Vampire.
A preternatural being, commonly believed to be a reanimated corpse, that is said to suck the blood of sleeping people at night.
Usually found within folklore, and mythology. Historically the word was first recorded in the 1680's. The word had no definition found with it, likely pointing out people knew exactly what the word meant.
Trials were held throughout the centuries to eliminate the vampire.
Weaknesses include, sunlight, garlic, stakes, and anything associated with religion.
Bram Stoker inspired a more humanoid creature beautiful. Alluring to their victims. Some were thought to be able to shapeshift into animals.
Blood drinking demons, gods, and spirits had existed for thousands of years from the Persians, the Sumerians, and Babylonians. They had Lilithu, Lamashtu, and Gallu to name a few.
Drew mentally scanned the various vampires she'd seen depicted in media to the ancient terrifying beings. She'd studied a few of the replica pottery pieces throughout her masters. Beings depicted drinking from men and women. She had long watched many variants of Dracula, to Buffy the Vampire slayer. Each creature vastly different than the man before her.
Aro's familiar features had not miraculously turned into something unholy. No claws where his long fingers remained. Though he was unnaturally pale, the man looked everything like he had the moment she'd met him.
She took in his aquiline nose, to his skin which showed no scars, no pores, no imperfections. His lips were not too full nor thin but somewhere in the middle. Angular jaw. His dark onyx waves were over his shoulders, thick and voluminous. He was perfect. It was unnatural. He fit the dark Prince that was Dracula. His expensive clothes more modern but still the epitome of dark lord.
She paused seeing his thick brows pulled together casting shadows over his eyes. No longer a deep brown nearly black. They were bright scarlet. Well around his pupil as they remained dilated watching her. The color many associated with vampires. Red eyes, showing they were unnatural beings. Cursed to forever wander soulless… Drew tilted her head.
No.
That was wrong. Soulless did not define the man who stood watching her with concern. He'd not moved for however long. Drew pursed her lips.
Vampires were supposed to be myths. Not real. Yet Aro was very real. Her feelings and frustrations she'd experienced that morning were very real.
"Aro, whatever is taking you so long in here? You were to return to the throne room half an hour ago."
A sneer broke through the silence of the room, as the door opened to his office.
Drew flinched stepping back from Aro. She turned pulling her sleeves down immediately whipping around to see who'd forced their way into the office.
In a complete deep grey suit, buttons done with a black robe laid over him. His white-blond hair pushed back behind his ears. Caius stood within the doorway.
Speaking of a devil who could be soulless…
She pushed the thought away. This man's eyes she focused in on. They were not a dark shade she had the displeasure to have seen multiple times.
"Brother, I will be by momentarily—"
"Are you planning to dispose of this one finally?" Caius snipped interrupting by entering the room.
He did not linger upon her though, moving his attention back to his brother. He caught sight of his red eyes.
Drew studied the man's profile.
He was as pale as Aro. The same perfect skin across high cheek bones. He was as devastating has his brother. He was taller than Aro by an inch or so. Beyond these the men had no familial features. She mentally quizzed herself on how she'd missed the fact they did not look alike. Who was she to judge what family was? Blood had never defined hers.
The two men stood exchanging a few whispered words she missed. Caius' nose crinkled while he caught sight of Drew.
"Do you have no manners, Harlot?" He sneered.
Drew rolled her eyes. "Do you have such a limited vocabulary you only know how to call me a whore, harlot, slut? Get some originality. Seriously, your so fucking dull even your hairline is receding because it got bored."
She didn't bother to filter herself.
Caius flashed in front of her.
She didn't back down. Heat warmed her cheeks. She clenched her hands into fists. Anger boiled in her chest. Could a vampire be staked? Pushed into the sun to turn to ash?
He shot his hand forward. His fingers inches from her neck. His pupils dilated further, lips curling into a sneer.
Drew planted her feet a shoulder-widths a part. She didn't drop his glare. Fucker could lay hands on her. she'd gladly find a way to destroy his ass.
"Brother let me take this one off your hands."
"Caius, you know you cannot harm her." Aro sighed coming to stand beside Drew. His hand fell heavy upon her shoulder. "You know exactly who she is to us."
Aro's words caught Drew. She frowned turning away from the raging asshole. A dangerous move, she was sure. The man would be unhinged enough to kill her, especially when he was probably a vampire too. Who was she to them exactly, beyond an employee?
"Wait, what are you talking about? Who am I to you beyond us dating and being hired by you. Put a pin in this whole vampire thing, my brain is short circuiting there. What are you implying Aro?"
"You told her about us!" Caius snarled.
Drew cringed hearing the guttural roar in his words reverberating off the stone walls and high roof of the room.
"There is no reason now for us to keep this mortal alive." Caius was focused back on her.
Aro stood closer to Drew his hand falling to her waist to pull her closer. She looked up to him a frown settling on her face. Aro looked utterly bored.
The man was threatening her and he had no issue with this? Drew mentally questioned.
"Caius, if you do not leave my office, I will have you disassembled and sent downstairs to Athena." Aro warned. "Now is not the time."
He objected, "you know the laws."
