Bloods Gem

by Gloria Conway

  It’s not like I’ve killed a ton of people. Actually, it’s only been five, and they were all dangerous people who shouldn’t be allowed on the street in the first place. In my head I did try hard over the years to follow my father’s wishes when it came to resisting. But when I went away for a few years on my own , I slipped.

  Tonight would be a gift to myself. A going-away present. I deserved it. I had been a good boy for a long time.

  It was getting late. A sign that it was the perfect time to hunt for my last meal. “Daniel, you ready to go?” My sister walked in on me while I was lying on my bed staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

  “Damn, you ruined my moment,” I growled. “What do you mean, “am I ready?””

  Trying to hear her thoughts, she was blocking me out.

  “Father told me to accompany you tonight, so don’t do anything stupid.” Hands on her hips, she rolled her eyes.

  Jumping from the bed towards her. “Come on sis, this can be a present from you to me. Let me spend this night on my own,” I pleaded.

  “If I do that and you get into trouble it will be my head. Plus, I want to get some fresh air tonight. It’s been too cramped here lately since they sent out the invites for your going away party.”

  I looked for some sort of motivation to prompt her to help me. “I will owe you forever Sis. I promise. I wont get into any trouble. I need this time to think. Howell and Cesar are supposed to meet me at the Dark Room for a guys night.”

  She tapped her foot impatiently. “Well, I’m going to check in on you guys once to make sure.”

  “Sounds good!” I shouted, almost too excited. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, looking for anything telling her not to believe me.

  “Okay, if I do this you will do something for me,” she said.

  “Anything!” I shouted.

  “Have Howell meet me in my room tonight after you guys are done.”

  Oh boy. This was not what I expected but a fair trade, I thought. “Your serious aren’t you? You know father will kill him if you two…” I couldn’t bear to think of her and

  She interrupted before I changed my mind. “Don’t worry about Father, Dan. Just get your ass out of here before I change my mind.”

  She didn’t let me finish my train of thought and I wasn’t about to negotiate knowing there was nothing more I could say. I reached down to hug my sister and realized I needed to secure my alibi with Howell and Cesar as soon as possible.

  “You wont regret it Sis. But please don’t do anything stupid with Howell. I won’t forgive myself if we have half retarded babies running around the castle and neither would father.”

  Chapter Seven

  Daniel

  Finally, I was out. Away from the shackles and my fathers suspicious eyes. Free of the training. If I had to smell anymore virgin’s blood I was going to go nuts. But that was part of our training to be ready for our gem. They tempt us with the blood of a virgin, they say it’s the most desirable scent, aside from our gem.

  I knew my immunity had built up. The first five years were the hardest; they had to restrain us until we no longer bared our teeth to the scent. They also do this to all new vampires who want to join our family. If they choose to live the innocent life we do, they must go through the same training we do as an initiation. It was a difficult necessity. We still craved, but we have more control and make sure to drink before we get too thirsty. As long as we’re full, we usually don’t crave and if we do it’s easier to control.

  I no longer had to wear the ridiculous white cape and uniforms they make us wear as we train. They made us wear white because it was a sign of purity, and it’s supposed to give us motivation as if we’d be saved from the pits of hell. In the book of Ill-suen it’s told we would go to a great afterlife if we abstain and lived accordingly. Some of us, including myself studied the bible of the humans. And therefore it did give us some hope, depending on our choices. However, tonight I hoped he wouldn’t be watching…

  I ran to the Dark Room to tell Howell and Cesar that I was supposed to be with them all night, and if Celeste checks in to tell her I went back home to sleep. I also told Howell to meet Celeste later in her room, something I shouldn’t have agreed to.

  My concern now was to find a meal and where to look. I thought about waiting in an alley somewhere. Inconspicuously lurking behind the darkness. I also thought the night was worth a little risk. I could lure some woman from a bar. What was the worst that could happen if I was to fool around with a human before hunting down a criminal? Though I would have to control my other urges, and try not to drink from her instead of my intended victim.

