Schemes and Dreams

"That's me." 'Or what's left of me anyway' she thought. She wasn't sure which was worse, that it was 8 a.m, or that she got yanked away from her dream lover. 'Just when things were really getting interesting. Isn't that always the way' she thought to herself again. Underneath all of that was the lingering reminder of just how much fun her, Tianna, and Harley had last night. Her misery was less about the minor hangover and more about exhaustion. Last night had been the third night out in the last four days and the sandman was getting really irritated at being ignored.
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"Hi Rayvn. This is Ashley from Plumbob Studios. I would ask how you're doing this morning but, well it's pretty obvious. I have some news that will make you feel a whole better." The fog that enveloped Rayvn's mind disappeared in an instant. "I'm so happy to tell you that you got the part of Lady Desdemonia."

"Holy plumbob! Sorry." She paused momentarily, cleared her throat and began again. "Thank you Ashley, that is wonderful news."
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"Oh please. Girl, go ahead and scream, jump up and down, do a naked happy dance in the middle of the street. There's no need for apologies. Congratulations Rayvn. We will be getting in touch with you in the next week or so to let you know what the filming schedule will be. You really made an impression on Judith during your audition. Don't be surprised if you hear from her soon. Again congratulations, this is a big part for an up and comer like yourself."

"Thank you, thank you" she said before ending the call. "Yes!" she screamed to the heavens. Her fatigue was fading, for now. There were a lot of texts to send and congratulations to accept. She was searching back through her memory to everything Ashley had told her. She could have sworn Ashley told her to be ready for a call from Judith. "Alright girl, part one of the plan is a go."

Rayvn:
I did it! I got the part! Thank you mom. I couldn't have done it without you! Love you!

Mom:
I had faith in you baby girl! This is just the beginning! Love you too Ava.

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Rayvn:
You two can say you know a star! I got the part!

Harley:
You go grrl! P2Nite?

Rayvn:
Tmrw. We need a break.

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Tianna:
Totes! Im @ dance gig. Gonna be wiped ltr.

Harley:
4got bout dat T. Tmrw ? 'Grats girl

Tianna:
Ohyeah 'grats Ray!

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“Wow, I’m shocked and honored. Of course, I’d love to go.”

“I will send a driver to pick you up on Saturday morning and bring you to the airport. Pack for three days and two nights dear.”

Saturday morning as Judith had promised a limousine from the studio arrived to pick up Rayvn. She thought to herself how she could get used to this. Limos, private jets, and traveling the world. This acting thing was looking better all the time. The plane wouldn't take them all the way to Forgotten Hollow. The place was remote and essentially cut off from the rest of the world. After the plane landed in Windenberg it was still going to be a two hour drive up narrow mountain roads to reach the village. It was going to be a nightmare trying to get a film crew into the place, if they did choose to film there. That was the point of this whole trip though, to find out if it was even possible and was it worth the hassle?

As someone who loves vampire stories as much as Rayvn this was shaping up as a bit of a dream trip. She had spent a fair amount of time prior to the trip familiarizing herself with Forgotten Hollow. The history of the village and the surrounding countryside has long been steeped in vampire lore and had been at least to some degree ground zero for the whole legend. Some people seemed to believe that vampires really did exist and that they could be found there. While Rayvn found that whole idea rather far-fetched it was undeniable that the pictures she had seen of it certainly captured the old school vibe of the gothic vampire. Forgotten Hollow wasn't just off the grid, it had no idea what the grid is. She wasn't so sure that Judith or the people from the studio had done any research beyond just looking at pictures, but she was the newbie and she felt it best to not rock the boat. What's the worst that could happen? They spend a few days 'roughing it' indoors without internet or tv. They look around, realize this wasn't going to work, and Rayvn gets to pretend she was actually living the vampire life for a couple of days before she happily returns to the comforts of the modern world.

