For those of you who wanted to know what happened next, a follow up to "Some Enchanted Evening" - part one of a few!
It seems that Herrick and Mitchell have made themselves a monster...
You May See a Stranger
I sat bolt upright, my heart pounding and a feeling of absolute terror racing through me.
"There were... I saw..." I couldn't find words for what I had seen even though the dreadful images were burnt into my brain.
"I know. I saw it too. We all did."
The voice was familiar and I started to collect myself to look around. I had no idea, not a clue where I was. It was as if I had been unconscious, I had had no sense of time passing, what day it was – even if it was day or night. I looked down at myself, I seemed to be wearing some kind of gown, was I in hospital? Was I hurt?
"Oh. My. God."
It was a shroud.
I was dead.
I heard a familiar chuckle. Actually, if I was dead and someone was laughing at me... well, it just didn't make sense. I took a deep breath, which felt odd – I'll have to come back to that – and looked around. There was a man sitting beside the bed or table I was lying on. It was too hard and narrow to be a bed and I swung my legs off the edge so I could sit up more easily. I squinted a bit, my eyes clearing and my brain finally starting to work. It was Herrick.
"Right." I was determined to get this sorted out. "What the hell is going on?"
I jumped off the table/bed/whatever – I always felt it was easier to be authoritative when you are standing but the sudden draft made me realise that a shroud isn't a garment designed to move about it. Naturally. It had entirely opened up all down the back and – of course – this was the perfect moment for the door behind me to open.
"Did you want something boss?" Oh great. Mad Seth. And he was looking at my bum. Could this possibly get any better?
I spun round and glared at him and said with all the quiet venom I could manage "Just go away and leave me alone." That felt good! Something had definitely changed, I felt strong and angry and Seth looked scared and took a hurried step back. Brilliant!
"Bring us some drinks and fetch the clothes I have for Charlotte." Herrick's voice was calm and he brought over the thin blanket from the table and wrapped it round my shoulders as Seth disappeared.
"Well my dear" he looked at me in an assessing way. "You do seem to be a quick study. It's rare that one so young can darken their eyes at will. In fact it's unheard of that you are on your feet so soon!"
I had no idea what he was talking about but I had so many questions I didn't know where to start. He seemed to understand this – it was as if this wasn't at all strange to him.
"If you will be patient with me I will explain everything. It is all hard to understand at first but I do suspect this is all going to work out very well for you."
There was a knock on the door and Seth gingerly put his head round the edge, waiting until Herrick gestured him in. He laid a selection of clothes over a chair and another man followed him in with a tray of drinks. Without a word they hurried out again, both glancing at me warily. And so they should, I thought, tossing my hair back and standing a little taller.
"I'll leave you to dress" said Herrick. "I hope the choices I made for you are acceptable. I will be back to talk when you are ready."
He left me alone and I sat down. I was so confused. Was this real? It can't be heaven, surely not hell – maybe I'm dreaming? There was a decanter on the tray and I took out the stopper – whisky. Well that might help and I poured myself a good measure and drank it down in one. It seemed to steady me although there was no trace of the effects I usually felt from spirits.
I sorted through the clothes that Seth had brought in – a black dress in a beautiful silky fabric; it felt incredibly expensive but there were no labels that I could find. There were also a pair of black shoes with very high heels and a selection of rather glamorous underwear. It was a far cry from my usual serviceable cotton M&S knickers and high street clothes. The thought of Herrick shopping for this lot made me smile as I dressed and did my best with my long hair with my fingers. The dress felt gorgeous and fitted perfectly and I looked around for a mirror but there wasn't one. I felt beautiful and confident in the lovely clothes. That was the real difference I realised – I had never felt like that before, I had never felt so strong.
Herrick came back in, he didn't knock and he stopped to look at me, smiling, although his eyes were calculating. I suddenly remembered sitting in a bar with Herrick but he looked different to me now. I could see that he was powerful, that he was used to dominating, to being the leader but under the power there was something darker. I frowned – what was I seeing? And more to the point how was I seeing it? I couldn't answer this but I could feel the power that Herrick held, it called to me, it tempted me and I wanted it for myself.
