Again, please excuse the crappy spelling. I know it's horrible, but again, bare with me, my spell check is gay. Not much else to say... yadayadayada... REVIEW!!!
~ThePhantomsFlutist!~

Chapter 10:

Unwelcome Invitation

"There's nowhere left to hide,

In no one to confide,

The truth burns deep inside,

and will never die."

-Muse, "Sing For Absolution"

It wasn't the end of the night when the Farrel family and Elizabeth were finally out of the mansion, and officially forgotten for a few days. It wasn't the end when I said goodbye to Mark, and kissed him passionately when his parents weren't looking, or anyone else for that matter. No, there was five full hours left of that night, and as I said, it was the most curious night of my life.

It was October, and it was nearing All Hallow's Eve, or better known as Halloween. Now, this time last year was when I first met Mark, as I told you, and All Hallow's Eve was when he found out my secret by Elizabeth explaining it to him while I was knocked unconcious. Halloween is a night of ghouls, and monsters, and children going around dressed as them, rudely knocking on people's doors demanding candy, and then running off. You would be wondering why a two century-year-old vampire could possibly care about this stereotypical night, but I shall explain to you what this means to a vampire. The Government, as you very well know them, hold a Ball every other year, inviting only the most powerful and high-ranked covens in the vampire world, the Sharpes being one of them, unfortunately. Every other year, we would receive an invitation to come to the grand Masked Ball, all the way over in France. Of course, we never attend, and attendance isn't required. Usually.

We would receive the invitation to the Masked Ball on our doorstep, delivered by one of the gaurds in high hopes of being paid high amounts for doing just that. It would be with lace, in expensive material, and handwritten in a script very much like my own belonging hundreds of years ago. It would be of my duty to come to the doorstep regally, pick it up, and throw it into the trashcan rather it burn in the fire, but that would be "rude". I never wanted to be part of this extremely secretive civilization of vampires that have been together for milleniums and me probably being the most talked about. Of course. And of course, I'm considered dust right now so says David. And I begin to ponder about my sanity.

So, the Masked Ball was going on this year, as I said. And my family is supposed to be dead in the Government's eyes, and not receive an invitation. Well, the thing is, when I stepped outside that evening through the front door, a beautifully made note of paper was on the doorstep. I stopped short instantly, looking down to the note with furious eyes, completely not expecting it. My insides seemed to sink to the lowest part, leaving my stomach wanting to throw up everythign I recently engulfed. I didn't like the feeling, I never did. With trembling hands, I bent down to pick up the leafy invitation, stamped with blood red ink with the vampire crest on the front. This was horrible news.

I ran inside the house, slamming the door shut with such force that the entire mansion seemed to just quiver.

"Victoria! Alexander!" I screeched, throwing the invitation down onto the couch that is sounded like a slap when it landed. A blur of white and mahogany came to my side in a flash, grasping my waist and looking down to the horrible thing. Sinking down lower, feeling almost faint, I grabbed the invitation, ruining it with my hard hands. Alexander grabbed it from my hands with an angry swish of his arm, and I willingly gave it back. The paper seemed to burn my fingers, leaving me nervous and afraid.

"This cannot be..." Victoria whispered into my ear, with every bit as much pain as I had in my stomach. Lucile floated down the stairs and came behind me, next to Victoria.

"What happened?" She asked with a shaking voice. I pointedly eyed the piece of paper now being clutched in Alexander's firm hand and all she did was give a loud, executed gasp. "Oh!"

"'Dear Sharpe coven, We graciously invite you to attend our bi-annual All Hallow's Eve Masquerade Ball, as you very well know. But it is requested that you do attend this Ball, for it is at your own sake and your friends'. We very well know you are striving still, for we were at a loss by the lie of your wonderful coven being gone. We're sure you know where the castle is, and we ask that you would arrive three days earlier then All Hallow's Eve and you may stay inside the dormitories in the castle. With all due respect and our regards, the Government.'"Alexander said slowly, carefully measured. I looked at the letter as if it was a monster, as if it was going to come to life and kill me. It probably could and would.

