I chanced a glace at Bill. His face was emotionless as he kept his vision fixed ahead of him. Taking a deep breath, I continued down the cobblestone pathway close by his side. Something about him was comforting, but the stained blade that peeked out from his pocket, the blood down his arm (their reasons for being, still unknown to me), was not. Bill was a vampire. There was denying that, but I unexplainably felt safer in his presence. Realizing I was still gawking, I gave my head a subtle shake, and placed my sights back on the path. 'You need to focus Tara, Focus!'. Bill hadn't seemed to notice my stolen glances. He knew, I'm sure he did, although he said nothing. His pace suddenly stilled. I had unconsciously been staring again, and when he stopped, I stopped.
Several yards before us stood a grand, all be it decrepit, mansion. The whole house appeared to be on somewhat of a slant. Windows smashed, others cracked. Most of it's paint pealed and worn. Still, it was an impressive sight. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the horribly misshapen building.
"Are you sure we have to do this?" I was half hoping his answer would be 'No'. Bill had been acting oddly since I had arrived. Coupled with his stern tone when he spoke of what was possibly to be my new future,… All I wanted to do was get the hell out of here! But what then would I do about the Kialbay? I hadn't yet experience a full blown hunger. My actions toward Bill earlier frightened me. It was if I had lost control of myself. My stay from that madness could be up at any moment! I waited in silence for a response but a moment.
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to face the man that killed my parents,…" Staring over at him in horror, I wonder, 'what would he do? Would he attack him? Kill him, right there in front of me?'. I wasn't sure what was going to happen when the two finally did meet.
"…but I'd better stay away." Would Nicholas remember him? My heart beat faster at the thought of possible happenings. Bill gave me a gentle nudge forward, encouraging me to go the rest of the way on my own.
There were steps leading up to the rickety porch. Extremely steep, giant chunks had fallen away from the edges and were lying in decaying piles to either side. As old as this place seemed, it was still fairly sturdy. The double front doors however, were just barely hanging on by a couple of strained hinges. Had they just fallen to decay as well? I stepped up, slowly I approached the entrance. No, the splits in the wood were fresh. 'What had happened?' Someone had been here not too long before my arrival. Swallowing my fear, I snuck inside. It was dark, dank smelling. Like old damp upholstery. Surely no one still lived here? The feeling in here was,… 'wrong'. I didn't like it.
"Are you ready to do this?" I jumped, clutching my heart (which now felt as if it was trying to escape my chest!). Bill had eased up behind me, then came to my side. 'I hadn't even heard him!'. He was just 'there'! He'd drawn the same bloody dagger that once occupied his waistband.
"What's that for?" This was rhetorical of course, I knew the answer.
"Just a precaution…" he spoke calmly, "…Come on. Our time is short." Bill snatched my hand from where it lay limp at my side. His grip was tight, so tight I could feel the sharpness of his nails almost pierce my skin! Bill's grip did not let up as we hurried throughout the house. Suddenly, we stopped in a dimly lit hallway on the second level. The bleak light radiated from an oil lamp style wall sconce. With a simple wave of his hand, Bill extinguished it's glow, leaving us again in the darkness. Although my eyes could not register this through the darkness, I knew Bill's eyes were on me. I could feel them.
He released my hand then and stepped back from me. I could hear rustling about, I'd figured Bill was searching for something (Kialbay maybe?). Insecurity crept it's way into my mind. Bill's grip had been verging on painful, but it was oddly reassuring as well. With that now gone, I backed myself up against the nearest wall and waited for a queue from Bill.
Slowly, my eyes were beginning to focus slightly. Nothing was clear, but edges started to appear. The doorframe, nearby furniture. Even partial sight gave me some comfort, … briefly. A sudden coolness washed over my body, I now felt frozen where I stood. Just as suddenly, a vague outline of Bill's face appeared before me. Closer he came, leaning towards me. 'Bill,… what's going on?' I didn't speak, my mind was ringing alarms, but I didn't speak. 'What was he doing?' This moment was beginning to feel like that night that Tom … - I was backed against the wall as far as possible, there was no further retreat. A hot flash now surged through me. Perspiration moistened my skin. It was Bill, he had been the reason for my rapidly changing temperature! He licked his lips. I knew this look, although I never seen it cross Bill's face before! His tongue then lightly traced over my neck. 'No, this wasn't happening! Not Bill.' The Kialbay ... Bill's… It was wearing off!
"Help!" The whisper I meant to exit my parted lips as a shout, was barely heard.