"You look beautiful, even more so than I had imagined." Herrick gestured me to sit and he sat beside me and poured us both drinks. "Now I need to explain to you where you are."
He asked me what I could remember last and I thought and remembered the bar in the club, I remembered Herrick and Seth and there was someone else there too. I had a feeling that I had been in my home but after that it was all hazy.
"Do you remember Mitchell?" Herrick asked. "By rights it should be him here with you now, he made you what you are but he has abandoned you. That boy has no manners, none at all. Have you worked out yet what we are?"
I shook my head, and he started to explain. Vampires. I wanted to laugh, tell him he was mad but I could feel the deep truth in his words, this was real; this was what I had become. He talked about our history, about how I had been recruited by Mitchell, what the process was and how he had been sitting with me until I had awakened, knowing the terror that they had all felt. The horrific things that everyone saw before they woke.
"I will be honest with you; I would have killed you that night. Mitchell, however, has developed a conscience." He said it with a sneer. "And that conscience wouldn't let you die; instead he created you anew and then ran away. Luckily, I realised what had happened and when I saw what you had done to Mitchell and how much of his blood you had taken, I knew you had some potential."
He looked at me with that same calculating gaze, weighing me up. I crossed my legs, the dress sliding open a little and I saw that Herrick was following the movement of my legs in the sheer stockings he had bought for me. I smiled and stretched out a little further, looking at his reaction and seeing his eyes narrow as he realised what I was doing.
"Most new vampires are weak and confused. They have no idea of the world they have been brought into. You, my dear, are something new. I can see that you are already strong. You were born for this."
I knew that I should be finding all this ridiculous but I also knew it was true. There was a deep certainty in me that this was right and I had been waiting my whole life to be part of this world.
"Your first test is due very soon. You must drink and to drink you must kill."
Herrick looked closely at me, waiting for me to show revulsion or disbelief but I looked straight back at him. As soon as he had said drink I felt a deep, gnawing craving, it should have felt alien but it didn't. I knew exactly what I needed, I needed blood. Herrick stood and held out his hand. I took it and stood beside him, smoothing down my dress and feeling the craving rise.
"Show me how."
He took me to a bar, Seth drove while Herrick whispered to me, telling me what I needed to do. When we arrived he made no move to get out and I realised he expected me to do this alone. I pouted at him, why wouldn't he help and he laughed.
"Oh my dear, I know exactly what you are doing. You won't get around me that easily!"
He was wrong, I would, but it could wait. I was happy to play along for the time being and I walked into the bar alone. It was dark and smoky, a proper drinkers pub and as I stood in the doorway I could see no women in there, just men in groups, settled in for a dedicated night of alcohol and that odd kind of male companionship – football, cars and heaven forbid we mention emotions!
As I stood in the doorway I could feel eyes on me. I had already picked out a small group of young men standing near the door and I walked over to them, exaggerating my movements in the silky dress and feeling their appreciation. Fools.
"I wonder if one of you gentlemen could help me." There was a lot of nudging among the group and one seemed to be elected to talk to me and he stepped forward. "My car has broken down, I'm waiting for the AA and I'm a little nervous on my own. Would you keep me company? I'd be so very, very grateful." I looked at him, trying to seem slightly helpless while promising great rewards. It felt terribly corny and obvious but worked like a charm! I was going to enjoy this new power and how easy humans were to influence and control.
"Yeah. All right." He was trying to look casual but he was chuffed to little tiny bits and was already thinking about just how grateful I would be! Far too young to be suspicious about what I really wanted he followed me outside with his mates laughing and teasing behind him.
"My car's just a little way up the road." I tucked my arm through his and led him past Herrick's car and stopped under the next street light. Herrick had warned me to stay out of sight, stay in the darkness, but I looked around – my sight was so much sharper in the dark now – and could see no sign of anyone. That was good. I wanted Herrick to see this.
