Novel Hearts

by Rebecca Boucher

  “What in the …”

  “I said drink! There is no time to waste!” Lucia ordered as her blue eyes flared a brilliant green, and the snake inched forward, twisting and turning until it stopped before Lucia and me. I was starting to lose consciousness, but I drank the blood she offered. She began chanting in her ancient tongue, locking eyes with the snake. The King Cobra raised up half its body length, flared its neck and followed Lucia’s movements, swaying from side to side, never taking her eyes from the snake. She opened her mouth wide into a snarl and bit down into the air, then the snake bit her arm. Then, the snake bent down and struck me, biting first my leg and then my arms, with Lucia guiding it. Searing pain flooded my body, setting it on fire as the venom spread through my body.

  “Please kill me, Lucia! I’m burning alive!” I shouted into her face, as her eyes flared green. Then, she held her wrist that the cobra bit to my lips, forcing the blood into my system, as the ancient stones glowed brightly within the clearing. After biting me countess times, the snake slithered away, but disappeared before it reached the forest’s edge. I sucked the blood and venom from her wrist, understanding that the great snake and I shared Lucia’s blood. I drank until I was sure there was no venom tainting her blood, then pulled away, screaming and writhing in pain, burning alive from the inside out as she continued to chant in her ancient tongue.

  “Now, ye are becoming a different creature,” Lucia said, between chants. “Thou art no longer human, and human diseases will not harm you. Ye shall have the strength of a hundred men, but you will crave blood … above all else. Ye must needs learn to control it, but I will help thee.” It was then that I knew she had bartered my soul … with her own.

  “Lucia, what have ye done? Kill me!” I screamed as I writhed in pain for two days.

  “No, ye shall be fine soon,” she cooed, never leaving my side.

  “Why did ye do this to me?” I screamed, “Let me go!”

  “Sorry, but I just couldn’t.”

  Then, just as abruptly as it began, the pain began to subside … first from my fingertips … then from my legs … until I began to regain normal feeling again, and through it all, Lucia never left my side. As I started to regain control of my senses, I felt stronger than ever before … invincible. It was an incredible feeling, but a thirst like I’ve never felt before overwhelmed me. “Lucia, what have I become?”

  Lucia thought for a moment, then replied. “I’m not quite sure, but ye will no longer be human.”

  I nodded, letting the information sink in. If I wasn’t human, then what was I?

  “I’m sorry, Fredrick, but I just couldn’t let ye go,” she said looking into my eyes.

  “We’ll figure it out together,” I said, then pulled her into my arms, but I could smell her blood … pulsing in her veins … beckoning to me to feed … to bite … Suddenly, I pushed her away.

  “Fredrick?” she asked, bewildered.

  “Lucia …” I said as my breath quickened. “This is going to sound strange, but I …”

  “What, Fredrick?” she asked, taking a step closer, but I immediately stepped back. “Whatever it is, just say it.”

  “Lucia … I don’t know any other way to say it … but I want thy blood … to drink it … I hear it pulsing in thy veins … calling to me …” I quickly turned away, ashamed for even saying such a ludicrous thing, for even thinking it.

  “What have I done?” Lucia asked, taking a step back.

  “Lucia?”

  “Fredrick, there are stories of blood drinkers … monsters,” Lucia said, not sure what to say or do. “They are killers …”

  “But I don’t want to kill! I don’t want to be a monster!”

  “Then, don’t be,” she said, taking a step closer to me. Then, she picked up my knife and punctured her wrist in the same place that she did before. Immediately, blood dripped down her wrist …

  “No, Lucia! What are ye doing?” I asked, taking a step back, horrified. “I don’t want to kill thee …”

  “Then don’t,” she said, offering me her freshly punctured wrist. Blood was flowing from her wound on her wrist, falling toward the ground … but I caught it before it was lost. I lifted it to my lips and the overwhelming sensation of blood … the coppery, salty-sweet taste … the life-giving force of blood … My breath quickened as I tried to fight the desire to taste … to feed. Unable to take it anymore, I took her wrist into my hand and looked into her eyes as her luscious blood dripped onto my hand. She nodded, and I held her wrist to my mouth and drank of her goodness … her life-giving force … her blood. I noticed she started to sway on her feet, so I immediately stopped before I drained her completely. The sensation was euphoric … better than anything I had ever experienced before … almost better than sex, but not quite.

