"Why didn't you finish...?" Bill stared down the length of table at his older brother waiting for a response. Bringing his head up to face Bill, Tom shot him a warning glare.
"Why didn't you finish her? …That girl, why keep her here?" There was dead silence between them. "It's mother isn't it?…" Still, Tom was silent. His stare grew fierce as Bill spoke. "…It is mother, isn't it,…Tom!"
"Leave ... My Mother ... out of this!" Tom snarled back, his choice of words piercing Bill like a knife.
"She was just as much MY mother as she was yours!…" He was young when their Mother died, as was Tom. But Bill had few memories of the events of that dreadful night. "…Tell me what happened!…Tell Me!" Bill demanded of his brother.
"Stop,… Stop! Do not speak of Mother!" Tom slammed a clenched fist down on the table, quickly loosing his patients with Bill's relentless questions. Transferring himself to a new chair, next to Tom, Bill pressed for the answers that had haunted him.
"Tom,… I have a right to know. Tell me."
"She was murdered! What else is there to know?! ... I did you a favour, I protected you from …" He couldn't finish. Tom's voice was intense, to hide the great pain he suffered from witnessing the slaughter of his
parents, but he could not bring himself to say the words. Bill was seeing his sibling with new eyes, Tom was never afraid of anything. He feared no one, but Bill sensed 'fear'. The memories that Bill fought to retrieve, were being relived in Tom's mind, and he was terrified by them.
"Mommy... what's wrong with Papa? Why isn't he moving? Why?" A small timid, little boy, stood next to his weeping mother?" She looked around frantically for any sign of movement, a sense of presence. Kneeling down before her child, her attempts to calm him futile. Her own hysteria feeding his.
"Who was that man? Why is there all that blood? Mommy! I'm scare -"
"William, listen to me …" Her dress darkened by crimson, blood encircling them, she held him tightly by the shoulders. Standing, she grasped his tiny hand and guided him hastily across the room. There, in a dark corner stood another, a second child. On her knees again, she hugged the pair tight to her body.
"Thomas, … Watch over your brother! .. . For Mommy,... Please!"
Reluctantly, she released her embrace. Placing their hands together, she continued her urgent instruction.
"Hold on to him! Don't you let go! Now go, hide yourselves. You know where, you'll be safe there. Don't stop for anything …" And with that, the young woman, her face tear-stained and pale, launched her beloved sons into the darkness.
She watched as they scurried down the long corridor, until they were lost in the darkness, knowing that she would not see them again. The boys scurried away as fast as their legs would carry them. Then suddenly, Tom stopped …
"Tom?... What are yo—"
"Santessa!" A voice bellowed, echoing through the cool, stone walls of the ancient estate. "…I've found you, as we both knew I would. It's your turn now! Time to pay your debt... with your life!" A man appeared from behind a close door. He had found her. The final part to the 'two piece' puzzle of revenge, that he needed to destroy. Tom and Bill continued to spy from the shadows.
"Tom, mom told us to g—" Bill's sentence trailed, as he turned back to face his mother. The man they had watched emit from the hallway, held a long, rectangular piece of wood in one hand; one end blunt and the other sharp as nails.
He lifted their mother into the air with his unoccupied hand, holding the stake firmly in the other. Tom looked over at his little brother. His eyes were fixed on Santessa … their mother… as she fought back bravely. Tears began to rise in Tom's eyes. He could sense that something bad was about to happen.
Tom brought his hands together and held them over Bill's eyes, Every muscle in his body, begging him to push through the barrio that held him there. Defenseless. Weak. Unarmed. Unable to fight.
"Do you have an idea how much pain you and your 'darling' husband have cause me?! …My wife is dead because of you. .. My children, … found laying in each others' blood, on my kitchen table. Have you any idea how that feels? To lose a loved one," S'dtrawsser kept her aloft with a shaky hand. She growled at him, revealing her stow white fangs.
"As for those little brats of yours …" Santessa's eyes grew wide, "Mmm yes, I know about your children. …But, you shouldn't worry too much. They will be joining you very shortly," Tom watched in horror as the wooden plank pierced through the flesh of his beloved mother. His eyes became hazy and glazed over. He kept his hands plastered tight over Bill's eyes, determined to keep him from witnessing this malicious act.
Santessa staggered backward, falling to the heavily drenched rug. The stake still embedded deep in the left-hand side of her chest. The man smiles, then satisfied with his actions, he left the room, and the house.
Tom dropped his hands from before Bill's wet peepers and raced to his mother's side. Although Bill didn't see, he heard everything.