"Help!" I attempted a second time, this time slightly more audible. 'Bill…BILL! Please no!' I knew he could hear my thoughts, I hoped that he was listening! Closing my eyes tight I tried to brace myself. But it was only his breath that I felt. His pause, had it meant he'd heard me? His breathing was laboured. A palm held against either side of my jaw, he snaked his slender fingers through the golden locks of my hair.
Despite Bill's fervent belief that a Vampire needent kill to survive, despite his attempts to control his hunger, at this point there was no awakening him to what he was doing. He had weaned himself off human blood as long as his body would allow, but now ... there was no stopping it. The demon in Bill would win over.
My silent screams were not loud enough to lend me a reprieve. The smoothness of his ivory fangs brushed my jugular. Then, it came. The piercing pain as he penetrated. I cried out! His hold tightened as his teeth found their way into my flesh. That familiar fainting sensation filled me. My head felt light, my arms heavy. Bill's lips remaining firmly sealed around the wounds he'd created, draining me as he fed. Together, we melted down the wall to the floor.
Light bathed the empty hall, and I was quickly pulled to me feet. A tiny old man with a lantern held aloft in his hand, stood at the top of the stair. Hobbling towards us cautiously, keeping himself in the shadows created by the flame.
"You are trespassing on private property! Why have you entered my home?! You've no business here, you are not welcome! GET OUT! Leave Now!" His voice strained, his displeasure directed at me as I stood there. Apparently, now alone! Bill had disappeared! He'd left me? My blood flowed freely from my neck and over my chest. Glancing down, my shirt now heavy having absorbed my fluid, was soaked through. The man took a step back at the sight of my bloodied body. Everything began to spin, and I felt as if I was falling in slow motion. But the ground did not come. A gentle pressure was applied in the small of my back, preventing my collapse. Weakly, I looked up. A glint of gold light stung my eyes. Those lips, just as luscious as ever, and bright red. Tom!
"You?!…" The man spoke up. "…YOU!" He pointed a gnarled finger towards Tom.
"Me,… ME!…" Tom mocked as he steadied me back on my feet. "…I'm surprised you remember me, old man!" Tom smiled. He was calm and collected. In control as always. I could fully see the elderly man now. Dropping my jaw at the sight of him, his left side scarred and disfigured!
Hands from out of the darkness, grabbed me and pulled me back. Out of Tom's hold, away from this scene. Surprisingly to me, Tom had allowed this.
"Forgive me. My body was not my own! I did not realize what I was doing!" His whisper pleaded in my ear. His hand clamped over my neck in an attempt to slow the serge. 'His body was not his own?' What exactly had he meant by this?
The man staggered forwards, waving the lantern around as if this would ward Tom off. Tom sidestepped the rays, landing him in shadows again.
"My Wife!…You, you killed her!…" he thundered. It surprised me that such a little man, could produce so much volume.
"Did I now…" replied Tom, polishing his teeth with his tongue.
"..and ...and my children!…" he ranted.
"Nick, Nick, Nick… that was a sacrifice I'm sure you were willing to make…" Tom smirked, slowly ascending towards his accuser. "… Can you honestly say that you are without fault here? Santessa Valeeah Rimaldav, name ring a bell?…" Tom's tone now changed, his emotion rising. S'dtrawsser was visible frightened now.
"My mother!... Now, our time of play is over. I should have killed you all those years ago. Judging by the shape you're in, killing you now would be doing you a kindness."
"Baby brother,…" Tom address Bill over his should, his eyes fastened on the cowering slayer.
"…Would you care to join me in the taste of sweet revenge?…" Tom looked to us then. 'He's been doing a lot more then tasting!' I thought to myself as my neck continued to throb.
"…Or have you had your fill? The young maiden feels you have. Your first feed in… how long has it been now? I must say, you do me proud William. More so if you'd find your own. SHE, is Mine!"
S'dtrawsser had taken this opportunity to back down a few of the stairs. Hoping to go unnoticed long enough to get a head start on a retreat. He'd not be so lucky. Swifter then sight could catch, Tom reached over the rail and snatched the old man off his feet.
Bill wrapped his arms around my waist and dragged me back into the darkness and down the hall. I wasn't sure who I could trust anymore. What if Bill had another 'episode'? What then? I could make out another stairwell ahead. Narrow, but still a possible way out. We stopped in a corner at it's end.
"What are you doing?" I want to get out of here! Bill stared past me to the man and his brother.
"Watching!" He answered. I was horrified! Not feeling entirely safe with Bill now, he was still my best bet. I don't want to see what undoubtedly was going to happen!
Tom voice boomed! He gripped the man's shoulder tightly.
