I awoke to the unpleasantness of people speaking. Sitting up, I examined my body. Clean, too clean. Someone placed me in my black satin oversized goodnight shirt. Bringing my wrist in view, two small bite marks reminding me that Clarissa should still be sleeping, but for some reason she is ? of the voices that woke me.

  My healing abilities are slower when it comes to my own bite. Pushing my curls out of my face, I realized Clarissa will need to hunt soon. I will need to hunt soon. Better call my dad. I have no idea what Clarissa will be like during her first hunt. I do however know what I was like. An uncontrollable slaughter. That’s how my father described it at least. Will Clarissa be the same?

  As if summoning her with my concerning thoughts, Clarissa appeared in the doorway. Her once red hair, now black. A physical indication that she is no longer human. All vampires are shaped in the image of my father one way or another. That usually presents itself in the form of black hair. My mother and I are the only two vampires with red hair. However, over the decades the black has become more persistent.

  Soaking in the sight of my creation, there is something unfamiliar about the tingling in the pit of my stomach. Pride?

  Clarissa’s blue eyes still shining with all the indications of a predator.

  “Your father is here, Mistress.”

  Raising my eyebrow at Clarissa. She smiled. How unnatural of her.

  “Ethan taught you to say Mistress?”

  “And to smile.” She replied through her absurd smile.

  Wise Ethan. Swinging my legs out of bed and slipping on my sweatpants. Clarissa moved to sit on my bed. Her movements, swift and sure. No more tripping over own two feet. Graceful now.

  “Ethan also said something else during our what seem like a lifetime ago nights. He advised me that there is no one more sovereign than you Mistress. Not The Count or The Countess. At first, I did not believe him. Because you know who would? The Count is about as bad as villains get. To picture something worse was not in my realm of possibilities at least then. But I suppose he is correct as I am here and Elloren is not. That’s insane considering how your relationship is tipped in her direction from the outside looking in. But that’s not important. What is, is this question. When she doesn’t show up Mistress will you regret your choice?”

  Letting my head fall back, I exhaled. The details after Elloren’s crying and Clarissa drinking from me. Are unknown to me. My unconsciousness took over. And I suppose Godric took care of the rest. Seeing as I am alive.

  However, the idea that I am worse than my father is concerning seeing as he has a couple of centuries on me. I did not turn Clarissa to harm Elloren. I also did not leave Clarissa human for Elloren. I will not be executed for harm I did not inflict. Defeating The Holy Trinities is not something we can accomplish on our own. We will need help. Clarissa can get us that help.

  Elloren will forgive me once she fully accepts turning Clarissa was the only way. Once she sees that Clarissa has retained her power just not her soul. Just then a flash of Elloren’s eyes came into my mind. Anger and rage burning those tears away.

  Don’t be silly Elloren for those emotions are fleeting.

  “I will live longer than regret can hunt me.”

  “Is that a no or yes vampir.. I mean mistress?”

  Without answering Clarissa I left my room. I know that I do not regret turning Clarissa. Her being here obediently is all the conformation I need to know. She could have left once she woke, but she did not. Instead, she sits on my bed with all the confidence she possessed before. Unafraid of me. If I regret anything it is Elloren choice of violence. Again, that image of Elloren’s eyes burned itself into my mind.

  I thought Clarissa was making a joke. My actual father is here. Sitting on my couch, out of place. Amusement and questions dancing together in his dark eyes. Patting the seat next to him, he held out his wrist. Within a fraction of a second, I was by his side drinking from the source of life itself.

  Cold red honey pouring into my body. Not as hypnotic as Godric’s, but more compatible with my nature. Tapping my head was my father’s polite signal that his generosity is over. Sitting up just to lean on my elbows on my knees. I waited for my father to speak. Of course, he would come. Why wouldn’t he? Of course he would feel his offspring basically giving birth. Of course, he would be concerned about me giving anyone the “St. Vincent” title.

  “My child has become a creator. Your mother is beside herself in grief.”

  “I am still your child. I am still her daughter.”

  “You have proven to be many things young one. A child by human identification is not a word that is suitable for you. My dearest daughter, are you prepared for the outcome of your creation?”

  Glancing back at my father, he starred straight ahead as if understanding something I could not yet see. His blanket of black hair perfectly pined at the nape of his elongated neck.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “What do you mean?”

  “She will guide you. Protect you, usher you into a domain of God. But she has cost you. It was a clever question. Will you regret turning her after blood settles?”

  “She is mines. The blood has settled.”

  Turning his cold eyes on me. In them reflections of an emotion my father has never given me. Standing I went to the back wall of glass. If only for a second, I needed to escape that glare. The Count…pity… at me. No fuck that. Anything but that.

  “My daughter do not misunderstand my emotions. I do not pity you. I am only sad for you.”

  “That’s worst dad. You have never displayed sadness before let alone sadness at me.”

  “The requirement for such a thing has never arisen before.”

  “And now it has?” I asked in a voice a little too invested for my taste.

  “The requirement has been met, oui.”

  “Elloren will get over it. She has too. The battle has not begun. Barely a year has gone by since we have heard anything from The Holy Trinities. Anger is not a stronger emotion than survival. Papa.”

