Only Human

by Maria Bradley

  ‘Are you ok?’

  Wow I didn’t even notice Mrs. Greko coming over to me!

  ‘Eh yes, Mrs. Greko.’

  ‘You have gone a peculiar colour Aecia.’

  Oh no, I must be perspiring, and it’s melting the whitener. It’s the heat from those blasted furnaces outside.

  ‘I, I think it’s something to do with the fever, Mrs. Greko, I’m sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be sorry child, I was just concerned. This is all very unusual for a girl your age. I am considering ringing your parents.’

  ‘NO, I mean, please don’t do that Mrs. Greko, they are both at work anyway. They wouldn’t be able to answer, and they would be so upset if they thought I wasn’t enjoying this trip.’

  ‘Hmmm, well stay near to me then Aecia, so that I can keep an eye on you. If these are the symptoms of an extremely early dose of fever, then your behavior must be monitored, for the safety of the other children.’

  If I wasn’t so terrified, I’d laugh at that last remark; my behavior must be monitored, for the safety of a group of teenage bloodsuckers! They would drain me of life in a second if they knew the truth! Still, I don’t mind walking with Mrs. Greko for the rest of the tour. She is a nice person, and I’d feel safer standing next to her when we meet the Elders.

  We are to eat lunch in the gardens, within the grounds of the Ordinatio. I really will be glad to be outside in the fresh air. I am starting to feel sick again, but I don’t know if it’s nerves, or just that the blood isn’t agreeing with me anymore. If we are served blood cakes, or blood puddings, it might be easier for me to stomach. These are not entirely made of blood, and have some flour, bran and sugar, within them. They are quite expensive, but are included in the price of this tour so we should get some food of this type at lunch. I’ll soon find out, Mrs. Greko is leading us through the side door, out into the garden.

  Wow, this is pretty; it’s just like the ornamental gardens of old, when human’s had festivals and celebrations to rejoice in the beauty of nature. There are gas lanterns made out of silver, no less, hanging on silver posts all over the garden; they illuminate the colours of the surrounding flowers, which would be impossible to see in the black of night.

  There are roses and carnations in one plot, with lilies and bluebells in another. Explosions of colour, softened by lamplight; it is beautiful. It seems the higher class Vampires; do still have some interest in the beauty of growing things. As we walk to the lunch table, in the centre of all this beauty, we can see marble, life-size statues of the extinct Tigers, Panthers, and Lions, either side of the pathway. These are symbolic to the Vampires, of their own power, speed and grace; not to mention their magnificent fangs, the perfect killing tool.

  I am sitting next to Mrs. Greko at the table which is covered in a lace, cotton table cloth. This is all very grand for a group of teenage Vamps. I wonder if the boys are getting the same treatment. Ha, I bet they are actually eating with the Elders in the main dining hall. Actually, that would be awful for Garok, if they are, like a carrot eating dinner with a table full of vegetarians.

  ‘Mrs. Greko, where are the boy’s eating?’

  ‘They have already eaten dear, we are a little behind them in our schedule, but we will meet up presently in the main hall before we are granted an audience with the Elders.’ Oh, so we are to meet the Elders together. I’m glad; maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of Garok when we are in there.

  I am managing to eat some of these blood cakes and am sipping the blood. It’s easier outside, because there is a slight breeze and it’s helping me feel better. Simone is at the other end of the table, and hasn’t spoken a word to me since I told her to shut up. Strange, if I had said those words to her years ago, she might have left me alone sooner. Looking at her now, I wonder why I was ever intimidated. She is a bit of a kid, clueless and unimportant in the grand scale of things. Maybe this is what mother meant when she said I was a young woman now. My eyes are beginning to open and see what’s really going on around me. The next time Simone starts to bully Lunar, I am going to stick up for her, that’s for sure Amica.

  The staff that have come to serve us are all dressed like tea ladies from 19 century England. They have white frilly aprons over dark knee length smocks. They have their hair up, and held in place with a frilly, white fringed hat. They are even wearing bloomers to authenticate their outfit. What’s that all about? At least one of the Vampire Elders must have some kind of a fetish, or if not, a weird sense of humour! This place is a peculiar mix of ancient history and modern extravagances.

