----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Laughing Planet"
'Jendra's Story'
Recorded by Ziska Ames
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3
Topaz shot up into a sitting position. "What?"
"Will you turn me into a vampire?" Jay repeated.
"Why?!" Topaz all but shrieked.
Jay cringed. Here goes. "'Cause I hate being weak. I've been
weak my whole life and it sucks. I don't want that anymore."
Topaz's gaze softened. "What do you mean?"
Jay took a deep breath. "I guess it's my turn to share. When I
was about two weeks old, my parents left me on the doorstep of an
orphanage. I don't know why. Maybe they didn't have the money to care
for me or something. Anyway, I grew up in that place.
"It was terrible. The food was awful, the kids were mean, even
the nuns who ran it seemed heartless. I never had any friends or
anything. Holidays were horrible. I used to wish my parents would come
back for me. I'd dream they were rich and had been forced to leave me
at the orphanage by my evil grandmother or something. Fairy tales. I
realized around the time that I was eleven that I was truly alone.
"So I left. I ran away from the orphanage two weeks after my
birthday. I spent exactly eleven years in that horrid place. I was too
old to be adopted. I would have been stuck as a drudge till I was
eighteen and could leave legally. So I ran. I spent around three weeks
on the streets of Chicago. I was helpless and wanted to die. So I
huddled on a doorstep and feel asleep, hoping I'd never wake up.
"But I did. In fact, it was a rather painful wake up. I was
being kicked in the ribs by a big brown shoe. It was attached to a big
brown woman. She wanted me off her doorstep. But then she took me in.
Madame taught me how to live on the streets. She taught me to rob and
beg. She wanted me to learn to be a prostitute, too. But I didn't want
that. I was disgusted by it.
"She kept pushing though. Men would come who wanted young girls
and she'd send me in with them. I'd usually get them to leave through
reason or force. But soon after my sixteenth birthday there was a man
who didn't want to leave. He tried to take me by force, so I killed him.
After that Madame sent me away. She said she couldn't keep me anymore.
"So you see, I've been manipulated and controlled my whole life
till now. I was lost when I met you at the Laughing Planet. I didn't
have a family, home, or job. I hate being weak. I want to be strong,
like you." Jay finished her speech. She looked up from her hands that
she had been staring at the whole time, to see Topaz with tears running
down her face.
They were silent tears and not tears of pity. "You poor girl.
No one deserves a life like that." Topaz moved from her couch and sat
next to Jay. She hugged her hard as Jay finally let her life catch up.
She buried her head in Topaz's shoulder and sobbed. A couple minutes
later Jay wiped her eyes with Topaz's handkerchief and smiled at her.
"So, will you change me?"
Topaz leaned back. "I don't know. The life of a vampire isn't
something you should take lightly."
"But you're gonna change Rob." Jay protested.
"That's different. He's my soul-mate. We were meant to be
together forever. But he's not gonna live forever. He'd die eventually
and not come back. I couldn't stand to lose him. That's why he's gonna
become a vampire. There's no reason for you to, though. You should be
happy as a human."
"But I'm not!" Jay cried. She stood up quickly tipping over the
table and spilling her cold coffee on the floor. "I hate being human!
Humans are weak and stupid! We're a damned food source! I don't want to
be a meal for a passing werewolf someday. I want to be the one eating!"
Topaz stared at Jay in shock. "That's not what it's about! It's
not about who eats who! It's about what you want. Are you willing to
live forever?"
Jay sat down again. She put her head in her hands. "Please,
Topaz. Please do this for me."
Topaz swallowed. "Are you sure? There may be no going back."
No going back. Those words said so much. Jay didn't even
hesitate. "Yes. I want to change."
Topaz sighed deeply. "Okay. Come here." Topaz sat Jay back deep
into the couch and tilted her head to the side. "Just relax and it
won't hurt. If you tense up or try to stop me, it'll hurt a lot." Jay
nodded.
Topaz pushed Jay's hair to the side and leaned in. She oriented
herself for a moment, then bit her. Jay stiffened for a moment, but
slowly relaxed as Topaz drank.
