I got rid of my writers block, pretty much. But I'm still not very happy with this chapter :/ The next chapter's better than this. Trust me. Usual disclaimer and please check out my forum. This chapter is so close to three thousand words. I'm gonna try and write longer chapters, okay? I feel like my writing has definitely gotten better since I started this story. I don't know how long it's going to be. Love and butterfly kisses, Draco. (you'll either get that or you won't)
THE ANGELS WILL ALWAYS CRY - THE ANGELS WILL ALWAYS CRY
"The rest of the Council have been released into this world." Elisabetta said, "And the Draculas grow weaker by the hour." She was standing over a large basin filled with a clear liquid that looked like water. She touched the surface and images began to surface.
"Emarni is weakened by her love for the Branaugh girl." Elisabetta said.
And indeed the girl was collapsed against her bed, her hands pressed to her temples. The hood of her jacket was caught on her hair, her blonde girls spilling out around her shoulders. Her forehead was creased with hurt.
"Salut, Emarni." Chloe said, sweeping into the room. The other vampire looked up at her, an exasperated expression on her face. Her face was twisted in pain.
"What's wrong?" Chloe was concerned immediately.
"It is just... This headache..." Emarni said, "It is killing me." She rested her head in her hands, avoiding Chloe's eyes. Emarni's golden locket swung around her neck, clinking against her chest.
"Oh, can I get something for you?" Chloe frowned at her. She reached over and took Emarni's hand on her own. The vampire pulled back, scowling.
"Don't touch me, half fang!" she shrieked, her head pounding. Chloe looked hurt. Good, good. Emarni wanted to hurt her, the same way Chloe had hurt her.
"Interesting." Julian said, rubbing his hands together, "And this was all caused by Agramon? I will have to promote him." He watched in amusement, as Emarni shoved the person she loved away from her. He laughed; that weak little girl was playing right into his hands.
"And the others?" Julian asked, "How are they?" Elisabetta brushed her hand across the surface of the water, causing the liquid to ripple. Her son's face glowed on the surface of the basin.
"I can't believe you never told me about Will." Malik was lying across the sofa, with his feet flopping over the edge. He was feeling extraordinarily tired, for some reason that he wasn't able to explain. Again, he blamed his human side.
"It never came up, okay? And you never told me about Olga." Ingrid snarled. She was standing over the kitchen sink, retching every now and again. It was clear that she wasn't feeling great either.
"That was different." Malik moaned, his legs aching.
"How?" Ingrid held her hair back, as she leant closer to the sink. She spat several times, her saliva trickling down the plug hole , before leaning back. Nothing. The worse kind of sickness is when you feel like you're going to throw up and you've accepted that you're going to throw up, and then you don't throw up. It was annoying.
"How, Malik?" Ingrid snapped, when he failed to respond. Glancing over at her fiancé, she rolled her eyes. He was asleep.
"Haha!" Julian laughed, "The Draculas are torn away from the people who love them. They feel isolated. And then I kill them."
"We kill them." Elisabetta corrected.
"That's what I meant..." Julian said, with a crooked smile, "Show me the pretty one again." With a sigh, Elisabetta touched the basin and Emarni's face sprung into view. The smile that covered Julian's face irritated the shapeshifter immensely.
"She's just upset." Grayson was saying, watching the girl out of the window. There was a swing strung up on the tree in the back garden, which Emarni was sitting on. Her legs were swaying back and forth rhythmically.
"I know." Chloe sighed, "But I hate seeing her so angry and... Miserable. It's all my fault." Emarni crossed her legs, her patent leather Kickers shining in the moonlight. She was looking up at the stars that were dancing in the sky.
"What do you mean?" Grayson looked down at the blonde girl standing beside him. She was frowning, running her hands through her long hair.
"I was... Angry. I said things that I didn't mean." Chloe said, "About Malik and her family hating her." Grayson shuddered, like he had stepped in the path of a snowstorm.
"I'm sorry." Chloe looked down, "Should I talk to her?"
