☾ 27: Vampire Realm ☾

"Alright, I've had my fun. Close your eyes." Katherine told me.

"Why?"

"Just do it." I hesitated but then shut my eyes.

It only took a few seconds for her to reply.

"Okay, you can open them now."

I opened my eyes finding myself somewhere completely different. Somehow even the atmosphere seemed to change.

"Where are we?" I asked in wonder.

"Welcome to the vampire realm." She said lifting her hands in the air.

"Wait. How did we get here so fast and where is here exactly?"

"I'll tell you on the way." She shrugged as she began walking.

As we walked, Katherine told me we were on a planet made specifically for vampires called Kāțțēri vakaiyiṉ. It means 'vampire realm' in a very old language, one of the first languages ever spoken.

"This place doesn't seem much different from Earth," I said as I continued to take in the new place.

"What did you expect it to be like? Hell?" She laughed again. "Though I guess it isn't always as calm as it seems. The night is when the party begins." She smirked.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"In the day we drink blood bags if needed, but at night we feed directly from humans without consequence. As much as we want as many as we want."

"What?!" I yelled.

She didn't look at all sympathetic for what she just said.

She stopped walking, turned to face me, and placed her hands on my shoulders.

"We. Are. Vampires." She stated slowly. "We have to feed, but it's not like we randomly kill people if that makes you feel better. Certain places on Earth are restricted with signs of no trespass or areas that humans would say are 'haunted'. If they choose to welcome themselves, thanks to the witches, they are teleported into a chamber here. At night they are released. So, they have it coming to them if they willingly go into the unknown. Believer or not risk is always present so they can only blame themselves." She shrugged uncaringly and continued to walk.

"Most vampires do the kind thing and let them go for others to have. The last one doesn't kill them, they just compel them to forget and let them return to earth and move on with their lives. Others do kill whether they return the body to Earth out of respect is up to them. If not they burn or bury them here." Katherine continued.

"That's... Um... So, what do you do?" I asked.

She simply smiled but said nothing. That was when another thought came to mind.

"Wait what about the people who want to age? The ones never drank blood?"

"They are in the human world living 'normal' lives."

"What about werewolves do they live here too?"

"God no! If that happened this place would be chaos! It's the sole reason we got kicked out of Earth by the witches. They have their own planet called Onāy ulakiṉil. I'm pretty sure you can guess what that means."

"Can you guys go into each other's worlds?"

"Yes but we usually choose not to. The only way to get there is past our King and the werewolf Queen as they hold the portal."

Looking around more intently is when I noticed that vampires were swooping by. It was so fast I couldn't make out any detail of them. It was just colors streaming by.

"Have any more questions for me?" She asked.

"No... Hey! I asked you if you killed people or set them free."

"As much as I would love to answer your question, I think you have more important things to think about. Like the fact that we're here."

I looked up to see a huge castle-like mansion.

"Wow," I said in awe.

As we walked up to the door two men were guarding the door.

"Name and business." One of them asked.

"Oh, shut up. You know who I am. Just let us through." Katherine stated. The men exchanged looks, rolled their eyes, and opened the doors.

It was even more breathtaking inside. As soon as you walked in there was a small fountain and stairwell plus plenty of windows for amazing light and views.

"Come on. Up we go." Katherine said as she headed up the stairs.

I followed her around like a lost puppy. Eventually, we stopped in front of two giant doors.

"Here you are. I'll be on my way now."

"Woah Woah wait! What?" I said in a panic as she turned to leave.

"I brought you to your dad, by the way, his name is Hank. Anyway, he's right through those doors. What's the problem?"

I have no memory of my dad so it's going to be really awkward without her there. If I tell her that though she will probably tease me.

"Well... Um..." I struggled to search for the correct words.

She sighed and pushed the doors open.

"Cassy..." A man, who I assume is my father said.

I looked over at Katherine for help.

As I thought this was awkward. What do I even say? What do I do? Do I hug him?

Katherine's didn't meet my gaze which was not at all helpful.

Before I could attempt to say anything. My dad hugged me.

"It's been far too long Cassy. I'm glad you're okay."

"You think?" I said as we parted. "I've been locked up for years!"

"Right... Listen you were only in that lab for a couple of weeks. We just made you think you've been there for much longer." He said.

"What?"

Katherine plopped herself onto the couch, kicking her feet up on the armrest.

"The power of witches." She said.

"So, if I was only there for a while where was I before?"

"In a loving home with kind people... we also implemented the thought of abusive parents into your mind."

"Why? Why would you put all those thoughts in my head?"

"We needed a way to access your supernatural genes faster to get you home. They trigger faster when you get angry... When the abusive parents didn't work that was when we tried the lab idea."

So many thoughts were running through my head. Even though I didn't technically go through all of that, it still felt like I did! I wasn't too sure what to think at the moment until a thought came to mind.

"Wait. So, I just hurt random people I thought abused me?" I asked.

"That was... an unforeseen incident yes... but they're fine now! Don't worry about it." He waved off.

My father then went and sat down, motioning for me to sit on the seat across from him.

"So, then the experiments on me were fake as well?"

"Oh, no! That was very real which is why I sent Katherine to go take care of it. She caused the explosion that let you escape."

Katherine lifted her hand in the air with a smile. "Guilty."

She saved my life then...

"Turned out after all that, your werewolf gene came out first so your mother sent Mason to help you out."

"Okay... I guess that makes sense."

Nope, not at all.

"What's that?" He asked as he pointed to my necklace.

"Oh, Katherine gave it to me for my birthday."

Katherine suddenly sat up leaning on the armrest and folding her arms.

"Right... So, who did you give the other piece to?"

"How did you know there was another piece?" I asked.

"Lucky guess." He said with a smile.

"I gave the other one to Katherine. Why?"

He looked over at Katherine with a teasing smile.

"Hey! I told her she shouldn't give it to me! Okay? But she wouldn't take no for an answer!" Katherine defended.

My dad started laughing.

"Well, this is interesting... Although, I did see it coming."

Katherine's face went red.

"What? Why will no one tell me about the necklaces?" I asked.

"I should get going," Katherine said as she stood.

"Oh,  come on Katherine. Tell my daughter about the necklaces." My father said amusingly.

Her eyes grew.

"W-why can't you?!"

Seeing Katherine stutter was new.

"Because you gave it to her." He said simply.

"Yeah, but for her to give to someone else later on!"

"Um, hello? I'm right here." I reminded them.

Katherine groaned. "Werewolves made these two-piece wolf necklaces so wolves could buy and give the other piece..." She rolled her eyes. "...To their mate happy?"

Oh... Wow... That's... Not awkward at all...

I looked at my dad who was still laughing.

"I'm out of here."

I turned to look at Katherine but she was already gone.

"Listen, Cass. It's getting late. Why don't I show you to your room? I'll find someone to give you a tour of this kingdom tomorrow."

I nodded in agreement.

My room was as big as expected when looking at this building. I settled in fairly quickly as I didn't have much with me.

"Uh... dad?..." I still felt a bit weird calling him that but calling him Hank would be ten times weirder.

"Do you know where Katherine lives? I need to talk to her." I asked.

He smiled knowingly. "Yes, of course. I will have you escorted over there but if you're going to spend the night be sure to let me know first." He teased.

"No, no, no! Definitely not going to happen!" I yelled as I threw a pillow at him in embarrassment.

He easily caught it with a smile.

"Douglas! Take my daughter to Katherine's home!" He called out to one of his servants... Men? Workers? Whatever.