Cassandra Cassandra Farrelli: Scarlet Women Book 1

True to her word, Juliette had indeed introduced me to several of her oldest children, when we arrived back at the house. We didn’t speak again of anything that had passed between us in the garden, and I had a feeling we never would— at least in the foreseeable future. After meeting Juliette’s oldest children, Violet whisked me away to a suite of rooms that she and her husband Viktor shared, that was where we found Irene playing with makeup. There were clouds of sparkles in the air from something Irene had sprayed on her hair, and her face practically looked like it was reflecting the sun, with how much glittery eyeshadow and powders she had put on. I knew nothing about makeup, beyond pinching my cheeks, back when I had been alive, things like makeup hadn’t existed. Irene spotted me in the reflection of the mirror as we approached and squealed, “Your turn!” Pulling me into a chair and attacking me with all kinds of creams and powders and sprays that I felt dizzy and light headed by the time she had finished.

I stared at myself in the reflection of the mirror— she hadn’t really done as much as it felt like she had— I mean, I definitely sparkled, yay, but beyond that, she had just added something to make my eyelashes darker, and my cheeks pinker, and my lips— “Um, my lips are purple.”

“Yeah, to match your eyes.” Irene grinned as she fluttered her eyelashes, as if that made what she was saying more important somehow. Glitter fluffed off of Irene as she moved, and I tried to not breathe any of whatever was on her face, as she jumped up and went looking for Violet. “Be right back!”

I sighed. So, was this going to be my life now? Makeup and clothes and exciting nights out someplace wild with a ‘good time’— as Irene had put it. My life had been much simpler. I blinked, and the sparkly girl with purple eyes and purple lips blinked too. No, before I could even have a life, I would need to survive carrying the Nephilim child— I scowled and the girl in the mirror did too. I would much rather be out in the garden right now, then have Irene and Juliette fuss over me… I’d rather be enjoying my life, while I had a second chance at it, even if it was just for a while. Irene came dancing back with Violet, as my mind began to wander, and I made sure to snap out of my funk, and back into this moment— while it was nice that Violet could alter my mood, I didn’t want her to sense this one. I made myself smile, as Irene and Violet dumped armfuls of dresses onto a couch behind me.

“And now,” Violet declared, “you get to pick a dress!!”

There was something I seemed to like to do— pick out beautiful clothing, that was, at least, since I had gotten used to how clothing felt on my body. I forced myself to look away from my reflection and back at the pile of dresses. I spun on the stool I was sitting on, “any suggestions?”

Of course, both Irene and Violet had a lot to say, each picking up dress after dress and holding them up for me, almost overlapping each other in their excited chatter, which dress was better than this dress or her dress until I stopped them, because I was worried they actually might one to blows about which dress was best. I made them each pick out their top two favorites, and then I went to inspect them. Irene, as I probably should have guessed, had picked out two very low cut dresses with fabrics so sheer, it might as well have been see-through. I cringed, as I looked at the canary yellow dress, and the orange dress she’d picked out, letting them drop lightly back onto the couch.

“Ouch.” Irene pouted, as if I had hurt her feelings.

’I’m sorry, they are beautiful but-”

“I get it,” Irene muttered, waving her arm around, “they’re not you. Let’s see what our Miss Violet has picked out for you.”

Violet had picked out two dresses, both were made of the same soft fabric, somewhat stretchy, but not see-through, like Irene’s dresses. One was a pale pink, like a rose just about to bloom, soft under the sunset— it had long sleeves with a sweetheart neckline and a plunging back with several straps that were bows, it was beautiful, but not quite what I was feeling at the moment, I gently put down the dress, knowing I’d probably ask to borrow it in the future. The second dress Violet had picked was forest green, it had a low v-cut neckline, with braided gold straps and a loose back that hung open. It reminded me of what I’d seen pictured in the Greek era texts I’d seen on the web. I held it up to myself, and smiled, yes, this was the one.

“And we have a WINNER!” Violet smiled, letting out almost a sigh of relief. “Honestly Cass, I started to wonder if you were going to like anything we were showing you.”

“It’s beautiful.” I replied, returning Violet’s smile.

