age sat huddled within the torch of the statue where she took refuge after her quarrel with Cristian, listening to the melodic tunes in the wind. She could hear him calling for her, but she blocked him from reading her thoughts. She could see the sky turning bright red and lavender as the sun was beginning to rise. Standing to her feet, she watched as the sun rose higher, the rays nearly blinding
from a golden torch as a throng of people gathered. She was an infant held in the arms of an androgynous person with dark hair with jewels and painted eyes, wearing white and gold attire. They were in a chamber adorned with Egyptian sculptures and paintings that told the story of the many coronations of her descendants.
Her father robed in a gown draped with black and gold wore a gold and sapphire crown. He was holding a gold crown in his hands. Her mother, also wearing black and gold, was kneeling at his feet, her head bowed, and he placed the crown on her head. They arose and the people shouted, “Hail to the king and queen!”
Sage shielded her eyes from the sun, remembering her own coronation. It was subdued. There was no throng of people for the event. It was just herself, Anna, and the vampire that held her as an infant. He placed the gold and sapphire crown on her head, and they bowed before her. Cristian, in his reproach, was right about one thing: Even though she didn’t choose this life, she was a vampire and that would never change.
Cristian, fully dressed, stared out the window of his bedroom looking at the sunrise filled with remorse. “Sage didn’t come home,” he thought sadly, remembering their argument. “She knows what happened at the club.” He wanted to kick himself for having a moment of weakness and allowing that to happen. “There’s no excuse for what happened,” Cristian said aloud. “How can I explain myself to her?” He checked his watch. “After I’ve finished my business at the gallery, I’m going by the loft to try to fix things between us,” he reasoned.
He put on his sunglasses and left.Orderlies wheeled a body bag solemnly into the morgue and placed it on a slab. The toe tag had the inscription: John Doe. “This body was found at the Lake Cemetery,” the orderly said. “Volunteers were there to clean up the area of debris and found a shallow grave, and this body was visible from part of an opened coffin.” The coroner unzipped the bag. The body had badly decomposed beyond recognition. “We’ll need to check dental records to find out this person’s identity,” he said.
Samuel and Billy arrived at JFK airport hurrying to get their luggage when Billy could see Anna and Daniel headed their way. “Anna!” Billy yelled. They all greeted each other warmly. “It’s good to see you again,” Anna smiled. “We had just gotten off our flight,” Samuel said, “and we were headed back to the loft.” “So you felt it too,” Daniel said. “Yes,” Samuel replied. “Queen V needs us.” “Let’s go,” Anna said. They hailed a taxi. A taxi pulled up and they decided to ride together, cramming inside.
“I can feel it,” Anna said telepathically to them. “Something is amiss.” “Then you haven’t seen the news,” Samuel said to her telepathically.
Anna looked at him, puzzled. “The painting was returned, but it has brought more attention to Queen V than she ever wanted.” “Cristian didn’t realize that in returning the painting that he would be exposing her even more,” Anna thought, irritated. “Especially since we all know Pearson is waiting for the moment to strike again.” When the cab driver looked in the rear view mirror, he was puzzled that the four passengers didn’t reflect in the mirror. Turning his head to stare at the backseat, he saw them sitting in silence yet making animated gestures as if they were in conversation. “You need to watch the road,” Anna glared at the driver. He turned around quickly in obedience.
“Well, I think Cristian just thought he would return the painting and that would be the end of it,” Billy said resuming the conversation. “He didn’t realize that it would bring more attention.” “Well, he knew that Sage was a private person when he met her,” Anna replied.
“He should’ve never painted that portrait. He should’ve destroyed it when he had the chance instead of returning it like a bloody imbecile.”
Randi dropped Rafael off at the corner across from a diner. She gave him her phone number. “Call me when you’re done,” she said.
“Alright,” he said. He watched her drive off. Walking inside the diner, he looked around for anyone whom he thought could be Mrs. West. An older couple was eating breakfast at the counter, and a young man and woman who looked to be sweethearts sat in the corner, drinking coffee, wearing matching blue sweaters. He took a seat at the table and ordered a vegetarian sandwich and a glass of water.
The door opened and a woman with short brown hair, a cashmere jacket, and beige dress pants came in looking around anxiously. She caught Rafael’s gaze and approached him cautiously. “Are you Rafael Pearson?” she asked breathlessly. “I am,” he replied. She breathed a sigh of relief. He stood up and held the chair for her as she sat down. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re welcome,” he replied. He noticed, as she leaned forward, her crucifix necklace. He grinned slightly. “So Mrs. West, how can I help you?” he asked. “Please call me, Jillian,” she said. “Okay,” he said. “My son has been acting strange,” she started. “He’s not himself.” “Can you explain?” Rafael asked, intrigued.
