Maggie Burghard (_magpie_) wrote in tiberiusswann, @ 2012-05-29 18:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | ana, ava, maggie |
Wednesday: May 27, 2009
Who: Maggie, Ava, Ana and Saul (as played by Monica)
When: Wednesday night
Where: mostly in Boston
What: Maggie becomes a vampire!
Note: gdoc still in progress
Phase one of the punishment seemed to have gone off without a hitch according to Saul’s sources. He was unable to be at Tiberius Swann to confirm it for himself, but he had eyes everywhere. The twins were foolish to think he wouldn’t be keeping tabs on them. The curse he had placed on Ana and Nox worked exactly as he had intended, driving them together while hurting them and those they supposedly loved in the end. While the curse was broken quicker than he intended, it had caused pain for all those involved. Pain that he hoped would linger forever. But Ana, Adam and Nox were not the only ones that had thought Saul a fool. Ava and Charlie seemed to think that they could get away with their sins against him as well.
The older twin and the other vampire were not exempt from the pain that had befallen the younger twin and the men that had chosen to become involved with her. For them, Saul had a different kind of pain in mind.
Another spell was easily cast, upon both twins this time, to ensure that they would obey his every command. This one was much stronger and much more instantaneous seeing as he was closer than before. Sitting down in the living area of his plush penthouse suite, Saul dialed Ava’s number, waiting as it rang on the other end.
---
It should have occurred to Ava that if anyone had a reason to be annoyed with Ana and Nox it would be their sire, but it just hadn’t crossed her mind, first distracted by Charlie and then she had become distracted by looking after Maggie. Any connection between Ana’s curse and Maggie’s hadn’t hit her either, caught in the idea that maybe the teen’s fears were right and it was the teleporter involved in her previous kidnapping.
Alone in her room, the older twin was surprised when her phone rang and she saw Saul’s name flash up on the screen. What did he want?
“Saul” She answered brightly, as if she were pleased.
---
“Hello, love,” he replied, his tone smooth and calm. Saul could even read her through the phone. It was a bit uncanny, but then again, the way she answered was already a bit forced. “It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to see you. I have to say, if I didn’t know any better, I would think you’ve been avoiding me.”
---
Of course he wanted to point out the lack of contact recently. “Now why would I want to avoid my favorite sire?” She laughed low, going for the sexy vibe. “Finals have just stolen my time, you know how it is.” Not that she was sitting them so much as giving them.
---
Saul was seething over the fact that the twins had thought they could fool him, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from seeing or even hearing him. Oh no, not at all. His exterior, his entire demeanor was cool, calm and collected as it had always been. The man didn’t have a single tell. He let a short laugh slip just as easily from his own lips. “Ah, my dear, it’s been a long time since I’ve known of that firsthand. I trust that you are doing well though, as well as your sister. Tell me, how is she?”
---
“I am doing better than just well. I was actually thinking of coming to New York for a few days, so you might get that chance to see me.” If that was what it took to keep him happy and not prying too far into their lives she would do that, if only to protect Ana. “It may be just me though. Ana is having a little trouble with a male project of hers. You know we don’t stop once we have an idea in mind.”
---
“There’s no need for you to go that far, love.” And there was no more protecting Ana from him either. Saul reclined into the plush couch, picking up a glass of scotch and swirling it around as he spoke. “I never imagined that either you or Ana would ever have any trouble when it came to persuading males. I admire her perseverance, but I want to see both of you.” Taking a quick sip of the scotch, he then settled the glass back on the coffee table in front of him. His tone was never demanding, but there was still strength and authority behind it which used to make the twins come running to him. That had changed, but he had ensured that they would listen to him now, no matter what.
---
Damnit! So much for protecting her twin. She could only do so much. Perhaps between them even if Ana went too they could work out a way to stop it ruining her relationship further. It was his first comment that struck her though. “No need? What do you mean?” She asked lightly. Please don’t let him want to visit.
---
“I arrived in Boston an hour ago. I’m staying at a hotel across the harbor. Didn’t think it was quite fair to always have you and your sister come to me when I could just as easily come to you.” No doubt Ava was squirming now, mentally scrambling to find a way out. “You and your sister are coming to visit me tonight, are you not?”
---
Fuck! That was the only word that could properly sum up the trouble Ava and Ana were in. Still, there was only a second of pause before she laughed to cover it up. “You came to visit? How could we say no when you went to all that effort?”
---
“I would be incredibly hurt if you ever denied me of your presence.” Not that he would ever allow them to say no. It wouldn’t happen ever again. Ava and Ana were his and his alone. It was time that he began exercising that power over them. “I’m in the penthouse at the Four Seasons. And a little birdie told me that you currently have a house guest. I want you to bring her as well. Don’t keep me waiting, love.”
---
“I could never say no to that, but are you sure you want me to bring Maggie? She’s a little young for the sort of fun I thought we could get up to.” How the hell did he know about her in the first place? She was starting to get a bad feeling about this, but yet she already knew she would bring her niece just like he told her, and that worried her.
---
“Oh, we’ll still be having fun, Ava. I just don’t want you leaving her on her own. She’ll be taken care of by the staff here while I have my time with you and Ana.” Which was a lie, of course, but he wasn’t letting on to that fact. “I want you here in an hour. Don’t be late,” he said right before hanging up.
---
Cursing, Ava threw her phone on her bed and ran her fingers through her hair. This could not be happening. She could already feel the pull that said she was going to visit him, and bring Ana and Maggie too, even though it was against her better judgement. She hadn’t felt anything like this towards his commands since the very early days after being turned, and even then it wasn’t as absolute as this.