“Excellent, well. Let’s all get changed, it’s time to head to Plumanara.”

The three if yes scrambled out of our current clothing and into the dresses we’d each picked out, leaving a mess of dresses everywhere.

“Sorry about the mess!” Irene mumbled, looking only just a little contrite.

“It’s not a problem, I promise. Now, Viktor said to be there by nine, so we should head out— I’m sure the limo is ready!” Violet seemed to float to the door, her feet dancing in her strappy shoes. Irene and I followed her out of the house, where true to her word, there was a limo waiting in the roundabout. The three of us bundled into the back, and the limo took off down the drive. “Did you have a good conversation with Juliette?” Violet asked me as we headed towards the iron gates leading off the property.

I nodded. There were things I could not tell Violet, obviously, and there were other things that I couldn’t say in front of Irene… “Yes.” I stared at the weeping willows in the distance as we drove down the drive. It was incredible that that world, the world of the garden existed back there, hidden from view. “Thank you, Violet.” I turned from the window to smile at her. Violet had married into Juliette’s family, but she reminded me of Juliette so much, it almost hurt. I wondered if I could prove to Juliette that I was worthy of her trust, loyalty and friendship. I had made a lot of mistakes. We left the property behind much quicker than it had felt on the way in, the driver closing the gate behind us with a bang, before setting off out of the wooded area and back into the populated urban streets. I again watched the world of color and shape fly by the window, this time taking us into the city, winding us down roads that were narrow, and taking us out into a more business wearhouse district. I had been staring at pictures of maps on Google, trying to understand the city in which I, or at least Cassandra lived. Vancouver was definitely an interesting place— there were parks, and museums, art galleries, high end shops and malls, skyscrapers, business districts, tourist attractions… and warehouses near the docks. The limo slowed in this area, pulling into an alleyway, I peered into the dark street, no street lights, empty buildings, surely we were in the wrong place.

“Eeeeeee!” Irene squealed, “”I can’t wait for you to see this place! You’re going to love it!!” Irene’s seafoam dress glowed in the limo’s dim lights, as she pushed open the back door, and stepped out onto the dark street. I cast a glance at Violet,

“Don’t worry, you’ll be safe here with me. I promise. Viktor and his brother’s own the club, they actually opened it as a joke, just a few supernaturals playing poker in an abandoned warehouse,” she chuckled, “but then they wanted dancing, and music— and slowly word got out…” she shrugged. “And the supernaturals, well they came flocking to the doors. Vik and his brothers had to renovate, hire staff, buy products, and suddenly they had a business. I joke that it keeps them honest— which they think is hilarious because it’s a club. There isn’t anything else like Plumanara out there, that lets young supernaturals experience dancing, music, or even drinking, this way. Of course there have been a few problems, and because it’s popular, we’ve had to add security measures, but outside the family property, this is the next safest place I feel.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about any of this, not even if I understood half of it, but I nodded and tried not to let my worry, that Irene had already disappeared into the dark, get to me. I tossed Violet a smile.

“Ready?”

As ready as I was ever going to be. Violet and I exited the limo, which sped off into the night once the back door shut with a finality that was not lost upon me. I followed Violet who was already cutting across the street, and around the corner of a warehouse just ahead. I lost sight of her for a moment as I scrambled to keep up. Rounding the corner, I was hit by a wall of surprise, for what I hadn’t been able to see or hear from the ally around the corner was so obvious to me now— just across the narrow road was a warehouse with loud techno beats flooding the street, a line of people, most likely all supernatural beings, wound its way along the side of the building, and up a walkway to a door where I could already see Tom standing, a headset on his head, and a. Clipboard in his hand, as he checked names and opened the door, ushering people in, while others exitied on a set of doors beside him. Juliette was headed directly towards the doors, cutting through the line, despite the groans and complaints of the other vampires, shapeshifters and Fae gathered. The doors swung open and I could see bright neon lights reflecting from within. I ran to catch up to Violet, out of breath by the time I weaseled my way past the crowd and through the line.

“Ahhhh, Lookie, who do we have here?” Tom grinned, “but my Lady, Violet and her lost cause.”