"No. I think she might hurt you, if you tried." Grayson said slowly.
"I'll take the risk." Chloe said, sliding the glass door and stepping outside. The wet grass brushed against her bare feet, sticking in between her toes. She shuddered as her ankles grew cold and soaking incredibly quickly.
"Hello Emarni." Chloe said quietly. The girl looked up at her, her curls falling in her big eyes. The swing was too small for both of them, so Chloe rested against the tree.
"I'm really sorry." Chloe insisted.
"Lasă-mă în pace." Emarni whimpered.
"Translation?" Chloe asked.
"Leave me alone." Emarni looked up, pain in her eyes.
"Emarni, are you sure you're okay?" Chloe said, "You don't normally slip into Romanian this much." The girl's head had dropped forward again, tears running down her face and dripping onto her shirt. Her arms were wrapped around herself and she was rocking slowly back and forth.
"It hurts." she muttered, "So much."
"Oh, Emarni." Chloe said, comfortingly, "Please, let us help you."
"I... Don't... Need... Help..." Emarni gasped in pain, shaking her head. Sighing, Chloe got to her feet and got ready to walk away. But then Emarni fainted by her feet and Chloe froze.
"Grayson!" Chloe yelped. The eldest vampire was at her side instantly, sweeping Emarni up in her arms.
"What do we do?" Chloe asked.
"I'm calling the vampire hospital." Grayson said.
"You have a vampire hospital?" Chloe was taken aback, "Why haven't you taken her there before now? She's been sick for days."
"Because... It's at the Slayers guild. And they only help in absolute emergencies." Grayson said, "Does "Magic Bracelet Feeding Off Fear And Draining Power" count as an emergency?"
"Probably." Chloe shrugged.
"George?" Grayson yelled up the stairs, "I'll be back in three hours tops! Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine!" George called back, "I'm twelve, I'm not a baby!"
"Emergency numbers by the phone, but if it rings, don't answer!" Grayson instructed. Chloe ran alongside Grayson as he grabbed his car keys and kicked open the front door. They piled into the car, Grayson lifting Emarni into the backseat. She slumped against the window, her head resting against the condensed glass. Carefully, Grayson strapped Emarni into the backseat and closed the door behind her.
"Is she going to be okay?" Chloe asked, clambering into the front seat.
"I hope so." Grayson said darkly, gripping the steering wheel tightly, "She's like a daughter to me."
"How sweet." Julian smirked, "But I suppose we must look at the others." He glanced up, "Elisabetta, are you quite alright?"
"She is not his daughter." Elisabetta snarled, "She is mine." Raising his eyebrows, Julian touched the surface of the water. He enjoyed the feeling of the water, washing over his fingertips.
"I do recall that you disowned her." Julian said, in amusement.
Talitha was the only one who didn't seem to be affected. She was sitting on the kitchen table, watching Vlad pace back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth.
"Vlad!" she grabbed him by the arm the fifth time he passed her. Vlad looked at her, frowning.
"What'd you do that for?" he asked.
"You were pacing back and forth and it was getting annoying." Talitha said.
"Yeah, I'm getting a bit twitchy. Sorry." Vlad said. His foot was tapping against the floor, his hands curling in and out of fists.
"You're acting really weird." Talitha said, "Is it the bracelet?" Vlad looked down at the piece of metal that was wrapped around his wrist. He didn't even bother trying to tear it off; he knew that it would just reappear later.
"I'm going to see how the others are." Talitha said, picking up the phone and dialling quickly. She held the phone to her ear, chewing her lip. Straight through to voicemail.
"Grayson? It's Talitha Roquelaire. Vlad's bodyguard." she said, "Please get back to me." She tried again, this time calling Malik and Ingrid.
"Hello?" Ingrid didn't sound very well.
"Ingrid, are you okay?" Talitha asked. She didn't need a reply, as she heard Ingrid gasp and hold the phone away from herself.
