by Sam Vickery
I sat perfectly still, the rain washing over me as I went over and over my thoughts. Yes, there was now no doubt in my mind that Sebastian was not a danger to me. But I had treated him so badly, ignored him, run away from him without bothering to take the time to correct him. He was probably equally annoyed with me too. And now he had clearly given up waiting for me to come to my senses, judging by the fact that he was no longer following me.
Besides, he had such an affect on my ability to reason, I would never be able to focus on tracking down the other Children of Venus if he were around distracting me. I didn't allow myself to consider the glaringly obvious; That if I had Sebastian to answer my questions, I would no longer have a need to find the others. There was still so much I didn't know about what I really was, so much that I wanted to ask. It would probably be better if I left things as they were with him, I resolved, ignoring the pain in my stomach as I made my decision. I didn't think I could face seeing him again, especially if I knew I would have to walk away once more. He probably wouldn't forgive me anyway.
I lay back, feeling suddenly overcome with exhaustion after expelling so much energy. The ground was hard and wet but it didn’t bother me. The huge branches of the conifer shielded me from the worst of the rain, and I closed my eyes, trying to clear his face from my mind once again.
The colours swirled as I found myself walking bare foot through the jungle. A jaguar nearby didn’t flinch at my presence, giving me the impression that I could not be seen, and I stepped lightly over the debris, walking towards my goal with purpose now. My father lay on the ground, abandoned and drained, his usually bronzed face now pale and lifeless. His mouth hung open and a faint trail of dried blood remained on his muscular neck – the only wound visible on his fragile human body. My eyes stung at seeing this, my chest swelling with a burning pain. Who had done this? I wanted revenge so much I could almost taste their blood. Who was this enemy who had come for us, destroying my little family? The images swirled once again as I felt myself being pulled out of the dream, before being dropped directly into another. The picture of my mother's distraught face filled my vision, consumed with a pain I had never before witnessed that radiated from beneath her skin, her eyes, like fire, burned in undiluted rage. I watched as she turned and set off chasing through the trees, intent and determined in her goal. Her head was down and her teeth barred. Her agony was too intense, it flowed from her like blood from an open wound. I turned my face away, unable to watch her go.
I woke shaking, the rain still pouring down in an unrelenting sheet of icy water, the light changing into dusk. The dream had frightened me, it had seemed so real, more like a vision than a nightmare. That seed of doubt had been watered and was beginning to sprout now. I couldn't even think about it, I couldn't let myself begin to hope, or consider the possibility that there was a chance my mother was alive, that she had managed to escape from our attackers. I had seen the ashes, I had spent my every moment since that awful day grieving. It wasn't healthy for me to be letting these thoughts in. Sebastian had a lot to answer for, bringing back all this hurt when I wanted so desperately to let it go.
I walked in a daze back to the cottage, feeling more lonely and lost than ever before. I made polite small talk with Ivy who was still grumpy after last night's disagreement, munching half heartedly through another plate of her questionable cooking, before excusing myself to go upstairs. I needed to be alone, to try to regain some of the focus I had achieved earlier. Standing at the open window with the cold breeze tingling my bare skin, I stared into the growing darkness feeling a strange sense of disconnection, and wondering if this pain in my heart would ever subside.
Chapter Four
The rain was coming down in an uninterrupted sheet outside my window. It seemed to be becoming a constant feature of my new life. I lay in the dark tossing and turning as I tried to clear my thoughts enough to drift off to sleep. The room felt too hot, too humid for this December evening and I threw back the covers sighing. Experiencing no sense of relief, I realised that the heat was probably coming from me rather than the room. Standing up with a groan, I paced over to the window looking out into the night. It was no good. I felt too trapped in here, like a caged animal. I had to get out of this house. Pulling on my jeans and grabbing a hoodie from the floor at the foot of the bed, I threw open the window once again, breathing in the fresh air. It felt cool, clean and inviting. I turned back to the mess of clothes on the carpet and rummaged through them, unearthing my boots. Yanking them on in one fluid movement, feeling full of certainty and determination, I turned and sized up the window, already moving towards it. I took a running jump out of the open frame, flying through the air in exhilarated freedom, before landing catlike and silent on the lawn below.
