Blood Debt

by Heather MacKinnon

  I’d never been much of a runner, but that night was different. It was like I was free. Like all the worries and unanswered questions were just melting away. At that moment it didn’t matter that I had apparently trespassed into someone’s restaurant, or that I had no recollection of how I’d gotten there. I was whole, unharmed, and running faster than I’d ever run before.

  I soon found myself at the intersection I’d been trying to reach, but didn’t want to stop running. The feeling of moving so fast and free wasn’t one I wanted to give up. While I was running, I didn’t have to think about all the things wrong with that night. Speeding down the sidewalk gave me an excuse to push aside the questions that circulated through my head that I had no answers for.

  There were too many people on the sidewalks there for me to run the way I wanted to. Slowing my pace, I looked around and saw that every direction was packed with pedestrians except for the way I’d come from. I debated whether I wanted to take the chance I might attract the attention of those men again, but my newfound speed helped make up my mind. I figured, even if those men meant me harm, I’d have no problem outrunning them.

  With a grin, I wheeled around and sprinted back the way I’d come, only this time I pushed my limits. I pumped my arms and legs as fast as possible, amazed to see the buildings whipping past me faster than ever. Although I should have been moving too fast to make out my surroundings, every brick, every door, every window was as clear as if I’d stopped to check them out instead of raced passed them.

  Before long, I found myself at another busy intersection and cursed the island for being this crowded. Can’t these 1.6 million people go home? Instead of ending my run, I turned around and ran back the way I’d come. I pushed myself even harder this time and I swear, the shady men didn’t even look up from their nefarious deeds. Laughing out loud, I felt light and giddy. I could probably have run the whole length of Manhattan in just a few minutes at this speed.

  Upon reaching the first busy intersection again, I slowed and turned around, prepared to make another circuit. Picking up my feet, I began to gain speed again when I felt a dull pain across my waist and the wind stopped. I was pulled into an alley and that horrible deja vu was back.

  I looked down to find a pale white arm wrapped around me and instantly panicked. I clawed and pulled at it, desperate to escape, but it was immovable. In my mind, I saw a flash of a similar-colored wrist dripping blood above my face. I swallowed down the nausea and continued to fight.

  “HEL–” My cry was cut short when the stranger clapped his hand over my mouth.

  Kicking my legs and thrashing my head, I wiggled as much as possible, but the arms held me still. I couldn’t breathe. Gasping in the stranger’s embrace, I struggled to drag in a breath, but my airways were constricting. My vision narrowed, and I fought even harder, clawing at the hand that held me and kicking at the legs attached to it.

  “I’ll let you go if you calm down.”

  The deep voice behind me rumbled against my back and I shivered, but didn’t stop struggling to free myself.

  “I’m not going to hurt you, but you can’t fight me, you can’t scream, and you can’t run away. If I let you go, will you promise to stay put?” The man’s voice rumbled through me again.

  I scanned through my options and realized I had none. After begrudgingly nodding, I was released and turned to face the man who’d captured me.

  The first thing I saw was a broad chest covered in a soft-looking heather gray t-shirt. I looked up, up, up, to a face that was so handsome it should be illegal. I had a quick flash of a memory of another pale stranger I’d met on a dark city street, but this man looked nothing like the person in my memory. He had short, light brown hair, and deep hazel eyes set in a pale white face that examined me as surely as I was examining him. His handsomeness wasn’t affected by the scowl on his face.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  I hesitated for a moment, trying to think of a good reason to not answer him. Upon finding none, I said, “Adrienne.”

  “Adrienne.” I watched his lips sound out my name. “Just what the hell did you think you were doing?”

  Not a fan of being scolded, I crossed my arms over my chest. “What did it look like I was doing?”

  I watched him take a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. “It looked as if you were running full speed down a New York City street in full view of humans.”

  “As opposed to a street in full view of aliens?” I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

  “This isn’t a joke, Adrienne.” I liked the way he said my name. “Do you know how bad it would have been if someone had seen you? Luckily the only people on this street are the meth heads a few doors down, and no one would believe them if they talked.”

  “How do you know they’re meth heads?”

  “I could taste it.”

  “How could you taste–”

  “Enough!” he yelled, and I jumped a little. I watched him take another breath as if to compose himself. “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m trying to convey to you the gravity of this situation.”

  Standing there effectively cowed, I waited for him to continue. His eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-two. What does that have to do with anything?”

  He ignored my question and shook his head. “No. How long have you been changed?”

  Now it was my turn to narrow my eyes at him. “Changed into what?”

  He stood there looking at me for a moment longer before he sighed and rubbed his hand against the back of his neck. “That explains a few things,” he said quietly, almost to himself.

  “Not to me it doesn’t.”

  He sighed again. “Where is your maker?”

  “My what?” It was like this guy was speaking another language. He sighed a third time, and I’d had enough. “Do you think you could quit sighing and tell me who you are at least?”

  He looked abashed. “Excuse me. Where are my manners? My name is Nicholas. Can you tell me when you awoke?”

