by Lilly Wilder
Mrs. Thorpe was nearest me, and Mr. Hanon took Julia’s side. Mr. Griff loomed over us like a dark shadow. He cackled and I braced myself for combat, unsure if I could win.
“Good luck,” I muttered under my breath. Julia thanked me and then suddenly Mrs. Thorpe moved with alarming speed. She rushed forward and her eyes were wild. Her jaws opened and I saw monstrous fangs emerge from her gums, ready to sink into my flesh. Her hands were more like claws as they came around my arms, trying to push me away. I swept my body to the left and kicked out at her leg, trying to unbalance her, but it didn’t seem to have any effect. I brought the stake down against her shoulder. It was nowhere near her heart, but I wanted to make her hurt anyway in the hope that it would at least give me some respite. I brought the stake down with all my might, but she twisted her hand and caught my wrist. Her nails dug into my skin and my hand trembled. I gasped in agony. I jabbed my free hand into her stomach and pushed forward, sending her across the table. She landed with a crash and I screamed. She had drawn blood and all the vampires licked their lips at me. I clasped my injured wrist. I felt weak, and I had to change the stake to my other hand.
I was about to press my advantage when I heard a yelp. Julia was being driven back by Mr. Hanon’s long reach. His arms swiped at her like chains, each one trying to tear her face and hair. Julia gave in to her fear. She hadn’t even hunted a handful of feral vampires and I was more worried for her than I was for myself because I couldn’t take care of her. She backed away past me, with Mr. Hanon’s arms swirling wildly. I watched her with despair as she went near the window.
“Julia! Look out!” I cried. Panic lined her face as she came to the open window. The air seemed to tug at her, and the only way she could get out of Mr. Hanon’s reach was to fall back. She screamed and I was about to run to her when Mrs. Thorpe grabbed me back. Mr. Hanon leaped out of the window and there was nothing more I could do for Julia. I turned around and slammed my elbow down onto Mrs. Thorpe’s arm. The bone cracked and her limb dangled unnaturally from the elbow. She hissed and nipped at me with her jaws. I twisted back and put my hands on the table, spinning my legs around, where I kicked her in the face using all the momentum of my body. I spun back and landed on my feet, jabbing the stake down in one fluid movement, but I missed her heart as she twisted away, writhing in pain. There was no time to waste. I had to defeat them soon, because the longer they stayed alive the more chance there was that they would defeat me. There were so many ways for them to hurt me, and I’d always been told that a Slayer being turned into a vampire was a very bad thing.
I wasn’t going to let that happen to me.
I wasn’t going to let it happen to Julia either, although she was on her own for the moment. I heard some muffled screams and some scuffles outside, but I couldn’t get to the window. Blood dripped down my wrist and I wiped it on my top. I pulled out another stake and held it in my hand even though the pain throbbed. Mr. Griff was so arrogant he stood there waiting for the inevitable. Mrs. Thorpe cackled and howled as she pushed herself up, her one broken limb dangling limply, the other one clawing her way across the table. I took the measure of her movements and anticipated where she was going to be. I drove one stake through the side of her head and then pushed her onto her back. I drove the stake down into her heart, feeling it split her ribs. I used all my strength to hammer it through her chest and the cackling laughter stopped.
I panted. Sweat dripped down my cheeks.
Mr. Griff applauded slowly.
“You’re quite the Slayer aren’t you? Some are better than others. I’ve known a few in my time. She’s not the best,” he cast a withering glance out of the window towards Julia. I couldn’t hear anything from her.
“This ends now,” I said. I gripped my stakes tightly and jumped on the table, striding towards him. As I did so he smirked and his hands slammed against the side of the table. I lost my balance and tumbled down, the stakes rolling out of my grip as I tried to steady myself.
