Moonlight Lovers   von currypulver
                                   (Sunday)
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                        Kapitel 8: Chapter 4 (english)
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We had gathered in the great drawing room. A body was found. My eyes went across
the room. There were different feelings in each of the faces, they all hung on
their thoughts and then I was the one who spoke.
"Where ... is Sunday?" I finally asked, looking around. My vampire was missing.
"She volunteered to dispose of the body." Aaron gave me the answer. "It was you
and Ivan who found the body too ..." He added and sighed.
Then my gaze slid across the room again.
“And where is Ivan? Does he help her?” I asked and Aaron shook his head.
"He's in his room ... all the blood, he's had a seizure and we had to keep him
quiet."
I sighed. Maybe I would check on him later.
“This corpse… do you have a lead? I mean… how… what happened there?”
Again, I had to ask because nobody else wanted to talk.
“A young woman on the forest path. We don't know who it could have been and
whether it was a vampire or not. There was no visible bite mark. I'll be honest,
Eloise ... the girl was slit open with a knife and her heart was cut out. "
"And then put it in her mouth ..." Ethan added the bloody detail that Aaron had
pondered how to explain.
I could have done without that detail, but something in me ... told me it might
be important.
"Has that happened ... often?"
“Every now and then we have minor problems, but a murder like this, near us,
has never happened before. Maybe it was a person who killed the girl, maybe a
vampire who knows how to hide his trail cleverly…” Raphael took the word and
then looked at Beliath, who was unusually quiet - by his standards. "Would you
like to add something?" Raphael asked him and Beliath nodded.
“To be honest, I think it was a vampire. There was no smell on the corpse that
we could trace, but something reminded me of Sunday's injuries. "
"You mean the vampire who attacked Sunday has now murdered this girl as a
warning to you?" Vladimir summarized and Beliath nodded. "And our Sunday seems
to agree ... why else would she have volunteered to dispose of the body?"
"She acted weird at the party too ... after she brought me to my room." We all
whirled around to Ivan, who was standing in the doorway and looking to the side.
He looked feverish and Vladimir and Aaron were standing by his side.
"You should stay in your room, come ... I'll take you up again ..." It came from
Aaron, but Ivan shook his head.
"I have to tell you first ..." mumbled the younger vampire and then sat down
with us at the table while Aaron stood next to him.
“Sunday was so nervous yesterday. She took me to my room and then looked out
the window. She looked ... tense and then she ran off and wanted to see Eloise.
"
“When I was in the garden, or was I already in my room? Outside I heard
something rustling ... but I was so angry with Sunday because she let me stand
that I threw all glasses into the bushes ... "I thought out loud and immediately
felt all eyes on me.
"The glasses, I collected from the branches earlier ... all 8." It came from
Vladimir, with a half-reproachful look.
"But there were nine ... I took nine glasses with me into the garden." I said
again, meekly.
"To sum up, Sandy is acting strange, a madman is walking around who guts people
and the little one throws glasses around in the garden, one of which is
missing." It came from Ethan and everyone sighed.
"When did you find the body, Ivan?" I finally asked to distract from the glasses
and Ivan looked at me.
"It wasn't long ago ... we were in town together and when we came back, she was
on the way ... the smell of blood came towards us at the edge of the forest.
Sunday went ahead and then the girl lay there. Sunday sent me here straight away
and stayed there to secure traces. "
"Or to blur ..." Ethan muttered, crossing his arms.
"Why should she do that?"
"Why not? If it was the vampire who beat, her up a few weeks ago ... she wants
to take care of the guy on her own and not for us to interfere.” Ethan
summarized and I sighed.
“But couldn't the killer still be around then? It's not been that long ...
since ... the discovery. Or?” I looked around uncertainly and when Aaron was
about to say something, Raphael suddenly stood up, his forehead furrowed.
"There ... is something ... someone in the forest ..."
"Sunday?" Vladimir asked and Raphael shook his head.
"No ... I feel this aura for the first time." He whispered and a few minutes
later Aaron ran out.
"Aaron, wait!" Shouted Vladimir but the red-haired vampire was gone.
"Ethan and I follow him, you stay here ..." It came from Beliath and then he ran
out of the house with Ethan.
"I'll lock the doors and windows, Raphael, please bring Eloise and Ivan to their
rooms." Vladimir was about to leave the room.
"I'd rather stay with Ivan ... I feel safer than." I said quickly and all three
looked at me in surprise.
"That ... is not a good idea ..." Ivan whispered and looked at the floor in
embarrassment.
"But I ..." I jumped up, but a little later I hit the table.
"Eloise?" Raphael was with me, but I only heard his voice from far away.
Something in me tightened. I felt sick, my field of vision disappeared, and a
feverish shiver ran through me. Eventually I passed out and sagged.