  I decided on The Court, a small club downtown where they played modern music. It was a place women go to dance and let loose. I knew it would be easy to get in and out without causing suspicion.

  Tonight I decided to wear dark blue jeans and my tight gray shirt, humans seem to love being able to see a hard body through fabric. With ease I spiked my hair up, which in these days was the style to look hip. I didn’t quite understand yet why style’s only stayed in for so long, but the 21st century seemed to fit in with how I was feeling as of late. I would definitely look my best to attract the best.

  I stood near the door, but before I could make it to the entrance, I felt as if someone hit me with a crowbar in my stomach but a thousand times more force. I started to bow over, trying to gather myself quickly, I flashed the man guarding the door my identification. He gave me a strange look but passed me through. I took a deep breath and scanned the room. Humans were not as tempting as they once were since my training.

  I was able to shrug off the pain in my gut as I slowly strolled across the room, there was this aroma that made my whole body quiver, my mouth started to water, and I felt my body start to lift itself up to take me to the scents location. I tightly held myself to the bar that was on my right side. I looked around to see if anyone noticed my levitating body, but it was too dark, I was safe. After a few minutes I was able to regain control. I cautiously allowed myself to follow this unlikely scent.

  My urges, overwhelming as they were, began to excite me, yet at the same time annoy me. My head became fuzzy. Hearing muffled voices, I couldn’t make out what was in front of me and started to panic.

  Knocking a few people out of my way as I stumbled across the room. I figured they thought I was just another drunk. I couldn’t understand what was making me feel this way, why I can’t control this. I knew the closer I got to the scent the harder it was to act normal.

  I stood in the corner of the room and closed my eyes, hoping the blurred vision would soon go away. As my vision slowly recovered and my hearing was back to normal I went forward to the scent. But this sudden urge to kill the whole room distracted me. They were all in the way of what I was chasing, and I wouldn’t let them hold me back any longer. I wanted to feed into my urges, I wanted to kill slowly and lick the blood of my victims while they scream in horror. I also wanted to scream and run away, get myself out before it was too late.

  I slowly opened my eyes from my morbid thoughts of killing everyone and saw her. I couldn’t look away nor move. She was a beautiful sight. I watched her from across the room. She stared back at me. I wanted her, that was my present to myself. I still couldn’t move, or talk, and it was becoming difficult to maintain focus. Compose yourself damn it! I had to, compose myself, and break out of this spell she had me in.

  I want her, I want her, I want her is all that was going through my head. I wanted her too bad, too much, not just her blood. I wanted to take her and lock her away for my own pleasures. As soon as she looked away I was able to unfreeze, she released me from the spell she’d cast. I was so absorbed in the moment, I realized the bar I held onto was barely hanging on. Evidence under my feet, I immediately tossed in a nearby trash can. I held myself to the bar so I wouldn’t dash across the room and kill everyone in the way just to get to this girl.

  I was thinking of what I could say to this girl to get
her to go outside with me. Angry that she made me feel so weak, I wanted to kill her. I stared once again, fantasizing about what I would do if I had her alone. The thought of sinking my teeth into her and hearing her scream, gave me chills thinking about it. Though I know she wouldn’t live long I wouldn’t want to stop drinking her sweet blood. I'll make her love every moment until she’s sucked dry. My fantasy was annoyingly interrupted when I heard someone talking to me, it was her, she was standing right in front of me. It took all I had to not launch forward, I leaped back. She looked at me puzzled.

  I tried to speak but nothing came. My mouth hung open.

