Coven I:

Yolie:
— Well then, if I'm going to be up to the neck in vampires at least tell me ... Exactly how many bloodsuckers are coming?- I say in a strangled whisper.
Alex lets out a laugh, then sighs in relief.
—I'm sitting here waiting for you to start hyperventilating and you go and tell a joke.
— Would you rather I cried? - I ask.
—No. This reaction is much better. It is unexpected but it is undoubtedly the best.
—Tell me then, how many?- I insist.
—Eleven. With me there will be twelve vampires.
I wrinkle my brows at him.
—Does this meeting have any porpoise?
—Yes. We are going to discuss the best way to get rid of the enemy that you and I have in common.
—Enemy? I have no enemies.
—Yes, you have one. The person who tried to murder you.

000

At two in the afternoon we head to what I suspect must be the mansion's ballroom. I left my bag in the bed Alex said was to be mine room. All the guests are already here because soft music is heard coming from inside the ballroom. Before entering Alex gives me some final instructions.
—You must go inside by my arm. Your blood is O negative, it is a highly coveted blood type and the others might be tempted to try to drink from you. They are usually harmless, but what we are trying to achieve and the constant annoying interference of our common enemy has made them very nervous.
—Agreed.
—Don't flirt with the men in there nor trust the women too much, they might all try to seduce you if you lower your guard.
—Agreed.
—Always stay close to me or stay in my range of vision.
—Agreed.
—How much do you know about history? - He asks.
—Quite a bit, I think. - I whisper.
—Then you'll be fine.
He pushes open the huge doors of the room and we go inside. I'm holding on to his elbow.
Sure enough, the coven members are all here already. A quick count confirms it. Upon entering, the music suddenly stops. It was produced by a string quartet. The guests and even the musicians, all, men and women alike, drop to one knee and bow their faces.
—Friends, please. It is not necessary so much ceremony. - Alex observes embarrassed. The music resumes, as do the conversations.
He pulls me over and we move across the room. The first to come to greet us is a woman I recognize, a redhead, her hairdo is incredibly high. She wears an outfit designed to be overtly provocative, in an iridescent fabric, the open front neckline almost reaching her navel. A gold snake-shaped bracelet gleams on one of her forearms. An Egyptian Asp? She wears some vertigo heels, made with the same material as her dress.
—Mégas - the woman whispers in a voice that sound like syrup. Alex accommodates me next to him and then they both put their hands on each other's shoulders.
—Cleo. - Alex responds. While the woman places a kiss on each of his cheeks.
— You finally brought her. - Sighs the seductive Egyptian. Releasing Alex and putting all her attention on me. I evaluate her for a moment, surprised to see that she really isn’t as beautiful as she appears to be. Her makeup is so skilfuly applied that it enhances her features. I also suspect that that deep and seductive voice is very well rehearsed.
As I evaluate her, she watches me, until she raises a perfectly slim eyebrow and pouts.
—I'm disappointed. After everything you told me about her... - she looks back at Alex- I was expecting someone a little more... witchy? - She smiles.
I open my mouth to put it her in place but someone gets ahead of me.
—Leave your games, Egyptian. - Scolds a man behind Cleo's back. She turns around and I am able to see him.
The man is not very tall, but he is big and muscular. His face is thin, with pronounced cheekbones. His expression is severe and cold. Her long black hair is tied back. The most remarkable thing about him are his large, deep, penetrating, light green eyes surrounded by thick black eyebrows that give him a menacing look and impossibly long eyelashes. His lower lip is prominent, giving him a certain air of stubbornness. He appears to be much older than Alex. Dress completely in black, shirt and pants. His shoes are black, shiny. He wears a huge ring on the ring finger of his right hand. A ring with the engraving of a dragon.
Another woman would consider him beautiful. He has the aura of a tormented man. He smiles raising one corner of his mouth and looks at Alex.
—You know how to choose them, Mégas. Your ... friend is ... enigmatic. - His accent scratches my ears as if it were sandpaper. Is he Russian or something?
He fixes his eyes on me and his pupils dilate enormously.
—Come over here and kiss me, girl. - He orders me and I frown.
