Nella held Lucy’s arm gently.
“Did he hurt you?” She asked.
Lucy shook her head. She knew that Kenneth would never hurt her. His anger had simply gotten the better part of him.
“He’s right you know,” Nella started, trying to convince her.
“I know,” Lucy said quietly, “but Agnes seemed so scared, and I think Evan loves her.”
“You found all that out in one night?” Nella asked skeptically.
“I observed them Nella!” Lucy defended herself, raising her voice a little.
“Okay… okay.” Nella smiled, raising her hands in submission, “but I think Kenneth loves you too.”
“I know.” Lucy replied simply.
“He doesn’t want to lose you again.” Nella said.
“I know all that,” Lucy groaned, “I don’t want to lose me too, but I just… I just can’t bring myself to sacrifice Agnes.”
Nella understood, vampires with souls sometimes had difficulties in doing certain cruel things that their soul –less counterparts found quite easy. Their consciences though not fully alive were still active and so they felt guilt more than the average vampire.
“I understand you Lucy,” Nella said, holding Lucy’s hands and looking into her eyes, “but you have to do it. If you don’t, we’ll all die or suffer fates worse than death.”
Lucy looked at Nella helplessly.
“You have to do it,” Nella said again, “one sacrifice for the good of all.”
Lucy knew what Nella was to do would not be easy, but she had to do it. If she didn’t, the lives of all the vampires in Darfalls and beyond would be in danger, and it would be because of her weakness.
“One sacrifice for the good of all.” Lucy said to Nella.
She had to do it, and she had decided that she would do it.
____________________
Agnes was walking along the road with Evan. The two talked about anything they could think of. They had known each other for only a year and they had become close friends.
“At least you’re back to normal.” Evan smiled. He was a reckless vampire, but Agnes made him want to rethink his actions before doing anything rash.
“And I have you to thank for that.” Agnes replied, smiling.
“You know, I think I know something that can make you feel even better.” Evan said.
“Another drink?” Agnes asked, “no thanks.”
“Not that kind of drink.” Evan said, smiling mischievously, “let’s go hunting tonight.”
Agnes was not very comfortable with the idea.
“I don’t think we should go.” She replied.
“Why?” Evan asked, “trust me it’s going to be fun.”
Agnes didn’t relish the idea of hunting humans.
“It just seems wrong.” She muttered .
Evan snorted.
“But it isn’t wrong to feed on them?” He asked sarcastically.
“That’s because we have to survive,” Agnes said, “not for fun.”
Evan looked at Agnes for a while. He didn’t know what to make of her sometimes.
Evan had a soul too but he didn’t always act like he had one.
“Agnes, we’re beasts,” he said, looking into her eyes, “nothing you do is going to change that.”
“So you’re just going to hunt an innocent person for fun?!” She yelled at him.
“You don’t have to shout.” Evan warned. A few people had turned to look at them.
Agnes had stopped walking and was now looking at Evan, anger in her eyes.
“Oh come on!” Evan groaned, rolling his eyes, “are we really going to fight over this?”
“Yes!” Agnes said.
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” Evan said, flashing his charming smile.
“You disgust me.” Agnes said and walked off.
Evan stood for a while, smiling oddly as she walked away. He had grown to love Agnes, and their petty fights only helped to strengthen that feeling.
He was not very sorry about the hunting issue, but he would go to apologise later, and then he would tell her what he really felt about her .
After standing there for a while, Evan went off to buy some flowers.
Nella arranged all the things she would need for the ritual. She knew that Lucy would get the vampire for the sacrifice at night but she had to be prepared before hand.
She heard a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” She asked.
“Kenneth.” Came the reply.
Nella walked to the door but as soon as her hand touched the doorknob, she froze.
Something was not right.
She just felt like something was wrong somewhere.
Nella tiptoed to a window and stole a look at Kenneth who was standing innocently outside.
All seemed normal but she noticed that he was not wearing his ring in broad daylight.
Nella gasped, there was no way a vampire would go around in the daytime not wearing any protection against sunlight. She came to a conclusion – the person outside was not Kenneth.
“Open the door Nella.” The person outside said again, his voice sounding threatening.
Lucy had been following Agnes throughout the day. She felt it would be right to familiarize herself with Agnes’s movements before even trying to kidnap her . Of course all she had to do would be to hypnotized Agnes but one could never be too careful.
She had heard Agnes and Evan talking about the hunt and so had decided that since Even would be away from her, it would be best to take Agnes at night.
She followed Agnes into a bar and sat at the far end of the place watching her discuss with some people she met there.
“Stalker.” Someone said to Lucy, startling her.
She swung around immediately.
It was Kenneth.
“I should say you have been stalking me.” Lucy said.
Kenneth sat on a chair across Lucy. He ran his hand through his hair.
“Lucy, I’m sorry about what happened earlier,” he apologized, “I didn’t mean to… I … I was just..”
“I know,” Lucy said, cutting him short, then she placed her hands on his, “I’ll do it Kenneth, I know I don’t have a choice – I have to.”
Kenneth sighed in relief, he was afraid to lose Lucy and this time he would not have any hope of getting her back.
“So when are we going to get her? ” Kenneth asked.
“It would be better if we did it tonight.” Lucy said, “I believe she’ll be alone then.”
Kenneth nodded in agreement and they both looked in Agnes’s direction.
Later that night Lucy and Kenneth went to Nella’s house. She answered the door but she seemed rather anxious.
“Are you okay?” Kenneth asked her.
“Of course,” Nella said, trying to smile.
“So are you ready?” Lucy asked her.
“Yes,” Nella replied, “I’ll go ahead and get the place ready while you guys get the girl.”
“You know the place?” Lucy asked Kenneth.
“No.” Kenneth replied.
Nella gave them the directions to the place where they were going to perform the ritual.
Kenneth nodded, staring at Nella.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Kenneth asked Nella again.
“I’m fine,” Nella said again, “you guys better get going.”
Kenneth and Lucy left the house and went straight to Agnes’ house.
Lucy knocked and soon, Agnes was smiling at them from the door.
“Hey guys.” She greeted.
“Hi Agnes.” Lucy said, trying to force a smile.
Lucy looked into Agnes’ eyes, trying to hypnotize her.
“Come with me.” Lucy said, her pupils dilating.
“Why?” Came Agnes’ reply.
Kenneth realized what had happened. Vampires could not hypnotize people they care about and it seemed that Lucy had begun to care about Agnes.
In a flash Agnes realized that Lucy had just tried to hypnotize her so she tried to dash inside and close the door. Kenneth was faster though as he pushed back he door with all of his strength while Lucy added her weight to the door.
Agnes couldn’t hold her ground against the two vampires and so she staggered backwards.
Kenneth swooped into the house and grabbed her by the neck while Lucy slammed the door shut and stood in front of her.
“Why are you doing this?!” Agnes screamed, her voice laden with fear.
“I’m sorry Agnes.” Lucy said and then landed Agnes a heavy blow on her head which rendered Agnes unconscious.
Just then, they heard a knock on the door.
“Agnes, it’s me, Evan.” Came Evan’s voice outside the house.