THREE
Arianna laid still, listening to the sounds around her. Outside, it sounded like there were birds chirping, along with the sounds of unknown people talking. Closer, possibly in a nearby room, she could hear her uncle and aunt quietly talking. At the sound of their voices, Arianna quickly sat up and opened her eyes, expecting to see her room at home, but instead, found herself in an enormous, dark room. Arianna first focused on the bed she was lying in. The grand, four-post, king-size bed was not her normal, small twin bed at home. The room was dark due to the curtains covering the windows across the room, but she could clearly see everything. Arianna gazed first to her right. There was a door directly next to the bed, and one on the wall to her right. Her aunt’s and uncle’s voices were coming from the door next to her bed. Arianna tried to move, but fell back into bed. Her body was sore. What had happened the day before to make her so physically tired?
Arianna then realized that the day before hadn’t been a dream. Arianna pondered the images she had all jumbled in her head. There was a meeting with a man who told her about her parents, the photo album that contained proof that he knew them, the deed to the house, and then the young man from her math class waiting outside the gate for her. She had seen him so many times before in school, and on the bus, but he never spoke before. In fact, she had never seen him speak to anyone before. After he picked her up, Arianna’s memory grew even fuzzier. There were large men with long white hair and ripped clothing. She could also remember the rain hitting her face as the young man carried her. What happened after that, she pondered. Arianna tried to remember as she lay there, but no concrete images came to mind. All she could remember was how it felt. First she was sick, and then she was thirsty, very thirsty. And after that, she was sleepy. What happened to make her so tired?
“You should stay in bed for now,” a voice next to one of the large curtained windows called out to her. Arianna turned to find the young man from the night before sitting in a chair, watching her.
“Where am I?” she asked, trying to will her body to move.
“The Randolph Estate,” he replied.
“What happened to me yesterday?” she asked. “I feel like I got run over by a truck.” Arianna tried to stretch, and found she was quite sore.
“You’re so little, there would be nothing left of you if you were actually ran over by a truck,” he replied. Arianna scrunched her face in disgust that someone she just met would so comment on her size. “You don’t remember last night at all?” he asked, ignoring her reaction.
“I met with Gabriel, and you picked me up to take me home, but nothing much beyond that. My mind feels all fuzzy-like,” she paused. “Did you drug me?” she asked, accusing the young man who sat calmly smiling at her.
“It would have been easier if I had,” he responded without changing his smile. “You are picky. Did you know that?”
“Me, picky?” Arianna replied, still not understanding. “What are you talking about?”
The young man removed a pin from his shirt and pricked his finger. The blood beaded up on its tip. Arianna felt a wave of thirst come over her. Her eyes glassed over as she stared intently at the blood. It smelled delicious.
“Stop teasing her, Devin,” a female voice ordered from the left side of the room. Devin licked the blood off his finger and smiled.
“As much as we went through last night, I should get to tease her a little,” he complained.
“Who are you?” Arianna asked the familiar young woman now standing next to her. The purple streak in her hair made it obvious that she was also one of the Friday bus riders Arianna had seen so many times.
“I’m Molina, the head of your personal security,” she explained. “This is Devin; he is my second in command.” Arianna stared from one to the other.
“Personal security?” Arianna pondered, still not understanding the situation. “Whose personal security?”
“Yours,” Molina replied. “We’re part of the seven-member team trained to make sure nothing happens to you,” she explained. “The team has been watching over you for over a year now. Your grandfather was worried about you, so we were assembled earlier than normal. You’ve met everyone at some point except Mori, our computer specialist. We’ve been taking turns following you, and making sure nothing happens to you.”
“Following me? Why would anything happen to me?” Arianna questioned.
“Your grandfather is a very important person. You, being his only grandchild, are a perfect target. Along with a few other details, you have been watched for many years not only by us, but also by other groups intending to kidnap you,” Molina explained. Arianna stared at Molina. Her direct talk and thoroughness were in stark contrast to her laid-back-rocker image. “You don’t seem surprised when I mention your grandfather,” Molina added.
“Gabriel told me about him last night. If grandfather disowned my mother, why does he want anything to do with me? I’m still my father’s daughter,” Arianna asked.
“Your grandfather is a proud man,” Devin explained. “He can’t take back what he did to your mother, but he wants to make it up to you.” Arianna turned to Devin. It was clear that he knew her grandfather quite well.
“Devin will feed you, and then you need to get more rest,” Molina instructed. “Lord Randolph is anxious to meet you. He wasn’t supposed to return until late this afternoon, but with everything that happened last night, he is returning early today.” Molina left the room, and Arianna only had the strength to sit and stare at Devin as he approached her.
“What is she talking about, feeding me? I’m not a little kid,” Arianna complained. Devin sat on the foot of the bed without responding. “You look so familiar,” Arianna commented, as she stared longer at Devin. His blue eyes seemed to want to give a response, but he remained silent. “It’s as if I’d met you before, and I don’t mean at school.”
“You have,” Devin replied, but didn’t elaborate. Arianna wanted to know more but the pounding in her head was distracting her. Arianna listened to her aunt and uncle talk to Molina. Even in their hushed tones, Arianna could hear them. Outside that room, Arianna could hear more people talking and the clicking of the heels of women walking down a long hallway.