  “Awoke?” Who talks like that? “I awake every day.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. When was it you awoke and noticed a change in your senses? Better vision, sense of smell, greater strength?”

  Oh. That change.

  “Just tonight. I left my friend’s party and woke up a few hours later in the basement of a Chinese food restaurant over there.” I pointed in the general direction.

  “Was there anyone there with you when you awoke? Do you remember how you got there?”

  “No. I was alone, and I don’t know how I got there.”

  Nicholas seemed to be deep in thought, his thick, dark eyebrows drawn together forming a crease between the two. Seeming to decide something, he nodded and held out his hand. “All right then. Come with me.”

  I took a step back. “Come with you? Why would I come with you? I just met you and I need to get back to my dorm.” A thought struck me. “Oh, crap. I have a final in the morning. I really have to go.”

  I attempted to walk past him, but he blocked my path. “Adrienne, finals are the least of your problems. In fact, tomorrow is Sunday. I doubt your university gives exams on Sundays.”

  My mind went blank before a dozen thoughts rushed in at once. “Sunday?” I screeched. “How can it be Sunday? I left that party on Wednesday! What the hell was I doing for three days and why can’t I remember them?” My voice had gone from screeching to shrill.

  Nicholas reached out and placed both of his big hands on my shoulders. “I know this is confusing, and I can explain most of it to you, but we can’t do that here. Please, come with me and I’ll do my best to answer all your questions.” He removed his hands and held one out again, silently asking me to take it.

  Looking up at him, I studied his beautiful face and saw the sincerity in his brownish green eyes. I didn’t know what had come over me, but I trusted that he wouldn’t harm me. Placing my hand in his, I
realized my skin was the same pale shade. I looked up into his eyes, a million questions in mine, and he nodded once with a grim look on his face.

  “Follow me.”

  Chapter 3

  “Adrienne, you’re a vampire now.”

  My jaw hit the floor. That was what he had to tell me?

  I’d been sitting on Nicholas’ stiff white couch in his swanky 5th Avenue penthouse apartment, watching him pace for more than five minutes. Multiple times he’d stopped, faced me, and opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind and continued to pace.

  The spacious living room was in black, white, and gray, with an entire wall devoted to ceiling-high windows that overlooked a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline. It didn’t look like the home of a crazy person.

  I turned my attention to the man himself. My eyes ran up the length of him, from his tan-colored boots, up his thick, blue jean-clad legs, over his broad chest, and up to his handsome face. I studied him, my eyes tracing over his strong jaw now covered in a five o'clock shadow. My eyes skated past his mouth, noticing his bottom lip was much fuller than his top lip. Last, I dragged my gaze to his deep hazel eyes.

  Nope, he doesn’t look like a crazy person either.

  So then, the only logical response was: “What the hell?”

  Nicholas walked over and took a seat next to me on his uncomfortable couch. “I know this is a difficult tablet to swallow–”

  “Pill,” I corrected him.

  “Excuse me?”

  “The phrase is: ‘a difficult pill to swallow’ and I don’t think that quite covers it at this point.”

  “Fine. Pill.” He sighed. “I know this is difficult for you to understand now, but I need you to believe me because there is a lot you need to know.”

  I scanned his face again, looking for some sign he was messing with me. “How do you know?”

  “How do I know what?” he asked.

  “That I’m a vampire. Are you some kind of expert on mythological beings? What would give you the impression I’m a vampire?”

  He looked at me like I was being ridiculous. Maybe I was. Maybe I was still asleep in that basement, dreaming that a handsome man brought me to his gorgeous apartment, only to turn out to be insane.

  “Adrienne,” he said my name like he was speaking to a child. “When I pulled you off that street, you had to have been running close to 100 miles an hour.”

  “I what?” I screeched. “What the hell do you mean I was running 100 miles an hour? A person can’t just run 100 miles an hour, Nicholas.”

  “You’re right. A person can’t. But a vampire can.”

  And we were back to the vampire talk.

  “Listen, Nicholas, I need to go. It’s late and I need to get back to my dorm. My roommate must be worried sick if I’ve really been M.I.A. for three days.”

  I was over this night already. Sure, I’d woken up to some strange new strengths, but that didn’t mean I was a vampire. Who, over the age of ten, even believed in those myths, anyway?

  Turning to look at my host once more, I lamented the fact that someone so handsome turned out to be so crazy. I needed to get out of here before he had me locked in a hole in the floor and slathering lotion on my skin.

  I turned to leave, heading toward his beautiful marbled foyer, and ran right into a hard-muscled chest. Looking up, I found Nicholas’ handsome face smirking at me. With wide eyes, I looked behind me, to the couch where I’d last seen him, but he wasn’t there anymore.

  “You can’t leave Adrienne; the sun will be up in a few hours.”

  “Oh, let me guess,” I snarked. “The sun will turn me into a pile of ashes, right?”

  “After several long tortuous minutes while you burn alive, yes, you will be a pile of ashes,” he deadpanned.

  We stood there staring each other down, neither willing to relent on the issue. Nicholas nodded before stepping behind me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and gently led me toward the foyer.

  “If you won’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe yourself,” he muttered.

