Alexander still remembered the conversation in the bathroom. Caleb had specifically asked Meryl to stay in the room he had decorated a few months ago without reason. It was a room that Caleb had denied Ashe his latest and most ardent lover and the reason that she had furiously left. Once she saw that he did not give in to her whims. Ashe had never even received a hug from him. Their relationship had only been purely sexual.
“If he wasn’t a man, he wouldn’t let himself lust,” Alexander whispered, he thought it was funny, while he cleared the table. “Hopefully, this will not cause any major problems.”
Meryl woke up not knowing what time it was. The darkened sky made it impossible to know when it was dawn and when it was dusk. She still wondered what had happened, how, and especially why.
She stared at the ceiling of the bed not wanting to get up. She felt weak and remembered the delicious smell given off by the soup from the night before. Her stomach growled several times complaining loudly that she was hungry.
“Should I get up?” She asked herself in the solitude of the room. “What should I do, God? If Mom were here. Oh, Mom, George ...” She sobbed covering her face with the pillow.
It seemed incredible that she had not had time to mourn for the two most important people in her life. It was hard to believe that never again would she see either of them. It was a horrible feeling and her mind was trying to pretend that nothing was real. That she was in her own bed, and had just woken up from a nightmare, but the knocking on the door returned her to the cruel reality, the mansion of her master.
“I thought that since you were not well. Maybe you’d like to eat breakfast here?”
Meryl couldn’t seem to listen, her eyes stared at the tasty contents of the tray: toast, juice. Why did a vampire have those things? Didn’t they feed only on blood?
“Thank you,” she muttered, avoiding eye contact.
“You shouldn’t be afraid, you’re safe here.
Meryl lifted her head suddenly amazed at his words. For a second she wanted to cry, but her instincts would not allow it.
“Hey ...” Meryl called before he left the room, “You’re one of them, right?”
“One of whom?”
“Vampire.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“Sorry,” Alexander apologized, “but I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Why is the sky dark?” Meryl asked in a tone of supplication. “Why is the world like it is now? Since I woke up yesterday I’ve only seen horrible things. I don’t understand anything.” Meryl muttered to herself as she lifted both hands to her face to silence a gasp of despair, “What am I going to do?”
Alexander remained still. He was unable to understand Meryl, but something was wrong. He went in search of Caleb leaving the door open behind him. Maybe his boss could get more answers to all the confusion and above all, get Meryl out of the state of despair she had sunk into. She kept staring into space as if about to lose her mental faculties.
“Caleb, you better go and see your guest.”
“What happened?”
“I’m not sure, but she’s babbling. She’s asking strange questions.”
Caleb waited a few seconds before going to see Meryl. He arrived at her room and saw her sitting with slumped shoulders and looking at the quilt that covered her legs. She seemed unaware of his presence.
“Leave us alone, Alexander.”
Caleb approached with caution. He wanted to avoid scaring her. He could see her lips moving gently, whispering something only a vampire would be able to perceive. He sat on the edge of the bed and concentrated on using his senses.
“I just wanted to make money, for mom and George. It was a stupid experiment, only one week of sleeping and our problems would have ended forever, but when I woke up it was dark and everything was broken and destroyed. Then I was sold. Vampires, vampires. Since when are they real? They’ll kill me, hurt me and I won’t be able to do anything. Nothing.
Caleb was shocked he had understood perfectly what she said, but how could it be possible? The words tied up the loose ends that had tormented him during the last hours. It would be shocking for someone to suddenly wake up in such a hellish world. He reached out and grabbed onto her shoulders trying to return her to reality in the least shocking way possible. Feeling the sudden pressure, she looked at him with eyes open wide. Caleb could see the panic in her eyes.
Large transparent tears began sliding down her cheeks. He felt powerless and for the first time in centuries he wanted to stop the pain of another living being. With both thumbs, he dried her rosy cheeks. He felt sorry for the human who apparently came from the past. Caleb knew there was some reason why his instincts had been alerted and he’d been forced to buy her. Now here they were.
“You’ll have to calm yourself and tell me everything.”
“Don’t kill me!” Meryl suddenly shouted, as if waking from a nightmare.
“It’s not what I have in mind and not what I intend to do. Tell me, how did you get here?” He insisted. “Tell me.”
Meryl could feel his hands pressed against her face trying to reassure her. His skin felt strange, it was almost velvety. It was the smoothest skin she’d ever felt, but the important thing was his ruby eyes. His eyes transmitted a feeling of peace. It caused her fear to slowly vanish.
On impulse, without stopping her tears, she told him what had happened. For her, it had only been a few hours. She had risen as usual to go to work and some strange men had taken her to the military base. After accepting the deal to make money she had found herself in that dismal place that she no longer recognized as her city.
“It’s a complicated situation,” Caleb whispered still looking at her, “but you’re lucky to be here. Fear not, you’ll get used to your new life. Although, I can’t promise that it will be easy. Eat something and try to rest, it seems that you need it.”
