by Atha, DL
As a human, I had only been able to see a blur of movement but not what was creating it. I could now follow Asa completely with my eyes. I watched as he overtook the detective in a quick second and with what looked like barely a touch, Michael was thrown to the ground, making a complete revolution and landing on his side.
Digging his fingers into the ground to get traction, Michael pushed up, regaining his footing, only to be thrown down again, this time hitting his head when he went down, a small rivulet of blood snaking its way down his forehead where it had made contact with a rock. Appearing slightly confused and glancing furtively around to see his attacker, Michael didn’t try to get up immediately but reached for the gun that had been thrown from his grasp.
From my position against the trees, I could see the beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead. A couple had made their way down to his temple and were about to drop onto the ground below. I tried to focus on one of the beads of sweat, but it was impossible to look away from the blood. Sweet but not too sweet, I knew he wasn’t a diabetic, and the fear added a nice spice. I now understood what Asa had been talking about and as I watched, I saw Asa slide by him and run his finger through the trickle of blood on his way to a nearby tree.
And I saw red. The red on Asa’s finger as he turned towards me and, smiling, licked the lovely liquid off of his finger, swirling his tongue around it for emphasis. But I was jealous and angry at Asa because he had gotten the blood and I hadn’t and I wanted it.
Smiling at me from his position high in one of the old oak trees, I could only watch him, trying to keep my expression bland and not let on how much I wanted to run my finger through Michael’s blood too.
Asa’s touch on his forehead had pushed the poor detective over the edge and I turned back to him just as he fired his gun wildly overhead. Dropping down face first onto the ground, I hadn’t come this far just to get shot accidentally, I covered my ears as the noise of the shot was deafening. So deafening that it brought on a wave of nausea followed by a rush of anger so intense, images of killing the detective raced through my mind.
Luckily for us both, Michael had scrambled to his feet and had made it back to his truck. I listened as he jerked the door open and pulled himself into the seat, closing it quickly behind him and jamming his finger down on the lock button. Not wasting any time, he was revving the motor up before he had even gotten it in gear and I could hear the gears grinding as he pulled out of the woods on to the dirt road, clipping the edge of my fence as he went.
Laying there in the dirt, I tried in vain to bring my emotions under control before Asa noticed. Conversion was not a pretty process and the emotional instability alone was pure hell.
It’s a known fact that more violent crimes are committed when humans are more irritable, such as in heat waves or overcrowding, and right now I was the one who was irritated. The noise had been deafening and even after the sound waves of the gunshot had dissipated, every nerve in my body was still vibrating with anger and pain.
It was in that moment that Michael’s smell in combination with my own rage brought images to my mind that were appalling in every way. I could see my teeth cutting down to Michael’s pulsating arteries. His hot blood spurting up to run between my teeth and course down my throat.
I could see my hands holding him down, the blood running between my fingers, staining my fingernails as I forced him to lay still, drinking the life right out of him. I could see his eyes beginning to glaze over, and even knowing I was killing him in my night dream, I didn’t stop the images running through my mind. And I knew that if he had really been lying beside me in the dirt, I wouldn’t have stopped until I had killed him.
My body started to rise of its own accord. I could catch Michael, I was sure of it. I would have him tonight. His scent danced on my tongue and every impulse begged me to pursue him.
Starting to get up, I could see Asa in my line of vision. I knew I would have to share Michael. That image finally broke my violent train of thought. Michael’s smell was just beginning to dissipate on the breeze, which helped to clear my mind, bringing me back to a more normal state of mind.
Disgusted at what I knew I was now capable of, I lay back in the dirt wondering how I had ever come to be in the situation where I would crave another person’s blood.
As I lay there considering my fate in this life, Asa nearly flew over to me, laughing as he landed beside me in the dirt. “That was fantastic, Annalice. Conjuring up that kind of terror in your lesser species never gets old. Could you see the look on his face from over here?”
