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Description
“The Court”

“Just taste it,” Xandi’s voice was firm and as if this kind of thing occurred all the time. She held the glass towards Kailey’s lips. Kailey looked at Xandi in confusion and then laughed.
“You’re very funny, Xandi. Wanting me to drink your blood....” Xandi’s face stayed in its solemn state, but then decided to break into a laugh.
“Oh, of course I didn’t want you to drink it. Just a second let me get rid of this.” Xandi then left the lunch table and walked to a tall black hared boy dressed in all black, like herself. Kailey saw them leave the cafeteria and decided to follow.
“I knew she wasn’t court material,” the boy’s voice rang in the deserted hallway.
“Dravin, she thought I was joking about it, but here.” She gave the cup of blood to the boy, Dravin.
“She’s a fraud... I told you, Jazlyn. I don’t know why you even tried.” He placed the cup to his lips and to Kailey’s amazement he drank it. Xandi, or as Dravin had called her Jazlyn, didn’t seem phased at all by him drinking her blood.
“Has Rowen let you feed yet?” Dravin questioned Xandi as he threw away the cup.
“No, not yet.”
“Well, he’ll be at court tonight, so you can feed then.”
“Good. I’ve been fighting the lust lately. It sucks.”
“Yeah, sorry. Rowen’s a bastard.”
“But his blood is nice,” Xandi smiled as Dravin put his arms around her and they kissed.
Kailey thought it was time to go back, feeling Xandi, or Jazlyn, would return soon. Just as she sat Xandi/Jazlyn re-entered the cafeteria with Dravin close behind her. Dravin sat with two other girls and one other guy who Kailey figured to be Rowen. Xandi/Jazlyn sat back down next to Kailey.
“Hey, sorry about that before. It was only a joke.”
Kailey forced a laugh and said, “don’t worry about it.”
“So my friend Devin is hosting a little party tonight. I could introduce you to some people, if you want to come.” It was said as a question, although Xandi meant it as a statement.
Tell her no. Tell her you can’t. If Devin is that Dravin kid you don’t want to be there. They drink blood, don’t go. Kailey’s brain was screaming no, but she found her curiosity making her say “Sure. How do I get there?”
Xandi shot her a smile and replied, “here, this my address,” as she scrawled on a piece of notebook paper. “Come at ten, okay?”
“Yeah, sure... Thanks.”
“No problem. Now if you’ll excuse me, Kailey, I have to attend to a few things before lunch period is over. See you later.” Kailey watched her walk away and the swooshing of her dress from side to side. She was brought back to reality when she noticed Xandi had said to come at ten and tonight was Monday, a school night. Then she thought Oh god, what did I just do?
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Kailey was able to get through the rest of the day without seeing Xandi/Jazlyn or Dravin until last block. Being the new girl the teacher sat here in the only available open seat, right next to the blood drinking Dravin. The teacher droned on and on about the Civil War and Kailey tried not to make eye contact with Dravin. Suddenly a folded piece of paper dropped onto her desk. Kailey looked at it and then at Dravin. He stared blankly at her and she noticed that his eyes were black. He then pointed to the note; still he showed no facial expressions.
Kailey picked it up and read:
Xandi said she invited you to my party tonight.
Kailey didn’t really know what to put in response but;
yes, is that all right?
S he returned the note to Dravin and waited a long time until he replied.
i suppose... what is your story kailey? why did you come here and what do you want of Xandi?
Kailey was so unsure of where he was going with this so all she could say was to reply in full truth.
Xandi is the only one so far to decide to take me under her wing, for lack of better words. And I came so my father could keep his job... What do you mean, what is my story, Dravin.
She handed the note back and he quickly read it and looked at her in confusion and shock. She had called him Dravin and not Devin as Xandi had called him.
how do you know that?
His writing had turned into fast script and she tried to respond, but was unsure of what he meant by ‘that.’ She mouthed the word “what?” to him and he pointed to a piece of paper that stated his name as Devin. She looked back down at the note and noticed she had written Dravin.
Oh god! Now he knows I know he’s a blood sucking vampire boy.
Somewhere in her bewilderment the bell rang and she gathered her things as fast as possible hoping to avoid Dravin, but he was already gone.
When she got to her locker most people in the school were already gone. She fumbled with her combination as someone pinned her up against the lockers, with her arm pulled up behind her back.
“How do you know about my court?”
“Your what?” Kailey said trying to show courage, yet knowing it was Dravin. He spun her around pinning her arms against the lockers.
