by Tiana Laveen
“Leave the broken cup, dear. I will get it. Please…” She pointed ahead. “Come here and take your bath.”
Venus looked at the closed cabin front door, then back towards the pitch black where Geneviève had disappeared. For a fleeting second, she wondered if she should head straight for the door and take her chances on the hounds, the horsemen, and the master. Against Geneviève’s request, she finished cleaning up after herself and set the pieces onto the now barren table. One of the pieces was dotted with her blood… She stared at it for a long time.
“Venus… come.” The woman’s tone was a bit sterner now.
On a swallow, she turned and headed into the darkness but soon, she was bathed in light. In a small corner of the room sat a bathtub filled with water. It smelled like rich perfume and oils, powders and everything pretty.
Green floral leaves floated along the liquid surface and several white candles were aglow around the room. Venus discarded her bloodied, soiled clothing and shoes and stood quivering, holding herself. She couldn’t ignore the way Geneviève looked her up and down, her gaze lingering on her hips and buttocks. It was the same way Master had glared at her… made her feel dirty and surge with unspent violent thoughts.
“Why are you lookin’ at me like that?” The words came out before she could control herself and reel them back in. It was too late anyway; she wanted answers and wasn’t against running out of there completely naked if need be. Worse had happened in her lifetime… much worse.
“Because you’re beautiful.” The woman smiled graciously then dipped her hand into the water. “The temperature is perfect. You should get in before it cools.” Venus locked eyes with her and once again, felt a sense of calm wash over her. She drew closer to the bathtub, placed a leg inside, and then the other. She lowered her body until she was neck deep in the water.
She grasped the sides of the tub and leaned back, falling into a cloud of relaxation like she’d never experienced in her life. It was the first time ever that she felt like she didn’t have a care in the world… No one wanting anything from her, demanding more than her comfort and smile. Geneviève kneeled down beside her onto a soft rug. She settled on her knees and grasped a thick cloth with her long fingers. Using a white block of soap, she started to wash her neck, shoulders, and arms. Venus was transfixed – unable to move away, even if she wanted to. Before long, her hair was wet and heavy, and Geneviève worked her long, clear nails against her scalp, massaging all of her troubles away. She felt good from her head to her toes… the sores, bruises, and bloody wounds hurt no more. Geneviève hummed a song she’d never heard before. It was soothing, familiar yet foreign.
Moments later, she got out of the tub, dripping wet. The woman wrapped a lush towel around her body and thoroughly wiped her down.
“Put this on.” One at a time, Geneviève handed her clothing items. A shift, stockings, garter. She then handed her a stay made of what appeared to be whalebone. Venus had never had such fancy clothing before but had seen them in the big house many times as she took them out to launder and dry in the sun. She then slid on a dark blue mantua. “I have a pair of shoes for you by the bed I’ve prepared. You won’t need them until tomorrow.” Venus followed the woman to the other side of the cabin. Once again, they entered darkness. Once Geneviève opened a door, light shone from the small room which featured another fireplace, a small, comfortable looking bed with layers of sheets and quilts, and a table on which sat a cup of water, a book, and a quill pen.
“Ma’am, this seems to be the only bed in the house. I don’t feel right taking it. I can just—”
“Nonsense. This is where you sleep tonight. You must stop thinking like a slave, Venus. You must learn to take what you need, what you deserve!” The woman’s tone seemed suddenly angry, then, just like that, a pleasant smile creased her face again and a softer tone prevailed. “You’ve had a trying time.” Geneviève approached the fire and prodded a poker in it, then turned back towards her. “Lie down.”
Venus lay down in the bed, shifted under the covers, and got comfortable. Before another word could be spoken, the woman sat next to her, gathered her hair in both hands and began to pull and jerk, straining her neck. Venus soon realized she was braiding her hair…
Seconds later, Geneviève handed her a mirror and stood back. “Do you like it?” She grinned as she played with a shiny black and red necklace that danced against her collarbone.
