Indulgence

by Liz Crowe

  “If you won’t leave my house, then I will!” I exclaimed.

  I grabbed the first set of keys my hands came upon in the drawer and charged out the door into the garage. I rolled my eyes as I realized I grabbed my motorcycle key. I guessed I was going for a ride in the wet elements. I threw my leg over the motorcycle and stuck the key in the ignition. I had no idea where I was going, but I needed to get away from Vincent, whoever he was. Or whatever he was.

  “Allison, where are you going?” Vincent yelled over the roar of my engine.

  I threw on a pair of clear riding glasses but didn’t bother putting my helmet on; I just needed to get away. Fast.

  I laid a patch on the garage floor, spinning the bike towards the door and released the clutch. I was out of the garage on my way to nowhere very fast. I didn’t even stop at the end of the driveway to see if traffic was coming as I turned onto the country road. Anger burned inside of me. Vincent had to be out of his mind. How dare he tell me such nonsense and expect me to believe it.

  My entire being was so consumed with anger that I didn’t even realize how easily I was navigating the twisting, wet road ways. The ground, still moist from the earlier rain, was way too treacherous for a motorcycle. Yet I leaned into each turn, my motorcycle hugging the wet pavement as if the riding conditions were ideal. I broke to the right and to the left and then up a hill and found a straightaway. I pulled in the clutch, shifted into fifth gear and opened the throttle. The cool, damp air felt pleasant on my skin which was starting to burn, probably from the anger and contempt I now felt for Vincent. The faster I rode, the less I thought of him. It was as if the wind against my face removed any thought of him. A severe right turn approached and I down shifted, still taking the turn with too much speed, but easily rolled through it.

  Lights in my side mirrors caught my attention. I looked down at my speedometer. I was doing 85 in a 55 mile per hour zone. Better slow down, I thought; could be a cop. The light drew closer and I realized there was only one headlight – a motorcycle headlight. It was late in the evening, and there was only one other person who would be out in the dark, in the middle of nowhere and in the rain on a motorcycle. Vincent.

  Anger swelled in me again so I sped up. I saw a sign in the far distance that I easily read. It said ‘Whipps Ledges.’ In the summer months, Whipps Ledges was a favorite spot for many locals. It was a forested park filled with caves and cliffs that attracted hikers, rock climbers, nature lovers and the occasional group of high school kids looking for a spot to smoke some pot. But no one would be there at this time of night or at this time of year. It would be much too dangerous to try to navigate the rocky terrain in the rain and dark.

  I sped to the sign, down shifted and took a hard left into the parking lot. I shifted my bike into neutral, pocketed my key and took off for the woods.

  I again didn’t think about what I was doing. It was pitch black and I was entering the woods, a place that frightened me enough during the daylight, let alone this time of night. And a lunatic, who claimed that both he and I were vampires, was on my tail. Leading him into the woods probably wasn’t the brightest idea.

  I quickly ascended the wooden stairs built into the earth. The staircase turned into a dirt path that I somehow climbed without much difficulty and without winding myself. The path led to a tall wall of conglomerate rock carved by glaciers millions of years earlier. The whole wooded park was full of rock ledges and outcroppings of the same stone, hence the park’s name. I paused and pushed my hot body against the cool, moist wall. It was a welcome relief against my searing flesh. I listened but couldn’t hear anyone behind me. Maybe Vincent didn’t see me turn off the road. Or maybe he was waiting for me in the parking lot.

  I kept climbing up the path which eventually turned into smooth stone surrounded by crevices cut deep into the earth and rock formations protruding toward the sky. I effortlessly leapt over a wide crevice, walked a few feet and found a clearing in the trees. The moon shone brightly above, not quite full. The sky was dark with scattered rain clouds looming low. Stars dotted the clear patches of sky.

