Thicker Than Water....

Chapter 13 - Lost Time

Having stocked up with the shopping, we arrived back my house, heavy laden.  I couldn't explain why, but I felt as though I had lost time.  I was pretty sure we had left at around 10 a.m.,  but when I looked at the kitchen clock it read 3.15.  Surely it hadn't taken us that long to shop, even though our supplies were considerable.

   "What is de matta?" Kula asked.  She looked at me suspiciously.

   "Nothing," I replied bluntly.  I was still seething that she had betrayed me, so I was not prepared to give away any of my thoughts.  At least the not the ones I could control.  I had to also ensure she could not invade my dreams again.  Perhaps I would speak with Vittorio about that. 

I removed myself from the kitchen and Kula's presence and went through to the conservatory. There, my mind quickly returned to the dark angel, who I knew slumbered in my cellar.   He was utterly charming.  Not the monster Kula had warned me about at all.  The insight he had given me to my origins, had initially disturbed me. 

Vampires! Who on earth would have believed in such things nowadays? Yet, I had found myself totally engrossed, hanging on his every word...believing. The human women, tricked, seduced and harvested  by the Elders to bear infants they had hoped would be vampires able to walk both in sunlight and at night.  The failure of that experiment and its diabolic effect for one of the Elders. Then the discovery of the hybrids' unique blood.  It was barbaric, yet oddly understandable.  They had been a dying species, fighting for survival.  But a further complication arose when they had created the Freshlings to serve them as warrior protectors.  Chaos had erupted as the rebellion claimed the lives of many Elders, Heirs and the human mothers of The Desired.  Fleshling numbers had also been depleted, but they had fought with a voracity unforeseen by their makers.  I felt a pang of sympathy for them too. 

Baby Si questioned the validity of it all.  Is there not something amiss in this jigsaw of Vampiric history?  I huffed, dismissing her unwelcome intrusion.

I was a hybrid - half human and half vampire - known as a Desired. Vittorio's Desired.   Stirrings deep in my loins made me blush.  If all the Elders or their Heirs looked like him, I don't see why human women had needed to be compelled. For once, I readily agreed with Baby Si.  I giggled, but then chastised myself quickly. It was my blood, not my body that he wanted.  Another thought....why then, had he not taken it by now?  Was there some sort of ritual required?  I was shocked to discover I didn't care.  If I remained in this charismatic vampire's company for the rest of my life as his favourite tipple on-tap, I would be happy enough.

I heard movement near the door.  I spun round to see Ugly standing,  just watching me.  Although he didn't scare me anymore, I still found his appearance repulsive.  "Go away!" I ordered.  He didn't move.  "Get lost, Ugly!!" I said more forcefully.  He grunted and then slowly turned and disappeared out of my sight.  I wondered what his purpose was in all of this.  Was he just a bodyguard for Vittorio? An executioner?  No doubt I'd find out in due course.

I heard the outer door open and close. "Anyone home?"  Ian Carter!  I met him as he was entering the sitting room.

   "I told you, don't come here unless I ask you to!"

He approached me, with a confident smirk.  "Well now, little Miss Darroway.  It's not up to you anymore, is it?  Vittorio is in charge."

I wasn't intimidated by this rancid, insignificant creep.  In fact, if anything I always felt stronger, more confident in myself where he was concerned.  "And did he request your presence here and now?"

He stopped.  I could tell by his reaction he hadn't expected me to still be so confrontational.  "Erm, no, not exactly, but I am to be here this evening."