The Pack Survives

[1] Celeste

    "CC!!! Where are you???" her mother yelled upstairs. The nickname given to her about a century ago that stuck like flies on s**t. 

    "UHHH, I am upstairs Mama!" she replied, uninterested. She is still treated like a child, and she quite literally has lived 500 years. It is a bit ridiculous. 

    "Well get to your father's office right away, it is urgent!" her mother yelled back. 

    She got up off her chair, stretching her arms out. She had been sitting at her desk for hours, working on training schedules for the clan's warriors. She had been in charge of them for the last 200 years. She spent a while before that traveling and trying to get her rage and thirst under control. Most newborn vampires needed that adjustment time, however she felt hers took a little longer than the average. 

    She left her room and began walking down the corridor. She heard a door creek followed by a hiss. Looking over, she saw Janice's door slam shut. It has been about 50 years since CC and Janice's current boyfriend hooked up. Not that Brad wasn't great in bed, and the feedings were amazing, but he was a weak warrior and that was an instant turn off. She dropped him right into Janice's arms after that and never looked back. Seems the same couldn't be said for her clan sister.     

    Arriving at the door to her father's office, she knocked and her father, Edmond, instructed her to enter. The office was old, shelves and shelves of mahogany wood littered with scrolls, clan history, history books on now defunct covens and wolf packs, and Goddess knows what else. The smell of the room brought about a calm to her, though. She spent many a nights in here with Papa crying about how strict her mother was, how she wanted more freedom. Typical new born things. 

    "Sit, Celeste." her father said. 

    She took a seat in the leather seat across from her father, her mother to her left. 

    "Celeste, the Lambertville Clan was attacked last night. We have scheduled our jet to take us to the home for clean up. I need you to gather your warriors and head out on the first flight. We have a investigator from the New Hope Coven there and a pack member from the Black Water Moon Pack. I want you to gather as much information as possible and your mother and I will follow in a day or two. Understood?" He said bluntly. 

    "Yes, Papa. And the clan members?" she asked.

    "There were no survivors." he replied, regret filling his eyes. 

    "I understand. I will call Clarence and Norah right away, we will head out immediately." she said getting up and kissing both of her parents on the cheek before leaving the office and grabbing her cell phone from her back pocket. She called both of her friends and relayed the message. By then the entire coven was being made aware of the m******e by her father and she ordered her warriors to get on the plane right away. She had a long flight ahead of her and wanted no delays. She was a bad ass among the clan warriors, being a female, and the leader's daughter was completely irrelevant. She earned her way to this position. Times like these absolutely proved it. 

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  Celeste POV

  The Lambertville home was our home, before we came out here to Vincenzo, Italy. Of course it's cliche that vampires are in Italy. Twilight did not help that much either. Fortunately for us, the cliche's help and hide us in plain sight. We are not effected by sun and we CERTAINLY do not shimmer in the sun. We can feed on animals if absolutely necessary, but we have our own blood banks and pay famously for those making the donations. We can and do still partake in live feedings, but for someone like me who is always on the road, it is not always feasible. 

    Another thing about us is each of us have a specialty. Some have more than others, it all depends on who turned you and the pureness of their blood line. Mine for instance, is the purest there is. The vampire gift is that of persuasion, being able to convince someone to do just about anything. Mainstream calls it 'Glamouring'. My family gift is being able to see someones entire life, thoughts and actions with just a touch. My personal gift, though growing up was a curse, is telekinesis. Being a newborn and having blood lust, or any disagreement for that matter, anything not nailed down was thrown across the room if I got upset enough. 

    I arrived at the runway, my town car driver helping me out of the car. 

    "Ma...ma'am, here you go. I will g..get your bags." he stammered. 

    "Thank you Fracois. Pleasure seeing you again." I replied with a sheepish smile. Either he was afraid I would kill him, or this leather suit was too much for him. On a mission I typically wore a pair of my leather combat boots, and a leather pants and shirt combination. The contrast of the black leather to my pale skin, long blonde hair and my eyes was enough to have any man drooling at my feet. I used to take much pleasure in that, in my younger years, but now not so much. Most of those I grew up with have been mated by now. Me, not even close. I feel cursed by the Moon Goddess.     

    I boarded the plane and heard a whistle from the back. Norah. My best friend. I smiled wide at her and practically flew into her arms.    

    "NORAH! My love! How was your mate-moon?" I said, pretending to gag. She had just been mated and took a vacation with her husband. 

    "CC shut up! Don't be like that please! And do NOT cross your crazy eyes at me! It was wonderful, honestly, I am sad to be away, but pleased to be back to work. I was getting a little sick of being treated like a soft footed princess. As if I am not part of this team? As if I haven't punched more people than he has? UGH!" She replied. Now it was her pretending to puke. 

    I laughed out loud. I absolutely missed her. I was looking forward to this trip with her, even though the circumstances were the worst. Clarence arrived shortly after and we were ready for take off.

    15 hours later, we landed at the Lehigh Valley International Airport. From there it was a 30 minute drive south, down the beautiful Deleware River, through the mountains, to my first vampiric home. I sighed, trying to expel my feelings now, before we arrived. I new we had a coven member there to help us and a pack member, but I didn't want anyone to see me falter. I am the daughter of the clan leader, yes, but I am the leader of the warriors. I can not be caught sniffling or wiping tears away.

    Norah looked at me, knowing my thoughts without having to touch my hand. She knew my heart. 

    "Lets do this CC. Put on your big girl panties, hmm?" she said, cracking a smile. 

    "What, and change out of these sexy panties? I think not!" I replied, both of us cracking up. 

    The driver turned into the driveway, and our laughing stopped immediatley. Where once stood a 30 room home, now lay smoldering ruins. The fire department  had clearly done all they could, but over 1,000 years of history and memories up in smoke. 

    We went rigid. This was the Hunters. No question. 

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