I set down my tea cup made of fine, imported china into its matching saucer. The light ‘clinking’ noise it made as the china met each other echoed across the giant room. In front of me lay a banquet table, several meters long. Sturdy, fancy chairs lined up and down the sides of said table, each place set with its own china set and wine glass.
In the chairs, sat no one.
Things sure were boring without my family here. I was currently house sitting the mansion while they were away, and it was finally becoming clear that this place was far too big for a girl like me.
Shadows chased each other across the walls, paintings, pottery and various Victorian decorations as the sun set through the windows behind the forest’s trees. Finally! With the sun out of the way, I could go for my nightly walk. Prowl, would be the correct word to use, but it sounded so… unladylike.
I got up from my chair at the end of the table and padded down the dining hall, taking in the sight of the unfilled chairs. I sighed wearily, and wondered what it’d be like if I had some sort of company. I loved company, and adored playing hostess, but people never came here.
They said this mansion, my family’s home, was haunted.
It’s of course untrue. It’s just hard to dispel myths and make friends when you happen to be a vampire.
Sure, I had a taste for blood, but I stuck to animals for nourishment, most of the time, that is. And yes, the mansion had a bit of a dark, brooding look about it, but it’s called style. Cobwebs or no cobwebs, this was my home, and last time I checked under my bed, there were no monsters or ghouls waiting to come out and attack the unsuspecting.
I made my way to the front room and grabbed my lacy parasol that was resting against the wall, waiting for me to take it on its usual nightly walk. Slipping on my gloves and adjusting the ribbon in my long, blue hair, I finally deemed myself ready to go.
“Boy, what I wouldn’t give to be able to see myself in the mirror.” I giggled to myself as I slipped out of the massive front doors. Vampire humor.
It was night time already, the moon was fat and lazily making it’s way up in the starry sky. As I made my way through the garden, I heard the usual sounds of nightlife coming from the forest. Then I heard it go silent.
I perked up my ears and sniffed the air, wondering if I had missed something. Sure enough, in the sky was a plane. Most planes flew in a sure manner, slicing through the sky to reach its destination. This one, however, didn’t seem to have a destination. It swayed, and tilted every which way, black smoke sputtering out of it, visible from where I standing, thousands of feet below.
Something else I saw, besides the smoke, were multiple shapes jumping out of the plane.
“Oh my!” I gasped, cupping a gloved hand over my mouth.
I broke into a run, heading for the forest. Whoever was in that plane would be landing soon, on my property. And it was up to me to welcome them!
I kept my eyes on the sky, looking for any signs of more trouble, but it only caused me to stumble on the roots of trees and get tangled in the tall weeds. At this rate, it’d take me more than an hour to find the mysterious visitors. Normally, I’d use my bat wings to my advantage, but lately, I had been having trouble with them.
As expected, it was about an hour before I finally came upon my future guests. They had started a campfire, and were huddled around it, covered in injuries. I could smell them, and they weren’t that of human. Excitement ran through my veins as tried to manage to climb over a bush in a dress.
“Please excuse me.” I called out softly. They all looked startled as I stepped into the light of their fire. “If you don’t mind my saying, you ladies and gentlemen look like you could use some hospitality.”
Still, silence. Only the roar and cackle of the fire could be heard as their eyes landed on me.
“I’m Colette Marie Duncan.” I curtsied. “Pleased to make your acquaintance!”
“What is a girl doing in these woods?” a man who smelled of wyvern blood asked.
“I live here.” I chirped cheerfully.
“You live…here? Where are we?” a girl whom I pegged as a werewolf stood up and approached me.
“Transylvania, of course.” I looked behind her to see an unconscious woman in the arms of man with black wings. “Oh my!”
I ran over to them and lightly placed my gloved hand on her limp arm. Her skin was a pale green, and full of thorns. No wonder I couldn’t identify her through blood; she was a plant of some sort?
“We must tend to your wounds.” I turned to face the group. “Please, come. Come to my mansion. You can eat and sleep there for the night. I promise you all will be safe.”
--
There was little interjection and everyone had soon entered in my home.
“Whatever you need, is yours!” I giggled, happy to finally have guests. “There are plenty of rooms, and I’m sure you’ll find food of your liking in the kitchen.”
The werewolf crossed her arms uneasily, while a male vampire showed her something on his ipod.
“Is something the matter?” I wrung my hands as I approached them.
“You’re one of us.” the vampire looked up at me.
“Of course I am, silly!” I smiled, flashing my fangs. “And you’re a vampire, and she’s a werewolf. That girl hiding behind you seems to be part bunny, and-”
“How do you know all of that?” the werewolf girl raised an eyebrow at me.
“Your blood, énekel, it sings to me. Of course, I don’t know all of you…”
“I’m Akira.” she unfolded her arms. “And this is Sebastian and Karin. Everyone here is part our club, and I think you would prove useful if you were to join it.”
“A club?” I tilted my head quizzically.
“Yes. You see, I found a hard drive that does this.” she took the ipod from Sebastian and showed me a screen that held all of my information. “As a club, we’re trying to band together and figure it out. We were attacked on a plane to our headquarters in Virginia, and we landed in that forest. If you’re on it, you must be involved one way or another. Will you join us?”
“I don’t…know.” I clasped my hands together.
“Just join us, what have you got to lose?” Sebastian asked. “It’s got to be lonely living in this big place by yourself.”
“I’m not alone, I have my family.”
“Where are they?” Akira asked.
“Gone.”
Their expressions went from determined to saddened.
“You lost your family?” Karin spoke up.
“Oh gosh no!” I giggled, covering my mouth with my hand. “They’re on vacation. Look, I like you all a lot. You all seem like lovely guests. How about your club gets their injuries taken care of, a good meal in their stomachs, and a good night’s rest. In the morning, I will give you my answer for joining the club or not and give you directions to the airport.”
They seemed satisfied with my reply and turned to check with the rest of the group.
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Whooooo~!
Sorry that was so long! It just sort of, happened~
Feel free to write your character doing whatever in Colette's mansion~
