Alucard St. Vincent

 "Collapse into me"

  ~Pens&Keys

When I awoke, night had settled in. I must have been more drained than I thought. Opening my coffin, Ethan stood in his ceremonials. Unlike Mr. Blackgate, Ethan is not a walking grotesque. He is lovely. Full face, healthy weight, bright smile. He was mines and my mines only to catch before sunrise. That wouldn’t take long. We both want other things. I want to feed. He wants pain. A win-win situation. Helping me out of my coffin, he smelled of sweet fear. Touching his lips with the tips of my fingers, he did not move. His eyes did not follow my fingers, they remained on the spot just beyond my feet.

Kissing his cheek, I moved past him. The time for niceties is over. Now the mind games would begin.

Helping me get dressed, Ethan advised me that The Headmaster called to confirm I was home for The Hunting Games.

“She sounded as if she was unsure where you were.”

Dressed in my very own blood red dress, Ethan squeezed the strings in the back pulling the corset tighter around my waist as red lace pooled around my feet. This dress is new, which meant a new guest is here tonight.

“I completely forgot about The Hunting Games. I went to visit Elloren’s parents.”

“Is that why your father said you smell like not human death?” Pulling Ethan’s ear I replied,

“How did you hear that? Where were you hiding?”

“I will never tell you.” Ethan replied with mirth in his eyes. Studying his face a little longer, I decided I did not want to know. If he told me then that’s one less spot he could hide from me. And well, there is no fun in that.

“Non, I think he picked up on the scent of Godric. Elloren’s parents smell very much like human death.”

“Qui est-ce ?”

“I’m not sure who Godric maybe yet. Once I know more, I will share.” Giving Ethan a little smile, I could see curiosity in his brown eyes.

“Who is the guest?” I asked him. Meeting my eyes in the floor length mirror, I saw a new fear. One I did nothing to earn.

Slipping on the red lace gloves, I waited for him to answer. After another second of silence, Ethan opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Once he finished pinning my curls in place, I gave myself a glance over. Dripped in lace and pearls all that was missing is my black lip.

Placing my hands on Ethan’s face now that satin black lipstick covered my full lips. I said,

“Remember mon animal de compagnie, I am your master. If I ask a question I expect an answer. I will take your silence as rebellion, and I will treat it as the threat I feel it to be.”

Nodding his head, eyes to the floor Ethan remained still.

Removing my hand from his warm skin, Ethan knows a dismissal when I give one.

A few minutes later I began making my way down the hall to the main ballroom. I could tell the guest are here. So many voices and scents. I could hear some prey out in the woods hiding. Some bathed in the mud to cover their scent. Some of them, the smart ones rubbed themselves against the servants combining their scents. Those ones would hide away in the house. The servants never participated in the hunting. Someone must clean the slaughter up once we are finished.

Standing at the landing of one of three grand staircases in this house, I began my descend. All eyes followed me, and all voices ceased to create sound. To my right my parents stood. To my left stood Ethan and someone whose face I could not make out. Their mask is made of magic. Powerful magic, old magic, magic magic. Reaching the bottom of the staircase was taking too long for my personal taste, however tradition is tradition. My mother would die if I raced down the staircase like an unclassed species.

Making it to the bottom, finally I wanted to turn left. However, muscle memory turned me right. My father held out his hand, taking it I bowed to honor him.

My père is the oldest thing in the house. He is Maker of the Underground. And to that everyone including my mother bowed. Raising his glass filled with blood, my father began the same speech he’s always given.

“My friends, my family, my enemies. Tonight, we hunt those who have harmed us, those who wish to be like us, and those who fear us. Tonight, we pursue our darkest desires. We follow our most primal instinct. To hunt, to feed, to kill, to fuck, to be free.”

With that everyone clapped their hands and curled their lips around their glasses. Everyone except the person in the mask. Watching me, they gave me a little head nod. I do not nod at strangers. Opting to turn my attention towards my mother who was making her way towards the staircase. I have known my mother all my life, and it always amazes me that her grace in the most confided dresses still shines through.

“My dearest guest, please may I have your attentions? Merci. Tonight, is a special night. We have the honor of hunting with and welcoming him to our home and city.”