"You shall rot in the depths of hell where you belong! The pain I cause you will far surpass that of which you have inflicted upon my family!" Bill's eyes gleamed red. His own anger and hatred welling up. I couldn't help but wonder what all was going through his mind. Had he wanted to join his brother? I dare not ask, I dare not speak!
His trance broken, Bill's focus returned to my, - our escape. So weak at this point, he had been practically dragging me. Faced with the stairs, Bill swept me up in his arms and whisked me down them.
Now out of that retched house, we stood in it's yard. Horrific as all that was, more frightening still was the returning thought of my 'change'. I had lost copious amounts of blood. Dizzied and scared, I clung to Bill with what strength I had left.
"What about the Kialbay?!…" Bill looked back to the house in contemplation. Our being here was for that one crucial purpose! Bill's break from his resolve had proven that he had needed just as much as I. Without the elixir, how long did I have until I snap?! More so, how long until Bill craved again, and would I be his fulfillment?!
"…Bill, in there… . you -"
"I know, … " Bill looked into my eyes, as he always did when he spoke to me, but this time it was different. His eyes held regret, but under that, a thread of last hope.
"…I'd wished that it wouldn't come to this so soon. I was hoping this could be avoided, but you may not last… " The knife Bill had carried, as precaution, was tightly clasped in his hand. With his other, he now held mine, turning my palm upward. Slowly, reluctantly, he brought the blade to my wrist. 'What was he saying?'
"A vampire who finds themselves unable to perform their duty to their body, unable to drink the blood of another, has only one choice…" The bond connecting our eyes snapped, and Bill cast his face downward.
"…You mean … my blood? You want me to drink … my own blood!" Was this what Bill himself had been doing to sustain existence? The cuts, all the blood! Past visions of him flashed through my mind. Things he'd tried to hide, made sense now. Bill wouldn't meet my stare.
"no,…I…" No more pain. I couldn't take it!
"Please believe me when I say that I would never deliberately harm you! This will hurt at first, that will pass but for now it is necessary!
"I can't do it. I ..I cant! There must… be some other way…" I could hear my own voice trailing. Too drained to want to speak, but needing to. "… something…else to…". 'Something else. Isn't there something else to withstand the cravings?'
"I'm sorry, but this – " My knees buckled, Again, Bill's arms held me.
"Tarra, Hold on to me…Come On!" I clasped my fists around the fabric of his shirt, and tried to lock my legs into supporting myself. With one quick motion, Bill brought the blade across his own wrist! Instantly, his porcelain flesh was washed in rich, crimson. 'Oh no! Bill, what are you doing?!'
"Drink!" He held his arm up to me.
"n…no…"
"DRINK!" I hadn't wanted to, but before realized it, I was on him! My eyes shut tight. Like a leach, I greedily binged on Bill's blood. My heart began to race! I could feel my strength returning. Just then, Bill pulled his arm away! I wanted more! I could still taste the heavenly fluid as the last swallow flowed down my throat. Liking at my lips, I savoured the traces that were there. When I finally opened my eyes, Bill was staring back at me.
"I, I'm sorry…I …It was like,…like I had no control…" I could not believe I had just done that. I was becoming fully Vampire. Soon, there would be nothing of my human self remaining.
"Hmm, yes well… Let us find some of that elixir." Bill attempted a smile, but it was weak.
My neck ached still as Bill and I finally reached safety. Not necessarily 'safe' was the feeling I felt being back at Bill's dwelling, but it did come as an unexpected comfort as he escorted me in. Being here seemed more and more like home every time I stepped foot through it's doors. Bill guided me to the same grand sofa that he had laid me on the first night I was brought here. I swayed under his guidance, and tumbled onto the seat provided for me. I began to feel dizzy again, like having a hangover, except, there had been no alcohol to mask tonight's events.
"It is understandable that you'd be afraid of pain. That is a human trait. As a Vampire, this fear will soon fade. I also was afraid, at first. Tom, when needed, provided me with his blood…when I seemed to be falling short…" Tom did what? So, there is some good in him. "…What my dear brother had done for me, I have done the same for you. It's the least I can do."
He eyed me then. His eyes landing and pausing on several places of my body. I couldn't read his intent. It was like he was taking mental measurements. Either that,… or very unsubtly giving me the once over.
"Wait here! I will be gone but only a moment." I waited. Leaning back into the rich velvet, I noticed that the blood (my blood) that had soaked my clothing was now seeping out and into the fabric of the sofa. Quickly, I sit back up. Bill re-entered the room, in each hand, a glass of deep red liquid. He held one out before me.