  “Oh, my Lucia,” I cooed into her ear, pulling her to my chest as I wrapped my arms around her. “Lucia, I’m so sorry.”

  “Nay, don’t be,” she replied in a weak voice. “Don’t be.”

  “We have to get thee something to eat,” I said, picking up my white shirt from our wedding night. When Fletcher shot me, I had just enough time to slip into my pants and my chest was bare. I looked down at my chest, wiped away the blood and it was completely healed. “Thank ye,” I said to my Lucia as I slipped into my white shirt, hoping the blood stains on my chest wouldn’t bleed through before I could bathe.

  “Do not thank me,” Lucia said as tears streamed down her face. “Look what I’ve done to thee.”

  “Lucia …” I gently cooed, pulling her into my arms. “Ye saved my life.”

  “But …”

  “But nothing,” I cut her off. “The rest we will work out … together.” She nodded and I helped her onto the back of my horse, knowing I had to get her some food … soon. “Lucia, when is the last time ye ate anything?”

  “Before the dance,” she replied.

  “That was two days ago, at least,” I said as I folded Lucia’s lace veil and slid it into my leather pouch along with my clothes. Then, I slid into the saddle in front of her and she quickly slid her arms around my waist. “We have to head toward the Mayflower, but we shall get ye something to eat on the way.”

  “Do ye not think that it already sailed?” Lucia asked, resting her head on my back as I ran Blaze through the woods, staying hidden. “I know of a tavern in the next town …”

  “Nay, we need to get as far away as possible,” Lucia interrupted sleepily. “I can wait.” But deep down inside, I wondered if she really could. Then, I had an idea. “Lucia? Can ye wait until we get a few towns away?” She nodded into my shoulder, but said nothing. I ran Blaze all day into the night until the sun had gone down completely. Even though it was dark out, I could see with complete clarity. I knew that Blaze needed to eat, too, but grass would have to do for now.

  I pulled Blaze abruptly to a stop and Lucia nodded awake. Relieved, I slid off the horse and helped her down. She was weak and needed food … now. I took the heavy blanket from Blazes’ back, doubled it up and laid it on the ground. “Lay down for a bit. Ye need to rest. I’ll be back straight away.” She nodded, too tired to resist, and let me place the blanket under her head for a makeshift pillow as she lay under an old oak tree. I knew that to Druids, oak trees had healing powers. I didn’t know if it would work, but I snipped a fresh green oak leaf from the tree and held it to her lips. “Here, suck on this for a bit,” I said and she complied. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it was worth a try.

  I quickly built her a fire and left to hunt … for her. I was amazed at the speed at which I could run, but there was too much at stake. Suddenly, I smelled some white-tailed deer to the right in a clearing. As I drew near, they were drinking from a crystal clear lake. I slid behind a tree, staying downwind from them, so they couldn’t catch my scent. Then, a doe lifted her head and sprinted toward the woods while the others followed. As quick as a flash, I darted after them and caught the doe, bringing her down with ease, careful of her sharp hooves.
I heard her heart pushing her luscious blood through her body. It didn’t smell as good as human blood, but good enough. Quickly, I sank my teeth through the folds of muscle and sinew of her neck, finding the main artery, then let her heart do the rest as I drank my fill. She struggled futilely, then one of her hooves caught me on the forearm before I was finished. Suddenly, she grew weak as her heart inadvertently failed.

  Then, I knew. I could survive on animal blood. It didn’t taste as good as human blood, but it would do and I wouldn’t have to kill humans. I didn’t want to kill … to be a monster. I picked up the doe like it was a feather and slung her over my shoulders, around my neck. Then, I ran swiftly back to Lucia. As I neared the place where I left her, I knew the fire would keep the wild animals away from her, but she needed sustenance … now. Within a few minutes, I was back at the fire where I left Lucia. “Hello, love,” I gently cooed into her ear.

