Chapter 3

Gray, mournful rays brushes their way a crossed my bed. Dark storm clouds gathered, further obscuring the meager light and putting a gloomy mood over all in the castle. Saturday…at last. The week had drifted by slowly. It was hard to get back into human habits. I kept bouncing back and forth between what I am, and what I am no longer, and what I’ve done.
I wanted desperately to shove my head through the window through which I watched the cold world turn only colder in the chill rain. I had yet to hear from the guys. Had Uisnech made it back? Had Brian found any information? How was Juls copping with 50 some-odd kids? I couldn’t search them out. I had to play cool with my own friends. Memories drifted back to me…of the friends and families I could destroy, all because I found out I had a vampire heritage.
Finding out this had led me to do further research. And the more I found, the more I thought explained who I was and maybe why people think of this as a vampire school. EVERYONE here must have some vampire in his or her blood. So…mixing basic Biology with a little Chemistry…I found just the enzyme needed to bring those old genes further out. Well, after a little wile, I discovered that bringing those genes up would make one closer to a vampire. Although not full, but I could bite someone and they would be full. I would just be pretty damn close. I remember trying it out on myself. By some miracle, it actually worked. Dear god it hurt like a motherfucker. I don’t know how or why I put together my team…but I did. I guess I decided I wanted to try it on someone else. For starters, I needed to make sure one couldn’t connect anyone in the party to anyone else. It was surprisingly easy to find someone to volunteer to become undead. A couple of days later, we noticed something was wrong. Pretty damn close to a vampire, remember? None of us could hold down real food. And there for, we were starving. Nothing worked, for days we went like that, out of our minds with hunger, but unable to eat. Than I remembered, how naive I was, vampires need a blood to sub stain them selves. So I made up a suppressant. I slowed down the gene that made us vampires, but sadly, it only softened the hunger, just enough for us to eat real food. I suppose that was all we needed, but we were acting differently. Our abilities had become stronger; we were harsher, and less prone to be emotional.
Well, it took some time, but we all decided that if we were going to be…different ( none of us could really think of our selves as vampires – we were just diseased )than we ought to do something with our abilities. Reading the newspaper, and looking through the library I found something. If we were PART vampire, than there had to be FULL vampires out there. And knowing what we knew of our selves, we did discover plenty of the countryside to be covered in vampires. Some were trying to lead normal lives, but others? Others wanted the public to fear them and they wanted our race to be known. It was Brian who thought that we ought to join their cause. But I disagreed. Not for moral reasons, but just because we weren’t REAL vampires. We’ve never killed; we only became what we are by some chemical combination. We would only be a mockery. Brian said I was just weak. And if I was so ashamed, than they would no longer involve me.
Juls took Brian’s side and Uisnech took mine. We both did more research. Than came to an agreement, we would create a group of vampires, but it would A) only involve us four and B) we would try to protect who and what we are. We couldn’t let ourselves be found out. So that’s what we did, we fought to keep it all a secrete. And I had thought it had worked. At least for our area, when we had eliminated all harmful vampires. I thought we were finial safe to go back to being normal. It was the same fight…all over again. Thistle had gotten sick of my being “emo and antisocial” so she brought me along to hang with her friends. They became my friends. It got hard to keep up the double life, and since one of them wasn’t needed…I turned my back on the Binding…I thought I could just sweep it all under the rug. I had thought we had all agreed to disband. Not only so I pretend to be human again, but because we were THIS CLOSE to being caught. I made pills of the Serum, with bigger douses and handed them out to the guys. Everything was supposed to go back to normal. How could I be so stupid?
Screaming in frustration, I jumped from the bed. I couldn’t just sit around and feel sorry for myself all day. I stood naked in the cold air for several minuets. I must have been so tired last night that I didn’t even bother to put sleeping clothes on. I can’t stand being cold…but for some reason, the cold air seemed to just swirl about me, prickling my skin wherever it touched. Man, was I insane or what? Shaking myself, I yanked open my trunk. It was practically empty; wile my laundry bag sat full to the brim.
“Hm, laundry anyone?” I murmured to myself. I pulled on the pants I wore yesterday and a form fitting, but modest turtleneck, threw on a cloke, grabbed the laundry bag and was out the door. All to run strait into Steel, I found myself sitting on my ass on the ground looking up at the grinning cunt. Weren’t vampires supposed to be graceful?
“Look, you do exist!” He chimed, hands shoved deep into his pockets, water running off his trench coat and hat.
“Hello to you too.” I muttered in replay. Than I took notice that I hadn’t hung out with Thistle or Steel in a wile.
“heh. Ya, I exist. Just been…busy, homework and stuff. What are you up to?” I asked, standing up.
“Well currently, we’re all about to walk into town and they told me to come up here and grab you. Beat you out of bed if I had too. Heather should be coming along soon too.”
“Oh, fun. Um, I do have some laundry to do, but I guess I can do it later.” I replied, as I turned around and put the bag just inside my door.
“Awww, you didn’t have to beat her out of bed?” Came Thistle’s voice down the hall.
“Nope.”
“Nope, sorry babes.” I said, grinning as I turned around.
“Heh, it’s alright Cymmy. Ready to go?”
“Sure…charge?”
Nodding, Thistle grabbed my arm to my left and Steel walked to my right, still grinning.


