Avalon Revisited

by O. M. Grey

  “I could hear all life around me, and things looked”–I searched for the right word–“surreal. I could see perfectly, although there was no moon that night. I could hear life. The crows in the distance. The nocturnal creatures scrounging for food. Even the rats scurrying in the underlying catacombs. I fancied that I could even hear their hearts beating, and I felt driven to eat. To drink.

  To somehow relieve this nagging thirst. I walked on until I came upon the River Severn, and I drank deeply of the water. But no matter how much I drank, the thirst did not diminish. If anything, it was increasing. So I drank more and more, until I became sick. The water was forced back up, like my body was propelling poison out of it. And yet the thirst continued.”

  “Blood,” Avalon said in sympathetic horror.

  “Blood,” I repeated. “It’s always blood. My first meal of my new life was a rat. There were plenty of those around. It was horrible and wonderful all at the same time. But at least its blood satiated me, if only momentarily. For within minutes the hunger returned with more intensity than before.”

  I turned to Avalon, who was crying softly. Those were tears of grief, and they were for me.

  She loved me still. I could see it in her eyes. In her face. In the way her hand stayed on my shoulder, comforting me. She finally understood that it was something I didn’t choose.

  “The sunlight frightened me, so I kept out of it. I tried to see my Catherine, but she thought me a ghost or a trick of the devil. She was a greatly pious woman and seeing me distressed her.

  Frightened her,” I said, remembering how the look on her face was so similar to how Avalon looked at me a short while ago. “So I stopped appearing to her. I watched her from afar and survived as I could. I won’t bore you with the details, as I’ve done some truly horrible things in my time. It’s my nature, but I never took a human life, no matter how much the thirst, the need, urged me to do so, not until my Catherine betrayed me. Denied me and our union.”

  I stayed quiet for a moment, remembering. Hating him. Hurting again. Reliving the greatest betrayal of all. Yet Avalon waited patiently. She didn’t press me to go on, but she understood my pain. She waited.

  “It was my father’s doing,” I continued. “He intended to marry Catherine himself, to save his political standing with Spain. I wouldn’t have that hard old man defiling my beloved Catherine.

  The thought of him touching her... of having her...” I pushed those heinous images from my mind and continued, “He was already sick, coughing and showing signs of consumption, so I just sped up the process. In my anger, I killed him without mercy. The blood left on his body led the doctors to believe it was consumption, and so my brother”–I said through clenched teeth–“became Henry VIII that night.

  "But I was a new man! My father’s blood filled me with power and ecstasy, unlike animal blood. The thirst didn’t return as quickly, and I was strong! For a time, I was enamored with my new powers. I explored them. Thoroughly.” I felt Avalon tense up, so I didn’t elaborate. No sense in drudging up those details. It wouldn’t do anyone any good. Ancient history, as it were.

  “Still, the treaty father created stood, and Catherine ended up marrying my brother, who had loved her as long as I had. He had fancied her from when he was but a lad. To him, as to me, she was perfection. But he didn’t love her long after they married. He cast her aside, shaming her, for other women. Other wives. Well, you know your history.”

  “Oh, Arthur,” she said. I could tell her compassion was at war with the horror she felt in regards to what I had done to survive. I was glad I hadn’t further explained my eating habits.

  “And that’s how I’ve lived for three-hundred and fifty years. Taking women, food, as I needed. That is, until I met you. At first, you caught my eye because you look so very much like Catherine, but it was all the ways you were unlike her that made me love you. I haven’t touched human blood since, well, not until tonight. But I didn’t kill that man,” I said quickly in my defense. “It had just been so long since I had human blood, that I literally couldn’t help myself.

  As you said, I am a monster. I am so sorry you had to see that.”

  She moved closer still and caressed my face.

  “Arthur. Thank you for telling me your story.”

  I leaned my head into her hand, feeling the concern emanating from her.

  “So much pain,” she said, stroking my hair. “Such a tremendous amount of pain.”

