Eva
Once we made sure that Katie was comfortable, Eric took us to an office so that we could talk privately about how Vicky became ash. I'm assuming that the office we are standing in is for one of the cardinals. Religion has never been my thing, so please forgive me if I don't get their
hierarchy correct.
Everyone removes their masks. Wow! All three of them are even more handsome than I had imagined. Their eyes just pulled me in, before, but even more so now that their masks don't obstruct their features. I cross my arms over my chest, "Now, I think you all have some explaining to do."
I think Vincent just wants some clarification and the others might, too. "Firstly, Eva, who do you work for?"
I smirked, as I replied, "Stranger Things." Vincent blinks a few times. He looks amazed that I am a journalist, or maybe that I am Midnight Rose. Has he read my articles as Eric has?
Sam chimes in, "Hold up, so Eva, you wrote about these guys, and have no clue what they are?"
Honestly, I can't blame them for being surprised and I can't blame Sam for his comment either. Yes, I write about anything and research it enough to appear as an expert to make it believable. But creatures like werewolves and vampires, that go bump in the night, are just fabrications of young children manifesting their fears, right? They don't exist and I'm not in a room alone with them either. But what if I am? I look at the guys, "I write about a lot of things that don't exist, like aliens and swamp creatures, to name a few."
Eric sits on the edge of the desk, "Assuming that everything you have researched is real. Based on that, what do you think we are?"
I answer him, "Well, based on your mannerisms, skin color, voices, and the fact that I was called food, suggests that you are vampires. But they're not real, right?"
Vincent smirks as he takes a step forward, "Well, you said seeing is believing, right?"
This may come back to bite me, "I did and you said that you would show me." I don't even have time to blink. He's now nearly touching me. His eyes are glowing blood red and his smirk is now adorned with fangs. As I make eye contact, I say, "Back off." He takes a step back and then
regains his composure. He is a vampire! He was either trying to read my mind or compel me. Why didn't he? Why didn't it work? I have no choice but to accept it, "Fine, point proven." Well, fuck, they are real! I only assumed it was a possibility based on my research, but now I'm in the room with two vampires and a guy who could be a werewolf. Also, why am I not afraid? Why am I curiously aroused?
Eric breaks my thoughts, "I am a vampire, too, as was my wife."
I needed to know if I caused her death, "I'm sorry about her. Did I kill her?"
He smiles briefly. Does he not love his wife? Are vampires capable of love? Eric says softly, "No, but you did compel her, and I would like to know how."
I wish I knew. Since my 25th birthday, strange things have been happening to me and I have discovered that I can make even stranger things happen. But I also don't feel the darkness as I did when I first saw Eric. Vicky must have been what creeped me out, because I have always been able to judge people a bit, except for Victor, but I just chalked it up to my journalistic instincts. What if it was more than that? What if I can detect evil? I decided to be open with them, "I envisioned myself strangling her. I felt darkness too, and I wanted to remove it."
Eric thinks for a moment, "Try to compel Vincent and I." I will try. I do. I can feel a bit of their resolve weaken but not enough to fully control them. I could maybe just control one of them, but I couldn't keep it for long. They're too strong. "You're quite strong. Not as strong as an elder but stronger than an average vampire," Eric says. He seems impressed, too. Does he know why I can do any of this?
Sam seems surprised, "But she's not a vampire or witch!"
Vincent smiles, "No, she's not."
Sam looks at Eric and Vincent, "But we can all agree that she's not human."
I poke him in his chest, "Last I checked, I am very human!" He chuckles, as he raises an eyebrow.
He gets a sheepishly boyish look, as he takes my hand, "You don't smell human. That is also why I was surprised that you didn't know what we all were. But we will help you discover yourself."
"Fine, but if I don't smell human, then what do I smell like, Alpha Wolfman?" Since vampires are real, werewolves should be, too; and Sam, now seeing him fully, has the characteristics of an alpha werewolf.
He chuckles, "Nothing I've ever smelt before, and how are you certain that I am a werewolf, let alone an Alpha?"
I take my hand back and run it through my hair, "Just a guess, because you don't seem like Vincent or our host." I do feel more, however, I can't tell these guys that I would fuck them if they asked. I need to keep my strange urges under control.
