After The End

by Melissa Gibbo

  Immediately calling the town to a meeting, the six of us relayed the events. Looking around, I noted several flinches and wide eyes as I announced the new precautions. Thankfully, a handful of smiles and agreeable nods were interspersed among the nervous residents. The mosquitos politely stayed out of it and went on with their buffet.

  If Cal noticed, he didn’t show any response; he wore a soldierly posture of indifference and a noble’s bearing. Daemon was busy playing rock, paper, scissors with the three children. He only acknowledged the announcement by shooting me a thumbs-up. Turning back he adopted a befuddled frown and furrowed his brow; the kids were winning every round.

  CHAPTER 11 END OF JUNE/JULY YEAR 1

  It only took six days to complete a small cabin for Daemon and Cal to live in. Until the construction was done, they stayed in the main cabin with most of the early members of our group. It was agreed that the second cabin with the kids added too much potential for issues.

  Chase and Sunny switched their beds to the entrance of the room so that the Undead tenants could slumber in back. Even without windows, opening the door at the wrong time could pour too much sunlight into the bunkhouse – another reason not to stay with the children, as they constantly ran inside and outside.

  This sleeping arrangement revealed something I hadn’t thought of; vampires don’t just pass out when the sun rises, they merely have no resistance to sunlight. The first day the vamps stayed inside the camp’s barriers, I came in from my guard shift to find Daemon lying on his back and tossing a baseball in the air next to his snoring mentor. The fledgling signaled me over, sat up, and brushed his dark hair from his pale face. As soon as I sat on the cot next to him, he giggled.

  “You look really funny when you make that face.” Daemon whispered.

  Taken aback, I looked at my watch and then Cal before responding.

  “How come you’re awake? I thought vampires slept during the day?”

  He sprouted an ear-to-ear grin.

  “During the day and all day are two very different things. We can’t go outside, but we don’t fall under some magic sleep spell at dawn; you heard Cal, we’re natural creatures, not mystical demonic fiends. No matter what the turistas think.

  Cal likes to crash early and be up by three or four, but I like staying up and sleeping in. Neither of us really needs much sleep, but it kills time.”

  I nodded along letting the logic of Daemon’s words roll over me.

  “That makes sense.”

  I plopped onto my bunk.

  Reclined on my left side, the two of us talked about nothing and everything until my watch alarm buzzed loudly. I pressed the snooze and yawned, “Oops, no nap for me today. Got to get back to work. You should probably catch some Z’s while you’ve got a chance.”

  We exchanged smiles as I rose and tossed my unused pillow at the vampire.

  “Yes, Daemon, you should sleep; you two hens have been clucking all day whilst some of us have been attempting slumber.” interjected Cal from his mattress.

  We apologized and I rushed outside. Once the door shut behind me, the Roman’s hearty laughter rippled through the heavy air.

  ***

  The weeks that followed provided an inside view of vampiric life; I found it surreal. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who’d presumed our fangy friends hit the dirt at dawn. Chase actually walked into the cabin, saw Caelinus pacing one afternoon, and walked back outside blinking rapidly and saying,

  “Ok there’s a lot of weird stuff I’ve already accepted, but sleepwalking vampires is too much and I’m too tired.”

  Sunny’s husband wandered over to the second cabin while she and I laughed; dishwater splashed as a pot cannon-balled from my hand into the washtub.

  That evening our community discovered why the Roman had been pacing. Cal stood near the radiating fire pit and cleared his throat for attention. His protégé at his side beaming with his chest puffed like a peacock.

  “I have an announcement for the camp patrons.”

  The usual murmur died as focus was drawn to the elder vampire. I nodded my enthusiasm and sat back to observe his speech’s impact.

  “Today Squirrel, Daemon, and I agreed that he has become proficient enough in use of his abilities to patrol untended from here on. Therefore, we believe that it would be in our collective best interest for the two of us to alternate nights on duty. We can patrol individually six days per week and use the seventh for both defense and training together.

