I - The Regals

"And where was the two of you?" a stern voice greeted the two siblings who just got home from feeding. Karma shrugged at Kieran who did the same thing. 

"Sure it's not your business Brandon", says Kieran who walked past them. Karma let out a chuckle before following his brother which became impossible when a hand grabbed her arms. 

"You two have been going against me lately. I'm sure I made it clear that we cannot afford to stain our name right now. Karma, do you even understand what I'm saying?" Brandon says firmly which made Karma bit her lip. "I do. And I'm sure too that you've been talking a lot. Let's see if you can still run that mouth of yours once I get the power you failed to achieve", and in a blink, she blended into the thin air. 

"How dare you leave me with that loser?" she says as she entered her brother's room. "Sis, it's not like that man wants a conversation with me. He's too scared he doesn't seem mighty to his dearest loving daughter, Karma" and that made her roll her eyes. 

"You're aware that your children are feeding a lot lately, right?" 

A woman in her silk night gown took a sip from her drink. She stared at her glass stained with her bloody red lipstick. "I should get a smudge proof lipstick..." she said, almost like a murmur. 

"Carmen, I'm being serious." Brandon stated like it's not obvious before snatching the glass away form her. "And that is the trait our children hates about you, darling. You should loosen up a bit, you know they're in the middle of transition." Carmen eyed her glass in Brandon's hand. Sighing, he gave it back to her before turning his back from her. 

Placing the glass on the table, Carmen said something that made him stopped, "We'll be meeting the ministry on Sunday". Gritting his teeth, Brandon nodded as if he had any choice. 

Meeting the ministry after a failed-attempt to hunt the Red Serpent would be the death of him. Karma already reached her 19th year and if someone from the Regal clan gets to hunt the serpent first, they'd lose their chance to be on top of them all. Plus the fact that the hunt was also what killed his brother, Leon, who also have a keeper-in-waiting son. 

"Carmen, what if they ask me about Leon?" like a child to his mom, he grabbed his wife's arm. Carmen heave out a sigh as she placed her hands on his cheeks. "You are not responsible for anything. You know the story and there's no Leon in that story. You just have to do what I've told you to", her voice felt like all the assurance he needed. He closed his eyes as her fingers stroked through his hairs.

"There you have it", Carmen motioned him to their bed before going out to smoke the stress her husband gave her. 

If you think that Brandon is the dominant in the family, you haven't met the real Carmen yet. She's the epitome of legacy, sophistication, power, and dominance. She's the holder of the ancient Regal blood and that's what make her more powerful. 

"I don't think a stick would help what you're feeling Carmen. Your heart is raging", a soft voice whispered from behind. It was Karma, wearing her infamous mischievous grin. She clung her arm to her mother's before pulling away the cigarette from her. 

"Do you need something, honey?" Carmen ask in a hoarse voice. Karma faced her. "Look at you, Mom. You are flawless. You are every good thing in this human world", she traced her mother's face with her fingers and she added, "you are a goddess and that is enough reason we deserve that power". 

Carmen smirked, "You really took after me" she said as she wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

None of them speak after that. They just stood there watching the night moves thinking about the same thing. That sunday night, where their fitness will be tested. There's nothing she crave more than the power they could have. And that's what make her the first daughter of the great Carmilla Mencia Hewson-Blake. 

-

"I fucking hate summer", Kieran has been ranting about summer and the heat ever since he got out of his room. 

"And that's enough reason to...", Karma insisted which they both laughed to. "I still don't have something to wear!" she grunted as she jump on her bed again. 

"Damn, we're gonna be late. Get your ass up" Kieran said while rummaging through her set of perfumes. "You got a lot of perfume, I think I'll find the one I'm looking for weeks now", that made Karma raised her brow. She got up from her bed and picked one of her perfume. 

"You won't find the same scent as others. I had all of these customised just for me", she said while spraying some on her neck. "The best ones are the ones whose neck smell good".

She placed the bottle in her table and faced her brother who's watching her amusedly. "So, what's this scent you're looking for?" she asked with a smug look on her face. 

"I can't even explain. I just happened to smell it. Come on, we have a party after school" Kieran said as if wanting to dismiss the topic which Karma replied with a shrug. 

Aside being a vampire, they are also students who blend in with humans. They study, they take exam, and most especially, they attend human parties religiously. And tonight is one of those nights, only this night, they are attending a costume party. A costume party that she's prepared a mischievous plan for. She'd be wearing a costume of a vampire. 

Grinning infront of her mirror, she put the last rhinestone in her fangs. She smiled at her reflection only to see her dad at her door, crossing his arm in dismay. "What do you think you are doing Karma?" and before she could say a thing, she caught herself unable to move as Brandon holds her jaw. "You got a cute little fangs there, huh?" she pushed her father away and marched towards the door as she grabbed her things. 