  The unsurpassed ordeal of dinner is at last over. We are going to tour the rest of the gardens before we meet up with Mr. Prados and the boys. I feel like hiding behind one of the sculptured hedges, until it is all over. No, I couldn’t leave Garok to face the Elders, whilst being the only human in the room.

  I hope to stand at the back of the group; the farthest I can get from the Elder’s position. I hope Garok has the sense to do the same, ideally, next to me. Sometimes two or three schools schedule their tour at the same time. If this is the case, Garok and I are part of a much larger crowd, and are much less noticeable.

  The great hall has been modified for our visit. The servants have put up a temporary stage, for the Elders to stand on when they address us. There are about 30 Oakwood chairs in position on the gleaming, black, marble floor; a place of comfort, for us to relax and enjoy the Elder’s speeches, telling us how wonderful they are.

  The boys are filing in before us from the opposite side door entrance. They must have picnicked the same as we did, but on the other side of the garden.

  I don’t believe it! Garok is sitting in the front row, right underneath the noses of the Elders when they arrive. If they decide he looks peculiar enough for them to read his mind, he and I will be done for! What is he thinking? If we are still alive when we get back to the B&B, I am going to kill him!

  I am seated now with Mrs. Greko on one side and Lunar on the other. Could be worse I suppose, at least we are on the back row. There is a servant on the left side of the platform and he has just walloped a large, round, steel gong. They really do have delusions of grandeur, these Elders!

  Here they come; they are huge, taller than any Vampire I have ever seen. It’s unbelievable to think that they are all over 1000 years old. They existed when Humans still had control of the earth. They must have had to skulk in corners and live in caves at that time. A hard life, but still, look what they have done to the human race since they took over. They don’t deserve my pity.

  In order, from left to right, their names are; Cato, son of Adelais, Kasen, son of Laris, and Narciso, son of Scipio. They are dressed in robes of silk, black, and lined with vibrant red. The edges are trimmed with jewels, sparkling in the lamplight as they move, and they each hold a silver and gold staff, crowned with a sculptured marble lion. Ok, they do look pretty cool, and that Cato fellow is, admittedly, the most gorgeous epitome of manhood I have ever seen. Yes, he definitely is, but that’s not the point.

  I feel a bit hot now, what on earth is wrong with me. The whole room is absolutely silent. The Elders seem to exude some kind of magnetism, they are absolutely fascinating, and we are all transfixed. In fact, I feel dizzy, I can hear something, a voice in my head; ‘Heave?’ No, it’s not saying heave. ‘Leave, Leave now!’

  What the hell? Who is speaking to me? Everyone is in some kind of trance.

  ‘LEAVE NOW!’

  ‘Who are you? What do you mean leave? Who said you could get into my head?’

  ‘Listen carefully to me, you are exposed! Leave human! I cannot protect you here!’

  ‘I have nowhere to go, to hide. I am a stranger here (am I really speaking to someone with my mind?) I am frightened, tell me who you are?’

  ‘Foolish child, it is too late!’

  Dear God, what do I do now? Everyone has come out of their trance now, and Kasen, the middle Elder, is addressing us.

  ‘Welcome, Welcome children of The Manor, I trus
t you are having an enjoyable evening so far?’

  Are we all supposed to answer that or what? Why am I even listening? I have to get out of here! What about Garok though? If I am exposed then he is too, we were both out during sunrise. How were we found out? No Vampire can witness the sunrise and live. Oh what does it matter now, we will die if we can’t get out!

  The side door to the garden, it isn’t locked, I could slip out, go around the other side to the window that is the nearest to Garok. If I can just catch his eye; I know what to do.

  ‘Mrs. Greko.’

  ‘Sshh dear, The Elders are speaking.’

  ‘It is the fever; I must leave, I am not safe.’ (Damn straight I’m not safe, but not for the reason she thinks).

  ‘For heaven’s sake child, what is the matter with you? Go! Out into the garden and sit at the table. Do not move until I come and fetch you. I am not missing the speeches! I should have called your parents when we first arrived.’

