Blood Haven: Chapter 4

Convergence

New Orleans 1920

“Alright then Joseph, it is all settled. You can start work as early as tomorrah, hell tonight if you're ready.”

Darrin beamed at the grateful young man, who clutched his cap tightly, as though to convince himself that this was not a dream. She turned to the elderly lady who had accompanied him, startled to find tears in her eyes.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Hartford. You don' need to worry about him; he ain't gonna give y'all any trouble, he gon' work hard.”

She waved the words of gratitude away with a smile and shook her head. “Oh I ain't worried about that, Ms. Ella. You don’ brung him here, and your word is good enough for me!” She leaned closer with a conspiratorial wink. “We are family, and we gots to stick together, am I right now?”

Only when the pair had excited her office did Darrin allow her anger to escape its leash.

“That fucking two faced fairy!”

Only by chance had she encountered Ms. Ella and her grandson hanging out the back door into the club. The elderly lady was one of the very first people they'd hired to Blood Haven, until ill health forced her to quit. Darrin had been surprised to hear that they'd tried countless times to secure the boy a position in the waiting staff; the establishment by very nature, attracted a transient population and there was always need for extra hands. She had not been surprised to learn that Eryk had turned them away time and time again. If the Seelie had his way, only supernatural folk would have access to work in the club. She was sure Allana had no knowledge of his hiring habits, but her partner had a tendency to overlook what she considered minor details. Of course, it hadn't helped that Darrin herself had been away for so long. She hated such discriminatory practices, and would surely have butted heads with Eryk had this come to her attention. 

Darrin passed by the free standing mirror on her march out of the office and paused, taking in her travel weary features. Supernaturals didn't understand the concept of race; theirs was an entirely different hierarchical system. People of darker coloring like Ms. Ella and her Joseph found it extremely difficult to find work in the Uptown Parish, where only the brightest and 'prettiest' were put on display. Darrin was Octoroon, although her hazel eyes made it easy for her to pass as fully White, and she was quite sensitive to the undercurrents of the situation. Perhaps that was why Ms. Ella had been content to keep on waiting until she could talk to Darrin. It took a lot of courage for humans to even venture to a club like theirs, what with the constant rumors about the true nature of the establishment. For that reason alone, she rarely turned them away.

One of the bus-boys passed the door and she held him back. “Find me Eryk.”

“Yes, Ma'am.”

He tipped his hat and hastened to do her bidding.

Allana and the others wouldn't understand this, but it was important to maintain a balance in Blood Haven. Humans needed to feel that they had a place in the establishment because, even though they may be a minority within its walls, they were a majority in the world. History has always borne it out, not even the Vampires can hold out against an angry mob. Sure they had friends in high places all over the city, but it would only be for the good of the club to have a positive presence in the community.

“You called?”

Darrin raised an eyebrow to the figure that materialized behind her and their eyes met in the mirror. The Seelie loved to make a statement but she knew better than to even look impressed.

“I understand that we've had a hold on new hires.”

Eryk inclined his head to the side. “I do not believe so.”

She mimicked his actions. “A young man has been seeking employment for four months now, he was turned away several times.”

The Seelie made a show of trying to remember. “It is possible, perhaps he came at an inopportune time.”

She nodded slowly, as though believing his excuse. “Well he has been hired now; he will be starting with the waiting staff evening and knows to present himself to you.”

He took in her words and gave a slight bow. “As you wish.”

She waited until he was about to stage his disappearing act before adding. “He is the first of eight new hires, do be on the look out.”

Darrin walked up the stairs muttering a string of curses on the way. Every encounter with the casino manager left her both frustrated and irritated. She hated his glib answers and quick replies, yet had to admit that he was good at his job. Good help was so hard to find these days. She sighed and opened the door to their bedroom, almost stepping back from the complete darkness inside.

Her pupils began dilating to let in more light than was humanly possible, glowing like two gold beams in the room. Most of the inns in which she spent nights on the run didn’t have the option of blinds or even windows. She crossed the room to the bed on the other side, noting Allana’s motionless state. Normally she would have reacted to anyone being at such close proximity to her, even if it were Darrin herself.