“It’s so noisy here,” Arianna complained. “There must be over a hundred people in this house talking and walking around, and the walls must be thin.” Devin stared at Arianna. Arianna’s suite in the Randolph estate was directly above her grandfather’s, so Devin knew the walls to each room had been built to be soundproof. Devin moved closer to Arianna as she covered her ears. He reached down and touched her face gently. Arianna did not move as she concentrated on all the sounds and numerous conversations she could hear.
“Is it true, his granddaughter has returned?” a young voice asked.
“I hear she was targeted for assassination before she was even born,” an older woman responded. “They say she could be the one.”
“What one?” the younger voice asked.
“The one with the blue eyes,” the older woman replied in hushed tones.
The clanking of dishes brought Arianna’s attention to another conversation.
“How are the preparations coming?” a shrill voiced asked.
“Perfect ma’am,” a young boy responded.
“It better be, or it will be your job,” the shrill lady replied. “Everything must be perfect for Miss Arianna’s coming-out party tonight.”
Arianna listened to the various conversations as she finally stopped by listening to her aunt and uncle outside the door.
“Is she really alright?” Aunt Lilly asked Molina. “Is it possible to change without needing a sacrifice?”
“Devin checked her over last night,” Molina explained. “She didn’t take much blood, but she took enough to start the process. She needed more, but once we got her to the safe house, she refused everything given to her. We would have to put an IV in her, but we didn’t have time.”
“But why would she refu
se?” Uncle Dean asked. “I thought, when someone turns, the blood doesn’t matter as long as it’s blood… and our Ari has never been picky about anything in her life before.”
“We don’t exactly know why she refused. But you have to remember, she’s special,” Molina replied.
“Is the prediction is true?” Aunt Lilly asked. “She really is the one everyone has been waiting for?”
“Yes, Devin confirmed our guess last night. She is the one in the legend,” Molina responded.
“What legend?” Arianna asked as she finally opened her eyes and found Devin holding onto her. Devin pricked his finger and Arianna felt a warm sensation begin in the pit of her stomach. Her cheeks flushed as she smelled the scent of his blood.
“You need to feed now,” he said, gently stroking her head as he waited.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Arianna replied, trying to keep her eyes open. She was beginning to feel light-headed and didn’t want to pass out again.
“Just follow your instincts,” he replied calmly. “You were born knowing how to feed. Everyone of your kind is.” Confused, Arianna stared into his eyes. The tenderness in his voice made her want to follow his directions, but she didn’t understand what he was talking about. “Close your eyes,” he said quietly, placing his hand over both her eyes. Arianna closed her eyes. The scent of his blood seemed to become more powerful as she did so. Suddenly, without opening her eyes, she could see a faint outline of Devin sitting next to her. A light pounding began to thump in her ears. Ba dump, ba dump, ba dump. With each thump, she could see his body better. He slowly extended his arm to her. “Here.” He offered the finger he had pricked.
Arianna wanted to refuse, but quickly found herself licking the tip of his finger. The sound of his heartbeat grew louder as she continued to hold onto his hand. The blood flowed through his veins to his wrist. Arianna tried to stop herself, but she was gently licking the throbbing vein in his wrist. Without understanding why or how, she lightly bit down, releasing blood into her mouth. Against her wishes, Arianna felt her world dimming.
When she finally opened her eyes again, Arianna was lying alone in the strange new room. Slowly sitting up, she realized that her strength had returned. She walked to the nearest large-curtained window and pushed aside the plush, white velvet. Arianna stared into the expansive garden that spread just outside her bedroom window. The large fountains were dry, and the trees were still bare because it was the end of winter, but she could not help but be in awe of the enormous garden. Behind the garden, Arianna’s attention focused on the mountain range. There were no mountains in the Midwest where she was from. Arianna turned back to the room and continued to look around. The room was ornately decorated, and everything was in pale blue and pink. It had been decorated for a child, and she could vaguely remember part of the room from her childhood.
Arianna noticed on the chair next to the window was a pile of clothing and a note.
Please dress in these when you get ready. Your grandfather is a bit old-fashioned, and believes young women should wear skirts.
Arianna smiled at Aunt Lilly’s handwriting. At least something in the room was familiar. Arianna picked up the clothes and wrinkled her nose at them. From the plain, boring style and choice of pink, Arianna knew immediately that Aunt Lilly had chosen the child-like outfit. The jingle of a chain and the click of boots as Molina approached the bedroom door caught Arianna’s attention. Molina stopped before the door and prepared to knock.
“Come in,” Arianna replied, still staring in horror at her aunt’s choice of clothing.
“How do you feel?” Molina asked as she opened the door.
“Much better,” Arianna replied. “But I blacked out again. Maybe something is still wrong with me.”
“That should go away in a bit of time,” Molina replied. “Your grandfather returned home an hour ago. He's waiting to meet you.” Molina stared at the clothing Arianna was holding in disgust. “Your aunt has an interesting taste in clothes. Pink, huh? I don’t recall ever seeing you wear that color.”
