LAMENT
A Restraint Novel
by
Sandra Madera
EBOOK EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY
Sandra Madera
Lament
Copyright © 2011 by Sandra Madera
Ebook Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to SandraMadera.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
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Dedicated to my great grandfather, José Miguel Pintos, whose love of music and family inspired those around him.
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PROLOGUE (Spring, 1886)
Exhausted and disheveled, Linda May Carter collapsed to her knees, struggling to come to grips with what had just occurred. In a state of total shock, she landed on a patch of dry earth, trembling uncontrollably. Tears escaping her eyes, she absentmindedly dropped the dagger, which rested in her hand, on the dirt beside her.
After what seemed like an eternity, her eyes drifted downward towards the small knife resting on the ground. She focused on the blood that had clotted along the sharp metal edge. Chills ran through her body as she realized she had taken a life.
Holding her hands to her face, she recalled her actions, remembering how she felt when she plunged the silver blade into the chest cavity and recollecting how emotional she felt watching the body burst into flames. Her eyes drifted to the small fire that still raged before her, lighting up the small clearing in which she found herself in. It was my doing... From my own hand, I dealt the unlucky card of death. I wielded the blade, she thought. It was I, alone, which took up the dagger, thrusting it into the heart of my enemy.
Linda was so lost in thought she did not hear her name being called until she was face to face with Marcus. “Linda!” he shouted, forcing her to look at him. “Are you well, Madam? Did the monster bite you?”
Throwing her head back abruptly, she laughed out loud although she felt like crying. “It hardly matters anymore... Does it?”
She ran her fingers through her dark tresses. Strands of her hair fell out easily. She held it out for Marcus to see.
He winced as if it pained him to see her in her current state of disarray. “Your scalp is bleeding,” he informed her sympathetically.
“I am changing, Marcus. This fact I can no longer deny... Soon, I will lose my soul. I will be one of your monsters―the kind that haunt your dreams...”
Elias came out of the woods and ran to Linda’s side. “I couldn’t find you... I could hear the screaming, but I got turned around,” he said, giving her a glance over. “Have you been bitten? Are you hurt?”
She stood silent, averting her eyes towards the fire.
Elias followed her gaze. “Is that—”
“Yes,” she answered bluntly.
With his eyes reflecting his sadness, Elias rested his hand on her shoulder. “You did what you had to do... No one can fault you for that. No matter how much I loved her, I know now that I would have killed her myself if given the opportunity. She ceased being the person we loved a long time ago.”
Feeling dizzy, Linda clutched her head in her hands. “The change hasn’t ceased. My hair continues to fall,” Linda told him, tears falling from her eyes. “What if it is not reversible?”
“It is,” Elias told her, inspecting her scalp briefly. “We caught it early. My father tested the serum. You will be better within a fortnight.”
Marcus looked towards the woods. “What was that noise?”
“Is it the wind?” Elias asked nervously.
Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Linda glanced at the surrounding forest. “The night is still,” she told them, hearing the wrestling of leaves in the distance.
“We must go,” Marcus said, trying to pull Linda to her feet.
Taking hold of Marcus, Linda pulled him towards her. “There is nothing to fear. I killed them all, and if legions spring out from the depths of hell, I will kill them as well.”
She hoped her words would calm Marcus, but he continued to fidget nervously. He had gone through much over the past two years and words wouldn’t serve to ease such trepidations.
Looking around, Elias stood up. “You may have killed the beasts, but the familiars still roam,” he told her, holding his hand out to her. “We are in the open without cover which makes us vulnerable. We must depart.”
Linda accepted his hand. When she stood on her two feet, she looked down at the dagger and kicked it into the fire, hoping to never set eyes on the object again. Watching the blade burn, she couldn’t help but feel victorious. Reliving the moment where the blade was pushed into the heart of the beast, Linda smiled in utter satisfaction.
CHAPTER ONE (Winter, 1885)
“Laura, we must stop to rest,” Linda May Carter shouted, wrapping her arms around a tree for support. Ignoring the pain of the rough bark digging into her fragile skin, she exhaled, trying to calm her breathing.
Shafts of moonlight penetrated the treetops and lit the forest floor with an eerie bluish glow. Linda’s eyes quickly adjusted. Looking down at her skirt, she realized her bustle had been torn as if it had been snagged on an upturned root. Her red silk dress had been soiled by the damp earth and her new shoes were ruined by the dense terrain of Annesley forest.