  This would allow each of you more assistance from our specific skills as well as give us a better chance to interact on a personal level. Thus far our two species have cooperated in this village but we have remained – with little exception – detached socially.

  There is currently minimal human/vampire involvement other than donations. Obviously, we don’t have to be best friends, but I would enjoy the opportunity to form more intellectual and emotional bonds. There is more to life than just surviving.”

  Daemon scanned the crowd like a nervous groom at his wedding when they ask for objections. Cal stood straight; his body language projected calm, except for his eyes, which flicked from place to place wildly. Michael raised his hand and rose. My head tilted in amusement at the situation as much as at Cal’s face. I couldn’t tell if the elder Undead was amused or just bewildered.

  “So, from now on, either you or Daemon will be here with us at night?”

  “Yes, that’s correct.”

  The boy was prodded to continue by his little sister.

  “So, um, would you be able to tell us more stories those nights you don’t hafta work? If you can’t it’s okay, but you know all the cool war stories and all about other countries and stuff.” He shuffled his feet uncomfortably, all eyes plastered on him.

  “It would be my pleasure to tell you and Bobbi and Ellen stories. Does anyone else have any concerns about this new arrangement; I promise, the adults are welcome at story time as well.”

  Laughter rang out and the boy resumed his seat, satisfied that the tales would occur regularly. With no further issues, Daemon swaggered out to begin his first solo shift and Cal sat by the children. They listened intently as he regaled them with the story of Romulus and Remus, dinner gradually disappearing from their plates.

  Randolph teased that the kids were getting dinner and a show before stacking his dirty dishes and taking his post at the gateway.

  Most evenings began with both vamps for the first hour, during which they increasingly participated in camp talk and revelry. (Daemon’s jokes were banned until the kids went to bed.) An evening almost a month after the Coffin Cabin was done, as Daemon called it, I joined the gathering with my grilled otter and roasted peppers, overhearing the debate as I sat down.

  “There’s no way the Mummy is a better monster flick; it’s just a wrapped up magical zombie, it’s not even gory or anything. If we go zombie flicks, it’s either the Dawn of the Dead remake or the original Night of the Living Dead. Personally though, I prefer werewolf films; I’m sort of over the zombie thing now.”

  Sunny was arguing with one of the newer guys. Her arms were wielded in conjunction with each word, swift and precise as in combat.

  The coed kid with a Gators tee shook his head and sneered half his mouth in retort.

  “Most werewolf movies aren’t that good. And the Mummy is a classic. Besides, it’s creepy. A retro creepfest can be way more entertaining than a stupid effects gimmick like with werewolf flicks.”

  I took the opportunity to stir the verbal embers.

  “Vampires make for cooler films. You get not just classics like Dracula, but also great stories and effects. I mean, look at Interview with the Vampire, The Lost Boys, and Queen of the Damned; those movies rocked! Besides, vampires make for better television. Maybe not something like Dracula: the series, but True Blood or Forever Knight are definitely better than those other monster shows.”

  Several heads bobbed their assent or shook off my debate emphatically. Chase stood and
held his palms out to the group.

  “Okay, granted I liked the Twilight movies, but…” he was cut off abruptly as the elder Undead was suddenly on his feet.

  Chase paused, startled by Cal’s appearance; the Roman clenched his fists and snarled. His nostrils flared and eyes glowed in the dancing shadows of the fire pit as he growled out his rant.

  “That Twilight crap is the most offensive, insulting pile of horse shit I’ve ever experienced in two millennia on this dusty rock. Real vampires don’t sparkle like a disco ball and whine like babies to over-dramatic expressionless bitches. We don’t go to high school over and over for eternity; that’s an absurd waste of time and sanity. From what I can tell, no one wants to go through matriculation the one time.”

  Chase held up a hand in an attempt to slow the tirade; Sunny pulled it to his side.

  “And who the Hell would randomly decide to become responsible for a dying brat without a decent reason? I’ve never met anyone of my kind who was that big of a fool. That horrible series tarnished the image of vampires. How can you claim to actually like something as abysmal and insolent as Twilight? I had thought you had some taste.”