“He acts…she paused, “he acts like he’s…she took another breath. “Robert would always joke with him of living like a vampire,” she whispered. Rafael placed his hand to his chin upon her statement. “Now it seems like he’s taken it literally,” she said. “This happened after he met a strange woman,” she said. Rafael grinned broadly. “Is her name Sage?” he asked. “Yes,” she said astonished. “How did you know?” “Because I’ve been tracking her for a long time,” he said, realizing that Cristian was now a vampire. “Can you help my son?” she asked.
“Can he be cured of this?” “Do you know where she is?” he asked. She caught herself before answering, not wanting to give away her son’s location. “No,” she said. “I don’t know where she is.” “There may be a way to cure your son,” he said. “It’s not foolproof, and there’s some risk involved,” he said. “I just want this evil out of his life,” she said. “You would do anything for your son, wouldn’t you?” he said. “I would walk through the flames of hell to save my son,” she said sternly. “Just what I thought” he replied, smirking.
Cristian walked inside the gallery greeted by the security guard and the director. “Glad you’re back,” said the tanned director. Cristian saw the portrait now enclosed in a glass case.
“You missed a lot during your vacation,” the director said. “The painting disappeared and, just a day ago, reappeared. Cristian nodded his head wryly. “Robert has been missing since the night the painting disappeared, and the police are looking for a person of interest that has been seen here talking to you and Robert.” “Do you know this person’s name?” the director asked. “His name is Rafael Pearson—that’s all I know about him,” Cristian said. “Well, that gives us more to go on,” the director said. “I’ll pass it on to the police.”
A smiled formed in the corner of Cristian’s mouth. “Maybe this will get him out of Sage’s hair, and he won’t be able to bother her anymore,” he thought. “Now about the portrait,” the director said. “This painting is unlike anything that’s ever been displayed. It draws you in.” “I’ve heard that before,” Cristian thought. “There’s a mystery about this portrait and the beautiful woman that graces it,” the director continued. “Robert told me, before he disappeared, that she exists.” “I don’t want to involve her,” Cristian protested. “But she is already involved,” the director said, his dark eyes twinkling. “You involved her when you painted her portrait.” Cristian let out a heavy sigh.
“I’ve come up with an idea,” the director said. “To celebrate the return of this masterpiece, I want to throw a masquerade ball. I’ve scheduled it for this Friday at the grand hotel ballroom. I’d like you to bring the inspiration for your portrait to the ball.” Cristian shook his head. “No,” he said firmly. “I won’t put her on display.” “Look, Cristian, I can understand your hesitation,” the director said, smoothing back his gelled hair, “but frankly you don’t have a choice in this matter. There’s a public demand to see her. Bring her.”
Rafael walked inside the cathedral, filling a flask with holy water and tucking it into his jacket pocket. He walked toward the altar and sat in the pew bowing his head in supplication. “All I ask is that I can finally dispatch this evil and send it to hell. Let me finally end this.” The taxi arrived at the entrance and Anna, Daniel, Billy, and Samuel scampered out and hurriedly opened the door. “Sage!” Anna yelled. “Queen V!” Billy yelled. Lisa, Cody, and John came around the corner. Excitedly, they all greeted each other. “I’m so glad to see you all again,” Lisa said.
Cody and Billy hugged. Anna looked around. “Where’s Sage?” she asked. “She isn’t here,” John said. “What!” Anna exclaimed. “We got in very early this morning and she wasn’t here,” Lisa said. “But there’s a sign that she was here.”
“What is it?” Samuel asked. Lisa took a breath. “Follow me,” she said leading them toward the insulated storage room and showing them the shattered bottle.
“Sage,” Anna said. They all looked at the broken fragments. “Any sign of Cristian?” Samuel asked. “We ain’t seen neither one of them,” Cody replied. “Something has been off with Sage since the day she turned Cristian,” Anna said. “Since the day she tasted human blood,” Samuel said. “She’s in turmoil. I can feel it.”
They heard the sound of the door creaking open and clanging shut. Looking at each other, they all ran into the grand living room to find Sage standing facing the window, her back toward them. Her hair was hanging loose in soft curls, her damp dress clinging to her body, and her complexion chalky.
“Sage,” Anna said. She turned around slowly, her eyes still seeing spots from the sun’s rays. Focusing her eyes, she began to make out the coven’s faces. Smiling, she ran over to them, giving them a group hug.
“We missed you, Queen V,” Billy said. “I missed you too,” she said tearfully as she hugged each one individually. “I missed you, my queen,” Samuel said, hugging her. She held on to him tightly while Cristian, who entered the room, silently watched in dismay.