Getting really close to her face he said, “how do you know my court name?” Kailey still had no idea what he was talking about, so she only began to whimper and tears fell for the pain in her arms where Dravin had a tight hold. “Well... then .. I guess I’ll just see you tonight at court.” He let her go and she slumped to the floor trying to figure out what to do now. Dravin was gone already and Kailey knew she had to get going especially if she wanted , or now had to go to this “court.”
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“So I see you made it okay?”
“Yeah, no problem,” Kailey replied to Xandi as she welcomed Kailey to her home.
Xandi had changed into a long black flowing skirt and a dark blood red corset. “Come on in Kailey. I just have to get a few things and we can go..”
Xandi walked down a hall, beckoning Kailey to follow and slowly she did. Xandi turned and opened a black door to reveal a dark maroon painted room with lots of black furniture. Kailey’s eye caught on a small black cupboard. It had two doors with black filigree over a maroon window screen. Three black candles gracefully sat on the top. Kailey noticed they were dripping red wax.
“Oh, Devin got me that. I love it,” stated Xandi as she noticed Kailey’s interest in it.
“It’s beautiful...”
Xandi took a black notebook off of her desk and placed it into a black messenger bag. She took a short black coat off a chair and draped it on her shoulders. Then she shouldered the messenger bag.
All the while Kailey surveyed the room. Black, black, and more black. The whole room consisted of black, maroon, and specs of silver. But the only thing that kept catching Kailey’s attention was the black cupboard. It tended to be the main focus of the room, but seemed to be flowing with evil. A curious evil at that. One that pulled you in so you wanted to open it.
Kailey was brought out of her thoughts by Xandi’s voice, “Okay, then... Let’s go.”
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They seemed to walk for forever, at least that’s how Kailey felt. Judging by the state of the houses in the area, they had been. Most looked either abandoned or a pile of rubbish. Confused, Kailey turned to Xandi and asked, “uh.. Devin lives out here?”
Xandi laughed and replied, “No, not at all. This is just one of the place we hang out. Less people to call the cops on us if things get out of hand, right.” She laughed again. Kailey knew she had made a joke, but couldn’t help to think of human, animal, or blood sacrifices to some unknown god.
Suddenly Xandi stopped and Kailey had to jolt herself backward to avoid crashing into her.
“Here we are.” They stood in front of one of the worst houses on the block. It looked as if it would collapse at any second. Xandi was smile a very broad smile, then turned to face Kailey. “Are you ready?”
Still a little shaken by the look of the house, not to mention the vampires inside it, but she managed to respond with a stern “yes.”
“Then let’s go.” Xandi led them through a rickety black iron gate and up four steps to the front door. She didn’t knock, but rather just walked in. She placed her coat on a hook hanging from the wall. As Kailey was placing her jacket on to another hook, the door opened again.
“Ah.. Rowen.. Just whom I wanted to see,” Xandi said as she started towards the guy who just entered.
“And I bet I know why,” he said with a smirk as he threw his coat in the corner, where a dusty chair sat. Rather than introducing Rowen to Kailey, Xandi took his arm and started to walk into another room. She stalled, allowing Rowen to go first, to say, “Just go upstairs, the door on the left. I’ll be up soon.” Then she turned the corner, leaving Kailey alone.
The house was completely silent, as if it held all the secrets of those inside. Kailey looked around the room she was in. Behind her was the front door, in front of her was the stairs Xandi told her to go up. To the right of the stairs were the brown moldings of a door, encasing a dark hallway. To her right and left there was large Roman column doorways. Dust covered anything and everything. As she started towards the stairs she noticed how the dust stirred with each step from her black boots.
She started up the steps, subconsciously taking hold of the railing, until she noticed the dust on her hand and now clothes. She pulled it away in disgust and continued up the stairs. As she reached the top step and rounded the banister she heard hushed voices coming from the room Xandi told her to enter. It seemed to be the only room in the house with a working door, as it was shut properly. She slowly approached the door and as if those inside could sense her presence, they quieted.
She turned the handle, feeling as though the world was watching her. Slowly she opened the door to view the room inside. The floor was almost covered with a large version of what looked to be the Wiccan pentacle. The pentacle itself was red, each point held a candle, and the center was painted in black.
Sitting by the only window in the room were two girls, also wearing gothic semi-formal dresses. Dravin sat in a darkened far corner of the room. He stood as Kailey entered and said, “Where’s Jazlyn?” Kailey gave him a confused look and he said, “... Xandi. Where is she?”
“Oh sorry. She’s downstairs with.. um.. Rowen...?”
