I rushed back to our suite. I had heard Alpha Andrés receive the call and drive off. I couldn’t believe what I had heard. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I did.
I barged into the room and heard low murmurs coming in from the bedroom. Those two were talking discreetly again. I entered the room cautiously, not wanting to break any serene environment. The stopped to look at me when I entered the room.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Jake.
He just nodded. I noted that they held hands as she sat on the bed and he lay down.
“Dad is coming.” I said.
Jake looked at me with wide eyes but remained silent like he didn’t know what I was talking about.
“Who?” He asked, blinking rapidly.
“Dad…” I said excitedly. “My Dad and your dad. I heard Alpha Andrés talking with them. He just went to pick them up from the airport.”
The weakness left his body with surprising speed. He pivoted around the bed. “How long has he been gone? How long do you think it’ll take.”
“15, maybe 20 minutes.” Elsa said slowly. She was yet to understand what was happening.
“There’s little time.” He rushed to the bathroom and we heard water rushing from the tap.
“What is wrong with him.” She asked, turning to me slowly.
I shrugged to say I had no idea.
Maybe I had a little idea but I didn’t want to speak to her much. I didn’t want ro admit it but I was hurt.
I started to say. “I, um… I –”
Jake walked it just then. He had washed his face and patted his hair down with water. He came out towelling his face and smiling. “Now, I’m ready to meet them. Let’s go. Shall we?” He took Elsa’s hand and walked out. I walked behind them, glumly.
THE SUN IS going down. Nina had come again and gave them some fast food.
They eyed her warily. She seemed happier than usual.
“Why are they feeding us?” Zach had asked, while munching on the burrito she had given them.
“Because,” Mart had said. “They want us fattened with enough blood for sucking.”
Zach went white.
Mart and Jeff laughed.
“I’m just joking, Zach. It’s because Vampires are kind and nice.” Mart said dryly.
“They are not!”
“It’s because they want to have a good show tonight. They want us strong. Strong enough to tear each other apart.” Billy said. He was picking at the burrito in his hand.
“Well, you’d better eat, then.” Arthur said quietly.
Sun went down pretty fast by this time of the year. Soon everywhere was pitch black and cold wind drifted in and put of the cell. They heard footsteps come down the passageway. But it was Ellie.
“Hello fellas.” He said with a wide grin on his face. “Miss me?”
“You’re going to kill us.” Zach said.
“Well… yes. In a way. But its you guys that will be doing the killing. Tonight.” He laughed, loud and long. “Just wait.”
The huddled together, silently eating their burritos and thinking of what the night might bring them. They heard Ellie’s faded steps.
“We’re going to die.” Jeff muttered.
“We are not going to die.” Billy said, firmly.
The moon started its journey pretty fast. It shone bright and round. The pull to shift was not as strong as the day before. They had it under control.
Just before it reached the midnight mark, Faint footsteps and flickering shadows were visible on the rough wall.
Billy and Arthur got to their feet as some people holding fire torches approached.
The small company comprised of Rosetta. She had a flush to her cheek and a slight bounce to her step. Ellie and Nina who were both grinning foolishly. A slight man with a long hair with his packed in a ponytail and sported a goatee. Two other minor Vampires, holding the torches. And Sofia. The witch Sofia. Her red hair caught the light of the fire and glinted.
“Start it.” Rosetta said to Sofia. “Brother. Clyde. Come stand by my side for a better view.”
The smallish man smile widely, showing gold molars at the back of his mouth and then came to stand beside Rosetta.
The red head Sofia walked up to the gate and waved her hands. The padlock snapped open and she walked in. Her face had changed from the soft features from the afternoon. Now, the fire torch made shadows flicker across her face, giving it a strong and quite harsh look. The shadows highlighted her cheek bones.
She was muttering some words in Latin. She held a small bowl that was steaming and walked into the room. The boys were looking at her. Zach looked like he was going to cry.
She handed the bowl to Arthur, who was standing beside her.
“I’m not going to take it.” He said, looking at Rosetta.
“Yes you will, boy.” She said, quietly. “Not unless you want me to come in there and behead you.”
“What is it?” He asked, looking at Rosetta.
She didn’t say anything. Her eyes went eerily white and she kept muttering Latin.
“DRINK!” Rosetta yelled from outside.
Arthur put the steaming bowl to his mouth and took a gulp. Surprisingly, the liquid was cool on the tongue.
“Now pass it to the others.”
He gave it to Billy who stood beside him. Billy drank it, not a big mouthful. Then Jeff, and then Mart and Zach, who took it with a small whimpering.
Sofia took the remaining drink and spilled it on the floor. The drink erupted in bright flames.
“It’s a good show, isn’t it?” Rosetta asked her brother, Clyde with childish glee.
“It is, my dear.”
Sofia drifted out of the room and the gate banged shut. The five boys were inside, standing and lost. Not knowing what to do and brightly illuminated by the fire from the spilled drink.