  “Thou art here,” she whispered, looking weak and very pale.

  “Aye, love. I’m here. I will never leave thee,” I said, giving her a kiss on her forehead. She gave me a weak smile and closed her eyes. I left her to rest and used my knife to cut up the deer. I whittled green sticks, ran them through the meat and held them over the fire. I quickly discovered that fire wasn’t my friend and was careful not to get too close to it.

  I also knew that Lucia needed water. She needed fluids. While the meat was cooking, I thought of running back to the lake where the deer were drinking, but I had nothing to carry the water in. Then, I had a thought. Would my blood help her the way it helped me? It was crazy, but without giving it a second thought, I slit my wrist and held it to her lips. She struggled a bit, but was too weak to resist, as I let my blood drain into her mouth and down her throat. Already, I could hear her pulse growing stronger. It was then that I learned that my blood had healing powers for humans. Soon, the meat was cooked and I cut it up into tiny pieces and placed it into her mouth, feeding her. Before the front hind quarter was gone, she sat up, took the meat into her own hands, and hungrily fed herself, digging in, biting off huge chunks of meat. “Well, I’m so glad ye are feeling better,” I said, clearly enjoying watching her eat, knowing she would be fine.

  “Sorry,” she sheepishly replied, holding a hand to her lips, and the blush on her cheeks was an exquisite shade of pink.

  “Nay, don’t be! It’s grand to see that ye feeling better!” I said, laughing.

  “I have a question,” Lucia asked. “Did ye feed me thy blood?”

  “Aye, I did,” I replied, then added. “I think it healed thee.”

  She nodded. “That makes sense.”

  “How is that?” I asked, intrigued.

  “Well, I healed thee, so now thy blood can heal me … humans. It makes sense,” she said, taking another bite of the venison as I laughed. She ate for a good while, then finally slowed down. “That was delicious. Thank ye.”

  “Thank ye, my love,” I said, then wrapped my arms around her shoulder, leaning her back beside the fire, as she curled into the crook of my arm. Get some rest, love. I’ll stand guard. Ye shall be safe.”

  “Are ye not tired? Do ye not need to rest?” Lucia asked, lifting her head to look into my eyes.

  “No, not at all,” I replied, and she nodded. Soon, she drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning, the fire died out and I scattered the ashes. “Lucia, love,” I whispered into her neck, smelling her sweet scent. “Time to wake.”

  “I’m hungry,” she said, sitting up.

  Luckily, there was plenty of cooked venison left from the night before, so I cut off some of the meat, handed it to her and she eagerly accepted. She sank her teeth into the venison and ate her fill, as I prepared Blaze for the journey, knowing I would have to find some grain soon. He couldn’t survive on grass alone for a long period of time. “Ready, love?” I asked when she stood, holding Blaze steady. She nodded and I slid into the saddle and helped her up behind me. We rode silently for a while, but sometimes we laughed or talked about our hopes for the future. Then, a thought occurred to me. “Lucia, why are ye such a powerful … witch?” The word seemed awkward on my lips when referring to my beloved Lucia.

  She grew silent, and I immediately regretted the question. “When a witch dies, their energy goes to the next of kin. Since both my mother and my father died and they were both witches,” she paused for a moment, remembering, “their power was released into me, along with all of my ancestors that were witches.” She was silent for a bit, then said, “I come from a long line of witches.”

  “So, ye inherited the power of all the witches within thy lineage?” I asked, truly amazed.

  “Aye,” Lucia said, then her voice broke on the last part, “That is why I couldn’t save my parents. I didn’t have enough power … until they died.”

  I sat for a moment, taking it all in. “I’m so sorry for ye, Lucia.” And deep down, I wish there was something I could do to make it up to her.

  We rode for days, traveling within the shadows of the forest by day and resting by night. Once, we came to a barn and I was able to get some grain for Blaze. I hated to take the grain, but Blaze was growing thin and we needed him to remain strong. Also, he had been my horse since he was a colt and I loved him. He was a great horse. At another house, there were clothes drying on a clothesline, so I was able to get a clean dress for Lucia and a clean shirt for myself. We needed to save what money I had from trading for our journey that lay ahead.

