“With one small difference,” said Nina; her words hammering like nails into a coffin. “You drained me to the point of death. You let me live, but you did not let me grow. Because of your actions, I have not grown at all in body. But for what I lack there, I improved in mind.”
“You’re not entirely useless then,” said Juliana, with the straightest of faces.
“Enough of your barbs, Juliana. How does the story end?”
“I’ve told you everything I know.”
“Then let me tell you how the story ends,” spoke Nina authoritatively. “Do you not understand? You must kill Mariana, because she is not your mother, no more than I am your sister. I know how it is done, too. A stake through the heart, followed by the severing of the head from its body. I do not have the strength or the height to do it, but you do, and -”
“Enough! You really are a little girl, in mind and body.”
“But I don’t pretend to be eighteen, as you do. That body is just a shell. A lie. But it can do what needs to be done.”
“Don’t be so stupid, Nina. By her blood we were made, by her undoing we would become undone. We would die.”
“At least we would be free of this. What is the point of immortality if we must feed like sewer rats?”
“Be quiet! You tire me, Nina, and I have a headache. I need to feed again, even if your pious self does not!”
Juliana elected to end the conversation there, and stormed off in the direction of another room. Nina was not quite finished.
“Juliana! One day, you and your mother may see the town repopulated, but you will make mistakes again. They won’t come with fire next time, but stakes, and they will cut your angelic looking head off, and impale it on that church’s spire for all to see! They’ll-”
There was a loud knock at the door, and even Juliana’s footsteps, which could be heard by no-one around for miles except for Nina, refrained from making any more sound on the stone floor.
“Who is it, Nina? We expect no-one at the castle. If it someone who is lost, by all means, let them in. After listening to all your wittering, I need fresh blood. Let them in!”
Nina unbolted the huge door, and effortlessly pulled it back. Standing in front of her was a young woman, who was shivering in the cold of the night.
“I’m so sorry to trouble you, but the weather has made a turn for the worse, and I need shelter. Please, please don’t turn me away.”
Nina tried to implore the woman to go, and not only that, but run like the Devil was behind her. She was fearful Juliana would kill her, though Nina would have admitted to recognising the scent of the woman’s blood. Its power, its pull, was overwhelming. Still, Nina found it within herself to resist.
“I am sorry, we do not have any room here. You should leave.”
The woman looked at Nina so strangely. In her head, she commended the young girl for seeing right through her. It was obvious this woman was not lost, or cold. She appeared to be here on some kind of mission, and would not be deterred.
“Nina, what in the world are you doing? Please be more courteous to strangers in future!”
Extending her hand to the woman, who misread the intention and handed Juliana her hat and scarf, Juliana smiled sheepishly and invited her in.
“What a night,” said the woman. “It is quite brutal out there. If you had not answered, I am sure I would have perished. Thank you, thank you so much for your kindness.”
Juliana hung up the woman’s clothing, and smiled at Nina, who did not smile back.
“Nina, it is late. You can go for your rest now. I will tend to our guest.”
“If it’s all the same, I should like to stay,” replied Nina. She would not be happy for this woman to be left alone with Juliana. Nina felt she would be in mortal danger.
“It’s not all the same, Nina. You may go now.”
The woman said nothing whilst Juliana and Nina traded glares. In the end, Nina decided to go, but only as far as the room next to Juliana. Nina expected Juliana would take the woman there, and do the deed.
As she went to the adjoining bedroom, thoughts raced through her head. Nina patiently waited for Juliana to bring the woman through. It was unlikely she would kill her in the great hall or the dining area. No doubt Mariana would chastise her for making a mess, and if Nina knew one thing about Juliana – she did not like being reprimanded.
After a very short conversation, Nina could make out the muffled sounds of the two women going into the bedroom. Nina wondered when she would have to make a move. She could not let Juliana ruthlessly kill her. The woman had only been looking for shelter, after all.
Or had she?
Just what was this woman up to? If she knew what Juliana was, she would not go anywhere near her, surely?
Nina decided she would wait five minutes, but not a second more.
In the next bedroom, the lights were dimmed, curtains fully drawn. Rich velvet drapes adorned the walls. The bed was huge, but looked almost too grand, and even though it must have been many years since its first construction, it had hardly been used.
Still, Juliana sat the woman down.
“Welcome to our humble abode. My name is Juliana. Here, you can rest. You’ll have an excellent sleep, I’m sure. I’ll take my leave of you now.”
“Oh no,” said the woman. “Have I done something to offend you? I was hoping you might stay awhile.”
“Alright then, I will!” Having had enough of preppy Nina, Juliana seemed happy for company closer to her own age.