“My lesser species? Your arrogance is impressive. Lesser because we lack your strength and speed, or lesser because we lack your need to kill? I think, Asa,” I paused, turning to lie on my belly and look at him, “that you might be the lesser species. Yeah, you’re stronger, faster, and prettier, but your self-control is lacking. And how about that death by sunlight thing? Tell me, Asa, does that make you superior to us?”
Flipping over onto his belly in one rapid movement to join me in deep conversation, the smile on his face was wholly sadistic, but still undeniably breathtaking.
“My superiority is unquestionable. The mere fact I will never die is proof enough. Your species can die from most anything and yet the only thing that can touch me is the sun. And as for my lack of self-control, your species has nothing comparable to mine. Humans can barely resist a Twinkie and yet I have managed to keep you alive for nearly an entire week despite my insatiable thirst for blood. And you speak of self-control. It is laughable when I look around at this entire culture. Let me just say that America has not improved over the last one hundred and fifty years.”
Lying together on the ground as the wind picked up ever so slightly causing the leaves of the old oak trees to rattle above us, we stared at each other. The full-blooded cruel vampire and the fledgling half-vampire struggling to hold on to life and humanity at the same time. The scent of blood swirled around in the air. That of Michael and Asa mingled together. My mouth watered and I licked my lips. His lips, only inches away from mine, opened in quiet laughter.
“See, perfect case in point. I am planning on killing you and knowing that, you still want me. Your self-control is pitiful.”
Rolling my eyes, I looked away to break the intensity of his eyes. “You think too highly of yourself, Asa. I’m just hungry. This pitiful lesser human is hungry. So if you’re through playing games with us humans, could we go eat?” I demanded, trying to put some sarcasm in my voice.
“What are you hungry for?” he asked, his voice low and seductive. Having a moment of fear that he knew I wanted his blood, I was relieved when I picked up on the lustful tone in his voice.
“Food. You know, like steak, fries, pork and beans, bread.” I was partially lying. The steak sounded OK but the rest of it nearly made me gag just at the thought. “I’m not hungry for you, Asa,” I retorted, sneering at him slightly as I got up.
“Then by all means, let us go and find you, the lesser species, something to eat.” He was on his feet already and grinning broadly at me. It occurred to me that he seemed unnaturally happy for him tonight.
“You seem almost happy tonight? Not your usual grim self. Has something happened?” I asked, as he swung me up in his arms. Streaking away towards the house, he didn’t answer until we were back on the porch.
“Change is in the air I think,” he noted when we landed gracefully on the front steps. Looking up at him, he took a deep breath inhaling deeply and so I nonchalantly did the same thing, but the air held only the sweet smell of his blood.
Of course, I could smell the horses and the cow and I noticed for the first time how wonderful the new shoots of green grass smelled, but in comparison to him, those smells were weak. I certainly didn’t smell any change.
Looking at him inquisitively, he raised his eyebrows at me and flashed me another smile. Shrugging my shoulders at him, I turned and walked into the house. This was very strange behavior, even for him.
/> Normally I would have grabbed a coat to go out this time of year and even though I no longer needed one, I wanted to appear normal to Asa, so I grabbed one of my lighter jackets as I walked by the coat rack on my way out to my car.
Feeling Asa trailing behind me, he was in the car by the time I opened my door and slipped into the driver’s seat.
twelve
Trying my hardest to drive at the speed limit, I struggled to keep my foot from slamming on the gas pedal. Hunger gnawed at me. I could feel it wrapping around my stomach, clawing through my skin to get out.
I headed to the steakhouse that we had skipped out on the other night, knowing it would only partially satisfy me. Not normally a steak lover, it was the only food that sounded even remotely good to me.
Trying to focus on something, anything to keep my mind off my insatiable hunger, I thought about the detective, being careful not to think about his smell. Pretty sure that I had him pegged correctly, I was now even more certain he would be back. He would be spooked but not so much that it would shake his gut feeling about this case. After the events of tonight, I could probably expect a visit from him tomorrow, although nothing that had happened tonight would have any substance in the light of the day.
