by Yirak, Laura
“Enough Patrick, come on,” Alesta yelled at him.
Monica and Thomas pushed their way through the crowd as the two continued to fight. As they came to the front they saw Patrick being thrown against a table. But the strong table held and Patrick took the blow in his ribs. He cried out in pain and anger and turned it all into a punch right in the burly man’s stomach.
“Alesta, oh my god. Thomas, help him!” Monica cried out.
Thomas tried to pull the heated two apart, but took a punch himself in the face from the burly man. Thomas fell to the floor clasping his face.
“My nose! My nose!” Thomas cried; he wasn’t much of a fighter.
Monica grabbed some napkins off the bar and knelt next to Thomas as the other two continued crashing around before them. She held pressure to his nose and ducked as another beer mug came flying across the room. At this point it was too hard to tell who had thrown it.
The burly man was beginning to tire out and Patrick landed a final blow to the man’s chest.
The man curled up on the floor and moaned. “Ye win. Ye win. Ach!”
Patrick stood out of breath, the sweat dripping off his head, spatters of blood against his arms and the rest hidden on his black shirt. Alesta suddenly felt hungry, very hungry. Patrick stood a moment, adrenaline still pumping.
“Jesus! Right then, let’s go,” Patrick said as the sounds of police sirens screamed in the distance.
The crowd panicked and people piled towards the small doorway all trying to get away. Patrick took Alesta by the hand and led her outside. He pushed through the crowd forcefully and once out walked quickly and carefully. His head was pounding, his face sore and his heart raced. Every breath he took was painful, but all he could think about at that moment was getting Alesta and himself back to the car. They were several blocks away when Alesta stopped Patrick.
“Wait!” Alesta said looking confused. “My purse. I must have dropped it.”
“What!” Patrick said.
“I have to go get it, my keys, everything.” She was worried.
“We can’t go back; the police are probably there already.”
“Aye! I know, if they get my purse, they’ll find you Patrick. I need to go. Just meet me at the car okay.”
“I can’t leave you alone Alesta.” Patrick said trying to ignore the pain. “Don’t go.”
“I’ll be fine Patrick, trust me.” Alesta became very still and put her hand gently on his firm shoulder.
The adrenaline dissipated and Patrick suddenly felt relaxed even with each aching breath. “Okay. Be careful.”
“Don’t worry.” Alesta turned and went back the way she had come.
The Clyde was empty as Alesta walked invisibly in. The owner was speaking loudly to the police demanding that they find the culprits to pay for the damages. She stepped quietly trying not to make a single peep, but managed to creek one of the old worn floor boards. They all looked in her direction, but saw nothing. The invisible vampire paused and waited for them to resume the interview.
The pub was a wreck, chairs everywhere with a few broken ones, glass scattered around the floor. Alesta managed to avoid the shards as she looked around for her blue purse. She looked under the tables, even behind the bar; she did it carefully and quietly. The bartender was ranting on and on about money, but to Alesta it didn’t look like too much of an expense. Certainly he had insurance for that sort of thing.
Alesta stood quietly and tuned them out. She listened throughout the bar, for signs of noise. As she scanned, the sound of heavy breathing escaped from the bathroom area. Curiosity got the better of her as she made her way to the men’s room. She pushed the door open slowly to a faint smell of familiar alcohol. It was very dark. She pushed each stall open slowly till she reached the last. This door was locked. She slipped into the stall next to it and peaked over the top.
The burly man sat there hiding. Alesta smiled to herself and decided to have a little fun. She scraped her long nails along the top of his stall. He looked up quickly, but there was nothing there. He looked back down again, dismissing the sound, but looked up again as the same sound repeated.
“Bloody, rats!” he whispered.
Alesta stepped out from her stall and shook the front of his bathroom stall. The burly man stood up and stumbled back against the wall. Alesta laughed out loud. A fierce wicked sound so frightening that it would bring any man to his knees. It pierced his ears so only the burly man heard it.