“You’ll need to be cleverer than that,” Mr. Griff said. “It’s such a shame the council has corrupted your mind so much. They do tell Slayers the most horrid things about us. You know that they’re as bad as us, right? They want to control the world as much as we do, they’re just annoyed that there’s no way they can make Slayers themselves. They have to wait for the bloodlines to do their work. You might think you’re doing some sacred duty, but you’re really just another link in the chain, and it seems it’s time for this link to be broken.”
He opened his mouth and stepped onto the table. He was so tall. I pushed myself up, but he placed his hand on my head and squeezed. His bony fingers dug into my scalp and I felt him placing pressure on my skull. I slapped his arms, but his strength was unmatched and I didn’t seem to be able to break his hold on me. I reached out for my stakes, but they were just out of reach and he had such a powerful hold on me I couldn’t even move far enough to get them. I strained my fingers, trying to will them towards me, but that didn’t work either.
“It’s such a shame really that Slayers are so brainwashed, because I think in partnership we could achieve great things together,” he said. It didn’t even sound as though he was exerting any undue effort to keep me down, and I felt like such a poor Slayer for being in this position. I should have put up more of a fight. I should have been better.
I screamed until my lungs were raw as I tried to break free. I thought for a moment he was going to rip my scalp off. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as he kept his grip so tight on my head, and then the doors opened.
Josh, Adam, and Troy stood there.
“Ah, my boys,” Mr. Griff said. “Sadly your mother has died, but now we can punish this Slayer as a family. You should be proud that you finally get to experience what it’s like to prove yourself superior to one of these pests,” he said. I looked at the boys with pain in my eyes. Their expressions were vacant and I had no idea if I could trust them or not. I know I had betrayed Josh when I told him that I was a Slayer. I had killed one of the vampires who had given them life. I was sure that Julia had already died, and I was soon to follow. The bloodline ended with me. I hadn’t done enough to secure my legacy. All of my ancestors had been wasted because I couldn’t keep the chain going.
The only boys I had given my heart to were vampires, and now they were going to kill me unless I managed to do something drastic.
“Please, Josh,” I groaned, reaching out towards him, “help me. He…he’s hurting me. I’m sorry. I didn’t want this. All I want is you. Help me…”
It was an attempt to break the control that their masters had on them. I wasn’t sure that it would work. If I had more time I might be able to make a difference, but Mr. Griff and the others had given them life. What had I done that was comparable?
I had to close my eyes because I was in so much pain and I didn’t want to put myself through the anguish of having to watch them obey their masters.
“How pitiful it is to hear you plead,” Mr. Griff sneered. “Slayers always have this superior attitude to them and it’s nice to see you being put in your place. Sadly you won’t get to learn from your mistake because there’s not going to be a chance for you to learn anything anymore. You’re going to be nothing more than a test for my boys here. I did find it quite amusing that you would think you could influence them. I can’t really blame them I suppose. Boys will be boys, and they certainly showed good instincts in choosing a Slayer. Now then, I think it’s quite poetic to kill this Slayer with her own weapon. Which one of you would like to oblige?” he said, each word dripped with malicious intent and I continued to wince. The pain in my scalp felt as though a thousand tiny needles were prickling against my skin. I shook my head, trying to warn them off.
“No…no…” I gasped.
“I’ll do it,” Josh said. Of course it had to be Josh. He walked forward and I forced myself to open my eyes to look at him. He looked so different when compared to just a short time ago on the bench. He
must have come straight back here, gathered Adam and Troy, and told them what was happening. They were in thrall to these masters and their place was at the Academy. I should have sensed this sooner. My downfall was my own fault. I had nobody to blame but myself and I only wished that I had been kinder to Arthur. If I had listened to him more I might have been better prepared for this.
I watched Josh reach over and pick up the stake. He licked his lips as he held the weapon of the Slayer in his hand. My throat ran dry and at this point I was just glad that the moment was soon going to be over. Maybe the Slayers were a dying race and vampires were the future. Maybe I was just a failure at this, just as I had been a failure at everything, but I would never get to have a family of my own. I would never know what it was like to fall in love. I would never get to make my parents proud.