  Cal’s hands shook with rage as he stopped pacing and yelling. He locked eyes on Sunny’s husband and he panted from his avalanche of annoyance. Chase’s pink face turned a burgundy. The air was thick as Chase opened and closed his mouth several times before shrugging in surrender.

  Sunny held her palm over her face and mumbled to her husband.

  “I told you not to tell people about that.”

  He just glanced at her and then back to the infuriated vampire, his eyebrows lifted his eyes wider as he muttered.

  “Sorry?”

  I’ve never been sure which person he was apologizing to, but both exhaled deeply and accepted the concession simultaneously. Chase looked at his feet while silence engulfed the diners. Sunny resumed eating her fish, prompting the rest to follow suit.

  The Roman looked about and it seemed to dawn on him how harsh his speech had been. His stance deflated and he hung his head; his eyes dimmed as he turned away. The kids finished their dinner and were rushing to clean their dishes when Cal sat back down.

  “I must ask forgiveness for my outburst. Although the subject is very agitating for me on a personal level, it was unacceptable for me to be so coarse, particularly in front of the children. I hope that you can all excuse me this incivility.”

  The penitent vampire was almost knocked down as Ellen abruptly hugged him. The energetic little princess both forgave and scolded the Roman as she clung to his side.

  “Of course we forgive you; that’s what you’re supposed to do when a friend says sorry and really means it. But you’re still in trouble for interrupting and using the bad words.”

  She released Cal and stepped back, her hands at her hips and elbows sternly out at right angles.

  “Now look Mr. Chase in the eye and say sorry for talking during his turn and then you two shake hands. Then you go to your room and think about why you were mean ‘til someone lets you out.”

  I never knew a seven-year-old could throw out a Mom Glare until that instant. Caelinus awkwardly did as the diva ordered and sulked away to his bed. As I sat stunned by the dinner show, she signaled her two playmates and they merrily bounded away to start a new activity. As the trio of youths left the silent mass of grown-ups, Ellen shouted to us.

  “In ten minutes, someone tell Cal he can come out and tell us our stories, m’kay!”

  I bobbed my head and laughed. We allowed the powerful vampire to end his time out in accordance with the child’s instructions. He still looked confused and ashamed when I paroled him from his windowless cell.

  “Cal, time out’s over.” I called from the doorway. “The kids are ready for story time, but I think after that your rehabilitation will be complete; just check in with your parole officer first.” I couldn’t resist giving my pal a hard time.

  “Thank you. I think I have been adequately humbled now, so you can stop vexing me. I think I’ll check on Daemon once the little ones are in bed.”

  Caelinus ambled off, a tiny smile playing briefly across his pallid cheeks. Macho as he tried to be, it was clear to me that the old fellow loved entertaining those children.

  Always having one vamp inside the fort eased the trepidation that had been building. Everyone began seeing Cal and Daemon as just two more people in our band of survivors. Each night, we learned more about our immortal companions and the imbedded fears dissipated. By the time the suffocating heat of summer peaked, our hamlet in the ocean of decay felt like a family.

  CHAPTER 12 AUGUST 3RD-10TH YEAR 1

  During our late afternoon storm, Cal flew into the camp with another person in tow. Carefully putting the drenched person on the ground, the vampire shouted to the handful of us under the food canopy.

  “All is well, he is a familiar friend.”

  The man shook the drizzle from his raincoat and removed his wide-brimmed hat; enthusiastic smiles welcomed him.

  “Hi y’all, how’s it been here in old Nova Nocte? Looks bigger since I was last here. Bit wetter than my last visit, but least its washed ‘way all them love bugs. Fang boy here already done give me a look over and took my new guns. I mooned him good, just in case, heheh. Don’t suppose any of y’all missed me?”

  Forrest Jackson, AKA Bubba, helped himself to a late supper of rice-thickened possum stew as he drawled out his greeting.

  Cal clapped Bubba on the back as Sunny and I put away our weapons.