Standing just inside the main doors was, Crimson, Art and Satin. “Hey! It’s a Cymmy!” Crimson yelled a crossed the room as we descended the stairs.
“Shush Crim’, ya I’m here.”
Crimson just shrugged. “Where have you been? We haven’t seen you in a couple of days.” Art asked.
“Oh, I’ve just been hiding up in my room. I had a big paper and an ass load of home work.” I lied easily. “So…what’s the purpose of this trip?”
“Just gonna scope out the area, plan for our little fun over break. Plus we wanna check our mail. The roads are apparently “to slippery” for the mail truck to deliver our stuff to us.” Mike said.
“Oh, sweet. I had almost forgotten about mail. I’m sure I got a letter or something from my parental units.”
“So, are we going to go? Or just talk about going?” Art asked jokingly.
We’re going, we’re going.” I said pushing my way passed the guys and entering the downpour.
From behind me, Thistle, Crimson, Art and Steel all went running, chasing each other and playing in the rain.
“HEY! Wait for me! Dumb fucks!” I yelled at their backs, give chase and surrendering if only for a few moments to this simple exhilaration.



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Black eyes watched the group below. A tall stranger stood at the window, long silky, black hair glistened down his slender form, ending at his hips. Today he wore his best black silk suit, with a red satin shirt underneath. He considered wearing a tie and top hat, but for the sake of modern fashion, left the hat and tie. It was amazing how casual people were today. Although he had to admit he had more movement in his current clothing than he did in…others.
He had seen her. The one he had been promised. She has grown up since he has seen her last. She was the perfect age now – ripe for the pickings. A teasing smile played a crossed his face. And an added bonus: the girl that has his clan in a killing rampage was her friend. Perfect, he could snatch them together. Or maybe just the girl he came for…Heather? That was her old name at least, now she went by…what was it?…ah, right “Thistle”. Strange name for a grown woman. All well, she could change it again. With him, she would have to get used to changing her name. So the only question was, leave the other girl for the assassins or grab her and take the credit for her capture himself? Seeing her had been a shock, he was at a loss of an appropriate action. She had caused much trouble with his clan. This “Binding” was almost unthinkable. At first, she and her own were nothing, a mockery. In the very beginning they had actually helped by removing other vampires that were in his clan’s way. But than, she dared to threaten HIS people…well, she had to pay the price.
Unfortunately, they had gotten THIS CLOSE to finding her…but than she just suddenly stopped and disappeared.
There had been numerous meetings and hunts after that her name had been a hot one among his people. Not only his for that matter. Everyone who had been bitten ( and those that just worked for the bitten ) knew of her. Although no one knew her name. They just called her clan “The Slayers”. Although “Bitch” worked just as well. He had gotten so sick of it all. After all, none of this fretting was truly needed. She had gone. She either found what she had been looking for, someone had killed her and left her dead corps to rot in some ditch somewhere or she just wasn’t as much of a cold-heated killer as everyone thought. They seemed to have forgotten for a moment that THEY were the true vampires. Well, eventually things went back to normal. He had finally tracked down his little friend here. She WOULD make a great member to his team. All he had to do was persuade her and that was never hard. He highly doubted that the “Slayer” had turned her friend. She was still very human…

