To the left was a large
waiting area and to the right was an even larger common room for
the patients who could gather somewhere other than their room. A
wide curving staircase, the railing made from the same ebony as the
front desk, seemed to beckon Stone to explore the upper part of the
building where the single illuminated window was.
Turning, he made his way
through the common room, passing an antique love seat and a couple
of side tables covered in dust-coated white sheets. He stopped in
mid-pace as something caught his eye. A single wing chair was
uncovered and placed by a slightly opened window. Thinking that was
odd, he scanned the rest of the room but saw nothing else
noteworthy. Shrugging his shoulders he continued up the grand
staircase, every other step creaking and moaning as he made his way
to the second floor.
Reaching
the top of the stairs, he turned to his left and began walking down
the wide hallway. His eyes scanned everything. From the grain in
the wood railing to the stained walls revealing where pictures,
plaques or diplomas had once hung. There was door after door, each
with a number. Stone paused for a moment and looked at the bright
beam of moonlight that shone through the window at the end of the
hall. It was at this moment that he realized, not that long ago he
would have been terrified long before this. It seemed that he had
no fear, only cautiousness and a sense of being untouchable. It was
the little things that he had begun to notice about himself and his
new
demeanour
–for no vampire is the
same man or woman they used to be. There is always a change in
their nature and thought patterns shift for
survival.
He stood there, motionless
and staring at the beam of moonlight, when suddenly something
passed him in a blur.
“What the…?” Startled, he
jumped as he felt the object brush past him. His eyes darted back
and forth, up and down as he spun on his heels.
“Who’s there?” he asked the
air, holding his breath waiting for an answer. Nothing. He pushed
open the door numbered forty-eight.
“Hello?” Stone peeked his
head in and examined the room. Opening the door the rest of the way
allowed the moonlight to illuminate the room more. With slight
hesitation he took a couple of steps in. The room was lived in,
with clothing scattered everywhere. Furniture that had probably
lingered in the common room downstairs had been dragged up to this
room. There were two windows on the far side of the room. One
window’s curtain was drawn and the other wasn’t. Opting for the
open window, he looked out and saw the road he had just walked.
Time seemed to stand still as he gazed zombie-like out the window.
It was like the beauty of the night, the sparkling stars and
glittering snow held his eyes captive.
Gradually an odd pain that
at first had been subtle, was increasing and became more
uncomfortable as it encircled Stone’s stomach. Unsure as to what
was happening to him or why, he tried to ignore it. Turning from
the window his eyes scanned the room and spotted a black sweater
heaped on the floor and a worn pair of old army boots. Walking with
purpose he made his way to the articles of clothing and in one
movement, pulled the sweater over his head then smoothed his hair
up and away from his face. He then slid on the old army boots and
firmly tied the laces. Stone felt somewhat warmer, but not in a
human way. He noticed that his skin still felt cold from the
stinging frigid night air but the sweater and boots more-or-less
gave him protection from the cold rather than making him warmer. It
was an illusion his mind was throwing him.
Standing there, he was
grateful for the clothes but the ache that clung to him bothered
him.
“Why am I in pain? I
thought vampires didn’t feel pain, or cold or anything? Maybe I was
wrong, maybe Brenna didn’t do what I thought she did,” he said,
talking to himself, working out his thoughts. Soon enough though,
he remembered what he did to Brenna–attacking her, drinking her
blood. He shuddered at his actions, at how easy it was for him to
lose it. Again confusion settled over him. For the first time
tonight Stone felt fear. Not fear for his life but a fear of
himself. His emotions began to rise. He could no longer hold in the
angst, fear, and weariness that had been building over the past
five weeks. With his head bowed, his shoulders shook as he began to
weep.
Out of nowhere he heard a
snort, which quickly turned into snickering. Stone wiped his eyes
not wanting to be seen crying. As he lowered his hand he stopped
when he spotted red smeared across it. Staring at his hand, the
scent invaded his nostrils. The scent of blood made his mouth water
and caused his guts to flutter with excitement. He raised his hand
to his mouth and with one long lick along the top of his hand the
smeared blood tears were gone. His body quivered in delight. He had
completely forgotten about the laughter he had just heard and all
he could think about now was blood.
Gradually his thoughts
cleared and he realized what he had done. Again he was disgusted by
his actions.
“My God,
what
am
I?” he
muttered softly to himself. Laughter trickled from the darkness a
second time. Turning on his heels, he looked to where the sound
emanated from.
“Who’s there?” Stone
asked.
“You
must
know what you are. You said it yourself not even ten minutes
ago,” a man’s voice began, his speech
coloured
with an
Irish lilt.
“You are a most beautiful
creature, still so innocent and untouched, not yet scorned by our
kind.”
“Who are you?” Stone
demanded. When laughter was the only response, he wanted to give in
to his annoyance and attack the man that cloaked himself in
darkness. Yet as soon as the thought entered his mind, the stranger
came out of the shadows.
Walking out of the shadowed
corner, the moonlight slowly revealed the man. At first Stone saw
his worn black army boots, like the ones Stone now wore. Then the
beam of moonlight illuminated the faded blue jeans and long black
trench coat as he stepped forward. Stone’s heart pounded in his
chest with anticipation as the beam of moonlight approached closer
and closer to illuminating the stranger’s face.
Finally a man of average
height was revealed. His white face was alarming and unnatural
looking creases spread out from the corner of his eyes and mouth.
He greeted Stone with a shockingly malicious, yet playful grin. His
eyes were a brilliant blue and his messy mop of dark brown hair was
streaked white at his temples. His fangs gleamed in the beam of the
moonlight. He immediately entranced Stone. He was so in awe of him,
he was unable to move.
