Chapter 2
So my recent hot streak of updates still going pretty strong. I hope I can keep this up as we go into December and 2022.
Riley paced around the library. He had no desire to read anything but he couldn't help but notice the various title. It was a wide range some Riley had read others he had head off and some that most be insanely obscure. Really he was just trying to kill some time. Apparently his first lessons were about to begin. Two chairs were in the middle of the room. They reminded Riley of something that should be in a museum like they had sat in by Lincoln and Grant as they figured out how to beat Davis and Lee. He assumed whoever was supposed to be teaching him would sit on one chair. "I just hope I don't have to look at that," Riley thinks he turns he head for a second to look at the portrait over a fireplace. The guy in the portrait just had that look. "That is Merrick the founder of our line," Mandy says entering unseen getting him to jump. "Please don't do that," Riley says. She understood after everything he would jumpy. "I'm sorry. Please have a seat," Mandy says.
Riley sat in the char that meant he wouldn't be looking at Merrick's portrait. Mandy sat across from him. "How are you feeling?" Mandy asks. "Not really sure how I should feel in comparison. I mean not as bad as I was in cage but I don't feel normal," Riley admits. "You are still a bit weak from not eating is my guess. Once you are fully fed you will be fine. In fact you be better than fine," Mandy says. He just nods. "I've always found the best place to start is with the basics. You must stay out of sunlight it would be a very painful death. The sun will cause you to burn. But if you can get out of the sun and put out any flames you can live," Mandy says. "You speaking from experience?" Riley asks. "Actually yes. One day I was hiding out in a cabin. A small break in the wood let just enough sun in that my hand was hit. Trust me you never make a mistake like that again," Mandy says. "Your hand doesn't look like it's been burned," Riley says.
She explains one of their gifts is advanced healing. How most injures will heal quickly. "The only two fatal injuries are a direct stab through the heart. It doesn't have to be a wooden stack. The other is decapitation. Holy water can do harm but it would take a large amount to kill you. A cross can't kill but it will cause intense pain. However, it must be a true cross. Someone can't just pick up to sticks and hold them together. But it can't not kill some very powerful vampires can even overcome the pain," Mandy explains. "How do vampires gain power?" Riley asks. "Excellent question. Well like it or not by feeding. The passage of time is the other. It will give you time master your skills and senses," Mandy says. He looks confused.
"You are strong now, faster, you sense of smell and hearing have increased. Your vision is better than 20/20 of the best human," Mandy says. He doesn't seem to be buying it. She gets up and walks across the room and picks up a book. It is a small paper back Kip had picked up a while ago. Opening the book, she turned it toward him. "I want you to try and read the words. Focus," Mandy says. Riley looked at first he thought she had to be kidding him but to his shock he could read the words. "Rapp trusted only a few people that is why Coleman was on the mission," Riley read aloud. Mandy closed the book and put it on the shelf her point made.
Later
It was the first time he had been out of the mansion since he had been turned. This was supposed to be Riley's first hunt. Sonya and Malaki were charged with teaching him. It made sense as they were two of the strongest with Malaki was the most natural hunter. Mandy also knew that if he made an effort to escape the two could stop him before he got to far. Malaki led Riley and Sonya to a small clearing in the woods near the mansion. "Can I ask a question?" Riley says. "Who else will you learn?" Malaki asks back. "Can an animal become a vampire?" Riley asks. Sonya answered. "To turn its not just about biting. You have to be exact about how much blood you take. Even when trying to turn someone it's a risk and easy to go to far. Most animals in order to get a full feeding you would drain to much blood," Sonya explains. "And don't worry about larger ones. You aren't ready for something like a bear. And if you do hunt something like that have a partner that way both can eat," Malaki says.
Malaki told Riley he wanted him to use his senses and find something small that would be easy. Sonya made it clear he should just grab and bit taking the blood. "Now we have woods clearly marked where our property. But it's always a good idea to make sure there are no campers or hunters when you hunt," Malaki says. Sonya and Black exchange a look. They can sense something is nearby. They want to know if Riley can pick it up. "All of your senses make sure to use them," Malaki says. Riley sees a bush move just a bit. Even in the dark he could see the just white enough bit of fur.
He sprang at the bush and pulled the rabbit out. For a second Riley bared his fangs but himself and can't bring himself to kill the animal. "You eat meat don't you boy?" A annoyed Malaki yells. "You need the blood! Listen to the heart beat. Give into the hunger," Sonya says. "If you don't do it they will put you back in that cage," Riley thinks just before biting into the animal it fights for a second but dies quickly. "It's so much better," Riley thinks feeling the warm blood as he eats. Then the guilt hits him. "Good job boy. Much better than Jacy and Gigi they both missed on their first attempt," Malaki says.
