I didn't think it would matter at first, but now... I fear I've made things worse. There are some people, humans who came to this island in search of wisdom and power. They're military men, bitter over losing their loved ones to vampires. I tried to help them, ministered to them, and shared my blood with them. Tamara's eyes widened. You gave them your blood? Are they...? No, they won't become vampires, Henry quickly clarified. I neutralized the effects with magic. They won't turn, but they will be fortified. Stronger. They formed a group, a kind of army calling themselves The Knights, Henry continued, his voice grave. They plan to wage war against the vampires. They're armed with magic and my blood, and they're determined to wipe out anything immortal in their path. Tamara felt a chill creep down her spine. "So they'll come after us?" Henry nodded solemnly. Yes, Uptown and beyond isn't safe for you or any other immortal. They believe this is the only way to avenge their losses. I thought I was helping humanity, but now I see the danger. They're not just after vampires. They'll target anyone with power, including you. Tamara turned to the wizard, panic rising in her chest. "Did you know about this?" The wizard's eyes were dark and unreadable. "Yes," he replied quietly. This is why your mission is even more urgent. The balance has already been disrupted. The Night may think they're doing good, but their actions will only lead to more chaos. You must find the six dark powers, seal them, and bring them to me. Only then can I restore order. Tamara swallowed hard, glancing at Sarah, who stood quietly, absorbing the weight of it all. Everything felt overwhelming. The prophecy, The knight, the mission. How could they possibly succeed? Now, go, the wizard said, gesturing toward the portal once more. "The time for hesitation is over." Tamara stepped forward, determination hardening her resolve. She would face whatever was coming, no matter the cost. As she and Sarah approached the swirling portal, she glanced back at Henry one last time. I'll be waiting for your call, Henry said softly, his eyes filled with both hope and fear. Tamara nodded, gripping the bangle tightly. With a deep breath, she stepped into the portal, feeling the world shift around her as she and Sarah disappeared.
On the other hand, after Deborah has defeated Tamara, and is now the new leader.
The following morning, Deborah sat confidently at her new desk, the weight of leadership settling comfortably on her shoulders. After her victory over Tamara, she was now the undisputed leader of the vampires in the facility. The power she felt was intoxicating, but there was work to be done. Her supposed secretary, Sophia, entered the office and bowed slightly. My Lord, now that you are in charge of this facility and have command over all vampires under your rule, what about the government? Sophia asked, her voice tinged with concern. How do we deal with them? If they find out about Tamara's dethronement and your rise to power, don't you think they'll come for us? Deborah rose from her seat, her expression calm and unbothered. She walked toward Lisa, the third lady in the office, who was seated with her laptop open, fingers poised over the keys. I already have a plan," Deborah said smoothly. "You don't have to worry about that." Reaching Lisa's side, Deborah asked, "Lisa, what do we have?" Lisa's fingers danced across the keyboard as she brought up a series of profiles on the screen. She began her analysis swiftly and efficiently."First," Lisa said, her voice steady, we have the state secretary, Mrs. Clinton. She's a key figure in the government, and her influence could be dangerous to us if she's not controlled. She has a daughter, Elena Clinton, who attends the same school as the mayor's son, Richard. Lisa paused to let the information sink in, then continued, Elena is traveling back to Uptown for her mother's birthday, which is in two days. That presents a perfect opportunity to strike. Deborah smiled, satisfied. Excellent. We need some leverage to get certain government officials on our side. Mrs. Clinton is going to be the key. Once we have people in the government working for us, we'll be unstoppable. This city will belong to us. Sophia glanced at Deborah, her face slightly tense. "And how do we make sure the mayor and other officials don't get suspicious?" Deborah's smile widened. We don't need to worry about them yet. Once Mrs. Clinton is under our control, everything else will fall into place. We'll use Elena to ensure her cooperation, and with the mayor distracted by his meetings outside the city, we'll have a clear path to infiltrate their ranks. Lisa leaned back, a hint of a grin crossing her face. Everything is set. The timing couldn't be better. On the other side of town, two days later, Elena Clinton had already made her way back to Uptown, eager to surprise her mother on her birthday. She had spent the afternoon shopping, picking out her mom's favorite music tape, White Houston's greatest hits. After arriving home, she worked with the maid to prepare for the small birthday celebration that evening. Though Uptown felt more dangerous now, Elena was determined to make her mother's birthday special. She could see the strain on her mom's face from her job and the growing unrest in the city, but Elena wanted to bring at least a moment of joy. With everything nearly set for the party, Elena decided to surprise her mom at work. She made her way to the office, a bit nervous but excited. Mrs. Clinton was sitting at her desk, reviewing documents and trying to wrap up her day, when the office bell rang. Oh no, not again, Mrs. Clinton muttered under her breath, looking around. "Where the hell is Anna? She sighed, thinking it was another tedious