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Running through the mud down an old English road was a thrill. Or maybe it was the screams and laughs of her friends. She could feel the ground churn under her feet. Could feel the life pulsing about her. She could close her eyes throw her head back and almost give in. Some said there was an animal side to everyone. That was the allure of the vampire to young people : the ability to give in to that side. Well, that part did seem true. It was like have a raving mad SOMETHING inside, and the only thing parting it from you was a thin, gauzy material. It seemed so easy to pull that fabric back. With out that THING one felt…well, like they were broken. There was another part to them only they couldn’t touch it. Going on like that drove one mad during the long, painful days. So, every few nights, vampire release them selves to that which is with in.
Heart pounding, wind rushing past your face…

“The high,
The thrill,
The pounce,
The kill.
The feel of your body as it fell.
Welcome to Hell”

A poem started to form in her mind. It seemed so…right. Laughing out loud again, I opened my eyes and noticed we were near the town…and the gang was far behind. My gate seemed right, just right. Stretching my legs and giving in to the at least that small thrill…sighing; I slowed down, than stopped. I really did have to watch myself; I was back with my friends now. Maybe this was why I didn’t try to have a social life AND run the clan. What if I slipped up and hurt someone? Would I really care? Yes…I think. I shrugged the thoughts off and let the group catch up.


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Raven was still standing by the window, watching the events below unfold. He had seen her. At last, after so much searching. Dancing and playing in the wind and she and her friends left the courtyard. Oh did he have a game for her. He WOULD break this one. But only he was sure this one would hold up longer than the others had. He had a promise that she would.
A devious smile spilt his face. Yes, she would do well.
“Um, Mr. Ravensborn? It appears that the child - I mean young women - I mean Thistle, er Heather, which you requested just stepped out. It appears that the mail truck hasn’t come up this far in a week and she went to town to collect her mail.”
Raven nodded, than turned to face the pathetic man. The head chairman of the school was a round, sweaty old man. He ran the school with an iron fist – or so they say, but to Raven, he was disgusting.
“Ah, I see. Than if you would be so kind as to secure me lodgings, I shall speak to her this evening.” Raven replied, trying to be as polite as possible. He would look forward to poking about the school until she came back anyways.
“er, right, of course. I’ll have my people find you a room. But mind you, we are a little pinched for space, but no matter. We’ll find you a room,” said the man, as he nodded dumbly.
“Yes, very well. Than I’ll just wait here wile you take care of that, alright?” Raven didn’t even wait for a reply, turning his back; he went back to looking out the window.
“Right, of course. Very well. We are all very glad for your visit, very glad.” The fat-thing continued as he left the room.


