Fated Fangs

Chapter 13: Reunited

Dyrk stood tall beside Bram. His piercing golden eyes were fixed on his daughter, Eleni. She stared at him as a mix of emotions washed over her. All she wanted was to run to him like she had used to when she was younger. She wanted to crawl into his lap and cry while he told her everything would be okay and that he would keep her safe.

That wasn't going to happen, though. Not this time. She stood her ground as she looked at the man who had raised her and then all but abandoned her to keep his secret safe. He looked younger than he had in years. He wasn't adding the grey tinges to his hair or make-up to make his skin look older. He looked like he always had when she was a girl.

Cassandra reached out, her fingers brushing Eleni's arm gently. It was enough to startle Eleni out of her thoughts. She took a deep breath in and walked through the room. There was a good-sized crowd there again. Most of the vampires still seemed curious about the pet human that was being kept here, and more than a few put their hands over their noses. Her scent was already overwhelming for the younger vampires.

Eleni stepped up to Bram and her father and gave a low bow. She straightened up, but she didn't speak. They were the ones who had called her. They could lead this particular exchange. She tried to adopt the same cool, calm, and collected energy that Bram was always exuding.

"Eleni, I am sure you have had time to understand your situation." Bram began.

"Yes. You are going to turn me into a vampire whether I like it or not because I, and I quote, 'smell too good'. That about sums it up, doesn't it?" Eleni replied curtly.

"You are in danger, Elli, dear." Dyrk interjected, worry evident in his tone.

"I would be in less danger if I could get far away from this den of vampires. How hard is it to keep them all in line, even without me around?" Eleni ignored her father, adressing Bram directly.

"No matter where you go, the longer you stay human, the more vampires will be drawn to you; like moths to a flame, with much the same effect." Bram stated coldly, his eyes flashed with icy flames.

Elenor was taken aback. Would she truly never be able to escape vampires no matter where she went? It made her angry. How were there so many vampires in the first place. How did they hide so many?

"You didn't have to turn my mother." Eleni fumed. "She knew about vampires, and you left them alone."

"She died, remember?" Bram growled.

"I-I don't think that is necessary." Dyrk said quickly.

Eleni glared at Bram. She could feel the blood pumping through her viens. She clenched her fists but remained calm and even.

"You will become a very powerful vampire instead of being executed. I would be more gracious were I you." Bram growled.

"If I don't have a choice, because choosing being killed over becoming a vampire isn't much of a choice, why haven't you turned me yet?" Eleni dared to ask.

"It's complicated." Bram answered.

"Turn me yourself, then." Eleni said, crossing her arms over her chest.

There was a small gasp from the other vampires in the room. Her story was well known by everyone in the room. She had basically just told Bram to turn himself into dust. It didn't go over well, but Bram remained calm.

"The last vampire that tasted your blood didn't fair too well, now, did he? We will have to discuss it further with The Council. For now, you are free as long as you stay in the mansion. We can protect you here until we assertain the means to turn you." Bram explained. He sounded bored again. Eleni knew she was going to be ushered out soon.

"And if you can't?" Eleni challenged.

"We will get help from the head of our order. You will become a vampire, one way or another. Make peace with it now." Bram said. He waved his hand at her dismissively.

Dyrk walked over to Eleni and began to escort her out. She wanted to fight him and take Bram out. If she was so powerful, she should be able to do that much, shouldn't she? Dyrk must have had some idea of what her thoughts were because he hurridly guided Eleni out of the ballroom.

The walk back to her room was awkward. She wanted to beat her father and every other vampire there to a pulp. Well, almost every other vampire. Dyrk seemed to be at a loss for words. He fidgeted with his hands a lot and kept sneaking side long glances at his furious daighter.

They got to her room, and Eleni angrily threw her door open, walking in without waiting for her father. Dyrk sheepishly let himself into the room and quietly shut the door behind him. The maids must have been there while she was gone because there was a spread of actual food on the coffee table. Eleni grumpily sat down on the couch and began to dig in. Dyrk slowly joined Eleni on the couch and began picking at the food provided.

"You don't even need to eat human food. Why bother pretending?" Eleni grumbled between bites.

"I don't need to eat. It's just nice to share a meal with my daughter. It's been a long time since I saw you last, Eleni. You look so much older." Dyrk chose his words carefully.

"You don't." Eleni spat back.

Dyrk winced. He had known this wouldn't be easy, but he hadn't realized just how angry Eleni was going to be. Dyrk took his time chewing a small mouthful of food before trying his luck again.

"I know this is all very hard for you to hear and to learn, but you have no idea how hard it was to hide my true nature from you your whole life. All I wanted was for you to have a normal life. I never wanted you to be afraid of me or of my kin." Dyrk ventured. His sincerity moved Eleni and cooled her anger, but only a little. He had still lied to her.

"You drink blood, Dyrk. You drink human blood. How do you expect me not to be freaked out by that?" Eleni asked.

"I don't drink much human blood. It's too dangerous. Most vampires don't drink much human blood. We can sustain ourselves off of animals for quite a while." Dyrk explained.

"You still drink blood. I'll have to drink blood as well. It sounds gross." Eleni complained, biting into her food and really savoring the taste. She wouldn't get to enjoy food once she was turned.

"But you will be safe. Safer than you have ever been. You'll be powerful, too." Dyrk tried to calm Eleni down.

"Oh yeah, except the sun will kill me. I already get wicked burns." Eleni countered.

"Only for the first couple of centuries. I can walk in the sun just fine, now. You will, too." Dyrk comforted. He put his hand gently on Eleni's shoulder. She briskly brushed it off.

"A few centuries?!" Eleni yelled. She stood up and glared at her father. "Exactly how long do you need me to live to be satisfied? I don't want to live during the night, or have people be scared of me or hate me. I don't want to drink blood, even if it is just animal blood. I don't want to kill like some kind of monster. I don't want to be like you!" Eleni shouted. Her eyes were ringed with red and hot, angry tears burst out of the flood gates.

Dyrk looked hurt. He didn't want any of this for Eleni, but he knew there was no other way. He had tried to reason with Bram to allow her to live a normal life as a human, but there was no changing his mind once it was set. He stood up and fixed Eleni with a firm stare until she looked slightly less angry.

"It may take time, but you will see that I have only ever had your best interests at heart, Eleni. I love you. Please try to get some rest." Dyrk said as monotone and calm as he could. His feelings felt bruised, but he didn't need his daughter seeing that. He nodded to Eleni and let himself out of her room.