matter needing her attention. "No more meetings, I'm done for the day." The bell rang again. "Come in," she called out. To her surprise, it wasn't an assistant or a colleague, but her daughter, Elena. Mrs. Clinton's face lit up, her weariness vanishing. Oh my God, who am I seeing? She exclaimed, rising from her desk. Happy Birthday, Mom! Elena shouted, rushing toward her mother and embracing her. Mrs. Clinton hugged her daughter tightly, but a hint of worry lingered in her eyes. Baby, what are you doing here? You shouldn't have come. Elena pulled back slightly, her smile faltering. Mom, it's your birthday. I wanted to surprise you. Mrs. Clinton shook her head gently, glancing toward the window, the city skyline casting an ominous shadow. "I know, sweetheart, but Uptown isn't safe anymore, especially not with everything happening." Elena sighed. I know, I've been following it online. Is it really that bad? Mrs. Clinton nodded, her face growing more serious. It's worse than you think. But thanks to the military, the government houses and reserve areas are still secure for now. Let's just keep hoping the situation doesn't escalate further. Okay, Elena said softly, nodding. But in the meantime, I got you something. She handed her mother the gift, and Mrs. Clinton unwrapped it carefully. As the wrapping paper fell away, a bright smile spread across her face. Wow! Whitney Houston! She exclaimed, holding up the music tape as if it were a precious treasure. My favorite! Elena beamed with pride. I thought you'd like it. We can listen to it together tonight after dinner. Mrs. Clinton stepped forward and hugged her daughter again. Thank you, darling. This means a lot to me, especially now. I'll make some time to enjoy it.
Clinton and her daughter, Elena, got home. They knocked at the door, but there was no answer. "Why isn't anyone opening?" Elena asked, a trace of concern in her voice. When she reached for the handle, the door creaked open. "This is unusual," she muttered. Where could Vanessa be? She glanced at her mother, both of them sharing a look of confusion. As they stepped inside, Mrs. Clinton called out, Vanessa! Vanessa! But there was only silence. I'll check upstairs, Elena offered, and hurried to the staircase. Earlier that day, Deborah and her team had already struck. When they arrived, they found Vanessa, and Deborah herself had attacked her, sinking her fangs into Vanessa's neck and beginning the dark transformation. Vanessa now lay motionless on the floor of Elena's room, her body slowly transforming into a vampire. Deborah sat on the bed, watching with cold satisfaction. Downstairs, Mrs. Clinton's instincts flared. Something was wrong. "Elena!" she called out. "Come down here, now!" She quickly reached for her phone, but just as she was about to dial, a male vampire pounced, knocking the phone from her hand. Mrs. Clinton hit the floor, her eyes wide with terror. Who are you? What do you want? She stammered. She glanced toward the stairs just as another vampire descended, holding Elena by the neck with a knife pressed to her throat. Deborah followed close behind, a sinister smile playing on her lips. Please! Please, don't hurt my daughter! Mrs. Clinton begged. What do you want? Who are you? Deborah approached, crouching down beside her. "We won't hurt you," she said softly, but the menace in her tone was unmistakable. I'm here to give you a gift, from my humble self. A gift? Mrs. Clinton's voice trembled. Please, don't hurt Elena. I'll do whatever you want. Deborah chuckled" I like that. You see, I'm offering you a better life than the one you have now. You will join us, or you will watch your daughter die. Mrs. Clinton's eyes filled with horror. No, please, I will! I'll do it! Just don't hurt her! With that, Deborah grabbed Ms. Clinton's arm and sank her teeth into her flesh. Mrs. Clinton screamed, collapsing onto the floor. Her body convulsed as the venom worked its way through her system, her temperature skyrocketing. Elena sobbed, watching helplessly as her mother writhed in pain. Deborah turned her gaze toward the vampire holding Elena and gave a slight nod. The vampire wasted no time, sinking his teeth into Elena's neck. The young girl gasped before going limp in the vampire's grip, who then gently laid her on the ground. What now? The vampire asked, glancing at Deborah as he adjusted his grip on Elena's limp body. Deborah stood up, wiping the blood from her lips with a satisfied smile. "Now, we wait for their full transformation," she said, walking over to where Elena lay on the floor. She knelt beside the girl and brushed her hair away from her neck, examining the bite marks left by the vampire. "They will wake up soon," she said, looking back at Vanessa, who had already completed her transformation. Vanessa, now fully turned, stood at the bottom of the stairs, her once warm eyes cold and predatory. She tilted her head slightly as if testing the strength and speed of her new senses. Deborah walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Welcome to the family," Deborah said with a grin, pleased with the new additions to her rank. Vanessa blinked, still adjusting to her new existence. "What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice steady but devoid of emotion. Deborah smirked, glancing between Vanessa and the still-unconscious Mrs. Clinton and Elena. You'll find out soon enough. But for now, help me prepare them for their awakening. When they wake up, they'll be hungry. Vanessa nodded obediently, her new instincts kicking in as she knelt beside Mrs. Clinton, who was trembling as her body fought the venom. "They won't be like me, will they? Vanessa asked, looking up at Deborah. No, Deborah replied, shaking her head. You were easier to turn because I took my time.
