[Comm] Vampiric Rites: Initiation

It took two days. Two days for Vivian to come back from the dead and rise into her new life. She had awoken with a start, her golden eyes opening frantically, feeling a buzz throughout her body. Disoriented and confused, Vivian blinks slightly, wondering where she was. She was laid down on something soft yet cramped… Looking down to her feet, she realized that she was covered in flowers and was holding a bouquet herself. She curses silently, tossing the bouquet away and sitting up. Her head was spinning but she tried her best to make out just what was happening around her. Vivian turns her head and spies row upon row of empty pews. The place was lit in dim candlelight and the place was empty, so she couldn't help but feel an ominous shiver creep up her spine. 

“Hello…?” she calls out, her voice strained and her throat parched. There was no reply. Vivian swallows. She places her hand on a ledge and realizes… It was wood. Polished wood. Confused once more, she looks down and realizes just what exactly she was laid down upon.

It was a casket. She was lying in an open casket. Vivian yelps in surprise, horrified at the revelation and scrambles out, her wings fluttering in agitation. She falls to the ground with a small thud, scrambling up and turning around. There on display was a picture of her on a beautiful gold frame. This was her wake. She had just died. 

“No… no this can’t be-” she mumbles, taking a step back, then another. How could this be?! Vivian holds her head in her hands, trying to remember past events.

There was a woman in the shop. Yes… She had long white hair and a soft yet cunning expression. She was just a regular customer but she had also spoken rather cryptically. Then… Vivian gasps. She was attacked! The woman, what was her name? She introduced herself as a noble of sorts, or some member of royalty. Her memory was hazy and the woman’s name escaped her but deep in her heart Vivian knew. Vivian knew that something had changed within her. There was a certain hunger present now, deep in her bones, her blood, her gut. But the most horrifying thing was that Vivian knew what she wanted, what she thirsted for.

“No… It can’t be-” she mumbles, trying to calm herself. Vivian gets up slowly and makes her way towards the door, walking between the empty pews. She needed to get out of here. 

Opening the doors of the church, she is greeted with harsh rain. Vivian takes a step, then another, the water weighing down the beautiful white dress that she was to be buried in. Then, the thought hits her like a bus.

“CALLA!!!!!” Vivian screams into the night, her knees buckling underneath her, her hands clawing at her dress in desperation. And so, she spends her first night as a new reborn vampire, cold and wet. And hungry.

—

Months have passed since her meeting with Calla, and Vivian can explicitly say that her life had definitely been changed since that fateful night.

It took a lot of effort to simply… live. Going bloodless was not an option. Vivian became too dizzy and too fatigued after a few weeks without blood, so she was forced to find ways to… feed. Blood was not an easy thing to procure, but luckily with a few connections here and there, she had found a way to satiate herself without having to harm anyone at all. Of course she had to come out as some sort of miraculous resurrection, and she got many an odd eye from the customers who frequented her shop, but all in all she was happy to keep herself busy. An idle mind was a wandering one. And she tried her best to keep her mind from thinking about that night.

Until, a letter came. Vivian had been watering her blooms during one slow afternoon when suddenly she noticed that there was an envelope that had been wedged into one of the plants. Confused yet curious, she puts down the watering can. Vivian looks left and right before picking it up. It had a golden rose embossed on the front and at the back a wax seal with the letter “C”. A shiver ran through her spine. “It couldn’t be-” she mumbles, shakily opening the envelope. 

Yet it was. It was exactly what she thought it was. “Meet me at midnight, my rose.” was all it read, with coordinates under. The letter was signed as Lady Calla as well, everything written in blood red ink. 

Vivian crushes the paper in her hand and curses. My rose… my rose?! Out of all the things to call her too. How utterly vile! How utterly despicable! Instinct was telling her that showing up would be bad news, and that whatever this Lady Calla had planned was definitely trouble… Yet she couldn’t help but also be drawn to the mysterious woman. This was definitely the moment. All of her questions would be answered soon. She could not afford to stand this woman up. She had to finally face her.

Midnight finally came around after much waiting and anticipation. It turns out that the coordinates led to a peaceful gazebo overlooking the city. Seated patiently in the gazebo was the woman in white, holding a chalice to her lips. She looks up at Vivian’s arrival and smiles. “You made it~” she muses, placing the chalice down. Vivian walks up to her, trying to remain calm and composed. Then, she raises her hand to strike Calla, but her wrist is quickly caught.

“Feisty are we?” Calla says with a small laugh, the grip on her hold strong for someone of her stature. “You… monster-” Vivian replies angrily. “You turned me into-”

“A monster as well?” Calla asks, raising an eyebrow. She releases her grip, Vivian retracting her hand angrily. “How could you…” Vivian asks, tears welling up in her eyes.

Calla sighs, tilting Vivian’s chin up ever so slightly. “I’ve made you in my likeness. I’ve made you… perfect. We’re not so different, you and I. I’ve decided to cultivate you. So help me, help you. Drink to my name, and I will show you wonderful things.” she says sweetly. “Have you ever stopped to think about it…? If I wanted you dead, you would’ve been dead since our first meeting. No. Instead, I’ve given you life again, and turned you into something spectacular. Your blooms are rare and exquisite. And you by far are rarer than any of them.” 

Vivian remains quiet, thinking. It was obvious that she had been thinking about it for some time, just as Calla had said. Calla turns around and gestures towards the forest. Vivian gasps.

There were… hundreds of people hiding in the darkness, behind the trees. They stepped forward, hooded mysterious figures watching them curiously. “My people-” Calla says with a smile. “They have come to witness your initiation. You are not alone, Vivian. We are a society, a family. Pledge your loyalty to me, and you will join my garden.”

Vivian swallows, letting out a drawn out exhale. After a moment of silence, she bites her lip.

“I’ll do it.” she says quietly. 

Calla gives her a small nod. She places her hands on Vivian’s shoulders and presses down lightly, telling her to kneel. “Will you abide by my law?” Calla asks.

Vivian turns her head towards the figures. “I will.” she replies.

“Then. We welcome you.” Calla says, placing the chalice to Vivian’s sweet lips and tilting it up.

Vivian closes her eyes and tastes the sweet blood on her lips.