. She smiled as more blood has arrived. Ester tried to get up but her blood was strong and old.
Catherine made it upstairs to a large fight. She had already taken care of a lot of them and she had hardly any scratches. Two attack her from each sides with large silver blades. She caught them both but the silver began to burn through her hand. When a third person charged with a silver rapier. Before he reached her Ester had torn him apart in a flash. Carmen smiled and threw the two away. There was a score of them left.
Catherine saw his eyes blacken with the vampires high.
"Ester!" she yelled. "why are you doing this?"
"Why?" Ester thought it was a strange question. Carmen then forced him to look in her eyes.
"So we can be safe and together. Remember never alone for the next millenniums for eternity." It made Ester happy to hear.
"You weren't alone you hade me and Gabriella." Catherine yelled in tears. "Gabriella is dieing" That hit something in his head. The black parts of his eyes started to disappear.
"They only liked you for being there loyal dog but with me you can be free" she said.
"Your wrong I did not care that you were vampires or not but I did like spending all that time with you." She countered. More of the blackened space retreated. Carmen new she had lost him and swatted him away. He hit the coffin over and half of him fell into the wall. The score of men continued to fight with Carmen along with Catherine. Ester began to awake his fangs tried to extend but the earrings kept holding him back. The rapier in his hands did not burn him and this was what he needed. He must not turn vampire to fight her.
He fully awakens when he hears Gabriella call for him.
"Gabriella" he mutters. Carmen laughs at there attempts to kill her. The remaining men grew tired. When a cut slid up her spine.
"Ester you fool." She said making space between them. The wound slowly healed. She saw that his hands was no burning like her back and wondered. "Why are you able to wield their weapons?"
"I am not much of a vampire" he said then launched at her. She made sure to dodge his blade carefully. She started to show that she was faster and stronger. It seemed to be helpless. She knocks him to a wall and he falls to his knees. He is tired. Carmen stood laughing. Ester saw the red skies behind her through the large windows.
Catherine too was tired and knew that if they had a chance of defeating her they needed Ester to remove the earrings.
"Ester" she called "your earrings it's the only way." Carmen wondered what the human knew about those earrings. They where not strange in particular to her.
"Heh I don't need it. My pride as a vampire tells me I can kill her without removing one." He taunted.
"Oh I see those warring limit your power. Tell me by how much?" Carmen was interested.
"Well not by much perhaps 80 percent." He said with a smirk.
"0….hehehehe" she thought he was bluffing. Suddenly the air thickens and the rapier from his ands and one other weapon fires towards her. She stops them and struggled to hold them back. She then found a weapon on the floor that shook. She made a plan. She let the two weapons go and darted with the silver sword on the floor. Quickly she jabbed it into his stomach and pinned him to the wall.
"ESTER!" screamed Catherine. Carmen laughed as she twisted the sword and Ester yelled in pain.
"You are right" she whispers I his ear. "you are not much of a vampire. You should have released your full power when you had a chance. Now you will die like a human." Ester started to laugh.
'You are right I am not much of a vampire. I can still tell time." She wondered what he meant. He then grabbed her and twisted her around. She saw the two weapons he threw weren't going to hit her but the tinted windows. She tried to struggle as the sun rose. She began to scream as he then pulled her closer and the silver burned her back. In less then a minute she burst into nothing. The burst was strong enough to knock everyone back. The sword dug in deeper.
When Catherine saw that it was over she ran to him. It was hard to remove the sword but she had too. His body fell as she yanked it out. He did not say a word or moved. She shook him to wake up.
"Please Ester wake up." She pleaded. Her tears began to fall like rivers on her cheek.
"Let me taste your blood before I go." He finally said. She was happy to hear him talk but her blood was not going to help him. The earrings had made him more human and he would need to be treated as a human or remove the earrings. She reached for them to try and remove it for him but he stopped her. He then leaned over and tried to bite but stopped mid way. She screams out his name. One of her tears fall on his neck. It doesn't move but stays till. The little droplet slowly begins to bubble then sizzle.
Catherine sits alone in her room. Thinking of what had transpired three nights ago. Nothing was the same. Gabriella had survived but she did not return to school. Ms. Foxe was being well watched over by the S. Cross and Catherine had her two normal friends again.
Her father walks in and tries to talk to her.
"Catherine you are excused from your crimes but Gabriella confirmed that you had your blood sucked by Ester before." He paused to let her answer.
"…"
"Well you should know that the 35th rule was called into play." Catherine looked at him confused there was only 30 rules. "you don't now well let me enlighten you. A person can feed a vampire if he is also in the S. Cross."
"But father it does not matter any more." She said. Her father made room for a person to come in.
"Well not exactly" that voice. She turned to see a bandaged Ester. From neck to foot. "Apparently S. Cross has the best medical department in the world." He continued. His face still like a human. Then another familiar voice.
"Of course it does master it now haves me." Gabriella said entering as well.
"I thought you were dead" said Catherine.
"Well I was dead to begin with thus earring only made it seem like I was alive" he answered. Catherine felt her cheeks swell with tears. "Now to my recollection you owe me a drink" he said leaning over and his fangs partly extended. When he falls over. Gabriella helps him up.
"Father" Catherine complained. He had a guilt look and red cheeks. He did not say anything and left the room. Ester looks up to the two ladies he is tied by fate and he is content.
