Vampire Seekers

Chapter Eleven

Maria sits in the sterile waiting room with bland décor, white walls, and the smell of disinfectant that lingers in the air. She chews the inside of her lip thinking about everything that lead her here and the woman who made it near impossible to refuse. Each time she remember the why Maria remembers Willow's words.

"Your her sisters best friend after all" - had Willow meant it how Maria thought she did? Could Maria really be Velika's crush. Maria, a human seeker, the obsession of the Princess. Maria supposes Vel would not be the first vampire infatuated with her. Not that Maria believed Velika could possibly be infatuated with her, but Velika said she had certain feelings for her.

Certain feelings. Maria should have asked Velika what that meant, too late now.

Another name is called out in a monotone drawl and her eyes flicker to the board. Three one seven. Not her number. Not yet.

Maria swallowed and peered down at the number in her hand. A shiver runs down Maria's spine. How many times has Maria been in this lab staring at the same pretentious poster that she is now and rolling her eyes. The words in bold block letters seem to torment her.

Fate has called your name. . . You have been Drafted.

But fate had nothing to do with and nor did a 'random generator'. The Queen did what the Queen does best - meddle. Maria's name being called had been as deliberate as she thought it had been.

"Maria?" 

Maria turns to stare at the owner of the voice. "Dani. What are you doing here?" Even as Maria asks the question she knows the answer. Dani has her hand gripped on the upper arm of a man whose been cuffed. When people are no shows to their appointments the seekers have to go retrieve them and haul their arses into the lab. It is never a fun job

"I pulled an extra shift covering for the tracking division." Dani says whilst forcing the man into a chair two seats over from Mariawith a huff and a puff. "You?"

"I'm here for the reading materials." Maria quips rolling her soft honey brown eyes. "I got drafted, but I haven't told no one yet so I'd appreciate it if you keep this on the down low."

"I'm keep a lot of your secrets," Dani says plopping down in the plastic arm chair beside Maria, "But I get why you'd want to keep it private. I didn't tell anyone when I got drafted.

"When you what?" Maria says sitting up in her chair and leaning closer to Dani.

"It was a few years ago." Dani tells her with a shrug, "I didn't get matched. There's a good chance you won't be either so I wouldn't sweat it too much, but you know that the others will find out when we get the list, right?"

"I know." Maria says, "Hey Dan, can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, watch him a minute for me and then you can fire away " Dani says rummaging through her bag for her work notebook. "Got to get his appointment number."

Maria nods. As soon as Dani is at the counter and chatting animatedly to Clarissa, who is far more friendly than the man shouting the numbers out, the man Dani hauled in turns to Maria and begins to plead with her.

"Let me please. Please! I can be drafted I can't. This isn't fair it's not my choice. Please." The man begs, searching Maria's eyes for any kind of sympathy for his situation, but there is none.

Maria is a seeker who has hardened herself against emotional blackmail.

"I can't and I won't." Maria replies. "Don't know if you noticed but I'm in the same boat as you."

"Which is why I thought-"

"That I'd stick my neck out for you when I'm not sticking my neck out for myself?" Maria asks rhetorically. "Theres a good chance you won't be matched."