Picking up her phone again, she walked out of her room and headed for the living room where she last saw Maggie. “We have to go out, all three of us.” She greeted the teen. “It’s a friend, but I can’t leave you here...” She didn’t say because she was told she couldn’t and she felt like she needed to obey, that would not only be odd but probably panic Maggie, something she didn’t want to go too far in doing.
---
Maggie was camped out on the couch, lying on her stomach, doing some homework. She looked up as Ava came in. Her aunt looked slightly frazzled. “Have to? You say that like it’s a bad thing. PARTY!” She hopped up then. “Where are we going? Is it like a party? Should I dress up? OOH! I have this really cute mini skirt that I bought the other day with a friend.”
---
“I...” Ava closed her mouth and sighed as Maggie got excited about the prospect. “I guess it’s sort of like a party but I don’t know how long we’ll be there.” There had to be a way to do as she was told but still keep Maggie safe. The idea of having to leave her with staff didn’t sit easily, even if necessary. “If we get time we can go for dinner at the least.” Ava was probably going to need a drink by the time this was over anyway. “Why don’t you go get dressed, I need to talk to Ana before we go and get dressed myself.”
---
Ana was sitting in the living room as well, busying herself on her laptop even though she heard every word that was exchanged by Ava and Maggie. Her forehead wrinkled in thought, still staring at the laptop’s screen until she heard her name. Looking up at Ava, she waited until Maggie was out of the room before she spoke up. “What was that all about?”
---
“I just had a call from Saul. Apparently he is in town, and he says we are to come visit him, and bring Maggie...” She explained, looking a little worried as she looked back where the teen had run off to, and then back to Ana. “We have an hour, and I don’t think saying no or later is an option.”
---
“What?” The look on Ana’s face was one of shock. She was certainly caught off guard by this sudden visit. “He’s here and wants to see us? And he wants Maggie there?” It wasn’t strange that Saul would want to see the twins, but why did he want Maggie around? Ana was becoming worried as well, her expression now mirroring her twin’s. She wasn’t in the mood to see him, but she felt like she couldn’t deny his request. Grumbling, she closed her laptop. “Fine. We go, see him quickly then leave. I don’t really want to be around him for long after everything that’s happened.”
---
She was both glad and even more worried to see that it concerned Ana too. “Yes, he wants Maggie, he specifically brought her up, and when I questioned it and tried to put him off he insisted.” Ava clarified. “I agree with you. We go, appease him, and get out as soon as possible. Hopefully he will barely talk to Maggie, or play nice. I’ll have to warn her who we’re seeing before we get there so she doesn’t say anything that gets us in trouble.” She sighed again. “The faster we leave the faster it will be over with” and the faster she would stop feeling this pull hopefully. “I’m going to go get dressed. We should be quick, ready to leave in ten minutes?”
---
Ana quickly stood up, nodding in agreement. “It’s best if she just stays quiet. I just hope he doesn’t start asking questions or he’ll wonder why she’s not answering.” God, these past few weeks were just getting increasingly ridiculous. “Yeah, out of here in ten minutes. Tell her not to take too long. It’s not an actual party.” Ana was becoming annoyed, but she still felt that pull towards Saul. It honestly hadn’t been this strong since she’d been turned and it was a bit disconcerting.
---
Maggie knew which skirt she was going to wear, but she was fretting over a few different tops. And even once she picked the striped tank, she wasn’t positive it was just right. Okay, maybe she was. Because once she paired it all with some cute yellow heels, it all seemed to come together. She threw on some bangle bracelets as well. Perfect. Just as she was finishing up by putting on some extra mascara and eyeliner, Ava came in to find her. “Does my hair look okay down? I didn’t do much with it today.” She was all nervous. Meeting a friend of Ava’s, a grown up friend. What if they thought Maggie was too immature?
---
Somehow Ava herself was ready in record time. She had dressed almost instinctively, and no doubt her outfit was missing some touches it would have otherwise had, but she looked ok when she checked in the mirror, and so she headed to Maggie, leaving Ana to finish getting ready.
Despite the drama and worry, she did have to admit that her niece had a sense of style, and she liked the outfit she had put together. It wasn’t copying anyone else, but her own style, exactly what Ava had tried to teach her. That wasn’t the important thing right now though. “You look amazing Mags.” She told her with a smile, “but I told you, we hopefully won’t be staying with my friend long. I’ll explain more once we’re in the car. Are you almost ready to leave?”
---
Maggie nodded. “I’m ready.” She grabbed her clutch and stuffed her keys and phone into it along with some money. While Ava was very generous and usually paid for anything when they were together, Charlie had made it clear that Maggie was to always offer to pay for herself.
She followed Ava, nervously playing with her long hair. “What’s your friend’s name?” she asked as they went to check on Ana. Maggie was equally excited that Ana was coming. They didn’t spend much time together, and she usually got the feeling that her aunt’s sister didn’t like her much. Probably because Maggie could be a little hyper.
---
Ana got dressed fairly quickly as well considering she had been in her lounging clothes which consisted of a simple cotton blouse and yoga pants. She hadn’t really felt the need to dress up ever since she broke the news to Adam of what she’d done. It still hurt her that she had done what she had to him without an ounce of regret at the time. She hadn’t really been in the mood to go anywhere after that, but the twins couldn’t keep from seeing their sire.