Violet rolled her eyes, and I tried not to be insulted by the rude werewolf, biting my tongue to not say anything that I might later regret. “You going to let us in, Tom?” Violet smiled, but I could tell she was just trying to be polite, “Viktor is waiting for us.”

Tom nodded and opened the door. Electric energy spilled from inside the club. Violet slipped in through the open door and dragged me along with her. Just inside there was a coat check area, where a shapeshifter caught Violet’s eye, Violet shook her head, as if responding to the woman’s vacant marble blue eyes question, and instead of taking me further into the club, from where I could see so many interesting things, like mirrored walls, with shelves full of glass bottles, and ice? Or was that steam rising from every which way you looked, a raised clear podium with a keyboard and a vampire controlling the music— lights flashing, so many people dancing… I felt like my eyes might pop out of my socket from all the sights flooding my senses, or that my head might fall off from swiveling… no, instead of taking me there, Violet walked up to a wall beside the coat check, and pushed a round shape in a portion of molding, opening a secret door with stairs leading up. Intrigued, I allowed Violet to manhandle me into the secret doorway, which then shut us in.

In this secret hallway, I couldn’t even hear the music from the other side of the wall. Violet was making her way up the narrow staircase, and it was narrow, only wide enough for one person at a time to either ascend or descend. Curious, I followed, ascending into what was probably the rafters of the building.

“You see,” Violet’s voice floated down to me as she continued to climb, “when they realized that they had to renovate the building anyways, Viktor, and his brothers realized that this was also a good opportunity to put together a safe house of their own. It’s fully soundproof, and covers the club below— they have their security cameras up here, and a room for their team, a few rooms they play high stake poker games in with whales,”

I paused, mid stair, exhausted. “Are we almost there?”

From above me Violet laughed, “Yes, I’m already here, just waiting for you,” I looked up and sure enough, Violet was standing looking down at me from the last step on the narrow staircase. I forced my legs to climb the last few steps, and emerged onto the landing. Violet laughed at me as I stood there, legs shaking from climbing so many steps. “I had forgotten how tired humans can get from simple exertion.”

“Oh, I’m fine.” I lied, my fingers clenching the metal railing as I steadied myself. I took this moment to look around. It appeared like we’d entered a lobby of some sort, there were a few green plants, plastic from what it looked like, under the potted ceiling lights, and two arm chairs with a table in between. There was a wall of glass with two glass doors with brass or gold handles just beyond the arm chairs and potted plants, with a keypad and intercom, cutting us off from the rest of the floor. Taking a deep breath I took a few hazardous steps and collapsed into one of the arm chairs. “Now what?”

“Well, if you’re ready, I’ll show you around.” Violet laughed.

Groaning, I stood and gritted my teeth. “Ready.”

Violet pulled out a security card from her purse, and scanned it through a swipe on the keypad. The glass door swung inward, and we passed through the doors into the hallway beyond. “Here,” Violet gestured immediately to our right hand side, “this is where we have security cameras,” she opened the door, and I could see a werewolf sitting with his back to us, feet on the desk watching several large TV monsters. “Hi Dan!” Dan waved, but didn’t turn to look at us, and Violet closed the door, continuing down the hall. “Here,” Violet pointed at several glass doors, behind which I could see light, and people, “high stakes poker games,” she continued to walk, “there are a few security rooms, in which the team have a break room, and a few bunk beds, should they need to crash after their shift instead of finding their way home.” We turned a corner in the hallways and came to another set of doors, these doors were thick oak, with a few stained glass panels through which light glowed from the other side, “And this,” Violet turned to beam at me, “is the safe house.” Violet pulled a key from her purse, it wasn’t a key like Cassandra’s house key, or even like a security swipe key like Violet had used to get us into this top floor through the glass doors, no this key looked ancient and had a glow to it, like it was magical. “Yes,” Violet replied, as if to my thoughts, “it is magical. Viktor had a witch spell them for us, as well as put up safety guards on the entirety of this floor. We have a few spare keys inside, one will be for you.” Violet twisted the key in the lock and pushed open the door. “Come on in.”