  I sat down and let my mind wander. I couldn’t understand why Vincent would make such a statement, why he would claim to be a vampire and tell me I was one too. He had to be nuts. That was the only explanation. Then again, over the past few days, he had been trying to point out similarities between the two of us. Was it just coincidence that we were both cold during the day and boiling hot at night? He was much colder and hotter than me though, so what did that mean? Surely it was a coincidence how pale we both were. We lived in Ohio after all, not the sunniest of locations. And considering the weather this summer, it was near impossible for anyone to catch any sun. There were also the strange sleeping habits, but we weren’t the only two in this world with insomnia. And why would he do this to me now, so soon after my accident? My life was starting to feel normal again and I was falling back into my life and my memory was returning. Why would he want to disrupt that with such an offhanded story?

  My mind drifted, and drifted, and drifted until I thought of nothing at all. I lay on the cool stone, hands behind my head and lost track of time as I stared at the craters in the moon.

  “Allison,” I heard Vincent whisper from the dark. My body stiffened. Maybe if I didn’t move or say anything, he would go away.

  Moments passed, and then I heard, “I can see you.”

  I tried looking around without moving my head. Maybe he would think I was asleep.

  “I know you are awake.”

  “Lucky guess since I don’t sleep much these days,” I responded sarcastically.

  Vincent emerged, his blue silvery eyes beacons against the darkness. His eyes reminded me of fire flies that fill the air of summer nights.

  “Allison, let me explain please. Let me tell you your story.”

  “My story?” I sat up. “You talk as if you have known me my whole life.”

  “I have,” he replied. “And I knew your mother Mary, her mother Camille, your great grandfather Peter, his mother Eleanor, her father Cyrus…”

  “Great, so you did a little digging on my family history. What’s your point?” I snapped.

  “I know them because my brothers and sister have watched them, and the rest of your lineage for…well, let’s just say a very long time.” His voice was calm and smooth, his eyes steady.

  “I have had enough of your bull!” I shouted and stood up. “What do you want from me?”

  “I don’t want anything from you. But you do need me. Do you want to know what your dream means or how it ends?” Vincent’s eyes glowed as he slowly approached me. He appeared quite confident and the cockiness rubbed me the wrong way.

  “Oh, yes, please clue me in on what my dreams are trying to tell me,” I sarcastically responded, flailing an arm in the air.

  “Allison, please sit down and I’ll tell you the rest of the story.”

  Though it was dark outside, I could see all of Vincent’s features in perfect clarity. His high cheekbones were illuminated by the moonlight; his clear blue eyes glowed like gemstones, the glints of gold slowly dancing in circles around his pupils and his lips rosy red against the pale canvas of his skin. As much as I wanted to, I just couldn’t resist him right now.

  Vincent held my arms as I slowly descended to the ground. “You feel quite feverish,” he whispered as he knelt next to me. “Are you feeling well?”

  “I’m fine,” I muttered. “Tell me what you think you know about my dreams.”

  “What do you recall from your dreams,” Vincent asked.

  “You tell me; apparently you already know what I dream about.”

  “True.” He paused. “Then tell me what you know about vampires.”

  I huffed. “Well, let’s see, Vincent. Vampires are mythical creatures that don’t exist in reality,” I said, staring straight into his eyes. “They prey on humans to sustain themselves and don’t like garlic, holy water, stakes through the heart, sunlight or holy ground. Did I
miss anything?”

  Vincent chuckled, a low growl billowing in his chest. “I see you’ve watched one too many vampire movies; your facts are all wrong.”

  “Yeah, well enlighten me, please,” I responded flatly.

  “Let’s try this. What do you know about how the vampire came to be; how the first vampire was created?” Vincent asked as he looked sternly into my eyes. He was serious.

  I mockingly placed my index finger on my chin and looked up in the air. “Hmm, let me see…I got nothing. Apparently Hollywood hasn’t covered that topic.”

  “Hmm,” Vincent hummed as he looked my face over with amusement. He was so beautiful in the pale moonlight. “I’ll just start at the beginning. Do you know where you are in your dream?”

  “No.”

