by Mark Stewart
AMBER AND Haleton marched across the road before running down a few more side streets. A single storey building loomed out of the swirling mist three minutes from the cemetery. They jumped the metre-high wire fence and surveyed the grounds.
The area seemed whisper quiet.
Holding Amber's hand, Haleton led the way around to the other side of the building where they discovered two windows. One was open; the other appeared smashed.
The first room they looked in resembled a squatter's paradise. A folded yellowing newspaper lay on the dust covered floorboards in the corner under a stack of four chairs.
"I sure hope we were successful in our endeavor to hide our tracks?" mentioned Amber.
"I think it's safe to say we made a clean get away."
"Maybe we should watch the outside world for a few more minutes."
"If it will put your mind at ease?" said Haleton.
Amber craned her neck to look out the window at the abandoned school grounds. "I can't see past the thick bush, covering the window. The next room might have been the perfect pick."
"Then let's move to the next room," suggested Haleton.
He walked to the door and found it locked. He led Amber over to the window and helped her scramble outside.
The second room looked to be the same as the first. Amber stuck her nose out of the broken window pane to study the surrounding area.
The white fog started to lift. The first rays of the sun were warming the air making the birds chirp. Amber noticed movement not far from the school, but a medium sized native tree prevented her from seeing past it.
She sighed at an over-zealous dog leaping from behind the tree as it led the female jogger towards the school oval. Amber turned away from the window to look at Haleton.
"All clear on the security guard front," she reported.
"Good."
"This room appears to be a derelict," she said.
"Yes, it is."
"You sound over positive." queried Amber. "How can you be so sure?"
"This is the exact piece of land a ten storey building will be buikt in 2012."
"You know this from your trips into the future?"
"Yes. I asked the locals what was here before the building. They assured me the land had been set aside for a school. The government in their wisdom sold the land due to the drop in enrolments of the area."
"Why did you need to know the history of the land a building will be built on?"
"The tenth floor belonged to you."
"Me!"
"Don't sound so shocked. You are a very successful business-woman."
"Tell me, what sort of business will I be into?"
"Maybe I shouldn't say."
Amber stood square to Haleton, pushing her hands onto her hips. "I think I have the right to know."
Haleton remained deep in thought for several moments before buckling. "The tenth floor is designated for your medical surgery. The office has a great view. There's an endless queue in the waiting room. Your appointment books to every one of the twelve rooms are full."
"I made it through my studies?"
"Yes. You graduated top of your class."
Amber started to shake her head. "This is too much to handle all at the same time."
Haleton stepped to her side, cradling her in his arms. "I know how you feel. It is a hard thing to digest."
"You've certainly got that right," said Amber.
"Tomorrow when everything has settled down I'm sure you'll be able to make sense of it all." Haleton took hold of Amber's hand and walked her over to a bench. "I don't want to interrupt your analysis of me, but I need your help in reading the cloth. The clock is ticking."
Amber watched Haleton unfold the material and gently place it on the bench. "The material sure looks old," she said.
"Yes, old and fragile. At the top left-hand corner of the cloth, what remains of an emblem appears to have been stamped into the material."
"To me, it looks like a drawing of a ring the priest wore. The letters were written in black ink. What a shame the letters are almost completely faded," reported Amber.
"If it weren't for my vampire senses I'd have difficulty in reading what it says."
Amber looked sideways at Haleton. Her eyebrows angled to a point. Her voice sounded full of doubt. "You can read them?"
"Yes, I can."
"What does it say?"
"Haleton, if you are reading this, I'm happy for you. The antidote has been written on a website to help preserve it. To open the website, you need to have a password. '777.' I can't say anything more in case Crompton finds the antidote and changes the formula. You'll work it out. 'P.T.M.'"
Amber straightened her back. "What do the three initials stand for?"
"At a guess, I'd say Macularta."
"How could a priest from 1749AD know about a website? It's all too coincidental."
"What are you trying to say?"
"All this business of antidotes to a vampire curse and the like; have you set me up?" questioned Amber.
"No. I'd never do such a horrible thing."
"I'm fighting against those doubt ideas again," admitted Amber.
Haleton turned from the face of the only woman he ever wanted to love. He knew it would be impossible for her to believe the tale of the blood red rose. How could he blame her? He and Amber were from two completely different times. He'd probably feel the same if the tables had been turned. He hated the notion she might never love him back. How he loathed the curse the council of four bestowed upon him. He'll never understand why they did such a horrific thing.
Haleton placed the scroll on the bench and started to walk out of the room.
Amber grabbed him by the arm. "Don't you dare to even contemplate walking off on me?"
Haleton growled his warning.
"You can't scare me off so easily mister."
"Leave me alone."
Haleton pulled away and was at the door to the room before Amber could blink. He pushed the door off its hinges and followed the air-borne door into the corridor.
Amber found her hero pacing the corridor on her right. She walked up to him, standing in his path. "William, you didn't answer my question."
Shaking his head, Haleton chuckled.
"You think all this is funny?"
"No not in the least."
"If you're telling me the truth, I think you should let me in on the joke."
"If I don't laugh at this horrendous vampire curse it will send me insane."