In hindsight the portents of what was to come should have been clear from the minute they got in their hire car to make the trip to the village. The way the driver kept a small crucifix clutched in his hand that he obsessively rubbed. Or that the car carrying the studio people got 'lost' along the way to the village, leaving Judith and Rayvn carrying on by themselves. Little did they know, in Forgotten Hollow these disappearances are quite common. They both found it rather rude that once the arrived in the village the driver hastily, and rather roughly unloaded them and their luggage before racing out of the village without a word. Not that he had been all that talkative at any point. He spent the majority of the trip glancing at them in the rearview mirror giving them the evil eye. But for now the ladies were blissfully unaware of the sinister turn that their trip had already taken. They were greeted warmly by the locals, who looked as if they were still living in the Eighteenth or Nineteenth century. They both thought it was a quaint bit of play acting, a sort of vampire renfaire.

They were greeted by Lilith and Caleb Vatore. They seemed rather friendly, if not eccentric, but then as they looked around everyone and everything seemed frozen in a time and place long ago. Caleb was the first to speak. "Welcome to Forgotten Hollow. Who is it my pleasure to address on this lovely evening?"

Judith was a bit taken aback. She wasn't used to being unrecognized, but somehow she managed regain her composure and fight back the urge to ask Caleb 'Don't you know who I am? I am the legendary Judith Ward'! She introduced herself and Rayvn. They were both feeling a little odd being as they were clothes screamed 2023 and Caleb and his sister scream 1823. Caleb dialed up the old world charm and gave each of them a bow and a suave kiss on the hand, while Lilith gave them a perfect curtsy. "It is my honor to welcome you lovely ladies to our humble village. We have prepared the loveliest cottage in the village for your stay. You are welcome to roam around and see the sights."
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Lilith stepped forward and broke her silence. "It is truly a blessed day to have visitors come to Forgotten Hollow. I know you will enjoy your stay here. Many people who come to visit end up falling madly in love with the village and the countryside. Some have even decided to return and call it home. It can be quite a shock coming from the world you're used to, but the simple life here grows on you. I took the liberty of stocking your closets in your rental with several dresses if you would care to dress as we do. You'll find if you do that people here really enjoy it when visitors embrace the ambience. If they don't fit let me know and I will find something in your size." Rayvn thought she detected something in Lilith's voice and body language that suggested dressing to match wasn't really optional. It was fleeting and she quickly dismissed it as just her jet lag and the fatigue getting the best of her.
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Lilith continued. "We have prepared a wonderful meal to welcome you. If you would honor us with your presence" she said and then motioned towards the home behind her "the lady Elle De Vampiro and her husband the Count Bloodvayne-De Vampiro are eager to meet you. They love to make the acquaintance of all who come stay, er, visit."
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"We are very hungry. We would like a few minutes to clean up and then we would be happy to join you for dinner" Judith said, clearly missing Lilith's slip.
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"As you wish. We shall hunger for your company" Lilith said before she rose and dropped another textbook perfect curtsy.
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Rayvn and Judith found the door of the rental cottage unlocked. Being from Del Sol Valley the idea of leaving your doors unlocked seemed utterly outrageous. But apparently the crime rate here was much different than back home. Rayvn spoke first. "Toto, I don't think we're I Kansas anymore."
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"Where the plum is the light switch?" Judith said.

"Umm, I don't think there are any light switches. I think you'll find the only light is candlelight" Rayvn said.

"Oh you have got to be kidding?"

"Nope. No electricity. No cellphone coverage. No internet. We are in the stone ages."
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"Well, we'll have a talk with Trisha, or whoever in the front office booked this place. Whoever placed the AirBnB listing on this place lied their tush off" Judith said, her hunger at war with her outrage at roughing it.

"Speaking of Trisha, I haven't seen a single sign of her or any of the others. Have you?"

"No but I'm sure they're around town somewhere. We'll see them after dinner, or maybe even at dinner."

"I'm going to get cleaned up and I think I'll have a look at those dresses Lilith mentioned. I've never had the opportunity to wear anything like that and I think it would be fun" Rayvn said, her earlier misgivings fading away.