The woman produced a bottle of wine from her bag, set it down on the dresser, and reached for two glasses.
“Oh no,” said Juliana. “I do not drink wine. It upsets my stomach and gives me headaches.”
“When it is produced for the many, not the few. But not this wine. Won’t you try some?”
The woman seemed insistent, but Juliana was even more insistent. She would not drink something she had not prepared with her own hands.
“It was just that you seemed nervous,” smiled the woman. “I wanted to put you at ease. After all, you have given me shelter, and I am grateful.”
Juliana was not in the mood for a kill, although letting the woman go would be a waste. She decided to take her leave, and would return to her coffin. She would kill her in the morning. Such a fine specimen of womanhood would be wasted on the likes of Nina, who wouldn’t know what to do with her anyway.
“I’ve been rude. I don’t even know your name,” said Juliana.
“My name is Annabelle,” said the woman, who uncorked the bottle and was not at all surprised when Juliana caught the cork, but gave the impression she was. “Now we know each other’s names, won’t you stay with me?”
Okay. It will have to be done tonight then, thought Juliana, who did all she could to prevent her fangs from showing.
***
Next door, Nina was anything but asleep. That young woman was in mortal danger. Nina lay on her bed, then stood up, only to sit down again. There was nothing she could do to stop Juliana killing the woman. If only I had not opened the door, thought Nina ruefully.
She decided to act, even if it made Juliana upset. Very upset.
***
She left the room silently, and looked through the keyhole to the bedroom, which of course, Juliana had locked from the inside. Not a problem for Nina to enter, but it would be a problem should the woman wish to leave. Juliana would rip her apart before letting that happen.
Nina looked through the keyhole on her tiptoes. She hated being so short. If ever there was a time to change form, this was it. But Nina wanted to save the woman from a certain and brutal death – she would need all her energy for that.
Nina wished there was some way to reach Juliana, and get through to her. Still, from what she observed, the woman did not appear nervous. Juliana, who was used to being in control of proceedings, looked to be the nervous one.
The woman looked towards the door, and Nina’s balance wobbled. Had she been seen? She
could not tell for sure.
The woman was sipping a red wine from her glass. Juliana did not trust anyone, and never let her guard down, but it appeared that this woman, who was rather attractive, seemed to be beguiling Juliana.
“Are you sure you won’t have some?” asked the woman, whose demeanour had changed so much from the nervous stranger who knocked at the door of the castle.
She flicked her long brown hair, and lay back on the bed. Nina knew the format – it would not be long now.
“I’ll have some,” said Juliana, the chill in the room dropping as she spoke. “Some of you.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” gave the woman as her reply.
Nina could not believe the woman was showing no fear. Unless she was a vampire herself! Maybe she is here to kill Juliana and me, thought Nina. Good, because it means Juliana will die first.
Juliana didn’t waste time, and targeted the woman’s neck. For her own part, the woman appeared to place a kiss of her own on the vampire’s neck. Juliana screamed – no – it was more like a howl, and Nina had to close her hands over her ears. What was going on?
“Child! Are you there?” shouted the woman known as Annabelle.
“Come in if you are. Get in here now!”
If anything, Nina found herself to be more unnerved by the turn of events. She did not trust Juliana, but whoever, or whatever this woman was, one thing was certain. She was not to be a willing victim of Juliana.
Juliana placed a hand over her neck, but it was useless. Her skin felt like it was on fire. Annabelle had not bitten her, but the liquid from her lips had made contact with the vampire’s skin, which turned from dead cold to the hottest fire.
As she burned, Nina actually started to feel sorry for Juliana.
“Child! You are there, I know you are. Come in now. I know you can do that. Come on!”
Nina did not necessarily act on what the woman said. She just had an overwhelming urge to go to Juliana, whose beauty was deserting her. Her luscious red hair fell in clumps to the floor, her hands wrinkled, and her face darkened as whatever could be called life, left her.
“What is going on? Who are you?” demanded Nina.
“First things first, child. Get a knife. A large one, about eight inches to the blade. Now.”
Nina rushed from the room, to the main dining area, and grabbed a knife almost too large for her hands. As she ran back to where Juliana appeared to be dying, she did not know if she would give it to this Annabelle. She might have to try and kill this woman herself.
Holding the blade with the point towards the woman, Nina, who had her self-preservation in mind, asked her, “Are you here to kill me too? What have you done to her?”
Annabelle laughed. “No, child. I am here to save you. As for that creature, it has been touched by the Blood of Christ. Now, little one – strike her head from her shoulders.”