  It took us five days to get to Blackwall. I just hoped that the Mayflower was still there. It promised freedom in the New World—freedom from oppression, freedom to worship, freedom to live … freedom. Maybe there, my Lucia will be safe. When we arrived, to my amazement, the ship was still there. So, Lucia changed into her new dress as I slipped into my new shirt and we approached the ship. We both felt exposed and vulnerable in the open, having traveled in seclusion for so long.

  We both looked around as we rode up toward the ship setting in the harbor, looking for anyone from our village that may be looking for us. Even though it was doubtful that anyone followed us out this far, we kept a watchful eye nevertheless. “Try to act natural,” I said to Lucia, riding behind me on Blaze. I could feel her nod her ascent.

  “Might I help ye, sir?” a gentleman with short, blonde hair asked, carrying a musket, standing guard.

  “Aye, may I speak to the captain?” I asked as Lucia waited.

  “Aye, what about?”

  “Passage … to America,” I said, awaiting his response.

  The gentleman nodded and lowered his weapon. “Ye be in luck! Our passage has been delayed. We’ve been waiting here in port for a week now, but we should be shoving off soon.”

  “What are ye waiting for?” I asked, making small talk.

  “Ah, some pilgrims … church people.”

  I nodded, feigning concern. “Who may I ask is the captain?”

  “Aye, Captain Christopher Jones,” he replied with obvious pride. “I’ll go fetch him.”

  I nodded my ascent.

  “Do you think we’ll gain passage?” Lucia asked, worried.

  “We shall see, but let’s just wait a bit,” I said, trying to sound comforting.

  A few moments later, a middle aged, tall gentleman with dark, wavy hair brushing his shoulders approached with the blonde man. “This be the gentleman I told ye about, Captain Jones.”

  Captain Jones looked up at me sitting atop Blaze and said, “Well, are ye coming down from there, or shall I look up at ye all day?”

  I smiled, already liking his spunk, and slid down off the horse, then helped Lucia down, too. “My wife and I have journeyed long to seek passage,” I said. “Might ye have room aboard your ( thy ) ship?”

  Jones sighed, then looked at the blonde gent. “Well, we are waiting for some church people, and we can use the money … can ye pay for thy passage? For ye and the Misses?”

  “Aye,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t ask an astronomical amount, but we couldn’t wait. It
was just a matter of time before the town folk of our village caught up with us.

  Jones scratched the short stubble of his brown whiskers on his chin and said, “Well, if ye be going, what do ye plan to do with thy horse?”

  “Sell him, I guess,” I said, then added, “unless ye have room?”

  Jones laughed, enjoying the joke. “No, but we have room for the likes of the two of thee; however, ye need to pay now.”

  “Aye. Thank ye, sir,” I said, reaching into my pocket for the money.

  Once I counted it out, Jones said, “Well, right this way, Mr. … Mr. …”

  “Lee,” I supplied, taking Lucia’s hand. “Fredrick Lee, and this lass is my lovely wife, Lucia.”

  “Lucy, It’s a pleasure to meet ye,” Jones said, taking her hand into his, then raised it to his lips to kiss it chivalrously.

  “Lucia, please,” she corrected, smiling sweetly.

  “So be it … Lucia,” Jones said in acknowledgement. “We are awaiting supplies, along with the passengers, then we shall set sail.”

  “If ye have a bow and arrows, I can hunt for ye,” I offered, knowing we could cure the meat before we sailed.

  “That’s a fine offer,” Jones said, slapping me on the back with a smile, then looked at Blaze. “Ye horse is a bit starved, but I can fatten him up before we go, then ye should fetch a fine price for him. It’ll help ye on the trip.”

  “I’d be much obliged,” I replied, moved by his offer of kindness.

  “We have a stable here for our horses. You may keep him there, if ye like.”

  “Aye , Thank ye.”

  “Come … I’ll show you where it is,” Jones said, then said to Lucia. “My Misses can show ye to your quarters.”

  “Thank ye,” Lucia said with a smile.

  “Ye should wait ‘til ye see it before ye be thanking me,” Jones said, laughing. “Ye might change thy mind.”