"Yeah, well I have and it took two wardrobe ladies to lace me up. So unless you can find something that doesn't require me to do manual labor to truss you up count me out. I'll stick with my modern clothes thank you very much!"
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"Oh don't be a buzzkill. Pick something out and if it requires lacing up I'll do it for you. I don't mind. Come on Judith, you're going to be wearing something like it when we film. Or is your character going to be a time traveling vampire from the modern world?"

"I must say you have a rather blunt way of addressing me. Most people trip over their own tongues trying not to offend me and you have this insouciance that allows you to think you're talking to one of your girlfriends. I'm not sure if I like that or not. I am Judith Ward, legend, after all."

"And I'd say the jet lag was making you b***hy. If I'm going to be your protégé you might as well know the real me. I'm not rude or inconsiderate, but I'm also not going to shamelessly brownnose you either."
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"Well I never! You have a lot to learn about the movie business I see. The price of admission when you're getting started is locking your lips on the backsides of those higher up than you, then saying 'thank you ma'am, may I have another?'"

"Less talky talky, more dressy dressy. You're a woman for god's sake, you should good at multitasking." The hunger and fatigue were driving the words coming out of Rayvn's mouth. She knew she was tap dancing in a mine field, but she remembered what her mom told her about Judith, stand up to her and don't let her back you down. Judith loves having her backside kissed, but she also admires courage. That is a quality that most people lose when they're confronted with the raging diva inside her.
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"I must admit, you have a point. I am starving. Oh very well, let's see what that Lilith woman left us."
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A short time later the ladies arrived at the De Vampiro estate. Lilith handled the introductions, first up was the lady of the house Elle, then her husband the Count Vlad Bloodvayne-De Vampiro. It struck both ladies as a nice twist that he took her name instead of the patriarchal trope of her surrendering her's. There was an air of calm self assurance and control around Elle De Vampiro. For that matter Lilith possessed much the same. In spite of Caleb being the one to introduce himself first, it was clear once Lilith came forward that she was the sibling who held the reins of power. Forgotten Hollow exudes an air of the Old World, but this was undoubtedly a matriarchy. Lastly they met the lovely and reserved Inna Cents.
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It took Rayvn a couple of seconds to get the play on words in her name. Inna didn't make the same intense eye contact that Elle and Lilith do. There were times where Rayvn felt like those two were peering deep into her soul and judging it in the same way a farmer might examine a horse or mule he was preparing to buy. It did give her the heebie jeebies if she tried making eye contact for a prolonged time. She didn't get that same feeling from Inna. There was a totally different feel coming from her. In the meantime a feast had been prepared and she and Judith dove in. In between the third and fourth course Rayvn leaned over and asked Judith if she had noticed anything odd, namely that the only other person at the table who had been enjoying the meal was Caleb. She hadn't actually seen anyone else take a genuine bite of the food and that the very pale, gaunt looking maid was removing nearly full plates of food from in front of them. They had however been enjoying several glasses of red wine. And all the while Elle and Lilith kept up that penetrating stare over the rims of their wine goblets. Fatigue and hunger had dulled Rayvn's naturally sharp instincts so she wasn't fully comprehending the danger that had her surrounded, and effectively trapped. Judith was too self-centered to ever register the threat. That was all about to change shortly.

After the food had been cleared and fresh glasses of mulled wine had been delivered the conversation began. "What is it that brings you two to our lovely village?" Elle asked. Her voice had a certain demureness that her eyes simply were unable to achieve.
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"We are getting ready to film a movie about vampires and we were looking for suitable locations to shoot some scenes. We wanted to capture an Old World aesthetic and Forgotten Hollow certainly has it."
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"Yes it does" said Elle, "but you must forgive me, what is a movie?"
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"What? Pardon me, but it sounded like you asked me what a movie is." Judith said

"I did. I've never heard of that. What are they? You must pardon us, but as you can see we shun the modern world that you called home."

It was Rayvn's turn to be surprised, or more accurately, alarmed. "Did you just say 'the modern world we" she said as she indicated herself and Judith, "called home?"

