Chapter Six: New friends…

The vampire Ash screamed; his eyes wide in shock. Michelle pulled the dagger out then plunged it back even deeper into the chest, this time hitting the vampire in the heart. Ash's scream withered as he stared at Michelle with dumb surprise. Michelle smiled as the vampire faded then pulled out the dagger wiping it clean on Ash's wrinkled suit before putting it back into a hidden pocket in her dress.

"You have Circe's dagger! How did you get that?" Diana Marous shouted as she backed up with her hand on the dagger strapped to her hip.

Michelle frowned rolling her eyes as she sighed heavily then asked, "Does your age clog your hearing? I told you; I am the last Vladislas, all that was his is mine."

Marcus Gonzales, Alfie Jones, and Curtis Shaw raised their hands backing up to give Michelle more space. She watched this with growing amusement, her bravado was all bluster but the other vampires reaction to her was quite real. Michelle thought of Radu, of what he would do and walked over to an oil lamp on the table. She picked it up then opened it as she walked back to Ash's body, Michelle poured the oil over the corpse then used the lamps flame to light the body on fire.

"One done, one to go," Michelle said.

"Are you going to try to murder all of us? That won't be a good start to our working relationship and every member of this council works together. We have rules! We don't kill our own kind," said Marcus Gonzales.

Michelle burst out laughing, full throaty boisterous laughter that unnerved the other vampires. She wiped a fake tear from her eye as grinned at them. "Don't kill your own kind? Now, that's the best joke I've heard in ages. All vampires do is kill each other. There's no rules, no boundaries of this life. It's predator versus prey. I'll admit I was a little confused about it in the very beginning but now, I'm crystal clear."

"You're just a baby. What do you know, nothing!" Curtis Shaw said shaking his head.

"I know more than you think. Radu gave me a thorough education," Michelle replied.

"Radu is a weak, pathetic dog. He's not worthy of such praise," Diana Marous said.

"Radu is the strongest vampire that has ever walked this earth," Michelle said. Then she shrugged adding, "I understand where you're coming from. I wasn't a believer in the beginning. I did kill him a couple of times and ran away every chance I got but I know now that was all because I was too young to see the truth. I know better now. I stopped fighting him and started listening. He's brilliant, incredibly kind in his own way, and wise far beyond his years."

"It's odd to hear anyone speak so fondly of that monster," said Alfie Jones.

"He's not really dead, is he? He sent you here to murder us. I knew it! That cur is still alive!" Diana Marous shouted. She pulled her dagger and held it toward Michelle.

Michelle tilted her head with a confused expression as she stared at the other woman. She made a mental note to ask Radu about his history with these vampires, especially Diana Marous. Michelle took a deep breath and held up her hands in surrender and tried to suppress her mirthful smile. "Calm down. Put your weapon away. We're just talking, nothing else."

"Tell that to Ash," Diana Marous replied narrowing her eyes at Michelle.

"We'll that was personal. This," Michelle gestured to herself then the other vampires. "Is business. Since I have your attention, let's talk territories."

The other vampires looked at each other then back to Michelle with deep uncertainty.

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Ana pushed her way through the crowd keeping Serena in sight.

The vampire from Ana's nightmares looked relaxed and seemed to be enjoying the party as she wandered through the crowd. When Serena reached the opposite side of the massive dance floor, she grabbed a naked human woman pulling her to a dark hallway. Ana watched from afar her heart speeding up, she scanned the crowd, all the vampires around her were gorging themselves on the naked willing people and didn't even glance in her direction. Confident no one will interrupt Ana pushed past her nerves and stepped into the dark hall to see and hear Serena feeding on the woman. Bad memories that haunted Ana flashed in front of her eyes, her nervousness and anxiety over what she was doing evaporated in her anger at seeing Serena feeding off someone. Ana walked confidently into the deep shadows; she pulled out one of her guns then a silencer taking a moment to screw the attachment on. Serena never noticed as she was totally focused on feeding. Ana crept closer with her weapon aimed at the vampire feeding when Serena suddenly looked up and hissed at her.