Grabbing her clutch as well, she busied herself with her phone while Ava and Maggie finally joined her in the living room. She wasn’t in the mood to field any questions from Maggie either so she left that to Ava. Instead, all she said was, “We’re taking my car,” as she headed out the door and to the staff lot.
---
Checking her own clutch again, she followed Ana out of the apartment, then locked the door behind them all. “Like I said, I’ll explain in the car.” She said to Maggie, biting her lip. Ava wasn’t stupid, she knew Maggie would be worried when she found out who it was, but Saul said to bring her, and she was going to do that, against her better judgement.
Once in the car and moving she turned in her seat, plucking up the courage to explain more to the younger girl. “I know you’re excited, but this friend... they don’t know a lot of things that have happened in the last year, so it’s probably best if you just try to avoid any questions...Ana and I will try to avoid leaving you alone, and we won’t leave you alone with him, but just... be careful?” She still couldn’t bring herself to straight out tell her who they were going to. This was so wrong.
---
Maggie was extremely excited, but she tried keeping it bottled up so she didn’t annoy Ana, who seemed to be dreading this trip. What was her problem? But that line of thinking came to a stop as Ava got all vague and stuff about this friend. “Him? And why wouldn’t you leave me alone with him?” Was he dangerous?
---
Ana’s knuckles gripped her steering wheel tightly as she wound through the streets of Danvers to make it onto the highway that would take them to Boston. Her foot pressed down on the gas, sending the car into motion as they went a bit over the speed limit. She always drove fast, but she was always careful.
The younger twin listened quietly as the older twin explained tonight’s situation to Maggie. Ana knew it was necessary for Ava to leave out a few important details of exactly who they were going to see because otherwise Maggie might flip out and that couldn’t happen. She seemed to be getting more curious though, made apparent by her next question to Ava. Ana hoped her twin could answer that without freaking the teen out.
---
How was she meant to answer that? “We’re meant to be looking after you. It would be stupid of us to leave you alone with anyone.” She answered as if that was what she meant all along. “Especially the sort of men Ana and I know from New York. I’m sure you’ll be fine though, as long as you’re careful and we’re watching out for you. Like I said, avoid his questions, especially if they are about your uncle Charlie or Adam.... or what Ana and I are doing. He still thinks we are students and it’s easier if we keep it that way.” This was getting more complicated by the second. “I’m sorry to ask you to do all of this but I’ll make it up to you.” Throw money at a problem, that always worked right Ava?
---
Maggie didn’t like what she was hearing. Not the details, but the way Ava was relaying this information. She was nervous in a bad way. And they were going to be lying to this guy, whoever he was. “I don’t think we should go. It sounds like a bad idea.” She fussed with the edge of her skirt, wishing she’d just stayed home. “I can just text Uncle Charlie and ask him to pick me up.”
---
Of course Maggie was gonna start to get nervous. Ana really didn’t need this to happen right now. She would’ve much rather left the teen behind, but if Saul wanted her along, they had to take her. And there was that pull again. Ana knew it wasn’t a good idea and yet, here they were doing exactly that.
Her foot pressed down harder on the gas pedal, taking them to their destination quicker and hopefully in turn getting them out of there quicker. It wasn’t until Maggie said that she could text Charlie that Ana piped up. “No, you can’t text Charlie.” She said it a little rougher than she meant for it to come out, but she didn’t want Charlie knowing where they were going to.
---
“No!” She responded to Maggie’s mention of Charlie, almost panicked. “Charlie can not come to the hotel. I don’t care if he kills me for you being there, I just don’t want him getting in trouble with our friend.” Ava would be amazed if Maggie wasn’t completely freaked out by now. “Please Mags, just try and trust us and be careful yourself. We will get you out of there as soon as possible, I promise.” She was actually pleading, something that almost never happened. “He has no reason to need you to stick around even if he makes us stay, then we can... work something out.” Maybe he’d let Ava take Maggie home, or she could get her a taxi.... She did not have a good feeling about this. Why was she doing what that damn man wanted?
---
Yep, Maggie was freaking out. She didn’t like how any of this sounded, and being told not to contact her uncle made her panic. She quickly opened her clutch to get out her phone. “No, this is weird. You guys are acting really weird. I wanna go back to Uncle Charlie’s place right now.” She started dialing his number. “Take me back!” she told them in a scared voice.
---
Ana could hear how nervous Maggie was becoming, and Ava’s begging wasn’t helping matters at all. She felt the teen open her clutch in the back seat, and Ana immediately reached back and snatched the phone out of her hand, opening her window and throwing it out of the speeding car. “We’re not going back until we’re done with our visit, alright? Now calm the hell down. Both of you.” Ana was becoming increasingly on edge and it was only getting worse the closer they got to the hotel.
---
Ava cringed as Ana threw the phone out of the window, but really what else could they have done? Part of her was begging for someone else to save Maggie, but she had no choice but to do as she was told and take the girl to Saul. “I’m sorry.... I’d take you back if I could, but we can’t....” She said softly. “We just all have to get through this visit. I’m sure it will be fine.” It would be fine, right? Please let it be fine.
---
“What the fuck!” Maggie cried out as her phone was ripped away and then thrown away. Maggie usually didn’t curse, because she got in trouble when she did, but she didn’t understand what was going on right now and she was really starting to worry that this trip would end badly. Uncle Charlie wouldn’t like the way the twins were acting right now. Maggie didn’t like it. Ava never treated her like this.
“Why can’t you? I’m scared and I wanna go home. Please, Aunt Ava,” she begged. What was wrong with them?
