Please be warned-the following contains extremely graphic imagery.
 

The Vampire Family by Kristin Battestella

Part 1

Chapter 1
 

“Ye sharpen that old ax,” Antonio’s father dragged him out of bed.  He pulled Antonio outside and shoved him up the jagged hill.  There he left the young Welshire to grind away on the rocks.  “Ye stay there till supper and then I says if you can eat.”
Sunset came, and Antonio’s father stumbled back up the hill.  Antonio watched the large bull block out the waxing sun.  The elder grabbed him and shoved Antonio down the hill.  The wind picked up and dark clouds blew over the rising moon.  Rain poured down and the ground quickly became soggy and muddy.

 Two young girls ran from the wet fields.  The rain poured down on the fair Ann, but she pushed the sheep into the barn.  Elizabeth pulled the workhorse up the hill, and her wet dark hair flung in her face.  Ann came to assist her sister, but even together, the adopted orphans were not strong enough to pull the horse and plow up the slushy hill.

 Antonio saw Ann and Elizabeth wrestling  below with the horse.

“Father!“ He tried to tell him, but the ax responded.   Thunder and lightning crackled, and the workhorse stomped in the mud.   He reared and the leather bridal snapped.

 The horse and plow rolled down the hill. Horse then plow.  Plow then horse.  The plow landed on the soggy ground then the horse landed with a thud. Dead as the plow was useless.

 The Welshire Patriarch raced down the hill and tromped over to Ann and Elizabeth.  He grabbed Elizabeth, and Ann ran to the house.  The angry Father threw Elizabeth down the hill.  Her little body rolled and bounced down the and landed on the horse. Her legs bent in an unnatural, broken shape.

 Ann ran towards the house as quick as her small legs and the natural circumstances would allow.  Another bolt of thunder rumbled in the sky.  Lightning followed and pricked the thatched roof of the  stone home.  Ann turned towards the barn, but Antonio’s father was on her tracks.  The elder Welshire grabbed the golden-haired child by those wet and sun-tipped strands.  He drug her back to the hill’s crest.

 Antonio watched from the top of the hill.  He looked at his sharpening stone, and heard Ann’s screams.  Antonio leaped to his feet.  His agile legs moved down the hill and passed the smoking home.  His muscular hands touched his father’s evil body and sixteen years of anger and frustration and pain helped Antonio push his father down the hill.  The muddy hillside sank as Antonio’s father rolled down the hill.  The ax on his side ripped from its leather tie and dropped in the mud. Antonio spotted the shinny ax tip in the ground and raced towards it.  The father fell into the mud and Antonio was over him with the ax.  The elder Welshire tried to move from the danger, but he was a turtle overturned onto its shell.

Antonio raised the ax over his head and braced it with both hands.  He let the ax come down and meet his father’s flesh.

Antonio sat on the edge of the bed.  He felt Elizabeth’s  sweaty forehead and reached into the bucket of cool water by the bed.  He pulled out a wet rag and rang it  over the bucket.  Antonio applied the damp rag on Elizabeth’s face.

“You may come in, Ann,” Antonio called.  Ann peeked around the sheepskin curtain that divided the house into two rooms.  Ann stepped into the space reserved by the curtain.  Antonio continued to apply the wet rag. “Today we will repair the roof, and I will take care of mother.”

 Ann untied Mother Welshire’s horse from the outside post.  She opened the basket on the horse and pulled out various coins and currency.

“I will take those,” Antonio stood in the doorway.  He stepped over, took the coins, and dropped them one at a time into the pouch on his belt.  Ann’s eyes widened at the ax hanging next to the pouch, but she led the horse to the barn.  Antonio paid Ann no mind and set off to find his mother.

Probably mourning  by that tiny body.  Tiny now!  I can’t believe she fell for that robbers story!  Pathetic!

 Antonio reached the slope, and his hypothesis was correct.  He took his time getting to the  woman.

I can take my time.  She only has so much time.  When Elizabeth no longer needs her…

Antonio reached his mother.  She hovered over the bloody face and kissed her husband’s lips.

Ugh!

“Mother,”  Antonio shook his thoughts away.  The brunette wiped tears from her eyes, stood, and straightened her long dress.  The Welshire Matriarch opened her arms and embraced her son.  Antonio tried to resist, then he broke the hug.  “Come, Mother.”

Antonio sat up in his bed.  He heard screaming, and Ann  burst into the house.   Antonio tried to make sense of what she was saying.

“The frost came! The frost came early and killed all my crops!” Ann clutched some dead crops in her hands.  She thrust the crops in his face.
“They’re frozen!”

 Antonio stood outside the back window of the stone home and let snow pile up to his knees, but Mother Welshire sat inside by the fire.  Antonio loaded a stone into his slingshot, pulled back, then released the weapon.  The jagged stone hit the mother in the back of the head, and she tumbled to the floor.

