He threw me down on the bed carelessly, ripping off his waistcoat off, leaning forward and starting to unclasp the front of my bodice. I threw off the redingote, Vincent pulling at my petticoat, which started the rip, the sound of the cloth tearing filling my ears.
I ripped at his blouse as he pulled at his neck cloth, loosening it, his clothing joining mine in the pile on the floor. We began passionately making love in a way I do not think I would understand if I was a mortal.
* * * *
We both slept soundly. I could only imagine nights like that happening again and again, especially since we had yet to hire a new staff for the home.
My eyes fluttered open to the sun shining brightly through the windows. I turned to see the spot beside me in the bed empty. I pulled the linens up, covering my naked body, laying back as I realized I had not awoke to the sun in nearly two weeks. Even the day before, I saw the smallest bit of sunrise, but was locked away in the carriage on our journey to Whittley, arriving when the sun was just setting.
I sighed, turning to see Vincent sitting beside me on the bed. “Good morning.”
I smiled. “I do not think I will ever get used to that.”
His brow furrowed. “Get used to what?”
“To you just suddenly appearing,” I said, sitting up in the bed, keeping the linens around me.
He gave a little laugh. “You can do it as well. Last night you made great speed getting into town. Which reminds me, where were you planning to go exactly?”
I let my head fall back, my hair brushing against my bare shoulder as I leaned on my left arm. “Would you believe me if I said I really do not know? I suppose I wanted to go back to London. Make sure my…Doctor Harding was all right.” I caught myself before I said ‘my father’. I knew what Vincent had said before was correct. Doctor Harding was no longer my father. He was Doctor Thomas S. Harding of London, and that was all. He had recently lost his daughter, Annalee Harding. She committed suicide.
He nodded. “I see.”
I sighed. “I…I want to apologize to you, Vincent. You were right. We have a new life now. It does not do well to dwell on things of the past, it will not further us any.”
“Dwelling is very different from remembering,” he said. “You can reminisce about all the wonderful times you had, but as you said, we have a new life now, which reminds me. I think we need to go to town for the day, hmm? You can choose some new linens for the bedchambers, perhaps see about some new china. We can even visit upon the dress shop in town.”
I smiled happily. “Planning on spoiling me, are you?”
“Well, you are a countess now. You deserve to rule your own household,” he said, leaning forward and kissing me. He stood, turning to me. “Now, I have picked out a lovely blue redingote for you, it is one that is a duplicate of your green one that we…seemed to have left in tatters from last night.”
I laughed lightly, shaking my head. “I suppose I will need to replace it.”
“Ah,” he said, pointing at me. “We can do that in town. I was able to hire you a maid to tend you on a trial basis. If you like her, we shall keep her, but if you do not, no harm, we will simply find someone else.”
The maid was extremely thin, very statuesque, named Margaret. She was quiet, very dead-set on her task rather than any conversation. She helped me into what Vincent had picked out for me, the overskirt of the demi-redingote almost exactly like the green one I had worn the day previous. The only difference was, not only the color, but also the fact it had clasps up the center that tightly fastened. The fabric was a gray-blue, the underside of it a bright, sky blue, the petticoat and modesty piece matching.
I admired myself in the six foot looking-glass above the vanity, loving how the blue brought out the same hue in my hair, which was tightly curled and piled on my head, just as I always wanted it. Why did death change so much?
We got into town, Vincent dressing to match me, wearing a gray-blue frock coat, sky blue breeches and a matching waistcoat, his jockey boots on his feet. We looked like a perfect couple, matching, dark, mysterious, and attractive. We were the perfect predators.
We stopped in on the dress shop first. I inspected the hats that adorned the mannequin heads, turning to the large rolls of material, a few gowns on display.
The shop owner, a fairly corpulent woman, walked over to me, her warm brown eyes shining from the sun pouring into the shop. I could feel the heat from her body as she stood beside me, her heart slowly pumping, the usual drum filling my ears.
