A/N: So as I keep writing I've noticed that it's sometimes a nightmare with tenses. I'm gonna try and do some editing, sorry y'all.
Chapter 6 Theme Song: Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
In what seemed like no time at all she had brought me to a beach house that stood atop a hill, overlooking the waves below. It appeared nice, well-kept, and had clearly been intended for wealthy owners. I didn't bother taking much else in about its appearance between my enthrallment of the woman still carrying me and my confusion as to how we had gotten to the coast so quickly. It was normally a 45-60 minute drive from my town, and that was in good weather. I wasn't able to drive, but that was what I had heard.
With no regard for anyone being on the other side of it she walked straight in the front door as if she owned the place. It wouldn't have surprised me if she did. Rushing through a few rooms we arrived at a luxurious fireside room. There were both black leather chairs and a couch, a large glass window overlooking the water, a bearskin rug, and a large fireplace. Paintings depicting regal-looking figures adorned the maroon walls. I found myself staring at these as she placed me gingerly down onto the couch.
Looking back up at her I couldn't help but be taken in again by her beauty. If anything she was now more captivating because her eyes were a pure blood-red. Without blinking she stared back, and then suddenly appeared by the fireplace to begin setting up a fire. On instinct I whimpered at the reminder of It, and found myself again back in her arms. Her expression was fierce and…protective?
Come away with me,
In the night.
Come away with me,
And I will write you a song.
I turned away blushing now entirely certain that I'd humiliated myself in front of the first person who ever seemed to want to comfort me, but a cold finger placed firmly on my cheek steered me back to at her. I couldn't have explained why, but she seemed to know that I wasn't able to talk about it yet and instead retrieved a thick, wool blanket from somewhere. She laid it over me, and my blush grew. Going from either the usual indifference or disdain to suddenly being shown so much overt affection was giving me emotional whiplash.
She studied me some more and frowned. "You have clearly not been sleeping well. You should rest." Before I could think we were in another room with a large bed, its maroon covers set against cream-colored walls. Wall mounted lights illuminated the room which contained a tall wooden dresser, a closed door that presumably led to a closet, and another wide glass window that seemed to overlook the same side of the house that the other one did. It was becoming rather clear that I was going to have to get used to whatever it was that allowed her to teleport, or at least travel faster than my eyes could see. If I didn't then the whiplash would likely become physical too.
And I want to walk with you,
On a cloudy day.
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee high.
So won't you try to come,
Come away with me.
Setting me down on the bed she tucked me in with no hesitation. Awkward feelings aside, I couldn't help but notice just how comfortable the bed was. The stress of everything this past week seemed to fall on me all at once. Before my eyes fully shut, I noticed that she had retrieved a chair from across the room and sat at the bedside next to me. Her fingers running through my hair along with her voice humming finally had me drifting off to sleep.
Come away with me,
And we'll kiss,
On a mountaintop.
Come away with me,
and I'll never stop loving you.
The first thing I noticed was someone humming next to me. The melody was soothing, like a warm rain set to music. Fingers were also running through my hair, which was making my return to wakefulness that much more difficult.
And I want to wake up,
With the rain falling on a tin roof,
While I'm safe there in your arms.
That was until my recent memories hit me like a speeding pick-up truck.
I shot up in bed with a harsh inhale, panic now fully setting in at record pace. My heart pounded in my chest as my eyes darted around trying to find some sense of familiarity. My breathing had jumped from relaxed to hyperventilating almost instantly.
I felt cold arms grip my shoulders and found myself staring into two incredibly concerned red eyes. "Shhh…Violet you're safe here. Shhhh…" The warm voice cooed while I was drawn into an embrace. The combination of her voice, scent, and use of my real name helped to steady my nerves over the next 10 minutes; everything slowing back down to a reasonable rate. Not being fully in control of myself yet, or even fully aware of where I was, I gripped the woman's shirt as tightly as I could. I was afraid that if I let go she'd disappear, and I was unwilling to let go so soon of this comfort.
Soon her fingers began to run through my hair again and she was humming that same melody. When I'd finally calmed down (for the most part) I suddenly became aware of what had just happened already since I'd woken up, not to mention everything before I'd fallen asleep. I stiffened and my face became incredibly red. Somehow the woman holding me seemed to realize this and chuckled, her chest rumbling next to my ear. She allowed me to awkwardly remove myself from her arms and stand up, making sure to back up a few feet to try and regain some sense of dignity.