 Antonio climbed in the window and walked to the main door.  He opened it and shoved the body out into the snow.  Ann and Elizabeth stood in silence while Antonio kicked at the body to knock it completely outside.  He shut the door, locked the cold metal latch, and gave no explanation to Ann or Elizabeth.

 Mother Welshire woke in the snow.  She sat up and touched the back of her head. Both her hand and the snow around her were stained with drips of blood.  Mother Welshire panicked.  She stumbled to her feet and knocked on the door, “Elizabeth, let me in.”

 The three children raised their heads. at the outside hail.

 “Do not move,” Antonio ordered.  “It is for the best.”
“Ann,”  The mother banged on the door.  The urgency in her voice grew.
 “Please let me in!”

 Snowflakes fell fast and quickly raised the height of the wintry blanket across the land.  Mother Welshire pounded on the door with equal velocity.

Antonio tricked me.  I suspect  he was behind his father’s death, too.

“Ann! Elizabeth!“ She banged against the wood again.

No! Antonio is only trying to scare me.  A game! What a sick game!  I feel so dizzy! I knew he was evil.

 The woman collapsed against the door and sobbed, “Why won’t you let me in?” She smacked the door in vain.  “What did I do?  I didn’t do anything wrong!  Why are you doing this to me?”

 Ann jumped up and reached for the latch, but Antonio grabbed her arm.

“No. Unless you want to join her.”

 Mother Welshire rattled on the door, and her fingers bled.  The vessels in her hands popped from impact and the cold.  Mother Welshire tried to stand on her own.

Maybe a window? The barn!

The rising snow and her freezing limbs thwarted Mother Welshire’s efforts, and she tumbled to the icy ground. The young girls heard their adopted mother’s cries for a few more hours and then slowly there was silence.  Even the snow stopped, and Ann insisted that they open the door.

“She is dead, Antonio.  Let’s not leave her out there.”
“I’m leaving her there to be sure,”  Antonio warmed his hands by the fire, and Ann gave up the feeble plea.

 The sun rose and Elizabeth woke in the pile of sheepskins by the fire.  Antonio slept soundly in his own huddle, and Ann was piled nearby.  Elizabeth stretched and rubbed her eyes.  Quickly she remembered the horrifying events belonging to last night and slouched grimly.

 Elizabeth slid out of the makeshift bed and took a few sheepskins with her to the door.  Her stride was awkward. Elizabeth had a limp forever to be there as a result of her injuries.  She reached for the latch and slid the bolt carefully, but It squeaked a little.  Elizabeth looked to the floor of sheepskins.  Antonio stirred, but did not wake.  Elizabeth grasped the handle and slowly opened the door.

 Mother Welshire stood frozen in the snow.  Her arms were up in the air, and her fists were clenched in their banging position.  Frozen blood lined her arms and the collar of the sheepskin.  Mother Welshire’s eyes were open.  The blue irises were now and forever to be glazed over with a white frost.  Forever now was her mouth to be open, too.  Her tongue was captured midway between the chapped lips and saliva dangled like icicles from the yellow teeth.

 Elizabeth opened her mouth to scream, but a strong hand cupped her mouth shut.  Antonio whispered in her ear, “Ann is still sleeping.”

 He removed his hand, and Elizabeth looked into Antonio’s cold blue eyes.  He forced an uncomforting smile, and Elizabeth was captivated by the opal-colored eyes.

They are so mysterious.  Deceptive?  Frightening!

 Antonio forever shut the door on his mother and returned to the fire.
 
 
 

Chapter 2
 

Antonio sat on a pile of hay and violently plucked and pulled the straw apart.

“If he wants us to leave, he will have to build a wagon to carry us,” Antonio groaned to Elizabeth and kept his back to her.  “He can build it himself.”

 Antonio threw the piece of hay aside and picked up another,  “I will not help him.”

“We must go live with Uncle Henry. I don’t think even you can stop that,” Elizabeth hobbled from the barn and Antonio glared after her.

 The sun shined on the town gate, and a partly finished castle lay beyond.  The tiny wagon teetered to the new home, and Antonio looked at his tout Uncle Henry, “When did this happen?”

“It’s been growin’ steady.  Sheepin’ is good business.  I offered your dad a piece awhile back, but he refused it.”
“It’s amazing,” Elizabeth awed. They crossed the stone bridge over the thick mote and rode under the stone archway with guards on top.  Antonio stared at the turrets on the castle.

“What exactly is your position in all this?” Antonio asked Uncle Henry.
“It’s all mine,” Henry smiled.  “I’m not really a King, but I am the ruler here.  More like a First Citizen actually.”
 Ann and Elizabeth looked at Antonio.  He was staring into the distance, but they recognized the clockwork evil churning behind those moonstone irises.

