Crimson
Mandy Rose is a vampire and now the head of her coven. When one of her charges turns a mortal who refuses to conform it just the start of her problems.
Really Mark61 another story? You say. Your right but every year I want to a Halloween idea and I this idea won't leave me. As always thanks to anyone reading. But Halloween is over you say. Yeah but at the rate I go I'll still be working on this next October.
Chapter 1 The Man
I don't remember my life but my death is burned into my mind. The little of life as most would call it that I can recall is I was poor girl growing up in New York City. That is why I was drawn to Merrick. He never said he had money but he seemed rich. He was clearly smart and he was handsome. He was a flame and I was a mouth. When I awoke after he turned I swear I wasn't scared I felt the power of my new life and I embraced it for day one. Merrick was my protector my teacher and many years my lover. The vampire world is a dangerous one. Merrick was skilled as keeping us hidden from the world of large while also gaining power to our private existence. Our coven grew, there was Sonya who became my best friend the most skilled fighter in the group. There were Kip and Penelope. Merrick found Kip first thought he had potential. Than Kip found Penelope and fell in love. I found Jacy and Gigi myself both were lost souls.
Liv found us. She was a run away who stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time. Malaki has been a prize fighter badly injured while in the ring. At the time Merrick felt the group needed more strength. Things had taken a dark turn. There was a hierarchy to the Vampire world. Merrick was a power and wise vampire but he had crossed the wrong person and paid with his life. That left I as the oldest and most powerful and thus the new leader. That is how he became my problem.
One Week Earlier
The days were getting shorter which for Mandy and her kind was a good thing normally less daylight more time to out. More time to see the world and if need be more time to hunt. Of course that also mean more time to find trouble. "Mandy she wasn't thinking. You know Liv she has a big heart," Sonya says as the walked into the living room of the mansion the coven called home. Mandy said nothing just kept walking. The others stood around the problem. Most of them were clearly nervous. And with good reason they knew the rules. Even if Liv had done it the rest of them should of stopped her. The problem was all there's now In this case the problem was a was a man if Mandy had to guess late twenties. His dark brown hair was thick but cut short. He had a day's worth of growth on his beard. His race was white but he had a tan. Mandy looked him over her eyes stopping on two puncture marks on neck.
"Blame Liv she slipped away from us. By the time we caught up with her it was done," Kip says. Mandy glared at him she didn't want to hear it. She returned to the man who was laid out on the table. He seemed fit a decent enough. He was no Adonis but he was he clearly didn't spend his days on the sofa. "Any idea who he is?" Mandy finally asked. "He didn't have a phone or a wallet that we could find," Jacy says. "And we looked to see if it got lost in ally," Gigi adds. "I stayed around the area for a while no one came looking for him," Malaki says. "Liv do you know who he is?" Mandy asks. "He was going to die," Liv finally says. "I didn't ask why you turned him. I asked if you know who he is?" Mandy says trying to stay calm. Liv could be so child like. Yelling could get her to shut down. Before Liv could say anything more Penelope spoke. "I think he's waking up."
Every first awaking could be different. For Mandy hers had seen attempt to run away trying to return home. Kip's had seem him be almost like an animal. Gigi had broken down in tears begging to have it undone. Mandy steadied herself in case he attacked or tried to run. The man's eyes shot open and he sat up his hand shot up to his neck to cover it. "Where the fuck am I?" He said. He was lucid even able to talk it could of been worse. "You are safe child," Mandy says. "Child?" He says confused. He starts to look around at the others. When he sees Liv he points. "You!... I got tot get out of here," He says trying to stand but he stumbles once he off the table and takes one step. Malaki grabbed him. "Easy you have been through a trauma," Malaki says forcing him to sit in a chair.
Mandy takes a chair next to him. "It will be okay. I know you are very confused. But we have all been through this. You are part of our family now," Mandy says. The man began to shake. "Family? What is this a cult?" The man says looking at Mandy. "Well I guess being a vampire is kind of a cult," Kip says. The man looks at Kip than back at Liv before reaching for his neck. He is about to speak again but than reaches for his mouth. They all knew what was going on. It was part of the process. The man started to make sounds of pain. "Its only going to hurt this one time," Liv says trying to comfort him. "AHHHH!" He says his mouth opening two fangs formed in it. Mandy could tell he was going to try and run again. She reached and grabbed his face. "Look into my eyes. Look into my eyes. Hear my words. My words become your law," Mandy says. "What are you doing?" The man says trying to pull away. Mandy keeps a hold. "Look into my eyes. You want to obey. Stop fighting me," Mandy says he stops trying to pull away. "You are to follow me," Mandy says. Sonya knows what she is doing and goes a head. Mandy takes the man's hand and leads him down some stairs. Sonya has opened the cage. In his trance he enters without putting up a fight.
