Rise of Midnight Read online

  I rocked back as she spoke.

  “I know it doesn’t seem so, but that’s because we evolve with the times,” she explained. “Despite never or hardly aging, vampires and havidens are ever-changing creatures. We adapt to the changing world. Especially the ones who normally live among the humans. We don’t want to stand out in any way from the way we dress to the way we speak. Unlike the full-blooded vampires, we also blend in with our prey, the humans.”

  I could feel sweat beading under my clothes.

  “We are alive and breathing,” she added. “Unlike our cousins the vampires, who are technically dead.”

  “You don’t have fangs like the rest,” I pointed out.

  “Our fangs are retractable. It keeps us from standing out. It’s a haviden thing. Our skin is warm, healthy, and we can restrain the intensity of the glow in our eyes as we see fit. You see, unlike the vampires, we can control our vampire attributes. My brother and I are also the only ones in this clan, the Yeux Nocturnes Clan, the vampire clan here in the US. Usually, our race isn’t allowed to live in vampire clans, but Garrett and I are a special case. Thade, the head clan leader, is our father.”

  “Why aren’t you like the others, then?” I asked.

  “You mean, why aren’t I a savage like Shane’s men? Because I live among the vampires. We live differently than they do. Vampires tend to stay hidden away from the humans, whereas the havidens prefer to live among and interact with them. Havidens are far more aggressive and therefore, more careless. Here, we’re not barbarians. We’re not going to throw you in a cell or rip people apart—at least the latter not in front of you.”

  I recalled the way Shane’s face had twisted and changed into a distorted demon-like version of himself.

  “Do you do that weird face thing?” I asked while shrinking back.

  She stared back at first, possibly unsure of my question but then laughed. “Ah. Yes, a haviden trait. It's used for intimidation purposes.” As she spoke, she tipped her wine glass so that the liquid touched the rim, then paused as if waiting for it to drip over the side. “On the downside of being what I am, I sleep like a human, but only for three or four hours a night. This can sometimes leave me vulnerable. Also, I thirst for human blood and meat, and that thirst is far stronger. I never eat the meat, though. It makes me feel even more like a cannibal. If we havidens don’t consume enough human blood or meat in one day, we fall into a trance. We call it a ‘blood-rage’. It’s a condition that causes us to blackout, lose complete control and kill the nearest living thing whether it be human, vampire or fellow haviden to fill the need. So around here, we all try to stay well fed.”

  When she said this, I sat back and placed my hands around my neck. Eden grew more and more terrifying to me with every passing minute. I pictured her growing fangs and lunging at me from the other side of the table.

  “But vampires are different in that regard, as well. They thirst for human souls. The blood doesn’t do much for them. Additionally, if a vampire starves, they wither like an unkempt plant. They will remain in that frail state until they can feed again.”

  “They don’t die?” I asked weakly.

  “No,” she confirmed. “The only natural thing that can kill a vampire is the sun.”

  “I don’t understand how your race and vampires are...real. How is this even possible?”

  “Vampires are classified as earth-demons. They are a race of demon created here, earthborn, hence the name. If you were to study the elder vampire theories, you'd read that the vampire race began with a single demon named Gavok. Thousands of years ago, he supposedly slipped onto this plane of existence through human possession. Gavok somehow created another demon, the first earth-demon—the vampire. No one knows where Gavok is or if he’s still around today, but there you have it. But these theories are all based on hearsay.”

  I sat back, trying to comprehend everything. Once again, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “What happens if a vampire feeds on a human?" I asked sheepishly, thinking back to every vampire movie I'd ever seen.

  “Well, contrary to what humans believe, vampires feed on human souls, not their blood, as I mentioned earlier. Once the soul is consumed in its entirety by a vampire, the human dies. The soul doesn't travel to heaven or hell. It simply ceases to exist altogether upon feeding. The human's body withers and turns to dust. However, if the feeding vampire leaves even the smallest portion of the soul behind, a change happens. The human body can no longer live with so little of the soul left behind. Thus, the body dies and transforms, enabling it to live off of the weak, partial soul, off of less power…if you will. While it’s not much, the part of the spirit left behind prevents the body from decaying since there is no heartbeat. It keeps the human subconscious alive. Think of the spirit as a renewable energy source.” She stalled. “Never mind, I’m about to go off on a concept that’s even over my head.”

  “Vampires have souls?” I asked in disbelief. “That’s surprising to hear. What about you?”

  “Vampires have less than half of a soul left, but haviden’s do not have one at all. We are not born with one, and consuming vampire tears is like poison to the soul, killing it off, creating a haviden. We don’t need one to keep our bodies alive. That’s because, unlike vampires, our hearts beat. As I was saying before, a human will be reborn as a vampire at midnight of the night they are bitten. Midnight is the hour when the human soul is at its weakest just before it rejuvenates itself. But usually, the human’s soul is intentionally devoured in its entirety to prevent a rebirth. Rebirths are very seldom. A vampire doesn’t just turn anyone. There has to be some sort of connection, a deeply rooted friendship, family ties or a romantic bond. The latter of the three is even more uncommon. Humans and vampires don’t normally fall in love,” she explained as she eyed her hands.