"Yes, there is only one outcome of this, however in due time. We are immortal after all, brother. Currently, she comes first. The trial will wait until tomorrow." Aro dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
Drew focus back on the outraged snarl from the vampire before them. Caius shot her a glare before flashing out of the room. The door slammed shut behind him.
"Apologies, Doctor. I did not mean for his temper to reveal too much without explanation to you." Aro stepped back releasing his hold upon her.
"Okay." Drew nodded once. "Yeah… I need answers immediately. I am so confused right now. As well as tomorrow off my brain isn't going to be functioning for a while. Can we get some wine? I need something to take the edge off this."
"Of course, Cara mia."
Drew was upon the couch across from him, cocooned up in two large blankets. Her face and hands were the only thing exposed. They had moved into a more secluded common space to discuss the matters at hand. She held tight to her wine glass.
A fire was lit within the old slate colored stone fireplace adjacent from them. A few book shelves lined the right wall, a few paintings, and sculptures around the other empty stone walls. She turned her attention back to Aro, who was sat back on the couch across from her. His legs crossed over his other. He held a silver chalice filled with contents she didn't wish to focus on.
A coffee table between them, two bottles of wine, a third dark bottle for him, along with snacks for her.
"Alright, now, let us begin to answer those thousands of questions I see bouncing around your mind." He sipped from his glass.
"One thing tells me I want to know about the hand in the box, what the fuck is that about? Logic tells me there's a story there." She took a large gulp of her wine.
Aro opened his mouth to speak.
"Maybe we should start somewhere easier. I won't understand quantum physics without basic math…" She interrupted him. "Okay. One plus one is two. Let's begin with the basics. You are immortal."
"Yes,"
"Are vampires really effected by garlic? Or is it more of you don't like it? What about stakes? Are holy objects an issue for you? Do you sleep? If so, is it really done in a coffin? I have a feeling that'd ruin your suits and you'd be upset about it. Will you burn in direct sunlight? I've seen you in the day so direct would be the issue… I think. Are you able to shapeshift? Do you have fangs? Do you get the impulse to count? Do you drink blood?"
She took a few deep breaths in and out, trying to not run out of air.
"The flood gates open," Aro teased. "Vampires can only be destroyed by fire. If you were to not set fire to the vampire, they will rebuild themselves. You witnessed what happens to a limb if it is left for long. While it may be immobile it will be fine essentially to time. Holy objects are of no consequence to us. We do not consume food so there is no effect upon us. The smell is quite atrocious, however. We do not sleep at all. We do not require it. Sunlight merely causes our skin to shine it is a very clear sign to mortals what we are. I do not have fangs, but I do have very sharp teeth, coated in venom. No, I do not have an impulse to count, though I am rather good at it. We do drink blood to survive."
"How often does one need to consume blood, and how much? Is it a little bit, or can like humans be bitten and left alive?"
"A few pints of blood are required to circulate within the vampire to remain sated. The fire in our throats and hunger grows if it is lower. We cannot leave a human after feeding, the venom would ultimately change them. Not every human will change into a vampire, but many suffer from the venom, it will kill them before they turn. The older one gets the more time you can place between feedings. Every month or so for most. The most I can go can be about two months. Though it is not preferred. We feed upon humans of course, however these feedings are quite organized as to not bring our existence to light." He explained further into detail.
"Does it bother you to be near people? I cut myself in front of you earlier… fuck. I am so sorry Aro. That's like putting a nice juicy steak in front of someone and saying they can't have it." Drew gasped.
"You are so eloquent, doctor. Must you continue to curse?" Aro sighed, frowning.
Drew downed the rest of her wine. "I really want to tell you to bite me but I'm not suicidal."
He chuckled. "I promise you I have no intent to drink from you."
"Does it smell good to you? I mean I've smelt blood it's this coppery smell to it. The taste is very metallic. Do I smell good to you?"
"In a younger vampire, it takes a lot of control to avoid draining every human they see. Blood is quite tempting, the longer we are without it, the more we get out of control. Every person is different scent wise. Each is delectable. You are no exception." He admitted.
"What do I smell like?"
"Your blood is a very floral with hints maple. A common effect of the northern hemisphere."
"So, you're telling me I'm a walking canadian stereotype of maple syrup in my blood." She laughed. "Are you able to hypnotize your food? Like mind control?"
"While all vampires are beautiful to lure our prey to us, mind control is not a default ability of our kind. Our abilities are heightened, sight, sensation, smell, motions, our minds as well. We are stronger, faster than humans. We do not require mind control. I have yet to come across any vampire who can truly control another's mind. It would be a very dangerous power indeed. There are vampires with special abilities for example, invisibility, reading minds, mental illusions." He replied.
"Do you have any special abilities?"
Aro sat up. "I will preface my response it is not an ability I can control. I can read every thought you have had by a simple touch."
"Oh…"
Drew's cheeks burnt. She put her empty glass down and buried further under the blankets.
He'd seen every thought… Every thought? The thoughts she'd had earlier that morning. She ran a hand over her face. The ones from when she was in her darkest moments. It was invasive… overstepping… exposing…
"You can't control it? Are you able to forget it?"