  “Any idea?” His face hovered close to mine and a rush of desire ran over me, but I restrained myself. I couldn’t figure out what it was that drew me to him. I had to turn my head and look away from his captivating eyes. “The perfect garden, filled with every type of vegetation possible. Every animal exists there in peace.” He whispered the words close to my neck, sending a chill over my otherwise blazing hot skin. Vincent studied my face, looking for a sign that I had some inkling that I knew what he was talking about.

  “I haven’t the faintest idea,” I whispered, “but can you please get to the point?” I stated with slight irritation hoping he would back away. It didn’t work.

  “Ever hear of the Garden of Eden?” He was still searching my face, still breathing on my neck.

  I turned to face him. “Of course I have. Twelve years of Catholic school will teach you a thing or two about the Bible,” I snipped. “Are you trying to tell me that I’m dreaming about the Garden of Eden? The place doesn’t exist.” I scooted away, attempting to put some distance between us.

  “Actually, it did. But the Bible doesn’t tell you that; it allows you to believe it is a contrived place, created to illustrate the point of man’s original sin. There are other things that have been left out of the Bible as well.”

  “Oh yeah? Like what?”

  “Well, since your education versed you so well on the book of Genesis,” Vincent smirked and moved closer, “I’ll just give you some of the highlights. You know the story of Adam and Eve and how they ate fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which the Lord forbade them from doing, right?”

  “Yes, of course. The Lord came down and kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden.”

  “That’s right,” Vincent said. “When doing that, the Lord also damned the serpent that had tempted Eve. Do you recall what that damnation entailed?”

  I strained my mind, but the details weren’t there. “No, I don’t remember that much.”

  “So much for that pricey Catholic education.” He was obviously amused. This was fun for him. “The Lord damned the serpent to a miserable life on earth and placed a permanent rift between it and man so that the serpent could never use its persuasion over mankind again.”

  “Yeah, that sounds familiar,” I said, still trying to recall my days of Bible study.

  “Adam and Eve forfeited eternal life, for themselves and all of mankind, and were forced to toil in the field for survival. In this new home,” he dwelled on the word, “they had two sons.”

  “Yeah, yeah – Cain and Abel.”

  “And do you know their story?” Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly pleased I recalled their names.

  “Cain was jealous of the success Abel was enjoying in his labors and the praise he received from the Lord and Cain killed Abel. But this is all written in the Bible.”

  “You are right on both points. But the story omitted from the Bible is what Cain did next,” Vincent snarled close to my ear.

  My curiosity peaked. I shifted my body to face Vincent.

  “Cain was so wrought with guilt over killing his brother that he didn’t know what to do. He asked the Lord and his family for forgiveness, and it was granted, but he couldn’t forgive himself. He did not know how to live with himself for what he had done and yet he didn’t have the courage to end his own life. He could not inflict that additional grief upon his mother, father and wife. So Cain decided to leave, to wander, to try to clear his mind. He wasn’t sure where he was going or what he was looking for, he just needed some time away.

  “Cain wandered until he came upon a garden…you know the one. He had never seen this place before, but he felt drawn to it. He entered the tropical paradise and felt peace; he felt at home, like he belonged there. Do you ever have that feeling when you dream of this place?”

  I absentmindedly nodded my head. I longed to dream of this garden because of the sense of calm and tranquility it bestowed upon me, for the sense of contentment I felt after exploring this paradise.

  “I thought so. Cain spent time just wandering through the garden, smelling the flowers, listening to the birds, watching the animals, until he was drawn forward by…”

  “The sound of water,” I murmured.

  “Yes. The sound of the water drew Cain forward until he reached a clearing. You know what he saw then, don’t you?”

  It was apparent Vincent enjoyed telling this story. Or maybe he was enjoying the attention I was now giving him. Either way, the thrill seemed to illuminate his eyes even more.

  “Yes, the crazy, misplaced lights glittering from the other side of the garden!” I leaned in.

  “Mmm hmm,” Vincent replied in an encouraging hum. “Then what?”

  “The stranger, I mean Cain, made his way to the tree with the sparkling fruit.”

