Finished Short Stoy: Guardian Vampire
12:34 Oct 29 2007
Times Read: 678
Prologue
I’m sure most of you know what it is like to have a guardian angel. But have you ever had a guardian vampire? I’m sure a lot of you don’t believe in vampires or the undead, but was I asking you to believe? No. All I want is for my story to be heard, and here it is.
Ch 1
I’ve had one, ever since I was 10. I lived in a pretty town back then. You know the type, where everyone knows everyone else. I had just been at the mall at the pet store where I spent a lot of my time. I loved animals, but my mom was allergic to dogs. I always had to go straight to the bathroom whenever I got home to take of my clothes.
It had been getting dark. Like most ten year olds I was still just a little afraid of the dark. I remember hearing a noise. I ran of course. Who knew what type of boogeyman could have been after me. I ran for so long that I got turned around and didn’t know where I was. I turned down what I had thought was a street being so scared that I didn’t realize it had been an alley. About half way down the alley someone stepped out of the shadows. He looked to be about my age. He had been scary looking. I could have sworn that I saw his eyes glowing in the dark, but then again I had been a scared 10 year old with a very active imagination. “What’s the likes of you doing down this way?” The boy asked. “I got scared. I thought someone was chasing me.” I whispered meekly. “Ptth. Figures. You probably have a nightlight at home.” He snickered at his own joke. “The name is Morgead. Who are you?” “My name is…. I’m not allowed to talk to strangers.” I said decisively turning around. “That’s a funny name. By the looks of you, you look to be about 10. Am I right?” “Yes, how did you know?” I asked looking over my shoulder. He shrugged his shoulders. I stared at this boy who seemed older than he really was. He had a dangerous air about him, and I really needed to get home. “Well it was nice to meet you Morgead. But I really must be going.” With that I turned to leave. He grabbed my arm with surprising strength. “Don’t I get a name?” He asked earnestly. “Ummm my name? It’s Brandy.” With that he let me go and I scurried away. That night I dreamed of the little street urchin. I’ve met him several times since then.
When I turned 16, my parents got a divorce. I ended spending my summers in L.A. with my mom. The winters were spent in Pasadena with my dad. He was a real big shot at JPL. I saw Morgead a lot over the summers. It seemed he knew exactly where I’d be and at what time.
One summer I had been staying with my mom when she got very ill. I stayed at the house all by myself. I heard rustling in the bushes under my window and almost called the police. But I heard a voice softly call out my name. “Brandy?” He had whispered so softly. “Who is it?” My voice trembled despite myself. I heard a dark chuckle. “It’s me. Morgead.” I looked out my window and there he was standing in the moonlight. His hair was still a little too long, his eyes still a beautiful green; he was still handsome. I heard myself sigh. Before I knew it he was up the tree staring into my eyes. “Brandy,” he breathed, “will you come with me for a while? Your mom won’t be home for a long time.” I nodded absentmindedly. All I could see was his big green eyes. They were so starved for companionship. I grabbed my sweater and ran out the front doors and right in to him. “Oh I’m so sorry.” I began to apologize. “Don’t be.” He whispered in the silent way that was only his. I blushed for seemingly no reason at all. “Is this like a date?” I blurted before I could think of the words. His face split into a breathtaking half smile. “You could call it that, but don’t worry I’ll protect you.” I walked down my sidewalk towards the street. “How did you get here anyway?” I asked. He pointed with his index finger at a black Harley. I had never been allowed near one. My parents actually agreed on how dangerous they were. He handed me the only helmet. “Wait if you don’t have a helmet, won’t you get hurt?” I asked not wanting to risk one of my only friends. “Of course not,” He snickered. “Hold on tight,” He warned as we speed off. We had gone to a park and walked around for a while. Towards the end of our stroll around the park, he kissed me. I had been expecting it, but I had not been ready for it. It was as soft as his voice. I remember him kissing me on the neck and waking up hours later in my bed. I was mortified by the fact that I didn’t remember if he had left or not.
It has been a long time since I have seen him. I’ll be 21 on the 31st of October. I can’t believe how normal it feels. I go to the University of Science and Art in Chickasha, OK. I work at a McDonalds. I have my own apartment and a black kitten named Morgead after my friend. I’m dating a guy named Justin. He also happens to be a bouncer at this club that I’m going to start working at. I was going to the same club for my birthday. I arrived at the club and looked it over the day of my Birthday. The club was called Hot Blooded and seeing how it was Halloween, there was to be a costume contest tonight. I was going as a vampiress. I had my Elvira dress and black ballet slippers. I had my blond hair teased up in a fancy design. I knew I looked good. I got to the bar and ordered my first alcoholic drink ever. It was a Vampire’s Kiss. I found out that they needed me to start right away. I actually worked that night. It was the first night I had seen Morgead in a while. He came up to the bar looking like he was a little lost.
