//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Secrets // by Final Sunlight //------------------------------// Fluttershy whimpered as she kneeled on the floor, Sunset’s head cradled in her lap. She had never seen a reaction like this, not that she ever turned anyone before. From what she understood, it took three exchanges of blood to finish the transformation. Well, three exchanges and the one being changed technically dying before being reborn. Yet Sunset had reacted very badly, and Fluttershy had no idea what to do, other than call in the only person she could think of. “Are you insane?” Celestia demanded as she barged in the door making Fluttershy jump a little. The fuming look on the principal’s face made Fluttershy shrink back a little. Celestia was the only lamia with the experience to help, and possibly the only one that might be convinced to do so. “What was I supposed to do?” Fluttershy sobbed out, looking up forlornly at the elder whose face slowly melted into a softer expression. “She’s my soulmate!” “Soulmate?” Celestia asked, shocked by the claim. Surely Fluttershy was just exaggerating. Then again, the girl was usually scared of just about anyone despite who and what she was. The strength she seemed to exhibit around Sunset, especially now, made Celestia wonder if there was something to it. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in soulmates, it was just that it was very rare to finds one soulmate. “Please, you have to help her.” Fluttershy cried, brushing her fingers through the flame colored hair. “Don’t you think I want to help her?” Celestia asked sadly as she kneeled down next to Sunset’s body that stopped spasming finally, but was covered in sweat. “She isn’t human though, there is no way of knowing how it might react with our toxins.” “She’ll be okay though, won’t she?” Fluttershy asked fearfully as Celestia felt Sunset’s forehead, then forced one of the girl’s eyes open to look at it. “I really can’t say, but it might be easier to just let her die.” Celestia sighed, not wanting to say it. She really did care for Sunset, the girl had so much potential, but she had learned of some very bad news just an hour ago. One of her contacts in the Redfern household had called her to warn her about Hunter’s plans. Hunter Redfern was a right bastard, going being the lamia councils wishes more than once. He was also the biggest opponent to what Celestia was trying to do here. If Hunter got word of turning a human without good reason, he could take it to the council and use it as leverage against her. As much as she wanted Sunset to live, all of the people in the region were her responsibility and their very lives may depend on what happens here. “I won’t let her die!” Fluttershy hissed out angrily, making Celestia wince. “Fluttershy, do you even realize what you did?” Celestia asked, trying her best to remain calm. “You broke at least one of the laws, maybe both. I should be killing Sunset and you both for this.” “I won’t let you kill her!” Fluttershy snapped. “Do you think I want to? I love her! She’s, she’s like a daughter to me! Why the hell do you think I put up with all the shit that she has done? I tried to offer her a place in my home, but she refused. I pay for a large chunk of her rent at this dump!” Celestia growled out angrily, “I don’t want to see her die, but Hunter is sending an enforcer to investigate the Fall Formal incident as well as make sure everything is being ran smoothly here.” “Fuck!” Fluttershy swore angrily, and for once Celestia didn’t admonish the girl. If Celestia disliked the Redferns, Fluttershy and her entire family hated them. Fluttershy was one of the ones with the most reason to hate them as well as it was their fault that her family was so harsh on her. “Don’t you see what’s going to happen?” Celestia asked softly, tears leaking from her eyes. “What do you want me to do, Fluttershy?” “Help her.” Fluttershy said weakly, “You said it yourself, she isn’t human. The laws shouldn’t apply to her.” “You, I can’t believe this, if I wasn’t so pissed off with you then I would hug you.” Celestia sighed happily as she pulled out her own phone from her purse. After a few moments of sending a text message she put her phone back and checked Sunset’s pulse. It was growing weaker, but that could be from any number of factors from the girl dying of cancer to her body making the change. There was one last option that it could be to, one Celestia didn’t want to think about. If the change didn’t take hold, Sunset could become a ghoul, a mindless immortal creature with a powerful craving for blood. Almost like a zombie from those ridiculous movies. “What are you talking about?” Fluttershy demanded, glaring at the older woman as Celestia got to her feet. “You just pointed it out. Sunset isn’t human, and if you ask me she should be classified as a shapeshifter.” Celestia explained, moving towards the door to open it. Luna pushed her way past her older sister, an annoyed look on her face as she carried a small lunchbox cooler in her hands. “Are you insane? Approving a conversion without a council meeting and with that annoying Redfern coming?” Luna asked, her eyes trailing across the room to settle on Sunset. “Hell no! You did not approve that little piece of shit to become one of us!” “It’s too late to do anything about it now!” Celestia snapped, grabbing the cooler and stomping over to the microwave. Tossing a couple pouches of blood she pulled out of the cooler, Celestia turned back to Luna with an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry for yelling, sister.” “It’s okay.” Luna sighed, “I know you are