Pain. That's all I can think about. Pain. Most people say when you're dying your life flashes before your eyes. Me? All I remember is the screaming. I heard someone screaming and realized it was me. I remember also hearing someone else screaming, but the pain was too much for me to recognize who it was.
I don't know how long it went on. A year? A month? A week? But however long, in the back of my mind I think, "What's taking so long?" Seriously, how long does it take to die? But apparently, that wasn't the plan.
The pain begins to ebb away from my arms and legs, but that little relief because the pain intensifies everywhere else. I don't know what's worse: the pain intensifying in some areas and ebbing in others, the pain to start out with, or the fact that I'm not dead.
Finally, the pain is almost gone, but I think I'm dying, too. My heart is trying its very best to keep on going, but it's faltering, making a few skips every second. I think that it's about time I died, but I also feel a bit grouchy. Why couldn't I have died while I was screaming in pain?
Finally, my heart gives a big heave, and then stops. I wonder if I'm in heaven, but then a voice very recognizable to me whispers, "Jacqueline?"
Duncan. But he sounds different, like he's speaking through something that's enhancing his voice. I open my eyes. The first thing I see is the roof of the crumbling house. I can see every crack, every drip, and every shaft of light. I gasp, and then stop. I breathe in slowly to confirm what I already felt.
It's official. I'm dead. I don't need to breath or anything. I sit up, and look over at where Duncan's voice was coming from. I gasp again, not knowing whether it's Duncan I'm looking at, or somebody else. Because this isn't the boy I daydreamed about for years.
He looks… Even more muscled than he used to. And his hair, it's even more perfect than it already was. But then my eyes travel down to meet his, and I stagger, but catch myself. "Wow. How did I do that?"
"Jacqueline." He looks horror-struck. "Your eyes…"
"What about yours?" I ask worriedly. "That's not natural." Duncan looks around, then pulls me over to a mirror on the wall. It's cracked, but I can still see myself… and it's not me. I mean, it's me, but it's not me. I'm perfect. There's nothing flawed about me, nothing wrong with my face, my body or my…
I stop, then step closer to the mirror. My eyes. They're bright red, like a police car light. That's what Duncan's look like. Oh, god. What happened to us?
Suddenly, I become aware of a burning sensation in the back of my throat. "Aggh!" I make a strangled sound and grab at my throat, clawing at it, trying to make the burn go away.
Duncan's clawing at his throat also, so I assume that the same terrible feeling is in his throat. I see an extremely pained expression on his face, and assume that my face looks the same way.
The door flies open. "Welcome to immortality, my dears!" The same guy from the boat, the same one who… wait a minute.
"You did this to me!" I cry, feeling completely betrayed, even thought I hadn't even seen him before this moment.
"My dear, this is the beginning of the rest of your life! Please, do not accuse me of ending your life; I merely began your second life."
I'm still angry with him, but I can't concentrate on him right now. "What do I have to do to get rid of this?" I gesture to my throat.
"Ah, of course. You two must be very thirsty. Come, I have a snack or two."
We follow him outside and around the side of the shack. There's a man and woman just lying there, trying in vain to get away. But I barely notice that. The only thing on my mind is…nothing. I just attack the woman, sinking my teeth into her neck. The refreshment is immediate and pretty through. I can barely feel the burning anymore, but it's still there. Duncan lets the man's body slide to the ground, and I suddenly realize what I've done.
I drop the woman's limp body, stumbling backwards. "I-I just drank blood. I just killed someone."
"Mm. Yes." The man nods. "Most start out that way. But don't worry. It'll come more naturally as time goes on. Now, let's go meet the coven. I am Augustus."
He leads us into a room a little apart from where we were for god knows how long, and we trail along behind him like obedient puppies, and I'm still reeling from having killed someone to drink their blood, which sounds too much like a horror movie to be real.
"Ah. Here we are." Augustus pushes open a door with so many flourishes that it almost didn't seem possible. "Everyone, please meet the newest members of our coven: Jacqueline Poole and Duncan Matthews."
The five people in the room rise gracefully. The woman in the corner comes forward, and kisses Augustus on the lips, and suddenly I recognize her. She was the one who did whatever it is to Duncan. I snarl, and then stop, surprise taking over me. Humans can't growl, can they? Well, I'm obviously not human anymore, and didn't Augustus say that we're immortal?
Immortal. Too beautiful to be human. I drink blood. Oh. My. Gosh. Augustus turned me into a vampire! I sit down, trying to comprehend what just happened.
The man in the corner scowls disapprovingly. "You didn't bother to explain, did you, Augustus?" His voice is so familiar, that I know he was the one who attacked me on the boat. I actually see what he looks like now. He has long black hair tied back from his face, which I normally think would make him look like a middle-aged biker. But he seems to pull it off. His eyes, like everyone's in the room, are red, though not as red as Duncan's and mine. He's tall and muscular, and looks very pained, as if going through a very tough time in his life in a full body cast with a migraine. Of course, I don't know whether this can actually happen or not.
