Terra VanHaagan was just your "everyday Jane" till she ran into a strange group one Halloween night, Vampires. Climbing her to be their Messiah, she fallows them throwing aside her life in the light believeing that they were the "good guys." But the cruel intentions of the Vampire Consul were to turn the humans into their slaves and blood banks and destroying the group of good that fought against them. Will Terra help to bring the end of the world as we know it?
Chapter 1 :: Chapter 2 :: Chapter 3 :: Chapter 4 :: Chapter 5 :: Chapter 6
Chapter 1 the finding
"Catch yah later Sarah!" yelled Terra across the universities hallway.
"The party is four hours away. You coming?" Sarah yells after her.
"I′ll try! Depends on how late my class runs," she replies. "Later!"
"See yah there!" she yells but Terra doesn′t hear her.
It′s the early dusk on the eve of Halloween. The naked trees wrestling with the chilly winds and the leaves dancing around her feet, Terra fights her way to her Astronomy class at Kronberg University in California. Terra is a freshman and lives on campus with her two best friends Amelia Temple and Sarah Runyan.
Amelia is majoring in the Animation, art classes, and hoping for a minor in English and Sarah is working towards a major in Chemical Science and a Math minor. Knowing Terra since kindergarten back at Saint Katherine′s, she has always been a little strange but never thought she′d try to make a "living" off her interests. Her major will, hopefully, be Mythology and a minor in Astronomical Science.
After departing from Sarah, Terra, reading her notes as she walks to class, runs head long into a woman dropping all of her papers, "Oh my god," she moans looking down at the mess not giving heed to the person standing in front of her. "Now I′m going to seriously be late," she whines bending down to gather her things as the figure stands over her. She stands with the mess in her arms and looks up to see a rather sickly looking woman staring directly back into her eyes. She stood there for a few moments and finally spoke, "...Are you alright?"
"Yes... I am fine..." the woman replied drowsily through the slit of a mouth.
"Alright then... I′m sorry but I must go to my class now..." Terra explained still staring into the woman′s brown pools.
"Good... that′s where a young one should be..." the woman acknowledged and stepped aside.
"Well... Goodbye," Terra said and began walking again.
"No... only good evening," the woman murmured but Terra was already to far to have heard her.
"...Now class," Mr. Forman speaking in his usual monotone addressed them, "if we all wish to make it out of this class by nine o′clock, I recommend that we stop behaving like children in the fifth grade and be silent..." just then Terra opens the door and steps into the classroom.
"Hello Mr. Forman..." she mumbles.
"Miss VanHaagen, late as usual," he smirked evilly checking her name off.
"Sorry Mr. Forman," she mutters and walks to her seat and sinks into it hoping to become invisible as her face becomes a noticeable shade of red.
"Now, before I had been interrupted," he shot a glance at Terra who sat up and grinned at him, "...that if we were silent and took your notes that everyone should be able to pass this test and be out by nine o′clock," he begins to hand out the test answer sheets and booklets as a moan ripples threw the classroom, "Now if for some reason you can′t finish you can come in tomorrow but... if you only have 5 questions left don′t bother cause I′m sure you would fail or pass with or without them." He finishes passing out the test and watches everyone get situated, "begin."
Terra effortlessly opens the test booklet and turns the page and proceeds to read the first question, "What is the most awesome destructive force in the known universe?"
"Well that′s easy enough" Terra thought to herself scanning down the multiple choice answers for "Super Massive Black Hole."
She tore through the test like a wild fire in a forest and finished first in the class. As she walked up to put the test on Mr. Forman′s desk, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye, dusk falling over the campus and the moon rising to claim its night watch over the sleeping Earth. After placing the test on the desk she stood there looking at the full moon glowing its heavenly white light in the hazy purple sky. An overwhelming feeling of loneliness washed over her making her eyes mist over as she slowly walked to her seat and stared out the window.
After a moment or two, she takes a book out of her bag, dries her eyes and slumps back into the chair and opens Mythology of the Dark Ages to the chapter of Vampires. Knowing a little before hand she skipped the paragraphs about the "crazy Romanian Count" and looked at all the gothic artwork. "Boy, Amelia will love to see this..." she thought to herself tracing the figures in the pictures with her finger tips. "Dracula...." She became lost in her thoughts staring at the book, the world around her spinning into nothing leaving her in the dark, in the empty cold of nothing.
Looking around she found herself alone. She stood and began walking forward only finding that it′s a never-ending darkness. "Terra..." She spun around "Who′s there?!" she cried out not even hearing an echo in reply. "Terra... Terra... come home to us... home..." a distant voice called to her as she fell back to the light of the class room and the noise of the other students leaving. Gathering her things and cramming them in her book bag she hurries out into the cool crisp evening air. It was then 9:02 and she was an hour early for the party.
"Yes!" she exclaimed as she walked in the direction of her dorm, "I have time to get into my awesome costume." She goes into a sprint at the last stretch but out of the corner of her eye she could have sworn she saw someone down the hall before hers.
"Hello...?" she called out and walked backwards to look better down the hall noticing that all the lights in that hall where out.
She looks for a few seconds and then kept going being watched by a pale face up in the corner. Rounding the corner for her dorm she again runs into someone, knocking her back, the person catches her. It′s Conall Monroe the boy in the dorm next to hers.
"How many times do you do that in a day?" he teases her.
"Shut up," she snapped back as he smiled at her. He was a sophomore sharing a dorm with a junior named Rich but everyone just called him Smith.
"Why are you in such a rush huh?" he was still smirking at her and hadn′t let go.
"What′s it to you?" she asked gaining her balance back shaking his arm off her.
"I heard you coming down the hall for a second and..." he stopped cause she was looking at him oddly.
"You recognize my foot steps?" she asked a hint of snobbish tease in her voice as her eyebrow arched high making her forehead smooth.
"Well... its hard not to since you′re the only person that runs down the hall like a herd of elephants," he retorted his smile had died.
A noise of anger bursts from her as she pushes him out of the way to get to her door fumbling with her keys as fast as she can to get out of his eyes sight. He stares at her leaning against his doorframe, a look of irritation on his face as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. She opens the door and glances over at him still watching her and goes into the dorm throwing her bag down in frustration.
"Man! He′s always there!" she yells at the wall joining their dorms. A pound on it is the only response she receives.
As she walks further into the comfort of the small dorm, that really shouldn′t accommodate three people, she turns on the stereo that had Linkin′ Park whispering out of it. Turning the knob for the volume, the pictures on the wall begin to vibrate and more pounding from the other dorm comes threw. "Smith must be trying to sleep," she thought and turned it down a little.
She walks back to the two-person bedroom, Amelia slept on the futon in the living room, and dug threw her dresser. After she threw what she wanted on her bed she went to shower, brush her teeth, put her costume make-up on and changed.
She was wearing a deep red leather bodice with a black skirt that looks like it has just been stapled on under it by the way it draped unevenly around her legs with a long slit cut on either side. Fish net stalkings disappeared into her old faded black leather Doc Martins, which she always wore. Pinning her hair up making it look like a fountain of curls and checking to see if everything smelled alright, she headed to the door turning off the radio and grabbing a small purse shoveling her keys out of her book bag and exiting again to see Conall.
"Are you ever inside there?" she said as she started walking up next to him.
His eyebrow arched looking her over, "Steve′s costume party?"
"Yeah," she replied.
"You do know he only invited you and Sarah for your boobs right?" he said as his eyes glanced down and shot back up.
"No he didn′t, Amelia asked us to meet her there," she explained, "besides, like you wouldn′t." she smirked and poked him in the chest pushing him slightly out of her way and passed him.
He watched her turn the corner, her hair bouncing wildly. "No," he said to himself, "no I wouldn′t."
At half past two in the morning the party was down to Sarah, Terra, Amelia and hand full of people. The three left and as they walked complaining of pains in their legs, they decided to annoy others who were sleeping by singing like they were drunk and stumbling over each other.
Hearing the anticipated "shut ups" coming from strange dorms. They rounded the long hall to get to theirs. As Terra approached the dark hallway again she noticed this time there was a man standing there. He was tall, thin and in dark cloths. Just standing there staring forward at the opposite wall. She signaled for the others to be quiet as they walked by him. He stared at each of them as they past and they returned the silent glance. Finally he spoke just as they had cleared the hallway. "Which one of you is Terra VanHaagen," he asked in a clear eerie voice breaking through the sleeping air.
"Don′t answer," Sarah whispered, "We don′t know this guy and he looks to old to be a teacher."
"He must be a creepy janitor trying to get us in trouble," Amelia stated back.
He asked again in more of a growl now, "Which one of you ladies is Terra?"
This time the group froze hearing his soft footsteps approach them. They all turn around to see a gray skinned man with knotted brown greasy hair that fall half way down his brilliant blue eyes, you could hardly tell by his enormous pupils, which seemed to have sunk back into the sockets. His cloths, a blood red crushed velvet jacket, white ruffled shirt and black slacks, seemed to be mouth eaten. Terra stared at the clasp at the top of the shirt holding it shut. It looked like the head of a goblin with rubies as eyes. The sliver was tarnished, looking black, but the fangs of the goblin looked new, as the gleamed in the dim hallway light ad the lace ruffles made it as if a monster was peering through a wall of mist. He repeated himself standing over then looking down; a note of irritation grew in his voice not having been answered yet, "Which one of you is Terra."
She begun to raise her hand above her shoulder when Sarah pulled it back down but not in good time, it had caught his attention. His pale lips stretched into a smile looking down at her. He slowly turned back to the dark hallway and they could hear whispering as he turned and walked back with three others they didn′t see when they had pasted.
A little nervous now, the girls clustered closer together and slowly began to edge away. The four strangers, one being the odd woman Terra had ran into earlier in the evening, stood before them.
"The one on the right," said the man from before.
"I told you I found her," hissed the woman.
"Are you both sure?" asked a shorter man with raven black groomed hair his skin illuminated like a light in a pure black suit.
"How could she not be," protested the woman, "She looks exactly like Haliane!"
Having no clue what was going on the girls looked at each other and then at Terra as if to say, "what are they talking about?" Terra shrugged wide-eyed at them just as clueless.
The woman suddenly grabs Terra′s chin and turns her face back to the group, "Look at her cheek bones!" she was still persisting in whatever point she was trying to make, "The eyes, hair, granitite that the skin is... healthier... but that′s because of what she is!" her grip had started to hurt Terra′s face, "Get off me!" she yelled smacking her hand off. The woman just smiled and turned to the other group as if to say, "I told you so."
"Look," Terra began, "we are tired and sore and don′t wish to be fraternizing with... you creepy people ok? So go back to whatever party you were at and pick on another freshman." She turned to leave with the others when a small voice hummed, "Wait."
She turned back around, playing moody though truly nervous, putting her hand on her hip as an elegant woman emerged from behind the others. Terra looked her up and down quickly. She was in contrast to the others. She was in a long satin silver dress with a dark green cape over her shoulders; her amber hair framed her pale face and neck. Her gray eyes met Terra′s, with a plea she spoke again, "Will you help us Terra?"
"Do you need a gas station?" she asked hastily.
"No," the woman cooed and gave Terra a slight smile for the odd "human" humor, "We need you to save the Vampires from extinction."
Terra looked at the other two and they looked back at the woman, "Excuse me?" Sarah spoke up.
The woman looks at Sarah, as her smile grew warmer, "Your friend is the savior of the last Vampire clans."
"Vampires aren′t real," Sarah spoke in a know-it-all tone.
"Who says," the short man snapped at Sarah, which made her jump.
