Turned By Him

After a few more seconds however, the blood curdling screams of patrons trying to leave the party confirmed their intent. Eliza was horrified by the cries for help. Many who had left had been human. Her meal, which was no longer behind her, was likely just murdered. She thought back to Heather and Eliza’s fear was replaced with a deeply seeded rage.

“I demand to speak to Damien,” Mirana said sternly.

Randal clicked his tongue once more as if he were spitting the patience from his mouth. “You demand nothing.” Randal was quite serious. “By feeding on these humans, you have taught them our secret. You are a risk that must be snuffed out.”

Devlin took his place beside Mirana. Eliza knew Devlin was a formidable fighter. In his life, he had been a soldier and a boxer. He discovered that the second half of his dark gift had combined these skills. He could look at an opponent and see their weaknesses. Tom had once told Eliza that Devlin, while teaching members of the coven to defend themselves, had fended off 13 of them without sustaining any damage. Eliza wondered what Randal looked like to Devlin’s eyes.

“Why do you violate your sire?” Devlin asked. His voice was softer and much harder to hear than the fiery passion which resonated from Mirana. Still, Eliza could make out Devlin’s words. “Is it that you intend to depose your sire by eliminating his enemies?”

Eliza could feel the tension rise around her. The air became thin, a psychic energy strained in the cool evening as though one were tuning a string too high. Randal’s already humorless expression became one of dark anger. His brow cast a shadow over his eyes as he looked down at the board which controlled the lights and sound. “These times are plagued by children who don’t respect their betters.”

Behind Randal Rothschild, the other vampires took a few steps forward and out. They flanked Randal and showed solidarity with him. “What does it matter?” Randal said grimly. “You’re already dead.” In that instant, Devlin’s chest exploded outward. In the gory cavity that had once hosted Devlin’s heart a crooked hand with pointed nails rested. Blood dripped from the hand in a seeming slow motion.

Eliza felt as though time had slowed down for her. A battle had erupted before her. Jordan was nearly upon the center of battle, his eyes glowing red with rage and as a symbol of his dark gift. Mirana’s eyes were wrinkled with rage as they welled with tears. Her scream tore through the thick air with a terrible violence. The howl seemed to last forever to Eliza. The vampires who had chased down the humans had returned and were joining the fight. She looked around her and everyone was midflight. Tom, who was beside her only a second ago, was in the air and baring his teeth. He clearly intended to join the fray. Harper was bounding along tombstones as she tried to help her family fight. Eliza was sure everyone would fight to the last. Her body remained paralyzed.

The fight before her became an incredible scene of acrobatics and combat. Skillful dodges and inhumanly fast strikes were easily visible to her vampire eyes. She watched as Mirana reeled around and swiped ferociously at the vampire who had slain Devlin. The vampire avoided the strike easily and the two squared off to fight. It didn’t take long for Eliza to realize that, while the Rothschilds were outnumbered, the NuBlood vampires were outmatched by their assailers. Eliza knew that not all magic-folk lived indefinitely. She knew in the case of vampires however, that they became stronger with age. More memories and mastery of their individual dark gift was only amplified by a natural imperviousness which increased with every passing year.

Tom had joined the fight and gone shoulder to shoulder with Jordan. Jordan dwarfed Tom but Eliza knew that Tom could handle himself in a fight. Still she worried about the priest, especially considering the ease with which they killed Devlin. Eliza wished desperately that she could help. Eliza didn’t know how to fight however and, while she wasn’t afraid, she didn’t know much at all about the vampires or their dark gift. She didn’t even know her own ability yet. Tom had told her it could be years before she discovered the unique power within herself.

Eliza clenched her hands into tight fists. She didn’t believe that she could help and thus watched from the sidelines. One after the other, Eliza watched members of her new coven get struck down by the powerful blows of the Rothschild vampires. Jordan and Tom had defeated their opponent and, best as Eliza could tell, were making for Mirana and her one versus one combat. Eliza considered turning to run. She had been told to run, given the explicit approval to get out of danger. Yet she stayed.

*****

Randal surveyed the cemetery as he watched his group of elite fighters dispatch of the NuBlood coven. Randal’s eyes panned the scene until the fell upon Eliza. His vision narrowed and his head cocked to one side. In the blink of an eye, Randal was feet in front of Eliza. He stared at her inquisitively several seconds before he said, “Eliza Bathurst?” Eliza was shocked to hear her name from Randal’s lips. It felt as though her number had been called to join the draft. “Well,” Randal said in a mock English accent, “add that to the offenses.”

“You know me?” Eliza asked the question in a shakily. She took a step back but knew it would do no good. He was too fast. “Why are you doing this?”

Randal clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “It is my right,” Randal said. “As for you Miss Bathurst,” he said in a disapproving tone. “You have been twice privileged. We are supposed to rule but instead we cower from them. We hide our existence when it should make us gods.” Eliza had no clue what Randal was talking about. To her ears, he sounded like a NAZI or a super villain from a movie. He quickly clarified. “I’ve seen you on television,” Randal said. “And as it turns out I knew your father.”