When I came to, I was lying on the couch in the small drawing room. Everything
was still spinning in me and I felt a slight tremor. There was an oppressive
feeling in the air, without being able to say why, I wanted to start screaming,
crying, punching myself and at the same time hiding under the bed like a cat.
"She is awake! Eloise… do you hear me?” The voice sounded far away, I
blinked and then I recognized Ivan, who looked at me worriedly. Shortly
afterwards, Vladimir and Raphael came into the room.
"How are you feeling?" Vladimir asked worried and sat on the edge of the couch.
"I don't know ... it ... something is there ... I can't assign it ... this
feeling ..." I whispered and without wanting to, I started to cry. "There ...
something happened ... right?" I whispered and felt Raphael's hand on my
shoulder.
"Take a rest ... you broke down ..." he said gently, but I shook my head.
"What about the others, what about Sunday?" I breathed and an oppressive silence
filled the air, which was only interrupted by the crackling fire and my sobs.
"You are back, but you haven't found any trace of the killer ..." Vladimir
finally said. The subject with Sunday seemed uncomfortable to him, he cast a
look for help at Raphael, who accepted the word.
“She's gone ... but we'll find her. That you collapsed is because something
happened to her ... you both have a connection to each other ... so one reacts
to the emotions or pain of the other ... "
I nodded and lay down again.
"But ... she's not dead, is she?" I asked quietly, and the only answer I got was
a bitter silence.

Vladimir and Raphael, exchanged only mumbled words, whispered something to Ivan
and then left the room. I felt the vampire's uneasiness to be alone in a room
with me and nervously he fumbled around with the fabric of his cloak.
"If she were dead ... you would tell me, wouldn't you?" I asked quietly and
looked at Ivan, who nodded. "What happened then ...?" I asked hoarsely and Ivan
looked once at the door and then at me again. He saw it in front of the couch,
his back to the carmine so he could look at me.
"They found another corpse ... murdered again the same way as the first girl,
but ... this one sticks to Sunday’s odor. She ... bit her ... "Ivan muttered
and I sat up with a jerk.
"You lie! She would never do that! I'm her Chalice, I…” I knew little about
Sunday except that she was an Aztec whose people were familiar with ritual
murders. "The heart ..." I whispered. "The heart ... the girls killed, that
should be a reference to the ritual murders of their people ..." The realization
hit me, and I jumped up, although I immediately swayed and held on to the
couch.
"I have to go to my room ... the books ..." I said hastily and Ivan got up.
“Wait, I'll get her. Stay here and sit down again…” He said and ran out of
the room. I did and sat back down while my gaze slid to the fire.

It was several minutes before Ivan came back, his cheeks slightly flushed. "Here
are the books," he muttered. "I told the others that you were resting but would
like to read ..." he explained and sat down again on the floor in front of the
couch.
"Thank you." I said and took one of the books. "We're looking for the
descriptions of the rituals and sacrifices." I added and immediately leafed
through one of the books and scanned the pages.
“In addition to thanks and request as the goal and purpose of human sacrifice,
the Aztecs also have a very specific aspect: the gods created the world by
sacrificing themselves and thus made the creation of the fifth world age
possible. It was the task of man to follow this example of the gods and to offer
sacrifices through self-mortification and human sacrifice in order to keep alive
not only the deities and humanity, but also the world and the present age. The
human blood guaranteed as the most valuable sacrifice, as Chalchíuhatl -
translated as delicious liquid - and vital energy, above all the preservation of
the cosmos, specifically the sun and the world. The blood of sacrificed people
was also hoped for rain, fertility and, in general, the well-being of people and
the people. Blood and heart were the symbols for life. Accordingly, a person was
sacrificed every morning to guarantee sunrise.” Ivan read and I looked at
him.
"So, the killer is mocking Sunday ..." I thought and took the book from Ivan and
reread the lines myself and scanned the next lines.
 “Sunday lives in her own way as a vampire. She honors every moment she
drinks.” Ivan added and I nodded.
"Whenever I let her drink, she kneels in front of me and takes my wrist." I
thought out loud. I had never realized before that she wasn't just drinking -
she cherished every moment.
"But that doesn't explain why she should have bitten the girl ..." I then said
aloud and closed the book. "I ... need some fresh air." With that, I left Ivan
in the small drawing room and went out into the garden. The cool night air
enveloped me, and I sat on the bench. It was cloudy and slowly it started to
rain. Yet again.
"Eloise ... are you better?"
I turned when I heard Aaron's voice and nodded.
"Yes, a little. I needed some fresh air.” I said and pushed my wet hair back
from my face.
"Come in before you catch a cold ... or get a fever." Aaron looked at me worried
and I nodded and followed him inside.
"Did you ... find out anything else?" I asked quietly and Aaron shook his head.
"No, nothing ... you told you?" He looked at me questioningly and I nodded.
"Ivan." I confessed.
The rest of the night passed as the rain covered the traces of the murders. I
warmed myself up with a hot bath and just as I went into my room to read
something, Raphael knocked on the door.
“I made you a hot chocolate. Just the thing to escape the mood of this dull
weather. ”He said with a smile and handed me the cup.
"Thank you." I said with a smile and tried carefully.
"I wish you a pleasant night, should something happen, you can come to any of
us." He said, nodded to me and then disappeared. I watched him go for a moment,
then sighed.

