Pairing - Rita/Veridia
Words: 2,698
Rating: T
Here there be Vampires. More sort of Upir type vampires like in Hemlock Grove where they're vampires but still 'alive.' Not exactly fluffy, it's a bit darker, mentions of blood, death and other vampirey things.
It was an old rivalry, like many of the old family rivalries. They all spanned back centuries. Rich, immortal Vampires families, at each other's throats for centuries. Not literally at each other's throats - Vampire blood is worth nothing nutritionally and tastes like off-wine. It's not worth the effort.
It was like one those old playwright's tales - the feuding families who couldn't actually remember why it began in the first place. Rita had read it once, she found a copy in the library when she was barred inside the house following her transition. Romeo and Juliet it was called. Two lovers from rival families who both end up dead. The fragility of humanity.
Of course the book was burned the moment her grandmother found it and threw it into the fire, screaming about how no human literature should be in the hand of a Vampire. If no 'human literature' was allowed then why it was even in the library to begin with was beyond her.
Rita would definitely rather be holed up in the library right now, instead of accompanying an assortment of cousins, uncles and her grandmother to this 'social gathering.' A 'social gathering' being a mass gathering of the richest, most influential Vampire families of the country. Of course many of said families bitterly hated each other.
But once a year there was cause enough to push said hatred aside and pretend to get along for the sake of these gatherings. This was the first time Rita was permitted to attend along with the rest of the Santana del Rosario family. Newly transitioned vampires were considered too 'volatile' for events such as these and transitioning was deemed to take years, hence she been left at home while everyone else attended.
The moment they arrived she had been awestruck. The manor was huge, inquisitive decorated, even beyond their own mansions and ballroom was easily the most impressive place she had ever seen - high arched ceilings with glittering lights the entire way up, leading to a crystal chandelier that looked impossible to clean. The floor was marble, enhancing the clicks of her heels as she walked.
Cousin Felix slipped an arm in hers, almost tripped her up as he pulled her closer.
"See that lot over there," Felix whispered, nodding his head towards a group across the room. Each had the same curly coppery hair, and pale eyes, noticeable even from here. "Romanos. Stay away."
There it was. Romano was a name she knew, they hated her family, and her family hated them. At least they were easy to spot.
"Ooh, they took their newest little one out," Felix dropped Rita's arm and slicked his dark hair back. The little one was what they called her, being the youngest to transition in their family. She'd never met another Vampire as young as her before. She tried to spot who Felix was talking about, but his incessant fussing with his hair pulled her attention to him. He made such a simple action such a momentous task.
"What are you doing?" Rita asked. "You already spent three hours doing your hair before we left." He had taken over the main bathroom for the entire time, not letting anyone else in. She'd tried to get it to get her good comb that Felix had 'borrowed' but found the door locked with a note on it 'Hair in progress. Disturb at own risk. Signed, Felix Serigo Santana del Rosario.
"Making an impression," Felix shrugged. "Can you imagine being the one to finally end the blood feud? I'd be a hero."
"You have no chance with that one," Rico, Felix's brother butted in and mussed up Felix's hair. "She'd freeze you over with those icy eyes. You'd have better luck with Harry Yorke. Or try his brother."
"Hector's here?" Felix asked, smoothing his hair back down, "I will be right back."
Harry Yorke was nice enough, the Yorkes lived in the neighbouring manor, but they didn't often meet. The grounds between the two properties were rather… large. Felix used to sneak through the woodland to meet Harry until -
Rico nudged Rita's arm, "Grandmother wants to show you off to people."
"Why?"
She was not some show piece to be shown off. That's what the others did with the horses, cleaned them up and took them out to show all their friends. They'd done that to her own horse, Angel, an Andulcian mare from the same line as Rico's high class stallion. It was Uncle Jaime who took Angel out and ended up selling her to Kilian Falk.
She saw Falk standing with Harry as she watched Felix slip away, wishing she could follow him and escape this. Falk's blonde beard hid the sneer on his face as Felix came up to them.
"You're our youngest. People don't know you. And you won't be the only one. That Romano one's here too, Antonio Romano will be parading her about too. Not often they have a new one to show off, Antonio himself was the last one."
As Rico had said, their grandmother had indeed wanted to 'show her off' with every new person she was forced to meet, her mood turned sourer and sourer until she could no longer even enjoy the architecture of the building that she had marvelled at when they first arrived.