“Hello, my lady, can I help you with something?”
I smiled as Vincent circled around the hats behind the woman, looking at more fabrics. “Yes, I would like to inquire about a new gown. It seems one of my favored redingote ensemble just…fell apart on me.”
Vincent stifled a laugh behind her, continuing to look around, acting as if he was not even there.
She smiled and nodded. “Which kind of material would you like to use?”
“Well, a soft, green silk taffeta,” I said, looking to Vincent once again.
The woman’s heart began to beat faster. She was contemplating how to go about convincing me to go with one of the more expensive materials. I continued to listen, not even thinking of what she was saying when I felt Vincent’s hand on the small of my back, snapping me back into the current situation.
“We care not for price, but she wishes for the taffeta, so that is the material that will be used,” he said. “We will also need a matching hat and take that blue silk one there. It will be under charge, of course. We just purchased the estate to the east of town.”
The woman nodded, knowing exactly of where we were speaking of.
Vincent followed her over to the counter space, writing down the information he gave her, setting an appointment for 10.00 a.m. the next day to bring fabric to be approved and to take measurements. I heard him also ask for one of the fans on display in the window, which she eagerly ran and brought to me as well as the hat he asked for, her assistant helping me put it on my head.
Her assistant walked up to me, smiling nervously. She was rather beautiful with her light brown hair pulled up, her body very slim, especially in contrast to her employer. She began pinning the hat to my head, the light movements sinking into my skin as her heartbeat lulled on. It was not as tempting as when they were fearful, but her natural scent reeked of her purity, which was almost too much for me to handle. Vincent knew how much I adored virgins.
My head began to swim from it, looking to the young woman’s neck as she continued to fiddle with the hat, seeing the small area that pulsed. Vincent’s hand was suddenly at the small of my back, bringing my attention to him.
“Are we ready, darling?”
My eyes met with his as I swallowed hard, shaking my head lightly to bring myself back to the moment. I nodded, Vincent taking my hand and leading me out, not a moment too soon. I could not help wondering what I would be like in my own home. Would I get out of control? No, Vincent would always be there to reel me back.
We walked down the street, my arm in his, people walking by, nodding in greeting, smiling, laughing. They were none the wiser we weren’t like them. I do not even think the beginning of that thought even crossed their mind.
We stopped in front of a cake shop, looking in at all the delicate food.
Vincent pressed his lips against my ear. “I don’t know about you, but I am hungry.”
He looked over to the alleyway where a carriage sat waiting for its passengers. I stared, unsure of what he meant.
“Follow me,” he said.
We nonchalantly made our way to the carriage, people passing us by, making their way, not even taking notice of us. Vincent opened the door for me and helped me into the carriage.
I sat waiting alone, the dark from the compartment soothing to my eyes. I hadn’t noticed the sun hurting them, but it was apparent in the cool darkness.
The door suddenly opened, a man helping a woman in, who I grabbed and held to me
closely on my lap. She let out a small gasp, but I was able to get my hand over her mouth before she made another sound. The man’s eyes widened as I smiled back at him—my fangs were exposed, unmistakable.
Vincent walked up behind him. “You do not mind if we join you, do you?” He smiled as he pushed the man in through the door and closed it behind him.
The woman was sitting on my lap, her heart beating as fast as it possibly could, struggling to pull away from me, but my grip was much too powerful for her. Vincent sat looking about the carriage until he turned to the man.
“Tell the driver to be on his way.”
The man did as he said, the carriage starting off, bumping around. The scent from the woman’s hair kept wafting into my nose, making my blood boil and my throat burn intensely. I felt my body tensing as her heart continued to beat uncontrollably, her fear reeking off of her. I couldn’t control myself—I began to squeeze as hard as possible, trying to restrain myself.
I heard Vincent call out to me, “Annalee, don’t!”