"What are we going to do?" Lucile whispered from behind me, her arms wrapped around my shoulders incredibly nervous.

"Do we have a choice?" I breathed, the words hardly coming from my lips.

"No." Said Victoria, now holding the note, studying it, as if searching for some sort of loop hole, finding none.

"We're going to get killed, you know that right?" Lucile asked leaning her head against my shoulder.

"Yes, or worse... I'd have to live..." I moaned softly.

"What do you mean?" She asked, confused, her brows knit together, terribly concerned.

"I'm saying that I don't want to live through any death. I can't stand death. It may seem like it, Lucile, to you and to anyone else. Two lives were enough. And being the cause of it is even worse." I explained softly. "They might torture me by simply letting me live." I shrugged.

"Two?" She repeated, still confused.

"Changing people is killing them. Lucile, in case you haven't noticed already, you're dead, no matter how much you're against it. I killed Nicholas. You know that." I whispered, completely disconnected. Victoria was also beside me, wrapping her arms around me, leaning my head against her chest, and I closed my eyes, entirely defeated.

We were leaving a week later for France, some place that is too familiar for my own good. I went there all the time when I was human, it was the place to be when you were lookinh for a career in the performing arts. The only problem was they weren't very fond of English singers singing French. I had to pull a few strings because those types of background checks weren't the most accurate back then. I perfected the French language by the age of thirteen, so I was in the French Opera House by the age of sixteen, my age also being masked by the lie of being twenty-four.

"It's not so bad, Violet." Lucile whispered from the doorway, "Think of it on the brighter side, how often do we get to socialize with our own kind?" She asked, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She never was in the vampire society. Lucile is still considered a girl in my eyes, still very immature as a vampire. I would have expected a more intense revenge for her mate's death, and every plan she had was always foiled because I never wanted to help her or anyone else in the coven. As I said, I wanted to kill Nicholas myself if it wasn't for the bastard werewolves. She didn't understand vampire society yet, how sick and twisted it can be. Probably the only most seductive race in existence, and the darkest. There is no compassion when your heart stops beating if you don't know any better.

"Lucile, you don't know anything about what we're about to face." I said, folding a blouse and putting it into my suitcase.

"Yes, I do!" She said smugly. I forgot how much she wanted to be like the rest of us. Like a five-year-old in a house of adults, she tries to be mature even when the other childish strings are pulling on her.

"Our world isn't glamour, if that's what you're thinking. Do you even know what the Masked Ball is like? What they do there?" I asked, my eyes narrowing coldly to her. She remained staring at me, her eyes wondering, and thoughtful. She waited for me to go on. I huffed, and gave a sarcastic smile, "I'll make you wait. Let's see how excited you are of death when you come to face it full-on. How cold the Government is when you see them with your own vampire eyes, Lucile. There's no such thing as sun there, it's probably the most extreme dark elegance. No matter how twisted." I whispered, looking out the window to the sun.

I was saying goodbye to it, how much I loved it. I loved light a little less then darkness, naturally, but it's still part of me, like my emotions that seem to stalk me to the end. Sometimes I do wish I couldn't feel anymore, and live my eternity in peace. I could feel the very point of red life on my lips, and not feel anything horrible about who it was from. As was all our natural longing, it was just like the constant fire in the back of my throat waiting to be extinguished, but the monster laughing at me in my mind, telling me I'm pathetic. Only to trick me and let it out so I could be the true vampire... But I could not.

"I know that." She replied nonchalantly.

"Do you?"

