The Waif's Tale

by C. L. Stegall

  He stood, his arms wide, a look of pride upon his face. "Welcome, my fellow Valensi. Welcome to this very special day, where we welcome not one but two amazing young women into our fold." His smooth baritone voice spread out over the crowd, carrying to every corner of the large room.

  I glanced behind me to see London approaching. She stopped beside me and briefly reached out to tug my hand as it hung by my side. Her wink caused me to relax more as we both knelt before the magistrate and the hierarchy, who stood in rank and file behind him. It was the first time I'd seen all of them together at once: ten of the most powerful people on the planet, all gathered to see London and I bled out for the sake of the birthing.

  "The birthing ceremony is the most sacred of our traditions," he continued. "With this practice, we welcome a new member into the Valensi race. We expand our whole, increasing the sum of its many individual parts a hundredfold. Our blood shall be your blood," he said, peering into our eyes, each in turn, imbuing his words with the weight of centuries of tradition. "Our hearts shall be joined to your hearts. You will fall before the demise of your previous lives and be reborn into the Valensi race. You will rise from the ashes of your human lives as full-fledged members of the most powerful race on the planet."

  Something in his words niggled at some thought in the back of my mind but the thought was swept away with the flow of the magistrate's robes as he came and knelt before me. I forced myself to keep my eyes open. I wanted to see the faces of the hierarchy as they watched. I wanted to remember everything about that moment. When the magistrate sank his teeth into my neck, I fought with all of my will not to allow the scream to escape my throat. I experienced the pull on my muscles and veins, felt the strength seeping from me in gushes. The world began to close around me, my vision growing dim and then darkened around the edges. The light faded and I wondered what London was thinking, knowing that she was next on the menu.

  CHAPTER 22

  1892, The Citadel, Age 15

  I wasn't sure how much time it would take. Later, I learned that I'd been unconscious for just over fourteen hours and I was led to believe that was normal. However, the pain wasn't; that much I can say for certain.

  It was like a nightmare wrapped in velvet. My perception of the whole event is all soft and fuzzy around the edges but the essence of it all will remain with me forever. The pain was excruciating. In my dreams, I saw my body, limp and soaked with sweat. I saw it as if it was someone else's shell and I was but an observer of the terror and anguish being experienced. The small body thrashed and curled into the fetal position, only to jerk wide and stretch in miserable screams of agony. I watched the fingers and toes curl in reaction to the painful biological changes taking place within that small frame. Even watching it, separated from it, was grueling and harrowing in its reality.

  I awoke to sore, aching muscles, as if every inch of me had been torn asunder and put back together in a rush. I could barely move enough to ease myself from my bed. I finally managed to sit on the edge, gasping from the exertion. Sitting on the nightstand was a large glass. It contained a dark crimson liquid that I immediately recognized as blood. Reaching out, I took the glass in both hands so as not to spill any, fighting to keep myself from shaking. Without a second thought, I gulped down the liquid.

  It tasted of copper, iron and salt but it felt good sliding thickly down my scratchy, swollen throat. I slurped it all, upending the container to drain every last drop and placed the glass back on the nightstand.

  I had been briefed on what I had to do when I came to, so I stood and hobbled to my bathroom. I needed to get ready for the next part of the ceremony – the tough part.

  As I entered the Audience Chamber at the appointed time, I was met by a great deal fewer observers than the day before, though the hierarchy was there in full. The magistrate sat in his purple velvet chair on the dais and the rest of the High Guard sat in a semicircle in front of him. The crowd was several paces back from the dais, making room for the offering.

  I saw the fear in the young man's eyes. His mouth was filled with a ball gag but his moans of terror at the sight of me fell across the silent crowd like a cold blanket. He was somewhere in his twenties, somewhat attractive, although bound as he was, he reminded more of a sheep than a human being. I grasped at that image, using it to get past my initial reluctance. This is my life now. This is the key to my very long and dangerous life. His blood, the blood of others like him, will be my sustenance or at least an integral part of it.

  I fell upon him without any further hesitation, pulling the life from him through the rip in his throat made by my forming canines. It was messy, as it would take a week for my fangs to grow in properly. I would have to feed more regularly at first, at least until my body's changes were complete. I would take the man's life but I would learn to feed without killing as soon as possible. It would be for the best, both for my own survival and for the fact that it was simply unnecessary to kill in order to take what our bodies needed. A pint or two a month would do, once I was fully mature.

  After a brief choke on the gushing crimson fluid, I swallowed all I could and stood to let the victim's body crumple to the floor. I had not even realized I'd been wielding his entire weight as I drank. My strength had already increased five-fold. Wiping the blood from my lips and face, I wondered at the new me. I was energized and excited about what I might be capable of now that I was no longer that frail little girl, the pathetic waif of a human I once was. I stared down at the victim's limp corpse, smearing his blood from my face with the back of my arm. One thing was for certain: Death and I were to be very close friends.

