Passions

by Bitikofer,Sheritta

“Mom, Gavin is the most wonderful thing to happen to me. He cares about me. He appreciates me. He’s talked about how he’s willing to do just about anything to keep me safe and happy. We’ve had beautiful moments together that terrified me and thrilled me all at the same time. I’ve never known anyone like him, and I’m sure I’ll never meet anyone nearly as good as he is.”

  Normally, she would never talk to her mother in such intimate detail about her boyfriends, but Chloe wasn’t only trying to convince her mother of Gavin’s trustworthiness. She was also trying to remind herself why she was going through all of this trouble for a man she had only met a few weeks ago.

  There was so much more that she could tell her mom. Like how Gavin was so beautiful in his brokenness but determined to heal her own hurts; and how he had a conscience and a sense of chivalry. Gavin was smart, funny, and sensitive. He had a bigger heart than anyone she knew, even if it wasn’t beating yet.

  She heard her mother stir on the other end of the line as a long silence filled the air between them.

  Then she said, “I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy, Chloe. Will we get to meet him over Thanksgiving?”

  That was only a few days away.

  Chloe knew better than to believe that this was her mother admitting defeat just yet. She wouldn’t release her doubts until she’d met Gavin in person, and that was something Chloe couldn’t guarantee. If Gavin didn’t make it, what would she tell her parents then?

  “Yes. Absolutely.”

  “That’s wonderful. I can’t wait.”

  The rest of the phone call went as it usually did, with her mother talking about plans and trips in the future, as well as little frustrations with their RV and her father’s bad habit of not asking for directions. It was the little things that Chloe missed so much. She wanted anything that would keep her mind off of what was to come during the next few days.

  After their phone call ended, Chloe looked down at her phone and saw nearly a dozen missed calls, voicemails and text messages, all from Brent. She erased her phone log and read through each text. Some of them were accusatory remarks towards Chloe and her new lover. Others were threats upon her life or new home. A few were sweetly worded apologies for the nastier of the voicemails he left for her to listen to. And the final one was a brief notice that he was back in Atlanta and would not bother her again.

  Chloe didn't bother listening to the voicemails. She knew exactly what they all said and she didn't want to be barraged with insults and threats. She had enough to worry about and once she cleaned up the cabin, she wanted no more reminders of Brent's sudden invasion into her life. He said he would move on, and so would she.

  Chapter 25

  Glancing at the clock, Chloe knew the time had come. The golden light of dawn was just sifting through the trees outside as the sun made its descent over the mountain to fall on the cabin. But the kitchen was still dim.

  Chloe had been preparing her eyes for the job by walking around in almost total darkness on this last night of the detox. She needed her sight in peak condition when she climbed down the stairs into the cellar. A small lantern sat on the floor just by the hatch door that she would use, but it would only allow for a small amount of light, and that’s the way she wanted it. There was no reason to wake Gavin before it was time.

  Standing there with the bottle of vinegar in one hand and a bag of garlic powder in the other, Chloe tried to calm her nerves. She had prepared for this moment for days, practicing her efficiency at pouring the vinegar and making the garlic bombs they had discussed. But nothing could emotionally prepare her for what she had to do.

  She felt like a wound-up spring inside, twisted and tense but unwilling to release. Her arms and fingers refused to still themselves, and she began to doubt her ability to use them. What if she dropped the vinegar? What if she threw the garlic bomb in a hasty moment and missed completely? One small mistake would lead to their deaths.

  When Gavin awoke, there would be no do-overs. Yes, she could run back upstairs and hide, but how much of a time window did they have before he died from starvation?

  And then the bigger questions remained: What if this didn’t work? What if the vinegar killed him instead of cure him? What if it only intensified the hunger and he wasn’t able to control himself? What if he killed her?

  Chloe gripped the neck of the vinegar bottle a little tighter as her sweaty palm slipped over the smooth glass, but she still managed to keep a good hold on it.

