by R. M. Garcia
“If you don’t feed, you will go mad and attack anything that has blood pumping through it,” Stefan said. Abbie simply shook her head no in defiance as she lay on the floor. “Very well, I will pick for you then.” He looked at the boys and selected Roberto, and Jake left the room. Roberto walked over to Abbie. As he got closer, she could actually smell his blood and hear his heart beating and when she looked at him could see his blood coursing through his veins. She could not resist! Abbie jumped up and grappled Roberto and brought him down, not unlike a lion bringing down a gazelle. She opened her mouth and could feel her teeth growing and sank them deep into his neck and began to drink. She could not stop, and if it were not for Stefan pulling her off him, she would have surely killed him.
“Enough. You must not kill our stock. They are hard to replace,” Stefan said as he restrained her.
“More!” she yelled as she reached out for Roberto again. He got up and weakly walked out of the room.
“Get some rest, and do not return to this floor for two days,” Stefan said, directing Roberto to depart. Abbie calmed down after he had left the room and was appalled by what she had just done. She slumped to the floor in disbelief.
“Why did I attack him? Why couldn’t I stop?”
“A new vampire has trouble controlling their urges, and that’s why they are never unaccompanied.” Stefan released his hold on her.
“I almost killed him. He was so nice to me. I feel awful.”
“Don’t despair. He’ll be fine in a day or two,” Stefan said. “You caused him no real harm.”
“I bit him! He felt it! I hurt him!” Abbie screamed.
“Yet he lives and will feed another one of us in a few days,” Stefan countered.
“Is this how it will be? I will be biting young boys to live?” Abbie got up and sat on the bed.
“Not always. After a while, you will develop a preferred taste and gender,” Stefan explained.
“This is so sick! I don’t know if I can do this.”
“You’ll conform, or it will destroy you, but I have a feeling you’ll be a strong one.” Stefan sat on the bed next to her.
“So what do I do now?” Abbie asked.
“Well, I am glad you asked actually. We need to perform the detachment and begin your training.”
“Detachment, what is that?”
“You need to cut all ties with your former life. There are three common ways to do this,” Stefan began before Abbie interrupted him.
“Why do I have to do that?”
“You’ll never age another day. Soon enough, your family and friends will be thirty years older, and you will remain eighteen. They will notice, not right away, but when it happens, measures will be taken.”
“What measures?”
“They would be executed,” Stefan explained.
“I did this to protect them and now they are in danger again?” Abbie was outraged.
“They’re safe as long as we do things properly,” Stefan was extremely calm as he spoke.
“So what must I do to protect them?”
“Like I said, we need to perform the detachment. There are three ways to detach yourself from your former life. The first and easiest is to simply write your family a letter telling them you’ll never return. This often fails as parents will attempt to track down their child,” Stefan explained. “It works best when you have a strained relationship with your family, which unfortunately you do not.”
“OK, so what is the next one?” she asked.
“The argument, you face them and brutally sever your relationships with them, and tell them you will never return,” Stefan continued. “You don’t give them time to think. You do it and then pack and leave. It is often the best detachment.”
“I don’t know if I can do that to them,” Abbie said solemnly. The thought of being cruel to her loved ones sickened her.
“The last one is perhaps the easiest but also the hardest on your family. You fake your death. A hanging or drug overdose are the recommended methods for this detachment,” Stefan continued.
“That would simply crush them,” Abbie said with her eyes wide open.
“Whichever one you choose, I will help you complete it,” he said. “The ultimate goal of the detachment is to have no one looking for you. With the technology of today, we try to make sure none of us are in a missing person’s database. After about ten years, everyone from your past accepts that you are gone.”
“I understand.” The realization of what she needed to do in order to protect her family was daunting, and it greatly saddened her. Stefan handed Abbie a pamphlet that he produced from the inside of his jacket and handed it to her. “What’s this?”
“It’s your beginning manual. Read it completely.”
“A vampire manual, are you serious?” Abbie glanced at the thin leaflet in amazement. It was old; its once white pages were now yellowish.
“Yes, now read it. It has a lot of useful information,” Stefan ordered and added, “and never let it out your possession, no matter what.”
“OK, got it, but why are you helping me with this, why not Hulderich? I thought I was to be his.” In truth, if she had a choice, she preferred Stefan.
“It’s my final task, and then I am free of him.”
“I’m not following you.”
“I am under his boot at the moment. When your detachment is complete, he will release me from his command,” Stefan explained.
“What do you mean by his command?” Abbie asked, looking a bit confused. Stefan sighed and knew she was going to have a lot of questions, just like he did three decades ago. “Since you insist on asking questions instead of reading the manual, I will explain a few more things to you.”
“No, I can read the book if you want,” Abbie said, opening the pamphlet. She didn’t want to be struck or choked again.
“Eager to please, Hulderich will love that quality in you, but close the book for now,” Stefan said as he walked over and took a seat in one of the chairs in the room.
“OK,” Abbie said as she took a seat next to him.