She was sleeping, or the undead equivalent of sleep, something that was both therapeutic and dangerous for a vampire to ever do because it rendered them so helpless to external forces. If she were a hunter, Allana, powerful as she was, would never stand a chance. It was obvious that she felt comfortable enough in her surroundings to sleep so deeply. Darrin reached out a hand and caressed her face; there was a subtle softness about Allana’s features when in repose that she rarely ever saw at any other time. Most times the vampire maintained an expression of aloofness that kept even the unwary away from her. Darrin took off her clothes and slipped back into bed, cuddling close to her lover. She laid her head against Allana's stomach, letting the uncharacteristic rise and fall of the Vampire's chest lull her to sleep. Lying there, in the dark, cool room, Darrin had a memory of one of the first times she crossed paths with her lover. But back then, they were far from affectionate towards each other.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1915

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allana:

I walked down the many hallways to the lower corridors of the Bacardi castle. The usual retinue of guards milled the place, keeping outsiders out as much as they kept the inhabitants in. Their numbers increased the closer I got to my destination until I reached the very depths entrance the dungeons. One young one stood guard at the gates; he was nearly frozen at the sight of me. I ignored the tiny squeak he made as I stepped closer.

“Get me a pitcher of water.”

He complied, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste to get away from me. Bacardi trained all his servants to have a healthy fear of us, which meant service was almost impeccable. He returned with a pitcher and a low bow.

I picked up the pitcher and watched as he disappeared deep into the shadows.

My last interview with the prisoner convinced me that there was more to the story than she let on. I was determined to get at it tonight, with this as ample incentive. Adrian was a man of his word; I was sure that my host would not provide food and water to his prisoner. The guard posted in front of the dungeons opened the door without a word, his eyes fastened to the ground as I passed.

Darrin Hartford was in worse conditions than I left her.  She looked up slowly with my approach and I could tell it was with effort. She had spent several days down here without sustenance, and it was telling on her. 

“I see you’re still hanging on.”

I heard her chuckle before replying, good to see that she hadn’t lost her humor.

“There’s not much to do here but hang on, I guess. Besides, I haven’t gotten what I came here for.”

Now it was my turn to chuckle at that. “You’re still clinging to the hope of your sister being somewhere in this house.”

She shrugged slightly but didn’t reply. Obviously she remembered the outcome of our last interview and wasn’t about to let anything slip.

I took a step forward and slowly poured the water in the pitcher slowly unto the ground. She heard the soft trickle and looked up, her eyes betraying the thirst she felt.

“Of course I don’t need this, my kind don’t, but your kind cannot survive for long without water.”

Her voice was hoarse and raspy and her eyes never left my hands.“Is this another kind of torture? You're too late -- we've already had our morning routine.”

So, they were breaking her in more ways than I thought. Her tenacity was almost laudable.

I smiled and casually tilted the container in my hands; the contents teetered over the rim for a moment. “I was just wondering again, why would Adrian be so interested in some little girl on the other side of the ocean, and why would he lie about it? He has nothing to fear from your kind and little from ours.”

She stubbornly kept her head down, refusing to rise to the bait. I found that both amusing and interesting. So far she had done a good job of walling her thoughts from me, but she was wearing down and now I could catch the shimmer of emotions inside her head. There was discomfort, anger, directed at me but mostly at Adrian and most of all, fear. A tangible fear that seemed to invade every follicle in her. She was truly afraid of losing someone.

Darrin sighed and finally looked up at me, defeat in her eyes. “I know he’s got my sister because I can sense her. She’s here somewhere.”

I stayed my hand and raised an eyebrow; this was definitely news.

“ You can… sense her.”

Her expression remained stoic.

“That is interesting. Still, that doesn’t explain why your sister should be within these walls.”

I prodded further but she was still holding on to her silence. Finally, I could stand her reticence no longer and placed the pitcher inches away from her face, past the limits of her restraints. “Well, it seems you’re becoming meditative, here’s something to think about.”