“When I move on, all this goes to my son Gaston,” Uncle Henry twisted on the creaking wagon. “You remember Gaston, don’t you, Antonio?”
“Yes.”

 The rickety wagon pulled up to the Castle door.  A young girl opened the door and ran out to the wagon.  Antonio stared intently, smitten by this auburn haired and emerald-eyed beauty.

“My little Romina!”  Uncle Henry stepped down to his angelic child, and they hugged.  “Romina, this is Antonio.  Antonio, Romina.”
Antonio bowed, “It is an honor to know the same blood runs through our veins.”  He took Romina’s hand and tried to kiss it, but she pulled it away before his lips met the fair and soft flesh.

I feel so cornered.  His very presence is cornering me.  His eyes burn through me like a torch.  Such light eyes bringing such a dark force down on me.  I have to live in the same place with this?

“Do you think she is promised to someone?” Antonio asked Ann.
“Romina?” Ann maneuvered the top soil around her plants and planted her seeds on the side of the castle.
“Of course Romina.  She is some sort of Princess or lady or something.  Do you think she is promised to someone?”
“I suppose.”
“Do you think she likes me?” Antonio looked at Ann instead of daydreaming.
“Well, Antonio,” Ann looked up at him.  “She didn’t seem to.”
“She didn’t like me?” Antonio pouted.
“Not really, Antonio.”
“Then I’ll make her like me.”

Good cousin Gaston rode through the main street lined with his worshippers and waved. His bay horse was tall, and he sat high above the peasants brushing his legs.  Antonio watched this spectacle from his room high in the castle.

A new casualty.

 The door to Antonio’s room swung open.
“Have you seen my pin?” Ann hurried in and took the brush off the table.  She brushed her hair a few times  and opened one of the table’s wooden drawers.  “Did you ask Elizabeth?” Antonio removed his booted foot from the window sill and turned his concentration from the street charade to Ann.  She looked under a pile of clothes, in a trunk, and the table again.

 Antonio straightened his kilt and smoothed his white blouse with his hands.  Ann stomped in frustration but caught his humor.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Of course I am,” Antonio approached her.  Ann’s hair was hanging in her face.  Antonio reached up softly and swept the delicate hair back behind her ear.

“I like your yellow dress.  It’s like your hair.  You look lovely. Now, let’s hurry before we miss him.”  Antonio pressed Ann out the door.  He glimpsed the ax among his bed sheets, then left.

 Gaston dismounted at the front of the castle, and Antonio watched from inside the door.

“Glad you’re back in one piece, Lad,” Uncle Henry shook hands with Gaston.
“Thank you, Father,” Gaston noticed Ann and Elizabeth with his sister. “I’m glad to be back.”
 Romina took Gaston’s hand, “These are our cousins, Ann and Elizabeth.”  Gaston took a fair hand and kissed each one.  Antonio shifted and cringed in the doorframe.
  “Seems that Romina forgot about our other new arrival,” Henry put his arm around Gaston and led him to the door.  “Gaston, this is Antonio.”

 Gaston bowed his head.  Antonio removed himself from the doorframe and slowly sulked towards Gaston.  His body language told his opinions of Gaston and his arrival perfectly.

 Gaston put out his hand for a handshake, but Antonio ignored the outstretched hand.  Gaston stood still while Antonio’s eyes examined him, but Uncle Henry slapped both of them on the back unaware.

“Come inside, Boys.  The butcher will have something special ready.”
 
 
 

Chapter 3
 

Antonio sat on his window ledge and looked below at the courtyard. He frowned at the statue of Gaston in the fountain.  The sun set now, and Antonio watched the quarter moon appear in the darkened  water dotted by lilly pads.  His eyes drifted again to the statue of Gaston on top his rearing horse.
 
 Antonio noticed a small color swirl on the edge of the water.  He looked to the balcony above the apparition and saw Romina.   She stood on her toes, leaned over the railing, and peered into the dark pool.  Her hair was down, and a light breeze blew it away from her face.  Romina wore only a plain ankle length white night gown, and Antonio stepped back from his ledge so as not to be seen.

Perfect.

 Romina looked down at her crude reflection in the pool.  She looked at the moon’s reflection, then looked up to the sky.  Romina looked around the courtyard but shuttered when her eyes skimmed passed Antonio’s window.

 Romina went back inside her room.  She sat at her vanity and picked up her brush.  After a few strokes, Romina set the brush aside.  She cupped her hand around the candle flame and blew with her pursed lips.  Within seconds, the moonlight took to dimly lighting the room.  Romina took one last glance in the mirror, but Antonio stood behind her.

 Romina stood up and turned around, but Antonio was upon her.  He put his hand over her mouth, and  Romina fought vainly to push him away.  Antonio twisted her arm behind her back and pushed Romina to the floor.

