Ayanna:
October 31
"How long will you be gone father?" Ayanna inquired, speaking of his current mission.
"Hopefully not long enough for you to miss me." He stated as Ayanna grabbed his wool jacket and held it open for him, watching as he shoved his arms in the sleeves.
"I still don't like the idea of you going without me." She stated.
"I know, but I'd rather it be me than you, that way if I don't come back, you can always seek help."
"Help from who?"
"Didn't you tell me something about a vampire family that lived here who are good at fighting?"
"Well, yeah, but still...I don't know them and they don't know me."
"Remember what Candace your mother would say."
"Bring a family gift and acquaint myself with them." Ayanna stated.
"That's right. If I happen to run into trouble, go to them bearing a gift and request help."
I stared at my father, knowing that his mindset had not yet molded to the truth about the culture we lived in the midst of this day and age. No one would accept a gift as a token of kindness and inquiry of help. Not in this country anyway.
"Dad, I still don't like you going off by yourself, you don't know what could be waiting for you or what he could do to you."
"I'd rather go and have me captured than to take you as well so that he may have both of us."
"Dad...please?" I stated, my heart pleading with him. If there was any one person I'd come to rely on this long, it was my dad and if anything happened to him, I didn't know what I would do; how I would go on without him.
"I'll be back, sweetheart. I promise." He stated as he took his leave.
~~
I stood there well after he'd gone, my heart thudding in my chest, anxiety settling in. I didn't know what would happen to my dad after he confronted Caduceus. I assumed that he would kill him because that's what he'd always said he'd do if he found him. I knew my dad longed for my mother.
I guess you could say being a vampire for him sounded good, but the fact that his own wife couldn't be saved, left him feeling desperately withdrawn and angry most of the time, in a despondent state. My father, I'd never seen cry but once and that was upon learning of my mother's death. He'd seen her body, held her cold lifeless corpse in his hands, held her as dark pools of blood soaked through her clothing.
He'd stroked her face, gave her one last kiss, even told her he loved her; the same as I had done. My mother was a gentle soul. She'd never once hurt anyone. She was always welcoming, never denying anyone anything until that day she'd denied Caduceus my life.
I couldn't see a man like him loving anyone. His heart was so cold, so shallow, that even his skin was cold to the touch. He exhilarated no warmth. All vampires are naturally cold, but he is even colder. Ice cold.
I had no doubt that the only reason he wanted me was so that he could order me around, teach me to be a proper slave. That's what he wanted. Servants got paid for what they did, I doubt he'd have any type or form of generosity to consider paying anyone.
I understood after all these years that once you were in his grasp, the only way to be completely free was death, for his blood sentenced you to a life time of imprisonment. At least that's how I felt, like a prisoner in my own body. I try to lighten up my mood, because I really am a good woman, I seek to hurt no one.
I prefer to be left to my own devices, but I treat everyone equally or at least according to what they deserve. As I felt my heart slam in my chest, I thought to myself, perhaps, the best thing for me to do now would be to enjoy what little freedom I had left.
Grasping my cloak, I tucked it underneath my chin, feeling dread as I was consumed with the awful feeling that my dad going out there by himself would not have a positive end result. In some way I felt as if the worst thing he could possibly do was to confront Caduceus, because I was more than a hundred percent sure that the limited freedom we'd possessed thus far, would come to an end. Inhaling sharply, I walked to the door of my home, opened it and felt the harsh cold winds strike out against my skin.
Did it bother me? No, it only blended in with my temperature. I was going to at least attempt to enjoy my night out. Perhaps I'd go finally have that chat with Tavis. He would be eleven this November. I was sure I'd miss it, but I wanted to at least show him that I was there. Exhaling the heaviness in my chest, I closed the door and began my descent down the stairs.
~~
Tavis:
"I'm not going in there." I stated to my sister Olivia, who'd began to make her way to the old abandoned warehouse we'd just stumbled upon.
"Why not? You chicken?" She inquired.
I shook my head, not sure why, but my instinct was telling me not to go in there. "I'm not a chicken, I just don't want to go in there. You don't know what or who is in there."
"Is this coming from the same boy with a green belt in karate? You can defend yourself. So there's no need to trip out, besides it's Halloween, let's go."
Olivia had already reached the doorway to the house. I glanced up at the moon, seeing the white orb shinning brightly in the sky, admist the naked trees. I inhaled sharply, not understanding why she of all people would want to do something so reckless and stupid.
Vampires weren't the only thing that were out and my fascination with creatures ended there. I didn't want to stumble upon hobos or some types of animals or even other beings.
"Stop being a chicken and come on," She ordered, commanding me to come on into the building with her. I reluctantly followed suit. I could imagine all of the thoughts that would go through our parents heads once they found out we'd ditched trick o treating for some abandoned warehouse. This was the first time I prayed that they would catch us, just to keep us from doing what my gut instinct said don't.
The closer we came to the structure the more convinced I was that something was wrong. I couldn't feel any of the electrical air I normally felt around the atmosphere. Most importantly, it seemed as if something was hindering the bond that
I shared with both my parents. Why didn't Olivia feel that? "Olivia, we have to go." I whispered as we reached the door. She looked up at me, "You're such a baby, Tavis. For all that tough talk you sure are a weakling." She glared at me. I glanced eye to eye with her and we both were left there shocked.
Her eyes had been encompassed in a red ring, where the Iris should be. "You have red eyes," I stated.
"And yours are "black with a blue Iris."
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Grabbing her hand I said, "Let's go, now."
She tried to pull away from me. "No, I'm not going, I want to see what's inside here."