After a few minutes she stopped and sat back. She lifted her
wrist to her mouth and made a quick incision in her wrist. "Here. Drink
this."
Topaz pushed her wrist to Jay's mouth. Jay obediently began to
suck. Topaz's blood was heavy and sweet. Tastes like strawberries,
only different.
After a few minutes Jay's mouth slackened as she sank into a
restful sleep. Topaz smiled at her new blood sister and lifted her into
her arms bride style. She walked to Jay's room and quickly put her to
bed. She stood in the door with her head down for a moment then looked
at Jay's face.
"Good night, Jendra."
Next Morning
"Good morning!" Jay was up early and very chipper. Too chipper
in Topaz's opinion.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. How do you feel?" Topaz asked grumpily.
"I feel great, Mrs. Grumpy!" Jay exclaimed as she poured herself
some coffee.
"Good. That means the vampire blood is having a good reaction.
It'll probably only take two more times. Maybe even one. We're meeting
the gang at The Planet in about an hour." Topaz said. She laid her head
down on the table and started to doze. "I just need a little more sleep."
She mumbled.
Jay walked over to her and gave her the coffee. "You look like
you need this more than me."
Topaz smiled gratefully and took the coffee.
"You know, you should choose a name."
"A name?" Jay said confused.
"Yeah. You don't have to change it officially or anything.
Rob's gonna use a new name. He's already chosen 'Jonquil'. It's a type of
flower. Anywho, I was thinking that you should pick a name." Topaz said.
She rambled off-topic a little when she came to Rob, but she tended to
do that.
"Hmm... okay. How about 'Jendra'? I've always liked that. It's a
type of flower, too."
Topaz smiled to herself. "That's good."
"Hey, what do your guy's names mean?" Jendra asked leaning on
the table.
"Well, 'Topaz' and 'Jade' are both gems. 'Lapis' is a flower.
And 'Noki' means dragon."
Jendra gulped. "'Dragon?' Why is he named after a dragon? Can
he... become one?"
Topaz laughed. "Oh no! You see, the shape shifters were ruled
by the dragons years and years ago. Noki's parents just thought it was
cute, I guess. Considering his last name, I mean. It's Bond. So his
full name means 'Bonded to the dragons.'"
Jendra choked on her coffee. "Bond?! But that means his fake
name is James Bond. Like the movie?"
Topaz chuckled. "Yeah. Apparently Noki has a sense of humor,
no?"
"Yeah. So what does Noki become?"
"He's a tiger shifter." Topaz said as she drained the rest of
her coffee. She stood up and put it in the sink. "I wish we could
afford a dishwasher. Oh well. I'll do the dishes later. Let's get
dressed and go meet the others."
"When are you guys gonna do it?" Noki asked as he sipped a coke.
"Soon I hope." Rob replied. He was surprised by Noki's reaction.
He had thought Noki would be against Topaz changing him to a vampire.
"Well, let me know when. I'll bake you a cake." Noki joked. Rob
rolled his eyes.
"Hey, all. What's up?"
"Hi, Abrams!" Everyone exclaimed as he pulled a chair up to the
table.
"We were just talking about a little change Rob has coming up."
Lapis said.
"Oh, you're gonna do it?"
"Yep." Rob said proudly.
"Hey, guys. Your food is here!" Jade placed meals in front of
their respective consumers.
"Mmm... smells great, Chris." Shane said as he eagerly began to
eat his chicken sandwich.
Jade made a face. "How can you eat that stuff?" She joked.
"Just 'cause your vegetarian doesn't mean I have to be... now,
go away. You bother me." Shane said with a smile. He took a big bite of
his sandwich staring Jade in the eyes. She threw her hands in the air.
"I'll never understand you people!" She yelled then stalked
back to the kitchen.
Noki leaned back in his chair and pounded on the door to the
kitchen. "Fetch me some water, woman!" He yelled.
Everyone laughed as Jade came out and dumped a small glass of
water on Noki's head.