I walked into the room, it felt like a house, like Cassandra, or Violet’s house had felt— I heard Violet shut the door behind me. This areas was clearly designed as an entryway, with a coat rack, shoe stand, welcome rug, leading down a short hallway—

“Oh, hi guys!” Viktor, head appeared at the end of the short hallway, “I was wondering when you’d get here. Took your sweet time.” At the end of the hallway, the room opened up into a great room, couches and coffee tables, a giant rug covering the sandy hardwood flooring… Viktor flopped into an armchair, a glass of something that smelt like cinnamon over ice in his hand. Violet and I joined him, Violet immediately dropping dramatically onto one of the couches. “Please, come in, sit!” Viktor urged, “We don’t bite.” He flashed me a grin, as Violet giggled. I cautiously made my way into the great room, and sat on one of the arm chairs facing Viktor. “Now, there will be time for house tours later, first, to the reason we’re even here… Cassandra.”

Yes, the real reason I was here. I kept feeling like I was already cemented into this body, but I knew that was an allusion, at least, right now. I tried to regain my sense of urgency, I needed to figure this out now, before my time running Cassandra’s body finished, and she took over again, demoting me to the backseat of her consciousness. “Yes, I haven’t forgotten.” I heard my voice whisper in the quiet space.

“I talked to my mother,” Viktor’s piercing stare actually felt like daggers hitting me.

“Oh?”

“Viktor, be kind.” Violet cautioned.

“Don’t worry, my love. I am.” Viktor blinked and I turned away, not able to keep his gaze. “Turns out, you were more than just the daughter of Eve. Imagine my surprise when I found out that you are also technically my aunt.”

I heard Violet gasp, and I closed my eyes. “What else did Juliette tell you?”

“Enough,” Viktor’s voice floated to me, as I continued to squeeze my eyes shut. “There is much, ‘Auntie’ Cassandra, that I would like to discuss, but until that day— let us focus on helping you survive the next portion of your journey. It’s not going to be easy.”

I sighed, and forced myself to look at him, my nephew. “Did your mother explain my idea to you?”

“Yes, and I think it will work.”

“What plan?” Violet cut in, trying to catch my eye.

“Cassandra needs to drink vampire blood over the next few months, she’ll need to die with it in her system— but it can’t be so much that the Nephilim sense it, ever. It will have to be small doses until near the end. I-”

“It can’t be you, Viktor.” Violet interrupted.

“And why not?”

“I love you darling, but it would be best if it was from a Pureblood, and even though you are wonderful, you are not a Pureblood.”

Viktor growled, “So you’re suggesting, what? You? Absolutely not, this is too dangerous, too risky and I won’t allow-”

“Viktor, Cassandra needs help— and I can help. I know the danger and risks, but I am here, ready and willing, and you would do no less if you were able.”

Viktor sighed, sounding defeated. “Well, do we at least know how long we have before Lucas decides to take you, Cassandra?”

I shook my head, no. I had no clue, it could be tomorrow, it could be in a few months. “Cassandra, I mean Cassandra Pirot, will want to finish school— graduate. She’ll push for it, and I’ll back her with Lucas. That gives us at least six months to figure it all out.” I bit my lip, “but we can’t tell her. Cassandra can’t know. All this? It has to stay a secret right until the very end.”

“Agreed.” Viktor mumbled, pushing himself up off his arm chair and running his hands through his hair. “I’m going to prep a team, to recover you from the cemetery when the time comes— I also think it might not be enough to just have you die with vampire blood in your system,I think you need to have some shot directly into your heart after you’ve ‘died.’”

I shivered. Yes, my impending doom.

“We should start tonight.” Violet whispered, “and once a month from here out.” Violet stood, “Viktor, show Cassandra around the apartment, while I prepare. Cassandra, pick out a room, tell Viktor how you want it painted and decorated, and I’ll start working on it in my spare time. You’ll have to live here for a while, stay out of sight. Anything you’ll think you’ll want to need, I’ll start collecting and gathering.”

I stood, “Violet,”

“It’s okay Cassandra, if this works, you’ll be able to help other girls get away from the Nephilim, so if I can help you in any way, it will be a pleasure. I don’t want any more girls to suffer being marked and cursed by the Fallen.”