The others followed without being told. Sonya locked the cage. It didn't take long for the trance to break. Once it did he was right at the bars. "Let me out of here!" "This will got a lot easier if you stop trying to fight every step of the way," Mandy says. He doesn't respond but he is still clearly angry. She introduces the others one at a time making it point to call Liv his dam because she had turned him. Finally she got to herself, "I am Mandy I am the head of this coven. So long as you listen and follow my orders you will find protection from this group." He said nothing it seemed anger had given way to trying to process what was going on. At one point Mandy had noticed he had pinched himself. "Poor fool want this to be a dream," she thought.
"Penelope go get a pack," Mandy ordered. The process of being transformed was draining and would make him hungry. Any blood would do. Human was the most filling. Hunting humans could be tricky. Animals could be used but depending on the size it could take several which could also be tricky. As a result they kept several bags of blood bought through a blood bank on hand. Penelope returned with a pack of blood. "I'm never going to drink that," he claimed. "Fine than," Mandy says turning to leave.
Present
Mandy sat in the library reading a book. "Oh Kip stop complaining," She heard Penelope say. "Easy for you to say you don't have guard duty tonight. What is wrong with this guy? Its been a week just drink the damn blood and stop trying to escape," Kip says. "You guys talking about the new pet," Mandy hears Gigi back. "A pet would be better. A pet wouldn't make al that noise trying to escape," Jacy adds. Mandy put down her book. The four stopped talking once they say her enter the hall. Kip without needing to be told headed off to take his post guarding the basement. It wasn't likely but if the man got out of the cage, they couldn't risk him getting out of the mansion. Penelope followed him. He would complain still but not as much if she helped him pass the time. "Don't call him a pet. He's part of this coven now. He is as much your brother as Kip and Malakai," Mandy warns Jacy and Gigi.
"Well what are we supposed to call him. He won't tell anyone his name. He is locked in cage like an animal," Jacy says. "And you told us what happens if we don't eat. Vampires turn feral so than he will be like an animal," Gigi adds. "He will eat soon enough," Mandy insisted. "I was the one to take him pack of blood last night. I even opened it so he could smell. He still refused," Gigi says. "When I went to offer him all he did was spit at me," Jacy complained. "He's got a very strong will. That is actually a good thing," Mandy says before leaving the hall. She headed upstairs and knocked on Sonya's door. Sonya opened it. "Any luck?" Mandy asked as she entered. Sonya's room was simple a bed, a desk and a computer, two chairs. Sitting in one chair Mandy asked. "Any luck?"
Sonya was sitting in the other. "None. I've checked every missing person's report none of them are out guy. I even event back the last month just in case he was missing before Liv found him. It doesn't seem anyone is looking for our mystery man," Sonya says. "And he still refuses to tell anyone his name," Mandy says. "He's doing that to be defiant," Sonya points out. "I'm tempted to use my hypnosis power on him again. But I also want him to trust us. Hypnotize him for a minute have him refuse to eat for another week," Mandy says. "Well maybe we got lucky. Maybe this guys has no one in his life that cares. Or maybe they all think he was dead. If Liz is being honest," Sonya says.
The night the man had been turned the younger ones had headed into the city. Liv took off on her own. She was a fan of punk rock and was going to a club. On her way though she could smell blood coming from a warehouse. It had been much to resist checking out. In an alley she found the man badly injured. He had some type of internal injury. According to Liv he had said "I don't want to die." It was than she made the call to turn him. The bite on the neck and than getting him to drink a small a bit of his own blood. It was than she called the other for help. "I guess these humans are pretty good at killing there own. Maybe he pissed off the mob and they took him. That would explain why he had no phone or id on him," Mandy says thinking out loud.
On the surface having no one look for him was a good thing. But they needed to know for sure. One of the key rules to the vampire life was to cover that they were real. No better to have mortals think they were just the stuff of legends perfect to be put in a scary movie. What if this man was important. They needed to make sure no one was looking for him. "Have you ever head of someone holding out this long?" Sonya asks. "Not someone who hasn't had there first feeding yet. Merrick toldme once he lasted a month without going feral. But that was years after he had been turned," Mandy says. "What if we all just went down held him down and forced him to finally drink?" Sonya asks. "Oh yeah I'm sure he will be happy member of the coven... But that does give men an idea," Mandy says.