"Hey!" he yelled as he jumped out of his seat.
"Hello, everyone." Jendra said as she slid neatly into Noki's
vacated chair.
"Is every woman in the world against me?" Noki asked sounding
bewildered.
"Yes." Topaz said as she slapped him lightly on the back of the
head.
Noki sighed then measured Jendra with his eyes. Suddenly he
grabbed her arms and lifted her from the chair. He gasped loudly. His
hands felt like they had been electrocuted. Jendra cried out as her
arms suddenly ignited. It felt like they were on fire.
(((Noki! What in the...?))) Jendra's voice echoed in Noki's
mind.
(((Jendra... that's nice.))) He thought dazedly. Suddenly he
was shook out of his near trance state by another glass of water in the
face. He dropped Jendra unceremoniously on her butt as he stepped back
and sputtered. Jendra glared at him and rubbed her arms.
"Jeez, Nok-- James!" Jendra quickly corrected herself when she
noticed people watching. "What's wrong with you?"
Topaz helped Jendra stand up and sit in a chair.
"Are you guys okay? You just froze up." Jade said. She was now
holding two empty glasses. "Sorry I had to soak you again. I couldn't
get you to wake up."
"We're fine." Noki said calmly. He pulled up another chair and
sat so Shane was between himself and Jendra. He could guess what had
just happened, but he really didn't want to think about it. He loved
Jade. Jendra couldn't be his... no. He refused to even think about it.
Shane turned to Jendra and took her hand. "Are you okay?" He
asked softly.
"Yeah." She replied. She looked at their clasped hands and
blushed softly as she withdrew her hand and put it in her lap.
"Um... well, Jay and I have some stuff to tell you, so how
about we go back to my apartment? Wanna come, Abrams?" Topaz asked.
"Naw, just let me know later. I gotta stay here if both my
waitresses and cook are leaving."
"We aren't on duty today, Abrams. And Chris' shift is almost
over. You'll survive." Topaz said making a face.
"Let me go change." Jade said. She left for the kitchen again.
The group was again gathered in Topaz and Jendra's apartment.
They were sitting almost exactly like the previous night, except Shane
had abandoned his post on the floor in favor of the second half of the
couch Jendra was on.
"So what's up?" Lapis asked as soon as everyone was settled.
Topaz turned to Jendra and nodded.
"Topaz has agreed to change me." There was a shocked silence.
"Oh." Shane finally said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"And her name is now Jendra." Topaz added as she sipped her
water.
"Why do you wanna be a vampire?" Shane asked. Jendra lowered
her head.
"I'd rather not talk about it. It's just something I want." She
said softly. Shane put his arm around her.
"Hey, it's okay. You don't have to tell us." He gave her a half
hug then stood up. "Anyone want a drink? I'm gonna get a coke."
"I'll have a coke, too." Jade said. Topaz held up her glass in
answer. Shane got the drinks and flopped into his seat again.
Jendra stood on the balcony staring at the stars.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" A voice said behind her. She nodded
as Shane leaned against the railing next to her. "Would you please tell
me why you want to be a vampire?"
Jendra turned to look at him. She lowered her eyes for a moment,
then told him the whole story. He was quite and listened attentively.
When she was done he sighed and pushed away from the railing.
"That's terrible. You didn't deserve your life. I can understand
now why you want this."
"Why don't you want to change? Rob is." Jendra asked suddenly
curious.
"I'm happy human. He's only changing to be with Topaz. I guess
if my soul-mate was gonna live forever, I'd want to change, but as it
is, I'm fine. I'll be the only vermin soon." He said thoughtfully.
"You're not vermin, Shane." Jendra said. She placed her hand on
his where it was resting on the rail.
"Thanks, Jendra." He said softly. "I was wondering, if you
wanted to go to the movies sometime or something."
Jendra smiled. "Are you asking me out?"
"Yeah." Shane said slowly. He turned to look into her eyes. She
blushed and looked down.
"I'd love to." Shane smiled.
"Great." He looked back up at the stars. Jendra looked at him
for minute then she looked at the stars too.
