I woke up under the covers of the perfectly made royal bed in my room at the quarters. The multiple cushions and the soft comforter devoured me with relaxation even though my arms and neck shouted pain. On the nightstand lay a glass full of water and a note saying, 'Come to the lobby once you get ready.'
Reluctantly, I left the heavenly bed and walked into the huge bathroom. I didn't stop at the mirror and instantly entered the shower. Dropping my clothes on the ground, I turned the knob on. The hot water made my shoulders drop and I could feel the pain in my body drift away. As I let the water heal my exhaustion, I thought about the events of the previous night. I remembered flashes: the sound of a crowd shouting in unison, waking up to find Ian's shirt ripped and hands soaked in blood, watching him as he cautiously carried me in his arms. I couldn't exactly remember what had happened, but I had a feeling it wasn't good.
I put on the only outfit in the closet; a blue knee length dress with feathery sleeves and ankle high boots; and stood in front of the closet mirror. The dress looked like something picked out for a gala or a very fancy party. It reminded me of the princesses I used to love reading about. I was hit with nostalgia as I stared at myself for a couple minutes. Then, letting my hair down, I left the room.
The lobby was empty. Not a soul was to be seen anywhere around. Wondering what to do next, I settled down on the nearest couch. I had never spent more than five minutes in this lobby and I had never had a chance to actually see it well. I sat gazing at the beautiful chandeliers, completely unaware of Terrence standing right next to the entrance.
I was startled by the sound of him clear his throat. 'Miss Carson.' he said.
'Liv,' I replied as he started walking over to me. 'Just Liv.'
He smiled at me. His smile was friendly and comforting. I smiled back. He came over and sat next to me.
'So, Liv,' he said, the smile still on his face. 'Do you remember anything from last night?'
I shook my head.
He continued, 'You were unconscious when Ian carried you back. Your hand was hurt and as per Ian, a bunch of other vampires had sensed it.'
'Wait, what?' I gasped.
'You don't have to worry.' he interrupted. 'The others are taking care of it. It's a good thing Ian was there with you yesterday, but I should say it was a dumb move to have gone out like that.'
'Wait, I don't understand.' I said, 'Are you saying we were attacked by other vampires? There are other vampires? What happened last night? And what do you mean by "taking care"? What is going on?'
I gasped for breath after blabbing all those words. Terrence patiently waited for me to calm down and then sighed.
'You were attacked by a clan of newbies, those who just turned and aren't exactly in control. All their senses are most heightened right now and they can smell human blood from miles away. Newbies aren't exactly the friendliest of vampires. If they set their eyes on you, they won't stop until they have devoured you. They only way to stop them is to... umm... STOP them.'
'You mean kill them?' I asked. 'How many?'
'About fifteen to twenty.' He answered. Looking at my puzzled and overwhelmed expression, he continued, 'You shouldn't worry yourself with it. These vampires have killed a lot of people and won't hesitate to do it again. They deserve no mercy. The others will be back when the job is done. Until then I insist you let me keep you company.'
Terrence's words brought tears to my eyes. He was right. They had killed many, but I believed everyone deserved a second chance. These vampires were once people too. I couldn't stop myself from feeling guilty for their deaths. Terrence noticed my reaction but didn't say anything. He just stood up and waited for me to do the same.
***
I sat staring at the wall in the café as we waited for our food to arrive. I was hungry and Terrence had insisted on accompanying me wherever I went, just in case I got into more trouble. It felt like having my personal bodyguard, which was not a very pleasant feeling. In the café, Terrence sat at the table next to me, which made me feel like he was only here out of obligation.
'If you are going to keep an eye on me, can you at least pretend to be my friend?' I asked, annoyed with his chivalrous behavior.
'I can sit at the same table with you.' he replied. 'But that would just make things more awkward for you.'
'It won't.' I said. 'It's awkward when you just sit over there like watching me is your job. It's annoying'
Terrence let out a little laugh and joined me. He fidgeted with the tablecloth for a while before finally deciding to start up a conversation.
'Olivia, I hope you understand why I had to accompany you. It's just too dangerous for you to be alone right now.'
'I know, I know. I have been marked by the newbie vamps.'
'Yes, you have. But perhaps you don't understand the gravity of the situation. You see, it's not the first time this has happened.'
'I...' I started to interrupt, but Terrence cut me off.
'Newbies have never been a problem in the supernatural world. They may be out of control, but they are merely strong enough to throw a punch or two at the pure bloods or other creatures before they are knocked dead. This prevents their newbuilt energy from escaping so they pick weaker targets for the kill. Humans are the weakest of all beings which makes them the easiest and the best target for entertainment as well as food.'
He waited for me to let that sink in. Vampires made more sense when they were unknown to me. Now that I knew they actually did exist, their tricks and ways made my head spin. I always knew vampires were dangerous, but I never thought they would be this complicated, or even real.
'So, what you're saying is, they kill for fun and that this has happened before?' I said in shock.
'Yes it has.' Terrence replied.
'What? When?'
'About a few hundred times. You see, newbies don't travel alone. They always travel in groups, or clans, if you get technical. A vampire can easily escape these clans but for humans, escaping is not an option. You either kill or be killed. Most humans don't know this reality which complicates things when they face vampires.'
I looked at him with a confused face. 'MOST humans?' I said. 'Then what about the others?'
Terrence tensed. I could feel the caution in his eyes. He looked around as if he had heard a gunshot. I felt like I had taken the questioning part too far. I was about to say something, when his fist clenched and he looked at me, wide eyed.
'We have to get out of here' he whispered.
'Wait, what-'
'There is no time to explain, Olivia!', saying so, the grabbed me by the wrist and we made our way out of the café.