When they returned to the farm Maria was gone. Major was telling the remaining four how to work around the farm and how he expected them to pitch in with training when the newborns came. Which meant that Maria was off picking her new victims. Astrid cringed at the idea of what the next week would mean; constant screaming as humans transitioned to vampires and being attacked as they woke up.
The following days consisted of Astrid avoiding Major and Peter complaining about the newborns that Maria brought home. They'd been screaming and had stopped in the late hours; Astrid expected to wake at any minute. It was difficult since Maria changed them within hours of each other, so after one newborn had been calmed and fed, the trio were prepping themselves to meet the next unkind vampire.
Astrid had taken duty over a man with dirty brown hair who had gone silent two hours ago. She leaned against the barn door, tapping her toes together when she got bored. Her mind drifted to Major as she waited. He was still angry about the children and she could feel it anytime she dared to look his way. Yet, he hadn't told Maria and had even told her 'positive things' about her. That must have been before her indiscretion. When she wasn't trying to save human's lives, she was quite ruthless and usually was beside Major in the fray. She always had his back and it pained her that she had let him down.
Never had she gone a day without a comment from Major or him calling her doll. She found that she actually missed it.
Her thoughts stopped when the man's eyes opened and he sped into an upright position. He hadn't taken notice of her, instead choosing to look around the barn. No doubt he was adjusting to his new eyesight; he could see the same particles of the hay that she did, could see the splinters in the wood structure. As he followed the barn roof to the door, he finally noticed her standing beside it.
Astrid's appearance was not welcomed. He snarled and hissed, crouching like a cat and swiping an arm at her. She knew her scars were no help, she had been scared shitless of Major when she had first awoken and had tried to behead him. It was for that reason she wasn't surprised when the man lunged at her.
She grabbed him mid air by the neck and slammed him to the hay covered floor. The hay rose like disrupted feathers, flying around their heads and getting caught in her hair. She snarled and bared her teeth, squeezing his neck so that it cracked. Just like Major had done to her days previous. She shook the thought away but the man saw her hesitation. He flipped them and tore her arm off. She screeched in agony and squeezed her legs to her chest, placing her feet on his stomach and shoving him away. He made a hole in the wall from the strength he was tossed, dust and hay everywhere. She could clearly see him push himself up, wild and ravenous. He lunged at her again but this time she was focused. She spun and kicked him, sending him tumbling to the ground. Before he could right himself, she landed on his back and held him down by the back of his neck. He made gargling noises that sounded between a cobra and lion.
"Enough!" She lifted him by his hair and slammed his face back into the floor. His body instantly stilled, feeling that she was more powerful than him.
"You have been chosen by Maria to be given an immortal life. Do you wish for me to end it so quickly?" She spat. He turned so his cheek rested on the floor and could peer at her through the corner of his eyes. They were the brightest they would ever be, still red from his own blood.
"M-Maria? I know that name." He clenched his eyes shut. She could imagine the over stimulation happening to him. The smells and sight, the tingling sensation your body had while adjusting to the new speed.
"She is your maker, your master. We do as she wishes and in return we are given a life of freedom," The speech was ingrained in her head. Major had told her the same thing and it was told to each vampire made, no matter who's venom was in their veins. "Our life is glorious, do you wish to be ended so cruelly or continue towards power?"
Just like any newborn, his answer was immediate and definite. He knew that if he objected Astrid would tear him into pieces.
"Wonderful," Astrid stood and he was too quick in his actions. "What is your name?"
He thought hard, "Harold . . . I think I went by Harry."
"Harry, let me tell you how we eat," Astrid told him of the towns he was permitted to enter, the death toll he could acquire before Maria would be mad. "The others are waiting for you."
Harry disappeared in the blink of an eye and she scowled, her eyes landing on her detached arm across the barn. Her fingers waved her over and she grumbled over the idea of another scar. Another one to the silvery lines on her body.
When her arm was reattached, she tried to roll it but it groaned in protest, not properly healed yet. In a terrible mood, she shoved the barn door open and walked into the yard. Peter was telling the newborns that they had the next two days to adjust to their new lives, that instead of going into town right away their food will be brought to the farm. She stayed behind the ten vampires, her arms crossed and scowl prominent.
The house door swung open and Major walked out, buttoning his shirt and wiping away red lipstick from his cheek. It made her mood darker. He stood at the steps and took in the crowd, nodding in approval, before his gaze landed on her. His eyes were dark, he hadn't fed since they returned to the farm. He must've smelled her venom and felt her pain, she knew he could hear her scream. Probably didn't care.
"Why are you so angry at me?" Major asked, disappearing from the steps to stand next to her. "Shouldn't it be the other way aroun'?"
She stared at Peter, wanting nothing more than to cry and stomp her feet and express her frustration in the most pathetic way possible. Sometimes her moods were too enhanced for her, even after five years of controlling herself.
"I'm not angry at you, Major." She muttered. Her body and emotions said otherwise, he could tell.
They fell into a tense silence as Peter finished up his speech with the declaration that the newborns would begin to train for fighting after they fed.
"There ya' go, sir!" Peter saluted Major, smiling dashingly. "The troops have been informed and are given free rein. Let's see who makes it through the night, heh?"
His eyes flickered between Astrid and Major. Her face in a deep frown and Major looking amused.
"Good. Let's get them some food, eh doll?"
Her mood instantly broke. She smiled widely and looked at Major. He was already peering at her down his nose, his face giving away no emotion but she could feel his relaxed emotions coaxing her own.
