“Release the cat,” I snarled. “And turn off this bloody beacon.”
The man jumped about a foot into the air. He also let out a bit of a scream as he searched his backyard for the source of the voice he just heard.
“I brought the cat as payment,” The man said uncertainly into the night sky.
“Release the cat,” I demanded. “I don’t want a damn cat as payment. Release it immediately, or I’ll tear you apart.”
The expensive man rushed to do what I asked. He then removed the urn from the fire pit, and the beacon vanished. That was much better. The man might not see the beacon, but it was really beginning to bother me.
“I summoned you for a reason,” The man said. “I have a task for you.”
“Why would I help you do anything?” I asked.
“I don’t understand,” The man said. “This isn’t how it worked before.”
“You’ve summoned the spirit world before?” I asked.
“Only once,” the man answered. “When I first became a lawyer, I needed some help.”
“What is it you want?” I asked.
“My daughter has been taken from me,” the man said. “She’s been kidnapped. I’ve tried everything to get her back. I even paid the kidnappers, but as of yet, they haven’t returned my daughter.”
“You want me to rescue someone?” I asked.
“I’ll give you anything,” the man said. “My children mean the world to me. I can’t lose her. Name your price, and if it is within my power, I’ll make sure you get it.”
Lorcan began jumping up and down next to Ciaran at the opposite side of the yard. I thought he’d be angry, but when I looked in his direction, I saw nothing but excitement.
“A moment,” I said. “I’ll consider my price.”
Despite being scared to death, the expensive man sighed an almost happy sigh of relief. Whatever his previous experience in dealing with the spirit world, it must have been a happy one because the man certainly believed that all his problems were about to be solved.
Humans made me laugh. I couldn’t help but smile as Lorcan crossed the yard in mist form and began whispering into my ear. The expensive man must have seen Lorcan’s dark shadow because I sensed the sudden alarm inside of him. He’d need to be careful with his fear. Ciaran still wanted to attack him, and fear was a powerful incentive.
“The price of my help is a home of my own,” I said. “If you can provide me with that, I’ll see about your daughter.”
“You want a home?” The expensive man asked. “I don’t understand.”
“I want a home,” I said. “A house if you prefer. I want it immediately, and I want it fully furnished, including a television.”
Lorcan whispered into my ear again.
“I want the television to be very large,” I added.
“I can do that easily,” The man said. “I have a few houses in Southern California. In fact, I even have a fully furnished home in Riverside. I could give that to you. I could even pay all the utilities for you.”
“Bring me something of your daughter’s,” I said.
The expensive man rushed inside his house. Ciaran became extremely nervous when the men left our sight. I motioned for him to remain calm, but he was barely listening. Lorcan, on the other hand, was jumping up and down with excitement.
I listened in on the expensive man as he explained to the men waiting in his home that he’d made contact with the spirit world and that we were willing to help. That was funny; the man thought we were some sort of spirits.
Finally, the expensive man returned to the backyard with a little brown teddy bear. He placed the little bear in the middle of the yard, and then he stepped away.
Lorcan moved quickly.
The man watched as he stepped from the shadows and picked up the bear. What he saw exactly, I couldn’t be sure—more than likely, he only caught the briefest glimpse of my brother.
“You aren’t a spirit,” the man said.
“No,” I answered. “We’re much more dangerous than spirits.”
“I don’t believe that,” the man said as he realized there was more than one of us. “You’re just kids.”
The insult was too much for Ciaran to ignore. He rushed out from across the yard and sliced the man open across his back. The smell of blood hit the air, and Lorcan stopped jumping up and down.
I sniffed the air and licked my lips.
“We aren’t children,” I said.
The expensive man was on the ground. He was in a lot of pain, but it wasn’t a lethal wound. Ciaran had been kind.
“I’m sorry,” the expensive man said. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
I watched his blood leak through the ribbons of his shirt and wet the patio. I wanted to pounce on him and lick at the wounds until they no longer bled. Instead, I closed my eyes and forced myself to look away.
“A bargain has been made,” I said. “If we return your daughter, we’ll expect payment.”
Selma
It was late at night, and my captors were no longer celebrating. The end was coming. I could only hear whispers through the walls as if they were suddenly worried about saying things that could be overheard.
They were mustering up their courage.
Their whispers had become arguments. Now that the liquor was wearing off, nobody wanted to be the one to kill me. That didn’t mean it wasn’t going to happen; it only meant that they were going to feel a little bit bad about it.
One man began raising his voice as if he couldn’t help himself. In my opinion, he was the leader, and more often than not, he was shouting at someone. After he finished yelling, the warehouse became deathly quiet.
I heard footsteps coming up the metal staircase, and I held my breath to keep from sobbing out loud. I wanted my father. I wanted my friends and my little brother. I was going to die alone and in pain.
The tears fell freely from my eyes. The doorknob to my room began to turn, and then I heard screaming coming from outside the warehouse. The doorknob was released, and I could hear the racing footsteps of the man sent to kill me.