“Yes. You braid like my grandmama… Who taught you to braid like this? It’s beautiful.” Venus ran her fingertips along her hair, turning from side to side. Seven braids ran from her forehead to her back, flowing down like black ribbons.
How’d she do that so fast? How’d she clean the table so fast? How’d she move so fast after handin’ me the mirror?
“I learned a long, long time ago… from a Negro woman.”
Venus nodded, still admiring the handiwork. Not one strand was out of place. Her tight, coily locks were smooth, shiny, and done to perfection… something that had taken Grandmama hours to do… Geneviève approached her, took the mirror from her grasp and set it on the table face down.
“Sleep…”
She ran her fingers along her eyelids and just like that, Venus felt a wave of warmth and slumber approach. A part of her deep within fought it, but another part wanted this rest in the worst way. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she could hear the door close. A strange noise made her stir, but she couldn’t manage to open her eyes; she could only lie there and rest until she fell into blackness, a timeless place…
Hours must’ve passed, but Venus wasn’t certain how much or how little. She swallowed hard, her throat dry as her eyes fluttered and she awoke. She grabbed the glass of water beside her and took big gulps until it was all gone. Then… she heard it.
Dogs barking. Close.
She leapt out of the bed and swung the bedroom door open. There Geneviève stood, in the darkened short hallway, her hair flowing, her eyes almost stark white.
“They’ve found us!” the woman shrieked. “There’s been a change of plans, Venus. Go back to bed and close this door.”
“But—”
“GO!” Her voice boomed so loud and low, that a window cracked.
Venus raced away and closed the door, then dropped to her knees by the bed. Angry tears filled her eyes. For a brief moment in time, she’d been happy, almost free. Now it was all ruined… Venus heard noises, like heavy furniture moving, being tossed about. Suddenly the bedroom door crashed open and Geneviève was floating in record speed towards her. Venus’ heart pounded hard within her, and she experienced fear like she’d never known.
“Get up from there. Lie down on the bed.” Venus quickly got to her feet and did as instructed. Geneviève propped the pillow beneath her head and pulled a chair close, taking a seat. “I have no time to explain any of this to you. Do you still wish to be free?”
“Yes!”
“There is a price.”
“I ain’t got no money!”
“No, not that type of price, Venus. It’s a blessed curse, a cursed blessing… stated both ways. It’s a gift that will give pleasure and pain for many lifetimes to come but one thing is certain, you will finally be in control of your own destiny. I can give you freedom, right now. This was not supposed to happen this way!” The woman looked enraged as turned her attention briefly to the open bedroom door. “But something went wrong, so now, I have no choice! I ask again, do you want me to give you the gift?”
“I don’t understand!”
“Yes or no?!”
“YES!”
Geneviève gripped her chin with one hand, and with the other she cradled her crown. She jerked her head to the side.
“Whatever you do, Love, be still, and don’t look at me!”
Venus shrieked when a pain like she’d never known radiated in the flesh of her neck. Her throat burned as if had been lit on fire, and her entire body shook and jerked about as if struck by lightning. She nearly bit her tongue, but s
oon felt the hand against her chin jerk her mouth open, and fingers slid inside. She ground her teeth into the woman’s digits, drawing blood against the white knuckles that invaded her orifice. The sound of pounding at the front door echoed in the room… loud and cruel. Geneviève stood to her feet and Venus turned and looked at her…
She tried to scream but had no voice. She tried to run, but her legs wouldn’t budge. The woman’s eyes were now pitch black, and her hair blew about as if a breeze was blowing through an open window—but there was none and all the windows were closed. Blood dripped down the woman’s chin, coating her lips. Geneviève picked her up in her arms, kicked the bed over with the greatest of ease, and opened a hatch in the floor.
“Sleep. I will return in three days.”
Still without a voice, Venus screamed inwardly as she was tossed violently down a dark black hole that smelled of old water and stale, rotten wood. She hit rocks and debris, clutching her bleeding neck before she was surrounded by darkness as the hatch was slammed closed and locked. She heard something heavy sliding again… perhaps the bed… and the muffled sounds of heavy walking and yelling could soon be heard. She looked up, feeling weak. She heard voices right above her.
