Quenchless Thirst

Chapter 6 ~ Choices

"Why? Why did you agree to the trials? It was the worst decision that could have ever been taken. James, there is a possibility that you could die during these trials. All that becomes of the trials is despair and pain, If you die during the trials your mother will be left alone with no children and no reason to live, but if you pass I'm sure that the Faithe council will intervene in the relations of a human and a vampire."

"Victor, just slow down and explain the history of the trials, the Faithe Council and vampires to James so that he can fully understand what he is facing and make an informed decision." Said Amy, saving me from a lashing from an enraged vampire, which was an extremely good thing being a I knew nothing at all about vampires other than the fact that they drink blood.

Victor let out an extremely large sigh and then continued to speak,

"Fine, The trials are used as a test on new or excommunicated vampires to see if they are worthy to join a Chapter ruled by either the Faithe or Satinistic Council, as you can guess by the name the Satinistic Council is a Monarchy ruled by the most evil of Daemons, or as you have come to know him, Seth. The Faithe Council is a democracy ruled by a team of Omnivorous Vampires and fights to keep the balance between immortal and mortal beings even and hidden. Finally there are three types of vampires, Carnivorous, Omnivorous and Herbivorous, now obviously in human terms all vampires are Carnivorous but in mystical terms, a Carnivorous Vampire feeds only on Human blood and are the Strongest type of Vampire, they often end up killiing their Human Subject, An Omnivorous Vampire Feeds on Animal and Human Blood and do not kill any of their Subjects animal or human, Herbivorous Vampires feed on only animal blood and are the most Physically weak Vampires on the earth but they protect themselves using intellegant traps and mind-games. There i explained it all, do you want me to repeat it or do you understand?"

 "I understand, Thank you. There is just one thing seth said that really bothered me, what did he mean when he said he would make the trials easier?"

"What he meant by that was absolutely nothing, he is going to make them just as hard as ever."

"Oh Crap. Are the trials different everytime or are they 7 specific trials?" I asked

 "They are 7 specific trials but each one seems harder than the other, they are all really just tests of endurance and stamina."

I had more questions but my phone began ringing, it was my mother, those 11 numbers made me rethink what i had said beforeand victors words just kept racking my brain, "If you die during the trials your mother will be left alone with no children and no reason to live."

When i got home that night my mother answered the door and i almost cried but i held it together because i didn't want her to know what was going on. I didn't sleep that night, all i did was throw up. It's amazing what stress does to the human body.

The clock struck midnight in 20 hours (sundown) the trials were going to be decided. When i finally dropped of to sleep i ended up only sleeping for two hours when there was a knock on the door, by this time it was 9 o'clock and victor was at the door. When i had gotten changed he took me to his house where i met the rest of his family at the front door. I was led inside and the Thorn children disperesed into their respective rooms. Mrs. Thorn went into the kitchen and Mr. Thorn led me to the library into their Fact and History section (and i do mean 'Their' Fact and History section, e.g. The Fiction section at your Local Library.)

"James, you see everyone of these books, they are all stories of myth and legend but, infact everyone of these tales happened, and this book... This is my story, James, My 7 trials are in this book, every hardship you will encounter is in this book, only tenfold. Have you decided what you want to do? Because you know you only have 10 hours until the trials are chosen by the two councils, when these trials are decided, if you accept you will have to fake your own death and break your mother's heart but Rachel will also be released. It's a hard choice to make, Love and hope that Rachel gets released if you decline, or Love from Rachel and hope that your mother doesn't kill herself. You have eight hours to decide because if you accept we need to fake your death before the trials are decided."

I spent the next 5 hours reading books and trying to think of a way to:

1) not die during the trials

2) not have to fake my death

3) save Rachel 

4) save my mother from self-harm

I left the Thorns and headed in any direction that did not have a road and was led to the scorched field were Rachel's schoolbag was found. I lay there for a while, just trying to remember anything about Rachel, which was inherently easy because i could just sense her as if she were in the feild. I soon began to realise that i was running out of time. As i ot up to leave for the Thorn House my mind still as foggy as ever when i heard a small clink, like something metal tapping of something made of glass. I looked around and hanging on a branch, on a tree in front of the lake, was a small vile, filled with a crimson red fluid. As i picked the vile off of the tree, i noticed a label on it reading,

"Dear James, 

I can already tell you are being boggled by the events occuring and that is understandable, but don't give up, i have hope in you still. Take this vile to my father and he will tell you what to do. I hope it helps James,

Rachel

P.S I love you"

As instructed I took the vile to Victor, I expected it to be a trick set by seth, but it wasn't. Instead it was something that left a look of pure astonishment on everyone of the Thorn's face's.