“Chickenpox,” he said simply. “I didn’t listen when my mother told me not to scratch them.”
“How human,” Jude said and Daniel smiled, taking her hand in his.
“Just because I’m a vampire,” he said, “doesn’t make me any less human than you or Lux. My humanity is still intact, Jude, just like yours will be if you choose to become a vampire.”
“I won’t,” she said, shaking her head. “I could never do that.”
“Maybe you’ll find a reason to.”
Jude pulled away from him and hurried after Lux, catching up to her friend just as she knocked on the front door of the cottage. It swung open and the bearded man who opened it looked like an emaciated Santa Claus.
“You must be the soon to be vampire Tess told me about,” Grigori said, looking pointedly at Lux. The girl shrugged and pointed to Jude.
“Hate to break it to you, old man,” Lux said, “but you’ve got the wrong potential nightwalker. Meet Jude Carstairs.”
Grigori’s bushy eyebrows knitted together as he looked between Jude and Lux, trying to decide who was the vampire and who was the human.
“Are you sure it’s not you?” he said, looking back at Lux who shook her head and pointed to Jude once more.
“She’s telling the truth,” Daniel said, joining them on the front porch.
Grigori nodded to the vampire before welcoming them in.
“Wait a second,” Lux said as they stepped inside. She shed her coat before rounding on Daniel. “I thought vampires had to be invited in to people’s homes.”
Daniel nodded, confirming her statement, while Grigori told them to follow him.
“We can be invited into any home,” he said, “but only by someone who lives there. Otherwise, it’s like an invisible barrier is placed around the house that we cannot breach.”
“So who invited you in the other night?” Lux said and at this, Jude turned to face Daniel who looked a bit sheepish as he smiled.
“Nothing can keep a sire from their child,” he said, glancing away from Lux’s intent stare and instead looking at Jude. “Nothing can keep me from you. Should you ever be in trouble, I’ll feel it and I’ll come for you.”
“Well this is romantic,” Grigori said from where he stood in the doorway. “Please though, I’d like to get this over with so I can get back to my television show.”
“You get cable out here?” Lux said, suddenly more interested in Grigori’s technological setup than her friend’s weird connection to her sire.
“Is that why I feel this way about you?” Jude said as the pair hesitated in the hall. “Because you’re my sire?”
“That depends,” said Daniel, stepping closer to her. Suddenly, Jude was glad her heart couldn’t beat anymore, because it would’ve been thrumming away like a jackhammer. “How do you feel about me?”
“Jude!” Lux called. “Get your transitioning butt in here so we can fix you. Gosh. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you wanted to be a vampire.”
Jude ducked her head and stepped away from Daniel, but he caught her hand and she felt compelled to look back at him.
“It wouldn’t be all bad,” he said, “if you chose to be like us. Like me.”
Jude pulled her hand out of his grip and had the feeling she was only able to because he let her.
“We should catch up with them,” she said. “You know, so Grigori can get back to his show.”
Daniel nodded and followed her into what turned out to be a small library filled with books and glass jars marked in languages Jude had never seen before. Even if they’d been in English, she was fairly certain she still wouldn’t know what the jars contained. One such jar looked distinctly filled with eyeballs.
“At first I thought you needed a spell or a potion,” Grigori said, from his spot in a red wingback chair, “which surprised me because aren’t your Mafe’s kid?” His question was directed at Daniel who nodded.
“Daphne is my sire,” he said and Grigori nodded in response.
“Thought so,” he said. “You’re not pretty enough for Mafe, then again, you’re not pretty enough for Daphne either.”
“My sister was turned by Daphne,” Daniel said and his tone left no room for discussion.
Grigori seemed unperturbed, but Jude’s curiosity was peaked.
“Figured if it was a spell or a potion,” the man prattled on, “then Mafe could whip it up no problem. Heard she was a damn good witch before she was turned and from what I’ve seen, she’s only gotten better.”
“Mafe was a witch?” Lux said, turning away from the bookshelf she’d been browsing. “I thought witches couldn’t be turned into vampires?”
“This ain’t the movies, kid,” Grigori said. “Anyone, save for a werewolf and a few choice demons, can be turned into a vampire. Granted, I’ve never heard of a nymph being turned into one, so maybe they can’t either. Witches, though, are fair game, although they lose their magic and can only do spells and potions after they transition. But you’re not here for a Supernatural 101 lesson, so we can move on.”
“You have a book,” Daniel said, “that has information on how to turn someone back into a human once they’ve begun to transition.”
Grigori looked at Daniel for a moment before fixing his attention on Jude. She resisted the urge to fidget.
“Let me guess,” he said, “lover boy over here got overzealous in his snacking one night, gave you his blood to heal you, and then you died in some tragic way? That sounds like a sad love story, honey, but that doesn’t explain why you want to go back to being human. Aren’t teenaged girls supposed to want to spend eternity with their undead beaus?”
“His sister attacked me,” Jude said, “and while you’re right about him giving me his blood, you’re wrong about the rest. I didn’t die tragically and he’s not my beau. I’m just a normal girl who would really appreciate getting back to her normal life. Now can you help us or not?”