  “I love you, Ava,” I said without looking in her eyes, not wanting to see any sign of horror there. “I’ve loved you from the moment I met you.”

  She leaned in close to me, touching her warm nose to my cheek and said, “I love you too.

  Despite what you are. Despite what you’ve done. God help me, but I love you too.”

  I looked up, surprised. And I saw the last thing I expected. The last thing I deserved. There was no fear in her eyes. No horror. Only love.

  She kissed me then, and I lost myself in her.

  The warmth of her mouth soothed me, and I didn’t care if I died. I kissed her deeper, and she parted her lips willingly, moving closer to me. I held onto her as if my very existence was held in that kiss. Other parts of my body were responding too, but I didn’t want to offend this sweet lady.

  I desired her, but it was not the lustful desire that so often had filled my senses. It was pure desire. Love. Wanting to be one with her in love rather than lust. It was something I had not felt since I was still human, and that was just a romanticized memory of a memory; but this was real.

  We might die tonight, but we would die in each other’s arms. Safe. Warm. Complete.

  She climbed on top of me there in that cell, and wrapped her legs around me. Her soft warmth covering the entire front of my body contrasted the cold stone against my back. I held her tightly to me, never wanting this moment to end. Losing myself in her kiss. Then she began to lift her skirts.

  “Avalon,” I whispered into her mouth, not wanting to separate my lips from hers. “Our captors are just out--” She stopped my words with another, deeper kiss. Coming up for air, she breathed, “I don’t care. Now. All we have is now.”

  My love. My all. Here and now. She’s right, it was all we have. I lifted her up as I found my way to my knees, holding her against me still, and laid her gently onto the stone. She opened herself up to me willingly, but I was gentle yet. Her hands urged me on, encouraging me to continue, to steal this moment in time with her, and so I did. Releasing myself from my trousers, I eagerly filled her up. She was yet a maid, but she was ready for me. I slid into her gently, and she caught her breath at the new sensation, looking into my eyes with intensity and wonder. I moved slowly, not wanting to hurt her, and soon she found the rhythm with me. I kissed her again and again, rocking into her and catching her moans with my mouth. Moving faster and deeper, I pressed my pelvis tightly to hers as I thrust, massaging the place that would bring her completely to me. She lifted herself up to meet me, giving into the feeling until she came. She bit her lip to keep from screaming out, and I tasted her blood when I kissed her again. I lost all control at the taste of her blood and exploded inside her.

  We lay there, breathless in each other’s arms, experiencing this wondrous moment. Our moment.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  “I love you, too,” she replied, smiling.

  Just then, the door creaked open.

  “Well, isn’t this interesting?” Cecil said.

  Chapter 23

  I eased myself out of Avalon, who was mortified at being seen in such a position. I whispered, “Stay back and don’t look” before getting to my feet. Setting myself to rights, I stepped in between Cecil and Avalon, allowing her to collect herself and to protect her from this Judas. He held a crossbow aimed straight at my heart, and I wouldn’t just be paralyzed. I would be dust. He knew it. So, no sudden moves.

  “Cecil. Be a good man, and bring me my tea,” I said, straightening my collar and smoothing out my
waistcoat. I heard Avalon slowly moving to the back wall, and I was glad she had heard my instructions. I was prepared to give my life to keep her safe, but hopefully that wouldn’t be necessary. This was Cecil, after all, not all that bright.

  “Very funny, m’lord, but there won’t be any tea this evening,” he said through a smug, crooked grin.

  “I don’t suppose you would explain to me why?” I asked. I didn’t really care, as a betrayal was just that, whatever the reason, but I was stalling. Assessing the situation. Trying to find a way out. Behind him, I could see that Lacy was putting the contraptions aside and preparing a syringe, probably for me. No other opponent was in sight, but I could only see a little over half the laboratory.

  “Of course. Money. Power. The usual.” There was no emotion or regret or shame in his voice. He spoke as if I had asked him the time or whether or not it was raining. It was just a matter of fact.

  “Did I not provide you with your every need?” I inquired.

