I raised my stake and slid closer to Sydney, scanning the faces. They were Moroi, thankfully, but that didn't stop them from being a threat. However, I didn't doubt that Rose and I would be able to take them out. In the light, which was coming from a ball of fire in a Moroi's hands, I could also pick out dhampir faces intermingled with them. Who were these people? One of the Moroi walked forward with a silver stake in his hand. His beard was bushy and brown and his eyes were narrowed. He reached out for Sydney and I started, aiming to pull her away as soon as possible. Rose was too. We were held back, not just by the hands of others, but by Sydney's strangled, "Wait," as the man gripped her chin. He turned her head and the other side of her face lit up.
"Lily-girl," he grunted, and seemed satisfied enough to let her go. I immediately returned to her side. "You're here to join us?"
"We need shelter," Sydney explained, rubbing her throat. "They're being chased by-by the Tainted." The Tainted? What on Earth? Rose looked impossibly more puzzled than I was.
"More like spies for the Tainted," the fire user muttered.
"The Tainted Queen is dead. They think she did it." She nodded towards Rose. The bearded man smiled, which took me by surprise. Wasn't he going to turn us in?
"And so, another usurper passes us on. Is there a new one yet?" he asked.
"No. They'll have elections soon and choose." Mumbling and mutters circled around the clearing.
"How else would they choose a new king or queen?" Rose blurted out, her eyebrows pushed together.
"In the true way," somebody from behind me answered. "The way it used to be, long ago. A battle to the death." Oh no. This wasn't good. I didn't want these people giving Rose ideas. However, there was no crazy smirk, instead a look of astonishment. The bearded man turned and walked down another path and I assumed we had to follow. Rose was still speechless.
After a while we arrived at a huge bonfire. People were congregated around it, chatting amongst themselves, and small shack-like houses were scattered around. They stretched far back into the woods, making me wonder how big this civilisation really was. On the other side of us, mountains stretched high into the sky, their peaks standing out against the stars. I thought that I could see caves in the mountains, but convinced myself I was seeing things. After all, was that humans I saw? Talking to the Moroi casually? Never. I caught Rose murmuring to Sydney but didn't manage to hear much. All I could get was something about Keepers. Was that these people? The Keepers? I would have to ask her myself sometime soon.
"Why are they here, Raymond?" a human woman by the fire addressed the bearded man, who I took to be Raymond. "Are they joining us?"
"No," he replied, shaking his head. "The Tainted are after them for killing their queen." Rose was about to protest but Sydney elbowed her sharply. From the look of the crowd, they seemed pleased, so this was our only hope. "We're giving them refuge. Although you are welcome to join us and live here. We have room in the caves." I glanced over at the mountains and saw that they really were caves. I couldn't imagine Rose living in one of them. She'd be grumbling about not having cable for the rest of her life.
"We only need to stay here..." Sydney began, "A couple days, probably."
"You can stay with my family. Even you." He said this to Sydney, and I realised that they didn't like the Alchemists much, either.
"Thank you. We'd be grateful to spend the night at your house." Obviously meant for Rose. After this conversation, we had many awkward discussions with the Keepers about the queen's murder, before I couldn't take much more.
"Enough," the human woman ordered, "It's getting late and I'm sure our guests are hungry." I tried to conceal my stomach that was rumbling heavily. We wandered down to their house and the woman introduced herself as Sarah. "Did you bring anything?" she asked Sydney.
"No," Sydney answered. "I'm just here to escort them."
"An important task."
"How long has it been since my people brought you anything?"
"A few months." Sydney frowned, and I wondered what she was supposed to have brought. We finally reached the house, which was jet black inside, so Sarah lit some lanterns. Not even electricity. Rose was going to love this.
"You can sleep in the girls' room," Sarah told Rose, nodding to one of the three doors.
"Thanks," Rose muttered. "Are you Raymond's housekeeper?"
"I'm his wife," she smiled.
"Oh." Rose flushed and I resisted slapping my hand to my forehead in exasperation. What was I going to do with her? Yes, it was odd. Yes, I didn't understand it either. But seriously, couldn't she have put it in a nicer way? There was a noise at the door and I turned to see Raymond enter with two children and two people about my age.
He explained everything clearly. The two children were called Phil and Molly. The Moroi woman was Paulette. Joshua was Sarah and Raymond's son.
"I'm putting them in your room," Sarah told Paulette. "The rest of you can share the loft." I looked up to the loft and calculated the numbers. Surely they weren't going to fit all four of them up there?
"We don't want to inconvenience you," I said, speaking for the first time. Rose nodded. "We'll be fine out here."
"Don't worry about it," Joshua smiled, flashing a grin for Rose. My stomach curled in the unfamiliar feeling of jealousy. What was wrong with me? "We don't mind. Angeline won't either."
"Who?" Rose wondered.
"My sister." I struggled to stop my eyes from widening. Five of them up there?