  Time was passing all too slowly, the minutes seeming like hours. She looked at the clock once more and knew that she couldn’t delay this any longer.

  Stuffing the vinegar bottle under her arm, she picked up the lantern and unfastened the lock on the hatch. She opened it and listened for any grunting or predatory pacing in the cellar. Nothing.

  Taking a steeling breath, she climbed down the ladder and flipped on the electric lantern. A dim, blue light illuminated the cellar. At first, all she saw from her place at the bottom of the ladder were fragments of dismantled furniture, scattered in chips across the floor along with what appeared to be ripped up fabric, cotton stuffing, and mattress springs.

  Steadying herself, she scanned the rest of the room. All the exquisite furniture that she had loved so much had been destroyed in Gavin’s animalistic fury the other night. The pieces of what might have been a trunk were also thrown helter-skelter across the cellar along with articles of men’s clothing.

  When her lantern light fell on the far side of the room, she found Gavin sleeping. He was propped up in the corner, his head leaning against the wall.

  Chloe let out an involuntary gasp when she saw how haggard his face appeared. Deep, dark circles hung under his eyes that seemed to reach halfway down his cheeks. His skin, if it were even possible, was paler than before, almost ghost-white and sheer to the point that she could see blue veins beneath his skin. His hair, once a dark shade, now appeared gray and aged from the stress of the detox, the follicles thinning and damaged. If a doctor could have evaluated his condition, he might have declared Gavin borderline emaciated and severely malnourished.

  Chloe swallowed and set the lantern down on the floor before slowly creeping her way towards the vampire. She took the vinegar bottle and shakily began to unscrew the cap, all the while keeping a vigilant eye on Gavin.

  She was no more than a few feet away when she saw his eyelids flutter and twitch. With the garlic powder ball in hand, she froze and watched him, her every muscle bunched and ready for a fight if it came to that, though she wouldn’t throw the garlic unless it was absolutely necessary.

  But Gavin didn’t attack. Not exactly. He opened his bloodshot eyes, his pupils dilated to their fullest. They rolled around in his head unable to focus on anything just yet. His parched and cracked lips parted ever so slightly. His head rolled against the wall until he was able to face Chloe.

  She stiffened and watched as his eyes fixed on hers. Her lungs seized, and she tried to breathe again but couldn’t. She didn’t think this was his mesmerism powers. If it was, she wouldn’t have been able to lift her fist that held the garlic. No, this was the feeling of her heart breaking over Gavin's distressing condition. She couldn't stand to see him like this.

  His chin lifted a bit, and his tongue darted out between his lips as if pleading her for a drink. Of what, she couldn’t tell. But by the way his body lay limp on the floor, Chloe knew that he was too weak and exhausted to move.

  She took another step, and Gavin didn’t react. Her feet moved slowly across the floor, narrowing the gap between them. All the while, Gavin only stared up at her with wide eyes, wordlessly beseeching her for relief.

  When she was within arm’s reach, she noticed something strange.

  He was breathing. His chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, a sign that life was returning to this corpse whose heart hadn’t beat and lungs hadn’t filled with air in centuries.

  Chloe wanted to grin and jump for joy that this detox was actually working. But
they weren’t out of the storm yet. There was still one last thing to do.

  She began to mumble a short prayer, a supplication to God that this would all end well and that Gavin would gain his humanity back. Just before she whispered an ‘amen’, Gavin’s hand shot out and grabbed her ankle.

  Despite herself, Chloe let out a short shriek and jerked backward. The garlic powder bomb fell from her hand and landed halfway across the cellar. Chloe lost her balance and fell to the floor. Some of the vinegar shot into the air and spilled onto the floorboards, filling the air with its pungent scent.

  But Gavin did nothing. His fingers, still wrapped around her ankle, were feeble, and Chloe was able to easily kick her way out of his grip.

  Her bosom heaved with each breath as she watched him sit in the corner, his eyes fixated on her, but there was no sign of hunger or malice. The monster within him that thirsted for blood was too weak. When the host’s body failed, so would the parasite.