  He laughed at this. A foul belch of barking laughter. “Of course, m’lord,” he said condescendingly, “my every need. Now, do come with me. It’s not necessary to make this difficult.”

  I nodded slowly, taking every moment I safely could to stall, then took a step towards him, chancing a quick glance back at Avalon. She was turned mostly against the back wall covering her face. Good.

  “Let her go. You don’t need her.” I spoke in a low, monotone voice, trying my mind powers on him, and he felt it.

  “That won’t work with me, m’lord. I’m wearing this.” He held up a pendant that was made of several moving cogs surrounding a small vial of what I could only assume to be blood. Likely, my blood.

  “Interesting gadget, Cecil. Is this how you met the doctor? Your fascination with these gadgets?”

  “Yes, m’lord. He made me my wrist guard, enabling your daily dosage with ease.”

  “Indeed. I must remember to thank the dear doctor for that. And that’s my blood, I presume,”

  I said, indicating the vial around his neck. “How did you ever obtain that?”

  “While you slept, of course. After all, you are quite dead when you sleep, m’lord. The Doctor, he had much grander plans for you, m’lord; but you rather put a wrench in that when you took up with that lot,” he said, pointing to Avalon. His eyes were off of me for a second, but that was more than enough time for me. He had given me my opening. I was upon him before he noticed I had moved. With one hand on the crossbow to stop it from crashing to the ground (I didn’t want to alert the doctor even a moment sooner than necessary) and the other covering his traitorous mouth to keep him from shouting, I wrenched his head to one side and bit deep, not needing to feed, but rather to kill quickly. A little blood I did take, of course. I needed all the strength I could get for what was ahead. Although making love with Avalon certainly had restored some of my energy, and I am really glad I had that snack back at the cemetery, it wouldn’t have been enough for what I was about to face.

  The doctor looked up just as Cecil’s lifeless body slid to the ground.

  Here we go.

  “Guess his contraption didn’t protect him from that,” I said, licking my lips. My eyes fixed hard on the man holding the syringe. He didn’t react. Didn’t budge. But rather just smiled. “Now, Doctor. What can I do for you?”

  “Arthur Tudor. What an honor it is to have royal blood in my home. Indeed!” He picked up one of his blasted contraptions and started polishing it slowly. He was not in the least bit concerned for his safety. He had to know something I didn’t. “What can you do for me?” he continued. “Well, my lad, you have already done so much for me! That is, until recently. Now you’ve become rather a nuisance, destroying all my work, so I’m forced to keep you in closer containment,” he said, with a quick glance over at the empty glass vessel.

  He meant to keep me suspended in that thing! Of course! He had a werewolf, found a way to animate corpses, and now he needed a vampire on hand! Especially since I had just dismissed his errand boy. He must’ve seen the horror on my face, because he laughed. Not a maniacal laugh, but a soft chuckle, which had a much more harrowing effect. I remained in the doorway to the cell, assessing the situation.

  “Yes! You see, don’t you? Smart, you are. I was willing to use your blood remotely, as it were, but now you killed the messenger. To continue my work, you must remain here with me. I assure you, it’s not as bad as it looks, to be suspended in there. It’s much, much worse.”

  Again, that soft chuckle.

  “And Victor. You knew him?”

  I heard Avalon weep behind me, so I reached back, motioning with my hand that it would be all right. Just please keep quiet.

  “We studied in Romania together, but his goals were so short-sighted. His and Abe’s both.

  They only saw a monster to kill, whereas I saw the potential for an unconquerable army. An army I controlled. Once the technology caught up with my vision. Well,” he said motioning around his laboratory with great pride, “you can see for yourself.”

  He put down the contraption he had been absentmindedly polishing then picked up another mechanism from the table and fiddled with one of the dials. An almost imperceptible high-pitched whine filled my ears. Then, as if from the walls, nearly a dozen of his werevamp zombies emerged. I hadn’t seen them, as they had been in the part of the laboratory that was blind to me.