"Thank you!" I examined the substance carefully. Cautiously dipping into it with my newly tallond digit, I twirled the warm liquid about my finger.
"Rat blood ..." Bill presented me with the answer to my unspoken question. The key word in my hears was 'blood'. With no hesitation, I downed my glass. The taste didn't at all compare to Bill's blood! Nor would it ever replicate it, but it would keep me calm, suiting it's purpose well enough. Smiling, Bill held out his hand to me.
"Come." He had mentioned before that fear, is a 'human trait'. I felt this emotion still, but I took his hand, rose up, and followed his lead.
Bill lead me to a small body of water. It was a pond. Just like one in my…dream. The one in which Tom had kissed me (bit me) for the first time by it's edge. But that hadn't been a dream, had it. This was the same pond! After all I had been through, this should not be surprising. Not that I felt 'surprise', more like… De je vous.
Bill released my hand. I watched him as he removed the long coat that cloaked his body. He bent slightly, and laid it over an old knurled stump. He turned then, and pointed off into the distance.
"You see that tree over there? That's where I will be. Forgive me for the invasion of your privacy, but I dare not leave you out here alone. It would be far too dangerous…" Bill spoke in his usual soft tone, as if he was speaking to a child or wooing a small animal. "…I know this is probably nothing you're used to, but at least you'll be able to clean off. I'll keep a lookout." He spun around on his heel and began his walk over to the specified tree. I waited until he was seated comfortably at it's roots before I moved.
Trying to ignore that he was still nearby, I began to undress. The only light was from the crescent moon above me. The stars were of little supply tonight, only dazzling the midnight sky in patches here and there. Slowly, I began removing my bottoms, peeling the damp denim from my legs. I fumbled with the few buttons at the neckline of my sweater, then realized that there were none. They must have popped off when… I didn't want to recall that memory. I pushed it away. My blood was thick across my front. I was careful to stretch it out as far as I was able so that it wouldn't rub against my face as I pulled it over my head. Stealing a quick look over at Bill. He held his head in his hands, he was not facing my way. Providing me with the opportunity to slip into the shimmering water without being seen. Not once taking my eyes from my shifting surroundings, I washed. It certainly wasn't the clean, purified water I was used to, but it felt good to relieve my body of all the blood. William's as well as my own. I swam the length of the pond twice over, then waded over to the edge. Grabbing two handfuls of grassy earth, I glanced again to where Bill kept watch. Heaving myself up and out of the water, I snatched up the trench coat, and pulled it on. No sooner had I wrapped it around my dipping body, Bill was back. My soiled things in his hand. Slightly embarrassed, I took them from him and cradled the wad of clothing to me.
Again, we made the trek back in silence. Bill neither looked or spoke to me, nor did I have the comfort of his hand. I had washed, but Bill still hadn't the chance to do the same for himself. Although now healed, blood still remained over most of his lower arm and hand. Something in me wanted to snap! I felt the need to trace the blood to its source, re-open the flesh - I fought against it, managing to bury the demon back in side of me. Score one for me, but next time…who knew what I would do.
'Home', once more. Bill left me standing alone in the great room. Before my nerves got themselves in a bother, He returned. His arms draped in a black garment. He lifted it up, the fabric tumbled down revealing its full length. It was a simple yet elegant gown.
"It belonged to my mother ..." Bill almost choked on his words, but then regaining his composure he spoke again, "…It is all I can offer for you to cover yourself until I can clean your garments." This mustn't have been easy , his offer was generous.
"It's lovely. Thank you… Thank you for all that you've done." He gave a nod, and smiled. I wasn't sure what else to say to him past that.
"You should lie down. Get back your strength .." he motioned towards the sofa. The sofa. Not a bed, just the sofa. Was I only allowed in this one room? I hadn't the energy to pose these questions.
It looked as though Bill had planned to leave again. I didn't want to be left alone! What if Tom came back? What if my longing for blood did! Would it overtake me, causing me to seek out what I needed,… go out on a killing spree?!
"Where are you going?" I took a few steps towards him, in return he took a few back.
"The Kialbay. I must get some. What other choice do we have? I've seen the terror my brother has inflicted on humans, on our own kind, on… himself. It is possible that you too will become as he. I plan to do all I can to stop that!" He turned his back to me and disappeared into the darkness. I ran to the doorway,
"What if I leave!?" I called out to him. Would I be safe? Would others?
"You wont!" Bill responded with absolute conviction. Not entirely convinced myself, I went back to the sofa. Removing Bill's coat, I pulled the dress down over my body, and shifted it into place. A perfect fit ..