“May I get you a drink?” I asked not realizing who it was. “Sure, Brandy. I’ll have a Brandy.” I looked closer at him. “Oh my god,” I gasped as I realized who it was, “how did you find me?” He leaned across the bar to trace a finger up my neck. “I could find you anywhere.” “Are you going to get a drink?” I asked still a bit shaken. “No, what I want doesn’t come in a bottle with your name on it.” I looked over at Justin briefly. He was watching the exchange between Morgead and me. I saw him start making his way towards us. “Listen,” I whispered hurriedly, “that bouncer coming towards us is my boyfriend. I do not want you to get hurt because of me. So do us both a favor and go.” “Not until you agree to meet me. At the place and time of my choosing.” I sighed, “I do not know you well enough. What we had as kids was great fun, but I’m an adult now.” “So am I!” He whispered back fiercely. “Say you’ll meet me or something bad will happen to Justin. You know I can do it. All these years and you still haven’t guessed who or what I am.” At that moment I could see Justin coming up behind Morgead. “Ok when and where.” “One a.m., the cemetery closest to your house. See you then.” He slipped away from the counter and disappeared in the crowd just before Justin reached him. “Uh honey, I think I might be coming down with something. Could I go home?” He looked at my pale face and shaking hands and nodded. “Yeah I’ll talk to the boss for you. Be careful walking home.” “I’ll try to,” I muttered knowing how useless that would be. Morgead had been right. I had always suspected him of being something else. I had thought up some pretty crazy things, but what was running through my head was crazier than anything. Could he be a vampire?
At one that morning I found myself standing besides the Memorial Cemetery on Main St. I was hesitant to go inside. I however didn’t have a choice, for Morgead appeared behind me and led me into the cemetery. “So have you figured out who I am?” He asked against my neck. I nodded. He chuckled darkly as his lips found the base of my skull traveling the length of my neck. “What do you want?” I implored. He didn’t answer at first merely kissed me. I wriggled around until he had to realize that I was trying to escape. He let go of me abruptly. I stumbled and almost fell onto a grave.
“Why are you so frightened of me?” He asked incredulously. I stared at him in utter disbelief. “You have to ask. Now, tell me, what do you want?” He stared at me in silence for a while. I leaned against the nearest grave stone. He stalked silently over to me. “Brandy, you don’t know what it has been like. I’ve hunted down and killed every man who has ever had an indecent thought about you. Ever since I met you that first night, I had the impression that we had been made for each other. When you were 16, I tried to change you, but I didn’t have the heart.” He laughed as if he had just said the funniest thing in the world.
I stood there shivering convulsively. It was really cold outside but that wasn’t the reason for the chills racing up and down my spine. Morgead however thought I was cold and handed me his leather jacket. I put it on grateful for something to do. I started to move ever so subtle away from the grave stone and Morgead. When I turned to try and run, he was there in my path. “I can read your mind, Brandy. I can read all humans’ minds. I knew exactly what your ‘boyfriend’ was thinking when he saw us talking. I knew what all the mortal girls were thinking when I walked past them. I know how utterly horrified you are right now.” “I’ll leave him,” I blurted, “just don’t hurt anyone. I couldn’t bear it if you hurt someone because of me.”
“Do you love me?” He whispered so quietly that I couldn’t be sure that I’d heard him right. When I didn’t say anything, he said, “Well?” I backed away from him and into a headstone. I was trapped. He advanced on me. When he had me pinned against the headstone, he asked me again, “Do you love me?” I didn’t answer, couldn’t. I could barely breathe with him so close. I stared panic stricken into his glowing green eyes. “I don’t know.” I whispered barely audible to myself. “Allow me to refresh your memory.” He whispered seductively, an enchanter’s spell. He put his hand on the nape of my neck and lowered his head to mine. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the flash of a camera phone.
Morgead walked me home at four in the morning. I was positively mortified with myself. I had actually enjoyed walking around the cemetery with him and talking. He told me all about his home country. He is originally from Romania. He can be whatever age he wants. He told me how when he had seen a frightened young girl running down the alley that he had changed into a little boy. It made me blush, how much I realized that I loved him. Sure it was scary and a little more than odd, but I did. I had promised to meet him the next night. He had a surprise for me. Yeah, I was a little nervous, but I don’t know something just felt right being with him. If you believe in all of that soul mate nonsense, you would know what I was talking about.
I went to work at McDonalds. I was only a little tired from my date last night. I was never going to tell Justin about last night. I would just have to break up with him for his own good. “Welcome to McDonalds. May I take your order?” I asked too cheerfully over the intercom. “Yes, I’d like a cheater to go please.” said the customer. “Excuse me?” I asked. The voice sounded again, “I know what you did last night with that guy in the cemetery. I hope that Justin doesn’t find out.” I called the manager over. “Mam, there is a woman on here harassing me.” “I’m sorry there is really nothing I can do.” She walked away to make sure the newbies were taking down orders correctly. “You better stay away from me.” I threatened quietly. “Oh it isn’t you I’m after. It’s Justin.” “Fine. You can have him.” There was a pause on the other end as if the person had to think it over. “Well maybe I want this new stranger. After all he does seem more my type than yours. Wasn’t he wearing leather and all black? Yeah, he is definitely my type, so give him up or I show Justin the pictures of you two making out.” I laughed this time.
“Have you looked at these pictures, Amber?” “Well no. Why do you ask?” “Look at ‘em, you’ll see what I mean.” I turned to take a different order. I heard a definite shriek from the drive through area and smiled to myself. Having a boyfriend who doesn’t appear in pictures could actually work to my advantage.
