Vicki Becomes Vampire

Vicki stood alone in the dark staring down at the fresh grave as cold winds blew her soft blond hair across her face. Irritated, she pushed the hair away from her eyes as few tears fell on the plastic placard naming the deceased. The events involving Henry, Mike, Astaroth, Coreen, and Raymond had changed her world forever and now both men she loved beyond reason were gone. Henry left in anger and a stray bullet ended Mike's life before she'd had a chance to tell him what was in her heart.

A soft voice whispered, "Vicki." As she turned toward the sound, her eyes silvered and the beginning of fangs glinted in the light of the moon.

Startled, Henry stepped back, stared at Vicki and recognized one of his kind. He hadn't sensed her as vampire until she turned to face him. He knew immediately she was his accidental child and as such the territorial imperatives that kept vampires apart had not yet become an issue. He looked straight into her eyes as his vampire showed itself with eyes darkened and fangs visible. As a parent to child, Henry reached out a paced his hands on her shoulders saying "Breathe deeply, center your thoughts and find yourself. Pull back on your anger and your hunger."

Vicki looked into Henry's eyes and followed his instructions. When she'd come back to herself she turned her head and tried to pull away. "What are you doing here?"

He took his hand and turned her face so that he could look into her eyes, "I heard about what happened to Mike. He and I may not have been friends, but I respected him and valued his life." He continued to hold her and asked, "What happened to cause this?"

She snarled, "Mike was shot."

He shook her, "I know that. I want to know is when this change in you started? Why didn't you call me? I am sure you understood what's happened."

She tried pulling away again, "I'm not sure of anything."

He held her even tighter saying, "Let's take it from the beginning. Tell me everything that happened since I left."

Tired of trying to pull away she stood still and asked, "Why?"

With the tone of a parent trying to get the truth from a willful child he ordered, "Victoria! Talk to me."

She took a deep breath and said, "You called once from Vancouver and said that you and some of your other world friends had taken out Astaroth. About the same time my marks faded and business picked up. I never did find the time to talk with Mike after he left your apartment that last night. I was busy, he was busy. We kept leaving messages on each others answering machines. About a month ago I started feeling tired, pounding headaches,and I couldn't eat or drink much. Day light bothered my eyes and irritated my skin and so I started sleeping all day and staying up all night."

He looked hurt as he asked, "Why didn't you call me?"

Vicki shrugged as she said, "Why should I? I was tired. I had been stressed out about everything. I was trying to keep a business running and it had been so long since I took in your blood and nothing happened. Why should I call you about some complaints that could be blamed on stress?"

He touched her lips that covered the beginnings of fangs and asked, "When did these start?"

Shaking her head from side to side she said, "I don't know."

He closed his eyes and begged, "Please don't make me drag this from you one word at a time."

Vicki took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she answered, "Week ago I got the call about Mike's death and started screaming, smashing things and became angrier than I had ever been in my entire life."

Henry waited quietly.

"I went into my bedroom, closed the drapes, and cried until I fell asleep. I guess I slept for hours. When I tried to go outside, the daylight drove me back indoors. Sounds were pounding off the walls of my head, every smell burned the back of my throat and I was too sick to think. I crawled back into my room and sat in the closet with the door closed."

"When I next realized what was going on, the funeral was over and I, his partner and friend, missed it. I came here tonight to say good bye to Mike. I heard you say my name, I was angry to hear your voice and I turned to yell at you. You ask what happened, and that's it."

Henry pulled Vicki closer and wrapped arms tightly around her. So many thoughts, so many emotions filled Henry's mind and heart. Love, fear, joy, and regret. What made her change? Did her body finally react and try to get rid of the poison of his blood? But had the extreme emotions Vicki felt when Mike died reverse the process and cause the poison to turn her vampire? He wasn't sure but he knew what the newly turned needed to survive and If he was very careful as he trained Vicki to the vampire life he might not have to lose her to territorial issues. He couldn't allow himself to fail. He never intended to turn her, but fate had stepped in and he planned to take every advantage. The arrogance of a prince would serve him well.

She almost whimpered as she said, "I'm hungry but I can't stand the thought of eating."

He ran a soothing hand up and down her spine as he said, "I know."

Vicki's eyes were wide in fright as she asked, "What's going on? What's happening to me?"

