Reunion
High above the streets of Italy, a vampire flies, bound for his reunion with the human girl he loves.
He flies with his green eyes faced forward and his black wings flapping silently against the wind.
Unknown to him, three figures draped in shadow are crouched and ready to pounce.
"Are you ready Exavier?" asked a sultry voice of a woman with red eyes, and scarlet lips. From the darkness two blue eyes burned, "I was ready to tear out his throat the day you met the whelp." Snarled Scarlet's right hand man. In a blur, Exavier rushed at Davion, smashing him into the brick of a far tower.
They continued to struggle in the crater Davion's body had made, snarling and cursing as Scarlet and Alexander flew to them.
Scarlet reached them just in time to see Davion's arm turn into a powerful claw and tear into Exavier's body. Blood spewed out of the deep gashes along his chest and stomach. He staggered backwards and fell. Scarlet grabbed Davion by the throat and slammed him against the tower wall before he could finish the job.
"You're stronger now I see." Mused the beautiful vampire woman, still holding tightly onto Davion's throat. Davion's eyes were crimson and his fangs peeked out of lips like daggers. "Well if it isn't Nos' little whore." Davion chuckled wickedly.
Scarlet and her followers hissed and bared their fangs at their long time enemy. Scarlet's sharp fingernails dug deeper into Davion's flesh.
Alexander stepped forward and plowed his fist into Davion's face. When he pulled back his fist he was rocked with horror. Davion still snickered back at him, his lips drawn up in a devilish grin, "Nice try, weakling. Try again when you can back those muscles up with some real power."
Scarlet glowered at her lover, and shoved him out of the way, "Go to Exavier." She ordered. Alexander obeyed without hesitation.
With Alexader at a safe distance away, Scarlet's red eyes returned to glare at her previous lover, "Your powers may have multiplied but so have our numbers." Her full lips curved into a smile.
Davion's predatory eyes flashed to the flowing movements on the buildings behind them. With his heightened senses, he could clearly see hundreds of creatures crawling their way to them, brainless ghouls. An amused chuckle reverberated from his chest; "someone's been busy."
Scarlet slammed his head against the brick to silence him but the laughter still rung through the night.
Her grip tightened, "I'll give one more chance to join us, Davion. This is the last. Either you agree to lead Nos' army or I kill you, take your pick." Davion glared at her from beneath the shadow of his hair, "Never." He hissed.
Strangely Scarlet's expression softened, "come now, Davion, Nos could give you everything you could possibly want: money, mansions, fancy cars, an endless supply of blood donors and…" her smile turned demonic, "a fresh human girl will be delivered daily."
Davion's eyes widened.
Scarlet pressed herself against his body. "You could have me again." She whispered seductively in his ear. "I haven't forgotten that passionate night we spent together all those centuries ago." Davion scowled, "Neither have I." His red eyes flared as they began to smolder, "How could I forget the night I was turned into a monster!" he hissed, spitting in Scarlet's face, "I prefer blondes."
Scarlet bared her teeth, "Fine have it your way." She threw him to the side, "He's all yours boys!" All at once the ghouls swarmed towards Davion, intent on tearing him apart. The bloody threesome perched themselves on a nearby roof top to watch the torture.
Dawn:
It's raining outside. If Davion were still around he'd be sitting on at my desk asking random questions about all that he'd missed in the last two centuries. He reminded me of a four-year-old with all his questions. I never thought I'd miss the headaches he gave me.
I sat in my swivel chair, peering out at the rain through the open French doors that led onto the veranda. I could faintly feel the mist of the rain on my face. It felt so soothing on my tear stained cheeks.
In my hand I held the glass Davion had used the last time I'd seen him. The night I told him that I was in love with him. The glass still had blood crusted on the bottom; I'd never washed it. I was afraid that if I did all the remnants of him would vanish.
As I stared out at the storm, I could feel the maddening grief creep its way back into my chest, wrapping itself around my heart. I leaned my head against the headrest, beginning to sob again.
Who was I kidding, Davion wasn't coming back. He'd abandoned me! Hell, even his cat had stopped coming to see me. It was stupid to cling to hope! Stupid! So Stupid!
Davion:
The ghouls crawled around him, encircling him. Davion stood in a half crouch, preparing for their attack. His claws were drawn and eyes were wild, he was ready. The creatures began to pounce upon him and he tore at them, ripping into their waxy flesh. With each slash of his arm, it seemed more and more came. In minutes, he was all but swallowed up by them.
The creatures bit into his skin, tearing at him with their filthy fingernails. Just as one was about bite into Davion's neck a white fist slammed into its soft skull, sending it flying. "Ark!" cried Davion, recognizing the vampire that had come to his rescue.
