Vampyre
Chapter 1
Noah
It took more than a gentle hand to calm down Aiden. But once he had drunk every bag of blood in the house he was partly back to his normal self. I had to send Katherine to the blood bank to get more blood just to him satiate. If there is even the hope of the possibility that Haley would still be alive I would give him whatever he needed. I would do whatever needed to be done even if that meant killing Victoria myself.
It took some convincing by Robert to have him bathe but eventually once Adein was in the right mindset he gathered us in the library. He stood in front of the fireplace with a blood bag in hand in a long silk lined cherry cloth robe looking like a young aristocrat consumed by the fire.
We were all curious about what Aiden had to say. Silence hung in the air only accompanied by the crackling fire. Aiden kept his back to us with one hand on the mantle the other tightly squeezing blood bag number 5,001. "What I have to tell you all is something I've told no other person in all of my existence".
"You can trust us, Aiden. Whatever demons you are battling we are here for you", Robert stated.
"I was born when the Nile was young to Menes and his queen consort Neithhotep when Egypt had just become one nation---"
"Jesus", Giovanni gasped as Raven put her hand on his chest to silence him. "You're older than dirt".
Adein turned with a grin,"Older than that".
"I thought vampires went crazy after so many centuries?" Mathis asked holding Isabella's hand.
"We do, and it only last for a thousand or so years and then we normally snap back to ourselves. Victoria was going through her stint of craziness. That's why I kept her in the basement locked away from the world".
"Don't get me wrong your age is extraordinary. But why should we care?" Giovanni questioned.
"If you let him finish his story maybe we could learn", Eric interjected fully and grossed on what Aiden had to say.
"I'll shut up", Giovanni promised.
"Thanks", Raven said padding his knee.
"I only tell you my age because it relates to the full picture. When my father conquered all of Egypt a marriage was arranged between upper and lower Egypt to unite us. I was the product of that marriage. I want to say we lived in toleration of each other, but my mother hated my father. And my father hated my mother. Both were formidable and ambitious. My mother was highly educated and she knew how to play the system to her advantage. She needed a son which she had and her husband gone if she were to rule rule Egypt. Now she couldn't do it alone so she enlisted the help of 12 trusted accomplices that were loyal only to her. They came from all walks of life scholars, kings and queens of opposing kingdoms even slaves. They met under the cover of night when the moon was at its highest and met The First---"
"The First what?" Mathis asked.
"The First Vampyre. The one we are all descended from. Each person pledged their humanity, their wealth, position and earthly desires everything for the ultimate power".
"And you were there?" Gloria asked.
"I was a child, watching from the shadows. Then I didn't understand what I was seeing but now I know exactly what was happening. The original vampyre didn't bite them only took what was promised and had each person drink from his wrist. And then he snapped their necks. Slowly, one by one they all changed. And like a deadly plague the horde descended upon whole villages like animals. While the others satiated their new primal desires my mother wasn't even the slightest bit concerned with hunting. She just collected me and we went home. She tucked me into bed and promised I would sleep well. When I woke the next morning my father, all of the slaves and harem of women and their children were dead. I was installed Pharaoh at the age of five. Seeing as I was still trying to master toilet training my mother ruled until I was ready. And when I had turned 20 I was more than ready to rule, my mother made sure I had an education, I understood politics, war, I had married with a child on the way. Victoria seemingly out of nowhere just decided we needed to start over. Completely new. Mostly because people had begun to whisper about how ageless she was. But Victoria wouldn't go alone silently. She killed my wife with our baby still in her belly. And burned the the capital down. It took the Nile flooding the planes to snuff out her fire. And then she changed me. I did not want to be vampyre. But, that was not an option. For centuries Victoria kept me close by her side compelling me into whoever she wanted me to be her perfect family. I honestly cannot tell you what she wants because it changes as much as the tide. Some days it's to be a mother, others ruler, conqueror, confidant, friend, teacher, protector but always the one in control".
"So what does she want with Haley?" I asked.
"I honestly couldn't tell you. Maybe in Haley she's found the daughter she's always wanted. Except the problem is Haley isn't Victoria's shes my descendant. Victoria has only made two vampires me and Lilabeth. And the second Lilabeth could run, she ran out of existence from Victoria".
"And why haven't you?" Isabella asked,"I'm sorry I'm new here and I shouldn't be saying anything .... but, It sounds like she's just been toying with you for centuries".
"Correct", Aiden agreed as he bit into his blood bag,"Because she's my mother. Whatever delusion she's living in I cannot change or forget all the years we've had together. We have seen the rise and fall of so many civilizations seen the persecution of every minority even ourselves. And through it all up until now she's only protected me".
"Burying you alive doesn't sound like she was protecting you. It sounds like you're doing mental gymnastics to justify it", Emma said speaking up.
"I probably am".
"Other than Victoria being a descendant of the original vampire is there anything else we should know?" Eric asked.
"There are certain attributes that come with being so close to the first".
"Like?" Mey asked.
"We can walk in the sun---"
"THANK YOU!" Emma shouted,"I saw him leave the hotel room in broad daylight when we were going to the hospital for Haley".
"Thank you for keeping your mouth shut. Emma I appreciate our friendship and I did not want to compel you".
"He can basically teleport", Gloria added.
"I can".
"So you're telling me you've been able to go outside in daylight this entire time and you've just been hiding that shit", Giovanni asked.
"I can only do it for a few hours. And yes I have been hiding it, better to keep it a secret than end up someone's lab experience".
"Fair enough", Giovanni nodded.
"And Mathis I am sorry I compelled you to sit. I'm also sorry for any discomfort or distortion in reality Haley has brought you from her compulsion".
"You can compel other vampires", I clarified,"Not just humans".
"I can, I rarely use the ability".
"What did you do to his brain?!" Robert worried.
"It will wear off in time. I only had him sit down I have no idea what Haley compelled you to do. I can feel her fingerprints on your mind".
"That's why you convinced yourself you didn't see Haley. Because she made you think that", Isabella added.
"I mean did we really see her?"
"Mathis!" Isabella and Robert both panicked.
"Eventually, that will hopefully wear off. But brothers that is the threat you're going up against on a very small scale. Victoria is a master manipulator, Who seems to be gifted with omnipotence. I never planned on creating anyone. But Haley was made and she is my responsibility whether I like it or not. I cannot surrender her to the wolf that is Victoria. But I also cannot face her alone. Will you help me?"
"Yes", I quickly responded. Whatever it took to get Haley back I would do. The room filled with yeses. If there ever was a time for family to come together now was it. I was getting my wife back I didn't care if I had to go through the devil himself. I would bring Haley home and love her from now until eternity.
And never let her go.
