New York
A boy with red hair and gold eyes, claiming to be the head medic knocked the next day saying that Donovan was awake if they wanted to talk to him. Jane nearly broke the door down of a make shift infirmary. She tried not to notice the amount of kids with burns that she had most likely inflicted. And she prayed they wouldn't notice her. "Look it's the fire queen," a girl snickered as she walked up to Donovan. Alec held his sister back from bitch slapping the giggling children, reminding her to not cause any more trouble. The head medic pointed to where their friend was, warning they had given him said medication would make him a little loopy and loud mouthed. Donovan was sitting on the edge of the bed reading a newspaper in a monotone voice, "Two more bodies were found rained of blood in Central Park. Nighttime cult violence continues to shake the city that never sleeps. Wow, I think the Volturi are really slacking on enforcing their stick-up-your-ass rules. What do you say guys?"
Jane flicked his forehead playfully. "So glad to see you're back you your old, annoying self," Jane teased back. She and Donovan hugged longer than Alec desired but he let it go. Even though he was rubbing her back and smiling his Cheshire cat smile at Alec. Feigning shock, Alec flipped him the bird theatrically. "Come here, twinkle toes," Donovan stood up signaling for Alec and him to hug as well. Alec only crossed his arms and gave Donovan the you-better-be-fucking-kidding-me face, which was seen as a challenge. Donovan ran and picked Alec up, which is not that hard to do, in a huge bear hug. Several of the children ran out of the room screaming bloody murder out of pure terror when they saw the feral, loathsome, red-eyed glare and heard the demonic hiss from hell.
After some pestering and minor torture Jane convinced the head medic to let Donovan leave and move into their room. After Donovan settled into one of the empty beds, Jane decided to clear the elephant out of the room, "So what exactly happened?"
Donovan took a deep breath, "Its called Burn UP. In a nut shell, its what happens when a dhampir overworks an ability, such as my shield. It mainly happens because sometimes our physical bodies are too human for our vampire abilities and it burns you from the inside out. You're using a huge amount of energy all at once and it completely screws your body up. Mild symptoms are fevers, nausea, malaise, lethargy, excessive sleeping or feeding from needing to quickly replenish energy and fainting at worst. Basically like the flu, but no virus. But it can get really bad depending on how severe the Burn Up is. In more serious cases it can cause dangerously high fevers, night terrors, out-of-control hunting, seizures, hallucinations, internal bleeding, and possibly brain damage. I've seen it even put kids in comas. It was just bad for me because I had never had my shield up for that long with two people before. Not to mention I haven't been sleeping or feeding that much. They just had me sleep, drink a lot of water, and eat. Did I ever mention how gross human food is? Taste like dirt!"
"So you good, mate?" Alec checked.
"Yah. Not allowed to use my shield that much and apparently theirs not fucking booze in this joint. But I'm fine."
Jane smiled, "By the way, General Grigsby told me that they were mailing Moira to England-"
"Already talked to her and we have cousins of sorts picking her up here today and burying her where we grew up."
Jane cringed when she heard the last part. About them growing up, possibly together, "You two grew up together?" She really hoped the medic was right about the meds making him loopy. "Ya, but she's about twelve years or so older than me I reckon." This was odd, Jane remembered that Donovan mentioned being around a hundred and fifty years old. Maybe Moira was like Josephine? "Where did you two grow up?" Jane wanted to keep him talking. "Loxwood, England. But we later spent a couple years touring the British Isles and parts of Western Europe before skipping the pond over to America. Our mum was part Irish, part British, with a little bit of French mixed in a long time back."
Jane and Alec quickly looked at each other. They both grew up in Loxwood. They were killed in Loxwood. They also caught the part about "Our mum". "What do you mean by 'our mum'?" Alec asked slyly. "Moira and I are half-siblings. We had the same mum. But her dad was human and mine was a vampire," Donovan started choking up on the last part and breathing heavily. His eyes were full of panic, yet weren't all the way there. "How come you two have different dads?" Jane was relieved. No wonder he was so protective of Moira. They were siblings. Jane and Alec of all people understood that. "My mum wouldn't help him and his coven, so he made an example of her by raping her. He didn't know I would be a result from it," Jane felt bad. Tears were bubbling at the corner of his eyes. But she kept asking him questions, "If your mom was human, why would a vampire want her help?"
Donovan's eyes seemed to snap back into focus, as if he suddenly became aware of where the conversation was going. "I-I uh can't tell you. I promised I never would!"
