History of the Vampire (The Vanderlind Castle Series Book 4)

by Gayla Twist

  One morning I woke up and I was seventeen. I found it singular that I didn’t look any different when I washed my face in the morning and peered into the bathroom mirror. But things were different. They were very different. Because I knew that just down the Tiburon River, a few miles away, was a Justice of the Peace who would perform wedding ceremonies without parental consent, as long as both parties were older than seventeen. I had reached an age where I could say, “I do,” to Jessie, if he ever proposed.

  My whole family greeted me when I came down the stairs. “Happy Birthday,” Mama said, squeezing me tightly. Then she pulled Lilly into the hug. “My two, seventeen-year-old girls.”

  “Not for long,” Lilly joked. For almost two months out of the year, my sister and I were the same age. My family referred to it as our twin months and we’d always loved this special time when we little girls.

  “Well, then I’ll have to enjoy it while I can,” our mother said, hugging us both again.

  “I’m tired of your silly nonsense with these flowers,” Mrs. Denkler snapped at me as I filled a vase with the wildflower bouquet I’d gathered on the way to work.

  “Oh,” I said, not quite sure why she was annoyed. “You mean you don’t think they cheer Arthur up? I’m sure he must get depressed, never being able to leave his room.”

  Mrs. Denkler was about to say something, but then stopped herself. She left out the sharp sigh of someone who feels they have extended a great deal of patients and their efforts have gone unappreciated. “Just take the flowers up yourself today and set them outside Arthur’s door,” she instructed me. “It’s the one with the bird carving over it. The nurse will take them in. Just make sure you mind your own business and leave that poor boy alone. If I find out that you’ve so much as stuck your nose in the door, you will be dismissed on the spot.”

  I did as I was told, trotting up the grand staircase that led to the second floor. I hadn’t been allowed up the stairs and only knew that part of the castle from what could be gleaned from down below. The hallways were massive. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it were possible to drive a car down some of them. There was an ornately carved piece of wood over each door. I took several moments to stare at the carving of a wolf’s head suspended above a door. Its eyes seemed to follow me.

  I found the door for Arthur’s room easily enough. There was a carving of a peacock with its tail feathers spread into a fan. The bird was beautiful, but also somehow menacing. That paired up well with my memory of how a peacock looked from our family trip to the Cleveland Zoo.

  I stood outside the closed door for a moment, the vase of flowers still clutched in my hands, cocking my head to one side to listen. I felt so very bad for Arthur. None of the family got out much, as far as I could tell. Emily seemed perfectly healthy. And Jessie left the castle more than the others, but that seemed to be only after the sun went down. What was the illness that kept them all so isolated and cooped up in their home? I’d tried to do researched at the library, but came up with next to nothing. The only thing I could discover was that albinos had some sensitivity to light. Most of the Vanderlinds had very pale skin, but their hair wasn’t the white of an albino and they all had very gray eyes.

  As I set the vase down outside the closed door, I had to wonder about Arthur’s malady. If Jessie and I had a child, would he or she suffer the same fate? That wouldn’t prevent me from accepting a proposal from Jessie, but it would make me consider adoption instead of bearing my own children. I did rather desperately want to have Jessie’s child, but I also knew that there were many parentless children out in the world who deserved a loving home.

  I had an anxious day. I kept expecting to see Jessie at every turn, but he never appeared. I didn’t even see Emily, which came as a surprise. She was a lonely little girl and frequently sought Lilly and my company. She was so lucky to have escaped her family’s curse, whatever it was, but it seemed to have isolated her in an unexpected way.

  Chapter 38

  Jessie

  “So you’re not fiddling with the maid,” Daniel said with a scoff as he sauntered into the library where I sat in a club chair, reading some of Sir Walter Scott’s poetry. “I can’t believe I was fool enough to have believed you.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, glancing up at him from over my book and doing my best not to be baited by my brother. I had been courting Colette for several weeks and I was always careful to ensure that my family knew as little as possible about my activities. Everyone but Emily, of course. She was my secret go-between and she thoroughly approved of where I had given my heart.

  “I followed you the other night,” he told me, perching himself on the arm of a chair. “I knew you’d been sneaking out of the house, so I followed you. And guess where you went?”

  I gave him a cool look, closing my book in the process. “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “You know damn well where you went.” he said. “You flew directly over to that little tramp’s house. I saw you with your arms around each other.”

  My temper ignited immediately when my brother referred to Colette as a tramp. She was nothing of the sort and I instantly felt compelled to defend her honor. But I knew that was what Daniel was expecting. “What’s it to you?” I asked, keeping my voice in check.

  “If you’re feeling the urge to dip your wick, then find some foolish young thing who doesn’t know where you live,” he told me. “Not one that works under the very roof of our home.”

  I wanted to strike him. I could feel the urge down to my fingertips. But what purpose would that serve? That would only convince Daniel that he was justified in his outrage. “You’re right,” I said, coolly. “She was a foolish choice.”

  Daniel was about to argue with me, but then he processed my words. “So you’ll end things with her?”

  I nodded a few times. “I shall give it some thought. It’s a matter that would have to be handled with some delicacy.”