The lights inside the warehouse went out.
More screams.
Gunfire.
I smiled as I wiped my eyes. My captors were under attack, and that could only mean that my dad had finally found me. I was going to live. I was safe.
I heard childish laughter outside my door. I also heard whispering once again, but this time the whispering was different. The voices were different. A great feeling of anxiety washed over me, and I thought that odd because I was being rescued.
Another round of gunfire echoed throughout the warehouse. This time the childish laughter was louder and more clearly defined.
Why was I so afraid?
I was being saved, but I was scared to death.
The final man screamed out as something…what? As something tore into him? As something murdered him? Why was I hearing laughter?
The more rational part of my brain was telling me to seek cover. It was telling me to hide, that whatever had just entered the warehouse was no good for anybody. I didn’t listen to that part of my brain. I couldn’t listen. I was damn near paralyzed with fear.
The door to the office in which I was held slowly opened wide.
I was still frozen. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t hide. All I could do was stare at the open door and the shadows beyond. I wanted to run. My chance to escape was right in front of me, but I couldn’t embrace it.
More whispering.
It was an unearthly sound, not something I’d ever heard before.
“Leave the room,” a young-sounding, but scratchy voice called out from the darkness.
More whispering when I didn’t respond.
“It’s safe now,” the young voice continued after a bit. “You can go home.”
“To your father,” another voice called out.
“Why can’t I see you?” I asked in a voice that betrayed all the fear I felt.
More whispers.
It felt as if my rescuers were confused as they whispered back and forth between one another. How many of them were there? Obviously, there were at least two.
“The bad guys are gone,” the first voice whispered. “You’re safe now.”
“I don’t feel very safe,” I whispered.
A boy stepped just a bit out of the shadows. I couldn’t see him clearly, mainly just his outline. He had no weapons. He didn’t seem threatening from what I could tell, but something about him was menacing.
“I’m very afraid,” I said with complete honesty.
“I can see that,” the boy said, “but I’m not going to hurt you.”
The boy was only a bit taller than I was. His hair was short, and his skin was pale to the point of almost being luminous.
“Why do you stay in the shadows?” I asked. “What happened to all the men that were holding me?”
“I stay in the shadows to not frighten you any further,” the boy said. “And the men that were holding you can never bother you again.”
“Who sent you?” I asked. “Why are you here?”
“Your father sent us,” the boy answered. “We’re here to bring you home."
“Let me see you,” I demanded.
“No,” the boy answered.
“I’m not leaving with you,” I said. “I’ll scream. I’ll fight, but I’m not going anywhere with you until I speak with my father.”
More whispering came from behind the boy. That meant there were at least three of them. I heard a bit of stifled laughter, and then the boy slowly started to melt back into the shadows.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“You don’t want help,” the boy said. “We’re leaving.”
“My father will have your heads if you leave me,” I growled through my fear.
Laughter.
“Please don’t leave me,” I whispered.
I was making an idiot of myself, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be left alone. I didn’t want to leave either. I wanted a familiar face that I could place my trust in.
The boy entered the room.
The first thing I noticed was how reflective his black eyes were. They shined brighter than any cat I’d ever met. The second thing I noticed was the chill in the room the moment he entered.
I was in danger. I was in greater danger than I’d ever been in, but I couldn’t say why. My body just kept telling me that I was in terrible danger.
The boy was too beautiful. It was as if he were some fairytale creature made flesh and blood. Why did he elicit such fear in me? His clothes were old and somewhat tattered. Possibly he was my age, maybe a year older or younger.
He reached out with his luminous hand, and I only hesitated for a brief moment before I clasped it with my own. I gasped out loud at his icy touch, but I still allowed the boy to wrap his arm around me and lead me into the darkness.
Derry
The girl was beautiful. She was sunshine and blue skies made flesh and blood. She was a California dream girl emboldened by her youthfulness. How many hearts has she already broken with her blue-green eyes and dark blonde hair?
I loved her immediately.
I loved the softness of her skin. I loved the freshness of her scent, and when I wrapped her in my arms the warmth of her body damn near made me moan out loud.
The warehouse was filled with dead men, and I suddenly didn’t want her to see anything that might upset her. Therefore, I pulled her in closer to me, and I even brought up a hand to shield her eyes.
“Come with me,” I whispered loud enough for her to hear. “Come with me, and I’ll keep you safe.”
The poor girl was terrified, but she was doing her very best to appear brave as we entered the hallway just outside the door. I felt her arms wrap around my stomach tightly, and my sharp teeth started popping up through my gum line. I had to turn my head in order to not scare the life out of her.
Lorcan and Ciaran had already left the building. I could hear both of them outside lurking in the shadows. That was good. My brothers weren’t meant for human company. I wasn’t met for human company either, but I could certainly make due in order to hold up our end of the bargain.
A pileup of bodies met us at the end of a staircase.
“What’s wrong?" The girl asked.