"You don't know what I can do" she said rolling her eyes. 

Brandon followed her, continuously calling her name but Karma being Karma, felt no sense of authority at all. "Oh Carmen, you might want to see how your daughter looks". Karma stopped to look at her mother. Gracefully, she walks toward her and made a quick turn around. "Do I look good?" she asked making sure her Dad's looking. 

"Sure, you are. And what's that shimmering?" with her soft hands, Carmen reached for her face. 

"Does my fake fangs look real?" she asked which made Carmen chuckle. "I see how my daughter looks. Perfect" she said as she looks at her husband who's completely disappointed and annoyed. 

"Right. Brandon likes to talk a lot. Oh there you are Kieran!" they all shifted their gazes to Kieran who's now walking down towards them, dressed up as Dracula and looking proud. 

"Oh, we had the same idea" Kieran exclaimed as he realized Karma was dressed up as Lisa. "Well, we used to watch the same show together", answered Karma. 

"Let's go? We're about to break some necks!" Karma giggled clinging into her brother's arm. 

"I'm warning you two-" Brandon was cut off when Carmen stepped in between. She held her husband's hand and faced their children. 

"You know what we are. We are regals and we do not make mess. You know what I'm talking about, Karma" the siblings jokingly bowed at their parents. "Sure we are, Madamme" Kieran said before kissing her goodbye. 

You're so golden

You're so golden

I'm out of my head

And I know that you're scared

Because hearts get broken

"Damn, you got blinging fangs there" Kieran said in the middle of singing along. Karma just gave her proud look and continue singing inside the car. "Mine's just plain but can drain a life", this made her look at him again.

"What the hell Kieran? You are using fake fangs, aren't you?" she received chuckles from her brother. "Why would I use fake when I can just use a real thing~" Karma shook her head in disbelief. 

"You dumb bitch! You're a traitor, you should've told me so I won't use this shit" they laughter was enveloped by the song in the radio. 

Karma sniffed hard through the cold breeze of the night. "Oh the smell of the blood with ecstasy", Kieran smirked at her before disappearing into thin air. "I told that goddamn thing not to show off" she whispered to herself.

"Looking fine as ever" someone whispered from her back. She stiffened for a moment. She never felt something like this before. She felt chills all over her body and it felt like her heart froze for a second. To regain her senses, she tried hard to look serene before facing the person at her back. 

"Oh! My dear Vaughn" she displayed a sweet alluring smile. She extend her right hand in which Vaughn planted a kiss. In a swift move, he matches her face level that made her gasp softly. "Wow, shimmering fangs? Is it real?" she tilted her head smirking at him. 

"Yeah, could bite those neck of yours" she said before making their lips touched.

"See you when I see you, Vaughn Belmont" she tapped his shoulder before making her way towards the loud music-filled house. 

The place was filled with different colors of different costumes but someone in the middle looking like a lost fairy is what caught her attention. A girl on her cream pixie dress with her made-up wings is standing in the middle of drunk people. "Oh, someone's been forced to be here", she whispered to herself while making her way towards the little fairy girl. 

"My dear, I don't remember seeing you here in Eastwood" and she caught her attention. She met an unusually pair of green eyes. "Oh, hi! It's my first time here and it's my first time seeing the epitome of dark beauty" those words came out of her mouth like a music. 

At this point, Karma felt unusually less confident. Like she met someone who feels more superior than her despite the fact that the girl infront of her looks fragile like the wings on her back. She seems glowing and she couldn't stand the light but something feels like pulling her towards her small glowing body. Leaning towards her, she whispered her name, "Karissa Margot, but I prefer you call me your Karma" she smirked erasing the hint of consciousness. 

"Your name feels like just you are. I'm Odette, the good swan" Karma felt like she could see color whenever hearing her voice. 

"Gorgeous. I'd glad to accompany someone new in the town". Odette made a little a bow to her before saying, "I would love to". 

Countless shot of drinks brought them to where they are now. Hiding in the pantry, gasping for air in the middle of kisses. Due to discomfort, Karma frantically removed the fake fangs she put in her teeth. "Oh, go easy on me...", says Odette who obviously knows what she's doing. 

Opposite to what Odette said, Karma's kisses became hungrier which put a smile to Odette's lips. "We're not wasting anytime", Karma declared and held Odettes throat. Her kisses made her way to her neck. She suddenly felt the familiar dizziness, thirst, and fast heart beat almost felt like a heartburn. 

By the moment her fangs grew out, Odette's necklace glow up luminating the whole place, and making a burn in Karma's face. 

"What the hell?!"