Turned

Chapter Nine.

Dusseldorf, Germany.       

Hamish could not take his eyes off the train, mouth agape as he examined it, books falling from his arms as he took in its massive structure. I patted him on the back when I passed, drawing him out of his mesmerized daze and back to reality. He quickly bent to scoop up his books and hurried after the rest of us, calling out for us to slow down. I was dressed in my usual attire that consisted of a pair of brown pants that hugged my legs, a pair of black leather boots that were laced up and reached my knees. This was paired with a black corset and brown belt with a white under shirt, my black trench coat and brown cowboy styled hat. My hands were stuffed into the pockets of my coat as I stepped up beside Graham, dressed in some of Xavier’s old clothes. He wore black trousers, a grey long sleeve shirt and a brown coat with pointed brown shoes. He was glancing around at the surrounding area that was filled with people bustling about “It is not use to try and escape” I randomly said, my eyes locked onto a young woman scolding her son near the side of the train. Graham had been plotting his escape ever since we boarded the ferry for Germany from England. The way he surveyed his surroundings made it obvious that he was up to something “And why is that? There are plenty of people and enough distractions” Graham asked, glancing back at Hamish who was too submerged in the sight of the train to bother paying us any mind. He was right, it was the perfect moment to try and escape since there would be too many people preventing us from making a scene. I shrugged my shoulders and glanced around at the area “Where would you go? The Order will become suspicious if neither one of us are dead” that was when his eyes dimmed, and he slowed his walking in realization. He had not thought of what the Order would think of him having spent a few days with Vampires and leaving without so much as a scratch on him “They would think you a spy” they would not accept him back into the Order even if he tried to go back. Graham looked down at me, a small smirk tugging at his lips when he opened his mouth to speak, the words surprising even me “Well then I guess I will just have to remain by your side” I glanced up at him, trying to see if he was only trying to catch me off guard so that he could flee, but he was dead serious. I parted my lips, the words catching in my throat when he turned his attention ahead of us, motioning towards Julius “That is if he does not kill me for it” Julius was glaring back at us, watching Graham with the eyes of a murderer. He wanted nothing more than to kill Graham after what he had witnessed in the bathroom that morning. A smile made its way on my face when I turned my head to look at the train, but I was not looking, I was thinking of how unpredictable Graham was, of how it made my body tremble with excitement “He will do no such thing” I protested, if he was able to kill Graham he would have done it that morning, however he could not do anything without my consent, he could not feed, could not kill without my order. Graham did not understand that which meant that I had to explain it to him “I am his master, he would not dare defy me” with that I quickened my pace and approached the open doors of the train, stepping onto it with an excited Hamish quick on my heels. He shoved past me and hurried to place his bags in the compartments above the seats. When the train departed, I was stood by the window, watching as the station flew past, replaced by buildings and towns people with a few open lands thrown in the mix. There were so many people that they brushed up against me where I stood. My head shot up when my eyes caught sight of something black moving about the group of people. A cloaked figure moved through the crowd, disappearing through the doors and out to the platform beyond “Evana?” Fiona questioned when she noticed my discomfort. I turned to look back at them, eyes lingering on the place where the figure had been for some time before I met her concerned gaze. She was still weak and fragile, her face pale as she watched me, a new-found care in her eyes since she felt sworn to me for having saved her life “We are being followed” I announced, causing Julius to stiffen and Graham to lean forward, his legs wide and elbows resting on his knees. He glanced in the direction I had been staring at before, but found nothing. The black cloak meant that the person was after Julius like the man from Elgin had been. They worked for someone unknown and were after Royals “Watch Julius” I ordered both Fiona and Hamish as I started in the direction the figure had disappeared to. Graham stood and followed me, his hand reaching up to grip the supports when the train shook slightly. I knew that they would not attack Julius inside the train because of the amount of people so if he stayed where he was he would be safe. I opened the door and stepped out onto the platform to find that it was empty, my hair whipping about from the wind. I placed a firm hand on my hat as Graham joined