“Follow me,” Viktor gestured, as he started to leave the room, casting one last glance at his wife before we re-entered the hallway, heading into another part of the house. I followed Viktor, feeling numb. All this trouble, I could have avoided, if I had never allowed myself to fall for Lucifer. Vikrot led me down the hallway and pointed out that there were bedrooms and suites for each of his older brothers, and their wives— three suites, besides his and Violets. There was also two ‘guest’ suites which were to be used in emergency for his family, or for someone who really needed a place to hide. “Luckily, we haven’t had to use the suites for emergencies, but sometimes when Violet and I don’t want to deal with my whole family, we come here. There is also a kitchen off the great room, where sometimes we prepare appies for some of our non-vampire guests. It’s also where we keep a blood storage, in case we get trapped here. I’ll make sure it says stocked for you, for when the time comes. One of the guest suites will be yours, indefinitely. You are family, after all. The other? Well, hopefully, if you survive this ordeal, we’ll be able to offer sanctuary to other women, we will help flee the Nephilim.” Viktor stopped at a door, and pushed it open, “Your room, Cassandra.”

I walked into the suite. There was a sitting room, with white crisp walls, and forest green velvet furniture, live edge beach wood tables, lamps made to look like flowers with glass and brass— and a giant chandelier which looked like white feathers falling from the ceiling. “It’s perfect.” I whispered, walking through the suite reverently.

“You haven’t even seen the best part yet,” Viktor grinned, and led me through the room, opening a door, I almost hadn’t seen, into a vast bedroom. The furniture was white, a large canopy bed with lace curtains, white wicker arm chairs and settee, a huge wardrobe closet— and then I saw it, a window, a giant window which took up most of the side of the wall. “This is the only room with a window this large, in fact one of the only rooms with windows, since the majority of the rooms are on the inside of the floor.”

“Thank you.” I would have wandered over to the open window, but I also knew we probably should be getting back to Violet.

“I mean, we. don’t mind. We can handle sunlight, but we’d prefer to not have to deal with it, so windowless is just easier.”

“I’m serious, thank you Viktor, I mean you and Violet don’t have to help me…”

“You’re family Cassandra. There isn’t much my family wouldn’t do to protect their family.”

I nodded. “Let’s get back to Violet, I’m sure she’s wondering where we are.”

Viktor sighed, “And there isn’t much I wouldn’t do to protect my wife.”

I heard the hidden warning in Viktor’s voice, and nodded, yes—- I understood that feeling all too well... We headed back the way we came, neither speaking, both consumed with our own thoughts, and worries— should this fail. Violet was waiting for us in the great room, she had turned on music from somewhere and was dancing in her white dress, spinning around, arms raised, her dark hair flying wildly in the wind she was creating for herself. She looked magical. Magical and fierce. Viktor grinned and muttered something under his breath, and ran the rest of the way into the room, closing the distance between himself and Violet— pulling her into his arms, they began to dance together— looking surreal, powerful and unbreakable. Like the music box I had found in Cassandra’s room, under her bed, the one with pictures of her birth father, Eli... When you opened the box, this couple spun, obviously not real, like those two— beautiful and magical, like them, dancing to music. Violet laughed, it sounded like little crystals reverberating.

“On the coffee table Cassandra, drink it all.” Violet’s voice floated to me from where she was wrapped in Viktor’s arms.

I made my way into the room, and sat on the arm chair, glancing at the table where there was indeed a glass with a straw out of it. “And what will it taste like?” I asked, suddenly aware it was blood.

“Just drink it Cassandra,” Viktor growled at me, clearly annoyed I was interrupting his mood.

Sighing I picked up the cup, I sniffed the contents, it didn’t smell bad— but it was thick as it sloshed around in the cup. I groaned.

“We talked about this Cass, it’s the only way.”

I knew Viktor was right, but it didn’t make me feel any better about what I was about to do. “Cheers,” I whispered feeblily and then downed the whole cup. I gagged as the liquids went down my throat— not because it tasted bad, I tried to not even taste it— but because it was warm.