"Well... well..." she stammered, "There′s a disease that is similar to the tales of vampirism but that′s all it is, is a disease."
"Yeah that′s the excuse," growled the shorter man who had a noticeable scar on his neck, indented like a crater but in to thin lines.
Sarah fell silent which left both groups starting, or in Sarah′s case glaring sinisterly, at one another. The four were examining Terra and not as thoroughly the other two. After a few moments the odd ill looking woman broke the cold silences.
"Well?!" she barked impatiently.
Terra, Sarah and Amelia jumped in unison.
"Well what," Terra sighed cause she had forgotten the point of being up so late in the hallway talking to crazy looking people after a tiring evening.
"Will you help us?" she urged.
"I need proof," Terra smirked folding her arms.
The woman growl and moaned at the same time, "Damn younglings!"
"Alright," the short man smirked and shot Sarah a look, "Tomorrow night, in the quad and you come by yourself."
"Hell no," Amelia spat.
"Yes!" he yelled.
"No its quiet alright," the elegant woman cooed and smiled, "Just these two though."
"Fine," Terra replied flatly.
"At one a.m." the short men finished.
"Whatever," Sarah groaned and the short man and her exchanged looks full of heated hatred.
"One," Terra turns along with Amelia and she pulled Sarah down the hall and they turned out of the stranger′s sight and headed to their dorm. Conall was leaning his back against his door his head hung down as he slept.
"Stupid ass," Terra shakes him, "Get inside there!"
"Hmmumm?" he looks up one eye only half open rubbed his face and nodded. He turned the doorknob and fell into his room and kicked the door shut.
The three of them stumble into their room, Amelia instantly belly flopping on her bed without changing. Sarah and Terra walk back the change into their pajamas, wash their faces and claim in bed.
"Terra?" Sarah whispers trying not to wake Amelia.
"Yeah?" she replies not as concerned knowing Amelia can sleep threw an earthquake.
"Your not going to go tomorrow night are you?" she sounded like she was pleading with her.
"I don′t know.." she replied blatantly. "Me... a savior...? Is that possible...? And what was the daydream about...? ′Come home′...?" she thought to herself feeling anxious and eventually falls asleep.
Chapter 2 revelation
"Terra..." a woman calls her threw gray fog.
"What do you want!?" she screams back tired and raw from running into the infinity.
"Come home... choose the right path... home..." the woman′s voice beings to fade.
"No!" she yells but the woman doesn′t respond. "Come back please! I don′t understa..."
"Terra," Amelia whispers urgently her to wake up. "Terra..!"
"God Nanna..." Terra moans. "The bus won′t be here for another 30 minutes..."
"Terra!" she yells in her ear.
"Mel! Wha..." she′s looks around at her fellow art class students who were all fixated on her or sniggering to themselves.
"Hey freshman! Did Nanna pack you a lunch?" some guy yells from the back of the room.
Feeling something rise in her throat hindering her ability to speak, her mouth just flapped open and closed not a note flooding out. Then like a wave smashing against the rocks the dreaded moment had come... the class began to howl in Terra′s face. Seeing the pink radiate from her face she lowered her head and sunk down, down into her chair.
"Ms. VanHaagen," the art teacher, Mrs. Gillon, voice pieced coldly threw the laughter, "I′m glad my class is so easy for you. Would you like to finish it standing up? More of a challenge maybe?"
"No Mrs. Gillon," she says her face still hidden.
"Then finish your assignment. Everyone get quiet and back to work now!" she yelled and looked back to her computer.
After the chuckles drowned out the class went back to there paintings and Amelia started a note with Terra.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she scribbled down
"Didn′t sleep well," Terra wrote lazily rubbing her eyes.
"Your not going to meet those nuts at One o′clock are you?" Amelia hesitated at this question.
"Rather that then them finding our dorm wouldn′t you?" she wrote tartly in reply.
"I guess," Amelia whispered.
"Then one it is," Terra said and began to tint her red for the woman′s lip color. Over her shoulder she could hear what she supposed was mimicking of her doze, putting down her brush she reaches down into her bag pulling out her head set and puts Evanescence in skipping ahead to track three, My Immortal, and turns it up drowning out any other noise. She resumes her painting mouthing the lines.
She paints a woman in a dark forest, kneeing beneath a burnt tree. Her dress is something from a 1700 AD ball, torn and tattered. A trickle of shiny red blood trails down her face mingling with tears. Red stains are scattered threw her dress. Her hair has fallen out of an elegant bun shining with a liquid. On the trunk of the tree there is half of a red handprint above the crouching woman.
Amelia hit her to signal that it′s time to clean and pack up. She pulls her head phones off leaving them around her neck as she empties her tray and washes it in a line with the other students who′s faces where blurred as she brings herself out of her art daze. The bell rings as she reaches the sink and she still continues to take her time not having a period to go to, others rush around her.
"See yah Terra!" Amelia calls back to her as she runs out.
Terra waves to her as she begins to put her painting up to dry. She claims up the ladder awkwardly and pushes her canvas on her shelf. The ladder starts to wobble, losing her balance she falls backward and Smith, hand on her back, pushes her back forward.
"Not to keen on balance are we?" he teases her.
"Nah, never really had a use for it," she replies claiming down the ladder.
"How have you been kid?" he asks calmly, "You look tired."
"Yeah," she says unevenly, "Its those exams coming up."
"Those aren′t until December," he points this out.
"Exactly," she presses her answer before, "Better to start studying now then later."
"Right," he answers.
Terra moves across the room to her isle and starts to put it away when Smith takes over.
"Just checking in on you," he justifies his nosiness, "Be a shame to see a promising freshman to fall into the wrong group."
"Why care?" she grins at him.
"Cause I can," he pokes her stomach as more students filter into the class.
"Right," she picks up her bag getting out of the way of a boy, "Hey today all your doing is finishing the paintings."
"I could tell," he teases again.
"Yeah, see yah!" she says leaving the room.
Putting her stuff down in the dorm, Conall not being outside to watch her, she goes to take a shower to wash the paint off and get dressed for work. Slipping into her gothic wear for HotTopic, she pulls on her boots, grabs keys and leaves the dorm. Walking up the hallway she turns the corner and almost runs into Conall.
"Ha!" she points at him, "I was in and out of my dorm without you knowing."
"Sure," he looks at her and keeps walking.
"What was that?" she protests, "No cute little lecture today?"
"Ok," he turns around irritated, "Don′t stay out late tonight."
She arches her eyebrow, "That′s it?"
"That′s it," he turns back around and turns the corner.
Staring after him, she shrugs and continues walking to the student parking lot. Driving down the 210 to Pasadena in her convertible whipping her hair around, she watches the strangers she zooms past not one looking at the teenager with the loud music pouring out of her car speeding by them. "Am I really that invisible?" she thinks to herself as she pulls into the Pasadena Mall her tires screeches behind her.
After putting up the hood and locking the car she enters the back door to HotTopic. The room is always dark even not on Halloween but it was more festive to this holiday, the rubber bats and fake cobwebs. Putting her stuff in her locker, she walks out onto the floor, "Hey Allayne."
"Hey," she smiles from behind the small counter, "Roger just left so you′re timing is perfect."
"Rah," she says sarcastically.
"What′s up?" Allayne, being another good friend down the same hallway in school, knew something was up.
"Huh? Oh nothing," Terra dismissed it.
"Is it Conall again?" Allayne persisted meeting Terra at the counter door. She has bright red natural hair that reaches her waist, which isn′t hard considering she only reaches Terra′s, who is five foot eight, shoulders. Her crystal green eyes burned into Terra′s gray dismal ones.
"Yeeeeeeeeeeeah," she admitted trying to advert her gaze.
"Another Wicca lecture?" she moaned because it insulted her on his views on her religion.
"No," Terra replied, "There really wasn′t one today. He seemed agitated and only said ′Don′t stay out late.′ Like he was my father."
Allayne shrugs at Terra saying over her shoulder as a costumer walks in, "Boys."
The next few hours rolled by with only a few sells to the regular costumers buying the new patches and the drink Vamp and other nick knacks. At six o′clock Terra′s shift was over and she headed back to the campus for her English class.
Heading back to her dorm yawning from her class, kids were running by from dorm to dorm trick-or-treating, their older brother or sister with them. Having to fight her way down the hallway, she saw Smith in his old ROTC uniform passing out candy and threw some at her. Catching most of it she handed it to the kids that came to her dorm as she walked in and Sarah, in a witch costume, gave them more.
"There you go mister pirate. ′Bye!" Sarah shuts the door, "Man what a herd. Never got this many kids down my street."
"Yeah but they are cute," Amelia stepped forward in her elf costume for the next round.
"Annoying is more like it," Terra added her two-cents as she walked back to her room to change into the same outfit as the night before. The sounds of children yelling and crinkling candy wrappings were drowned out by the scary noise CD that was playing.
"Hey Terra!" Amelia yelled over a werewolf growling, "Your shift!"
"Right," she comes out and sits on the stool next to the candy and listens for the bell. Ding-dong. She gets pushing her vampire fangs into place and opens the door with the bowl in her hand and Smith stands there. "Did u eat the kids?" she asks awkwardly with her fangs.
"No," he says shortly, "Can I come in?"
"Yeah," she steps back putting the candy bowl down on the stool, "What′s up?"
"Conall′s an odd ball you know that and he was telling me about your in counter today and he′s just stressed," Smith tried to cover for his friend.
"Yeah like I am right?" she said sarcastically crossing her arms, "What does it matter? Why are you apologizing of him?"
"Well I was going to ask a favor," Smith began to explain.
"Its my candy shift," she jumped in.
"I put a note on your door that says out of candy," he brakes back in.
She just noticed that no one had been coming to the door, "What is it then?"
"He′s been moping all day and I thought as a Halloween prank you can come over and give him a lap dance," he continued, "He liked your get-up for some reason."
"No way," she protests firmly.
"Oh common," he pleads, "its just a prank."
"No," she looks down at her watch, its 9:30.
"Common," he persists, "There won′t be anyone in the room."
"Hell I don′t know if that′s better or worse! No!" she yells throwing her arms around.
"Fine," he gives in, "If you change your mind its only going to be the two of us in the dorm..."
"There′s only ever the two of you in there," she interrupts.
"Yeah well, if you change your mind," he opens the door and leaves. Terra takes the sign off the door and 2 groups of kids run over yelling "trick-or-treat" at the top of there lungs.
An hour and thirty minutes wear by and they each have done 5 shifts then stopped when Sarah looks at Terra, "Why don′t you go over and mess with his head?"
"Cause, that′s just... just..." Terra tried desperately to find the words for it.
"Oh you know you like him," Amelia jumps in smirking eating candy from a bag they saved for themselves.
"I do not," Terra calmly protests, "He′s annoying, creepy, smells kind of funny..."
"You′ve sniffed him?!" Sarah screeches.
"No!" Terra bellows and a pounding noise from the next dorm rattle Amelia′s framed works on the wall.
"Then how do you know?" Amelia teases her.
"Running into people all the time gives you a good waif of them," Terra groans remembering when he caught her and slightly blushes but neither for them can tell in the lighting.
"He′s pretty cute Terra," Amelia adds.
"So?" Terra replies with attitude.
"Don′t give me attitude Missy," at this Amelia hits Terra with a pillow from the futon.
"Oh no you didn′t," Terra laughs as she grabs a pillow and swings it back hitting Sarah in the face then Amelia on the head.
"Hey!" Sarah yells and hits Terra while an awaken pounding comes through.