“Tell me about it,” Arianna replied. “I’ve tried for years to train her, but I don’t think she will ever want me to wear anything but pink and lace. What sixteen-year-old wants to wear baby pink and lace all the time? Are my bags here somewhere?”
“All of your things have been put away in the closet,” Molina said, moving across the room to the left side of the bed. What Arianna had assumed was a wall covered by a tapestry, was actually a door. Molina pressed the button next to the nightstand, and the tapestry folded to reveal a large walk-in closet.
“As long as it’s a skirt, it’s all right?” Arianna asked, and Molina nodded. “But you aren’t wearing a skirt.”
Molina smiled. “I don’t think your grandfather views me as a girl. He hasn’t since I was little. Besides, I’m in your employment. So your word trumps his. Will you order me to wear a skirt since you must also be tortured?” Arianna smiled as she pretended to contemplate the idea. “Take your time getting ready. I know you said you feel better, but it’s best not to push it. Even if he arrives early, your grandfather can wait.” Arianna nodded.
Arianna sifted through the clothes in the closet. Everything she had packed was neatly hung in order. She easily found a skirt and shirt she wouldn’t be embarrassed wearing and threw them on. Quietly, she opened the door to her room to where her aunt and uncle were talking before, but found only Molina sitting in the room alone.
“Where is everyone?” Arianna asked. “I heard my aunt and uncle out here before.” Arianna could smell the lingering scent of her aunt’s perfume.
“We wanted to make sure you got some rest, so they went to meet with your grandfather already. I told everyone you were awake now, and they are waiting in the formal living room,” Molina explained. “I’ll lead the way.”
Molina stood and opened the door on the farthest wall from Arianna’s bedroom. Turning to the left, Molina led Arianna down a long hallway. Her shoes clicked on the light brown marble floors. Arianna tried to count the doors as they passed room after room. Large oil paintings were interspersed between the gold and white trimmed doors. At the end of the hallway, Molina paused at a large door before pressing at a space on the wall. A panel swung open to show an elevator pad.
“How big is this place?” Arianna wondered out loud.
“Right now I think it stands at sixty-four guest suites, along with four family apartments,” Molina replied.
“No wonder I heard so many voices before,” Arianna added.
“Before?” Molina wondered.
“Yes, right after I woke up. There were voices all over the place,” Arianna replied, not understanding Molina’s shock. “The walls must be thin,” Arianna added as the ding of the elevator told them it was opening. Arianna stepped inside the door behind Molina, and watched through the glass as it lowered to the ground level. To the left was a large portrait hanging over a grand split staircase. Arianna paused in the elevator as she stared at the painting.
“Mom,” she said quietly, knowing immediately who the person in the painting was. Arianna turned to follow Molina out the elevator, but she stopped suddenly as she remembered the letter from Gabriel. “I need to go back upstairs,” Arianna said. “I forgot; I have a letter to give to grandfather. It should be in my coat pocket from last night.” Molina turned to rejoin Arianna in the elevator. “You don’t need to come with me. I’ll be back in a minute, and don’t worry, I can find my way back this far. Besides, I can hear someone talking in my room. Auntie and Uncle must have come back looking for me.”
Molina stepped into the elevator. “I’ll wait in the elevator for you,” she explained, as the door opened to the floor Arianna’s room was on. Arianna gave a quick wave and ran down the hallway. It was easy to find her room as it was the last door on the right.
“Auntie?” Arianna asked, opening the door to the sitting room. The room was empty. Arianna looked around, as she was sure she had heard two pe
ople, including a woman, talking in the room as the elevator reached the floor. Arianna hurried into her bedroom and quickly opened the closet. Hanging on the right side was her winter coat. Arianna found the letter from Gabriel, but accidentally dropped it as music began to play. Arianna turned and stepped into the doorway of her closet to find that on her desk, a music box was propped open. Arianna stared at the little ballerina girl who twirled in circles to the familiar tune. Quietly behind her, a man approached. With one swift movement, he bent down and covered her face. In an instant, Arianna was unconscious.
FOUR
Arianna kept her eyes closed as she regained consciousness. From the feel of cold stone beneath her face, she had been moved to a new location out of her carpeted bedroom. She could hear two men gruffly talking only feet away from her, and she heard a dripping near her head that kept a beat to their conversation. The cold, damp floor she was placed on felt nothing like the ornate rooms she had seen in her grandfather’s house. She was somewhere else. The damp smell of mildew around her made her immediately think of a basement, but she didn’t dare open her eyes and look around.
“That went easier than planned. Since this girl has not met Lord Randolph yet, he will definitely not be able to tell the difference,” a deep, rusty voice said. “It has been years since the old man has seen his granddaughter.”
“Still, we need to watch out. You know her guards were all chosen to be the very best, but they only met her last night for the first time,” the younger raspy voice replied. The clanking of a large latch being opened made Arianna want to open her eyes, but she remained still, feigning sleep.
“How did it go?” the younger voice asked.
“Serine got in fine. No one seemed to even notice,” a third man’s voice said as he walked into the room. Arianna heard him near her. “She’s still out?” he asked his two comrades as Arianna felt something drop on her back.