Vanessa and the other vampires set to work preparing the house for their new "family" members. Deborah walked over to the window, gazing out at the darkening streets of Uptown. "Soon," she whispered to herself, "this city will be ours."
After what seemed like hours, Mrs. Clinton's body stirred. Her eyes shot open, and she gasped, her chest heaving as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. Elena awoke beside her, both of them confused and disoriented. Mrs. Clinton blinked rapidly, her vision blurred at first, but then it slowly sharpened. Across from her, sitting calmly in a chair, was Deborah, her expression cold but somehow welcoming."What... what's going on?" Mrs. Clinton's voice trembled as she struggled to breathe. What happened to us? Who are you? Deborah smiled softly, her voice calm. "Welcome to the family." Mrs. Clinton's body trembled as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. What family? What are you talking about? Elena, her daughter, also sat up, clutching her head. Mom... who are these people? Why do I feel so... strange? And, she clutched her stomach, Why am I so hungry? I don't know, baby. I don't know. Mrs. Clinton's voice quivered, trying to stay calm for her daughter. Deborah raised a finger, signaling silently to one of the other vampires in the room. A young woman quickly approached, holding a bottle filled with dark red liquid, which she handed over to Deborah. Deborah held the bottle out toward Mrs. Clinton. "This," she said, her voice dripping with certainty, "is what you'll need from now on." Mrs. Clinton looked at the bottle in horror. "What… what is that?" she stammered. Blood, Deborah answered matter-of-factly. Mrs. Clinton recoiled, her eyes wide with disgust. Blood? Are you insane? She knocked the bottle out of Deborah's hand. It fell to the ground, shattering, and the blood splashed across the floor. Elena whimpered beside her mother, clutching her stomach. Mom, I'm so hungry. Mrs. Clinton rushed to the kitchen, throwing open the fridge and grabbing the first thing she saw, a loaf of bread. Desperately, she ripped a piece off and shoved it into her mouth. But the moment it touched her tongue, she gagged and spat it out. It... it's rotten! How can this be rotten? Elena followed her mother's lead, grabbing some crackers from the counter, but after just one bite, she spit them out, too, her face twisting in horror. Mom, I can't eat this. It tastes horrible! Confused and panicked, Mrs. Clinton turned back to Deborah, who sat calmly, watching them both. "What the hell is going on?" Mrs. Clinton demanded, her voice now laced with desperation. Why can't we eat? Why does everything taste rotten? What have you done to us? Deborah stood up slowly, taking her time as she crossed the room toward them. Her voice was calm but firm. "Because," she said, locking eyes with Mrs. Clinton, you're not human anymore. You're something better. And humans? They eat food. But you now need blood. Mrs. Clinton stepped back, her heart racing. What do you mean? No, no, this can't be happening. Oh, it is, Deborah said, her voice growing slightly colder. You're a vampire now. Both of you are. That's why you can't eat human food anymore. It's useless to you. She gestured to the shattered bottle on the floor. And that's, What you just knocked away? That's your food now. And I won't tolerate you wasting it. Mrs. Clinton's eyes were wide with disbelief, but before she could argue, Deborah signaled again. Another vampire brought over a fresh bottle of blood, handing it to Deborah."Here," Deborah said, thrusting the bottle into Mrs. Clinton's hands. Drink it. You'll feel better. Mrs. Clinton hesitated, staring at the bottle in her hands. Her entire body screamed to resist, but the hunger inside her was unbearable. Reluctantly, she uncapped the bottle and raised it to her lips. The moment the blood touched her tongue, a surge of energy flowed through her, powerful and overwhelming. She drank deeply, feeling stronger, more alive than ever.