  “Why not?” I asked, curious to hear her answer.

  “I don’t know. Would you fall in love with that steak?” she asked and nodded down at my plate.

  “Depends on how hungry I am,” nervous, I teased.

  “It’s a little different than that, I suppose,” she chuckled, staring at her hands again. “You wouldn’t understand it unless you felt it for yourself.”

  I felt sick knowing this, that people in the city I lived in were being murdered as well as their souls being devoured, but a morbid curiosity drove me to ask more.

  “But how do the vampires take someone’s soul? That sounds impossible.”

  “Vampires bite their victims to draw blood,” Eden explained. “That’s where the humans get their misconception. Since vampires are technically earth-demons, they possess a demonic power that draws the human soul out through the open wound their fangs create. Although the vampires also take in the blood as they feed, they’re primarily ingesting the soul. And they have to do this every two to three days to stay healthy and strong. It keeps that little part of the soul they have left thriving. And this is also how we know us havidens don’t have souls. Vampires gain nothing from feeding on us.”

  I had to keep asking more. If she was making this up, she was doing a damn good job of fabricating it all on the spot.

  “Then, what happens when a person is bitten by someone like you?”

  “A human turns to dust also when bitten by a haviden, if not completely devoured, that is. But since we only feed on the blood and meat, the human’s soul lives and go on to the afterlife.”

  “Can vampires fly? Can you fly?”

  “No,” she burst into laughter. “Jump far and high? Sure. Heightened strength? Yes. Fly? No. None of us can.”

  “What's a vampire like?” I asked and leaned on the table. "Do they live here with you?"

  I’d whispered it, afraid a vampire might come around the corner at any moment.

  “Well, I don’t have a word to describe them,” she said. “They’re distant, keep to themselves, even around me. There are a few who still have a touch of their human emotions left and are friendlier than the
rest, like Terry, but ones like him are few and far between. The vampires’ pale and light-sensitive skin will burn up at even the hint of the sun’s rays. But if you were to use that knife?” She nodded at the steak knife I left on my plate. “While the blade would penetrate skin, there would be no blood. The wound you left would heal immediately. Vampires have blood, but it’s dead blood, meaning that it doesn’t flow. Their hearts don’t beat like ours do. That’s why their veins are more pronounced and hardened around the joints of their bodies. Their blood backs up there and doesn’t move. And yes, an entire vampire clan lives here.”

  My eyes scanned the room. “Where?”

  “Here,” she giggled. “Under the house. This is just a cover for what’s underneath.

  Humans don’t know about and wouldn’t understand our world, so we go to great lengths to conceal it. The vampires stay underground during the day. They don’t normally come up until the sun goes down, and even then, they don’t use the above-ground levels of the greystone. I usually have it all to myself. They count on me to keep up with and watch over the ground level during the day. We call this entire structure ‘the Sanctum’.”

  “The Sanctum,” I repeated. “Where do they sleep?” I pictured a basement full of old warped coffins.

  “They don’t sleep. It’s kind of funny. There are a little over one hundred rooms built in the basement area. However, they are only used for privacy."

  “No one here is going to bite me in the middle of the night, are they?” I asked with genuine concern.

  “No. Not at all. You have a portion of Latresma’s soul inside you. It’s not human. We can all sense it. You just smell like one of us. One of them, I mean. We each have our own scent, and so do you. Yours just isn’t human like you’d think.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing. I think. Wait, am I even human?” I asked, the idea that part of me wasn’t even mine making me uneasy.

  “Yes, you are human. You’re simply carrying part of a vampire inside of you. Also—” she began, then hesitated. “I think you should know something about Jacoby and the accident.”

  “Jacoby? My brother? How did you know him?” Surprised to hear his name, the questions escaped me before I even realized it.

  Her expression softened, and she appeared to hesitate a little. “I tried to be around the humans, you know, to fit in since I don’t fit in here.” Her voice lowered as she spoke. “I even attended a class at the university last fall. I didn’t tell my father or anyone else here about it. The clan isn’t supposed to associate with the humans. But after making friends with some of the students on campus, I met your brother. We decided to get to know each other. He used to talk about you a lot, you know? I always used to wonder what you were like. It’s just a coincidence that you ended up being the reincarnation of Lady Latresma.”

  “He mentioned you not long ago. Were you guys dating?” I asked.

  Her cheeks reddened. “Yes, but we kept it under the radar. It was complicated. That was my fault. I had limited time to spend with him. I couldn’t always tell him why I couldn’t hang out or where I was. I fell hard for him, but I knew one day I’d have to stop seeing him. I couldn’t let him find out what I was. Despite this, I cared a great deal for him. I looked up to him. He wasn’t scared of anything, wasn’t scared to be himself. I envied his confidence, his free spirit. But it was just too dangerous for us to be together.” She paused when her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat as I held back tears of my own. “But what you need to know is…it was Arlos’ followers who caused the car accident that took Jacoby’s life.”

  “What?” It was all I could say in a winded reply.

  I hadn’t had a chance to make that connection for myself. I could feel my temperature rising. Sweat built up in my palms as I pictured the glowing-eyed people on the overpass from that night.