“Okay. Was anyone else downstairs Kailey?”
“Not that I saw.”
He turned to the sitting girls, “Desire is not here, note that please, Elizabeth.” Elizabeth took a black notebook, much like the one Xandi had brought, from behind her and jotted down what Dravin had told her. There was a long silence where Dravin gave Kailey a look of superiority. Without noticing Kailey had backed into a wall, trying to make it seem intentional she sat on the floor. She was careful not to touch the edge of the pentacle.
The door slowly opened again, though Kailey knew it was faster than the speed she had opened it. Xandi followed Rowen into the room and shut the door again. It didn’t take long for Kailey to notice Rowen’s wrist was wrapped with gauze. It was stained with fresh blood.
“Xandi was feeding!” thought Kailey.
They stood leaning against the wall the door was on. Dravin walked into the pentacle and stood on the blackened center. He took a match from his pocket and lit a candle on of the points. He put out the match and took the lit candle around to the other four points and candles. The room dimly glowed from the light of five candles.
He returned to the blackened center and Xandi moved to one side of the pentacle. Rowen and the two other girls followed. Each stood between two points of the star. “The Court of Dark Moon is assembled...,” Dravin spoke once everyone was at the sides of the pentacle. Kailey would have laughed at his words if it wasn’t for the situation she was in.
They all sat except for Dravin who walked towards Elizabeth. She took the black notebook from by the window and gave it to him. He flipped past about a half dozen pages or so.
“Before we begin tonight’s ceremony, I’d like to bring up the matter of one of our members.” Kailey shifted her position, getting ready to stand. “As you’ve all noticed this is the third time that Desire has not been at court.” Kailey sat comfortably again, relieved, but wondered why they still had said nothing to or of her since Dravin questioned her about Xandi.
“According to our standards and rules, any member that misses court three or more times regularly, will be excommunicated,” Dravin continued. “We will of course allow for Desire to explain her absence in her trial the next time we meet.” At this point her glanced to the other girl.
“Saturday, the twenty-second.”
“Thank you Karin. Rowen, you’ll pass the message to Desire?” Dravin’s question was more like a statement to the group, than as if asking permission of Rowen.
Just as Rowen nodded and began to speak the door flew open. In the doorway stood a pale gothic girl with long straight black hair. She too was dressed in a gothic formal outfit.
“Oh! Dravin, I’m so sorry!” She seemed to be begging. As she started to move toward him she continued, “It’s just that I-”
Dravin cut her off, “Save it for your trial, Desire.” Kailey could sense a major coldness in his voice toward her.
“Trial? You’re kicking me out?! But - You can’t - I’m - You can’t!” She stumbled upon her possible excuses.
“You have a set of the rules, Desire. And you of all of people, should know what occurs when someone is disloyal to the court.”
Desire’s voice grew cold, “Don’t you dare bring my brother’s name into this.” The other four members of the court moved back from them, keeping their eyes on the floor.
“I’m not, but you seem to be.” Desire opened her mouth to shoot a comeback at him, but he cut her off again. “Now if you want to at least make your last day in the Court of Black Moon a good one, you’ll sit down and shut up!” She gave him a look of disgust and sat in the open space between the only open star points.
“Now that you are here. Rowen it’s needless to say that you’ll have to relay the message and Desire, you’re trial is on the twenty-second. The next time court meets.” Dravin’s voice toned down with each ending word. He walked back to his dark corner and stood leaning against the wall.
Xandi and Desire both stood now. Xandi went to her bag and took and old looking brown book from it. She returned to the star and entered the center, where Dravin was before. Desire had gone to the wall opposite of the door and opened a small wooden box. She took a few bottle from it and returned back to the center of the star. Xandi sat and flipped the old yellow pages of the book slowly while Desire divided the contents of the bottles. Desire placed a bottle at her part of the star and divided the contents of the others among the other members as the stood. Dravin returned to pentacle but stood in Xandi’s place, as she stayed in the center.
Xandi stood again holding the book close to her bosom as Desire returned the empty bottles to the wooden box. Desire returned to her area and Xandi spoke, “Are we ready?”
“Yes. Continue Jazlyn,” Dravin responded as Xandi nodded.
She lowered the book from her chest and began to read out loud. “To the Gods above and the dark below, the Court of Dark Moon has again assembled. We ask for forgiveness of your sins and beg for redemption, through vengeance. “
Kailey found herself lost in the beginnings of a vampyric ceremony. Even though she had no idea what occurred during one of these ceremonies, or a vampire court anyway, she found herself strangely unafraid.