I turned to my 'rescuer' and stepped closer to him, so close I could feel the heat of his blood, I could smell it and I realised I could hear his heart beating, faster and faster. I put my arms round his neck and moved against him, feeling him respond. My mouth was on his neck, I could hear his blood, I could smell it and almost taste it and I knew without any doubt that this was what I needed. He had his hand in my hair, holding my head back so he could kiss me and I let him, letting him feel in control until I pulled away. I could see from the sudden horror in his face that my eyes were black and I savoured his terror before biting into his neck, feeling my sharp fangs pierce the artery and the blood flood my mouth. I had never felt anything so wonderful before.
His heart stopped, the blood was gone and I dropped the empty body at my feet. I looked over to the car, letting my black eyes search out Herrick's still figure, knowing he was watching. I blinked, letting my eyes clear and then walked back to the car and got in. I sat close to Herrick; I knew that he had relished watching me kill but that he wouldn't admit it. Yet.
"What about the body?" he asked.
"Seth will deal with it." I closed my eyes and leaned closer, forcing him to put his arm round me. He laughed.
"You clever little witch. Of course he will."
I think I slept most of the way back to the funeral parlour – such a dreadful cliché by the way! My body still needed to recover and reform and although the fresh blood was helping I was suddenly exhausted. When the car stopped Herrick picked me up and carried me through the corridors. Even half asleep I have to admit I was quite impressed. He wasn't a tall man, in fact I think we were probably the same height if I took off the skyscraper heels but he carried me as if I weighed nothing. And I knew that was certainly not the case, vampire or not!
When I woke I knew it wasn't much later and I was lying on a proper bed (this time!) with a cover over me. A quick check showed I was shoeless but otherwise fully dressed which was a relief as the thought of Seth making himself 'useful' wasn't a pleasant one.
I got up and looked around. It was a decent sized room and while it was plainly decorated it was extremely comfortable and obviously time and thought (and money!) had gone into it. There were two doors and I found one opened into a bathroom and one to a small sitting room – both plain but quietly luxurious with everything you could need. Initially I'd been curious about where I was but I could feel Herrick's presence all around me. These must be his private rooms.
I felt tired still, the euphoria of my first kill and the blood had worn off and it seemed that my body was not yet recovered from its transformation. Frankly I felt like death. Although maybe that wasn't surprising! My dress was crumpled and creased so I stripped and took a long hot shower. That was better. I'd washed my hair and looked around the bathroom for a mirror, annoyed that there wasn't one before I realised how pointless it would be. That was something that would take a bit of getting used to – how on earth was I going to mange lipstick? There was a plain black robe hanging on the bathroom door so I put that on and wandered back into the bedroom. Should I go and look for Herrick? I yawned, the bed just looked too inviting so I dropped the robe on the floor and snuggled under the covers and slept.
The next time I woke I judged it to be a couple of hours later – I seem to have an accurate clock in my head now. A lamp was lit in the corner and Herrick was sat in a chair watching me, his face hidden in the shadows. So how did I know he was watching me? It suddenly occurred to me that if I thought I could assess Herrick from his aura, see his thoughts, then he would be able to do the same with me, but with considerably more skill. I would need to learn how to hide. I pushed away the longings to have some of the power that was so clear around him; I needed to be clever, cleverer than him.
"Are you rested? Is there anything you need?" His voice was quiet and I sat up against the pillows as I considered my next move. I knew he had taken pleasure from watching me kill and I needed to keep him close while that memory was still fresh and vivid.
"I'm still tired but I'm sure I will be well by morning." I said to him. "Shouldn't you sleep? You must be exhausted after sitting up with me before I... well, before. It was good that you were there – you make me feel safe"
I wasn't lying, I was pleased he was there and I think he knew that. He stood and walked over to the bed.
"I don't want to disturb your sleep" he said and I shook my head and met his eyes, letting him remember what he had watched me do earlier. I moved enough to make the bedclothes slide down, just a little. The soft light shone off my skin and I knew he was tempted.
