Trusting Strangers

**Chapter 16**

**Trusting Strangers**

"Have you ever had a feeling something was not
going the way you really thought? That you were putting your trust in the wrong
person or people? I had that from the moment I met Anabel and her sister
Sadie...vampires of a kind they were; secrets from the moment I met them. I
just didn't know. Then there were the wolves... and then I was playing
mother.... I was juggling so much at once it is no wonder why I didnt see it
before it came about."

The morning twilight hours draw closer as evening
ends and dawn comes on Mondragon Manor. Anabel and Sadie talk anxiously about
what has come about them behind locked doors of Anabel's bed room.

Translated in Vampyric.

Sadie: You want to tell me what that was?

Anabel: Nothing...It's... it's just.... did you see
that?

Sadie:You mean the part where you didnt eat anyone
on your way in? Or the fact you just turned the inside of your bed room into
the outside family garden?

Anabel: Yes... that.

Sadie: Care to explain? (Saying as she folds her
arms and begins walking across the bed room toward Anabel)

Anabel: I went to bed after taking a bath... the
crazy headache I had before hand had come and gone. (Sadie looks curious) I
then got dizzy...

Sadie: Before or after the headache?

Anabel: Both actually...dizziness... then
headache.... sleep then dizziness and head ache... it was why I had the servant
bring me up; felt kind of weak.

Sadie: Yes, I was surpised you didnt eat him at all.

Anabel: Fuck off Sadie... listen the point is I have
no idea how.... this... this... (saying with confusion in her face as she looks
at her hands)

Sadie: What? (Saying as she sits close by in the
window)

Anabel: The spell...

Sadie: You mean the little witches spell?

Anabel: Yes...

Sadie: Wait you're saying the spell did this...
I...I...I thought it was made to enhance vampires to their strongest state....
Evolve us to the highest level of strength or something?

Anabel: Yes...exactly but...wait.... can you do
something? (saying curiously)

Sadie: Move back (saying as she pushes her from the
window area, before the sun can completely rise, hearing birds in the distance)

Sadie then hums a siren call and a bird arrives to
the window. When the bird lands on the window ledge, Sadie's eyes glow white
and a beam of energy shoots from then, turning the bird into stone. Anabel sits
shocked.

Anabel: Wha...what..wow... (saying as she moves
closer to the stoned bird)

Sadie: The lack of slaves this morning wasnt all
you... I had spent the waking hours of
the night into well...now... practicing my aim.

Anabel: Is...it permanent?

Sadie: I wasnt sure after the first servant... but
the four after that didnt turn back and still currently remain like this....so
I assume yes... it is permanent.

Anabel: Incredible... when did you...

Sadie: Last night... I randomly got dizzy at the
bath... followed by a headache... now here we are.

Anabel: If this is happening to us... do you think
this is effecting anyone else in our line?

Sadie: Hmmm...

Anabel: ...

Sadie: Probably should have a discussion with the
little witch.

Back at the cabin Celeste wakes up to find Victor
outside feeding her horse.

Translated in English.

Celeste: Surprised you're up this early. (saying as
she sits in the door way)

Victor: Well I am a morning person (saying with a
smile then stops feeding the horse). Found some carrots in your sack...hope you
dont mind me feeding him. Old habits you know....(continues to feed the horse)

Celeste: No it's no problem. (rubbing her eyes)

Victor: So what do we do first? OH! Can I use the
cross bow I have always found those fascinating.

Celeste: (with a curious look) How about we work on
tracking something before we actually use a weapon on it. (walks over to her
owls cage and lets her out)

Victor: Wait what are you doing?

Celeste: Letting her out for a bit, she's been
cooped up in here all night.

Victor: But...arent you afraid she wont come back.

Celeste: She always does...we have a
connection...the horse too.

Victor: But....

Celeste: Animals have their own spirit... just as
you and I...respect them and theyll respect you as well.

Victor: Then why eat certain ones... (saying as
Celeste gets ready for their hunt grabbig a knife, bow and arrows)

Celeste: Survivol...some of them survive on us and
we them; others...not at all.... insects, animals, people...it's nature's
balance. (the two begin to walk into the woods) we are all the same...
connected in some way.

Victor: So how do you know so much about...nature?

Celeste: My mom....her mom... it's kind of... in our
line. We study it...how things work... what corresponds to other stuff (saying
as they go through the forest looking for animals) Shhh.