Henry had seen many sides of Vicki, be he had never seen her frightened. "Vicki, you know the answer."

She rested her head on his chest and felt safe knowing nothing could hurt her when she was in his arms.

Softly Vicki spoke said. "Your blood. I drank it with some herbs to fight a mummy and save your life. Oh God! I'm a vampire."

Henry continued to hold her close rubbing his hand up and down her back, "Yes. God forgive me, I didn't want this to happen to you. I knew you didn't want this but you do have choices and I will accept what ever chose."

"What choices?"

"I can make your death look like an accident, or I can feed you and help you with the transition from human to vampire."

"What about the territorial thingy? I won't be a vampire without you."

"I can't promise, but if we progress slowly through the next few days and weeks we'll have over a year to find some answers. Christina didn't want to keep the bond, so I never tried. I've lost too many lovers over the centuries and I don't intend to lose you."

"As long as we can stay friends and lovers, I'll try it."

Henry's smile spread until his eyes sparkled. Vicki smiled back and small fangs peeked out through parted lips.

"I need to feed you soon and we need to find a place where we can stay away from anyone that ever knew either one of us. I can promise we'll share most exquisite love making you've ever experienced while I teach you how to survive as a vampire."

With hope in their hearts they walked to Henry's car, and drove toward their future.

Using his considerable prowess, Henry took Vicki to the peek of orgasmic frenzy, fed, rolled to his side, wiped a drop of blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled into Vicki's love clouded eyes. "I told you passion and feeding could be a great release."

Vicki whispered his name then stopped talking. She was mentally numb, physically exhausted, and week from the loss of blood. Taking a deep breath she accused, "You took too much blood."

With an arrogant tilt to his chin he said, "Not so. I always take only what's needed. In this case I need as much of you as I can swallow. Your blood will mix with mine and tomorrow you'll feed from me."

"Why wait?"

"The successful turnings require a great deal of give and take by both partners. Tomorrow night you will have your first feeding as vampire. By then my body will have taken elements from your blood and blended them with what I am. After you've fed from me and the bond is fully formed, the lessons can begin. My plan is to prolong the bonding as long as possible so that we can enjoy the process and I'll have the time to do research on the territorial issue. If vampires can control themselves for brief periods, there should be a way to take it further and permanently neutralize the urge to kill each other. I'm trying to avoid unnecessary fights."

"I like fighting and make up sex."

"I'm aware of that but for now you're the vampire child that needs to listen to its parent. We've only one chance to get it right and this is far too important to mess up. So please listen to me, follow instructions without question and I promise you when we're done, you can fight with me to your heart's content and we can have all the steamy make-up sex you want."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'll let you win this time because our goals are the same." She raised herself up on one elbow and kissed his smiling lips.

Vicki rested quietly in Henry's arms as he explained the first steps. Vicki had a brief period of time in which she could still function in the daylight and she had to use that time wisely. She needed to make arrangements for her "death" including selling possessions, open a numbered bank account and make her mother accept that she would be out of reach for quite some time. Henry explained how he had made his end of life decisions, but the 1500's were much different than the 2000's. Keeping track of people, identities, money, had become an art, and getting around those things became an even greater art. Then he explained how Augustus, a facilitator for vampires living in the modern world would help them.

"Vicki the sun is going to rise soon, and I will have to leave you. Take it easy but get as many things accomplished today as you can. There's no knowing how many days you have left."

"All right. Is there anything you need ?"

"I'm good. Try to stay out of direct light and be back by sunset."

Vicki sat at the bedside until Henry took his last breath at dawn, then put on her sunglasses stopping to notice that her field of vision had widened before stepping into the daylight. Vicki paid attention to Henry's words and walked on the shady sides of the to her office. She contacted clients, closed as many cases as she could, listed her home with a realtor, and changed her accounts. She called her mother and made a convincing story about going into deep cover for a very important case that would take several months and not to expect any contact other than an occasional phone call.

Vicki got back to her house just after sunset and found him sitting in the only easy chair.

"It's done. I've got everything wrapped up with time to spare. Ended up with a little sunburn but nothing serious. Funny I don't normally burn."

"You're changing. Did you have any problems staying awake?"

"Not really, but can I sleep now?"