---
“Because we can’t,” was the only explanation Ana was going to offer. Soon, the Camaro rolled to a stop across from the Four Seasons and Ana shut the engine off. She usually opted for valeting her car, but something was telling her not to right now. “Come on. We go in, say hello, and then we’re out. That’s it.” The pull was much stronger now, and the craving to obey was strong. If Maggie didn’t get out of the car, Ana would drag her in.
---
It took a lot of effort to just leave Ana to handle the situation as Ava sat in the front, staring straight ahead. Her twin was dealing with this better anyway, it was probably a good idea. If she replied to Maggie she’d just make it worse, so she stayed quiet until the car stopped.
Turning in her seat, having composed herself, she looked to Maggie with a soft smile. “Ana’s right. We just have to make an appearance and then we should be able to head for dinner. I’ll even give you my phone if you get really freaked out up there, and some money to get a drink at the bar or something, but I have no intentions to leave you alone. Promise. I love you.” They could do this.... it would work out... somehow.
---
Maggie still didn’t like it, but what choice did she have? She wasn’t going to shift and attack her aunt and Ana and then steal the car to drive back home. She’d get lost, because she’d only driven a little around Danvers, and it was always with an adult, usually Charlie.
She was frowning when they got out of the car and walked with extreme hesitation after her aunt. Maggie kept her mouth shut. Make an appearance, don’t answer questions about Charlie or Adam, and then they could go to dinner. She could do that. She’d just be quiet and hope Ava’s friend ignored her.
---
Ana’s expression was one of all business right now. There were no smiles from her. Children really weren’t her thing, so she left the rest of the work to Ava. She would only interject when it seemed that she needed to put her foot down to get things to go along as they needed to.
Her heels clicked along the pavement as they walked across the street and strode into the hotel, looking like they owned the place though the frightened looking teen took away from that. Ana strode to the elevator silently, hitting the button for the penthouse once they were inside. Ava hadn’t even told her what room Saul was in, but Ana knew he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best this hotel had to offer.
While she had been thinking a million thoughts before, Ana’s mind almost went blank as the elevator door opened up right into the penthouse where Saul was sitting by the window, staring out of it into the night though he was aware of their arrival.
“So glad you could all make it.”
---
As soon as they got out of the car Ava stepped up her act to match Ana’s, oozing confidence as if what was happening didn’t exist. Her sister seemed determined, she was sure between them they could get out of this mess, and she would apologise to Maggie later for scaring her. She was making it more difficult than it needed to be.
The ride up to the penthouse was more time for her to make sure she was composed and didn’t let slip that anything was wrong with the way she acted. Ava even gave a reassuring smile to Maggie and squeezed her hand briefly before letting go. By the time the doors opened she had her act in place and she confidently stepped out of the elevator and into the space in front of them.
“It’s such a nice surprise for you to visit.”
---
Maggie stood awkwardly, trying to keep herself hidden behind the twins when they entered the lavish penthouse apartment. Ana and Ava were very wealthy, so it made sense they had friends who were rich too, but it made Maggie uncomfortable. She came from an average home, and she suddenly felt under dressed, not only because it wasn’t fancy enough, but because she was showing more skin than she would have liked around a strange man who gave her the willies. Why did he want her to come along?
---
Ana stepped out of the elevator just as confidently as her twin had, smirking as she heard Saul’s voice. She didn’t want to be here any more than Ava or Maggie did, but she had to play the part like she did. “It really is such a nice surprise. We’ve missed seeing you.”
Saul finally stood from his seat and faced the twins, dressed in an impeccable Italian suit though he had no tie and the top two buttons of his dress shirt were undone. He took in the sight of his twins, delighting in their presence though he was disappointed in both of them. They would soon see the error of their ways. “And I have missed seeing you both. Come. Sit. And tell me who this stunning young lady is.”
---
Ava turned and smiled at Maggie when Saul spoke of her. She should have expected the question that came with it, but she had to think on her feet when it came to answering. To give herself time she reached out and took the teen’s hand, bringing her along to sit down, and hoping that her touch would help reassure Maggie a little. “This is Maggie. We know her uncle, and she is a student at the school as well, but I’m sure you knew that.” She said as if that wasn’t freaky. “She’s just been staying with us while some trouble was sorted out, a sort of... project. We’ve been showing her how to be us.” Did that sound alright? Would he believe them? Please don’t pry further. Thoughts were flying around her head and she was doing her best to keep them hidden. “She’s doing well on the fashion side of things. Not so sure about confidence yet, but it will come.”
---
Maggie resisted when Ava took her hand, because she didn’t want to get any closer to the man. Something about him felt off. Dangerous. She kept her mouth shut out of fear. The young girl was actually shaking a little, which Ava would be able to tell while holding her hand.
She was practically dragged over to the couch, and worried her bottom lip as she took a seat, not sure if she should cross her legs or just let them relax to the side. She’d not worn this skirt out yet, so she didn’t know how short it was. She crossed them and put her hands over her knees, tapping anxiously while avoiding the man’s gaze.
---
Ana complied with Saul’s request, easily moving over to the couch and sitting down closer to their sire, both out of the need to protect her twin and Maggie and to be closer to him. She felt much too drawn to him right now.
Saul listened intently as Ava spoke about the little guest. His lips curved into a relaxed smile, knowing all the while that Ava was lying right to his face. “She is dressed so very nicely. They have taught you well indeed, Maggie. You’re a beautiful young woman. The confidence will come in time. You’ll be just like the twins soon enough. You’ll see.” His voice remained calm and smooth, not letting anyone on to how he planned to turn Maggie into one of the twins in a way different than Ava had meant.
