Chapter 8: Befriending and Trusting
Selene noted that very few vampires were awake at this hour. Only a few females, and even fewer males, lounged around on the couches and armchairs. The Romanian vampires seemed to be more laid back than her former clan. Then again, they didn't worry about lycans.
With the thought of werewolves came the thought of Michael. She no longer felt a pang in her heart, which was guilt and not the sorrow of a lost love. Another thought arrived, too. It was a part of her previous dream the night before. She saw Anna's horrible death… felt it, too.
"Hey, new girl." A voice rudely interrupted her musing. Selene swung around and faced the direction that the rude voice came from. It was a typical male vampire. He looked like one of the vampires that attacked that innocent Romanian woman in the forest. Selene walked up to him and said, "You called me?"
The vampire nodded and stuck out his hand in a manner that showed her wanted a handshake. When Selene didn't take his hand, he introduced himself.
"I'm David." He said with an obviously forced smile. Selene looked at him suspiciously before taking his hand and shaking it for a very short moment.
"David, you loser! Stop making her feel uncomfortable, dumbass!" a woman vampire scolded as she marched up to them. She pushed David aside and greeted Selene.
"Good morning…" the lady vampire paused.
"I'm Selene." Selene answered.
"Ah, yes. Good morning, Selene." The lady vampire continued, "I'm Celeste. Don't mind David. He's my brother. A little messed up, aren't you Davie-kinnz?"
David eyed Celeste with pure sibling rivalry. Celeste simply chuckled and punched him playfully on the arm. David winced in pain.
"Dammit, Celeste! I told you to stop punching me there! I have bruises on my bruises!" he whined. Celeste just laughed. She noticed how quiet Selene was.
"I've heard that you came from the States, Selene. How was it there? And why did you venture so far to Romania?" she asked with the accent of a pure Romanian.
"USA was hell. My clan was in war against the werewolves." Selene retold her story, "When I supposedly fell in love with one of the werewolves, my own clan hunted me down. We killed them all, but Marcus killed him!" Selene spit Marcus' name out as if it was a poisonous thing.
"Who's Marcus?" Celeste asked. Her curiosity peaked. Selene explained to her who that hateful elder was. Celeste asked a number of other questions before she understood a fair amount of Selene's life and the reason why Selene was here.
"Wow. So your clan wasn't so laid back as ours. Here, in Romania, we just laze around or venture the city streets." Celeste said, "We also feed on the flesh of human, but only if the human found out about us or did something terribly wrong."
"What about that woman that David, Vaughn and the other male vampires feasted on the day I arrived here?" Selene asked curiously. At this question, Celeste raised her eyebrows as if she remembered something important that she had forgotten. She turned around to face her brother and asked him the exact same question Selene had asked her.
"She had found our mansion and saw us. We couldn't let her just run off and tell the public!" David defended. Celeste nodded and didn't show the slightest hint of disbelief to her brother… for once.
Selene believed the crazy brother of her newfound friend. At least, that's what she could call Celeste. Instead, acquaintance seems more appropriate for the time-being. Suddenly, Selene remembered something. A vampire had mentioned someone named Diane.
"Who is Diane?" Selene blurted out right after the thought.
"She's our leader. Very youthful, although she's from a century or two ago. We're rarely allowed to see her. It's only when we must consult to her about newcomers, such as yourself, or other important things." Celeste explained. Selene nodded in understanding.
As if someone must have overheard them in some way, read the lips, or even read their minds, a short female vampire came rushing towards them.
"Lady Diane has called forth the newcomer." She informed them between short pants.
"Andrea, how many times have I told you to stop being so formal. Remember to keep it casual!" Celeste scolded. The short vampire known as Andrea nodded and giggled.
"Sorry, forgot about that." She said. Then she looked at Selene.
"What is your name?" Andrea asked. Selene replied to her question honestly.
"Okay. Well, Selene, you must go to Diane." Andrea announced to her, "I don't know why. I'll lead you to milady's room, but that's as far as I'll go with you." Selene nodded and quickly said bye to Celeste before following Andrea down the halls. She noted how quick-paced the shorter vampire was. No wonder why Andrea was panting when she arrived.
"Here it is." She said when they arrived at the same doors Vaughn had entered on the day of her arrival. Selene thanked Andrea and then knocked on the door.
"Enter, Selene. I need to have a few words with you." A very commanding feminine voice called from inside the room. Selene obeyed and turned entered the room.
Selene expected bedroom for some reason, but was instead greeted by a very professional office. No one sat in the chair by the desk, but Selene saw a long shadow that led to the window. She closed the door behind her and looked at the tall woman that stood facing the window.
"Isn't it great to finally be able to walk in the sunlight after all those years in the darkness?" the woman asked more to herself than anyone else. Selenenodded in agreement and gazed into the sunrise.
"I am Diane, by the way." The woman said without bothering to face Selene. Selene was about to acknowledge the fact that Diane spoke to her. Before she could do that, Diane turned around and confronted her of her actions of the previous night.
"I know that you have been associating with a human. You've revealed the fact that you're a vampire." Diane began. Selene gulped. 'Great. Second day and things are already going bad.' She thought negatively.
"Don't be alarmed. I am not accusing you of anything horrible. You'll live with this clan for as long as you want and I won't stop you." Diane continued rather kindly.
"But…" Selene began, but was interrupted.
"But nothing. I know why you're associating with this human. Restless souls are meant to be freed. That spirit within you will be resurrected. She shall reunite with that man you spoke with and they shall return to their own time." Diane foretold.
"How do you know all of this?" Selene questioned.
"I don't know if that's what will happen. But she needs to be resurrected. I don't know how to bring her back to life. I'm not God." Diane seemed to ignore Selene's question. Just before Selene was about to protest about being ignored, Diane interrupted her yet again.
"As for your question, I know everything my clan does. If you try to lie to me, I'll know the truth. That's why being part of this clan teaches you honesty." Diane explained. Selene nodded.
"I didn't think that you would be so understanding if you ever found out about that night meeting." Selene chuckled. Diane smiled. "I'm kinder than most leaders." She said with a smile of amusement. There was a short awkward silence before Diane told Selene to fetch Andrea for her. Selene nodded and obeyed. She exited the office and told Andrea to go see Diane. Afterwards, she went off to find Celeste.
"Andrea, fetch Vaughn for me. I need to tell him something important…" Diane ordered. Andrea nodded and rushed off to find Vaughn.