Victor: (whispering) So what is the importance to
nature and hunting?

Celeste: (whispering) Everything...

Victor: (whispering) So why are we whispering?

Celeste: (whispering) Part of a successful
hunt...element of surprise...you see these...(Victor knods) wolf tracks... but
that's not what we are looking for. Usually a wolf is part of a pack, very rare
are they alone and the ones who are part of a pack....you want to avoid at all
cost...

Victor: Ok...Avoid wolves... got you...

Celeste: SHHH.... (whispering) The wolf prints are
old...they've been gone for hours.

Victor: (Whispering) Then why mention...

Celeste (whispering) You need to know different
impressions in the land.. the dirt... tree branches being broken...what you're
hunting.... how long ago it was there... knowing these things will keep you
safe...alive... last thing you want is to think you're tracking a wolf and a
bear comes up on you instead.

Victor: (whipsering) Speaking from experience?

Celeste: (whispering) more or less (dazing off for a
split second) here. (pointing to other tracks) Doe tracks... fresh....couldve
been here ten maybe twelve minutes ago... that way. (points off as the two walk
slowly in the direction)

Meanwhile at the manor, Sadie and Anbel have made
their way down to the lower levels to obtain information from the witch who
cast the spell that gave them new abilities. Anabel grabs the witch by her neck
and pins her against the wall with great strength after entering abruptly.

Translated in French

Anabel: What the hell are you playing at?

Sadie: Anabel...

Witch: I'm am not sure what you mean (choking).

Anabel: This fucking spell... WHAT IS IT!?

Sadie calms Anabel down and convinces her to let the
witch go pulling her away.

Sadie: Now... if you kill her...we wont get answers
will we?

Anabel: No...I suppose not (calming down)

Sadie: Besides... we dont really need to do such
things now... you (addressing the witch) talk.

Saying as she tries to get up from the ground.

Witch: The spell is the first of it's kind. An
original spell. I linked the source and greatest strength of your line... past
to the present and future...

Anabel: Why? What does that have to do with
anything?

Witch: The years that bridge the gaps between you
and the elders of your line is.... is what makes you less stronger than them...
I simply took a dose of your fathers strength from the blood you gave me to
enhance your own strength in the present. For it to work I had to link the last
of your line...

Translated to Vampyric.

Anabel: Which is me....

Translated to French.

Witch: ...and the first.

Translated to Vampyric.

Sadie: Father.

Translated into French.

Anabel: Then if that's so...why was Sadie tapped. No
offense, sister.

Sadie: None taken, I'm curious of the answer and
especially why the power varies myself.

Anabel: Good question.

Witch: The spell stretches over and through the
line...enhancing you all is my guess...

Sadie: So Mathias... mother...

Anabel: Father... (saying as she looks at Sadie)

Witch: The power would vary because of the years
gapped between you all.... how it will manifest, if it will or even when...I do
not know. That part is on nature.

Anabel: Fuck.... (saying disgustedly a she walks
toward the door)

Sadie: Could future generations be effected?

Witch: You mean other sires? I would imagine
so...being part of the future line...

Anabel walks out and is soon followed by Sadie. The
witch says to herself.

Witch: Good day my ladies.

Anabel continues to walk at fast pace avoiding
direct sunlight through halls with Sadie.

Translatd in Vampyric.

Sadie: So... this kind of puts a wrench in our plan
doesnt it.

Anabel: Not very much.

Sadie: You sure about that? I mean who knows if,
when or even what power mother has or...

Anabel: IF being the word sister...and IF they do
manifest something...only one I am worried about is our bastard of a father.

Sadie: So it's a matter of waiting then now....

Anabel: Exactly.

Sadie: So any suggestions? I am open.

Anabel: We practice... find a way to control this..
test our limits...understand it better... that way if anything... we can talk
to him...at least... and at most defend ourselves.

Sadie: Not to be a cunt, but your new gift... not
really defensive.

Anabel: I beg to differ...

Sadie: Oh really?

Anbel: Youll have to wait and see...

Sadie: Dont really have time for that Anabel. There
are other pressing matters we have to attend...the shipment, remember?
(stopping in the hallway, Anabel stops and walks back to her)

Anabel: Yes... yes I know...but do you really think
that will matter when father finds out about this?

Sadie: ...

Anabel: Practice and discover.... that's what we do
now...everything else can wait.(saying as they continue to walk)

Sadie: What about your little pet? The wolves?
Creating a trial hunting team? Did you forget about all that?

