Chapter 4- Confessions

Soon after the sexual encounter with Cloe, Viana went to her own mansion in the upper east side of New York, the one she goes to when she is in the country for business and not pleasure. She was never in the US for pleasure. Not since her brother dies there ages ago. A thousand years ago, when Viana was a vampire, she came to the US for vacation with her brother and her entire clan. She was the closest to her brother and told all her secrets to him. But then one day when they were all lounging about the vacation house, she heard a gunshot from the other side of the house and quickly went to discover what it was and subsequently saw her brother lying there with a hole in his head and a note taped to his finger. The note had said “You have spilled the blood of many. Consider this a little taste.”

The next day at Club Eros, Viana was doing some paperwork when Claudia sent her a message through her phone. “Come to the mansion mistress. Your attention is needed.”

As soon as she saw that message, she closed the VIP section, left her assistant in charge, and headed out to her luxurious rolls Royce and headed off to the mansion. When she arrived at the mansion, parked the rolls Royce in the garage, and headed inside. When she arrived inside the mansion, Claudia called from her office and at the call, Viana quickly headed up to her office to see what Claudia was up in arms about.

“Claudia, what’s the matter?” Viana asked as she took a look around her office and saw nothing out of place. Except she could feel a pain not external but a pain that something grim was coming soon.

“Mistress, I found this note in the mail.” Viana took the note from Claudia and opened it up. When she read the note, a chill of fear went down her spine. The note read “We’re coming for you and your kind.”

“Okay. Thanks Claudia. Please give me some time to think about things.” Viana said as she sat down on her chair.

“Yes mistress. I’ll go take a break. What course of action will you take mistress?” Claudia asked worried that Viana would do something rash and impulsive.

“That is none of your concern. That is between me and the sender of this note.” Viana said in a sterner tone of voice.

“So, you know this note’s sender?” Claudia asked as she was hesitant to leave. She was worried about Viana. She was worried that Viana would do something that would end up in disaster. She knew that Viana was a vampire and Claudia was a human. Claudia knew that she didn’t have the life experiences of her mistress. But she still wanted to look out for Viana because of what she knew. She knew about her brother being killed. She knew about all the suffering that she’s been through because of gender norms through the millennia that Viana’s been alive. She knew how after her father had passes away, her mother being brokenhearted, committed suicide which left Viana in depression. She knew all this not because Viana had confided in her but because of all the stories that the walls of the mansion in Damascus had told through the images on the walls.

“Yes, I do. He was part of the hunter pack that killed my brother.” Viana said in a more angry but patient tone. “Why do you keep asking? I thought I told you to leave and take a break.”

“You did mistress, but I’m worried about you. I know about your brother. I know about your father and mother. I know about your depression and how when you get sad or angry, then you pretty much isolate yourself from everyone and everything. I know I am a human and that you are a vampire. But I want you to know that you can depend on me for help even in the toughest of times.” Claudia said feeling braver than she thought or felt.

Stunned by the sudden braveness from her assistant and confidant, Viana asked “How do you know about all that? I didn’t tell you any of that.” Claudia was more than just a servant to her, and she knew that. Claudia was her most trusted confidant and her best human friend.

“The paintings on the walls of your house speak of suffering beyond understanding. They speak of all your afflictions. And your library, all the books on it speak of nothing but suffering. How do you expect me to not know about any of that?” Claudia rebutted as she was passionate about protecting her best friend from danger.

“So, what would you expect me to do? Should I not get vengeance for my brother and parents?” Viana asked in a challenging tone hoping Claudia would back down a little bit.

“I think your brother would want you to move on with your life. It’s been a thousand years. So much has changed in that time. You have changed mistress. I never knew your brother and I would have loved to know him, but we can’t change that. We can’t bring him back from the dead. We can however honor his memory. We can honor all of their memories. Your parents and your brother.” Claudia said what she was feeling all along and now she felt a big burden lift off of her shoulders.

Viana cried and Claudia consoled her until she fell asleep. Then Claudia picked Viana up bridal style and carried her to the bed at the room. Then she closed all the blinds as it was already midnight.