"That's not a problem. You can sleep int the car while I start our trip back to Vancouver."

"Why Vancouver? I've lived here all my life, I don't want to move out of the city."

"We're moving because too many people will recognize you and a young vampire's feeding can be messy at best."

"How messy? I don't want to be ripping off heads and killing people just to live."

"No, no head ripping or killing. It's easier to learn to hunt and practice the use of power required to control your prey in a place where no one knows you. You're life's upside down and trying to stay in hiding here would add to your distress." He gave her one of his beguiling smiles, "Trust me. I know best."

She crossed her arms over her chest and gave a bit of a fake pout, "I won't argue."

Henry walked over kissed the pout away.

He tapped her chin when she smiled back, "That's better. Now I have something you might enjoy."

"What?"

"You should be very hungry by now."

Her eyes silvered as her fangs peeked out from parted lips.

"Now?"

"Yes."

After making sure the room was secure Henry led her to the bed slowly and undressed Vicki and himself placing their clothes on the chair. On the table beside the bed was a small pen knife.

She make an attempted to bite his neck and he held her back saying, "Vicki, your lovely little fangs are not strong enough yet to puncture my skin." She growled in frustration as he continued to hold her still. "Patience little vampire. You're going to get fed and have your first lesson in the use of the vampire control of passion."

He positioned her more comfortably in his arms and started whispering instructions. "Breathe deep find your hunger and let it rise. Good, now find the anger let it rise enough to feel it throb. Can you feel the passion of hunger and anger?" She nodded. "Okay. Add love." He waited watching her face until he saw the beginnings of control. "That's right. Hold those the emotions in your mind as you pull them to you're will. Keep your mind clear of anything else. Become aware of me, yourself, your surroundings." Henry took the penknife and made a small vertical cut on his wrist over a blue vein. Blood began to well up and drip on Vicki's breast. "Vicki smell my blood. I give you permission to drink." As she started to speak he placed the tip of his index finger to her forehead. "Don't speak." Blood dripped onto her lips, they parted and she grabbed Henry's wrist pressing it to her mouth and began to suck greedily.

Henry gasped as Vicki's new born passion pulled him into her vampire's power. He felt the passion of her first feeding as he burned with desire as his mind went blank. All he could feel was Vicki around him, pulling him in, squeezing him, draining him dry.

Vicki, her hunger, anger, passion sated, pushed Henry's wrist away, licked her lips and looked into his eyes. "Did I do it right?"

Gasping for air like a man newly rescued from drowning, "I am pretty sure you're going to be a very popular vampire."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You were in control of that feeding. I was dinner."

"What are you talking about?"

"The control you just demonstrated usually take months to perfect. In one night, you've accomplished more that I did in six months. I'm not sure whether to be proud of you or jealous."

"I've always been a quick learner except when it comes to you. It seems to me most of what I did made you angry."

"Not this time. Far from it. I think I am in love."

"I thought we've already established that?"

"I mean I'm in love with a Vampire. I loved Vicki. I now love Vampire Vicki. I just may start calling you VeeVee."

Vicki threw a pillow at Henry's head. He caught it and threw it back.

"Woo hoo, the fight's on. Come and get it big boy, I've eaten and

I 'm ready to take you."

"I said no fighting."

"Verbal fighting. You said nothing about a good old fashioned wrestling match." With that they dove at each other and had a fine time pounding on each other. It was amazing what vampire strength and vampire healing powers could accomplish and how much fun a fight could be.

Thanks to some calls to Augustus, a facilitator for vampires living in the modern world, arrangements were made and Henry drove Vicki to the first of many safe places they would use during the year long process of raising a vampire.

Henry pounded on the bathroom door.

"Vicki get out of there. I want to take a shower and we need to get moving if we want to reach are next safe haven before sunrise."

"Henry if you drove faster, it wouldn't take so long."

"I am driving as fast as I deem safe. I don't trust my life or yours to a tin can, nor am I going to risk a traffic violation and a day in jail. Now get out of there."

"Henry"

"Oh God. What now?" Henry started thinking seriously of either strangling her or pounding his head on a wall until he passed out.

"I have a problem." Vicki called out in muted voice.

"What kind of problem?"

"It has been a week since I last ate solid food."

"So what is the problem?"

"Elimination."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Do vampires go to the bath room?"