That night I had to go break up with Justin. I had been going over what I would say to him in my head all afternoon. I got there, and it seemed like he knew what was going to happen already. “You’re dumping me, aren’t you?” I sighed nodding. “Well, I guess I was expecting it after seeing you with that guy in the club last night, but maybe I don’t want to break up with you. We belong together. I refuse to break up with you!” “Now stop it.” I said as if scolding a five year old. “You are sounding very childish right now. I figured you’d take this more gracefully, but I suppose it is never easy for a jock to be dumped. Now this is what is going to happen. I’m going out tonight with my new boyfriend. I will not work here. We can still be friends, but you will not harass me. Am I understood?” “I understand you’re giving me the crap end of the stick.” He said walking away. “Don’t make this harder than it already is, Justin.” He whirled around, “If it is so hard than don’t do it.” He begged. I turned away from his pleading face knowing I was saving him a great deal of hurt. I could hear the sound of him crying in the empty bar. That sound will haunt me forever.
There were a lot of smashed pumpkins in the road seeing that yesterday was Halloween. Morgead was going to meet me at my apartment later, and we were going to go out. He wasn’t telling me where we were going, but I had a feeling it was out of town. He showed up after all of the light had fled from the sky. I recognized the same black Harley as before. He read my thoughts and tried to reenact the scene. It was funny watching him try and look like a 16 year old again. It made me remember how he had bitten me though. Before we started off, I asked him, “When you said you could find me anywhere is it because you have some of my blood in you? Will I become like you?” He didn’t answer me however, and started the bike. I was tempted to let go of him and jump of the back. But he read my thoughts and clamped down on my arms. “Do you want to hurt yourself?” He demanded. I shook my head no.
We showed up in a big town. Well bigger than Chickasha anyway. We stopped the bike by some apartments. “Do you live here?” I asked quietly. He shook his head no. “Why are we here?” He thought a moment and then replied, “I want you to meet my mom.” I stared at him incredulously. He was hundreds of years old. How was his mom still alive? Reading the question in my eyes or maybe my head he responded, “She took care of me. When I found you when you were 10 I had to keep up the appearance of a normal person. She helped me do that.” I couldn’t help myself and had to ask, “Is she a vampire too?” He chuckled probably thinking I was jealous and maybe I was just a little bit. “No, she is just as human as you. Would you change for me?” The question caught me off guard. “What??” I spluttered.
“Never mind. Mom, I’m home, and I brought a friend with me.” “It isn’t one of your scantily clad friends is it?” an elderly old woman’s voice asked from the front room. “No mom this is the girl I’m always talking about.” “Brandy? The infamous Brandy? The one I’ve heard so much about since you were 10? Well I’ll be, come in child. I walked into the room to see a very pretty yet very old woman. “I swear that boy of mine must be in love with you. It’s always Brandy this or Brandy that. I’m surprised he is actually letting me meet you. Are you a whore?” “Mother,” exclaimed Morgead. “No, actually I’m not. I’m still a virgin.” “I like this one son.” The elderly woman whispered to Morgead. “What’s your name?” I asked politely. “Oh my name is Miriam.” “Mom I think it is your bed time.” “Oh why it is. Ok well it was nice meeting you my dear. Come by and don’t be a stranger now.” “Ok.” I hollered after the retreating figure. “She seems… um nice. So you bring scantily clad women over?” I asked quirking an eyebrow at him.
“So do you want me to answer your previous questions first or do you want me to answer the one you just asked?” “I want you to answer them both.” I replied heatedly. We stared at each other in silence. It seemed like ages had gone by before he spoke. “I can find you because I have taken your blood. I do plan to make you like me. Yes, I had scantily clad women in my room. I had to get blood somehow. Animals just aren’t filling.” I could have lived with everything he said except for the part about animals. I stepped back from him hardly realizing that I was doing so. “Don’t be afraid of me Brandy.” He said as he moved slowly towards me. I flinched when he laid his hand gently on my arm. There was no way how to tell how many animals that he had killed with those hands. “Please,” he implored. He grabbed my hand gently and led me up a staircase. I followed him up the creaky staircase that let out on an incredibly small landing. I was finally able to speak, “I don’t want you to use animals ever again or ‘scantily clad women as your mom put it. I want you to use me.”
He obviously hadn’t been expecting this, for he stopped abruptly and I ran into him. “Brandy, I have to feed often, and I could never endanger you like that. I love you too much.” “Then this relationship will never work.” I loosened his grip on my hand and started down the stairs. I was going to ride a Grey Hound bus home to Chickasha. I yanked the door open because I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I didn’t want him to see me cry. I knew that he would know I was crying, but I didn’t want him to see my tears of shame. I ran down the steps and across the street as fast as I could. I passed the hospital and ran into the park.
I wanted no one to see me. I wanted the whole world to just disappear. I could hear footsteps coming towards my place on a bench. “I want you to just go away and leave me alone forever. I came to realize that I loved you, and you tell me that you’re using other women. I could help you. It could be me you use and not some strange scantily clad woman. Did you use a woman before or after the last time we were together?” The pain in his eyes was my only answer. I couldn’t look at him any longer. “Brandy,” he whispered softly, “it isn’t safe for you to be out all by yourself.” “Before or after?” I gritted my teeth. “You are just torturing yourself, Brandy. I will not allow that.” I finally looked up at him. The fury was obvious in my eyes.