“Try to keep it down,” I heard Violet’s voice tell me. I would definitely try, but the whole room was spinning, and everything within me wanted to spit up the liquid that had just gone into my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut, as I tried to not let the dizziness get to me. “Yeah,” I felt a cool hand on my forehead and another on my arm, “it’s not going to feel nice for a moment, just wait— the feeling will pass.” I knew it was Violet next to me, but I couldn’t open my eyes.

“I’m going to be sick.”

“No, you aren’t.” Viktor’s commanding voice. told me, “you are Cassandra, daughter of Eve, and from all the stories I’ve heard of you— you were one tough cookie. Now, open your eyes.”

“Aren’t you bossy,” I hissed, but even though I was mad, and frustrated and feeling ill, I obeyed. The room had stopped spinning, but all the lights were brighter, and the music seemed louder. I groaned.

“Cassandra, look at me.” I looked over at Violet, she seemed to glow in the bright light, and not because of the sparkly makeup, I could see light around her like a halo… What was I seeing? I looked up at Violet, as if she had all the answers, but she shook her head. “I don’t know. They say everyone gives off energy, that’s what I’ve always thought it was.” Violet paused, “Look Cass, you’re going to start to feel the effects of my blood now, after a while they won’t be as severe, but tonight— you’re going to feel like you’re on top of the world, once the sick feeling has past.”

I wanted to ask her how she knew, but Violet probably wouldn’t tell me.

“She knows, because last year we had to shut down a dealer on the street outside the club— he was selling vampire blood to other supernaturals as a drug.” Viktor hissed. “So please, be careful and maybe, start thinking about practicing putting up mind blocks— you don’t want just anyone inside your head.”

“Um, babe?” Violet muttered, hiding a smile, just as I would have said, too late, but she beat me to it.

“Oh, right.” And just like that we were laughing, howling uncontrollably, even though it was far from funny, and I knew he was right. There were a lot of things that I didn’t understand about this modern world, and how vampires had evolved since my days as a human. I forgot I was feeling sick, I put down the glass— or rather Violet took it from me and went into the kitchen to wash it— and suddenly I felt like the entire world was exploding, sights, sounds— not too loud or bright, but so alive, like how they used to be, at the dawn of time.

“I want to go dancing, can we do that?” I felt so alive, energy and electricity running through me— I jumped onto the chair, and threw my arms in the air, spinning in circles in my green dress, embracing the sounds of the music. “Wow, can you hear that beat?” I opened my eyes, there was a light pulsating around Viktor, similar to Violet’s but not as bright— “Ahhhh, so you’re a mixed blood, I thought so…”

“Umm, Vi?” Viktor took my arms and helped me off the chair, “I think it would be a good time to take Cassandra and go down into the club, find Irene and maybe dance until this high wears off?”

Violet appeared in the doorway, and laughed, “What? Can’t handle your slightly intoxicated six thousand year old human aunt?”

I tossed a look over my shoulder at Violet, “Can we go dancing please?”

Violet skipped over to me, “Sure Cass, we can do that. In fact, let’s head down now, I’m sure Irene has started to wonder where we’ve gotten to.” Violet hooked arms with me, as if I couldn’t stand on my own— ridiculous. “See you later Vik.”

Viktor grabbed Violet’s free arm, and pulled her in for a quick kiss. “Be careful Vi, make sure to get her home safe, I’ll wait up for you.”

“I got it Vik.” Violet cast one more look at Viktor, and then we started back out of the safehouse. “Okay Cassandra, think you can make it?”

“Phshhhh, yeah. I can walk on my own!” I pushed Violet’s arm off of me, and realized even walking felt different, like I didn’t want my feet to touch the ground, like they didn’t need to. “I can fly…” I giggled.

“Oh, no you don’t.” Violet grabbed my arm again, and helped me through the oak door, shutting it firmly behind us. “Tell you what though, I’ll let you run until you hit the glass doors, and then we’re walking okay?”