---
It was sort of sick how that compliment to Maggie, and therefore to Ava for teaching her, made her feel so proud. It was like a child who lived for those little comments from their parents, the way she smiled at his words and how pleased he was with her. “Hopefully not too alike. I think there are several people who might disapprove if I introduced her to some of my vices, but a little shopping and partying never hurt anyone.” Ava laughed smoothly. “And of course her confidence will grow, how could it not with looks like that? I’m almost jealous.” How was he buying this?
---
Maggie was really uncomfortable with all the talk about her. Why couldn’t they just catch up and leave her be? With the man’s eyes on her like that, she wanted to wrap herself up in a blanket and simply hide. But she couldn’t escape, and she had to try and play along. “Thank you,” she said softly, looking at him ever so briefly. His gaze caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. “I’m sorry, I’m just not used to compliments.” Except from Devon, but Devon was her friend and he was easy to talk to. This guy creeped her out.
---
Ana felt herself becoming a little jealous as her twin and Maggie seemed to be receiving all the praise from Saul tonight. She didn’t like it at all, but she tried her best not to pout as she sat quietly by his side.
Saul’s hand came to run through Ana’s hair ever so briefly before resting on top of her thigh, and she suddenly felt better once again. She smirked at him, feeling pleased with herself though she’d done nothing.
Looking from Ana to Ava, Saul grinned slightly. “I’m sure you can steer her right, love. A few little vices never hurt anyone.” But they were about to experience a world of hurt soon. “A girl as beautiful as you should be used to compliments by now, Maggie. How about the calla lilies you received the other day? Did you like those?”
---
Ava suppressed the little twinges of jealousy at watching him touch Ana, and tried to just concentrate on the game they were playing, because that was what it was, she wasn’t stupid enough to believe otherwise. She smiled and laughed and nodded as he spoke.... right up until he mentioned the lilies... “You sent those lilies to her? We wondered where they came from.” She said with a laugh to cover up her worry about that. “That was a nice gesture, although I always think white looks better than the black, don’t you? An odd choice.”
---
Maggie’s eyes went wide. He sent the flowers? But he didn’t know her! He’d never met her before. Why would Ana and Ava’s creepy friend be sending her flowers? She couldn’t even feel relieved knowing that it wasn’t Val’s teleporting friend sending her a threat. She was too freaked out over this stranger sending them instead. Why did he do it?
“Uh.. thank you. They were beautiful. I liked them very much.” Even after she’d gotten scared over who might have sent them, Maggie kept the flowers. They were too pretty to throw out. “No one’s ever sent me flowers before, Sir.” He hadn’t offered a name, and the twins didn’t either, so she stuck with formalities.
---
“Are you questioning my choice in flowers, Ava dear?” Saul asked with a bit more power being flexed behind his words. “Black was perfect for what I intended.” He gave her a wink and a grin before looking to Maggie then to Ana who seemed to tense at his side.
This definitely changed things, Ana thought. She had heard about the flowers Maggie received, but along with everyone else, she assumed that they had been from Val’s teleporter. Why did Saul send them? And how the hell did he know about Maggie beforehand?
“Beautiful flowers for a beautiful girl. Remember that, Maggie. And call me Saul, love. No need for the ‘sir’ formalities with me.”
---
Now Ava was really starting to worry. It was odd enough that he would send flowers to Maggie, but then his comment on them being perfect... it was beyond worrying. Maybe she could help the girl get out. She was about to joke about her questioning him, try to come up with a reason to get Maggie away and give her her phone, but then he said his name, and she knew that in itself would be enough to make Maggie panic if she wasn’t doing that enough already. Things were going downhill, and fast. “Saul....” She bit her lip, not even bothering to hide her worry right now. “What did you really want? Why did you want Maggie?”
---
Maggie couldn’t keep her composure when the man revealed his identity. He was the twins’ sire. She’d heard things about him. He wasn’t a good man. Even Uncle Charlie was afraid of him.
Hearing the worry in Ava’s voice return, Maggie stood up. “I really wanna go home now. Please. Please let me go home.” She started backing toward the door. Maybe she could shift and just make a run for it. That had to be safer than staying here with a vampire who was calling her beautiful and talking about how she’d soon be just like the twins. He wanted to turn her. Shit, shit, shit.
---
Ana was worried as hell now. What was all of this about? What exactly was Saul up to? All she knew was that it couldn’t be good and the fact that all three of them were losing it was a horrible sign. They had to get out of this somehow, but Ana couldn’t seem to make herself move from the couch. She wanted to stay seated.
Saul, however, moved to stand slowly. “Did you both honestly think you could do whatever you wanted and I wouldn’t know?” he began calmly. “Did you think I would stand idly by while my two beautiful girls went on behind my back with lives that were not meant for them?” Saul knew the little girl wanted to run, but that wouldn’t be happening. Not even when she began to tremble and beg. Crossing to her in two quick strides, his hand quickly came out of his pocket, a syringe with a tranquilizer soon being injected into Maggie’s arm. “You’re not going anywhere. We’re not done here, love.”
---
A chill went through Ava as he spoke, as he made it clear that he knew everything that had been trying to hide from him, or at least enough to be angry with them. This was so very bad, and she didn’t know if there was anything she could do to save this situation, especially not with Maggie freaking out and begging to leave, and even Ana worrying. She stood, reaching out to try and soothe him, placate him however she could, but he was gone, and before she knew it there was a syringe and he had injected Maggie. “No!” She shouted, quickly closing the gap to try and help the girl somehow.