“When a new vampire is born, its blood parent is responsible for everything they do and may be punished for the actions the child takes. So they’re watched with a close eye. Training begins immediately, and the goal of the training is to make you capable of passing on the ideals of the Bloodline as well as help strengthen it,” Stefan said.
“OK, I am with you so far.”
“After you are fully trained, your mentor or parent releases you, and you can begin increasing your influence and power base within the Bloodline.”
“How long does that take?” Abbie asked.
“Usually about twenty years. Some have completed it faster, and some have taken longer.”
“How long have you trained under Hulderich?” Abbie asked.
“Thirty years, but my case is different.”
“Thirty years? I thought you said it took like twenty years.” Abbie didn’t want to spend any more time with Hulderich than she had to.
“I also said mine was a special case.” Stefan smiled at Abbie. He looked so kind at that moment that she almost forgot that he had gotten her into this situation.
“Oh, so what does that mean?”
“Not everyone likes everyone within the Bloodline. After a while, you will develop rivals and even enemies. Think of it like a gang consisting of bosses and soldiers. When two bosses compete for a territory or prestige, the end result can be deadly.”
“I was really scared before, but now I am becoming terrified.”
“Within our Bloodline, no one may harm a child without consent from the Führer. So you have nothing to worry about until Hulderich releases you,” Stefan assured.
“What did you mean by, you were a special case?” Abbie asked. Stefan looked sad for a moment but answered her question.
“My blood parent, Elisa, was Hulderich’s principal rival. She challenged to him to a battle to settle their feud once and for all.
It was to the final death, and Hulderich emerged victorious. I had been with Elisa for nineteen years, and I cared for her a great deal. When she died, I was left without a parent, and my training was still incomplete. The Führer, in his wisdom, assigned me to finish my training under Hulderich.”
“So you have been under Hulderich ever since?” she asked.
“Yes, even though I felt I was ready to be on my own, Hulderich decided to hold me back for as long as he could. Not only did he get all of Elisa’s holdings, he also got the pleasure of tormenting me for three decades.”
“Well, I can’t really say I feel sorry for you. Will it be the same for me? I mean, will he treat me badly?”
“I expect that he will be firm but kind with you,” Stefan answered. “He wanted you, and got inconvenienced by me.”
“So it was hard for you then?” Abbie asked.
“Harder than most, yes, but he has also made me stronger. He made me strong in mind as well as body. I’m truly ready to be on my own.”
“So eventually, I will be on my own as well?”
“Eventually, maybe sooner than you think,” Stefan said. “Now on to more formal training.”
“But, I am still kind of hungry.” Abbie couldn’t believe she was asking for more blood.
“Jake!” Stefan cried out without thinking twice about it.
“Huh?” Abbie said.
“Jake is right outside the door,” Stefan explained.
“Oh! Can’t I just get a bag from a blood bank or something?”
“Pages in your manual explain that you cannot drink any blood that has been out of the bloodstream for more than six hours. It’s unhealthy, and you should really drink the freshest blood possible for as long as you can.”
“OK, bring him in then,” Abbie said after a few tense moments.
“Jake!” Stefan called out again. Jake entered the room and looked at Abbie and smiled.
“Hi, should I lie on the bed?” he asked.
“Yes,” Stefan answered. Jake took a short hop and flopped onto the bed. Abbie was on him almost instantly. She was surprised at her speed. She sank her fangs into him and began to lap up his warm blood. She continued to drink until Jake began showing signs of discomfort. She could feel his body tensing, and his heart was slowing. She forced herself to pull away and climbed off the bed.
“Good. I didn’t have to make you stop. Very good,” Stefan complimented “Are you all right, Jake?”
“Yeah, nothing a few hours of rest, and a few pints won’t fix,” Jake replied. Abbie spun around, surprised at his response. Then she noticed his neck. There were no bite marks.
“Where are the holes?” Abbie asked.
“The manual explains, that if you have a willing donor, your fangs will excrete enzymes that heal the wound almost immediately,” Stefan answered. “As long as you don’t take more than half their blood, they usually survive.”
“How much is that?” she asked.
“Jake, you can go,” Stefan said. Jake got up and walked out into the hall and closed the door behind him.
“The manual contains a size chart. A man Jake’s size has about eight pints of blood. You drank about two just now,” Stefan explained. “Someone your size can drink about four pints before you are completely sated.”
“I feel full now, but if I drank four pints from him, he would die?” Abbie asked.
“Not right away, but the drop in blood pressure might do him in, or he might make it. Every human is different,” he answered. “He certainly wouldn’t be walking anywhere.”
“I think I should read the manual.” Abbie grabbed the manual.
“In the words of your generation, you think?” Stefan said, laughing.
“OK, I get it, read more and stop asking so many questions.”
“I’ll come back in a few hours. We need to get our story straight for your friends,” Stefan said as he exited the room. Abbie opened up the manual and began reading it. She was trying to make sense of all of this. She barely noticed that her back and wrist were no longer hurt, that was until she reached that section in the manual.
Kelly woke up and went straight to Abbie’s room, but she was not there. She ran over to Trista’s room and woke her. “I’m really worried now, Trista.”