"You don't have to be such an ass about it, though. Honestly. You think you had it the worst, and I can't say I'm against that. But you don't understand my life, and I get yours. It's a little uneven, if you know what I mean. I love you, Violet, as the sister I had and lost. I told you that. But it's just annoying me that you think you're so miserable. You didn't go suicidal. Your soulmate is still living. I know that you think you're so amazing because you're older then me by a couple hundred years. Whatever. I get that. You claim to still have human feelings, but if you still had all of it, you'd understand moot point." She rebelled, as if I just tipped the cork off a soda bottle and it exploded all over me because of pressure. Lucile is like that. She contains too much for her own good, it's unhealthy. But her words burnt me like the sun does, almost going right past me as I looked through all my old dresses finding the one I was yet to wear, and the Venetian mask that came with it. My hand lingered over the cotton, as her truthful words floated past my head. "You don't get it, my sister..." She whimpered, coming from all hyper and smiling to moping and moaning in my ear. Telling me words I never wanted to hear, the words I've been blocking out all my life.

"No, I don't think I do." I whispered. Because truthfully, I didn't. Lucile was still somewhat the human girl I saw when she was carried in Nicholas' arms that spring day a little over fifty years ago. She's more human than I, and it's understandable. Or maybe selflessness is already gone when I took Mark's blood, when life comes into me in the red gush that exists. Finding life, but no such thing as humanity. "I don't think I'm better then you, though." I murmured as I dusted off the gold-black feathery mask from my shelf. It was handcrafted for me personally when I was about to go to the All Hallows' Eve Ball many years ago, but forced against it. The mask was worth probably thousands of dollars back then compared to today's economy where the hundred dollars I paid for it isn't much.

"Sure." She huffed idly and then crossed her arms, her lips set, seeing that I do see her point. Or at least I "pretend" to. It's like when I'm with Elizabeth and she has her issues with family and siblings. I lost that a long time ago, but never have I had a sibling, and never did I want to. But, I don't think I have any sort of biological family feelings. I mean, I could leave Victoria and Alexander and not care much. Not as much as I would leaving Mark right now. It's such a different feeling, more passionate, yet diminished.

"Leave me." I said suddenly, shooing her away with my hand.

"Just remember what I told you. Who knows... maybe that one feeling you lost could come back to you some day if you're not dead." She replied, shrugging, and backed out of my room, as I watched her leave with firm and dark eyes. I didn't want feeling back, though. I wanted to lose it, yet regain it. It was so difficult to do.

"And maybe you'll die as well, my loving sister, and maybe you will." I said to myself as I laid the mask gently onto my bed, careful not to break it in any way. I couldn't be angry, because I'm not sure that I have enough anger left inside of me.

"I heard that." Lucile called from her own room on the other side of the house. I rolled my eyes and resumed packing my bags. I felt as if I was moving out for good... and who knows, maybe I was. I hid my sorrow deep inside, losing my mind into the music that was blaring from my stereo as I floated around the room, inhumanly bouyant for right now. I couldn't moan, I couldn't rebel. It was something I just had to go through, and if I don't die, this whole event will be over and I could go on with eternity just as I wanted to. I would leave the family for a while after this, I knew. I'm not sure I could stand it any longer. They would look down upon me for switching diets and lives, and no longer accept me into the home, I knew it. Victoria and Alexander had strict rules, and I'm pretty sure they won't make the exception for me. Even their relationship isn't exactly strong with me, it's just... there.

Whatever lay ahead of me I wished to let be because I can't change it. The only thing that remained was my love and adoration for Mark, the longing for him to live and move on to someone else. I remembered Grace, too. She was just so charming, and someone that would be enjoyable to be around. She was pretty for a thirteen-year-old, no doubt popular in her own standards. I envied her normality, something I didn't have at that age, either. I thought of Elizabeth, terrified yet still trying. She didn't understand most of it like Mark did, but she was still a friend. Someone that I had a thought of to protect if anything else during my first days at the small high school. I loved her as well as a friend. She wouldn't do well as a vampire, I mused, I could see her somehow becoming disgusted at the sight of blood even if she wanted it or not. That would be an interesting sight to see, for Elizabeth was always different.

