My Super Depressing Story About How I Became The First One

Chapter Twenty-Four

We arrived at the gates of a long white stone driveway, framed with evenly spaced, well-manicured shrubs. The driveway led to a towering mansion with large pillars and high arches.

It was surprisingly welcoming and nothing like the creepy old gothic manor, with spindly bare trees and ugly gargoyles that I had imagined in my head.

"This is nothing like I had imagined," I thought out loud.

Cain shifted in his seat next to me. "How else do you expect them to lure in their prey?" he said, his voice bitter.

"Well when you mentioned the old library, I expected an old manor to go with it."

"Malicai built a new old library. It was in the old manor that was originally here. But when the old king died, it was knocked down to make way for this. He may be a near seven hundred years old, but Malicai is very much a twenty-first century vamp," he said, winding down his window to speak into the intercom.

A hostile voice sounded over the static of the speaker. "State your business."

Cain lent out his window. "We have an appointment with Malicai."

There was a long pause before the unwelcoming voice spoke again. "Ah yes, he is expecting you. An escort will be awaiting your arrival at the entrance." And with that, the voice was gone.

The gates clicked and slowly opened. My heart skipped a beat before it speed up so fast that I thought I was going to pass out. Was it too late to back out now?

Cain placed his hand on my knee as he carefully drove over the crunching stones. "You need to stay calm, he will be able to hear your pulse and know that you are scared."

I looked at him. "But I am scared. I am fucken shitting myself over here Cain."

He squeezed my leg. "I know, I can taste your fear. But you need not to worry so much. He cannot hurt you. He knows the rules."

I looked up at the vast approaching building and took a few deep breaths, concentrating on slowing down my heartbeat. I didn't want Malicai to know how much I feared him. He didn't need any more advantages over me, not if I could help it.

Pale lights pooled around the entrance of the mansion, giving it a warm glow. The sun had set on the drive over, leaving the world in the twilight of night.

A pale man with dusty brown hair, cropped short floated gracefully down the steps to greet us. He wore a well-tailored black suit, with a royal purple dress shirt. He approached us, making his way over to my side of the car.

I gripped my seat belt so hard, it started to cut into my skin. I exhaled slowly, trying to compose myself.

The pale man opened my door holding his hand out to me. "Miss Jacobs," he said. His voice seemingly normal. I looked up at his plain face. His eyes were the same dead blue as Malicai's. They almost seemed identical, but his didn't violate me like Malicai's did. Apart from his cold dead, alive eyes and pale skin, he could almost pass as human. Almost.

I took his hand and fought hard not to snatch it back. His skin was so cold, it frightened me. He truly felt dead.

Cain stepped out of the car. "Shane, how do you do?" he asked politely.

The vampire looked at him, his face perfectly pleasant. I got the impression that it was all just an act. "I am very well, thank-you," he turned back to me. "We must get you inside, Malicai is desperate to see you." His normal voice slipping, sounding ever so slightly seductive and inviting.

Cain took my hand from Shane. I was sooo grateful for the warm touch. "Then, by all means, lead the way," he said.

The vampire bowed his tall frame. He was almost as tall as Cain. Too tall to be over a hundred years of age. "How old are you?" I asked.