"I don't recall saying that precisely, but I do apologize if I misspoke." Elle's eyes were taking on a harder edge, as were Lilith's. Caleb and Vlad remained impassive and oddly detached. Vlad had yet to say anything at all beyond 'Good Evening' and 'Pleased to make your acquaintance'. The hairs on the back of Rayvn's neck were standing on end now. Judith was still stuck at incredulity over Elle's question asking what a movie is.

"I beg your forgiveness for my lack of grace and my poor wording. I should like to know a bit more about how you are prepared to depict our lifestyle in this thing you call a movie?"

"Your lifestyle?"

"Yes. You are aware that the five of us are in fact vampires are you not? Isn't that why you came here, to be with real vampires?"
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"You are joking? Vampires don't exist" Judith exclaimed with a bit too much force for Elle's liking. In a flash Lilith was standing behind Judith and Rayvn, ready to strike in an instant.
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"We are not joking. We are vampires. And I do not like the tone of your question or your dismissiveness our existence. It is your great fortune and salvation that I am a gracious hostess and will therefor, for the moment anyway, not command Lilith to drain you of every last drop of blood in your body. But to show you that I am serious and that we are who we say we are, Lilith, dear, you may have a small drink from our incredibly rude guest.
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Drink! But don't kill her."
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Rayvn was frozen in terror. Judith tried to scream when Lilith's fangs broke her skin. She had uttered a feeble no and tried uselessly to push Lilith away when Elle said drink. It was one thing to be a fan of vampires when they were safely contained on a movie or tv screen, still just an abstract concept with romantic undertones. It was far different when they were real and one currently had her fangs sunk deep into your companion's throat inches from your own. To make it worse, Elle's face was split in a demonic grin. When Lilith finished with Judith, she turned to Elle and asked if she could have a drink from Rayvn as well. "This one looks like the most divine drink I've seen in the last century" she said to Elle. "Wait Lilith. So, miss, do you believe us when we say we are vampires? Or does Lilith need to prove it to you as well?"
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"I believe you, I believe you. Please no." Rayvn begged, surprised that something she would have once asked for was something she would do anything to avoid right this second. Though the vampire bite she had envisioned as a teen watching shows like 'Twilight' had a far more romantic feeling. This was menacing, not loving.

"Very well then. Lilith...it's your choice. Drink from her if you like, but don't drain her. I want both of my new pets alive." Lilith's speed was beyond human comprehension. Before Rayvn's panicked mind could get the word 'no' out of her mouth Lilith's fangs were deep in her neck.
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As Lilith drank, Rayvn faded into a strange world of contentment, then unconsciousness. "Inna, you disappoint me. You've been here how many centuries now? Three? This isn't the first time you've seen us add new pets to our menagerie and yet your eyes show such pity for them. Aren't you happy that I added you to my family? Don't you think they will feel that same happiness too when they join us?"
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"Yes Mistress De Vampiro. I am very happy" she said but her eyes betrayed her. "You honored me by choosing to turn me into a vampire instead of killing me."
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"Show me your gratitude then by seeing to it that these two are returned to their new home. Take a few servants and haul them back. Remove all their wretched belongings they brought with them. They no longer have any need for those things. Their old lives are over and they will be starting over new here with us. The older one, will make a nice scullery maid. It will be a fitting way for her to serve me. She has such a high opinion of herself what a fitting ending, living out what remains of her wretched existence as the lowest of the low. I will see to it that she answers to even the other scullery maids. The younger one I think would make a wonderful vampire and would produce such strong vampire children. Lilith you may turn her when you are ready. I should think you will give her to your brother. I'm sure he would love to start creating a new line of Vatore's with her. Also what did you do with the others that were traveling with them?"
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"I had them sent back with no memory of us, The Hollow, or these two. As far as those people are concerned none of this ever happened" Lilith said. "If asked they will have no idea that a place called Forgotten Hollow exists."
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"Have someone keep an eye on them until I can perform the 'Ritual of Bonding'. Have your best people erase all traces of their having left Windenberg. This old one feels like trouble and I suspect people will come looking for her. See to it they can't be traced at least until after I bind them to Forgotten Hollow and erase their memories. Are you still here Inna? Go! I gave you a job to do, now go do it!"
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"Yes Mistress De Vampiro."