My mother stretched out her hand towards magic mask and cloak guy.

“Rejoignez moi, s'il vous plait.” With an invitation the man joined my mother on the staircase. Standing two steps below her, he kissed her hand.

“Please remove your cloak.” My mother ordered.

The man did as he was instructed. Within a second, I recognized the ash blonde hair that fell above his knees.

“My forever young friends, may I introduce to you, Godric, The Conquer.” The entire house roared with applause. Even though everyone’s face besides my parents is hidden, I could see their faces as if they wore nothing at all. Sabrina and Iris eyes glossing over with lust. No doubt they would try to seduce him. But for some reason I knew it would fail.

After the applause Godric took a bow. Locating me in the crowd, he came to me. This did not go unnoticed by my parents. Later they would have questions. And later my mother would assume this is who “I have met”.

“Hello St. Vincent.”

“Hello Sir Godric.”

Laughing, he drew the attention of several guests. I could see the same question burning in their brains. “How do they know each other?” Vampires rarely associate with others outside of our kind. And once you have been alive for as many centuries as my father. Well let’s just say it’s hard to care about the perseveration of any other race.

“You may call me Godric. Formalities are not wanted.”

“Not here, not in this setting.” Leaning to whisper in my ear he asked,

“Why not?”

“Because, if you are not a “Sir” or “Madame or “Mistress” you are prey. Are you prey Godric?”

“I could be if the hunter is worthy. Are you worthy St. Vincent?” For a moment his frosted silver eyes lit up with amusement. Happy I could entertain him.

“I still have one question remaining. May I ask it now?”

Cocking his head to the side, he replied.

“You asked your three questions. The last being “May I call you on Monday night.”

Turning to face him. I couldn’t believe he would hold that question against me.

“You can’t be serious Godric I had to go. I was attempting to be polite by asking. Unlike yourself who most likely charmed your way to getting my phone number and calling without asking.”

“Politeness in the wrong setting is rather dull. No charming was required from my part. Elloren was rather cooperative.” Rolling my eyes I needed to look anywhere but up and at him.

Apparently, he did not feel the same. I could feel his gaze on me. Observing me, drinking in my movements. Shaking my head was my attempt at trying to keep Elloren’s mother words from repeating again. “You have captured the heart of a Victorian.”

“Was she rested when you spoke to her?” I asked attempting to alter the conversation.

“Non.” Sighing at his response and realizing Ethan watched us from the second entrance into the room. Unfortunately, Godric realized the same thing.

“Who is he?” Pointing directly at Ethan, Godric smiled at him. Ethan too careful of new people did not smile back. He simply looked down.

“Shy?” Godric asked.

“Subservient.”

“To whom?”

“His master.”

“You own a slave St. Vincent?”

“He is not a slave. He may leave whenever he likes.”

Placing a lock of his hair behind his ear, Godric starred at Ethan. “Are you connected to him physically?” Removing my eyes from Ethan back to Godric I watched his face. More than that, I am watching him watch Ethan.

“Are you asking if I have sex with Ethan?”

“Oui”

“Oui I do.”

Godric’s face did not change, only the elegance in is grace did. His classical jawline clinched. Momentarily. Sliding his eyes from Ethan, Godric looked down at me.

“If I catch him, can I have you both?”

Blinking at his question. I would have stammered backwards if I could move. What did he mean both? Bisexual both, one at time both, or both at the same time both?

“I..I..I..” I shut my mouth trapping all my I’s in the back of my throat.

“I do not know if that’s in the rule book. We normally do not share our prey. Vampires can be unhinged when hunting and feeding. These games are designed with that in mind.”

With his elegant grace returned and a lean downwards. Godric whispered what would be the foundation of our future in my ear.

“If you set the rules I will follow them.”

Unfazed by this entire conversation, he smiled at me. It was one of those smiles you knew would lead to something dangerous. But when an actual God gives you that smile you also know the dangerous parts would come from you.

For a second, I thought he was bowing to me. It turns out he was bowing towards my mother. As he slipped out she slipped in. Too early to meet the parents officially I suppose.