Stone’s mind raced in all
directions. He had seen vampires before–hell, he lived with them
for years–and none of them had affected him the way this man did
now! It was not a sexual attraction; it was more of a realization.
Even though he appeared beautiful, it was recognizing the power,
strength and evil he possessed. That’s what was more
appealing.
It is a savage beauty that
all vampires possess. No vampire can deny that they can and are
easily attracted to the same sex, just not for the same reasons as
humans.
Breaking Stone out of his
thoughts, the vampire spoke yet again.
“Where is your sire?” His
voice was deep, ringing with the tone of authority. Stone stumbled
on his words and hoped that he wouldn’t be maimed for what he was
about to say.
“I–I think I killed her…”
Stone lifted his eyes to meet the vampire’s stern blue stare. Stone
could see what he’d said dawned on the vampire and he did what
Stone was not expecting at all. He began to laugh a deep-bellied
laugh.
“Well, I don’t see what is
so funny about it,” Stone said, finding himself loosening
up.
“Were
you
that
hungry
or
that
angry?”
the vampire asked before he let out more
laughter.
“Who the hell are you?”
Stone asked, ignoring his question.
“Did she taste good?” the
vampire asked. Stone could tell he wasn’t going to find out
anything about him until he answered his questions.
“Will you stop laughing? I
don’t find any of this funny. It’s not even amusing!”
The vampire gathered his
composure and waited for his answers. Stone was leery, but with a
sigh, he began.
“I was furious… I didn’t
want to be this thing.” He paused as he remembered what had
happened. “She tormented me, used me for my blood for weeks on end!
She was a friend, but now… I hate her.” Stone looked deep into the
vampire’s eyes and spoke again. “But why is it that I feel a need
to go to her, to be with her?” He lowered his head and said no
more. The silence was heavy, surrounding Stone, making him feel
like it was wrapped around his chest, squeezing
unmercifully.
“You can call me Brian,”
the vampire said, breaking the silence. “Damn women–can’t live with
‘em… can’t kill ‘em either, especially the immortal ones.” Brian
snorted a laugh. Stone looked up at him, his face serious for a
moment but inevitably a wide grin crossed Stone’s features and he
joined Brian in laughter.
For some
time now, Stone had forgotten about the pain that was encircling
his stomach. Brian had been a good decoy for ignoring the ache. But
just as all things, it too had to end. Without warning, a severe
cramp jolted Stone from his laughter. With wide, scared eyes, he
looked at Brian.
Oh, my God, what’s wrong
with me?
“You
are
hungry
… and
not for bacon and eggs. Blood is what your body is craving, what
you need. But are you ready to acknowledge the beast that is within
you, the animal that was always there, but has only now been
released?” Brian asked, his eyes searching Stone’s. Stone only
looked at him, speechless and somewhat alarmed by what he had said.
With smooth quick movements, Brian now stood inches away from
Stone. Before he could think of backing up, Brian’s arm flew
forward. His hand grasped onto the back of Stone’s head. A sound of
shock was all that escaped Stone’s lips. Without consent, Brian
raised his right hand, let his fingers find Stone’s lips and gently
pushed his upper lip up.
“Ah! My, you are a young
one…” Brian said, followed by a hearty laugh and let go of Stone
with a playful shove.
“What the hell?” was all
Stone was able to muster, standing a few feet away from
Brian.
“You, my child, do not even
have your fangs yet! No wonder you smell so… delicious!” Again, he
snickered. “I could find you some young thing for you to nibble
on…” Brian paused and looked towards the window then continued,
“but alas, the sun will rise before I would be able to return. So,
I will sacrifice some of myself to ease your hunger pangs.” Stone’s
eyes were wide with shock and Brian sensed some fear. Amused, Brian
was unable to hold back his laughter.
“Oh, how I have missed the
company of another!” Brian said, clapping his hands together. “I
never thought I would have enjoyed it so.” Knowing that his
presence and their conversation were entertaining Brian annoyed
Stone tremendously.
“Come over to the chair,
child.” Extending his arm, he pointed to the old torn recliner and
began walking towards it himself. Standing before it, he turned and
in a soothing voice, spoke again, “everything will be just
fine.”
With an uneasy gait, he
walked over to Brian. Sitting in the decrepit chair Stone looked up
at Brian who now loomed over him. Stone watched as Brian raised and
turned his left wrist, exposing his blue veins. With the nail of
his right forefinger he nonchalantly sliced open his flesh. Dark
crimson liquid began to flow down his arm. Brian stood somewhat to
the side and behind Stone. The only thing separating them was the
back of the recliner.
Brian raised the wound to
Stone and said softly coaxing him, “Quickly, before the wound
heals.”
The scent that came from
the cut and the sight of his blood made Stone forget all that had
been human about himself. As Brian enticed him, he instinctively
reached out for the open wrist, placed his lips around the wound
and drank without a thought. Stone fell into a swoon. His bloodlust
took over his whole being and he moaned in pure delirium as he
satisfied his hunger and desire.
Flashes of Brian’s life
flooded him. Stone saw a drugged and sloth-like Brian in different
asylums. He suffered endless nightmares of a female vampire with
long curly blond hair and cobalt eyes, waiting for her to kill him.
Then, an erratic bald male vampire dressed in a monk’s robe, gnawed
on his neck. The ill fate of how Brian became a vampire. With that
sight, Stone jumped in his chair and pushed Brian’s arm away from
him. Stone sat there silently and bowed his head.
“It was
no worse than what Brenna did to you,” Brian said. Stone opened his
eyes in alarm and looked at him
. He knew
her name!
“Aye, I read your mind as I
let you read mine. I saw what I wanted to see–your last days before
your demise as a human. You will learn to use this gift and many
others you possess.”