Edging away from the ginger vampire and further into the alley’s shadows, Scarlet refocused. Staring across the street, she peered through the darkness as the police nervously squinted into the veiling downpour, fearful eyes searching for monsters. The flashing red and blue lights of their vehicles put a screw into her gut, taking her back to the night her life had shattered.
The spinning colors drew her into an internal loop, and memories of her dad and mom slowly pulled the world into a hypnotic swirl; things could have been so different. Her father’s last message, the pain he felt while breaking down, knowing this was his last opportunity to make a change to help his daughter—to help her—made Scarlet want to cry again; she just wanted to hear his voice one last time, telling her it would be okay, causing a bloody tear to fall down her cheek.
“Scarlet, are you okay?”
She jolted as warm fingers pressed against her arm, Illa’s concerned blue eyes pulling her back to reality. Reflexively rubbing the stream away, only to find it rising up to the crimson disk keeping the rain at bay, Scarlet buried the emotion.
“I’m fine,” she smiled, refocusing on the police car. “We’ll just wait until they—umm, I think he’s going to give us away…”
“Stupid guy…” Illa’s glossy orange lips creased with exasperation as Terry broke out of his handcuffs, beginning to make a fuss upon spotting them with his enhanced night vision. She made a few gestures to calm him down. “No! Let yourself be captured!”
“Mistress! Mistress, I… Huh?”
Scarlet pressed closer to the wall, shadows pulling in to obscure them as more police cruisers arrived and the men that had cornered the vampire drew their guns.
“Hey! Hey!”
“Relax, bud. What’s got you agitated?”
“Yo, he called out to his mistress, or some shit—”
“Keep an eye on the perimeter… The report said there were potentially three vampires.”
“Dammit! When the hell did we start dealing with this supernatural shit? Jack said he had stakes in his trunk, right?”
“Shit, I don’t know—Jeff, watch our six! Possible hostiles in the area.”
“You’re shitting me,” the new officers snarled, pulling their guns and moving to their trunk to take out assault rifles and shotguns. “How the hell are we supposed to handle vampires? SWAT is on the way, but shit—c’mon, man!”
“What’s up with the vamp, Rex? He’s not moving after that outburst—did he break the cuffs?!” the other officer exclaimed, keeping his gun trained on the suddenly still vampire, letting the rain fall over him. “That alley…”
“Don’t agitate him!” Jeff shot back. “Let’s just hold the zone until backup—is he…”
Terry dropped to his knees and spread his hands over his head. “I surrender myself. I will cause no trouble.”
“Son of a—Rex, cuff him again.”
“The hell?! I did it last time, bastard! You do it—he snapped my cuffs like butter!”
“Shit…”
Scarlet breathed out her stress, fang biting into her lower lip as Illa’s arm pressed against hers, scooting closer and looking a little nervous.
“What do we do now, Scarlet?” she hissed, leaning in to whisper; again, it was weird how warm the 16-year-old girl felt to the touch. “I could tell him not to hurt them and escape? He’d probably take a few bullets, but that’s whatever.”
Trying to keep her guard up around the Noble Vampire, as Rachel would, Scarlet shook her head. “No. Let’s just wait for things to calm down. Everyone’s just really tense right now; it would only hurt our image, too.”
“True… Ugh.” Illa fidgeted with her broken bra strap, which was hanging over the top of her somewhat damp dress front; the back was soaked from when she’d been thrown against the wall. “I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable, Scarlet. I just…wanted to help, and now everything is a total mess. I’m so stupid…”
Trying to force a smile, Scarlet hesitantly nudged her. “Things will work out. We just need to be patient; I can already feel their fear diminishing. See? They’re putting the cuffs on him and getting him into the car.”
The ginger’s vision fell to the wet road. “Thanks… I was afraid you might abandon me. I just…want to make—no, never mind! Don’t be the clingy-weird girl! I’m not totally oblivious. I can—”
“Wait, wait,” Scarlet hissed as the girl pulled away. Scarlet grabbed her hand to keep her from exiting her shadow field and blood disk. “My range is very short. Just stay…here,” she prompted.