me, closing the door behind him. There was a ladder that lead up to the roof of the train beside me and instinctively I began to climb it without thinking about the consequences. I hauled myself onto the roof, flexing my hand to dig my claws into the metal as an attempt to stabilize myself against the wind and moving train. I helped Graham onto the roof, looking at him when his eyes locked onto something in front of us. I followed his gaze and found the cloaked figure standing upright on the roof, watching us past the shadows of their hood. There came a noise from behind us and glancing back, I found a second figure on the roof beyond the gap of the platform. We were surrounded, I gripped Graham’s arm “Help me wound them” Graham met my eyes, searching them then nodded and stood up, turning to face the one at our back as I faced the one to our front, my back pressing up against Graham’s back. The figure to our back leaped over the gap to join us on the same roof. I glanced back over my shoulder at Graham and he shot me a grin before advancing on the treat, dodging and getting a few strikes in. I took off, my claws ready to cut as I danced around my target, having them dodge and deflect my every attack until I had to retreat, my back knocking into Graham’s when he stumbled back a few steps “I have an idea” Graham said, breathing hard and grabbing hold of my wrist. I looked down at it and noticed that he was holding up two fingers pointing in the direction of his target. I nodded and darted forward, again attacking my own target but skidding past and running towards Graham who bent his knees and crouched low, allowing me a platform to use as a step to propel myself into the air. He then got up and attacked his opponent, distracting them long enough for me to flip and land on the train in between the two of them, using my clawed hand to slice their arm. They cried out, a male cry and gripped their arm as both Graham and I returned to standing back to back, me facing the injured opponent. Graham gripped my arms with both of his hands, bending to flip me over his back in a swift, single movement. I landed on the balls of my feet and flipped, landing on my hands and propelling myself upward until I flipped and landed in front of the second enemy. I attacked, and they dodged only to have Graham send a strong punch to their jaw when he appeared behind me. He quickly moved to deflect the man’s attack and gave me enough time to create a small gash along the persons leg. It was a woman from the gasp she gave. I retreated, Graham and I taking our earlier position again, each of us looking at an enemy target. I raised my clawed hand and smiled at my enemy past the rim of my hat when their blood flowed from their bodies and formed a ring around the two of us. Graham looked at it in amazement, his eyes taking in the sight of blood circling around us in mid-air. I shot the woman a piercing look then balled my hand, causing the blood circle to grow larger in a split second, knocking both opponents off the roof of the train and sending them flying. The blood disappeared when I lowered my hand and Graham gripped my arm “Duchess” I turned to look at what he was staring at to find a bridge fast approaching. It was too low for us to bend underneath and would knock us off, most likely killing Graham in the process. I shoved him back, sending him tumbling off and onto the platform below with a hard thud as I leaped into the air, landing on the edge of the bridge and dashing across it to leap from the other side, landing on the platform below with my legs spread, one foot on either side of Graham as I crouched low, the wood beneath us cracking and splintering from the force of my fall. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with excitement as his lips spread in a wide smile “I believe you just knocked me off my feet” it was cheesy, it was a sad attempt, but it made me smile and a laugh tear its way from his chest. I fell to my knees on top of him with my hands placed firmly against his chest, feeling the strong heartbeat thundering beneath the material of his shirt. There was something in the way he spoke, about how he moved and looked at me with a mischievous gleam in his eyes that allured me. He fell silent, his eyes meeting mine as he gazed up at me, the sly look gone and replaced with one of curiosity “If it is your intention to get me to fall for you-.” he began, his gaze roaming over the features of my face as the winds swept past us. We were trapped in a trace, a place where only the two of us existed with no one else around, but no one else really mattered in that moment “Then you must be doing something right” his hand reached up to cup the side of my face, gently pulling me down towards him. I was silent, no words would escape my lips as I allowed him to bring me closer, my lips parting slightly when they were just inches away from his. He was going to kiss me of his own free will and I was not going to protest. Moments before our lips could touch the train horn rang and I shot up, back to reality, gazing around