The street was deserted and I gave one final glance back at the dark cottage, listening for sounds of movement. Ivy was snoring gently, undisturbed by my break for freedom, and I smiled to myself as I set off. I walked in a trance, not quite wanting to admit to myself where it was that I was heading. I followed my feet as they took me farther and farther out of town, the rain coming down hard on me, washing away the tension I had been feeling for so long. I was still warm, my skin repelling the water, much like the feathers of a duck, but my clothes were sodden, dripping with the icy cold liquid.
Spotting the edge of the forest, I realised I had already walked a long way. I sped up as I broke through the trees into the thick woodlands, listening to the sounds of the night. I heard an owl stretch her wings before swooping through the inky sky, diving down low and sinking her claws in to her prey. A mouse I thought, judging by the accompanied squeak. I heard badgers, maybe half a mile away, the rumble of cars passing on the duel carriageway.
And I heard him. His heartbeat. I could pick it out from a million hearts, I had only ever heard one similar – my own. I didn't know if I was ready to face him yet. Feeling suddenly unsure of myself, along with a mild wave of embarrassment at the memory of running from him at the lake, I continued to walk, not breaking my speed, ducking branches, jumping fallen trees. I felt him following and wondered if his eyes were as piercing as I remembered. I wanted to turn, to face him, to feel his skin on my own, but I was too afraid. Doing that would open up the possibility that he was right about Marie being alive, and I couldn't let it be true. It hurt too much. But being away from him, even though I barely knew him at all, had broken me even more than I thought possible. I thought I knew loneliness and pain after losing my parents. Turns out, I knew nothing. Looking up now, I saw I had nearly reached the lake again, the grand old yew standing eerily in the dark, almost as if it were waiting for me to arrive.
The sight of it stopped me in my tracks and I lost the will to fight against my feelings any longer. It felt as if we were playing games and I was already sick of it. I needed to be honest with him and trust that he was doing the same for me. My voice didn't waver as I finally spoke. “I know you're there.”
“I know you do,” he replied in a voice that had filled my mind since I had first heard it. It was as beautiful as I remembered. I turned, not surprised to find him right behind me, looking at me with those emerald eyes, a half smile on his too perfect face. “I'm sorry Oriah, I never intended to cause you more pain. I just...”
“Stop, please! I don't want to talk about it... I can't,” I breathed, wrapping my arms tightly around my body. Annoyed at myself for my feisty reaction, I tried to regain control of my wayward emotions. His eyes met mine for just a second and then suddenly, before I could even register that he was moving, he reached forward in one quick motion, grabbing me and pulling me close into his chest, his arms wrapping around me in a tight hold. I felt myself calm instantly at his touch, and melted into him involuntarily, breathing in the smell of his hair, drinking in the warmth of his skin, holding on to each tiny detail as I made a silent wish that this would never end.
We stood like statues, the rain slowly subsiding, the lake sparkling enchantingly under the bright moonlight. I had a m
illion questions I wanted to ask, so much I wanted to know about him, but I was determined to keep the serious mood that had been consuming our relationship at bay for the time being. There would be plenty of time for talking about the tough stuff later, I decided.
“So, tell me something fun,” I said looking up at his angular jaw line, smiling at him properly for the first time.
His eyes twinkled mischievously as he picked up on my playful mood. “Hmm, something fun...” he pondered, rubbing his palm across his chin. “Well, I'm faster than you!” he joked, suddenly breaking away from our embrace and taking off through the trees.
“No way!” I shouted after him. “Let's count that as a head start shall we!” I laughed as I sprinted after him. It felt so good to run like this, it had been too long. My legs felt light, free as they shook off the heaviness of the past few weeks.
