The Two Vampires (17 page)

THE TWO VAMPIRES

A tall man
paced back and forth, waiting for the time to come when the full moon would cast its light on the stone circle before him.  His victims were tied and gagged and ready for the sacrifice when he would slice open their necks and let their blood perform its magic.  It was the first step needed to resurrect Nathaniel; an old vampire who had been entombed two hundred years before. 

He thought back to the reports he had found buried in his attic, not wanting to miss a detail and perform the ritual wrong – so much depended on it.  The reports had explained it all; how a coven of witches had stood against the powerful vampire who had been terrorizing their town.  They had stripped him of his power, and then buried him in the earth beneath this very circle of stones.  The reports detailed how to bring him back, for the blood of an old vampire was rich and magical – if he could only get hold of some. . . .

At that point the clouds shifted and the full moon shone down, casting shadows across the circle, across the four people who he had brought to slaughter.  He sneered as he saw their fear.  He could smell it and it made him sick.

He stepped between the stones, walking over the hummocky ground to the center of the circle.  He had to be quick and perform the ritual before the moon became obscured by cloud once more – he eyed the sky warily before closing his eyes and tapping into his power, the power that was in his blood as a born sorcerer.  Flames sprung up around the circle and he stepped towards his first sacrifice.  He knelt by the side of the young man and took out a small knife, cutting the cord that bound him to the stone.  He left his hands bound.  Under duress the sorcerer led him to the center and pushed him down.  The man was too fearful to even struggle, and the sorcerer caught a whiff of urine.  He brought the knife to the man’s throat and pierced it gently, before swiping across and letting his blood spill.

‘Fire, Moor, Blood and Death – Feed and Awaken,’ he chanted beneath his breath.

He watched as the body before him stilled and blood soaked into the earth.

Strangled, panicked breaths emanated from the remaining three sacrifices. 

The sorcerer stood and approached the second, then the third, then the fourth – and repeated the ritual on each.

As he muttered the incantation for the final time he sat down in the center of the circle and leant against the pile of bodies behind him.  Their hearts were still, their blood seeping through the ground to the entombed body below.

Now all he had to do was wait until their bodies were empty, until they had no more blood to give.  Then he would dispose of them, and choose four more victims, for he would need to perform the same ritual at the next full moon to complete the awakening ceremony.

Nathaniel would rise and he would demand his price; his blood. 

He would find immortality.

Sarah felt a
spasm race over her body.  Her eyes jerked open as she took a big gulp of fresh air.  She looked around and saw conifers in every direction.  The light was fading.

  What the hell was she doing; sleeping in the forest?  Who was looking after Megan and Bea?  And
why
the hell was her throat burning like mad?

Ugh, she was so thirsty.  She needed to drink badly, her throat hurt - it was parched.

She focused her attention on her ears and listened out for water.

Nothing.

Then she heard a pounding heart.  It was rhythmic and alluring. 

She felt like she was slipping into a trance.

Sarah jumped to her feet.  She started to move towards the sound - without even realizing what she was doing:  Stalking her prey.

She spotted a young deer ahead.  Its nose was rummaging through the leaves, looking for food.  She was beautiful; her fur was a rich coppery red.  Sarah watched the deer and located its pulse at its neck.  She watched it entranced; beating steadily.

Sarah’s thirst drew her out from behind a tree.  The deer raised its head and looked directly at her with wide startled eyes.  Sarah looked back, one second of connection, before it turned and ran.

Sarah acted on instinct; she bolted forward.  She did not know why, but she could not let the deer escape.

She knew one thing:  If she could only reach that deer, have it for herself - it would sooth her thirst.  It would make her feel better. 

She needed the deer.

Sarah sprang, landing on its back.  It crippled beneath her, unable to support her weight.

Her eyes were again drawn to the pulse at the neck.  She admired the smooth expanse of silky fur before her, while she held on tight to stop herself falling away, to stop the deer breaking free.  Her teeth felt strange.  They ached.  They longed to pierce the neck before her.

Her mouth opened as her head moved slowly forwards, entranced.  She held the struggling deer very still and tentatively grazed the neck with her teeth.  A faint line of blood appeared.  She furrowed her forehead in confusion; were her teeth that sharp?

Then she smelt the blood.  It was divine, intoxicating.

Her head shot forward, teeth piercing through the fur and skin, entering an artery.  Blood shot down her throat.  Ahh - soothing, heavenly, intoxicating liquid.  It was quenching her thirst, fuelling her body with power, with energy.

Sarah drank for her life, gulping the coppery formula, draining the vessel she held.

It ceased its struggle as its heart stopped its beautiful, speedy rhythm.

Sarah withdrew her teeth, and felt them change in her mouth.  It felt like they were shrinking. 

Strange - what was she doing on top of a deer?  A lifeless deer at that. 

