Blood Ties

Chapter 6: Nora Berry

Colette awoke to the smell of pancakes and eggs, rubbing her eyes as she sat up and looked around the room, temporarily forgetting where she was. The blonde yawned and got up to change her clothes, opting to go for a white blouse with little blue flowers, and black skinny jeans, complimented by a baby blue jacket.

When she was done changing and getting ready, she exited the room and heard Rosie laughing, along with the voice of someone new. Could it be Nora? She walked from the guest room into the kitchen, and saw Rosie at the stove, and the back of someone else with her.

The stranger had short brown hair that was shaved on one side, and was wearing a flannel jacket on top of some loose jeans. She was wearing a white tank top underneath the flannel, and when she turned around, Colette noted that her eyes were a dark crimson, almost black. Her skin was as pale as ivory.

“Hi …" The blonde began to speak, feeling a bit of shyness. The stranger smiled at her, getting up from her seat and holding a hand out. When Colette took it, she bowed her head, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

Colette's face turned pink as the stranger spoke, “So you're the girl that outed me to Rosie?" Her British accent was pretty strong, but that didn't deter Colette. She blushed even harder at the notion of being recognized in that way, frowning at herself.

“Yes," she finally answered, “But not on purpose. I'm sorry for doing that. I thought she knew already."

“Well, Colette. It's a pleasure to meet you, and no harm done. She was bound to find out eventually. I'm Nora Berry. And from what I understand, you're new to this whole … vampire's life, no?" said Nora as the duo sat next to each other.

Colette nodded. “It's been so hectic. Especially since … well … I got buried when I died."

Nora made a face. “That's tough. Did you dig yourself out?" she asked, taking a sip of orange juice from the glass that Rosie had given her.

“I did." Colette sighed softly, “And then I got chased by …" She lowered her voice, so Rosie wouldn't hear this. “A hunter. I don't know who they were." Nora raised a brow at that, lowering her voice to reply.

“You just turned and you're already being hunted? What did you DO, Colette?" Nora asked.

The blonde shrugged, looking a bit miserable. “I don't know," she said with a sigh, “But it must have been pretty bad, or I have a triplet somewhere."

Nora thought for a moment, looking her up and down before grabbing her phone and typing something in. Colette watched Rosie flip the pancakes over, and then come to the table with them.

“Good morning, Colette!" said Rosie with a smile. Colette waved her hand at her, hungrily eyeing the pancakes.

“Good morning, Rosie," she answered.

“I see you've met Nora Berry," Rosie said as she sat, stacking some pancakes onto a plate for each of them.

“I have," said Colette, saying thank you before spreading butter onto hers, watching the steam rise off the pancake plate.

“And did she flirt with you yet?" asked Rosie, teasingly. Nora laughed, shaking her head.

“Hey! I did no such thing except greet your lovely friend. It's not MY fault that she's cute," Nora said, with a wink towards Colette.

The blonde flushed pink again, shyly looking away as she took a bite of her pancakes. “Okay, okay! Thank you, by the way. I also think you're cute."

“Score one for Nora," said Nora, before stuffing pancakes into her face. Colette rolled her eyes, though she seemed amused more than annoyed by the brunette's forwardness.

After the three had consumed breakfast, Nora and Arienne did the dishes together. Nora asked her a few more questions, while they did so, water running over the pink and white floral plates.

“So do you know if anyone in your immediate family was a vampire?" asked Nora, as she dried the dishes before putting them back on the shelves.

“I have no idea," Colette explained, “My mother and father died when I was 2, and my twin and I were put into foster care. It was a robbery gone wrong. My grandparents live in France, so they couldn't take us in. And papa had no other living family members."

“That's terrible," said Nora, with a serious tone to her voice. “You poor thing. Say, what was your last name when you were human?"

“Villeneuvue. Why do you ask?" answered Colette, as she finished rinsing off the last of the dishes. She watched Nora as she dried her hands, and the brunette's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the answer to her question.

“Villeneuvue," she repeated, “And your name - your human one - was it Arienne?" Nora asked, slowly and quietly. She didn't want to startle the woman, but it seemed like she had despite her attempt to play it casual.

“How did you know that?" asked Colette, looking a little fearful. Nora inhaled softly, before she answered.

“Because you are not supposed to be a vampire. Your grandmother, Lady Agathe Gauthier, disowned your mother because she thought that she would produce human offspring. It was a huge affair inside of the court."

“What court? What are you talking about?" asked Colette, turning pale. Her mind raced with thoughts, as Nora explained further.

“The vampire court. It functions a little bit like one from medieval times, which is fitting because I think that was when it was founded. Anyways, there are several noble vampire houses … and your mother belonged to one of them. So if you're a vampire now, then that means …" Nora stopped talking to think, leaning back on the counter.

“What?" asked Colette, her voice wavering, “What does it mean?"

“It means that you're no dhampir, like a normal human and vampire would make. You're a newly awakened elite," Nora explained, running a hand through her short brown hair and messing up her bangs. “This complicates things."

“How so?" asked Colette, sure that if she still had a heartbeat, it would be racing right now. “What does that entail? Am I nobility, or something?" she asked, with a laugh.

“Well, you're not suddenly a princess, if that's what you're thinking. But you are a noblewoman. And if you've just awakened, well… you're going to have no idea how to use the power residing inside you."

Nora thought for a moment. “Tell you what? Why don't you and I go to my villa near here? We'll need to be alone for your training."

Colette stared at her a little blankly. “Training," she repeated, “Training in what, exactly?" She was apprehensive about all of this, but what choice did she really have? After all, there was a hunter after her. People knew who she was.

And worst of all, she had a feeling that Nora wasn't telling her everything she knew.

“How to use your gifts," Nora answered. “Haven't you noticed that when you use the right tone of voice, humans will do whatever you asked?"

Colette thought for a moment about her question, drumming her fingers against the countertop's underside. “... only recently."

“And haven't you noticed how you can sense where people are, no matter how many walls are between you, and them? Take Rosie for example – we can both tell that she's in the basement doing her laundry. Right? You can hear her heart beating. Her lungs are breathing. Her blood is flowing," said Nora, her dark eyes glinting.

“Your instincts are super sharp," she concluded, “A dhampir couldn't hunt nearly as well as an elite does."

“I …" Colette didn't know how to answer. Every part of what Nora had said was true, but she didn't want to believe it. “I guess … I do hear her blood and her lungs and her heartbeat, you're right."

“So, I offer again. Come to my villa. I'll show you everything you need to know." Nora smiled softly, but sadly. She knew that this must be a lot to take in, all at once.

“... alright. Okay, I will. Just - Let me say goodbye to Rosie," Colette conceded, her shoulders drooping.

“Oh, don't worry. You'll be able to see her again when it's all over. Humans and vampires are allowed to be friends, after all," Nora stated.

“But not lovers …" Colette said with a frown. “How bizarre."

After the goodbyes were said, Colette and Nora took her car and began their journey towards Nora's villa, not knowing that they were, once again, being watched.

But not by any assassin, this time. This time, it was far, far more personal.