Anabel: Fuck... fuck... (stops and starts pacing a
little) I almost did... (the two stop walking) Ok... we have a little over
three weeks until family dinner. I assume if anything has happened
with...anyone...we will hear about it then. SO...I will send a message out to
the little dhampir to return as soon as possilble. From there I will have her
set out to put together a team of my choosing...that should buy us enough time
AND keep the little bitch busy.

Sadie: Brilliant plan... but what about the
shipment... the big meeting with the council is not far off... if we dont have
something to report other than the decimation of the wolves you know what will
happen.

Anabel: I know... I know... you... it will get
done... take acare of it... just remember to practice. (saying as she storms
off leaving her sister to walk the other way.)

A few days pass. Celeste has gotten side tracked
with teaching Victor how to track and hunt for himself. As a gift, Celeste even
buys a small spot in the towns market (using money she has saved through the
ages) for Victor to sell pelts and the meat from them to the locals, making it
able to prevent him from actually getting robbed for real. She even buys what
he needs tfor his hunts and skinning purposes. The two have become closer
friends and appreciate each other to a great deal, but Celeste still keeps an
eye out for the beast in the woods and sets up a magical perimeter to alert her
if they come out and about too close to the house. The two have actually
managed to clean and make the cabin livable as well. One night after night
falls the two sit by a fire outside the cabin cooking a rabit they caught, and
drinking wine.

Translated in English.

Victor: (saying with a smile) I can not believe how
much things have changed in 3 days compared to the last few months. (saying as
he hands her another cup of wine in the goblet) You really have helped me
out... not sure how to thank you.

Celeste: A good drink of paris' best like this is
thanks enough (saying as she toast and smiles then drinks) You learn fast for a
former slave...I have to say that.

Victor: Well I think it was why my master kept me
around...I could do anything after being shown once...

Celeste: How did you escape? I dont think I ever
asked..

Victor: It's kind of a funny story...I was....
(drinking from the goblet) I was... I was tending to the horses while... on a
hunting trip with my master.... apologies...former master. Well he fell running
after a kill... injured himself falling into a gopher hole. It was just us
two... he needed my help getting out... so instead of helping him...I ran. And
I just kep running. Probably should have helped him...

Celeste: You saw an oppurtunity to be free... and
you took it... I admire that...there is no shame.

Victor: Correct. It was like fate was talking to
me... I had to respond.

Celeste: (looking curiously) I know what you mean...
this one time I (looks off toward her horse) Excuse me (walks over to her horse
where her owl has just flew in and picks up a message attached to it's feet)

Victor: Everything ok?

Celeste reads te message to herself.

"Celeste, where are you? I haven't heard
anything from you in days. Did you kill the rakshasa? What is your status on
your kill of the beast? I would imagine all these questions can be answered in
person. Get back immediately. I need you here.- Anabel."

Victor: Celeste... everything ok?

"I had been gone fore a few days I almost
forgot what it was I was supposed to be doing for Anabel and Sadie.. and for
myself... It was a nice break. But I guess it was time to get back to
work."

Celeste: Yes... Um...listen I have to go...

Victor: Wait now... but why?

Celeste: Work... my employer...  look I have another job... I have to leave
immediately... I'm sorry (saying as she hands him the goblet, unties her horse
and mounts it). Um... I will check on you in a few days. ( saying as she hears
howling in the distance again) st... stay in at night... it's not safe in these
woods.

Victor: And what about you? I mean I know you're a
woman and a warrior but...

Celeste: I can take care of my self... Have had
years of...experience... you can't even imagine.

Victor: Well no offense but...

Celeste: Listen...please just do as I say...
(howling in the distance continues) I'll be back soon ...stay inside (saying as
she rides off).

As Celeste rides off into the distance Victor looks
on as she vanishes into the shadows down the road. He then pours out both
goblets of wine and is spoken to by a voice in the shadows.

Translated in Spanish.

Cloaked stranger: Do you want me to send them to
follow her? (with spanish accent)

Victor: No. (saying as the voice walks from the
shadows revealing the cloaked stranger Celeste met in the woods) No that will
be quite alright. Call them back.

Cloaked Stranger: What do you wish to do?

Victor: Nothing as of right now... but the time will
come sooner than later. (saying with a smile as the two turn around and begin
to walk toward the cabin)