"Who are you!" Serena demanded baring her fangs at Ana.

"You don't recognize me, Serena? You don't recognize the human you made a deal with? I know you're old, but I thought vampires had good memories," Ana taunted.

"Wait…you're that human with Radu's fledgling!" Serena let her victim go and lunged toward her.

Ana smiled tightly then pulled the trigger unloading her clip of silver bullets into Serena's head and chest. The vampire let go of her victim stumbling back in shock, the victim who looked confused and drugged staggered away heading toward the light of the dance floor. Ana dogged the naked woman her eyes still on Serena as she died in shock. Ana took off the silencer, reloaded the gun then put it away. With a quick glance over her shoulder assuring herself no one was coming, Ana pulled out a flask and uncapped it as she walked over to the dead vampire. She poured the contents of the flash over Serena's face and chest, the liquid sizzled then burned into the corpse. A moment later the liquid burst into blue flame, soon the whole body caught fire. Ana stepped back then checked her path, once assured it was clear she left the dark hall returning to the dance floor.

Dodging clusters of fucking and feeding vampires Ana made her way back to where she left Michelle. A minute later she returned to the spot only to find no one there. She turned around and scanned the crowd. Suddenly Ana heard an amused noise from behind her, followed by a question. "You look lost. Maybe you need friend?"

The voice sounded very familiar; relief washed over Ana. She grinned and turned around to find the person she had been looking for. Immediately Ana was confused, Michelle was in a different outfit than the one they arrived in. Gone was the out of fashion full ball gown, now replaced by a stylish spaghetti strap sparkling blood red dress with matching stiletto heels. Ana took a step closer, her confusion deepened as she took note Michelle's hair was different as was her makeup.

"When did you have time to change? You look great but wish you told me you were going to do that," Ana said. She closed the distance, her smile widening as she reached out, grabbing Michelle's hand giving it a squeeze. Ana leaned in holding on to Michelle's hand as she whispered into Michelle's ear. "I took care of my part. No one noticed."

Only Michelle didn't squeeze her hand back but instead smiled in an amused predatory way as she tilted her head leaned into Ana asking softly, "Want to find a quiet corner where we can talk?"

Ana nodded then allowed Michelle to take her to a side room down a nearby hall. As Ana walked with Michelle, she felt an insistent nagging sensation in the back of her mind. Something was wrong but she didn't know what. As soon as the question arose in her mind, Ana dismissed it, chalking it up to Michelle's sudden clothing change. They reached the side room, a brightly lit and comfortably furnished room. When the door closed behind Michelle, the loud music became muffled. Ana took a deep breath, momentarily relieved to be a quite place with her best friend where they could properly check in with one another. In better light, something about Michelle's appearance nagged at Ana. Something was off but she couldn't pinpoint what.

"I've never had food be so eager before," Michelle said licking her lips and looking Ana up and down.

"Michelle?" Ana asked, no longer certain who was in the room with her.

"You smell nothing like the others. It's so enticing. Why can't I sense you?"

"You're not my friend. You're not Michelle," Ana said as she backed up trying to put space between them. Her heart sped up in fear, her stomach twisted into painful knots as the realization she had made a mistake flooded her mind.

"I can be your friend. I can be anyone you want me to be."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Helena. What's your name pretty one?"

A cold shiver ran up Ana's spine at the use of the familiar term. She forced a smile, and pushed down her fear as she answered, "Ana. Dr. Ana Lazar."

Helena repeated Ana's name slowly so that it rolled off her tongue before biting her bottom lip as she continued to devour Ana with her eyes. "Such a beautiful name. I bet you taste good too. Sweet like honey. Um, tell me pretty one who do you belong to. A prize such as yourself would never attend a party at a place like this without protection. Who covets you?"

For the first time in years Ana felt the danger she was in, the heavy suffocating sensation made every hair on her body stand up. Her heart sped up and a lump formed in her throat. Swallowing painfully, she took a breath through her nose then forced a confident smile as she replied, "I'm not sure I should tell you. We're having such a nice time. I don't want to ruin it."

