Querencia | Rosalie Hale

Chapter VI

This time Sophia, Alexios and Iris had settled in a large home. Previously abandoned, it had signs of neglect and rot, they could smell death in the air here. Death was not the only smell.

Vampires had been in their town.

They had asked the residents about pale, suspicious people here yet they didn't seem too inclined to divulge in such information, perhaps from fear of losing their lives.

Sophia didn't care that they didn't want to tell them. She understood their fear and decided not to ever ask again and told Alex to let it go as well.

They had been in this town for over two months. Gossip spread like wildfire about the residents of that home across the hill. They kept to themselves and only came out when it was dark or the sky was overcast, which was hardly ever. Sophia was the exception to this wild gossip.

She managed to build a relationship with the residents, helping them with whatever they had needed. Soon the gossip died down, she made up some elaborate lie.

She said that she was in town with her brother and his new wife. That he and Iris were spending all day decorating and 'celebrating' their newlywed status. It wasn't too far from the truth, after all if you want to tell a lie sprinkle some truth into it. But that didn't fully stop the rumours.

That night, the moon in full, something began to stir.

Sophia looked up at the night sky feeling a power unlike she has ever felt. 'Someone's here' she thought to herself... someone strong. She opened the creaky door and left her home, feeling something pulling her in. A power.

She followed a thin thread of curiosity to see cloaked individuals standing ominously ahead. Immediately she realised what they were.

Vampires.

"Who are you?" She shouted across the empty area, she knew they would be able to hear her, the distance didn't matter. Despite her fear, they were intruders, she would not let these blood thirsty vampires harm the villagers she had worked so hard on building a relationship with.

She gripped her new sword prepared to fight and die... They probably wouldn't be able to kill her anyway. The others on the other hand were in trouble. The cruel vampires say nothing as she seems to melt under their blood red eyes. She would not let her fear show, her blood turned to ice. She prepared to attack.

"Sophia! Wait! Don't do anything!" Alex called out.

That's when she heard him. A voice like silk yet so snakelike laughed as he greets someone he had not seen in a long time.

"Hello, Alexios." He lowered his black hood.

A well dressed man with long black hair unveiled himself, his red eyes and pale skin glistened against the moonlight.

"Hello, Aro."

With his head held high Alex began to walk towards the strange figures, leaving Sophia all alone. Once he reached them he divulged in conversation with the old vampires.

" Why have you come here Aro?" Alex asked.

" Hmm. I have come to order you to help us with a pest that's shown up here. It must stop, it will end in our discovery." Aro's eyes shifted towards Sophia. "Bring her over to me."

A different cloak glided across the area, and grabbed Sophia with an uncomfortably tight grip on her arm. If it were not for her high pain tolerance and sturdiness, she supposed it may have been enough to break her arm. She was sick of it yet every fibre of her being was telling her to behave, they may not be able to kill her but they would kill Alex, they would kill Iris and when they were done they would kill the townsfolk.