by K. A. Poe
“You should have stayed away,” I shut my eyes tightly as I heard Mark's deep voice reach my ears. I couldn't tell just where it was coming from; it seemed to reverberate off the walls.
“Where’s Janet, you bastard?!” Paul shouted, holding his crossbow cautiously as he rounded the corner.
“Janet is not important,” Mark hissed. “I sense that you forgot to bring something important with you, Alexis.”
I stopped behind Kim as she followed Paul into a room full of sheet-covered furniture. “I don't know what you’re talking about,” I replied in a croaky voice.
“I had truly hoped you would have brought Salem along with you, that way I could have killed two birds with one stone,” he snickered maliciously. “Or, in this case – a bird and a ‘bat’, right?”
I gulped as I felt Paul's eyes turn towards me. “Salem and I have nothing to do with each other,” I said bitterly, meeting my father and aunt in the room.
“Fool!” Mark bellowed. “Don't think that I am going to fall for your lies. Your father might be daft enough to believe you, but I am far wiser. I know about you and the boy.”
“Why would you care?” I asked and ignored the angry glance Paul was directing at me.
“He is a pathetic excuse for a vampire, don't you see? Feasting on animals!” he scoffed. “It was satisfactory for a while, but eventually the hunger for human blood is just too enticing...it won't be long before he makes you his victim.”
“You are wrong about him. He’s different!”
Paul was about to say something to me but Kim shook her head, “This isn't the time or place, Paul,” she said.
“Just tell us where Janet is. Please!” I pleaded.
“Hurting her was a mistake, I will admit that one,” his voice had grown softer, “She had cut herself with a kitchen knife the morning before the...incident...and I tried to control myself. But once I smelled her blood, oh...it was hard to control my thirst for more! The hunger was far too powerful.”
“How many people have you hurt, Mark?” Paul spat as he spoke, turning out of the room and into the next which was roughly identical. There was only one room left, down the long hallway and at the very end.
“Not nearly enough to satisfy!” he laughed. “But three Waldron's ought to fix that, for now.”
“So, you admit that you killed all those innocent people...and you put Janet in the bear cage after you...didn’t you?!” I gasped, the rest of the words were too difficult to speak.
The wretched laugh came again, sending shivers down my spine, “and I saved the best for last.”
I watched as my father inched closer to the door down the hall, steadily holding his weapon. Why had I agreed to come here? He and Kim were experienced hunters, whereas I was a coward with a shaking crossbow and feelings for a vampire. He wrapped his hand firmly around the wobbly doorknob and pushed the door open. At first, I couldn't see anything, but once my eyes adjusted I saw two red dots floating around amidst the dark void. Eyes. The eyes of a vampire that had just eaten.
Paul tripped suddenly. I glanced downward and gasped in horror, stumbling backward.
“No! No! No!” I shouted, staring in disbelief at the body lying across the floor. Paul gathered himself and tried to ignore what he had tripped over, but I could see the anguish in his eyes.
“I simply couldn't help myself,” I could see Mark's teeth shining in the darkness. I now realized what the crashing sound had been. “This is why you don't let your guard down and fall in love with a vampire.”
Janet's empty, dead eyes stared up at me as I cried - this wasn't happening…it couldn't be happening! I had just spoken to her on the phone less than a day ago. The moisture behind my eyes began to cloud my vision.
“Now, now, 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, Waldron,” 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.
&nb
sp; “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 mumbled as I lay back on the bed. “What now?
“Now,” he replied bitterly, “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!”
“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 annoyed 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.
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.
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 through 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 Paul killed him.”
I nodded slowly. “He did.”
“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 over the weekend, but I don't think I can go,” I said shamefully.
“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,” Tears began to come once again. “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, unless Janet figured it out somehow and told him. 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. 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. Everything is just so surreal.”
“I understand,” I knew 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.
“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.”
“We could drive,” he suggested eagerly.
“Salem, does this have anything to do with Paul..?”
“It isn't safe 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.”
“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?”
“You have friends.”
“I can still keep in touch with them. We don't need to see each other every day.”
He seemed unconvinced. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“More than anything,” I smiled and took his cold hand in mine. “Before we go, I wanted to ask you something.”
“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.”