"No, she's not!" Malik called, sounding sleepy, "She keeps throwing up in the kitchen sink!"
"Gross." Talitha said.
"It's not my fault." Ingrid said, "It's these stupid bracelets! I'm sick, Malik's tired and Emarni's been admitted to the Vampire Hospital inside the Slayers Guild."
"I didn't know that we had a Vampire Hospital." Vlad said, listening to the conversation. Talitha conveyed the message to the others, who both laughed bitterly.
"We don't. Officially." Malik said, "There's some kind of deal..." His voice trailed off and Talitha could hear him snoring gently. The phone call disconnected.
"Blood and garlic." Vlad said, wringing his hands together, "Emarni's in real trouble. If they had to go to the slayers for help... What if I'm next? Or Ingrid?"
"Or Malik?" Talitha suggested, "Or me? Or-" They were interrupted by a yell from upstairs.
"Vladdy! Renfield! And the strange girl with the hair!" The Count cried. The pair looked at each other and sped upstairs.
"If the Pretty One lives, can I take her as a wife?" Julian asked, "I was aiming for the dark haired girl but if she is hooked on the boy, I suppose the Pretty One can be mine."
"Her name is Emarni." Elisabetta said, sharply, "Emarni Persephone Vaccaria."
"But she is to be mine." Julian decided, "Once I get her to fall in love with me." Elisabetta rolled her eyes.
"You dare bring a vampire here? And a traitor at that?" Mina demanded. Nervously, Chloe smiled, trying to look trustworthy. That was when Mina noticed her.
"Chloe Branaugh." Mina said, her eyes widening, "You're one of them now?"
"Mina Van Helsing. You're one of them now?" Chloe retorted. The slayer looked over the group again, acknowledging what she was seeing. Grayson was standing there, holding his goddaughter in his arms. Her eyes were closed, her arms dangling down to the ground and her fingernails scratching against the floor.
"Please, Mina. Emarni doesn't mean any harm, she really doesn't. She doesn't even obey her mother anymore." Chloe insisted, "And..." She welled up with tears, her eyes glittering with salty water, "Sint indragostit." Mina looked confused.
"My heart speaks the language of love." Grayson translated helpfully, "That's what she said. I wasn't saying it to you. Anyways. Please?" Sighing, Mina nodded and opened the door that lead to the Slayer's Guild.
"Come in." she said, striding down a corridor. The vampires hurried after her, ignoring the stares that they were getting. Slayers everywhere were sharpening stakes, glaring at the vampires. Suddenly, Emarni moved in Grayson's arms.
"Vorbiti bine romineste." Emarni croaked, her eyes a little open; she even managed a small smile, "Your Romanian is good."
"Thanks." Chloe smiled kindly.
"Multumesc." Emarni corrected, pressing a hand to the other girl's face. Her hand dropped back to her side and she lay back her head. She smiled faintly up at the ceiling.
It was odd, the amount of medical equipment that was lurking around the Slayers Guild. Chloe supposed it was in case the slayers got hurt. Speaking of slayers, Jonathan Van Helsing was sitting just to Chloe's side. He was clearly uncomfortable, sitting so close to two vampires.
"Jonno, you're creeping me out." Chloe said, and indeed he was. Because Jonno had been staring intently at her, like she was a horrible creature that had crawled from a hellmouth. They were sitting in the "Vampire Hospital", a small ward of the Slayers Guild that had police caution tape wrapped around the door. There were only a few small beds, with barely anything else around them. Just creepy medical equipment.
"Sorry." Jonno shrugged, shuffling away from her. The vampire was lying on the bed, squirming as her nightmares consumed her. Her curls clung to her face and neck by sweat.
"Why do you have a Vampire Hospital?" Chloe asked, desperate for a distraction. Jonno seemed surprised that she was talking to him.
"It's so that Mum can clean up the vampires. Before..." he didn't finish.
"Before what?" Chloe said, her voice sounding a little more dangerous.
"Before she experiments on them." Jonno said quietly. The Branaugh girl reacted instantly, moving even further away from him.
