The Vampire Covenant

Chapter Three

Ophelia and David Clemonte had concluded that the best place to move to was their aunt Florence's mansion in Westwend –the first Clemonte family mansion where both their grandfather and grandmother lived –and died.

When David had moved out with his wife and children after his mother's death, his younger sister Florence had stayed behind, religiously following her mother's rules and keeping both herself, and the mansion safe. To her, marriage was out of the question because she knew the price her bloodline would have to pay.

The grey sky pressed down menacingly on Westwend, making the quiet town look gloomier than it usually is. Ophelia instantly regretted agreeing to her father's idea. She loved sunlight and lively, busy streets, but for every corner she turned in the black Jeep she was driving, a dusty silence and melancholic clouds greeted her.

"Has it always been like this?" she asked herself. It didn't matter because she couldn't remember most of her childhood there. They had moved out when she was six, after their grandmother's demise and she hadn't visited Westwend ever since.

The gigantic house came into view and Ophelia recognized it, feeling a chill creep up her spine. The mansion –which looked more like a cathedral, was an enormous three story building, with two towers pointing into the sky –a pentagram mounted on each pointy peak. The house was built somewhere in the early eighteenth century, and had once been a Duke's residence –until he mysteriously committed suicide and his son turned it into a brothel. For some reason it became abandoned, and was rumored to be hunted until their grandfather –Robert Clemonte inherited it from his dead Uncle, and moved in with his newly wedded wife –Susan.

Ophelia felt like turning another corner and driving to a different town or a different city, but one look at the Toyota Avalon following her closely behind told her she had made the right choice. Her family's safety was more important than sunshine and busy streets –and where better to stay safe than where their aunt had stayed safe her whole life?

Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance and Ophelia confirmed that a storm or heavy rainfall was on its way.

The moving truck had already unloaded their items, and only tire marks on the wet earth was evidence that a truck had been on the property at all.

A wiry old man opened the creaking black double gates, and with a slight nod, made way for both cars to pass.

The mansion sat square and proud in the center of the opening and loomed ahead of Ophelia's line of vision like a hunted castle. The garden she once remembered as picturesque and relaxing appeared forsaken, with numerous shadows created by the vines.

A woman stood tall in front of the main double doors, her thin black hair swept into a fancy up-do. The white ankle-length gown she wore flowed in the wind –which was getting stronger by the second, giving her an unsettling and unnerving aura.

For a moment, Ophelia thought her eyes were playing tricks on her as she saw the figure of her dead grandmother standing by the doorway. Her heart was in her throat as she parked her car and quickly hopped out of the driver's seat to take a closer look.

Her eyes adjusted to the form and she noted the height and age difference. Everything else seemed to be an exact replica of Susan Clemonte.

Florence Clemonte stood with perfect posture in front of her mansion. Her calculating eyes took in the form of her niece stepping out of the Jeep and a ghostly smile found its way to her lips. It felt like she hadn't smiled in twenty years and her lips had forgotten how to. With premeditated steps, she closed the distance between them, and Ophelia engulfed her in a hug. The warmth from the young lady travelled through her body, but Florence's arms stayed stubbornly at her sides. She hadn't shown excessive emotion to anyone in almost twenty five years, and she wasn't about to start now.

Ophelia released her aunty from her embrace, feeling heat travelling up her neck, and to her cheeks. She wondered if the reason her aunt hadn't hugged her back was because it was too early for it.

One eyebrow shot up as Florence tried to read the emotions written on Ophelia's features. She recognized embarrassment, and tried to warmly smile at her. It came out more like a grimace.

David Clemonte parked his car next to his daughter's and turned off the engine. Sam and Will shyly stepped out, reluctant to move towards their aunt. Their father however, hastened to his little sister and that seemed to encourage them as they followed his lead.

"It's been so long, Florey. I miss you." He professed, after releasing her from a bear hug.

She didn't hug him back too... Ophelia noticed.

Florence cringed at the old nickname her brother used. She had lived alone and secluded in the mansion; like she was dead, and her brother and his family had treated her accordingly, not even reaching out or visiting during the holidays. They had abandoned her along with the mansion –until now.

It didn't really bother her now. All she wanted to do was to keep the rest of the Clemonte family name safe, just like how her mother would've wanted her to.

"It has. You have my condolences. I'm sure Grace was a bright, lovable young woman." Her face went even blanker, completely devoid of any emotion.

Tears shimmered in David's eyes, and Ophelia spared him the effort of replying and murmured a 'thank you', which was directed at their aunt, on behalf of everyone.

"Please, make yourselves at home. I've had your properties moved into your rooms. Your names are engraved on the door to your bedrooms. Lunch will be served in an hour." Florence announced, and turned on her heels, breezing back into the house.

Ophelia and her father exchanged a confused look, and she gave him a shrug. She ruffled Will's hair to cheer him up, and patted Sam on the shoulder.

"Dad, I'm gonna go grab a drink at the coffee shop round the corner." She informed, pulling out her car keys from the back pocket of her blue ripped jeans.

"Are you wearing your necklace?" her father asked, and Ophelia nodded a yes.

Rule number six: Always wear your silver pentagram necklace.

"Be back soon. I think it's gonna rain, and remember the rules." He added, and motioned for Will to follow him into the house. Sam had already disappeared inside.

"I will." Ophelia assured. How could she ever forget the rules?