That Tuesday we left the States for Europe on a one-way flight without any word or say to Mark or Elizabeth. Michael was coming as well but at a completely different course as us. I actually don't know what he was doing, but I know it was well thought-out. I'm sure he's managed this a thousand times before. Somewhere deep down, I was excited to leave the cage that I called the United States. My heart always belonged in Europe and all it's wonder and whit. I've seen all of it, even the snowy steeps of Russia, to the warm and adventurous plains of Spain. Part of my soul lingered somewhere near Big Ben in London, the extravagant architecture, my old accent, the people, and the vast city that has so much past that I've lived through. Every building had it's own story to tell, and that's what was so different from that to America.

The plane ride was interesting. We were in the plane for at least ten hours. Lucile and I sat together listening to her iPod or reading most of the time. I had a stack of books at my side that I was rereading, varying from classics to most recent books by modern authors. My genre varies as well from suspense to romance to almost anything. I could go on and on and on about all the things I've read and seen and heard, it's impossible to remember it all at once. I'm a person of knowledge like most vampires who find the world utterly boring if you don't know every little thing about it. I know most of the languages of the world, and studied most of the religions. Elizabeth, on a regular basis, tells me I even look like I've seen the world a thousand times over, and I, quite frankly, could not agree more.

"Haven't you already read that book:?" Lucile asked, peering down at the cover.

"Yeah." I shrugged nonchalantly.

"Why would you be reading at a time like this?" She wondered aloud, not understanding my point exactly.

"It's best I get my mind off of it into another world that's not ours. Things are much better there, if you ask me, because I'm reaching the Disney happy ending that most stories have." I smiled dryly as I read the last word on the page. I forgot to tell you I read fast. Impossibly fast. And I comprehend every single word and every typo there could possibly be. That's also why I enjoy large books because they last longer.

"Since when do you mention Disney?" She laughed silently.

"Since I was planning on sueing them because they have too many happy endings. Life isn't like that, and I should know." I smirked knowledgably.

"How do you plan on doing that?" She laughed a long with me.

"I'll find a way." I shrugged and put the book down into my duffle bag underneath my seat, taking out my own iPod nano and plugging the ear phones in, turning it all the way up. Lucile closed the curtain near our window where the sun was just shining in for the morning, exasperated. She didn't like the sun as much as I did, and she says I'm dark. Whatever. The rest of the plane ride was filled with flirting with the only male server on the plane in first class, talking, reading, music, and watching some stupid PG movie. I honestly hated plane rides, and being humanly bored because it wouldn't be natural if I wasn't. I could just stay still for the rest of the ride, and wish to not be bothered but that would be on the completely weird side. Lucile eventually fell asleep at my side with the sun already fully up, her head resting on my thin shoulder, ear phones still in her ears. I didn't bother sleeping. I haven't slept since the hysteric dreams I had a month or so ago. Michael sat across from us with his laptop at hand e-mailing partners, and talking to friends like a normal teenager would. Victoria and Alexander were in front of him, Alexander with his own laptop and Victoria reading. They didn't fit in.

I remembered, as I looked over the Atlantic ocean, that I had once sailed over this onto the eastern coast of America, back when it was young and so was I. A new horizon, and a new ground. Somewhere that life didn't matter and that I didn't have any problems, except for the fact my clothes were dirty on the ship. It would take days and days at sea, except for a few hours on a plane flying over it. I said my goodbyes to America, not sure I'll be returning with the same mind I had 170 years ago.

The plane landed at sunset, the sky painted brilliant pinks and purples, evanescent to the fluffy clouds that the colors were painted onto like an artist's canvas. Some bags were slung over my shoulders, and the others were being wheeled behind. My dress having a bag of its own, and then being tailored later at the castle. Oh sheesh... I sounded like a princess... Gross. If it helps at all, my dress is black and gold, and so is my mask. It's my natural color choice, as with every other vampire... except Lucile. But I think, as I explain the person to you, you'd understand quite well that black doesn't suit her properly.