"Sorry, given the commotion earlier, let me formally introduce myself, I am Prince Eric Wood," he says, as I just look at him, "Not Prince like you are thinking. We preside over territories and try to keep the peace between immortals and humans. There are a few of us all over the world, and there used to be Kings and Queens, but they became too power-hungry, so territories were formed and Princes were chosen to preside over them."
The power and history in this room amazed me. The things that they have seen and experienced must be novel-worthy. "Now I understand when you referred to us as "mixed company" earlier, Sam."
He replies, "Yes, here is neutral ground."
Eric seems annoyed, "And why I must create a cover for what happened to my wife."
"I'm sorry, Eric."
He lightly brushes my arm, "Eva, stop. She deserved it. Stop worrying. You didn't make her die, either."
"Then what happened?" I need to know.
Vincent says, "I suspect it had something to do with the ritual."
Sam nods, "She died after mentioning it and that she needed Steven to do it to stop you, Eva, and those like you."
"Stop me from what though?" I'm so confused.
Eric tries to calm me, "We need to find out. I'll search our home and see what I can find."
My mind swirls with shadows, "She had a darkness attached to her, so could that be involved too somehow?"
Sam looks like he thought of something, "That could be useful. We need to go to my pack."
I'm a bit hesitant, "Is that wise? I'm like a vampire, but not a vampire or witch. We don't know what I am. I could accidentally hurt someone."
He looks at me, "You saved Steven."
"So? People help others all the time," I reply. Now he stares into my eyes, God, the pull. What is this? Why is it happening?
"Eva, you saved a wolf from a high-level vampiress. No, people do not do that everyday! Even other immortals don't!" he says firmly.
I don't like anyone implying that I'm special because I am not, "Well, more people should!"
Sam gets closer to me, "Stop being stubborn! My family is in your debt, let us honor you our way." I'm used to being stubborn. It has been me and Katie versus the world for so long. But can I trust these guys? I look at the vampires.
Vincent takes a step back, "Oh no, this is between you and the fleabag."
Vincent and Sam look at each other and you can tell that they are moments away from a fight. I have to do something, "Oh, hell no!" I get between them as I lock eyes with each man and tell them the same thing, "I say who I am around, I dictate who my friends are, and I control my destiny. Now chill out or you both can leave and never lock eyes with me again."
Eric just observes our interaction. Vincent speaks first, "Fine, but if he puts you in danger..."
I roll my eyes, "He won't." Besides, if he does, I will find a way to save myself, I always do."
Eric is still trying to assess what I am, "Interesting, Eva, are you accustomed to resolving disputes?"
"I guess. Why?"
He looks troubled as if he's afraid to say what he's thinking, "This may sound odd..."
I have to bring some levity, "And vampires and werewolves living among us, isn't that odd?"
He chuckles, "Point taken, there are also witches, like we said, and other beings. I think a witch killed my wife. She talked about what a witch forbade her to."
I want to learn all that I can because it's not every day that you get the opportunity to interview a vampire. "So witches can control you guys. Is that why the darkness was on her? What about me, though? Could a witch control me?"
He cocks his head, "Don't know. If some of the prophecies are true, then no one can control you, because there were only a few beings that none could control, and all are long since gone."
I wonder if he's referring to any I have studied, "What prophecies?"
He thinks for a minute, "You'll have to find someone older than me. All I know is, there will be a leader unlike the others, who will unite the immortals and humans. This leader will fight to keep the balance. One existed long ago, but according to legend, she was just a witch who was bitten by a werewolf. She was just a normal hybrid but an excellent warrior. You're nothing like that."
I roll my eyes, "Yeah right."
Vincent takes my hand, "Do you know all that you can do, Eva?"
I feel a pull to him, too. I can sense him far closer to me than just holding my hand, "Ummm…no, I guess not."
Sam interjects as he glares at Vincent, "My grandmother may know something more; our family kept some records." Why does he want me to meet his family so much? We only just met.
Eric says, "Well, if witches are involved, one thing is certain, Eva, you're in danger, as is your friend and anyone you are in normal contact with."
Oh shit! "I rarely go into the office. My coworkers should be safe, right?" Both Eric and Sam tell me that they will assign men to watch over my colleagues. That makes me feel a bit better but I'm still worried. I decided to distract myself by asking questions, "What happens to vampires during the day?"
Eric responds, "We are just vulnerable and weak. We don't sparkle or anything. Our healing, hearing, and reflexes don't work well in the sunlight but they do still work. We are closer to being human in the daylight, but we still have our immortality."
"So what turns a vampire to ash?"
