The three women were all dazzling to look at, just Chloe wore more of a teenager style with her extra layers of colors amidst the black.
Draven, he seemed the odd one out, wore anything and everything black. I'm surprised he wasn't wearing lipstick or heavy make up.
"What do you think you can do about it? You're pathetic, Draven." Melaina pressed a finger into Draven's chest, causing him to grab it, forcing her hand away. Quickly she was ready to throw her other hand up and slap him. Draven caught her hand in mid slap only to twist her arm around then kick her into the wall causing her to pass through it. I stared at how she went through then came back through with a clawed hand ready at his throat.
I was ready to jump at them, almost in fear of another fight.
I focused on the two, that I hadn't realized Corinne was approaching me. She was looking me up and down real well before grabbing my cheeks with her thumb and index finger. I looked over at Ian and Jayne, both holding each other away from the insane fit of words, Ian protecting Jayne though he was injured.
Corinne looked me over as if I was a piece of jewelry that she was going to inspect before she bought it. I felt more like an object than a person in that moment more than I have ever before. It was almost just the same at school, never a person, just something to tack on the wall to stare at and make fun of.
I started to protest her judgement before Chloe meandered to Ian and Jayne.
"You two aren't going to make it out today. Is there anything you want me to write in your letters before you move on?" Chloe twirled her ruffled skirt and clanked her heels on the ground angrily. "Really, Niko?" She turned around to the broken window only to stomp her way to it.
"Finally. Everyone's here." Melaina quickly stepped aside from Draven and patted her dress smooth. "Enough fighting with you. Now that Niko is here we can finally go to the damn party. Chloe, bring those two with. Aunt, what do we do with her?"
Corinne turned her head only to see Melaina slightly. She kept her distance from Draven, who kept himself close to me, but away from everyone else. Another person belonging to the group, crawled through the window from the outside. "I told him to make sure the police stay out of it anyways."
"Aunt Corinne," Draven walked towards Corinne, his eyes pleading.
"That's enough. You've already gotten into two fights today. I am not going to be the third. Understood? I have had about enough of you for these last years, Draven. Bring them all in. I'm still thinking of what to do with this one yet," She grabbed a lock of my hair only to brush it away from my neck and lay it behind my back. I shivered letting her, only because my body was frozen stiff. She leaned her head over my neck to give a sharp inhale before finally smiling to retreat away from me. "Let's go."
Draven pulled me away from the other three as Corinne began her way down the hallway. Niko pushed Ian and Jayne right behind her. I didn't get a full good look at him, but his hair was dirty blonde, lighter at the ends yet shorter more towards the sides covered in loose curls. He was clean shaven, with structurally sound jawbones that gave him an almost chiseled look. He was innocent looking with light blue eyes that looked like flowing oceans. He wasn't as tall as the other two guys, but more around five foot eight or nine.
"Melaina, Chloe. Go look for about four more people. Same as last year. Keep it simple." Corinne glanced back a bit, locking eyes with the two. Chloe hopped around excitedly following promptly while Melaina glared as she carefully walked through the wall away from everyone.
I think I was ready to faint, judging how Draven held onto me tighter than before. I had no idea what was going on. They either disappeared in the walls or through the shadows. "What is this? Who are you people?"
Draven shook his head not answering me, but instead rushed me down after my friends. Finally, I could hear the music coming from the main area we first were in. I looked around as we walked passed everything into a separate area that had music playing in the background, but more classical. I couldn't tell what was going on. The room had lounging chairs and long couches, all in black and elegant as ever. Fresh flowers were in vases on tables or shelves, some looked exotic as well. Vines outlined the room, almost as if they were going to engulf the place. I saw a record player in the corner, nothing covered in dirt or dust. The room had definitely been used more often than I thought.
Jayne and Ian both sat on a couch together, Ian holding tightly onto her. I hobbled around across from them and sat in a lounge chair to put my leg up as Draven asked me. Carefully he eyed my leg and knelt down carefully, "I'm going to see the stab mark again" I nodded letting him roll my dress up along my leg. I didn't feel I had much of a choice. Wanting to avoid watching him I tried to keep Jayne's eye contact, she was just as scared as I was, as he ran his nail across the cut. After the pain reached my brain, I let out a yelp. He pierced my skin with his thumbnail, letting blood trickle out again.
"It was healing wasn't it? Why'd you open it back up?" I looked down to where his hand was. I about fell over seeing that my leg was spiderwebbed with my veins showing around the wound. They were all black and sickly looking. Tears started to swell up in my eyes. I looked away, holding my temples between my thumb and middle finger. "I'm so sorry…" Jayne nodded at me while hanging onto Ian tightly.
