Fated Fangs

Chapter 6: Uninvited Guests

Bram walked further into the room, causing Athan to take a few steps back. In his haste to get away from Bram, he tripped over his own feet. He stumbled but quickly recovered his poise, swooping into a low bow. Even though he had just been trying to strangle the life out of Eleni moments before, she was still entranced by Athans grace. The only thing that gave him away was a slight tremble in the hand he held behind his back in a tight fist.

"Well? What's your excuse this time?" Bram growled at the cowering Athan.

"I-I didn't know it w-was-" Athan began. He was stuttering hard trying to come up with a good excuse. He clenched his hand harder behind his back, but he remained kneeling in respect.

"The hell you didn't know. Everyone knows Eleni is off limits." Bram growled. He was remaining composed, but Eleni could tell he was close to losing his cool. What exactly did he mean by off limits, though? Bram narrowed his eyes, daring Athan to explain himself.

"She killed Grayson! She doesn't even deny it!" Athan yelled suddenly, lifting his face to look into Gram's eyes. Athans eyes were streaked with tears of anger and frustration, but they paled in comparison to Bram's cold, calm fury.

"That matter is still being looked into." Bram finally said, eerily calm. He didn't look like anything Athan was saying was shocking to him in the least.

"What is there to look into! She's a witch hunter! It's in her freaky ass blood. Why should we let her live, let alone walk amongst us?" Athan retorted, rising to his feet so quickly that Eleni took a moment to register that he had risen at all.

"She is protected, none the less. Grayson knew this and still proceeded. He faced the consequences of his actions. He paid for it with his life." Bram retorted.

"You can't protect someone like her. Even being in the same room as her is enough to drive anyone to what Grayson did. Can't you smell her? It's only going to get worse. Don't you want a taste??" Athan said, his voice reaching a frantic height.

Eleni wanted to scream. She wanted to run out of the room. She wanted to know what any of what they were talking about meant. But more than that, she didn't want to be in her apartment anymore. These people clearly weren't normal. They were dangerous as hell. Eleni tried to inch towards the door, but the two flanking Bram rooted her in place with their glares.

The room was dead silent for a moment. Eleni wanted to crawl out of a window or to just disappear. The air between Bram and Athan was thick with suspense, and it was suffocating. Finally, Bram clicked his tongue in annoyance, breaking the long silence.

"Tuer." Bram commanded, a bored tone thick in voice. He gestured a few quick hand signals and pointed to Eleni's small bathroom.

Tuer, the man who had been standing to Bram's right, nodded and was on Athan before he could process what was happening. Tuer was lanky but powerful. He dragged Athan, kicking and screaming into the small apartment bathroom. His cold features gave away nothing as to his intentions, but he was clearly used to following Bram's orders.

Eleni's eyes widened in horror as Tuer slammed the door shut behind him. Athan immediately began begging for mercy as Bram kept his cool, non caring eyes on Eleni. He cleared his throat and began talking over Athan's voice as he begged and then began to scream.

"Eleni, I am sure this has been a very confusing two days. Let me be the first to apologize for keeping you in the dark. I have been watching over you and protecting you ever since you came to the city. I had to leave the city for the night last night, and I fear it has really turned into quite a situation." Bram half grumbled. He barely had any emotion in his voice. He rarely did, but he managed to sound bored as ever.

Eleni was having a hard time processing what she was hearing. The screams in the bathroom grew louder and more pained. It sounded like there was a fair bit of thrashing going on in there, as well. Eleni could hear her bottles of soaps and lotions being scattered around.

"I have always been close with your father, even throughout his, um, ordeal. He is a good man, and I promised to watch out for you in his stead." Bram went on.

The screaming began to get weaker as a horrible, wet, tearing and cracking sound echoed in the small room. Eleni was hearing Bram, but the words weren't really going into her head. What on earth was happening in her bathroom. Why did Bram know her father. Why did she need Bram's protection?

"I-I don't understand... anything." Eleni choked out.

"You are ripening, dear child. Your scent has become too alluring. Even with the protection and threats, it won't be enough to keep you safe. The last two nights should have been enough to show you that. This won't stop. We're vampires, Eleni. Drinking blood is in our nature, and you are just too much of a temptation." Bram explained.

"Vampires? Do you expect me to believe that? Like, blood sucking vampires?" Eleni almost yelled. It may have been the only logical explanation, but it was still hard to believe.

"I am sure you are intelligent enough to see the evidence and put the pieces together. The problem is, we have been protecting you in secret all of these years, but now you know, and we can't keep to the shadows any longer. You will have to join us." Bram said with finality. He was wrapping things up. He didn't want to waste any more time, and it was obvious he was itching to be out of Eleni's apartment.

"I'm not going to tell anyone." Eleni panicked. "No one would even believe me."

Bram nodded to the woman behind him. "Cassandra." He gestured to Eleni. "Look, Eleni, I know you have tried to build a good life for yourself, but that life is over. It is too risky to let you roam free. You now know about vampires and are going to be constantly attacked by them in your current state." Bram went on.

Cassandra gave Eleni a sympathetic look before starting towards her. She moved slower than the others, which was a little comforting but also unnerving. Eleni backed away a little, but there was nowhere to go. Cassandra's grip was firm but not overly painful. Looking at her eyes, Eleni felt as if she was pitying her.

"I'm sorry, Eleni. I knew this would happen eventually, but you have to understand. We had to keep you in the dark." Bram sighed. He didn't look bored anymore. He looked tired and actually looked like he felt a little bad. "Come, Cassandra. Let's take her away." Bram ordered.

Cassandra gently guided Eleni to the kitchen window. It was in front of the fire escape, overlooking a dreary alleyway. Panic was welling up in Eleni's chest. She wanted to run, but there was nowhere to run to, and no way Cassandra was going to let her go. Even if she got away from Cassandra, Bram was behind them, and he would grab her. She didn't know what the man called Tuer was doing, but she didn't doubt he would stop whatever torture he was inflicting on Athan to do the same to her if she tried anything.

She tried to swallow the lump that was rising in her throat, but her mouth had gone completely dry. Even though she knew it was futile, she couldn't stop her body from trying to push away from the window.

Cassandra didn't even pause but just kept pushing Eleni forward. Her free hand quickly flicked the latch on the window and drew it open all in one deft motion. She guided Eleni to the open window.

Eleni began to wonder why they were going to take the fire escape down to the alley instead of taking the stairs. The chilly night air blew in the window, whipping their hair around. Cassandra's eyes were intent on the sky, and her eyes began to glow red. With her short hair waving around her and her intense look, Eleni's heart felt like it skipped a beat. She looked so cool, even though this entire situation was anything but cool.

She may have stayed lost in that moment forever, but the next thing she knew, they had both turned into mist.