14 plans

Tanya

"Ugh, this is ridiculous," I muttered, pacing the room. "That girl is tougher than I thought. She won't even look at me, let alone let me get close."

Leon, ever the calm one, simply smiled. "One step at a time, my lady. We'll get there eventually."

I rolled my eyes, but even I had to admit, Leon's optimism was infectious.

"Look, I don't have all the time in the world," I said, my voice tight with urgency. "Time is running out. We need to get that girl, and we need to get her fast. If we want our clan to survive, to thrive for the next hundred lifetimes, it's my job to make it happen. The non-pure vampire clan's leader's daughter... it's all about power, and she's the key."

Leon's expression remained neutral. "I get it," he said, "but are you sure about Raige's interest in that girl? What if she's important for some reason? What if he's protecting her because he knows she holds a key to something bigger, something we need to understand?"

I shook my head, frustration building. "Don't be naive. Raige is a powerful hybrid, and his power is exactly why I haven't gotten the revenge I wanted for my brother. I need a better plan. That's why I need Aliyah's blood."

"And you think you can just take it from her? You're underestimating Raige's strength. We'll need to be very careful."

"And what about Hilda's party for Raige?" I asked, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "That's our chance. Maybe Raige will slip up, maybe he'll leave a door open... maybe I can get what I need."

Leon nodded slowly. "I'll be there. Who knows, maybe it will be the opportunity we've been waiting for."

******
Aria

I don't know what it was, but the moment my fingers brushed against Aliyah's, a vivid image flashed in my mind. A guy was kissing her, his lips pressed against hers, a look of possessive intensity in his eyes. Later that morning, I saw him again, this time in the flesh. It was Raige Victorious, the notorious heir of the Victorious family, those obscenely wealthy socialites everyone talks about.

I've always known I was different. My family's lineage, a whispered secret passed down through generations, claims we have the blood of witches. Maybe that's why I see things others don't, images that pop into my head, sometimes visions so clear it's like I'm watching a movie. Creatures I can't even imagine, ghosts who flit through my world, they don't scare me anymore. I've been seeing them since I was a little kid, and it's just a part of life now. But ever since I saw... them... a few years ago, I've been obsessed. I saw them, with my own eyes, feasting on a woman at the Victorious party, their eyes glowing a dark red, their features twisting into something monstrous. Vampires. That's what they looked like. I froze, helpless, as the creature drank its fill, and all I could do was watch.

I watched, hidden in the shadows, as those monsters feasted, their dark forms blending seamlessly into the crowd, unseen by everyone else, too busy with their champagne and frivolous chatter. After that night, I swore off parties thrown by the wealthy elite. My investigations revealed a disturbing pattern - at every gathering of those rich clans, someone would vanish, disappear without a trace. It never made the news, not a whisper. Someone powerful, someone with a lot to hide, was silencing those stories.

My suspicions grew. Maybe those creatures weren't just predators, but something more insidious. Perhaps they were the source of these families' success, a dark pact exchanging wealth for life, blood, or something even more sinister.

Whatever their purpose, I was thankful my family wasn't part of it. We were wealthy, yes, but it was earned through honest hard work and my parents' dedication. No satanic creatures, no blood sacrifices, no unholy bargains. Just good, old-fashioned ambition.

I later discovered that the woman those monsters attacked that night was Aliyah's sister. I never told her, terrified that I might be next. That's why I became so close to Aliyah, so kind to her, and eventually, her best friend. Her kindness, even in the face of such unimaginable grief, touched me deeply.

“Are you going to Hilda’s party?” I asked Aliyah, sorting through the mountain of gifts I brought back from our family “vacation.” It wasn’t really a vacation. More like a grueling pilgrimage to Pennsylvania where my family and the rest of the clan gathered for my “baptism.” It was our family tradition – every member reaching the age of nineteen had to undergo this bizarre ritual. The whispers of the clairvoyants surrounding me during the ceremony were unnerving, to say the least. But I think it intensified my senses. Like what happened with Aliyah earlier...



Aliyah

“I still don’t know if I should go or not, Aria.” I glanced at Raige, who was patiently waiting outside. Aria was busy sorting through the gifts she brought back for me.

“Is it too much, Aria? I still have a lot of clothes I haven’t even worn because of your non-stop gifting.”

“That’s nothing. Wear that, please. It’s absolutely perfect for you, believe me. It’s a waste if it stays in your closet. I brought it because I knew you’d love it.”

I raised an eyebrow at the strange necklace she was holding out – a silver coin-sized pendant with rose petals inside, about an inch in diameter.

"Wear it all the time, Aliyah," Aria pleaded, gently fastening the necklace around my neck. "It's a lucky charm, a ward against bad spirits. Please, wear it."

I felt a strange sensation the moment it touched my skin, a kind of prickling, a dark aura seeming to vanish into thin air. It was unsettling, but I didn't question Aria.

"How long should I wait here, sweety?" Raige sighed, his gaze lingering on Aria’s car. The setting sun cast a warm glow across his face, highlighting his sharp features.

But why did his blue eyes seem to darken, almost black, in the fading light? Was it just the reflection of the car window, or was something else going on?