Years had passed since that night. I had reluctantly moved back into my old home and had my new servants clean up the mess that had been left behind.
During the years I had taught Adrian how to read and write as well as do basic math. However the shock of that night never left him and more often than not I would catch him talking to himself.
I decided that it would be best to let him learn the ways of the undertaker. It would be best for him since he knew about the existence of Vampires.
I was headed to the undertaker with Adrian following me.
"Bartholomew?" I called when I reached the undertaker's shop.
"Well, well, if it isn't Sapphira Delauny. It's been a while since I've seen you last. How can I help you?" An elderly gentleman asked. He appeared to be in his late seventies with white hair, blue eyes and pale skin.
"I have an apprentice for you," I replied with a smile. Bartholomew walked over to Adrian. He studied Adrian.
"What's your name boy?" He asked Adrian.
"Adrian," Adrian replied in a quiet voice.
"He knows about Vampires," I told Bartholomew.
"Do you?" Bartholomew asked Adrian. Adrian nodded as a response. "Do you know how to read?" He questioned. Once again Adrian nodded. "How about counting?" He inquired. Adrian nodded as an answer. "Do you know how to write?" Bartholomew questioned. Adrian nodded again. I inwardly smiled. Bartholomew looked at me and nodded.
"I'll be on my way. I need to visit someone," I said and then left the undertaker's shop, leaving Adrian behind with Bartholomew.
I headed to the church where Priest was. I entered the church and sat down in a pew.
"Well, it's been a while Sapphira," Priest said when he walked up to me.
"Priest," I greeted with a small smile.
"I'm not willing to give you my blood," he informed me.
"I'm not after your blood. Not this time," I said. He studied me with mild suspicion. I sighed and noticed the scars on the palms of his hands. "I just wanted to visit," I told him. He regarded me, still suspicious.
"Mass starts soon," he said, still suspicious of me. I couldn't blame him. After all, I had taken his blood on a number of occasions. Now the one time I wanted to visit was the one time I didn't want to take his blood.
"I'll stay for mass," I said with a small smile. He hesitantly smile back. I watched him as he walked away. Two years had changed him. It had changed me as well.
I respected humans more now that I had grown attached to one. I also wouldn't be taking Priest's blood if he wasn't willing to give his blood. Which wouldn't be anytime soon. My guess was that Priest would never be willing to give his blood. So I would have to Hunt.
People began to file into the church and sit down in the uncomfortable pews. I got a few odd looks that I ignored. When everyone was seated, Priest walked up to the pulpit and began his sermon.
I listened attentively and decided that I would come here more often. When mass was over I left the church. Priest was doing well. Right now, I needed to Hunt.
I went to the harbors, glad that it was now night and began my search for prey. Much to my disappointment, there was no one wandering around tonight. Apparently London had changed as well. I sighed and returned home.
Another Vampire was waiting for me. She appeared to be twenty-two years old with light brown hair that was up in curls, brown eyes and a small figure.
"Sapphira Delauny," she greeted when I stopped in front of her. "I'm Allison, Hive Queen," she told me with a polite smile.
"I know who you are," I said coldly. Allison was know for her beauty as well as her cruelty.
"And I know who you are," Allison commented in an equally icy voice. We regarded each other with cold glares.
"What is it that you want?" I asked in a blank voice.
"I want you to leave Priest alone," Allison told me. I blinked with surprise.
So that's why he has scars and no holes in his hands, I thought.
"No," I said. She glared at me and I gave her a blank look in return. "He was mine first," I told her.
"But he is mine now. My blood runs through his veins," she said with a triumphant smile.
"Not for long," I commented as I turned around. Allison was an enemy I could handle.
I ran at full speed towards the church and entered it before they closed the doors. Allison was close behind me. I whirled around and flung her across the sanctuary. She landed against the heavy oak doors as I turned back around and saw Priest. Priest turned around and ran.
I bit deep into my wrist and easily caught up with Priest. I forced my bleeding wrist into his mouth. He struggled against my grip, attempting to remove my wrist from his mouth. He was eventually forced to swallow my blood. After the third time, I removed my wrist from his mouth. He slumped to the floor with a cry of pain as his blood surged through his veins. I turned to Allison.
"We will see whose blood is stronger," I said as I ignored her glare.
"Indeed we will," Allison said coldly. She left the church and I was relieved to see her go. She had been about the same age as I was, perhaps a bit younger. However, if the rumors were true, she was cruel. Crueler than most Vampires her age.
She's still an enemy I can handle, I thought as Priest began to writhe on the floor. I left the church, leaving Priest in agony.
There was nothing I could do to help him anyway. Unless I killed him. Which I had no intention of doing. Perhaps I was just as cruel as Allison. I headed back home.
"Noah," I called when I reached home and closed the front door. Hunting had been horrible and I was thirsty.
"Yes?" Noah inquired, almost instantly appearing at the top of the stairs.
"Come here," I ordered. He obeyed me and loosened his necktie while he walked towards me. He reached me and tilted his head back. I sank my fangs into the pulsing blue vein. He winced as I opened my mouth to catch every drop of blood that flowed down my throat.
He slumped in my grip and I parted from his throat. I licked his wound. Vampire saliva had curative properties. We were able to heal certain wounds but not the fatal ones. Not unless we turned the dying human. Which they didn't survive most of the time.
"You have a visitor," Noah told me.
