The Ash Clan [Dancing with Vampires Sequel]

Chapter Five: Sibling Rivalry

Chapter 5—Sibling Rivalry

“Wait, Master Circo is the first vampire to reproduce with a human?”

“Yes, Hazel. My brother and I are two of the oldest vampires that still walk the Earth,” Master Slayer replied. “You see, after he produced the half-ling, he felt ashamed. As a result, he decided to take on a new identity and change is way of ruling. He used to have compassion and the ability to understand the needs of vampires and humans alike. Now, he rules with an iron fist, setting out to be the dictator of many clans.”

“What about you?” I asked. “Did you ever want to be the sole master of all the vampires?”

“I’ve thought about it, and I admit that my brother and I dabbled in sibling rivalry centuries ago, but that goal is long gone. I’m not looking to rule all of the vampires, and I’m certainly not set on sacrificing humans for our own good. The only reason why we do it is because we have to.”

“Master Slayer, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“I noticed that I haven’t been aging. It’s only been ten years since I last saw the vampires, but I should look different. I should feel different, but I don’t.”

“There’s the problem with half-lings. We’ve never let them survive long enough to see if they actually are immortal.”

“Are you suggesting that half-lings reach a certain age and then just stop developing? Do you think it would be the same age for all half-lings? Honestly, it would be very weird if Don was the same age as me.”

“Yes, that would be quite strange,” Pierce agreed.

“Hazel, there is one solution that would keep you and Don safe,” Master Slayer said.

“What?”

“Since you stopped aging anyway, then there is the possibility that you possess immortality. In order to be sure that you’ll have an eternal life, you and Don could be turned.”

“Turned into vampires?”

“Yes, it’s the only sure thing that we know of,” Pierce replied.

“I chose to have a half-ling for a reason. I thought that it would give me and my daughter normal human lives,” I explained. “What makes you think that I would just give up that chance?”

“Your human life and your daughter’s human life are my brother’s targets. If they didn’t exist anymore, then he would have no reason to keep you as prisoners.”

“But how would that prove that half-lings aren’t harmless?”

“Simple, we lie,” Master Slayer replied. “We tell my brother that you are now an eternal one. We’ll use your new vampire life as bait to get Don and Maeve away from his control.”

“Do you think he’d fall for that?” I asked.

“Indeed, I know he will. But just to make sure that they are released, Pierce will find a way to get a special elixir to Gia, who will then slip it into Circo’s morning dose of blood. The elixir will weaken his powers, and he will be susceptible to the powers of other vampires. That’s when Livia comes in. She will be able to freely read his mind without him knowing, and Mitrik will have to return to the Ash Clan headquarters when the time is right. He will then use his power of manipulation to get Circo to free Don and Maeve.”

“It sounds difficult,” I said.

“But it’s really not,” Pierce countered.

“Well, it sounds like a plan. When does the plan start?”