"I know a better prank," grins Amelia.
The three of them set off to find the last amount of kids and payed the oldest in the group to grab the candy bowl and run with it before all the kids got candy from Conalls and Smiths dorm. Knowing they would only have a few seconds in the chasing time since both were in shape, they sat with the door cracked open waiting for the kids to do there thing.
"Trick-or-Treat!" they yelled.
Conall started passing around candy when the 12 year old grabs the bowl from his lose grip and runs like hell. Conall yells back at Smith and they both take off after the bowl while the little kids picked up as much candy as they could. The girls ran out of their dorm into Conall and Smiths with their pillows and couch round in their visitors′ room. Just then they came back muttering and yelling at the kids. As they sat down, Amelia closest to the light, switched it out and Sarah pulled the plug on the TV.
Conall and Smith jump up and the three girls yell and hit them with pillows just missing their punches. After three minutes Smith and Conall just stand there and listen to the girls laughing. Conall switches on the light and all three of them are on the floor crying.
"Ha," Conall says with Smith standing there laughing at them laughing.
"Oh... we... had... to...," Amelia gasps between her silent spasms.
Terra is the first to stand up and smiles at them, "We′re lucky you guys didn′t land a hit. Some of the stuff you were doing I bet could have killed us. Although," Terra lifts her skirt to show a red raw mark on her thigh, "Someone almost landed a hard kick."
"It was me," Conall said in a monotone.
Terra rubs her leg, "Well you guys have a good night." The other two raise still laughing and they all leave with their pillows dragging on the floor shutting the door behind them.
Smith chuckled.
"What?" Conall barked.
"Wasn′t what I had planned on but it works for me," he smiles at his friend who goes to turn on the TV.
"They′re annoying," Conall begins to reset the TV.
"You know you like her," Smith says.
"Who," Conall groans.
"Terra," Smith pokes.
"She′s the prophesized enemy. I can′t like her," Conall continues to reset the TV.
"Common Terra," Sarah whines, "Your not going to go for real are you?!"
"Like I told Amelia," Terra states as she pulls on her coat, "Rather this then them finding our dorm. Your welcome to come remember? So you can argue more."
"Well..." Sarah continued to whine, "I guess so on the first part..."
"Amelia," looks at her, "you coming?"
"... No," yawns, "I know you can handle yourself."
"Alright then," Terra looks down at her watch and it says 12:52 pm, "I will be fashionably late. They won′t be able to ambush me."
Both Amelia and Sarah wave to her as she leaves the dorm.
Sarah leans over to Amelia, "Should we tell someone?"
"Yeah," she replied, "And I know the perfect ones."
Terra enters the quad, her footsteps echoing off the trees and walls. A desolate breeze makes her skirt flutter around her legs in the empty stone circle sending a chill threw her. "Hello?" she called into the quivering shadows pulling her coat tighter around her.
"Your late," an unfamiliar voice rang threw the silence making Terra jump, "But alone so I guess its not a total loss." A trim man maybe three inches taller then Terra walks out from behind the bulletin board.
"Who are you?" she asked keeping her voice steady watching the man walk into a pool of light being poured from a lamp. His head was draped in a gold satin that flowed as he gilded closer.
"My name is Celary," his voice was as rich as cream as he bent to kiss Terra′s hand looking up at her with his bright aqua eyes, "And I was sent to wait with you while those who talked you into being here arrive. Some of us aren′t very organized."
Terra mouth opened, and like when she was laughed at in class, not a sound came out so not to look like too much of an idiot she shook her head vigorously in reply. Celary chuckled at her.
Thirty minutes later in complete silence, Terra had sat herself on one of the stone benches and progressed to lays flat on her back. "Umm... Where are they?" she asked breaking the silence.
"Well you can talk then?" he teased smiling down at her, "To be honest I don′t know. They should have been here by now."
Blushing as their eyes met she couldn′t suppress the monstrous yawn which she needed to used both of her hands to cover and rolling onto her side. Celary chuckled at her again.
"Oh god sorry," she said at the end of the yawn making her sound mannish as she laid back down flat on the bench.
"Well its rather late for any human to be up," he dismissed it sitting on the bench that passed her feet.
She sits up quickly leaning close eyeing him looking rather perturbed, "It just so happens I stay up till 4 in the morning with no problem on a free day. I just had work today."
He chuckles, "Forgive me Miss."
"Maybe later," she sits straight crossing her legs and her arms. Another few minutes slip by in silence when, "...So... are you... well all of you... real vampires?" Terra asks awkwardly.
"Yes," he replied simply looking over at her, "Do you have doubt?"
Giving him a "duh" expression, "Yeah, or I wouldn′t have asked."
He chuckles again, "Fair enough. How might I prove it?"
Terra thinks long and hard about something no one can do, "Ah, turn into a bat."
"That′s it?" Celary turns to her with a bored look, "Alright."
"This should be wonderful," Terra sits Indian style on the bench facing him expecting the joke to end. Celary closes his eyes as a dark red aura illuminates from him. Terra backs up a little watching him intensely. Rapidly, Celary′s body shrinks and a layer of membrane grows from his arms to his sides. Black fur sprouts everywhere and the now ten inch long Celary was swooping down at Terra repeatedly. Screaming from both fright of it happening and a bat dive-bombing her, Terra throws her arms in the air swing them madly trying to get rid of the rodent forgetting its Celary.
Getting up and running a distance from where she had sat, the bat landed on the bench and as fast he had changed into the bat, the bat changed back to the striking man he was.
"No way!" Terra screamed her eyes wide staring at him panting from her sprint.
Celary rises, "You saw it for yourself."
"But... but..." she started at him trying to find words as he walked towards her.
"Its late you should be getting to bed," Celary comforted, "Besides you said you have had a long day. I am truly sorry for making it longer then it should have been."
Snapping out of it looking up at him, "No! No... it was well spent time."
He chuckles at her still, "Common, I′ll walk you. Protect you from the weirdo′s."
"Oh," she replies swiftly, "You can protect me from yourself then?"
Celary slides one arm around her waist pulling her quickly to him and kisses her sweetly on her warm lips. Terra, being surprised, stands there with her eyes wide open as his cold lips press against hers.
Celary pulls away slowly, "Apparently, I can′t." He gazes with his liquid soft eyes into hers, reading them blank. "You have a boyfriend don′t you?" he asked dismally.
"No," Terra answers quickly her eyes still wide in surprise.
"Oh," Celary smiles slightly with a note of nervousness in his cool voice, "Let′s get heading to your room shall we."
"I... sure," Terra stammers and turn to walk back the way she came but not as alone this time.
Chapter 3 the beginning
"Common Conall," Sarah pleads.
"Why?" he yawns.
"She′s out there meeting weird people," Sarah states only getting a blank stare from Conall.
"She′s a big girl," he says, "I′m going to bed."
He shut the door in their faces and walked to his bed crashing on it miserable. "Why don′t they see I don′t care!" he moans into his pillow.
The girls′ walk back to their room, Sarah slightly more worried about the whole thing then Amelia. They go through the movie collection, put T2 in and go to change into their pajamas.
"Do you think Terra is alright?" Sarah says during the opening credits.
"I don′t know but I guess so," Amelia shrugs starting at the TV, "Remember when she beat up that fat gang guy in St. Katherine′s?"
"Yeah," Sarah smiles slightly and relaxes back in to the futon with Amelia.
Walking on the cold pavement of the hallways, Terra and Celary talk thoughtfully, their voices echoing off the bare pale yellow walls. Mainly Terra asking Celary tons of questions about the Vampire heritage and what her being "the savior" was all about.
"They never told you what exactly is going on?" he demanded shocked, "God, they pull that and stand you up. I′m sorry." She nodes silently pressing her last question, "Well, what they meant by ′save the Vampires from extinction′ is, well... ok, we are going to start from the beginning. Right now, during the night, there is a fight for survival between the Vampires and the Vampire hunters. The sad part is that they have Vampires on their side, you know the right hand of the devil get spared ploy. So they know and hunt us in all of our regular areas and where all of our sleeping places are. Its like a..."
"...Massacre..." Terra jumped in, her eyes completely fixated on Celary′s face.
"Yeah," he gazes back, "You know, for a Mortal, your pretty smart." He carefully removes a few obscure stands of hair from her face.
"Well," she clears her throat, "for the ′undead′, your pretty hot but I′m not..." he has kissed her again. Their lips slide against each other, the cold of his lips seeps threw Terra′s, enveloping her as the kiss deepens. The cold black consuming her but she′s not alone, there is someone already there waiting for her.
They stand there locked together for several minutes before separating. In those minutes his arms had found their way around her waist holding her close.
"What were we talking about?" she asked dazed.
"About the war," he steadily replied smiling down at her sweetly stroking her hair, "Will you help us?"
"Will you be there?" she asked promptly.
"Yes," he whispers into her ear pulling her closer.
"Then I will help how ever I can," she committed herself as they kiss again sealing her heart to the cause.
After saying their goodbyes, for fifteen minutes, Terra opens the door to her dorm finding Amelia and Sarah asleep on the couch with the TV softly glowing. Shaking her head to herself smiling happily and she turns off the TV set and covers them up. Picking up the bowl of popcorn she walks back to the tiny whole in the wall kitchen and sets it down continuing to her room.
Slipping out of her cloths into her pajamas and into bed, she closes her eyes and dreams of the next evening in Celary′s arms.
The rude buzzing of the alarm clock woke her up at 8:45 that morning. She rolls over and hits it hard with her fist generally pushing the off button. Falling out of her bed to the floor, she crawls to the sink in the kitchen and pulls herself upright. A faded purple color has grown under and around her eyes and she looks thinner then she used to. Sarah in her blue pajamas walks to the sink and grabs her toothbrush and puts paste on it.
"When did you get in last night," Sarah sighs putting her toothbrush in her mouth and walking away.
"Five forty-five," Terra yawns.
"′Ou ′an′t ′eep ′oing this," Sarah mumbles around her brush and foam, "It ′ill ′e the end of ′ou." She spits out her mouth full of foam, "It′s already been three weeks!"
"I have to help them," Terra argues, "We′ve had this conversation before and you think they are just cracked. Wouldn′t that make me cracked for believing them?"
Sarah didn′t reply the only noise in the room was the liquid crunching of her toothbrush. Amelia enters the room from going to take a shower in the co-ed bathrooms at the end of the hall, humming a bright tune and stopping as she passes the nook were the small kitchen is, "What′s up?" she asks raising her eyebrow at the two of them.
"Oh nothing," Terra spoke first with heavy sarcasm, "Sarah thinks I am the most mentally healthy person in the world!" Walking back to her bed she looks at the clock, hitting it to turn it off caved it in and it no longer works.
"Terra that′s the third clock..." moans Amelia.
"I know," she snaps. Grabbing her little bag with her bathroom stuff, juniper breeze scented soup etc., she left the dorm as fast as possible slamming the door shut behind her. She leans against it shaking with frustration and her overwhelming need for rest.
Pushing herself off the door with her fist, she walks unsteadily for the bathroom, her bag straps clutched in her hand dragging on the floor. Laughter of friend′s echo′s on the air as she gets closer to the door. She stretches out her arm the closer she gets to the door, her dirty cracked fingernails land the cool marble like wood first and drum lightly making a taping noise as the rest of her body catches up to push the door aside; just as she leans against it, it pulls away being replaced by two bodies. Her hand falls lightly onto Conalls bare chest and she looks up at him with her dull frail eyes.