“You don’t own me! You can not ‘allow’ me anything because it is not your right to allow. I am a free person. I cannot believe… you arrogant jerk.” I swung at him and missed. I swung at him again, and he grabbed me. “Let me go!” I shrieked at him, “I never want to see your face again.” “Calm down!” He hissed, “You are drawing unwanted attention to us.” “Maybe I want to be heard,” I snarled at him. “There aren’t just humans listening.” He was extremely gentle even though he was holding me so closely. "Maybe a vampire stronger than you will come and get me!" I snarled at him leaping to my feet and rushing away from him. I turned around a bend of rose bushes and ran right in to him. His arms snaked around me and held me solidly against his lean frame. I struggled in his hold. When I looked into his face, I was utterly terrified. His eyes were so bright and excited and hungry. "I wait till after you leave me to feed, Brandy. I could never come to you smelling of another." His whispered confession touched me. His gaze drifted to my neck. "Wait a minute," I stalled not wanting to be bitten, "I thought you said you'd never endanger me?" "I won't." He whispered softly seductively. I closed my eyes. His lips were warm and soft on my neck. Adrenaline was rushing through me. I felt the tips of his fangs on my neck. With a gasp, I felt them sink deep. I could feel my life being drained out of me with my blood.
I collapsed into him as my life slowly ebbed away. With a curse, I heard him withdraw. "Damn it, Brandy! I took too much. Here." He tore open his wrist and placed it against my mouth. I pushed it away as hard as I could. With all the blood that entered me I was able to see his memories. They all involved me! I saw through his eyes my first date, my first dance, and my first kiss. It was like watching a movie, but I could feel his emotions. Hatred, anger, and jealousy overwhelmed and scared me.
All too soon it was over. "You'll have to kick it here tonight. You are too sleepy to be able to hold on to me." I shook my head slowly, groggily. "I have classes tomorrow. I cannot stay here tonight." "I want to be with you, Brandy. I want to make sure I didn't give you too much. Tonight, when you sleep, I want to be next to you." It was very tempting, but I had obligations. I opened my mouth to tell him this, and he said, "Then I'll stay with you. There isn't enough time for a round trip." It would be my first night sleeping alone in my apartment with a guy. I had never even let Justin sleep over. Somehow it seemed right that it be with Morgead though.
He made me sit in front of him on the bike. I must have fallen asleep because I woke when he carried me through the front door of my apartment. He set me on my bed and left, so I could change into my night clothes. I saw the message button flashing on my phone and hit it. I had twenty new messages. The first ten were from Justin begging me to get back with him. One was from my best friend Kerri asking about my new boyfriend. God, news travels fast. There was a message from my mom telling me to call her. I had three messages from Amber. Boy was she freaking out about the fact that Morgead doesn’t show up in pictures. I had four messages from my sister. She absolutely loves the Marines. The last message confused me. “Miss Brown, Please call (580) 249-6699. I believe you have some information that would prove invaluable to us.” How odd! The guy sounded like he was in his late 20’s. I cleared my messages and picked up the phone to call Kerri.
The first thing out of her mouth was, “Damn, I have to hear about it from Justin!” “I’m sorry,” I laughed. Kerri was always making me laugh. “So,” she prompted, “who is he?” “His name is Morgead, and I’ve known him since I was ten.” I whispered slyly. “Oh my god, Brandy! You sound like you’re in love.” I looked up to see Morgead leaning against the door. He shrugged away, and I held my breath as he walked over. He took the phone from my trembling hand. “Hello, Kerri,” he whispered softly, “Brandy is really tired and must sleep now. Good night.” He hung up, but not before I heard a gasp of indignation and surprise from Kerri.
He put the phone down softly into the cradle. “It’s time for bed,” he said softly gazing into my eyes. I found myself leaning towards him. It felt like I was falling and only he could catch me. His arms wrapped around me and held me close. I heard a voice his voice I was scared this evening, Brandy. You scared me. I was afraid I had taken too much. He lowered his mouth to mine. I could feel the fear he had felt. This kiss seemed somehow more desperate than our previous ones. He pushed himself away. “I’m not being very good,” he mused. “You must sleep.” Who was I kidding, I had been enjoying it. I remember him holding me and whispering to me all night. It seemed he whispered to me even in my dreams.
I did not want to get up, but the light from my window fell directly onto my face. I rolled over and into Morgead. “Oh my god! I’m so sorry.” I stared at him in confusion for a minute. “Wait, shouldn’t you be in a death like sleep right now?” He laughed at this. “Like any nocturnal creature, I can move about during the day.” Well now I felt stupid. “Good morning.” I said finally grabbing the glass of water off of the nightstand. “Yes, it is,” He chuckled darkly. “What?” I asked apprehensively. “You are very interesting when you sleep. You move around quite a bit. You talk in your sleep too.” I dropped the glass I was about to drink from. He caught it in one fluid motion. “How bad is it?” I moaned putting my hands over my eyes.
He shrugged his shoulders and quickly changed the subject, “What classes do you have today and at what times?” Now this was a safe subject. “At 2:00 p.m. I have Chemistry. At 7:00 p.m. I have Latin and at 9:30 I have Spanish. Why?” He looked at me as if I had sprouted a second head. “Well, I’m coming with you of course.” Great. Now I have to think of a way to explain him to my teachers. He laughed, “I can be very charming and get my way when ever I want, Brandy. If I can read minds, what makes you think that I cannot manipulate them?” I stared at him wondering why I hadn’t thought of that before. “Well, I need to go take a shower.” I started towards the door when I heard a noise outside my window. I raced over to the window to see Justin standing next to a guy in a suit. Justin was yelling at the guy. I heard Morgead hiss from behind me. “A friend of yours?” I guessed. “He is a hunter of us.” I looked into his eyes and saw the fury that was so carefully concealed in his voice. A chill ran down my spine, and I shivered with the impact his eyes had. I looked out the window, and the guy turned to look up at me.