Nina’s hands shook. She felt terror, remorse, confusion all at the same time. Many times she had wanted this, the sight of Juliana dying. But now the moment was here, she felt sorry for the girl.
“If you cannot do, what needs to be done, give the knife to me, and I will do it.”
“Who are you?” demanded Nina.
“I am a nun from the convent. The priest was attacked, probably by this creature. If we do not destroy it, the priest will become one of the undead. Child, I will not let that happen. This creature must die if you are to be free of her.”
Nina could not believe her ears. It was surely fantasy that the one that made you a vampire, once killed, held no power over you, providing you had not killed yourself. This would be Nina’s only chance. A chance to see her mother again. It could not be passed up. Juliana was suffering, and in Nina’s view, it was no more than she deserved. She had to do this for Juliana’s sake.
“Let me go to her. Please!” cried Nina.
Annabelle calmly left the room. Once Nina had entered, the lock was no longer secure.
“No mercy, child. By the time I have retrieved my coat and wimple, I hope you will have done, what needs to be done.”
So that’s what it was. Juliana was so excited to see fresh blood that she had not checked what the woman had handed to her.
As she walked, Nina wasted little time. Even before Annabelle had collected her belongings, she heard a sound which sounded as if Juliana had finally been put to rest.
A scream more like a wolf’s howl, emanating from Nina appeared to have confirmed this state of affairs.
Annabelle returned to the room.
“Child, is it done? The evil one is dead?”
“Come have a look for yourself.”
But there was hardly any need to step into the room. Juliana had returned to her angelic looking self, and her body lay still. Nina was covered in blood, blotches of red all over her dress. The decapitation of Juliana had spilled so much blood that Nina’s arms dripped with blood, and some had even splashed onto her face.
Annabelle realised that Nina had executed a tremendous act, and yet had feelings for the monster. Nina lay her head on Juliana’s chest, blood seeping into her black hair.
“Come with me to the convent, little one. You can do no more here. Let her be at peace. What is your name?”
“Nina.”
“Well Nina, you have done the town a great service this day.”
“How so?”
“Well, by killing the one who harmed you.”
“Oh. I haven’t done that.”
“What? No, child, you misunderstand me.”
“No,” said Nina, shaking her head. “You misunderstand me.”
“What?”
Nina cleared up the misunderstanding, by turning around sharply, and plunged the knife into Annabelle’s stomach. In order to fool the nun, Nina had simply covered herself in Juliana’s blood, and the plan had worked.
Juliana raised slowly from the floor, and savaged the nun’s body until there was very little left. Nina covered her eyes from the terrible image, but she could still hear Juliana enjoying herself.
“You had your chance, Nina. Why didn’t you take it?” asked Juliana.
“When it came to it, I couldn’t do it. Better the devil you know, isn’t that how the saying goes?”
“Lucky for me then. It looks like you and I have an understanding, little Nina.”
“An understanding, yes. But I have killed now, and my innocence is forever lost.” She sighed, her heart heavy with remorse. “Will you be alright?”
“I’ve had worse.” Juliana’s attempt to cheer Nina up had fallen flat on its face. “Be happy, Nina. Your obsession with innocence, should you wish to retain it, is completely assured. It wasn’t you that took her life - I did, okay? You can sleep in total peace at night.”
“Well, she may not be the last to try to kill us. She mentioned a priest, one who is recovering at the convent. Was it you? Did you attack him?”
“What? He’s with the nuns at the convent?” asked Juliana, with surprise and a hint of delight in her voice.
“So she says.”
“Said, not says,” corrected Juliana. “She’s dead now. She doesn’t say anything anymore.”
Deciding to finally put aside their differences and mutual distrust of each other, Juliana hugged Nina towards her.
“You’ve done great tonight, Nina. The priest – and the nuns – are the least of our worries.”
Sleep, Little Darling
Nina had not given up on seeing her mother again. She had decided that having Juliana on her side was better than constantly behaving like they were enemies. Besides, Juliana seemed to have genuinely changed since being attacked by the nun formerly known as Annabelle.
Nina would join Juliana on increasingly frequent visits to the town, which had grown in its population once more. The horrors of the Blood and the Raven had seemingly been forgotten. At the very least, people would deny anything bad had happened in the town, fearing that visitors from afar would bypass the place, and along with them
would go much needed money for the area.
As for what happened to those who had massacred the previous population, Juliana had told Nina that those particular vampires had left the town, and gone to spread their terror to others.
The nun had made a grave error, thinking that Juliana was the head vampire. She had paid the ultimate price for her mistake.
Three Tales of Vampires (The First Three Books in the Tale of Vampires Series) Page 13