"The Laughing Planet"
'Jendra's Story'
Recorded by Ziska Ames
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3
Topaz shot up into a sitting position. "What?"
"Will you turn me into a vampire?" Jay repeated.
"Why?!" Topaz all but shrieked.
Jay cringed. Here goes. "'Cause I hate being weak. I've been
weak my whole life and it sucks. I don't want that anymore."
Topaz's gaze softened. "What do you mean?"
Jay took a deep breath. "I guess it's my turn to share. When I
was about two weeks old, my parents left me on the doorstep of an
orphanage. I don't know why. Maybe they didn't have the money to care
for me or something. Anyway, I grew up in that place.
"It was terrible. The food was awful, the kids were mean, even
the nuns who ran it seemed heartless. I never had any friends or
anything. Holidays were horrible. I used to wish my parents would come
back for me. I'd dream they were rich and had been forced to leave me
at the orphanage by my evil grandmother or something. Fairy tales. I
realized around the time that I was eleven that I was truly alone.
"So I left. I ran away from the orphanage two weeks after my
birthday. I spent exactly eleven years in that horrid place. I was too
old to be adopted. I would have been stuck as a drudge till I was
eighteen and could leave legally. So I ran. I spent around three weeks
on the streets of Chicago. I was helpless and wanted to die. So I
huddled on a doorstep and feel asleep, hoping I'd never wake up.
"But I did. In fact, it was a rather painful wake up. I was
being kicked in the ribs by a big brown shoe. It was attached to a big
brown woman. She wanted me off her doorstep. But then she took me in.
Madame taught me how to live on the streets. She taught me to rob and
beg. She wanted me to learn to be a prostitute, too. But I didn't want
that. I was disgusted by it.
"She kept pushing though. Men would come who wanted young girls
and she'd send me in with them. I'd usually get them to leave through
reason or force. But soon after my sixteenth birthday there was a man
who didn't want to leave. He tried to take me by force, so I killed him.
After that Madame sent me away. She said she couldn't keep me anymore.
"So you see, I've been manipulated and controlled my whole life
till now. I was lost when I met you at the Laughing Planet. I didn't
have a family, home, or job. I hate being weak. I want to be strong,
like you." Jay finished her speech. She looked up from her hands that
she had been staring at the whole time, to see Topaz with tears running
down her face.
They were silent tears and not tears of pity. "You poor girl.
No one deserves a life like that." Topaz moved from her couch and sat
next to Jay. She hugged her hard as Jay finally let her life catch up.
She buried her head in Topaz's shoulder and sobbed. A couple minutes
later Jay wiped her eyes with Topaz's handkerchief and smiled at her.
"So, will you change me?"
Topaz leaned back. "I don't know. The life of a vampire isn't
something you should take lightly."
"But you're gonna change Rob." Jay protested.
"That's different. He's my soul-mate. We were meant to be
together forever. But he's not gonna live forever. He'd die eventually
and not come back. I couldn't stand to lose him. That's why he's gonna
become a vampire. There's no reason for you to, though. You should be
happy as a human."
"But I'm not!" Jay cried. She stood up quickly tipping over the
table and spilling her cold coffee on the floor. "I hate being human!
Humans are weak and stupid! We're a damned food source! I don't want to
be a meal for a passing werewolf someday. I want to be the one eating!"
Topaz stared at Jay in shock. "That's not what it's about! It's
not about who eats who! It's about what you want. Are you willing to
live forever?"
Jay sat down again. She put her head in her hands. "Please,
Topaz. Please do this for me."
Topaz swallowed. "Are you sure? There may be no going back."
No going back. Those words said so much. Jay didn't even
hesitate. "Yes. I want to change."
Topaz sighed deeply. "Okay. Come here." Topaz sat Jay back deep
into the couch and tilted her head to the side. "Just relax and it
won't hurt. If you tense up or try to stop me, it'll hurt a lot." Jay
nodded.
Topaz pushed Jay's hair to the side and leaned in. She oriented
herself for a moment, then bit her. Jay stiffened for a moment, but
slowly relaxed as Topaz drank.