More Time Passes
Riley rolled over in the bed and looked at the clock on the wall. The sun would be down in a few hours. Tonight would be the first night he was allowed to leave the property. Malaki and Sonya had taken him on a few more hunts and must of passed the real test as he made no effort to get away. Where would he even go if he tried? Getting up Riley made his bed. He took a shower it was more out of habit. Once he was done he dressed. He could hear video game sounds coming Kip and Penelope's room. They were likely the only two up or at least Kip was up. The mansion was huge and Riley found he liked exploring it when the others were asleep or away. He found his way to the games room. It was next solarium which was avoided when ever the sun was up.
He picked up some darts and had a few tosses. Three darts and three bull eyes. He two people approaching and had a bad feeling who it was. "Oh Riley you are up early, Gigi says seeing him. "Of course he got up earlier he finally gets to leave. Any idea where you are going?" Jacy asks. "Because we have a few ideas," Gigi says reaching out and running her finger up his arm. "I sure you do," Riley says turning to leave. "Oh Riley, you are no fun," Gigi says. "Give it time," He heard Jacy say. Finding his way to the library he passed Merrick's portrait. It still gave him the creeps because it always felt like it was following him watching him. Still he found a book and read a few chapters.
Sonya passed by but she didn't say anything and he didn't feel the need to speaks. Vampires didn't need to eat or drink real food but some did for various reasons Riley had learned. Often it was to to fit in. In Sonya's case she simply enjoyed the taste of coffee. Taking her mug she went back to he room and returned to her lap top. The new comer in the library very much on her mind. Riley still was a mystery to the coven. He had let it slip his last name was Morgan. A coincidence since that have been Liv's name in her past life. Looking at the missing person's report she had access to it didn't seem anyone was looking for Riley Morgan. Shouldn't someone a family member, a romantic partner, a friend, even a boss be trying to find him? Checking online he seemed to have no real footprint. She had wanted to push him on this.
However Mandy had told her not to. Mandy's main concern was getting Riley to accept his place in the coven. She feared pressing him for information might get him to try to run or just shut down. Liv had asked Riley once about his old life. The most he gave out something about being an only child. He claimed he had been mugged and attacked when he tried to fight back. Still something has to be going on with him. Why else would he be dying in an alley with no ID or phone. Mandy, Liv, and even Kip had all pointed they all came from a tragic back story. "What are you hiding," Sonya thinks as he looks at a file. This could be Riley the deception matched him except it was said he had a gold tooth.
As Sonya was working Mandy knocked on her door. Sonya closed the lap top. "What's up?" "We have a problem," Mandy says handing her a cell phone. "A coven meeting," Sonya says reading quickly. "We need to go. We have so few allies and if something is going on we can't afford to be out of the loop," Mandy says. "I agree. But the asks we all be their what do we do about Riley?" Sonya asks. Mandy sits in a chair across from her friend. "He is still dragging his feet in many ways. I could see him having a very negative reaction to some of the thing that go on during these. I trust him enough to not run away when he leaves tonight. But we can't leave him alone for days," Mandy admits. "We could press our luck. I could stay with him," Sonya says. "Perhaps," Mandy says.
Before they can finish the sound of glass smashing and a loud scream can be heard. "Liv," Mandy says getting up and running out of the room. Sonya follows behind her. Malaki comes out of room. "Some car just crashed through the gate," He informs them. "Hunters?" Sonya asks. "Has to be," Mandy says.
Riley heard the commotion as well. He had tossed down the book and moved toward the kitchen where he heard the yelling. He was stunned to find some man dressed like a priest standing in the room. The window to outside smashed and the shade used to cover it down. The man tossed something in a glass bottle at Liv. When it hit her it broke and she yelled as something Riley had to assume was holy water hit her. The man held a cross up. "I condemn you back to hell demon!" The man yells pulling out a stake. "Hey leave her alone," Riley yells. The priest turns toward Riley. With the cross now extended toward him Riley feels a pain. "Ah another demon. You will die next," The man says turning back to Liv. The guy knows he is safe. There is no way to get to him without passing through the sunlight now pouring into the room.