“Only an hour has elapsed since we’ve begun running. We are not yet close to the nearest village,” Laura Anne Carter replied, stopping in her tracks to wait for her sister. Wearing the hood of her cape over her blond locks, Linda watched as her sister nervously scanned the woods which surrounded them.
“Can’t you walk a bit further, Madam?” Marcus asked Linda, a look of worry written across his delicate face.
Marcus was a child of only eight years. He was kin to the very being that horrified them. Yet, he was no monster. He was human.
Linda felt sorry for the child. It had to be hard to lose both parents at such an early age, but Marcus Turner was a survivor. He faced the wicked creatures that haunted the night and managed to come out of the experience seemingly unscathed.
Struggling to remain upright, Linda gasped for breath. Looking around her, she felt the need to move forward, but her body begged for rest. “I am not used to traveling long distances on foot,” she said, feeling as if her knees were about to give way.
“Nor I,” Laura told her. “But we must push forward.”
“Where are we to go?” Linda asked, suddenly feeling a chill as the cool night air brushed along the surface of her skin.
“Mansfield,” her sister answered plainly.
“What is in Mansfield?” she asked, suddenly confused.
Her sister did not respond, choosing to avert her gaze.
Linda only got a taste of the horrors that Laura had experienced. She did not blame her sister for withholding information. She believed Laura did so for her safety. Yet, Linda was no longer ignorant of the horrors of the night. She had witnessed these beings which had the power to harm with their minds. It was not a time for secrets. It was a time to be plain.
“Laura? What is in Mansfield?” Linda repeated forcefully.
“The house of Sir Raymond Reynolds,” her younger sister answered, her sapphire eyes reflecting her disdain.
Linda’s heart nearly jumped out of her throat. They were to travel to the house of the very man that put them in their current predicament. Their uncle, Sir Raymond Reynolds, had taken them from their home in New Hampshire after the death of their father, bringing them to England. Once in Annesley, Linda and Laura were told that their life of luxury had come to a close and they were to be servants in service to Lord Phillip Turner. At the time, they were unaware of Mr. Turner’s true nature...
She learned earlier that same evening that Mr. Reynolds was a familiar, meaning one whom aides these beasts—these vampires. Her uncle knew exactly what Lord Turner was, and he abandoned them anyway.
“We cannot travel there,” Linda told her sister, trying to make her listen to reason. “The distance is too great on foot.”
“Have you been there?”
“Once,” she answered. “Mr. Reynolds invited the Waters to supper while I was visiting with them.”
“Good,” Laura responded shortly. “Then you will be able to show us the way.”
“Uncle resides atop Berry Hill which is just outside of the town,” Linda explained, feeling too exhausted to argue. “But it is too far to walk on foot. Mansfield is miles away.”
“There are public carriages that travel the surrounding roads. I heard Mr. Simmons say once that these carriages stopped in the town of Annesley.”
“How can you trust the words of another familiar?”
“He did not know that I overheard him,” she replied matter-of-factly.
“We have no money for this journey,” Linda told her, feeling tired and defeated.
“We have these,” Laura said, lifting her cape to expose her glistening necklace. The necklace was encrusted with diamonds that fragmented the light and was afire with all the colors of the rainbow. A large, rectangular-shaped emerald dangled from its center and lay upon the delicate skin of her chest.
Linda placed her hand on her throat, touching her ruby necklace which was a gift from her betrothed. Feelings she never knew had begun to stir within her. She was betrayed by Phillip Turner. In their brief courtship, everything she supposed him to be had been a lie. Phillip didn’t love her. He didn’t even have feelings. Monsters don’t have feelings, Linda thought bitterly.
“Madam?” Marcus whispered, bringing Linda back to reality. “Are you ready to proceed?”
Ignoring Marcus, Linda focused on her sister. “Mr. Reynolds is a familiar, Laura. If there are more of those creatures, then he will surely hand us over.”
“We won’t be long,” Laura told her adamantly, her eyes growing darker by the minute. “Only long enough for us to claim what is rightfully ours. Once we have our inheritance, we can brave the journey home and leave this miserable place in the past.”
Linda hoped she could, but she knew that she could never forget what had occurred that night. She had seen evil. Once one has seen evil, how does one ignore that it exists? Linda could not. She would remember Phillip’s face until the day she died. She would forever recall the memory of how she felt when he used his mind to inflict pain upon her.