for any threat that might be near. Graham watched me for a few minutes silent and still when I stood up off him and placed a hand on my hat, turning to glance inside the train car where Julius was sat with a worried Fiona, her hand gripping his as he seemed troubled about something “We need to return to our party” I announced, glancing down at Graham to find a look of rejection in his eyes. They were hard, attempting to not care, but I saw past him. He stood and opened the door, holding it for me as I stepped inside and pushed my way through the crowd of people to get to our seats “Is it safe?” Fiona questioned when I neared, standing to meet me with fear in her eyes. I placed a gentle hand on her arm to get her to calm down, her back muscles relaxing when I did so, her eyes no longer as wide as they used to be “We have dealt with the threat” I assured her, glancing down at Julius. He refused to meet my eyes, bothered by something, but it was not his father’s affair that was the cause of it, it was Graham. There must have been some suspicion in him of his father’s relationship with Fiona when he was younger, so it did not come as a surprise when he found out. He harbored feelings for me, feelings of desire and lust and affection that was given away in his kiss, but Graham’s words repeated themselves in the back of my mind ‘If it is your intention to get me to fall for you then you must be doing something right’ he felt for me as well, it is why he did not try to run and instead chose to stay, his affections came from curiosity, amusement and excitement, the excitement of a human falling for a Vampire, something so forbidden yet so alluring. Two men with equal affection towards me yet behind their feelings there were two very different reasons, two very different men.

It grew late, the sun setting over the horizon, people lying down to sleep as the train rolled on, only ever stopping at stations for those who would reach their destination, however we were far from it and had to spend the night on the train. A few small lanterns hung from hooks on the ceiling as men and woman slept on the benches. Julius was lying down with his head in Fiona’s lap as Hamish snored lightly beside her, his mouth opened wide with his head leaned back, face staring at the ceiling. Fiona ran her fingers through Julius’ hair and hummed softly as she watched him, her eyes drooping as sleep tried to overcome her. Graham was seated off to the side, his eyes far gone as he thought about something from another time, from another place. I was growing agitated being cooped up in such a confined place, my skin began to crawl as I bounced my leg, the heel of my boots clicking against the floor of the train with every bounce. It was then that I sensed a familiar presence, one I knew all too well nearing me. I stood and headed for the platform with Graham staring after me, once out the door I glanced up to find a shadow moving past. I quickly climbed the ladder and stepped onto the roof where a woman was sat, staring up at the almost full moon with her hands placed palm down on the roof on either side of her. Her blonde hair whipped to the side as she allowed her legs to dangle over the side “Alice” I muttered, watching her with narrowed eyes. She did not bother to look at me, her dress tangling in her legs as she continued to hum her haunting tune. I stepped closer, my feet threading carefully as I approached, stopping a few feet away. She pretended to notice me and turned her head to feast her golden gaze onto my form, a familiar gaze “Ah Evana, fancy meeting you here” her voice was higher pitched than mine, holding a sickly-sweet smile behind it when she spoke. There was an aura of hatred that rolled from her and a stench of murder that hung on her like an expensive perfume “What do you want?” I questioned, not falling for her false pretense of coincidentally having bumped into me on our way to Nuremburg station. She sighed dramatically and stood, the cream material of her dress flowing around her when the wind swept by. The dress was long and went to just above her ankles, but it had slits traveling up the sides to the bottom of her brown corset, exposing her bare, pale legs and the short brown boots that she wore. Her arms were covered in gold accessories, two golden loops dangling from her ears as a red cape dangled from her shoulders “News has reached me of my father” I remained silent, knowing fully well who her father was. I spread my legs slightly to brace myself against the winds and balled my fists at my sides, on edge and ready incase she decided to attack “He is dead, killed by the Order” she continued, her jaw and cheekbones much like those of her father, but her hair belonged to her mother. I nodded to confirm her words, but she paid me no mind. She glanced towards the side at the passing farmlands and reached for the vile that dangled from around her neck, gripping it in her hand as a form of comfort “But I know the truth” she looked at me, eyes narrowing and glowing with disgust as they took in my form, my face and clothing. I opened