A few nights passed and there was no trace of Sunday. In the meantime, I felt
spasmodic pain again, but I did not lose consciousness. I spent the nights
reading along, helping Vladimir with gardening, or watching Raphael and Aaron
fencing. Although they both offered to teach myself to fight, I refused and went
back to the manor.
I had just collected the comics and returned them to Ivan when I heard a noise
from the attic.
"Sunday?" I called and ran to the door, rushed up the creaky stairs and hurried
across the dusty attic to their sleeping corner.
"Sunday!" But instead of my vampire, I was facing Ethan, who looked at me
confused.
"No, she's not back yet ..." he grumbled and looked to the side.
"What ... were you doing here?" I asked, looking past him. The laptop was
running, and I clenched my fists. "Serious? She disappeared and you just use her
things?” I yelled at him angrily, but the vampire didn't make a face.
“She allowed it. Besides… she has her cell phone with her…” With that he
crouched down in front of the table and typed something in, and a card
immediately appeared on the screen.
"What ... did you do?" I asked curiously and sat down next to him.
“Sandy has her phone with her, but not always on… that makes the search
difficult. I tried to locate your cell phone ... it was the last time you dialed
in near the Moondance today. Now it's over again ... I want to go to Moondance
with Beliath, maybe we can still find a lead. "
"I'm ... impressed." I confessed. "I never thought vampires would use ...
technology like that." I said honestly, looking at Ethan, who was grinning.
"Vlad and Aaron would never do that either ... but luckily I'm here and I know
how to deal with it." He was just about to add something when a symbol appeared
on the map.
"She turned on her cell phone ..." We both looked at each other before Ethan
went to work out the exact location.
"Stay here and keep an eye on that ..." He ordered me and before I could react,
the vampire ran out of the attic and left me alone. My gaze slid to the screen
and to the glowing symbol, which seemed to be moving slowly. Then it went out
again and I sighed again. Next to the laptop was a slip of paper with notes on
it.
When I was standing alone in Sunday's sleeping corner, I shivered. Her sleeping
bag had been lying there unused for days. Magazines lay at the head end, as well
as books and a plush figure of a chick. In my mind I grabbed the unicorn figure
and switched on the light. The pastel colors changed their light and fluctuated
between pink, blue, green, purple and orange. Always alternating and evenly.
After a while, I turned off the lights and looked around the rest of the attic.
A large antique grandfather clock stood here, which probably once stood in the
large salon. The hands stopped moving and I kept gazing around.
A box caught my attention. It didn't look as old as the other things, so I
stepped over and opened this one. Small gifts came out. All lovingly wrapped up
and all addressed to the orphanage with my name. I took Sundays jacket, which I
put on and sat down on the floor and slowly, little by little, I unpacked the
things. Several wooden toys emerged, a rag doll with blond curls, some books,
and even some clothes.
"Sunday, got you presents every year ... she had found out about the child who
was going to the orphanage because of the death of her parents ... the child who
would one day inherit this house."
I turned and saw Vladimir looking sadly at the toys, some of which may be older
than me.
“I only got one… once for Christmas. A little wooden toy…” I whispered
and tears ran down my cheeks. I saw Vladimir, who sat down with me.
“I promised her that I would see to it that you got it. But then I stowed it
here on the floor ... I thought it would be better if there was no connection.
It would have been strange, no one knew the cause of your parents' death…”
He began softly. “But once… we had an argument and she asked Beliath for
help. He never asked what it was all about, but simply complied with Sunday's
request ... "
“You didn't want me to get the things? So that I wouldn't look for that
person? Every year an anonymous gift ... I would have tried to find out who it
is from ... "I said quietly and wiped my tears away. "I would have known that
there was someone who knew me ... who might have an idea why I ended up in the
orphanage ..." I summarized and Vladimir nodded.
We sat next to each other in silence for a while while I looked at the toys. The
dusty paper, the out-of-fashion dresses and the doll, which was in astonishingly
good condition.
Again, I let my gaze wander over the things.
“I'll keep the doll… I'll donate the rest to the orphanage. The things may
be old ... but there are sure to be children there who will be happy about
it.” I said with a smile. Sure, my time at the orphanage was never easy and I
had to get by on my own, but it wasn't all bad. I had friends there and now I
would be able to make other children happy.
Vladimir looked at me in surprise, but then a smile crossed his face. "A good
decision." He said quietly and stood up while his gaze slid into Sunday's
sleeping corner.
"Vladimir?" I started. "Do you really think Sunday has something to do with the
murder?" I then asked quietly and stood up, the doll pressed against me.
The vampire hesitated to answer, as if searching for the words.
“Sunday… wouldn't kill for no reason, and not accidentally. I… know about
a murder she started… when she was furious… she knocked me out when I tried
to stop her, I only came to when… it was all over.” Vladimir looked down and
turned my back to me.
"How long have you two known each other?" I asked.
"It's been a long time ... I was no longer a young vampire and was traveling
alone again. There were some difficulties and I had to find somewhere to stay
for the day ... I was running out of time, suddenly she appeared in front of me
and offered to help me. We then traveled around together for a few weeks. But
her manner was too reckless for me and I have finished my life more than once in
that time. But no matter how big the difficulties were ... she was always able
to wriggle out of it. We parted ways and many years later brought us back
together in this house. She helped me move around the house and ran some errands
for me. Sometimes she also sent parcels with the instruction that they would
only be delivered in the evening, after dark. "