After a few minutes she stopped and sat back. She lifted her
wrist to her mouth and made a quick incision in her wrist. "Here. Drink
this."
Topaz pushed her wrist to Jay's mouth. Jay obediently began to
suck. Topaz's blood was heavy and sweet. Tastes like strawberries,
only different.
After a few minutes Jay's mouth slackened as she sank into a
restful sleep. Topaz smiled at her new blood sister and lifted her into
her arms bride style. She walked to Jay's room and quickly put her to
bed. She stood in the door with her head down for a moment then looked
at Jay's face.
"Good night, Jendra."
Next Morning
"Good morning!" Jay was up early and very chipper. Too chipper
in Topaz's opinion.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. How do you feel?" Topaz asked grumpily.
"I feel great, Mrs. Grumpy!" Jay exclaimed as she poured herself
some coffee.
"Good. That means the vampire blood is having a good reaction.
It'll probably only take two more times. Maybe even one. We're meeting
the gang at The Planet in about an hour." Topaz said. She laid her head
down on the table and started to doze. "I just need a little more sleep."
She mumbled.
Jay walked over to her and gave her the coffee. "You look like
you need this more than me."
Topaz smiled gratefully and took the coffee.
"You know, you should choose a name."
"A name?" Jay said confused.
"Yeah. You don't have to change it officially or anything.
Rob's gonna use a new name. He's already chosen 'Jonquil'. It's a type of
flower. Anywho, I was thinking that you should pick a name." Topaz said.
She rambled off-topic a little when she came to Rob, but she tended to
do that.
"Hmm... okay. How about 'Jendra'? I've always liked that. It's a
type of flower, too."
Topaz smiled to herself. "That's good."
"Hey, what do your guy's names mean?" Jendra asked leaning on
the table.
"Well, 'Topaz' and 'Jade' are both gems. 'Lapis' is a flower.
And 'Noki' means dragon."
Jendra gulped. "'Dragon?' Why is he named after a dragon? Can
he... become one?"
Topaz laughed. "Oh no! You see, the shape shifters were ruled
by the dragons years and years ago. Noki's parents just thought it was
cute, I guess. Considering his last name, I mean. It's Bond. So his
full name means 'Bonded to the dragons.'"
Jendra choked on her coffee. "Bond?! But that means his fake
name is James Bond. Like the movie?"
Topaz chuckled. "Yeah. Apparently Noki has a sense of humor,
no?"
"Yeah. So what does Noki become?"
"He's a tiger shifter." Topaz said as she drained the rest of
her coffee. She stood up and put it in the sink. "I wish we could
afford a dishwasher. Oh well. I'll do the dishes later. Let's get
dressed and go meet the others."
"When are you guys gonna do it?" Noki asked as he sipped a coke.
"Soon I hope." Rob replied. He was surprised by Noki's reaction.
He had thought Noki would be against Topaz changing him to a vampire.
"Well, let me know when. I'll bake you a cake." Noki joked. Rob
rolled his eyes.
"Hey, all. What's up?"
"Hi, Abrams!" Everyone exclaimed as he pulled a chair up to the
table.
"We were just talking about a little change Rob has coming up."
Lapis said.
"Oh, you're gonna do it?"
"Yep." Rob said proudly.
"Hey, guys. Your food is here!" Jade placed meals in front of
their respective consumers.
"Mmm... smells great, Chris." Shane said as he eagerly began to
eat his chicken sandwich.
Jade made a face. "How can you eat that stuff?" She joked.
"Just 'cause your vegetarian doesn't mean I have to be... now,
go away. You bother me." Shane said with a smile. He took a big bite of
his sandwich staring Jade in the eyes. She threw her hands in the air.
"I'll never understand you people!" She yelled then stalked
back to the kitchen.
Noki leaned back in his chair and pounded on the door to the
kitchen. "Fetch me some water, woman!" He yelled.
Everyone laughed as Jade came out and dumped a small glass of
water on Noki's head.