“Oh, okay… Sorry, sorry…” The blue-eyed Noble Vampire looked even more distressed at upsetting her, and she fell silent, gripping her elbow and acting as if she’d been scolded. “I’ll just try to be quiet.”
Scarlet’s fang dug into her bottom lip while she fidgeted with her own hands, feeling her social anxiety acting up.
Dammit, I’m supposed to be over that! Illa is trying really hard to be helpful. How can I be mean to someone who isn’t mean to me?
Rachel’s brow-thumping frown smacked her brain while reciting the lunar hare’s advice to her when starting this special OP:
‘If you notice something is wrong, act. It’s what I’d do, and trust your instincts. Think carefully, and don’t trust anyone. If they’re approaching you, they want something. You will have to make decisions that are uncomfortable, Scarlet, and that is the only thing that I am worried about…’ How right you were, Rachel…
Her gaze occasionally wandered to the awkward orange-haired vampire girl beside her while waiting for Terry to be cautiously placed inside an armored SUV that SWAT brought. Illa didn’t peep a word while they waited, once again playing with her broken bra strap and occasionally fixing her dress as it slipped from the displaced weight from her undergarment.
What am I supposed to do about her, Rachel? She really does seem like she admires me and wants to help…which is crazy. Why would anyone admire me?
Putting the thought on hold, she studied the calming scene with the dozens of soldiers and police officers now securing the area and talking with the diner staff and patrons.
SWAT had brought a muzzle to put on Terry, and the police coordinated with the local National Guard battalion to bring in even more personnel to go on a vampire hunt for them. Sadly, these weren’t soldiers under Captain Barbara.
She wasn’t worried since her shadows kept them more or less invisible; as obscure outlines against the wall, a quick sweep of flashlights wasn’t quite enough attention to catch the static, shadowy shapes they were against a black graffiti backdrop.
Once Terry was locked inside the armored vehicle, placed in a straight jacket, and muzzled, Scarlet teleported them into the back; a soldier was with him, but Illa’s hypnotic whisper and glance charmed him to fall into a world of dreams.
The ginger’s lips drew into a grimace as she collapsed next to the soldier, leaning against his shoulder as Terry fixated on her like she was his whole world.
“I’m…so thirsty,” she whimpered, “but I probably shouldn’t nibble on these guys’ blood, right? Mmmm!”
“Right,” Scarlet softly chuckled, fiddling with Terry’s muzzle to remove it from the blond man’s head. “We can stop off at a hospital nearby; the doctors know me and have given me blood bags before. Nice work with the guard, by the way,” she said with a thumbs-up that brought a cute smile to the girl’s lips.
“Thanks! Umm… I’m trying. It’s hard…not to feed,” she mumbled, gulping and looking at her compelled High Vampire. “Can I…feed off Terry?”
“Of course, Mistress,” the handsome blond man accepted, opening himself up. “I live for you.”
“Eeesh… Can’t…you wait for the hospital?” Scarlet tentatively asked, studying Illa’s twitches and flushed cheeks; her body temperature was rising after her charming the soldier, sweat actually starting to form on her skin. “You…don’t look well.”
“No, no—I’m fine,” she totally lied, hugging herself. “I’ve never…drank anything but live blood since Mother told me t-to. Umm. I can try to do it your way, though…”
“Mmmgm. If…it’s a vampire, I…guess it’s okay?” she tried to rationalize. Slowly scooting away from him. “Who is your…mother? What Legend or Myth is she from to be a Progenitor?”
Illa’s pigtails weaved back and forth, and she stubbornly set her brow in defiance, despite her sweat-slicked face as her thirst grew by the second.
“I…I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Hehe. I don’t…really know who Mother is; she just…kind of came and went, which is why I think you’re so amazing. I was here on vacation from Austria, and then…all the craziness in Miami Beach happened—mmm…”
She whimpered, fingers pressing into her sides as her eyes started to show a distinctly more ruby tone, making Scarlet sigh.
“Just drink his blood already. Are you sure vampire blood will work?”
“Mhm! But…are you sure?”