“Hello,” he called waving. He had a very distinct accent. “My name is Reagan. May we speak in private Miss Brown?” I disappeared from the window and ran down the stairs. Justin looked like he was about to hit someone. I opened the door. I could see Reagan’s eyes riveted on my window still. Reagan looked over at me with horror filled eyes. “Would you like to come in?” I asked politely. He shook his head vigorously. “No, I’m fine out here Miss. That is if you could get your guard dog to back off.” I looked at Justin and at the moment he did seem to resemble a big guard dog. “Justin, what are you doing here?” Justin turned his red eyes to me, “Why doesn’t he show up in pictures, Brandy? Why did you leave me for him?” Not again. So Amber had gone to Justin with the pictures after all. I noticed Reagan’s intense interest in this. “You’re there and you’re kissing thin air! Is that what you left me for, someone who doesn’t appear in photos? What kind of freak is he? What is he a vampire or something?” he laughed at this last one. I laughed too, but for a whole different reason. He had no idea how right he had been.
Reagan however did not laugh. He was looking at my house calculative. I could hear Morgead’s whisper in my mind He is trying to see how easy it would be to break into your house. He plans on killing me and getting you to safety. I could hear him snort. What am I, I thought back to him, a damsel in distress? This caused a roar of laughter to emit from the house. Reagan looked over at me. “Who is that?” he asked politely. “That is the reason why Justin here is over here. That is a he which is my boyfriend Morgead.” I turned to see him standing in the door way with some thick sunglasses on. “Hello, Reagan.” He whispered softly menacingly. I had never heard his voice carry such a promise of death. Reagan heard it too. “Hello, Morgead. Been to Romania lately?” he asked pleasantly. “Listen, Reagan this line of work is not for you. Get out while you still can. You’re what 24?”
I saw shock flit across his face for a moment. “Would you be willing to meet with me elsewhere?” He asked returning his attention to me. I opened my mouth to say something when Morgead answered for me, “She will be busy for a long, long while.” He gazed pointedly at my neck. Reagan looked furious when he left. That is how people always seemed after talking to Morgead, furious. Morgead, however, looked grim. I’ll have to run again. I really don’t want to kill anyone. He sighed exasperated. Morgead, I’m sorry. I had no idea that it would be so hard on you. I wish I could ease some of your pain. Justin was just looking from me to him. “Well, I can see how much in love you two are. I’ll be biding my time, Brandy. And at the first opportunity I’ll take you back.” Justin retreated with sagging shoulders.
Having exchanged blood with Moread had given me a little something extra. Some of you might call it a sixth sense others might have said I was going crazy. But I could see things that no one else could, and I could hear peoples’ thoughts. Can you believe how many people had a thing for Morgead at first glance? My first professor Mr. Camp almost had him leave because so many of the girls could not concentrate on there work. My Latin professor Mrs. Wolfe was all but drooling. And even Miss Stinson had a hard time keeping her head on straight. Justin was in my chem. class. In fact, we were lab partners.
“Hello,” he mumbled glumly. I nodded instead of saying anything. My day started off on a bad note. We hardly got anything done because there were almost no words exchanged between us. That stranger, Reagan, had been rather odd, and I had to sit next to my ex for an hour in a half. It was 10:30 by the time all my classes were over. I was beat. I almost fell asleep on the ride home. I didn’t have any classes the next day, and I was going to make the best of it. I was going to sleep until noon at least. I saw one of the curtains upstairs fluttering in the slight breeze. I could have sworn that I had shut all the windows before I had left.
Morgead noticed this too. Someone is in your house. I think it is that Reagan character. I heard his voice like warm silk wrap around my mind. “I think maybe I should go in alone,” I whispered, “You could of course wait for me. If I’m in trouble, you could come at once, but I think that he should think that I’m alone.” He didn’t like it, not at all, but he calmly nodded his head. I watched him roar off on his hog. I walked calmly up to my front door. I took out my key ring humming softly to myself. I tried to make the scene as normal as possible. I walked in and went straight to the kitchen. Morgead my cat had been shut up in his carrier. I got him out, fed, and watered him. He ate voraciously.
Next I started for the stairs. I took them sluggishly as slowly as possible. I heard a slight creak near the landing. I knew that the guy was there. He was waiting to attack me from behind. I reached the top of the stairs. I heard another slight creak and that was my only warning. I shifted to the side. I spun around and saw Reagan looking slightly startled. “You have already shared blood.” He exclaimed. “What are you doing here?” I asked trying to hide the fact that I was shaking. He didn’t answer me. “Shall I call the cops then?” I asked taking a step towards the phone. “Don’t do that.” He exclaimed reaching for me. I moved out of reach. “Don’t you know that you are in danger? You have invited an inhuman creature into your home.” I was listening to his voice. I couldn’t, however, place his accent. “At the moment, he seems more human than you. He wouldn’t break into a woman’s house, not to mention one that lived alone. He hasn’t done anything to harm me. In fact, I’ve known him since I was 10.” He was distracting me so much that I didn’t hear the other man come up behind me but boy did I feel him hit me over the head. Needless to say, I dropped like a sack of potatoes.