  “You okay?” She asked. Her voice was a melody to my ears, it made my body tremble. I was restraining everything in me trying to stay composed and keep my control. I just nodded as I stared at her. Her skin looked so soft and pale, as if there was this radiant light shining off her, I wanted to almost reach out just to touch her but I stopped myself, knowing that probably would intensify this mad desire for her. Her eyes, dark brown, getting lost in them wasn’t hard. And her lips! Oh my. Damn it! Made me want to rip them off right then and there. Seeing her wet them with her tongue wasn’t helping me fight everything in me. Her face was like nothing I’ve ever seen, her features so beautiful and breathtaking.

  I instantly dropped to my knees as she spoke again. I wasn’t going to make it, she had this power over me I couldn’t understand, I had to leave and quick before I kill her. I got up as quick as I could only being able to say, “Sorry” as I dashed out. I knew she probably thought I was a freak or something. I wasn’t going to let her win. I will take her when she leaves the bar. We would fly somewhere so I could have her. I would be glad when she’s dead so I wouldn’t have to feel that weak again. “How can a human do this to someone like me, she will get what’s coming” I mumbled to myself.

  I waited in the alley beside the bar, waiting for her scent to cross. I stared at the cold wet ground, watching the rain drops in slow motion as it hit the concrete under my feet. It was eerie the mental state I was in—dazed--a dream-like state in which I was never to wake.

  Cold, and ruthless felt natural. To be this person--this monster--who wanted his desires fulfilled immediately. These urges couldn’t be left unsatisfied much longer. This was the perfect time and place to act upon them with no consequences.

  I saw a girl just outside the alley. She was falling over drunk on the sidewalk. She smelt good, not as good as Her, but it would be a good snack. Still trying to compose myself from the hold she had over me, I couldn’t wait much longer. I wanted at least one of my desires to be filled right now.

  I scanned the area to see if anyone else was around, no one was in sight.

  “Yes,” I mumbled under my breath. Running to her, I helped her up and used mind control to attract her to me. She was easy. Instantly all over me. I pressed her against the wall inhaling her scent, placing my hands around her neck, the temptress moaned. My lips to the nape of her neck, and eased my teeth into her flesh.

  Grabbing the back of my head, she pressed her lips to mine, our tongues meeting. I bent down to lick the blood coming from her neck, her breath started getting heavy. Looking into her face, I imagined the other girl in the bar. Sucking her neck slower knowing I didn’t have much time before she was dead. I stopped to kiss her lips before I took her last breath. I finished her more quickly then I’d hoped. I took a few more licks then sucked her dry. I felt so full and satisfied, walking away with a smile on my face.

  I woke up in my bed, my sister standing over me growling.

  “What?” I asked annoyed by lack of privacy.

  “You know what!” She shouted.

  “Oh come on, it was just one. No big deal.”

  “One what?”

  I looked at her trying to figure out if she knew or not. “Sis, what are so mad about?” I asked.

  “Well, I had to drag you out of a bar in front of all those humans. It was embarrassing. You passing out in front of some frightened girl.”

  “What!? I did what?”

  “What’s gotten into you Dan? I mean fainting… Since when do you faint? Did you drink or eat something that messed you up?”

  I tried to wrap my mind around what she said. Everything was so vivid in my mind about what I did. I thought I killed a girl last night and fed. I killed an innocent girl… The guilt made me sick.

  “Wait… I passed out? This makes no sense Sis.”

  “You're telling me?” She looked pissed. “I had to tell father your friends bet you to drink shots and you did it too quickly and passed out, which is why I had to drag you to your bed.”

  I shook my head not unbelieving but relieved I didn’t kill anyone.

  “So you lied to me Dan about where you went. That will be the last time I do you any favors. Oh, by the way, here!” She handed me a piece of paper with a phone number written on it.

  “What’s this?” I asked, eye-balling the feminine handwriting.

  “That girl you passed out in front of. She was in the middle of giving you her phone number when you fell to her feet. What a wimp!” She hissed.

  “The human girl that smelled good?” I asked excited.

  “She didn’t smell good to me. But, whatever. Yeah, human girl,” she reminded me.

  I jumped up like I hit the lottery and got dressed.