---
Maggie didn’t even have time to shift. Saul grabbed her and jabbed the needle into her arm. She wanted to shift, even tried to, but it was too late. Her body wasn’t cooperating. All her muscles relaxed in an instant, and she collapsed into his arms. She felt tired, but the drug apparently wasn’t strong enough to knock her out completely, just make her very weak. “Why are you hurting me?” she asked him as a few tears started to fall from her eyes.
---
Maggie went limp in Saul’s arms before Ava or Ana could even get to her. The younger twin looked on in shock, standing behind Ava, almost shaking at the fear she felt flooding into her system at these sudden revelations. He wanted to hurt them all. And that’s when it dawned on Ana. “You... you cursed me, didn’t you?” It was starting to make sense now.
Saul laid Maggie’s limp body on the couch behind him, standing in between it and the twins in case they decided to try anything. It was no use though. They were under his control whether they liked it or not. “Cursed you, Ana dear?” he began, feigning confusion. “Are you quite sure you didn’t thoroughly enjoy fucking dear Professor Alekos? Because you loved him, didn’t you? Or at the very least you lusted after him. That’s what you tried to make it seem like that night I bumped into the both of you in the city. Tell me, how did your pilot take that, hm?”
Ana froze in shock, terror washing over her now that the truth seemed to be coming out. She was stunned speechless. Saul knew everything.
“And as for you, my dear Ava. Don’t think you’re innocent in all of this. You were the first one to transgress. I never took you as one to believe in marriage or vows. You are the reason why I asked you to bring Maggie here. You need to pay the price for lying to me just as Ana did.”
---
This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t all be falling apart. Ava longed to help Maggie, but she also wanted to protect her twin, and right now Saul was blocking her from one of them. All she could do was stand and listen as it all came out and feel the pain for her twin realising she had been cursed by this man who was meant to be their protector. Looking back at Ana, she took her hand. She always felt better when she was touching her twin, although she wasn’t sure anything could help that much right now.
As he addressed her, she turned back to Saul, shaking her head, tears in her eyes. “It was a spell... I didn’t know who I was when I got married, but even so.... none of this is Maggie’s fault, why does she have to pay the price for my mistakes?” She cried. “Please let her go. Do whatever you want to me, but let her go. Please...” Even as she spoke she knew she was digging a deeper hole for both her and Maggie, showing him just how much she cared about the girl, but it was too late to redeem anything she was afraid. “I’m not even with Charlie anymore. It’s long over.”
---
Maggie was having trouble following along. Her head felt heavy. Her whole body was heavy. She wanted to get up, but she couldn’t. A curse, Ana and Professor Alekos, and now Saul was upset over Ava and Charlie’s marriage. And that was why he’d brought her here? She didn’t get it. She didn’t get any of this. But she was so scared, and she wanted Ava to stop Saul before he did something worse than drug her.
“Aunt Ava.. please,” she called out. “Ana,” she added, “Call Uncle Charlie.” She was sobbing now, trying to sit up, but failing.
---
Saul watched as the twins held hands, trying to gather strength from each other, but it didn’t seem to be working. Ana couldn’t move or utter a single word. She kept shaking, tears almost threatening to fall.
“It was your choice to remain married, spell or not. You stayed with him in marital bliss, lying to my face about it all the while. You might not legally be man and wife now, but I know that you’ve been attempting to be together again.” He paused for a moment, sitting down on the couch next to Maggie, stroking her hair almost adoringly. “She’s his niece, isn’t he? Apparently, he didn’t care enough to stay here with you, but when she left, he had to go with her. It hurts, doesn’t it? When suddenly there’s someone more important than you.”
Ana couldn’t see through all the tears that were welling up in her eyes, but she could hear poor Maggie begging her to call Charlie. Still frozen to her spot, Ana looked to her clutch on the couch, but Saul stopped her before she could even move. “Try it and she dies right now.” That was enough to keep Ana still.
---
She was too worried about his plans to even cringe at the fact he had just shared the fact she and Charlie were working on something again. Right now whether or not people knew that wasn’t the issue, the issue was that Saul knew that, and much more besides, and he was going to make them all pay for it. “I never wanted him to put me before her. He loves her, she’s his family, and it wasn’t her fault she was caught in the middle of it. It’s nothing like you and me!” She argued through her tears.
Nothing hurt more than hearing Maggie plead and not being able to help, not knowing how to help. She was so used to being the one in control, and this was a mess she wasn’t sure any of them could get themselves out of anymore. “Tell me you’re not planning to kill her anyway.” She countered when he stopped Ana. “What do you want? I know you’re trying to hurt us. What part does Maggie play, just tell me. TELL ME!” She shouted, frustrated and scared.
---
More tears fell from Maggie’s eyes. They’d created a river down her cheeks. She looked up at the man sitting beside her, stroking her hair. She wanted to scratch his eyes out or bite his head off. Why couldn’t she shift? And why wasn’t Ava helping her? The psycho was talking about killing her! “I don’t wanna die. Please don’t,” she begged him. Where was her uncle? Why couldn’t he be here right now? He wouldn’t let this happen. He’d kill Saul for saying such things, for touching Maggie like that.