my hands, holding them limp at my side but ready to flex at any given moment “You were the cause of his death, you were his apprentice, it was your job to protect him” Alice Cartel, the daughter of Xavier Cartel hated me more than even the Order did. Xavier had met a Swedish woman shortly after killing his wife and they shared a passionate night together. Alice was the result of that night, but shortly after he had a vision, a vision of his nephew and a girl from France. He left them to ensure his nephew’s safety, he left them to turn me, to take me as his apprentice and Alice had never forgiven him for choosing me above her and her mother. She despised me, loathed me with every fiber of her being and swore that she would be the cause of my death “You are right” I agreed, glancing off to the side of the roof. I was lost in my thoughts, lost in the memories of that night when Xavier had died with a chuckle on his lips and a look of satisfaction in his eyes. He had lived many lifetimes and even a Royal gets tired of the world eventually “I could have protected him, but I was too weak” I blamed myself for his death, if only I had deflected the sword, if only I could have been better, done better then he would have still been alive. Alice sneered at me, her fist clenching around the vile and causing the glass to crack slightly beneath the pressure of it “I am counting on you being weak” she crushed the vile and caused the water inside to spill out but instead of it splattering away, it floated up in front of her in, separating into small drops that each glistened in the moonlight. I readied myself, taking a fighting stands with my knees slightly bent and watching her with a concentrated stare “Alice, we do not have to do this” I tried to reason, my voice monotone and calm when I spoke. She rolled her eyes, having heard me try to reason thousands of times before and it somehow managed to get on her nerves every single time. I raised my arms, hands flexing to reveal my claws that gleamed in the light above “I must avenge my father” I nodded, slowly and focused. She was a powerful opponent, one strong enough to destroy an entire town when matched up against me. We were on a moving train, not the ideal place to battle things out however I knew how determined she was, she had inherited that from her father, a stubborn, determined man. I could only hope that we did not end up demolishing the train. She smirked, and the water began raining down onto me like hail, some striking my arms and slicing through the skin of my legs. I moved as fast as my legs could carry me and appeared in front of her before she could recall her water to her side. She could control water and was more like me than anyone else I had ever met. I sliced her side and took off running past, willing her blood to wrap like a rope around her throat. I gripped it and with all my might swung, sending her flying into the roof of the car in front of me. She flipped and landed on her stomach, hands bracing her fall, but it was not enough to stop the shock from coursing through her internal organs. She coughed, blood shooting from her lips as she tried to stand in the dent that her impact had created, the metal having bent underneath her. She grinned, causing my eyebrows to furrow up in confusion when a sharp pain coursed through me. I cried out, my back arching when the water she had turned to ice pierced my calves. When it retracted to join her on the other car, I fell to my knees, blood pooling out around me as I gritted my teeth, cursing myself for not having been on guard “Your advances have become neglected, Evana” my fighting style was messy, more rushed ever since I had taken on Julius as my charge. He had been my priority not my training. I glared at her when she started walking towards me, her water forming a sword in the palm of her outstretched hand. I made to get up, falling back down on the roof and wincing when a sharp pain coursed through me “The water was laced with a powerful toxin that numbs the body” I wanted to lash out at her, but contained myself, instead biting down on my lower lip and forcing my legs to stand, they shook as I stood tall, my fists balling at my sides. I was not going to let a simple toxin get the best of me. She raised her ice blade and sliced it down onto me. I raised my hand, blood pooling to form a sword of my own, blocking her attack just in time. Her ice melted and wrapped around my wrist like a rope, tugging to let my blade fall off the side of the train as I yelped from the pain in my wrist “What happened to the woman who used to be my father’s apprentice?” Alice questioned, her eyes were like burning fires as they bored into mine. She was too powerful, too strong for me to defeat. I looked at her, eyes filled with pain and desperation when she allowed her water to harden into ice that cut into my skin like razor blades, causing droplets to be swept away by the wind, splattering a few feet away, across the roof of the train “You used to be so blood thirsty, so monstrous” I had done many cruel and horrible things