  “They were looking for you,” she went on. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but the havidens knew where you were. They must have been watching you, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take you in. We tracked their careless activity and followed.”

  I couldn’t concentrate on her words anymore. “I…I can’t believe this,” I stammered. “They were looking for me. He’s dead because of me.”

  “No. Don’t blame yourself. The root of the problem is Arlos,” she stopped me. “Did Shane tell you anything about his whereabouts?”

  I shook my head slowly in response while holding back tears.

  “Nothing at all?” she pressed. “He didn’t mention where they’d be taking you from their underground lair?”

  “No.”

  “Damnit,” she said to herself and sat back in her seat. “We’re right back where we started. At least we have you now. That’s the most important thing.”

  I sat wiping away a stray tear. I couldn’t help but feel horrible.

  “It’s okay, Autumn. None of this was your fault. Arlos will pay for it, for everything,” she promised with a stern tone.

  I nodded in agreement and forced my rising tears to subside, the sickening feeling in my stomach to fade.

  “Anyway, I guess it’s time you met her,” Eden said and stood from the table.

  “Meet who?” I asked.

  “Latresma.”

  Part 2

  Latresma

  “Meet Latresma?” I recoiled. “I thought she was dead.”

  “Oh, she’s very much dead,” Eden explained. “We keep her body. She’s downstairs. Come on,” she gestured for me to go with her as if keeping a body in the house was no big deal.

  My jaw dropped. “You keep a body from the seventeen hundreds in the basement?” I asked wide-eyed.

  “In the sub-basement, yes,” she confirmed.

  “Why?”

  “It’s not what it sounds like,” she laughed. “It’s all part of Latresma’s prophecy. Now, come on.”

  “That’s so morbid,” I said to myself as I drew up the corner of my top lip.

  “It won’t be near as bad as you think, I promise,” she insisted.

  I stood as she opened the door at the back of the kitchen. Behind it, a staircase led downward. She ushered me closer. I stopped in the doorframe, feeling as if I were about to walk into a haunted house on Halloween.

  “Don’t look so worried. No one down there is going to hurt you,” she assured me. “Regardless, don’t ever come down here without me.”

  We started our way down the narrow flight of stairs that soon widened into a grand staircase that could’ve been taken right out of a palace. Our feet moved across thick carpet that spread down like a black and gold waterfall. I let my hands run over the gold railing as we descended but withdrew halfway down, feeling as if I shouldn’t be allowed to touch such an elaborately carved piece.

  My eyes caught the light reflecting off of Eden’s glass. I stared suspiciously at the liquid sloshing around inside. “So, I’m guessing that’s not wine you’re drinking,” I assumed, already sure of the answer.

  “We always keep a few glasses of blood in the fridge. When the vampires hunt, the clan spreads out over the states. It would draw too much attention if groups of people mysteriously died every week around here. When they do take humans, the clan usually takes two or three at a time to share. Sometimes they drain the victims and bring back what blood they get.”

  This was gruesome to hear, and I felt like I should pretend I didn't hear her say it.

  “The blood is more for me,” she specified. “And Garrett, of course. Unlike the vampires, we have to feed every night and sometimes more than once a day. We can’t always go out for hunts. It’s forbidden to hunt alone without the protection of the clan. It’s not as healthy and fresh as warm blood, but it suffices. I usually drink it daily because I don’t feed on hunts. I go with the clan as it helps keep the numbers up in the hunting groups, but I’m not into killing humans. I just drink what’s brought back. I mean, my father was human when Garrett and I were born, so I feel too strongly about your race. Sadly, I feel that Gar
rett would rather be a vampire than what he is. He stays down here with them, hunts with them and doesn’t even like to come out in the sunlight. I just don’t understand it, but he would probably say the same about me.”

  “I hope you guys stay away from my family when you hunt,” I muttered. “I’m serious.”

  “I’ll mention it to my father and the others,” Eden said but sounded like she wasn’t sure of herself.

  “Please do more than just mention it,” I pushed.

  “I will,” she promised.

  As we came to the end of the steps, I realized the basement didn’t seem much different than the upstairs. Renovated and not at all what I’d expected, it was one large open room that spanned the entire square footage of the greystone and far beyond. Elegant chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling. They provided a moody scene, just enough light to see the carpet, furniture and the flat-screen TVs displayed on the walls. Taking a closer look at the TVs, I realized that some allowed a window to the outside world through hidden cameras that must’ve been mounted around the outside of the greystone. My eyes were drawn to the center of the room where three suede couches and two chairs made the space a little more inviting. I felt it was a very unusual layout for a greystone, like its own little underground village with doors surrounding the entire common area—the rooms. The only things missing were windows.

  “This is A level. There’s also one more level below us, B level, the sublevel, where we keep our prisoners” Eden added as she passed a lamp table where she set her glass of blood down.

  I noticed a group of tall, pale people huddling at the back of the massive room, their eyes glowing off-white through the darkness until they moved into the light. They held themselves high with their shoulders back. Most moved almost sensually as they removed their black hooded trench coats. They hung the coats in the nearest closet while simultaneously shooting me glances from over their backs.