  “Betrayal is.” Clarissa announced from inside the doorway of my room. She helped herself to my wardrobe. The black and white pinstripe suit suited her. It made her seem more like a vampire then librarian.

  “Betrayal of what? You were not hers.” I asked, interested to know Clarissa’s uniformed theory on the emotional state of Elloren. How could she know anything? Elloren would rather die than give Clarissa any insight into her mental. Then again, Clarissa ever needed permission.

  “I was more hers then yours mistress.”

  Coming to his full height. My father completed the four steps needed to close the distance I placed between us. His blue Victorian suit flawless as the day he stole it. Decades ago.

  Tucking a loose curl behind my ear, my father said “I have lived for many centuries my daughter as shall you. It is in your nature to bend others to your will. The Necromancer sees this now. Understands the manipulative nature that defines certain strains of vampirism. You my child have trained this nature that it blends in errorless with the emotion titled love. You are the child of Lelieth. Your child will bring you Lelieth. Your child will bring you Siren from a different plane.”

  “That’s your plan for me vampi…I mean Mistress? Wait who is Lelieth?” Clarissa asked. Moving slowly enough to be sure my father would not perceive her advancement as an attack.

  There is nothing I can say. He must have always known who Clarissa was. Must have always known what she could do if given the power to do so.

  “When did you know?” I asked my father.

  “I left this world to visit Saturn. She informed me of what was hidden away in my home.”

  “That was before I knew. Why not tell me Papa?”

  “Not to influence.”

  Rolling my eyes, I moved past my father. Sitting back on the couch. It’s true my father allows me freedom to make my own choices mostly free from his knowledge. He only intervenes when absolutely required. Its true he may not directly care if Elloren dies, but he knows I will fight beside her.

  Wait, could my father have always known I would turn Clarissa despite how Elloren felt about it? Is this why he held on to the knowledge of what and who Clarissa was? So, when the time came Elloren would know that it was me to make the choice based on my own will. If The Count made me do it, that would be entirely different than doing it on my own. I would be unable to blame anyone for my choice.

  Manipulative nature indeed father. Swipe one Necromancer for a Time Traveler.

  “Am I not important in this conversation?” Clarissa asked. Standing between her creator and the devil. Pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Yes, new child. You will come back to my home. There you will feed and tell me more about your Time Travel power.” My father said, walking towards the door.

  “Time Travel? You have the wrong Clarissa. I can not travel through time.” Clarissa replied shaking her head and hands in the same motion. There it is, the human that still lingers in her behaviors.

  Without replying my father kissed the top of my head whispering, “Let the blood settle my child.”

  Not a command, only a suggestion from my father. With that he left me and Clarissa alone for the few minutes it would take the elevator to arrive.

  Squatting down in front of me. Her blue eyes to my red ones. Placing my hand on her glass textured skin. The action happened all on its own. Comfort, she needed comfort. Barely a day old. Unable to comprehend the vastness of her new self yet. And yet she is calm and beautiful. And mines.

  “Answer me please Mistress at least tell me something of importance. Are you talking about Lelieth “Goddess of the Underground” Lelieth? Or Lelieth of a different origin?”

  Smiling at Clarissa, I said “My father has left. Go before you anger him.”

  “Why would I care about his anger Mistress?”

  Leaning closer to her lips. Lips that I wanted to kiss. Lips that I have wanted to kiss since the first time I saw her caged in my home. A gift. A gift from Lelieth. A time traveler.

  Clarissa did not pretend to breathe. Most newly turned children still mimic their human lives at least three years into their vampirism. Interesting.

  “Rule Zero, he will not hesitate to end your immortality. Rule One. He is The Count. Rule Two, if he says something specific to you. It is true. The devil is a many things but not a liar.”

  Pulling away from me Clarissa stood up. Much straighter than before. Her caramel skin lacking the warmth it held before, but embracing the winter it has become. Her face is more serious now. Sharpen jawline, highlighted cheekbones, and a pensive expression. The human skin she wore before was not suited for her. I made the correct choice.

  Leaving out the door now that she heard the elevator ding and hopefully my warnings. No doubt my father only drove to my school to bring her back. On their way to the grounds, he will explain the basics and hierarchy to her. My mother will sharpen her elegance and status in our family. They will give her everything they gave Elloren. Only this time Clarissa will inherit the title St. Vincent.

  Clarissa St. Vincent? Laughing to myself. There is no way in hell my mother will allow Clarissa to keep her name. Not vampire enough, not French enough.

  Taking a deep breath. Now that Clarissa has been taking care of, and my father has eliminated the reason for me to go hunting and warned me to leave Elloren be for now. The only thing for me to do would be… The HeadMaster.

  Time to discuss all the commotion I have been making. No doubt I will need to explain why the fight on yesterday. That means Elloren will be there too. She must be. You cannot summon Reign without anyone knowing.

  Moving faster than necessary to get ready. I felt excitement coursing through my body as well as nerves. Could I prove everyone wrong about Elloren or would everyone prove me wrong about Elloren?

  I did change Clarissa for my own reasons, however none of those reasons where to harm Elloren. She will understand that right?

  Should Elloren forgive Alucard?