Forty nine
Crimson lane was a no-go area for many. It was a nest for vampires where the laws of the natural world and the supernatural were suspended. Whatever happened to you in the no-go area was entirely the consequence of one's actions. So Yasmin Maplewood had to thread with caution. She felt predatory eyes on her. The hunger was heavy and it burned like the afternoon heat. Despite being summoned by Lilith herself, Yasmin still had to be wary of the vampires that stalked her from their apartments. Some wouldn't be able to handle the sunlight but many could and it was wise to put to the thought that one of them would just be crazed enough to burst outside and suck her dry. The mere notion of that made Yasmin's throat itch. She felt unsafe and the prying crimson eyes that peeked here and there didn't make it easier for her.
"I'm here to see Lilith!" She screamed in place of the overwhelming silence. Her shout was to no one in particular yet it served as a deterrent to any vampire that could hardly control its cravings.
The biggest building in the whole neighborhood came into view and judging by its subtle colors and simple elegance, Yasmin knew she was at the right door. So she proceeded to knock. Within seconds, the door wrenched open and I was greeted by a pair of stunning white fangs. Yasmin swallowed and looked up. She was meeting Lilith for the second time but the fear she had for the vampire hadn't lessened the slightest. Lilith had the face of an angel, the body of a succubus, and the mind of a praying mantis. Those three should never miss but they did in her case and that was what made Lilith a force to reckon with.
"Hi..." Yasmin managed to say, taking a step back out of instinct while completely ignoring the fact there was a screen door in place. Like that would ever stop a vampire, She thought to herself.
"Welcome, Yasmin. I've been expecting you." Lilith smiled right before she opened the screen door and invited the witch to her abode. Yasmin being an upright witch said her prayers to Hecate before honoring the vampire's invitation. "Forgive me if the house is a bit messy," Lilith continued as she led the way to somewhere they could both talk. "Deji got a bit hungry."
Her statement made Yasmin pause for a moment. She replayed the words Lilith just spewed and it filled her with absolute dread. Some innocent individual who had no idea today would be his last just became food. The thought of that could never just sit right within Yasmin and it progressively got worse because Yasmin knew why Lilith joined forces with her. It was to bring Vladimir Dracula back to the mortal realm. In simpler words, wreak havoc on thousand more innocent humans by reincarnating an absolute monster. But pity could not pave a path. It never did.
"Does our habit bother you, Yasmin?" Lilith questioned upon realizing that Yasmin had stopped following her and was now engulfed in thoughts of her own.
"Of... course, not." Yasmin shrugged. "Something just struck me."
"An idea pertaining to our current predicament, I suppose." Lilith chipped in as they both reached the living room.
"About..." Again, Yasmin was cut off from her statement but this time it was caused by the gory sight in front of her. There was a body. A human woman to be precise. She was utterly naked and her skin was bone white like life had been drained from it. At the base of her neck were two incisions that looked like bite marks and some blood still seeped out of her throat. Chills crept through her when something cold and sharp pressed into her neck drawing blood. The sharp pain made her gasp and Yasmin realized she was being fed on. Her hand swung back and she slapped the face of her attacker stunning them. Whoever they were, they hissed. Yasmin turned and looked her assaulter in the eye. He was dark-skinned and the stare he sent her way was one of hunger. He bared his fangs and tried to go in for the bite again. Yasmin was already muttering a disarming spell when Lilith jumped in.
"That's about enough babe," She whispered. Her words did seem to work as the vampire stopped charging at her and his fangs retracted. Lilith then turned to Yasmin and smiled. "He can be childish sometimes."
Yasmin nodded nervously and found herself a seat. "What were you saying? You know, before he..."
"Tried to juice you?" Lilith teased as if that was anything to find hilarious." Well, you said you were deep in thought so I wondered if that had something to do with how you are going to get the attribute out of wolf territory. Those dogs can be extremely possessive you know."
"I..."
"We cannot wait it out anymore Yasmin." Lilith cut in before Yasmin could even get a chance to chip in her own two cents into the conversation. "I really don't care if I make some werewolf enemies to get what I want. If it will quicken the process, I can order some disposable fledglings to retrieve the attribute. The Crow brothers can't fight a horde of vampires no matter how skilled and bloodthirsty they could be."
"Except that will not be necessary Lilith." Yasmin retorted, a bit sharply so Lilith would actually listen. "We don't need to make enemies. My daughter only made a hypothesis and it would be unwise to just dive in on grounds that Jason's mate looks like the current vessel of the attribute of fate. The last thing we need is a useless death and an unnecessary enemy. The Crow's mating ritual will be up soon now that both Alphas have found their mates. My daughter will be there and she will use that opportunity to test the girl. If she does have the attribute, we can move on with the ritual. The nýchta tis psychís would be two moons after the mating ritual and both ingredients will be present and defenseless. So will the entirety of the pack. That will be our chance."
"That is like a whole month." Lilith scoffed.
Yasmin was left surprised by Lilith's comment. She knew the vampire queen to be painfully patient. They had been planning this out for years after all. The witch found it strange that Lilith would just all of a sudden become impatient. Something had to be up and Yasmin had to know so she talked.
"You seem very hasty about completing the ritual these few days. Is something up?"
Yasmin noticed Lilith's eyes stray in another direction. She followed and they landed right on that male vampire that had attacked her earlier. His name was Deji, she believed. He was draining the last of the completely helpless woman. Was all these because of him, Yasmin pondered. It couldn't be though. The only man Lilith truly cared about was Dracula. He was the reason Lilith was joining hands with a witch.
"I lost Walde centuries ago. I almost lost him again a few nights ago. I cannot allow history to repeat itself. This time I will be happy."
***
Some months before...
For Wilhelmina, life had always been in a nightclub. It was hot, dark, and sweaty…she felt right at home. So she should. Vampires loved the heat, and darkness was simply the place to do horrific things to unsuspecting humans. As an old one, she loved both. Basked in them, one could say. Sighing loudly, Wilhelmina leaned forward on her stool and took a sip from her drink, scoping the club over the blue umbrella. The alcohol hit the back of her throat and burned all the way to her gut to cause a pleasant tingle. That was all it was and all it would be. A tingle. She couldn’t get drunk. She was dead after all. As humanity crammed in, her stomach growled and so did many in the shadows. They were all patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. Swirling her umbrella in her half-empty drink, she looked up to give the signal to her kind to go wild when she caught the eye of a male human looking her way with interest. Pausing, she could not stop gawking at him. The tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired man with sun kissed skin and pleasant features looked familiar. He looked too familiar. The glass in her hand crashed to the floor causing the human to rush to her aid in concern. The closer he got to her, the more she noticed the uncanny resemblance.
"Mamuwalde," She muttered when he asked if she was okay.
"You must mistake me for someone else." He had laughed. My name is Deji."