The next thing I heard was a woman saying, “I thought I told you to be careful with her not bash her over the scull.” I heard Reagan say, “It wasn’t me Marissa. It was Terry over there.” I twitched. I could feel the room go dead silent and still. I felt a cool had on my cheek. “Hello there, are you ok?” I heard the woman they called Marissa ask. I groaned in pain and clutched at my head. In truth it was hurting, but I was also playing it up a bit. “I think you might have hit her too hard. She better not have any brain damage!” I felt someone’s warm breath on my face. “Brandy,” Reagan whispered, “come on please come around.” His breath smelled really good. My stomach growled. I knew he heard it. He moved away and went to talk quietly with Terry and Marissa. “Well she can’t be hurt too badly. She’s hungry.” I heard Terry laugh in relief. “Don’t laugh stupid. It is your fault that she’s like this in the first place. Go get her some food.” She snapped at him. I heard them come closer. “Reagan,” the woman said, “do you think what we’re doing is wrong?” There was a pause. “I have to believe it is right. How can I not.” He responded. “But she’s human.” He muttered something along the lines of “yeah for now.” I opened my eyes and had to shut them immediately. It was so bright in here. I could feel my eyes starting to tear. “Shut the lights off,” I moaned pitifully. I heard the scuffling of shoes on hard wood. The light dimmed and then was gone. I opened my eyes slowly. I looked at the woman. She was very pretty. She was a blonde, but better yet she had a conscience. “Please help me,” I whimpered. “I don’t know why I’m here.”
I opened my eyes and could see perfectly. The blonde was kneeling over me and Reagan was watching from a distance. I looked down and found my hands bound. The skin around the plastic was chaffed raw. I pleaded with my eyes. She pulled out a nail file and began sawing at the plastic. Before Reagan could protest my hands were free. I just stayed there waiting for my chance. I could hear Terry coming down the hall. I felt a tug at my mind. Morgead? I heard a mental sigh of relief. Yeah, it’s me. Are you ok? I’m coming to get you. I muffled a gasp of horror. NO! They’ll capture you too. I heard him chuckle. You forget Ma chere that I’m a full vampire, and I can find you anywhere. With that the mental communication was lost.
I felt a slam hit me in the head in the form of a major headache. Reagan leaned over me. “You should refrain from speaking to him. It will only hurt you. I designed this room myself. You can’t communicate telepathically with anyone in here.” I stared up at him in amazement. He motioned for Marissa to leave the room. I stared at a spot away from him. “Brandy, how did you stumble across Morgead?” It didn’t take him long to know that I wasn’t going to cooperate. “Why are you protecting him? He is dangerous and a leech!” He hissed out the last part. “Why do you judge him so harshly?” I fired back. Through tight lips he responded, “It isn’t him. It is his whole species. One of them killed my newly married wife. She was pregnant at the time, and the doctors couldn’t save her. She was DOA.” I looked at his face and saw tears of anger welling up in his eyes.
I felt bad for him. Any human would, but that didn’t justify the kidnapping of me or the fact that they were trying to lure Morgead into a trap. I put my hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry. I know that doesn’t make up for anything, but I really am sorry.” He straightened up a little. “I should probably be apologizing to you, not the other way around, but I won’t.”
Ch 2
It would be morning soon. I could feel it in the stiffness of my limbs. I had searched my surroundings. I was in a windowless room, possibly underground. Morgead had yet to touch minds again, and I was beginning to get anxious. I felt like a jaguar pacing restlessly in a cage. I could see the video camera in the corner. For a long while I had just stared at it, willing one of them to come down here. I had heard heels clacking down the stairs, and then a shout from Terry, “Marissa, what in the hell do you think you are doing?” Marissa responded, “I don’t know. I was up in the monitor room a minute ago, and now I’m here talking to you.” I heard Terry leading a very confused Marissa back up to the control room.
It was 8 am when they came and brought me breakfast, but for the life of me I couldn’t keep anything down. My stomach was in full blown rebellion. I was really hungry though. I could smell all the food, but all it did was repulse me. I was hungry for something else. Terry, Reagan Jamore, and Marissa were all in the room watching me. I could feel ripple after ripple of nausea course through me.
I don’t know when I passed out but I woke to someone humming. I was surrounded by water. It took me a minute to realize that I was in a bathroom in the bath. Marissa was washing out my hair. I must have passed out in my puke. What a disgusting thought. I turned my head to look at the dainty blond. She looked me in the eyes and stopped humming. “I’m so sorry all of this is happening. I’ll get you out somehow. It’s Terry. I think he has gone crazy. Reagan is ok, and I would want revenge after what happened to his wife too. But I think everything has gone a little too far.”
I looked into her eyes and whimpered. I could hear her blood rushing through her veins. She was the only one here who had even considered getting me out of here. But I wasn’t a full vampire yet. I knew I wasn’t. Ma chere, it is ok. I will help you fight down the hunger. I will not allow harm to come to this woman who has watched over you when I could not. I will be there soon. Most likely by tonight. I had but only a second to send the thought I love you and hurry! Before the communication was cut short.
Marissa looked at me warily. “Are you going to be sick again?” She asked repulsed by the thought. I shook my head. I heard voices floating up from somewhere below us. They were arguing. “I will not subjugate her to this any longer.” “You will because I said so! She may look human, but she is a tie to the blood sucking scum who haunt the streets at night. Why would you want to set her free? They’d find her and take her back with them!”