“If they are also calling on gods above... they can’t be evil.. can they? But they should be damned from being vampires. Maybe they’re not,” thought Kailey.
Kailey gave up on her mind’s revolution as the ceremony continued. Xandi seemed to be able to make beautiful prose of the books written words and they danced about the room. With each word she spoke, Kailey thought the moon glowed brighter, as she stared out of the window.
“Tonight we wish to ask a favor of you,” continued Xandi as she looked to the window and back towards the book. “To the spirits north or above us, ginger to sustain health and mystery.” At this point Elizabeth let the brown power fall through her fingers and into the star point. “To the spirits of the south or below us, mint to purify and maintain loyalty.” As Xandi said loyalty, Dravin eyes shifted towards Desire, who kept her head down unaware. Karin dropped the crushed mint into the star point. “To the spirits of the east and west, nutmeg and pepper to keep up communication, intellect, and protection of the inner self.” Rowen now dropped two powers into his star point. “To the spirits above, sage to protect and see all.” Desire dropped her substance. “And to the dark powers below, blood of the leader, to strengthen our bond.”
Dravin quickly sliced the side of his wrist and blood droplets fell to the floor. he put his knife on the floor carefully outside the star’s circle. Then took gauze from a pocket and quickly wrapped his wound. All the while Kailey noticed that he did not once wince, nor show any emotion at all. He only showed a usual defiant stare.
Xandi continued with the ceremony, “We do call thee here, be with us, attend our court and aid in our quest. Claim our court and bless us with your powers.” At this she gently closed the book and said softly, “So mote it be.” The others in unison responded, “So mote it be.”
All was quiet for a few minutes and no one moved. Xandi closed her eyes, still chanting, "so mote it be,” just under her breath. Kailey watched as the others did the same.
Suddenly Dravin stopped chanting and his head jerked up with his eyes shooting open. Kailey was the only one to notice and became wide-eyed finding it hard to breathe.
Slowly and quietly he began saying, “..*Listen to the words of the Dark God, who was of old called Iakchos, Donn, Anubis, Hades, Setesh, Hoder, and many other names..” He stopped and Desire, Rowen, Karin, and Elizabeth began chanting this quietly. Kailey noticed that as they opened their eyes, they were completely white and seemed to be glazed over as if they were dead.
They continued chanting quietly as Dravin proceeded, “I am the shadow in the bright day; I am the reminder of morality at the height of living. I am the never-ending veil of night where the Star Goddess dances. I am death that must be so that life may continue, for behold life is immortal because the living must die.”
Kailey stared at Dravin lost in his speech, finding herself cold and very scared. She realized now that Xandi was not chanting like the others and glanced at her to see her response. She seemed as scared as Kailey was and didn’t seem able to move.
Dravin continued, “I am the strength that protects, that limits; I am the power that says no, and no further, and that is enough. I am the thing that cannot be spoken of, and I am the laughter at the edge of death.”
At this point Rowen, Karin, Elizabeth, and Desire stopped chanting. They dropped their head to their chests as if they were unused puppets. Xandi seemed to find her bearings at this and looked around at her court members, afraid of what was happening to them. Then she looked at Dravin. He gave her a wry smile as he continued.
“Come with me into the warm enfolding dark; feel my caresses in the hands, in the mouth, in the body of one you love and be transformed.”
Xandi looked at him in fear then turned away and dropped to the floor. She covered her ears with her hands and closed her eyes. Dravin smiled and continued to speak.
“Gather in the moonless night and speak in unknown tongues; the dark mother and I will listen. Sing to us and cry out, and The Power will be yours to wield.”
As he spoke Desire, Karin, Rowen, and Elizabeth slowly picked up their heads and snapped open their eyes. They then shot their gazes at Kailey, each giving her devilish smile. Kailey gasped very loudly and found she had pushed herself back into a corner of the room. They slowly began walking toward her and she panicked. Suddenly screaming, “Xandi! “Xandi help me please!” But as she did this Rowen’s hand covered her mouth as he smiled devilishly at her. Soon the vampires were all around her and feeding off of her. She became so weak she could not scream.
Although Xandi had not completely ignored her calls. She stood in fear of her friends and the death of Kailey. Just as she was going to run to her side, Dravin put his hands on top of Xandi’s shoulders. He spoke quietly to Xandi this time.
“Blow me a kiss when the sky is dark, and I will smile, but no kiss returns; for my kiss is the final one for all mortal flesh.*”
With this he gazed into her eyes and kissed her.

* The Charge of the Dark God is not copyrighted to myself.