"Hey!" he yelled as he jumped out of his seat.
"Hello, everyone." Jendra said as she slid neatly into Noki's
vacated chair.
"Is every woman in the world against me?" Noki asked sounding
bewildered.
"Yes." Topaz said as she slapped him lightly on the back of the
head.
Noki sighed then measured Jendra with his eyes. Suddenly he
grabbed her arms and lifted her from the chair. He gasped loudly. His
hands felt like they had been electrocuted. Jendra cried out as her
arms suddenly ignited. It felt like they were on fire.
(((Noki! What in the...?))) Jendra's voice echoed in Noki's
mind.
(((Jendra... that's nice.))) He thought dazedly. Suddenly he
was shook out of his near trance state by another glass of water in the
face. He dropped Jendra unceremoniously on her butt as he stepped back
and sputtered. Jendra glared at him and rubbed her arms.
"Jeez, Nok-- James!" Jendra quickly corrected herself when she
noticed people watching. "What's wrong with you?"
Topaz helped Jendra stand up and sit in a chair.
"Are you guys okay? You just froze up." Jade said. She was now
holding two empty glasses. "Sorry I had to soak you again. I couldn't
get you to wake up."
"We're fine." Noki said calmly. He pulled up another chair and
sat so Shane was between himself and Jendra. He could guess what had
just happened, but he really didn't want to think about it. He loved
Jade. Jendra couldn't be his... no. He refused to even think about it.
Shane turned to Jendra and took her hand. "Are you okay?" He
asked softly.
"Yeah." She replied. She looked at their clasped hands and
blushed softly as she withdrew her hand and put it in her lap.
"Um... well, Jay and I have some stuff to tell you, so how
about we go back to my apartment? Wanna come, Abrams?" Topaz asked.
"Naw, just let me know later. I gotta stay here if both my
waitresses and cook are leaving."
"We aren't on duty today, Abrams. And Chris' shift is almost
over. You'll survive." Topaz said making a face.
"Let me go change." Jade said. She left for the kitchen again.
The group was again gathered in Topaz and Jendra's apartment.
They were sitting almost exactly like the previous night, except Shane
had abandoned his post on the floor in favor of the second half of the
couch Jendra was on.
"So what's up?" Lapis asked as soon as everyone was settled.
Topaz turned to Jendra and nodded.
"Topaz has agreed to change me." There was a shocked silence.
"Oh." Shane finally said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"And her name is now Jendra." Topaz added as she sipped her
water.
"Why do you wanna be a vampire?" Shane asked. Jendra lowered
her head.
"I'd rather not talk about it. It's just something I want." She
said softly. Shane put his arm around her.
"Hey, it's okay. You don't have to tell us." He gave her a half
hug then stood up. "Anyone want a drink? I'm gonna get a coke."
"I'll have a coke, too." Jade said. Topaz held up her glass in
answer. Shane got the drinks and flopped into his seat again.
Jendra stood on the balcony staring at the stars.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" A voice said behind her. She nodded
as Shane leaned against the railing next to her. "Would you please tell
me why you want to be a vampire?"
Jendra turned to look at him. She lowered her eyes for a moment,
then told him the whole story. He was quite and listened attentively.
When she was done he sighed and pushed away from the railing.
"That's terrible. You didn't deserve your life. I can understand
now why you want this."
"Why don't you want to change? Rob is." Jendra asked suddenly
curious.
"I'm happy human. He's only changing to be with Topaz. I guess
if my soul-mate was gonna live forever, I'd want to change, but as it
is, I'm fine. I'll be the only vermin soon." He said thoughtfully.
"You're not vermin, Shane." Jendra said. She placed her hand on
his where it was resting on the rail.
"Thanks, Jendra." He said softly. "I was wondering, if you
wanted to go to the movies sometime or something."
Jendra smiled. "Are you asking me out?"
"Yeah." Shane said slowly. He turned to look into her eyes. She
blushed and looked down.
"I'd love to." Shane smiled.
"Great." He looked back up at the stars. Jendra looked at him
for minute then she looked at the stars too.