Jude saw red for a moment, but the sensation quickly passed as Daniel seized her hand in a bone crushing grip. Or, it would be bone crushing if she were entirely human.
“I see,” Grigori said, looking between the two before rising from his seat. He moved Lux out of his way and pulled a thick volume down from the shelf, wiping away a layer of dust before dropping in onto a worktable shoved up against the wall.
“For dramatic effect,” he said before returning to his seat. “Basically, the only cure for someone in your position, Miss Carstairs, is a healthy dose of wishful thinking. There’s no record of the supposed cure working, nor does it sound like anything more than rumor and, as I said, wishful thinking.”
“Why not?” said Jude. “What’s the cure? How do I transition back?”
“Your vampire friend can explain the why not part,” Grigori said, “because he’s bound to understand. You see, Miss Carstairs, the transition period lasts a week, thanks to you being a redhead. I don’t know why it’s a week, though, and I don’t know anyone who does. Maybe it’s something holy having to do with the number seven, but either way, you’ve got a week long transition period. Drink human blood and you’ll turn into a vamp. Don’t drink human blood and you, lucky duck, will get to be human again.”
“So what you’re saying,” Jude said, a hope flaring inside her, “is that old myth about redheads coming back as vampires is true?”
Across the room, Lux barely suppressed a squeal of delight and although she didn’t say anything to Jude, the transitioning vampire understood what she was so excited about.
Yes, Lux,she thought ruefully,I may have paid attention to some of your vampire rants.
“Of course it’s true,” Grigori said. “Under normal circumstances, the option would be to become a vampire or go back to being dead.”
“Normal circumstances?” Daniel said, joining in the conversation.
Jude liked the fact she wasn’t the only one not in the know.
Grigori jutted his chin out at Jude causing his scraggly and stained bea
rd to sway.
“Your potential kid here died with vampire blood in her system, right? Well, since that kept her from dying the good old fashioned way, she can go back to being a living and breathing human, assuming she makes it through the week.”
“Which I have every intention of doing,” Jude said, “because I don’t want to be a vampire. I want to be human.”
“I know,” said Grigori, “but I need you to understand something. You died with vampire blood in your system, which means you’re already transitioning into one, whereas, had you died naturally, you’d of been stuck in this limbo state of sorts until you made your decision. I bet you’re already craving blood. Can you imagine how hard it would be to resist that craving for a whole week?”
“Is that it?” Daniel said. “Is that how she transitions back into a human? She doesn’t consume human blood for a week and then she’s back to being one?”
“In theory,” said Grigori, gesturing to the book on the table. “Feel free to read it for yourself, but most of what you’re going to find are failed attempts. It simply can’t be done.”
“Of course it can,” Lux said, leaning against a bookshelf. “Jude died on a Monday, so she just has to make it through Sunday without drinking blood and she’ll be human again. Sounds simple enough. We’ll just have to make a Costco run for more bacon.”
“He’s right though,” Daniel said, “it can’t be done. The cravings will only grow stronger and if Jude goes any longer without feeding from a human, she risks killing someone. It’s too risky.”
“Maybe your self-control isn’t all that great,” Lux said, “which might be a genetic thing you can’t help because I know your sister’s impulse control sucks, but this is Jude we’re talking about. I’ve dragged her to every barbecue cook-off in the county trying to get her to reform her vegetarian ways, but it never worked. She has an iron will when she wants.”
“This isn’t barbecue,” Daniel said. “This is human blood, which she needs to survive because she’s a vampire.”
“But she’s not a vampire!” Lux said. “She’s just in transition. There’s still time for her to go back to being human.”
The argument faded into a low hum as Jude tuned out Daniel and Lux, her eyes riveted to Grigori’s calm expression. His hazel eyes were focused on her as well, devoid of any emotion, yet she had the distinct feeling he was taunting her, daring her, challenging her to prove the theory in his book. To prove that a human could survive a transition and come out the other side still human. Her eyes traveled down to the visible veins weaving their way around his frail neck. She didn’t even have to try to see the blood pumping through those veins that were protruding from his skin in an almost grotesque way.
Daniel and Lux’s argument was disrupted by a deep, throaty laugh and they turned to see Grigori staring at Jude.
“You won’t make it,” he said. “You’re already too far gone.”
The arguing pair looked in time to see something fierce flare up inside Jude’s eyes before her face went stony.
“Just watch me,” she said before storming out of the room.
Daniel hesitated only a second before following after her, leaving Lux alone in the room with Grigori.
“You’ve got magic in you,” Grigori said and Lux nodded.
“I’m Luciana’s great-granddaughter.”
“I know,” he said. “You look like her.”
“You knew her?” Lux said, looking at the old man with a careful eye, wondering just how old he really was.
He grinned, as if reading her thoughts, and shrugged.
“I’m older than I look,” he said. “Most witches and wizards are.”
“I believe it,” Lux said.
“If you ever want to learn what you can do,” Grigori said, “you come back here anytime. I’d be honored to tutor a descendent of Lucy’s.”
“Thank you,” Lux said and headed for the door, but Grigori called her back.
