by K. A. Poe
“Oh, Alex...don't cry. She begged for it after all I put her through.” I could see him smirking.
“Just shoot him already, Paul!” I shrieked.
“Yes, Paul, shoot me,” Mark taunted from his shroud of darkness. I realized he hadn't noticed Kim yet, and she crept noiselessly to the side of us. My father held his crossbow steadily in front of him, but he had no intent of shooting the vampire. He was the bait, the distraction, while his sister inched around the empty room.
I heard the click of her weapon. Mark flinched as the arrow seared through his skin, and yet he didn't fall over as I had anticipated – Kim had missed her target – his heart. He laughed mockingly at us. Before I had the chance to think, he was out of my line of sight. Paul and Kim turned in search of him in the darkness. My eyes grew wide as his cold hands slithered up my back and around my throat.
“Get your filthy hands off of her!” Paul said through gritted teeth.
“You might as well give up now,” Mark replied, coiling his hands tightly around my neck. I gasped for air, but it was no use. I struggled, wriggling my arm between us, attempting to grasp the arrow that pierced his skin. I felt it with the tips of my fingers and put as much pressure as I could manage against it. He shrieked and pushed me away. I inhaled deeply, the rush of air burned as I consumed it. I dizzily crashed to the floor beside Janet's body.
Paul took his chance, fired an arrow and I watched Mark stumble backwards. I let my eyes fall shut with relief, knowing that Paul had hit his sad excuse for a heart. The screaming agony from the vampire lingered for only a few seconds as I fell unconscious.
15. HOME
When I came to I was laying in an unfamiliar room, on a lumpy uncomfortable bed. The walls were covered in drab yellow wallpaper dotted with small white flowers. I groaned as I turned over on the mattress. There was a small TV set sitting on a dresser covered in flaking paint. I knew immediately that I was in a hotel, and a very cheap one at that. My neck was sore and my mind was hazy. I leapt up as soon as my memories came back.
There was no one else present in the room, so I carefully stumbled over to the bathroom. I switched on the light and was appalled by what I saw in the small mirror over the pale yellow sink. My wavy brunette hair lay limply against my shoulders, twisted in a mess of knots. There were evident bags under my hazel eyes, and I could faintly see the light line of freckles across my cheeks. This semi-familiar girl in the mirror made me sick – especially thanks to the big black and blue marks along my throat and neck. Shuddering in disgust and anger, I discarded my clothing and headed toward the shower. I twisted the hot water on and climbed in, sitting at the bottom of the tub as the water ran down my back. I sobbed noisily as the image of Janet lying dead on the floor raced through my mind. A sudden knock on the door pulled me away from my thoughts – for which I was thankful.
“Alex? Are you okay in there?” It was Kim.
I turned the water off and draped a towel across myself. “Yeah!” I shouted as I dried off. “I'll be out in a minute!”
“Okay, just making sure,” she said and I could hear her walk away.
I pulled my clothing back on, dreading that I hadn't brought in something clean to change into. I didn't want to leave the bathroom and face them, especially Paul. I took the hotel towel and ran it along the inside of the tub, drying up as much moisture as I could before curling up inside. I pried the cell phone from my pocket and quickly dialed Salem's number.
“Alex?” his voice was just as anxious as this afternoon, if not more so.
“Salem...” I whispered his name, “I shouldn't have come here.”
“What's wrong? What happened? Are you hurt?”
“Janet's...Janet's gone,” I mumbled through a rush of sobs.
He didn't respond right away. “I'm so sorry, Alexis.” I knew there wasn't much else he could say. “Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
I could hear him growl, his voice had grown furious, “What did he do to you?!” he demanded.
“It's nothing...I'll be okay,” I muttered, rubbing my fingers gently across my neck. I winced at the pain.
“You are lying.”
“I'll tell you...show you...when I get home,” I mumbled.
“When are you coming home?” the anxiousness returned, “I will come get you if I have to.”
“Our flight leaves in the morning.”
He relaxed somewhat, “I will be waiting at your house.”
“I have to go, Salem...” I said as I heard Paul ramming his fist on the bathroom door. “I'll see you tomorrow.”
Exiting the bathroom, I discovered Paul and Kim waiting expectantly for me. They both sat in dull beige armchairs beside a coffee table, each of them sipping from what were obviously beer bottles. I grimaced and sat on the bed. Both their eyes were focused intently on me.
“Are you all right?” Paul said, although I knew there was more he wanted to say.
“I guess, I mean…no,” I mumbled as I lay back on the bed. “What now?
“Now,” he replied angrily, “you explain what that monster was talkin’ about when he said you and Salem have been together.”
“He was just trying to get under your skin…trying to get your mind off killing him,” I lied, not looking in their direction.
“Alex, I’m not the smartest man, but I know when I’m bein’ lied to. Tell me the truth.”
“He isn't what you think he is. He is my friend; he is the one that convinced me to see you and to come here! He is helping us!”
Paul shook his head in anger. “You never trust their kind!” he roared. “Your moth- Janet – trusted one and look what happened to her!”