“Who’s there?” He mustered up a few words.
There was only silence in response, Alesta stepped back and waited. After a few quiet minutes the burly man opened the stall door. He held on tightly to the side of the stall and looked around the bathroom with his grey wide eyes, but there was no sign of anyone there. He shuffled over to the sink and turned on the tap. Alesta turned it off. He gasped. The man was terrorized by this point and couldn’t handle one more thing, he tumbled out of the bathroom as quickly as a drunk could and into the bar, Alesta followed him out in disgust. She would never consider him as food, just pure filth.
“That’s him! He started the whole thing!” The owner cried pointing to the burly man, but the burly man was just happy to see people.
The police took hold of him and sat the burly man down on one of the remaining standing stools and began the interrogation. Alesta took that as her time to leave and after checking the police for possession of her purse, slipped out the front door of the old bar and made her way back to the Rover. The purse was no where to be found. It looked like they would all have to take a taxi home.
Patrick waited alone at the Rover. He didn’t have the keys to get in and slumped down next one of the tires and just leaned against it. It was cold, almost like the rain would start up any second.
“Please don’t,” he half looked up. “Ah!” Patrick held his chest. “What a day I’ve had.”
The alley was dark and quiet and he watched the silhouettes of people passing by wondering when Alesta would arrive. Exhaustion swept over him as he tried to rest. He closed his eyes for a few minutes and Patrick forgot about the day.
“Patrick!” A voice said. “Wake up.”
“Uh…” Patrick tried to open his heavy lids.
“Where’s Alesta?” The female voice asked.
“Huh! ….. Oh!”
“Patrick, are you okay?”
“Yes……fine.” He tried to straighten himself up. “Ah, oh. I’m fine. Just tired that’s all…..and…..massively wasted.”
Patrick looked up into the dark and at the darker shape above him.
“Monica, hullo! Where have you been?” Patrick asked rubbing his eyes to see clearer.
“Well Thomas and I took the long way back to avoid the police. You still haven’t answered me? Where is Alesta?”
“She left her purse at the pub.”
“What! No she didn’t, I have it. I saw it on the floor by the bar. She must have dropped it during the chaos. She went back? What about the police and you let her? Fuck sake!” Monica asked.
“I tried to stop her but she insisted. She’s stubborn you know.”
“I know,” Monica said. “What do we do now?”
“Well, we wait till she gets back,” Patrick said.
“And if she doesn’t?” Monica said concerned.
“I’ll go back and find her,” Patrick said.
“Alone?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“We’ll come too.” Monica looked at Thomas. “Won’t we?”
“Aye! Why not?” Thomas said. “I don’t have anywhere to be.” He pulled Monica in close to him.
“Let’s get in the car, it’s freezin,” Patrick said.
It was hushed in the dark, in the Rover. They were all exhausted from the night out, but slightly anxious waiting for Alesta to turn up. No one uttered a single word. Worry and concern itched at Patrick. What if something had happened to her? He thought. He couldn’t take the waiting much longer and opened the passenger side doo
r to get out.
“Patrick, we’ve only been waiting five minutes,” Monica said.
“I’m goin nuts,” Patrick said, “sittin here.”
Patrick sighed watching the people passing by at the end of the alley and leaned up against the Rover.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“I’m here!” Patrick heard a whisper in his ear, but saw no one. He looked around frantically. “I’m hearing things,” he whispered.
“What did you say?” Monica asked from inside.
“Ah. Nothing,” Patrick said and closed his eyes. He felt a familiar warm hand softly touch him.
“Alesta! You’re back!” Patrick asked trying not to sound too excited.
“Yes! I told you I would be fine. You shouldn’t worry so much.” Alesta smiled at him.
“I’m not worried, just concerned,” Patrick said.
“I couldn’t find my purse. It’s gone,” Alesta said annoyed.