Pulling into the parking lot, I glanced surreptitiously around but didn’t see any cars I recognized so I nodded to Asa and we both got out of the car. Meeting him on the other side of the vehicle, we walked towards the short staircase leading to the front door. I could smell the beef, from outside and I was glad I had chosen the steakhouse. It would at least help a little with some of the cravings.
Just off to my right, a middle-aged couple had parked and were walking towards the door. Clear to me that we were going to intersect, I veered off to the left not wanting to come into contact with them at all. But Asa had other ideas and he reached out and pulled me up against his side, whispering into my ear, “Let us take them together. They have a nice enough smell. It could be fun, you know, if you would just let it.”
I’m embarrassed to say that it took a few seconds for my mind to react with a definite no. In that short amount of time, I could picture what their fear would do to the beating of their hearts and to their smell. The desire must have shown in my face because I heard a wicked-sounding low laugh in my ear.
“See, I am growing on you, Annalice,” he whispered again, “You could become a killer so easy.”
“Go to hell,” I whispered back into the air, certain he would hear me.
“I will, Annalice. I cannot escape it. Someday when this hell I live every day is over. The problem for you is that I may take you with me.” Not sure what he meant, I questioned him with my eyes, but he said nothing more.
We waited in silence for a table and our waiter arrived a few minutes later to seat us. The restaurant was a pretty popular place even on weeknights and there were very few open tables. I spotted one at the very back and asked the waiter if we could sit there. He smiled and nodded a yes and led the way as Asa and I followed.
We had just arrived at the table and a young brunette waitress had already dropped off a mini-loaf of rye bread and some warmed honey butter. Taking a knife, I cut off a sizeable hunk and spread it generously with the butter. Asa, of course, being uninterested in food didn’t mind I had nearly taken the entire loaf. The bread wasn’t very appealing to me, but I was determined to avoid any suspicion from him.
“So you don’t eat or drink anything besides blood?” I asked as I bit into the bread. Looking at me as if I were stupid, he didn’t answer the question. “Well how am I supposed to know? Maybe vampires eat, maybe they don’t. I’ve seen it both ways on the movies. Why don’t you let me in on the secrets?” Taking another bite of the bread, I waited for his answer.
“Are you interested in another deal?” His quiet voice startled me as I had convinced myself he wasn’t going to answer.
“What’s the deal?” I asked suspiciously.
He smiled at me somewhat menacingly before he spoke. “You spend tomorrow night with me as I truly am, a vampire au natural, and tonight you can ask me any and as many questions as you want. And I will answer them all, with the exception of one, truthfully and completely.”
I thought this over for a moment staring at the loaf of bread, the reality of what he was suggesting sinking in slowly. He wanted me to help him kill a human. No, I couldn’t do that. Not even to save my own life, much less to get a few answers to my questions.
Looking up at him, I found him watching me closely with that less-than-human look on his face and I expected the worst. “What is it you really want?” I asked between gritted teeth. “You know that I won’t help you kill anyone.”
Leaning forward on the table with his arms, he looked at me for a long moment before he spoke. “If I take a life tomorrow night, it will be regardless of whether you are there or not. You will not change me one way or the other. I am starting to get accustomed to your company. I have even had second thoughts on whether it will be necessary to kill you. I want the experience of being my true self before I take a companion. Something I have never even contemplated before this week.”
I should have been upset by what he was telling me but intellectually I knew this was my one and only option for the information I so desperately needed. I had only one more night after tonight
It suddenly hit me then for the first time that if I did happen to survive the vampire, how would I survive being a vampire? I didn’t know how to keep myself from getting killed. Or was it undead? How much sun could I tolerate? Could I be around my family at all? How much blood would I need?