Ark grabbed at the ghouls, slinging them off of his comrade. Then unsheathing the sword at his side, he slashed through the swarm, killing at least 80 of the monsters with a single swing. The two vampires stood back to back, in the onslaught. They plowed through the ghoul's numbers, Ark with his sword and Davion with his bare hands. Soon enough the remaining ghouls began to retreat. Ark turned his head slightly to speak to Davion, "I'll take care of the rest. You have to go. That girl of yours will not last much longer." Davion's brow furrowed, "What?" Ark's golden eyes flashed, "You're running out of time!"
Davion nodded and jumped off the roof, his wings unfurling in mid-air. He had only gotten a few hundred yards when Scarlet slammed into him with her claws drawn. They stabbed deep into his side, penetrating up to the knuckles. Davion let out a yell as he grabbed onto Scarlet's arms, trying to get her off of him. Ark flew in, grabbing a hold of her and jerking her arm out of Davion's body. Ark had her in a headlock. She was thrashing and screeching, trying desperately to get free, "I'll hold her. But you need to transform, if you wish to reach Dawn in time." "In time for what?" asked Davion, his eyes narrowing. Ark did not reply with words but the gold of his eyes intensified as they locked with Davion's. Suddenly everything became clear for Davion. If he did not reach Dawn soon, she was going to die. He choked back the bile that was rising in his throat, his mind whirling with what he might find when he returned home. He didn't like it, but if a full transformation was what had to be done to save Dawn's life; he'd do it, no matter what the consequences may be.
Dawn:
I must have fallen asleep, because I found myself tucked under the covers on my bed, not in the chair where I had been sitting all afternoon. I wonder if my Dad thought it strange that I was sitting there with the doors wide open during a storm? Probably not, he's seen stranger. I continued to lay there, my eyelids half open, staring out into space. It was absolutely pouring out! You could barely make out the trees behind our house.
I started to fall asleep again but my lids shot back open when images of Davion began to appear. Again the pain of grief hit me like an arrow through the heart. I'd had enough!
I threw the blanket off of me and ran down the stairs to the armory. I grabbed one of my dad's pistols and went back up to my room.
Sitting on the edge of my bed I brought the gun up to my head, rubbing the barrel of the pistol against my temple. It was so simple. All I had to do was pull the trigger and all this pain would be gone. It would all be over. There was no one to save me this time.
Just as I touched the trigger, this big black thing crashed through the veranda doors! Glass and wood splinters flew everywhere! I screamed, losing my grip on the gun and falling to my knees. I crawled over the other side of the bed to hide.
This thing that had crashed into my room was unlike any other monster I had ever faced. It looked like an enormous demonic bat! I peeked over the top of my bed to watch as the beast, tried to pick itself up off the floor, with little success. I could see thick almost black blood oozing from a deep wound at his side and from smaller cuts all over its body. "What the hell is it?" I whispered. The thing lifted its head at the sound of my voice. Its eyes were wide, blood red with a small black pupil that seemed to dart around at any sign of movement. Its mouth was like a fruit bat's but with long, sharp teeth, jutting out. It opened its mouth as if to say something and more of the black blood poured out, pooling under its jaw.
The beast was losing a lot of blood, if not treated I knew it would die. It was staring up at me with pleading eyes. I hesitantly got to my feet and began to walk towards it. He shifted his weight like he was trying to get away. STAY BACK! Warned a deep hoarse voice in my head. The creatures small black pupil was trained on me now, my own eyes locked with it. It was almost as if the voice had come from the beast. I took another step towards it, reaching out my hand. Stupid Girl! I said stay away! I don't want to hurt you, Dawn! There went the voice again. Now I was almost certain that the voice was coming from the huge bat thing crumpled on my floor. How did it know my name?
I took another long look at it. The way the beast stared at me as if looking into my soul reminded me of someone.
I gasped, taking a step back, "Davion?" I squeaked. The bat turned its head away. I never wanted you to see me like this, to see me for what I truly am, a monster. The sad yet ominous voice echoed through my head.
Once I had gotten over my shock I reached for him again, and against his protest I wrapped my arms around his thick neck and buried my face in his bloodstained fir. Happy tears began to fall for the first time in many months. Under my fingertips, I could feel Davion changing, becoming more and more human. Within seconds he was normal again. I raised my eyes to his face. Blood was running out of his eyes, his mouth and practically everywhere else. I touched his face with my had, "What happened to you? You're a mess." I whispered. He gave me a weak smile, "Same old, same old."
Over his shoulder I could see that the rain was beginning to stop. Soon the sun would come out. "Come on we've got to get you somewhere dark." I dragged him over to my closet and stuffed him inside. "There you go." I whispered, propping him against the back wall and a few hundred boxes of shoes. I sat on the floor, blocking the doorway. I just wanted to stare at him. I still couldn't believe he was there.