  Thank God Mrs. Greko is such an Elders groupie! I have escaped into the garden with her permission! Now to that window near Garok; the glass is stained and molded in reds and browns, (A tiger I think) so he won’t be able to see that it is me when I tap on the window. He must be on edge though, sitting directly in front of the Elders. His senses should be super sharp and alert; I know mine are, being in such close proximity to my own destruction.

  Well, I’m here, my finger is trembling as I go to tap the window, any of the other boys could hear it. This is a stupid plan, I know it is but I don’t know what else to do. I can’t just leave him here to be executed. I have to try and help him, I just have to! Garok is second from the left in his row; I think I can make out his shape. Mr. Prados is seated at the other end of the row, so at least there is no chance of him hearing. The shape is moving; please God let it be him! He is coming over to the door. I must hide, just in case, and I am near the sculptured hedge that looks like a bull; I can easily fit behind it.

  I am holding my breath as the door slowly opens, and I can barely see through the tightly knitted leaves of the sculptured hedge. It’s definitely a child; I can see the school emblem on the t-shirt of the torso, the only part visible to me.

  ‘Aecia.’

  It is Garok’s voice, I can breathe again; I must get him further away before I tell him what I heard.

  ‘Garok, quickly, come with me, I’ll explain later but we have to leave this place!’

  ‘What! Why? Did you tell someone what we are? Did one of the girls see your fake fangs or something?’

  ‘Just trust me for a minute and move; where is the back exit out of the grounds Garok?’

  ‘I know where we can go; follow me.’

  It is such a relief that he is taking charge. My courage, which began when I faced Simone earlier, is now slowly dissipating like cloud merging into sky. This is real! This is happening right now, and though I have been expecting it I haven’t really been expecting it. Do you understand Amica, because I don’t, not one little bit! I just know that I am certainly not ready for any of this!

  Garok is weaving through this maze of a garden at lightning speed, I wonder if he has been here before. That can’t be, he is third class! It is a miracle that he has even been allowed on this trip.

  We are on the opposite side of the garden now, quite a way from the building. I can hear a peculiar sound coming out of three rough wooden sheds on the right. There are no more flowers here; we are actually on a field of patchy grass. I can’t see well at all now as there is only one lamp alight, and it is suspended on a wooden post, right next to the sheds.

  The Ordinatio’s grounds must be vast! A few acres at least, you can’t really tell when you enter the front of the building. There it is again, that noise, snorting and wheezing, coming from the sheds.

  ‘It is the horses Aecia; these are the horses’ stables.’

  ‘The Elders keep pets! Well that’s rich; we are not allowed to keep, even a fish, in case it makes us crazy with the fever!’

  ‘I wouldn’t call them pets exactly, they are working horses. The Elders like to travel like they did hundreds of years ago. You know, before the car. Gentlemen would travel around in a decorated horse and carriage.’

  ‘Don’t tell me you have ideas of becoming a historian too Garok? I never knew you were so interested in our past.’

  ‘Come; see the horses.’ (I love it when he holds my hand).

  ‘I would love to see…Hang on a minute Garok; we’ve got to get the hell out of here! Why did you even stop? Where are the back gates?’

  I feel odd, am I floating? What is Garok mumbling about?

  ‘I am so sorry, I had to; forgive me Aecia, sorry, sorry.’

  What is wrong with him, I’m fine, I’m just up here, instead of down there. Why is he down there? I’m so tired, so tired of worrying, I’ll sleep now, and mother has new lipstick that’s nice.’

  Oh my head hurts, my eyes are sore too; where’s mother? I must have slept in, it’s so dark. I’ll be late for school,

  ‘Mother?’

  ‘Mother’s not here! Oh God! Where am I? We were escaping from the Ordinatio, Garok was with me, he held my hand but I fell asleep.

  ‘Aecia.’

  That is the voice of Kasen, the Elder that was speaking when I left the main hall. I can’t see him at all, there is no lamp lit wherever I am. I want to scream Amica, I am frozen with fear. Is this the moment of my death? Why talk to me? Just do it!