---
“Do not raise your voice at me, Ava,” he warned, his voice taking a low, menacing tone now. It was a complete 180 from his smooth and poised natural tone. “Are you quite sure you don’t already know what’s going to happen here? What your punishment is? Think hard, love. You’re smarter than you look. Would killing her really make you suffer? Or Charlie for that matter? What would make you suffer more?”
“Hush now, Maggie,” he said, stroking through her hair again. “You’re not going to die. I don’t think Ava would let you.”
---
Of course she knew full well what his plan was. He had almost spelt it out afterall, she just wasn’t completely sure of his logic. “It’s still killing her....” She whispered, looking at Maggie and having to look away again as the pain ran through her, knowing she had caused this, and that Saul intended to make her cause even more pain to all of them. “Why?” She asked him, but she didn’t expect an answer, he’d already told her why. “Please don’t do this.... She’s just a kid.”
---
Maggie really didn’t like the sound of that. Because it sounded like he was going to force Ava to turn her. Would Ava do it? Would she do what her sire said? “Aunt Ava, you don’t have to. You can fight him. Uncle Charlie fought his sire. He stopped her. He killed her.” Ava could do that too. She had to be strong. She had to stand up to Saul and stop him from hurting Maggie. “Please,” she begged again. She hated being defenseless like this. It wasn’t fair. Her uncle had taught her how to fight, but they’d never been over what to do if drugged. She managed to lift her arm just enough to put her hand on Saul’s leg, her eyes turning up to him again. “Don’t make her. Please don’t.”
---
“You know why, Ava. You disobeyed me. Both you and your sister and the men you supposedly love. You went behind my back, when you knew full well that you were at that school for one thing only. To learn. But no, you had to go ahead and get involved with people you shouldn’t have been getting involved with because you belong to me,” he replied, looking utterly possessed now. The twins were his and he didn’t take too well to others messing around with his property.
Saul let Maggie mumble on because it was pointless. The twins had to do whatever Saul commanded them to do, but the final straw was Maggie speaking about Charlie killing his sire. Saul immediately covered her mouth hard, wanting to shut her up for good. “You shouldn’t talk about things you don’t know anything about, love. Now hush, the grownups are speaking.” He kept holding on, his hand covered both her nose and her mouth. Perhaps he would suffocate her and then let Ava attempt to save her.
---
She loved Maggie, with all her heart, but the girl needed to be quiet, because it was breaking Ava’s heart to hear her plead. She couldn’t think clearly enough to work out what to do, how she could stop this, whether she could stop this. Saul’s method of shutting her up made her lurch towards them though. “Stop it. You want me to turn her. That’s what will cause the most suffering. I can’t save her, turn her if you kill her that way. Let go!” She pleaded, her own hands going to his and trying to rip it away from Maggie’s mouth and nose.
---
Maggie couldn’t even struggle properly. She was too weak. But she still had the use of her mouth, so while she didn’t have fangs, she managed to bite his hand when he attempted to smother her. When she could breathe again, she had more fire behind her words. “He’ll kill you too. Fill you with bullets just like Val and then cut your fucking head off!” she snapped, her eyes narrowed at Saul. “It’ll be easier this time, because you’re not his sire.”
---
Saul looked up at the twins. Ana, still frozen in her spot while Ava continued to argue and plead with him. “So I should kill her a different way? Or maybe just let the life fade away from her, drain her for a bit myself and then let you do the rest?” He was about to open his mouth to speak again when Maggie bit down on his hand. Saul growled, pulling his hand away and staring daggers down at the girl. She definitely had fire in her, but he was losing what little patience he had left so he promptly closed his hand around her neck. “Not going to happen, little one,” he growled at her, before looking back up at Ava. “Get over here. Now.”
---
He could just not kill her at all. That would be preferable, but unfortunately not an option it seemed. This was all her fault, she knew not to fall in love. It just got people hurt, even if she didn’t expect it to be Maggie who paid the price. She was actually sort of proud of the teen as she fought back, snapping at the much older vampire, but at the same time she was pleading again for her to shut up, scared how Saul would react to it. Rightfully so. Ava moved when he told her to move, helpless to resist, not that she would have anyway, she would do anything to try and make this less horrible than it needed to be. “Just... tell me what to do.” She sighed, starting to lose her fight. She couldn’t see any other way out of it. There was no way for Charlie to know where they were. What else could she do?
---
Maggie couldn’t breathe again. His grip on her neck was too strong. She looked up helplessly at the man and then at Ava when her aunt approached. Maggie’s eyes were pleading. She didn’t want to die like this. She didn’t want to die at all. She wasn’t even really sixteen. She was still a little girl and had a lot she wanted to do with her life. And she didn’t want Ava put through this either. She loved her aunt. Charlie would never forgive the woman. With what little strength she had, she reached out to Ava with her hand, all her muscles trembling from the effort it took to hold it in the air.
---
Once Saul beckoned Ava forward, Ana seemed to unfreeze, looking to her clutch again. She still couldn’t call or text for help because Saul had forbidden it, but she had to do something. Her eyes moved around the room frantically, her heart breaking as she saw the pain that Ava and Maggie were going through. She was just a little girl. Maggie didn’t deserve this kind of life. “I’ll do it,” she replied, taking a step forward.
Saul looked up at Ana, quirking a brow at her sudden statement. “I don’t think so, love. This is Ava’s punishment. If you want to suffer some more, I can arrange for that to happen. Perhaps have you completely off your beloved Texan.”
Ana’s brows furrowed, feeling a pang in her chest at the thought of being forced to kill Adam.
Letting go of Maggie’s neck, Saul held her body down with one hand as her turned her head with the other, baring her neck to Ava. “Go ahead, Ava dear. You know what to do.”
