🥴

The day finally came. The one my mother and sister had been dreading for months. The one I wasn't supposed to know too much detail about.

Dad did say that it would be before the next bloodmoon before he took this action, so each day passed without a word from him just built more tension between him and the rest of the family for the next.

More whisperings from my parents after they'd put Anna and me to bed. More nights spent sitting next to the door to try to hear anything that we could.

It was always the same. Mom pleading for more time, or a different plan, and Dad providing reassurances and denials all at once.

Mom had started guarding Anna and I away from him, sending us to our room whenever she would hear him come in the house, just to come and hang with us in our room for a while before she tucked us in and kissed us goodnight.

He'd been coming home late ever since anyway, so it wasn't the end of the world.

This time though... I think she knew that something was wrong. She stayed in our room a tad bit longer after putting us to bed.

Next thing I knew I was being shaken awake by my dad.

"Come on. Get up you two. It's time to go."

"What?" Anna groggily asked.

Meanwhile, his presence startled me into being fully awake almost immediately, that building awkwardness between us all now settling as an uneasy pit in my stomach.

"I'm taking you guys somewhere better than here. Somewhere you guys will be safe."

I pushed myself up and turned my head, noticing that it was still dark outside.

My mother stood in the doorway, her brows forming a straight line over her eyes, chewing nervously on the nail of her pointer finger

I looked to her for any kind of further instruction, but she just turned and walked away with an agitated sigh.

So, left with just the insistence from my father to get up and get dressed, we listened.

As opposed to what I thought would happen when this day inevitably came, Dad wouldn't let us pack a bag.

He wouldn't let us take anything with us. The only one who had a bag was him and he said it was for the most basic necessities.

I couldn't grab my sketchbooks, my art supplies, any of my small money savings, not even the throw blanket that my grandma quilted me.

He said he didn't want to risk beginning anything that would make the smallest semblance of noise and wasn't willing to hear any of us out on any of it.

He told us that tonight we needed to listen to him no matter what. All of us. With no question.

It was with that tone of voice that had Anna and I immediately lowering our voices and heads, Mom still silent somewhere in the background.

We'd seen this coming, but now that it was here, it was all happening too fast.

I didn't want to leave. Anna didn't want to leave, Mom didn't want to leave, but dad was committed and convinced.

And scary when he was like this.

He practically pushed us out the door once we were dressed to his liking with 'minimal noise' clothes, leading us out into the city.

Tears stung my eyes, saddened and confused from this whole thing, leaving everything my life was just like this.

My sister's face heald something similar, with an added frustration and anger that I couldn't manage to replicate through my rush of thoughts.

Still, I kept myself quiet, only sniffling when it could be hidden from a different noise and wiping my eyes as soon as tears spilled.

I hated this.

We trekked our way through the city in complete cutthroat silence, mom holding tight to mine and Anna's hands.

A little too hard, her grip nearly hurting whenever we'd hear a small noise, the wind would pick up, or we passed a vampire on the streets.

There were a few people and vampires out and about, going about their business as I suppose dad was hoping we would look the same.

I'd learned that vampires were biologically nocturnal, but only a select percentage actually lived their lives like that.

That was one of the many worries I'd heard mom voice and dad promptly dismiss with the latter fact.

I kept my eyes down, staring at the cracks in the sidewalk to distract that feeling in my stomach that wouldn't go away.

He vaguely explained to us that there would be a certain point where we would need to be sneaky.

Breathe quietly, watch your steps to not attract noise, and absolutely do not talk under any circumstance.

I still couldn't understand why this was the route dad wanted to take when it came to us leaving.

I knew that moving from one territory to another was a terribly long process, but this plan had been stirring in dad's head for what felt like longer than that.

I'd discussed that with Anna only for her to reply that she doesn't think we'd be going to another territory. Instead to someplace unclaimed by the vampires.

Up until then, I didn't know such a place existed. Even now it's hard to picture.

The vampires took over the world. All of it.

If they were half as greedy as the books say, then why would they leave space unclaimed?

The same point my mother has brought to my father and got received the same as the rest.

I guess all we could really do now was trust him. We'd already left.

I turned my head, trying to spot our home that we'd left so abruptly.

Nothing. I couldn't find it, and that fact made that ache in my chest 10x worse

It took a little over an hour until we made it past the parks littered behind the castle, and it was there that Dad made us use the damp dirt and grass to 'cover our scent'.

I was thirsty and upset, a small hint of anger now poking through with the rest of it all.

And now here we were, watching dad coat himself in soil while encouraging us to do the same.

Mom followed in his path, Anna falling into it next with a huff.

I was the last soon after her and did so with minimal effort.

Unwillingly covering myself in cold wet dirt to avoid vampires tracking us wasn't something I think anyone wanted to do.

My covering job wasn't to my mom's liking because soon she was kneeling in front of me and doing it herself.

Looking up at me with pleading eyes that told me she was sorry, but to just listen to him.

She finished with me and repeated the same thing to Anna.

The two of us looked at each other as Mom turned back to Dad, whispering something I'm sure he was just going to ignore.

