Being Human (28 page)

****

My niece and her friends were walking along the illuminated sidewalks, laughing and chatting. They made no effort to be quiet, their voices bouncing between the houses, unafraid of the night. I slowed my pace as I approached, clinging to shadows as I searched for the dangers I knew were hidden in the dark.

One girl paused and turned, a whiff of fear drifted through the air. “You guys, I thought I saw something move in the shadows.”

“It’s probably nothing,” my niece replied in a confident voice. For a split second, her eyes stopped on me, but she gave no indication if she saw me in the darkness. “My family wouldn’t let me walk at night if they knew I wasn’t safe.”

The humans resumed walking, my niece leading the way. As they neared a house, a shadow broke free, taking the form of a staggering human. A click sounded as a voice growled a threat. “Gimme all your…”

I cut the human off, slamming him into the ground, then throwing him against a telephone pole. The tantalizing aroma of blood filled the air and I dragged a breath in. Need roared through me and my injuries throbbed. A hint of desire tingled as I grabbed the human. Why had I waited so long to hunt? I could barely remember the confusing emotions of the day or the rage at the human for threatening my niece.

A noise made my head snap up and a growl rumbled in my throat. My niece and her friends were huddled nearby. They screamed, my niece’s the loudest, when I locked eyes with them. They scrambled back the way they came, still screaming. Around me, lights flared to life, doors flying open.

I dropped the human and disappeared into the shadows, stopping once I was in the safety of the woods. There, I fought with my emotions, pushing the hunger, need and desire back until I was in control. When the sky started to lighten, I headed home.

My niece was waiting for me. She planted her hands on her hips and scowled deeply. “Why?”

“Isn’t that my question?” I asked with slight amusement.

She didn’t laugh or smile. “Why did you force your will on me and make me scream? You made it look like I was afraid of you and I’m not. I’m not afraid or ashamed that I know you.”

“Neither was my brother,” I replied. “He wasn’t ashamed of me and he let humans know. They shunned him for it and that’s what the humans will do to you if they know you talk to a vampire. They’ll hate you as much as they hate me. I won’t let that happen to you.”

“But you saved us.” she countered. “That man had a gun and could have shot us, but you stopped him. We shouldn’t fear someone who saves us, we should thank you.”

“I was going to kill him in front of you.”

“I don't care.”

“You should. You should understand what I am and what it means.”

“I know what you are!”

“No, you don't.”

“Fine!” She threw her hands up. “What does being a vampire mean to you?”

“Being a vampire means humans should fear me. You should fear me.” Bitterness welled up in me. “She does, she only sees a monster that kills humans. I'm more than that, I know, but sometimes I wish I wasn't. Then it'd be simple. I wouldn't care about any humans, wouldn't get confused when I only want to understand.”

“Uncle.” Her voice turned soft. She placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me into a tight hug.

“You never shudder when you touch me,” I said softly.

“That’s because the only thing you are to me is my uncle.”

“You’d never think I was a monster, even if I killed a human in front of you?”

“No, but, I admit, I would appreciate it if you didn’t kill someone in front of me.”

“I won’t kill someone in front of you then.”

“Thanks.” She lightly laughed and stepped back, her eyes wandering over me. Her skin paled as she touched a finger to my cheek and pain throbbed. “Uncle, what happened? Your skin is shredded.”

“I forced my way into her home and it ripped my skin pushing through the energy.”

The rest of the color drained from her face. “Will you be okay? Do you need blood to heal?”

“I’ll be fine, I’ve had worse injures.”

“I don’t think I want to see worse,” she replied, then held out her wrist. “Will my blood help?”

A long forgotten memory slid to the surface at the sight of the pulse throbbing under her skin. Her scent filled my nose, still as sweet and powerful as ever. I tried to get the smell out of my nose, but the desire glowed to life, fueled by the memories and the need to heal.

I stumbled back and raced into the fading night. I killed the first human I saw, slamming into the car and busting the front window out. Not even waiting for the car to stop, I dragged the human from the car, pulling her into the cover of the trees. I gulped every drop down greedily, letting myself fall into the desire and need. When the blood was gone, I took a moment to rein my feelings in. The desire fought, trying to control my thoughts, but my need obediently retreated to the back of my mind.

Once I felt a fragile peace of mind, I hid the body deep in the woods and piled leaves over it. I made it home as the sun broke the horizon, slamming the door and slumping against it as my energy drained away. The door to the basement felt miles away and a thought whispered I should have buried myself in the ground.

“Uncle!” My niece rushed to my side. “Are you okay? You’re covered in blood.”

“Don’t touch me,” I whispered. “Stay away, please.”

Hurt filled her eyes and she blinked the tears back. “I’ll go get Dad.”

I slid to the floor, unable to support myself. I hated the day.

“Hey, lil’ bro.” Dan knelt before me. “What has you up here during the day?”

“I got home late,” I whispered.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just want to get underground. It's so hot, how do you stand it?”

Dan smiled gently. “It doesn't feel hot to me. I'm gonna have to carry you, is that okay?”

I managed a nod. His skin pulsed hot against mine as he lifted me. He moved as quickly as he could, only slowing his steps on the stairs. As we descended, the feeling was instant, the air cooling around me and caressing my skin.

I curled up in my corner. “Thanks.”

“Anytime, lil’ bro, “Dan replied. “Want to tell me what happened?”

I looked from him to my niece. “She offered to help me heal and it made me desire, so I ran and found another human.”

Dan threw her a frown, but it was gone when he looked back at me. “You just rest, lil’ bro. Mackenzie, come on, your uncle needs to rest and we have to talk.”

I didn’t even nod, already drifting away.

