“Does Alexander know?” Caleb asked.
“Yes, I told him a few days ago,” Jeoff said.
“When were you thinking of telling me?” Caleb asked walking towards the car, “It doesn’t matter. I think I don’t need to search for the murderer. If he’s here, then it is his work.”
“You know he’s just trying to irritate you by provoking you. He does this because he can’t attack you openly,” Jeoff explained.
“I know.”
On the way home, Caleb thought about the young man. He remembered him perfectly even though it was years since he last saw him. His long black hair, his height, and his delicate feminine features. He also liked to dress in a very striking way. His personality was cruel. Edel enjoyed the suffering of any human or vampire, and always, always caused problems.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Omega Zone is hellish,” Jeoff said turning the car on a street.
“Me neither. Nor is it unusual that he is the favorite of Epsilon. They are both alike,” Caleb said.
“Fortunately, you saved Alexander in time.”
Jeoff’s words reminded him of that day. It was on an official trip in Omega Zone when he saw a man almost bleed out from his master’s beating. He was lying on the floor next to the house Edel lived in, and when Caleb stood beside him watching him, he smiled. One last smile for a stranger. He didn’t know why, but Alexander’s expression conveyed a sweetness that no one had made him feel up to that point in his life and Caleb had had the urge to transform him to save him, and he did. Since that day they hadn’t been separated. Alexander was his best friend. The second person who had come to matter in all his three hundred years. Then Jeoff came, a gift from Amadeus. Over time, Caleb made him the offer, and after the approval of his master and in gratitude for wonderful service Caleb had turned him. Although his master was angry with Caleb for having transformed Alexander without permission. That passed when he saw Alexander was the most loyal man who had set foot on earth. That obviously angered Epsilon and Edel. They claimed that Alexander still belonged to them.
“Stop,” Caleb said suddenly, jarred from his memories.
He opened the door and went out letting the rain wet him. Jeoff tried to imitate him and get out of the car, but Caleb stopped him and asked him to stay inside. Without even waiting a minute, he walked into an alley, because the scent coming from there belonged to Edel. However, he didn’t see him there but knew the person expecting him.
“What are you doing here, Mathew?” Caleb asked
“A quick visit?”
“Does it include killing?” Caleb asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The man laughed and brushed a curl of brown hair off his face. “I have not killed anyone.”
Caleb looked at him suspiciously. Mathew was a guy who at first nobody took seriously by his way of being so carefree, but he was someone who faithfully served Edel, who always hid something.
“My little visit bothers you so much?” Mathew asked.
“I think the answer is clear, go away, you and Edel.”
“And if I don’t?” Mathew said jokingly. “You’re a very bitter man, you don’t change. However, I have been told that you have an interesting person at home. That’s something new about you.”
Caleb continued to stare at him. His instincts warned him that something was wrong. It was clear that they had been waiting for him in that desolate street and had been watching him. They knew about Meryl, but not much, just that she was living with him. The problem was that this meant that he had been watched and strangely had not noticed.
Suddenly, Mathew snapped his fingers and at the same time smiled widely, and the duo became a quartet. Caleb cursed his error, he hadn’t noticed the presence of three more individuals, including Edel.
“Have you lost your powers?” The leader of Omega laughed.
Caleb paused, he realized the gravity of his mistake because it could cost him his life. He felt the grip of two strong arms at his side. The two guys who he did not know stuck close to him preventing any violent movement.
“What do you want?” Caleb asked at last.
“What do you think, Caleb? It is high time that you learn your place,” Edel replied, pulling a knife from his brown leather jacket. “I cannot kill you because I know that your two friends know I’m here, but I can hurt you, and you will have no proof to take to Amadeus, except for your words.
Caleb laughed because Edel had forgotten one thing. If attacked he would have no proof, of course, but he could still tell Amadeus what happened and Amadeus would believe him. In that way, he could ask for revenge and there would be no penalty for killing Edel openly. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a sudden sharp pain. The cold sharpness of the knife was coated with silver and gold and that was extremely painful for a vampire. It wasn’t a mortal wound. Luckily, their entertainment was over quickly. Caleb heard Jeoff’s footsteps as he ran over the wet asphalt. This forced them to flee or be discovered.
“Caleb!” Jeoff called out when he saw Caleb kneeling on the floor. “Are you okay, Caleb?”
“Take me home,” Caleb said in pain. “This won’t kill me.”
Jeoff helped him climb into the car and then he drove stepping on the accelerator as much as he could. In a desperate bid to take less than eight minutes to reach the mansion. Alexander would know what to do because his specialty was treating wounds.
They created a great commotion when they entered through the door getting everyone’s attention. Alexander paled but before asking anything he helped Jeoff and Caleb get to Caleb’s second floor room. Meryl saw only their backs as they walked away and on seeing how they held him she was concerned and followed.
“What’s happened?” Meryl asked.
“They attacked him, calm down. He’s okay.” Jeoff sighed drying the drops of water that clung to his hair. “Alexander will take care of him. If he needs anything I’ll let you know.”
