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Chapter 6 - Chapter Five

Priest was missing. I had gone to thank him for what he had done but he was gone and the scent of the Ancient Vampire was there as well as the lingering fear of Priest. I didn't know what to do. I should have known that he would go after Priest but I hadn't been expecting it.

I realized that I was glaring at the poor terrified nun who was trying to tell me something. I quickly blanked my expression and let her speak.

Apparently Priest had been abducted sometime last night b an unknown individual. No one had gotten a good look at the person. All they knew was that the individual who took Priest was a male, possibly eighteen years old. The only reason this nun knew this was because Priest had put up a fight which more than likely sealed whatever fate the Ancient Vampire had in store for him.

"Has Scotland Yard been informed?" I asked. The nun nodded as a reply. I went silent. The Scotland Yard could be useful at times. After all they had to know about us Vampires. For some reason though, I doubted that they would be able to find Priest. Which meant that it was up to me to find him. Something told me that wasn't going to be easy either.

"Where was he taken from?" I questioned as I looked at the confessional. It seemed to be where Priest's scent was the strongest.

"The confessional," the nun replied. I nodded once to show her that I had heard her and said nothing. She eventually walked away as I headed to the confessional.

There was surprise mixed with fear at the confessional. Priest had obviously been caught unaware when the Ancient Vampire struck.

I was silent as I breathed deeply, something I had learned to do to calm myself. Except it wasn't working this time. Instead I began to sniff the air. The Ancient Vampire had somehow found a way to the other side of the confessional; Priest's side. There he had struck, dragging a frightened, angry, surprised and struggling Priest from the confessional and had left. I searched the small space to see if there was a way into Priest's side. There was none which meant that Priest had more than likely seen him in the pews. That fact only aggravated me more.

I sniffed the air again and caught the slight scent of nervousness behind me. Reluctantly I turned around to see some of the Scotland Yard behind me.

"Gentlemen," I greeted with a small smile. They returned the smile as I stepped out of the confessional.

"Miss Delauny," the oldest member of the group called as I headed to where the scent of the Ancient Vampire was strongest. I stopped and looked at him over my shoulder.

"Yes?" I pressed when he glanced around nervously. I was in no mood to speak to them.

"Perhaps you could assist us in our search," he suggested in a quiet voice.

"Of course," I purred with delight. It would be my pleasure to find Priest and get back at this Ancient Vampire. He smiled nervously and then followed me as I headed to the pew where the Ancient Vampire's scent was the strongest. He had been there for a while before he had struck, surprising Priest.

The search for Priest that day had proved unsuccessful. So did the search the following day. As well as the day after. I was beginning to grow worried. So was the Scotland Yard. They weren't about to give up with me helping them but I could tell they wanted to.

A week passed before I tried another trail. Only two members of the Scotland Yard were with me. I didn't mind. I preferred the lesser numbers. We happened upon an abandoned church. I followed the trail inside the church and cautiously entered the building. There I saw Priest.

He was crucified, nails embedded in his hands and feet. A crown of thorns had been placed on top of his head. Blood coated his neck; fresh blood and dried blood. I walked over to him and heard his beating heart.

"Jesus," Eric, the youngest member with us said in a hushed voice.

"That seems to be the general idea," I commented when Priest's eyes fluttered slightly. They didn't open though.

I grabbed the bottom of the cross and lifted it out of the base before lowering it. I took the crown off his head and brushed his hair away form his now open eyes.

"Water," Priest said in a quiet voice. Derrick, the older member of Scotland Yard was about to get the stale water when I heard his neck snap like a wet twig. Eric gave a startled cry and then a scream of agony as I turned around to see Derrick's body fall to the floor. The Ancient Vampire was draining Eric dry. I leapt up and grabbed Eric, pulling him back.

Blood sprayed across the church pulpit as Eric clutched his wound. The Ancient Vampire was nowhere to be found and my thirst flared at the sight of blood. I couldn't help what happened next.

My mouth was on Eric's wound and he was struggling as his blood gushed into my mouth. Eventually his heartbeat stopped and I withdrew. I then realized what I had done. I had killed Eric. Scotland Yard would also hold me responsible for Derrick's death.

Unless you get out of here before they find this mess, I thought as I cleaned my teeth and mouth. I was about to leave when Priest came to mind. I looked at him.

He was watching me. I went over to him. He continued to watch me. I knelt down beside him, grabbed a nail and pulled. It came free with a small popping sound. Priest gave a soft cry of pain when the nail came free. I went to the other side and repeated the process, ignoring Priest's cry of pain. I then went to his feet and pulled the final nail free. Priest gave a final cry of pain and then went still.

I would have thought him dead if it weren't for the slow rising of his chest and the beating of his heart. I studied him before gently picking him up. Half expecting the Scotland Yard to show up I left the abandoned church, running at full speed until I reached the headquarters of Scotland Yard. There I put Priest down and headed back to the abandoned church to clean up the bodies.

"Back so soon?" The Ancient Vampire inquired mockingly behind me as I entered the church. I whirled around with a snarl. He was unfazed by my reaction. "Did you like my present?" He questioned with a smirk. "Of course, you ruined my meal; again," he told me, his smirk falling flat.

"You framed me," I hissed, trembling with rage. He seemed amused by my reaction.

"I wasn't the one who killed him," he told me, pointing to Eric's dead body. I fell silent. "Of course I intended to kill him until you ripped him away. How's your thirst been recently?" He inquired as he tilted his head to one side. I was silent as I glared at him. "Oh never mind. Did you like my present?" He asked with a smirk.

"No," I replied curtly.

"Pity, I'll have to try harder next time. Maybe I'll use your Blood Puppet again," he said as he smiled, revealing his fangs.

"Don't you dare," I said even though I knew it was pointless. He would if he wanted to and I wouldn't be able to stop him. He studied me silently.

"Or what?" He asked in a bored voice. "You'll kill me?" He added with a laugh.

"Yes," I answered with complete sincerity. He seemed amused by me.

"It's already been tried," he told me with an amused expression. I was silent. It probably had been tried and he had obviously won or he wouldn't be around. "Multiple times for that matter," he added, still amused. I was silent, glaring at him. He was silent. staring back at me. His amused expression became bored.

"You know, none of this would have happened if you didn't drink my blood," he told me in a matter of fact voice. I was silent. He sighed. "You're beginning to bore me," he stated.

"Am I?" I inquired with mock interest. He raised an eyebrow. "I'm terribly sorry that I'm such a bore," I told him sarcastically. He had no reaction but I thought I saw the flicker of an amused smirk.

"Let's make this game interesting, shall we?" He asked as an amused smile spread across his face, revealing his fangs.

"This isn't a game," I said in a cold voice.

"Not for you," he commented with a chuckle. "For me it is," he added as he studied me. "So let's make it even more enjoyable," he said with a laugh. I was silent, glaring at him with fury. "How is your relationship with your parents?" He inquired with a smirk.

"Don't you dare," I hissed when I realized what his plan was. He only smiled and then left at a speed too fast for me to follow.

I then heard footsteps approaching and left, not bothering to clean up the bodies. I had more pressing matters. I had to warn my parents about this Ancient Vampire.