He says, "Beheading, destruction of the heart, or breaking a sacred oath."
"So your wife broke her word?" I inquire, as I'm just still processing all that has happened tonight.
He nods, "Yes." If she knew that breaking her oath would lead to her death, why did she do it? Did I make her confess somehow?
I continue with my questions, "How does it work for wolves?" I don't want to kill, but the information could prove useful.
Sam answers, "We heal faster than humans but nothing like a vampire. Vampires can regrow limbs, we cannot. Even those of us born as wolves can't regenerate a limb. We age, but very slowly, so we can die."
I didn't know most of that. What is the difference between a made werewolf and a born one? Are there any? They are all just so forthcoming. My barrage of questions doesn't phase them. So I continue, "What about witches?"
Vincent replies, "They die like a human. They live longer but aren't fully immortal."
Then a question pops into my mind, "Couldn't they weave a spell to make them immortal?"
Their eyes go wide. I must have triggered a memory or something. They talk amongst themselves. Eric says, "Surely, not."
But Vincent adds, "Would make sense."
Sam responds, "Something like that would have to be forbidden and is well protected."
Eric thinks, "Maybe it's linked to one of the prophecies." Vincent agrees with Eric.
I scratch my head, "Okay, backup, since it looks like someone is trying to become the supreme ruler of the world, how can we keep humans like Katie safe?"
Vincent offers, "She can stay at my place. You both can. There's plenty of room, too."
Sam suggests, "Or the pack house."
He's still trying to get me to meet his family. It's sweet, but, "Wouldn't that put your family at risk?" Eric and Vincent both agree. Sam looks dejected and my heart feels for him. But why? I don't know these guys. Why do I feel for them? I have to ask, "How do I explain my moving to Katie?" They all just look at me. I roll my eyes, "Fine, I will think of something." I think to myself, 'Just fucking great, why can't I be normal?'
To my surprise, Vincent responds, "Because normal is boring."
My eyes widen, "What the fuck? You can hear me think?"
He says, "Only just now."
Eric smirks, "Now this is interesting."
I glare at him, "Spill!"
Eric chuckles, "I don't take orders from anyone."
But I have a surprise for him, "Well, it's time you start or I could just tell everyone what you thought when your wife died because I heard every word." Which I did, and now I remember it, since I am no longer caught up in that moment. Eric looks down. "Thought so. We all have our secrets. Just some of us wear them differently. That one you didn't hold close enough to your vest, so to speak."
Now Vincent is thinking, "So you can see vampires' thoughts and secrets. You can compel. What else can you do?"
I shrug. Sam asks, "Can you do the same with witches?"
I say, "I don't know. I just figured I was good at reading people and trusted my feelings. I thought I was human. I just thought I could do some odd stuff but was only human."
Eric lightly touches my hand, "Everything is fine, Eva. We will figure it out." His words just calm me. I know that we don't have the answers yet but I know that he will help me. I can feel it!
We exchanged phone numbers and exited the office without our masks on. We went back to our table and sat down for a nice dinner. Katie jokes about how full she is.
I say, "It was pretty good. But I'd have preferred a good steak that you could cut with your fork."
She replies, "No, thank you. You can enjoy all the bloody meat you want. I'll stick to chicken and fish."
Sam chuckles, so I point my fork at him, "Don't even crack a joke!"
Vincent laughs, "I'm just glad it's not directed at me."
I shake my head, "It would be more appropriate if it had been." We all laugh. If Katie only knew that we weren't fully joking. Which reminds me, "Oh, before I forget, Katie we are going on a little vacation."
She perks up, "Oh, to Mexico or something?"
I say, "Not yet, but we will travel. This is more local. I was told there's a library, pool, laundry
service, and movie theater." I wasn't told but did read Vincent's mind. Vincent looks at me and I smirk. He shakes his head.
Katie says, "Oh, really? Cool. I'm down!"
I think her quick acceptance amazed Vincent, "What the hell, Eva!"
Sam whispers sarcastically into my ear, "Have fun."
I think he knows that Katie's zest for life will drive Vincent insane and he's loving every minute of it. I tell Katie, "Okay, then we will swing by our apartment, pack real quick, and then go."
She exclaims, "This is going to be fun, like staying at a hotel!" I love how ride-or-die Katie is. I always admired her spirit and zest for life. I just hope that I can keep her safe and I'm not making a huge mistake.