She stroked her fingers down the back of its neck, feeling its soft, young fur.  It still felt warm; it couldn’t have been dead for long.

Her mouth felt wet.  She brought a hand up and wiped her face.  As she pulled her hand away she saw red glinting on her skin.  Blood.  What the hell?  Why was there blood on her face?

She staggered to her feet, moving away from the deer, looking urgently about.  Looking for some clue to her state of mind, to her actions.

She saw a tall man approaching.  He was very attractive.   And he looked familiar.

Daniel.

Panic shot through her.  What would he think?  What had she done?

She turned away from him, tears running down her cheeks.  She took a deep breath and sprinted away - her speed increasing as she moved with accuracy, avoiding trunks and branches in her way.

She could hear Daniel in pursuit.

***

Daniel had had to leave Sarah on her own.  He didn’t know how long it would be before she would awaken.  Until she would be a vampire, like him. 

It was his fault too, if he hadn’t bitten her; if they hadn’t shared blood - this couldn’t have happened. 

But then she’d be dead, he thought bitterly.  At least this way she would live.  Forever.  They could always be together.

It wasn’t like it hadn’t crossed his mind before, right?

Then why was he so bothered now - he should be rejoicing at her becoming a vampire.

It wasn’t hard to work out why he wasn’t though.  This wasn’t her choice.  She didn’t tell him she wanted to be with him forever.  She didn’t ask to be turned into a vampire.

In fact, she had specifically said she didn’t want to be.

She has children, for God’s sake.  There’s no way she’ll be able to go home.  She won’t be able to look after them now.  It would be a long time until she’d develop strong enough control.  Years.

Daniel hadn’t succeeded in saving her.  He felt awful.  He should have managed to save her.  She was his to save.  He loved her.  Would she be the same now?  Would he feel the same way?  And what would she think of him?  Would she still love him?  Or would she blame him, hate him for not protecting her?  Resent him for the change in her life.  For her death.

Daniel focused back on the job at hand.  He pushed a metal spade deep into the earth; he removed a large chunk, shoveling it into a pile next to the hole.

He was digging a grave for the bodies Sebastian had possessed.  The body of the girl who had just died, who Daniel had had to kill to destroy Sebastian.  The body of the young man Sarah had killed - he was also only a teenager.  Now he was a corpse - stiff and lifeless.  His neck was skewed from the break and his chest was caked with dried blood.

Daniel had taken the bodies from Sarah’s home before her parents had a chance to discover them.  They would be there by now, looking after Sarah’s children.  They had no idea they would be looking after them for good.

His heart ached for Sarah.  She was going to miss her kids a phenomenal amount.  The problem was; she was also going to lust after their blood.  That was why he was going to have to keep her away from them.  He hoped so much that she would understand.  That he wouldn’t have to fight her.

He pushed the spade further in with his foot, as it was stuck on some small stones.  He forced it through and scooped up more earth, his black trousers now thick with mud.  One more scoop and he decided the hole was deep enough.  He picked up the boy’s feet and dragged him in, pushing him over so he was face down.  He lay the girl down next to him, also face down.  That would mean he wouldn’t have to look at their faces as he pushed the earth back in, covering their bodies, burying them so they wouldn’t be found, so the bodies would never be traced to Sarah.

That way there would be a chance she could come back.  If she could muster control, maybe she could return to her children - while they still remembered her. 

It would be difficult, as people would be wary of her, but she would be able to project influence.  She could change people’s memories with her power.  It would take time to learn, but in a few years she would be proficient at it. 

As Daniel finished pushing the earth into the grave, and was flattening the ground with his feet, the sky began to darken.  He had brought Sarah deep into the forest, so if she was to awaken without him there, he would be able to find her before she hurt anybody.

She was a few hundred meters away, and he would soon return to check on her.

It was hard not to worry about how she would be, how deeply the transformation would affect her.  What if she was like Jo; bloodthirsty and unable to reason?

Well, if she was, he would fight for her.  He couldn’t let her go.  He certainly could not kill her.  He would need to take her away, far from anyone she knows, far from anyone she may hurt.  He would persevere.  He would teach her control, teach her to reason.

Daniel used his finger tips to remove his boot prints, and scattered leaves and twigs over the burial site.  He stood back - surveying the scene.  He was relatively pleased; he didn’t think anyone who happened to be passing would notice anything unusual.

It would probably be best if he didn’t return the spade.  He had taken it from a shed in Sarah’s yard, but in case the bodies were found, he didn’t want the spade to be associated with the burial.  He would need to leave it in the forest, but far from his present location.  Anyone finding a spade in the forest would be suspicious.

Daniel picked it up and started walking back to Sarah; he wanted to be with her before it was fully dark.  If she woke up alone in the dark, she was bound to be even more confused.