“I have it! Here!” Monica passed the purse to Alesta out the window.
“Oh! Brilliant!” Alesta grabbed it from her. “That explains why you’re in the car. Silly me,” Alesta said cheerfully.
“You dropped it in the pub,” Monica said as she rested her head against Thomas.
“Oh thank you so much Monica, I’m so happy.” Alesta placed her hand through the window and took Monica’s. “I can always rely on you!”
“You know it!” Monica said. “What took so long?”
“Well the police were there and I had to be very quiet,” Alesta said.
“And they didn’t see you?” Patrick asked.
“No, they were too busy with the owner. He was very angry and a right pain in the arse if you ask me.”
They all laughed and Patrick placed his hand over his chest as he did.
“Patrick what’s wrong?” Alesta asked. She tuned into his shallow breathing.
“Nothin,” Patrick said and got into the Rover. “You’re driving, let’s go home.”
“Oh can you drop me and Thomas off at his car? He’s going to take me home,” Monica asked casually.
“Yeah! Where to?” Alesta winked at her through the rear view mirror.
Thomas directed the way and they all said their good nights. Monica looked happy as they left and waved gladly to them as Patrick and Alesta drove off. The car ride home, few words passed between them. Alesta just listened to Patrick’s irregular breathing and knew to let him conserve his energy. She didn’t even bother to ask him to go to the hospital for she knew what the answer would be. The drive home seemed long, like it would never end. Alesta pulled up in front of her house and parked.
“Home finally, come on Patrick, you’re staying with me tonight,” Alesta said.
“No, I’ll be fine,” he said.
“Patrick. I know there’s something wrong with you and I want to make sure you’re okay.” Alesta put her hand on his. “Anyways, you’re hurt because of me.”
Patrick grinned, “It was worth it.”
Alesta unlocked the front door, “Come on then.”
“Right.” Patrick followed her.
They entered Alesta’s home, it was cold. She walked up to the thermostat and turned it up and looked at Patrick.
“This way,” she said and led him upstairs.
“I’ve never been up here before,” he said. Patrick’s stomach tightened up, a little more excited than he let on. “Wow nice room.”
“Thanks. Here.” Alesta handed Patrick a plush towel. “You can get cleaned up if you like. The bathroom is through there, I’m going to call Judy and let her know we’re back. I’ll handle the rest of the night.”
Patrick took her suggestion and chose a shower. The hot water felt good and he just stood there. It was a big shower, all gold fixtures, and bright white inside, with a separate bathtub. He inspected his chest to find bruising all down one side. He washed it carefully and stepped back out of the stall to turn off one light. Another headache was coming on again. All signs of too much rum and too much fun. He finished up, carefully dried off, and wasn’t sure what to wear to bed so just pulled on his boxers and went back into Alesta’s bedroom.
Alesta watched him as he came out. Patrick was incredibly fit, she looked away trying not to think about what she really wanted to do to him at that moment.
“Patrick you can sleep in my bed. I’ll be around to make sure you’re okay.” She folded the satin plum sheets back and he got in.
“I can see the bruising. You need to tell me if you have any problems breathing in the night. I think you’re just badly bruised right now. It should improve over the next few days though,” she said. “I’ll get you a cold pack.”
“I’m so tired Alesta,” Patrick said.
Alesta pulled the sheets up over him, “I know. You’ve had a rough day. I’m sorry Patrick.”
He took her hand in his, “It’s okay. I’m okay.” He looked up at her with his brown eyes longingly.
She waited by his side till he fell asleep and sat in the dark watching him.
Chapter 5
Patrick sat at the front desk head down, studying for his big exam the next day. He had his yellow highlighter and book mark and had already read the same paragraph three times but nothing was sinking in. It was frustrating; maybe he needed a change of scenery he thought to himself. The green lamp flickered before him as if agreeing and he switched it off. After walking around to make sure Allister wasn’t around, he decided on the Great Hall. The natural daylight was still bright but wouldn’t be for long. A low thump echoed through the long room as Patrick wearily dropped the book on the large wooden table.