Description
“The Court”

“Just taste it,” Xandi’s voice was firm and as if this kind of thing occurred all the time. She held the glass towards Kailey’s lips. Kailey looked at Xandi in confusion and then laughed.
“You’re very funny, Xandi. Wanting me to drink your blood....” Xandi’s face stayed in its solemn state, but then decided to break into a laugh.
“Oh, of course I didn’t want you to drink it. Just a second let me get rid of this.” Xandi then left the lunch table and walked to a tall black hared boy dressed in all black, like herself. Kailey saw them leave the cafeteria and decided to follow.
“I knew she wasn’t court material,” the boy’s voice rang in the deserted hallway.
“Dravin, she thought I was joking about it, but here.” She gave the cup of blood to the boy, Dravin.
“She’s a fraud... I told you, Jazlyn. I don’t know why you even tried.” He placed the cup to his lips and to Kailey’s amazement he drank it. Xandi, or as Dravin had called her Jazlyn, didn’t seem phased at all by him drinking her blood.
“Has Rowen let you feed yet?” Dravin questioned Xandi as he threw away the cup.
“No, not yet.”
“Well, he’ll be at court tonight, so you can feed then.”
“Good. I’ve been fighting the lust lately. It sucks.”
“Yeah, sorry. Rowen’s a bastard.”
“But his blood is nice,” Xandi smiled as Dravin put his arms around her and they kissed.
Kailey thought it was time to go back, feeling Xandi, or Jazlyn, would return soon. Just as she sat Xandi/Jazlyn re-entered the cafeteria with Dravin close behind her. Dravin sat with two other girls and one other guy who Kailey figured to be Rowen. Xandi/Jazlyn sat back down next to Kailey.
“Hey, sorry about that before. It was only a joke.”
Kailey forced a laugh and said, “don’t worry about it.”
“So my friend Devin is hosting a little party tonight. I could introduce you to some people, if you want to come.” It was said as a question, although Xandi meant it as a statement.
Tell her no. Tell her you can’t. If Devin is that Dravin kid you don’t want to be there. They drink blood, don’t go. Kailey’s brain was screaming no, but she found her curiosity making her say “Sure. How do I get there?”
Xandi shot her a smile and replied, “here, this my address,” as she scrawled on a piece of notebook paper. “Come at ten, okay?”
“Yeah, sure... Thanks.”
“No problem. Now if you’ll excuse me, Kailey, I have to attend to a few things before lunch period is over. See you later.” Kailey watched her walk away and the swooshing of her dress from side to side. She was brought back to reality when she noticed Xandi had said to come at ten and tonight was Monday, a school night. Then she thought Oh god, what did I just do?
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Kailey was able to get through the rest of the day without seeing Xandi/Jazlyn or Dravin until last block. Being the new girl the teacher sat here in the only available open seat, right next to the blood drinking Dravin. The teacher droned on and on about the Civil War and Kailey tried not to make eye contact with Dravin. Suddenly a folded piece of paper dropped onto her desk. Kailey looked at it and then at Dravin. He stared blankly at her and she noticed that his eyes were black. He then pointed to the note; still he showed no facial expressions.
Kailey picked it up and read:
Xandi said she invited you to my party tonight.
Kailey didn’t really know what to put in response but;
yes, is that all right?
S he returned the note to Dravin and waited a long time until he replied.
i suppose... what is your story kailey? why did you come here and what do you want of Xandi?
Kailey was so unsure of where he was going with this so all she could say was to reply in full truth.
Xandi is the only one so far to decide to take me under her wing, for lack of better words. And I came so my father could keep his job... What do you mean, what is my story, Dravin.
She handed the note back and he quickly read it and looked at her in confusion and shock. She had called him Dravin and not Devin as Xandi had called him.
how do you know that?
His writing had turned into fast script and she tried to respond, but was unsure of what he meant by ‘that.’ She mouthed the word “what?” to him and he pointed to a piece of paper that stated his name as Devin. She looked back down at the note and noticed she had written Dravin.
Oh god! Now he knows I know he’s a blood sucking vampire boy.
Somewhere in her bewilderment the bell rang and she gathered her things as fast as possible hoping to avoid Dravin, but he was already gone.
When she got to her locker most people in the school were already gone. She fumbled with her combination as someone pinned her up against the lockers, with her arm pulled up behind her back.
“How do you know about my court?”
“Your what?” Kailey said trying to show courage, yet knowing it was Dravin. He spun her around pinning her arms against the lockers.