"Well you're in there now aren't you, and speaking of that I want in there." With that he pounded on the door again.

"No Henry, how do vampires get rid of waste?"

Henry blinked a few times, smiled and laughed out loud. "Vicki, must I explain EVERYTHING to you?"

"Yes. What do I do, how do I do it?"

"The normal human way. I will explain the rest while we are driving. Just please get out of there."

Vicki completed the process which was more painful that she'd ever recalled. Flushed, washed hands and opened the door. Henry pushed her aside went in and took his shower.

He did all the driving since he didn't trust Vicki to do a sane job of it knowing her tendency to rush head first into everything she did. Henry had no intention of dying because of a car wreck, sitting in a local sunny jail, or any of a hundred complications he could think of when it came to cars and Vicki.

"Henry are you going to talk to me about my problem?"

Henry sighed. "You're a challenge me. You are asking questions that I haven't thought about in five hundred years. The last person I turned was early in the previous century and personal stuff wasn't discussed. I didn't share a space with her and I went to her for the lessons she needed. You, on the other hand, are with my every moment and ask the most astounding questions."

"I'm a trained detective. I ask questions and I need answers that make sense. I want to understand vampire, what I am, what I can and can't do. I have so many questions and each of your answers leads to another question."

"Sometimes you really do remind me of a three year old asking 'why' all the time, while not waiting to think about the previous answer. Alright let's discuss the get basics."

Henry explained that he didn't know where vampires came from or how they got started. He did know that they destroyed when found because of the fear of vampire curses. There were "good" vampires and "bad" vampires just as there were good and bad people in any society. Vampires were solitary creatures. They didn't seek there own kind and in fact they didn't tolerate being near each other for any period of time. Henry felt most of the territorial issues revolved around protecting there food sources or hunting grounds. There were stories about vampires that could mate and produce young. But Henry had never found any proof of that, but there were always vague stories about vampires. Vampires were not very common and in the last three hundred years accidental children almost never happened.

Henry talked about vampire biology. He stated since it was impossible to do an autopsy on a vampire because they turned to dust when they died and most of his knowledge was based on self experience and guess work.

"Vicki as you turn your body changes. Some of the bodily functions stop all together, others are just never used. Digesting solid food is one of them. We can eat solids but we get no benefit other than taste and as you now know the passing of that food out of the system is very painful. Some things you take in will make you sick while others do nothing but pass on through. Each vampire is different on that score so you will have to experiment and see just what you can and cannot swallow. Liquids are much the same. Water is necessary for all life. We need water to live, but we need to be careful, processed or city water contains so many additives to keep humans healthy that is can make us ill. Alcohol and so called soft drinks go down and pass on through with little or no effect. Drugs, poisons, have no effect. We get all we need from blood. The blood does not go to the stomach but is absorbed whole in the back of the throat and goes directly into circulation. We can only make a small portion of our own blood so the rest must come from the living. Since the life of a blood cell is about twenty eight days, if we feed fully each time, we can go up to a month between feedings. Any living creature that has red blood cells can be a food source. But picking fur and feathers out of your teeth can be a pain."

"What about coffee, I live for coffee."

"As I said you will have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate."

"I am beginning to think being vampire is sad."

"It can be. That's why vampires work so hard at making feeding a very pleasurable experience for all involved."

"Thanks for the information."

He took his eyes from the road for second, smiled and said "Your welcome." He loved a woman that could drive a crazy man sane. There is no reasoning with love, just acceptance. He knew for a fact that Vicki would do anything for him and he knew that this relationship would have him screaming in the night "why me?" but he would never abandon Vicki.

Vicki's Lessons Continue

Henry pulled off the highway and into a small city along the route from Toronto to Vancouver. Vicki noted it was much earlier than Henry's previous stops.

"I need to feed."

"Now?"

"Very soon. After I find the safe house and get you settled I'll hunt. I know you have questions and complaints but they'll keep."

The safe house was a small place Augustus had secured a long time ago for the use of traveling vampires. Hired workers took care of the upkeep and it was in a part of town where neighbors minded their own business.

Henry found the keys opened the house and put the car in the attached garage. Henry watched Vicki as she looked around, checked closets, rooms, cupboards. She was thorough but quick. Vicki turned and smiled, "Cop training, secure the site, make sure it is clear, and be ready for the unexpected."