“Yes! Do it,” she snapped, trying to keep her voice down. “Just tell me… No, we don’t have time…” She wanted to curse when hearing people outside asking who wanted to join the soldier to guard Terry. “We are on a clock—wait… I’m stupid.”
“Huh?!”
Her blood snaked out of her body to cut Terry’s bindings, and she reached over to take Illa’s hand, pulling her on top of the blond man. Pressing closer, she teleported them out of the vehicle seconds before the door opened, no doubt causing a panic, but this was probably better.
They exited the shadows inside a building’s boiler room two streets away, and she stumbled back in surprise as Illa tackled Terry to the ground, breathing heavily.
“Woah! Woah! Illa?!”
The ginger ripped the straight jacket to shreds along with the man’s fancy shirt before sinking her fangs into his smooth, muscular left breast. Terry relaxed, and Scarlet noticed two more bite marks near the same location as the man’s large arms gently held the trembling girl against his body.
Turning away and feeling her cheeks burning, Scarlet cleared her throat and cast her vampiric sight anywhere but the ginger girl latched onto the man’s chest. Their heavy breathing and grunts didn’t help her flaming, pointed ears; she couldn’t keep her gaze away for long, though.
Gradually, her throat thickened upon peering through their flesh to the drawing blood being sucked out of Terry’s veins and soaking into Illa’s gums to bring an energetic pulse throughout her entire body, quivering with pleasure.
“Mmagh!” The ginger unlocked her fangs and fell atop Terry, her chest heaving with her ragged pants as if just getting through an intense exercise. “Haaa-haaa… I’m…sorry, Scarlet,” she wept, burying her face in her arms. “I couldn’t help myself! I’m such a monster! I’m sorry…”
“Mistress… I am yours to take,” Terry caringly whispered, making the girl choke.
“No! No, you belong to Selene! I just…took you, and you don’t know any better! I’m so…evil.”
A pressure erupted within Scarlet’s breast, and she was already crawling over to hug the girl before she knew what she was doing. “You’re not a monster, Illa… You didn’t want this.”
“No, you don’t get it!” Illa sniffled, trying to shake her off for the first time. “If you knew what kind of monster I am, you’d…you’d hate me. Everyone hates me, but I can’t control myself! I’m evil! I’m evil…”
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
A sad smile lifted Scarlet’s lips while hugging the ginger, remembering Rachel doing the same for her when she’d hit her lows, and her dad’s words pricked her heart again:
‘Please, Scarlet…don’t give up hope to live. Find people you can trust because I know you are so hurt right now…lost and afraid. I want you to find a family that can support you better than we could. I love you, and that will never change…’ Thank you, Dad, Rachel…
Her stress slid away, and she tried to comfort Illa through her panic attack, afraid she’d done something irredeemable; again, her instincts told her something was wrong, yet she made the choice to let things play out.
Yes, there are so many red flags with Illa, but I can’t turn her away. Maybe she is manipulating my emotions. Maybe she is after something from me or even a plant by Mom… It doesn’t matter, because I’d want someone to give me a chance, too… Someone did give me a chance.
After a few minutes, Illa’s hiccups mostly subsided, and she swapped positions to return her embrace, weeping softly, her hot breath pressing against her ear. “You’ll abandon me. Everyone abandons me… You should throw me away.”
Fingers tightening against her quivering back, Scarlet shook her head. “We reap what we sow, and I want to sow good seeds. I want to believe you. So, are you going to help me get my dad’s body back?”
“Yes! I promise! I promise I will!” she cried, hugging her with all her might, which was shockingly weak for what Scarlet had anticipated.
One thing was for sure: Illa was a different kind of vampire than typical media portrayed. She didn’t have the physical power or dead vibe most carried, and her need for physical touch and companionship seemed genuine beyond refute.
Taking a few deep breaths, Illa scooted back, cheeks flushed and showing stretchy black booty shorts under her dress as she sat across from her. “Okay! No more waterworks, Pumpkin; it’s time to get to work! We got a body snatcher to catch!”
Scarlet giggled at the self-pronounced nickname and vigor that now overtook the ginger, spotting Terry sitting off to the side, waiting to be of use to his mistress. “Feeling better now after having vampire blood?”
