Hey guys! Told you I'd update :) well, here is another chapter. I really hope you like it. It was tons of fun to write and solve.
However, I am SO SORRY for the boredom in the beginning of this chapter. Please just bear with me. I think that though you'll be heartbroken, you'll end up liking it. I promise to update soon because I am on summer break now.
Enjoy!
Previously: Atira discovered her mother's secret of vampirism. After a hectic conversation, she grew accustomed to the abnormalities of it all.
Ireland, November of 1504
One year ago. That's all it was.
One year ago, Atira exploited my darkest secret. Graciously, she told no others.
Three months later, we fled Italy for a new land. Now Atira knew why we were running; she knew the reasons behind my actions. She knew what I had to leave behind to keep us safe. But it is obvious that she has begun to loathe it.
While Atira may tolerate what I am, I see the disappointment in her eyes at times. Though she takes care of me despite the chaos, she steers clear during the nights of which I hunt. I cannot blame her, of course, but it pains me to see her avoidance. Still, she is tolerable as I could ever hope.
The disappointment that Atira portrays is often accompanied by piqued curiosity, though she attempts to conceal such. With disgust comes interest. Mass murder causes inquisitive questioning. And so, despite the gruesome outlook, I understand that there is hope yet. Maybe, just maybe, there will be one day when Atira realizes that my presence is not so terrible; when she realizes that it truly is a way of life. That it is not any different from slaughtering livestock.
Truly, though, the difference between murdering a man and murdering livestock is not that great. The gap is nearly nonexistent, for all are animals. Should all not be treated equal? Do cows not have the right to live, similar to humans? I believe that the only difference in comprehension, and I have pondered this often, is that a man has a name, where livestock do not. It is a thousand times more difficult to kill an identity than it is to kill an idea, especially if there are an abundance of ideas. If I drained Paul of his blood, per se, Atira would grieve over him, desiring to know if he had a family or a wife; what his life would have been like. But if I kill one cow, when there are a thousand more unnamable cows to go around, it loses importance.
Thus, while I realize that Atira's worry and uneasiness is natural and true, it also becomes difficult to discern between what is correct or not. Thinking about this topic over long nights, I have come to the conclusion that I loathe Atira's hesitation around myself. While Atira feasts on the meat of livestock, I feast on something similar. It should not impact our relationship to this fragile degree.
Envy and rage have crept into my emotions over the past few months. Desire a human life, I do. For then I could skip this nonsense and raise my child as taught. So many opportunities could await her, without the threat of terrible beasts. There would be no hardships in my beloved's life, except for humane issues. It would be free of this, and we would be happy.
But, alas, that is not so.
"Katherine, a woman awaits your presence in the front," Atira calls from the wooden door of our quaint cottage.
After moving to Ireland, it was realized that the wealthy lifestyle was not for us. Neither Atira nor I cared much for the frivolous things that our neighbors so dearly desired. We had been content in the cottage of my dear friend Thaymer, and thus desired a similarly small abode. Therefore when we reached Ireland, we acquired such.
It is not much, but it suits our needs well. Sparsely decorated and containing only the necessitates, our home is far from what most would consider luxurious. Though to us, it is a castle.
With this small territory come fewer neighbors. Resting on a small hill only a half kilometer from the nearest town, our home is nestled deep in the woods. No traveler would stray into these woods without the constant fear of losing his trail. Only the locals would dare to visit, though they do not often.
"Coming," I reply as the sewing needles slip from my fingers and I stand up straight. Quickly pinching my cheeks to brighten my complexion, I make my way to the door. With my eyes down as custom calls, I dare not look up until I reach the threshold of the door for fear of being rude and rendering suspicion.
"Yes?" I wonder as my eyes wander upward.
The shoes are what I spot first; my memory is slow going, but after a second I recognize those shoes. Fear creeps up my spine. Do I dare look up further?
Embroidered with elegant details, the dress is simple yet wonderfully entrancing. And then I reach her face. Though I had expected it to be her, I still wheeze a startled gasp as recognition dawns.
"Hello again, Katherine," says the sly woman in front of me.
I swallow. Can she hear my pounding heartbeat? My shallow breaths? Can she see my fingers clenching behind my back?
My eyes narrow as I reply severely, "What doth thou desire, Rose?"
"All is well, I see," Rose peers over my shoulder, into the house, as she completely ignores my question. "And who is this beauty that answered the door?"