Henry could argue he had been a vampire for years and was very capable of finding sanctuary or he could keep his mouth shut. He knew Vicki so well he that he chose to keep quiet. In Vicki he had found his man-at-arms, his champion. Henry, the Prince Royal, accepted his due and allowed Vicki to be his 'warrior princess'.

"Are you finished?"

Vicki nodded as she pulled her head out from under the bed, "No killer dust bunnies."

"We need to talk. No keep the pretty little fangs under control. Talk only, no biting, no fighting."

Vicki stood up and moved as close to Henry as she could without touching.

"Listening."

"I am going hunting and you're staying here."

"I understand. I don't know if I'll ever be ready to hunt."

"Trust me you will. You are a trained hunter. You've been one for years, ever since you entered the police academy you have hunted. You just never ate your prey before."

Thinking about some of her arrests she said, "Thanks for the visual."

"You can sit here watch TV – C SPAN and catch up with the world or I can place you in a trance until I get back. The choice is yours."

"I need to be in control at all times."

"Okay. I'll be back long before sunrise."

Vicki walked with Henry to the door and closed it behind him. She turned and looked at the TV and the remote. She decided not to turn it on. This was the first time she had been alone since leaving Toronto. She needed to think about the last few weeks. With Henry's slow precise driving and the stops for the daylight hours the trip was taking twice if not three times as long. Vicki reviewed the events that had led her to this point. She was traveling with Henry, and learning the lessons needed for vampire to survive. Henry assured her she was progressing rapidly. Her control of the vampire hunger and anger was astonishing. She wasn't so sure, but Vicki never admitted when she was not sure of something. She just forged ahead, faked it and kept pushing until she got the results she wanted. But not this time she thought. Look what going full throttle forward without listening had gotten her. Mike was gone, not her fault but he was dead just the same. She was turning vampire because she thought she knew more than a man who had been around for over four hundred and eighty years. The fact she acted out of love made no difference to the end result. She thought about what she had learned about vampires from books, movies and TV. She then compared that to what she knew of Henry and what he had taught her so far. He had given her a choice of quick death or learn to be vampire. She had chosen to learn. Henry was a kind, patient, gentle teacher. The lessons were so full of love and passion her sheath throbbed with the memory. She enjoyed feeding from Henry, but she wasn't so sure of feeding from others. And now she sat there and thought about Henry hunting and the passion of feeding. Vicki felt the anger and jealousy as it rose and turned her eyes silver and caused her fangs to elongate. She'd fought the temptation of Henry the entire time she'd known him because she wanted to be the only one in his life and there was absolutely no way she could be the only one. Now she had joined him in his life as vampire and shared his passion. She was not certain she could live with the necessity of feeding from others. How could she remain faithful to her beliefs, faithful to herself, and faithful to Henry when necessity demanded passionate feeding from others? Vicki sat in the dark, her mind going around in circles.

Henry stepped from the door and listened to it close. Vicki would stay put. He was sure of that. He could see from her face she was going to spend the time in thought. Well he needed to think too. How was he going to explain feeding from strangers to her knowing how much she hated the idea of his feeding habits in the past? This may be the hardest lesion a young vampire needed to learn and the most difficult an old vampire must teach. It was the how, when, and where of feeding that made the difference between a successful vampire and a dead vampire. Henry was very successful. His own lessons were hard, sometimes painful, and very often sad. Henry had killed by over feeding. He'd killed when feeding in anger. He'd killed by fright. Henry had fed from young, old, furred, or feathered. He'd fed from people so hungry themselves they died from the loss of one mouthful of blood. Henry had seen so much, learned so much. He hoped to teach Vicki enough that she didn't have to repeat his awful mistakes. Henry wanted Vicki to be happy in this life. He planned to be with her every step of the way. Never before had he felt this way. She was his true love and it had only taken him four hundred and eighty years to find her.

He felt the gnawing hunger as it rose and darkened his eyes. He forced it back whispering, "Patience, I have to find suitable prey."

It would be someone young, they taste better. Not on drugs, not drunk, and free of disease. The prey would be able to respond to suggestion and feel passion. Male or female it didn't matter, but Henry preferred female. Slender or full figure, he liked pretty, but that didn't matter when you were hungry.