“She wouldn’t be with out protection.” I heard Reagan insist. “How would that be?” Terry retorted. There was silence as he debated, “Well, I could just keep her in a safe place until she has been forgotten.” I heard Terry snort. They were making there way towards us and the argument was beginning to simmer down.
Marissa grabbed me a towel and turned around as I dried myself. “Do I have any clean clothes?” I asked looking around. I spotted something in the corner. It was a white dress. It was really pretty, but seemed a little flimsy to me. “Is there anything else?” I asked skeptically. She shook her head, no. I pulled on the dress. Thank god it had a built in bra. Damn. Where is my underwear? I looked around, and Marissa must have realized what I was looking for. “They’re in the drier. As soon as Terry and Reagan get up here, I can go get them for you.” “What time is it?” I asked. My voice sounded weak and reedy.
She looked at her watch and said, “It is a little after three o’clock. Why?” I didn’t respond right away. I was thinking. It was November and the sun set early. It wouldn’t be very long until Morgead would be here to rescue me. “Marissa,” I asked quietly, “if you could, would you want out of this?” “Only if Terry got out too. We’re sort of a couple.” She smiled shyly. I stared at her in disbelief. “He really is a big sweet heart once you get to know him.” I snorted at that.
Well that complicated things. I heard a key turn in the door. I turned my attention to the door and saw Reagan enter. He motioned for Marissa to go and get my undergarment. “How are you feeling?” “I’m fine,” I whispered barely audible to his ears. There was a very long awkward silence. “You want out of this don’t you?” He was shocked by my unexpected question. “I-I don’t know.” He stammered. He did. I could see it in the regret in his eyes. I walked over to him slowly like you would to a frightened animal or small child. “I know that this is not what you intended to happen.” I continued, “And I don’t blame you, but would you want out if the chance arose?” I stared intently into his deep brown eyes.
I was having some affect on him. His eyes seemed really misty and his face had gone slack. I waited for my answer. “Yes, I would hate for my Betty to look down and see the monster I have become. I can’t get out though.” He sighed in defeat. I frowned at him. “Why not?” I asked. I didn’t hear him come in which was strange with my super heightened abilities. “I won’t let him go.” Terry whispered behind me. “Morgead and I have old scores to settle. You could almost call it ancient history.” He snickered at his own joke. “You couldn’t be.” I murmured in horror. “How did I not know?” I looked over at Reagan. He was as still as a statue and would be no help in a fight.
“Does Marissa know?” I asked placidly. Trying to work my way to the door. He shrugged. “There were plenty of signs. I don’t know if she interpreted them correctly, but that is her own fault. Not mine.” I was aghast. “What do I have to do with this?” I whispered shakily. He laughed. One of the harshest sounds I had ever heard. “You really don’t know? You really can’t see it? You would be the perfect revenge. If I get to you first, I will have done exactly what he did to me.” I was just shaking my head. Why hadn’t I thought of that? I looked over at Reagan trying to will him into consciousness. I looked around. How I wished I knew what time it was. “It is almost sundown. He’s coming for you, isn’t he?” He said gleefully.
“Why would he come for me? He doesn’t love me that much.” I sighed trying to make it seem real. He didn’t buy it. I realized how vulnerable I was being the only conscious human in the room. He saw my uneasy glance as it swept the room. “Do I make you nervous?” He asked advancing, so I had little maneuvering space left. I could feel Morgead’s presence enter the building. Terry did too. He gave me a wolfish grin. I blinked, and Terry was on me like white on rice.
He practically flung me over his shoulder and ran. I shrieked as we flew down a hall. I could hear Morgead coming after us. “Hurry,” I called. I could see Morgead flashing behind us like lightning. Terry shut us up into a stairwell and bounded down them without breaking stride. We came to an abrupt stop at the bottom. Morgead was there in front of Terry. I was flung from Terry’s shoulder. “Come any closer, and I’ll break her neck.” I saw my fear filled eyes reflected in Morgead’s eyes.
He had stopped. “Terry, I thought we had resolved this long ago.” He stated calmly. “No,” Terry hissed, “we never resolved it, and you damn well know it! You always had everything. Why did you take Elaina? She didn’t mean anything to you.” I could see the guilt barely noticeable on Morgead’s face. “You frightened her into my arms, Terry. I know it was wrong, but it was something you caused.” The glare was evident in Terry’s voice. “Are you telling me it is my fault? It isn’t!” He insisted not giving him the time to answer. He still had me around the neck and his anger was making him squeeze. If he didn’t stop soon, he was going to strangle me. I let out a wheeze. Morgead looked down at me. “Terry, let her go! It has nothing to do with her. Emily chose me. It was her choice. If it makes you feel any better I feel bad about it. Now just put her down.”
I could feel Terry’s arms loosening. “We were like brothers!” He bit out. “You betrayed me.” I shifted so I could get my mouth down to his hand. I sank my teeth deep into it. He let out a yelp as I twisted away from him. I lunged for Morgead’s arms and reached him to find that Terry had a hold of my hair. He yanked hard. I let out a gasp of pain. “Please, let me go.” I implored. My head was angled, so I could his face. The madness flashing in his eyes frightened me. I was going to die. In my very bones, I could feel it.