Damn you, Phillip. Damn you to hell! I never loved you! How could I love a monster? I agreed to marry you solely for a place in society, she thought, knowing that she was only deceiving herself.
“Linda, are you lost in thought?”
“Pardon,” Linda said, shaking her thoughts out of her head and coming to her senses.
“I was speaking to you, but you did not put attention to my words,” Laura exclaimed, appearing concerned.
“I’m sorry,” Linda said.
“We must depart. These things roam the night, and I dare not stay in one place for too long.”
“You are right,” she told Laura, ignoring her exhaustion. “I have regained some of my strength. Let us depart.”
CHAPTER TWO
Linda, Laura and Marcus had survived their trek through Annesley woods and found themselves in town. They made it in time to catch the first carriage since it was set to leave in the early morning hours. Clutching onto Marcus, Linda watched nervously as Laura negotiated payment; one necklace in exchange for a ride to Mansfield.
“Is this necklace genuine?” the man asked, stroking his full beard.
The man was old and unkempt. His boots were muddy and his coat was worn. Linda keenly observed that he was missing teeth and those he did have were discolored.
Looking down at herself, Linda realized she was in no position to be critical of others. With a torn dress and dirty shoes, she imagined herself ghastly.
The older gentleman was accompanied by a younger man of about twenty. His clothes were also in the same state as the older man’s. Yet, his face was more kindly. He was not handsome, but Linda did take note of his masculine frame.
“Yes,” Laura told him, seemingly annoyed. “You could buy three carriages with the money from that one necklace.”
Standing by the horses, the young man eyed Laura suspiciously. “Why would you be so willing to part with such a precious piece of jewelry?”
“It is a family heirloom. I have no use for it since I am no longer associated with my family,” she replied, managing to even convince Linda with her lies.
“Another runaway,” the old man said with a laugh. “Well, I dare to say we have a deal. It is a long ride to Mansfield so it is better if we depart as soon as possible.”
“I do not wish to waste time,” Laura told him shortly. “We can leave now.”
“As you wish, my lady,” the old man said with a bow, helping Laura inside the carriage.
Once Laura was inside, Linda lifted Marcus up into Laura’s awaiting arms. When Marcus was seated inside, she refused the old man’s extended hand and entered the carriage without any help.
After the old man slammed the door shut, Linda voiced her suspicions. “Are you sure you know what you are doing?” she asked in a whisper. “Can we even trust these men?”
The carriage began to rock as the horses pushed the coach onto the road.
Holding Marcus in her arms, Laura replied, “It is a little late for that, Sister.”
“Laura!” Linda called her sister’s name menacingly so she would look at her.
“Calm yourself, Linda,” Laura told her soothingly. “You will scare the boy with your whining.”
Frustrated, Linda focused her attention out of the window. She took in the beautiful green landscape, hoping to keep her mind off of her anxieties. The view did little to console her anxieties, and she found her thoughts drifting to the night before...
“Do not think of it,” Laura told her.
“What do you speak of?”
“It is written all over your face,” Laura replied, petting Marcus’ head as he dozed off. “You seem more pensive than usual.”
“I do not deny it,” Linda responded, unable to mask her emotions. “We are in dire straits.”
“That is not what I mean,” her sister told her. “You are thinking of him and I would prefer it if you didn’t.”
Linda was taken aback. “I did not love Phillip. Accepting his proposal was a way for me to escape a life of service.”
Laura arched her brow. “You called him Phillip…”
Sinking in her seat, Linda wanted to retract her words. “When we first met, he urged me to call him Phillip. I suppose that I have grown accustomed to it.”
Laura seemed to consider her words. “You may not have loved him with all of your being, but it does not mean that you did not feel,” she told her, solemnly. “Even if what you feel contradicts what you now know.”
With her wounded pride, Linda looked at her sister. “I do not feel anything,” she responded, wishing her words to be true.
“If you did not feel, you would be like them,” Laura told her, appearing concerned. “You do feel and that is what sets us apart from these monsters.”
Bowing her head in shame, Linda felt on the verge of tears. “I do not wish to feel,” she stated, tender emotions rising to the surface.
Laura smiled sadly. “We all have wishes,” she said dreamily. “It is logical to feel hurt and betrayed. You may not have loved him, but he filled your mind with hope... He made you believe in his lies, and now you must mourn that broken dream.”
