Midnight Crusade

Chapter 18

"Why can't I go again?" Vivian asked as she and Kit walked through the estate. It was buzzing with life as the whole place was preparing for the ball to happen in a couple days. She had been informed the other day that she was absolutely not to attend and to stay in her room the entire time. It made sense, given it was going to be a vampire ball full of vampires, but Vivian couldn't deny that she still wanted to see it.

"There will be too many vampires there, ones that don't know about our... status." Kit said, referring to their lover's secret. "It will be more difficult to keep you safe from any other vampire that might want to thrall you or drink from you."

Vivian felt unease at that, but the word thrall threw her off a little bit. She had heard that word before, hadn't she? "What does that mean? To thrall someone?"

"Oh, I have not told you about it, have I?" Kit spoke, looking down at Vivian as they walked. "Well I suppose it is kind of like mind control in a way. When a vampire thralls someone, that person loses their free will and must do whatever the vampire tells them to do."

"That sounds terrifying." A shiver runs down Vivian's spine at the thought. "Wait, did Niccolo thrall me when we first met?" She remembers the way he forced her to speak, forced her to sit down and stay put as they tried to figure out why she was resisting a mind wipe. That felt like so long ago now.

"Yes, that is exactly what he was doing." Kit replied, turning a corner and Vivian following. She recognized the path they were taking, and she supposed it was that time of the day.

"So vampires can control minds? Can you guys read minds too?"

"No, nothing like that. I have heard some witches can do that though."

"Wow." Vivian said with wonder. She was always learning something new about this hidden world.

The two of them walked through the large arch way that led into the kitchen, the staff milling about and doing their work. Vivian looked around for Lucy and Jas, but instead spotted a different familiar figure. "Elias?"

The man looked up from the chicken he was plucking, red eyes landing on her. "Hey, Vivian." Elias said easily.

Vivian left Kit's side and went to stand besides where Elias sat. "You're free!"

"They let me join the staff yesterday." He said, showing off his uniform. "I'll be working in the estate now I guess."

"That's amazing!" Vivian said excitedly, mostly about the man being let free from the cell. "I'm so glad you're adjusting well."

Elias smiled at her, a sincere one. "I'm trying my best." He said, and then his expression changed to something a little less friendly as he looked behind Vivian. "You're here too."

"Yes." Kit replied, Vivian turning to see the man was slowly approaching. "I brought her here because she should eat. It's about lunch."

"Oh, you're hungry?" Elias' eye moved back to Vivian. "Let me find Jas, she's a great cook. Everything she makes smells amazing."

"Jas? I met her the other day! She's the little old lady, right?" Vivian said, motion to her head. "Long black hair?"

"That's the one! I'll be right back." Elias said, setting the chicken he was plucking down carefully and running towards the back of the kitchen. When he returned, it was with Jas in tow. "Found her!"

"I hear you're hungry." Jas said as she approached, putting hands on her hips. "What can I make for you?"

"Whatever you want." Vivian replied, excited to be able to eat Jas's food again.