CRIMSON TAINTED [BOOK 1]

13. A Simple Demonstration

"How did it go?" Arnold asked, his deep voice broke through the silent room from where he stood. He had his back to Callus.

"It went according to plan - the girl took the bait, hook, line and sinker. Except for the fact the weretiger nearly ripped my arm from its socket." Callus replied, examining his now healed shoulder.

Arnold turned to him. "You're a vampire, you'll live. Although, I do seem to like the boy's ferocity. It's a shame he isn't a vampire."

"Anyway, I'm afraid I must tell you, Arnold. I shall be going out of town for a while."

"You never stay put in one place, as always Callus." Arnold watched him stand up and put on his overcoat.

"No disregard for the situation at hand but you can't possibly blame me, Arnold. You see, I am a cosmopolitan vampire, a wanderer on the face of the earth."

"And what about the weretiger, you're supposed to make yourself useful in dealing with the matter?"

Callus had a disagreeable expression on his face. "I've been useful to you since the very moment we crossed paths. How am I supposed to be of further assistance when you can't even tell me what it is you want with the weretiger?" Arnold was calm. "I'll be leaving now, I bid you farewell on your quest." Callus walked away as Arnold looked on.

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Back at the Norman house, everyone were fast asleep except for Lorna. She had been awake crafting and conjuring spells out on the balcony. Light footsteps were heard behind her.

"What are you doing out here alone, Lorna?" Janette asked, yawning. "It's really late."

"Just sacrificing half my bedtime sleep making these." She hung out necklaces for Janette to see.

"Okay . . . You're making necklaces, why exactly?" Janette wore a confused look as she slid into an armchair beside Lorna.

"They're not just necklaces, Janette, they're weapons. You see this vial?" Lorna pointed to a transparent, tiny, bottle filled with clear liquid. "It's filled with liquefied monkshood, a substance said to repel vampires as well as incapacitate them if they ever came in contact with or ingested it. And you can't be compelled by one while wearing it too."

"Okay . . . Look, I'm really grateful you're here and doing all this for us. " said Janette. Lorna smiled, reaching for her hand.

"It's nothing, really. You're all my family and I'll do everything in my power to keep you guys safe. And I'm very sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Janette asked.

"For being the reason a vampire is after us. I mean, look what happened to Amberly today. Gosh, I'm really sorry."

"It's alright, Lorna. Just like you said, we'll figure something out together. Now let's go get some sleep, okay?" Lorna smiled, nodding as she packed up and they both went inside.

Meanwhile, a figure hid in the corner across the street. "So she's arrived. Very well then, we shall play the game and see who succumbs." Arnold uttered and in an instant, sped away.

Amber laid awake in her bed, thinking. She had never been so frightened before. How did she and her family become threatened by creatures she thought never existed until a few hours ago?

Then again, she thought of her saviour, Claudius. Who is he? What is he? She concluded, either he used some sort of trick or he is a creature of the supernatural himself - Anything seemed possible now. She cleared her head of the rampaging thoughts and slid under the covers. Soon, she fell asleep.