I darted around the edge of the lake, and spotting him way off in the distance, I ran in a loop towards the steep hillside, bounding up it with gleeful speed to race over the hilltop as fast as I could physically run. I dived from the opposite end of the hill, somersaulting in the air and landing gracefully, right in front of him with a huge smile on my face. Sebastian was running so fast that he didn’t stop quite in time, his reactions just a tenth of a second out. Bundling into me, we went crashing through the air, twirling and tumbling as we fell together, landing in a heap in the soft mossy undergrowth. I looked up from beneath him and could see the navy clear sky, a thousand twinkling stars and a luminous full moon lighting up our little patch of heaven.
I felt his body tense as he breathed in, smelling my skin, my hair. His own thick dark curls were full of leaves and twigs, and gently I reached up, lightly brushing them to the ground with my fingertips. The silence between us was thick with expectation and I instinctively looked to his face, desperate to know his thoughts. I looked into his piercing green eyes and felt as if I had know his soul for all eternity, though it felt too silly to say aloud.
“Oriah, you have no idea how long I have waited to find you,” he spoke, his voice shaking. I pulled him towards me, knotting my fingers through his hair as if I could stop him from ever leaving. He moved back smoothly, pulling me up to sit beside him, looking fiercely into my eyes. “I love you Oriah,” he said simply.
I felt the bubble in my belly growing out of control now, ready to burst inside me. He loves me. I had known since I first laid eyes on him that day on the bus, that I felt the same. The golden leaves carpeting the forest floor began to swirl and rise up around us as I leaned in towards him. “I love you too Sebastian,” I whispered, not breaking eye contact.
His face broke into a smile so dazzling it took my breath away. His fingers slid through my hair, coming to rest on the back of my neck, and I heard our heartbeats simultaneously jolt, as together they skipped a beat. He leaned closer, our faces just millimetres apart now, and I could feel his breath hot against my skin. He gently pulled my face towards his, his eyes never leaving mine, until finally, when I thought I could bear the anticipation no longer, he kissed me.
I had never dreamed of anything so incredible as the feeling I was experiencing in that moment. His lips were so warm, his breath so sweet, I met them with my own, the exact same temperature. His hands snaked smoothly around the base of my spine, his fingers brushing against my hips, before settling there. I pushed against him, kissing him harder, loving the way his mouth fit mine perfectly. I couldn't be sure who broke away first but it must have been him because I don't think I was ever going to stop. Why would I? Kissing Sebastian was the most delicious thing I had ever experienced. He laughed at my confused expression.
“That was...”
“What?” I replied in alarm.
“Incredible...” he smiled, his eyes twinkling again. “I have waited one hundred and fifty three years for you Oriah, that moment, that kiss, was... everything.”
I laughed, relieved and pushed him playfully. “So, who's fastest then?” I teased.
“Ha! Well, you cheated short cut girl! I'm definitely faster than you, but you are stronger than I expected! I'm going to have to watch myself when you reach maturity in a few years time!”
“I'm going to get stronger?”
“Yes, you will, for the first ten years after we reach maturity we are the strongest we will ever be. I won't have a chance against you my love!” he chuckled watching my expression.
“Wow, that's going to be fun...” I smiled to myself. “There's so much I don't know about what I am. How did you learn about it all, I suppose there are more like us?”
“Yes my darling, many more. There are hundreds of thousands of Vampires across the globe, so it stands to reason that every now and then a Child of Venus is born,” he sighed. There was a tinge of regret, or perhaps it was anger in his voice.
“I want to hear your story Sebastian, tell me how you came to be this way.” He lay down in the moss, pulling me down with him so that I was lying with my head on his chest, cuddled into his strong arms. I sighed, as I heard his heart beating a musical rhythm, fluttering like a butterfly, the most wonderful sound.
“Well, you know I'm a lot older than you,” he shrugged. “We lived in a little village outside London, my mother, Caroline, was wonderful, so caring, so loving. I felt it every day as I grew in her womb. My father left her and my sister when she fell pregnant with me. I guess he didn't want me or something,” he looked at the moon, his beautiful face so serious. I couldn't believe that anyone would feel that way about him, how could anyone not want him. His father was a fool, but I decided to keep quiet, let him finish.