Amber shrugged. "I can only imagine."
"You are indeed a stubborn woman."
"I'd call it; determined."
"Are you saying you want to be near me? To be my friend?" asked Haleton.
"I want to be by your side forever. I just need time to understand."
Both Amber and Haleton stared at the other. Both chuckled at the same time.
"Please, I need to know one thing; is this whole mess you're in on the level or am I being set up for a movie?"
"I wish it were a setup," replied Haleton.
"I think you should explain it to me."
"The vampire antidote has been handed down through the generations by someone other than Macularta. The unknown person obviously placed the information on a website."
"You don't sound too convincing."
"I'm at a loss to understand it myself," confessed Haleton.
"For now, let me say I agree. I'm sure in time the truth will be discovered. I think we should focus on the task at hand."
The pair walked back to the room side by side. Haleton gave Amber an awkward smile before holding the small piece of square canvas at eye level. "Amber, please be a gem and shine the torchlight on the words."
The moment the light lit the surface of the material, Haleton stood staring at the words he'd overlooked.
"Buried with me is the answer you seek. Find the book called; 'The Blood Red Rose.' You must read the last line standing at the altar after you have swallowed
the antidote; 777."
Haleton carefully rolled the canvas up placing it gently into his coat pocket. He checked his watch. "Three hours remaining. We have to go."
"I'm not going anywhere with you. I've decided I need a straight answer, right now."
"I can't give you one. To answer your questions, I have to show you."
"I need something more than to be shown," said Amber. The tone of her voice didn't side on attack or defend; it lay somewhere in the middle. "Please, tell me everything about this supposed vampire curse. I'm confused about my feelings for you. I need to settle all this in my heart before we go any further."
"I don't think you could cope."
"Thank you. I've heard everything I need to know."
Haleton watched Amber walk away. He stood at the window long after she left the room. His spirit dropped to its lowest point he'd ever known. He could feel another bout of depression setting in. He opened the material he found at the grave and read the note again. It revealed nothing new. He felt helpless as he came to the realization he had just lost the love of a wonderful young woman. He'd been too wrapped up in himself to be aware she'd thrown herself at his feet and more than willing to wear the entire consequences of the curse. He'd unknowingly fallen to the rules of the curse yet again.
"What an exciting moment."
Haleton whirled around. "Crompton."
"You make for a touching scene."
"What would you know? I thought when you disappeared you were out of time and gone for good."
"Sorry to disappoint," taunted Crompton. "I've mastered the art of dematerializing at will. It takes practice. I'm more than willing to teach you. Here, I brought you a present. Call it a make-up gift." He threw Craig Benyon at Haleton's feet, growling. "We'll drink his blood together. It'll be you and me. I can guarantee we will be transported into the same year. Together we'll be unstoppable. William, let the idea sink deep into your brain. Take my advice, forget the girl. Together we can have any woman we want. Picture this, in a matter of a short amount of time our gang will increase. Once we rid the world of every evil soul, nothing will stop us. We'll go from thirteen to three hundred then on to millions of unstoppable vampires. Tell me, who can stop us?"
"I can guess every so often an innocent life will be wasted," hissed Haleton.
"It's part of the course."
"You can have the whole idea to yourself. I refuse to be a part of your evil plans. I'll have it known I'm devoting my entire life to track and destroy every one of your gang. Once I've reached my goal, I'll be looking for you."
"We can't be defeated. We are immortal," Crompton spat.
"I'll uncover the answer to the antidote, become mortal and change you back into a mortal. I will see to it your lifeline is severed."
"I forgive you yet again for your vain outburst. Come, William Haleton, let's drink of the Benyon mortal."
Crompton marched over. Lifting Craig off his feet by the collar, he studied the trembling man. "Fear has invaded half his brain already. His jugular vein is protruding nicely. Haleton put him out of his misery."
"You know nothing about misery."
"True. The council of four did me a favour when they changed me into a vampire."
Haleton grabbed hold of Craig, throwing him out into the corridor. "Go, you're free. Run harder than the wind blows in a storm. Run-like you've never run before. Go, find Amber and run home. Whatever you do don't look back."
Craig looked at Haleton through half closed eyes, waiting for the insane laugh which should have accompanied the command. He hesitated only long enough to understand the door at the end of the corridor was his only means of escape. He blinked at the man who stood at the window. In a quick turn, he started a stumbling run down the corridor to the outside.
Crompton's eyes narrowed, trying to stare Haleton down.
"You'll pay dearly for mocking me."
Crompton moved to capture Benyon one more time.
Haleton cut him off at the door, allowing Craig enough time to burst into the brightening outside light.
"Get out of my way," growled Crompton. He lifted his arm to sweep the blockage from his path.
"I will not have you harm one of my friends. Remember this cousin, one day our paths will intersect again. When that day comes, I will have my revenge. It will be your day of reckoning."
Crompton hissed and bared his long eyeteeth, flashing Haleton a wild dirty look.
"If I still had plenty of time I'd fight you right now. I must join my gang." He pointed a long finger at Haleton. "I believe one day we will face off."
"I look forward to it."
Crompton disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN