Bloodlines: Alexus Dracula

The Encounter

As Alexus slept she dreamt of her family and their home in New Zealand, she dreamt of her mother, father and brother.  She could feel their touch, smell their scent and hear their voices and the echoing of their laughs.  They were making their way to the spring hut when Alexus began to hear a beeping noise.  Alexus slowly began to wake to the sound of her alarm clock blaring.  She quickly turned it off and slowly began to wake up.  Alexus made her way to her wardrobe and grabbed out some workout clothes before making her way downstairs to go for a run.  As Alexus was still new to the area and not one hundred percent sure where to go she decided to head into the wilderness towards the base of the mountain. She had been running for around 40 minutes when she noticed what looked like a cave in the distance as she approached the cave she began to hear loud growls which intrigued her even more.  At that moment Alexus' phone rang, it was Rosetta. Alexus quickly answered the phone and said "I'm on my way back now Rosetta, see you in the kitchen soon,".  Alexus quickly turned and raced at the speed of light back to the house.

Slowing her speed as she approached the back entrance to the kitchen Alexus opened the door to find that both Rosetta and Bryan had already become acquainted and seemed to be getting along. "I see you have both met one another," said Alexus as she entered the room.  Both Rosetta and Bryan looked towards Alexus and greeted her morning. "So why did you want us to meet you here," asked Bryan.  "Follow me," said Alexus as she turned and walked back out of the door making her way towards the gardens.  As they reached the entrance of the garden they ran into Sophia.  "Morning Alexus, I didn't think I would see you here this early.  You must have really enjoyed yourself yesterday," said Sophia.  "I certainly did" replied Alexus.  "Sophia this is Bryan and Rosetta.  They both have extensive knowledge in gardening and Bryan has experience in hydro farming.  Rosetta's expertise is more centralised on medicinal purposes" explained Alexus.  "I thought that with their skill sets and passion for gardening they would both be perfect to help you out here," said Alexus. "I would love two extra sets of hands to help out around here.  We have the job of growing and maintaining all of our plant food," explained Sophia as Alexus noticed an older and younger man walking past the back of the compound. "Sophia, who are they?" asked Alexus.  "That young piece of eye candy is Michael and his father Derek.  They kill and butcher the livestock to maintain our meat source for the coven," explained Sophia. Even more intrigued Alexus tried to see where they went, "Now, now you.  You already know you are betrothed miss Alexus," said Rosetta.  "Yes, betrothed but not married and don't act like Jacob doesn't sleep his way through covens, towns, cities, pretty much everywhere," replied Alexus. "Excuse me miss Alexus but I need to go and start chopping my wood so if you would excuse me," said Bryan.  "No, this is your new job Bryan and I am taking over the wood chopping for you.  I'm a vampire so can get through it quicker and it helps me release my emotions. You explained to me last night that you enjoy gardening and I think with everything you have been through you should be doing things you enjoy.  Plus you can keep Rosetta busy for me," said Alexus as she chuckled at her last statement.  Bryan, so overwhelmed with emotion did not know how to thank Alexus as tears escaped his eyes. 

As Bryan and Rosetta settled into their new roles with Sophia, Alexus made her way over to the woodshed and began chopping wood to fill the 5 empty crates next to the shed. She completed the same routine every morning, starting with her run in the morning, followed by chopping wood.  Her day was usually completed by lunch which gave her the perfect opportunity to explore the compound.  Alexus started to get to know everyone but she was still trying to build up the confidence to approach Michael and Derek.  Alexus could not explain it but she felt an attraction to Michael that was so strong, she could barely resist it, it was growing stronger and stronger by the day and unfortunate for Alexus her wandering eyes were not going unnoticed by Lady Amelia.

After nearly a month of the same routine, for the first time, Alexus noticed a young girl exiting from the kitchen carrying two buckets on her shoulders. Alexus watched as she walked past her and wondered what she was doing before she continued to fill the crates with wood.  Alexus had finished another two crates and the little girl had still not returned.  Worry began to grow as Alexus quickly ran in the direction that the little girl had walked past her earlier, with her axe still in her hand.  Alexus ran until she reached a river edge, the buckets were on the ground next to the river. She looked up and down the river edge looking for a sign of the girl until she heard a faint call for help coming from down the river.  