Riley feels this drive to protect Liv. There was a small table in the kitchen and he took the table cloth. Mandy had made it clear if he could cover and get out of the sun to put of out the fire he could heal. Riley charged right away he felt burning on his exposed hands and on the left side on his body. But he power through and tackles the priest causing him to drop the cross and stake. As they land Riley feels more pain. The man had more holy water in his pockets and the glass broken causing it to spill onto Riley. The priest reaches for the stake but Liv has recovered enough to kick it away. Riley bares his fangs and bites into the man's neck. He starts to suck the blood and won't stop until the priest stops moving. Riley shoves the dead body away. "What did I do?" He asks.
Mandy, Sonya, and Malaki has arrived to see the very end. Malaki grabs the table cloth. "Easy boy," he says as he pasts on Riley to put the fire out. The others have come into the kitchen. "What happened?" Penelope says speaking for all of them. "He save Liv," Mandy says. "I'll be fine just in some pain after the holy water," Liv says. Mandy stands up she know she needs to take charge. Standing up she turned to the younger ones. "Jacy, Gigi go get a ladder and get get the window covered. Kip and Penelope go make sure no one else has gotten in there was a car." They all follow her orders.
"How is he?" Mandy ask looking at Riley. "Helped he sucked that damn Hunter dry think it will give him enough strength to recover quickly enough. "The car is still out there running doesn't appear there is anyone in it," Penelope says returning with Kip. "No sign anyone else is inside," Kip adds. "Kip I hate to say this but we can't a running car stay out on our lawn all day. Even as isolated as we are it attract attention. I need you to move it," Mandy says. "I think if we wait another ten minutes the shadows should be long enough I can do it," Kip says. Mandy nods.
"Is that all you got?" Riley taunted his arms bound together and tied to a pipe while legs were wrapped in chains. Another strike came Riley yell out in pain.
Riley was tossed into a steel door tow huge hands wrapped around his neck. "Get something straight kid you chose this life!" "I chose this life doesn't mean I have to be a bastard like you," Riley replies.
"You have to stop this," She pleaded taking his hands. "Just one more job and I'm out," Riley claims.
Riley's eyes shot open. "It's okay don't move," Mandy says. The room was dark and he was on his bed. "I couldn't move it I wanted too it hurts too much.," Riley admits. "You were exposed to a cross, direct sunlight and holy water. It hurt you badly even with advanced healing it will be slow going," Mandy says. "I called that priest," Riley remembers. "He wasn't a priest. He was a hunter someone who found out about us and using the icons of religion. He came into this house to kill us. He would have killed Liv who I will tell you has never harmed a human. You saved her and the rest of us," Mandy says. "I thought no one knew about Vampires," Riley says. "Most of the world thinks of us as only legends. A few know we are real and want to destroy us. As I have tried to explain you are in a world of many dangers," Mandy says.
"Are more of these hunters coming?" Riley asks. "I'm not sure. Thankfully we have connections. I have Sonya and Malaki checking things. But we are on guard now," Mandy says. "Guess I showed I have been paying attention. I knew to cover myself when I moved through the sun," Riley says. "It's nice to see I haven't been wasting my breath. I need to go. The others will check on you," Mandy says getting up. Riley just lays back down. About ten minutes later Kip comes into the room. "Mate you still with us?" "I didn't die again," Riley says. "You came close your clothes were trashed. Liv is going to be fine she's already back up," Kip tells him. "What did you guys do with the body?" Riley asks. He doesn't have to explain whose body.
"We had it set to a funeral home that will burn it. Guy that owns it is a sleaze nice and easy to bribe. I tipped him extra to flush the ashes down a toilet," Kip says. "Any idea who the guy figured out what you… what we are?" Kip just shakes his head no. "Anyway, Malaki is out, Penelope is with Liv you know how the other two are and Mandy is busy with Sonya. I need someone to watch football with," Kip says. "Real football or soccer?" Riley says. "The whole world calls it football buy you daft… You are trying to piss me off?" Kip figures out. "I'll give it a chance but I have no idea how soccer works," Riley. Kip turns on the TV. "Don't worry mate once you start watching you be a fan," Kip says.
In another city
"I know you are upset miss," the cop says. "It's Doctor! I am a dentist! So call me Doctor. And upset doesn't even begin to describe how I am. My little brother is missing and your department has been no help," Britt Baker rants. "Easy babe," her boyfriend Adam Cole says. "Doctor Barker. We have filed the reports it might take time. We are doing are best but it doesn't help it's been so long since he was last seen," The cop tries to explain. "As as I realized he was missing he came right here," Britt says defending herself. "Britt don't blame yourself. Riley can be a great guy he's also a flake," Adam says. She gives him a look telling him she doesn't want to hear him trash her family. "What else can I do?" Britt asks the cop. "Let us work. If you can think of anyone, he might be with let us know," The cop says.