by Jenika Snow
My dearest Ashliyn. I apologise for leaving without telling you, but something has come up at the hospital that needs my immediate attention. My home is your home. I will call you shortly.
With all my heart,
Kerian
I flipped the paper back and forth to see if there were anything else to it before tossing it back on the bed. I felt strange staying at Kerian's house when he wasn't here, but I remembered I had no car and was stranded. I cursed silently and walked to the bathroom to take a much-needed shower.
After a long, hot shower, I sat in what I assumed was a living room, but was probably called something more sophisticated. It had been two hours, and I hadn't heard anything from Kerian. I helped myself to some food and switched on the television. As I sat there watching an infomercial for lack of a better alternative, I glanced around the room. I had taken the liberty of giving myself a tour of the house earlier, and had been utterly stunned to find every single window had those same steel shutters over them. I couldn't find a lever to open them and had started to panic, feeling like a caged rat. I was relieved when I tried to open the front door and it had actually opened. Somehow in the back of my mind, I feared it was locked. Warm sunlight encased me, and since I knew I wasn't trapped, I let out a relieved breath. I didn't really believe Kerian meant to keep me prisoner, but the fact that every window was shuttered and I couldn't open them had unnerved me. I was just about to look up the hospital's number when I heard my cell phone going off. I hopped up and dug around my purse until I found it. The number was blocked, but I assumed it was Kerian calling from the hospital.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Ashliyn, how are you this morning?"
Kerian's deep voice came through the receiver and I couldn't help but smile. “Fine. Are you at the hospital still?” It was a stupid question because I knew he was still there, even if he hadn't told me yet. There was a lengthy pause and I thought maybe we had lost our connection. I looked at my phone and saw that I still had all my “bars."
"I am. I'll probably be here until nightfall."
I looked around the room, not wanting to stay at his house by myself until nightfall. “I don't have my car, but I guess I can call a taxi to come get me?"
"I didn't plan yesterday very well, did I?"
I couldn't tell what emotion was playing in his voice, but I didn't dwell on it, though it sounded like his comment meant more than it seemed.
"There is no need for a taxi. I have several keys in the kitchen cabinet by the table. I want you to pick a set and you can use that car for the rest of the day."
I listened as he explained where the garage was, and how to use the alarm on the key chain, which would automatically start the car I had chosen. I felt funny driving one of his cars around, which I knew would be expensive and flashy, but he insisted.
"I'll meet you at your place when I leave the hospital. I think we need to talk about some things."
I didn't like the sound of that. He had sounded so distant on the phone, not the same Kerian I had grown to care for, not the same man that had made love to me last night and had encouraged me to open up my heart.
I picked a set of keys that went to a Jaguar. I was surprised when I had found the garage and realised there were so many expensive cars in one place. Of course, I was no car expert, but I could tell some of them apart. I drove around for a while, stopped at the grocery store and then went back to my place. I had the weekend off, but even though I should finish working on the hospital advertisement, I felt drained and just wanted to veg out in front of the TV. I changed into some comfortable lounge clothes, laid on the couch and ended up watching an old black and white movie about two lovers. I ended up falling asleep and woke up sometime later.
When I glanced at the window, I saw it was nearly dark. My stomach gave a loud growl, so I got up and made myself a sandwich. I checked my phone to see if anyone had called—really, to see if Kerian had called, and was disappointed he hadn't. I ate my sandwich in silence and washed my dishes. As I stepped out of the kitchen and turned off the light, I heard a knock on my door. My heart started to beat fast and I wondered if I would always have this reaction to Kerian. I walked to the door and opened it and was disappointed to see Christian standing on the other side.
"Hi."
"Hello.” I didn't want to be rude, but I was waiting for Kerian, and Christian always seemed to make an appearance right before Kerian was expected. It made me wonder if Christian were stalking me, although I knew that was a silly conclusion, and a farfetched one at that. He might be weird, and might be making me a little uneasy, but I couldn't see him being a crazed person. At least I hoped not.
"Are you busy tonight?"
"Actually, yes. I'm waiting for someone.” I retreated a step at the look Christian gave me. His smile had turned into a dark look that seemed to coat his whole body. I had never seen him look so angry, and I didn't know what had set him off.
"I suppose you're waiting for him?"
He had said him like it was the filthiest word in the English language. I knew who he was talking about because every time Kerian had come to my house, Christian just happened to be coming or going.
"Who are you talking about?” I didn't want Christian to know I knew he was talking about Kerian. The way he was acting was making me very uneasy and had the hairs on my arms standing on end.
"You know who, Ashliyn."
He paused and I saw his hands clench and unclench.
"If you only knew what kind of creature he was, you wouldn't go near him."
With that, he left and walked out of the building. I was stunned by Christian's behaviour and what he had said. He hadn't told me he was speaking about Kerian, but I assumed it was Kerian because that was the only him I was seeing. I stood in my open doorway for what seemed like eternity before I finally closed it and sat on my couch, a little perplexed. A short while later, a knock sounded on my door. I hoped it was Kerian. I didn't think I could handle another Christian breakdown. I was relieved to see Kerian standing in the hall, a distant look on his face. He didn't look happy to see me, which hurt me on so many levels. He walked by me, lightly kissing my forehead before walking towards my window and staring at the night sky. I shut the door, but sat on the couch and watched him in silence.