"Whoa now!" Conall steps back not expecting anyone to be that close to the door least of all touching him, "Oh hey haven′t seen you in a while... are you ok?" he evaluates her with a concerned expression. Her hair is knotted and dirty, her eyes a dull gray with flame-like red veins engulfing the whites of her eyes and the skin around them is slightly puffy and purple. Her fuzzy maroon flannel pajamas look practically hung off her shoulders and hips, the rich color making her look even paler then she already is with the illusion of being translucent.
"I′m fine," replies darkly standing there her hand still on his chest.
"You sure?" Smith leans sideways to get a better look at her from behind Conall, "′Cause you don′t look so hot. Well you look hot but not healthy."
"Shut up man," Conall hits him in the stomach, Smith just laughs and walks around them back to their room. "What have you been up to?" he asks softly lifting her hand off his chest.
"Excuse me," staring blankly, almost through him, patiently waiting for him to step aside so she could enter the loud bathroom noticing her hand is captive.
"Oh," he moves aside guiding her into the room holding the door open so it doesn′t bump her afraid she′d fall to pieces. "So, you gonna tell me what you′ve been doing?"
"Nothing," she says now standing in the middle of the bathroom only because he still has her hand.
"Then why haven′t I seen you around?" he persists holding her hand securely.
"Work has been heavy," she replies hotly her eyes sparking it agitation at this point.
"Heavy enough to where you don′t eat right nor bathe?" he motions to her appearance.
"Maybe," she tries to pull her hand away but she′s so tired she can′t break free easily.
"I suggest you quit then or I will turn in the manager," he says with a concerned look.
"Don′t you dare," she twists her hand and pulls it free. He stares at her and she glares viciously back. "You′re always so noisy. You know they said humans would act like this."
"They? And aren′t you a human?" he asks now folding his arms and walking towards her to try and corner her but she won′t move.
She looks around somewhat nervously to the others in the bathroom and at the fact that she said that, "Eh... no one... what are you talking about, of course I am human. I just meant ′men′," she tries to cover herself.
"Terra...?" he holds her by the shoulders, "What′s going on?"
"I′m just stress out from studying," she pulls away clutching her bag tighter, her eyes darting around for an empty shower stall.
"Sarah has been telling Smith and I that you haven′t been come back to the dorm till late hours," he advanced more on her looking directly at her, her eyes looking everywhere but him, "Terra," he pleads, "Tell me."
Her face suddenly flushes red and she looks directly into his deep brown eyes, "Leave me alone." She growls at him pushing him away from her and walks around the left corner to find a shower.
"Terra!" he calls following her swiftly angered that she wouldn′t talk to him. His yell drew some attention to the confrontation and most of the bathroom has fallen silent except for the steady pour of water onto the white linoleum floor and the occasional shower singer.
"Look," she hollers over the breaking water, "I′m fine ok. Be happy with that!"
"You don′t look ok," he yells back, "You look half dead!"
"If you were doing what I do every night, you′d look like this too!" A few of the showers have gone off and heads stick out of the stalls.
"Maybe if you told me what you do every night I′d be able to sympathize!" Their voices echo off the tile walls caked in mist and steam.
"You want to know?!"
"Yes!"
Her bag hits the floor and she has lunged towards Conall, his eyes widen watching her close fast. Stepping back into a defense stance he mutters, "They found her..." She gets closer, her eyes as cold as icicles driving their sharp points into his stone face. A foot and a half from him she does a front flip to drive her feet into his gut but he lowers himself and blocks her feet with his arms. The force pushes him back ten inches from his starting point. Quickly she puts her hands flat on the floor and locks her feet around his neck to throw him over to the other side of the bathroom but he drops and kicks her hands out from under her having her body fall onto his.
She rolls off to the left and tries to smash his face with the heal of her foot but he rolls onto his stomach to the right. She springs to her feet and he tries a sweep kick but she does a back flip to avoid it. Landing back on her feet, he has risen and executes a spin kick nailing her in the upper chest sending her flying back across the bathroom floor, hitting her head against the wall. Conall walks over to her limp body, his steps echoing in the absolute silence. "Terra..." he says to himself bending down and gently strokes her cheek. He grabs her bag and picks her up and walks through the bathroom not looking at the gapping eyes that followed him.
"Whoa did ya′ll hook up in a shower?" Smith smirks at Conall entering the dorm with Terra in his arms.
"Not exactly," he replied stiffly and moves back to the bedroom to lay her on the bed. "She needs rest."
"Did she collapse?" Smith had fallowed behind him.
"No," Conall smirks, "she fought me and she′s pretty damn fast."
"She′s not ready if only 10 minutes into a fight and she out cold."
"Her head hit the wall," Conall explained.
Smith checks her pupils, "They still contract. Must have a hard scull."
"More like a thick headed."
"How long should we keep her here?"
"Till she wakes up of course."
"What about classes."
"Go, I′ll stay. I′d be the one she′d be mad at anyway." Smith pats him on the shoulder and leaves the room. "What am I going to do with you, you went the wrong way." Conall says to Terra and covers her up.
Night has fallen and Terra still hasn′t awakened. Smith has come back from all his classes, looks in on Terra and finds Conall asleep on the sofa. Smith kicks him, "She′s left..."
"What!?" Conall springs to his feet and bounds into the room to find she has rolled onto her side and uncovered her feet. He turns back and stands in the doorway frowning at Smith.
"What?" he says, "You deserve it for falling asleep anyway." Conall sighs and sits on the sofa hunching over putting his elbows on his knees. Smith joins him, "You haven′t failed. It′s her destiny anyway." He kicks his feet up on the coffee table and lounges into the couch.
"It′s not the destiny she deserves," Conall says looking down at his hands hunched over.
"Are you telling me you do care for her?" Smith smirks, "After all that on Halloween."
"You just had to wake me back up to this didn′t you," he moans in frustration, "I′m so sick of this pointless war. If they want this damn world they can have it. Theirs nothing to live for..."
Smith hits him in the side, "We are no where near losing. You have no reason to say that."
"They have her don′t they!" he shouts towards Smith slicing through the dead air.
"I don′t think they do," he replies calmly.
"Look at her," he jesters towards the doorway behind them, "She looks like a zombie. I don′t think she knew how to fight pervious to now and her speed?"
"So they have trained her," Smith says coolly with a dismissive wave of his hand, "She′s still human; heart, mind and soul."
"Still," Conalls voice whells with disgust, "She has chosen which side she truly is."
"If you say so man," Smith just blows him off, "Dude, pick a movie."
Picking up the list of their movies he made out of boredom this afternoon, both their attentions shift to the doorway of the bedroom because of soft thud noise from the room. They stand and walk quietly to the door and turn on the lights before entering.
"Turn it off!" yells Terra from the floor. She had rolled off the bed with the blanket wrapped around her waist. "Where the hell am I!"
Not responding to her first demand Smith enters the room and brings her to her feet, "I′m sure you could guess."
"Why am I in your room," she growls shading her eyes helping easy their adjustment to the bright light on the bed table.
"More like why did you attack me in the bathroom," Conall folds his arms in the doorway.
Terra eyes widen still shaded by her hand, "You wouldn′t leave me alone; like now!"
"You shouldn′t need to hide anything from m..." Conall stops him self quickly correcting it, "us. Your neighbors."
"Yes neighbors," she puts emphasis on the word, "and you′re a nosy one at that! What business is it of yours to snoop around in my activities."
"Where′d you learn to fight," Conall persists.
She removes her hand from blocking the light. The shadows it creates on her face makes her cold glare towards Conall seem vicious, "classes."
"At what, a night club?" he says with a cold face.
"Oh stop it," Smith interrupts, "all you two do is bicker like old hags!"
Both Conall and Terra′s silent fury turns on Smith as a deep growling breaks the silence and Terra′s face turns a bright shade of red.
"Was that..." Smith hesitated.
"Your stomach?" Conall finished.
"Umm... yeah?" Terra acknowledges.
Smith sighs, "When was the last time you ate woman?"
"Umm... well," Terra began to think, "almost two days ago?" She looks around at them both.
"Common," Smith says invitingly motioning to the denish TV room area, "We′ll get you some food."
"Why should we?" Conall protests, "Her dorm is just five feet away!"
"If you haven′t noticed genius she′s not fit to enough to walk," he motions to her clothes quivering caused by her body shaking from using all her strength to stand, "let alone stand there." He motions to Terra again to join them in the den.
Knowing Smith, Conall didn′t persist. He swiftly left the dorm to retrieve food for the three of them. Terra walks slowly and shakily towards the doorway to the den, Smith catching on extends an arm towards her to help steady her. She gladly accepts it by letting her upper body falling forward grasping his arm and her feet slowly catching up.
"Not eating is bad for yah kid," he points out.
"Nah I couldn′t tell," she replies sarcastically.
"Common smile," he begs slowly walking with her, "Haven′t seen that smile in ages."
"I guess not," she chuckles lightly with a small smile.
"Better but not the best," he points out and helps her sit on the couch.
"Thank you," she says.
Smith just indicates to forget it.
Muttering under his breath about how stupid they both are, Conall walks the main hallway to reach theirs with his arms full of sandwiches and drinks when he sees someone farther up the hallway. He quickens his pace to get closer; the man was in a black trench coat with glittering long blond hair.
"You lost man?" Conall asked loudly up the hall.
"No," the man coolly replied turn around to see who was talking to him.
Conall quickly looks him over and locks eyes with him. He′s clear blue eyes stared coldly into Conalls large brown ones, "Could I help you with something?"
"No," he replied calmly again.
"Ok then," Conall passes him and turns the corner of the hallway to his dorm and didn′t turn back to look at the man again. He could hear his steps lightly on the carpeted floor and turned to open his door watching him out of the corner of his eye before he entered his dorm, shutting and locking the door. "Well I guess you can stay for the night Terra." He says falsely chipper.
Startled she looks at him, "But I have tra...classes tonight."
"Well you need to eat first anyway," intervened Smith seeing the sparks already colliding.
"If you both insist," she sighs resting against the sofa. "I guess one night won′t kill me."
"Those classes will if you don′t stop," Conall says as her passes out the food and drinks, "I really didn′t know what to get you so I hope your ok with Mountain Dew and a cheese burger."
"Four-one-one," she said taking the food, "I eat anything." She hears Smith snicker slightly, "Shut up."
"Alright then," chuckles Conall, "mental note, easy to please."
"That′s what you think," she smirks and takes a drink of her Mountain Dew.
"Oh toast Conall," Smith says laughing, "Drop it man."
Terra slouches as she eats, her chin almost resting on her upper chest, "Oh ′o good!" she says with her mouth full. Conall and Smith laugh at her. "What?" she asks in a high-pitched squeal trying not to spit out her food.
"Nothing," Conall manages to speak evenly, "You wanna watch a movie?"
"Sure," she shrugs, "What you got?"
"Star Trek′s..." Smith starts to list off, "...and Anger Management." He ends.
Terra stares at them, "You guys are weird..."
"Dude," Conall protests, "The old Star Trek movies are classic."
"Yeah sure," Terra sounds falsely excited, "nerds."
"Oh thank you," Smith groans.
"Its not a bad thing," Terra quickly responds, "I′m one too. Rocky Horror Picture Show. Oh yeah, do that crazy time warp baby."
Conall and Smith look at her oddly. "Right..." they both mutter putting food in their mouths.
"So then...?" Smith trailed leaving an open space.
"Austin Powers 2," she chooses rolling her eyes. They place it in the DVD player and sit back, Smith left, Conall center and Terra against the right arm, comfortably eating. Half way through the film, Conall look over to check on her, Terra has fallen asleep again, her head rested on her arms up on the arm of the sofa. He nudges Smith chuckling softly and whispers, "Looks like we won this round."