My family received looks, as we trodded groggily through the airport, tired and scared. Bored men who's flights were cancelled, teenagers with their families, any guy had their eyes all over me. Naturally. I never care. Flirting with them is just teasing, something to do over time, something I won't have power over after my final days with my family or on this earth. It didn't matter... If I was to become a monster, to be someone I could care less of, I might as well do it thoroughly. I walked as flirtatiously by them as I would in school out of the goodness of my frozen heart. The splendor of Paris still remained. The brilliant people of the romantic language walked with their noses in the air just as I remember them, how much they were like me years ago. How they had the latest fashions, fur jackets, purses of the highest designer, and bags possibly more expensive then the clothes a inside. Yes, this was home. It was perfection in the season of fall, the leaves on trees all falling around the glorious city, the Eiffel Tower lit up brilliantly with the full moon taking on an eerie glow behind it, watching over the fair city as a warning of the days to come. I remembered only faintly of when the tower was built back in 1889, how wonderful I thought it to be.

I had to force myself away from my fascination, my memoirs of my past, and onto the present where darker things lurked. Lucile hugged Michael before we came outside into the night and waited for our ride, and Michael hugged me before leaving and I bid him goodbye with a kiss on his cheek as did Lucile. Her own dress was being made at the moment from some tailor in Paris, wherever, that she was going to venture to tomorrow night. She gets away with just about everything and I don't have a doubt that she learned it with Nicholas, who managed to get away with cheating behind our backs for over a year and having Lucile lie affluently in our faces At least, he got away with it until he died. I laughed maniacally in my head, remembering his death, his ashes. And then forced myself away once more.

The cold Paris air hit me softly as most temperatures do, I wrapped my own fur jacket around me casually, just enjoying it's softness not warmth. I'm used to coldness unlike any other human, and the jacket was just a prop.A limosine was waiting for us--how convienient of them--on the pick-up or drop-off line of cars. A pale man, dressed formally in a suit and tie, obviously a vampire, stood by the limo patiently waiting. He watched us through his dark sunglasses, obviously hiding the bloodshot red eyes that the gaurd normally has. Alexander shook his hand before we stepped inside after putting our bags into the truck. He sat beside me, unfortunately, eying me with this penetrating glare.

"L'accueil, la bande de sorcières de Sharpe, à Paris." Said the man in pure french, I nodded, as did the others, but Lucile had to follow. He said welcome to the Sharpe coven to Paris. It was in a low tone, obviously not wanting us to be welcome, as if we posed a threat to him and his broad muscles. The driver up front kept eying back here suspiciously, I could tell he was human by the only heartbeat in the car. Lucky for him, I wasn't thirsty, but I'm sure the vampire would kill him later. The vampire got up swiftly and scooted down the limosine so he could reach the window where the driver could see into it, and then shut it noisily.

"Greetings," nodded Alexander, and I couldn't happen to put any words out of my mouth because of the glare I was receiving from the vampire. It made my skin crawl, my body grow stiff as granite as it already was. I couldn't help but use my own glare back to him, but I didn't have the deathly dark crimson eyes. I didn't even know him!

"So it is the popular Violet. It's an honor to meet you." He replied now with his english accent, completely hiding the french. I took his words as a rude comment... an "honor" to meet me? What's that supposed to mean? I flashed him a look and then went back to looking out the dimmed window, making night darker then it was. I had to heave a sigh to pass the silence in the car, my carry-on bag was getting annoying by my legs. The car ride was silent, except for Lucile's panicked breathing and tight grip on my hand. She wasn't comfortable, obviously, with the man sitting right next to her. I had to shrug her off when her stone grip started to ache, getting annoyed gradually. The ride was long, though, seeming to last more then half of the precious night because of the traffic in the city. Lucile was hardly occupied with surveying the small boutiques of the highest prices, but more wonderous of who she was going to dance with at the ball.

"Is there any other covens staying at the castle, monsieur?" Questioned Victoria in her own strong french.