"Yes, yes, of course Major!" She chirped, giddy to begin the hunt. She was doll again! The world was right again. It made the pain in her arm disappear, only slightly, but it felt multitudes better than before.
Major gave Peter orders to watch over the newborns and informed him that Maria was planning in her room. Nettie and Lucy were expected in another two days. The mention of their leader brought the dark cloud back but being in Major's presence diminished it quickly. Thoughts of betrayal could wait another few hours.
Major took off with Astrid following. They never brought large amounts of food from the towns and instead took to the human battles happening in their area. With the Civil War still raging it was easy enough to catch soldiers in the middle. If they got lucky they could find a troop of fifteen or so.
However, Major didn't lead them towards a battle field. They were in the neighboring town. Once they entered the streets, he slowed to a human pace and tucked his hands into his pockets. Astrid was grateful she had snatched the blue dress from the couple last night, she looked like a well respected lady. Her hair still was curly and had been slightly crushed from her scuffle with Harry, but she knew that didn't deter men from openly staring at her as they passed.
It was dark so no one could see their red eyes, it was the safest to join humans at this time. The streets were full of cheer and holiday music, the salons full of patrons and joyous laughter. She took note of the wreaths on doors, something she had over looked.
"Oh, it must be Christmas." She realized, taking in the abundance of hanging holly and garlands strung over the street lamps.
"I always liked Christmas," Major revealed. She listened attentively. "My mama would string popcorn to hang on the tree. My father would cut it down from our yard. It was my sister's favorite time of year."
He seemed to loose himself in the memories. Astrid was flattered at the information. She never imagined Major's human life.
She decided to give some back, "My brother and I would get out of bed and try to open our presents early. Mother always had a knack for hearing us sneak out and would be waiting for us, beating us with the paper when we got our hands on one."
"Smart woman." Major ended the discussion by stopping in front of a lit house.
She peered into the window. The curtains were open to show a family of six sitting in the sitting room. The parents were at the tree, touching up ornaments that had been knocked down from their toddler trying to grab it. Two older children were giggling at each other, whispering about the cute brothers next door that had given them flattering looks. The younger ones kept themselves entertained by placing a plate of cookies for their Santa Claus. Astrid briefly saw a younger version of herself in the kitchen with her mother, stirring the batter as her mother sang Christmas carols.
"Who are they?" Astrid asked.
Major fixated his dark eyes on her, "Your redemption."
Of course Major hadn't simply forgave and forgot. He had used her emotions against her. Major knew that Astrid had been belittling herself for letting him down and had regretted her actions since then. He wanted her to slaughter this family with young children to see if she would resist. He was testing her.
She gaped at Major. She had spent the last days mourning the loss of his trust, thinking of ways to gain it back. He knew without a doubt that she would do anything to gain his affectation. She only wanted him to be pleased with her again.
If it took the life of children to be in his good graces then so be it. Before he could feel her commitment to him she was in the house and had ripped the parents throats out. The children, having all been in the same room, screamed in horror. They didn't have their wits about them to fight or run. The young ones huddled together on the couch, weeping for their bloodied parents. Astrid raised her bloodied hand, and with a goal in mind, she shredded and tore their small bodies.
When the sitting room was coated in blood and Astrid was standing in the center of it, not regretting a single thing, Major walked in. He closed the curtains without looking at her. All she could think was if she pleased him. If she had proved to him that she would do anything for him. Not for Maria, not Peter, or even for her own damn salvation. If Major wanted her to kill the entire Westcoast she would gladly do it. She pushed her emotions outward, for once not trying to hide herself.
He finally took pity on her and met her passionate gaze. She couldn't breathe so she didn't know why she was panting. The room was on fire, she could've sworn, and she was radiating the heat.
"Are you happy, Major?" She asked, tired of the silence and wordless conversations they had.
He kicked the father's body to the her feet, "Happy? I haven't been happy in a decade, Astrid. I am satisfied."
She snarled at how he lowered her, "What will it take for you to believe in me again? I will rip this entire town apart for you!" She had never raised her voice at the Major before but she was past the point of holding herself back. Astrid wanted answers.
He was toe to toe to her the second she raised an octave. She bit her lip but didn't dare to step back. He towered over her, using his power to make her feel less sure of herself.
"And what would ya' do for Maria?" His tone was malevolent.
Maria? Maria? She was outraged that he spoke her name but she had to choose her words carefully. Major was the first vampire Astrid had met. She had attacked him, had given him the bite mark on his right cheek. Major had tossed her aside like a puppy, snarling and hitting her to make her break to him. No matter how many beatings Major had given Astrid or the vampire fights he had shoved her into when she was starved, did she ever feel weary of him. Maria, a shadow on her life, a looming figure that used her control over Major to strike fear in her followers, was nothing to her.
"Major," She was timid to admit the truth but she could feel him encouraging her. He wanted to know. "You are my creator, my leader. My immortal life is yours."
The house creaked from the wind. Two drunkards stumbled by, slurring Saint Noel as they wandered past, unaware of the two monsters standing off in the sitting room. Major's eyes were black, his posture insinuating that he was ready to attack. Astrid wondered if this would be her last moment. Had she finally pushed Major enough?
She was bewildered when he raised a granite hand to caress her cheek. Major had never touched her like this before. She dared not move.
"You, Astrid, are my greatest creation." He rumbled.
If she could cry she would be bawling hysterically at this point.
Just as fast as he had touched her he was gone. He was at the door and walking briskly down the street, a pep to his step that had not been there before. Disregarding the bodies and blood on her pretty blue dress, Astrid was at his side in an instant.
"Do you forgive me, Major?"
"Yes, doll. Now let's feed those newborns."