All I ask is for you,
Is to come, come away with me
In the night.
Come away with me.
"U-um…what the hell…what the h-hell is going on?" I stammered out looking straight at the floor. I don't think I'd ever embarrassed myself so thoroughly in front of another person before. "Violet" she replied with a gentle yet firm voice, causing me to look up.
I was determined not to be reduced to a mindless puddle by her looks again so I took a deep breath and did my best to concentrate. She gave me a moment to center myself. "I had intended to begin speaking with you earlier, but you were in desperate need of sleep. Would you care to speak here or in the fireside room downstairs?".
Downstairs?! She had taken me up an entire floor without me noticing?! Just another thing to add to the growing list of questions I had. "H-here is fine". I wasn't up for moving mainly because the bed was so amazing, and I was already mentally exhausted. I sat back on the now unmade bed with my back propped up by the pillows against the ornately carved headboard.
"My name is Heidi", she began without much preamble. "The things we must discuss are far too complicated to fit into one single conversation. I also can sense how overwhelmed you are". There were so many different responses I wanted to give already, but I somehow fell back on remembering basic manners. "H-hello Heidi, my name is Violet, b-but you can call me Violet May i-if you'd like…". I realized that she had already used my name, but before I could apologize she stopped me with a soft smile. This wasn't the predatory gleam I had seen yesterday, but far sweeter. She replied, "Well then hello there, Violet May". She was clearly ramping up her preternatural charm because I felt my brain go hazy again, which ended up not helping my sense of tact.
"S-so what are you I mean s-shit wait I-I'm sorry-", and there went my manners right out the window. She caught me mid-apology with a full laugh. Not a chuckle, but a full, loud laugh. As ashamed of myself as I was for my rudeness, I now knew that I could never get enough of that sound. Retaining a slight smirk she responded with "Well. That's one way to start this conversation I suppose", I ducked my head into my hands, "Would you like the blunt approach to answering your question, or to be more gradually introduced to it?". Without thinking, in my curiosity for finally having some answers, I asked for the blunt approach.
"I am a vampire".
Come away with me,
In the night.
My expression must have been comical seeing as she barely reigned in another laugh. In my defense though how the hell does a person react to that? If I hadn't already witnessed her in the clearing yesterday and the multiple instances of what seemed like lightspeed travel I would have likely backed away slowly from anyone who said that. I struggled for at least a minute trying to think of what to say next.
"So did you b-bring me here to suck m-my blood?" Looking aghast at the idea she quickly denied, "No of course not!". Well at least I was going to be around for a while longer if her words were to be believed. Something inside told me that they were.
I looked down at my hands for a moment trying to put things together in my mind. The black and red eyes, the blood, the super speed, the strength. It did all paint a pretty convincing picture of her being the vampire she said she was. Maybe it was the shock or her charm still addling my brain but I felt myself accepting the news rather quickly and without much protest. At least for now. After all, who was I to judge someone for being radically different? It wasn't my business what, or who in this case, someone else ate. I'd just prefer it not be me until I get to the bottom of this. "Okay." I nodded my head.
Her panic now shifted to shock and managing to catch her off guard boosted my ego a bit. So much so that I couldn't help a bit of my own smirk from sneaking onto my face. Upon reflection later I'd decide that this entire conversation and my responses throughout had been entirely absurd, but then again it seemed that reality itself was far more absurd than I had ever realized. She raised her eyebrows at my expression, to which I turned away with a sheepish blush. Okay so maybe I wasn't as cool and collected as I'd thought.
"That was one of the more difficult parts of what I needed to tell you, but there are still a few more of those to come. I'd like to first explain more about why my workers and I have come to your town." Workers?" I tilted my head in confusion. "Oh w-wait, you mean those other men?". I found my anxiety decreasing gradually, and with it I felt a bit more confident in speaking.
"Yes. I believe you met Luther outside of your gym class recently. He, along with the others, were setting up the presentation for me to give to you and your classmates. They are also vampires, and their purpose is to carry out various tasks for me. Luther also mentioned that you gave the nam-", "Don't" I croaked out without thinking. As rude as I'd already been I couldn't deal with hearing that name right now. Not right now. Like last night, she instantly picked up on how uncomfortable I felt.
"Very well, Violet. Now you see, our employers have a…vested interest in offering these sorts of travel opportunities. They feel a sense of fulfillment from opening the eyes of people to what the world has to offer. In turn, those who travel are then able to enrich the world by giving back of themselves. We don't normally work with your demographic, but you and your classmates are a pilot program we're experimenting with."