“Godric Victorian, there is a reason he takes centuries to reappear.” My mother said from behind me.

I did not miss the amusement/warning in her voice. Kissing the top of my head she whispered,

“Are you ready to begin?”

I could smell the fresh blood on her breath reminding me of my own hunger. Turning to face her. Her hazel eyes glowed with desire for the chaos to come. My father once told me that my mother reminded him why he loved deadly things. I am convinced that when people picture becoming a vampire this is who they believe they will turn into. But my mother’s beauty could not be duplicated not even in her own daughter.

“Alucard êtes-vous d'accord? When was the last time you fed?”

“I am alright. I will feed plenty to make up for my lack of appetite.”

“Chérie, we feed when we are hungry not when we are depleted.”

“Can I ask you something after the games?”

If I asked her now, there is a strong possibility that she would indeed hunt down the Blackgates and return with head trophies. They must stay alive until the real threat could be defeated. Elloren’s mother is a vital resource for knowledge and all things vile.

“Anything.”

Bowing to my mother I took her hand and raising it to my lips. She maybe my mother but tonight everyone including myself would show proper respect to The Sun Eater.

After gathering all the guest outside, thirty vampires and The Conquer standing under the year’s first blood moon. It was too bright for any other stars to shine. The bright red moon casting a red shadow over the forest. Everything seems to be bathed in blood. A true foresight for what is to come. By morning Redrum lake would be true to its name.

The night is silent too silent. All the humans found their graves while all the others like Ethan who are a little more than human found their hiding spots. This set of prey are different, I could barely smell them. Let along track their scent. Taking a deeper breath, I tasted everything except fear. Where is the fear?

Looking around I could see every other vampire including my parents with a little confusing in their minds. The air should be thick with fear, tears, and prayer. However, it is not. Nothing…The forest itself seems frozen. Something is wrong, must be. Moving through the crowd faster than most vampires could see I stood in front of my father. The confusion was cleared from his face. Replaced by thrill. My father… thrilled? Now I know something is wrong. Patting my face he said,

“Godric, my chérie.”

“What did he do?”

“Even the playing field. Tell me what do you see?”

Searching past my father, I searched for energies. Blue, red, green, white, black. Those are the standards. If anything was in the forest, I would see them. The forest lit up. I could see the humans moving around, but something is containing their energies. There is a second skin around the energy. A barrier of some sort. That would explain not being able to hear them, not being able to smell them. But not being able to sense them? Godric did this?

He could blind my father like this. Or did my father simply allow himself to be blinded for the thrill of it all?

“I can see them just fine, but they are being protected by a barrier.”

Laughing my father asked, “Can you see them without perfect vision?”

“Papa, that’s not how it works. I have no control over it. Yet. The Devil’s Amulets aka your old eyes have so many different layers. If one sight does not work, it switches to what does. There is nothing I cannot see, weather I want to or not.”

“Very well, for tonight try to enjoy.”

A silent gust of wind was the only indication that my father went up. Flying high in the sky, making the red moon his backdrop. He explained that tonight’s hunt would be different. All except for me would have to truly hunt their prey. He said it’s like being human again.

“As if he could remember all those moons ago.” I heard someone say. After the applause, my father came back down to earth. After kissing my mother, they disappeared. That was the signal for the hunt to begin.

Vampires went streaking into the night. A few stayed behind just in case any prey could be hiding in the house. I counted four of them hiding inside. But they weren’t just hiding, no they were chanting. If the barrier belonged to Godric, then what the fuck are they doing?

Without thinking I followed the sound of the chanting. It led me down to the cellar of our house. Only a few are allowed here. Down here housed my father’s original coffin. The one I needed to survive as child. Reaching the door, I felt a familiar presence. Elloren is here. Standing at the top of the staircase.

She was no stranger to The Hunting Games. In fact, in her earlier years, she used it as therapy to exercise her own demons.

She must have attempted to follow me. However, everyone pauses at the top of the staircase. No lights guided you down the twists and turns of the staircase. There is nothing but cold stone and the creeping terror of my father demons.

“Elloren, do you need help?” I asked.