He followed his nose and ears. At last he came to a small bar with live music that pulsed in the air like a heart beat pounding just for him. He expanded his senses and smelled female. Hot and bothered, anticipating being asked to dance. He looked around the room and there she was. She stood alone at one of those high round tables that could be leaned against. From the look of the table he could tell three people had been there. Two must be dancing. The young woman was full figured and wore a dress just a little too tight, but Henry didn't mind. She was ready for whispered words, a gentle touch, and the suggestion of passion that would be found in the alley behind the bar. She looked up and saw Henry, his smile and the suggestive head movement. Henry let the hunger rise, his eyes darkened in mystery and lust. The woman glanced over her shoulder at a dancing couple, shrugged why not and walked toward Henry as he extended his hand, took her by the elbow and led her into the alley.

Feeding was an art and when done well it could bring great pleasure to both. Henry was an artist with centuries of practice and he was in no hurry. He wanted to give this woman a memory that would last a life time. He whispered in her ear the words she wanted to hear. He ran his hands slowly, gently over her body. He kissed her increasing the pressure and the demand for response. He guided her to passion, the hand rougher now touched her in private places and made them tremble and more words whispered. Henry felt her heat, her need rose and he could smell her excitement. As she peeked he bit down on the artery that pulsed in her neck. He drank deeply and quickly. As her eyes cleared of passion he removed his tongue from the small puncture wound. In an hour it would look like an insect bite. The woman rested her head on Henry's chest and he held her. He had given her passion and memory. She had given him blood. He whispered again, "You will go back in and tell your friends you were light headed and came out for air. When you go home you will dream of a man and sex. You will wake up feeling very satisfied. You will never forget the dream. Sometime in the future you will meet someone who makes you feel the way you do in the dream. Do not give up on love. There is some one out there for you. Now go." He released her and she walked away.

Henry smiled to himself as he walked back to Vicki, and what he was sure was going to be a hell of an argument. Even though she had promised not to fight, Henry knew his Vicki, and he loved her just the way she was.

Vicki sensed Henry even before he opened the door. She stood waiting as he entered. She could smell female sex on him. She knew she would and now she had to control her reactions or she might ruin everything like she almost did before. Vicki looked Henry in the eye, "Did you enjoy dinner?"

Henry looked at Vicki and didn't sense the anger he expected, "What no fight."

"Nope."

Henry walked to the bathroom showered and put on a robe. He knew what Vicki could smell, he smelled it too. He hadn't catered to anyone in the past, but this was the first time he lived with a vampire as a vampire. He knew smells could affect a vampire and he wanted to make this as easy for Vicki as possible. He walked to the living room and sat down next to her.

"What's on your mind."

"I have been thinking very hard while you were out. You know how I hated not being the only one in your life. I knew the reasons, but damn I hate sharing. You've never lied to me about what you were, and now what we are. Henry, feeding from you is beyond words. Just tell me I don't have to share that much passion with my food and that you can hold some part back to share just with me."

"You have me at a loss. You always keep me guessing. I don't think I will ever be able to figure you out. I was trying to prepare myself for the questions, arguments, jealously. Life with you is going to be so much fun. We have and we will keep a private life. One that we only share with each other. A vampire can hold back or give as much of themselves to anyone they want as they feed. We'll always be able to hold back the part of ourselves we only share with each other."

"What part of you?"

"My love for you. In all my years I have never allowed anyone to watch over me during the day but you. That I gave only to you. You are the only human or vampire that I have allowed to be with me around the clock, day after day and now forever. Each evening when we are released from the days' hold will be our special time that no else will ever share. That will be our time to talk, hold, love, and feed from each other."

"Christina?"

"I loved her. She turned me, she taught me, and then after a year, she pushed me away. We never shared the same place during the day. We met in the dark, in prearranged places. She's in the past, you are my present and future."

"Does that make Christina my grandmother?" Vicki almost choked getting that statement out. Henry did choke as he heard it.

"I have one more comment."

"How can you top the last one?"

"I won't play to much with my food if you don't play to much with yours."

"Vampire Vicki. Vee Vee you always win." Laughing Vicki lunged at Henry; he caught her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom where they thoroughly enjoyed each other until sun rise.