A knock startled the entire room. "Two people are here to see you. Said something about picking up a package?" a voice called. Donovan stood up. He wanted to say good bye to his sister one last time. Jane and Alec decided to follow him out. They both guiltily enough were curious. Donovan found Moira laying on a bed, outside of the sleeping bag. Someone had brushed and braided her hair with fresh flowers, dressed her in a nice gown that covered all the scorch marks, and even put on a touch of make up to make her seem less dead. Jane tried to not look at Moira. She no longer felt jealousy over her, but rather comradery. Moira seemed to be smiling knowingly at her, like Moira still held a secret Jane would never know. Maybe it was better she didn't.
The twins and Donovan climbed up through the manhole cover. There they met a figure dressed all in black, gloved hands, hood over its face. The heartbeat indicated it was human. He or she was only an inch shorted than Alec, slim and hard to tell if it was a boy or a girl. But Alec caught the figure's scent. Like an ancient forest, lavender, burning sage, and a grandma's kitchen during Christmas all rolled into one. It sent fireworks off in his head and make him feel this odd pull towards the figure. He had to know who it was! What if this figure was his blood singer? The figure nodded, reaching its arms out to take hold of Moira. Alec caught a flash of flesh as the figures sleeves rode up while extending its arms. He noticed a small tattoo on the inside of the left wrist. A little black star.
Once holding the dead girl. The figure turned and started silently walking away. "Excuse me. Who are you?" Alec shouted. He NEEDED to know! The figure turned, looked at him, and continued walking away until it was out of sight. Alec raced after the black-clad figure, but somehow there was no scent and it seemed as though the figure had disappeared into thin air. His heart felt like it had just been dropped off the top of Mount Everest into a blender. Walking back, Jane noticed the melancholy on her twin's face. "What's wrong," Jane asked. "I think I just met my potential mate, and now he or she is gone forever," Alec felt destroyed. "Who, Moira?"
"No, the figure in black".
Volterra
Santiago stood in the door way of Damien's room, "Well, it's about time somebody noticed me around here. Cheer up kid. You look like you've seen a ghost."
Damien just stared at Santiago. It wasn't the fact that he was staring a dead person he use to know. It was that Santiago wanted him to tell Tiago Felix wasn't his real father. Sure Tiago and he weren't best friends, but he didn't want to get him get hurt either. Plus it wasn't his job or place to tell him. "At least let me think about it. He's my friend and I don't want to break it to him the wrong way."
The ghost agreed before walking down the hallway to watch his son play futebol with Marina. It was oddly heartwarming to watch Santiago cheer Tiago on and give him pointers, even though Damien was the only one who could hear or see him. Santiago would have made a great father.
The first few guests had begun to arrive that evening. The Building was buzzing with vampires. Aro greeted them with a warm handshake, making sure to scan each of them mentally to make sure none were planning any sort of treason or knew of the experiment happening down stairs. The next morning the guards were in a flurry of putting on the last couple touches to the decorations. The band, some of the most talented vampire musicians in the world, had already began warming up. The wives were in a tizzy making sure their hair and makeup was on point, their dresses without wrinkle and husbands doing the same. Demetri made sure to check on the kids down stairs, reminding them to extra quiet during the ball so no one would hear them with vampire hearing. He also checking in with his daughter. They had been practicing turning her personal tracking shield on and off. This is how they would communicate for the rest of the night. One second long pause meant "checking in, every things good". Two one second long pause meant "Someone's coming". Three pauses meant "Emergency!" Kissing his daughter goodbye and reminding the children to be on their best behavior, he went up to change. The Guard was expected to be in their most formal of uniforms. At dusk, the ball would begin.
Demetri hated parties.
Over twelve covens and thirty nomads attended the ball. The Volturi were surprised that three of their friends had brought their children, who were half-vampire. One was a nomad from Tokyo who introduced Aro to his three month old daughter, Yuki. Another a nomad from Germany with a five month old son named Wilhem. And finally was Joham who had brought all three of his daughter Serena, Maysun, and Jennifer. Nahuel and Hulien refused to come. Many vampires who had not heard of or had only heard vague rumors of these hybrids existing were outraged at first, but eventually were overcome with curiosity. Many vampires asked Aro if there were to be new laws written about these children. The idea of vampires being able to procreate astounded many. Aro decreed that, for now until further notice, there would be a limit of two children to each coven and one child to a nomad, unless if multiple babies such as twins or triplets were created.
Many of the guests spent their time asking the children and their fathers' questions. How well the children learned and listen? Development and lifespan? How was their behavior? How did they compare to the taboo Immortal Children? Feeding habits and diet? How exciting! As the music began to play, Demetri heard one signal from Marina. Everything was all good.
