The False Vampire

"Elisa," I whisper.

"Yes?"

"What's up with Samuel and Jae?" Elisa glances through the archway of her living room, studying the two men that were hunched over the rustic kitchen table with the translations of Trinnean's book spread out in front of them. I had assumed that they were hunting incubi.

"Planning," Elisa whisper's back to me. Jae must have heard her, because he glanced up a smiled at me. I looked away quickly, but not before I saw the slight souring of his expression. Samuel glanced between the two of us, his expression decidedly saddened.

I knew I was hurting Jae by stringing him along, but at this stage I didn't feel love for him. I just needed him there, he was my comfort blanket. The only person that I completely trusted in this crazy world. I was hurting them all, I realised. The very thought of it all made my chest ache something unbearably.

"I'm going to bed," I announced to the trio. Weary, I stood from the overstuffed chair and trudged my way to the stairs.

"Wait," Samuel gently motioned for me to sit with them. Once I did, it was easy to tell that amongst the papers from The Book, there was also several blueprints and maps. Some of them were so old, they had frayed and yellowed from age. They were practically ancient as far as I could tell.

"We have some news," Jae stared at me, as if he desperately wanted my approval. I motioned with my hand, a small gesture for him to continue.

"Dude, she has you so whipped," cackled Elisa. Jae gritted his teeth together.

"Shut up!" he hissed.

"Adrienne," Samuel stated, capturing the attention of the room. He sent looks of censure towards Elisa and Jae, and blushes rose to stain their cheeks in guilt. "We believe we've found the incubi lair for the group that practices that particular...ritual."

The earlier pain in my chest completely disappeared; evolved into something that made my heart race, my hands clammy and my breath catch in my throat. Terror and rage, the need for revenge intertwined in my mind, becoming one objective.

"Samuel and I are going to kill him. We'll kill them all if we have to," Jae stated frankly. I didn't know what to say, or think. I shook my head.

"No, it's too dangerous."

"Adrienne, we are your sworn protectors by fate. He's your amanchara and I'm your mate. I have this ongoing compulsion to defend you, and protect you from future harm. We couldn't not do this even if we tried."

Samuel took a deep breath and settled back into his chair, melting into its curves. A glint next to him caught my attention, and that's when I saw a gleaming silver sword. To my uneducated eye, it reminded me of those Roman swords. A Roman Gladius, according to my history professor.

"Okay. I don't like it, but okay. Where is it?"

"The other side. The incubi are part of the dark realm, do you remember them?" I nod my head silently, urging Jae to continue speaking. "It'll take us about three days to get there, and then who knows how long to finish the job and then come back. We're hoping it'll be within a week, but because between the realms time flows differently we can't know for sure. One moment time may move faster on the other side, and then in the next instant, slower. All I know is that there is some cosmic balance that occurs, but you can never know the true pattern because it's always changing."

"Why does that happen?" Elisa asks on my behalf, even though I assume she already know the answer. Samuel looks at her, amused.

"And here I thought you were the academic, sister. Time moves differently because it can, and it's also a defensive measure against attack. You can't efficiently plan an attack against a group on the other side because one moment you might have all the time in the world and in the next moment none at all."

"Won't that make it hard?" I question.

"Well, yes," Samuel replies. "It will make it hard but it is something that we have to prepare for because the incubi will never leave their lair without good reason."

"I'm still against this entire idea. I don't know what you're thinking."

"This is crazy!" Elisa exclaims.

"I know," Jae smirks. "but you tend to attract all the crazy ones don't you?"

Sophie gasps outraged, I can sense that she's growing angry but there is nothing that I can do to stop their sibling rivalry. Put them in a room together and I can guarantee that they'll fight, and Samuel will have to work as the mediator.

"you stupid fairy," Elisa mutters. Jae's smirk fades, in Asia and I share a look as we realize that the fight is going to happen no matter what we do.

"shall we go to bed?" Samuel inquiries.

"I think so," I reply. I didn't want to stay and see them at like five year olds knowing what they would have to face in the next few days. Already butterflies are erupting in my stomach. I didn't want anyone to see what I have gone through or know about it. It was deeply private and very personal, and I was scared that they would look at me differently once they had the full truth.

#

The sunlight pressed against my eyelids, turning my world into a rosy shade of red. I knew then that was time to wake up, to get up but the house is eerily silent. Putting on a robe as I walked into the kitchen, empty except for one person. Sophie sat there silently with a coffee cup between her hands, steaming hot tea in it.

In my gut, I had a feeling that the boys and left to search for the incubi lair. The butterflies erupted in my stomach again, and suddenly I was filled with nerves for their well-being. They were right, I didn't get to choose for them whether they fought or stayed.

Elisa noticed me staring at her in the doorway. To try to smile at me but looked more like a grimace.

"Why don't we visit your Mum?"

"Haven't really been in the mood to see her. Especially because she doesn't know about the pregnancy yet and I don't want her to."

"I don't think she'd be angry. Disappointed, yes, but she doesn't know the real truth."

"And she's not going to find out is she?"

"You can tell her you know. Her grandson is going to be part incubus. She's going to have to know eventually."

"You can tell her if you want her to know so desperately. I think I can hold off a little bit longer."

"Okay," Elisa shrugs. We eat breakfast together in silence, and slowly my anxiety rises. I don't want to be sitting still; I want to move. I need to get out, go outside. Feel the sun on my face, the wind in my hair. Anything but this apprehension in the room.