"Is everything okay?” I asked at last. “You said you wanted to talk.” He didn't move, didn't answer me. I had a bad feeling I wasn't going to like what he had to say. Even though he'd said so many endearing things to me the night before, I feared it was because he had been in ‘the moment'. I felt my heart break, and I wanted to cry. I prayed what I had told him about my mother hadn't caused what we had to go sour. I twisted my hands together and waited quietly for whatever was coming.
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Chapter Ten
* * * *
Kerian turned around and looked at me. I couldn't tell what was playing through his mind. He walked over and sat on the couch, grabbed my hands and held them tightly.
"I want to tell you about my past and about...what I am."
I was confused. But then, I always felt stunned at how he worded things. I had no clue what he meant when he said, “What I am."
"Please do.” That was all I could say. He took several deep breaths before glancing down at the floor. “Whatever it is, you can tell me,” I added. He looked at me then with such anguish in his eyes, I felt my heart throb painfully.
"Everything I'm about to tell you is the absolute truth."
He stared at me as if waiting for my approval. I nodded and brought my hand to his cheek. “I will believe anything you say.” I wanted to tell him I loved him, but didn't want to put more pressure on the situation.
"I'm not who you think I am."
I stared at him, showing no emotion, though plenty of it roiled around inside me. “What do you mean? You're not a doctor?"
"I am. There's just more to it than that."
"Please just tell me.” I wanted him to spit it ou
t and end the dread gathering inside of me.
"I was born over four hundred years ago."
I didn't move, or breathe, as we stared at each other. “Is this some kind of joke?” I managed at last. “You're telling me you were born in the sixteen hundreds?” I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was everyone around me crazy? “Are you a doctor?” He had claimed to be one, but listening to him right now made me question his sanity.
"Yes. I was a healer in my village, and kept with the trade."
"Healer in your village?” I let go of his hands and walked over the window to stare out of it. “What are you, immortal or something?"
"Please, Ashliyn, come sit down and let me explain. I know how crazy it sounds."
"I don't think you really do.” I automatically walked back and sat on the chair facing him. He sounded crazy, yes, but maybe this was all some kind of practical joke. If it were, it wasn't funny. I thought back to what Christian had said earlier, about how I didn't know what kind of creature Kerian was. I hadn't thought much about his choice of words then, but now they seemed a little too close for comfort.
"So, what are you? A witch? A monster?” I wasn't making fun of him, but what else was I supposed to say? He looked at the floor again and gave a big sigh. “This isn't funny, Kerian.” His head snapped up and I thought I saw hurt in his features.
"Ashliyn,” he shook his head and then ran a hand over his face, “I wouldn't joke about this.” He seemed to take a strong, steadying breath and continued. “I'm a vampire—a vampire born over four hundred years ago."
I would have laughed, but his stern face made me rethink that idea. He was dead serious, and that fact alone terrified me. “A vampire?” He didn't answer me, but his look said it all. I got up and walked over to my fridge. I grabbed a bottle of wine, uncorked it and poured myself a healthy glass. “Want one?” He shook his head, but didn't look at me. I should have run out of there screaming, but I didn't. I downed the first glass while I stood behind the counter and poured myself another before making my way back to the chair.
"You're serious, aren't you?"
He braced his elbows on his knees as he stared at me.
"Drinking isn't going to make what I'm saying easier to believe."
"I know, but it makes me feel better.” I laughed out loud and took another big swallow. “So, you are serious aren't you?"
"I am."
I took another big gulp of my wine as I leant back against the cushions. “So, tell me about your past, Kerian.” I knew he could tell I still didn't believe him, even though he was completely serious. He believed what he was telling me, but that didn't mean it was true. I played it cool, because the last thing I wanted to do was anger an insane person.
"Will you listen to everything I have to say?"
I nodded and gestured for him to continue.
"I was born in the year sixteen hundred, in a small village near the Serbian border. I was the eldest of six children. Times were hard back then, and my parents struggled to make sure we had food. More times than not, supper consisted of a slice of bread and a potato, but we were grateful nonetheless. Two of my siblings died from hunger and illness, but that was the way of it back then."
I watched as he took a deep breath, and I could see him struggling to continue. I watched his face take on a sad expression, and it made me want to believe him.
"Years later, I ended up training to become a healer for my village. My father had been one, and so when he grew old, I naturally took over, being his eldest son. I took to the trade right away and grew to love it. One night, I woke to strange noises outside our small home. My family slept all around me, so still and silent. I couldn't believe they hadn't woken to the weird noise. When I stepped outside, I saw a man and women embracing. I was about to turn around, thinking they were being intimate, when I noticed the woman was hanging limply in the man's arms. Abruptly, he dropped her lifeless body to the ground and turned around to stare at me.