"I wish I could go to the ball," Olivia pouted. Tiago thought dancing was stupid and for girls. Marina agreed with Olivia. She was curious as to what was going on upstairs. She could sence the Building was full of people, how many vampires were dancing in the great hall, how many were in the newly maintained garden, where her dad was. She even tried experimenting with trying to sense the dancers' movements. "Tiago, may I have this dance?" she curtsied in her robin's blue skirt. "Yes, my lady," Tiago faked a posh accent before offering his hand. The two children swung each other in circles until they collapsed on the floor in dizzy giggles. Eventually Marina stood up and tried mimicking some of the dancers' moves above. Spinning on her toes gracefully. It reminded her of when her dad had shown her the Nutcracker.
Damien stood in the door way watching. He had grown stir crazy staying in his room for over twenty-four hours now. Plus being with living people gave Damien and excuse to tell the dead people to stop bothering him. "Don't even think about asking me to dance, schizo-naut. I'd rather dance with my brother, than with you. But then again you know all about siblings doing stuff with each other. Chelsea told me Jane an Alec have slept together! At least they died romantically with their lover," Olivia sneered. Damien was hoping to be invisible, but obviously that wasn't going to happen now that the Queen Bitch had noticed him. Like the day before, Damien counted down from ten in his head, keeping his cool. Tonight was not the night to pick a fight. Fists clenched, jaw nearly snapping in two from gritting his teeth so hard, he walked to the other side of the room and said nothing.
Marina and Tiago attempted to relieve the tension by suggesting she show Tiago how to throw knives like her dad had taught her. Tiago was not that great at aiming, but was a real strong thrower. Olivia said she would join, but she didn't want to break a nail. The room was still tense, like the room was full of gun powder and they all were playing with matches. Part of the reason they all were sharing such close quarters with each other was that Aro believed this could be a fun bonding experience and a chance for everyone to learn to work together. All it had done was make all the kids stir crazy and patience thin from being trapped together for too long.
"May I try," Damien wanted to at least try being social. Marina smiled and handed him a knife. The first time he threw it, the side bounced of the target instead of lodging in it. Olivia and Tiago snorted. Tiago on accident, Olivia out of spite. On the fourth try, it finally stuck in the third to closest ring. "Not bad," Marina commented. Tiago tried next. The first one he threw so hand it bent in half when it hit the target. The second hit the outer most ring and the final hit the second ring. As Tiago went to collect the knives Damien tried to start a conversation with the two of them.
"It's cool that your dad taught you how to throw knives," Damien smiled. Tiago sneered cruely "You're just jealous 'cause your dad's dead."
"At least I'm smart enough to know who my real dad was," Damien challenged. He didn't mean to say it. It just slipped out. He decided it would be best if he retreated to his room. He felt cold metal graze across his arm and warm blood trickle down. "What did you say?" Tiago questioned. "Tiago. Damien. Stop," Marina warned. Damien was sick of being treated like crap and every one making fun of Jane and Alec. "I said Felix isn't your real father! You're father s DEAD!"
Tiago threw Damien on the ground harder than he ever had in training. His head smacked against the ground, leaving black spots in his vision. The pain of a fist colliding with his face brought him back to reality. Snarling, Damien rolled out of the way of Tiago trying to stab him with one of the throwing knives. His hands were shaking from adrenaline and world seemed to vividly explode. He suddenly felt aware of everything in the room. Damien felt like he had just chugged Redbull mixed with espresso. This was different than training. This was real.
Tiago charged him again, knife in hand. Senses on hyperdrive, Damien kicked Tiago square in the chest sending him flying back. While Tiago was stunned, Damien bolted to grab the other knife. He had never used a weapon before. But now was a good time to learn. But soon Damien realized his mistake. He was now in a corner. Tiago charged again, slamming Damien into the wall, stabbing him in the side with the knife. Damien screamed in pain as blood gushed down his hip, thigh and on to the stone floor. Then something snapped. He closed his eyes snarling a feral, desperate cry. But soon he heard things clattering around. He sound of the punching bags slamming against the wall, of dummies smacking around, the clatter of swords and weaponry crashing to the ground. And Olivia screaming in terror.
Distracted Tiago turned to see what was happening. Objects were floating and smacking themselves against the wall like they were possessed. Damien took advantage of this and punched Tiago in the face hard enough for bone to crack. Tiago crumpled to the ground in shock. Damien didn't stop there. He was able to kick Tiago's knife out of his hand. He continued to punch and claw and attack. He. Could. Not. Stop. Marina panic when she saw Damien's eyes suddenly glow red like a vampires. She quickly signaled it was an emergency.
Amidst the joyful holiday music, waltzes and conversations with ancient friends, Demetri got the gut wrenching signal that there was an emergency downstairs. Running over to Felix, he whispered that both were needed for a quick errand of Aro's. On high alert, they ran downstairs. Aro and Caius quickly saw the two guards run in a panic and followed suit. Halfway down the hallway they smelled blood!