“When is it supposed to start?” Rosetta asked Sofia.
“Anytime soon.” Sofia said in a husky voice.
Zach knees gave way and he just sat down back on the dirt floor.
“Is it starting?” Clyde asked.
“Is what starting?” Nina asked, frowning. “What are we supposed to be watching here?”
“They are supposed to shift involuntarily and well, tear each other apart. The drink is supposed to stimulate them.” Rosetta answered, glaring at Sofia, who just stood relaxed.
“Nothing is happening, Sofia.” Clyde said, angrily.
“it seems so. I wonder what is wrong.” Sofia said.
Rosetta grabbed Sofia by the left shoulder and spun her around. “Do something stronger to them.”
“Anything stronger would kill them.”
“They were still going to die, aren’t they?” Clyde asked.
“Give. Them. Something. Stronger.” Rosetta said, punctuating each word by stepping closer.
Sofia gave a stare at Rosetta and murmured a word and all the Vampires went down, groaning and clutching their ears, trying to close from a sound only them can hear.
“Please. Stop.” Ellie groaned.
She did not. Blood seeped from Clyde’s ears before she relented and released them.
Clyde was on fours. “That’s it. I’m out of here.” He got up shakily. “I’m not spending another minute with a crazy but powerful witch in an enclosed space.” He stalked out.
“What was that for?” Rosetta asked, using a linen handkerchief to wipe her ears and side of her face where the blood had dripped to.
“To remind you that I don’t take orders from you. You seem to have forgotten who I am.”
“I just wanted to have some fun and watch something interesting that’s all.”
“It would seem like the boys are immune to my potion.” Sofia said, glancing at the boys briefly. “Jamie does a hell of a job on his pups. You said they resisted shifting on a full moon?” She looked at Rosetta and Nina.
“Yes.” Nina nodded.
“Well, can’t you bring a stronger stuff tomorrow?” Rosetta whined.
“Tomorrow is not going to be a full moon.” Sofia said. She snapped her fingers and the fire burning inside the cell and the torches disappeared, plunging them into darkness. “Till next month.”
“You’ll bring something stronger next full moon?”
Sofia didn’t answer for a while as she packed her robe around her. Then she said, “Yes.”
“Great.”
“Make sure the boys are fed properly for the potion to have maximum effect.” Sofia said.
“Nina, that’s on you.” Rosetta turned to Nina.
“You expect me to babysit and cook for these ones for a whole month again?” Nina asked.
“Would you prefer I trust this assignment to another person?” Rosetta asked. Her eyes glinted maliciously in the moonlight. Nina shook her head.
“Good.” Rosetta nodded and turned away. “Besides, who said anything about cooking, dummy?”
“I’ll be going now.” Sofia said. Then she walked away. Just as she was about to go, she gave the most secret wink ever recorded in human history to Billy.
“Crazy old witch.” Nina muttered.
“You don’t want her hearing you.” Rosetta said, stalking off.
Nina huffed and rolled her eyes. “I guess you boys are stuck with me for another month. Are you not just happy for that?”
“COME ERE, BOYO!” The big man waved me over. He had walked in with Alpha Jamie and my Dad. The man was very familiar but I just couldn’t place the face. I must have seen him when I was very little.
When Dad had walked through the door, I had a sudden urge to run and leap at him like i used to do when I was Harry’s age. But even if i could still do it regardless of my age, I certain wouldn’t do it in front of all these people staring at the newcomers.
Dad regarded me with cool eyes as I walked to the big man. I outstretched my right hand for a shake, which he took. His huge laws swallowed my whole palm and he laughed loud and pulled me into a big hug.
“So gentlemanly. So much like an English boy. You don’t remember your uncle Jaja?” He said. Then he turned to Jake. “You too, boy. Come here!” He pulled Jake into an even tighter hug.
I shook hands with Alpha Jamie, who looked quite relieved to have found us alive. Then I walked to dad. I had no idea what I’ll do when I met him. It didn’t seem quite right to shake your father, but when I got meat him and his scent enveloped me, I locked my arms around his waists and held tight.
Unshed tears stung my eyes as I felt his hand patting me on back.
“Go pack your things. We’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”
I turned and walked back into the hallway. Jake and Elsa followed me. We entered our suite and then realized that we didn’t come with anything, so we didn’t have anything to pack.
“Good bye, Elsa.” Jake said. She hugged him tight and kissed him on the cheek.
Then she turned to me. Her eyes were red with tears that she was trying to hold back.
“Don’t cry. I’ll make sure we come visiting one of this –”
She pressed her lips to mine and locked it. Her arms went round my neck and I didn’t know what to do with mine so I just wrapped it around her waist and held her close.
Then she broke free and said, “Don’t want to keep your Dads waiting.”
I surely wanted to keep our Dads waiting but I just nodded lamely and walked out with Jake.