  Chloe waited a long moment, their gazes locked. Then she glanced down at the bottle of vinegar. There was only a small amount left in the bottom after that fall. But it would have to be enough.

  She crawled forward on her hands and knees and sat beside Gavin. His mouth opened, fangs bared for her to see. They were nearly as white as his skin and glistened in the lantern light. She wondered how Gavin was aware enough to know what she needed from him without having to ask.

  With a shaky hand, Chloe raised the bottle and tipped it down so the vinegar would pour into his mouth. The liquid gushed from the rim and rolled over his tongue.

  At first, all he did was wince and shudder, probably at the unsavory taste. Once the bottle was empty, Chloe sat back and waited, her heart thumping so hard behind her ribs that it hurt.

  Gavin closed his mouth and his eyes, seeming to be waiting as well.

  Then, the stillness between them was shattered as Gavin cried out. It was breathy at first and then grew louder and shriller like a banshee. Chloe scuttled away and covered her ears against the screech after dropping the empty vinegar bottle.

  Gavin’s limbs convulsed, and his head thrashed above his shoulders, his skull bashing against the cellar walls, but that pain must have been nothing compared to what he felt everywhere else.

  Like a scene from a horror movie, Chloe watched Gavin’s body writhe in agony as the vinegar worked its way through his system. Tears spilled from her eyes, knowing there was nothing she could do to ease his pain.

  It must have been only minutes on the clock as his body shuddered in constant seizures, but it felt like much longer. As Chloe watched, she began to see a change.

  Gavin was no longer just screaming but gasping for air, his lungs coming to life again. His body mass slowly returned; his arms and core filling out with the muscle and flesh that he’d lost during the detox. The dark shadows on his face faded away, and even in the bluish light of her lantern, she could see some color return to his cheeks. He was no longer pale like a vampire but richly tanned like the blacksmith and fur trader he’d been when he was human.

  His eyes opened, and she could see the color of his irises beam through the darkness. His pupils were mere tiny dots in the center of his eyes. It was hard to see precisely because of his thrashing about, but Chloe could swear she saw the fangs begin to recede into his gums.

  But the worst was yet to come. Gavin’s arm reached out to her, his fingers bent into gnarled angles, and she could hear the joints crack.

  “Chloe!” he called out, his voice hoarse through the screams.

  She stifled the whimper that rose in her throat but wouldn’t move towards him. Yes, the detox was almost complete, but she dared not get too close.

  Instead, she clasped his hand in hers and held on tight. His fingers closed over hers, but his strength was sporadic, at once so tight that it bruised her, and then almost so loose that it fell from her grasp.

  Soon, the screams became wheezes. Out of Gavin’s mouth came gurgling sounds like he was choking or about to vomit. Black liquid, as thick and putrid as stale blood, spilled over his lips and down his chin to stain the front of his shirt.

  Chloe gasped and covered her mouth and nose against the smell of death coming out of Gavin. After a few seconds of listening to him choke on the vile substance, Chloe couldn’t take any more.

  She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down so his head was bent low. The liquid poured out faster and into a puddle on the floor beside them, seeping into their clothes and between the cracks in the floorboards.

  Gavin coughed and sputtered until there was nothing more to eject from his system. Chloe reached out and tried to wipe his chin but pulled away when he fell forward onto the floor, curling up to shiver and continue his seizures.

  This time, though, there were no more screams, only raspy breaths and wheezes, his eyes wide open but unfocused. Chloe bent down low beside him and rubbed his back, thinking it would somehow ease his suffering that was coming to an end. The evil had been expelled from his body. All that seemed left were the aftershocks of his transformation.

  Examining him one last time, she found him to look completely human. But there was still one last test.

  Chloe stood up and hurried to the ladder. The sun would be up by now and the cabin full of pure sunlight. With her heart full of both joy and dread, she threw open the hatch and let the light pour in, chasing away the darkness and the centuries of living in agony.