  My brother gave me a flat look. “Just make sure that it’s handled,” he said. “Or I’ll be forced to discuss this with…” and there he paused. I knew he had meant to say Grandfather, but that was no longer an option.

  “Mother,” I supplied for him. “You’ll be forced to discuss this with our mother.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be thrilled,” he said, his voice at its most droll.

  I somehow doubted Mother would have the same reaction as her eldest son, but I said nothing. It was better for Daniel to think he had won. “If you feel the need to share this information with her, then let’s do it now,” I said, making a show of rising from my chair. “We might as well get this all out in the open.”

  “Forget it,” he said, getting to his feet and preparing to stalk out of the room. “I don’t want to worry her with such pointless trivia. Just make sure you end things with that foolish, little mortal. You should go to New York and find yourself a proper vampiress to love, if you’re feeling the need for a romantic liaison.”

  “That’s good advice,” I told him. “It’s something I’ll keep in mind.”

  Daniel left, feeling satisfied that he had the upper hand. But nothing he could do or say would ever change the way I felt about Colette. Our very souls were drawn to each other. There was nothing that could drive us apart, even with our apparently insurmountable differences. Some things were meant to be.”

  But Daniel’s actions did cause me concern. I didn’t want Colette to be exposed to the dangers of the vampire world. She didn’t want to hear about my family’s curse, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t arm her in some other way. I immediately flew to Main Street in Tiburon and gazed through the window of Houghton’s, the local jewelry shop. One side of the window displayed gold jewelry and the other half showed the silver items for sale. I spied a sterling silver locket in the shape of a heart. It was perfect for my plans.

  Pulling a pen, paper and an envelope from my pocket, I penned a quick note to the store owner, asking him to please have the locket delivered to
the Vanderlind Castle the following day. With the letter, I included several bills. I knew it was probably more than the small silver trinket cost, but I preferred to pay too much rather than too little.

  After that I headed for home. My purchase was just a small gesture, but hopefully something that would go a few steps toward keeping my darling girl safe. Colette Gibson meant the world to me. My brother was probably right, as far as what was the reasonable thing to do, but he didn’t understand how I felt in my heart. And I doubted explaining it to him would make much of a difference.

  By the time I got up the next afternoon, the package had already arrived. I opened it to view the pendant up close, being careful not to actually touch the silver as I flipped open the clamshell box. It was a pretty puffed heart with the silver polished to a shine, yet also understated enough not to draw too much attention. I thought it would be perfect as a present for Colette. I would have gladly given her a diamond the size of a robin’s egg, but we were being clandestine with our love and a showy piece of jewelry might give things away.

  I tried to arrange to see Colette during the day while she was working, but luck was not on my side. Daniel was awake and skulking around the house. He didn’t bother saying anything to me, nor did he appear to be all that interested in keeping an eye on Miss Gibson, but his presence held me in check from speaking to her.

  That night I took extra care as I was leaving the castle. At first I flew toward the woods, until I was certain Daniel wasn’t following me. I waited a good hour longer than I normally did before heading to Colette’s house. There was always a strong chance my brother was waiting for me there. But I knew Daniel to be an impatient man. I was convinced that after sitting in wait for thirty minutes, he would give up and look for something else to do. The only problem was that I had no way of contacting Colette to explain my delay. I hoped her feelings wouldn’t be too hurt.

  I surveyed the area before alighting in the Gibson’s back yard. I was always reasonably cautious about such things, — it was never a good idea to be sighted by a mortal farmer with insomnia — but with Daniel’s suspicions aroused, I had to be even more cautious. I knew my brother meant to force my hand. Little did he realize in which direction I would pull. I had no intention of giving Colette up under any circumstances.

  Reassured that there were no other vampires about, I strode over to our apple tree, only to have Colette appear out of the shadows. “I didn’t think you were coming,” she said.

  “I’m sorry, darling,” I told her, immediately taking her in my arms. “My brother suspects there is something between us and…”

  “And you didn’t want to admit to caring for someone like me,” she said, attempting to finish my sentence for me.

  “No, that’s not it at all,” I insisted, pulling her even closer. “I would rather give him up than you. But he can cause trouble for us,” I had to admit. “So I waited until I was sure he wasn’t following me.”

  “How could he cause trouble for us?” she asked. “And why?”

  I scrunched my face and tried to think of a good way to explain it. “Daniel’s… very traditional,” was all I could think to say. “He’s very inflexible about the Vanderlind name and all that rot. I’m sure he would cause a stink if he thought we had any serious intentions in mind. But my brother is also kind of an idiot, so I rarely pay any attention to him,” I assured her.

  “So your family wouldn’t approve of me?” she asked, her eyes glistening with potential tears.

  “My mother would,” I told her.

  Colette sniffed. “How do you know?”

  “Because, above everything else, my mother wants her children to be happy.” I placed a tender kiss on her lips. “And you make me happier than I ever imagined I could be.”

  Colette leaned into me and sighed, contentedly. “I know exactly how you feel.”

  “I have something for you,” I said, reaching into the breast pocket of my coat for the small, velvet box.

