Dracula's Daughter

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Valentina gazed upon Jessica with new eyes.

She no longer saw her as a weak human but a thing of chance and myth; a hybrid between human and vampire.

It should have been impossible and yet there she stood with the frail body of a mortal luring them all in to a false sense of security.

Valentina wondered at the powers her vampiric side held; Valentina knew that the sun gave her no discomfort and she ate human food.

But as she thought this Valentina was overcome with a sense of jealousy and anger.

For years, Valentina had tried to perform such a task but each time she had failed.

And now, she learns that a meagre street vampire of low borne standing had achieved that which she, the daughter of Dracula, could not.

It was an insult of the highest standard.

Valentina found that she wanted to study Jessica in depth; she wanted to test her limits, taste her blood . . .

“A- A hybrid?” Jessica’s lips trembled as she repeated Valentina’s words, pulling the vampire from the recesses of her thoughts.

Valentina gave a sharp nod of her head, “Half human. Half vampire.”

“But . . .”Jessica’s eyebrows drew together in confusion and Valentina could hear the cogs and gears trying to turn in her head and it irritated her.

“Come,” Valentina heard Christian calling her name, growing weary the longer they remained behind, “We need to-”

Valentina paused as if she had just been dumped in an ice lake.

“Valentina?” Jessica’s voice murmured up at the woman.

Valentina felt a shiver run through her body, her muscles clenching in restrain as fear coursed through her veins like electricity.

“What is it?” Jessica looked around them, pondering what she may or may not be hearing.

Valentina spun and gripped Jessica by her wrist, pulling her along behind her.

Jessica gave a small shriek of surprise as she was suddenly lurched off her feet and down the path towards Christian and Lucius.

“Valentina? Valentina!” Jessica shouted her name, fearing she would rip her arm out of her socket.

“Silence!” Valentina hissed, her grip growing tight like a vice, “Whatever happens, you must keep quiet.”

“Quiet?” Jessica panted as she raced to keep up, “Why?”

Valentina didn’t respond as they turned a corner and found Christian and Lucius waiting for them.

One look upon her appearance and the pair rallied to their side immediately.

Christian’s attention was centred on Valentina, he could taste the fear in the air around her and the concern etched upon her brow.

“What is it?” Christian asked, knowing that something serious was afoot.

“Dracula is close by,” Valentina thanked the inner ability that alerted her to his presence, “We need to get Jessica and Lucius out of view.”

Lucius stubbornly protested, “I am not going anywhere.”

“Me neither!” Jessica grunted as she tried to wrench her wrist free from Valentina’s grasp but it felt as if her hand was enclosed in concrete.