Chapter 4 changing
"Oh my God!" Terra yelled waking Smith and Conall up.
"What? You crazy woman..." Smith groans for Conall to who is rolling over on the floor to look at Terra.
"It′s 10:30," they both looked at her blankly, "A.M.!"
"So?" Conall asked stretching.
"I′m going to kill you both when I know how to!" she jumps up turning into their bedroom and grabs her bathing things and leaves quickly hearing Conall and Smith laughing at her in the background. "They kept me there on purpose!" she mutters under her breath as she enters the bathroom and everyone that can see her stops what they are doing and moves out of her way.
After cleaning herself, which took two hours to get the majority of the dirt out and grooming, she head back for her room and notices Conall outside his door watching her.
Smirking and in a perky tone he greets her, "Hey, you sure seem like your old self again."
"Bite me," she snaps looks for her keys in the bag.
"Was that a request?" he questioned still smirking leaning against the wall next to her.
"Only if you want it to be," she smarts back and shakes her bag hearing the keys and begins to dig again.
"Oh so its good that I′m turned on now?" he chuckles some as she looks up at him.
Taking her keys out of her bag she gets very close to him, their skin almost touching. He can feel her breath against his lips and the heat radiating from her skin as she replies in a deep raspy voice, "Then you need a girl friend." And she turns and goes into her room.
"Hey!" Amelia yelled, "Where have you been?"
"Next door," Terra grumbled.
"Oh," Amelia processed and grins, "Got your freak on with Conall?"
"No," she answered flatly.
"Oh," Amelia held it as her spirit drained but then she brightened again, "Smith!?"
"Yuck, no." Terra made a face at her.
"Well then why weren′t you there?" Amelia asked becoming testy, "You have missed a lot of school. The Dean has been by twice and three notices have gone up! We had to assure them you hadn′t been kidnapped or something, though I am starting to wonder."
"I know, I know," she moans, "We were just... hanging out. Watching movies you know."
"Sure you were," Amelia says becoming absorbed by the TV as Terra walks back to the room to get dressed.
The day proceeded through classes and work, always the same, some teacher yelling at a rude junior or a costumer asking for the newest CD. Terra could only think of the night, training with Celary... in many ways. He was amazing. Knew everything about anything, which is possible being his age.
Nightfall came and her anxiousness growing for when she could close the store. 6:35... 7:29... time crept as slow, as slow as dust collects on a sarcophagus, as she sat behind the counter and yelled at a few kids trying to shop lift when a figure came to the counter.
"Terra," Celary spoke evenly.
She jumped out from her daydream, "Oh! Celary?! How did you find me?"
He smiles down at her his teeth exposed, "I asked a view friends of yours."
"Oh well then," she stood up pulling on her clothes nervously.
"Common," he said soothingly, "Close the store."
"Oh," she said losing herself looking into his warm aqua eyes, "I don′t know..."
"Common," he pleaded quietly gently taking her hand, "There are no customers and what are the odds your boss would come by?"
She squeaked slightly in protest but got lost in his eyes and leaned forward to kiss him over the counter. He took her face in his hands and kissed her. Ending the kiss pulling away he smirked seeing her rather dazed, "Where were you last night?" he asked rubbing her cheek softly, "I missed you."
"Oh I," she started slowly searching quickly for an excuse, "I just collapsed in one of my classes and was in the hospital all night. I guess training like a Vampire doesn′t work well for humans."
"No I guess not," he said softy relaxing his face.
"I guess I could close now," she said hurriedly to make up for the disappointment of the night before.
"Really?" he asked his eyes wide reflecting hope.
"Sure," she bounced as she squealed her reply, "Like you said, what′s the chance of my manager coming by?" He smiled back at her. "Watch the floor while I go get the stuff to put the gate down."
They exited the back way, thirty minutes before the mall was due to close. She slid into the tan leather drivers′ sit of her black Volkswagen Cabrio. He stood patiently outside the other door,
"What?" she looks over and presses the unlock button making sure it was open and rolls down the window.
"I could fly us," he says looking over the car.
"And leave my car here you got to be kidding me," she replies knowing this isn′t a safe area, "Get in the car." She pushes a button and gets up pushing the hood down.
"Why did you do that," he asks opening the door and sitting in the car, the seat crunching under him.
"I didn′t get a convertible to keep the top up," she answered putting the key into the ignition and starting the car. She was peeling out of her spot as the music reached its designated volume. Celary grabbed onto the door forced back into the chair by the sudden burst of momentum.
"Where are we going?!" she yells over the wind and music.
Celary forces himself up out of the seat, "To the Fort, on Clara Street!" he yelled back.
"Are you kidding?! There′s nothing but the old run down Williams castle up that hill! They don′t even have tours up there anymore!" she stated her hair whipping her in the face.
"And why exactly do you think that is my dear?!" he asked shielding his eyes from the spurts of light of the quickly passing street lamps.
She looked over at him not saying anything to the crude obviousness to the situation. She was heading right for Vampire central to meet the Elders. The oldest Vampires of there clans, the head council, she was going to meet them and be judged by them.
After twenty minutes, they pulled into the employee′s parking lot of the castle. They both stepped out of the car, Celary looked annoyed and harassed as Terra groomed herself to a state were she didn′t look like she had just gotten frisked.
"So," she said smiling at him and he managed a human look back, "How do we get in?"
Celary smoothed himself down somewhat and walks over to a drain in the floor next to a fence.
"Why can′t we just go through the door?" she points to it. He walks over and pushed her hand on it. She feels splinterous planks of wood that cover the door. "That and we don′t want to draw attention that this place is active."
"Oh..." she whispered and fallowed him back to the drain cradling her hand from almost being impaled on the door.
He lifts the drain grill and step back, "Hop on in."
She looks down into it, "Is anything there?"
"Maybe normal things," he says impatiently looking down into the hole, "rats, water, guards. Go." She looks at him and back into the blackness. "Look, do you trust me?"
"Yes," she looked up at him again.
He closes the distance between them with a few strides around the hole and pulls her close to him, "Then don′t worry," he crooned, "I′ll be right behind you."
Her eyelids fall halfway over her eyes watching his mouth closely and nods. The world around them fuzzed out. He leans down and she drinks of his ice-cold lips, drowning her.
"Come on now," he says in a harsher tone releasing her.
"Yeah," she smiles at him and squats down at the edge of the drain and hops down. The crash echoes down the long sewer pipe. Her shoes tangled in the thick slim that is no higher then 4 inches slowly trickling down the pipe.
"Oh this is nasty..." she groans and looks back up to Celery, "Hurry up! Its to dark for me to see!"
Celery′s feet slowly descended from the pavement into the sewer sliding the drain grill back into its rightful place. The moon and starlight flooding threw the slants as he glided down into the sludge.
She glares at him, "Cheater..."
He laughed at her with a laugh that didn′t echo, "Come my silly one." He wraps his arm around her waist to guide her threw the darkness, their feet fighting uphill against the sewer goo.
After a while they came to a ladder showered in dim light from another drain, which rungs were caked in the dry slim, and slowly, carefully she climbed, as he levitated up behind her slowly, out of the sewer. She pushed open the drain grill and it made a loud crash that reverberated off the walls. Her head popped up and she looked right at a guard′s foot that seemed to have just materialized out of nowhere.
She looked up slowly at him, "Uh... heh. Hi there."
He picked her up under the armpits and planted her on the floor, which she slides on because of her goo-covered shoes, "Who are you human and why are you here?" he growled.
"Um, him," she points back at the drain staring at the guard petrified.
He turned and looked into the drain and came back, "You lie there is no other."
"What?! No I′m not lying I swear," she began pleading her feet rooted to the floor. She gave her description of Celary and the guard began to look aggravated.
"There is no one here like that little girl," he looked her over at that point, "but while you′re here I am rather hungry..." he bares his teeth and his fangs extend. His eyes fog over, the pupil almost completely lost in the gray blue mist covering his formerly black eyes.
Terra′s face turned white as he began to advance towards her, "But... but..." her lips trembled as he grabbed a fist full of her hair and forced her head sideways exposing her creamy soft white skin, the vain on her neck pulsing rapidly making her skin vibrate. Then something snapped in Terra, "Let me go..." she spoke in the most level tone she could muster grabbing his arms and jumps up nailing him in the gut with both feet pushing as hard as she can without hurting her neck in the process.
The vampire, who had the wind knocked out of him from her attack, drops her onto the stone cold floor in the sludge from her shoes. Laughing comes from the sewer as she scrambles to her feet.
"Very good, very good," Celary flew threw the whole in the floor and landed without a sound in the floor. "Terra, charming one," he walks over and take her by the arm, her eyes scanning him wildly, "it was a test. To see if you were ready for this." She glares at him. "Oh common. It was a harmless joke. He wasn′t going to bite you."
"I would not have madam," the guard gasped filling his lungs painfully. He was tall, very tall, with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail. His outfit was tight black, slightly faded, leather with red trim; no sleeves and the breast was decorated with small iron studs neatly in rows around an embossed drawing of a phoenix in its flaming nest.
"It wasn′t funny..." her face turns red from the embarrassment and anger.
"Darling," Celary wraps his arms around her, "I′m sorry."
She stares up at him not smiling.
"I′m sorry," he repeats.
"Yeah ok," she shrugs, "but..."
"But what?" he asks as she turns her face away.
"...My clothes are dirty now..." she pouts.
Celary looks at her stunned then looks at her clothes. Her good black work pants and tank top are soaked with a green moldy looking liquid, "We′ll get you new clothes then before you meet Them." She still doesn′t move. "What′s wrong now?" he groans slightly.
"I don′t want to get the marble floor anymore dirty then I already have..." looks up at him still very red in the face.
Nicolai, the guard, looks at her oddly, "One of the servants will clean it madam. Don′t worry about it just get yourself clean for the Wisers."
She looks at him oddly, "Your really polite..."
"Its his heritage. I′ve tried to break him of it but he won′t," Celary grins, "Old habits die hard."
Nicolai bows to Terra, "I am a humble hunter madam from an old world."
"How old?" Terra jumps in.
"Four hundred and fifty-three," Celary sneers, "One hundred and one years older then me."
Terra′s jaw drops, "Now I feel like a baby...."
"Does that make him a cradle robber?" Nicolai smirks.
"Oh that′s eww..." Terra displays her disgust in an array of hand gestures and facial expressions.
Celary snickers, "There are some secrets and jokes you′re not ready to hear my dear. Come on, lets find you some other clothes." He leads her away with his arm around her waist again. She twists around to wave goodbye to Nicolai and he bows his goodbye.
"She′s here..." Nicolai says in quiet voice.
Celary takes Terra down threw the old castle attracting other vampires by her scent. Celary comes to a door and ushers her threw it into a dark room lit by a fire in the stone fireplace. On the wall opposite of the fireplace is a large open stone sarcophagus elevated on a stone base. Maroon velvet lines the inside of the dark gray stone. Lavish furs and pillows seem to over flow from it and seem to cascade down coating the cold stone floor. Drapes of more maroon velvet tumble down from the ceiling to the furs on the floor sectioning off the area the sarcophagus is in. Dark wood bookcases line the rest of the walls to the fireplace with the exception of a hole of a door leading to the closet and bathroom. The shelves of the bookcase are filled with old dusty volumes, novels and poems.
Celary pushes her in by the small of her back and shuts the door behind them, "Lets get you clean shall we?"