  “What?” she asked, lifting her head, her eyes wide with surprise.

  “I have a present for you,” I told her, placing the box in both of her hands. “Open it.”

  “Oh, Jessie,” she exclaimed as she flipped open the lid. “Oh, it’s so beautiful. I love it.” Colette’s already beautiful face blossomed into a radiant smile. “How did you know?” she asked.

  “Emily told me,” I said, for lack of a better answer. I had unwittingly done something that had made her very happy and I didn’t want that happiness to fade one ounce, so I concealed my ignorance.

  “Emily,” she said, giving a small frown. “I don’t think I told her it was my birthday.”

  It was Colette’s birthday! I took a moment to thank my lucky stars that I had a gift for her. “You’ll have to forgive me, darling, but how old are you today?”

  “Seventeen,” she said, rather shyly.

  “Seventeen,” I repeated. Colette and I were the same age. But she would one day turn eighteen and I would never see another birthday. “Does turning seventeen hold any particular significance here in the United States?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?” Colette wanted to know.

  “I mean like how in countries where the predominant religion is Judaism, turning thirteen is held in high regard.”

  “Not really,” she said. And then, putting her hand to her cheek, she added, “Except for maybe one thing.”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  And then Colette explained about a neighboring Justice of the Peace who was very accommodating about granting marriage licenses without a young lady’s parents giving consent, just as long as the girl was seventeen. This was very good news, indeed.

  I stared at her for a few seconds, torn between prudence and dropping to one knee and proposing right there, on the spot. If I had still been a mortal, then I would have done the latter. But the fact that Colette didn’t know that I was a member of the undead kept me from my matrimonial impulse.

  “Help me put this on,” Colette said, pulling the pendant from its box. I think she was concealing a blush.

  “Ah,” I said. I hadn’t anticipated she would ask for my assistance. “I’m afraid I’m a bit clumsy with delicate clasps.”

  “Oh, please try,” she told me. “I want to wear it right away.”

  Steeling myself against the pain, I took hold of the silver and attempted to fasten the pendant around her neck. The metal immediately began burning my skin instantly. It was like I was pinching a glowing hot poker between my fingers. I tried not to utter any acknowledgement of pain. I thought surely I could endure the agony long enough to secure a simple clasp. But I had never previously encountered silver as a member of the undead. The pain was excruciating. My hands started to tremble with the effort.

  “I can’t do it, I’m afraid,” I told her, releasing the chain.

  “Here, let me try,” she said, taking over. A moment later and the pendant was fastened around her slender neck. “There.” She turned toward me. “What do you think?”

  “It looks lovely on you,” I told her. The happiness she exuded quickly made me forget about the pain coursing through my hands.

  Colette reached up and caressed the heart. “I’ve never loved a gift more,” she told me.

  “I’m so glad,” was my reply. “You must promise me to always wear it. Especially at night,” I added. “Promise that you’ll never take it off.”

  “I’ll never take it off,” she assured me, pressing the pendant to her own heart. “But why especially at night?” she asked.

  “Oh.” I hadn’t even realized I’d urged her to do so. “I...” I stammered, scrambling for any plausible excuse. “I just worry about you, sometimes. You and your sister riding your bicycles home after the sun has gone down. I just feel like if you wear this pendant, then it will be like a good-luck token.”

  Colette bestowed me with another one of her lovely smiles. “I promise I’ll wear it always,” she said putting her arms around my neck to kiss me.


  It was challenging to kiss her with the silver being so close to my skin. The memory of the pain that had shot through my hands was still at the forefront of my brain. But none of that mattered if the little trinket kept my darling girl safe from harm. I would have walked out into the noon day sun for her.

  Something caught my attention and I quickly scanned the skies. It wasn’t so much a noise that had reached my ears, but more like a silence. It was the silence of a bird taking wing. Or a vampire rising into the sky.

  Chapter 39

  Colette

  The next morning, I couldn’t have been happier as I gathered blossoms for Jessie’s sick brother. The vivid wildflowers of summer had been replaced by the hardy sunflowers and Queen Ann’s lace of fall. The pendant hanging around my neck sent little shivers of happiness up my spine every time it brushed against my skin. The chain was long enough that I could tuck the pendant under the bodice of my dress and it wasn’t too visible with the heart nestling between my breasts.

  With the sun warming my face, I closed my eyes and thought of Jessie. His kisses filled me with an anticipation that I found challenging to suppress. I so desperately wanted to be with him in every way. I wanted to lie in bed with him, our bodies pressed together, smelling his warm-penny breath. I wanted to know what it was to be a woman and how it felt to be with him as my man. A little shiver of desire crept up my spine. Was seventeen too young to get married, if you knew you were truly in love?

  “How many flowers does one sick boy need?” Lilly called out as she coasted her bicycle to a stop.

  I opened my eyes and looked down, releasing a small laugh. I’d been enjoying the humming of the bees, and the grasses gently tugging at my skirt, so much that I hadn’t realized the enormous size of the bouquet I was holding.

  “What’s that?” Lilly asked as I was putting the flowers in my bicycle’s basket. She reached forward, touching the silver heart dangling from my neck and making it sway.