"That worked?" I asked and Vladimir laughed.
“The packages went to people whom she had chosen at random. These people came
here at night, I took the package from them and erased their memories.” He
explained. "Fortunately for us, the curiosity of the people was greater than the
caution to follow an anonymous letter into the forest." He said quietly and then
left the attic.

I was left alone and sat down on the armchair and looked out the window. I had
to process everything I had learned first. I sat still for a while, pensively
stroking the doll's hair and looking at Sunday’s books.
Finally, I got up and went to my room and put the doll on the bedside table
before going down to the kitchen. The door to the garden was open and just as I
was about to close it, someone grabbed me.
At first, I stopped like a deer in the headlights of the car. But then I was
thrown over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I wanted to scream and
couldn't. But finally, I recognized the coat.
"Ethan! Let me down!” I ordered while the vampire ran with me through the
forest.
"Nope. You're too slow and we have no time to waste…” He growled and ran on
while I was hanging over his shoulder. It wasn't until we got to town that he
put me on the ground.
"What's that supposed to be?" I growled at him, but he was already walking on.
"Wait!" I hurriedly followed the vampire. "Young man, I'm not done with you
yet!" I swore as I tried to catch up with him.
Finally, he stopped and turned to me and only now did I recognize the blood on
his clothes. I took a step back.
"What ... what's going on?" I asked and Ethan came up to me and grabbed my arm.
"We found Sunday ... and now, don't ask any more questions and come ..." he
whispered and pulled me into the back alley with him. He looked around briefly
before kicking the door, which opened.
“The back entrance of the Moondance. Doesn't everyone need to see me with
blood on my clothes ... Beliath and I have a little ... hiding place here.
Sometimes we sleep here during the day…” He explained and led me past the
partying guests to the upper floors where he knocked on a door in the back
corridor. A little later the key turned, and the door opened.
Ethan pushed me into the room and locked the door behind us.
I looked around curiously and recognized Beliath, who saw it on the couch. But
not just him.
"Sunday!" I shouted startled and rushed to the couch and the sleeping vampire.
"She's alive ... but is passed out ..." Beliath said quietly and I brushed the
bloodied hair of the vampire aside. Even in the dim light of the room and her
dark skin, you could see countless bruises on her skin. Her body was wrapped in
bandages that were already covered in blood.
"We found her like this earlier ..." added Beliath.
"Why didn't you take her to the manor house?" I asked, sitting at Sunday’s
side.
The vampires looked at another, then Ethan took the word.
“We first brought her here to take care of her wounds. We don't know if she'll
even survive the next few hours.” For the first time since arriving at the
manor, I saw Ethan's look worried.
"But you brought me here." I started.
“In case she wakes up and needs blood. We'll stay here for hours and
days…” Beliath sighed and stroked his hair.
"She needs blood badly," I muttered. "It was days ago that ... Sunday drank from
me for the last time ..."
"Well, you mentioned it on your own ..." Ethan turned his back on me and started
rummaging around in a box. When he turned back, he was holding a syringe.
"I'll take your blood, which we put in her." He commented on his plan and
grabbed my arm. I couldn't react as quickly as the needle pierced my skin.
"Take it easy," Ethan whispered and I turned my gaze to Sunday. She looked awful
and I just wanted her to be better.
Shortly thereafter, Ethan let my blood run slowly into Sunday's mouth. He
moistened her lips with it and reflexively she swallowed.
"That's all we can do for now." Beliath commented on the situation and sighed.
"Make yourself comfortable, my beautiful one."
I nodded but stayed at Sunday. I didn't want to leave her side now that she was
going to need me. At some point I was overwhelmed by sleep.