“I’m sorry…” I whispered. It was an apology to my parents, to Arthur, to my ancestors, and to myself. Josh leaned over the table. He stood beside his master.
“I’m proud of you Josh,” Mr. Griff said.
I looked up at Josh and wished I knew what to say. I wanted to tell him that I only ever wanted to be close to him. My fondest memory of life had been with the three of them under the moonlight. That was going to be my last thought. I closed my eyes and remembered how good I felt being so intimate and close with them, and then I surrendered to the inevitable, waiting for the feeling of my heart being punctured.
Chapter Sixteen
I was all ready to embrace the sweet pain and tumble down into oblivion, to finally be freed from the shackles of life. I thought about what Adam had said to me and how there was some beauty in death. I tried to think of that, even though I felt I was too young for that and hadn’t accomplished everything I wanted in life. In the end I was just like my parents, dying before their time, but at least they had been together when it all ended. I was by myself and everything ended with me.
But the final moment didn’t come. My skin was not pierced by the stake, and I didn’t feel the pain of life slipping away. I heard a grunt from Mr. Griff and opened my eyes. Josh had driven the stake into Mr. Griff’s heart unexpectedly. The headmaster’s face was a picture of shock before his body crumbled into dust, leaving behind nothing but a faint odor and the lingering presence of evil.
Josh still had the stake in his hand and I was scared. But then he dropped it and he ran to me. They all did. I was surrounded by Adam, Troy, and Josh. They smiled and I breathed with relief. I wrapped my arms around the three of them, holding them close.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I thought about what you said,” Josh replied. “When I came back I talked about it with Adam and Troy. We all agreed that it was about time we decided things for ourselves. We didn’t like what they wanted for our future, and we didn’t like being at the mercy of their whims. With you we truly felt alive again. It wasn’t something we ever thought we’d feel again, and we knew we couldn’t let you die. This was the way it had to be, and now we pledge ourselves to you.”
They bowed their heads, and it brought to mind the dream I had of my ancestor. I realized this wasn’t the first time a Slayer had formed a harem of male vampires, but it had been hidden away. The truth was in my mind though, and now it was in front of me. I had been taught that these were creatures of evil, but to me they were instruments of pleasure, they were my boys, my vampires, my lovers. A solemn feeling overwhelmed me as I took them into my arms, taking them from the grip of their masters, and I knew I was going to treat them better.
“We didn’t want any part of what they were offering. They expected us to take their place and to turn others,” Adam said.
“I know, I know. Everything is alright now,” I cooed.
“We only fed on animals because we have to,” Troy said. “I tried to have fun, but they were so serious. They kept holding the fact that they had saved our lives over our heads. All I wanted was to move on from cancer, but they never let us forget it.”
“You can forget about it now. This is a new beginning. We’re going to create new traditions and you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’m going to take care of you,” I said, although I was making promises I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep. This relationship went against all my training and I knew the council wouldn’t be happy. Neither would Arthur. But this felt right and as I looked at them I knew I didn’t want anything else, or anyone. I knew that nothing else was going to make me happy. The fact that they were vampires and I was a Slayer seemed secondary. All that mattered was that we were together.
“What’s going to happen now?” Troy asked, looking at the dust that had settled over the tables, chairs, and floor. I didn’t know how this was going to be explained away. I assumed the council would cover it up somehow, they always did. But there was something else. I turned around.
“Julia!” I called.
“She’s alright. We saved her as we were coming to you. We told her to be quiet,” Adam said.
“Can I come out now?” Julia asked. She pulled herself through the window and dusted herself off, and then she looked at me and the three men. Her eyes gleamed with hunger and she held her stake tightly. “Get away from them Elsa,” she said.
I stepped forward protectively, spreading my arms.
“You know our deal Julia. I told you that these are to be left unharmed,” I said.