"There are a few," answered the vampire hesitantly, seeming interested in something that I couldn't seem to place. "Italians, Romanian covens mostly." He went on, completely detached.

"I see..." Victoria nodded, also very out there. I remembered that there are some other covens from around the world, good friends of the Government, also very incredibly cruel. None of them are American, many Middle Eastern and southern countries, violence-seeking and world dictating. Yes, that was our world for you. Violent wars, out of the many we have in our history, terrible outbreaks and plans on ruling over the Government all failed and very fruitless. Death only waits for them. How you kill a vampire, you ask? Do you not remember? It's harder then a simple stake through the heart, or obviously, not exposure to sun. Disemberment and then burnt. Strange enough, a vampire can put themself back together after being disembered... gross. I would do that, though. I smirk at the idea no matter how macabre it is.

Well, anyway, they are invited to stay at the castle until the big event, as a big family greets another. We're all on sides, and it depends on what side your on that you stick with. David, I found out later who is on the Gaurd, often stays at the castle, having a suite of his own like most of the Gaurd. A place to somewhat call home when on foot. His rebellion probably got him kicked out back onto the street, unpitiful thing. Or maybe locked up somewhere...

We arrived an hour later to the castle that is buried in the hills that are near the city of Paris. Filled with small modern villages that would be called towns in today's society. All the lights were turned out except the street lights that now take on an eerie glow as we headed down the highway. Farmland soon surrounded us as we raced down, crops stretching out for acres that could be beautiful in the sunlight, but now lost that in the beloved moon. Soon, there was nowhere surrounding us except the blackness of night only dimmer in the limosine from the shaded windows. It no longer held it's glory, but instead, now something grim. Everything about my surrounding made me uncomfortable, taking in deep breaths into my unmoving lungs or just holding it.

The enormous castle, at first, came into my sight as a wretched nightmare, something out of one's dark imagination. A playground for the damned, medieval and disturbing. Although, dark elegance still shades it, it's extravagant design, and the castle itself stretched into the hills of France, hiding itself from any sort of mortal, where it couldn't be found. It was dark and large enough to suit and medieval queen or king. It probably existed hundreds and hundreds of years ago, when the originators of our kind sought out to be living. I'm not going to go into the extremely long history of our kind. It's as long as the humans', as long as any mammal existing today, I'm not about to go into disturbing detail.

"Oh... my God." Lucile whispered into my ear, the first words even said about it, because I was too dumbfounded and intimidated by it's appearance. I was frightened strongly... if the castle's like this, then I can hardly think of what the vampires are like now striving in it...

The limosine pulled into the front courtyard that has a path that was possibly once used for carriages, now pathed into a road. An elegant fountain laid in the middle, covered by vines and flowers, wonderfully designed. Another vampire stood in the dim light of the doorway, his white teeth gleaming. A door opened for me, and a hand waited for me to take it. Reluctantly, I did, and stood up out of the limosine and faced the castle head-on as if it was going to kill me by it's look. Servants grabbed our things from the trunk and leaved to go inside where it was to be delivered to our own suites.

"Welcome, guests!" Said the man's ancient voice grandly. His skin was more translucent then my own, and his eyes were a clouded red, even more sinister. He was in a black cape, covering any descript build. He shook hands with Alexander and Victoria graciously. And then he came to Lucile and she looked at him strangely, unexpected.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, young one." He smiled warmly, revealing his razor sharp teeth. "And of course, Madamoiselle Violet. It's a wonder to finally meet you face-to-face." I couldn't help but paint on another fake smile and shook his bony hand.

"I am Soloman," he bowed and kissed my hand with his icy lips. My smile disappeared, no longer appreciating the attention. "Well, come inside, then. I will show you to your suites and you may unpack and get yourself settled." He said, still not losing his warmth. Wrapping my fur jacket tighter around me, and grabbing Lucile's hand, I sealed my doom as I stepped into the dark castle without looking back on anything I've ever done to deserve this. I was going to take death into me no matter how much it hurt. And it was going to be fine.