  The light fell across the floor and made its way to Gavin’s face. For the first time, Chloe saw his eyes reflect the sunlight he had so longed to see again.

  But instead of smiling and basking in the glow of the morning, Gavin let out one last scream.

  Chapter 26

  Chloe sat back at her desk and stared at the final page of her manuscript. Months of work were finally at an end, and it was a blissful relief. Her first novel was finished and ready for the first round of edits. She knew that the worst was still to come, but at least it was all out of her and on the paper.

  “Everything all right?” he called from the kitchen.

  “I just finished,” she proclaimed with a satisfied air.

  His heavy, rather loud footsteps came bounding in from the kitchen area, and Chloe looked over to see him wiping his hands on a rag.

  Gavin was just finishing up the dishes from preparing their picnic lunch.

  He smiled his usual toothy grin and came up behind her chair to examine the page. His forest-green eyes skimmed over the paragraphs, and he nodded his approval.

  “Very nice. I was wondering if you were going to change the ending," he remarked, his British accent rolling melodiously off his tongue.

  Chloe shrugged nonchalantly. “I just thought this was a better way to wrap up their story.”

  Gavin’s wonderful masculine scent filled her nostrils as he bent down and kissed her cheek affectionately. “I’m glad. Are you ready to go out to the creek?” he asked, resting his hands on her shoulders.

  “Absolutely. Just let me get my coat.”

  Despite the warmth of the sun beaming down outside, it was still quite chilly. When Chloe turned in her seat, she looked up to regard Gavin as he walked back into the kitchen to pack their picnic bundle. She watched as his hands deftly folded the thick blanket and set it on the kitchen counter beside their basket.

  Even now, after all of the changes they had been through, he was still as handsome as he was when they first met. And even though it might be too soon to tell, her fears of Gavin becoming another Brent was a thing of the past. Everything was in the past, and all that awaited them was a bright future—bright as the day.

  It took Gavin turning back to her and catching her stare to make her realize she hadn’t even moved to get her jacket.

  “Are you well?” he asked.

  She nodded and stood to go to the coat closet. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry.”

  “That’s the third time I’ve caught you staring like that in the last week. Are you quite sure?”

  Chloe gi
ggled and slipped her arms into the sleeves. “Yes, Gavin, I’m just fine.”

  Once they’d gathered their lunch and blanket, they stepped out the back door and onto the porch.

  “I don’t know why I let you drag me outside into the cold every single day for lunch,” she told him as they walked down the steps. “You know, it’s going to snow soon. What will we do then?”

  Gavin grinned and tilted his head to the sun. “Then we will have to don our thicker coats and bring a shovel to make a path to the creek.”

  “And what if the creek is frozen over, genius?” she laughed.

  “We don’t take these picnics for the creek.”

  Yes, Chloe knew that quite well. Every day, rain or shine, they went to have their lunches outside in the middle of the daytime. Gavin hated the night and often went to bed as soon as the sun dipped below the tree line, only rising with the crack of dawn. He had told her once that he never wanted to see the stars or moon again unless they were sparkling in her eyes.

  Chloe followed Gavin to the creek, both of them being careful not to slip on the dead autumn leaves that practically covered the hillside by the cabin. The creek was not yet frozen over, but she knew it was only a matter of time. And Gavin hadn’t experienced a human winter in a long time. His resolve to go to the creek, even in the dead of winter with three feet of snow on the ground, would crumble when his fingers went numb.

  He spread the blanket, and they sat down together as they did every day. And just like every day, Chloe unpacked their lunch while Gavin gazed across the creek. She knew exactly what he was doing.

  He was watching how the light danced on the water and through the thick canopy of trees above. The look of fascination in his eyes was the same look that Chloe had the first time she had come back to the cabin after having been away for years. He had been here a thousand, maybe a million times before, but never had he been able to witness this place in the splendor of day.

  “Isn’t it glorious?” he whispered in amazement.