Six

Running through England was a totally different feel from America. Where America had fields, England had wide open spaces. The people seemed tastier, sweeter and without clogged arteries. Hunting was more of a challenge, more exciting than the boring simplicity of America. Mercy was fast coming to realize the difference in culture and species. The vibe of America suggested that vampires hadn’t changed or adapted but stayed none moving and hidden away. There were of course many vampires living all over the earth but they were not the right kind. Mercy was looking for the ones from her world, the ones that were born and not made. It was so easy to identify a fellow vampire, eyes, posture, clothes. However, England and those vampires hidden in plain sight seemed to evolve with the times, making it harder to identify them. Mercy sensed them but had no desire to seek them out.

However, it did pose interesting theories and showed how much the human view of supernatural creatures had impacted those actual creatures. Humans believed that vampires sparkled or burned in the sun, could be killed by stakes, die from werewolf bites, were all in search of their humanity and craved love. It was very easy to be a vampire on earth with these ideals and when it came to choosing prey and hunting, the game was more fun, as the humans were so unsuspecting.

As the group made their way across England, Mercy pondered the possibility of including once human vampires in her mission. It of course posed a risk for these vampires had been bought up without the notion of the proper etiquette or way of running things. There was the chance that they might revolt against Mercy and try to take over a world that wasn’t theirs to run. However, with them on her side Mercy would have a stronghold of vampires to overthrow her brother.

Thinking of Grifel’s life story earlier, she wondered if vampires from this world had mater over here. Though she wasn’t entirely sure if mating with a human or other was successful, if it was that would surely mean a lot of angry families out their waiting to return to their home. It was a tricky situation, some would no doubt want to join and fight, while others would want to destroy her. Some would doubt her because she did not belong in the human world and then there would be those unhappy angry spiteful ones, still mad at the change, still in denial about their new life and seeking revenge on those who cursed their lives and made them vampires.

‘Your mind seems troubled my Lady’ said Grifel.

‘I am between two minds’ replied Mercy.

‘I am understanding that you trust no one and have no reason to but I would like to be of some use to you’ said Grifel.

Mercy nodded, ‘Tell me, what are your views on turned vampires?’ she asked.

‘You wonder if they could help us?’ questioned Grifel.

Mercy nodded.

‘It depends on what kind you meet. I have met some pleasant ones and some who believe they are above others. Then I have met the ones that hate their own existence and the ones longing for their humanity to return’ said Grifel.

‘And the ones that will help or to stay clear of?’ asked Mercy.

‘Those who would help would be the ones living in families, the ones made from loneliness or those who were banished together for they have something worth fighting for. It would be wise to avoid those turned who feel themselves superior or invincible. Though they would be no match for you, they do not belong in our world and thus shouldn’t be allowed any part of it’ said Grifel.

Mercy smiled secretly, ‘You have been helpful…’ she said smoothly.

‘Mercy!!’ called Margret, ‘we need to hunt’.

Mercy rolled her eyes but agreed, she left Grifel in charge of Sam, who was no longer glaring at her with hateful eyes but rather staring softly with an unidentifiable expression.

‘Be back here in an hour, we board the plane shortly’ she said.

The had not stopped to eat in England, choosing instead to make quick headway with running across the country. There was something in the air over here in Calais that smelt so deliciously sweet and tempting, something that was exotic an rare ran through the veins of European humans, it made Mercy’s mouth water and stomach lighter with anticipation.

She wanted a quick feed, a nice juicy large man would do the trick but everywhere she looked she could only find tall skinny men with hardly any meat on their bodies. She preferred getting her meals from males, they were easier to manipulate and didn’t moan horribly like the females did. Mercy sighed, she didn’t like it when things didn’t go her way and things most certainly weren’t going her way. Tapping her foot impatiently she located a group of three men – they looked like they were heading home after a good night and combined together would make a great meal. Putting on her best flirting smile, Mercy approached the men, doing her best impression of behaving like a vulnerable young woman. It was easy work and before long she had the men eating from the palm of her hand. They thought they were going to get lucky tonight, they were wrong.

Mercy bought one hand up to caress a man’s face, while her other hand was tangled in the hair of another man, leaving her eyes to focus on the remaining man. Quickly before they became overwhelmed by their emotions she attacked, drinking greedily from one while her strength kept captive the other two who were struggling to get away.

As the last body fell to the floor Mercy felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her and a calm sense of being full entered her stomach. She thought she saw the fingers of one man twitch as she passed and she pitied the thought of him living – though she did nothing to help.

The last leg of the journey was dull and boring; Mercy never could understand some of the human inventions. To her a plane in the sky simple didn’t make sense. It didn’t seem particularly safe and why bother when you could run as fast as she could. However, needs must, she was sure that word of her and her mission had spread across the lands now. Though they had all been very careful, they were a suspicious group and there were eyes and ears everywhere.

Some species were so fickle, so paranoid, it was a wonder they were still alive and surviving. Mercy looked over at Sam from the corner of her eye. He really was a great specimen, well defined features, soul searching eyes, attractive smell. Mercy couldn’t deny the effect he had on her but she’d spent years running away from any type of commitment, determined not to be trapped or betrayed by anyone. She wouldn’t know how to act, plus she was untrusting of any man and she had many reasons to back up that opinion. Nevertheless he was still a temptation and one Mercy was going to have to try and avoid.