“She was bitten during her eighth month of pregnancy, whilst she was walking across the fields. The venom sent her into premature labour and I was born quickly right there on the grass. He had taken too much blood for her to survive and her heart failed during the labour,” he said quietly, his tone matter of fact.
“My sister came running when she heard the screams, but she was too late. She found me, still attached to the placenta, naked on the grass. My mother was dead.” I took his hand and squeezed it gently, his hurt filling my heart, I wished I could take away this pain he still felt so deeply.
Sebastian continued to look at the sky as he resumed speaking. “His mate was passing by the same route, and in a cruel twist of fate, she smelled the blood which led her to us, to my sister. She drained my sister right there on the field, just seconds after my birth. I remember her face, she was so very frightened,” he paused, his brow creased as he recalled the horror. “For some reason, I suppose because I was infected with the venom, she had no interest in me and simply left, leaving me helpless and alone there in the field. As the day transcended into night, I remember thinking over and over again that I must never bite a human, that they wouldn't survive it.
I lay in the field for two days, starving, craving, lonely. On the third day a young woman found me. Her name was Abigail,” he smiled at the memory. “She wrapped me up and took me home with her, feeding me sheep's milk, and caring for me. She knew I was different but she didn't care, she just loved me as a son.”
“When I began to walk, at just three months old, she realised quite how different I was. It wasn't long after that I began hunting. Small creatures to begin with, a squirrel or a rabbit, but I quickly developed skill and began catching bigger things – foxes, badger, deer, wolves. She understood then I think. I wondered if she had been expecting this. But still, her love was unwavering, unconditional and she took it all in her stride. I stayed with Abigail her whole life, nursing her through old age, as I would have my biological mother. When she eventually passed, all too soon at sixty-eight years old, a ripe old age for that time but just a flicker in a life of eternity, I went searching. I wanted to find others like me, and I found many. I uncovered so many Vampire covens, but found them all so bloodthirsty, single minded in their hunt on the humans – I couldn't be around them. Every time I even considered exploring that path, my sister's face came into my mind and I couldn't
bear it... I think you are the same though, am I right?” he looked down at my upturned face, expectant and hopeful.
“Yes, you're right. I have never tasted human blood. Although I have never been so close to them before,” I said, ashamed at my thoughts. “I didn't know they would smell so good... This past few weeks have been... difficult for me,” I said, not meeting his eyes.
“I know. You do get used to it, I promise. It will just take some time,” he reassured gently, understanding consuming his features. We stayed still, engulfed in the sounds of nature for some time, our fingers entwined, our bodies warm against one another.
“Will you tell me your story now my love?” Sebastian's honey voice coaxed. I nodded, feeling compelled. I wanted to tell him everything. I sat up, pulling him up with me, then moved back a few inches to create some space between us to help me concentrate.
“My mother, Marie, was so brave,” I said, my voice ringing with both joy and sadness as I spoke of her. It was hard to speak her name, but Sebastian's calm presence made it easier for me to open up. “At nineteen she married my father already carrying me within her womb. Of all the men she could have chosen, I know she picked the best. My father was made for my mother, I can't imagine two people more clearly meant to be together...” I looked up quickly, smiling as I met his intense gaze. “Well, that is until now.” He pulled me closer, smiling as he ran his fingers down my arm, sending shivers through me.
“Continue the story,” he urged. “I want to hear how you were born.” Flustered and overcome with a desire to kiss him again, I tried to remember where I had got to.
“Okay... um, so my father was in the army. He was huge, and I suppose for a human, very strong. He was a soldier and my mother travelled to every post with him. When she was in her second trimester of pregnancy, they were sent to the Congo. She told me the pregnancy was normal, healthy, and she felt great. She had a lot of time to herself and didn't really like the other wives on the compound, so she spent a lot of time walking along the river, writing and learning to cook with the locals. They warned her to stay within the gates but my mother, even when mortal, always believed that she was invincible.” I took a deep breath. It hurt to talk about her and I felt guilty sharing this story. I had never told anyone before.