Morgead, let go of me. I whispered in his head. I can do it. Let me go. With a jerk I was pulled back. “Terry, let me take Emily’s place.” I whispered desperately in his ear. This halted both of them, and had them both gaping at me. “A life for a life right?” “No! Brandy, you don’t know what happened to Emily. She ended up deranged. She wasn’t as strong as you. You will survive. I have seen it. Please, don’t ruin both of our lives.” Terry had been silent through Morgead’s speech. “She’s mine, Morgead. She offered herself freely to me.” He sounded almost as if he was in awe of such a feat. I could feel his warm breath on my neck.
I knew I was not going to survive the night. I heard a deep growl from Morgead. I closed my eyes waiting for the horrible feel of his fangs on me. I could feel the weight of both of their eyes on me. Three things happened simultaneously. A thought struck me, my eyes popped open, and I hissed. “How did you find out about me?” I asked Terry. He seemed confused at first. “Oh. Yes, I thought you would ask about that.” He walked away from both Morgead and I and towards Reagan.
“Are you going to answer me?” I asked getting agitated. He smirked at me, “I’m fairly sure you already know. Pictures that do not develop well can make for fascinating study. Don’t you think?” Amber! I was going to kill her. I would…. “Wait, is she ok?” I glared at Terry. I might not have liked her, but it was not for him to decide who was to die. I walked over to him and grabbed the front of his shirt. “Is she ok?” He had the audacity to laugh in my face. He motioned towards the door. Amber stood in the doorway. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Amber are you ok?” I asked steadily. “How could I not be?” She asked solemnly.
I walked over to her and shook her. “You were being held captive by one of the undead.” Her stare never wavered. “I was not being held against my will.” I stared at her incredulously. “You can imagine how I’ve hurt all these years. Never fully living up to anything. Never being better than you at anything. I hid in your shadow far too long. I told you I liked Justin. I told you my secrets, and you used them against me. Now I have the power to destroy you.” I saw a flicker out of the corner of my eye and looked to see Terry grappling with Morgead.
Amber had moved from the doorway. She was stalking me. “Amber, whatever I did to you does not deserve death.” I was only a half vampire. She, however, had been turned by Terry. She wasn’t in an attack position, yet. I was watching her legs and arms waiting for the shift. It came very suddenly, but not in the direction I thought it would. Reagan had regained consciousness and was running at her preparing to tackle. I leaped at Amber preparing to rip her apart. Reagan was almost an innocent bystander I would not watch him be slaughtered.
The hissing and fighting behind me had escalated momentarily distracting me. I looked behind me to see Morgead besting Terry. I felt the impact like I had been hit by a car. Amber was clawing at my face when I heard several shouts. Terry might have wanted to use me as a means of revenge, but he didn’t want me dead. He, Morgead, and Reagan all leapt at Amber. They pulled her kicking and screaming off of me. I could see everything through a haze. It was like a tunnel. I was seeing and hearing everything as if it was through a film of water.
I was dieing. It was that simple. I had known that I wouldn’t see the next day. I heard a voice in my ear and in my head, “Brandy, you can’t leave me. I won’t let you. I still need you, you stupid human. I love you. You can’t leave me like this.” I could feel myself slipping even further into a dark abyss. A pressure went to my chest. I was bleeding near my heart. I will change you.
Ch 3
I didn’t wake up for two weeks. I had slept through my change. I was still sore when I woke in my bed. My cat was sitting on my pillow licking my face. “Morgead,” I laughed, “what are you doing?” I looked towards the window to see the moon, and a silhouette sitting on the sill. I blinked, and it was gone. The man that I loved was towering over me. He fell to his knees on the side of my bed. “Brandy, I never thought you would wake up. I thought I was too late. I thought….” I placed a finger on his lips to silence his rambling. “I’m alive, in a manner of speaking. I still love you.” He kissed me then. It was sweet and urgent. I could feel the hunger in me rising. He could apparently feel it too. “You must feed.” I reached for him. He shook his head. “You don’t feed from vampires. You feed from humans.”
I had no idea who I would feed from. The door to my room opened, and Reagan walked in. “No. I will not feed from him.” Morgead shrugged. “He comes to you of his own free will. I have no say.” He walked out of the room. I was left with Reagan Jamore and my hunger. Morgead had taken my cat with him. My hunger was beating at me like a thousand hammers. I felt Reagan shift. He would be coming across the room in a minute. I could hear the flow of blood in his veins. I rolled over on my bed, so I wouldn’t have to look at him.
The weight on my bed shifted. He was sitting on the edge of my bed. “This is awkward. I just want to thank you, for helping me get out of what I was into.” I could barely hear him over the pounding of his heart. “Go,” I moaned, “please go. I won’t be able to hold on much longer.” When he didn’t move, I turned to look at him. He was staring off into the distance.
“I could accidentally kill you. I don’t want to do that to you. you would die just like your wife.” When he still didn’t move, my hunger made me move. I sat up and scooted over to him. “I’ll try and make this as painless as possible.” I leaned my head down to his neck. I licked his neck once, twice. His skin tasted good. There was an uncomfortable sharpness to my eyeteeth. I didn’t even think before I sank my teeth deep into his smooth neck. I could hear him sigh. There was an erotic quality to feeding off of a man. Don’t even think it.
Morgead was in my head. What? I feigned innocent. You know what. The only man I want you thinking of naked is me. I withdrew my fangs and laughed. Morgead walked in. Reagan had moved off of the bed. I actually think he might have fallen off. None of that mattered though. Morgead lay over me, and he was in need. I reacted the only way I could.
And that is as much as anyone needs to know. This was my story. The rest is up to your imagination. Have fun.
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