  “Yes, but Cain did not realize it was the tree that his parents had eaten from and which had caused them, and all of mankind, to be banished from that garden for all of eternity and denied any chance at eternal life.”

  “Oh, no,” I exclaimed. I didn’t realize Vincent’s hand was on my shoulder as my dream flashed through my head, clear as day. I saw Cain and the serpent speaking at the tree and I instantly knew what happened as I could now hear the entire conversation, unlike my muted dream. “He was tempted by the serpent, just like his mother!”

  “Yes, only this time there were more devastating consequences. After biting the apple, Cain fell to the ground as poison flowed through his veins. The serpent slithered to his side and whispered in his ear that he could save Cain, but only if Cain promised to carry out his work on earth. If he did not agree, Cain would die.”

  I leaned in closer, as if that would speed the story.

  “Cain, fearing death, agreed without knowing all of the details of the contract he was about to sign in his blood. The serpent struck Cain in the neck, the venom permanently changing him, bestowing upon him the eternal life his parents threw away. Only this wasn’t the eternal life that the Lord had promised Adam and Eve. This was a damned existence on earth. Sure the serpent and his new disciple could not exercise their persuasion over mankind like the snake had with Adam and Eve…the Lord had prevented that. But that didn’t stop the serpent from inflicting pain on mankind, stealing its souls and committing them to eternal damnation.”

  Vincent paused for effect. I was enamored by the story and the smooth voice that told it. It was quite an interesting tale and if true, clearly apparent why it wasn’t included in the Bible. Such truths, if known to man, would inflict vast fear. But then it hit me - this could be just a tall tale. Vincent could be feeding me a line, a piece of fiction conjured up in his mind. But I couldn’t imagine why he would do that. I also couldn’t imagine what his point was with all of this.

  “Well that’s a great story,” I said, “but what does any of this have to do with me? You said earlier that this was, and I quote, my story.” I made air quotes with my fingers for added effect.

  “I will get to that; I wanted to give you some time to absorb that piece of history.”

  I snorted. History, huh? Vincent continued.

  “Cain didn’t know what he had signed up for at first. He was in so much pain from the poison in his sys
tem that he didn’t realize the serpent had bitten his neck. Cain lay on the ground for several hours, maybe even days, first turning icy cold,” Vincent paused on those words, “then turning fiery hot.” He paused again. “When he woke, he felt parched and set out in the garden towards the river to drink the sweet liquid. On his way to the river, a pack of gazelles crossed his path. A sensation rushed over Cain like nothing he ever felt before. It stirred in his stomach like a fireball and spread its way over his entire body. He had no control over his next actions as he broke into a sprint, running as fast as the wind, springing on the slowest creature in the pack. He sunk his teeth into the animal’s throat and devoured its blood.”

  I gasped. Vincent was quite the storyteller, his face animated as he spoke of Cain’s urge and how he attacked his prey. He was now on his feet, throwing his arms in the air for added drama.

  “The warm liquid provided temporary relief. The dryness that occupied his throat was gone...for the moment, at least. Cain came out of his haze and looked down at the carcass that was his meal. He was confused, unsure of what had just happened. He decided to head home and on his way there, the fire in his belly began to burn again. He sat on a rock to rest, only to look up and see a whitetail deer. The deer did not sense Cain as the creature could not smell him. A now familiar sensation overcame Cain and he sprang and took that creature as he had taken the gazelle.

  “Confused by his actions, Cain wandered towards home. As he approached his village, he saw his wife washing laundry in the river. Cain began to run towards her, and then felt the dreaded feeling. The inferno came alive in his core as a sweet perfume – his wife’s scent – tickled his nose. This time Cain realized what was about to happen. If he approached his wife, she would surely suffer the same fate as the gazelle and the deer.

  “Cain, feeling deeply ashamed, knew he could never return home. He wasn’t sure he could keep his wife or the rest of his family safe from the threat he had become. He somehow resisted her sweet scent and exiled himself.”