Chapter 3.
It turned out that somewhere in that old house, there was one dress. It was old and grey, but never worn. It was not was I was used to, but fit me nicely.
We had to leave immediately, so that we could get to the next stop before dawn. I was curious to what would happen if I were to go into the sun, but they didn't give me any details. I wanted to know 'exactly' how we were sustained. I knew I was no longer alive. I felt hard, and just dead. There wasn't a way to explain it. I also wanted to know if the other myths about vampires applied to us.
"Dmitri?" I asked.
He turned from the window the carriage and smiled. "Yes?"
" I… wanted to know, if the other legends about vampires were true." his smile widened. "you know, so I don't go getting to close to garlic." I said.
Him and Cedric laughed.. "Our senses are intensified in this life. Garlic is very strong, we don't particularly care for it, but it doesn't harm us." Cedric said.
"As for the crucifixes, coffins, and mirrors, they are all myth. "Dmitri said.
"What, about the… blood-drinking?" I asked.
Cedric turned away, and Dmitri said. "Oh yes, what kind of vampires would we be if we didn't drink the blood of mortals?"
I laughed lightly. "I guess we wouldn't be much of a vampire," I said.
He smiled. "Exactly. We should have our fill, before dawn. We've been waiting out for you Elise. We get quite thirsty, you should be too." he said.
"I don't know." I whispered. "There is this burning in the back of throat, is that the thirst?" I asked.
"Yes, we'll get you fed before we rest for the day." Dmitri said, turning back to the window.
"Will you teach me?" I asked turning to Cedric.
He turned from the window. 'To feed?" he asked. I nodded. "No, it is instinct. It will come naturally to you. No worries." he said patting my hand. "We'll take care of you."
I smiled and squeezed his hand. "Thank you."
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The lights of Paris were brighter then I remember. Everything was beautiful. The sounds, the smells, the sights, even the people. Paris seemed like a country on its own. And I loved it, I didn't think I be able to 'feed' from one of its inhabitants. But the thirst was burning now. It was all I could think about.
I didn't have any idea how my thirst would be quenched. I saw and walked among these people and I didn't see how I was going to drink from them.
"Elise?" Cedric said.
I turned to him. "Yes?"
"You can go in now." he motioned to the grand home that stood before us, and then handing me the key. "We'll…. Take care of everything else." he said.
I took the key from him. "Okay. Will you be back?" I asked.
He smiled and took my hand to kiss. "Yes, I'll return to you soon." he said, then disappearing down the street with Dmitri. Their long cloaks flowing around them as they walked around the corner.
I looked at the key, then to the house. I gathered my skirts and went up the stairs and into the house. It was all dark, and though I could see everything perfectly, I wanted the comfort of a warm lit house.
I lit the fireplaces, and then all the candles, till the house was a warm golden color. I walked around the house, feeling the expensive material, and furniture. It was obvious it hasn't been lived in for awhile. There was dust, and the house seemed very empty.
I went up the stairs, feeling the intricate wood of the banister. I ran my hands against the green wallpaper, and the beautiful wainscoting. I walked into the master bedroom and lit the candles and fireplace. I looked over the jewelry laid out on the vanity. Most of which was women's jewelry. But one caught my eye. A silver necklace with violet gems that matched my eyes.
I looked into the mirror and looked into my eyes. I was different. I didn't look so much like my mother. My features weren't soft anymore, and my cheeks weren't pink. My skin was pale, almost white. The red in my hair was intensified, as was the blonde. My eyes were sharp, and I was no longer doe eyed. My eyes were exotic. The way I always wanted to look. Less like my mother.
Then the door to the bedroom burst open. "Ah Elise, I was hoping to find you up here. "Dmitri said with two women using him for balance. They were obviously intoxicated.
"Who is she?" said the redhead.
"Is that your wife?" asked the dark haired one. All three of them laughed.
I didn't know what to say. I just stood there staring. All three of them went to the bed. "Where is your other friend Dmitri?" asked the dark haired one.
He laughed. "I think you two are too much for him." Dmitri said. They all laughed.
"Tell your wife to join us, Dmitri. Cant you handle all three of us?" the red headed one said.
He laughed. "Of course I can. Come lay on the bed with us, wife." Dmitri said to me.
"We'll have an awful good time." said the dark haired one.
I did as I was told. I crawled onto the bed and sat on my knees. "Now wife, don't be shy." Dmitri said sitting up. He pulled me too him and crushed his cold hard mouth to mine. His tongue pushed its way past my lips and into my mouth.
I pushed his face off me. "Come now wife, there's no time to be shy." he said.
"Maybe you're too much man for her," said the red head laying back on the bed.