Before they can stop me I walk over and slap him, hard .Cleo and the rest of the guests hold their breath. Looking at what just happened, they all have identical shocked expressions on their faces.
The disrespectful man strokes his reddened cheek a couple of times and laughs out loud.
—You certainly know how to choose them, old friend. You have lost the game, Egyptian. This girl is not a simple human. She is immune to our power of compulsion.
Alex takes my hand and tugs at me. Pinning me to his side, placing his arm around my hips as a sign of possession. His acquaintance sighs.
—Don't hurry, Mégas. - He hisses. - You know very well what I've come for.
—We shall discuss it in private. - Alex spats.
The black-haired man bows.
—Allow me to introduce myself, beautiful fortune teller.- he says to me- My name is Vladislaus Dragulia. You may have heard of me, I am much better known by the name of Count Dracula.
*What?! Nah, it can't be! Sure it can be! In this crazy world everything can be. So this, this... is... is... He is Romanian, not Russian. I must concentrate on the simplest things if not I'm going to pass out in fear. I’ve just slapped Dracula!*
—May I kiss your hand, miss? - He offers his palm and I look at Alex, scared shitless.
Alex shrugs his shoulders denoting he doesn't care but his arm is still clinging to my hips like an iron belt.
I extend my hand and the Romanian kisses it. The contact with his lips causes me to instantly go pale... Blood, there is blood everywhere. Rivers and rivers of blood and cold. A poisonous, deadly cold. And a name, a scream that breaks the night, a desperate prayer of regret, love and hate... Elennah.
I remove my hand from contact with... Dracula. It seems that my palm has been burned from cold.
His eyes become slits and I see them flash with understanding. Vlad knows what I've seen. His face takes on a stony expression.
—Divine.- he whispers between his teeth looking at me.- If one of these days you get bored of playing with the Mégas, come find me.
Alex growls and Vlad looks at him dismissively.
—You have the woman I want in your power, Mégas. It seems only fair that I try to steal yours.
—Oh, Ladi, Ladi ... you're always making a fuss. - says a little voice with a marked French accent.
I spy on a girl, it's hard for me to guess her age. She looks about thirty long, but she smiles and blushes so easily that she appears to be much younger. She throws herself at Alex and hugs him tightly, hanging around his neck and kissing him briefly on the lips.
—Alexandre, mon bon ami. Combien d'années sans voit te.- She shrieks happily.
—Marié, toujours est un plaisir.- Alex responds smiling.
I raise my eyebrows, so this is Marié. She is really pretty and her behavior shows that she has a lot of spirit and joy of living. She is blonde, her eyes are blue, small, her mouth a little red. She wears a pink satin dress, with an exaggerated amount of ruffles which covers her shoulders but leaves her neck exposed. Her hairstyle is high and boisterous, a jarring mix of braids and curls, she has rings on all her fingers and on many she wears more than one. She is wearing shiny pink converse shoes. I wrinkle my nose.
GOD! I know nothing about fashion but I wouldn't be caught dead dressing like that.
She looks at me and smiles happily, letting go of Alex from her tentacles and taking my hands.
—Tu es joli, très joli. - She says smiling widely.
—Yes, my name is Yolie. - I answer.
Everyone laughs and I go pale.
—The French woman said you're pretty. - Cleo translates with her marked air of superiority.
I look at Marié and smile back at her.
—Merci? - I say in my most feigned French.
She hugs me and kisses my cheeks before shooting off after a boy of about ten who runs around leaving great chaos in his wake.
— Lui.- I hear her scold the little one and I see that she catches up with him.
It must be her son.
— Mégas, that French woman didn't learn a thing. She is still the same, as giddy and frivolous as before going through the guillotine. - sputtered the Egyptian.
Marié, French, guillotine? I get goose bumps, was that Marie Antoinette? The famous queen of France?!
—You haven't learned much either, Cleopatra. - Growls Vlad.- You continue using the same tricks of millennia ago.
Cleopatra!
—Impertinent. - The Egyptian snorts, turning around and leaving. Her dress from behind is much worse than in front. It is made of a fine mesh that allows you to see absolutely everything.
Alex chuckles. Vlad winks at him.
—You're welcome.-he murmurs, walking away.
—Dracula, Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette? - I screech as soon as we are alone.
—Yes. They are not as bad as they appear to be. - He gives me his cryptic answer.