“Alucard, thank goodness I thought something else was down there. Why is it so dark?”

“It’s meant for vampires not necromancers.”

“Will I die if I attempt to come down?”

“Likely.”

“Then come get me. I can hear the chanting too.”

In a half a second, I was standing in front of Elloren. By now, she is comfortable with my ability to appear and disappear. She no longer screamed or even flinch. Thirteen years of friendship has conditioned her well enough to know when I am moving and when I am not. Conditioned her well enough to give out my number by memory.

In the low light coming from the hallway twenty feet away from the cellar’s staircase, Elloren looked better than she has in the past days. The dark circles under her eyes still visible even with the makeup. But tonight, she wore her blue hair in two space buns decorated with red roses. Her dress created by sheer nude fabric also covered in red roses. The material didn’t cling to her body like my dress, instead it outlined it. She looked more like a fairy then a necromancer.

“You look enchanting Elloren.”

“Merci Princess.” Elloren took a step back bowing to me. When our eyes met again, she nodded her head towards the cellar.

“Do you know what kind of chant it is?” Elloren, asked.

“No, but I do know they are not supposed to be down there.”

Turning my back to her I used my telekinetic powers picking her up and moving us quickly to the cellar doors. Once her feet were planted on the ground, Elloren took hold of my hand.

“Do you think we should call for help, just in case?” I could hear the fear in her voice. It vibrated though the stone walls.

“Not yet, especially if it’s easy to handle or a part of Godric’s powers.

“Wait what? Godric is here? I didn’t see him? And he is universally hard to miss.”

“Oui, Godric is here. Apparently, he is welcomed here for The Hunting Games.”

“Or he came here for you Alucard. Think about it. He is not a vampire or his he? Some sort of special hybrid?”

Peaking around my shoulder, I could see her enthusiasm in the form of a smile. Laying my head on top of hers I replied,

“Non, he is The God of Destruction.”

Jerking back Elloren went silent again. I could hear her thinking, processing. We will pick this conversation up another time. Right now, we have other important things to figure out.

Elloren swallow the next words she was about to say. They landed on her unsettled stomach. Taking a deep breath as a cue to her that I am about to open the door, her grip on my hand tighten. Her fear leaking out her fingertips, attempting to pour into me.

“You do not have to come. Stay here.”

“No way, if you die and I was around your parents would kill me. Literally.”

There is nothing I can say to that. My parents love Elloren like their own daughter, but she is not their daughter and vampires are terribly unforgiving.

Pulling the iron doors open, the smell of witches’ magic slapped me so hard I almost gasped. At first there was nothing to see. Not suspicious, but the chanting ceased. Very suspicious. We moved deeper into the room. And by we, I meant I went deeper into the room pulling Elloren with me. The Holy Trinities got to her. I on the other hand saw their threat as no more than a threat. To Elloren it is her childhood all over. A more advanced thing using you draining you of your magic. You have the power to escape just not knowing how to use that power to escape. That is psychological damage. Elloren still hates a part of herself for not knowing how to use her body to save her body soul.

Moving to the center of the room, I felt Elloren taking a deep breath. A million burning candles lit up the room upon her exhale. Once our feet landed on what I knew was a gold and royal purple Persian rug. I knew we now stood in the center of the room. Elloren gasped at the sight of the space, however to me nothing seemed out of place. The stone walls covered in royal purple silk. Above us hung one of the only human skull chandeliers in the world. Different sized skulls made up the three rows that hung from the base. The skulls were not collected from mindless killings, no. These past people hunted my people. They slaughtered them. Vampires have never been peaceful. However, we have never started wars either. For what reason? Whatever we required we took.

That was the problem, we took from them they took from us. We just happened to be better thieves. Silk may have aligned the walls, but thousands of spells covered the stone walls underneath the silk. These spells served two purposes. The first being to keep my father safe when he goes into his deep sleep. The second one came later. It’s a spell designed to keep me in. Just in case I temporarily lose my mind again.

In the far-right corner, there is a very old coffin. One that moves to the center if this room when in use. One that someone would fully expect to find a mummy in. The wood did not decay. The carvings on it did not fade, and its memories still potent. The room smelled of only my father and the little girl version of me. The chanting only sounded like he came from this room. Or whoever it is are very good at secretion.