Terra stands in the middle of the room looking around at the stereotype room, "Ya think you took the Dracula roll seriously?"
"He was a great Vampire so I have heard," Celary crosses the floor taking off his coat and placing it on the edge of his sarcophagus.
"Dracula was real?" Terra looks at him in disbelieve.
"Why are you surprised?" Celary asks, "Vampires are now real to you, why shouldn′t he be?"
"I figured he would be like a bed time story for you guys," she tried to cover up he stupidity, "I mean it was written by a human wasn′t it?"
"No," he says coldly, "It was only published by mortals."
"Oh..." Terra turns pretending to look more at the room but really trying to hide the color of her face.
"Common we have to get you into new clothes," Celary plows on.
"You have girls clothes?" she turns around eyeing him.
"No but I can get you some if you tell me your size," he looks at her annoyed.
"Fourteen in pants and extra large in shirts," she smiles at him.
"Okay," he hurries past her to the door, "I′ll be back. Don′t go outside the room and don′t let anyone in."
"Why? What are they going to do? Drink my blood?" she teases and he just stares at her blankly, "Alright alright, geez."
"Go wash your hair in the bathroom," he point to the door behind her and leaves.
"′Go wash your hair′," she mimics and turns around to go into the bathroom. She enters the bathroom and shivers from the change in temperature difference in the rooms. The bathroom is ceiling to floor black marble. Candles on the walls are all the lights the room and it reflexes off the polished ceiling, walls and floor. The bathtub is an oval shape over seven feet long, four feet wide and two feet deep, all in black marble with silver faucet. Above the bath on the ceiling is a single mirror as long as the bathtub.
Terra stares up and the mirror, "Okay...?" she shrugs to herself and looks down at the faucet. There were three handles, "Cold? Hot? And?" she turns the one farthest to the left and a dark thick liquid pours into the bath. She turns the handle off and dips her fingers into the liquid and walks over to a candle, "...Blood..." she spreads the sticky liquid around her hand and gags slightly. Going back to the bath she reaches down into the blood to pull the drain. Figuring the handle to the far right is cold she turns it and washes her hand quickly.
She walks back over to the candle and picks one up and takes it back to the bath and put it on the rim so she can see when the blood has drained out. There is a door across from the one that leads into the bedroom, "Closet?" she walks over and opens it. She feels the inside wall for a light switch and finds one, "Dang probably the only one in here," she mumbles to herself trying to keep herself in the eerie silence. When she flips it on a dim light slowly illuminates the room and all the garments in it. In the far corner there is a small stack of black towels and washcloths. She grabs one of each and goes back into the bathroom turning out the light and closes the door.
Going back to the bathroom, leaving the closet open and its light on though it does little good, she looks into the bath and the water runs clean. She slowly turns the knob to turn the hot water on and puts her hand in it adjusting it temperature with the other hand till it′s how she likes. As the water fills the tub up, Terra takes her disgusting clothes off throwing them into a heap on the floor and puts her hair up in a messy bun on top of her head. She turns off the water and steps onto the bath. Sinking down into the pool of warm black, her mind clears, "To bad I have no real interpersonal dialogue ever." she says to herself in the deathly silence of the bathroom and the room beyond that. "What to say to the what was it that guy called them... oh god I can′t even remember his name... wait did they even tell me his name?"
"It was Nicolai," Celary′s voice comes from the ceiling.
Terra screams and jumps oddly in the water making it splash up into her face. She coughs, "How... when... did you come in?!" she submerges her whole body but her head into the water wiping the water out of her eyes.
"When you were in the closet," he jumps down from the ceiling only the sound of his clothes rustling ripples threw the air.
"Oh that′s great..." she mutters to herself.
"What?" he asks.
"I′m just... well... ok I′m self-conscious," she blurts out.
"Why?" he asks again.
"What do you mean why!?" she sits up more in the water exposing her shoulders, "You saw me! I′m over weight! I got fat rolls, love handles, pooch, jelly belly and all those other names!"
"I have no clue what you′re talking about," he sits on the edge of the tub and leans over to kiss her.
Kisses with him sitting up more exposing the top of her breasts to the air and slides back down quickly feeling the air on her skin, "Yeah that′s not going to work..."
He chuckles, "Can you blame me for trying? Your gorgeous."
"Whatever," she says turning her face away from him feeling all the blood in her body fill it. Quickly to change the topic, "So what did you bring me?"
"A dress," Celary stands up and stops, "That is alright isn′t it?"
"Yeah," she arches her eyebrow at him, "Why wouldn′t it be?"
"Well you said you are self-conscious so..." he starts.
"What kind of dress is it?" she interrupts.
Celary walks back out into the bedroom leaving the door open allowing the flickering fire light in, giving the room an orange tint varying in intensity as the fire flashes. Terra moves over to the edge of the bathtub and puts her arms up on the rim still hiding her chest very well. Celary comes back in with the dress. It is a long velvet gown with off the shoulder sleeves and low cut neckline. It is completely red with black trim around the top, the sleeves, in a thin "v" shape over her hips and along the bottom of the dress.
"It′s... it′s gorgeous," she stammers, "I bet it′s not in my size."
"A fifteen would fit you wouldn′t it?" he questioned.
"Yes..." she confirms, "Are you sure you want me to wear it?"
"You said it yourself. It is gorgeous," He sits on the rim of the bathtub and kisses her again, "And a gorgeous woman should wear it."
"Ok you go find her," she smiles at him joking.
"You need to stop that lovely one," he rubs her cheek softly with his icicle fingers, his face expressionless as he stares at her. She stares back into his eyes, her smile fading as her eyes glaze over, "You′ll wear it, won′t you?" his voice cold and flat, their eyes locked.
"Yes..." she says lifeless and shakes her head returning to normal, "What were we talking about?"
"How the Wisers will be stunned to see you in this," he smiles.
"Oh... yes," she smiles back, "Do you really think they will be ′stunned′?"
"Positive," he says and get up off the rim of the tub and puts the dress on the counter and leaves the bathroom, "Don′t take to long pretty one."
"I won′t," she grins watching him close the door.
Celary reclines in his coffin waiting for Terra to come out. Minutes pass and the door opens, Terra enters the room the fidgeting with the dress at her chest trying to pull it up more.
Celary stands and walks over to her, "Stop," he takes her hands and puts them at her sides. She smoothes the fabric over her hips as he fixes what she did to the top, "See what did I tell you, gorgeous."
She blushes, "Thank you."
"Careful," he warns her tilting her head up, "You′re going to put the dress to shame if you stay that shade." He bends to kiss her sweetly and she kisses with him.
She looks up at him, her heart pounding wildly. The thought of Conall holding her after she ran into him rushes to her mind. "No!" she thinks and shakes her head hard, "Celary is your boyfriend, not Conall."
He rubs her arms, "It′s ok," he reassures her, "Your nervous about meeting the Wisers, I know. I was the same way when I was first brought into the Community"
"What am I supposed to do when I meet them?" she asks.
"They will just ask you questions," he answers, "I don′t really know myself what they will do. You′re the granddaughter of one of the greatest leaders this coven has ever known."
"Granddaughter...?" she repeats.
"Yes," he says, "You are half Vampire Terra."
She stares at him blankly, "When was I going to know about this? Was my father a Vampire? Is that why I′m half? Who is my father? Is he here?" her questions poured out quickly.
"They will answer all of your questions," he tries to calm her down, "They know much more then I do about the whole situation."
"Situation?" her eyes widen, "Am I some sort of damned person and they want to kill me?!"
He chuckles, "No, not at all. They adore you."
"But they haven′t met me?" she arches her eyebrow.
"They know of the greatness you are to become," he states, "They will bow before you."
"Yeah right," she says skeptically.
Chapter 5 meeting
Celary watches Terra pace his room, the trail of her new dress fallowing her around, "Why wasn′t I told this before? Do you people think I would have liked to have know I was some freak before this?"
"Because it wasn′t time for you to know," he replies simply and looks at the clock on his wall, "Come now. It time."
"What?!" she shrieks, "Now?! How...why?" she plops down on the floor confused and frustrated.
"Terra," he says calmly trying to sooth her, "Come on lovely."
"But..." she holds her head, which feels like it′s going to explode from all the questions and the anger that no one told her anything.
Celary picks her up from under her arms and holds her, "Focus." He runs his fingers threw her hair smoothing it out. "I know this is all very unfair to you. That is why I told you about your father now so that you didn′t react worse in the meeting.
Terra′s only response is the slight nod of her head.
He tilts her head up, "You are strong. You can take anything they tell you."
"What else are they going to tell me?" she asks him exasperated.
"I don′t know," he says and frowns seeing the disbelieve in her eyes and says more firmly, "I don′t Terra."
"Fine just take me to them," she groans and her anger slowly rises as she speaks, "I′m human still so my minimal respect for them at the moment will be somewhat excused since I am supposed to know nothing anyways!"
"Calm down," he holds her still, "We aren′t going anywhere till you calm down."
"Good," she snaps, "I don′t want to meet them now anyway."
"Terra," growling slightly, "Be reasonable. If you miss this meeting everything will be thrown off."
"What?" she questions his statement.
"Nothing," he quickly replies.
"No," she pushes away from him, "What will be thrown off? What, again, don′t I know?"
"Go to the meeting and find out," he sasses her.
"Tell me and I′ll go," she replies.
"Fine then never know," he lays down in his sarcophagus.
"Grrr!" she opens the door and walks outside into the hallway and slams the door. She turns around to a wall of face′s and screams. "What the hell!?"
Celary opens the door and pulls her back in, his hand firmly gripped around her arm, "That wasn′t smart..." he says in as a slightly threat.
"Like they would have eaten me," she says full of sarcasm, "I am your ′precious savior′."
Celarys face changes just as Nicolai′s had but his eyes glowed an icy blue. Terra stared at him her mouth open a little. He advanced at her, "Savior or not," he roared in an odd voice, distorted in a way, unearthly, "your still food."
Terra backs away from him quickly and trips over her dress falling to the floor. He pounces on her pinning her down and she whimpers under him closing her eyes tight.
"It was a bad decision wasn′t it?" his hellish voice vibrates threw the room.
"Yes," she answered very quietly her voice trembling along with her body.
Celary smells her face and neck closely. His demon half thinking for him, for the kill. Terra opened her eyes and looked at his face, distorted by the damnation God had placed upon him. Holding her breath she stared into his empty eyes that seemed to bulge.
Celary held still over her, watching her stare at him. He change back to the striking man he was and stood up looking down at her. Terra slowly fallows him but carefully so she doesn′t tare the dress. She stands there still staring at him holding her head high and squaring her shoulders.
He looks down at her, "Your so... strong."
She looks at him oddly wanting to tell him to get his lips off her ass, "Take me to the Wisers... now." He walks over to the door and opens it for her. She steps out into the gawking crowd and Celary fallows her shutting it.
"We have called you here, Terra VanHaagen," a frail man at the top of a teared podium yelled down to her from under a spot light, "to discus your past and future should you decide to choose it."
Terra nods her head in reply, her face blank and head held high. She looked around the rest of the dimly lit room. There were eight other in the room besides herself and Celary kneeling behind her to the Wisers. She could barely see their faces in the dim light but she could see the elaborate collars on there capes.
"Over one-hundred years ago a very distinguished Vampire leader dead. She died after having a vision. The vision was about a final battle between Vampires and those who wish us extinct. The vision included a great warrior who led our Vampire clans into battle and assured victory. This warrior was not a Vampire though she was a child of one of our own. She was a half Vampire endowed with all our strengths.