"Come to bed. You need to rest."
He looked at me for what seemed like hours and then he turned off the light and I felt him settle into bed beside me. I wondered if we would lie awake side by side without touching all night but he soon slept. For a man so still and contained when awake his sleep was restless, seemingly tormented by terrible dreams and eventually I had to hold him until the nightmares passed.
It was morning when I woke again and the sun was up. This clock in the head thing was distinctly odd, the room had no windows I realised but I knew without thinking that it was sunny. Of all the things to find weird about this new life... at least I suppose this one was harmless!
Herrick was almost dressed, just looking for a tie to match his dark suit and as I moved he turned to look at me.
"Good morning" I said and smiled at him but he didn't smile back. He looked distant and I could feel that he regretted staying with me. Even though nothing had happened except for me holding him as he dreamed he was unhappy that he had given in to me. I don't think he ever let anyone get close and he hated it that I had crept through his defences. This was not part of my emerging plan and I tried to let him feel positive thoughts from me, about how he made me feel safe, how much I needed him. Maybe thinking I was vulnerable would appeal more. I wanted him to be reassured; I needed him close so that I could learn all his secrets.
I let the smile drop and pulled the bedclothes tightly round me, and looked at Herrick with worried eyes. Did he fall for it? Possibly...
He smiled, at last - although his eyes stayed wary - and he came over and sat beside me, taking my hand.
"So, my dear. How do you feel this morning?"
"Wonderful!" I told him, not having to fake a smile this time. I really did, I felt fantastic. I knew I would need to feed later but right now I felt I could do anything!
This time his smile reached his eyes and I think he was assessing what use I could be to him. That would work – I can use that! I'm sure I can be very, very useful.
I'm not sure what might have happened next because there was a sudden commotion and the sound of a door being flung open in the next room. The bedroom door flew open and Mitchell burst in, the vampires following him had not entered Herrick's territory but I could hear them gathered outside.
Herrick was on his feet instantly and although his voice was soft it was chilling and it stopped Mitchell in his tracks.
"How dare you come in here without my permission? What could possibly be so urgent that you couldn't wait for me?"
"It's that girl, the one I tried to save... she's gone, disappeared and the others won't tell me what happened. Didn't it work? Did she die?" He stumbled over the words in his panic that he'd killed me and I remembered Herrick's sneering at Mitchell's inconvenient conscience. Herrick didn't answer him just looked over at me, Mitchell following his gaze to see me curled up in Herrick's bed among the disordered bedclothes.
"But that's her! And she's in your... But you don't... Herrick – what the hell is going on?" His confusion was comical and as he ran out of words I waited to take my lead from Herrick. I already knew that the two men had a complicated relationship and I needed to tread carefully. But Herrick felt no need to explain and let Mitchell draw his own conclusions, however surprising he found them.
"I think it would be gentlemanly to allow Charlotte to dress without an audience don't you? We will continue this discussion in my office. Charlotte, my dear, please join us when you are ready."
Herrick finished knotting his tie and left the room but Mitchell was still staring at me. I couldn't resist teasing him a little and I smiled sleepily at him and stretched like a cat under the sheets, letting him take a good look at what he obviously thought was Herrick's property. I could see his confusion clearly, he had made me, we had tasted each other's blood and I could read him better than I could Herrick. I could tell he hadn't fed since he fed from me and that although there were vestiges of the power that was so clear in Herrick he was confused and troubled. He was weak.
Herrick came back into the room, took hold of the collar of Mitchell's jacket and dragged him out without a word.
I found my black dress hanging up, it had been cleaned and pressed which was a good job as I had nothing else to wear. I must go shopping. Although what about money? Given that I was officially dead going back to work wasn't an option, there must be some sort of arrangements, I supposed. Some kind of Undead Credit Union or something.