  Finding my phone in my jeans from the previous night, I held it in my hand, shaking uncontrollably. What should I say? What do I want? What am I going to do with her? What am I doing?

  I would be leaving the next day and father would be so angry if I brought home a human girl who is not my gem. I can always lie--spend this time just getting to know this girl, while they think I’m on my journey. Or I can bring her home telling them she’s my gem. What am I thinking!? I can’t do this. I don’t like this girl for that purpose. She’s just food. What is wrong with me? I don’t need sex, love, and passion in my life. I was fine without it. This girl would only satisfy my need for thirst. Nothing more.

  If I killed her, the guilt would kill me, but it’s just one innocent person. I’ve been good. But looking into her eyes made me feel… No I can’t think of her like a mate. If I’m to take a bride she would be a queen to me, everything I want in a woman and more, one who’s just as intelligent as me and able to keep me guessing. No human could be this for me.

  I threw the phone down on my bed and crumbled the paper in my hand tossing it into the trash beside my desk.

  I joined my family in the family room, they were reading, 'Struck by Moonlight', an epic. I motioned to my brother who was sitting next to Celeste, “Adrian, may I speak with you?”

  I directed him towards the library. He walked with a strut, I found annoying. He always seemed so confident. There were times I wished I had the confidence he had, and his looks. His broad shoulders and masculine physique attracted ninety-eight percent of the human women who walked past him.

  It was too noticeable standing next to him and made me feel average. If they stared at me the same way they did him, I’d have it made. But it wasn’t just his physique that had them panting. His dark, shoulder-length hair was never out of place. His green eyes along with his well-defined brow having the come-hither look seemed to spark lust in the ladies eyes. It was sickening to watch and made me envious.

  “What do you want Dan?” He asked, rolling his eyes to my thoughts, which were now his.

  He was never fond of me, but I needed to talk to someone and my friends weren’t around. We stepped into the library and I asked him to sit down. I hopped up on the table to take a seat next to him. Nervous, talking about this, I drew my finger up and down the palm of my hand.

  He cleared his throat impatiently, implying he did not have all day. Glancing up at him, I gave him an awkward smile.

  “Adrian I need help. I’m confused… Last night I met a human girl and felt I had no control. The feeling was a combination of pain and lust. I couldn’t even talk to the damn girl.”

  A dark lau
gh rose from him, startling me. “Wow, you got it made then. Guess you wont have to go far after all.”

  I narrowed my eyes trying to make out what he was getting at. “Explain?” I asked, politely.

  “Do I have to spell it out for you or are you just as stupid as you look? It’s obviously your gem.”

  My mind raced. This was not happening. Her… my gem? How could it be this easy? Yet so hard, I already hated the girl and wanted to kill her. Had planned to do it last night.

  “It might sound funny to you being so easy and all, but the weakness and lust you explain only come if you’ve found her. Not to mention, Celeste telling me about you passing out at a human girl's feet. You’re already starting to worship her. Good job, Bro.”

  He glared at me, his tone sarcastic. I couldn’t speak. The lack of control I had being around the girl, I could not get close to her again without killing her.

  I smacked the palm of my hand to my head, regretting the thought once again of pursuing her.

  “Adrian, don’t speak of this to anyone. I will figure this out on my own. I just don’t know how to do what I need to do without killing her.”

  He laughed again. “Baby steps Dan. Baby steps. Don’t just jump right in and say, “Hey wanna get married?” The longer you're around her, the easier it will be to control yourself. When I found Sabrina I had a hard time too, but I also caved and attacked.

  “I do hate myself for that. I have to be reminded everyday looking at her. The looks she still gives me, but it’s still fresh. But I had enough strength to stop. I knew if I killed her, I was dead too, and in time it gets easier to at least like her. Not quite love. I still resent her for making me vulnerable. I should have a choice who I love and who I don’t. I guess that’s why I've been holding on to this resentment this whole time.”