Anna extended her hand and I took it, giving it a squeeze for more of my own sake.

"I don't want to do this," I whispered to her.

"I know. I don't either," She eyed our parents before speaking at a volume that only I would hear, "I'm hoping that by the time we reach the territory line, He'll come to his senses. If not, we can always turn around ourselves."

"You think He'll let us?" I asked, clinging to this small hope already.

Her lips pressed tightly together.

"No, Not really, but something about this just doesn't sit right with me. Maybe if all three of us hold a stong firm no, he'll have no choice but to listen."

It wasn't very convincing or probable, but I'll take whatever I could get at this point.

Dad wasn't one to change his mind.

I swallowed my worries and squeezed her hand again.

The two of us could probably outrun him, mom too if it really came down to it. But as much as I didnt want to go through with this, I also didn't want to split up my family by any means.

After dad checked over the three of us and gave us his nod of approval, we continued onwards.

No flashlight, so lantern, no source of light in this pitch-black forest. Only the light of the full moon to carry us onwards.

The silence between us was now almost deafening since dad said the time was now to not make a sound.

He walked in front, mom next, and Anna and I took up the rear,

Watching with this minimal light to see where we were stepping, ducking under branches and avoiding bushes so we wouldn't leave any trace.

This went on for... I don't even know. Too long.

I could tell mom was becoming more antsy by the minute, flinching at any minuscule noise.

I too wasn't doing very well in the bravery department, that churning and twisting in my stomach getting worse with every single step I took.

'Run!' I could feel the urge surging through me, "You need to turn around while you still can! NOW!"

I wanted to stop, wanted to call out to my dad to stop or at least just wait a minute, but I knew he'd be furious if I so much as breathed too loud right now.

A squeeze on my left hand showed my sister was having similar thoughts.

It felt like we were being watched. Like eyes were burning themselves into the back of my head.

My heartbeat rose into my throat and echoed through my ears, a sudden fear like I'd never felt before encapsulating me.

I worked instantaneously, locking all the muscles that were still.

I knew right then that if I stopped walking, I wouldn't be able to force myself to continue.

My fingertips began to tremble, my breaths following along with it as the fear evolved into doom and dread.

Every inch of my body was all but forcing me into realizing the reality of what was going on

This was maddening! Why were we doing this?!

I looked to Anna, trying to convey that message.

We needed to turn around.

Just as my eyes met hers, I found myself frozen, the hair on my neck and arms standing straight up.

'Too late.' the message from my body came just as swiftly as the twist of fate this night brought me.

A snapping twig to my right, then everything came crumbling apart.

A myriad of yelps filled my ears, one from my mother, from Anna, and from me as bodies and hands appeared out of nowhere.

Grabbing hard to my upper arm, a hand swiftly covering my eyes, and a chorus of unfamiliar cheering laughter all around.

I thrashed and yelled, fighting with all I could but to absolutely no effect.

I could barely hear my mother calling our names, and my father's pained cries through the chaos within my own panic, everything doubling once I felt myself being lifted from the ground.

The wind blew fiercely against my body for only a second before it stopped, the hand covering my eyes slowly lowering down so it was under my jaw, clawed fingers pressing hard against my cheeks.

The other hand held my wrists together near my chest, tight enough to cause extreme discomfort.

I don't know what prompted my to, but my eyes darted upwards, meeting the snakelike stare and fanged grin of the vampire my body was being held against.

My back hit the front of his body as he held me tight, giving me no way to escape if I even tried.

My body wanted to, the adrenaline in my blood tightening muscles and prepping them to run for my life, but realistically I knew that it was useless.

No. No no no no this couldn't be happening! This had to be a nightmare!

A muffled cry came from my left, forcing my eyes that way.

My heart dropped into my already twisting stomach at the sight of my sister and then my mom in the same predicament as me. A vampire behind each of them, holding them still.

Words couldn't describe the absolute horror in my mother's eyes as she spotted us. Regret in the rawest form imaginable.

This was what she was so afraid of, and she was absolutely right.

Oh my god, am I going to die?

I'm going to die, aren't I?

We all were.

To the hands of vampires who I, in no way, think would make it painless.

Tears wasted no time spilling down my cheeks once again, that unimaginable fear now having a source and absolutely no imaginable way of escape.

My gaze tore away from my mother's, only to see a vampire throwing my dad into the ground of this open, grassy plane nearly 15 feet ahead.

I wanted to scream at the sight, but my throat was only barely allowing the passage of air as it was.

But my mother did, and my sister tried.

I'd never witnessed the strength, the power of a vampire firsthand.

"Well, wouldya look at that," the vampire sneered, leaning a foot on the center of my dad's chest. "We caught the cardinal."

My eyes rounded, staring helplessly at the scene before me and the mention of my last name.

Trying not to crumble completely at the gut-wrenching chuckles of the vampires holding us.

"Right on time too," The vampire took a casual glance at his watch, "Seems out intel was pretty spot on."

"Intel?" Dad questioned, his voice strained from the weight being put on his chest, "What do you mean? Why are you here?"