Outside Herrick's rooms a vampire was waiting for me, and he scuttled off ahead to show me where Herrick's office was, opening doors and avoiding my eyes. I squashed a brief impulse to engage him in small talk as I could see he had no real strength or power, those days of getting by through everyday politeness were gone forever for me. I intended to take every bit of influence I could get and I would act as though I expected to be served.
In Herrick's office there was a bit of an atmosphere, it seemed that he and Mitchell had had words. Herrick was as calm as ever but Mitchell was slumped in a chair looking sulky. I tried to feel what he was thinking – good practice! – and got the sense that Herrick had been telling him to feed and that Mitchell had refused. Silly boy. Even I could see he looked pale and weak and there was something else too, some illness or injury, I couldn't quite tell what. There was a chair beside Mitchell in front of Herrick's desk and I paused in the doorway. I wanted to see how Herrick greeted me and whether I was to be relegated to the cheap seats with Mitchell or ushered to something rather grander.
"Come in and join us my dear." Herrick smiled and came to greet me, kissing my hand as Mitchell watched, his eyes narrowed as he tried to work out what Herrick was up to. "Mitchell – pour Charlotte some coffee."
I looked around and decided that I would perch on the side of Herrick's desk; it aligned me with Herrick against Mitchell which would be interesting and gave me the benefit of height. Not to mention it showed off my legs which were proving to be a useful distraction, helped by the heels and sheer stockings, suh a wise choice by Herrick! Mitchell rolled his eyes at all this manoeuvring but he got up and poured coffee as Herrick asked. He winced slightly as he put the cup down beside me and I realised his arm was hurting. Mischievously I put my hand on his forearm and squeezed it saying "Thank you" quite innocently for the coffee. Although he didn't react I felt a flash of pain from him and I squeezed a little harder and this time he flinched.
"Oh... are you hurt?" I looked up at him, trying to look as if I cared "Let me take a look. Maybe I can help."
He looked at Herrick - who didn't react – and then shrugged and took off his jacket. His arm was a mess, covered from elbow to wrist in bloody gouges and what looked like bites and although it had started to heal it was slow and the wounds were inflamed and swollen.
"You did this." I heard Mitchell's words clearly in my mind although he hadn't spoken aloud and I remembered the taste and the desperation I had felt for his blood on the night when Herrick killed me and Mitchell brought me back. I had not realised how violently I had bitten him in search of blood or how much I had mutilated him in the process and it reminded me that this was part of what intrigued Herrick about me. I felt no guilt or shame about the injuries; it was just collateral damage after all.
"Why haven't you fed? Why are you letting this fester when you could heal?" I asked Mitchell sharply, more sharply than I intended. I knew that fresh blood would have healed him quickly instead of waiting in pain for the skin to slowly grow and repair the damage. Mitchell looked at Herrick in surprise and Herrick smiled.
"I told you she was exceptional. Goodness knows where it has come from; all she would have got from your blood was a hangover. Now, I assume you don't want to resume your duties as her maker, not that you ever actually started?" Mitchell shook his head, putting his jacket back on, hiding his ruined skin. "Good. Then I will continue to... care for Charlotte as I see fit."
He stood up and moved to stand behind me, putting his arms around my waist so I could lean back against him. Mitchell looked disapproving, this was behaviour from Herrick he didn't recognise and could not understand. He looked rather like a teenager who has just realised that his parents might have sex! It was working out very well – I wanted to be between Herrick and Mitchell – and no, not like that! Although... Anyway, I digress. They had a complicated history and until I knew more it was best that they were apart so I could work on Herrick alone. I supposed that Herrick was probably using me too, to teach Mitchell a lesson maybe, to keep him on his toes but that was incidental. I would soon get the measure of Herrick.
Mitchell left and as soon as the door was closed behind him Herrick let me go and went back to his chair.
"Now we need to begin. There is much for you to learn so I hope you are prepared."
Oh I was prepared! I sat in the chair vacated by Mitchell and looked attentive. I would learn everything I could, everything he could teach me. I would have Herrick's world for my own.
I'd tried that dark world for myself now...
...and it felt so nice!
