Believe in Me
I eventually landed in the Haunted Forest. I don't know why I picked that place. I guess I just wanted to be alone. No one would disturb me here. I settled myself at the base of one of the trees and wrapped my wings around me. I had given up on the tears, there was no stopping them. I just buried my face in the feathery softness of my wings and sobbed. I cried until it hurt, until my breath was strained and my body ached. I clenched my hands and gasped with sudden pain as my kougra claws came out and pierced the skin. I reluctantly folded my wings and healed my hands, the tears gone now for I had none left. My heart seemed to ache and Fyora's words kept circling through my mind.
"She's right," I said out loud, "I can't do anything right. Why am I the Essence? A miserable little girl that can't even care for her own pets. I don't deserve them."
"Oh, a pity party. May I join?" a familiar voice asked from the shadows.
I tensed as Count Von Roo stepped out to stand just behind my shoulder.
"Go away," I snarled.
"Not yet. This pet then, he is yours?"
"My Aldrai. Yes."
"So Aldrai has allowed the light magic to overtake him. And this is your fault?"
"Yes."
"Of course. Because everything in the vorld is your fault. It's because you can't take care of things, because you are too irresponsible, correct?"
"Stop mocking me!"
"I am not mocking you. I am merely repeating vhat you said earlier."
"Stop it!"
"You honestly believe there is nothing you can do? Aldrai must ve stopped. I do not know vhat he vill do but I am fearful. Vampires are not looked kindly upon by anyone."
"Hurrah for you. Stop him yourself then."
"Because you can't?"
"Because I can't and won't."
He moved then, with lightning quickness. Before I knew what has happening I felt his paws tangle in my hair and jerk my head back to expose my neck. His fangs brushed my skin. But I moved just as fast. I seized his cloak and threw. He smashed into a tree, shattering the wood, and fell heavily to the ground. He then picked himself up, brushed himself off, and surveyed the smashed tree.
"Very good. You see, you vere able to protect yourself and not harm me."
"But you're a vampire."
"And Aldrai is more than vhat he vas."
"Fyora said that the only way to stop him was to kill him or strip him of his power. And I won't do that."
The blumaroo snorted.
"Fyora overreacts. There are other vays. Find one."
"What would you suggest?"
"I do not know. He is not my pet. But vhatever you do, do it fast. For ve creatures of the night are vorried and vill move to defend ourselves. I believe you, the Essence of Neopia, vill be able to do something. Not all share my views."
"Great. So the only person who believes in me is a vampire blumaroo," I said sarcastically.
He smiled softly, his fangs glinting in the faint moonlight.
"Is that such a bad thing? A creature that has seen more darkness and evil in his very long life than any mortal believes you are strong enough to overcome this new threat? No, I vouldn't consider that a bad thing if I vere you…"
He trailed off, a strange and worried look appearing in his eyes. Then he gasped and staggered back. I leapt to my feet.
"Roo! What's wrong?"
"Ahh… he… the fabric of-"
And then he collapsed. I rushed over to his side and checked his pulse. I found none.
"No no no no no…" I whispered.
A nagging thought finally broke free of my subconscious. He was vampire. Vampires don't have pulses. They're undead.
Feeling like an idiot I placed one hand on his forehead. The fur was cold beneath my hand but I now realized that was normal. The ties binding Von Roo to whatever life he had were still intact. And something else was there too. Light magic.
I studied it closer. Aldrai's doing. Von Roo wasn't hurt, just… in an unnatural sleep. Just the same as the one Jhudora was in. What was going on? Aldrai wasn't anywhere nearby.
First things first. I could rationalize all I wanted: Von Roo was evil, he was a vampire, he had hurt others many many times, etc. But the nagging little voice in my conscience would not let me just leave him here or anywhere else the sun might possibly reach. Besides, he said he believed in me.
I flew him to Sabreur's house. My basement had a window in it so I couldn't leave him there. Sabreur met me at the door, a strained look on his face.
"I'm all right, Von Roo here bullied some sense into me," I said to stall any questions.
I carried the vampire into his living room and towards the basement.
"Kiddo? What?"
"Aldrai is doing something to all evil. I can't leave him where sun will get him."
"But my house?!"
His eyes were slightly bugged and frantic.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll appreciate the fact that I didn't leave him to burn enough to not hurt you when he wakes up."
"But – I – no… Would he mind titanium reinforced doors welded shut?"
"I thought you already had that!" I called up the stairs as I found a corner of the basement not already taken up with stuff.
"Not the welded shut part!"
"Whatever," I replied irritably and lay the vampire down.
As an afterthought I found a blanket and lay him on that. No sense on leaving the poor thing on the concrete.
"He's gonna hate us for this," Sabreur said gloomily.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Before he collapsed he said something about the fabric. I'm not sure what that meant though. I think we need to find Aldrai fast though."
"Your pets are at your house. Shall we go have another meeting then? This time one that won't be interrupted by faeries with the temper of a hornet?"
"Sounds good to me. You drive?"
"Certainly."