“Oh, I’m 150%,” Illa boasted, holding up her arm, pulling back the sleeve of her shoulder-less dress, and flexing her flat bicep. “Terry, what did your previous mistress do with the body?!”
They both shifted to stare at the now shirtless blond man, the holes in his chest slowly healing over, but not completely. Scarlet held her breath as he blinked and glanced between them.
“I wasn’t told.”
Illa’s eyes glazed over. “Huh?”
“I worked at the edges of the dock security, where you found me,” Terry casually explained, running his fingers through his messy hair and looking a little fatigued. “You wanted me to lure in Jacob because he was younger than me, but then—”
“No, no-no-no,” she hastily waved her hands in protest, cheeks bunching up. “You said you knew where Selene was going, and you were tasked to get Scarlet to the docks!”
He slowly nodded. “Yes, I did. The Mistress had left earlier this morning on the Icon of the Seas luxury cruise ship she’d been invited to attend with many other vampire factions. It was setting out from Miami, which made for a perfect cover with British diplomatic immunity to transport cargo that wasn’t to be searched. I never saw the body, though.”
Scarlet’s throat went dry. “He’s…gone already?”
Illa rubbed her temple. “That’s…not what I asked, Terry. Ugh. Umm. Okay, so Selene…already left this morning on the boat? What is the other boat for—the one that you were guarding that I snatched you from? Is that going to the Icon of the Seas?”
Relief flooded Scarlet’s body as he nodded, but then his earlier statement caught up to her lagging brain, and she interrupted before he could continue his explanation.
“Wait, wait, wait! Multiple vampire factions have been invited to this cruise ship?”
“Ooh. Mhm! Mhm!” Illa jumped in, shushing the man to get her own turn and becoming excited. “I heard spooky rumors from Mother when she turned me. She said that the Countess of Blood—theee Countess of Blood—was inviting other factions to join her for her Legend Quest, where they could gain great power. It starts tonight.”
Scarlet felt like she’d been slapped; her parents were vampire enthusiasts, and one name was huge on their list. “You…don’t mean…Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed… The legendary vampire of Hungary that tortured and murdered over 650 virgin girls and bathed in their blood to remain young?”
“That’s the one!” Illa chimed without a hint of fear. “Basically, the woman all female vampires are based on! Insane, right?! Mother wanted me to attend, but I didn’t get an invite,” she sighed, “but we’ll just crash it!”
Terry frowned, true concern in his voice as he straightened. “Mistress, you should not attend such a gathering. Her invitations were not only for vampire factions but also for notorious hunters; it is more like a festival of blood and battle—probably more for her entertainment. Lord Dracula told Lady Selene to investigate her motives.”
“Humph.” Illa’s confident smile moved to her. “If Scarlet is with me, then I’m not afraid of anything! Oh, I almost forgot. What did you tell me about the boat and Scarlet?”
Scarlet was happy that the pumpkin-themed vampire girl felt safe with her, but this did seem like a massive operation compared to what she thought it would be. She definitely needed to check in with Rachel; they needed to move soon anyway since the National Guard and police were getting closer with their manhunt for them.
However, Terry’s following statement made her mind go blank as she processed it.
“It is not only Lady Selene you must be wary of, Mistress; Lord Dracula has obtained a pact with a Scottish Highland Fairy. Several Faekin have fallen under this vampiric fairy’s rule, and she is more powerful than Lady Selene herself. She is in command of the ship I guarded and is waiting for those who were late to the Countess’ gathering and failed to arrive on time for the ship’s departure.”
“Yes, yes,” the ginger dismissed with irritation. “What about Scarlet, though?! They are really waiting for her, and are using her dad’s body as a bargaining chip to get her to go on the ship, right? I bet I’m right!”
Scarlet had her own question. “Is…there going to be a vampire attack on Miami?”
Illa lifted an eyebrow. “No, they’re not strong enough to do—” She cut off upon seeing the blond man’s expression. “Wait, really, Terry?! What the hell?! Everyone already hates us!”