"Who is it?" I inquired with mild curiosity. I hadn't had a visitor in two years now and I had to admit, I was a bit nervous.
"An Allison," he replied as I noticed his hand.
"You gave her some tea," I said. He nodded as a reply. "Good," I thought out loud as I headed to the drawing room. Allison was there, sipping her bloodied tea. I sat down across from her and studied her.
"Your butler's blood is quite delicious," she told me as I cleaned the blood off of my mouth. "You already knew that though," she said with a smile as she took another sip of tea.
"What do you want?" I asked with curiosity.
"To form an alliance," she answered as she put her tea down. I blinked with surprise. "Oh don't get me wrong, I'm furious about what you've done, but we'll see whose blood is stronger. Besides, I could use someone like you in my Hive," she told me with a smile.
"Why?" I questioned with confusion.
"There's safety in numbers," Allison responded, taking another sip of her tea. "That and your enemy would become our enemy," she added.
I debated my options. I could either remain her enemy and have her entire Hive after my head or I could join her Hive and be her ally. If I did become her ally I would have to share Priest.
It's either share him or leave him to die, I mentally concluded.
"Very well," I said as Allison took another sip of tea. "I'll join your Hive," I told her as she finished her tea. "What must be done?" I inquired, curious despite myself.
"We share a bond with all the members of the Hive," she replied.
"So I have to share my blood?" I asked.
"We all share our blood," she told me. We fell silent. "I will see you soon," she said as she got up. Noah appeared at the doorway and showed Allison the way out.
I sighed and poured myself some tea. I would have to be prepared for their visit. That meant preparing for eight guests at the most.
"What am I doing?" I thought out loud.
"Being smart," an unwelcome, familiar voice answered. The Ancient Vampire who I hadn't seen or heard of in two years was sitting across from me. "Hives are such a pain," he said as he poured himself some tea.
"Then I intend to join this Hive," I told him, wondering why he wasn't trying to rip my head off. As far as I was concerned we were still enemies.
"I have a message for you," he said as he took a sip of tea.
"A message?" I repeated with slight surprise.
"Yes, a message. If I didn't have a message for you I would be ripping your head off right now," he told me, his dead sounding voice seeming somewhat exasperated. He took another sip of tea. I waited patiently for him to deliver his message.
"What's your message?" I inquired, curious despite myself.
"If your Priest doesn't die, he's going to be mine," he informed me with a smile.
"You wouldn't dare," I hissed as the realization of his message dawned on me.
"Oh but I did dare. And his blood was quite delicious," he said with a chuckle.
"You turned him?!" I asked, now furious with him.
"Of course I did," he told me as he took another sip of tea. "Let's see if he survives the Change," he added with a chuckle. I put my teacup down and lunged at him with a growl.
I didn't even see him move. But he was cutting off my air supply as I struggled against his grip.
"I'm not starved like last time little girl," he said, glaring at me. He put his teacup down and threw me against the couch I had been sitting in.
I gasped for air and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Let's talk like the civilized beasts we are," he said with a smirk. I picked up my tea and took a sip, keeping a wary eye on him.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked as I cautiously took a sip of tea.
"You mean besides giving me your blood? Nothing," he replied calmly.
"I will never give you my blood," I spat as I glared at him with pure hatred.
"I can always take it," he said as he took another sip of tea. I fell silent. He was right. He could always take my blood and I wouldn't know until his fangs were in my throat.
"You're weakened," I said as the realization dawned on me. "Turning Priest weakened you and you want my blood," I concluded with a small, smug smirk. He was silent. "I'm right," I said, my smile growing.
"Turning humans weakens us Vampires, but you wouldn't know that since you've never turned anyone," he reluctantly admitted.
"And you have. Have they ever survived?" I asked, curious despite myself.
"Unfortunately, no. I guess you can't bring the dead back to life. Even with cursed blood," he replied, taking another sip of tea.
"Cursed blood?" I repeated as I put my teacup down. He was silent, his black eyes becoming just as dead as his voice. "You make it sound like you're our Origin," I commented.
"Everyone knows that story is just to keep Vampires in line," he stated in a dismissive voice.
"You've heard it though," I said quietly unsure of where my boundaries were right now.
"Of course. Which Vampire hasn't heard of the story of our Origin?" He countered, glaring at me.
"No Vampire I know hasn't heard that story," I replied, knowing it was a rhetorical question and not caring. He raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of tea.
"That was a rhetorical question," he said. I was silent.
"When you say cursed blood you make it sound like you're our Origin," I commented, changing the subject. He was silent as he took a sip of tea. "Are you our Origin?" I inquired.
"That's for me to know and you to find out," he answered with a smirk as he took another sip of tea. I glared at him as I took a sip of tea.
"Are you our Origin?" I repeated.
"And if I am?" He countered with a sigh.
"Then I've made a fatal mistake," I responded.
"You've made a fatal mistake even if I'm not your Origin," he told me as he finished his tea.
"I regret it," I said as I finished my tea. He raised an eyebrow. "I do," I stated, being completely honest.
"I find that difficult to believe," he commented.
"It's the truth," I said. "What do I have to do to prove to you I'm telling the truth?" I asked with mild curiosity.
"I think you know the answer to that," he replied with a small smile. I hissed at him.
"You're not getting my blood," I told him. He chuckled and then left, moving so fast that I couldn't even see him. I shuddered and went to my room to read. Things were going to get him interesting now.