Chapter 4
FOUR
the onboarding service sucks…literally
Killed her? I step away from the pale body of the woman. “Dorothy?” I continue shaking her, hoping she’ll answer.
“Do you think she’s going to answer the longer you shake?” Harrison asks.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper toward the woman.
“For what? She was nothing more than a donneuse. I have more.” He turns, moving toward the door. “Bring the body down with you,” he orders before closing the door behind him.
I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. Dorothy’s lifeless body hasn’t moved, no matter how much I will it to happen.
Harrison’s right. I killed her. I killed a human.
Sitting next to her, I wrap my fingers through hers.
Where my skin is flawless, hers is covered in cuts, scars, and unhealed wounds.
I’m no better than Harrison Chamberlin. I’m not human. I’m a monster. The reality hits me like a ton of bricks. I stare at the woman in front of me. Is her family worried about her? Are they searching the city in hopes of finding her? Have they given up hope of ever seeing her again?
I sit with Dorothy longer than I realize.
The beam of sunlight that highlighted the few specks of dust on the floor has now risen to the wall behind me, shining on my face.
I close my eyes at the realization that sunlight does nothing to me.
My face hasn’t melted from my body like the stories warn.
How many other beliefs about vampires are wrong?
“Violet, come down here and bring the body.” Harrison’s voice is no louder than a whisper but clearly audible from my position on the top floor.
I wipe silent tears from my cheeks and carefully lift the woman I murdered into my arms, making sure to support her head.
Her body is weightless. Rather from the gauntness of her body or the strength of what I’ve become, I don’t know.
I exit the room, moving down the stairs toward the location of my maker.
My maker…where did that title come from?
“Ah, I was beginning to think you fell asleep.” Harrison laughs at his humorless joke. “In case you’re wondering, vampires don’t sleep.”
I move to his side, holding the body close to me. “What will you do with her?”
Harrison looks confused by my question. “This woman is nothing more than a donneuse. I don’t plan on doing anything with her.”
I stare at the creature in front of me. “Then I will take care of her.” I turn, moving toward the front door.
“Violet, where do you think you’re going?”
I fight the tears flowing down my cheeks. “I don’t know, but I refuse to let her be discarded like she wasn’t human. Like she meant nothing.”
Harrison is in front of me in the blink of an eye.
“Because this is your first official day of being a vampire, I will give you grace.” He steps closer.
The top of my head barely comes to his chest. “However, understand this, Violet Du Four. You will not talk to me as if you are my equal.” His eyes turn from emerald-green to red a heartbeat later.
“I am Harrison Chamberlin. The strongest vampire in New Orleans. The strongest vampire in the Southern United States. From this moment forward, you are nothing more than a fill-in for her.” He points to a hand-painted portrait hanging above the fireplace.
“I’ll never be her,” I answer.
A palm slaps my cheek, knocking me back a few steps.
“I can see you are not going to be easy to train.” He takes Dorothy’s body from me, carelessly throwing her over his shoulder before moving toward the back of the house.
“There’s blood on your dress. Change it. ” He moves quickly, leaving me alone.
I’m in the room where I woke up a second later.
I’m not sure how I got here so quickly, but I don’t care.
Locking the door behind me, I collapse onto the bed, allowing the tears to flow.
Growing up, I was the strong one. I was the one who made sure everyone else was okay, never allowing anyone to see my weakness, my humanity.
Now…now, I’m a monster, according to Harrison, one of the strongest creatures on Earth.
The funny part is… I’ve never felt so weak.
The sun has completely set before I dry my tears enough to get off the bed.
Staring at my reflection, another myth debunked, I see the small stain that offended Harrison on the bodice of the antiquated dress.
I move toward a tall wardrobe sitting opposite the oversized bed.
Inside are replicas of the dress I’m wearing in a rainbow of colors.
I chose a dark blue version and spend the next hour trying to figure out the layers.
How the hell did women wear this insanity?
However annoying this is, I’m grateful for the distraction.
A knock on the door pulls me back to reality. My stomach knots instantly, knowing who’s on the other side of the door. “Yes?” I ask, focusing on keeping my voice calm and even.