I didn’t need to be told twice, I pulled my pumps from my feet and dropped them on the floor. “Read, set, go!” I whispered to myself, even though I wasn’t racing any of my siblings this time. My heart twinged only briefly, when I realized in that moment, that all my siblings were dead, ancient history— that I had neither cared back then to be involved in their lives, and now I never would know them. Viktor was right, the only thing that mattered in this life was protecting one’s family. I shook it off, this feeling of guilt and I ran. I ran so fast that I knew my feet were no longer hitting the floor, and the walls and doors became a blur on either side of me, I was the wind, I was the sun and moon and stars and-

“Cass, watch out!”

Too late, my whole body whammed into the glass wall that led into the second floor. “OUCH!” I fell backwards and into Violet’s arms.

“I tried to warn you,” Violet muttered and I could tell she was trying not to laugh at me. “You really are going to feel that in the morning.”

“Yeah, I can tell.” I moaned, I could feel it right now— every sensation of pain throbbing, and as soon as it was there, it was gone.

“Are you sure you’re just a normal human?” Violet asked me as we went through the doors and she passed me my pumps.

“Of course.” I mumbled, as the last of the throbbing pain subsided. “An original, I’ll point out.” I pushed one pump back onto my foot, then the other. “Hasn’t been out of the box in a few thousand years, original human no less.”

“Hmmm interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Violet smiled, but I could still see her concern as she ushered me towards the stairs. “You first, but maybe don’t run.”

I stared into the pit of darkness that the stairs descended to. “You sure?”

“One hundred percent. You do want to go dancing, don’t you?”

I nodded.

“Then down the stairs you go!”

I grasped the metal rail with one hand and took a step down the first stair, not so bad. “Okay, no running.” I mumbled already feeling the strain on my calves as my legs, as if they had retained memories from my first trip up the stairs, complained. Going down the stairs was almost worse than going up the stairs, at least going up at some point I had seen light— but going down? It kept getting darker and darker— not that it was harder to see, I found that my eyesight was much more clear now that Violet’s blood was in my system. We descended for what felt like an hour, but was probably only a few minutes. I’d never been more grateful to feel the bottom step give way to the actual ground of the floor. I would have stopped to kiss the hardwood, but Violet was already pushing some invisible knob, the wall in front of us opened, and once again we were in the club.

“Come on,” Violet whispered, as she dragged me out of the hidden compartment, and closed the hidden door behind us, “let’s go find Irene.” Violet left me there, as she strode past me confidently, into the mass of people dancing to an electric beat. I could feel every nerve on fire, begging to be released, begging to be at one with the music. I couldn’t see where Violet had gone, but I made my way into the mass of bobbing bodies anyways— my feet dancing, my body moving, in ways I hadn’t thought possible. I was so thirsty after what felt like only a few minutes, that I made my way over to one of the sides of the club where I noticed that people had been going for drinks. The bartender behind the bar was dressed in white dress shirt, black bow tie and black vest— his eyes were also round black marbles in his skull, ahhhh, a shapeshifting Fae. He watched me approach and put his hand to his ear, as if he was receiving instructions.

“Miss Cassandra,” his voice boomed in my head, “your drinks are on the house, please— take this.”

I reached out, not sure how this Fae was able to use Telepathy, and nodded my thanks. The drink in my hand was clear, with crushed ice and candied cherries. I took a sip, it was warm going down, tasting of cinnamon and something else I couldn’t quite define.

“Ahhhh! There you are!” Irene’s seafoam green dress and pink hair bobbed into my line of vision. “What do you think?”

“I think, I can barely hear you.” I shouted back. “Where’s Violet?”

I got my answer a second later as Violet danced into view, “great! Now we’ve all found each other!” Violet shouted over the music. “It’s getting late, one more dance then we head?”

I felt my disappointment, “Violet, we’ve only been here for-”

“Like five hours.” Irene cut me off. “Violet’s right, we have school tomorrow, and I’m pretty sure, a pop quiz of some kind.”

“FIVE HOURS?”

Violet nodded, and we locked eyes, I knew without her speaking in my mind what she was communicating, it was an ‘I told you so’ about the high of vampire blood in one’s system. Yeah, it had felt like a few minutes, but it had been hours.