Back in Cloe’s house, Cloe was packing up the rest of her belongings to go to Damascus for the foreseeable future. She had made plans with her team to meet at her place at midday and take two cars to the airport. The plane tickets were all paid for, and the taxis were all paid for as well. Later that day at 11, there was a ring on the doorbell. Expecting one of her team members to be there, she went to go open the door only to see Claire standing there.

“What do you want Claire? You haven’t embarrassed me enough, so you came all the way to my house to embarrass me more? Please leave or I will call security. The security officers are kind of mad that I’m leaving so they will be more than happy to **** you off the property.” Cloe said as she saw two security officers 7 feet behind Claire reaching for their tasers on their hips.

“I just wanted to say I hope you are happy without me. I just hope you know that when you broke up with me, you gave up all hopes of having any power-“Claire was cut off by Cloe who pointed to the security guards who came and picked Claire up by the arms and led her away off of the premises. “Let me go you brute.” Was all could be heard coming out of Claire’s mouth as the guards threw her out of the gates.

“What now? I can’t hear you and your constant narcissism.” Cloe shouted after Claire. Then when the guards came back Cloe turned her attention to the two guardsmen. “Thanks Louie and Thanks Chuck. I guess these are my last two hours here.” Cloe said in a gloomy tone.

“Why so sad madam?” Louie asked.

“You two are the only men I actually like and kind of tolerate.” Cloe admitted.

“Will you miss us?” Chuck asked.

“Very much.” Cloe said as she gave them a huge hug. “Come visit me in Damascus if you want.”

“We definitely shall make that a priority.” Louie said as he gave Cloe a peck. “Although we could provide security for you and your team in Damascus if you’d like.”

“I’m not sure although I would love that. Let me ask the security chief down there and then I’ll give you two a call. But what about working here? Are you done working here?” Cloe asked worried for her friends.

“No, we don’t. As soon as you leave, our boss said he will relieve us of our duty here and make us take the midnight shift at a morgue downtown.” Chuck and Louie said as they looked downcast.

“How could they do that?” Cloe inquired of the unfairness that had occurred to these amazing men. They had families, wives, and kids that they needed to provide for.

“Apparently, our company and the landlord’s contract ended today, and we can’t do it freelance.” Louie said as she was still downcast, and Cloe wanted to turn their frown upside down into a smile.

“Umm… let me see what I can do.” Cloe said as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed the American embassy for the work exchange program. “Hello? Is this the office of security?

“Yes, it is. Who may I ask is calling?” A man said on the other end of the line.

“This is Cloe Jones from Erocorp. My team and I will be heading to Damascus for a transfer.” Cloe said as she looked through paperwork.

“What can I do for you Ms. Jones?” Said the man behind the phone collecting the paperwork that had come through a week ago.

“Well, is there a security team assigned to us?” Cloe asked.

“Let me check for you.” The man behind the phone said then turned to the paperwork and checked. About five minutes later, the man came back and said “Ms. Jones, it seems there is no security team assigned to you all which is irregular because usually the CEO makes it a priority to make sure there is a team of security agents waiting for you at the airport.”

“Well then may I bring in a team of my own?” Cloe asked.

“I don’t see why you can’t. But did you discuss this with the CEO?” The man asked.

“No and I don’t really have any plans to do so. She and I are over, and we don’t really see eye to eye on anything.” Cloe said as she rolled her eyes at the mention of the CEO. “When I’m in charge of the Damascus branch, I plan to disconnect us from the head office.”

“Well then do what you need to do Ms. Jones and travel safe.” The man said. “Oh, and Madam, please be careful.”

“We will. Thank you, sir.” Cloe said as she hung up the phone. After she hung up the phone call, she told Louie and Chuck the good news and then when her team came, they all headed into two cars and went to the airport. Later at the airport, Chuck and Louie told them that they would meet them at the airport in Damascus simply so that they could inform their families after which, they would come with or without their families to which Cloe agreed and greeted them and said, “See you later.” From that point on, they were no longer in New York but in Damascus.