I began to feel myself giving into the panic that was hovering on the edge of my conscious. My entire plan started to unravel in my mind. His offer was a life preserver to a drowning victim.
“Why me?” Frightened at what the answer would be, however, I couldn’t help but ask. Did he have some sixth sense that I would become a killer and fit right in with him? Could he smell something in me? Did I smell evil? I waited expectantly for the bad news that would cause me to have to end my own life. I couldn’t become a killer. Ellie would be better off if I simply vanished and died than for my transformation to leave me like him.
“As I have told you, I have only formed this relationship with a very small number of humans. As you would expect, most of my victims could not deal with the scenario they found themselves in and they did not survive. You are the only one of five to not die. Not that five is a great number, mind you, but you are the first to survive me so far. It must mean something is not right about you. I have never had more than a fleeting thought about creating a companion and I only do it now out of sheer boredom. After living over a century and a half, boredom has become my sole companion. It is refreshing to not have to pretend around you. I cannot promise that I will turn you, and you will probably curse me for creating you. But I am willing to trade the information that you seek, for whatever the reason, in exchange for your company as I really am.”
Stunned at his words, I sat there dumbly. Speechless for once, I had never considered this possibility. Could I do this? Be with him as he truly was? Did I have much of a choice? I needed the information and he was the only source. Maybe I was justifying my actions, but he would do his foul acts whether I was there or not, right? So having made the decision that I couldn’t bring myself to say, I nodded my affirmation.
The waiter had brought my dinner by now and it had been sitting in front of me getting cold while we talked. I wasn’t in the mood to talk any further for a while so, picking up my steak knife, I proceeded to eat in silence. The sirloin steak, cooked rare like I had ordered, did seem to quell some portion of the hunger I was experiencing and I ate every last bite. I followed it with three glasses of tea as I still couldn’t seem to stay hydrated.
After I finished eating, I anxiously awaited the ticket and tried to use the time to figure out what questions I should ask him and in what order I should ask them. Should I tell him about my viral theories? No, I dec
ided quickly, the less he knew, the better for me.
Our waiter was busy so it took a few minutes for him to make it to our table. Usually, I would have tried to hurry him up by staring at him until he came, but tonight I kept my eyes down, not wanting any extra attention. It was safer for the young man that way.
Despite the fact I was anxious to begin the litany of questions I had for him, I dreaded returning to the prison of my home. Isolation was taking its toll on me. Even being out in public at a restaurant surrounded by a couple hundred people, it was an illusion. I knew I was still totally alone.
Finally the waiter whisked by, and as I had planned, didn’t spare me another glance, smartly slapping the ticket on the wooden table top. Getting up, I tossed a couple of twenties on the table and walked out to the car. I didn’t look back to see if Asa was following me. I could still tell he was by the constant need to look over my shoulder.
Not speaking again until we walked back into my house, the silent drive home gave me some time to arrange my thoughts. It was getting close to midnight, leaving me only about five and a half hours.
There was a lot of ground to cover. I needed to know how he was turned and by whom? What was the process? Sure that I knew at least one method of conversion, I was confident there was more than one way, and quite possibly some variability in the timeline. There must be a way to speed the process up and that knowledge was a priority. Next on my list of priorities was how to actually survive as a vampire. Supposing I were able to kill him, I would be alone, helpless like a child.
A sudden thought flashed in my mind causing me to pause in mid thought. If he willingly turned me, would I even have to worry about this? Could I really go on and kill him since he hadn’t technically killed me? I mean, sure, I would be a vampire, but I would still be in some part of the world of the living. At least, I was trying to convince myself I would. My mind raced through twenty different algorithms at this new thought, but as interesting as the idea was, I knew in my heart the end result would be the same. I could never be his companion as long as Ellie needed me. He would hardly create a companion just to share her with a child. But did that mean that he necessarily had to die? Maybe we could part on good terms when we were equal. Yeah, it was a pipe dream.