“We’re leaving in five minutes,” he warns. Footsteps immediately lead away from the door.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I straighten the ridiculous dress as best I can.
Everything about me looks different. The freckles and small blemishes that have been with me since childhood are gone, replaced by porcelain clear skin.
Brown eyes are brighter, crisper than I remember, and my lips are plump and naturally bright red.
Other than the ridiculously dyed red hair, I look like a cleaner, crisper, and older version of Violet Du Four.
I take a deep breath, unsure if breathing is necessary, and move downstairs almost too quickly to stay upright.
Harrison is standing in the foyer. He’s wearing a suit that rivals the dress I’m wearing in age and style.
“Turn,” he demands. Following orders, I turn, showing him the dress from all angles.
“Certainly not perfect, but it will do.” He holds his elbow toward me, reminding me of our walk to the river.
Reluctantly, I slide my arm through his, and together, we exit his Garden District home.
My stomach growls the moment we step outside. I smell blood. It’s everywhere. “Violet, you must learn to control yourself,” Harrison warns. “We’re walking around the humans and their life force this evening for you to learn control. You must not give in to temptation. Do you understand?”
“Why are you doing this?” I ask. Like earlier, he slaps me across the cheek. Anger fills every pore on my body. I want nothing more than to kill Harrison Chamberlin.
“Good, girl. I feel your anger through your blood. Use that anger when needed.” He pulls me away from the home to the cobblestone sidewalk. The heeled boots I’m wearing are not a good match for the uneven ground. Focusing on walking, I keep my attention on staying balanced.
My stomach growls loud enough, it echoes off a nearby brick wall. “Patience, my dear,” he whispers for my ears only.
Ahead, an older couple is moving in our direction. They’re wearing modern clothing and having a conversation about their grandchildren who are coming for a visit soon. As they get closer, my stomach growls even louder.
“Hello, Mr. Chamberlin,” the woman greets us.
“Good evening, Mrs. Hollingsworth. How are you two this lovely evening?”
“Well. Thank you.” The woman looks at me, no doubt confused about my outfit. “Who is your lovely companion this evening?” she asks.
“Violet Du Four,” Harrison answers. “My niece from Alabama.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Du Four.” The woman steps forward. The smell of her blood is like nothing I’ve experienced before. Like a drug, my body refuses to ignore.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hollingsworth,” I manage to respond.
“Are you two attending a ball?” her husband asks. “Your clothing is…impressive.”
Harrison laughs. “We are. Violet has never been to a costume party. I thought I would show her what life in New Orleans is truly like.”
The woman claps her hands, sending her smell toward me even more. I try fighting, but it’s not working. My body moves toward her, but I’m being held in position by Harrison’s arm.
“What an amazing idea.” She turns toward her husband. “We should attend something like that. What fun it would be to dress up.”
“I’m afraid we must keep moving,” Harrison says, holding my arm tight inside of his. “It was a pleasure to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Mr. Hollingsworth replies. “Have a good evening.” They continue walking while Harrison pulls me away. The further we move, the less the pull becomes.
“Well done, my dear.”
“Why did she smell so good?” I ask, once we’re out of earshot.
“Certain blood types are more appealing. We’re drawn to some more than others. That’s what drew me to you.”
“My blood smelled like hers?”
“Hers was nothing compared to yours,” he answers with a dull laugh. I stare at the monster that turned me like him, not sure how to respond or even if I should. We walk several more blocks before I realize where we are. “Do you recognize this place?”
I look at the river in front of me and the forest surrounding me. “This is…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “This is where you brought me.”
He smiles. “Good, girl.”
“Why would you bring me here?” I stare into his eyes, preparing for the slap that will follow my question. Surprisingly, he doesn’t react.
“It’s always good to see where you came from.”
“I know where I came from,” I retort. “I have a family. I have a mother and father who either think I’m dead or ran away. Friends who know who you are. Know that you took me for a walk.”
Harrison’s laugh echoes off the trees. “I’ve already talked to the police.”
“What did you tell them?”
“The truth, of course. I told them we went back to my house, where you spent the night. The next morning, you left, and I haven’t heard from you since. I’m worried sick about where you could be. There are so many dangers out there in a city like New Orleans.”
Anger fills me. “They believed you?”