Helena laughed then she said, "Oh I like you." The vampire grinned exposing her fangs as she stepped under a bright light and Ana got her first good look.

To Ana's great confusion and astonishment, this vampire Helena looked exactly like her best friend Michelle. They had the same body, the same breasts, the same hair, and the same face. Unconsciously Ana took a step closer as her curiosity over came her fear, she had to find a difference. This was too much. Helena didn't back away, she smirked amused by the human checking her out. "Uncanny. I can't believe my eyes," Ana whispered. Then she finally found a difference, there were lines around Helena's eyes. Tiny signs of age that Michelle did not have.

"What can't you believe pretty one?" Helena asked.

"You look like someone I know."

"Ah, this missing Michelle. Is that who you belong to?" Helena asked, her eyes still devouring Ana. The frank appraisal made Ana feel as if she were completely naked under Helena's gaze.

"Yes."

Helena's smirk pulled into a sexy smile as she said, "I'll help you find your friend. For a price."

"I can't offer my blood or my service. It's not mine to offer," Ana said hoping to avoid any deals with someone she didn't know.

"Oh, I know. A pretty little thing like you would never be unclaimed. I'm surprised your Master doesn't keep you chained to their side. I would never let you out of my sight," Helena said as she took a step forward.

"Then what's the price?" Ana asked. She had to fight the instinct to retreat as Helena moved closer.

Helena licked her lips staring at Ana's lips as she replied, "A kiss."

"A kiss?"

"Yes." Helena replied as she reached up caressing Ana's lips with her thumb. "Your lips are still your own. A kiss and I'll help you find your friend."

Involuntarily Ana got turned on, she knew it wasn't her friend, but she looked so much like her and to have that overt sexuality pointed in her direction made Ana weak in the knees. Speechless, Ana nodded her consent. Helena smiled again, still focused on Ana's lips while she used her thumb to gently touch Ana. Helena lifted her gaze to find Ana's, they locked eyes and without a word spoken Helena leaned in kissing Ana.

The words, "this isn't Michelle" repeated in Ana's mind, she could tell right away. The kiss made it clear, yet Ana didn't pull away. Instead, she deepened the kiss with aggression and pressed herself against Helena, making the vampire moan. They kept kissing until two vampires burst in looking for a different place to fuck. Ana snapped back to reality pulling away from Helena as shame, embarrassment and other negative feelings ran through her. Ana couldn't meet Helena's gaze after that, she stared at the floor trying to get her breathing and heart under control. Helena stumbled back with a stunned expression; she licked her lips starting hungrily at Ana.

"A deal is a deal pretty one. I will take you to find your friend," Helena said.

Ana nodded, not saying a word. She followed Helena out of the room as more vampires poured into the small space and the sounds of fucking overtook the music. Confused and sexually overwhelmed Ana couldn't shake the feeling of cheating, yet a part of her wanted to kiss the vampire that looked like her friend again. Helena led her though the large building to a set of stairs that led to a small balcony that looked over the dance floor. Neither woman spoke as Ana looked out searching for Michelle only not to find her. Helena gave her a little space watching her Ana but keeping her distance. Ana turned around and shook her head to Helena, the vampire smiled and gestured for them to move on. They checked two more spots unsuccessfully when Helena took them down a dark hall leading to another set of stairs. Suddenly Helena stopped and turned around pressing Ana against the nearby wall and kissing her passionately. Ana didn't resist, she enthusiastically returned the kiss groping Helena through her dress with one hand and squeezing Helena's ass with the other hand. Helena moaned grinding her body against Ana. They continued to kiss for a few minutes then broke apart with a trio of vampires past the end of the hall. They stared silently at each other until Helena grinned at Ana.

Helena chuckled in amusement as she said, "I've never been jealous of someone I've never met. Michelle is very lucky to have you."

Ana smiled shyly in return. Looking away she asked, "Where do we look next?"