She looked at the water just inches away from her face, and her eyes traveled up to my boots.“How am I supposed to reach that?”

I shrugged on my way out of the dank room. “You’ve got all the time in the world, you will find a way.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Darrin:

I glared at the bowl she’d put in front of me, so close and yet so far. My chain collar, no matter how hard I tugged and tried, couldn’t reach that far and it made me angry. She was toying with me by her sudden appearances, the questions and innuendos, and now this.

It was all just a game for her, a little diversion from whatever she and the bastard had together. They all always had some kind of deal or partnership with each other. It was the only way they could retain their positions of wealth and power while subjugating the weaker vampires and humans to servitude. What was the use of living forever without the means to enjoy life?

Well this wasn’t a game at all for me, and every moment I spent down in this disgusting dungeon meant less time to rescue my sister. She didn’t believe me when I said I could sense her but it was true. I banished my anger to the background and cleared my head, letting my breath and heart rate slow. Gradually, the shimmer of colors began rising, as the reality around me shifted. I saw past the stone walls, to the spectre of the guard patrolling the door, and farther out beyond. There it was, that sliver of light that stood out like a tiny blaze in the swirls and shadows everywhere else. Lilith. I could almost feel her fear and anxiety, her muted expectations for me to rescue her like I always did since she was born. Distance meant nothing in the astral planes; I could sense her presence, but that was the limit of my ability. I couldn’t touch or reach out to her, do anything to reassure her.

The rage and frustration bled back into my head, blurring my sight and dragging me back into the dungeon.

“Hold on Lili, I’m here and I’ll get you. I’ll get you and I’ll kill this bastard if it’s the last thing I do.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lilith:

It’s so bright in here, the windows are open and the sun shines in. It’s hot outside but the wind brings cool air into the room, now and then the curtains would flap against the wall. I can’t see any of this with my eyes but in my mind I see the whole room. It’s big, bigger than both my room and my big sis’s back home, and there are many bright things hanging around.

I hear a bird fly in through the window and stop by the ledge; he begins to sing. He sings so high and sweet, that I smile and reach out for him. But I can’t because my hands are tied to my side, tied to the bed and there’s something over my mouth. The door opens and everything goes blank. I can’t see with my mind again. I know who just came in, he always makes me afraid and every time I become afraid, my mind goes blank.

Now I’m really blind and it’s scary, it’s scary not being able to see anything or feel anything. I can hear something going very fast, thump, thump, thump, it’s my heart. Where are you sis? You promised you’d always be there for me when I call. Now I’m crying and I hate that. I hate crying because my pa once said only sissies  cry and I’m not a sissy.

 But sis I’m getting weak here, I'm so hungry... Where are you sis?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adrian smiled faintly at the little girl tied to the bed. She looked so small and waiflike, lying on the expanse of the double king-sized bed. But he knew better than to be taken by appearances. He took a deliberate step forward, eyes taking in the subtle changes in her posture; her heart was racing loud enough for both of them to hear and the tiniest of whimpers escaped from her covered mouth.

“Hello Lilith.”

Adrian leaned over the bed and gently removed the cloth over her mouth. She tried to keep calm and composed, tried to keep her emotions from showing but failed to hide the quaver in her voice.

“W-what do you want?”

His smile widened at her show of courage. So young and yet so strong. Kidnapping her had turned out to be the easiest part. They'd had to keep her constantly drugged throughout the trip across the ocean. Even then, she'd gained a tolerance for the narcotics. Then came the psychic assaults; it had taken him, a Vampire master, months to wear down the physical barriers she'd built up around her with her mind. And now, it was hunger strikes...

“I hear that you have not been eating.”

Adrian wanted to believe that the worst she could do was over, now that he could physically come close to her. She had been taught how to shield her emotions from his kind, but Adrian could taste the fear that his presence evoked inside her and it thrilled him all the more. Always he pushed against her already weakened control by baiting her and, brave as she was, Lilith was still too young to really keep her cool. 

He reached out a finger to caress her face, Lilith flinched roughly and he chuckled. “Now, we can’t have that. I don’t want you dying on me before time, little girl.”