“I’m going to pick you up now,” I said. “I don’t want you to be frightened. You’re still safe.”
The girls arms moved from around my waist to around my neck, and more sharp teeth began to fill my mouth. To be this close to such a beautiful girl and not be feeding on her was driving me insane.
I lifted her up, and turned my face away from her, as she buried her own face into my neck. She didn’t want to see the massacre. She trusted me to get her to safety. She trusted me to lead her through the darkness.
She trusted me.
“I have you,” I said. “The hard part’s over.”
The warehouse reeked of blood and death, but all I could smell was her fresh and clean scent as I tore open the metal door of the warehouse. I kept smelling the sunshine on her skin. I even imagined the brightly colored shampoo bottles she used in her soft hair.
And then we were outside.
I tried to put her down, but her body instantly stiffened.
“Beautiful girl,” I said. “You’re safe now.”
“Please don’t let me go,” the girl whispered into my ear. “I feel safe with you.”
My entire body stiffened.
No human had ever spoken words like that to me. I was baffled. I was thunderstruck. I was at a complete and total loss. I could see my brothers slowly emerging from the alley with curious expressions on their faces, but I motioned them back into hiding.
“Shall I take you home?" I asked.
“Yes, please,” the girl whispered, “but don’t let me go. Don’t stop holding me. Don’t ever let me go. I don’t feel safe without you.”
The girl was speaking as if lost in a dream, and I understood why. The poor thing was exhausted. How long had she been held captive? I couldn’t imagine what she’d gone through.
I lifted off the ground slowly.
The girl tried to raise her head from my shoulder, but I gently held her fast.
“Keep your trust in me,” I said. “I’m taking you home. There’s no need to look. The miles mean nothing to me.”
Her body once again relaxed against me.
We moved higher and higher into the nighttime sky, and when we were high enough, and I could no longer hold my shape, the two of us dissolved into a dark mist that traveled silently towards our destination.
A block away from her home, and we rematerialized and touched down on the sidewalk. The girl was still in my arms. One could honestly mistake her for sleeping, but I knew differently. The beautiful girl was wide awake, and wondering.
Soon that wonder would fade away to a crippling fear. That’s how the supernatural worked on human beings. That’s how the supernatural should work on human beings. Still, the thought made me sad. I didn’t want the girl to fear me. I wanted her to love me as much as I instantly loved her.
I wanted her touch.
Instead, I set her down and allowed her to walk next to me. I expected her to run, but she wrapped my arm over her shoulders and placed her arm around my waist once again. There were no words between us. I was afraid to say anything. I was afraid that my time with her would end.
All too soon we arrived at her house.
I wanted to snatch her up and fly away to a place in which she could never escape me. Instead, I let her go.
She took a few steps without me, and then turned back and reached out her arm. The gesture damn near broke me, but I kept myself from rushing back to her embrace. I shook my head.
“I don’t want you to leave me,” the girl said.
“I must,” I said. “It’s all for the best.”
“I can’t stand the thought of never seeing you again,” the girl said.
“Promise me that some night soon you’ll come back to me.”
“You don’t understand,” I said.
“I do understand,” the girl said. “I understand that without you I’m afraid. I understand that you’re the only one I want.”
“You don’t understand what I am,” I said.
“Vampire,” the girl said. “I know what you are. I’ve read all the books, and seen all the movies. I know what you are, and I don’t care. Please come back to me.”
I was speechless as the girl turned away from me, and walked into her home.
Selma
I was safe. Somehow, I managed to survive my kidnapping. The police and some other agencies that I can’t remember arrived at my house shortly after I returned. They questioned my father and his people repeatedly, but none of them were allowed anywhere near me.
My Dad simply refused to cooperate.
“Selma has gone through quite the ordeal as I’m sure you can all imagine,” Dad said. “I’m not going to be allowing anyone to speak with her until a therapist says that it’s okay.”
They argued a bit, but Dad pulled some ninja-lawyer moves and got his way rather quickly. I was grateful. I didn’t want to speak with anyone. My kidnapping was completely unimportant. The boy with the dark hair and the pale skin was all I could think about.
He was a vampire.
I was sure enough about that.
Dad refused to answer any of my questions. I tried until he got angry with me.
“Your rescuers aren’t important,” Dad said. “I understand they were somewhat confusing to you, but don’t worry about them. They’re gone, never mention them to anyone.”
I searched the Internet.
There I found volumes upon volumes of information about vampires. Unfortunately, everything I found was fictional. No one seemed to take the subject seriously. I searched, and I searched. I weeded through hundreds of teen romance novels, films, and even found some bands claiming to be vampires.
His skin was pale.
His touch was like ice.
He kept to the shadows. Always in the shadows.
I should have been afraid, but I wasn’t. I understood what a vampire was, but I still wasn’t afraid. The boy could have hurt me, but he was incredibly gentle. He took me home.
The Forgotten: A Vampire Story Page 6