  I allowed him to march me forward, figuring it was bringing me closer to the front door, anyway. We skirted around the wooden table in the middle of the room and stopped in front of a large mirror. My eyes traced the gilded edges, marveling at its beauty before I caught sight of my reflection.

  I gasped.

  Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw in that mirror.

  The young woman standing before me had the same brown hair as me, only now it seemed thicker and shinier, the color more robust. Even my eyes were a more beautiful shade of brown, the yellow flecks in them almost glowing. I reached out a finger to trace the line of my face. I’d never been tan, but the unnatural pallor of my skin now was astonishing.

  Besides the change in skin color, I noticed there wasn’t a single blemish or pore to be seen. My pale freckles were still there on the bridge of my nose, but even they looked perfect. Leaning closer, I ran shaking hands over my porcelain skin. Great, I finally had the complexion of my dreams, and all I had to do was become a vampire. I shook my head, admonishing myself for that train of thought.

  “Nicholas, I don’t see how…” I found myself unable to finish my sentence.

  My words trailed off as I caught sight of my mouth for the first time. I ran my tongue along my teeth that were now whiter than any dentist could have made them. Raising a finger, I poked a now elongated canine. A gasp flew out of my mouth when my tooth punctured the tip of my finger and I watched as a small drop of dark red blood pooled on the tip.

  Popping my finger in my mouth, I swished my tongue along the drop of blood. A burst of flavor lit my senses on fire and I swayed on my feet. It was unlike anything I’d ever tasted before, and it made me yearn for more. I pulled my finger out to find it completely healed. There wasn’t a single mark to show I’d just cut it open. On my tooth.

  I looked at Nicholas, a million questions running through my head. With a grim smile, he asked, “Are you ready to sit down and listen now?”

  I bobbed my head, unable to form words at that moment. My mind raced back through the events of the night. Everything from the moment I woke up and saw almost perfectly in the pitch-dark basement, to nearly knocking the steel door off its hinges with a simple push, to the wind whipping through my hair as I apparently ran faster than Usain Bolt could ever dream of running.

  Holy shit. I’m a freaking vampire.

  “Nicholas,” I rasped, finding my voice. “How did this happen? I don’t understand…” I trailed off, once again at a loss for words.

  He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, leading me back to the living room and his uncomfortable couch. “I can explain to you the mechanics of the change, but I don’t know how or even why this happened to you. Vampires are forbidden to change any human without their consent. And even then, there are forms to fill out, hearings to attend, and trainings to be completed before a change is approved.”

  “Forms? Hearings?” It was all too much.

  “Listen, let us start with the basics, and I will answer any questions you may have along the way. First, as I’ve already told you, you may not step into direct sunlight, or you will die a horrible fiery death.”

  My eyes widened in shock.

  “I don’t wish to scare you, Adrienne, but I must stress this point to you. You must always find shelter long before the sun rises. In addition, in your first few years of vampirism, you’ll tire quickly just before dawn and fall asleep wherever you are. At that point, nothing will wake you but the rising of the moon the next night. It shouldn’t take you long to recognize the signs that dawn is approaching and learn to get yourself to a secure shelter before it’s too late. Do you understand all this?”

  Shelter or die. I could do nothing but nod.

  “Besides the sunlight, you must also now avoid silver. If it touches your bare skin, it will not only burn, but weaken you. If shot through your heart, it could kill you.”

  “All righ
t, no more sunbathing or cheap jewelry. Got it.”

  He gave me a stern look that I answered with a smile. Just because I was now a vampire, didn’t mean I had to lose my sense of humor. Apparently, he hadn’t gotten that memo.

  “As you’ve already noticed, you are a great deal faster and stronger than you used to be. You must use discretion whenever you are around humans. You cannot run in public the way you did earlier tonight. We must, at all costs, protect the secret of our existence from humans. I’m sure you can imagine the hysteria it would cause if a human were to see us use our gifts out in the open.” Seeing me nod again, Nicholas continued. “The last thing we need to cover tonight is our diet; we feed on human blood.”

  “Woah, woah, hold up, Dracula. I’m not drinking blood. And I’m sure as hell not going to kill someone to sustain this vampy lifestyle. It’s just not happening.” I crossed my arms over my chest and shook my head. No. Freaking. Way.

  “I hate to burst your balloon–”

  “Bubble.”

  He continued through gritted teeth, “I hate to burst your bubble, but you won’t have a choice in the matter. You will feed responsibly on human blood or you will become so famished you’d drain your own mother dry if you came upon her.”

  I winced. “Well, my mother’s already dead so that won’t be a problem.”

  It was his turn to wince. “I’m sorry, Adrienne. I didn’t mean–”

  I held up a hand to stop him. “It’s okay. Really. It happened a long time ago.” I paused a moment. “What did you mean ‘feed responsibly’?”

  He shook his head, recovering from his faux pas. “There is a way you can feed on a human that won’t harm them in any lasting way. If you do it right, they won’t know you’re feeding and they won’t remember you afterward. This is something you should have learned before your change, but I’d be more than happy to instruct you now.”