3 To Join or Not To Join

They cheered when the vampire was slain, the man cutting his enemy's head off and using its blood to save his lover from inevitable death. But it was too late. The immortal's blood was in no effect for breath had already left the woman. With heavy realization, he let her go. He placed a flower on her chest to honor her before lighting up the place on fire. The flames met the rising moon. Enormous as it was, it could swallow even those who were watching. Everything felt real. The heat and misfortune made it as if they were present to their past.

But the crowd clapped and the masked artists took their respective bows. Evelina had to blink twice to know that what was happening wasn't her nightmares situated in reality but an act. It was all for show.

The actor who played as the protagonist handed over a basket to one of their audiences. The container itself was a beauty for evergreen shrubs were carefully crafted as its outward design. Her eyes followed it as it was being passed around until it was already in front of her.

Evelina blinked in confusion.

"You're supposed to put something in it," a short girl whispered beside her. "A token of appreciation, preferably a silver. Hurry because they're all staring here."

Evelina looked from the basket to the pressuring eyes of the crowd. She groaned and shot the onlookers an arrowed glare.

Something to show appreciation?

Did she appreciate it? She watched her kind's character be demonized by these humans. But the way they spoke on stage was very poetic. How their moves were calculated yet graceful was a brilliant sight to watch. How it felt so real while it wasn't was too much to take. She appreciated the art, but she knew her place. And that is with her kind and not theirs.

Evelina passed the basket towards the small girl and began searching for a spot with less crowd. It wasn't much about her beliefs against the play. It was more of how her surroundings were starting to look forbidden. Her brown eyes were turning a bright shade of amber, and her fangs were showing. Hunger was all she felt.

She needed to get away.

But before she could, familiar pair of soft hands stopped her. She didn't need to look at who it was for there is only one human who would dare touch her like that.

"You're going? What do you think of the play?"

"You were a very convincing vampire." He was not for all they knew about vampires were nothing but stereotypes, but he was an outstanding actor with how he put emotions into his words.

An actor. Of course, that was why she felt the need to guard herself even with the kindness that he was showing.

"And did you enjoy it?" his voice breathed glee, an indication of how much he loved performing.

But Evelina had no time for feedbacks. "Forgive me, I must leave."

She pulled her arm away from his grasp and disappeared from his sight, not turning back.

Evelina had not yet roamed the whole of Eldham but it wasn't hard to search for a place dim and held no people. Backing herself on a wall in an alley, she gulped from her bottle of Claret. It was a mixture of wine and blood, a perfect disguise. It was an absolute blend, too, for the enjoyment of both could make her mood grand- strength and seduction returning to her body.

The moon was already in place when she inhaled the cold air. Her fangs were back to a humane size and the brightness of her eyes began to fade. Her senses were once again heightened, along with her desires to catch a prey despite having her dinner.

Her eyes shifted towards the palace. The brightness of lights it was exhibiting and the walls high up for protection.

Evelina grinned, admiring the view.

Was the palace challenging her to climb its walls? She thought of the secrets that must lie within the royal family, shared by their servants. But more than that, she imagined how their luxurious blood must taste. How the smell would ensnare her, one drop may not be enough for her hunger.

But she wouldn't let this fantasy deprave her.

No, she couldn't just barge in and take a bite. It would cause another war and they would lose. They may be strong but the mortals are far greater in number. They were already afraid, blinded by one color. To scare the humans again would cause them to do things they once deemed impossible.

Coming out of the alley and joining a group of people as they enjoy the festival, Evelina kept on thinking of how she could achieve her task.

Eldham was beaming even at night. The colors were much more vibrant with lamps behind them, and the stars were assisting the moon in the sky to illuminate the darkness. Songs were sang at every corner. Some by men drowning in their drunkenness. Whist others were from groups just enjoying the last night of the festival.

"Have you heard that the emperor is inviting the troupe to come inside the palace theatre?"

Now, the word 'palace' was the initial thing Evelina heard. She turned to find children still gathered in front of the street stage, even without a show in place.

The lady didn't find the need to go near the people having this conversation. She only needed to listen with great intent. Tune out other noises and focus between their exchanges.

"Just imagine! Being able to meet people of noble-blood! I suppose that also means that they'll be staying here for a longer time." the young one said with excitement.

"The emperor's word is law, after all."

And the troupe they must mean-?

From the stage to the needle-like leaves of an evergreen plant on the floor, Evelina shook her head to herself.

The theatre troupe, of course! And…

West.

From her arrival to the very moment when she's in search of the entrance to her goal, West was the very key that she needed to win.

She admit, the man was too much for her. He was excited and kind, and she would rather think of him as a memory of the bright side of human beings. To think that she needed to meet him again…

She picked up the evergreen and smelt it, the fragrance of water and sweat were still evident from the plant. The town were a mixture of them but what she focused on was the scent of fresh greens and the white flower that sat on the baskets holder.

She followed the trail and found herself in front of a pub.

Her eyes twinkled when she saw the group inside, still wearing their masks. They were drinking and laughing, celebrating their show's success perhaps.

Evelina thought of her goal as she sauntered towards the tables, confidence at its peak.

"Hello," she said in a friendly manner.

The group looked up at her and she glanced if any of them had West's midnight hair and was a bit disappointed to find only five people there. None of them was West. What luck, it would be easy with him there.

But what was she talking about? Seduction was her strength. It was practically hypnotism as she could easily make a person agree with her. She didn't need his help with this.

Shamelessly, she slid herself beside the fellow who she assumed played the protagonist earlier. She flashed him a charming smile and leaned on the table to turn her attention towards the others.

"I watched the performance earlier." She threw a look towards the actor who appeared quite younger than he did on stage. "And I figured that maybe you're interested on having a new member."

"Oh you wanted to audition," the girl wearing a purple mask replied. It wasn't quite the reaction she needed.

Audition?

No, she was planning to make them say yes.

"Audition," Evelina clicked her tongue. "Certainly. But you must be too tired to do that. Consider it an honor that I wanted to join your troupe."

The table went quiet and they all looked at her as if she was uttering ridiculous spells like a witch. Evelina was getting frustrated. They had been looking at her since she arrived at their table, eyes meeting, and she would've caught their acceptance by now.

But there was none.

The man, the one who looked to be oldest of the troupe, let out a loud laugh. The ladies followed and soon, everyone at the table was laughing. The vampire sat up, bewildered by how they were treating her.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

She joined them in their laughter, more mockingly than real. "Pardon but have I missed the joke?"

The protagonist beside her chuckled, moving closer to whisper. "Darling, we don't accept just anyone. Especially not a minx who thinks that she could get anything with just a twirl of her hair."