After speaking he left quickly. Meryl stared at the open door. She was still confused but told herself that little by little her situation would improve. She had only one option and that was getting used to the dark world in which she was, but her doubts had not dissipated. She still thought everything was a lie and that he planned to kill and dismember her.
“I have to escape.” Meryl decided in the darkness of the room.
She looked out of the window. The building was tall, but maybe she could get down by reaching the small roof that separated both floors and from there use a tree to reach the ground.
“I can do it,” she whispered motivating herself.
She tied together two sheets that she found in the closet, placed a chair to jam the door and tried to make as little noise when she opened the window.
The night was cool. The air brought with it the sweet smells of the autumn forest.
It was harder than it looked, but she managed to reach the dry tree, which leaned dangerously breaking several branches. Meryl descended carefully and when she set foot on the gravel surrounding the house she felt liberated. Now she would run with the strength of a beast and seek help, but where? In the city surely they would catch her and sell her to another of those sinister beings.
The forest floor was covered by a soft haze that gave it a gloomy air. She started running in a random direction, stepping on fallen leaves and dirtying her feet. Every step she took made her feel freer and far away from this vampire, but she was very wrong, because Caleb was already following her. He was in part amused because he found it funny that she would escape and offended by how she had taken everything. He had made it clear that he would not kill her and yet after the million he’d paid she was desperately trying to flee to certain death.
After several minutes of running tirelessly, Meryl stopped in a small clearing where the tall trees let in the light of a weak sun that the clouds would allow her to distinguish. Meryl put her hands on he
r knees, making a hellish effort to keep her breathing controlled, drops of sweat rolled down her face until she fell on the dry leaves without a sound.
“At this distance, I should be safe,” Meryl said trying to breathe.
“Your behavior is beginning to offend me,” Caleb’s voice said, dangerously agitating Meryl’s beating heart. “You think you can disappear just like that. Perhaps if I were a human that would be possible, but I’m not.”
Meryl looked up and saw him sitting quietly on the branch of a tall tree with a straight face and eyes fixed on her. That gaze caused chills throughout her body. Suddenly he jumped and Meryl shouted because the height was several meters.
“I thought after we talked I was clear that I will not kill you.
“Why won’t you let me go?” Her voice trembled.
“If I let you go, they’ll kill you and I won’t waste that million I paid for you.”
Meryl bit her lip just as she always did when she was nervous, and at that moment when he came closer, she felt her heart stop and was on the verge of fainting from fear, thinking that he would beat her as punishment for her actions. When his footsteps stopped near enough, he closed his eyes tightly, knowing that everything he tried would be useless, he was faster, stronger and smarter than her.
“Let’s go,” Caleb said, resting his hand on Meryl’s head.
She looked at him childishly just like when her mother scolded her as a child. For a second, she felt like she was at home, with her family. She felt that sweet feeling of safety that she’d only felt when among people she knew.
Caleb walked slowly behind her. Watching her clumsy steps and laughing inside because he knew that far from his protection her life would be a living hell. A strange protective feeling flooded him completely leaving a confused and slightly sour taste in his mouth. He was beginning to understand that this clumsy human could become his weakness. That was not right because he’d only bring pain to her fragmented soul.
They reached the house where Alexander looked at them with a calm expression and half-smile. Nobody said a word as they went inside the warm home until they reached the main room. Meryl was about to collapse when the savory smell of roast chicken teased her nose and it was a torture. She was so hungry that she began to have mild stomach cramps.
“I’m going to shower,” Caleb, said leaving them alone.
“Come eat,” Alexander said placing a chair in front of the dish he had prepared. “Caleb asked me to make you something to eat when you came back. He was very worried. Although, I don’t think a breakfast like this is very appetizing. It’s true that you haven’t eaten anything for a long time.”
Meryl looked at him almost with adoration. She had realized how good a heart he had and now knew that Caleb was not like she thought. He had worried that she had something to eat when she returned and after two days without eating she felt like she was about to die.
Meryl sat down and began to eat in such a manner that Alexander was surprised. It looked like she had not eaten in weeks.
“Now that you are calm.” Alexander began arranging some figurines on top of a buffet. “I wanted to say something. Although you finally see that we do not want to hurt you. There will be some people who will want to.”
“I’ve seen what’s outside. I have lived it and I’m a little more aware that I could’ve been dead.”
“If you’re near we will take care of you.” He smiled.
Meryl did not answer but looked at her plate and blushed. On the one hand, she was happy to be there but still feared for her situation.
The water was freezing and he hoped the cold would clear his head. From the moment, Meryl climbed out of the window Caleb knew her intentions and had let her walk into the forest under his watchful gaze. Caleb knew that running would help her relieve stress. He was the sort of person that thought that physical activity could help one during difficult moments. In fact, it was something he did frequently as his position carried certain risks.