Alexus moved as fast as she could to reach the little girl and find out what was happening.  As she managed to get the girl in her sights, she was not ready for what she saw another dweller out in the open and inside the compound. As Alexus closed the gap between her and the little girl she told her to duck and launched the axe at the dweller with all of her might.  The little girl dropped to the ground as the axe spun over her head and straight into the head of the dweller.  Alexus grabbed the little girl from the ground and stood between her and the dweller.  Alexus didn't know much about them and approached warily.  "What are you doing?" whispered the little girl as her voice shook in fear. "Don't worry, I just need to make sure it is dead," said Alexus as she approached the dweller.  Alexus pulled the axe from its head and quickly launched it through the dweller's neck, chopping its head clean off.  Alexus turned to the little girl and they both made their way back to the house, filling the buckets on their way back.  As they came back into sight of the house a worried woman ran out of the back door in hysterics crying and calling "Maria!".  The little girl ran to the lady and jumped into her arms as Alexus made her way back to the house with axe in hand and carrying buckets of water.  

As Alexus put the buckets of water at the back door she made her way back to the woodshed and continued chopping wood to fill her crates. A moment later Michael and Derek came running and met with the lady and little girl.  Derek did not seem happy with what had happened as he stormed into the house, a moment later Derek exited the house and ran into the wilderness towards the base of the mountain and his wife called out to him "Derek!".  Alexus continued to chop wood and fill her crates when Michael approached her, "Are you happy now? You elder families are all the same." he said and he stormed off running after his father before Alexus could respond. "Please excuse him, he has a bit of a temper like his father.  Thank you for saving my little girl.  I don't know how I could ever repay you." explained the woman.  "My name is Elisa and this is my daughter Maria and those two that stormed off are my husband and son, Derek and Michael.  I assure you, Miss Alexus, they are usually more respectful towards the elder families." apologised Elisa.  "That is absolutely fine, I probably would have done and said worse if it was my little brother Roman so I get where he is coming from." explained Alexus. 

Alexus and Elisa began to get to know one another and Alexus found out that Elisa and her family lived on a neighbouring farm but worked at the compound, killing, butchering and processing the meat for the compound daily.  Maria had decided that she wanted to start helping out around the compound and earn some pocket money which is why she was collecting water. Before long the sun began to set and Elisa decided it was time for her to Maria home and wash up before dinner. "See you tomorrow, Alexus and thank you for everything," said Elisa.  "Bye, Alexus" said Maria. "Bye Elisa, bye little one and I here you are earning some pocket money, come see me in the morning," replied Alexus and she waved goodbye.  Alexus continued chopping wood at a record pace when she felt someone coming up from behind her. Alexus swung the axe around and turned her body at the same time. It was Lady Amelia, she quickly grabbed Alexus' arm before the axe hit her.  "I would seem that someone is quite paranoid," said Lady Amelia.  "Well, usually people don't sneak up on other people without announcing themselves," said Alexus as she turned back and continued to chop wood.  "It would seem that you have made some changes to my compound.  Where is the old man that usually chops the wood," asked Lady Amelia.  "I needed the distraction and after having a discussion with him realised that he is passionate about gardening and has experience in hydro farming so I took over wood chopping and he is helping Sophia," explained Alexus.

"Although I don't like the idea of you making changes to my compound without consulting me, it shows that you will someday be a great leader," said Lady Amelia.  "Thank you, I guess," replied Alexus shocked by her kind words. "Moving forward can you try to consult me when you are making changes," asked Lady Amelia with a devilish smile. "Oh by the way.  I plan to have Elisa and Derek's daughter Maria work with me to earn some pocket money. If she is going to be on the compound then she needs to be able to defend herself so I will be giving her self defence lessons too." explained Alexus.  "Of course but hear this warning, remember your place, remember your families agreement with mine and remember that you are in my coven.  Accidents happen and we wouldn't want anything to happen to poor Roman now, would we" said Lady Amelia as she waited for a reaction from Alexus. Alexus began to breathe deeply as she tried to calm herself, she could feel the rage taking over, "Now hear my warning. Remember your place, you are not a bloodline, you married one and I will not hesitate to take you out to protect my family and my bloodline so threaten my family again and I will put you head of a stake," roared Alexus. The anger still growing inside of her, Alexus' eye began to turn black.  Lady Amelia noticed the blood lust rage coming and called for her guards. 

Alexus quickly turned and ran towards the mountain trying to calm herself down as he ran.  She pulled her hair out of a messy bun and let it fly free in the wind as she ran as fast as she could.  Once she reached the base of the mountain, she stopped and began to catch her breath until she heard a rustle in the forest.  "Whose there?" yelled Alexus. Her eyes were still black as her rage turned to fear.  Her emotions were moving from one extreme to another until her body could no longer handle the adrenaline and she fainted. Alexus felt someone pick her up, they felt warm and Alexus could hear their soothing heartbeat until the darkness swallowed her fully.