The Siren (Story of a Vampyre Crew)

Maurus rolled his fingers along the deck's slick railing. He leaned against it with his bare torso gleaming in the moonlight. The stars above him reflected themselves in his lustful eyes, and his scruffy brown hair whispered in the salty breeze. The wind circled him, hugging at him, and reaching for him, as he teased it by simply being in its presence.

The ship was coated black, but it still glowed in the encumbering night. The glow served almost as a warning, though no one would listen to it. No one ever walked away from the light of their death. On the side of the ship, painted in a dark red dripping design was the name The Siren. Its flag was colored maroon and had claw marks running through the center. It danced seductively in the sky above Maurus' head, as he twitched his wrist, guiding its every ebb and flow. The masts laid still, closed in the air, uncalled upon.

A piano sat at the edge of the deck, whilst all the other corners were disarrayed with crates and barrels. The afterdeck was quiet and unattended. The rest of his crew must be in their quarters. He would call them out soon enough. It was almost time for routine to begin. The side-shore city Maurus' crew had docked at sat in silence, as if it were also waiting for them to commence.

Black shadows ran along the floor of the ship, nuzzling Maurus' feet.

“Just a little longer my pets. I will send you out.” He said under his breath. He pursed his lips. It would have to be quite soon. He was getting thirsty.

Traduce appeared on deck and was at Maurus' side.

“Maurus.” He said in his low voice. His eyes were pitch black and his teeth shined brightly in the color of its contrast. “Shall I bring up some new crates?”

“Yes, and bring Kitten with you. We're going to have to be picky with our choices tonight, storage is running low.” He replied with an unconscious lick of his lips. “Tell Choler of what we're doing as well. See if she would like to join.”

Traduce nodded and left as quickly as he came, disappearing into the lower deck.

He soon returned with a young beguiling woman at his side. They both carried a crate filled with four tall wine bottles. The seal of the bottles were torn off and they were filled with thick red liquid. Maurus smiled as the liquid moved around in the bottled, and stained the sides with its glory. They set the crates down, and the three sat atop some empty crates that were already on deck. Traduce handed the bottles round and Maurus popped his cork. The sickening smell floated up his nostrils and his stomach turned in pleasure.

“Choler declined, but she said she would be up soon as they arrived.” Traduce relayed. Maurus nodded and took a drink.

“How much longer, do you think?” Kitten asked. Her voice was high and syrupy. Her blonde hair, only slightly darker than her skin, flicked in the wind. The darkest thing on her, other than her ebony robe was her eyes, black as night, though that was changing slowly, as she took a long drag from her bottle.

Maurus looked to the city. All the house lights were out. The high clock tower read 3:08.

“Not long.” He replied, smirking, “Not long at all.”

Traduce let out a quiet low chuckle.

“Hopefully the pick won't be too difficult. The stock we have left is getting low, not to mention stale.” He said.

“I agree.” Kitten said. “Though I don't want it to be too easy as well. I do hate losing such good candidates, and our crew is so small...”

“Our supplies can't be hindered by your need for company, Kitten.” Traduce said. Kitten hissed at him.

“Shush.” Maurus said. “You're bickering is pointless.”

He took a pull of his drink and set the empty bottle aside.

“Let us begin. Kitten, if you would” Maurus said, and gestered to the piano.

Kitten stood up and walked to the piano. The men followed her. She slipped off her robe to reveal a fitted dress with a corset around her breast and a slit at her leg. She sat at the stool and rested her long fingers across the keys. She began to play a hypnotic melody. She started low, and got louder, and more spellbinding with each note. The ring of the piano keys filled the city's alleys and houses, creeping into the ears of the sleeping citizens. The composition of her notes reflected that of Beethoven, and the shadows danced at Maurus' feet waiting for his command.

“Now is the time, my pets.” He said to them, “Remember to bring young ones. I'm tired of stale blood.”

The shadows nodded and flew off the ship out into the dark of the city.

---

They circled through the skies, then lowered to the streets, separating as each one entered a different home.