I almost wished the moon wasn't as bright now, so I wouldn't be able to see this all.

"From your brother of course," he smiled, speaking almost cheerfully, "Don't act all surprised, Lewis, you knew that we traded info in exchange for what he was offering."

What?!

Uncle Elliot spoke with vampires?!

A quick look told me that neither my mother or sister knew about this.

"Elliot... he told that you would turn a blind eye for all that he's done for you! He said this would cover our scent! He told me that this wouldn't happen!"

"Yeah" the vampire barked out a single, devious laugh, "And who do you think told him all that in the first place?"

Dad's face fell to one of absolute horror, as did the rest of us at the realization.

That he'd been played. He'd been fed lies and given a false sense of security. And he dragged the rest of us down with him.

His eyes shot to the tear-wetted face of my mother, who couldn't even bear to look at him, instead staring at her daughters and offering wordless apologies in the form of quiet, panicked sobs.

"Humans." He scoffed back to the rest of us, "Always too trusting when you give 'em a little hope."

"Please..." Dad began to beg, but the vampire continued.

"I mean seriously? Dirt and grass? You really felt like that was all it took to throw us off? The shit our animal prey roll around in daily?"

My knees wobbled under all of this, threatening to give out on me entirely.

"I'm sorry, I- I didn't think- please I won't tell a soul about this, I swear, just please let us go. Let them go."

The vampire turned to us, eyeing us over before looking at each of his accomplices with a twisted smile.

"We both know that's not how this works, Cardinal. You know the law just as well as I do, and you know how our Lord feels about traitors."

Dad failed to suppress his pained cry as the vampire stepped harder onto his chest, his elbow coming down to rest upon his knee.

It made my stomach lurch, threatening to vomit any second witching him grab at his calf in retaliation and watching it do absolutely nothing.

"Your family name has been on Lord Browyn's radar for decades now. Don't think that all of your protests and rebellions have gone unnoticed." He started, "Stirring up the peace with your petty ideals I'm sure wiping a few of those names off with from a justifiable cause as this will lead to quite the heavy reward, no?"

"But Elliot... he-"

"Is still of use to us, and won't get to know all of this has been a lie until he too attempts to escape with his daughter. You Cardinals and your psychotic ideas. Really gets on all of our nerves you know."

This was it. This was really it.

My breaths heaved in sporadic bursts, waiting and hoping that I'd just wake up to my room after each blink.

I could feel my internal fight start to fade, knowing that I had no shot and instead tried in vain to come to terms with all of this.

I don't want to die. I dont want my family to die.

"Any last words, Lewis?" He purred.

No... Dad no!

A barely audible whimper broke through my lips as I stared unblinking at him.

My heart attempted to pound through my chest in the seconds of silence, my dad's eyes keeping themselves right at the vampire on top of him.

"This place... The one we were trying to get to. Does it even exist?"

The grin that rose to his face was the first time in my life I'd seen pure, unmistakable evil.

"No."

The sickening snapping crunch hit me before viewing the silhouette of his foot stomping through the chest of my father in one fluid movement.

The screaming of my mother echoed through my ears, Anna's cry for her dad -our dad- coming right after.

I was stunned. Completely frozen. Unable to process what I'd just witnessed on top of everything else.

All I knew was that ache in my chest turned painful, a feeling of loss I couldn't come close to comparing anything to.

"D-Dad?" My words were barely audible in some sick form of denial, seeing his arms drop limp at his sides, his head rolling to the side.

Time felt like it slowed as he removed his foot, kicking off a trail of blood and other things into the grass.

I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't move, just stared at the lifeless form that was once my dad.

Feeling the fear dig further into me like talons, even more so when the vampire turned his head.

"That blood is considered fresh for a little bit if any of ya wanna get in on that. Smells like O positive," He began, strutting his way over to my mom like nothing had just happened.

"Don't mind if I do," The one holding her spoke up, "Take this for me then."

Something in me snapped watching her get pushed into the vampire that'd just taken my father's life, the other approaching his body and kneeling.

That thing that was holding me frozen vanished, sending me into a completely useless frantic frenzy.

Mom no! Please not you too!

She writhed and twisted, trying to get away, but he held her firmly by her upper arms.

"Come on now, don't make this difficult," He eased, "I got three more I gotta deal with here."

"No!" She snapped, swallowing hard and trying to hastily rebuild her composure, "Please just... Do what you want with me, but leave them out of it. They didn't share any part of this! They had no choice in the matter!"

Both of them looked us over, Anna shaking her head.

What were we supposed to do without her?!

"Traitors... kids of traitors... there's really no difference if you think about it. Might as well cut the rot at its source before it can spread. I'm sure you understand."

We all watched, petrified as he tucked away mom's hair behind her shoulder.

"Follow your gut in the next life," He softly spoke, "We could smell your regret a mile away."

An agonizing scream ripped from her throat, his fangs digging hard into her neck.

Anna yelled again, thrashing and fighting against the grip of the vampire to try to go to her aid.