“Where is she?! She had to have come here!” some man yelled.
“The dogs tracked her to this place, but there’s no one here!” The scampering of dog feet hit the wooden boards, along with growls and whining.
“What’s wrong with the hounds?!”
The beasts snarled, then whimpered.
“Musta known she was here, that’s all. We’ve checked everywhere. Ain’t nobody here. Come on.”
“Wait a second!” someone else yelled. “Does not look like anyone has been here, but I can smell fire… The fireplaces are not lit, however.” Another voice bellowed. “Something isn’t right.”
“I can smell food but don’t see anything.”
“We don’t have time for this. Nobody is here! She and whoever helped ’er musta taken off. Damn niggers! I say we kill ’er soon as we catch her! Come on, let’s go before she gets too far!”
She heard a bunch of running until the place was finally quiet once again. After a while, she felt safe, as if the men had finally left for good. A foreboding feeling came over her, though. She felt alone…vulnerable. The woman who’d taken her in, treated her so well, then bitten her so roughly had vanished, too. She could simply feel it…
Gift? A blessed curse… a cursed blessing? Back in three days? I hope she ain’t leave me here! Maybe I should pretend I’m dead? Why do I wanna get help from someone who did this to me?!
But she felt no fear thinking about the woman. She couldn’t explain it, but somehow, someway, she knew the attack hadn’t been born of malice…
Venus tried to call out once again.
“Geneviève!” She strained, coughing up blood, feeling weak as she tried in vain to make her voice carry. She ran trembling fingers along her neck for the wound pulsed and throbbed, the pain unbearable. She tried again to scream out, but there was no answer. Venus stayed there, looking up at the ceiling of the cave-like dwelling she was in and then, the urge to sleep came over her with no warning. It was almost as if she’d been knocked out from behind by an invisible force that blanketed her with a deep, slow slide into torpor, for she couldn’t keep her head up or her eyes open for even a second longer…
…Three and a half days later
Her eyes fluttered, sensitive to the sudden light…
Venus brought her forearm over her lids, blocking the abrupt illumination that almost hurt upon sight. She could hear flapping… a sound like a bird’s wings moving…
After a few moments, she lowered her arm and looked up to see a large, shiny-feathered black raven flying from left to right. Her entire body was cold, and she could barely remember anything that had transpired.
I ran away… that’s right. Am I alive? I AM alive…
The cabin… am I still in here?
Had it all been a dream? She stared at the raven that went back and forth, back and forth until finally, she couldn’t see it anymore. A loud thud brought her quickly out of her confused state. She reached for her neck; the wound was dry and crusted over. She began to speak, then stopped herself.
Master might be back!
She moved out of the light in the hole, pressing her back against the rough, dank walls. The fear of the horrid man’s possible return sent her into an instant panic.
I’ll fight! They’ll have tuh kill me just like they said they would!
“It’s okay…” said a familiar voice.
Long black hair fell down into the opening of the hole. The bluish white, smooth flesh could be seen and long fingers, covered in jewels, wrapped around the rough edges of the circular opening.
Geneviève smiled, her lips now painted a bright red. The woman extended her arm. “Grab my hand.”
Venus did so and she helped her out with little to no effort. Before she could say a word, ask a question, the woman zoned in on the bite she’d inflicted upon her. Geneviève ran her finger along the wound, then nodded.
“It’s irregular… not my best work. But it’s doing fine.”
“What’s goin’ on? Why’d you bite me?! Where’d you go?!”
“Venus, you have many questions. That’s to be expected. I will answer some. First, though, let’s address your wellbeing. Are you hungry?”
“Yes.”