Terry cleared his throat, and Scarlet saw his veins starting to protrude; Terry’s heart was working furiously to push what little blood remained through his vascular system. Illa had drained the guy to dangerous levels; it seemed vampires used blood as a burning resource to live, which made sense.
“Lord Dracula…needs the fear to grow stronger… Vampires will arrive on boats… Fog will cover…”
Scarlet panicked a little as Terry cut off and started to shrivel up. “Illa!”
“No, no, it’s fine,” she grumbled, crossing her arms under her modest bust with irritation. “Humph. High Vampires are so weak for the name; lose too much blood, and they go into a coma. At least they don’t go and disintegrate like normal vampires. I think we got the bulk of it…”
Her bright blue eyes lit up. “Sooo, are we storming the boat and kicking ass—butt, I mean,” she corrected with a toothy, innocent grin. “I’m all charged up and ready! I, uh, just need to snatch a proxy fighter from the cast to help you since I’m not very good with my hands. Eh-hehe, weak arms, ya know,” she explained, flexing her muscles again. “Something wrong? If we get him blood, he’ll be fine! High Vampires, so melodramatic, right? Bleh, I’m turning gross and wrinkly!”
Scarlet rubbed between her eyes with a strained laugh at her mocking jokes. “No, I…need to report to my boss. So, let’s go to, like…another city real fast so we can get us new clothes, and I’ll smooth things over with the hunting party—Illa?!”
“Oooh!” The girl lurched forward to hug her and bounce a little. “Our first shopping trip! Aaah! I’m so excited! I want to try the goth look, too! Do you think black lipstick and eyeliner would look good with my pumpkin style? I don’t know—I can’t wait!”
She chuckled a little at how teen-like the teenager was; she suddenly felt so old, and she was only two years older than this girl, max—well, probably.
Fending her off, Scarlet got up and brushed herself off. “Yeah, let’s do some quick multitask-shopping while I report—even though she’s been listening this entire time.”
Illa’s face became stricken, and she froze up. “W-Wait, you’re talking about that heroine hare girl they all talk about in the news, right? What if she doesn’t like me?!” She started playing with her hair and checking her attire. “I know I can be annoying and a bit of a dunce…a klutz, and too forward and touchy! What do I do?!”
Scarlet fidgeted a little herself, trying to determine what to do with Terry as Illa panicked like a total teenage girl; if she was acting, it was good. She decided it would be best to drop him off back in the armored vehicle since the moment Illa stopped her charm, he’d be an enemy again, and the military could interrogate him or something.
“It should be fine—probably.”
“Scarlet, don’t tease me,” Illa cried, giving her a light, pouty smile. “Does this mean we are becoming friends?”
“Friendly,” she chimed, pointing at the man, rapidly drying out from a lack of blood. “I’ll drop him off before we go shopping, so just stay here for a second; be right back.”
Illa showed off her fangs again. “Friendly is an improvement! One step at a time. Relationship goals, am I right?!”
“Eh-hehe. Sure. One sec…”
Kneeling beside the man, she transported him into the now empty armored vehicle and pounded on the side, practically scaring the ghost out of the SWAT driver.
“Special delivery!”
Giggling, she felt surprisingly good about how she was handling things. Now, to see what grade she got by calling the boss hare herself. Looking back to where she left Illa, her lungs jumped into her throat; she wasn’t alone anymore.
The ginger gasped at the sight of a pretty, 13-year-old girl who opened the door to the boiler room, her caramel brown hair pulled into a high, side bun—yet another vampire.
Panicking at the sudden arrival of even more fanged threats, shadows carried her back to the building. Illa’s excitement was on full display as the charming, proper teen unfastened her inner-fur-sewn, black overcoat, revealing an elegant black lace and red velvet dress.
“Scarlet! She’s the cutest, most adorable thing I have ever seen! Ahh! She’s so mature for her age; do you see her dress and that exquisite belt?! It all matches! I just want to bite—Scarlet?”
She held out a hand to stop Illa from rushing over to sweep the composed girl off her feet and into a swinging embrace. Pressure hit her chest like a vice as she studied the dangerous 13-year-old, her flaming cherry eyes alight with welcoming energy. “She’s actually pretty strong.”
