Elemental Reverse Harem Quartet (part 1: Earth)

Chapter 18

The invasion of a vampire's territory is often fatal

Varu Vasile

At the sound of my greeting, Kyle jumped and swung around. "Where did you come from?"

He looked beyond me, and I hoped Malka hadn't followed me. I couldn't hear her breathing, which was good. It meant she'd stayed in the safe room where I'd planted her.

"You two are trespassing in my house and making enough noise to wake the dead."

It wasn't the two before me that worried me—two young vampires I could handle. How many more might have come through the cemetery at the same time and be currently lurking silently in my lower basement? They may have sent these two naïve youngsters up ahead to flush out Malka with the intention of rushing up here to take her.

By sound or scent, I detected no one, but that didn't mean there weren't vampires down there. We were masters of concealment. We didn't breathe. We could be as still as stone and deadly silent. We smelt of our food and the earth, so that could be most confusing or revealing.

"Just how long have the two of you been vampires, exactly?"

"What's it to you?" Kyle grumbled. His attitude hadn't changed from earlier, which was much more surprising, given the situation he now faced.

His female companion giggled. She failed to grasp the severity of the situation.

"I'm certain you haven't been one of us for long, or you would be aware that trespassing in an elder vampire's home is a serious misdemeanor. I can kill you for this." If they were older vampires, they'd have learned to treat others with respect and to move about silently.

Some people weren't meant to be undead. Killed outright could be more merciful. In his case, Kyle should never have been turned, and he certainly shouldn't have been sent to trespass in my house.

"About a year," he answered.

I rolled my eyes, which was in keeping with the age I appeared.

"Three months," she said.

"Let's stick with three months, shall we? In vampire terms, you are a toddler. That might almost make the noise level excusable. Now, how can I help you?"

"Look, mate, we got off on the wrong foot outside. I'm sorry about that. I told you one of our cousins died in the attack in Abney Park. You saw it happen. And now, Ceyhan is also dying. After I spoke to you outside, an elder told us elemental blood might save her. We're here hoping you'll help us get some."

Kyle's words seemed heartfelt, even though they were delivered in an altogether too modern and informal way for my liking. He was only a baby in vampire years, but his lack of respect whilst trespassing on my property was vexing.

"Did you expect my help, or did you hope to sneak over my territory and into my house and grab a witch without my permission?"

It was inconceivable that two infant vampires came up with this foolhardy mission that no one in their right mind would undertake. And yet, there they were, as lambs to the slaughter trying to get the better of me in my own house. I wondered who'd sent them; whoever was behind this invasion was too wise to risk doing it for themselves.

The girl gasped. "No. We didn't intend to do anything underhand on your estate."

I couldn't be sure whether her protest was genuine or driven by fear after being caught out. Given Kyle's earlier attitude, I found it hard to believe he'd come to ask for my help, but if he had nefarious motives, he wouldn't have taken this risk, a risk that would most likely get him killed.