“But…” Meryl tried to talk but was unable to because Jeoff left quickly down towards the bottom floor. Meryl was left alone and confused in the hallway and a few minutes later she did as he suggested and entered her room. For half an hour she walked back and forth from one end of the room to another and pressed her head against the wall childishly trying to listen.
“What happened Caleb?” Alexander asked while helping him take off his clothes. “This looks bad.”
“Edel,” Caleb said.
“How could that bastard dare do this?”
“It was not his intention to kill me,” Caleb said with a grimace of pain when Alexander touched his wound. The blood was flowing freely.
“No? Well seeing as how this isn’t closing I don’t share your opinion. The knife must have been coated with something that slows down regeneration,” Alexander said, “If you keep losing so much blood you’ll die.
“Damn it, where are you going?” Caleb asked quickly with a hoarse voice.
“We don’t have any other options.”
“Don’t disobey me, Alexander.” Caleb tried to get off the bed. “Even if Meryl agrees I won’t.”
“I’m not going to let you die, Caleb. We don’t have enough blood to help you regenerate.” Alexander quickly left the room with a determination that surprised Caleb. Alexander ignored Caleb’s words as he left the room.
Going to the city in search of a human would take too much time. Vampires weren’t easily killed but the loss of blood and decapitation were the most efficient ways to kill a vampire and Alexander wasn’t about to let Caleb die. It wasn’t something that he would ever allow. Although he liked Meryl like a little sister, if she didn’t cooperate he would force her.
Alexander entered Meryl’s room. He was sweating and even more pale than usual. He saw that she had a concerned expression and felt an immense relief. Without saying anything he
stood in front of her and made a deep bow. With his head lowered towards the floor and his gaze desperately locked on the floor. “I beg you to help, Meryl. Please?”
“What happened?” Meryl asked.
“If Caleb doesn’t have fresh blood he will die.”
Meryl swallowed a scream because she never thought that Caleb could die. In her mind, he was like an invincible Greek God. “If there is something that I can do tell me.”
“Caleb won’t agree to drink your blood. Here.” Alexander handed her a small razor blade. “If you make a small cut he won’t be able to control his instincts. Save him. I beg you.”
“Alexander…” Meryl frowned.
There was no accurate way to describe him. The suffering and concern that she saw on his face were overwhelming. His eyes were filled with tears and a sensation that she couldn’t understand filled her.
Meryl took a deep breath and she walked into the bedroom next to hers. She closed the door behind her and saw Caleb laying on the bed. His face was filled with pain and resentment.
“Get out!” Caleb said.
“No,” Meryl responded. “If I can help you then I’m going to do it.”
“I could kill you, you idiot,” Caleb explained.
“You won’t kill me.” Meryl walked towards the bed. She prayed to God that Caleb wouldn’t notice her shaking legs. He wouldn’t look at her. He was concentrating on his own pain and having her close was not helping him. Her aroma was asking him to bite her.
She sat down next to him. Caleb looked at her from the corner of his eyes and was opposed to what she was going to do.
“Leave.”
“No,” She repeated.
“You’re stubborn.” Caleb laughed. “Don’t you understand that I can smell your fear?”
“Of course, I’m scared.”
“Then why are you doing this?” Caleb asked.
“You saved me. It’s my duty to save you now.”
“Even being so scared? And that blade?” Caleb asked.
“Alexander told me to cut myself. That way you can’t refuse,” Meryl said.
Alexander was the most stubborn person that she had ever met. Even more stubborn than Meryl. That is when he understood that they wouldn’t leave him any other option.
“Come closer,” Caleb, said.
Meryl leaned close trying to find a comfortable position. She thought he would be biting her in the neck. That is what she had always read in the novels.
“Although it isn’t the best place…” he said with a voice trembling from thirst. “It will have to do.”
Meryl didn’t understand what Caleb was talking about and she didn’t care. Maybe he was delirious but her mind went blank when she felt his hands over her skin, pushing her hair away and pulling her closer. She had never felt such pain. It had been sudden. The sharpness of his fangs was like daggers in the most sensitive part of her neck and in one of the major arteries. The sensation was nothing like she had imagined.
She tried to back away but Caleb’s strength kept pulling her closer. After a few minutes, the pain lessened and she felt as if she had spent a night drinking. A bit fuzzy and intoxicated.
Meryl stifled a moan when she felt a wave of arousal. She could feel how her blood heated while it circulated in her body.
After several minutes passed Meryl kept slightly struggling. She felt uncomfortable with herself and with how she felt. With what her mind imagined, and what her body wanted. Each second that passed she felt weaker and thought she was going to faint. Finally, Caleb stopped drinking her blood and sighing moved a few centimeters away.
He licked at the wound unable to waste a few of the drops of blood and it also helped the blood to clot. Afterward, he leaned back without removing his arms from around her because he was unable to move. Ashamed Meryl rested her head on Caleb. She was sleepy and her legs wouldn’t respond. She was so weak that she didn’t know if this was real or a dream.