 Gaston passed his sister’s room and heard strange noises within.  He tried the door, but it was locked.  Gaston continued to his room next door, but the sounds persisted. He went onto his balcony and eyed the tiny ledge leading from his balcony to Romina’s.

 Gaston stepped over the iron railing and onto the ledge.  He clung to the stone wall and inched his way to his sister’s balcony.  Gaston eventually reached his destination and climbed over the railing with care.  Romina’s doors were closed, and dark curtains blocked her windows.  Gaston opened the doors carefully.

“Romina? ’Tis Gaston,”  He pulled the curtains back, and the moonlight reflected on the vanity mirror.  Gaston heard sobbing from somewhere in the dark shadows.  He went to the vanity and lit the candle.  There was a sick smell about the room, and Gaston turned with the lighted candle.

 Romina sat huddled in the corner.  She still wore her nightgown, but it was ripped and crusted with blood.  Her hair straggled about her face and blood stained her hands and nails.  Pools of red were on the floor.

“Oh my Romina!” Gaston tried to avoid the puddles and approached her.
“Don’t touch me!” Romina cried.  “Get away from me!  Just stay back!”

 She slid up the wall slowly, and took Romina in his arms.  She hit him with all she could muster, although it was to no avail.  Romina cried out again, then put her head down on her brother's shoulder and sobbed.
“He will pay,” Gaston rubbed her head.  “He will pay!”
 
Gaston burst through the door to Antonio’s room.  Antonio sat by his window ledge and dabbed the scratches on his forearm with a cloth.

“What do you want?” Antonio stood up and tossed the cloth aside.
“Redemption.”

 Gaston lunged at Antonio, but Antonio moved towards his bed and the ax.  Gaston jumped on Antonio’s back, and both fell to the floor.  Antonio elbowed Gaston in the stomach, and Gaston released his hold.  Quickly, Antonio reached between his sheets in search of the ax.

Blast!  I can’t find it!   I cannot fight man to man!  My advantage!

 Antonio spotted his boots on the floor.  He shoved Gaston and reached for a boot.  Antonio threw it at Gaston, but Gaston saw it coming and ducked.  The boot went out the window and into the water below.

 Gaston came towards Antonio again and squeezed  his hands around Antonio’s neck.  Antonio tried to pull away, but after a few moments,  his eyes  slowly closed. Antonio slumped to the floor.

 My redemption  is complete!

 Gaston wiped the sweat from his brow and walked to the window.  He looked to Romina’s room and panted from his battle.  Gaston looked down at the boot in the fountain.  Silently, Antonio crept behind Gaston.  He inched closer and pulled Gaston into a tight head lock.   Antonio whispered in Gaston’s ear.

“Now it is I who claim redemption.”

 Antonio pushed Gaston out the window.  Gaston flew down and watched the fountain and statue come up too fast upon him.  He turned himself around and slammed into the great statue.  The statue slid off its pedestal and shattered on the courtyard brick.  Gaston saw his own crumbled face on the patio, then his open eyes could see no more.

 Dim lights brightened all over the castle, and Uncle Henry entered Antonio’s room.

“My Boy, what has happened?”
 Antonio tried to be emotional and concealed his chuckles.
 “I was lying in bed,” Antonio forced a knot to his throat.  “Then I heard a noise.”
“It is all right, My Boy.  Take yer time,” Henry put his arm around his performing nephew.
“The robber-I’m sure it was a robber now-there was a struggle…He scratched me…I threw my boot at him,” Antonio looked  to the window for clarification. “Gaston came in.  The robber pushed him out—,”

 Uncle Henry’s face turned rigid, and Antonio looked to the window again.   Henry ran out of the room, but Ann and Elizabeth stood in the doorway.

“You didn’t,” Elizabeth whispered to Antonio.  Ann walked over and looked out the window.  Gaston lay on his stomach among the broken pieces of his statue.  Ann looked back at Antonio, and Elizabeth stared down at him.
“What?” Antonio asked of his adopted sisters, but they stood silent before him. “What?”

 Uncle Henry ran out to see Gaston.  He stopped midway in his tracks and clung to his dressing robe.  Henry half ran, half-walked to the slain body.  “Oh, My Son!  My heir!  My good Gaston!”

 He slid his hand over Gaston’s face and shut the eyes forever. Never would he look upon the gray eyes again.  “My poor boy.  Your kind heart punishes you in the end.  Oh, what has happened to our family?”  Uncle Henry looked up to Antonio’s window.  He saw Ann gazing downward with a solemn look on her face.  “Yer cousins will miss you; our whole village will mourn yer passing.  You were to be their first King.  Gaston, we will find the poor soul who did this to you.  We’ll find the bloody bastard, and he will suffer for all eternity!”