I suddenly felt her torn from my grip. Only Vincent had the power to do that. The man sat in the corner, his eyes still wide with fear.
“If you were smart, you would keep quiet,” Vincent said, the girl struggling in his arms tiredly. He pulled her arm up to his mouth, sinking his teeth in as she let out a small whimper. I could smell the blood making its way into his mouth. I could hear it sloshing through his veins as he swallowed.
The man tried to kick at the door but I shot over to him, sitting beside him and pushing him up against the corner and knocking his head to the side as I bit down as hard as I could. I closed my eyes tightly as the scalding hot blood hit my tongue, the torrent of crimson liquid coating my throat and stomach, easing the pang of hunger.
I suddenly pictured Vincent biting down, feeding off of the woman, my heart fluttering, desire stirring in me. I almost couldn’t hear the drum slowing…then it eventually stopped. But, I couldn’t stop. It was if I was stuck to my victim. I couldn’t pull away.
“Annalee, stop!” Vincent called from across the way. I could smell the blood coming from his lips, which made my teeth sink in harder.
I suddenly felt my body being ripped away from the corpse, pulled across the way onto Vincent’s lap, the woman’s lifeless body knocked to the side.
His blood soaked lips were right up against my ear. “You let go! You always let go! You never continue after the heart stops, you hear me?”
“I tried,” I sobbed, tears welling up in my eyes. “I couldn’t stop, I…oh, Vincent!”
His arms wrapped around me, holding me close, trying to comfort me.
I wanted more. I wanted every last drop.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Old Friends
The sun had set completely, the sky now filled with a pink that faded to a deep purple and then to deep blue. All the red and yellow that burned brightly was gone, stars were slowly appearing, shining timidly in the deep of the night.
Now the pain was gone, the pain of hunger, or withdrawal, all of it. And because it was gone, all I felt was the hunger. It consumed me.
I didn’t care if they were young or old, rich or poor, or who they were, as long as that drum sounded in my ear and the hot blood coursed through me, all was right in my world.
I wanted to consume them. I wanted every last drop…not anything spilled or wasted.
Vincent sat me down behind a tavern on an empty barrel. I surveyed the area, feeling the light bounce of my eyes from the street, the darkness in the small alley like a blanket around me. He paced back and forth in front of me, his hair escaping his ribbon, swaying across his shoulders and his face.
“You need to let go, Annalee. You cannot keep hold!” He ran towards me and looked down to me. “Do you know what could have happened? You could have created something I really do not want to handle!”
I looked up to him, folding my hands in my lap. What did he want me to say? I’m sorry? I couldn’t stop? I sat silently as he tore away from me, walking over to the building and leaning against it.
“I will only tell you this once, Annalee. We will never speak of it again. When a vampire continues to drain dead blood, you are literally taking all life within that victim. It is like the point of no return. The body starts to thirst for its own blood.”
I kept my eyes down, unable to say anything to him. What could I say?
He walked up to me, kneeling down before me. “Annalee. We always let go. The minute you hear the heart stop beating, you no longer have the blood pumped to you. You are taking the blood that makes it…human. It becomes something inhuman.”
My eyes met with his, nodding lightly.
“You understand?” he asked softly.
“I’m still hungry.” My eyes cast down to the ground, almost ashamed. I wasn’t even sure my voice made it out of me.
He nodded, his anger melting away as he stroked my knees. “Can I trust you to stay here while I find you someone?”
I kept my eyes away, still shrouded with shame, nodding slowly.
He stroked my cheek and kissed it before he disappeared, without a sound, into the streets. I stood up and walked over to the lip of the alley, looking into the streets trying to spot him. I let my head fall against the side of the building covering half of my face, as I gazed at each of the mortals running about.
They all looked the same to me. Of course, one or two caught my eye, the way the light reflected off of their hair, or how smooth their skin was, perhaps even the way they smelled. Every time one of the sensations hit me I could almost feel the hot crimson liquid making its way silkily over my tongue and down my throat, a warm feeling shuddering over me and making my skin crawl deliciously.