Linda did not wish to speak of Lord Phillip Turner but that didn’t prevent her from thinking of him. Phillip was a man of high standing and owned a manor house in Annesley. Linda was employed by him, but hadn’t come into his acquaintance until she visited with friends.
Mr. Turner appeared to be everything a girl like Linda could want. He was tall and had broad shoulders. He appeared strong; yet, he was gentle with her. He had dark eyes which pierced her soul when she gazed upon them. His dark hair was long and silky to the touch. Physically, he was perfect.
It is true that Mr. Turner presented her with a way out of her circumstances, but he also made her feel valued. Phillip was always pleasant, listening to her without complaint. He often whispered words of endearment in her ear which made her feel wanted. He bought the gown she wore and gifted the necklace that hung from her neck. He promised her a life filled with every extravagance she desired, but all of her hopes went up in smoke with the fire that brought down the manor.
He took Linda for a joke. He toyed with her emotions and made her feel like a fool. She hated the monster that he was, but she was still infatuated with the man she knew. She felt conflicted and wondered how Laura’s conscience could be clear after all that she endured.
“How can you be so unfeeling? You killed your betrothed, Laura. Do you not feel the pain of that?” Linda asked her sister. “Did you not love Mr. Froster? Do you not mourn his death?”
Laura looked taken aback by her inquiry. “I bid you to never ask me such questions.”
“Be plain with me, Laura,” Linda begged, needing to know if her sister felt as emotionally broken as she was. “Did you love him with even an ounce of your being?”
“Never,” Laura responded harshly, anger permeating her voice. “I never loved him! I despised him! I had nothing but disdain for him. He had no soul. If he did, I would wish him to burn in the lake of fire for eternity.”
“What did he do to you?” Linda asked, fearing her response.
Taking in Laura’s appearance for the first time, she realized how the daylight made her countenance harsh. Her skin was pallid, losing the rosy glow in her cheeks. Dark circles surrounded her eyes, giving her a sickly appearance. Laura had lost some weight. She seemed to be much more frail and delicate.
Linda was at a loss as to why she never noticed it before. Feeling guilty, she realized she had been so wrapped up in her own interests that she had neglected Laura. As the older sister, she should have been more alert. She should have been more responsible.
“I do not wish to talk about it,” Laura told her, growing silent.
“You must tell me,” Linda told her, trying her best to be supportive although such a position was foreign to her. “You cannot bear the burden of such knowledge alone.”
“I haven’t slept or eaten in days,” Laura said, leaning her head back on her seat.
Linda said nothing, hoping to work on her listening skills.
“After Anne died, I knew everything was not as it seemed, but I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t leave Marcus in that house. They had begun feeding on him. I found the evidence on his body,” Laura explained, seeming to be overwhelmed by emotion although she was having a hard time unleashing her feelings. “I woke up one morning to find a bite at the base of my throat. I knew I had to get you out.”
Tears escaped Linda’s eyes. “Why didn’t you come with me? The Waters would have accepted you into their household.”
“I wrote Elias Waters. I asked him to take you in. I wrote that you were in need of a vacation. He was wise enough to realize when something was amiss. He questioned me. I told him that I had been bitten, and I could not risk infecting others should I turn into one of those things.”
Linda felt sick. She had spent weeks with the Waters family and Elias had said nothing of Laura’s predicament.
“He knew of other things…”
“What?”
“He knew the circumstances of mother’s death,” she said, letting a few tears flow from her eyes and run down her cheeks.
“What are you speaking of?” Linda asked incredulously. “She died in childbirth.”
“The book I gifted you was not a novel, Linda,” she told her. “It was a journal. It was father’s journal. It revealed that mother did not die in childbirth as we were led to believe.”
Linda’s eyes went wide with surprise. She suddenly felt a lump in her throat as dread seeped into her stomach. “What did she die of?”
Laura wiped her cheeks, trying her best to regain her composure. “It seems mother had a history with Bryan Froster... Mother came from a family of familiars. Louise May was chosen to be bound to Mr. Froster. She was to be sacrificed in order to maintain the secret.”
“The secret?”
“The secret of their existence. They marry humans in order to drain their spouses. One from every family is chosen for such a sacrifice. Mother was chosen, but she never anticipated meeting William Carter and falling in love with him. She ran away with father.”
“What did Mr. Froster do to her?”