in my time, slaughtered entire towns and villages, murdered children to punish their parents, widowed woman to feed from their husbands, I destroyed homes and burnt people alive, yet there I was fawning over a young Royal and his guides, over a human man like a weak, desperate woman “But now, all I see is a pathetic little girl” it was in that moment that something inside of me snapped, the humanity in me drained away and was replaced by a blood thirsty monster stirring deep within me. My eyes began to glow, red lined illuminated my skin, trailing down from them, across my lips and to the edge of my chin, glowing with need, a hunger for death “I am not weak” when I spoke my voice sounded deeper, more feral than it had been before, almost as if I was struggling to speak past the animal suffocating me on the inside. My hand balled into a fist, the ice shattering when I jerked it, causing small specks of ice to fill the world around us before they were swept away by the winds. My injured hand shot out to wrap around her throat, causing her to choke out, fear beginning to make its way into her widened gaze “Nor am I pathetic” I raised her up into the air, my claws jotting out to stab into the flesh of her throat, drawing a strangled cry from her lips before I slammed her down on the roof of the train, her head the first to connect with the metal, bending it beneath the weight of my blow. I knelt in front of her, the pupils of my eyes slit as I moved my face so that it was dangerously close to hers, fangs glistening when I spoke “You accuse me of such things yet here you are, a scared and frightened little bird” my tongue lashed out to run along my bottom lip as I lifted her slightly, forcing her to be level with me as her arms dangled weakly beside her, her legs numb from the earlier blow. Her blood began to flow, lifting from the ground to take on the form of a tail behind me, one that had an arrow tip and flicked back and forth “So tell me, who is truly the most pathetic?” she did not have time to answer as the tail shot forward, digging through her chest and out her back. She gurgled in her own blood, the sight something of satisfaction as I watched her squirm. I gave an amused grin and retracted my tail, rising to throw Alice along the roof and towards the platform behind me. She bounced and struck the roof with a loud impact, skidding to a stop on the other side of the platform where a figure was stood watching me. I did not care who it was, I did not care what they wanted and started towards Alice, ignoring the figure when I moved to pass them but they reached out to grab hold of my arm, stopping me “Stop this Evana” it was a voice that belonged to someone I knew, someone male, but I could not place it as I looked up at them, my eyes filled with red and my body devoured in a pulsing, sinister wave that shot pleasurable stings down my spine as I moved. I wrenched my arm away from them and made to move, but they would not let me, they grabbed my arm and pulled me back forcefully, tearing a fierce hiss from my lips “Let her go” they tried to reason, however there was no reasoning with me in that state. I shoved them away and leaped across the roof so that I was stood on the roof where Alice was trying to crawl away from me. I moved fast and fierce, but a tug on my arm jerked me back, forcing me to turn into someone as they smashed their lips down on mine. I struggled against them, refusing to allow them to get in my way, however I cared for them, preventing me from harming them. After some time, my body relaxed, and my eyes closed as I leaned into the man, his hands wrapped around each of my wrist let go to caress the small of my back and my waist. They tasted of honey and dirt, a sweet yet tangy taste that made my skin flair with a burning fire. The marks on my face disappeared, my eyes no longer glowing as I managed to get lost in their touch, their kiss. I dared open my eyes to see who it was, they widened at the sight of Graham and I quickly made to push him away from me. For a moment my mind had believed that it was Xavier, however I was wrong. I glanced towards where Alice had been to find an empty roof, we were alone, my legs stinging from the wounds and my mind fuzzy from having it taken over by a beast. I cried out when my legs gave way beneath me and fell to my knees on the roof. Graham hurried to my side, kneeling so that he could grip my shoulder, examining me for any wound or injury “You are hurt” he announced, taking in the sight of the holes in my legs where her ice had pierced through, injecting a toxin into my system that prevented me from healing as quickly as I would have without it. I stared down at the blood soaking my brown pants and cursed since they were my favorite, moving to stand “I will heal once the toxins ware off” Graham watched me as I climbed down the ladder and retreated into the car where Julius, Fiona and Hamish were all fast asleep, tired from the days long trip. Graham did not follow, instead returning a few hours later when the sun was just starting to rise over the horizon.