“They’re vampires. They have to be dealt with,” she said.
“They’re not. They’re under my protection and I don’t care what you or anyone else says. These aren’t evil vampires. We’ve been looking at this all wrong. They’re not posing any threat to anyone, so let’s just leave things where they are and get back to Arthur.”
“I can’t do that Elsa. Arthur and I had a little chat when you were getting ready. He was worried that something like this might happen, and he gave me direct instructions to deal with you if you became too much trouble. You’re a Slayer. You’re supposed to kill vampires, not fuck them. You’ve betrayed us Elsa, and now you’re going to pay the price.”
I knew there wasn’t going to be any way to reason with her, or talk her down. I had saved her life before, but now she was out for my blood. I wasn’t even angry with her. I was angry with Arthur for giving her those orders. He should have spoken to me, should have trusted me. I couldn’t believe that he would go behind my back like this, but then when I thought about it how much did I really know him? Some of the council’s practices had always seemed shady and they were very rigid in their traditions. I guess I wasn’t meant to be a Slayer after all.
“You know I’m going to beat you Julia,” I said.
“We’ll see. I’ve been watching you closely Elsa. I’ve learned your moves. I’m not going to be a pushover. I’m better than some feral vampire.”
I was already tired from the battle. My wrist ached and my scalp throbbed. I stepped forward though, determined to protect my boys. They offered to fight for me, but I told them not to. This was my fight. Besides, for all of Julia’s inexperience she was still a Slayer and still equipped with weapons that were deadly to them.
*
Julia had a look of relish on her face as we came together in the middle of the room, away from the table. We held our stakes, and circled each other, taking the measure of us.
“Arthur said you were one of the most naturally gifted Slayers he’s ever seen, but I’m going to prove him wrong now. My Mom was one of the best, and I’m going to prove that I’m even better,” Julia said. I remained silent, keeping my breath even and making sure to observe her movements carefully. I watched the way she stepped, and how far she reached. I let her speak, hoping that it would distract her. When I saw an opening I surged forward and lowered my body, crashing into her legs. She yelped and fell back, steadying herself against a chair. Her hair cascaded down her face in thin strands and her eyes were dark and glowering. She shrieked as she came towards me, arms flailing about. Her attacks were fierce and deadly, but they were als
o wild and inaccurate. I managed to evade them all and fought back with a jab of my own in her gut. I twisted around and elbowed her in her back, right where her kidneys were located. I hadn’t used my stake yet. I didn’t want to kill her, all I wanted was for her to stop fighting me.
“Give it up Julia. You can walk away from this. I just want to be left alone,” I said.
“Never! I’m going to prove myself the best damn Slayer there ever was. My Mom died for this!” she cried, and came at me again, screaming loudly, thrusting her stake through the air, trying to stab me. I dodged quickly and her blows narrowly missed. I could tell she wasn’t going to stop unless I made her stop. I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw. I wasn’t just fighting for myself now, I was fighting for my boys as well. Julia had been a thorn in my side ever since we met and I wasn’t about to let her have the final word. She came at me and I parried her blow. She was out to kill, wielding her stake like a knife. I countered her moves and stepped back, leading her forward, waiting for the opportunity I needed to strike.
I was supposed to be a vampire Slayer, not a killer of humans. However, I wondered if there was really much difference? Ever since I had become aware of this world I had thought of vampires as nothing but monstrous creatures, but now it was clear that some of them at least were kind and still had souls, while some humans were cold and callous. There had been moments when I thought there was hope for Julia and that she might actually find a way through her pain towards the light, that she would change her way of thinking and become a better person. When she became a Slayer I thought that she would see her potential and that the new perspective of the world would help her realize that there was more to life than being vindictive and spiteful. Instead, it had made her crazed with power. I felt even worse knowing that Arthur had obviously given her this directive. His betrayal came from the heart, her betrayal was just her being a bitch.