I dismiss myself, telling Elisa that I'm going to practice my archery training. Trudging into my room I grabbed the pastel green bow and clutching it tightly in my hands, I walk outside with my quiver full of arrows. I still don't who gave this to me but I am grateful because I know that this way I can learn to defend myself.

I can feel the tension coiling in my belly as I pull back the drawstring, anchoring against my cheek. I release the arrow with a loud thwack and watch as it embeds itself into the tree trunk, the limbs above quivering and leaves falling to the ground slowly. I've got more powerful, more skilled with the bow. I don't think I'm ready to take on someone else yet, I'm not ready to take on Him and knowledge eats me alive inside.

"Look at you!" A voice exclaims, my blood turns to ice as I recognize that voice but he's not meant to be on this side. "Pregnancy suits you, my dear."

I can feel his cold breath against the back of my neck and I know that he's close; close enough that if I would just reach back we would touch and I don't want to. I want him far away – dead, cold and buried in the ground where he can never touch me again.

I know now if the boys found the incubi lair, then they had still failed because he's not where he's meant to be. He's right here next to me and the knowledge makes my heart seize. The boys failed. Maybe they're going to die, maybe not, but it would all be in vain because he's not where he's meant to be. The information is wrong. Trinnean was wrong.

I attempt to knock him away from me but he's already stepped back out of my reach. I notch another arrow, pulling the drawstring back and aiming my bow at him. I try and project an image of confidence even though I already know that I'm not ready. I'll never be ready enough for Him.

"Ah-ah," he tsks. The small sounds infuriate me. This man who preys on younger women, weak mortals to benefit only himself sickens me. I release the arrow, hoping that it will find its intended target. I know in the next second that it does not. It won't reach his heart and it won't kill him.

I am slightly grateful for this, or I would help but think of myself as a murderer. I don't think I could live with myself.

"Adrienne?" I hear Elisa call out. With her super hearing, I would have assumed that she would have heard him earlier. She wonders outside of the backdoor onto the small porch that's covered in wicker furniture. She sees me aiming another arrow at him – another notched after the first failed – and puts the clues together. Her eyes widen and a shaky hand rises to her mouth.

My protection against the incubi was her, and she let me down. I don't blame her, it was impossible to watch me every moment of the day, but I wasn't who she lived with. The third degree was going to come from either Samuel or Jae and there was nothing that I could personally do about it.

In a flash, the incubus was behind me and had woven his arms around me torso. His arms were like steel brands that carefully cradled my distended stomach. I knew in that moment he wouldn't kill me – he cared about the baby as well. After all, it was his.

Looking back at the balcony I saw Elisa raise her arm, ready to shoot at the incubus with her magick. The incubus made that irritating tsking sound again.

"You don't want to risk it, my dear. You might hurt your precious friend, and we wouldn't want that, would we? No dear, you'll just have to let me go," his deep voice was suggestive, and slightly seductive. I could see it slowly working it's own magick within Elisa's mind, making her susceptible to whatever he demanded.

She seemed to shake off his hypnotic voice, at least for a moment. "Who are you?" she demanded.

"I am Ambrosio, of the House of Incubi of the Shadowlands. This," he pointed to me, "- Is my intended. She was unclaimed and as is my right, she now belongs to me," he sneered.

Elisa's and my face drained of blood, taking on an ashen appearance. I could tell that the situation was not good from the look on her face, and before I could say another word the world in front of me turned black.

'I didn't faint again, did I?'

"No, you didn't my dear." Ambrosio said as he gently nuzzled against my neck, gently nipped the tender skin with his teeth. His scent was overwhelming, and a shudder shook my extremities. I tried to show him that he didn't affect me, but we both knew I was lying.

"Where are we?" My voice trembled in only the slightest, and I was slightly proud of the fact. Ambrosio was quiet as he began pulling me through the tunnels. They seemed to loom high above me, shadows being created before I could see a ceiling, lit with flickering oil lamps. The stone around us took on a slight purple tinge, only strengthened by the warm light. I trailed my fingers against the rough stone, seeing the small flecks of dust stain my fingertips mauve.

"Where are we?" I asked him again.

Ambroiso grunted before snapping, "in the Shadowlands, you stupid girl."

"If you can't stand me, why don't you go find another stupid mortal," I sneered, imitating his earlier tone.

"Only the unclaimed amanchara of a light court folk would do. Those that are mortal are rare."

"You steal others amancharas?" I gasp, outraged. This caused him to snort in amusment. Truthfully, if I hadn't seen such a sinister side of Ambrosio when we first met I would think him slightly handsome in a rugged way. All I saw from my attack was his profile against the silver light of the moon, but now I could see his square jaw and a nose that hinted at Greek ancestry.

"It's a part of our curse," he muttered, glancing sideways at me. I didn't want to feel anything for him. After all, he wasn't exactly an outstanding character, but I feared that his presence would make me grow to care for him. Already, despite the state of terror in my mind, I could feel my limbs relaxing and a fire in my belly stirring.

'Such is the nature of the beast', I muse. I don't ask anymore questions, remaining silent for the moment. We soon come out into a large open cavern, this one better lit than the dim hallways, but not by much. Most seemed to be in their late twenties and every single one of them was gorgeous. The few women there was were draped in sheer clothing that clung to their curves and dripped sensuality. The men radiated a rugged charm that surely would win the minds of most women.

Suddenly, I felt frumpy in my pyjamas that consisted of running shorts and a tank top. I didn't have makeup on or my hair even brushed. I felt inadequate compared to the women in front of me. I shuffled my feel awkwardly as they all stared. It only took a few seconds for them to start cheering, and I soon figured it was in celebration of my pregnancy. These people truly were a weird lot.