"Thank you," Sydney added graciously. "We appreciate it. And we really won't be staying long."
"Too bad."
"Stop flirting, Josh," Sarah chastised. A little voice inside my head nagged Yeah. Stop flirting Josh. "Do you three want something to eat before bed? I could warm up some stew. We had it earlier with some of Paulette's bread."
"No need," Rose hurriedly decided. "I'd just be fine with bread."
"Me too," I added. I didn't really fancy stew, although I knew Rose was worried at the possibilities of what was in the stew. We ate the bread in our room. It was very tasty and there was plenty of it, thankfully. I hadn't realised just how hungry I was. Rose stroked one of the duvets.
"It reminds me of some of the designs I saw in Russia," she murmured. It did. The patterns were exquisitely beautiful.
"Similar," I considered. "But not quite the same."
"It's the evolution of the culture," Sydney explained. "Traditional Russian patterns brought over and eventually fused with a typical Americana patchwork quilt form." She certainly knew her stuff.
"Um, good to know," Rose mumbled. "Are you ready to explain who the hell these people are?"
"The Keepers."
"Yeah, I got that. And we're the Tainted. Sounds like a better name for Strigoi."
"No. Strigoi are the Lost. You're Tainted because you joined the modern world and left behind their backward ways for your own messed up custom." Makes sense. Sort of.
"Hey! We're not the ones with overalls and banjos."
"Rose," I warned, glancing towards the door. "And besides, we only saw one person in overalls." She grinned.
"If it makes you feel better, I think your ways are better," Sydney said. "Seeing humans mix with all this...It's disgusting. No offense."
"None taken," Rose replied. "Trust me, I feel the same way. I can't believe...I can't believe they live like that."
"I like you guys sticking with your own kind better. Except..."
"Except what?"
"Even if the people you come from don't marry humans, you do still interact with them and live in their cities. These guys don't."
"Which Alchemists prefer," I guessed. "You don't approve of this group's customs, but you do like having them conveniently stashed out of mainstream society."
"The more vampires who stay off on their own in the woods, the better-even if their lifestyle is crazy. These guys keep to themselves-and keep others out."
"Through hostile means?" Rose asked. I agreed.
"Hopefully not too hostile."
"They let you through," I pointed out. "They know the Alchemists. Why did Sarah ask about you bringing them things?"
"Because that's what we do. Every so often, for groups like these, we drop of supplies- food for everyone, medicine for the humans. The thing is, if Sarah's right, they could be due for an Alchemist visit. That would be just our luck to be here when it happens." Ah. I hadn't thought about that. It wouldn't be good.
"Wait. You said 'groups like these'. How many of these commune things are out there?" Rose turned towards me. "This isn't like the Alchemists, is it? Something only some of you know about that you're keeping from the rest of us?" I shook my head.
"I'm as astonished by all this as you are," I confessed.
"Some of your leaders probably know about the Keepers in a vague way," Sydney explained. "But no details. No locations. These guys hide themselves pretty well and can move on a moment's notice. They stay away from your people. They don't like your people."
"Which is why they won't turn us in," Rose sighed. "And why they're so excited I might've killed Tatiana. Thanks for that, by the way."
"It gets us protection. Such as it is." She covered a yawn with her hand and I realised that, for a human, she'd been up for ages. "But for now? I'm exhausted. I'm not going to be able to follow anyone's crazy plans- yours or Abe's- if I don't get some sleep."
"Shifts?" Rose asked, looking pointedly at me as Sydney settled down under one of the blankets.
"You go first," I nodded, "and I'll-"
The door swung open and we jumped up. A dhampir girl who looked about fifteen was glaring at us from the doorway.
"So," she greeted us stiffly, "you're the big heroes taking my room."
"Angeline?" Rose guesstimated. She hit the marks.
"Yes." Her eyes narrowed as she scanned us over. I stared her down. "I don't believe it. You're too soft. Too prim." Prim? I didn't think we were prim. She hadn't seen us after some of our battles. I let Rose take charge, unsure of how to fight a girly battle. She shrugged.
"Looks are deceiving," she murmured.
"Yes. They are." She stalked over to the chest of drawers. "You better not mess up my bed. I don't care what you do to Paulette's."
"Is Paulette your sister?"
"Of course not." She looked even more taken aback. She slammed the door and we were left staring at it blankly.
"Paulette is probably Raymond's…eh, I don't know. Mistress," Sydney explained. "Concubine."
"What?" Rose exclaimed. We seemed to be completely taken off guard today. "Living with his family?"
"Don't ask me to explain it. I don't want to know any more about your twisted ways than I have to."
"It's not my way." Sarah soon came to apologise for Angeline and I assured her that we were fine, although Rose looked ready to ask for something I couldn't guess at. After she left, Rose slipped into Angeline's bed and promptly fell asleep. I watched her peaceful expression as she dreamed and was left thinking to myself.
Okay, so I managed to get it up after all. Lucky you! Please review, guys. It means so much to me.