  CHAPTER 23

  PRESENT

  I shooed Liam out of the room and took a quick, hot shower. He was a fun distraction but I could only take him for a limited time. I checked my new phone, a disposable type picked up from the local Wal-Mart. I had a text from Rae saying she'd meet me at midnight for a late dinner. I loved that she was a night owl. It made things so much easier.

  Getting dressed, I kept it simple with jeans and sneakers then layered two thin contrasting t-shirts to finish the ensemble. I had several changes of clothing now. Still, I was cautious about having too much to carry along with me should I need to make a quick escape. With the Protector on my trail, I realized I would not have much more time here. I'd not informed Rae of this, since I really wanted to keep the relationship light.

  Rae had taken the facts of my situation quite well, aside from the momentary lapse of consciousness. She was a strong girl with a tough history to overcome. I suppose I longed, subconsciously, to be the one to help her get past it all and onto the path to a happy adulthood. I couldn't help but laugh at my shift in ethics, after being around her for such a short time. It was not that long ago that she would have been little more than a dose of sustenance for me. Now, I'd gone so far as to attach a small piece of my consciousness to hers, if only for comfort's sake. I still wasn't certain why I had initiated such a connection with the girl. Perhaps I was growing soft in my exile.

  I sat on the bed and let my thoughts roam about the surrounding rooms. It was a cathartic exercise that I'd learned from the magistrate. It allowed me to keep my talents sharp, while forgetting about my own worries for a while. Plus, it could be fun in such a world of human foibles. It was rarely so inside of the Citadel. Those people were far too serious.

  The middle-aged couple two rooms down were arguing over the cost of their vacation to Disney World against the upcoming mortgage payment. Boring. I moved on.

  A businessman in another room was masturbating to a pay-per-view adult film. His thoughts were bouncing between the scenes on the television and imagined scenes with his stepdaughter. I moved on.

  A single mother sat in tears. She glanced over at the toddler asleep on the bed, afraid that they would find her all too soon. The child's father had custody but she had taken the little boy from his school in Virginia two days ago. I could feel the stress and moral conflict within her. For whatever re
ason, I gave her just the slightest nudge in the right direction. She stood, the tears still flowing and began to pack for the trip back to Richmond.

  Most of the other rooms were people sleeping, or empty. I pulled myself together, went to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on my face. After putting on my makeup, I left in search of Rae. Maybe we could hit a club or two and I could drink my weight in Stoli.

  I arrived at the Italian restaurant and noted Rae wasn't there yet. I kept myself in check until a few minutes past midnight and then let my consciousness expand, drawn out by the small link I had built with Rae. I did not want to pry but my strange kinship with the girl led to a sense of guardianship for her.

  The fear and pain hit me with unexpected force. I followed the pull towards Rae, racing to her location. It couldn't be far, since it had only taken a few seconds to get the feedback from the link. I arrived at the scene, behind a liquor store.

  Rae was pinned to the ground by a boy not much older than she was. He was grinding against her while a second young man stood watching, rubbing himself in anticipation. Another held his hand over her mouth to prevent her screams. It didn't matter. I heard those screams, that anguish, in my head. Deafening and frantic enough to separate me from my emotions.

  I snapped.

  In a flash of motion, I kicked the second guy, knocking him backward into a nearby tree. I grabbed the guy on top of Rae and flung him off. He landed in a heap against the one trying to scramble up from beside the tree. The one with his hand over her mouth had seen how easily I'd tossed his partners aside and was dumbfounded. He stood to face me and, with both hands, I shoved him backward, sending him flying into the wall of the nearby building. I heard his head crack against the concrete and he crumpled to the ground.

  I gently removed the gag that had been stuffed into Rae's mouth and held her to me as she cried and curled up in a fetal ball. She had cuts and bruises on her face, evidence that their attack had been brutal from the start. Her fingers curled into my t-shirts, clinging to me in fear and horror at the atrocity inflicted upon her. The emotion that had been dampened by action now resurfaced. My eyes found the two surviving rapists.

  I saw the first punk dashing away down the alley. The one who had been doing the damage, however, stood buckling his pants. He just stared at me as if I were nothing more than an insect. Even after what I had just done, he displayed no outward signs of fear or concern whatsoever. I scanned his thoughts in a microsecond, my goal specific and finite. I had his name, James Lieber and I had his friend's name. I knew where the sons-of-bitches lived.

  Without even thinking, James pulled a small gun from somewhere, aimed at me and fired twice before trotting off after his accomplice.

  The first bullet missed me but the second screamed through the edge of my shoulder. It hurt like hell, yet served only to piss me off more. I stood to go after the little bastards. Then, I felt Rae tug on me and heard her broken voice.

  "Don't go," she said, lying back to the ground. "Stay with me." My stomach rolled and I hit the ground beside her, immediately ripping some cloth from her shirt, balling it up and pressing it against the wound in the side of her head. I could see the damage the bullet had caused and knew she only had moments left.

  "Rae," I said, leaning close to whisper in her ear. "I can help you. If you want. I can bring you to a stronger place. I can give you so much more life. I can make you like me. If you want."