“Why am I so tired?” Patrick said to himself. “I’ve had plenty of sleep.”
The sleep though plenty had been plagued with nightmares. It was the same red eyes, glaring at him over and over again draining his very being, or that was it how it felt in the dream. Patrick had thought about going back into the secret room, but had decided to wait till his exam was over and Judy was off. He did not want her to be a part of whatever it was that was down there, if anything and he was just so completely exhausted.
“Excuse me, Patrick,” a voice said and Patrick looked up.
“Allister, hullo. How are you today?”
“Yes, just fine Patrick. I can see you are busy, but I need another plaster, this wound on my wrist, just won’t heal. I don’t know what it is. I’m going into the city today and I’ll get my own supplies for it.”
“Yes of course, don’t worry. I will get you one. Is there anything else?”
“Maybe some tea as well.”
“Where would you like me to bring it?”
“Oh up to my room please.”
“Yes will do.” Patrick closed the book and decided it better to take a break. “I’ll bring it all up to you, Allister.”
Allister thanked him and left. Patrick pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen. The water in the kettle was stale so he dumped out the old and added fresh water in, and then turned on the gas stove. As he waited listening to the ticks of the kettle, he stared at the pantry. Who would have guessed that there was so much more to this place? He just stared blankly for a few seconds as if in a trance. It was broken however as the chills ran down his back. He turned quickly away. The kettle whistled loudly at him and he put a tea set together after enjoying a cup of his own.
Patrick knocked on the Blue room door, “Mr. Abernethy.”
The door opened, “Thank you. Please, over there.” Allister pointed to the table by the window and Patrick sat the silver tray down.
“Going out then?” Patrick asked watching Allister tying his dark blue tie.
“Yes, to Glasgow. I have a meeting with my new client.”
“Your client? What do you do again?” Patrick asked hoping that it wasn’t the second time.
“I am a solicitor,” Allister said, pouring the tea into a delicate china cup.
“Yes, right.” Patrick accepted a tip from Allister and excused him
self. “Have a good evening, you won’t be needing dinner?”
“No, not tonight.”
Patrick checked on Judy who was thoroughly cleaning the Gold room. He knocked on the door.
“There you are! I’m almost finished. How was your class this morning?” Judy asked as she dusted.
Patrick sneezed, “Fine, the Professor covered the last material before our exam tomorrow.”
“Oh, you’ll do fine Patrick,” Judy assured him.
“Perhaps,” Patrick said uncertainly and purposely changed the subject. “So the broken lamp from the guests the other night was billed to their account. Do you know what happened?”
“Well, I heard a fuss upstairs, that is about all I can tell you and we had complaints from the other guests about noise,” Judy said.
“These things happen time to time, but we do what we can. Noise seems to travel easily in these halls, because the place is so old,” Patrick said as he inspected the surrounding room.
“So I’ve noticed,” Judy said. “I’ve heard some odd things around the place but.….well.”
“What’s that?”
“Well never mind, it’s nothing Patrick.”
“You can tell me, I’ve heard it before.”
“And Alesta’s cat? How does it get around?” Judy asked.
“Ahh, Mitsy! You’ve had a run in?”
“Yes, I was surprised the other night. Mitsy was on my bed, but I had locked the room up.”
“Mitsy is a mystery. Just expect the unexpected and I couldn’t tell you how that cat gets around, just as long as the guests were not disturbed.”
“No, no, nothing of the sorts,” Judy smiled.
“Good then, you mentioned other things, anything in particular?” Patrick asked.
“No, no, it’s nothing, my imagination.” Judy had a change of heart about opening up so soon; she’d only been working there a few days after all.
“Like I said before, this place is old, Judy.” Patrick left it alone as well, he had is own questions that needed answered.