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The smell of meet sizzling over an open flame, brightly colored silks dancing in t he wind, and shouts of sales men and women trying desperately to sell their wears. In hailing deeply, I took it all in. The ground covered in mud, people wearing clothing styles all in not-so-subtle attempts to be noticed. There was light smell of bread baking somewhere, and the tinkling of laughter and voices danced on top of all these scents and sights.
My friends drove into one shop. It looked like one of those hippy/wiccan shops. Shrugging, I went in. Inside, the air was filled with insence, smoke, and the chitter chatter of sales clerks talking their customers into buying more. I looked at gray dragon statues and mermaids that seemed to dance and swim on their stone stands.
For some odd reason, I wasn’t feeling like myself – go figure huh? I had no interest in anything in this small, over packed shop. Did I even have any money? I didn’t think so. I pulled open the top part of my shirt and looked down my bra. Reaching in, I pulled out three – count them – THREE dollars.
“Great, that’ll get me…nothing. Maybe I can find a coke around here…” I murmured to myself, glancing about the shop for some form of soda machine. There, guarded closely by the sales clerk at the desk. Striding up, I brushed past the clerk – who didn’t seem to notice I was there and inserted on dollar, than another.
“A dollar fifty? Insane.” I clicked the once clear but now yellow with age button that got me a coke. The thing thumped and bumped and complained, but finally sent down the requested item. Picking up the coke, I waited for my change. The damn thing was even more reluctant to give me that, but eventually, I hear the twinkle of change being dropped into the distributor. Grabbing a grand total of fifty cents, I shoved my last dollar fifty back into my bra and went in search of my friends.