“It was decided that mother should die for betraying the family. She was located and Mr. Froster bit her. After three bites, the mutation begins, and the human must be put down. Bryan thought it would be comical to change Louise May while she was pregnant with me. It seems he believed she would kill her family as she changed into a mindless animal.”
“She didn’t kill us,” Linda said, shaking her head and struggling to believe what she was being told. “We are still alive and father lived a long life after her death.”
“After I was born, father tried to change her back. He tried to isolate the disease in her blood, but the vampire virus was illusive. He locked her in a room and kept her alive for years, fulfilling her blood lust with dead animals,” Laura explained.
“This is lunacy,” she blurted out, her mind racing.
Laura shook her head. “I swear to you that every word is true,” Laura said with some trepidation. “Mother was killed by father after she fed upon me. Father killed her to save my life.”
CHAPTER THREE
The carriage departed, leaving Linda accompanied by her sister and Marcus on the side of the road. It had been hours since they departed from Annesley with only their lives and the clothes on their back.
Looking up at the heavens, Linda noted that the sky was gray and threatening. “I don’t believe the weather will accommodate our journey,” she said, guarding herself against the chill in the air.
“That is what our hoods are for,” Laura answered harshly. “How far is Berry Hill? I want to make our way there and depart before nightfall.”
Linda was exhausted. She hoped that they could find a place to rest. She hadn’t slept or eaten since the night before. Yet, seeing how adamant Laura was, she chose not to argue. “It is not far, but the weather will not hold for the journey. The roads will turn to mud.”
Laura glanced at her. Her stare was penetrating. “The weather is of little importance. We must reach our destination and depart before we can be tracked.”
“Tracked?” Marcus repeated fearfully, his dark eyes wide with fear.
Gazing down at the child, Laura took his hand firmly into hers. “We don’t know if there are more of those things...”
He nodded and stared down at the ground.
“We could take refuge...” Linda started then stopped herself, allowing her voice to trail off.
“With whom?” Laura asked, her blue eyes darkening.
Linda looked away, hoping not to incite Laura’s fury. “We haven’t slept or eaten,” she said carefully. “The Waters have a house here―in town. I spent a night there before departing for London with Amelia.”
“I will not hear of it,” Laura argued. “The Waters are not to be trusted.”
Linda was saddened by her sister’s growing paranoia. “And Elias? Is he not to be trusted, Laura?” she asked. “Is he not an ally?”
“He is... loyal to his family,” she answered with some strain. “He will not cross them to save our necks.”
Linda scoffed at her. “He cannot help the family he was born to. I have never met anyone as honest as Elias. I believe he can be relied upon.”
“I do not want to take the chance that he cannot,” she said sadly.
Facing her sister, Linda took in her appearance for the first time in the light of day. She could tell her sister was just as exhausted as she was. Her eyes had dark rings around them. The whites of her eyes were red. She had lost her rosy glow and her skin was unnaturally pale. Linda noted that her sister’s back was hunched in an incorrect posture. She was trembling.
Laura seemed to have aged overnight. Linda couldn’t understand how such a transformation could have taken place before her without having a recollection of its origins. “You seem so... different,” Linda said without thinking.
Laura averted her gaze. “I am fine,” she told her, adjusting her hood as if aware of her appearance.
“Are you?” she questioned.
“Yes,” Laura replied shortly. “Shall we pay a visit to our uncle?”
Linda didn’t know whether to believe her or not. She didn’t want to delay their journey any further. The sooner their task was over with the sooner they could leave Mansfield and find a place to rest.
She nodded in reply.
Without further hesitation, they made their way through town and towards Berry Hill.
CHAPTER FOUR
The sky loomed darker above their heads as they approached the great manor.
Mr. Reynolds’ house was enormous. Its façade was constructed of stone with a large door at its center. The front door was flanked with three large windows at each side. The second level had a balcony, which spanned the length of the first level, also had a door at its center and three large windows at either side. The dark roof was sloped and three chimneys could be seen atop it. The property itself was vast and spanned many acres.
Linda could tell Laura was both surprised and angered by the largeness of their uncle’s house.
“He said it was not fit for us to live in,” Laura spat, mostly to herself. “He lives in a palace!”
Linda stood silent. She had seen the house once before when the Waters were invited to dine with her uncle. As a guest of the Waters family, she was also invited. Yet, she hadn’t seen the estate in the light of day. It was a breathtaking sight.
