Chapter 4 Vampirism

Cole and Margaret sat on opposites sides in the house. It had been 20 minutes since they had been outside.

For Cole, even in this trying time, he could still look at the cracked wall and feel a ping in his heart.

After the incident outside, Cole had managed to convince Margaret to stay a little longer, but she looked to still be in deep thought as she sat on the couch, hands wrapped around herself with her knees up to her chest.

The silence was awkward, but perfect for Margaret. She had been doubtful for a while, but after seeing the crazy compulsion thing that Cole had done, she had become more or less sure that she was a vampire.

She looked at the glass on the table, feeling the burning sensation in her chest escalate to horrible levels.

Cole had told her that he wouldn't allow her to go on a rampage provided she refused the free blood being offered to her.

She took a deep breath and reached for the glass.

"As you are right now, you're not a perfect vampire. Once you feed, your adjusting body will settle down and you will feel normal.....for the most part," Cole said.

Margaret gave him a glare.

This was hard to accept, but she didn't seem to have a choice. She still wanted to live.

She grabbed the glass, and stared at the red contents. She cast away her hesitation and drank the blood.

Slowly, she felt it sliding down her throat.

Unlike her expectations, it tasted very good, incredibly good even. It did not change taste or flavour. It was the same iron flavoured taste, but it provided the nourishment akin to a cool glass of water on a hot day.

She drank all of it to the last drop under Cole's gaze, who clenched his teeth.

'I'll find that son of a b*tch!' he thought.

Now he would have to break the bad and worse news that came with vampirism for a young lady that had just been living a low profile fun life until a few hours ago.

Margaret had her eyes closed, savouring the taste.

"You're a Royal Vampire. Unlike what you felt when you were changing, you can resist the thirst remarkably well provided you feed regularly. It's different for normal vampires," Cole explained.

This did nothing to console Margaret at all.

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

"I thought Vampires can't walk in the sun."

"That's only true for normal Vampires, unless they are sired by a Royal Vampire or Progenitor who wants them to be able to resist the sun."

"I don't get it," Margaret said as she looked at him with a cold gaze.

Cole stood and walked around the room slowly as if looking for the right words.

"There are three kinds of Vampires. Progenitors, Royal and Blood Vampires or what we simply call normal Vampires.

Progenitors are the first Vampires, who have the purest blood. They are immune to the sun, contrary to some folklore, and have numerous frightening abilities. An example would be the Vampire that turned you," he said with angst.

Margaret looked at him closely and sensed the rage within him as his heart rate spiked.

"Let me take a wild guess. That's the reason your brother and sister are here, right? It's not a coincidence," she said.

"Yes."

Margaret bit her lip. The encounter she had with Cole and his brother was still fresh in her mind.

She recalled how Daniel had mentioned their ancient tastes and it made her shake her head.

"Then there a Royal Vampires. Like you, me and my siblings," Cole continued. "We are naturally immune to the sun as well, but are more like a shadow of a Progenitor.

Vampires that you yourself sire are called loyalties. Be it you and the Vampire that sired you. You are his or her loyalty. The term doesn't relate to you being a slave to the Vampire you sired. It's more of a term to refer to the fact that, if they die you die as well."

Cole refused to tell her that it was likely that the Vampire who turned him and his brother was the same that sired her. It would sound like a cheap excuse anyway coming from him.

Margaret's breathing hastened.

"Then there is the Blood Vampire. Normal vampires with no immunity to the sun and weaker prowess than the aforementioned.

They can be given a boost, if a Royal or Progenitor decides to give them such. For a Royal Vampire, you can only boost one Blood Vampire. Allowing them to be able to resist the sun and reach greater strength than your average Blood Vampire. Progenitors can have more."

"You speak as if I'm going to create an army one day. I just want a normal life," Margaret said with a frown.

"I wish I could say to you that it was possible to return to your usual life but unfortunately, no. There are more creature's than vampires out there, and they can sniff us out. And ... we can be killed," said Cole as he gazed at Margaret with a stern visage.

Margaret swallowed hard, panicking. This was something she was really afraid of. Being hunted down like some monster.

"What can kill us?" she asked.

"I think that's enough ominous talk, Cole," a voice was heard from the door just a split second to it opening.

Daniel and Gillian walked in.

Daniel had his usual aloof stance, hand in pocket and a relaxed yet stern face, while Gillian had a friendly smile.

As Margaret looked at the two, she couldn't help but focus on Daniel, feeling her view of him shift. He seemed a lot more frightening, considering what she considered to be his age. His gaze made her a little weak.

Her eyes quickly shifted to Gillian and at first glance, she recognised Cole's words to be true. She could see the lively nature of the girl that was akin to her own, from the clothing she wore, to the smile on her face.

"Hey," said Gillian. "I know this is under some very bad circumstances, but I'm Gillian.

I know what you're going through. Believe me. I know you blame my brother, and yeah it seems like the right thing to do, to vent your frustration but it's not.

You may look at us differently but we are just broken humans, in a way no different from actual people with 'special conditions' around the world.

If you want, we can help you live a good life still. Even as a Vampire."

Margaret looked at her and gave a hard smile.

She felt that Gillian really could understand her situation. However, she still wasn't sure whether her life would be peaceful living with the Malbornes.

Daniel went up to Margaret.

"I'm terribly sorry you had to be subjected to such a .... cruel experience. Trust me, no one in this room understands the pain of being a Vampire more than me and my brother.

However, should you choose to stay with us, or at least learn how to.... Vampire, so to speak, your life will be better," said Daniel with an encouraging smile.

Margaret looked deep into Daniel's eyes. She saw a reassuring calmness within him that seemed to be absent in Cole. It made her feel more secure.

"I'll consider it. Right now, can I have some time alone?" she said.

"Of course. Cole," said Daniel as he shot a glance at his brother.

Cole led Margaret to one of his rooms and then came back to the lounge.

The siblings sat down.

Daniel was the first to speak.

"So how are you feeling?" he asked Cole.

"You really need to ask, brother?" Cole retorted.

"You haven't lost her."

"Now you provide the vote of confidence, brother?"

"And when do you ever ask it, asides from when you are down low?"

Cole glared at his brother and smacked his lips.

"What do we do now?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," replied Daniel.

"I do," said Gillian with a mischievous smile.

"And what solution will my sister throw out now, if not alcohol related?" Cole said with a demeaning glare.

"Look down on me all you want, but all I know is, the best cure for gloom for a girl, is A GIRLS NIGHT!!" Gillian yelled.