Lilith reared up from the bed, a considerable effort considering she was bound securely. “My sister is going to rescue me and make you sorry for taking me.”

That was what he liked about children, always so eager and willing to voice out their thoughts and feelings at the slightest goading. She was no different from the rest, even if she was… well.

Adrian laughed out loud with unbridled delight. She cringed back into the pillows as he climbed into the bed, his added weight making the boards creak with tension. He gripped the back of her head and pulled her head forward, whispering softly into her ear. “Well I have news for you Lilith, your sister is indeed here. Do you want to know where she is? I have her in my dungeons, beaten and chained to the floor. She has been here for days and I promised that I would keep her alive just long enough to watch you die.”

The shield she kept on her emotions broke at that, and he was thrust into a tide flood of feelings. Adrian gasped as their minds mingled and bonded into one, giving him access to her thoughts. He felt her fears, experienced the pain he caused when he told her of his plans for her sister; his heart broke as hers did when that last candle of hope petered out. 

More importantly, he now knew how close she was to her limit, and exactly what it would take to subdue her.

But he underestimated the little girl's power. He was in her head, but it also made him completely open to her.

Lilith clenched her hands, nails digging into her palms hard enough to draw blood, tears running down her eyes as pain flooded her mind. Pain, from all the malevolent deeds he-she had done, all the suffering they had caused to others and enjoyed causing.Their mingled minds made her a part of him, as surely as he was part of her. Adrian grit his teeth and pushed her out of his mind, breaking the link and slamming her violently back on the pillows. He bounded off the bed in one fluid leap.

“You will stop this foolish attempt at starving yourself even if I have to force every morsel of food into you, do you understand?”

“Yes master.”

Adrian failed to take in her submissiveness and the lack of emotion in her voice. He nodded once and swept out of the room.

--------------------------------------------

Allana:

I walked once more into the dungeon; it had been two days since my last visit but my interest in this little affair was waxing. Since my interrogation of Darrin Hartford began, I thought less and less of Valla and her shenanigans.The guard at the door was more or less accustomed to my coming and going and the doors were left open. I wondered whether the prisoner within knew of that.

She seemed to be in slightly better shape than I left her; the pitcher was empty and far nearer to her than I left it. Darrin looked up at the sound of my footsteps.

“Apparently, you did figure out a way.”

She glanced at the bowl and the corner of her mouth lifted. “I guess you were right, I give myself far too little credit than I’m worth.”

I chuckled at that and took a few steps closer, and I could feel her flinch. The mental wards she kept over her emotions were wearing thin as her body caved under the strain. “It’s good to see you’re resourceful, even in dire conditions. Now, what were we talking about last time?”

The lift of her mouth instantly flattened, and I felt her close up from me. It was surprising what reserves of inner strength she possessed, and I was unwillingly impressed.

“Why are you so interested in my case, what brings you down here time and again?”

I shrugged at the open suspicion in her voice. “Truth be told, my only reason for coming down here is because I’m easily bored otherwise. And you are becoming quite an engaging exercise. My stay in Paris is not entirely willing but your situation makes the days go by that much quicker.”

A long silence followed my words, I could almost hear the calculations running through her head, but that damned wall kept all her emotions in check. It was like the case of a hunter robbed of the advantage over prey, and I felt both intrigued and keen. 

Darrin finally looked up and her eyes traveled all the way up to meet mine. Now I was surprised; she was deliberately giving herself up to me, knowing fully well that I had the means and intention to access whatever secret she kept from me.

“Call me crazy or desperate, or chalk it up to this place finally getting to me, but what the heck? Time is running out and it doesn’t look like I’m getting out of here. I told you that your boyfriend has gone above and beyond to get my sister.”

“Yes, but somehow never got around telling me why.” I ignored her assumption that Adrian and I were romantically involved.

“Well the bastard wants her because she can grant him the greatest desire your kind will ever have; the ability to walk among the living in the full glare of the sun.”

She must have head the incredulous laughter in my silence. I turned around and took a half step toward the door when she called out, and the urgency in her voice made me stop.

“Lilith is Mersdei.”