But Augustus smiles. "I thought I would let them eat before explaining. But very well. You two have just entered the second part of your lives. The part that lasts forever. You have just become, as modern culture calls us, vampires. I am truly sorry for the pain that I have caused you, but I can assure it is worth it. But enough about that. Meet your new family. This is my co-leader and mate," The woman shakes her long, curly brown hair out and smiles, clearly liking the title, "Velvet Foster."
She is definitely dangerous. I make a mental note to keep out of her way. "And that is Clarence Newgarden." The man with the long black hair nods, not seeming very friendly, but he's not being threatening either.
"Blanche MacKay." A girl who is probably a lot older than she looks smiles brightly at us. Her hair is platinum blonde, and is so straight that she looks like there's a sheet of paper growing out of her head.
"And finally, Charles Freedom." Charles looks up, nods once, then goes back to his book. He has blonde hair and looks very unassuming for a lethal vampire. He wears glasses, probably for a disguise. And he has yellow-ish blonde hair, closely cropped. His face is very sweet, so he looks like the boy next door.
"I'll let you get to know your coven." Augustus begins backing out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
I feel very nervous, and cuddle very close to Duncan. He puts him arm around me, protecting me from whatever comes. Velvet looks at me like, "Oh, goody! A newbie to torment!"
Blanche looks mostly cheerful, but has an underlying current of sadness. Charles is reading a book, and Clarence looks very angry, wincing every time he looks at me.
Duncan tightens his grip around me, then releases. I realize it's his cue to say something. So I take a deep breath, and then I'm like, "Oh! I probably don't need to breathe anymore, either!" But I let it out in a short. "Hi." And wait to see everyone's reactions.
The girl with the paper straight hair comes over to us. "Hi, Duncan. Hey, Jacqueline!" She says brightly.
Even though I know her name, I suddenly think "Wow, her name should be 'White', or 'Snow'." But then I realize that probably the name 'Blanche', which sounds like the word for 'white' in Spanish, 'blanco', so it's really rather a stupid thought.
"I suppose this is all rather new to you." Blanche continues, seeming like the brightest killer I've ever seen. Not that I've actually seen any, that is. Just in, you know, movies and stuff. "But besides the whole blood-lust issue, this is actually a pretty fun part of life!"
I feel very insecure, but I'm also very curious. That, and even though probably I would kill everyone I once knew on sight, even though I would try to stop myself, I'm still thirsty.
As if hearing my thoughts, the man with the long black hair, I think his name was… Clarence? Clarence calls out, "Augustus? The newbies are getting thirsty again. It might be a good idea to show them how to keep a low profile."
"Good idea." Augustus appears and motions for the coven to come with him. Charles closes his book and goes to stand by Blanche, putting his arm around her. It's obvious to me they're a couple. Velvet comes from the other room also and looks over at Duncan and me, then just sidles near Augustus.
Everyone follows Augustus outside, but I hold back. Charles looks back at me. "Is something wrong, Jacqueline?"
I nod, then hesitantly ask, "Isn't, you know, daytime outside?"
Charles nods, looking confused. Then realization dawns on him, and he laughs uproariously. "You… you think…. You're going to burst into flames?" He laughs.
I nod vigorously, then indignantly ask, "Isn't that what happens?"
After he finishes his laughing fit, he grabs Blanche by the hand and whirls her out the door. We follow, but stop in the shade cast by a small porch.
I gasp, looking at Blanche and Charles dancing on the lawn. They aren't hurt; they aren't exploding into a fiery inferno.
They are out there, dancing up a storm. But there's one difference from what this would look like if a human couple was doing it: they are shining, sparkling, shimmering in the sun, like diamonds, or a disco ball.
The sight would have taken my breath away, had I needed it. Duncan takes my hand, smiling, and leads me out into the sun, too. The sun reflects off both of us, making us look like angels. I laugh, throwing back my head. I just want to share such a moment with everyone around me.
The other vampires glance at me, then start chuckling also, like they can't help it. Even Clarence and Velvet are smiling. Eventually, after having a grand time playing in the clearing, Augustus calls out, "Enough."
Everyone stops what they're doing and pays attention.
"We need to hunt, so we're heading into the Big Apple."
I blink, slowly raising my hand.
"Yes, sweetheart?" That nickname is annoying, but anyone who could cause this much pain is someone I don't want to mess with.
"Um… we are in New York, but how are we going to get there tonight?"
"You'll find out, sweetheart. Don't worry, you'll get your blood."
I shiver, knowing that he's right, and hating it.