Getting really close to her face he said, “how do you know my court name?” Kailey still had no idea what he was talking about, so she only began to whimper and tears fell for the pain in her arms where Dravin had a tight hold. “Well... then .. I guess I’ll just see you tonight at court.” He let her go and she slumped to the floor trying to figure out what to do now. Dravin was gone already and Kailey knew she had to get going especially if she wanted , or now had to go to this “court.”
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“So I see you made it okay?”
“Yeah, no problem,” Kailey replied to Xandi as she welcomed Kailey to her home.
Xandi had changed into a long black flowing skirt and a dark blood red corset. “Come on in Kailey. I just have to get a few things and we can go..”
Xandi walked down a hall, beckoning Kailey to follow and slowly she did. Xandi turned and opened a black door to reveal a dark maroon painted room with lots of black furniture. Kailey’s eye caught on a small black cupboard. It had two doors with black filigree over a maroon window screen. Three black candles gracefully sat on the top. Kailey noticed they were dripping red wax.
“Oh, Devin got me that. I love it,” stated Xandi as she noticed Kailey’s interest in it.
“It’s beautiful...”
Xandi took a black notebook off of her desk and placed it into a black messenger bag. She took a short black coat off a chair and draped it on her shoulders. Then she shouldered the messenger bag.
All the while Kailey surveyed the room. Black, black, and more black. The whole room consisted of black, maroon, and specs of silver. But the only thing that kept catching Kailey’s attention was the black cupboard. It tended to be the main focus of the room, but seemed to be flowing with evil. A curious evil at that. One that pulled you in so you wanted to open it.
Kailey was brought out of her thoughts by Xandi’s voice, “Okay, then... Let’s go.”
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They seemed to walk for forever, at least that’s how Kailey felt. Judging by the state of the houses in the area, they had been. Most looked either abandoned or a pile of rubbish. Confused, Kailey turned to Xandi and asked, “uh.. Devin lives out here?”
Xandi laughed and replied, “No, not at all. This is just one of the place we hang out. Less people to call the cops on us if things get out of hand, right.” She laughed again. Kailey knew she had made a joke, but couldn’t help to think of human, animal, or blood sacrifices to some unknown god.
Suddenly Xandi stopped and Kailey had to jolt herself backward to avoid crashing into her.
“Here we are.” They stood in front of one of the worst houses on the block. It looked as if it would collapse at any second. Xandi was smile a very broad smile, then turned to face Kailey. “Are you ready?”
Still a little shaken by the look of the house, not to mention the vampires inside it, but she managed to respond with a stern “yes.”
“Then let’s go.” Xandi led them through a rickety black iron gate and up four steps to the front door. She didn’t knock, but rather just walked in. She placed her coat on a hook hanging from the wall. As Kailey was placing her jacket on to another hook, the door opened again.
“Ah.. Rowen.. Just whom I wanted to see,” Xandi said as she started towards the guy who just entered.
“And I bet I know why,” he said with a smirk as he threw his coat in the corner, where a dusty chair sat. Rather than introducing Rowen to Kailey, Xandi took his arm and started to walk into another room. She stalled, allowing Rowen to go first, to say, “Just go upstairs, the door on the left. I’ll be up soon.” Then she turned the corner, leaving Kailey alone.
The house was completely silent, as if it held all the secrets of those inside. Kailey looked around the room she was in. Behind her was the front door, in front of her was the stairs Xandi told her to go up. To the right of the stairs were the brown moldings of a door, encasing a dark hallway. To her right and left there was large Roman column doorways. Dust covered anything and everything. As she started towards the stairs she noticed how the dust stirred with each step from her black boots.
She started up the steps, subconsciously taking hold of the railing, until she noticed the dust on her hand and now clothes. She pulled it away in disgust and continued up the stairs. As she reached the top step and rounded the banister she heard hushed voices coming from the room Xandi told her to enter. It seemed to be the only room in the house with a working door, as it was shut properly. She slowly approached the door and as if those inside could sense her presence, they quieted.
She turned the handle, feeling as though the world was watching her. Slowly she opened the door to view the room inside. The floor was almost covered with a large version of what looked to be the Wiccan pentacle. The pentacle itself was red, each point held a candle, and the center was painted in black.
Sitting by the only window in the room were two girls, also wearing gothic semi-formal dresses. Dravin sat in a darkened far corner of the room. He stood as Kailey entered and said, “Where’s Jazlyn?” Kailey gave him a confused look and he said, “... Xandi. Where is she?”
“Oh sorry. She’s downstairs with.. um.. Rowen...?”
