Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR: THE COVEN

            The journey was long and difficult. From Gatesburg, we had to travel over the mountains and through a treacherous forest. And, of course, we slept in the shade of the last tree before the dry stretch and ran through the night. The sun – so very dangerous to the easily burned vampires – was abundant in the desert.

            Unfortunately, we reached Saroph’s coven lair a little too early. Saroph – an ancient vampire – was angry. When Cedar asked to talk to him, Terrace blocked his way – for his own safely, according to Terrace. “I need to talk to Saroph!” Cedar insisted. “Not a chance. If you value your existance, then I suggest you wait. He’s very irate and is likely to cause injury. Of course, if you don’t care…,” the guard replied rhetorically. “I’m Terrace, coven guard and Saroph’s assistant. You are….” “Cedar Tristifico. Anna’s brother. Your leader has my sister and I need to get her back. Or else Dominic will come here and kill her. So I’d like to talk to Saroph about that if you don’t mind.” Cedar gestured to me. “Hazel, my vampire. I created her and she is also my love.” I was trying hard not to say anything. First, he didn’t tell me about Anna. Second, he spoke for me. Again. Learn from your mistakes, I thought bitterly. Or else they’ll kill you in the end. “You must wait,” Terrace hissed. “Wait and then when Saroph calms down, you may speak to him. But not now.” I nudged Cedar, growling, “don’t” under my breath, knowing he would argue with Terrace. “Leave it alone. Make a compromise,” I added. He nodded once, impatiently and angrily. “Fine.”

            We waited – Cedar in anger and me in a fearful, protective worry – until night fell. “Now you may enter,” Terrace said as the doors flew open and hung ajar. “Well,” the tall, dark vampire said. “Anna’s brother. We certainly do have some things to discuss. Please enter my lair, and you may tell all that’s happened. And then we shall discuss your vampire sister.” Cedar cringed noticeably. “You never wanted your loving sister to share your fate? Then what is she?” Saroph asked, looking pointedly at me. “What is this one to you? Selfish vampire. You took her for company and you love her. But Anna is different. You don’t want your sister to be doomed to eternal living death.” Saroph spat out the last three words. “But let’s discuss your troubles. Who is Dominic?”

            As Cedar went through his life story, beginning with the history of Anna and Antonio, I sat and contemplated Cedar’s recent feelings. He’d been a little confused, and of course there was the time when he’d lied to me; and now, again, about Anna. But he’d said he loved me, and I felt his devotion…but maybe that was different than love.

            Saroph looked at me. “Sorry to have upset you, Hazel. But it’s better to know – of course, you probably already do know from your gift of empathy.” I nodded. “Yes, that’s what I was…contemplating.” “Well, you know, then, that Cedar feels very strongly about his sister. You wonder why he was not so keen on keeping you mortal; instead, he damned you to the living hell of eternal existance. So…does he love you? That’s for you to ponder.” Saroph looked over his shoulder, deeper into the lair. “As for Anna, shall we go see her?”

            Anna, a pretty seventeen-year-old-bodied vampire – was in a small room off of a dark tunnel. “Anna, carus, someone is hear to see you. Cedar –” but Saroph was interrupted by my vampire rushing to his sister. “Anna! Anna, oh God, I’m so sorry!” Cedar said, visibly distressed. “No, calm down, brother, calm down. Right. Okay. Cedar. Hi, I’m Anna. You’re my brother Cedar. Hi.” Anna was grinning widely. “Saroph, how did you –” Anna stopped speaking suddenly, seeing me for the first time. “Hello, I’m Hazel, your brother’s first, um, turning. Well, more than that, I suppose, but…ah, whatever.” I stopped my rambling introduction with a sharp intake of breath. Anna still held her brother in a tight embrace. “Well, Cedar…a turning. I certainly hope you really like her, to damn her to this hell.” I cringed. Honestly! Didn’t they know anything about why Cedar turned me?

            For that matter, did I? Probably not. Suddenly, I felt victimized, controlled. A tear rolled down my cheek. “Why?” I whispered, my spirit broken. Why? So I’d been chosen to bear this. Why, again? Cedar didn’t look up, and Anna – totally unconcerned with my misery – hugged him tighter. Saroph looked down at me pitifully as I broke down and went to pieces, making up an excuse as I ran for the door.

            As Anna and Cedar talked, I sat with Terrace and repeated a single word, like a broken record: “Why?” He cleared his throat and replied, “Men are selfish. They only want for their own gain. So Cedar wanted company and he thought he loved you. So what? Leave. You’re more than capable of surviving on your own.” I glared at him. “Am I? I’ve always been with others! My family, then Cedar, then humans, then Cedar again. I don’t know how to deal with realtors and people like that. Not unless I kill human victims and steal from them. Always an option. But honestly, I’d rather not kill humans. I’m too scared, okay?” I took a shuddering breath and exhaled deeply. “I can’t be on my own. I don’t know how anymore.” Terrace was silent, and I glared at him through the darkness. “I’ve been thinking about leaving.” The words were barely out of his mouth before I stood up swiftly and screamed, “No! You expect me to go off with a potentially dangerous bodyguard vampire who I don’t even know? God only knows what you would do to me!” I breathed heavily, allowing my irritation to consume me. “My boyfriend is having a potential affair with his sister. Dominic wants to kill me. I’m being passed off like I don’t even matter! Don’t tell me I should leave him just so you can do God-knows-what to me! I love him, damn it! And I don’t even know you!” I let my breathing come in ragged gasps, instead of holding it in to calm myself down. Terrace looked at me in hurt confusion. I viciously blocked his emotions so they couldn’t change my mind. “I…,” he began. I furiously screeched, “I don’t care!” and sighed deeply. “I need to talk to Cedar.”

            Cedar appeared moments later, with Anna in tow. “Yes?” he asked, an edge to his voice. “Alone,” I added. He reluctantly left Anna with Terrace and followed me to a secluded part of the entryway. “What, Hazel?” He questioned immediately, glancing back towards where Anna waited. “She’s your sister. If you loved me half as much as her, you wouldn’t have turned me!” I said loudly. He sighed. “If you’re suggesting I love her more than you…you’re wrong.” I began to protest but his lips came down on mine and my resolve melted away. A few moments later, however, I pushed him away. “Are you sure?” I asked. “You lied about there werewolf – lycanthrope – thing at very nearly the cost of your life. I don’t know what that counts for in love, but I know it’s not all that good. So I’d prefer you didn’t tell me you love me unless you can vouch for that…and telling me to stay out of your conversations!” He was silent for a while before replying, “I merely told you to stay out of what you can’t talk about intelligently.” I bristled. “Apologize.” He shook his head. “No. And as for the lying, it was for your own good.” I rolled my eyes, drew back my hand, and slammed it into his face. “Well, you won’t be hearing from me for a while, then,” I informed him coldly. I turned and walked back to where Terrace and Anna stood. Ignoring Anna Tristifico completely, I said to Terrace, “Let’s go.”