"You are sick!" she hissed.
"We need someone to test our weapons on! They're only vampires off the street!" Jonno said.
"That's just like... Experimenting on homeless people!" Chloe snarled, "You sick, sick person!" She glared at him for a second more and he glared back at her, a little nervously. Eventually, Chloe gave in and returned to the matter in hand.
"Emarni..." Chloe tried again, "Please wake up. I need you here. If not so that I can talk to someone with half a brain cell."
"Hey!" Jonno protested, "She can't hear you." he added, in an attempt to act colder.
"Yes, she can!" Chloe said, fiercely. Her eyes flashed a dark shade of red; if she killed Jonno now, it was his own fault. But he simply shrugged and shut up. Emarni was muttering to herself in her sleep, saying something about her mother and Malik.
"Come on, Emarni." Chloe sandwiched the girl's hands in her own. Her hands were alarmingly warm, especially for a dead person. That was when Mina and Grayson returned, having been discussing the situation in private.
"Oh, good. You're all still here." Grayson sounded relieved; Mina just pursed her lips.
"She is going to be okay?" Chloe said, hopefully, looking to Mina, "You can cure her, right?"
"Chloe, nothing's certain at this stage." Grayson said, "Nobody can say for sure if Emarni's going to be alright."
"But she has to be. She can't just die." Chloe's voice broke in the middle of the sentence, as tears filled her eyes. She looked down at Emarni, who was frowning and muttering to herself. Her eyes were tightly closed.
"Emarni!" Chloe sniffed, "Emarni, wake up! EMARNI!" Leaning over the girl, Chloe pushed Emarni's curls out of her eyes.
"Chloe, Chloe, Chloe..." Grayson pulled her into a gentle hug, "I'm scared too. But we're going to get through this."
"She is in love with the girl." Elisabetta told Julian again; he didn't seem to hear her at all. The stupid boy. But he was Head Of The Council after all. Who was Elisabetta to question him?
"Show me the Chosen One." Julian changed the subject abruptly. He was annoyed by mention of the Branaugh girl.
"Is he any better?" Vlad asked, a worried expression on his face. His friend looked up at him, with a frown.
"He still can't feel his legs." Talitha said.
"He can, however, hear you both!" The Count exclaimed. He was sitting up in his coffin, trying to massage some feeling into his legs. The three vampires let out a collected sigh. The Count has collapsed the night before and Talitha had been unwillingly waiting on him, hand and fang. Renfield was busy in his laboratory, working on an antidote. Vlad was on red alert; he simply could not sit still for even a second. It was like he had drunk eight cans of energy drink or something.
"It's affected you in opposite ways." Talitha realised, thinking out loud, "Like it's trying to contradict your personalities or something."
"What I want to know is, why haven't you been affected?" The Count pointed at Talitha, flicking her in the face with his index finger. She blinked, like she was surprised.
"It's not Talitha's fault." Vlad said, drumming his fingers against his knees.
"Well, it seems a bit suspicious." The Count said, "While we're all suffering, she's parading around pain free..."
"Parading?" Talitha scoffed, "I don't parade!"
"Fine. You've been swishing around all day, in your hippie clothing and your weird hair..." The Count trailed off, as he received a glare from the other two vampires.
"I do love watching them argue." Julian laughed, then he paused, "But I would prefer to see them suffer."
"They will suffer, I assure you." Elisabetta said. Dim lighting cast shadows across his face, as Julian faced her. His face was destroyed down one side, almost as twisted and as evil as him.
"You have been useful, Elisabetta." Julian said, "But I have no reason to keep you around any longer." Those were the last words Elisabetta heard, before a large stake was wedged in between her ribs and she exploded into a cloud of ash. She hadn't been expecting that.
THE ANGELS WILL ALWAYS CRY - THE ANGELS WILL ALWAYS CRY
Please read and review. I've been posting a lot recently, but only because of you guys. Your support is overwhelming.
- Angels x