Evilution
Page 23
Moving as fast as secrecy allowed, Augustine made his way to the first and closest hospital. They had no blood bank and due to a string of surgeries were out of any stores. Signs posted all around the entrance pleaded for donors to replenish the supply. He traveled next to the second and last opportunity to find what we needed. As misfortune would have it, a bar brawl gone bad, would leave two men bleeding to death in the emergency room. Every spare pint was being used to try to save the lives of the two injured men. The smell of all that spilled blood made it difficult for Augustine to maintain his control, he raced back to Victoria’s.
While Augustine was gone, I stayed by Lily’s side. I felt helpless, unable to relieve her pain, forced to listen to the agonized screams as the transition process painfully progressed. When Augustine returned he entered the home, a dead sheep hanging limp at his side, blood coloring a spot at its throat. “There was no blood to be had, without killing someone. Is there somewhere else I could go?” Looking at Augustine with the dead sheep, Victoria had suggested she had a dozen more sheep grazing up at Jed’s. I explained that a newly transitioned vampire requires human blood, without it they will go mad as they slowly lose their humanity.
Augustine spoke “I will go out again and bring back a donor.” Victoria stopped him. “You will not harm a soul here Sir, do you understand?” To me she asked “Max, would my condition prevent me from being a donor?” Augustine threw the sheep on the floor and looked from me to Victoria. I replied vehemently, “Absolutely not Victoria, I will not entertain the thought of you giving Lily your blood.” “What’s wrong with you?” Augustine asked coldly. “Brain tumor.” answered Victoria, very matter of fact. Augustine replied, “That would not make a difference as far as your blood being a viable choice for her.” “Then its settled.” declared Victoria. “No! Victoria, you do not understand. This is not like donating a pint, we would need all of your blood, you would die.” I exclaimed, trying to impart the severity of her suggestion.
“I am already dying. What’s the difference if it’s now or in six months? If I could save Lily as my family did you, what nobler way to die? Besides, she would be saving me as well. I do not want to endure the pain any longer, and it is going to get much worse. I will be blind and slowly die with out my independence or dignity. Besides, it is not your choice.”
Just then Lily screamed out in agony. I cradled her in my arms as her cells slowly died. Each cell inside her body was undergoing a dramatic evolution, entering a state of suspended animation as the transition cascades outward from her organs to her skeleton, to her skin and remaining tissues. The transitioned cells quickly convert all the blood in the body to food to reanimate their functions. As a newly transitioned vampire, Lily will wake with a hunger so painful it causes madness. Just as Lily began to open her eyes, Victoria took a knife from the tea set and drew it across her throat. As she slipped to the ground small beads of red became a bright crimson line that slowly started to seep down her neck. With blinding speed, Lily leapt out of my arms and sunk her newly formed fangs into the spot where blood had started to flow. I stood momentarily stunned by the turn of events, and watched Victoria smile as the light slowly left her eyes.
The End of Book One.