“Laura, we must remain calm. We must remember why we have journeyed here,” she told her sister.
“He cheated us out of our inheritance. He lives upon our fortune, and you want me to remain calm!” Laura shouted. “He is the cause of our misfortune.”
“Without our misfortune, where would we be? We would be blind to the dangers of the dark. Without the journey to England, what misfortune would have befallen Marcus?” Linda questioned calmly. “I have to believe that our bad lot was not in vain.”
Laura laughed, but her laughter was hollow. “You were spared... I was the one who was made to suffer, and I shall never forgive him for it,” she said bitterly.
“Your pains are mine, Sister,” Linda told her, placing a hand on Laura’s shoulder. “Let us not fight. Let us reason with him, and perhaps he will be more willing to listen to our grievances.”
“He can’t be reasoned with,” Laura said, shaking her head.
“He may not be, but let us try at least,” she retorted.
She took the first steps towards the front door. Laura and Marcus followed her quietly. When she stood before the entrance, Linda took hold of the knocker and banged it against the door as hard as she could.
I hope this journey was not in vain, Linda thought with some anxiety. All I want is to see my home again. Surely, Mr. Reynolds cannot deny my one wish. He may turn us away, but he must give us what we are due.
Stepping aside, she watched as the door opened slowly, and a servant came into view. The man was elderly and seemed weary. He was dressed in a smart black jacket and trousers. Gazing at her quizzically, he said, “Good morning, my lady.”
“Good morning,” Linda told him and motioned towards Laura. “We are here to see, our uncle, Sir Raymond Reynolds.”
“Who is there, Nigel?” a female voice asked from within the house.
“Two young ladies. They say they are your cousins,” he said, moving out of the way and allowing them to pass.
Linda was the first to enter, lowering her hood once she was in the foyer. Laura followed with Marcus.
Linda took notice of, her cousin, Margaret Reynolds who was standing at the top of the staircase. Margaret looked as beautiful as ever in a white gown. Her dark tresses were pinned up in an elegant style. Her eyes flashed a look of recognition.
“Leave us, Nigel,” Margaret ordered the old servant.
“Yes, Ms. Reynolds,” Nigel replied, closing the front door and making his exit.
“I thought you were dead,” she said, looking straight down at Laura.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Cousin,” Laura replied, holding tightly onto Marcus’ hand.
Linda looked about the foyer and noticed the covered furnishings. “Are you to travel?” she asked, curious.
“Father wants to escape the wrath of the ‘evil ones’,” Margaret said, descending the stairs. “He is convinced that they will return, demanding his blood.”
“He did as they asked, did he not?” Laura questioned, her voice steeped in venom.
“That he did,” Margaret said, standing before them. “But such creatures are rarely satisfied.”
Laura looked at her cousin with disgust. “You do not seem as eager to leave.”
“I am at peace with my destiny. I have wanted nothing more than to be the wife of someone… like Mr. Bryan Froster,” she said, looking at Laura straight in her eyes. “You do not deserve him. You never did.”
Linda looked at her cousin. “Did no one tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Margaret questioned, appearing annoyed.
“Bryan Froster is dead,” Laura said lightheartedly, appearing cheerful although the subject matter was macabre. It was obvious she gained some satisfaction in taunting Margaret. “I killed him and burned the manor to the ground.”
Linda stepped between the girls. “And so there is no need for your father to flee.”
Margaret was enraged. Her pale, delicate skin turned a bright shade of red as she screamed, “What?”
“Our condolences,” Laura said sarcastically.
“Damn you!” Margaret shouted at her as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“Did you not see when I plunged the knife into his chest?” Laura questioned, receiving pleasure out of Margaret’s grief.
“Stop it,” Marcus shouted at Laura. “Do you not see she is in pain?”
Laura looked down at Marcus and with some sadness, she said, “I am immune to her pain.”
“Your cruelty is astounding,” Linda said, barely recognizing her sister’s character.
Laura looked at her but said nothing.
I do not recognize my own sister, Linda thought, gazing into the dark blue depths of Laura’s eyes. She is a stranger to me.
“I should have stayed! My father dragged me away at the start of the chaos... Father told me vampires couldn’t be killed. They are immortal! How can one girl...,” Margaret said, talking to herself aloud and running her fingers coarsely through her hair. She looked up at Laura, and in a fit of madness, she screamed, “I hate you!”