“Okay. Was anyone else downstairs Kailey?”
“Not that I saw.”
He turned to the sitting girls, “Desire is not here, note that please, Elizabeth.” Elizabeth took a black notebook, much like the one Xandi had brought, from behind her and jotted down what Dravin had told her. There was a long silence where Dravin gave Kailey a look of superiority. Without noticing Kailey had backed into a wall, trying to make it seem intentional she sat on the floor. She was careful not to touch the edge of the pentacle.
The door slowly opened again, though Kailey knew it was faster than the speed she had opened it. Xandi followed Rowen into the room and shut the door again. It didn’t take long for Kailey to notice Rowen’s wrist was wrapped with gauze. It was stained with fresh blood.
“Xandi was feeding!” thought Kailey.
They stood leaning against the wall the door was on. Dravin walked into the pentacle and stood on the blackened center. He took a match from his pocket and lit a candle on of the points. He put out the match and took the lit candle around to the other four points and candles. The room dimly glowed from the light of five candles.
He returned to the blackened center and Xandi moved to one side of the pentacle. Rowen and the two other girls followed. Each stood between two points of the star. “The Court of Dark Moon is assembled...,” Dravin spoke once everyone was at the sides of the pentacle. Kailey would have laughed at his words if it wasn’t for the situation she was in.
They all sat except for Dravin who walked towards Elizabeth. She took the black notebook from by the window and gave it to him. He flipped past about a half dozen pages or so.
“Before we begin tonight’s ceremony, I’d like to bring up the matter of one of our members.” Kailey shifted her position, getting ready to stand. “As you’ve all noticed this is the third time that Desire has not been at court.” Kailey sat comfortably again, relieved, but wondered why they still had said nothing to or of her since Dravin questioned her about Xandi.
“According to our standards and rules, any member that misses court three or more times regularly, will be excommunicated,” Dravin continued. “We will of course allow for Desire to explain her absence in her trial the next time we meet.” At this point her glanced to the other girl.
“Saturday, the twenty-second.”
“Thank you Karin. Rowen, you’ll pass the message to Desire?” Dravin’s question was more like a statement to the group, than as if asking permission of Rowen.
Just as Rowen nodded and began to speak the door flew open. In the doorway stood a pale gothic girl with long straight black hair. She too was dressed in a gothic formal outfit.
“Oh! Dravin, I’m so sorry!” She seemed to be begging. As she started to move toward him she continued, “It’s just that I-”
Dravin cut her off, “Save it for your trial, Desire.” Kailey could sense a major coldness in his voice toward her.
“Trial? You’re kicking me out?! But - You can’t - I’m - You can’t!” She stumbled upon her possible excuses.
“You have a set of the rules, Desire. And you of all of people, should know what occurs when someone is disloyal to the court.”
Desire’s voice grew cold, “Don’t you dare bring my brother’s name into this.” The other four members of the court moved back from them, keeping their eyes on the floor.
“I’m not, but you seem to be.” Desire opened her mouth to shoot a comeback at him, but he cut her off again. “Now if you want to at least make your last day in the Court of Black Moon a good one, you’ll sit down and shut up!” She gave him a look of disgust and sat in the open space between the only open star points.
“Now that you are here. Rowen it’s needless to say that you’ll have to relay the message and Desire, you’re trial is on the twenty-second. The next time court meets.” Dravin’s voice toned down with each ending word. He walked back to his dark corner and stood leaning against the wall.
Xandi and Desire both stood now. Xandi went to her bag and took and old looking brown book from it. She returned to the star and entered the center, where Dravin was before. Desire had gone to the wall opposite of the door and opened a small wooden box. She took a few bottle from it and returned back to the center of the star. Xandi sat and flipped the old yellow pages of the book slowly while Desire divided the contents of the bottles. Desire placed a bottle at her part of the star and divided the contents of the others among the other members as the stood. Dravin returned to pentacle but stood in Xandi’s place, as she stayed in the center.
Xandi stood again holding the book close to her bosom as Desire returned the empty bottles to the wooden box. Desire returned to her area and Xandi spoke, “Are we ready?”
“Yes. Continue Jazlyn,” Dravin responded as Xandi nodded.
She lowered the book from her chest and began to read out loud. “To the Gods above and the dark below, the Court of Dark Moon has again assembled. We ask for forgiveness of your sins and beg for redemption, through vengeance. “
Kailey found herself lost in the beginnings of a vampyric ceremony. Even though she had no idea what occurred during one of these ceremonies, or a vampire court anyway, she found herself strangely unafraid.