"Yes, but we can handle you." said the dark haired one.
"Of course you are." he said as he went back to them. All I could see was my sister's face. The way he kissed he was the way he kissed these whores. He didn't care that my sister was the kindest, most caring person whoever lived. He saw her the same as he saw them, so he took her life, just like the was going to take theirs.
"You're disgusting," I whispered as I ran from the room. I had the urge to cry, but no tears fell. I couldn't cry. Of all the times in my life where I needed to cry the most I couldn't. I ran down the stairs, dry sobbing.
"Elise! What happened?" Cedric said grabbing my arm.
"Its disgusting. I cant stand it! He has no remorse for anyone, he's going to kill them like he killed my sister. I wont stand and watch." I said.
Ho took me into his arms." It gets easier." he soothed. Smoothing my hair. "It will become natural."
"I don't want to!" I yelled. " I don't want to stay here with him. Take me to London with you," I cried.
"Of course. But you must feed first. You cant travel thirsty. Its not safe." He said.
Just then an ear shattering scream rang through the house. Cedric and I ran up the stairs and caught the dark haired one coming out of the room. Cedric grabbed her by the tops of her arms. "You must help," she whimpered. Tears streaming down her face, make up smeared on her face. "He's a demon. He killed Bridgette."
"Cedric! Did you get her?!" Dmitri yelled.
"No!" the dark haired woman beat on Cedric's chest, but it did not faze him. "You're a demon too! Let me go she yelled!"
Cedric dragged her back into the room. Dmitri had the red head limp in his arms. His teeth and lip smeared with blood. "Ah ,good you caught her. Could you finish her off for me Cedric? I'm not quite done with this one." he said returning his lips to the limp body's neck.
Cedric threw the dark haired girl into my arms. She whimpered in my arms, clutching my cold hard skin. Cedric stormed across the room and knocked a round cherry wood table with a vase against the wall. "I told you to do this quietly! If you cant keep two quite, you should have only got one!"
Dmitri removed his lips from the girl's throat, and smiled with blood smeared teeth. "I had to get enough for us all." he said as the dark haired girl shook with fear.
"Next time, keep Elise out of it! She wants nothing to do with your games!" Cedric bellowed.
Dmitri dropped the girl to the floor with a thud. "We were only having some fun." he laughed.
"We're leaving for London tomorrow night. Elise is coming with me. You can have all the fun and games you want when we leave!" Cedric stormed out of the room, while Dmitri threw the limp body over his shoulder, and went out through the balcony.
Obviously the forgot about the other. So here I was with this woman in my arms, practically dieing of fear. "Don't let him kill me," she whispered. She clutched my neck, here jugular vein right at my mouth. It was so mouthwatering. The smell was driving me mad. If only I could taste. "You wont let them kill me, will you?" she asked.
"No," I said between clenched teeth. I opened my mouth and brought my mouth down on her neck, piercing the skin. She gasped, and went limp in my arms.
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Dmitri and Cedric came into the room just as I was wiping up the mess I made. The dark haired girl's lifeless body was off the side.
I looked up at the from the floor, "I didn't want it to stain the wood." I said.
Dmitri smiled. "I knew you had it in you." he said.
Cedric shook his head and took over. "Its alright. I'll take care of it. Its almost dawn, we should be getting ready." he said.
"Do we need to sleep?" I asked.
"No," Dmitri said. "but it's a good idea to. We can go far longer without sleep then humans, but nonetheless, its good to be rested for the night. We need all our strength, in case it is ever necessary." he said.
"Yes, which is my room?" I asked.
"This one is the most comfortable." Cedric said. "But if your prefer something else-"
"No," I interrupted. "This is fine."
"Dmitri will dispose of the body for you, and replace the sheets." Cedric said glaring at Dmitri.
"I did nothing of the sort in her bed." Dmitri said "I only went into her room, to see if she wished to join me." he smirked.
"Either way, you get her new sheets. No one wants to sleep where someone's eaten." Cedric said.
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Dmitri left ago shortly, after changing my sheets. I changed into a white nightgown, and let down my long strawberry blonde hair. I went to the vanity and brushed my hair, and looked at the silver necklace again. I held it up to my neck, to see how it would look on me.
"Do you like it?" Cedric asked.
I put it back in its case. "Yes, its very beautiful." I said.
He sat down a large white box on the bed, and then came to stand behind me. "Yes, I thought so too," he said. " My mother would have loved something like that. That's why I bought it."
I turned to look at him. "Your mother?" I asked.
He smiled. "Yes, she had good taste too."
"Is she…?"