As he walked through the forest he became aware of sounds ahead.  His heart accelerated in anticipation: Sarah was awake.

He sped up, then seeing her ahead, he stopped.  She was feeding on a young deer.  This was good.  She was a natural hunter - one less thing he would need to teach her. 

Daniel hung back, not wanting to disturb her feed.  He watched as she drained the deer.  She looked savage - yet this wasn’t a shock.  It was inevitable.  No new vampire was immune to the desire for blood.

There were other desires that would be stronger too.  Daniel smiled to himself - there would be some good points to her turning.  At least, there would be if she still wanted him.

He stood straighter, ready for action, as Sarah staggered up and moved away from the deer.  She looked confused, disorientated.

Daniel stepped forward - ready to confront her, to comfort her.  At that moment he saw her look up, and her eyes met his.  For a second she looked confused, and then he saw recognition on her face.  And panic.

She turned, and sped from him.  Racing away.  Daniel’s heart leapt, he couldn’t let her escape - she might hurt someone.  He dropped the spade and sprinted after her, adamant he would have her back in his arms.  Fast.

Sarah raced on
.  She was moving fast and it was exhilarating.  What was going on?  She felt completely different than before.  She had had power, but she couldn’t move this fast.  And what was wrong with her memory?  Why was she so confused?

Sarah saw the trees clearly; their dark trunks and sparse leaves, evergreen even in the cold.  She whipped past them, easily avoiding obstacles.  A joy rose in her chest - this was so much fun!  Feelings of guilt and confusion paled as she leapt up, her legs feeling strong, and swung off branches.  A big grin spread across her face.

She turned as Daniel skidded to a halt, stopping an inch from her body.  Electricity erupted between them, and she pushed him down to the forest floor.  She jumped onto him - playfully pinning him down.  God, he was hot.  What had she been thinking running from him?

He was eyeing her warily from beneath her, but that just made him sexier.  His dark hair was tangled with leaf litter, and his jaw was firm.

Ha!  He was trying to resist her.

Sarah ran her finger playfully across his lower lip.  Mmmmm.  She leant down and kissed him.  He wasn’t sure to start with; she had a feeling he wanted to talk.  But his lips gave at her pressure and she pushed her tongue into his mouth.  He returned her kiss fervently, pushing her aside and lying on top.  Sarah nipped at his lip.  She instantly tasted sweet blood, and sucked hard.  Daniel moaned, holding her tighter.  She wanted him badly.

He pushed her away - trying to detach her from his lip.  She resisted, holding on tight, running her finger tips down his spine.

‘Sarah.  There are things we’ve got to do,’ he said, from between gritted teeth.

‘They can wait.  I want you,’ she whispered.

‘No, they can’t.  You need blood.  HUMAN blood.  I don’t want you to die,’ he said.

The word ‘blood’ made her salivate.  Her throat was already feeling dry, the deer’s blood had been good, but she wanted more.  What was going on?  Deer’s blood?  What deer?  What was that about her dying?

Sarah looked at her hand again, puzzled.  Where had that blood come from?  She looked up at Daniel, frightened by the jumble of her thoughts.  He looked back, full of concern, and tucked her hair behind her ear.  He kissed her cheekbones softly.

‘Don’t worry Sarah,’ said Daniel.  He looked intently into her eyes, ‘Don’t worry.’

Sarah felt his influence seep into her, and she started to relax.

‘What’s wrong with me?’ she asked.

As he started to talk she took in his words, letting them slowly sink in to her mind. . . .

‘You died Sarah - when we were fighting Sebastian.  He killed you.  I’m so sorry.’

‘I’m dead?  What? - I’m a vampire?’ she asked, starting to cotton on.

‘Yes, it’s because we shared blood.  I’m sorry,’ he said again, pained.

Images surfaced in Sarah’s mind, she had been fighting a woman.  But she was Sebastian - he had possessed her.  Then her memory stopped, and she remembered waking up in the forest.  She remembered the deer, the blood. 

Megan, crying in her room.

Megan.  Bea.

‘My children - are they ok?’ she asked, panicking.

Her children were only small, two and five years old.  Her two girls.

‘Yes, they are with your parents.  Don’t worry.  Don’t think about them now,’ he said.

Again Sarah felt overcome by his influence, and her thoughts relaxed again.  The panic made her thoughts jumble.  Relaxing helped.

‘Blood, I need blood.  Why might I die? Again,’ she smirked.  His influence had taken the pain, and the panic, out of her mind.  She felt like she had just taken a calming drug.

‘New vampires need human blood, or they will die.  I’m sorry, I don’t know why,’ he said.

‘But, I don’t want to hurt anyone.  When I drained that deer I couldn’t stop.’  Sarah felt concerned; her longing for blood was increasing and talking about it did not help.  But what if she killed someone?  Enough humanity still existed in her not to want that.