Corinne walked behind Jayne and leaned over towards the side of her head. "You don't need to be so scared dear. We just need to talk to you three." Corinne lifted her head up to give me a toothy smile. My skin crawled, I know Ian's teeth have been all sharpened, but Corinne's teeth were perfectly straight besides her canines which were extremely elongated more than normal.
A quick gasp escaped my mouth, initiating my body's fight or flight instincts. I grasped onto Draven's shoulders while vaulting my body off of the seat. I bolted for the door, but with my leg being sore, I could only hobble slowly to it. The blonde man, Niko stood in front of me, causing me to bump into him. I let out a scream knowing the doorway was wide open with nobody in it, now he blocked it within seconds. Draven was quickly behind me pulling me away from Niko.
"Who the hell are you people? Let us out!" My leg started to ache, causing me to collapse onto the ground in a fit of pain. It felt more like it was running up my leg and into my stomach now. I doubled over wrapping my arms around my waist tightly.
Draven let out a snarl that was more animal than human, "Niko! What the hell was that for?"
"No one leaves here. We'll have to wait until she's fully dead before we let her out anywhere anyways due to your major screw up. Five of us main family members are all fine and dandy! But six? Come on Drave, be real now."
Draven walked closer to Niko but was stopped by a clap from Corinne. "Draven, you'll end up like the others if you keep this up."
Draven helped me up carefully then led me back to the chair. "Go right ahead. You need me anyways. If I'm gone then you won't have an upper hand when you go see the council." Draven stood next to me with his arms crossed. "Or maybe you can use your own strength and divination to make sure you survive and maybe not die." I watched his body trying to figure it out scientifically. I could see his heart was still beating. He had a pulse, but I was more confused as his fangs were just the same as Corinne's. What are they exactly? I glanced at Niko who's body seemed to work just the same. They are nothing like the vampires in books and movies.
"Draven, I'm done arguing with you. Take a seat with the woman already. I don't want to hear another peep from you."
As if on cue, Melaina and Chloe waltzed in with their 'special VIP guests' behind them. Five people chatted as they arrived into the room. "Aunt Corinne, these people look as if they are very promising." Melaina tossed her hair around her shoulder and smiled at the three guys over her shoulder. "Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the one and only Corinne de Haute."
Corinne smiled walking up to the new guests. She carefully inspected each and every person just as much as she did to me. After a few minutes, she pulled the youngest looking female, I recognized her as someone sitting with Jayne's yoga instructor. Her boyfriend was with her and excited to see his woman picked. "Chloe, why don't you get the tunnels opened up for us. I think the other four will have to wait while we inspect our new subject."
Chloe guided the other four into a room that only had a key that would open it. I watched carefully wanting to know what was behind the door. All I saw was stone walls with support beams. It leads right into the mines below. That's what she meant by tunnels. My brain started to try and calculate the way out if we managed to go through there as well. There was an old map on the wall, but I'm not sure how accurate it really is from not getting a closer look. Jayne was watching me knowing full well my brain was scavenging for a way out. Draven stood before me blocking anyone towards me.
The others happily went through the doorway but were all instantly locked in from behind.
Draven looked away from Corinne who grabbed a lock of the woman's hair and tightened her fist into the hair. Corinne tilted the woman's head to the side, and to Jayne, Ian, and my horror, she took a widened bite into the throat of the smiling girl. She never screamed but seemed to enjoy it. I'm positive she was drugged or brainwashed. I saw the force of the bite go down into the lady's flesh, only to trickle blood out from around her. Corinne lifted the woman's arm out to have Melaina and Chloe quickly latch onto her arm causing the woman to only smile at them. Again, she lifted the other arm for Niko to take hold of with his fangs digging into her flesh as well. Draven kept his look away from the feeding frenzy, only to grip his own stomach digging his nails into it.
Jayne froze, letting out an alarmed scream only for a second before having her head tucked into Ian's chest. He stared, afraid but trying to keep tough for his girlfriend. I watched for a few minutes, I never knew that such a simple act as this would scare her so badly. The minute I turned my head away from the feast, she started to scream in pain.
Whatever spell she was under had worn off now and her screaming made everyone on edge. The woman even sounded as if she was drowning as her screams became more gargled. I could hear her breathing began to become more and more staggered. Medically she had to be operated on soon or something otherwise she was going to die.