  But I saw them now, and I was completely outnumbered. More importantly, I wasn’t sure how to protect Avalon from all this.

  Slamming the cell door shut behind me, I stood between it and the advancing zombies. They were moving curiously slow, and I knew from dealing with them before tonight that they were almost as fast as I was. If I acted quickly enough, I could at least thin their numbers before they progressed too far. A thud against the door distracted me from my soon-to-be attackers. It was Avalon. Her sweet face was pressed against the window, and her face was contorted in despair.

  “Arthur,” she cried.

  “Stand back!” I shouted. She did.

  With great speed and more strength, I rammed my elbow back into the wooden door, splintering it, and I had a few serviceable stakes before the zombies got to me, suddenly moving much faster. I staked the two closest to me, and they fell to the floor, paralyzed. I jabbed at a third, but it bit me through to the bone before I drove the stake home. Taking a chunk of my flesh with it, I pushed it to the ground as a fourth and fifth bit into me.

  This didn’t look good. I looked past them to see the doctor smiling, as if only mildly amused by it all. Momentarily, I wondered if their saliva would turn me into such a thing.

  I reached around and broke off more of the door, staking the two chomping on me when a sixth got my free arm from beneath his brother and bit into my hand. I faltered, slipping away from the door and two more descended upon me. Their teeth sank into my shoulder and back.

  The pain became all consuming. Everything else–the lab, the chuckling, insane doctor, Avalon–

  all fell away. Darkness began filling my peripheral vision, and I knew that it was over. I had failed to save Avalon. She would meet the same horrible fate or worse! She would become one of them.

  But then one zombie fell away paralyzed, then another. I couldn’t comprehend why at first, through my fading consciousness, but then I understood. It was Avalon's doing! She had come out of the cell and begun to fight, staking those eating me in their backs. The two left turned from me to her, but she got back into the cell, closing the splintered door behind her. The dimwitted things clawed at the hole in the door, trying to reach Avalon.

  I had to get up.

  I had to help her. Save her.

  Then I fancied that some strength returned to me. I tested it and found that I did still have some fight left. I stood up and pushed the remaining three animated zombies away from the door, and they fell over as if they weighed nothing. They got back up to their feet, lunging at me, but I stopped them with ease and pushed them back again. I felt amazing,
stronger than I had ever felt before. The zombie on top of the other two got up first and came at me again. I grabbed its head, and with one violent jerk, twisted it completely off. It dusted on the spot. I did the same to the other two in seconds.

  The doctor gaped, having seen nothing with his human eyes but a blur of movement followed by three fewer zombies.

  “Interesting,” he said.

  “Yes. Quite,” I replied, picking up one of the paralyzed zombies from the floor and twisting its head off as well. I strode arrogantly toward the doctor, dusting off the zombie dust from my hands.

  “Stay back,” the doctor said, raising a crossbow. He was well prepared. But nothing could stop me now. I could easily reach him before he got off a shot, and just as I had that thought, he fired a hidden gun from beneath the crossbow. The bullet went straight through my stomach.

  “Really?” I said to him, disbelieving. “All that study. All those notes. All that research, and you don’t yet know that bullets can’t hurt me?”

  “I wasn’t aiming for you,” he replied with a smirk.

  Realization washed over me and my heart sank as I turned to see Avalon, who had just emerged from the door, shot. Bleeding. Dying.

  “NO!” I shouted and rushed back over to her. I crumpled to my knees beside her and gathered her up in my arms. “Avalon?” I asked.

  “Arthur,” she gurgled through the blood filling her throat.

  “Don’t speak.” A drop of blood hit her cheek, then another. My tears were staining her porcelain face, and I cursed myself for this. I cursed myself for marring such a treasure. I ruined her the day I met her. This was her horrible end because of me.

  “Arthur, I love you.” She coughed up blood, splattering it over her lips and around her mouth. I kissed her gently, tasting her blood and her love mixed together on her lips.

  “Hold on,” I said, and I leaned her against the wall, propping her up to ease her breathing.