‘I will help you, I will stop you killing.  I will be right there, with you when you feed.  I will pull you off if need be.’

Sarah looked into his beautiful dark eyes.  Darkness had fallen, yet she could still see.  Her senses were heightened.  Yet she felt jittery, her throat was really beginning to hurt.

‘Daniel . . .’ she started.

‘Yes?’ he spoke, softly, tantalizingly.

‘I think I need blood now.’

Daniel stood in one swift movement, taking her hands and pulling her to her feet.  She felt the electricity afresh, but she could ignore it now.  The need for blood was consuming.

‘I will take you to a house in the woods.  I will influence someone to leave, and you can drink from them.  Don’t worry,’ he soothed.  ‘It won’t be long.’

Sarah felt reassured as he clutched her hand tightly.  He started to walk, then sped up – moving faster than she could imagine.  And she could keep pace!  She was moving of her own abilities, merely guided in direction by him.

Her body was really becoming dry.  She was so parched.  She felt tight, like she needed something; blood she guessed.  Blood.  Desire filled her and she felt her teeth extending in anticipation.  If Daniel hadn’t been guiding her, she would have found it hard to concentrate on moving at all.  Her senses were extending.  She could hear heart-beats everywhere - birds in the trees and mice and bats and deer and bear. 

They were overwhelming her.  Pounding was coming from everywhere, every direction.

Daniel started to slow so she did too, becoming giddy – stars obscuring her vision.

‘Sarah – Sarah!’

Sarah knew it was Daniel talking, but he sounded far away.  She felt the ground beneath her knees as she crumpled down.

‘Sarah – you will be ok.  Wait here my love, I won’t be long.’

Sarah couldn’t reply, her thoughts were becoming hazy and her throat was bone dry.  She tried to swell saliva around her mouth – but it was no use, she couldn’t produce any no matter how hard she tried.  She let herself lie down, after all – Daniel would be with her soon.  It would be ok if she slept. . . .

She was drifting, seeing red blood dripping – running down the trees, pooling on the ground.  Then her taste buds sprang to life.  Something was seeping into her mouth, touching her lips.  She tentatively let her mouth open, allowing more delightful, life giving warmth to enter.  Her teeth were doing funny things again – it felt like they were growing in her mouth.  Yet she was lost in the blood. 

Blood.  Ahhh - she opened her mouth wider, instinct took over and she bit hard, through the warm flesh that was pushed softly against her lips.  Fresh blood poured down her throat, and she gulped again, taking in the beautiful life force of the warm human she realized she was grasping on to – holding like her life depended on it.  

She realized in that moment that it did. 

It was her life to take. 

She drank deeper, feeling blood travel around her body, rejuvenating her, giving her life, power.

She heard words penetrate the edge of her consciousness – ‘Sarah, it’s time to stop my love’, but she blocked them out, so engrossed in the feed.

Then she felt that someone pulling at her arms, forcing them apart – tugging at the human, a soft and pliable woman, in her arms.  She dug her teeth in deeper, not willing to let the woman go, but fingers entered her mouth by force, pushing her teeth apart, and the women was pulled from her grasp.

Sarah’s eyes snapped open.  They had been closed for the feed, tightly shutting out anything but the blood, the power. 

Anger flared inside her and she jumped to her feet, a hiss escaping her mouth.  Then she gasped, and covered her mouth with her cool fingers as she saw Daniel before her.  Realization kicked in; she had nearly killed someone, and that someone was lying before her on the ground, blood at her throat - unconscious.

Daniel was leaning over the woman, who - now Sarah studied her - had deep brown hair, cut short in a boyish style.  But her face was lined and her skin was pale.

Daniel was pressing his wrist against her lips -
his
blood was dripping into her mouth.  Jealously bubbled in her veins, she wanted to rip Daniel away from her.  She didn’t want anyone else to taste his blood. 

Yet she resisted – the woman’s blood was in her veins, stimulating her senses.  Sarah’s thoughts were clearing.  Things were starting to make sense, but conflicting emotions wracked her body, conflicting desires. 

She still wanted the woman for herself – she wanted to rip her life away, take her power.  Yet the part of her that remained from when she was human wanted to nurse her, to look after her, to save her.

Sarah took a deep breath to steady herself, to keep control.  She moved closer to Daniel and went to her knees next to him – watching closely.  She saw that color was returning to the woman’s cheeks, and realized she was swallowing Daniel’s blood, that she was still alive.

Sarah exhaled in relief, and was relieved twofold to realize that she still cared.  She realized she wanted more than anything to care, to keep her humanity. 

She resolved right there that she would not lose herself to the blood again.  She would be strong.  She would resist the desire of intoxication and stay true to herself.