Rita took the first chance she could to slip away, sneaking through a little door at the side and stepping into a cool corridor, the music instantly muffled. It was then it occurred to her she'd never been told who's place this was.
There was no shortage of families in this area. The Yorkes were their neighbours, Falk and his range of relations had a large range about ten miles south, the Kilbride's twelve miles east. It wasn't until the carpeted corridor turned into a wider chamber like room with portrait paintings on the wall that she finally learned it was the Ivanov Manor. There was no mistaking the scars across Sergei Ivanov's face from the claws of a werewolf.
The last Ivanov was killed only three years ago by Alfonso Romano and the Manor passed into
'Communal control' meaning a council of families ran it. Her uncle Jaime sat on said council. As side Harry's mother Sylvie Yorke and Alfonso Romano himself.
"You're missing all the fun."
Rita jumped in fright and spun around, coming face to face with the most beautiful Vampire she'd ever seen. A Romano for sure, she had the same curly hair, albeit pinned back, combined with eyes like ice and a pointed jaw.
"And what fun would that be?" Rita forced out, trying to regain any dignity she still had. Vampires don't get frights. Yet here she was, getting scared by a Romano creeping up on her.
"They just brought in the human sacrifice," the Romano said. She sounded serious but there was no way any Vampire would bring a human to an event like this. Much less to be killed, it was unbecoming. Killing for food was a private affair, at least it was in her family.
"There is no human sacrifice," Rita said, just managing to avoid catching the Romano's eyes. She had such nice eyes, a bright, ice blue. If she was any weaker she might want to just stare at them forever. And if the Romanos were not her family's most bitter, hated rivals.
"You got me. Too many Vampire not wanting blood on their nice clothes. It's such a travesty," the Vampiress shook her head, the loose curls around her face bouncing slightly with the movement.
The soft coppery blonde of her hair matched with the dark green of her dress, the fitted lace bodice, left both her shoulders bare as the straps curled around her upper arm. The lace went to her waist and flared out into a heavy skirt that to the ground.
"You hiding?"
"No," Rita lied, "just having a look around,"
"I saw you being paraded around by that old witch. My dad was doing the same so when I saw escape, I decided I might as well try it too."
She must be the new Romano that Felix and Rico were talking about, Antonio's daughter. Rico hadn't said her name and Felix had taken off to flirt with Harry and/or Hector before she could ask him.
"She's just excited to have new blood around," Rita defended her grandmother, because that's what you do. You defend your family and you don't waste time taking to your family's enemies, no matter how pretty they may be.
If her heart still beat she imagined it would be hammering in her chest. She couldn't remember how that felt now, it had been years since she was alive. In the biological sense.
"My dad's the same. I'm the first since him so everyone's acting like it's the Messiah or something."
"A religious Vampire?" Rita joked. "Never met one of them before."
When you live forever, and when religious symbols happen to cause pain, you tend to avoid religion.
"You are hilarious. Do you know humans have people who make others laugh as a career, you should try out for that, I think you'd go really far."
"I think you're right; I should really try out for that."
The other Vampire shoot a smile that literally made her knees weak and her stomach flutter. What was wrong with her? This was a Romano, she shouldn't even be talking to her, let along joking with her or feeling any of these feelings. But then again, she really was nice to look at…
The Vampire turned her head and looked down the corridor, the way Rita and presumably this Vampire and come down.
"Someone's coming." The Vampire grabbed her arm and pulled her down the corridor before Rita could protest. She found herself running alongside the Vampire, the carpet muting her heels and the other Vampire's. Then she was against the wall, shoulder pressed in against a wooden railing part the way up the wall and the other Vampire pressed against her. Actually pressed against her with her hand still around Rita's arm. She could smell the Vampire's perfume, it was the same one she normally wore herself.
One of the serving staff, another Vampire, out with the families passed by without a second look and the Vampire pressed up against took a step back.
"I'm Veridia, by the way. Veridia Romano," the Vam – Veridia introduced herself.
"Margarita Santana del Rosario," Rita said. Her voice was weaker than she wanted it to be, she was still a little in shock from having Veridia literally pressed right up against her.
Veridia raised an eyebrow.
"Most people call me Rita." Her grandmother and Uncle Jaime were the only ones who called her Margarita. And under official 'professional' circumstances where everyone one went by their full and complete names.