He left the shower and stood in front of a huge mirror. His reflection stared back at him and for a moment he thought it was someone else. That he was another person who looked like a twenty-year-old human with a face that would be strange to Meryl.
“What the hell am I thinking?” he asked himself growling.
He could not deny the delicious aroma emanating from Meryl. He had the desire to taste her, but if he did he would condemn himself. Maybe someday he would have the opportunity to do so without too much danger.
Melody no.4
New World
Meryl could finally sleep. She was so exhausted that nothing could have awakened her. Alexander took care of his duties before going to rest and Caleb left the house to go into the city. His driver was waiting in the black car ready to serve as usual.
“The same places as always?”
“Yes.”
The engine started with a soft purr as they left towards downtown. To the area called Alpha Zone, the kingdom of Amadeus, the same person who turned him into a vampire during a stormy night in 1862. In that time, he had been an orphan and like most of the population, he’d been poor. A boy who ended up at the port half dead from terrible wounds. Amadeus had been father and mentor. He’d taught him everything, to fight, to seduce his victims and, above all, to kill. He was not proud of his past, but the grudge against the race to which he’d once belonged took over a hundred years to dissipate, but not completely.
It had been a violent and painful past that hurt his soul just thinking about it.
Caleb couldn’t lie. There were times he saw some humans and hated them wanting to kill, strangle and bleed them. He had to make a big effort to remove those thoughts from his mind. The past was gone, and the present brought new problems that needed his full attention to be solved.
He returned home at dawn with his thirst quenched and news. A new illegal fight club had opened where hungry humans fought to the death for a piece of bread. His duty was to close those places, but first, he had something to do. Perhaps it was a bit cruel but necessary, so without wasting time, he brought both Meryl and Alexander to the main hall.
“Go to this address and investigate. Take her with you.” Caleb motioned towards Meryl with a hand.
“Are you sure?” Alexander asked knowing what they would find there.
“Yes, do as I say.”
Both Meryl and Alexander got into the car. The day was dark as always, but let weak sunlight penetrate and that was all that kept the plants alive.
“Where are we going?” Meryl wanted to know looking out the window.
“You will accompany me to do an inspection.” Meryl looked at him questioningly. “Caleb has discovered an illegal club, and they will recognize him if he investigates. I will go and see what is really happening there.”
“What do you think is happening there? And why do I have to go?”
“You seem to be doing much better,” Alexander said causing Meryl to flush. “I’m glad. From what Caleb has discovered, it is an illegal fight club. They force humans to fight to the death for food.
Alexander saw Meryl pale at those words. He didn’t like telling her anything because she looked too innocent, but Caleb was right. If she knew what was outside their house she wouldn’t think about escaping. While looking at her he realized the great power Caleb had to change people’s perceptions. He wasn’t very talkative, but his words were enough for you to see the world differently. In addition, there was the proof in front of him wearing a simple white chiffon dress adorned with a red bow.
“I know you feel horrible, but things like that happen every day. Caleb tries to end organized crime but new businesses always appear.
“I guess it’s something that will never cease to exist.”
They entered the city while Meryl paid special attention and looked outside the window. She did not recognize anything. Everything
had changed. Poor women lived on the streets forced to sell themselves, fights broke out, and thin dirty children ran loose. Everything was complete chaos. She didn’t see one iota of kindness or joy anywhere.
“It’s going to take time for me to get used to this. A new type of currency and vampires. It all seems like a dream.”
“That’s logical it’s only been a few days. You haven’t had enough time to get used to anything. We’re almost there. Stop the car Jeoff if they see us they’ll know who we are. Wait a moment Meryl.” Alexander grabbed her before she opened the door. “Put this on. If they don’t see that you’re marked. They will know who you are. There are already too many rumors circulating about you.”
He slid a bracelet around her wrist that covered the area where her mark should have been. Every human received a brand at birth with the symbol of his country and the first letter of each new master that they served. If you were a unique and indispensable servant for the family to which you belonged they added the private family crest. Thus making the human in question an eternal servant without chance of sale or transfers.
They attracted some stares because the way Alexander was dressed betrayed his high status. In this world, everything moved by group hierarchies. There were low-level vampires, which served almost as slaves. Those vampires had lived less of an immortal life. Then there were the elders, like Alexander, who had not only lived over one hundred years, but they were men and women of the highest confidence for senior vampires like Caleb. Caleb was second in command to Amadeus. One of the four vampires who reigned over the entire planet, that was now divided into zones; Alpha, Omega, Sigma, and Gamma.
They crossed a narrow dirt corridor. Although humans were slaves they had their own rules. They earned money and killed each other. They especially wanted to get the attention of a vampire because, maybe, just maybe, they could someday become one of them. This was the goal of every living mortal, but it was regulated in such a way that it made it an almost impossible task.
“Stay behind me. Under no circumstances fall behind,” Alexander warned her, gently pulling her behind him.
Melodies of Blood I Page 4