“We need to call the police and report her missing. Should we call her parents?” Trista asked as she got out of bed.
“I don’t know,” Kelly replied. As they were deciding what to do, they heard the door open and close. They got up and rushed to the main area. Heidi was rolling in a cart with breakfast on it. She set two places and set the food on the table.
“Heidi. Have you seen Abbie?” Kelly asked.
“Not since she left last night. It was just before I retired for the evening,” Heidi replied.
“What? She went where?” Trista asked as she sat down at the table.
“She came in and got some clothes and instructed me to tell you that she would see you later tonight,” Heidi replied as she poured out fresh orange juice.
“Where did she go?” Trista asked.
“I don’t know. All I know is who she left with,” Heidi replied.
“Who did she leave with?” Trista asked, opening her eyes wide. Heidi looked at the girls and shook her head.
“Heidi, you have to tell us. We are worried, damn it!” Kelly snapped.
“Very well, but I don’t want to get into any trouble,” Heidi said.
“Spill it,” Trista ordered.
“She left with Stefan off the property. I know he has an apartment near to the beach,” Heidi revealed.
“Oh my god,” Trista said.
“I can’t believe that. She wouldn’t ever do anything like that,” Kelly said, shaking her head. “We’re talking about Abbs, the angel.”
“And why not? She has only ever been with Donnie. Maybe she wanted to experiment. We’re on spring break after all,” Trista said.
“Not Abbie, she doesn’t do reckless. She never has,” Kelly said.
“Look, you love Trevor, right? But you still cheated on him last semester,” Trista argued.
“That’s different. He cheated first, or I thought he had cheated. Never mind me. This is about Abbie,” Kelly said.
“All I’m saying is that maybe she’s seeing what else is out there. I don’t like it anymore than you do, but we have to accept it’s possible,” Trista said.
“Oh yeah, so how come no one else saw them leave? Huh, Heidi, explain that!” Kelly said, pointing a finger at Heidi.
“Employees use different entrances and exits than guests,” Heidi replied “We even have a separate parking lot.”
“See, he probably snuck her out the back door to his car,” Trista surmised.
“I love the way you are accepting all of this so easily. I still have a bad feeling,” Kelly said.
“Hey, I’m not saying I am not worried. I’m saying that her being with a tall gorgeous guy is a better explanation than not knowing what happened to her at all,” Trista replied.
“I guess you’re right,” Kelly said, taking a bite out of a piece of bacon. The girls ate their breakfast and then got ready for the day.
Abbie read through the entire pamphlet she was left with hundreds of questions. She figured out that there were more manuals. The one she had been given was labeled number one of ten. She heard Stefan at the door and went to it and opened it as he turned the knob.
“Where is the next manual?” Abbie demanded.
“I’m glad you read through it, but knowledge without understanding is more dangerous than not having the knowledge at all,” Stefan said as he walked in and placed an overnight bag on the bed.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that even though you read the manual, it doesn’t mean that you understand everything in it or that you can do everything it has taught you,” Stefan said.
“So what are you saying?”
“If you’re lucky, you will get a new manual once a year,”
Stefan stated.
“Only one a year, really, that stinks?” Abbie asked disappointedly.
“Really,” Stefan confirmed. “I brought you a change of clothes. We need to get you back to your friends as they are getting testy.”
“One a year, poop,” Abbie said still disappointed as she looked through the bag. “Hey, these are my clothes.”
“Yes, they are. We grabbed them last night,” Stefan replied. “Take a shower and we will meet up with them.” Abbie nodded and followed instructions. While she was taking a shower, Hulderich came into the room.
“How is her progress?” he asked.
“Impressive. She has read through the manual cover to cover and asked for the second one. She has also fed twice. The second time, she stopped on her own,” Stefan reported.
“That is very good. I am satisfied with her progress and your selection thus far. She did have an odd taste in her blood that concerned me,” Hulderich said.
“It was most likely the narcotic I used to sedate her. It was still in her system when you drank from her,” Stefan explained.
“You’re probably right. You have turned out to be a capable minion. I trust that once you are on your own, you will not attempt anything foolish such as retribution,” Hulderich warned.
“I would not dare. I know what you are capable of,” Stefan said. “I will get her ready and complete her detachment. I want my final task to be perfect.”
“Once the detachment is done, I will hand you your decree of completion.”
“Thank you, Commander! It will be done!” Stefan said, standing at attention. Hulderich left the room, and Stefan relaxed. Abbie came back into the main room; she had changed her wardrobe and packed her dirty clothes into the overnight bag.
“How much did you hear?” Stefan asked.
“Everything, even under the shower I heard everything you both said. It was weird. The manual said my senses would be better, but that was way creepy.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Stefan said smiling. “OK, this is the story,” Stefan began spinning a tale for Abbie.
Trista spent her day getting her hair done and getting tanned. Kelly grudgingly accompanied her but passed on the tanning bed. After dinner, they stopped by the room and found that Abbie had made it back, safe and sound. Kelly ran up to her and hugged her. She was extremely relieved.