"Well Rita, it's nice to meet you. Hopefully I'll see you around," Veridia let go of her arm and set off back down the corridor. She tried to not to stare, but it was hard not to.
Rita tucked a loose strand of hair behind her eye and took a deep breath before following after Veridia and rejoining the party.
Veridia may have been joking about the human sacrifice but no Vampire gathering is complete without a little fresh blood. Mixed with alcohol. It wasn't the nicest mix in the world but it did enough to stop her thinking about Veridia and focusing instead on dancing with Harry. He was a good dancer, and it was a nice distraction until she caught sight of Veridia across the room standing with her father. Rita's mind was flooded with the memory of Veridia pushing her against the wall so that server wouldn't see them.
Rita managed until the end of the dance and no more before she slipped off again, back down that corridor passed the paintings of the Ivanov's and Sergei with his scars. Every time she turned she'd been looking for Veridia, so best to just leave completely and hide until it was time to leave. Hopefully no one would pay too much attention, if they did, she'd blame it on the alcohol. Or the blood, it tasted like nothing she'd ever had before. But that could just be the alcohol.
She could smell Veridia's perfume again, so managed to avoid jumping when Veridia spoke beside her, "you're hiding again?"
"Of course not," Rita lied. She was technically hiding. From Veridia.
"So why are you out here?" Veridia asked, her ice eyes seemingly staring right into Rita's non-existent soul. "You looked like you were having fun with that Yorke boy."
"Harry? Felix is more interested in him than I am. Or maybe it's Hector he likes more…" Felix switched every week between the two. But then he had been interested in Veridia when her saw her, a fact which now made her… jealous? She'd never been jealous before. She should not be jealous not of a Romano.
"That's the funny one with the stupid hair isn't it?" Veridia asked.
"That's him."
"Tell your Harry to keep him. He kept trying to flirt with me until he got dragged off. No. Thank you."
"Probably wise. He locked himself in the bathroom for three hours doing his hair."
"Harry can most definitely keep him. I don't even take three hours."
"Neither. It's insane."
Veridia laughed at that. It was a nice, soft feeling that brought up. She made Veridia laugh. Why did it feel nice? It shouldn't.
"Come with me," Veridia held out her hand.
"Why?" Rita asked. Where would a Romano want to go with her?
"I found something really cool when I was here with my uncle before, I want to show you. And before you ask – it's a surprise. You have to come with me to see it."
It sounded suspicious. Yet here she was, taking Veridia's hand. Veridia lead her along the corridor and up a small set of flagstone stairs, then a set of flagstone spiral stairs. This end of the house was so still, no music drifted, no chatter, nothing. Just the sounds of their feet on the stairs.
On the last step Rita just missed the edge of the step and slipped, tipping forwards. Veridia's arm shot around her waist to try to pull her up and stop her hitting the stone. All the effort succeed in was Veridia also hitting the ground, thankfully at the top of the stairs. Rita really did not like the idea of the edge of the stairs hitting into her, catching her skirt. Rather, she landed partially on top of Veridia, legs tangled and Veridia's arm over her back.
She couldn't remember how to move. She really couldn't.
"Are you okay?"
Rita nodded, "are you?"
"Very."
Veridia made no effort to remove her arm or try to get up. Maybe she forgot how to move as well. Rita wasn't going to complain. Especially when Veridia slowly sat up, but kept her arm around Rita. Rita tried to pull away, not willingly, this closeness to another person, especially on as pretty as Veridia, was something she never really had.
It didn't really feel… real. She felt like she was going to wake up any second back in her own room and Veridia would just be some dream phantom she imagined.
She still wasn't fully convinced even as Veridia titled up her chin with one fingers, her nails painted to match her dress and lightly pressed her lips against Rita's. Rita kissed Veridia back and reached up to touch Veridia's face, feeling sharp cheekbones and jawline.
Veridia's other hand found it's way around the back of her neck, her fingers cool as they wound around Rita's hair.
"I have two questions," Felix pounced the moment Rita slipped back into the party. "one where have you been? And two why is there blood on your neck?"
Rita caught Veridia's eye as the other Vampire rejoined everyone as well, her hair slightly mussed and a smear of red at the corner of her mouth.
What rivals? And whoever said Vampire blood tasted awful, was clearly lying.