just stressed out over the Redferns. I really don’t understand this, I know you cared for the human, but enough to break the laws and tell her without a good reason?” “She was dying! I didn’t have a choice!” Fluttershy cried out, getting Luna’s attention. After staring down at Fluttershy for a few moments, a sad realization flashed across the older woman’s face. “She’ll be okay.” Luna sighed, kneeling next to Fluttershy and hugged her. It was something that often confused the girl as Luna was more like a Redfern than Celestia or Fluttershy. Luna seemed to actually detest humans, unlike Celestia and Fluttershy who believed humans had a lot of potential if given a chance. It was part of the reason Luna and Celestia supposedly didn’t talk to one another for a thousand days a few centuries ago. Fluttershy wasn’t sure though, she was really the age she looked. “Here, help poor this into her mouth.” Celestia said, handing the warmed bag over to Fluttershy. “They will help her finish the conversion, but there won’t be enough to satisfy her for long. She will need to hunt soon.” “No! No hunting! We’re figure something else out.” Fluttershy cried out, almost dropping the bag of blood. Slowly she tore a corner off with her teeth and held the hole over Sunset’s mouth. Blood slowly seeped out of the hole, into the fire haired girl’s mouth. “Fluttershy, while even I don’t really like the thought of drinking from animals, I do understand your aversion to harming a human. Sunset is a strong girl, I’m sure that she is strong enough know when to stop so she won’t hurt anyone.” Celestia said as she kneeled on the other side of Fluttershy, brushing the hair back from Sunset’s face as the girl started drinking the blood on her own. Celestia almost jumped back when Sunset sat up straight, actually sucking on the bag of blood now as her eyes glowed red for a few moments. Celestia couldn’t help staring at the girl, it was impossible. A lamia, the true vampire was a lot like some of the vampires in books. Well, somewhat, they couldn’t turn into bats or fly. They could also go out in the sun, the only effect the solar orb having on them was that it made them physically weaker, almost to the point of physically being human. They also didn’t need to kill to feed, and the act of feeding could be very intimate if done right, but the toxins in their fangs always made it pleasurable. Their saliva even healed the wounds so a person didn’t know what really happened. Then there were the green eyes, the ability that let a vampire either insert suggestions or erase short term memories. All of these abilities were shared with a made vampire, yet there was also differences. For one, a made vampire could not have children while a lamia could. A lamia could also stop and start their aging at will, though they couldn’t reverse aging, while a made vampire couldn’t. Then, there was the difference that was bothering Celestia. An explanation was never found, but while drinking blood a lamia’s eyes almost always turned red. It didn’t always happen, and an experienced lamia could prevent it from happening. No matter how much they tried though, a made vampire’s eyes could never glow red, only green. Celestia couldn’t help wondering just what was going on, if somehow Sunset had become a lamia, a true vampire. “Sunset!” Fluttershy cried out throwing her arms around the girl, knocking both girls over. DUSK Several miles on the outskirts of Canterlot, a figure sat perched on his motorcycle on a small hill overlooking the city. He wore a black leather jacket, jeans, a loose white shirt that hung loosely around him, and black biker boots with a silver chain on each. He ran a hand through his short ash blonde hair, his dark sunglasses hiding his eyes as he puffed on a cigarette. He was here on business for his family, a family he really didn’t care for. He didn’t care for many people really, only a select few earning either his respect or love. He would have honestly preferred to have stayed home and try going after that new transfer girl at his school. She was hot, and he was sure they could have some fun before he had his fill of her and wiped her memories. When Hunter Redfern came knocking though, a Redfern did not turn him away if they valued their well being. Looking down a side road that lead to the next city over, just a short ten miles, Dusk wondered if maybe he should take a detour and visit his cousin. He actually did love his cousin, feeling rather protective of her, though some of his family wasn’t happy with her choices. Dating a witch, even royalty, was looked down upon by their kind. The Redferns believed that the lamia was the superior race, not even really accepting made vampires. He had protected her, deflected some of the power plays to try and make her return just so the old bastards can force her to have more lamia children. The rat bastards that made up the elders preferred the old ways, including making women nothing more than second class citizens. Hell, even second class citizens had it better than women if the elders had their way. It was something that really pissed him off. True he was a womanizer to some degree, they had the sweetest blood after all, but even he wasn’t a monster who wanted women to be less than slaves. He may have held pretty much all creatures in contempt, but they were all equals in his eyes. “Fuck, I better just get this over with. Time to visit little Firefly later.” Dusk grumbled, flicking his cigarette onto the gravels below him. Starting the bike, he revved it a few times before kicking up rocks as he tore down the path and back onto the main road heading into Hell.