Could she hold any anger for the man who had shown her nothing but respect? Drew pursed her lips. A lot of those thoughts she'd wanted to remain buried.
"I cannot forget anything. While most memories are filed away within my mind, they get muddier with time, yours are quite new." He admitted. "I will keep your thoughts private out of respect."
Aro poured her another glass of wine passing her the glass. His fingertips grazed hers. She settled back drinking some wine.
"It truly does not anger you, my gift?" He questioned quietly.
"My mind wars." Drew looked back to him. "You said you'd respect my private thoughts. I'll put my trust in you. You haven't given me reason not to. It's not your fault you can't control it."
"You astound me." He murmured.
"Why's that?"
"You accept this so easily. There is no fear in you. I am a dangerous creature who has killed. I could kill you so easily." He twisted his chalice within his long fingers.
"Any human can kill me. That's not a special skill." She pointed out. "You have given me no reason to fear you. Should I?"
"You heard what Caius said about laws," he began. "We are the reason humans do not know about all that go bump in the night. We are called the Volturi. We are made of five rulers and our guard. We rule and govern the vampire world."
"What are these laws?"
"There are a few. The main being no one must draw attention to vampires and no mortal should know. Hunting must be done diligently, no leaving remains and moving territories regularly. This is so as not to alert the humans to the feedings. Interacting with humans must be limited and controlled. No vampiric children as we do not age or change physically."
"Oh. So that's what he meant. What happens when a human finds out?"
"They are to be disposed of or turned."
"Caius wishes to see me dead." Drew's eyes widened. Her heart began to slam against her chest. She sat up further, looking to the door of the room and back to Aro.
"You will not be killed." He affirmed. "You are too important."
"I will be made into a vampire?" She blinked a few times. "That seems like a lot of work for your family."
"You are a very special person, Doctor. To kill you would be a waist." He sighed filling his chalice once more and drinking it as fast.
"How? What's so special about me? I'm a pretty normal human." She yawned.
"Are you certain you wish to proceed? You are tired."
"I want to know."
"Vampires are amongst the lucky few species in this world, with what you would consider a soulmate. A true match. It can take centuries or mere years. A good few number of vampires have found their matches within others."
"I'm someone's soulmate, aren't I." She blurted.
"Yes." He confirmed. "You are indeed the mate to some vampires."
"Who?"
"You are a smart woman, can you guess?" A curl pulled up at his lips before sipping from his glass.
There was a spark within his gaze.
Drew shifted to cross her legs another way. Would a ruler of a vampiric world show interest in her otherwise? She knew whilst she'd been a prodigy throughout school graduating early and earning a few scholarships. She still considered herself to be normal. She didn't go out of her way to stand out to her bosses without reason. She definitely hadn't here. Yet Aro had began to pop up everywhere in her life the moment they'd met. His family in general.
"You." She whispered. "Is that why you began speaking to me? We are soulmates?"
"You do work for me, however beyond this, our bond is one motivating factor. Like you, I am curious and wished to meet one of the people I had hired who captivated so many. While you may think you leave little impression upon others, it is quite the opposite. I've been set in this project for almost two years now. I've come to know those in higher positions. You had been here a few months and yet never crossed my path. I did not know of the bond until I laid eyes on you. That is how it usually works."
"Well," she cleared her throat. "Thank you, I didn't know I did leave an impact. Side effect of growing up in foster care."
Soulmates.
She downed more wine.
She'd never focused on the existence of soulmates. Never believing in religion despite her Gran's insistence upon Catholicism. She'd gone to a religious school but found no belief of god. The idea of a perfect match was so farfetched. Relationships weren't spontaneous but to be worked upon by both parties… It would take continuous efforts to remain together. Everyday choosing to remain with the same person. The amount of devotion, it was a reason she did not do relationships…
'You are mated to a few vampires.' Aro's words echoed through her mind.
"You're not the only one." She zeroed back in and met his red gaze.
He tilted his head. "What?"
"You said mated to a few vampires. That's plural. You aren't my only mate?"
"I am not." He confirmed nodding once.
'She is important to us.'
Caius flashed into her mind. His snarled lips, and glaring black eyes. The way he'd belittled her.
Absolutely fucking not. There is no way. She downed her wine. No. No. NO! She'd rather stick a cactus up the ass than ever be within his presence for the rest of eternity. Her soulmate? What kind of sick fucking joke.
Drew pushed her blankets off. She slammed the glass down on the table. Dread dripped down her spine like ice.
"For fuck sakes. Caius? Seriously? How in the fuck!" She squeaked beginning to bounce her leg.
"If it makes you feel any better, he is only one of three." Aro filled her glass again and nudged it to her.
"Three! Oh yes that is so much better." Drew whimpered.
She took shallow breaths.
Three? Was the universe really so out of balance she needed to deal with three people? She couldn't handle one! She hated the second. She couldn't fathom a third.
Aro flashed in front of her. He took her face within his hands, eyes wide.
"Doctor, breath. You're hyperventilating." His voice became distant.
"You think?" She exhaled, vision becoming blurry.
Aro had her lay back as the world fell away.
