A/N:
Hello Everyone! I just wanted to thank: The Parrot has ceased to be, lilyfan, EyesofEmerald, Dark Vampiress, charlesweatherby, HolsyEvans, PaarsKonijn, and FAIRYPRINCESS13, for being kind enough to review chapter 8 and 9. I really appreciate the reviews! Please keep reviewing everyone! Just so I know there's still someone out there reading, and that my updates aren't in vain.
-Ninde Annare
Chapter 10:
Ah, sleep-so deliciously filling. I lift the cover of my coffin to find the room blanketed in a velvety blackness. The moon is full and I watch it wane slowly across the floor of my chamber. It drags across the cold stone leaving a trail of luminosity. My stomach throbs with knots of hunger. I breathe in the heavily perfumed night air-to think that all that separates me from humanity is the warmth of a body and the filling of my lungs. The scent of amaranths fill my coffin. I've taken to lining the silky interior of it with petals from the elusive flower. I have found comfort in its soft, puce petals-the feeling of another entity doomed to immortality, upon my skin. Their petals are so delicate and yet they are filled with boundless life; they will never know death…they will never wither…they will live on forever-for even when their very beings are crushed and destroyed their scent lingers-never to be forgotten. I select a blossom and secure it to my ebony tresses. It seems apropos for its dark immortal petals to be set a drift in the foreboding waves of my locks. As I prepare to leave my chambers, I glance into my coffin; a small clothed-corner has effloresced in my bed of amaranths. I brush the petals from its cover.
Remus you have given more then a journal; you've given me hope-hope that someday I will fill these burnt pages with happy memories and moments. How befitting that you be my first entry-for our first meeting brought not only apprehension and fear into my life but also elation. This entry is of you.
I scribble down the events of the night before-the soft scratching of the quill on the pallid pages makes my skin tingle. The pages seem to drink in my words, immortalizing them in their fibers. I finish my entry and place the small book in the center of my coffin, burying it with petals before replacing the cover.
As I walk down the corridor to Remus' office I extinguish each candle in my path. The walk to his office seems to have taken no time at all, for before I can even comprehend what I am doing, I have already arrived at his door.
The lights are off. And the door is locked. A small envelope has been gently wedged in the door above the doorknob. The envelope is crumpled, spotted with ink, and addressed to me. In thin black letters it reads:
I open the envelope hastily to find a letter-it looks to have been written in quite a rush.
I feel my heart sink a little; I was looking forward to seeing him tonight. I notice small dots of blood; lost amongst a sea of ink specks-the smell is subtle, but seductive. It's been a month since I last fed…I'm famished… I gently touch a spot of blood and without so much as a second thought, bring it to my lips-its metallic aura is unlike anything I've ever tasted…it's different…some how special.
I ache with hunger. The knot in my stomach has come undone and now I hunger for this mysterious blood. The taste of this cursed mortal elixir has whet my appetite, I hunger for more…I've never felt such a need to feast before…the sadness I felt only moments ago seems to have vanished…all that stands is my desire to devour.
I move swiftly through the halls; carefully avoiding passersby-I can't risk running into someone like this… My hunger has surrounded me in a haze; even the bright glow of the well-lit corridors does not deter me from my course. I soon find myself at the foot of a dungeon door-it has been left ajar. I hear someone speak softly to themselves.
"You have to tell her! She deserves to know…it's the very least you can do…"
I burst into the room. My hunger has reached its peak…I must feed!
"Kaida? What is the matter? You're so pale and your breath is short…"
"Severus…the potion…I need the potion!" Without hesitation, Severus rushes over to a bubbling cauldron; he dips a goblet into the liquid and quickly brings it to me. I take the goblet and drink from it. I can feel it rushing through my veins-I can feel myself regain my consciousness as the hunger begins to subside. I drain the goblet of its contents only to find that it is not enough. Normally, a goblet is more then sufficient to curve my hunger…but not tonight…I want more…I need more…I walk swiftly over to the cauldron and fill another goblet, then another, then another…soon the cauldron is empty and my hunger, finally quenched.
"Kaida, I've never seen you so ravenous…" His voice is full of surprise and intrigue. I shudder slightly at the thought of him seeing me at my most base moment-when I gave into my vampiric nature. His aphotic eyes continue to watch me-I can feel them on me like the chill of twilight.
"I'm sorry if I frightened you, Serverus…something came over me…I couldn't stop myself…" I feel cold, and yet my skin beads with sweat…I feel the inside of my chest fill with an icy dread…it's almost feels like I'm drowning…
It begins, Kaida…. you can feel it in your very bones can't you? The change…
A/N:
I will try my best to update before the week's end-a few reviews might inspire me to do so more quickly ; ) Thanks again for reading!
-Ninde Annare