  "Paris," she said, her dimming eyes focusing on my face. "I love your name. I've loved knowing you. You helped me see things clearer. Thank you for that. So much."

  "Rae, please let me help you. You can live, just say yes."

  "Oh, sweetie. I'll miss you. but, they've taken the last of me. I'm done. Who wants to live forever, anyway?"

  "Rae!" I watched the light leave her eyes and held her close to me until the police arrived. It had been so long since I'd cried. I'd almost forgotten what real pain felt like. I had only known her for days and it was not enough.

  CHAPTER 24

  1902, The Citadel, Age 25

  D amn, this room needs work." I turned to London and Dawn. "A woman's touch, you know?"

  "What's wrong with it?" Dusk asked from behind the bar we had installed months before. The bar was a nice addition to a rather dull room. In the first few years after our Birthing, London and I had brought in some rugs and such to liven up the place but, really, the bar was the only decent part of the room.

  "It's just so... dead," London observed. "It needs some color. A nicer sofa. A few comfy chairs and decorations."

  "Exactly," I said. "After all, this is our abode, our base of operations. The place we spend the most time."

  "Abode?" Vi said, as she entered the room. Vienna was around sixty years older than London and me, although her early turning had left her appearance to be a little younger than ours. She had less people skills than Dawn but more than Dusk. Having been around so long, she was also quite set in her ways. I was finding that trait to be somewhat annoying.

  "Yes," I said. "Abode. Dwelling place. Place of residence."

  "I know what it means, Paris," she said, leaning her head to one side, her eyebrow lifted against the downturn of her rose-colored lips. She was a girl of strong features but still pretty in a rough sort of way. She always kept her shoulder-length light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and I had never once seen her in anything but pants and men's shirts. London had observed early on that Vi was a "you get what you see" kind of girl. I could not have agreed more.

  "We're not going to turn this place into a gaudy representation of who we are not. Do you understand that?" Dawn's words said one thing; however, I could tell she was actually up for a change to this dark and dreary space. "You two come up with some ideas. We will all vote on them to determine what, if any, changes will be made." She glanced at Dusk for a brief moment. He nodded almost imperceptibly and Dawn then continued.

  "Paris, your area is furniture. Make sure it is comfortable and not gauche. London, you figure out color schemes and decorations." She turned to Vi. "You and I will procure some rugs based upon the final color scheme. Although our 'abode' should remain somewhat formal, I agree it should be livable."

  I smiled at London, who winked in return. It appeared the turn of the century had eased some of Dawn's natural inclination for stasis. The woman seemed to despise change, yet she handled it better than most anyone I had ever met. Of course, I was still young.

  "I want a chess set," Dusk said, taking us by surprise. He pointed to the middle of the room. "There. On whatever table is decided upon. Take that input into consideration when choosing an appropriate table."

  "A chess set?" I asked. "I've never seen you play chess."

  "He plays against the magistrate on occasion. Of course, he's never won." Dawn brushed by London, headed for the door. "I'll return after my session with Asaro." With that, she was gone.

  "That girl has no social grace," London remarked.

  "Watch your mouth," Vi instructed. It was an offhanded order but I understood the purpose. We, London and I, were still considered underlings. Even after eleven years, we were the new kids. We had not earned the right to speak ill of our elders. Both London and I still appeared to be around fifteen years old and the rest of the Guard treated us as such.

  "Sorry," London said. "It was only an observation." Her expression blanked at Vi's harrumph. London didn't even look at me. She whirled about on her heels and made for the door. "I'll do some research on brightening this place up. If you need me I will be in the library."

  I stepped over to the bar, lost in thought. I'm not sure how long I stood there in silence before I heard Dusk clear his throat.

  "Drink?" he said, as my attention finally turned to him.

  "Sure. Why not?"

  "What do you like?"

  "Vodka," I replied. "I'm not sure why but I enjoy the taste of it."

  "Vodka it is, then." Dusk poured from a red and white-labeled bottle, retrieved some chipped
ice from the icebox and swirled it around before handing it to me.

  "Thanks," I said and then downed the vodka in one slow swallow. Even as I placed the glass down upon the bar, Dusk was reaching for it, preparing a refill.

  "I haven't told you lately, but I think you are doing well." He poured the vodka without looking at the glass, his eyes firmly fixed to mine.

  "Thank you, Dusk." I had been spending most of my time training and learning the politics of the position. Being in the High Guard could sometimes be more about image than actual activity. I was soaking it all up and memorizing every nuance I encountered.

  One of the side effects of becoming Valensi was the increased brainpower. I could remember details like never before. I noticed things like subtext and body language as clear as if someone had shouted their meaning at me. I continued to find it amazing, what I was becoming.

  "We've come to your first full-time assignment, Paris," Dusk said, handing me my refreshed drink. "You ready?"

  "Absolutely," I said. After all, what else could I say?

  "You will report to Livia on Monday. She will provide all further instruction." He paused, vodka bottle still in hand. "A piece of advice, however. Do not argue with her. She won't take kindly to being questioned." I nodded.