As one detached from the rest, it flew in an open window. It looked around the dim room it had entered, and soon enough its eyes settled on a exquisite sleeping figure. Her black hair was strewn across her pillow, and her skin was a creamy powder. Her lips were rose colored. They were round, soft and inviting. The shadow immediately knew this was the one he would bring to Maurus. She looked around 19 years of age, which was still in the area of rich healthy blood, though, knowing his master, the shadow doubted that that would be what she was used for.

The shadow moved closer to her, and caressed her face. It floated around her fingering different parts of her body, trying to wake her from her slumber.

---

Aberlin sat up slowly. Her skin tingled, and her heart pounded. She brought her hand to her head. She'd never felt quite so light headed. She felt almost as if she'd awoke in a dream that had formed with reality and given her a horrid headache.

Then something tickled her shoulder, and a breezy whisper sounded in her ear, though she couldn't make sense of it. Something in it its inflection enticed her and aroused her meddled with instincts. It spoke as if it needed her, and her body immediately responded as if she needed it as well.

She crawled out of her bed, and suddenly an inky blackness invoked, and surrounded her. It whispered in her ear again, and bid her to go with it. Her head nodded, and her legs ran out of the house.

---

Kitten leaned on the railing next to Maurus.

“They're coming.” She said.

He nodded. His throat pulsated as his blood-acting venom made its way through his infrangible body. The salty air began to be tinted with a flesh-like smell. Maurus' hands shook with his uncontrollable desire. He clenched his fists and turned around.

“Where is Choler?” He asked. His voice was calm, though his jaw was clenched in restraint.

“Here.” Came a monotone, but feminine voice. The woman stepped out of the lower deck, and walked toward Maurus. Her hair was a dark furious red that the wind sent behind her in flowing curls. Her eyes were the only of the crew's still black, though she liked to wait until she was needed to drink; for it was after she drank that she would be most powerful. “Are they close?”

“The closest one is...” Kitten stopped to sniff the air, and set an impish grin after doing so, “only 1000 feet away.”

“Perfect.” Choler replied with a smile. “How many?”

“Fifteen.” Maurus replied, “If we don't have to send many back, we can each pick one.”

Choler nodded, and stood next to Kitten, leaning over the railing, and smelling the air.

“Any ideas for yours?” She asked Kitten, who shrugged.

“It's always got to be lust at first sight for me.” She purred. Choler and Maurus laughed.

“It always is.” Maurus said. “Traduce is down below getting the bottles and barrels ready. Then he's going to check the showers. Who would like to do the washing?”

“I will!” Kitten said.

Maurus sighed inwardly.

“Male or female?” He asked, though he already knew her answer.

“Female, after I get a peek at the males.” She said smiling.

“The only reason you pick the females is so I'll get stuck with the males.” Maurus growned.

“Well, that's because you wouldn't get any of them clean if you were assigned to the females!” Kitten rebutted.

“That's true.” Choler laughed.

“There's close, should I get you a bottle?” Kitten said to Choler, as she put her hand to her throat.

“Yes, please.”

Kitten headed to the lower deck.

“Think any of them will pass our ordeal this year?” Choler said.

“If so, I do hope they're female.” Maurus replied, stretching his limbs.

“Honestly, so do I.” Choler said, “We've far too much testosterone on this ship.”

Maurus laughed, and Kitten returned with a bottle. She handed it to Choler and leaned over the railing peering past the dock, into the city, and cheered.

“Here they come!”

“Let the games begin.” Choler said under her breath, as she downed the entire bottle in one pull.

Reviews

[Global Norskie]

Great writing! You're wonderful at setting the mood, and I really liked the characters introduced so far. I found myself laughing towards the end despite the morbid situation. Very nice :)

The only thing I would urge you to change is the spacing - makes it a lot easier to read.

Keep it up!

[Tally-sensei]

I think this story is very well written. The story starts off so haunting and mysterious; all of the characters so far are quite interesting. So much detail and description; it really sounds good, and I would love to read more. Great Job! - God Bless XD