Free In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete First Season: Episodes 1-5 by Rhiannon Frater

voice whispered through the comforter.
    Alisha grunted. What fantasies was her sister indulging in now? She was tired, depressed, and very short-tempered. The sun was blazing through the windows, but she didn’t feel strong enough to get up and draw the curtains.
    “There is no such thing as vampires and Roman is dead. Don’t be making up stories about him.”
    Vanora drew back the edge of the comforter and her anxious eyes stared down at her sister. “Did Roman get you?”
    Alisha sat bolt upright in bed, her face flushed and full of rage. She grabbed hold of her startled sister and drew her close. “Roman is dead! Gone! And there is no such thing as vampires!”
    Vanora began to cry, her bottom lip quivering. “We have to kill it, Alisha! It’s going to get us!”
    Alisha’s eyes grew wilder, more intense. “You stay away from the mausoleum and don’t you dare tell anyone about your strange fantasies! You go to Uncle Nicolau and tell him we are staying here! Obey me, Vanora Socoli, or you’ll be sorry!” Alisha hissed through clenched teeth.
    Vanora sobbed in despair. “It got to you, didn’t it? What am I supposed to do?’
    “You stay away from me and that mausoleum!” Alisha responded viciously.
    Vanora scrambled off the bed, her tiny face defiant. “I’ll take care of you, Alisha. I’ll bring things to protect you.”
    Alisha reached up and tore the cross from her neck and hurled it across the room. “Take this and these awful flowers and stay away!”
    Vanora picked up the cross, her voice catching in her throat as she spoke. “You need this or it will get you again!”
    “Get out!” Alisha screeched.
    Vanora reluctantly left the room and shut the door behind her.
    Alisha leapt across the room and locked the door.
     
    Vanora stood in the doorway of her bedroom a few minutes later while her Uncle Nicolau pounded on Alisha’s door and called out to her. Crystal knelt beside Vanora, her perfume hanging heavily in the air, and patted her back, trying to soothe her. Vanora wept uncontrollably.
    “She’s just upset about Roman, Nick. Leave her alone,” Crystal said, sounding exasperated.
    “We made plans. She just can’t back out of them. We have our own children, Crystal,” Nicolau responded. His eyes flashed with anger and his mustache twitched. “Alisha, talk to me please.”
    “I’m not leaving and that is final!” Alisha shouted. “Leave me alone!”
    “We already discussed this, Alisha. I don’t think it is wise for you and Vanora to be alone right now. Please be sensible.”
    “No!”
    Vanora threw her arms around her aunt. “You have to make her go, Aunt Crystal!”
    “We’re trying, honey.”
    Vanora could only think of that awful creature lying in the mausoleum. He must have gotten to Alisha. She wasn’t acting like herself at all. Her older sister was never cruel. How could she, a mere child, defend her sister and protect herself against a vampire? Vanora fought back her tears. Her uncle had to get Alisha away from the house. He had to save them. But if she said anything, she was positive they wouldn’t believe her.
    “Alisha, if you are going to be unreasonable, then we are going to take Vanora and go home,” Nicolau said crossly.
    Suddenly the door banged open and Alisha emerged, looking pale and slightly crazed. Her eyes, ringed with purple, were wide and unblinking. Her golden hair tumbled around her shoulders and brow wildly. Without a word, she leaped for Vanora and yanked her from Crystal. “No! She stays! We both do!”
    “Please, Alisha, be reasonable. We have to return to our own children and you can’t stay here in this awful house. We have plenty of room,” Crystal said in a gentle, coaxing voice.
    Alisha held Vanora closer. Her eyes appeared wild, inhuman. She took several rasping breaths, and then spoke in a much calmer voice. “This is our home. We belong here. Go on. We’ll be all right.”
    “You don’t look healthy,” Crystal answered.