Then one of them really caught my eye. A young woman, a brunette, her hair silky and curly, beautiful curls piled atop her head. She wore a beautiful violet redingote with a heavy blue petticoat, a silk hat on her head. I couldn’t see her face, but there was something in her silhouette that caught my attention. I knew her from somewhere!
I buried my head into the wall even more as I continued to stare. Then, she slowly turned, her full body in view.
“Deirdre,” I whispered.
It was Deirdre! I felt a flutter of excitement fly through me as my eyes searched about for Peter, a smile bursting across my face as I prepared to run over to her. A flood of memories suddenly overwhelmed me, bringing tears to my eyes. I suddenly remembered who I was…who I used to be. I remembered so clearly!
But, I stopped myself. As much as I wanted to run over there and tell Deirdre how much I missed her, I knew I could not. I was dead. She thought I was dead.
I sank down, a wave of sadness flowing over me, my eyes filling with tears. I looked down to the ground, looking over my sky blue petticoat while trying to blink the tears away.
When I brought my attention back to her, she was smiling and speaking to Vincent. He was being so personable to her, even smiling to her, which made my toes wiggle in my slippers.
He was speaking to her, being so wonderful to her, making her smile. I couldn’t quite hear exactly what they were saying. I knew I had promised Vincent I would stay in the alleyway, but I wanted to hear Deirdre’s voice.
I quietly and quickly made my way across the street in a flash. I don’t think any mortals even saw me. I hid myself behind the lip of a building, only about ten or fifteen feet away from them, Deirdre’s back to me.
“I cannot believe that of all people to run in to, I run in to you,” Deirdre said, smiling.
Vincent smiled as well. “Yes, I would say it is quite a surprise to see you here too.”
“Oh, I have family here. I didn’t know you had purchased outside of Whittley. Peter and I will need to come by for tea.” She smiled brightly, her skin glistening from the little amount of light around her.
Vincent nodded as he shot a look towards me and then back to her. “Yes, well that would be nice. I assume things back in London are well?”
S
he suddenly seemed to sadden, looking to her hands. “Things have been…well, they have not been well, but I suppose they could be a lot worse. Everyone is having a lot of trouble accepting…”
“Annalee,” Vincent nodded.
She nodded lightly. “Yes.”
“I know you two were very dear friends,” he said.
“Yes,” she said sadly. “I was hoping she would have attended my wedding. Of course, we have decided to put it off for a bit, just until everyone has…well, everyone is not really in the mood for celebrations, we will put it that way.”
“Ah, but I am sure that perhaps a celebration is what is needed?”
“Perhaps. I just do not think I, myself, am ready. It has been so hard.”
I felt my stomach curl up as I thought about what my deed had done to those I loved. Deirdre, Peter, Doctor Harding…they were suffering so much, as humans often do.
I missed the last part of the conversation, looking up to see both Deirdre and Vincent gone. I looked around for them, stepping out from behind the lip of the building, before I turned, nearly knocking into Vincent.
“Bloody Hell!” I put my hand over my heart.
“Did I frighten you?” He smirked.
I shook my head. “Only a little. Deirdre—”
“Is gone,” he cut in. “You should forget you saw her, push it far away from your mind, Annalee.”
“Why?”
“Because in your condition, you are bound to do a lot of things you will regret and I do not want killing a dear friend of your former self to be one of them.”
He grabbed hold of my hand as we began to walk back the way we came, towards the small alleyway once again.
“I would never—”
“That is the thing, darling. You think you would not, but trust me, when given the chance, you would.”
* * * *
We arrived back at the manor in the wee hours. It was still dark, a few hours until sunrise. I would just be able to get enough sleep for the seamstress arriving at ten.
I had killed six in that night. There was no stopping me. I, couldn’t stop myself…and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Out of My Grave Page 27