"The Vampire who had the vision was our great Haliane. She was also your grandmother. You are the warrior she saw. We beg of you, help us save the last of the clans. Save The Community and the Vampire race."
Wonderful... I′m Blade without "the thirst", she thought. "And why haven′t you come to me and told me this sooner? Wouldn′t you agree that if I had known this at an earlier age you could have trained me better and I would be ready for this ′battle′?" Terra spoke evenly trying not to show her aggravation.
"We could not find you child," said the elegant woman from the hall in the college with a sweet smile.
"How couldn′t you find me? My grandparents haven′t moved and this place is in the same city as my home."
Celary cleared his throat behind her trying to remind her to be a little more humble before the Wisers.
Terra glared over her shoulder at him, her hands had curled into fists at her sides.
"The Alliance hid you from us," the frail man spoke again.
"Who is ′The Alliance′?" Terra asked.
"They are an organization of humans who are determined to eradicate Vampires," he explained locking eyes with Terra, "They have a few allied evil Vampires and they are guiding them to all of our fortresses. They know this location and are preparing their attack. In a few weeks they will come here and announce the battle."
Why announce it? Why not just attack? she asked herself knitting her eyebrow together staring back into the mans eyes. "What′s your name?"
"I am Shermal, Ancient of the Giovanni Clan," he sat up a little straighter in a jerky motion. Terra imagined his bones creaking.
"And what clan was this Haliane from?" Terra questioned him never letting his eyes go.
"The same," Shermal answered clearly, "She was my superior before her death."
"Who is my father?" her fists shook as she squeezed them tightly making her knuckles whitish green.
Celary cleared his through again.
"Shut up!" she turned and yelled at him her causing the blood in her veins already boiling to rush to her face as she turned back to the Wisers.
"I am Calenna, oldest Vampire in the consul and the Ancient of the Brujah Clan," the elegant woman rose causing her red hair to fall over her shoulders from between her head and the collar. She wore a black silk dress that made her look even grayer then she was. "Your father... child... was a bad Vampire. He did many evil things to humans and we couldn′t tolerate it anymore after her did that to your mother. We put him into exhale and he is presumed dead."
Dead? Before I could met him?! she thought frantically. "What was his name?" her voice was different, sad almost.
"Isidore," Calenna cooed sympathetically.
"Same, what′s it called... ′clan′?" Terra asked.
"Yes."
"Is this all you wanted me for?" Terra stood straight squaring her shoulders.
"We would like an answer," Calenna spread her arms wide signifying the others.
"May I request time to think?"
"Of course."
"You have twenty-four hours," Shermal barked.
Terra nodded and turned around and walked away. Celary bowed deeply to them and stood straight as he heard the door close.
"You know your charge," Shermal spoke down to him.
"I do," Celary answered.
"Don′t do anything stupid," growled Calenna, "We need her till the battle. After that you can do as you please."
"Understood," Celary bowed again and left them.
Celary enters his room to find the dress on the floor, "Terra?" he called and received no answer. He looked back into bathroom and her clothes were still there. He walked back into the room and she was lying in a ball inside his sarcophagus wearing one of his shirts. He takes off his boots and rises up into the air to float in next to her. She was asleep or he though she was. He moved her hair behind her ear and wrapped his arm around her. She shivered under his arm. "It will be ok," he whispered, "I won′t leave your side."
She opened her eyes, "I′m scared."
"Of what?" he asked softly and strokes her arm.
"Of up there now," she pointed up.
"No need," he said trying to sooth her.
"But those other people that are fighting against you, how will I know its them? They are human, how will I tell?"
"Does that mean you′ll help us?"
"I... don′t... know yet."
"What?!" Conall yelled as he approached the door. Sarah and Amelia were pounding on it with both of their fists. Conall opened the door and dodged their fists, "Jesus what?!"
They both began to answer and Conall couldn′t make any sense of it.
"Slow down and one at the time," he urged yelling over them letting them in the dorm.
"Terra is missing!" Sarah screeched.
"She hasn′t been back for 2 nights!" Amelia informed him.
"Should you be calling her grandparents and calling the police?" he looked at them blankly. Where has she gone now, he thought.
"We called her grandparents and asked if she was there and she′s not!" Sarah sobbed.
"I knew those people at Halloween were bad," Amelia scowled.
"Go to the Dean, not me," Conall advised and ushered them out shutting the door. He walked over the to telephone, picking it up and dialed a number. "Hey... we have a problem..."
Chapter 6 training
"No," Celary helped Terra up, "Kick, lunge, block, pivot, lunge."
Pants bending over with her hands on her knees, her sword on the floor, "What did I do?"
"Kick, lunge, lunge, pivot, block," he said not even breathing hard. He stands straight up and ready for the next round. He looks down at her. Her hair has fallen out of her bun and now soaked with sweat. "Lets... take a brake," he groans annoyed.
Terra falls onto her back and breaths deeply closing her eyes, "Its time for me to go back up there." She pants, "I have to close things so they don′t go looking for me."
"Yes," he agrees.
"I have to do it now," she continues, "In the daylight. So they see me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," she opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling.
"Then you better wash cause you stink," he smiles slightly down at her and holds a hand out to help her up.
She takes his hands and springs up, "Thanks a lot."
"You′ll get better," he put his hand on the small of her back guiding her out of the training area. "Your speed has improve dramatically over these last two days."
She smiled and walked with him briskly back to the room, "Are you sure my things will fit?"
"Yes," he smiles kindly and opens the door to the room, "Get in the shower."
She obeyed, agreeing to herself that she did smell. Bending down to start the water and switch it to shower Celary can up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "What do you think you are doing?" she stood up straight leaning against him slightly putting her arms over his.
"Just this," he nibbles on her ear slightly holding her tighter against him.
"Stop it," she giggles trying to get away but not really.
"But why?" he whispers in her ear and lets her go. "You have teased me so much, are you just going to hang me to dry?"
"Maybe," she smirked pushing him out of the bathroom.
"Alright," he chuckled closing the door behind him.
Terra shakes her head to herself and undresses climbing into the shower. Sliding her body under the curtain of water she looks up into the mirror and watches the water rush over her skin. "Have to go up there sometime," she said to herself.
Hurriedly, she finished washing herself and dried herself getting into the clothes she came here in, Celary sent them to get washed. She walked out into the main room, Celary was reading waiting for her.
"That didn′t take long," he smiled.
"I′m always the quickest in the shower," she informed him, "You have to get me back to my car. I don′t remember the way in the tunnels."
"Alright," he said putting his book down."
Sarah opened the door to the dorm and heard a loud thud, "Amelia?" she called out closing the door.
"Not really," came her answer.
"Terra?!" she exclaimed, "Oh my God Terra! Where have you been? The police are looking for you!"
"Well call them off," she said packing a box she got from someone down the hall, "I′m alive. Nothing to worry about."
"What are you doing?" Sarah stared blankly at the box.
"I′m washing my car," Terra answered coldly, "What′s it look like I′m doing."
"W-why?" Sarah stuttered shocked.
"I have dropped out," Terra stopping loading the box and looked at her, "It′s just to hard for me."
"No," she protested, "No, you′re with those people from Halloween. They have gotten you to join their cult or something! Terra! Don′t go with them!"
Walks over to her dresser and empties the last drawer, "I have returned all of my books already and quit Hottopic..."
"Terra!" Sarah yells grabbing her arm.
Terra pulled her arm away and with one hand she pushed Sarah across the room, "Leave me alone. Don′t go looking for me. Call off the police and just leave it be."
Sarah′s eyes watered at the pain of both the push and that her friend was just dropping everything for those freaks, "How can you just believe them!?"
"I believe them because you just flew across the room," Terra finished packing the box with clothes then goes into the living room and unplugs her stereo and brings it back. Putting it into the box she puts clothes all the way around it so not to get it damaged and turns back to pick out all of her cd′s.
"So what you think you have supernatural strength now?" Sarah has stood up and is hovering over the box, "Huh? Is that it? Did you get ′bit′?"
"Stop trying to interrogate me," she stuffs her cd′s in her backpack.
"Your insane!" Sarah screams.
"I thought you knew that," she says calmly to her friend staring coldly into her eyes, "Like mother like daughter." Terra puts her bag over her shoulder and lifts the box under her arm. Pushing past Sarah she leaves the dorm.
"You′re not going to be welcomed back!" Sarah screams after her, "Do you hear me! We don′t want loons in our dorm!" The front door slams.
Conall and Smith both stand at their door.
"Where ya goin′ sweetheart?" Smith asked calmly.
"Back to my grandparents," her voice pours out coldly.
"No use lying to us," Conall stated.
"Why′s it either of your business?" Terra spat.
"Can′t we be worried?" Smith put up his hands.
"Neither of you are really friends," Terra pointed out, "So why bother? Unless you had been looking forward to trying to bang me."
Conall′s face turned red, "Fine go! Your right, we really don′t give a shit!"
"See," Terra said triumphantly and walked by them.
"Terra," Smith used a tone she had never heard, "You are taking the wrong path." He gave his warning in the most hostile tone she had ever heard him use with her.
"I′ll take my chances," she answered him like he asked a question and turned the corner.
"Shit..." Conall muttered, "I guess I should have cared on Halloween." He kicked the wall leaving a hole the size of his foot and half of his calf.
"Oh yeah," Smith clapped for him, "that was smart."
"Don′t," Conall threatened.
"Common," Smith nodded, "We have to go."
"Yeah yeah," Conall groaned, "Got to tell the other hunters..."
They both turned into their dorm as Amelia turned the corner at a jog. Bursting threw the door to her dorm.
"Sarah!" Amelia called, "Sarah! Sarah! I just saw..." she stops seeing Sarah sitting on the bed looking at the naked bed next to hers with a silver key laying on it.
"I know..." Sarah replies her voice breaking.
"We failed..." Amelia mumbled.
"I know that too..."
"We have to call her grandparents."
"We will..."
"What the matter with you?"
"She already changed..."
"What do you mean?"
"She threw me cross the room with one hand."
"Yeah, and?"
"How much of her stuff do you see left?"
Amelia looked around.
"All of it was in that one box. She had gotten Smith and Conall to unload a box like that remember? She just hosted it under her arm like it was nothing."
"Common," Amelia ignored her babble, "We have to call her grandparents."
"And the police," Sarah stated, "We can′t have innocent people getting in the way of the Vampires."
Both their head turned to the window hearing a car peel out. They knew it was Terra by the music that was blasting.
"She always had a taste for speed didn′t she?" Smith asked no one.
"What I don′t understand is the music she would listen too," Conall said pulling on a jacket, "Common."
They both left their dorm and locked it.
"Ok, here it comes!" Terra called down the drain before dropping her box.
Nicolai caught it, "Alright Ms. Terra. I got it."
"Celary!" she called down again, "What should I do why my car?"
"That′s a good question," he paused and thought for a second, "Go sell it!"
"What?!" Terra screeched, "No way! I love my car!"
"You won′t need it once you have all your training!" he yelled.
"So?!" she protested.
"Sell it!"
"NO!"
"Umm," Nicolai broke in, "I can give it to my humans to watch. They won′t do anything to it I promise, I have tonight off so I can take it by."
"You know how to drive stick?" Terra asked.
"Well... I don′t know how to drive at all."
"You′re sure you don′t just want to sell it?" Celary persisted.
"No! No selly!" Terra yelled, "I′m sure Nicolai can figure it out."
"Fine," he said exasperated, "Get down here!"