Geneviève took her hand and led her out to the table, which was covered with platters of food again. Gigantic icing covered cakes, buttery rolls, green beans, strips of fried bacon, and apples covered in cinnamon… The sight of it made her feel a mixture of deep hunger and revulsion. Suddenly, she gagged, feeling a knot in her throat. The sting of vomit climbing up her gullet stung her esophagus and before she knew it, she was shivering and standing in a puddle of her own vomit. She wiped the dripping saliva and sticky bile off her mouth and looked down at her dress, now stained with bits of matter that had crept up from her gut. She felt like death warmed over.
“It’s all right.” Geneviève smiled and tapped her shoulder. “Everyone responds differently. The change can take a few weeks to complete, sometimes months… I’ve heard of even years for a few… just depends upon the person.” The woman shrugged. “If you’re already finding your typical desirable foods sickening, then perhaps you’re evolving a bit faster. Here, sit.”
She pulled out a chair for her, but the woman hadn’t touched it. The thing moved on its own. She stared at that chair for quite some time. Perhaps she was hallucinating, seeing things? After all that had happened, losing her mind wasn’t farfetched.
I might be turnin’ out like Jasper… He started cluckin’ like a chicken, went plum crazy after they went ’nd hung his wife and drowned his baby boy in the river.
Venus walked up to the chair and slumped down in it. Old and new emotions stemming from her time on the Miller Plantation filled her, rising to the top just like vomit and acid reflux. The anger burned through her veins. She had a taste for revenge… one so strong, she was fixated on wondering what Master Miller’s body would look like shot full of holes. Geneviève clasped her hands, a somber expression on her face.
“Venus, I can see in your eyes you’re changing. It’s time to talk. Some things that you wonder about will not make sense to you, even if I answered each and every one of your questions. I am going to tell you what you need to know, at least for now. You found this cabin because you were supposed to. Only people that are meant to see it actually do. However, I made an error in judgment and that caused me to have to move much quicker than originally planned.”
“I don’t understand.” She coughed violently, spewing blood onto the once clean, white plate before her. Geneviève jumped to her feet and floated over to a dresser. Retrieving a handkerchief from a drawer, she handed it to her. Venus continued to cough into it then finally settled. “Am I dying?” She shuddered as her body ran cold, then hot, then cold again.
; “Yes and no. You’re changing… the old you is dying, but your flesh is so strong, it’s holding onto itself, although it’s naturally weak. The new you is fighting hard to come forth. You have died and are being born again as we speak.”
Venus stared into those cold, light blue eyes of the woman…
Woman… this ain’t no woman. She floatin’. She’s strong, pullin’ me up wit’ one arm from that hole… Death is in her eyes. How’d she hide from those men? They couldn’t find her, and she ain’t easy to miss. She sit there and tell me, ‘Died and born again’, like baptism… like they declare the Good Book say…
“I ain’t got nothin’ else to lose. What are you?” Venus sat straight, wanting even straighter answers.
“I am called many things. Your people call me a vampire.”
“Vampire? I don’t know ’bout that. What’s that?” Geneviève stood to her feet and poured herself a glass of that dark red stuff from the crystal pitcher. Then, she poured a second one, too. The glass floated down the table and landed before Venus.
“You will drink it when you’re ready. The hunger will become so strong, you will have no choice. Back to your question,” The woman took a deep breath. “A vampire, Venus, is what humans call the undead. We feed on human blood… hunters of life essence.”
Venus took a deep breath now too as her nostrils flared. The scent of the liquid coming from the glass before her smelled so good and so revolting at the same time. She hungered for it and her stomach knotted from the sight of it, too.
“I’ve come a very long way, Venus. I’ve finally found you… I’ve helped countless slaves to freedom, but never was the one I was looking for amongst them. It’s in my nature to not care about anything but what I need. I am not into politics or human rights. I am not an abolitionist. I simply became one to get what I wanted. I had given up hope, and then, there you were…” Geneviève pointed to the glass. “You’ll need a sip soon… I can hear your heartbeat slowing. You will hate yourself at first, Venus, but then, you will love yourself. I know it’s confusing. It will take time.”