It's easy for human to love vampires.
It's easier for them to fall in love with us.
After about a week I had settled into a new routine and felt more at home here in the manor. I finally wrote Lord Basset a letter, thanking him for letting me stay in his family's mansion. Lady Danbury took it and tucked it safely away for his return, whenever that may be. I then wrote a letter- several actually- to my great uncle to let him know how I was doing. I knew he'd be wondering… Wondering and concerned about me.
Life was easy and quiet here. I suppose this was a taste of what my future would look like. Simple, effortless, full of leisure….. and lonely. But I expected this to be the case. Lady Danbury slept for most of the day and I spelt at night, so we only got to see each other for a few hours each day. The majority of my time was spent alone, exploring the manor, reading in the library, and walking out in the garden. I guess it wasn't so bad; this is what every other human could only dream of. There was always plenty of food which her ladyship had delivered to us. And the sweetest little animals always visited me in the garden; they trusted me because they knew I wouldn't hurt them. I'd sit under the big oak tree by the large white stone garden wall and feed birds and bunnies from my hand. Many hours were spent like that with me there alone. Always alone.
I already missed Uncle dearly.
I had written him a letter while sitting under my new favourite tree that afternoon. It was particular warm out; very hot and humid. Setting my letter set aside, I laid down onto the grass so to stare up at the sky. The back of my hand rested overtop my forehead as my eyes softened a bit. The sky was so massive, high, and clear. It's a shame vampires can't enjoy this; I bet none would even be awake right now. My fingers curled inward slightly at the thought of it. My lips parted a sliver. My long brown hair was spread out all around me in-between the blades of grass. There were flowers all over it too; I loved wearing flowers in my head since I was a child. Pink blossoms were my favourite…. Huh, flowers, sun, and nature in general- must be a human trait to adore them as much as I did.
I only lifted my head up at the sensation of a baby bunny licking the fingers of my other hand. Glancing over, I grinned and picked him up to sit on my stomach. He seems very happy to receive some scratches behind the ear. "I wouldn't mind a vampire friend, if he was as nice as you," I cooed, fully aware he couldn't understand me. Still, it felt good to talk to someone. My gaze slowly returned back up to the endless sky, my hand still petting the bunny. "Ironic, isn't it? The sky just goes on and on, and here we are, bound to the Earth never seeing any of it but what we can from where we stand. It's funny, really…."
A quiet moment passed, with the only sounds emanating from birds chirping in the distance. The bunny cuddled up to me, falling aside on my stomach. Grinning back at it, I shut my own eyes for one moment. My lungs sucked in a deep, deep breath. "But then, maybe it's better this way. Safer…. For me, I mean." My life would be a lonely one, but at least I'd live for a relatively long time- for my kind anyway.
Uncle always warned me not to get too close to a vampire I'm not related to, and even then I must be on guard with anyone who wasn't him. Everything about vampires was designed to draw me in. I understood what he meant when he told me that; vampires are beautiful creatures in their own right. The women were all stunning and the men all handsome. But worst of all, as alluring I found them, they found me even more so. "You are a drug to them; stronger than a drug. You are the living embodiment of their life force. You create blood, and it does not pass through you like animal blood. You are the medium, the in-between; not quite animal but not vampiric either. There is enough of them in you that they can forget…" These were Uncle's words when I was young. He wanted to make sure that I understood, that I knew beyond a doubt…..
Vampires initially see us as just another source of food, but given enough time and bonding, they can grow to love us. Or well, not love in the way us humans can because there's always this underlying element on their side. Vampires are born with this unquenchable thirst- something I'll understand. But eventually this thirst blinds them to their attachment and they mistake lust for love. What they see as "love" is just their overwhelming desires pushing them to stay close and guard their "prey". When they stop viewing us as a food source is when their thirst is at its highest, yet they don't know it. Several vampires have been driven mad by this and is one reason I will not be joining my family in London. This blindness and sort of attachment can even happen with family members. Uncle always assured me that he was the exception but deep down I knew…. If anyone ever tried to hurt me, he'd destroy them without a second thought.
My eyes slowly re-opened a crack. Maybe that's why I'm more at ease around vampires than other humans. Not that I've ever met another human before. But still…. Uncle was able to live in close proximity to me for nineteen years and he never bit me. So I know it is possible….. But I also know he suffered from his thirst the whole time I lived with him. He was killing two or three wild animals a day. But he never drank from me….
The bunny gave a little hiccup, interrupting its nap. Smiling down at it, I was careful to sit up; the flowers still remaining in my hair in the process. "I think I'll write another page in Uncle's letter," I whispered to it. Then while still holding its tiny body in one hand, I reached over for the pen with my free hand. The sun shone down particularly strong in that instance, making the gold band of the pen glimmer in its rays. Looking over, I saw for the first time a 'S.B.' inscribed on it. S.B.? That must mean Simon Basset, the owner of this pen; I borrowed it from inside the manor. I studied the inscription for a minute, running my thumb up along the side of the pen.
Apparent he's never met a human before. But then again, what use would Lord Basset have for us humans? Anthony liked him and I doubt that'd be the case if Lord Basset was the kind of vampire who'd purchase one of us. No, he's going to get married and have lots of children most likely. And as for me…. I'd leave the mansion soon enough and spend the rest of my days on the outskirts of London, never to marry or have a family of my own. That was my fate as a human….
That's when one of the pink flowers from my hair fell out. It fell down, gently landing onto the pen, right across Lord Basset's initials. For some reason this made me instinctively smile, like it was a sign…. I picked up the small bloom to bring up to my nose. Still wearing a long smile, I took in its scent so contently. Oh well, it's not like it's either of our faults. He couldn't help being a vampire anymore than I could being a human; neither of us chose to be born this way. But that's no reason why he shouldn't be happy. I already knew the two of us would never meet in person, but I couldn't help but hope he got my letter…. And felt good when he read it. Must be odd to know that there's a human out there who wishes good things for you, all because you did something nice for her family. My fingers twirled the blossom in my hand.
Was I lucky to be born a human? I don't know; I never thought about it much. If I had to choose, I'd…. To be honest, I don't know what I'd pick. If I was a vampire, I'd be free right now. I'd have rights and privileges…. and wouldn't be at the whim of other people. But I wouldn't get to experience this- the sunshine, the light, the warmth. Poor vampires; they'll never know what they're missing.
If only humans could become a vampire's own personal sun.