Redeeming The Cursed Vampire King

A Bloody Mess

VENNIE CULLEN

What stopped me wasn't the line my father drew years ago.

And it wasn't me this time. I was determined to get freedom. However, it wasn't presented to me on a platter.

The moment I crossed my father’s boundary and ran toward the entrance door that I had seen others use many times in the past, I was pushed back by a strong force.

A force strong enough to send me falling on my butt. My wrists hurt as I applied force on them to push myself off the ground.

“Be careful, Vennie Cullen!”

I thought to myself. I couldn't let anyone hear me or see me. That would alert my father and the outcome wouldn't be good.

Slowly this time, I approached the door again right after I confirmed that no one was coming or around the living room. If my prince Charming wasn't planning to come to save me, then I would find my way out and have the life of adventure that I had always dreamt about.

I reached out to the door again even though I was still a few feet away from it. My hands felt a soft mushy wall-like force. It was invisible but strong enough to keep me away from the outside world.

It has always been there. It just wasn't the boundary I knew.

“This has to be the barrier around the house that protects the family from the nightwalkers.” The same one that Sadie had been holding up with her life. I accessed the force and thought of any spell that could open the shield momentarily.

A simple spell that could do the trick.

“Parte y déjame salir… parte y déjame salir… déjame salir….”

I whispered lowly with my two hands placed against the invisible force, but nothing happened. Of course, nothing happened. Who was I kidding? Those weren't spells. Those words weren't spells.

They were just a bunch of Spanish words that are supposed to mean “Part and let me out… part and let me out… let me out…”

I was a lost cause.

But I wasn't about to give up.

I kept trying until I heard hushed voices down the hallway and the footsteps drew closer to the living room area, which made me panic. I withdrew my hands from the invisible force and hurried to hide behind the couch.

“Shouldn't we stand up to Hiram? She would never have wanted her daughter to go live in the mountains and she loves–”

“But she is dead now. All we can do is remember her not fighting her battles.”

That was my aunt’s voice. She was speaking with one of the other members that I don't usually talk to.

“She would have fought our battles if needed and you should love that girl. Didn't her mother save you from a virus one time like that–”

“Stop talking about the dead. We have had enough of her for the day, Bri.”

My aunt shushed the other woman I knew as aunt Brianca.

They were talking about my mama and me.

They were discussing us as if we were taboo. This wasn’t the first time I had heard people whispering about who my mom was. Some had something nice to say, while others believed she was no good.

I refused to let that affect me.

As aunt Bri had mentioned, my mama wouldn't want me to be taken to the mountains. I should get out of here and make my mama proud in her grave.

“You don't get to talk about Emilia like that, Nina…”

That was my granny. It’s been ages since I heard anyone call my mama’s name out loud… Emilia. She has a beautiful name. I didn't have to see her to know that she was even more beautiful than her name.

“Mama… when will you accept that she isn't all that? I am tired of living in her shadow despite being the living one–”

“Shut your mouth and call your daughter home, Nina. I won't be dropping the barrier as you or Shelly please.”

Sadie shouted at my aunt and she hurried from where I supposed was the kitchen. Aunt Nina never liked my mama? I wondered why. My mama was said to be one of the last members of her family– The Advani.

According to my knowledge, the Advani were powerful and I have heard my father talking about how lucky he was to find my mama. Her death broke him. Her death broke us all.

“You can come out now, Vennie.”

Sadie called out to me and I didn't hesitate. I knew I had been busted the moment she walked into the living room. She must have sensed me tampering with the barrier. I pushed the bile in my throat down as I rose and walked to her.

“You look like an unprofessional bugler, Kiddo.”

My granny whispered, touching my shoulders lightly.

“I was just–”

“I don’t have to know, Child. It’s your decision to make and I will support you.”

Sadie retorted and her eyes shifted to the door of the mansion.

“That barrier is me, Vennie. To go through me is easy, isn't it?” She asked with a smile and whispered some words that were undoubtedly spells, not some random Spanish words.

“You don’t have to help me escape, granny. My father would be–”

“Your mother will be proud, so get yourself out there and make her very proud.” Sadie announced and pushed me towards the door.

I felt the energy change. I felt the barrier vanish. I have been refueled with determination. Aunt Nina’s words have got nothing on me.