"Yes, she died a long time ago. I still like to pretend like I'm buying for her. Like I did when I was human." he said.
"Oh. My mother died a long time ago too. I never met her. She died when I was born." I confessed.
" Do you wish you had?" he asked.
"No, I don't think I would have liked her." Silence. "So, what's in the box?" I asked.
"Oh, its for you." he said.
I smiled. "Really? You didn't have to get me anything." I said walking over to the bed and sitting down.
"I couldn't resist." he admitted.
I opened the box, and lifted out a green gown. It was beautiful. "Its lovely." I confessed. "Thank you so much."
He smiled. "Your welcome. I know you be needing something more appropriate for our travels. But when we get to London I'll be sure to get you a whole knew wardrobe."
"Thank you. I guess I'll be needing that. I cant exactly go home and pack, can I?"
"No, but it will get easier. Time changes things, you'll see."
I smiled and took his hands. "I hope so. I really do."
"Is there anything you wanted?" he asked.
I shook my head and let go of his hands. "No, I'm fine." I said.
He smiled and stood up from the bed. " I think you'll like London." he said.
I smiled and crawled under the covers. "Me too. If you like it so much, I'm sure to like it too."
"I want you to know, Elise, that you don't have to go with either of us. You can do as you wish." he said.
I looked at him confused. "Why would I want to leave. After everything you've done for me, if you wish for me to stay, I will. You do want me to stay, right?"
He nodded. "Of course. As you can see, Dmitri is a little… different. Then you and me I mean. a lot of the others,… they're like that too. Humans are only play things to them."
"Are… there a lot of others? Like us, I mean"
He came and sat on the bad with me again. "There are several large covens in Europe, but there aren't many compared to humans."
"Oh, will there be any in London?" I asked.
"Yes." he said. "But, you don't need to worry about them. They find Dmitri far more entertaining. I doubt we would get more than one visit from them. They'll come to see Dmitri, I'll tell them he decided to stay in Paris, then they'll leave. There's no reason to be worried," he soothed as he patted my leg.
I looked down at my hands. "So, it will be just the two of us?" I asked.
He nodded. "But if you find the idea uncomfortable, I understand. You can leave."
I looked up from my hands and he was looking down at his hands. I tilted his chin up. "I wont leave you. I promise. You're all I got now."
He smiled. "I'm sorry for that." he said.
I removed my hand from his chin. "For what?" I asked.
"For doing this to you. You had a family, a future, now all you have is me."
I laughed. "Your bizarrely moral for a vampire."
He laughed too. "Not what you expected from the eternally damned, is it?"
" Is that what you think we are? Eternally damned?" I asked.
He nodded. I could get used to him." That doesn't sound very much like you." I said.
"I guess so. I'm not usually like this. I find comfort in you. Knowing that you might actually make things different for me."
I smiled. "I think you need a new title then."
"How about eternally devoted?" he asked.
"Eternally devoted? To what? To life?" I asked.
He shook his head and took my hand. "To you."
I waited, but no blush came. I couldn't blush anymore. "Well, well, well. Aren't you two a sight for sore eyes." We both looked to the door and saw Dmitri.
Cedric squeezed my hand. "Don't go getting any ideas Dmitri." Cedric warned.
Dmitri held his hands up with a smug smirk. " Hey, I'm not getting ideas. I see what only lays before me." Cedric rolled his eyes. "While you're away, I don't want you two falling in love. I want my chance to enrapture Elise." Cedric and I looked at each other and laughed. "What on earth is so funny?" Dmitri asked.
"Everything you said," I laughed.
"Only part of what I said was funny. You two falling in love is utterly ridiculous, but nonetheless, I would to love some time with Elise." Dmitri said.
I squeezed Cedric's hand. "Only if she were to want your presence." Cedric said.
"And why wouldn't she?" Dmitri asked.
"You playing with your food is not attractive." Cedric said.
"Come now Elise. Don't tell me your as moral as dear Cedric here. I had high hopes for you."
"I'm not as moral as him, but I don't like the way you play." I said.
"Fine, we can invent new games if you like." I shook my head.
"Suit yourself. You'll come around." he smirked as he left us.
"I better go. We don't have long till dawn. I still have to draw all the curtains." Cedric said.
I smiled as he blew out each candle. "Good-night Cedric." I whispered.
He smiled. "Its not night anymore. Its morning."
"Sorry," I apologized. "I'm still used to goodnight. But good morning doesn't sound right, does it?" I asked.
He shook his head. "How about sweet dreams?" he asked.
I thought about it. It didn't specify the time of day. It would work. "Sweet dreams, Cedric."
He blew out the last candle. "Sweet dreams Elise".