  “Nice to see you back with us safely. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow evening; I must get back to my vigil, particularly given the information you have provided.”

  The elder vampire set Bubba’s rifle and pistol on the table along with a box of rounds, and took to the air like a streak of lightning in reverse. Forrest waved his freshly emptied spoon in reply. Sunny and I exchanged nervous glances; I blurted out my worries first.

  “Uh, Bubba, I’m glad you returned from your adventuring safe and sound, but what info did you give Cal that sent him shooting off to guard duty so enthusiastically?”

  “Oh, yeah that; about fifteen miles from here there was ‘nother camp set up outta a big condo complex and, one morning last week, a big herd of murdering folks raided that camp and ever’thin nearby they could take. Handful them bandits was wearing Brazilian tourist shirts and was ramblin on while the boy with them translated to Spanglish. The rest was all camo-dressed macho types with guns-a-blazing.

  They burnt the place down and staked a vamp that was protectin the complex folks, then shot up or beat down the humans. Drew a helluva lot of fleshies to the camp, so I scooted out quick as deer and come back this way to check on y’all. Dunno which way they gonna go next or even if they survived all them roaming corpses, but figured we was all good friends so I ought to put out the alert to be cautious.”

  Sunny glanced at me as she responded.

  “Thanks for the warning, Forrest. We’ll get ready for attack just in case. I think we may have met some of that group before.”

  I choked down my fear around the lump in my throat. I reluctantly considered the possibility that numerous other survivors were now dead thanks to my earlier choice regarding the Brazilian teens. I’d been unable to think of a better solution after the misunderstanding that night. I probably should have killed Maria and her friends then, I just didn’t want innocent blood on my hands.

  They’re not innocent anymore.

  “Squirrel, you alright there? Yer face been overcast since I told y’all the about them pillaging bastards in town.” Bubba asked, shaking me from my reverie.

  I blinked rapidly before the words sank in. I became aware I was now the sleepy lion at the zoo; everyone watched for me to do something interesting. I shoved the frog down my narrowed gullet to force verbiage to my tongue.

  “Yeah. Sorry, I just zoned out a minute. I’m thinking up a temporary plan until we can have a town council in the morning and iron out
a solid arrangement.”

  Several people nodded and leaned back. I took it as encouragement to elaborate.

  “We should start having two people as sentries at the gate instead of one. Daemon and Cal could patrol closer to the fort, as well. The vamps would also be the only ones to deal with the Dead for now; anything with a pulse, they’d return for backup.”

  Sunny smiled and jumped in.

  “Thankfully, we’ve already reinforced all the structures here and stockpiled provisions, so we won’t have to scramble for that stuff. We will need to upgrade the traps and prep for defense from rampaging assholes instead of just run-of-the-mill zombies though. And maybe Bubba can check out the arsenal of guns for us in case it comes down to a shootout.”

  I stood to put the plan in action.

  “I’ll tell Cal our game plan on my way to help out at the entrance and Sunny can fill Daemon in. If one of you could relieve me at the end of watch as well, that would be awesome.”

  Forrest guffawed and stomped his denim-clad leg.

  “Hell, I’ll do that watch. Sure did miss this place, may as well help keep it from gettin burnt to cinders. Besides, there’s nuthin like a tough gal planning fer a fight. Reckon I’ll even stay a few weeks this time so I don’t miss out on scrappin with them hooligans.”

  He stood and stretched towards the waxing moon as he finished speaking. His graying hair poked out under the worn hat, betraying his age more than his lifestyle. Hefting his bag onto his shoulder without a sound, the country thrill-seeker strutted towards the cabins to rest before sentry detail. At dawn, some of his bunk-mates would be startled to wake up next to his grizzled face again.

  As I rose to my slumbering feet to join the guard up front, Sunny joked,

  “It’s nice to have Forrest back. He’s fun, he works hard, he’s a true southern gentleman, and he always shows up with Hell licking at the soles of his feet.” The quiet laughter followed as the remainder of residents dispersed for the night.