Glancing back over my shoulder, I find Atira hovering hesitantly. I narrow my eyes at her and tilt my head slightly, silently telling her to stay inside.
"Atira," I reply tersely. Then I repeat, "What doth thou desire, Rose?"
"May I enter thy home?"
After a slight second of hesitation, I answer, "Yes."
Soon enough, we are settled at the kitchen table, only her and I. Atira is meddling with something or the other in our bedroom.
Rose sips on the newly brewed tea, and I wonder when it will come up, for I know it will. I hope dearly that Atira will not hear it.
When I told Atira the story of my life, I relinquished the names, feeling it was unimportant that she know who those people were. I assumed that I would never cross them again. So when Rose came knocking on our door, I knew there was something she wanted. Perhaps an item, perhaps me. It is possible that she feels the need to repay Klaus for her inability to stop my vampirism. If that is the case, she would have no trouble dragging Atira and I back to his unforgiving hand. I would rather Atira not know that this woman, Rose, was the one who threatened to turn me in once again.
"Why are you here, Rose?"
Her expression lights up, "Thou shall never deduce what I have discovered."
"What is it?" I question, curious.
"News," She answers mysteriously. Taking a sip of her tea, she excuses saying more.
"On?"
"Klaus."
Impossible. For the past twelve years, I have asked acquaintances far and wide if they had heard of the whereabouts of this legend. And for those twelve years, there has been no luck. Until one day Rose comes knocking on my door. Suddenly she wishes to help me? And for nothing. She has ignored naming a price, and shall freely offer information. Of course, there must be a catch. It is Rose. She will not simply forget her desire to turn me into Klaus' ruthless hands.
A moment of silence is enough for her. A small smirk creeps up her lips and her eyes twinkle with a secret.
"Do you wish to know?" She asks.
I consider this. But only for a minute before inquiring, "For a price?"
She smirks, "Why of course. What pride would I keep otherwise?"
I snort, though completely unladylike. It is completely Rose of her to do this. Right when I met her, I knew. I knew that she would be arrogant and rude, and downright obnoxious.
Once, I nod. One shake of the head and she opens up.
"I spoke directly with Klaus prior to two days ago," Rose begins, "He knocked upon my very door, and questioned thy whereabouts. Granted, I knew not, though it irked my interest. Never did he question my role in thy escape, thank the good Lord, but my confidence shook as he inquired about thou.
"He asked of thy family. If I knew anything. He asked of thy friends; who they were. And then he asked of a daughter he believed thou had birthed only a few years before you turned. That sparked my interest.
"Thou may wonder why Klaus came to I. Let me explain.
"Long before thou were birthed, I had been turned a creature of the dark. The one who turned and mentored I was Klaus. Ay, the Klaus that thou have been running from. The evil, malicious spirit.
"He was not that way back then. He was kind and sweet, and we fell in love. We were young and foolish. He had been keeping a secret from I. That was our demise. When he unveiled his vampirism, I was intrigued. But he misinterpreted my curiosity. He believed that I, too, desired the immortality of his family. And thus, he turned me," Rose spits, fury lighting up her sharp brown eyes.
"But he was sorely wrong. Thus, I despise his presence. Though I still respect him, unlike some," she says, glaring at me pointedly. "Anyhow, Klaus and I met when we fell in love. Though much has changed throughout the years, we have kept in contact from time to time."
I interrupt, utterly confused and impatient, "But what does this have to do with I?"
She smiles slyly, "Well, darling, that all depends. Doth thou desire to know the whereabouts of Klaus or not?"
I do. I so desperately do. I tell her so eagerly.
"Is it a deal?" She checks.
"Deal," I reply, thirsty for knowledge. Though I do not recognize what I am signing away, I require his whereabouts. Anything to escape his wrath.
"Klaus is visiting Ireland currently, though I believe thou art safe. He shall move onto Spain in a few days, for that his where he thinks his best chances of discovering thou are. I did not correct him, for at the time I, too, knew not of your whereabouts.
"If thou choose to remain in this cottage, he should not discover thou. If needed, I can always lead him astray, too. He plans to scavenge all of Europe for the next few decades. Of course, he confides in me often, and thus I shall always know where he shall be next. I may relate this information to you at a price."
"What price?"
Rose frowns, obviously upset at the interruption. "I shall touch on that soon.
