Grim Echoes

Chapter 47 - Tessa

Tessa held the adolescent close to her and tasted its fear. Her mouth watered, which sickened her. She had been a creature of the night for over eighty years, but her appetite for blood still bothered her. Ashamed to admit the younger the victims, the sweeter their blood was. Some of her kind, delighted in hunting the youth of America, competed to see who could capture the youngest treat. However, as the years passed, creatures had to become more and more cautious about who they hunted. Not because humans cared any more for one another than they had previously, but with the invention of social media, they were constantly aware of each other's whereabouts and habits.

It was, at times, easier to take an entire family than just one child. Tonight was different. Lady Thana had willed them to take the entire family with no explanation, only to bring them intact and alive. It was the fourth family they had taken from various locations in the united states. After they claimed a family, Lady Thana would make them move to the next destination she chose. Tessa had not figured out the pattern yet, but she would. There had to be a reason Lady Thana had chosen the places and families.

Taking families in smaller towns had been risky. Without all the noise of more densely populated areas, humans noticed when an entire family went missing or died in an accident. Tessa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Despite what the rumors said, vampires needed to breathe, at least the younger, more human-like ones. The longer they existed as a creature, separated from the natural world, the more humanity they lost and corruption bled into their soul. It turned them into a cannibalistic predator that willingly fed on its own kind. Tessa wanted to believe she had some amount of humanity left inside.

Teivel signaled it was safe to move. She pulled the adolescent boy close to her and moved to the van. Zilla already sat in the driver's seat, impatient as always, and tapped her foot.

"Took you long enough," she grumbled, and turned the key.

Teivel, nothing if not cautious, checked the parents and made sure they were unconscious. An excellent planner but not the best when executing a plan, if they were in a rush. They arrived at the abandoned house occupied by the hive in record time. Zilla must have sped, which increased the risk. Too easy for the police to get entangled in their plans. Zilla and Teivel carried the parents while Tessa led the blindfolded youth inside.

Mort waited in the room to calm the youth and make him more agreeable. As Tessa handed over the scared boy, she felt the tension leave his body. Mort had already put him at ease. He gave her a slight nod.

Soon she told him quietly in his mind, careful she had only spoken when they touched.

Too risky to communicate telepathically, or any other way at the moment. Lady Thana was awake and monitored every movement the hive made. Tessa moved away and glanced at Rich as he secured the parents in shackles attached to the wall.

"Tessa, where are you going? You will miss the reward for your hard work." Lady Thana's smooth voice cascaded over her body.

She was nauseas and aroused at the same time, as always. "I do not hunger at the moment," Tessa replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course you do. We hunger every night," Lady Thana replied in her honeyed voice.

It relieved Tessa she could no longer sweat and that she could control the beat of her heart. Speaking to Lady Thana alone was like walking into the pit of vipers. She wanted to disagree but found herself nod in agreement. Damn it, Lady Thana controlled her again.

"Of course, Lady Thana," she responded, and turned back to the room.

Rich had roused the terrified parents who tried to free themselves. Mort had the boy calm and stood with him. Tessa followed Lady Thana like a good lap dog. Lady Thana touched all of her dutiful drones one at a time. Each responded in kind. They showered her with compliments and adoration. Except Mort. Tessa's fear rose again. Would he ruin their plan by his refusal to submit to her will? Tessa understood Mort's hate, but they were so close, he could not fail now.

"Mort?" Lady Thana's voice tight.

Several heartbeats passed. Mort dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "My Lady, for you, always for you," he said with a flourish.

Had Lady Thana forced him? It would not be the first or last time she forced any of them to submit to her will. Her face broke into a large smile. Tessa let out a breath. Lady Thana was radiant, so devastatingly beautiful it took all of Tessa's willpower not to bow at her feet when she was this god-like. Lady Thana took the boy from Mort and walked toward the bound.

As Mort stood, he winked at Tessa. Tessa turned and spotted Rich and Zilla standing back up. They did not have to will to resist Lady Thana's beauty.

"My children, you have done well. He is," A quick movement of her hand and the boy's neck was bleeding. Not a fatal wound, just enough to taste him. "Perfect. I shall take my time with you," she told the boy.

Tessa grit her teeth when the scent of his sweet blood filled the air. No one dared to touch Lady Thana's meal, but they all wanted him. His parents pulled on the chains and screamed, even with gags in their mouths.

"For your reward, I will allow you to choose which of his parents you want, but you may only have one." she sauntered to her large chair in the corner and took the boy with her.

"The man, he has more blood," Teival said in a calm voice.

"No, the woman, she smells sweeter," Zilla countered and flashed her fangs.

Lady Thana pulled the boy onto her lap and waited. Tessa glanced at the boy and knew what was next. Could she risk peering into his mind without Lady Thana's knowledge? Who did he love more?

Rich stated his opinion before Mort chimed in. Tessa half listened to them and gave half answers when prompted. It would surely lead to an argument. As they moved toward one another and Lady Thana was distracted, Tessa allowed her mind to reach out to the boy's. She sensed Mort still there trying to keep him calm and less scared; his gentle reassurances. Oddly humane of Mort. He was older than she and somehow more humane.

Mort pushed Rich. His eyes slid to Tessa's for just a second. He knew she wanted to read the boy. Rich pushed Mort back, but used his telekinesis and threw Mort into a wall. Lady Thana laughed at their antics.

Tessa dove into the boy's mind as gentle as possible, but she had to move fast. Because of his age and fear, it was easy to read him and sort through his recent memories and some a few years back. His father. He was closest to the father. Tessa withdrew her mind from the boy's and joined the fight siding with Teival. She reminded them they had not fed in days, they needed quantity over quality.

After a few more displays of power, they destroyed the father. It was messy and horrible for his wife and the boy. In the end, it was the kindest thing she could do for the boy. Understanding in a few short days he would be turned and murder his mother.

The first kill stayed with the creature. Even if they were mad with blood lust and couldn't recall the details clearly, it would haunt them for the rest of their nights. If they slept, it would be in every nightmare, their screams would reverberate in time until final death. A creature may murder hundreds, thousands of humans, but the first kill was theirs forever.