“It’s time you traveled to meet your brothers.” Victor told me one afternoon. “Benjamin will be here in a day or two to accompany you.”
“Not you?”
“I have other business that needs looking after, business that keeps me here.”
The next couple of days, Victor distanced himself from me, not even approaching me until the day Benjamin arrived. It was a cold day to start a journey, my trunks were packed, Victor had me make my own servant to look after me and help me in the years to come. A dark coach approached shades drawn tight. I couldn’t help but picture an old man when I thought of Benjamin, he was old when I was a child. When he stepped out of the coach, it jolted me to see the man exactly as he was all those years ago. Of course, vampires did not age in appearance, but it still took me by surprise.
“Ah, the child.” He called me taking my hands.
“Antigone” I insisted.
“Of course, Antigone.” He kissed the backs of my hands and gazed at me. “We’ve waited a long time for you to understand your inheritance and join us.”
I dipped my head. “I only needed a proper instructor.” We both looked towards Victor.
“I was perfectly happy to oblige.” His eyes gleamed in that special way that indicated he wanted something. Benjamin ignored him and turned back to me. “Come Antigone, we have much to discuss.”
We boarded the carriage and pulled the curtains tight. “It will help with the cold and sunlight bothers my eyes.” We sat in silence for a time. I could feel his eyes on me as we sat in the jostling carriage.
Finally, he spoke. “Do you remember the gift I gave you? That baby girl?” I nodded not telling him I did not use her the way he would have liked. “Victor told me you let her live.”
“When did you talk to Victor?” Benjamin arrived but then we left shortly after, there was no time for discussions.
“My dear, Victor and I have been communicating the past couple of days.” When he saw my confusion he tapped his head. “You will learn too.”
I nodded wondering why Victor did not tell me about this form of communication.
“He also informed me that you were raising human children when he met you. That you lost one and are out for revenge. He knows you still seek her, Antigone.”
“She is Dierdra’s daughter, I will find her again!” I spoke with the casual manner Victor told me to use always, ‘Never give your feelings away. Most do not have to worry about such things but since you feel you must hide it.’ Those words floated in and out of my head on several occasions over the hundreds of years I have lived.
Benjamin sighed. “There are things I must tell you Antigone, but I fear now is too soon.”
Avoiding his penetrating gaze I lifted the curtain closest to me and watched the scenery pass. “Then don’t tell me. I am sleepy anyway; this carriage ride is making me tired.”
“Of course, do as you wish.” I could tell that my attitude upset him, that he was not used to bowing to the whims of others. It was then I began to understand my role a little more to vampire kind. I was their queen.
That evening we stopped by a tavern to find some food. We sat at a far table and watched the people choosing our food carefully. Before I could pick out a human to drain of their blood, my eyes fell on a man sitting in another corner of the tavern. There was a whore on his lap, his hands running up and down her body caressing her.
“Disgusting display of human behavior.” Benjamin whispered to me when he saw what I was looking at. “I am glad I do not feel the need to act that way. I’m surprised the Master himself was able to pull if off to produce natural heirs.” He looked at me. “A filthy habit.”
I nodded and made it appear that I was searching again but my eyes darted back to the man. His tongue was flicking the woman’s ears, his lips found her mouth and I inhaled sharply. I could feel Benjamin’s eyes on me but did not care. I continued to watch this man with the whore. Eventually they stood to leave, I found myself following, curious to what would happen next. I followed them into the alley and watched all that transpired next. I felt my body tingle in a way I never felt before. When they finished, the whore walked away, but the man turned towards me. Slowly he approached me, my heard beating faster. He stopped in front of me, his dark eyes holding mine.
“Did you enjoy the show?” He asked barely above a whisper. “I saw you watching me. What’s a woman of your status doing here?” Every time he spoke my body tingled, something about his voice entranced me.
“Who are you?” I managed to speak.
“I am the painter, Alexander. Didn’t you know who I was when you followed me?”
I shook my head. He was about to say something else when Benjamin’s voice cut through the air. “Love, I found something finally. Such a poor selection tonight.” He stood next to me glaring at Alexander.
Alexander held my eyes and bowed, leaving me with Benjamin. He guided me to the people he chose, they were being held by our coach driver. “Take your pick.” He waved his hand at the people. I do not remember which I chose; all I could think about was the painter.
We boarded the carriage again and continued our journey. I wanted to remember Alexander and not talk, but Benjamin decided he needed to talk to me.
“Antigone, I can’t help but notice how different you are from the rest of vampire kind, you are different, even from your brothers. Maybe from your years of neglect from us or perhaps because you are a natural female vampire. There are things you need to know. I was a seer before I was turned and after you father changed me, the visions only became more clear. I’ve been seeing events dealing with you frequently lately.”
I did not act surprised, I did not pay much attention, Alexander, and thoughts of him swam through my head.
“Antigone you must listen.” I turned my head sighing that I must give up my day dreams. “You will lead our kind through a prosperous time, but I am worried about this line of humans you have raised. I see only danger for you and your kind from them. The one you lost.” I could not help but glare at him for saying I lost her. “Excuse me, the one taken from you. She is being raised by people who do not like us. It can only lead to danger. I’m afraid we may have to kill the descendent in order to survive.”
I could feel my eyes bore into Benjamin’s hardened brown eyes. “No one will touch Dierdra’s child, I will get her back and she will be no threat when she discovers how I loved her mother.”
“She is hardly a child herself.” Benjamin started again. “One day you will face Dierdra’s descendant and you will have to kill her to save yourself, no hesitating for she will not hesitate killing you. You will have to kill her to save yourself and the rest of your kind.”
I rolled my eyes and sat back against the coach wall. “What else do you see concerning me?”
“Much, I will tell you more later. I am only deeply concerned about this issue with Dierdra’s descendent at the moment. You must be wary of her.”
I tuned him out again and let my thoughts drift back to Alexander. The next morning, while Benjamin slept I took a chance and jumped out of the coach. Turning around and walking back to the town. He never came after me but told me later that if I were willing to do that then I needed to grow a bit more before I took charge. I’m glad I was not the one who had to tell y brothers they had to wait yet again.
I’ve seen his book of prophecies concerning me. He is about as clear as the seer Nostradamus, so many have come true now that I look back, but none of his are worded well enough to stop anything before it happened.
Several more times he has tried to instill fear in me searing that the prophecy could still come true despite….again it is too soon.
Author's Chapter Notes:
*gasps* is there a bsb in this chapter *gasps* I think there is... :-D