“One more dance!” I hollered back. I put my empty glass on the bar, and the three of us headed back into the bobbing mass of people. I enjoyed the feeling— feeling alive and not caring about pain or the future— all that existed in this moment was right now, and right now? I was young, happy, not encumbered by impending doom or being forced to the back of someone’s subconscious— or even the lover of the devil… I was just me, and that was enough. When the song ended and. another began, the three of us maneuvered our way out of the crowd and back through the club until we exited the doors that led to outside. I’d never been more grateful for cool air,and gasped it in thankfully.

Irene was already down the ramp, Violet not far behind her. Tom was still letting people in, as we left he let in three more people, glancing at me only momentarily before his attention diverted back to the line of people in front of him. It was what I saw there in that moment that worried me— anger, resentment and something else, fear? I didn’t get to ponder it that much though because I could hear Violet and Irene calling my name from the street, so I took a deep breath and jogged after them.

A limo was waiting at the curb, Violet and Irene were already in the limo when I reached them— both laughing and giggling about something frivolous— and I let myself join in, even though I knew in the back of my head, I needed to come down— I needed to be serious and make sure my plan was going to work, that everything was set in motion. The limo pulled away from the curb, smoothly taking us away from the club and back into town.

“Cass, we’ll drop you off first.” Violet giggled, “here, let me put my number in your phone, so we can plan more girls’ nights.” I knew what she meant, I pulled my phone out from the purse I had completely forgotten in the limo earlier and handed it to Violet. “This was really fun!” Violet added her number to my phone and handed it back.

“Yeah, it was!” Irene squealed, “I guess you were right, Vi— telling Cass about us was totally okay.”

Violet and I stared at each other, and I realized we had completely forgotten that Irene was part of the equation. “Hey Irene?” I mumbled. “I don’t want to get you or Vi in trouble, so yeah, I’m cool— but we probably shouldn’t tell anyone what or that— I know.”

“Oh, right.” Irene winked, “gotcha. Not a problem friendo.”

The limo pulled up to Cassandra Pirot’s place, and slowed to a stop. “Um Irene?” Violet turned to look at Irene, “I’m going to make sure that Cass makes it up the stairs, be right back.”

Violet and I slid out of the limo, with Violet firmly closing the door behind us. We started walking up the stairs. “Look Violet, I-”

“You’re welcome.” She sighed as we reached the top step and I put my key into the door. “I guess I won’t be seeing you until the next time we ‘hang out.’”

I shook my head, “I promised Cassandra that I only needed a few days to iron out the plan to keep her alive.”

“So tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow when you see me in class, you’ll be seeing Cassandra.”

Violet bit her lip and pulled me into a hug, “Well, I guess this is goodbye until the next time then, auntie.”

We both laughed. “That’s right, I guess I am your aunt. Life is very strange, isn’t it?” I turned the knob and opened the door into the house.

“That it is… have you figured out a way to tell Cassandra that your plan is going to keep you alive and not her?”

I shook my head. “I think I’m going to have to leave that one till the time is right.” Mitzi cam hurtling down the hall, and I scooped her up before she could make her escape to the world of the outdoors. “Goodnight.” I smiled, and stepped into the house.

“Good night.” Violet replied.

I closed the door, and stood in the darkness for a minute, holding the purring cat. “Hell hath no fury like a cat who’s been ignored. Sorry Mitzi,” I mumbled, as I made my way into the house, and to Cassandra’s room. It felt like years ago since I had been here last, holding up outfits and chatting with Cassandra about letting me have more time to finalize my plan. I sighed, as I turned on the lamp and switched on the fan. I put Mitzi on the bed, but she was soon back on the floor playing with a ball of yarn. “Silly cat.” I slipped out of the green dress, hanging it on the back of the desk chair, and pulled on the pink nightie. I was hit by a wave of exhaustion— was this what it was like to come down off of vampire blood? Yawning I let myself flop backwards onto the bed, and closed my eyes. I didn’t even care if I dreamt of hell tonight. I could take Lucifer, or Lucas as he insisted I called him. Now that I had a plan? Nothing would stand in my way. I smiled, and let sleep take me, tomorrow was a new day.