“Make me proud by finding your fate.” Sadie added just s my hands touched the doorknob successfully this time. “They have been waiting for you, Vennie Cullen. Go and find your purpose…”

“I will be back, granny. I will be back here after the festival and–”

“We shouldn't make promises, Vennie. Stay safe out there.” Sadie countered. “Goodbye, Child.”

“No… it see you soon, Granny. I love you.” I whispered and took the bold step out of the mansion that I had lived my whole life.

“I love you too, Vennie Cullen, last descendant of the Advani.”

Weird, but it felt good as Sadie closed the door behind me. Out of curiosity, I reached for the door again but I was repelled and thrown several feet away from the huge entrance that I had never seen before.

“We are outside, Vennie…”

I muttered to myself and began to stroll away from the entrance. There was no flower on the porch of the mansion… it looked pretty much like an abandoned building from out here even though the inside held the beauty I had known all my life.

Finally, I could see the sky.

The stars…

The big round moon…

The dark clouds of the night…

The cool breeze of the night was different from the one I used to feel within the mansion.

Outside was a huge difference from the life, I used to know.

And it was peaceful. There were no savages like my father had been paranoid about.

I walked away from the landscape of Cullen’s mansion still awed by the scenario. I forgot to memorize the way back home as I took step after step. All I saw was the beauty of the night.

All I could do was smile and laugh loudly as I walked further.

I eventually got to a junction that presented me with three options.

Walk to the right or the left or straight ahead.

“Where could the venue be?”

I have seen a lot of houses as I walked but none looked like they housed people. I wondered where the voices I used to hear from the mansion came from. If there was no one living around our mansion, how did I hear people talking, celebrating, and walking every day while I rot away?

It was strange, yet I turned towards the path on the left.

Perhaps I should have taken the path on the right or walked straight ahead.

Perhaps that would have saved me from running as fast as I could a few minutes after I made that decision.

“I should have left the house with Shelly…”

I cried like a pathetic fool as I ran away from voices… more like snarls. I have become familiar with these sounds by reading the description and sometimes hearing them around the mansion.

I didn't have to see them to know that they were around and that I needed to run.

They were around and even though there were buildings on each side of the street, I had never felt alone.

“Open… dammit!”

I cussed at each door I tried to open but none budged… it was as if the festival had ended hours ago and I was the only one walking through the streets of Hope Valley.

I ran in the opposite direction but the snarls grew closer and knowing how fast they were supposed to be, I could tell they were teasing me and making me waste my strength by running… I knew that, yet I didn’t stop running until I got snatched out of the street into a dark hole.

“I got one…”

My captor snarled close to my ears and I screamed for everyone… “Help me! It’s the nightwalkers! Save me!”

My scream could be heard. It covered a wide range but no one came for me. The snarls that were after me before faded as I was dragged towards another set.

By the time I could see again, I had been thrown on the floor like garbage. The cries of many others made me forget my sorrows as I looked around.

We were in an open field. I didn't realize how far we were from Hope Valley until I looked back and saw the shapes of buildings far away. I tried not to panic but I couldn't stop that when I saw feet closing in on me.

I raised my head to look at them, thinking I would see the faces of monsters just like they had been described, but it was the opposite. The first face I saw was handsome like the princes I had read about.

And so were the five other faces that my eyes scanned.

“She is the one…. Her blood smells irresistible…”

“I want her…”

“I got her here so I have to keep her…”

“I have a higher rank, kiddo…”

They all struggled to have me…

There were at least ten other trembling victims but they all came for me.

“Stop!”

They all stopped dead in their tracks like they were under the force of that command.

“Lord Kaden–”

“I didn't want to hear it. You know the rules of the hunt. We stick to them no matter how tempting one of them might be.”

He came into view like a king. His eyes were empty of life, yet he looked dreamy as he spoke.

“Let’s move along now, Vampires.”

He gave me one look before turning away from me. I didn't miss his clenched fist as he walked away. His orders were obeyed and I and the rest of the victims were bundled and dragged to where I presumed would be far more life-threatening than hell.

“Perhaps this would be my chance to find my prince charming. He will come to save me from my distress.”

I couldn't help but think about my fantasies… the thought filled my head until I set my eyes on him… until I realized that what was supposed to be my night of adventure would end in a bloody mess…

I was such a stupid twenty-year-old until his eyes met mine like a dark force… there was no getting away, right?

Yes, Vennie Cullen…