F.D. (Ch.11)

Queen Andréa was beside herself with grief. What had possessed her to say those things to Lori? She felt a familiar presence at hand, but she couldn’t make out what or who it was that was controlling her. It was as if her own thoughts were some how replaced with those she knew where her own, but some how foreign to her thoughts. She couldn’t figure out why she had said what she did, or what compelled her to feel so abashed about it later on, yet she did. It was she. Queen Andréa began to fear that she might be loosing herself in the middle of what was to become the ruin of her children. She closed her eyes, walking mechanically through the void, drifting further and further away from the troubles she had so recently come to know. The sea air tickled her tired face, and she slowly opened her eyes to find herself in a sand covered arena, stonewalls towering high leaving a dome shaped roof. It was The Dome of Life. Queen Andréa faintly remembered this place, with its old, arching rooftop, and it’s sagging oil paintings of the treacherous sea. She held all the power of her people here. She laid her body on the cold, marble flooring, and gazed up at the dome ceiling. What was she to do?

Lori was sitting in Thelonious’ room. He had let her sleep all through the next day and came to wake her, telling her it was time for her to go out. She was excited until she found out his little sister would be tagging along. Siblings, they just make you so irritable sometimes. Ashley came into the room, fiddling with her hands and looking at Lori as if she were going to pounce upon her.

            “Are you ready? We should get going.” Lori returned her stare.

            “What exactly are we doing?”

            “Thelonious doesn’t want me to say. Let’s go.” Lori, of course, was suspicious, but did she have a choice anymore? She needed to be long somewhere, and if this was the way, it was the way.

The two of them left the lair and walked two miles to a small patch of earth.

            “A field? Thelonious wanted me to follow you all the way to a field?” Lori was incredulous. She was beginning to feel like she was the tag along, not Ashley.

            “Don’t be stupid. Do you see that house over there?” Lori nodded, a little defensive in her body language. “I want you to go and knock on the door, say that you’re weak and been terribly hurt. They’ll admit you. Once you’re in, and no one is watching, grab the girl in one of the rooms. Her name is Elizabeth, and run back to me.” Lori glanced at Ashley.

            “And what will you be doing?” Her eyebrows were raised. Ashley snorted.

            “Sitting here, letting you do all the work.”

            “Well, at least your honest.” Lori walked towards the house, and, reaching the door, knocked on it several times.

Josh was running about like a mad man. He could smell distinctly who he was after, but his consciousness told him to stop and think. What exactly was it that he was doing? Who was there? He could feel someone, someone he recognized, but who?

Thelonious paced back and forth down the hall, checking his soldiers. This was the night. The plan had already been set in motion, and now, all there was to do was to wait until he heard the terrified screams. Then, the war would begin.

Queen Andréa let the tears flow from her eyes like rain from the sky. She heard a sound behind her, and unwilling to move she feebly made an attempt to find out who had come into the Dome. It was said that only the royal could enter.

            “Who’s there?” She said, her voice hoarse and raspy.

            “Andréa, so could to see you again. Tell me how is our daughter?” Queen Andréa shot up as fast as she could. Before her, as she slowly turned around, fear engulfed every fiber of her being.

            “My Lord…” She whispered.

            “Oh, come now, don’t be so modest.” The guest strolled over to her and lifted her up off of the floor and gathered her into his arms. “Have you seen much of her?” Queen Andréa shook her head.

            “No, I haven’t. She’s dead.” He smiled a perfect smile, showing all of his teeth, and two humongous fangs.

            “Oh, my dear, you only think so.”

            “Shavor, what do you mean?” She said, pushing away from him. Lord Shavor chuckled.

            “Destruction.”

After Lori had knocked another few times, a loud shuffling from within the house could be heard and a man groaning slowly opened the door. At the sight of Lori by the porch light, she collapsed on to the ground. The man, shocked, hurriedly picked her up and put her on the couch, picking up the phone.

            “Yes, Doctor, come quick. I have a girl here. She looks damn hurt. Come quick.” He glanced at Lori and sprinted quickly to the kitchen to boil some water. Lori jumped up off the couch and ran into every room she saw, her heart beating wildly. Then, finally, she peered into a darkened room where a young girl of about Ashley’s age was lying.

            “Elizabeth…” she breathed aloud. The girl turned her head slightly to look at Lori. An eerie sensation crept over her. Her eyes were pitch black, and her skin was slightly pale. Lori felt like she’d seen her somewhere before, but couldn’t place her. She walked into the room cautiously, and threw back the bed sheets.
            “I’m awfully thirsty.” Elizabeth moaned.

            “Shh. Don’t talk so loud.”

            “Where are you taking me? I’m so thirsty.” Lori had Elizabeth in her arms, but could hear the man in the background, walking carefully with a teapot. She wouldn’t have time to run to the door. She saw a window and kicked it open, the latch not being securely fastened. She set Elizabeth on the windowsill and jumped up, dragging her down as she slid down the wall. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, pain shooting through her tendons. She couldn’t remember when she had moved so much in her life. Finally, she reached Ashley, and Elizabeth let out a gasp of desperation.

            “Please! I’m so thirsty!” Ashley smiled.

            “Good work. Let’s go back.”

            “Shouldn’t we giver her something to drink?”

            “Are you crazy? Look at her? She’s a vampire, dimwit.” Lori opened her mouth, but shut it again. Why was Ashley so mean to her? “Now, let’s go.” The two of them headed back to the lair.

            “What’re we to do with her once we get back?” Ashley, for the first time since their meeting, looked at Lori with fear in her eyes.

            “I’m not sure.” Lori looked down on Elizabeth, her eyes in the back of her head.

            “Can vampires die from not drinking enough blood?” Ashley shrugged her shoulders.

            “I’ve never had to drink blood, and Thelonious apparently thinks I’m a vampire.” Lori laughed.

            “Yeah, you look nothing like one though.”

            “You look nothing like a creature yourself.” Lori cast her eyes down.

            “I know.”

            “I’m sorry…” Ashley began apologetically, but Lori just shook her head.

            “It’s alright.” Elizabeth began to whine, and Ashley and Lori, unaware of what was to come, walked into a full-throttle battle zone.