No one spoke for several minutes. Meryl only wanted to sleep, her eyes closed, and she couldn’t fight against it.
When she woke up it was nighttime. A lit candelabrum let Meryl see that she was in her room. She lay on her bed still clothed. She still had a deep sense of exhaustion but she got up to avoid being lazy. She was so hungry that her stomach growled with such force that she thought the noise could wake the dead.
Meryl went to the restroom and refreshed herself. She couldn’t stop herself from looking at her neck. She had two small wounds that were already halfway closed.
“How are you doing?” Alexander asked her when she left her room. It was almost like he was waiting for her. “Do you need something?”
“I’m okay, don’t worry. I’m only hungry,” Meryl said.
“Calm down, it’s normal. Your body is just not used to giving blood.”
“How is Caleb?” Meryl asked.
“Better, though it will take him a few days to completely improve. Come on, I’ll fix you something to eat,” Alexander said.
Caleb was lying in bed looking tired and thoughtful. His hand stretched across his forehead covering his eyes completely. Inside his mouth, he could feel the taste of Meryl, sweet and strange. He was confused because it was normal that depending on the person it had a slightly different taste. However, hers was completely different to all of the hundreds of people he had drunk from.
“Why?” he asked, staring at the ceiling. “What makes her so special and different from everybody else?”
It had nothing to do with the time period she came from because by then he was already feeding on humans and she still remained different. The things he did not understand always gave him a headache. He just had to wait for his next meal to experience the delight of her blood. Of course, it had to be Meryl, because he did not want anyone else’s blood but hers. The flavor was too good to waste.
Why am I making excuses to myself, he asked himself, she is mine, mine!
It seemed almost funny the way in which the girl had stirred up all his life in the few weeks that she had lived with him. His days were no longer completely monotonous.
“Meryl, will you give your blood to Caleb again?” Alexander suddenly asked her. “It wouldn’t be good to change blood in the middle of treatment. The wound is improving and the poison diminishing, but I would feel better if you continued to give him blood. If we change. It could get worse.”
“Yes, yes of course. No problem,” she replied finishing her toast. “It is the least I can do.”
“Thanks,” Alexander said.
Meryl smiled. She did not like having to go through the pain and the feelings that came after she fed Caleb, but she couldn’t refuse. Caleb had saved her and had paid a large sum for her. After having a long talk with Pein she now understood how humans lived, and she thanked God for being there. It was still hard to assimilate the situation, but she was sure she was safe while living with Caleb, at least for now.
Alexander asked her to rest and not to do any tasks. That she had done for the past few days. She had to be rested. Caleb needed more blood than usual to help his own body finish regenerating.
The doorbell rang an hour after breakfast, and Meryl went to the door confounded because since she lived in the mansion no one had visited and she had never heard the doorbell ring. She opened the door and was amazed. She found herself facing a tall woman with wavy black hair that fell to her hips. She was the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen. Beside her were two young men stationed as guards and they all had the typical vampire red eyes.
The woman looked at Meryl and raised an eyebrow because she saw what she least expected to find there, a human woman.
“Galatea?” They suddenly heard. “What are you doing here?”
“It has been a long time Alexander. I hope you are well.” The woman greeted him and walked into the house as if she were the own
er. “Where is Caleb?”
“This is not a good time,” Alexander hesitated to answer. Meryl looked somewhat shocked by her presence.
“It’s never a good time,” Galatea muttered angrily with an expression of disgust, “but I want to see him.”
“He’s hurt,” Alexander said.
“What?”
“He was wounded with a knife made of gold and silver and dipped in poison.”
“I see.” she sighed. “Anyway, I want to see him and that’s it. Do you oppose my wishes?”
Alexander did not respond. Meryl saw him lost in thought. Thinking about what to do.
Whoever the woman was she was not welcome in the house, and by how Alexander behaved, she was bad news. Alexander was nervous and kept looking up thinking that Caleb would have a fit if he heard her voice. The voice of the woman who birthed him.
She has come at the worst time, thought Alexander.
“Listen to me, Galatea. I think you better return another day.” Alexander tried unsuccessfully to convince her. “He is not well.”
“That gives me more reason to want to see him. He is my son.”
“Your son?” Alexander asked suddenly, his eyes darkening. “You have never been a mother to him.”
“How dare you? You insignificant insect.”
Before anything could happen, the two young men who accompanied her walked into the house, with a clear air of superiority. Galatea followed them ignoring Alexander. He could not do anything about it. The woman went upstairs while she elegantly took off her coat, and Alexander was quick to follow pulling Meryl with him.
“What’s happening Alexander?” Meryl asked, confused by the situation.
“You better come, too. Do not ask anything for now,” Alexander said.
Explaining at that time would reveal too much information to the other vampires. Pein was not far away. Watching the scene without understanding anything of what was happening. It did not take more than a minute to get to Caleb’s room. He was sitting up in bed, and knew everything that happened. He had a sour taste in his mouth because the woman made him sick.
Melodies of Blood I Page 7