"I don't know how he knew I was there, since I was obscured by the shadows, but he sensed my presence. He had sharp teeth, fangs like a wolf, and blood dripping down his mouth. He moved so fast that one minute I was staring at him, and the next he was behind me. I had felt his sharp teeth go into my neck and try as I might, I couldn't get him off me. I wasn't a weak man. Back then, men needed to be strong to take care of their family—to provide properly for them. It didn't matter, though, because as strong as I was, he was stronger. I managed to tear his arm with my teeth, which brought me some measure of pleasure, but then I tasted his blood in my mouth. I thought I would die. I worried about who would provide for my family, and prayed the monster that had me wouldn't go after them. Just as I felt myself becoming weak and my sight going dim, I glanced up and saw the sun rising. The vampire, which I knew by then he was, hissed, dropped me and was gone so quickly, I fell to the ground. I crawled to the deepest, darkest part of the woods near my home, because I didn't want my family to find my dead body, as I thought I would end up before the sun rose."
I watched in amazement as he got up and walked over to the window. He ran a hand over his hair a few times before clasping his hands behind his back. Either Kerian was the craziest person on the planet, or what he said was the absolute truth.
"The following night, I woke to a thirst I had never felt before. It wasn't a human thirst. No, it was a hunger that went to the bones. I was so thirsty, so very thirsty. I returned home to search for my family. You see, my village was so quiet, much too quiet. I panicked, but the thirst had such a tight grip on me, it was hard to think of anything else. I found my entire village, along with my family, slaughtered, presumably by the same monster that attacked me."
I wanted to go and comfort him, but I made myself stay seated and waited for him to finish.
"I should have been grieving the loss of my entire family, but the thirst had me so frenzied, I could think of nothing else. I ended up travelling to the nearest village, scenting blood, human blood from miles away. I could hear blood flowing through their bodies, and some kind of instinct took over. I found a young woman sitting by a creek. All I saw was food that would end the thirst. I was next to her so fast, I didn't know how I got there. It was as if I were invisible. She continued washing her clothes, humming a little song. Her hair was up, and I could see her pulse beating rapidly beneath her skin. The next instant, my teeth shot out, pricking my bottom lip. I tasted my own blood and I went crazy. I latched onto her neck so fast, she didn't have time to make a sound. I inadvertently drained her dry that night—the only human I've ever killed. I regret it to this day."
He turned and looked at me then, and I felt hot tears streaming down my face. I cried for him, for the pain he felt, and the pain that was etched on his beautiful features.
"I was newly turned—a newborn vampire—and I had ended that young woman's life without a second thought. I wept that night until the sun came up and I was forced take shelter. I left the only home I had ever known and here I am today, a man—a monster—that has fallen in love with you."
We stayed where we were in total silence for a moment. “You're telling me the truth, aren't you?” I asked at last. As hard as it was to believe a story like that, I stared into his face and knew every word he'd spoken was the truth. It was crazy, and impossible, but it was true. My Kerian, my vampire, loved me. I stood up and saw his big body flinch. He had lived with his torment for over four hundred years. I walked over to him until we were standing toe to toe. Then I wrapped my arms around him and held him. His body was tense beneath my hands, and I knew he was surprised by my reaction. I was surprised, too. “I believe you.” I whispered the words into his chest and felt my tears wet his shirt. Abruptly, he dropped to his knees and placed my hands on his chest. He stared up at me with wonder-filled eyes.
"You truly believe me."
It wasn't a question, more an awe-filled statement. “How could I not believe the one I love?"
He pulled me into his arms and onto his lap. We sat
on the floor for a long time, just holding each other but not speaking. He whispered into my hair, but the words were unintelligible. At last he took my face in his hands and gently kissed me.
"My love."
The words were so heart-breaking, I closed my eyes before whispering to him how much I loved him, how much he meant to me. He carried me to my room that night and made sweet, passionate love to me, showing me all his devotion in his soft caresses and sweet words. I woke in the morning to an empty bed and a note on the pillow. I smiled and clasped it to my chest as his words swept through my mind.
I wish I could watch the morning light cascade over you. I know the sight would be truly breathtaking. Until tonight, my love.
With everything I have,
Kerian
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Chapter Eleven
* * * *
I was waiting anxiously for Kerian to pick me up. We had seen each other for the past couple of days, but we hadn't spoken about what he was in detail. I wanted to see what he was capable of, and when I brought it up, I was surprised at how easily he agreed. For some reason, I thought he might withhold some information about who and what he actually was, because deep down, I think he hated that he was a ‘monster', or so he called himself. He was a man in my eyes, though, not capable of hurting something or someone intentionally.
I ran errands in the morning and picked up the final copy of my hospital proposal. I was pleased with the work and excited to show Kerian what would soon grace the Westerbrooke Hospital walls. I hadn't seen Christian since that last time when he'd acted strangely, and I was thankful for small favours. I didn't want him to cause any conflicts, but I still couldn't get over what he had said, and I wondered if he knew what Kerian actually was. True, he had called him a creature, but maybe that was a figure of speech. It was pretty clear he didn't like him personally. I sat on my couch, made myself comfortable, and waited for Kerian to arrive. Since his confession I had thought of so many questions, and tonight I'd finally have my answers.