The day flew by quickly and when the sun set, the energy that surged through me was a relief. I made my way up to the living room, pausing in the doorway. Dan and Rissa were on the couch, watching TV. He met my gaze, then glanced up the stairs. I continued my climb until I reached my niece’s room. Desire stirred at her scent hanging in the air. I pushed it back, readied myself and knocked. The door creaked open, my niece peering around it, worry filling her face. There was only one word I knew that would let her know everything was all right.

“Acrobat.”

****

My niece sat before the large mirror in her room. Make-up was spread before her as she debated which ones to use. She selected a thin, black pencil and began applying it around her eyes. “You should go back.”

I perched on her bed, half afraid she was going to poke her eye out. “Why?”

She rolled her eyes. “In case Jamie comes back – when she comes back.”

I dropped my gaze to the floor. “She won't come back, she's afraid of me.”

My niece nudged my chin up, making me meet her smiling gaze. “How can you be so sure?”

I hated the answer. “Because she doesn't remember how I saved her.” I fiddled with a tube of makeup, switching the subject. “Do you have to go?”

She accepted the change of subject, but the smile lingered on her lips. Plucking the makeup from me, she applied the red to her lips. “No, but it's fun. Too bad you can't come.”

“I don't know how to dance.”

“Half the people who go to dances can't dance. Now let me finish getting ready.” She ushered me out the door, pausing for once last request. “Go back, Uncle, she might surprise you.”

I headed downstairs and took a seat next to Dan. He raised an eyebrow at my seated figure, then turned his attention back to the TV. A sitcom wound down, one last joke squeezed in as the end credits rolled. I used to ask what the jokes meant, trying to get a grasp on humor. Eventually I grew tired of never understanding and gave up.

Once the last credit disappeared, the news started. “Our top story tonight: Vampire Forces captured and destroyed five vampires. Footage of the torching to come. Brian has this weekend's forecast of sunny, but cool weather and Andy has the late–” A commercial replaced the newscaster, a happy and cheerful tune playing.

“Don't!” I cried. “Put it back.”

Dan flipped the channel back. “Why?”

I leaned in, staring at the screen. “I have to see if I know any of them.”

“You know other vampires?”

“There's not many of us left. We banded together, keeping our eyes open for others.”

Dan lifted an eyebrow at me. “A band of vampires?”

“Shh, it's on.”

The newscaster shuffled some papers and gazed at the camera. It felt like he was speaking to me, this story meant only for me. “Our top story, Vampire Forces captured and destroyed five vampires. Nine years ago, Vampire Forces was granted unprecedented power by Congress and the Senate to exterminate the vampire threat. With captures and torchings at an all-time low, it is believed vampires are nearly extinct. Please be warned, the video we are about to show is graphic.”

The screen changed to show five figures spaced across a platform, gagged and tied to posts. The crowd watched as five Vampire Forces officers ascended the platform with torches in hand. They touched the flames to the vampires and fire leapt to life. Muffled wails crackled through the speakers as four of the vampires struggled against the flames crawling over them. The fifth one remained silent, eyes staring defiantly as the fire crawled up her legs.

She was looking at me.

My throat felt tight, an invisible hand gripping it as sorrow welled inside me. I wanted to yell at the TV, “That's my friend; you could at least show a little remorse.”

But it was pointless. Even if they heard me, they wouldn't care.

“Tommy.” Dan’s voice was sympathetic, knowing how I felt.

“She was my friend.” My voice felt strangled, choked by emotions. “She wanted humans to understand us, to see we aren't soulless monsters and none of us wanted to murder our families. She said she always envied me for being strong enough not to kill you, but she was wrong. She was the strong one. She gathered us, kept us together and made sure we didn’t kill each other. She didn’t even have to do it to survive. Now she’s gone.”

“I'm sorry, lil’ bro.”

“It’s not fair,” I snapped. “Why can’t the humans see there’s more to vampires? I try to be more human, I rarely kill now, try to understand and do the right thing, but none of that matters, does it?” I pulled in a breath of air for the sake of it. “Why are the only
people
who see past the vampire are my family?”

All my vampire life Dan had been there for me, answering my countless questions the best he could. Most the time I didn’t understand and when I did, it was barely. Now I needed an answer more than ever, but he didn't speak. Instead, he placed an arm around my neck and hugged me.

“I know it doesn’t feel like it, but trust me, it will be all right,” he finally said.

I wanted – needed – to believe him, but I wasn’t sure I could.

A car horn blasted through the silence and my niece jumped. “That’s Mandy.” She rushed to me and planted a kiss on my cheek. “I’m sorry about your friend, Uncle. Bye Mom, bye Dad.” Then she was out the door, joining the human world.

I stood. “I'm going to rest in my cellar today.”

Dan looked like he wanted to argue, but instead gave me his cell phone. “If you need anything, press one and hit call.”

I nodded, then headed out the door and away from the human world.

Despite the night being young, I headed for my cellar. Amy's death filled my thoughts. I never told her my real name and I didn't know her real name either. The one time I asked, she shrugged and said, “Maybe Amy is my real name.”

I stopped at the edge of the clearing, Amy’s death pushed from my mind. The door to my cellar was lifted, a rope tied around the base of a tree, disappearing through the hole. Nearby, a bike leaned against a tree.

Someone had found my resting spot!

I took a cautious step forward, drawing a deep breath. Shock jolted through me, my mind filling with questions. What was she doing here? Why wasn't she at the dance with the other humans?

I jumped down, landing with a silent puff of dust. A voice gasped in fear and a bright light washed over me. I threw my arm up, instinctively shying from the warmth. “Can you turn that off? I don't like the heat.”