Later
"You understand what I want?" Mandy asked Liv as they stood by the door. Liv just nodded. Mandy opened the door and let Liv go first. He was getting weaker each day. He used to stand up and demand to be let go. Now he just sat on the floor. Barley moving. He hadn't said anything in over twenty four hours. He looked more like a drug addict going through withdrawal. Liv went up to the cage to kneeled so she could look him in the face. She put a blood pack between some bars. He actually looked over at her. ""You look like you are in a lot of pain. You need to eat. It's a fate worse than death if you don't," Liv says before getting up to leave. Once Live is gone the man looks over at Mandy. "Emotional manipulation now," he says weakly. "You can call it whatever you want. You need to eat. Let me explain what happens when a vampire doesn't feed often enough. The Hunger overwhelms them. They lose all sense of reason. Once that happens all I will have to do is open the door and you will hunt down the first warm body you can find," Mandy says.
"So be a monster so I don't become a worse monster?" He asks. "You told Li you didn't want to die. She granted you this new form of life. How about you try it out before you declare it for monsters," Mandy says. "You said a Coven was a family. What did you mean?" He asks. "A coven is a group of vampires all in the same line. Everyone in this one falls under the line of Merrick who sired me and Liv as well," Mandy explains. "So, you are like what my vampire aunt?" He asks. Mandy didn't react but she found that funny. It was also annoying. Even now even weak he was trying to be defiant. He was just using humor. "I wouldn't put it like that. It is more a connection. A group of close friends. We will help you. Guide your through this new life," Mandy claims.
"What if I really don't want be in this Coven? Do you keep me locked up forever?" He asks. "No, however you are ignorant someone needs to educate you," Mandy says. "There is only one thing I want know. Can I go back?" He looking her in the eyes. "I'm sorry no," Mandy tells him. "So I let you educate me and at some point you will be willing to let me leave?" "You may find you don't want to leave but yes. If you want to leave after a while. I will allow you to leave," Mandy claims. "Okay I am willing to learn," He finally says. "First lesson you need to eat," Mandy says before taking the bag. She uses her own fans to tear it open. Mandy holds it out for him. He his hand is shaking but he takes it. "It it helps someone donated," Mandy says. He drinks it. Right away he looks better.
"Its been long enough you will need to eat again soon. But you should feel a lot better," Mandy says as she unlocks the cage door. He stands up and walks out. She takes it as a good sign he doesn't try to run out. She leads him up the steps back to the living room. The others are waiting. "So we let him out him?" Kip says bluntly. Sonya elbows him in the stomach. "Does he feel like sharing his name now?" Malaki asks. "Its Van," he finally says letting it hang in the air. "Van what?" Kip finally snaps annoyed. "Helsing," he says. "Wait, like that crappy Hugh Jackman movie?" Penelope says. "He's joking," Malaki says. "Call me Riley,' he finally says. "Liv, Sonya take Riley to his room," Mandy commands.
Riley followed silently. When they reached the room Sonya let him in. "There isn't much in here. Just a bed. If you need or want anything just ask," Sonya says. "No coffin?" Riley asks. "You watch too many movies," Sonya says. "Supposedly I'm supposed to learn," Riley states. "Well the basics are no we don't sleep in coffins. Yes you can't go out in the sunlight. But it's not because we sparkle like in Twilight," Liv says. "Thanks," Riley says looking at the blonde. "There are clothes in he dresser and closet we had to guess on the sizes. But they should fit well enough," Sonya says. Riley open the closet and looks at them. "Yeah these should work," Riley says. "Liv is right about sunlight but don't worry about that in the mansion. The windows are specially treated and all the curtian are designed to block out any light," Sonya says. "I like the sun," he says to himself.
"Well we will give you a few minutes to change. If you need anything Liv is right next door. My room down the hall. Its the one with Jersey flag on it," Sonya says. "Got it. Is there a shower? I've been wearing these clothes since... I got here. I mean do vampires shower?" Riley asks. "Yeah we shower and this place is big enough we have a few. I'll show you to one Kip and Malaki use," Liv says. "Let me pick out something to change into first. I've been wearing this to long," Riley says.
Later
Mandy was in her bed room. The sun would rise soon enough. This had been a good night. Riley eating and telling them his name had relived the tension the others were feeling. When he had asked if she would keep him locked up forever she hadn't been fully honest. Under the laws of the Covens all vampires were supposed to keep there existence secret. Refusing to eat and becoming feral would of left her with no choice but to destroy him. "When they are reborn Mandy it falls to to guide them and protect them. But once they become strong we all grow stronger Mandy," Merrick had told her once. "You were the strongest of us all. Had you been here my love you would of convinced him join us much sooner," Mandy thought.