“Is this where you were when you went insane?” Rolling my eyes and pulling my hand from Elloren’s. I went to inspect the coffin. Memory, wise I knew no one could open this coffin outside of my father and me. My mother was not welcomed here. Current events wise, anything is possible.

“I did not go insane. By body grew faster than my mind at one point. It was hard to control myself.”

“So, they put you down here to do what?”

“To be contained and to hunt. The cellar is much bigger than this room. We came straight down the staircase, but the staircase does break off at certain points.”

Inspecting the coffin, everything is in place. Opening it, the taste of my childhood danced on the tip of my tongue. Inside the coffin is not grand. More wood more markings no clues about who had been chanting in here. Sighing I sat on top of the coffin. My red lace dressing pooling around my feet like a sea of nausea. Wait nausea?

Looking up, the nausea starring back me. There’s a knife pointed at Elloren’s throat. I started to move but then the voice that belonged to the hand that was holding the knife spoke.

“No, no vampire I wouldn’t move if I were you.”

“That’s why you are you and I am me.” I replied Standing up.

The knife dug into Elloren’s skin. She didn’t scream. But panic ran freely in her eyes. This is not the first time a knife as met the delicate skin of her throat.

“Don’t think about calling your fairies either. I can smell them before they make it to our side.” They advised. Speaking the words directly into Elloren’s ear.

The face belonging to the hand holding the knife was covered in a mask. Not a normal mask, one made from thick old magic. Magic that smelled of human death. Blackgate? Couldn’t be. They are not that stupid to invade my home. Non, not a BlackGate, but maybe that little psycho?

Opening my mouth to speak, the invader stopped me.

“Don’t waste your time asking dumb questions. I will not tell you who I am or why I came. The only thing that matters is I did come and yes, I found what I was looking for. I found two things.”

“Elloren being one?”

“You do have vision.” Their voice is familiar, only because they sound like everyone I know. From The Headmaster to my own father. Fuck, they came prepared.

“Why Elloren?”

“Simple she doesn’t belong to you or here vampire. You stole her.”

“Non, I simply removed her from a situation she nor I wanted her to be in. She is free to leave at any moment.”

“Like Ethan?”

“Non and Oui. Ethan has never been in a position where he nor I did not like. He is a gift.”

“Pourquoi oui?”

“Yes, because he does belong to me.”

Using ‘Devil’s Search” I quickly located Ethan. He needed to be safe. Had to be safe. He is indeed not safe. Not only is he speaking to Godric, but his eyes are hooded, and his lips are a little parted. He is aroused. Such a whore. But as long as he kept speaking with Godric, he should be safe. Please Godric, keep him safe.

“You found the things that you want why are you still here?” I asked.

The masked invader only starred at me for a few seconds before whispering something in Elloren’s ear. With hesitation, Elloren nodded her head in agreeance to whatever the demand was. In one smooth second, the invader slit Elloren’s throat. Before the first drop of blood could touch the collar of her dress. The invader was through the cellar doors and up the stairs. I could have chased after them, however Elloren did something unexpected. Falling to the ground hyperventilating.

Bleeding out and gasping for air? Not a good combination. Removing her hands from her neck, the wound is nothing more than a shallow cut. But that was all that was required for the venom to take hold. I could see it spreading throughout her body like cracks in a windshield. Biting my own wrist, I instructed Elloren to drink. Regardless of how sexy the movies try to make blood drinking. It is not unless I am the one doing the drinking. Allowing anyone to drink my blood directly from the source was about as painful as sudden amputation. The body is too shocked to register the pain but once it catches up all hell breaks loose.

Elloren took deep drinks and with every pull I fought the urge to knock her off me. Mind against body. The irony of this happening in this room is not lost on me.

Once her bloodstream cleared. Elloren stopped herself. Sitting back on her knees and wiping her mouth. Oddly enough her bloodstained mouth made her costume look more authentic. Falling back on my bottom I nodded in her direction,

“Are you okay?”

With a huge grin on her face she replied, “More than okay. I know who they are.”