I woke up to a cough and started up.
"Eloise?" Sunday’s voice sounded rough and brittle and a few moments later, I
tossed the covers aside and grabbed Sunday’s hand.
“I'm here ... it's all good. We're at the Moondance.” I said hurriedly and
looked around. The room was darkened, but it seemed light outside. Beliath and
Ethan slept on a different couch.
And only now did I realize that the blanket had really been Ethan's coat. A
smile crossed my lips and I looked at Sunday, who had one eye open. I quickly
knelt beside the couch and stroked her hair. "I'm here ..." I repeated and
smiled. "You have to drink." I whispered and the vampire nodded.
With my help, she sat up and pulled me to her.
"Would you ... would it be okay if I drank out of my throat today? It's faster
... and I'm so hungry. "She said softly, almost whimpering.
I didn't answer but tilted my head to one side and brushed my hair aside. A
little later, Sunday hugged me. Her teeth dug into my flesh and I gasped in
shock. So far, she had only bitten my wrist, so I was shocked at the intensity
of the bite. It didn't hurt, on the contrary. This bite went much deeper and
aroused something in me. I couldn't help but hug Sunday and comment on every sip
she took with a gasp.

When she finally pulled her head back and licked the blood from her lips, it was
only when I realized how excited I was. I turned quickly to one side, my cheeks
glowing with charm. She didn't know about my feelings and now would certainly
not be the best time to do so.
"Are they sleeping?" She finally asked and I looked at Ethan and Beliath.
"Looks like it." I mumbled and looked at Sunday who grabbed her cell phone,
which was on the small table. She stood up, swaying.
"No ... stay there!" I ordered, but Sunday looked at me and grinned.
"With all due respect, Eloise ... for the opportunity to photograph the two of
them in such a situation, I would crawl out of the grave too."
I sat on the couch and watched the picture of Sunday acting out her inner
paparazzi and taking pictures of the two vampires from every angle. Finally, she
sat down with me and went through the pictures.
"Ethan will kill me if he sees these pictures ..." She laughed and it took me to
hear her laugh like that after I hadn't seen her for days and a few hours
earlier I had feared for her life.
Without thinking too much, I moved closer and hugged her.
"I'm glad you're okay ..." I whispered and smiled weakly.
She looked embarrassed at first, before she wrapped her arms around me and
kissed my forehead.
"I'm not dying that fast ... I've survived worse." She whispered and looked at
me. I sank into that beautiful green of her eyes and this time I bowed my head
to her first.
But before our lips touched, a pillow flew against the couch, we both winced and
a few seconds later we heard Ethan laughing maliciously.
We both looked at the couch and saw Beliath and Ethan look at us curiously.
"Ethan, it was extremely rude to interrupt the ladies ..." Beliath admonished
the other and then stood up.
“Nice to see you're getting better sunshine. Then you can now explain to us
what happened. "
Sunday nodded and seemed pleased with the change of subject.
"Naturally."

Chapter end

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