  The oil lamp in the corner is being lit, I can hear them striking a match, but I have closed my eyes. Maybe this is just one of my nightmares, and I’ll wake up on my bed at home. I promise God, if you exist, I will never shout at Zak again. I won’t sneak out to see Garok; I’ll tidy my room and do as I’m told forever more, please just make it a bad dream, please! Even as I say it, in my heart I know the truth. As I open my blue eyes, I run my tongue around my own straight teeth. No more props to wear, I am human, and they know.

  I am in a pit room, it is plain and sparsely furnished; one wooden night table with a lamp, and a rough pit in which I am sitting. A servant’s room I presume, no Elder would ever lower themselves to sleep here. Kasen is standing looking at me, as if waiting for me to speak. I won’t; not one word will I utter to him, he is evil and ugly. He is too, pug nose and buck fangs, way too big for his mouth! Amica, you are pulling faces and trying to cheer me up again aren’t you. You are with me, of course you are, always.

  Oh look who has the nerve to be standing behind Kasen? The fantastically believable Garok! I will not speak, but look into my eyes, you! See the hate that is coursing through every fibre of my being. Feel it through yours Garok, feel the pain of knowing that you have murdered one of your own kind. Feel the pain of all those in my clan, as they are beaten and drained, then cast into the barren lands to burn, or hide and slowly starve to death!

  He cannot look at me Amica, he is a coward. Maybe I am evil too, because if I ever were free again, I would kill him. I would kill him. I am panting now, so angry, so desolate, and so afraid!

  ‘I can help you Aecia’ Kasen is speaking again,

  ‘I am not heartless; I do not blame you for this situation. You are a child; it is your clan that is at fault. They are your kin, how could they be so cruel, as to force you into this corrupt and false existence? Would it be merciful to force a bird to live as a lion?’

  Does he think I am going to answer him? What is he after? Why doesn’t he just kill me and be done with it? I don’t know anything about anything! I’m a kid, MORON!

  His eyes have just opened wider with anger, he has heard my thoughts! I forgot that they can read minds. His eyes are boring into me; they are hot coals burning into my mind. The pain, such pain, my mind is fire, burning, STOP! PLEASE STOP!!

  ‘Do not disrespect your Elders human! You are useless to me; there is nothing in your mind. I will find out from your mother and father.’

  Find out what? What does he mean? Don’t hurt my parents, they are innocent, they didn’t know, p
lease don’t! I feel sick! I’m going to be sick!

  I must have passed out again but where am I now? I am so cold, so very cold and I can’t move my arms and legs. Such pain, I am stretched out! Am I standing? I can’t see anything! There is something on my face; it’s all around me, trapping me, I can hardly breathe! There is a tube with blood, my blood. ‘SOMEONE HELP ME!!! HELP ME!! AAAhhhhhh!!!’

  So tired now, every time I come around, and I’m too weak to scream. There is no point, no-one will answer and no-one will help. Each beat of my heart pumps out more of my lifeblood and I will die. In death I will find peace and I welcome it.

  ‘No you won’t!’

  ‘What? Shut up Amica, and let me go! How did you get in here with me? Go away, you can’t help me!’

  ‘I am always with you; draw your strength from me! Don’t you dare give up!’

  ‘Leave me alone friend, please! Look at you with your golden hair and pretty dress. You are free! Go! Be my friend and let me die!’

  ‘No.’

  ‘I am already dead!’

  ‘No!’

  ‘You are making me angry now! I thought you were my friend.’

  ‘I am not friends with a girl that lacks courage!’

  ‘Oh My God! I will rip these tubes out of me and knock you out Amica!’

  ‘Yes, yes you have.’

  ‘You what? I have what?’

  ‘My arms, they are free, when did I? Amica! You gave me strength! Thank you! Thank you!’

  I have to free my legs somehow but it’s hard to see what is tethering them to this metal slab. It feels like straps, thick leather straps, but they are so tight and I am so weak. Oh No, I can hear something, ‘pretend Aecia, pretend you are still being drained!’ It’s too late, someone is here, and there is a knife cutting through this plastic cocoon! No, not now, I don’t want to die anymore.

  ‘Aecia, It’s Garok, I have come to free you; don’t be scared.’

  Garok! I am a burning sword of anger and I will strike him down with my last breath! Get me out of here Amica, help me to rip him to pieces, and spit on his corpse!