“If they are also calling on gods above... they can’t be evil.. can they? But they should be damned from being vampires. Maybe they’re not,” thought Kailey.
Kailey gave up on her mind’s revolution as the ceremony continued. Xandi seemed to be able to make beautiful prose of the books written words and they danced about the room. With each word she spoke, Kailey thought the moon glowed brighter, as she stared out of the window.
“Tonight we wish to ask a favor of you,” continued Xandi as she looked to the window and back towards the book. “To the spirits north or above us, ginger to sustain health and mystery.” At this point Elizabeth let the brown power fall through her fingers and into the star point. “To the spirits of the south or below us, mint to purify and maintain loyalty.” As Xandi said loyalty, Dravin eyes shifted towards Desire, who kept her head down unaware. Karin dropped the crushed mint into the star point. “To the spirits of the east and west, nutmeg and pepper to keep up communication, intellect, and protection of the inner self.” Rowen now dropped two powers into his star point. “To the spirits above, sage to protect and see all.” Desire dropped her substance. “And to the dark powers below, blood of the leader, to strengthen our bond.”
Dravin quickly sliced the side of his wrist and blood droplets fell to the floor. he put his knife on the floor carefully outside the star’s circle. Then took gauze from a pocket and quickly wrapped his wound. All the while Kailey noticed that he did not once wince, nor show any emotion at all. He only showed a usual defiant stare.
Xandi continued with the ceremony, “We do call thee here, be with us, attend our court and aid in our quest. Claim our court and bless us with your powers.” At this she gently closed the book and said softly, “So mote it be.” The others in unison responded, “So mote it be.”
All was quiet for a few minutes and no one moved. Xandi closed her eyes, still chanting, "so mote it be,” just under her breath. Kailey watched as the others did the same.
Suddenly Dravin stopped chanting and his head jerked up with his eyes shooting open. Kailey was the only one to notice and became wide-eyed finding it hard to breathe.
Slowly and quietly he began saying, “..*Listen to the words of the Dark God, who was of old called Iakchos, Donn, Anubis, Hades, Setesh, Hoder, and many other names..” He stopped and Desire, Rowen, Karin, and Elizabeth began chanting this quietly. Kailey noticed that as they opened their eyes, they were completely white and seemed to be glazed over as if they were dead.
They continued chanting quietly as Dravin proceeded, “I am the shadow in the bright day; I am the reminder of morality at the height of living. I am the never-ending veil of night where the Star Goddess dances. I am death that must be so that life may continue, for behold life is immortal because the living must die.”
Kailey stared at Dravin lost in his speech, finding herself cold and very scared. She realized now that Xandi was not chanting like the others and glanced at her to see her response. She seemed as scared as Kailey was and didn’t seem able to move.
Dravin continued, “I am the strength that protects, that limits; I am the power that says no, and no further, and that is enough. I am the thing that cannot be spoken of, and I am the laughter at the edge of death.”
At this point Rowen, Karin, Elizabeth, and Desire stopped chanting. They dropped their head to their chests as if they were unused puppets. Xandi seemed to find her bearings at this and looked around at her court members, afraid of what was happening to them. Then she looked at Dravin. He gave her a wry smile as he continued.
“Come with me into the warm enfolding dark; feel my caresses in the hands, in the mouth, in the body of one you love and be transformed.”
Xandi looked at him in fear then turned away and dropped to the floor. She covered her ears with her hands and closed her eyes. Dravin smiled and continued to speak.
“Gather in the moonless night and speak in unknown tongues; the dark mother and I will listen. Sing to us and cry out, and The Power will be yours to wield.”
As he spoke Desire, Karin, Rowen, and Elizabeth slowly picked up their heads and snapped open their eyes. They then shot their gazes at Kailey, each giving her devilish smile. Kailey gasped very loudly and found she had pushed herself back into a corner of the room. They slowly began walking toward her and she panicked. Suddenly screaming, “Xandi! “Xandi help me please!” But as she did this Rowen’s hand covered her mouth as he smiled devilishly at her. Soon the vampires were all around her and feeding off of her. She became so weak she could not scream.
Although Xandi had not completely ignored her calls. She stood in fear of her friends and the death of Kailey. Just as she was going to run to her side, Dravin put his hands on top of Xandi’s shoulders. He spoke quietly to Xandi this time.
“Blow me a kiss when the sky is dark, and I will smile, but no kiss returns; for my kiss is the final one for all mortal flesh.*”
With this he gazed into her eyes and kissed her.

* The Charge of the Dark God is not copyrighted to myself.