“I'm not listening to this. You don't know him the way I do, and until you do – you have no right to say a damned thing!”
He sighed, glaring in my direction for a long time. “You weren’t talkin’ to Jason earlier.” It was a statement, not a question.
“No, I wasn't,” I confirmed.
“Give me your phone,” he demanded.
“No!” I yelled. “You have no right to take anything from me.”
“I'm your father.”
“You’ve never been my father and you never will be!”
“Alex…”
“You have no right to take my stuff! You can’t tell me what to do! ‘Father’ is just your title. Where were you when I was growing up and needed a father? When it was just me and Janet? Huh? I’m eighteen now – don't treat me like I'm ten!”
The look of shock and hurt on his face didn't affect me in the least. I was too angry to care – and I was right. I turned over on the mattress, facing away from them. “I'm going to bed. Don't wake me up until it's time to catch the plane,” I grumbled. I was thankful that sleep enveloped me before the tears had a chance to return.
The sun shone through the thin fabric that acted as curtains, the rays fell straight across my sleeping face. I frowned as I woke up and climbed out of bed. Paul and Kim were slumped over in the armchairs, still asleep. I looked at my watch and gasped in horror. We were going to be late for the flight if we didn't leave quickly. I woke them and the three of us rushed to pack up, check out and head to the airport.
The flight home wasn't as bad as the trip to Denver, partly because I was upset to the point that I might as well have been numb. No one talked to me, and I didn't speak to them. When we landed, we walked in silence to Paul's car and it continued as he drove me home. As we pulled into my driveway, I could see Salem's silhouette behind the windows. Something about it made me shiver, possibly from remembering the figure I saw at the house in Denver. Maybe Paul was right, should I trust Salem after seeing what Mark was capable of? After all, he had been a fellow vampire that Salem had believed was harmless. I shook my head at the thoughts, not sure what to believe.
I didn't say goodbye to Paul as I got out of the car. I slammed the door shut and raced into my house. Salem embraced me immediately, and I wondered if Paul could see us hugging throug
h the window. I didn’t care. I heard his car pull out of the driveway and felt relieved. Salem pushed me away from him slowly, looking me over and I saw a flash of anger in his eyes as they fell upon my throat. His hands were shaking.
“Salem, it's okay,” I whispered, holding his hands in attempt to steady them.
“No, no it isn't,” he growled. “Please tell me he is dead.”
I nodded slowly. “Paul killed him.”
“You...” he glanced away as he spoke, “you didn't have anything to do with it, did you?”
I understood what he meant and shook my head. “No. I would have been helpless, even if I had wanted to do anything.”
He pulled me into his embrace again. “I'm sorry about Janet,” his voice was a mere whisper.
“Me, too...they are having a funeral for her in a couple days, but I don't think I can go,” I said shamefully, and tried to stop the tears from starting but failed.
“That isn’t something you should miss out on, regardless of how painful it might be.”
“I just don’t think I could take it. I don’t know if I could see her…like that.” The steady stream of tears intensified and I hoped he could still understand my broken words. “Paul and I had a fight too; I don’t want to see him there either.”
“What was your fight about?”
“You...”
Salem pulled away again, his eyes looking deeply into my own. “What does he know?” he sounded almost afraid.
“Mark told him that we have been seeing each other – I don't even know how he would know that. Well…I mean…I guess Janet told him some and he just figured… I don’t know. Anyway…while we were at the hotel Paul tried to tell me I couldn't see you anymore,” I replied, “I got mad, I told him he couldn't tell me what to do.” I felt childish.
“We have to be very careful, Alex,” he sighed heavily and led me to the couch. “I wouldn't doubt him coming after me.”
“I won't let him touch you,” I laid my head against him.
“I'll have better control of that than you will,” he smiled gently.
My stomach growled desperately and I realized I couldn't even remember the last time I had eaten anything. Salem seemed to catch on and I saw his eyes flash purple. “What are you doing?” I asked curiously.
“You will see.”
And I did. A bowl of strawberry ice cream appeared on the coffee table. I eyed it for a second, unsure if I really wanted it or if I could even keep it down. Salem reached forward, grabbed it and offered me a spoonful. “It is what you eat when you are depressed, right?” he grinned and I opened my mouth. The taste of the sweet, cold cream was amazing – possibly because it was the only thing I had eaten in almost two days. After consuming the dessert I cuddled up against Salem and asked him what he had done while I was away, besides worry. I needed to hear anything to get my mind off of Janet, to stop the tears even momentarily.
“It wasn't nearly as eventful as what you went through,” he replied quietly, running his hands through my hair as I listened. “I spent most of the time here, waiting for you.”
“Didn't you get bored?”
“Not at all,” he mused. “I should think you would be more traumatized right now than you are.”
“I don’t know, I think I am just in shock. It feels like I should just wake up and all this had been a nightmare. This is all just so unreal.”
“I understand,” I knew that unlike my friends, he really did. He kissed my forehead and continued, “You have been through a lot in these last few days.”
“I need a vacation,” I laughed half-heartedly as I rose long enough to grab a tissue from the box nearby and wiped my nose.