I was getting the sense that this all-expenses paid trip wasn't quite as it seemed to be, but I was still too interested in this conversation to think about that.
She opened her mouth to continue but was interrupted by a cell phone buzzing in her pocket. Scowling at the interruption she muttered, "Excuse me for a moment". Going over to the window she picked up the call and began moving her lips, but whatever was coming out was inaudible to me. That mental list I was making grew longer yet again. Her scowl deepened steadily, and I started to fill a rising chill at the effect it had over her features. Although I'd so far been pretty accepting the whole vampire thing, I still hadn't fully reconciled it with how I felt about her. Clearly there was more to her than the nurturing side she'd shown me today.
I finally heard something as her expression grew so dark that she actually snarled, red eyes turned fully black. I didn't know who was on the other line, but I knew that I didn't want to be them right now. Hanging up she took a moment before returning to sit by me, her eyes again their usual red and a sigh escaping her lips.
"I apologize. I'm afraid managing an operation such as this one requires dealing with complications and disciplining those who don't meet expectations". Again, what was up with this trip? What did she mean by "operation"? I didn't want to get snarled at for asking. Vampire managers probably had different rules anyway.
"Now Luther noted that you stood out amongst your classmates and informed me later that day. He also said that you seemed injured. Did you fall down during your class?" She asked with concern, a finger lightly tracing the faded bruise. I winced a little and, feeling more embarrassed by the while situation, said "Ah, I m-mean no. I was sort of…aimed at by s-someone who doesn't…um…l-like me.".
That was apparently the wrong thing to say as her expression changed back to its previous fury. "What?!" she growled out, that harsh tonal mixture jarring my still tender brain into mush. I didn't have time to figure just how I was going to reply when she was by the window again standing absolutely still with her eyes closed. If I had to guess she was meditating or at least trying to calm herself down. Another thing added to the "Heidi is actually a vampire" list was that she wasn't breathing. At all.
We both waited in silence, or rather I waited for her while we were both silent. Having lived with the sort of parents and townsfolk that I had, I'd learned to recognize when it was best to keep quiet. I didn't think that she'd hurt me, but I was nervous all the same. After a few minutes she opened her eyes and walked slowly back, now sitting down beside me on the bed.
Grabbing both of my hands more firmly she, with a tense jaw, looked me straight in the eyes. "Please explain", her tone leaving no room for discussion. "W-well…" I stopped to take a deep breath and steady myself. For the most part I was starting to feel unusually relaxed in her company and I didn't think that she'd get frustrated if I were to slow down when I spoke. It helped my stuttering if I could go slowly.
"Well…I'm not very…popular…at all…A classmate n-named Nick…Nick McArthur", a vindictive part of me wanted to name him to see what would happen, "really doesn't…like me…We happened to…be playing dodgeball...that day…and he and...his friends…were…aiming for…f-for me."
I had to stop and take a few more breaths. I had long since been conditioned by my mother and others that speaking slowly was just as bad as stuttering. If anything, the stuttering came from my anxiety to rush through my words. Heidi didn't seem inclined to insult me, and when I hesitantly looked at her, she only returned a concerned, but still angry look. Despite being on edge I could tell that at least her anger was not directed at me.
"I see…and is this sort of treatment common?". I was at a loss as to how to respond in a way that for one didn't convince her that I was some pathetic sap unable to protect herself, but also in a way that didn't set a furious vampire loose on the entire town. I'd thought of that level of retribution before but faced with the actual possibility now I was surprisingly hesitant. I didn't regret giving Nick's name, but he was especially brutal in how he treated me compared to the others. Overall though I wasn't as ready as I thought I would have been to get payback.
I could tell she was ready to sit there for as long as it took, and that there was no way I was getting out of this conversation by this point. With no other option coming to mind I went with the truth."…Yes…Yes, it is." I hung my head ashamed. How on earth could I look at her after admitting that? What she said next sent chills all the way down my spine. "And why is this? Why are you treated so poorly?".
And with that we had come to the point in the conversation that I had wanted to avoid for as long as possible.
Come away with me,
In the night.
Come away with me.
Chapter Theme Songs Used So Far:
The Passenger – Iggy Pop
Grinnin' In Your Face – Son House
Get It On (Bang a Gong) – T. Rex
Breakdown – Guns N' Roses
Numb - Portishead
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones