Chapter 2 Complications

Three figures stood in the living room while gazing at the woman lying on the couch.

She wore simple grey sweat pants and a sleeveless top, both stained in blood.

Of the three figures, one had clothes that were also stained with dried blood.

"Enlighten me, brother. In what universe would snapping your beloved's neck be the best solution to calm her down?" Daniel asked.

Cole ground his teeth and faced his elder brother.

"Well won't you do me the honours and tell me what I should have done, my all knowing brother?" he said.

"You acted rashly this could-"

"IT COULD WHAT, DANIEL?! Damage our relationship? I panicked! The one thing I did not wish for her just happened tonight!"

He then grabbed Daniel's collar and bellowed.

"Tell me I was wrong now, brother? Do you still think we are dealing with some random Progenitor? Hmm?! It's him! Only he would smell my scent on Margaret and decide to give her this dreadful curse that we've had for centuries! Even death is much better than this."

Daniel remained silent.

Gillian only looked at Cole with sympathy.

Cole released Daniel and went over to Margaret.

He stroked her cheek and sighed.

"What do you intent to do if its really him then?" Daniel asked after a long pause.

"It depends. Does the current series of events warrant your involvement in searching for this bastard?" asked Cole without looking at his brother.

Daniel remained silent.

"I have endured different shades of pain, brother. Through thick and thin I've powered through all the embarrassment the world has thrown at me because you were by my side. And now that a common threat descends upon me and my beloved you turn a blind eye?" Cole asked.

Daniel walked to the window and lay his hand on the frame. He took a deep breath and gazed outside.

"Do you want us to be here when she wakes up?" he asked.

Gillian was puzzled. She had thought for sure their brother would choose to change his mind, but he actually changed the subject.

Cole was even more so dumbfounded. He glared at his older brother and ground his teeth.

"No. I'd prefer for both of you to not be here," he replied.

"Very well. Gillian. Let's go," said Daniel as he wore a stern face and walked out of the door without looking back.

Gillian hesitated, but in the end she opted to follow.

"Just call if you need me, brother," she said to Cole, who only nodded.

She left afterwards, leaving Cole who sat on the table and continued to gaze at the woman on the couch.

She was breathing.

Her heart was beating at an irregular rate, and it seemed her body was adapting, changing and improving.

He could see dark veins dancing at her neck, eyes and mouth.

She had become a Royal Vampire. A vampire only second to Progenitors, those said to carry the purest of vampiric blood.

She had become like him.

What she had experienced when she first woke was the evolving of her basic senses and the first experience at thirst that burnt from her chest.

Imagining the sweet Margaret that he had just been talking to a few hours ago turning into a thirsty beast was an unbearable experience.

Quite frankly he had contemplated on killing her.

To relieve her of this burden.

However, he realised that it was not his choice to make.

***

Daniel and Gillian walked along the street in the night in silence.

Gillian had a ton of questions for her brother. To her, Daniel was the more level headed of her brothers. He was by no means a moral saint. He could execute questionable deeds as much as Cole, some even more atrocious as she had witnesses in her century of life.

However, what set him apart was the he had boundaries. He was charming, he was friendly and he wouldn't resort to the shedding of civility unless something he truly wanted was at stake.

And that was the problem.

No one knew what exactly he wanted.

He was the type you call when you have a problem, and he would solve it, only to leave immediately after.

Before she could open her mouth and ask, Daniel spoke first.

"Let's find a place to dine and talk about your endeavours," he said.

They walked for a while until they reached a certain small time restaurant.

It was neat despite its lack of renown recognition in the stars department. There were black and red tiles, glistening with a spark of cleanliness, friendly as well as tidy waiters and clean wooden tables covered by matching black table cloths with red embroidery at the fringes.

Large windows were on the walls with the restaurants name and also allowing for the customers to have a fresh view of the well lit street. The glass on the window made the distant lights into a bokeh that made the scene even more vibrant.

"Have you turned into a cheapskate in the time we've been apart? I thought you'd take me to a 5 star restaurant at least," said Gillian with a smile.

"Simple places like this are the best venue for catching up with family. The rest I will supplement with love," Daniel said caressing her hair.

Gillian shook her head with a smile.

"I've dated hundreds of dudes and that defence is still the weakest I've heard," she said.

They sat on one of the tables and ordered their respective meals.

"While we wait for our meals, would you care to tell me what you've been up to?" Daniel said as he sat upright and gazed deep into her eyes.

"Ease up on the fatherly gaze. I haven't been doing anything too bad."

"I was already suspecting you to be playing the international role of Vamp Hooker."

"Oh my God, that's how low your opinion of me has become? What happened to pampering me as the baby sister?"

"Because last time we were together you hadn't reached a full century yet."

"Okay okay, enough with that!" Gillian said with a short laugh.

"Well, If you really want to know. Since we split, I followed your advice and went to school. Schools, actually. You were right. It's definitely not the same as living in a single generation, but I finally felt like life was worth living. The friends, the experience and even the knowledge.

Just like you said, only we who get to live for centuries can admire the evolution of man. We see how they grow, what they build and it becomes like watching a film."

Daniel smiled as he heard her say that.

"Interesting. I'm impressed. I'm glad it was a... helpful experience. Though, I doubt that was all," he said.

"Fine, fine! Before finally overcoming my existential crisis, I had loooooads of sex and alcohol. There, I said it! And you know that guy who said 'All is vanity'? He wasn't lying. It gets boring after a time," said Gillian as she lay her head on the table.

Daniel's smile became even wider.

"I'm not judging you. What I care about, is seeing you grow. The light in your eyes is still there. You did well to keep it. I've seen my fair share of vampires who turned depraved after a point. What was the most worthwhile thing that you noticed?"

Gillian wore a contemplative look and then sighed.

"There are few of those. Frankly, I'm still trying to find out if I'm right, but when you found me I didn't embrace my femininity. I saw it as a weakness. I thought hanging out with the men, as the century I was born in demanded, was the only way for me to find happiness or validation.

But I was wrong. Throughout the life I've lived I've met some super cool women who've risen from the burrows of life and made history in less that a quarter of the time I've been alive.

I guess what I'm saying is, I recognised that women have strengths that men don't and the opposite is true. Embracing myself as I am helped me get through my 'phase'.

And basically you guys are overrated."

Daniel finally laughed, much to Gillian's delight.

"That's good, sister."

"Yeah," she said. " Can I ask my own question now?"

"By all means," Daniel replied with a slight smile.

"Why won't you help us search for this guy? Why are you so hell-bent on avoiding a Progenitor so badly? Cole really needs you right now. We both know what's going to happen when Margaret wakes up. Cole will be heartbroken or worse," she said with a look of concern.

Daniel kept his smile and looked at the table cloth. He grabbed a napkin and held it tight.

"I'm afraid," he said.

Gillian was shocked.

"Afraid?"

"Yes. Afraid. Afraid that following this path will force me to take four centuries worth of steps backwards. I've done everything in my power to move on.

The memories of when we were turned do nothing but bring me grief. It was the start of a pathetic life that I slowly moulded into something I could control. It's best to continue enjoying life as it is."

"And what exactly is this enjoyment you talk about? I can hardly get you to laugh, brother. Isn't what you taught me that life is about discovering new things, meeting new people and finding love?

I can already tell you haven't been doing any of that all this time. Find a girl and hook up, instead of having a few flings here and there. Move on from your past with Lina."

"I wish it was that simple."

"What makes it complicated then?"

Daniel sighed and clenched his teeth.

"Because I was cursed," he said.

"W..what?" Gillian shrank back. "Cursed by who?"

"Her mother. Lina's mother."

"What? Was she a witch or something?"

Daniel smiled bitterly.

"No."

"..."

"Sister. The greatest curses in this life are the ones that have nothing but a voice and emotion backing them. They aim for nothing more than the soul and break it."

Gillian was confused. Before she could ask, the waiter brought their food.

"Now, then. Let's eat," Daniel said with a smile.

***

Cole was still sitting on the lounge table with a solemn expression as he stared at Margaret, who's eyes began twitching as she slowly began to wake up.

Cole took a deep breath and swallowed some saliva. It was time to make a decision...