The howl of a wolf came from across town, and Scarlet gulped as she filtered out the building, keeping the teen in sight. Ominously, she also spotted a thick fog rolling in from the sea. Is the attack already starting?!
The girl kept her coat over her shoulders, her expensive thorn-style black diamond necklace hanging as she crossed her feet and spread her dress out to offer a formal curtsy. Her body was alight with so much crimson that Scarlet felt dizzy looking into her body; parts of it were practically entirely formed out of blood.
“Greetings, Lady Scarlet Johnson. I am Lady Cássia Kiss, an emissary of Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed, and she has tasked me to await your arrival in Miami to offer you a formal invitation to her masquerade.”
The vampire rose to slip her hand into the inner pocket of her coat to withdraw a business card, the lettering written in blood.
A quake ran through Scarlet’s bones at the classy teen’s smooth introduction. “First, what is happening outside? How did you find me?”
Cássia maintained her grace while holding the card against her front, showing her small fangs and a smile. “Count Dracula has decided to launch an attack on this Sunny State in order to show the world that there is nowhere they can hide from the darkness. We will be leaving before his forces arrive. If you wish to join the Countess’ party, then we must leave before Lady Aurora Bain departs with the guests.”
“Aurora-who?” Scarlet asked, feeling the pressure rising as a time limit crashed against her chest.
Illa piped up from behind her. “Oh, that’s the Scarlet Hand fairy that Terry talked about! The fog is probably her doing. Well, or her fairy followers—maybe both… Hmm. Do you think the Countess would mind if we stole this little cutie?”
The world started to crumble around her with the expectant 13-year-old’s smile, all while Illa was still drooling over the girl with longing eyes, wanting to smother her in hugs.
This…is a total mess! Rachel, what am I supposed to do?!
“I-I need to get clothes if we’re going to a party!”
Her throat constricted as Cássia giggled, her uncanny, shimmering ruby eyes fixated on her and practically ignoring Illa’s attempts to snatch her attention.
“The Countess anticipated her guests might not have the proper attire, so she had her servants prepare the materials required to fashion you an appropriate wardrobe once inside her domain… You may bring guards and friends if you so choose.”
The girl began using one hand to expertly fasten the top buttons of her coat with an expectant charm. “I am sure they are listening as we speak and will meet us at the docks. Shall we leave? The Hunters and Vampire Lords are already gathering on the vessel.”
“Can we?! I so want to go, Scarlet—please take me!” Illa pleaded, grabbing her arm and giving her big blue puppy-dog eyes. “It sounds like so much fun!”
“I…guess I do need to get my dad’s body back, and it’s on the boat. Umm. I might need to fight Lady Selene… Is that okay with the Countess?”
Blood snaked out from beneath Cássia’s coat to present her with the invitation, a toothy grin on her face and some of her poise dropping to show the young teenage girl underneath.
“Absolutely! So long as one makes their intentions known to the other party, conflict is most certainly encouraged. My Mistress’ Legend Quest demands a game of cutthroat adversaries and rivals struggling to overcome plots and subterfuge for power…”
She took the card, hoping Rachel was making plans because she’d really stepped in the deep end on this one. “Then…I accept.”
“Yes! Yes! Yes! And custom clothes!” Illa squealed. “You must get a new dress with us, Cássia! Oh, you should join Scarlet’s team; she’s the best!”
Scarlet forced a laugh. “Let’s…not get ahead of ourselves, Illa.”
Cássia’s mesmerizing crimson eyes flickered with delight as the 13-year-old bowed her head slightly. “Each faction has been granted a servant of the Countess to make sure your every desire is met. And, as instructed, should you accept the invitation, I am to be at your beck and call, Lady Scarlet. A week of vampiric fun at the Court of Blood. I hope to serve you well… Right this way, My Lady.”
Scarlet felt a clawed hand grip her heart as the pressure mounted, and she followed the Countess of Blood’s servant into the misty night, where a fancy black car waited for them.
Rachel… Help!
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