“You should stay away from Miss Carstairs until this is over. She won’t make it through the week and I’d hate for you to get caught in the crossfire when she does feed.”
Lux looked back at the wizard seated upon his red throne and watched as the glamour fell away, leaving only a decrepit old man in a tattered chair. She wasn’t impressed.
“Don’t doubt my friend,” she said before turning away. “You don’t know what she’s capable of.”
•§•
Daniel drove the girls home, dropping Lux off at her house before parking in front of Jude’s home.
“My parents are going to be home on Saturday night,” she said as she procrastinated on getting out of the car. “What if I lose control and kill one of them?”
Daniel reached out and took her hand, tugging on it until she slid across the bench seat of his car and sat beside him. He wrapped an arm around her and held her close.
“I won’t let that happen,” he said. “None of us will let that happen. You’re going to make it through this, Jude, and you’re going to be human again. I know it.”
Jude rested her head against his chest and sighed, taking an unnecessary breath and inhaling Daniel’s spicy scent.
“Do you ever wish you could be human again?” Jude asked, tilting her head up to look at Daniel. He stared down at her, a strange expression on his face as he brushed his fingertips lightly over her cheek.
“Sometimes,” he said. “Always, in the beginning. But eventually I realized wishing wouldn’t change a thing.” He looked out the window towards Jude’s house.
“You should go inside,” he said. “I think your brother is trying to cook.”
Jude frowned, turning to look at her house before glancing back at Daniel.
“You can hear that?” she said, her awe plain on her face and Daniel grinned.
“It’s possible you can too,” he said, “if you focus. If not, you’ll be able to if you change your mind and decide to complete the transition.”
Jude shook her head and slid back to her side of the car, opening the door. Before she stepped out though, she looked back at Daniel with a sad look on her face.
“If I do fail,” she said, “please don’t let me kill anyone. I couldn’t live with myself.”
“I’ll keep you safe,” Daniel promised and Jude had a feeling his words were infinite; that, no matter what road she chose, he’d always be there to watch over her.
“Goodnight, Daniel,” she said and slipped from the car, shutting the door and walking towards her house. She waved when she reached the door and then stepped inside.
He listened for a moment, hearing her yell to her brother that she was home before Simon asked for assistance in making pasta and mentioning something about not burning himself with scalding water. Daniel drove away with the sound of laughter in his ears as he silently vowed to help Jude succeed in becoming human again, even if he wanted nothing more than to keep her with him forever.
Wednesday Afternoon
Date Night
Before going to sleep the night before, Jude had received a call from Mafe. Apparently, now that Jude knew there was a possible cure, it was time she upheld her end of the bargain by letting Mafe and her family show her what it was like to be a vampire. Every night until she made her final decision, Jude would spend the evening with one vampire and learn from them a new side of vampirism. Mafe had chosen herself as Jude’s “date” for the first evening, which is why Jude now stood knee deep in a pile of clothing, trying to find something appropriate to wear for her evening with the ancient vampire.
“I take it she’s not a leather kind of girl,” Lux said from where she was lounging diagonally across the bed, looking rather amused by Jude’s flustered search for the perfect outfit.
“I don’t think any of them are into that,” Jude said, “except possibly Jemima, but I haven’t seen her since the incident, so I wouldn’t know.”
Lux shrugged before rolling onto her stomach and propping her chin on her hands.
“So do t
hey not go in the sun?” Lux said and Jude nodded.
“I don’t know if they burst into flames or anything,” she said, “but even in my transition period, I prefer to stay out of the sun. Especially afternoon sun.”
“I’ve noticed,” Lux said, pointing to the blanket still hanging over the curtain rod. “Really, you guys just need a healthy layer of sunblock and you’ll be fine.”
Jude looked over her shoulder and smiled at Lux, holding up a dress that her friend considered boring and not nearly impressive enough for a date with a vampiress.
“I’m not trying to impress anyone,” Jude said.
“You can at least hold your own,” said Lux. “I mean, they’ve been around for a while, which means they’ve probably cultivated a great sense of personal style. Coupled with their glamour, I’m sure any family reunion of theirs would put a supermodel convention to shame.”
Jude paused in her perusal of her closet to lean against the wall and look at Lux who was wearing toxic green leggings and a yellow plaid shirt. She sported a teal kneepad on her left knee; she’d be going to dance class later that evening. Nothing about her style was cohesive; it was like she intentionally wanted to clash with the decor wherever she went. Maybe it wasn’t the most chic style, but it was certainly her own and Jude couldn’t help thinking her best friend would be better cut out for this whole vampire thing than her, which of course, was a thought that inevitably lead her to wishing it had been Lux who’d been attacked and not herself.
“Do I have a very strong glamour?” Jude said, dashing away her previous train of thought as Lux carefully regarded her.
“Not strong,” Lux said, “if what Daniel said is true. I don’t feel myself being lured in, but then again, I am your friend. Maybe you would lure in a stranger. As for appearance, yeah, you do look somehow... heightened in your physical features, but if I concentrate, I can see through that, but not for very long.”
Jude nodded her head before turning back to her closet and pulled out a green silk dress.
The Week I Was A Vampire Page 6