“Is there anything you guys are looking for in particular?” I asked. We had walked around almost the entire town! We had our mail and I had a letter from my very good friend Aivilo that I desperately wanted to go curl up in my bed and read it. Plus, this was boring as hell. NO offence to the guys, but walking around some town wile they whispered about something was less than exciting.
I felt a small, distant twinge. I felt like it should have hurt, but didn’t. Something seemed very off…did I have something that I had needed to get done and I had forgotten?? I shrugged the weirdness off.
“Yes.” Chimed Crimson.
“And your not going to tell me?”
“Nope…” claimed Steel.
“I hate you all.”
“Aw, but we love you! Loves…” Crimson said, making a heart shape with his hands.
“Cute babes.” I said, giving him a hug.
“EUPHORIA!!”
“What the fuck!” I said with out thinking as I saw Brian running towards me, pushing people over. “Shit!” I said, in some form of departing word to my friends – I ran to meet Brian.
“What’s wrong?! What happened?!” I asked, meeting him a few feet away.
“It’s Uisnech! He’s back – but it’s bad. He’s hurt!” Gasped Brian, still running off of endorphins.
“Take me to him!” I said, pushing past him.
I let my legs lengthen and push faster and faster as we ran back towards the school. If I had been running fast before, I wondered how fast I was running now. Doesn’t matter! I answered myself. More…I need more; I pushed myself further – faster. I felt my front K-9’s throb in pain. They were pushing too…I glanced beside me, Brian was with me, leg for leg. Looking forward again, I saw the school. Rushing through the gates I ran up the steps and slowed down to a walk. The grand front entrance doors stood flung open, and so I entered.
“Where-“
“This way.” Brian said, going down a side corridor.
Some tall stranger was standing just outside the hallway, seemingly reading a book. Brian quietly side stepped him and rushed down the hallway. Ignoring the lean man, I did the same as he, except he seemed to stand at the same moment and shoved my shoulder as he walked past. Something was distinctly odd about him. There was something formilar, something –
“Euphoria! Come on!”
“Right, I’m coming!” I said, angry with myself. Did I really just stop and stare at some GUY who might or might not be…well; what ever was weird about him. What ever it was I couldn’t put my finger on it. Well, that just means I have no further information. Useless. I told myself as I pushed my suspicions to the back of my mind.
Brian entered a small utility closet that was squeezed into the corner of the hallway. I had never noticed it before…odd. Inside, bloody and bruised slumped Uisnech, and Juls sat crouched over him. Uisnech opened his eyes upon my entrance.
“Euphoria, I – “
“Shush, dear one.” I said, brushing the hair out of his face. “Take him to my room. NOW!”I said to the others.
“Why?”
“Just do it Juls…”
I felt watched. Although the hallway appeared empty and that guy was gone, something was watching us. I had ignored my instincts before; I’m not going to do it again.
We three helped to carried him briskly up the stair and down the twisting hallways and finally into my room. It was amazing how few people were in the halls. I had thought up a lie and everything…hm. Laying him down on the bed, I stood and crossed my arms. “Now, talk”
Uisnech pushed himself up onto his elbows. “Well, we were right. There is another clan that we never found out. But they’re not in the school. They’re a lot…older. Not like 40’s older. Like ancient, and they hunt for us. And since they found me, well, than they might just be about to find us. I know little else. I can’t even remember where they took me just” gasp “please don’t make me go back.” He said, looking up with plea full eyes.
“Don’t worry, we wont send you back. Juls? Heal him up.”
Sinking thankfully back into the pillows, Uisnech allowed himself to give in to the blackness and let Juls slowly start pulling the pain out. He had delivered his message. He was done…
“You did a good job, Uisnech”
“So…it’s war.” Piped in Brian who was leaning against the bed.
“No, it’s not war. These people are old. And I’m sure a hella of a lot stronger than we are.”
“Oh, so we should just lay back and let them kill us? Great plan oh master.” Sneered Brian. Same fight, again. Only this time one of our own was hurt. Uisnech gave a cry out and silent tears slipped down his cheek.
“Juls? How bad is it?”
“He’ll live. But I have to…reline some stuff Now shut up the both of you and let me work.”
I winced in sympathy towards Uisnech than push Brian out the door with me, closing it behind me.
“This is NOT war. We’d lose. But maybe we can twist it a little. I need to know what we’re up against and what we’ve got. Full meeting tonight. EVERYBODY must be there. Those that can’t show up will die by my hand.” Brian nodded agreeing.
“That’s my leader.” He said, punching my shoulder before running off.
Now, for some investigating. I need to find out who that guy was. He most likely had no connection. Could just be some father. But I needed to make sure. I heard Uisnech cry out again through the door. Well, I don’t think I’m getting any homework done this weekend…GREAT! I thought to myself sulkingly. I looked down at my hand to notice I was still clutching those letters. Aivilo’s letter sat neatly on top, taughnting me. Well, this was neither the time nor the place to read it. God I missed her. I had hoped to go to the same school as her. That felt like so long ago. Like another lifetime even. It was her who had gotten me the rose necklace that I wore in the first place. What I wouldn’t do to have her here with me now…shaking the feeling off, I sat down beside the door, waiting to see how Uisnech was doing. Shifting through the letters, I decided to wait to read Aivilo’s when I could curl up some place privet. A letter from home, a few sales thingys, the school bulletin, and some letter from the government. Wait, a letter from the government?? I opened it, and removed the letter. It was in response to a paper I had written. In my Literature class, we had all written some paper for a contest. The paper was about why we ought to have “physics” work in the government. They might as well of said “freaks”. And I told them that. I explained why we weren’t that different, just a little more in tune. And so, if the government would like to higher capable person with training who just so happened to be a physic than I didn’t think it made much of a difference. I had to admit, I didn’t remember the paper all that well, it was one of those papers you wrote late at night just to have extra credit. And now apparently, I had won the grand prize. Although I was one of five. Wooptie-fucking-do?
Juls yanked open the door. I jumped up, refolding the letter and shoving the thought of the “grand prize” aside. “How-“
“He’s fine. I’ll walk him to his room in a minuet. I just came out here to hear what was said between you and Brian.”
“Oh, well there’s going to be a meeting tonight. I don’t know what good it’ll do us. We don’t even know WHO we’re fighting. But I want to at least know what we’ve got.”
“And Brian agreed? Amazing.”
“I know, Will Uisnech be able to make it? I could really use all of you at my back tonight.”
“Like I said, he’ll be fine. He needs a few hours of sleep. And lots more after the meeting. He’s a wreck emotionally. But he should be good for the meeting.”
“Good. Something’s going well at least. Tell him about the meeting. Same time, same place. Don’t be late.” I said, walking off. Now to find out whom that damn guy was…