"Alright," Terra sighed. She got up and walked back to her car and got her bag, shut the door, locked it. Walked back to the hole, "Look out bellow!" She jumped in spinning 180 degrees threw the hole and landed in the slush again. "I don′t know how I can clarify that I hate this place."
Nicolai chuckled and walked talking with her about the plans about getting her car to a safe house. Celary saying over his shoulder a few times that she should sell it only to get I horrible screeching noise in objection.
There reached the ladder that lead into the main hall. Terra climbed up first and pulled up the box, which was a little more difficult to fit threw this hole and the others fallowed up.
"Welcome to our world Ms. Terra," Nicolai bowed and walked away in another direction.
"See ya Nicolai," Terra waved after him.
"Common," Celary said softly behind her, "No we can start some serious training."
"Say what? It wasn′t ′serious′ before?" Terra mouth held open a little.
Celary chuckled slightly, "That was just warm up."
"I think I′m going to faint," she swayed on purpose.
"Common," Celary said and walked away.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, "I was just joking!" She chased after him with the box in her arms.
The day passed into darkness. Hours of training upon hours and no rest till the morning.
Nicolai passed the window that looking into a training room and watched them till dusk then walked in, "Terra your keys."
"Oh," Terra panted ducking Celary′s kick, "right."
"Can you get to them fighting me?" he smirked. He lunged at her with his sword and she blocked it, they fought across the room away from her jacket.
"Dammit Celary!" she yelled. She jumps up and flips over him and tried to run for her jacket but he did a sweep kick and tripped her. "Argh!"
"Your dead," he said softly on top of her with the tip of his sword against her back."
"Yeah yeah, now get off me." He lets her up and she walks across the room and gets her keys out, "Here!"
She throws them at Nicolai who catches them with one hand, "Alright then." He turns to leave.
"Take care of her!" she calls after him.
"I will," he assures her without turning around and walks out.
Celary flies at her his sword extended making her scream at the top of her lungs. He falls to the floor laughing.
"Don′t do that to me!" she shrieks and he continues laughing, "It not funny!"
"Smith, Monroe," a man spoke to them, "What happened."
"She moved out of the dorm Sir," Smith explained.
"Apparently to move in with The Enders," Conall fallowed.
"What?" questioned the man, "I thought you to where supposed to watch her and keep her away from them?"
"According to her friends it all took place in one nights meeting," Smith said, "And that night we slacked off."
"She had started showing change three days ago..." Conall started but the man interrupted.
"Three weeks after Halloween!?" he roared, "And you just noticed change in her!?"
"Hey we′re human," Smith smirks.
"This isn′t a laughing matter," the man said, "If they keep her and set her against us we will have to kill her!"
"And that′s my job," a girl stepped out behind them. She walked up to Conall and Smith. Able to look Conall dead in the eye, she shook his hand. She had long raven black hair and hazel eyes that glimmered gold in the light. Her skin is slightly darker then Conalls and she had a jeweled decoration centered slightly above her eyebrows.
"Boys," the man said unhappily, "Meet our savior."
"What?" Conall said turning to him, "Commander Reich?"
"Yeah," the man said. He and salt and pepper hair and was in good shape for how long he has been fighting the height of Smith with sharp steel eyes. "We have been training Doli here endlessly for the past year now. We thought she was the savior before we knew of Terra. She will be equal to Terra once both of there training is complete."
"There are two half breeds?" Smith asked.
"No," Reich countered, "She is the only human ever to live with only the Vampire dieses. She was bite over a year ago but the dirt bag didn′t come back to finish the job."
Doli turned her head and showed the hideous scar the Vampire left. Doli spoke softly looking into Conalls eyes "I was in the hospital for a year. They had to re-graph muscles and veins. If no one had found me I would have died in the alley."
"Sounds fun," Conall said staring back at her.
"Indeed," she confirmed noticing his dry sarcasm.
"All we can do now is train and wait for the day to come boys," Reich sighed.
"What?" Conall protested wrenching his eyes from Doli, "Why can′t we go get her!? She has to come up for food. I′m mean... there has to be something we can do!"
"Hey Monroe," Nicolai called to him.
Conall turned and caught what Nicolai tossed at him, "Volkswagen keys?"
"Terra′s," he walked closer to them. "She gave it to me to give to ′my human′s′ to watch."
"Oh thanks," Conall complained.
"All you have to do is put it in storage so stop your bitching," Nicolai shook his head.
"What′s happening down there?" Reich posed.
"She has moved in with Celary," he informed, "And they are currently going on there 3 night of training."
"God I hate that guy!" Conall hissed.
"No one likes him," Smith patted his friend on the back.
"Do you know the plan?" Reich persisted.
"Only as much as a guard should know," Nicolai replied.
"And that is?"
"She will train, then we′ll fight."
"God," Reich griped, "You have to get our mics. in farther. We need to know!"
"Yes Commander," Nicolai nodded and walked away.
"Where is he going?" Doli asked sounding irritated.
"To see his wife," Smith told her, "They don′t see each other much since he was a signed to watch the Enders 326 years ago."
"Oh," she signified she was listening but left.
"Goodbye to you too," Smith said to her back and cocked his eyebrow.
"What her problem?" Conall asked Commander Reich.
"She always moody..." Reich groaned, "It gives her an edge fighting though."
"Terra isn′t moody," Conall said softly.
Smith smiled at him.
"What?!" Conall saw him.
"Nothing..." Smith turned and started walking, "Common Conall we need to train too."
"What was that smile for!?" Conall walked along side him.
"Hey! did I dismiss you?!" Reich called after them and neither stopped. They just waved over their shoulders at him.
"Kids..." he muttered to himself, "But they are my Generals... bah." He turned and walked into another room.
"What are we going to do?" a woman′s voice asked Reich softly.
"First we need to settle Doli′s place with the Enders Marlene," he told her. Marlene was the second human commander for the Lightworks. Her hair was light brown with small strikes of gray threw it.
"I know but how are we going to save Terra?" she inquired sadly.
"If she doesn′t come on her own, we can′t," his voice was deep and horse in the silent little room. His eyes watched hers intensely, "Has anyone told you your eyes shined like star sapphires?"
She giggled lightly, "Yes. You have."
Terra falls on to the floor in the room. She looked up at the clock and its hands were pointing to 6:45 am. "Oh my God," she groaned, "We have been training for thritteen hours..."
"Yes we have," Celary started a bath, "And we will keep the same schedual."
"Um curious," Terra sat up, "Is there a cafeteria or something around here? I′m starved."
"Yes," he acknologed, "I′ll get you some food while you relax alright?"
"Thank you thank you thank you!" she got up to her feet and bounced over to him and hugs his waist.
He smiled down at her, "Remember relax. We don′t need your muscles getting stiff."
"I got it," she nodded insureing she understood.
"Alright I′ll be right back," Celary left swiftly.
Terra started to get undressed and wobbled a little. "Woah steady now," she said to herself and slipped into the tub.
The water was warm and soothing. She closed her eyes feeling every muscle in her body loosen. Celary came in and she didn′t hear him as she was starting to doze off. He slipped out of his training clothes and leaned over the tub wall and kissed her softly. Her lips formed a tired smile as she opened her eyes and wasn′t a bit surprise that he was naked.
"May I join you?" he asked softly.
"Yeah you can make sure I don′t fall asleep and drown," she moved over letting him slide down next to her.
"Oh I don′t think that will be a problem," he whispered into her ear wrapping his arms around her waist, "Your improvement rate is amazing. Your amazing."
She smiled and looked up at the mirror, "Wow..." She was lying alone with only the displacement of the water in the form of his body next to her.
"It′s the only way I can see myself, " he looked up as well.
"Like you have something to be worried about," she said feeling self-conscious. Without thinking she wrapped her arms around her stomach.
"What...? Oh..." he pulled her arms away, "You don′t need to do that. You′re beautiful. How many times must I tell you this?"
"Another zillion times," she smirked over her shoulder.
He kissed her sweetly, "I will, if it you will believe me after that."
She smiled and kissed him deeply and he returned the kiss. He turned her body told his and pulled her close. She jumped feeling him harden but he held her tighter. His lips left hers and traveled down her neck and her heart sped up more out of fear then excitement. He suckled on her skin as his hands traveled over her body. She drowns in his passion.
"I thought we could trust you two," Mr. Vanhaagen sighed over the receiver.
"Mr. V we tried," Sarah pleaded, "She didn′t listen! Its like she was a robot."
"She will come back to us in her own time," he sighed again, "I thought she′d be safe with you both."
"Its not our fault!" Sarah protested. This only man was trying to give her a guilt trip and she was starting to get upset.
"No its not," he said, "You to go to bed now. You both still have school."
"Bye," she hung up no waiting for him to answer, "God! And he wonders why Terra was always sneaking out."
"I′ll call the police and tell them to stop the search," Amelia found the piece of paper with the detective in change of Terra′s search.
"What will you tell them?"
"That she is back."
"What if they come to check?"
"They she has obviously moved out to study abroad."
"I guess..."
Terra woke up in the coffin with Celary′s arms around her. How did we end up here? she asked herself. They had made love. Terra′s first time. She thought about calling Sarah and Amelia but remembered what she had done. Her box was on the other side of the room half empty; her stereo and bag next to it.
Thinking more on last night she felt a pulsing threw her lower body and neck. Oh my god... she gasped and felt her neck. It was raw but not bitten. Sighing in relieve she looked up at the clock and it said 1:16 pm. She groaned and rolled over.
Celary stirred, "What′s wrong?"
"Oh I′m sorry," she whispered hoping not to wake him too much.
He strokes her hair and smiled sleepily at her, "Its alright. I know your not used to the change yet."
"No I′m not," she giggled slightly feeling his other hand rub her hip.
"Was I your first?"
"Was I bad?!" she panicked.
"No," he shook his head, "I was just wondering."
"Oh," she felt herself blush, "Yeah you were."
"I like it when you blush."
She giggled and blushed more.
He closed his eyes and began to doze off. He felt her moves closer pressing her body against his. He held her tightly.
"You gave me a monstrous hickey." She said flatly.
He burst out in laugher, "Try to sleep sweet one. You need your strength for later."
"Oooo more?"
He laughed again.
Watching his face relax into the pillows she leaned over and kissed him softly making him smile. Studying his face and neck intensely, she noticed a scar on his neck. I thought Vampire bites disappeared after someone has been turned. Licking her lips she leaned forward and bite him softly in that spot.
His body shivered against her and his eyes opened again, "That will not put either of us back to sleep."
His erection rubbed against her. "That′s the point," she smirked and giggled biting him again but harder.
A moan escaped his lips and he held her tighter against him, "Terra..." His manhood swelled more as she sucked on his neck. He slide one hand from her back into her hair, his fingers stroked her hair pressing her mouth harder into his neck. "Bite me..." he moaned.
Terra opened her jaw, pressed his flesh into her mouth and closed her teeth on his skin.
"Harder..."
She bit harder.
"Harder!" he groaned pushing her mouth onto his neck harder.
She felt his skin break. Salty cold blood trickled into her mouth. She tried to push away but he held her there. More blood filled her mouth and she gagged. Soon she would have to swallow it. She cringed as she gulped it down and gagged again. Not noticing it, he had been moaning the whole time and climaxed on her skin.
Shuttering in disgust she pushed herself away from his neck. His blood slowly streamed out of the several punctures her teeth had made. Celary lay in front of her panting with his eyes glazed over. What was fun about that? It was gross!? she thought and shuttered again.
His eyes focused on her and he smirks seeing blood still on her lips, "Come here."
She moved closer to him.