After we made sure that Katie was comfortable, Eric took us to an office. I'm assuming it's for one ofthe cardinals or something. 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 very
handsome. Their eyes just pull me in.
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, “First Eva, who do you work for?” Vincent asks.
I smirk as I reply, “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, “Assume 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 I'd say, vampires. But they're not real right?”
Vincent just smirks as he took a step forward, “Well you said seeing is believing right?”
This may come back to bite me, “I did and you said you would show me.”
I don't even have time to blink. He’s now nearly touching me. His eyes are a glowing blood red and his smirk is now adorned with fangs. So, I make eye contact as I say, “Back off.”
He takes a step back and then regains his composure. He's a vampire! So he was 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 f*k 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
that could possibly 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 need to know if I caused her death, “I’m sorry about her. Did I kill her?”
He smiles briefly. Did he not love his wife? Do vampires even love?
Eric says softly, “No, but you did compel her. How?”
I wish I knew. Since my 25th birthday, strange things have been happening to me and I have discovered that I can do even stranger things. But I also don't feel the darkness as I did. I have always been able to judge people a bit, but I just chalked it up to journalistic instincts. What if it was more than that? What if I can detect evil?
I decide to be open with them, “Just envisioned myself strangling her. I felt a darkness too.”
Eric thinks for a moment, “Try to compel Vincent and I.”
I will try it. I do and I can feel a bit of their resolve weaken but not enough to fully control them. I could maybe just one of them, but I couldn't keep it for
long. They're so strong.
“You're quite strong. Not as strong as an elder but stronger then the 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'm very human!” He chuckles as he raises his eyebrow.
He gets a sheepishly boyish look as he takes my hand, “You don't smell human. Why I was surprised that you didn't
know what we all are. 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 has the characteristics now that I can see him fully that is.
He chuckles, “Nothing I've ever smelt and how?”
I take my hand back and run it through my hair, “Just guessed because you don't seem like Vincent and our host.”
“Sorry let me formally introduce myself, I'm Prince Eric Wood,” he says as I just look at him, “Not Prince like you're
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. 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 amaze me. The things that they have seen and experienced must be novel-worthy. “Explains when you said mixed company now Sam.”
He replies, “Yes, here is neutral ground.”
Eric seems annoyed, “Why I'll have to cover for
what happened to my wife.”
I try to offer an apology, “I’m sorry, Eric.”
He lightly brushes my arm, “Eva, stop. She deserved it. You didn't make her die, either.”
“Then what?” I really 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've never killed anyone,” 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 every day! Even other immortals don't!”
I don't like anyone implying that I’m special because I am not, “Well 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 verses 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 lock eyes with each and tell them both 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 odd?”
He chuckles, “Point taken, there's witches too 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. Why the darkness was on her. What about me, though?”
He cocks his head, “Don't know. If some of the prophecies are true, then no one can control you. 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 she was just a witch that was bitten by a werewolf according to the legend. So 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 what all 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 knowsomething more as our familykept 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 sh*t! “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 decide 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 work. We are closer to being human in the daylight but we still have our immortality.”
“So what turns a vampire to ash?” I ask him.
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 do 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? Is 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 protected.”
Eric thinks, “Maybe it's linked to one of the prophecies.”
Vincent agrees with Eric.
I scratch my head, “Ok backup, since it looks like someone is trying to become supreme rulers 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.”
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 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 f*ck? 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 really thought when your wife died, because I heard every word.” Which I did, now that I am not 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, sort of 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 but I know that he will help me. I can feel it!
We exchange phone numbers and exit the office without our masks on. We go back to our table and sit down to a nice dinner. Katie jokes about how full she is.
I say, “It was pretty good. But l'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, “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 living every minute of it.
I tell Katie, “Ok then we will swing by our apartment and 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.