“That was exactly what I was thinking,” he said and I lifted my head to look at him.
“What do you mean?”
“Let's go somewhere, away from all of these troubles.”
“But Salem, I just got back from a trip...and what about school?”
“Are you really that concerned about school?”
I thought about it for a moment, reflecting on my poor grades, my lack of interest aside from music class, and my current situation. “No,” I replied honestly. “But, I'm not sure if I could stand another plane trip if that was what you were thinking. And…what about my friends?”
“We could drive,” he suggested eagerly. “And your friends would always be just a phone call away.”
“Salem, does this have anything to do with Paul..?”
“It isn't safe here anymore, for either of us.”
“Why not? Your only danger is Paul, and so long as we’re together, I am not letting him touch you.”
“I just have an uneasy feeling, Alex,” he sighed. “But if you are more comfortable staying here, we just have to be extra careful.”
“Let's go to your house,” I suggested.
He appeared thoughtful for a moment. “As far as I know Paul doesn't know of it, so we would be safer there I suppose.”
“Then, it's settled,” I smiled. “We'll stay there. “
“Alex...” His expression had been so certain, so ready, but now he looked disappointed. “I'm not sure this is the right thing to do.”
“Would you rather we stayed here...?”
“No, it isn’t that. I am stealing you away from your life.”
“What life!? I just lost the only family I ever really had, my father is angry with me because I am hanging out with a vampire and my mom…my mom is dead. What else is there?” I sounded back, angrier than I had intended.
“Wouldn’t you find it strange living together so soon in our...”
“In our what? Relationship? Look, Salem, I really like you...you know that. And yes, I am still a little uneasy about…about what you are, but I am a big girl. I can take care of myself and this is what I want. I have no reason to stay in this house of memories.”
He still seemed unconvinced. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Was this what I wanted? Just hours ago I had been afraid that Mark was right, that maybe Salem could turn into a true monster. If one evening I was washing dishes in the kitchen of the Victorian and sliced my hand, would I end up drained and on the floor like Janet? Part of me didn’t care either way right now. “Yes,” I forced a smile and took his cold hand in mine. “Before we go, I wanted to ask you something, though.”
“Another question?” he playfully groaned. “Well, let me have it.”
“Mark was like you, right? He was against feeding on humans.”
Salem nodded slowly.
“He said that he hadn't meant to hurt her...that she cut herself with a knife accidentally and the scent of her blood caused him to…well…do what he did,” I didn't want to finish what I needed to say. “If I...”
He put his finger to my mouth to stop me from speaking. “You have nothing to worry about, Alex,” his voice was reassuring and gentle. “Mark was a young vampire, making him less capable of controlling himself in such a situation. I have much more practice.”
“That sounds weird,” I laughed.
“What does?” his brows rose slightly.
“The thought of him being younger than you. He looked forty and you look my age.”
“Don't go making me feel ancient, now,” Salem smirked. “Let's head home.”
I liked the sound of that…maybe a little too much.
16. THE RAVEN
I didn't bother packing any of my belongings – there was no sense in it when Salem could summon practically anything I desired – aside from the laptop Jason gave me for my birthday. A twinge of guilt welled up inside me as I contemplated the idea of never seeing Jason or Karen again. Then again, no one ever said I would never see them again. I tried my hardest to hide my struggling thoughts from Salem as we entered the old Victorian house.
“What do you want to do now?” he inquired as I set my laptop on the dining room table.
“I'm not sure,” I replied honestly. “I am so used to having a schedule that tells me
what I should do and where I should be and when. I'm not used to being able to just do whatever.”
“Welcome to my world,” he grinned. “We can do almost anything...whatever you desire.”
Just what did I desire? At that moment, it was a complete mystery. I knew I would have been happy just sitting on the sectional having a conversation with Salem, or reading a book in the nook beside the book case, but I longed for something more. I pondered the idea of walking down to the creek again, but there had to be something more we could do…something exciting enough to keep my mind off of the rest of life for a brief while. What did I desire, aside from the gorgeous vampire that was staring at me patiently awaiting my decision?
“The lake!” I shouted, much louder than I had intended. “I still haven’t gotten to really see it yet.”
Salem shrugged. “If that's what you want,” he took my hand and led me behind the spiral staircase, where a door stood that led out back. We walked together along a stone path that led away from the house toward a field of bright green grass. He stared at me awkwardly for a moment as I tore off my shoes and socks. I simply grinned up at him and ran through the cool grass. It felt amazing against my bare feet. Salem stood behind, chuckling at me as I made a fool of myself.
“C'mon!” I hollered, “It feels good!”
“I'm not so sure I can appreciate it quite as much as you can.”
“At least give it a try,” I beckoned him over with a wide smile on my face.
Salem shook his head, still laughing, and removed his shoes. “I suppose it feels nice,” he said quietly, and then grinned playfully at me.
I screamed, running toward the water's edge. I collapsed onto my back against the cool blades of grass as he pounced on me. His expression was calm and gentle.
“Did I startle you?” he asked as he rolled off of me and over to my side, staring up at the darkening sky.