Davion looked horrible, not at all the angel of my dreams. He kind of just lay there bleeding, his eyes half open, and his limbs lying limp on the floor. He looked up at me, our eyes fixating on each other's face. Leave, and close the door. I need to sleep for a while so I can heal faster. Said his beautiful voice in a pain filled tone inside my head. I reluctantly left him alone. I closed the closet door and headed downstairs for dinner. Hopefully by the time I got back he'd be well again, and we could talk.
Thankfully, no one seemed to have heard the crash from downstairs. My father and Maria were sitting in front of the TV, staring at it like they were in a trance. I glanced at it to see what was so interesting. The London News was doing a story on all the missing persons' cases that had recently piled up. "What's the deal?" I asked. Maria stood up, giving her attention to me, "We think these disappearances may be Vampire connected." I crossed my arms in front of my chest to slow my heart rate, "How can you tell." The screen was showing a listing of the victims with their pictures. Maria picked up the remote and hit pause. "The victims were all prime candidates for vamp food. They were all young, attractive, single, and all possessed 0- type blood.
"What's so special about 0- blood?" I asked. My voice was barely audible over the beating of my heart. "It's very rare. The bloodsuckers crave it like a drug. It supposedly increases their power. Yet another reason why I don't want you to have anything to do with that vampire friend of yours." Boomed my father, still studying the faces on the TV screen. I noticed Maria's eyes widened. "Dawn has 0- blood?" My father nodded in confirmation. It was true. I had the kind of blood that all vampires yearned for.
As soon as I'd finished eating, I headed upstairs to check on Davion. When I opened the door I found him standing in front of my bed with my discarded pistol in his hand. He was staring at it, teeth and fists clinched. I closed the door and he finally looked at me. "What the hell is this?" My eyes shot to the gun then to his face and back to the floor, "I can explain." I muttered, without taking my eyes off the floor.
"Did you try to hurt yourself?" asked Davion, angrily. I was silent. He rushed at me in his incredible vampire speed, grabbing hold of my arms so I wouldn't fall, "DID YOU?!"I bit my lip to keep the tears back; "I just wanted the pain to stop." I whispered almost inaudibly. The memory of what this man, this monster had done to me came back in an instant and I turned my head to glare at him. I hatefully pulled myself away from his grasp, never taking my eyes off of him. "You broke my heart!" I told him, pain drenching every word. "You abandoned me!" I accused.
He bowed his head in defeat, his dark hair falling into his face, "Is that what you think?" I could see his eyes smoldering at me from the shadows, "Do you really believe that?" His words made me search for the answer within myself. "No" I answered after a long moment of silence. "You were still present in my dreams and in my hopes. You didn't completely vanish from my world. I wouldn't let you go." My heart ached as I admitted this truth. He raised his head so I could see his expression; it was undoubtedly sad and unusually happy all at the same time.
We looked into each other's eyes for what felt like forever before I felt his cold fingers grace the sides of my face. "My body may have left you but you still hold my heart in the palm of your hand." He pulled my face towards his and our lips met. In that moment we shared the most welcomed kiss mankind has ever seen. We were utterly lost in each other. I had wanted to feel his touch again for so long that I never wanted to let him go, but my heart still ached for the love that I knew could never be. I reluctantly pulled away from this vampire's embrace, shoving away from his grasp.
"I can't. I can't do this." I croaked fighting back the tears. He remained silent for a moment. "I love you." He admitted with so much passion in his voice I nearly swooned. "DON'T SAY THAT!" I yelled, tears falling freely out the corners of my eyes.
I turned around, holding my forehead in my hands, "How could this ever work? You're immortal. I'm …not." I sighed, blinking away more tears. "I'll grow old while you stay the same. This has to stop. I have to stop falling for you if I'm ever going have a normal life." I took a deep breath, "I…I think maybe…we should just be friends." He looked astonished for a moment and to my amazement he smiled, "Finally you see things my way. You still want me around?" "Yes!" I shouted grabbing a hold of his arm to keep him from going anywhere. He lightly touched my chin, "Very well, I will stay as long as you want me. But…just as a friend." I noticed he swallowed hard, as if the words were painful for him to say. I too swallowed hard this was even harder than I thought it would be. "Thank you." I said in a quiet voice.
Davion backed away from me, stepping in long strides to the veranda. I ran to him and grabbed him by the shirt, stopping him in his tracks, "Don't you dare! You're staying here!" Davion chuckled in amusement. God I had missed that laugh. "Fine, I'll stay until you fall asleep, but then I have to go. I need to check on a friend." "Who?" I asked. "That's a question for a later time." He replied, before leading me back to my bad and tucking me in.
I laid my head on the pillow, still staring up at him. "Will you still come when I'm an old woman?" His cold hands brushed my bangs away from face, "I will always come." He whispered lowly. A sound that I had not heard in forever it seemed, began to echo through the room. It was my lullaby. Within a few moments I was fast asleep, happy to have my vampire back even if I could never truly have him.