In Love With a Vampire

Chapter Thirteen

Sorokin squinted his eyes at the suspended sack of pebbles. He was desperately heaving, yet he was nowhere close to quitting, to giving up. Sorokin released a warrior cry before lurching forward to apprehend his inanimate enemy. Harnessing his heightened strength, Sorokin channeled his anger and frustration into the large sack of pebbles. The suspended mass swung violently in response and each time it did, Sorokin swiftly dodged it all the while launching fiery kicks and punches. When he finally felt that he was spent, he went still and allowed the suspended sack of pebbles to shove him across the air and into a wall. The impact was so severe that dust and tiny stones fell from the roof.

“Impressive.”

Sorokin swiftly rose up from his position and went down on one knee. For a while, the two vampires regarded one another with a mixture of respect and quiet trepidation.

“Master Sebastian…I did not hear you come in…”

“You were not meant to…Stealth is a concept that I have completely mastered.”

Unsure of how to respond, Sorokin gave Sebastian an awkward bob. Sebastian then proceeded to carelessly wave his hand permitting Sorokin to rise from the ground. Sebastian roamed about Sorokin’s chamber, his eyes taking in the dark, ominous environment. A small, prideful smile appeared on his lips before quickly vanishing. Sebastian had always considered Sorokin to be the son he never had.

“The council is getting on my nerves…”

“Haven’t they always?”

The two vampires shared a knowing look before simultaneously bobbing their heads.

“What is it this time?”

Sebastian grunted before approaching the window. The sun was up, piercing the beast realm with its raging rays. Sebastian unconsciously brought his finger to caress his hand where an ancient ornament sat.

“Do you know the last time I was in the sun?”

Sorokin shook his head even though Sebastian could not see him.

“Seven decades Sorokin…Seven decades…Even with the bracelet on me still cannot bring myself to be beneath the wrath of that celestial object.”

Sorokin took a step forward and another until he reached the leader of the vampire tribe. He had always held a deep admiration for the creature. In his prime, Sebastian had been a formidable leader, ruthless, decisive, impassive. He still possessed all these qualities but, he was older, fatigued. The throne was beckoning a new leader. The image of Donna suddenly appeared in Sorokin’s mind. The picture was clear and compelling; he could see her seated on the throne.

“I hear there have been rumors…I hear the word weak has been used to describe me and my lineage.”

Sorokin nervously ran a hand across his hair. He then stretched his arm until his forefinger was in contact with the light that was shimmering through his window. When the flesh of his index finger made contact with the light, he began to hiss but he did not move it. He stood there and watched himself burn. When he finally retrieved his arm, the skin draping the bones of his forefinger was charred and disgusting.

“You should drink human blood…see how long it is taking you to heal?”

The two vampires stared at the charred finger silently, waiting for the skin to regrow.

“You know you are welcome to take my supply.”

Sorokin bit his tongue. He suddenly felt aggravated. How could he make such an offer so casually? Did he not care that members of the tribe were dying?

“Is it true? Is there an uprising?”

Sorokin tilted his head to the side resting his eyes on a strewn jacket. His eyes flashed in recognition.

“Yes, but I would not worry about them. They are all talk…”

Sebastian c****d his head noticing the uncertainty in Sorokin’s tone. Was his prodigy lying to him?

“They seem to think Donna is too weak to rule. I hear they call her an empathizer. What do you think?”

Sorokin’s eyes were still resolute on the violet jacket on the floor. When had Donna left it there? It was her favorite jacket. It had been her mother’s jacket.

“Sorokin?”

Sorokin blinked owlishly at the sound of his name before taking two large strides towards the jacket. The moment he picked it from the ground, Donna’s scent infiltrated his nostrils. The memory of them in each other’s arms surfaced and he found himself blushing at their previously shared intimacy.

“Donna is strong, capable, and intelligent.”

Sebastian flickered his gaze to the violet jacket. He immediately recognized it. Finally, his suspicions had been confirmed.

“Yes Donna does possess all these qualities you speak of but will she be a good leader? A leader that the vampires need right now?”

An image of hundreds of vampires attempting to climb the boundary wall flashed in Sorokin’s mind. The tribe members were hungry, hungry for human blood.

“Are you asking me whether I think your daughter is capable of allowing an entire race to perish at the hands of her kind?”

Sebastian quirked an eyebrow and waited for a response, none came. Sorokin sighed and ran a hand through his jet-black hair. The supply of human blood had incredibly shrunk over the years. The humans had violated their bargain so why were vampires still holding on to theirs?

“The wall should be brought down, we should be allowed to feed on humans…they broke their promise…”

Sebastian nonchalantly shook his head. That is the same thing the council was saying. Break the barrier, attack humans.

“You are all short-sighted. All of you.”

“With all due respect Master Sebastian, we are stronger, faster-"

“No, no we aren’t. Our numbers have drastically dropped over the past few decades and the little animal blood that is available is not enough to strengthen those that remain. Humans have weapons, they have technology, they have numbers, and guess what? They are patient…Don’t you think I know how foolish I was? Their bargain was a trick, they are waiting us out and when the right time comes, they will obliterate us.”

Sebastian was shaking and heaving. He had always prided himself in his ability to remain impassive but today, today he had allowed himself to become vulnerable. Perhaps his kind was right, perhaps he was getting weaker.

“That’s it then? We give up? We let them win?”

Sebastian took in a huge lunge of breath before letting it out slowly through his teeth.

“No. We shall not be defeated by a lesser species. This is our world, we were here first.”

Sebastian had said these words with so much conviction that he almost reassured Sorokin’s doubts, almost.

“I suppose Donna’s mission is not just about learning the human ways then?”

A ghost of a smile appeared on Sebastian’s lips. Sorokin had always been smart, too smart perhaps.

“I want the rumors quietened. Take Austin and Jafar with you, go raid the tavern, brothel and any other potential rendezvous point for those pesky revolutionists.”

Sorokin quietly nodded and tightened his grip around the violet jacket. Sebastian turned and headed for the door, before opening it, he spoke quietly,

“I do care about the tribe and I do have a plan on how we can become strong again. I need you, I need them to trust me.”

Without uttering another word, Sebastian opened the door and left as quietly as he had arrived. Sorokin stole a glance at his healed finger and sighed. If Sebastian truly cared for the tribe, he would not allow the nobles to have access to human blood while the poor perished. He would also not stay indoors while his kind suffered. He would be out there, on the boundary wall, telling everyone of his ingenious plan to save them. The hard truth was, the vampire race was dying and Sorokin was not sure whether Donna had what it took to save them.

Sorokin buried his head into the violet jacket and greedily took in Donna’s scent. Soon, he would have to choose sides and he was not sure which part of him would win.