"As I was saying, Klaus also told me that when he discovers thy presence, he shall also uncover thy daughter and together thou shall be burned at the stake."
I can feel my face visibly paling at this statement. Shall he ever find Atira; I will gladly give my life a hundred times over before that monster touches a hair on her head.
She continues, "Klaus is quite unforgiving, Katerina. He means what he says."
"I know," I whisper sullenly.
"In addition, as I spoke with him I learned that he is once again on his own. Neither his sister nor his brothers are supporting his quest for thou."
"He has a sister? And more than one brother?" I wonder intuitively.
"Yes, but that is not of importance," Rose replies impatiently, "All that matters is that he is alone in his search, Katerina. And that implies that it will take much longer. When he says he shall search one day for thou, it will take a month. Three months means a year. And at the same time, thoroughness becomes an issue. Katerina, thou art safe for a while so long as he remains unaided in his quest." Rose sighs and lifts her cup to take a sip.
I, too, take a minute to sip at the warm drink.
It is another whole minute before I break the silence. I question, "Is that all?"
"Yes."
Standing up, I push in my chair as I assume that Rose will now desire to leave. But she sits patiently still, unmoving in the kitchen chair.
"What is it?" I wonder.
"The price thou need to pay."
Pursing my lips, I attempt to conceal my rage. Swallowing back a mouthful of insults, I inquire, "What is it? The price, I mean."
"Atira."
"What?" I gasp, unsure if I heard her correctly.
"The price is thou kin, Katerina," She glares, her voice sharp and demanding. "Thou swore to pay the price."
"But my daughter!"
"Yes."
Enraged, I hiss, "But 'tis unfair!"
"No," Rose replies simply, " 'Tis not."
"Why," I sputter, "Thou art a conman. A cruel conman."
She smirks, eyes glowing. " 'Tis how I was raised. So, the price."
"I shall not give thou my daughter," I whisper viciously, "What art thou thinking?"
"If thou allow thy daughter to live with me, she shall forever be protected. If out of the blue Klaus happens to knock on thy door one day, there shall be no extra body and thus no explanations. He shall not find thy daughter, and thus cannot harm her."
"But Klaus visits thou," I point out the flaw in her plan.
"Ay," Rose admits, "But I shall lie. Atira appears nothing similar to thou, Katerina. He shall be none the wiser if I consider Atira a friend or relative. He shall not know, so long as Atira knows not to mention thy name."
I breathe in a shaky sigh.
Rose whispers threateningly, "Barely a minute ago, I related imperative information to thou. If thou do not wish to pay the price, I am always able to kill her."
"I…" Biting my lip, I shake my head. Brunette curls fly all over the place as I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to think. Fingers on my temples, I realize that there really are only two choices. Let Atira go with Rose, or have Rose kill her.
There are no other options. Rose is stronger and faster than I by much, granted she is much older as well. She could overpower both Atira and I in seconds. And seeing as I would never wish my only daughter death, I suppose there is only one choice.
The door on the other side of the room clicks open before I can say anything.
"Let her take me, mama," Atira whispers for me. With light brown hair sweeping over the left side of her face and tears brimming her brown eyes, she walks forward toward us.
My throat closes tightly as sobs threaten to break through.
"No, Atira," I whisper back. My voice cracks and I can feel a tear slip smoothly down my cheek.
Ignoring me, she turns to Rose and confidently says, "Let us go."
Shock ripples through me, and I spring into action. Jumping down in front of Atira, I try to get her to look at me, to talk to me; anything.
"No, no, no," I whisper furiously, "This cannot happen. Please, Rose, take anything else. Just not Atira; anything but Atira."
"I am quite sorry, Katerina," Rose says stiffly, "but it is for the best."
And with that, she touches Atira's shoulder. As they turn to go, Rose opens the door. Then in one graceful swoop, she lifts Atira into her arms and takes off with her, running faster than ever before.
In one blur, in one second, in one moment, they are gone. My precious daughter and a woman I loathe; gone.
My gasps and sobs, wracking my body, fill the empty cottage with terrible wails.
For the second time, I have lost my daughter. My beautiful, perfect little daughter has been stolen away from me time and time again.
Dread fills my heart, and I cannot help but feel that this was the last time I shall ever see my daughter. As though in agreement, the door creaks emptily, still swinging in the breeze of Rose and Atira's absence.
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