---
Ava loved her twin for the fact she even offered to take that burden from her, but she knew that Saul wouldn’t allow it, and it wasn’t right. If this was going to happen it would be done by Ava. Charlie could hate, should hate her. It was her fault they were in this position. “Stop it.” She said quietly but forcefully. “Ana paid her price. This is about me paying mine.” There was no reason her twin should suffer more than she already had.
She couldn’t say no when Saul commanded her to start the process, even though she desperately wanted to do something, anything, else except essentially kill the girl who meant so much to her. “I’m so sorry Maggie....” Ava whispered, tears in her eyes, before she bit down. Her blood tasted so good, shifter blood always did, and the thought that she was actually getting some pleasure from it made her feel sick. It was horrible, she was a horrible person, and Charlie would never forgive her. She would never forgive herself...
It took such a long time to truly drain someone, and Ava did everything she could to not think about the fact that it was Maggie underneath her, Maggie’s blood filling her up, Maggie’s pulse slowing, Maggie’s life slipping away until it was so weak there was nothing left to do except finish it or let her die. Ava was crying as she ripped her own wrist open and gave the girl her blood, barely able to see what she was doing.
She had never hated anyone as much as she hated Saul in that moment...
---
Maggie cried out and tried to push at Ava. It hurt so bad, but then she simply grew weaker. She was sobbing, and then she was praying. She closed her eyes, asking for God’s help. Asking him to make this all stop, to save her and Ava both from Saul. Either God wasn’t listening, or he couldn’t do anything. It made her understand why Charlie struggled so much with his faith.
Then a wrist was shoved into her mouth. She would have tried to push it away or even close her lips, but she couldn’t manage either. She felt like she was going to black out. The blood dripped down her throat at a steady pace, and reflexes forced her to swallow it rather than drown in it. She coughed at first, sputtering slightly, but then it flowed freely down into her core, triggering a mutation that couldn’t be reversed.
It made her stronger. The weakness that threatened to swallow her whole began to retreat. Her muscles felt alive again. Without warning, her hands gripped Ava’s wrist and held it tight to her mouth, which began to suck on the wound. She drank greedily as she felt more and more alive with every drop. Feeling a rush of energy, she tore her mouth away and gasped, scrambling to sit up and scoot away, horrified by what she was doing. She backed herself into the corner of the sofa, her eyes wide and wild as she looked at Ava and Saul, even Ana, who seemed frozen in fear. Then she lunged forward, attempting to attack Saul.
---
Ana watched on in terror, tears now streaming down her cheeks as she watched Ava beg Maggie for her forgiveness before beginning to drain her. She made a small movement to try and pull Ava away from the teen’s neck, but Saul’s gaze bore into her, a silent warning that it would be a bad idea. So all she could do was stand there and let the tears fall as she watched Maggie struggle until her life force seemed to fade away.
Saul watched on, incredibly pleased with himself and the pain he was causing both twins. This was the punishment they deserved for all their sins. He could practically hear Ava’s heart breaking before him. The only regret he had was that he wasn’t around to see Ana’s heart break before. He imagined it was just as amusing as this.
A sinister grin soon spread across his lips as he watched the teen come back from the brink to drink greedily from his childe’s wrist. Maggie suddenly sat up, looking thoroughly terrified and Saul had to let out a laugh though it was a short-lived one. The little one was soon launching herself at him. Standing up, he quickly dodged her, hooking an arm around her neck while resting the palm of his opposite hand atop her head. “One more move, little one, and I snap your neck. Even vampires can’t come back from that.”
---
Ava didn’t even make any effort to stop Maggie from taking too much blood. She just let her drink, falling back when the girl jumped up and launched at Saul. What had she done? She never wanted to turn someone against their will, no matter how much of a bitch she generally acted, and doing it to Maggie... Ava would never forgive herself. She couldn’t let it all go to waste by Saul killing her new childe though. “Maggie, please, don’t fight him, you can’t win, not so new...” She told her tiredly. “It’s done. If you’re going to hate anyone, hate me.”
---
It was hard saying what Saul really knew about Maggie. Clearly, he knew a lot about what was happening in the twins’ lives, but had he bothered to learn about Maggie herself? Or did he underestimate her because of her age and size like so many others?
The new power fueling her made her transformation easier than ever before. Because of Saul’s grip, she had to make herself smaller first, so she morphed into an agile snake that slithered easily from his grasp and hissed as it got away, but this form wasn’t threatening enough. Despite being in striking position, poisonous fangs bared, she couldn’t hurt him like this. Another transformation, just as fast, and a full grown tiger was standing before them. Maggie let out a roar that caused decorative glass around the room to tremble. Her ears went flat and eyes narrowed at the man who had done this to her. He was to blame, not Ava, and she was determined to destroy him.
---
Ana knew what Maggie was, but that didn’t mean she was any less surprised by the girl’s two sudden transformations. The younger twin quickly grabbed onto the older twin, pulling her back as the tiger roared and bared its fangs.
Despite having done his research on the twins, this one detail about Maggie had slipped unnoticed through the radar. He mentally cursed his informants as he moved back, watching the snake turn into a tiger. Damn shapeshifters. He disliked them immensely. His eyes moved from the angry feline to the trembling twins behind it. “Get her out of here. Now,” he commanded as he moved behind the couch. He was not going to let it end with the little girl getting the best of him and he knew that, even in this state, she wouldn’t harm her dear Aunt Ava.