To their horror they found Damien straddling Tiago's chest, both covered in each other's blood, with Damien holding a knife to Tiago's throat. Olivia immediately chirped, "Damien started it," hoping to get everyone's praise for presenting the culprit. No one paid her no mind as they ran in and pulled the two bleeding boys off each other. Demetri gripped Damien, while Felix held back Tiago. Both writhed and struggled, not done fighting yet. "ENOUGH! Both of you!" Aro ordered, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Damien said Felix isn't my real dad!"
"Well of course not, dumbass," Caius snickered.
"Told you," Damien coughed, spitting blood out of his mouth. Tiago broke free and lunged at Damien, breaking his nose. It took Felix, Caius, and Aro to hold Tiago back and keep him from doing more damage. Eventually Tiago crumpled to the ground in defeat.
When Felix tried to help him up, Tiago's head snapped around glaring at Felix and slapping his helping hands away. "You lied!" he screamed, "You aren't my father!" The boy stood up and ran down the hallway, locking himself in a closet and crying until he was nearly sick.
Felix tried to run after him but Aro stopped him, saying he knew how to handle it better. He walked to the closest and slowly opened it to find Tiago hiccupping from crying so hard. "Don't take this out on Felix. We were only trying to protect you," Aro cooed. "I don't need protecting!" Tiago growled. "Your father was murdered. We have yet to learn who the killer is," Aro sighed dramatically. "I want the killer to be dead," Tiago muttered. "Exactly. The best way to make your dead father proud is to avenge his death. Join the guard and devote your life to fighting our enemies!" Aro encouraged. Tiago whipped away his tears and tried breathing normally. "I will, sir. I swear the filthy murderer will be dead in the next decade!"
"Excellent! Joining the Guard is exactly what your father wouldn't have wanted after all," Aro praised.
Once the immediate threat had left the room, all the energy Damien had felt before drained away in a second. The objects no longer were being thrown around the room. His senses felt numb and his head spun from blood loss from head injuries and getting stabbed. He was thankful for feeling numb because he was sure once again he would be sporting bruises and this time broken some bones. His eyes, not black, rolled back as he passed out. Demetri felt Damien's legs give out and body go limp. Demetri felt Damien's legs give out and body go limp. Looking at the puddle of blood below the boy, he finally noticed the huge wound in Damien's side where he had been stabbed. Swearing he lowered the boy to the ground, handed Marina his jacket and ordered her to keeping pressing it to the wound until he came back with a medical kit.
Demetri had a hard time stitching Damien up. His skin was tough like a vampire's, but Demetri was still able to sew him back up. Marina watched him with morbid curiosity. The silver needle going in and out of the snow white, crimson stained skin. When he finished, Demetri checked Damien's pulse. It was slower and weaker than desired, but enough to worry. Damien was still unconscious and wheezed whenever he took a breath. Most likely broken ribs, a broken jaw, major concussion, and bruising but not much more. The bones were already resetting themselves and his nose was only trickling blood as appose to gushing as it had been before. After checking to make sure there was not spinal or neck injury, Demetri carried the boy back to his room. His shirt had sponged up most of the blood, but was sadly ruined. After changing him into a clean pair of clothes, Demetri tucked him in before tucking in his daughter.
The training room was covered in blood and broken equipment. But the guards would deal with it later. After meticulously scrubbing the blood of themselves and changing into fresh clothes, the Volturi returned to hosting their ball. All eyes lingered on them when they entred the Main Hall. People murmured.
"I heard screaming."
"Wonder if they are keeping a prisoner down there?"
"That's probably where Jane and Alec are. Torturing innocent people for no good reason. Those things don't even deserve to live if you ask me."
"Speaking of the devils, I heard they burned down a subway tunnel and killed a hundred innocent humans just because they were bored!"
"They are nothing but monsters I tell you. That thing you call a girl, Jane, loves nothing but watching people scream in pain."
"Her brother isn't much better. A soulless, cold killer with no feelings or emotions."
"Back to screaming. I wouldn't want to be in that person's shoes right now. Better them than me."
"Is that blood under Demetri's fingernails?"
"I hear he spends his free time tracking down models and slowly draining them dry as he makes erotic love to them. He is a heartbreaker I tell you, ruthless."
"Felix isn't much better. He's a complete, brainless goon. It's a miracle he can even speak."
"Aro is such a patient soul for putting up with all these monsters. I swear without him the world would be chaos. He's basically god."
Demetri hated parties.
Happy Holidays from TeamOctober!