Santessa's dress was torn where the stake had pierced her, the skin was just as bloody as the fabric (or what was left) lain on top. She squinted at Tom through swollen eyes, and then at Bill. Who had rushed to her side, shortly after. She managed to spread a grin on her face, unlike any other. She was smiling bright at them, smiling as she would have if it were just any other day. There was no way Santessa was going down unhappy. She would be strong, for her 'babies'.
Bill began to cry! You know, like a baby wailing for attention or to be nurtured. … comforted.
"Don't cry little one! Don't cry …" she scrunched up her face involuntarily in pain, lifting herself from the sodden floor, "I love you!". She kissed Bill weakly. He returned the adoration with a great hug, avoiding the left side. She grasped on to her youngest as firmly as she could. Tom sat next to his dying mother. She helf out an arm towards him. He nestled in close beside his brother.
Her chest rose and feel slowly as she hugged them. Rapidly decreasing.
"I love you…my son! You will always be my …Tomi…" All the movement ceased. The heart that kept her living, had stopped.
"No…no…" Bill squealed. He had it the worst. Four years old, all alone, always expecting his parents to be there to keep him safe. But wait, he wasn't completely alone, he had his brother. But it wasn't the same.
He felt the presence of his brother leave him, but he didn't move. In fact, this only made him grip on tighter.
"Bill .. let's go! He may come back for us …" Tom tried to reassure his brother, who was still clasping the corpse. "Bill.. mother would have wanted us to be safe,".
Bill looked over at Tom with watery eyes. Reluctantly he let go, setting her gently on the rug. He stood up slowly and walked towards Tom. But … he didn't make it all the way, stopping in the middle. He broke down and fell to the ground. Tom found himself by his brother, holding him tightly. The pair of them sat quietly, In each others embrace, averting their gaze from the disfigured corpses, sitting in a pool of blood that marked the last of their parents.
I frantically scanned the room, looking for a light source. A switch. Matches! Anything!! What am I kidding? Their vampires. Why would they even own matches! I was being stupid.
I didn't know how long Amber'd been in this cramped prison, and I doubted I wanted to see how mangled she was in comparison to myself. I rose up, hands outstretched. I felt around the rough, grainy walls. My fingers soon fell upon a surface of which I knew not to be stone. It was some sort of plank. Nailed down. It's gotta' be covering a window or something. There was no other logical explanation for it …(none that I could think of anyways).
"Don't worry Amber. I'm gunna' get us out of here," I searched my person for something to pry the nails out. Pfht! Think logically, Tarra. I'm wearing a strapless, pocketless, olden age gown. The most I had were a few bobby pins and an elastic band. I knelt down beneath the window, marking the spot with my bare hand on the ledge. 0MG! Why didn't I think of this before?!
"Amber! The dagger! Slide it to me … over here … to my voice," Amber had excellent sense of direction, so I trusted it would make it. I was right. The small knife hit the side of my foot. I began to prod the old nails with it. One, Two, Tree, Four …one more. Due to the lack of light and my urge to get out of here, I missed my target. Ramming the blade deep into my forehand. I felt the warmth of the familiar bodily liquid, run down my hand. I cried out loudly, wrapping my gown around it to stop the flow. I worked my way through the pain and ripped the boards down from the wall. A small, smashed window was hidden behind them.
I motioned Amber over to where I stood, moonlight streaming through the broken window, lighting the way. Amber assisted me in wrapping my wounds before hoisting me up and out of the window. It was a tight fit, but I made it, pausing a moment to catch my breath. Spreading out my arms on the wall and pressing my cheek to the cold stony surface.
I used the stones, jutting out from the wall, to climb back to the top to retrieve Amber. The gown made this most difficult, but I kept climbing, after my repetitive painful falls. There was a sudden sharp crack behind me; Like the rustling of leaves or the snap of a twig.
My lungs felt as if they would collapse, and suddenly I found myself straining for breath. Something was squeezing me tight around the middle. I began to feel faint. Just as soon as I thought my oxygen supply would give out, leaving me standing there, an empty corpse propped up on the wall, with my spirit hovering over, I was spun around and slammed against the stone.
I coughed loudly, hanging my head downward, as the air slowly refilled my empty lungs. I was met with these recognizable red eyes once more. I'd been caught!
"You didn't seriously think I was that easy, did you?" I stared at him blankly. No! I didn't. Well … not completely. I didn't think he would let me get away with this, But a big part of me was hoping he would slip up.
"Tara?" I could hear Amber's voice as it rose up and out of the open window, planting deep in my ears. She must be wondering where I'd gone. Tom spoke louder so Amber could hear.
"Luckily for you, Tarra my dear, I just got back from my nightly meal so there is no reason for me to 'dine' at this precise moment … then again …" he shoved my against the stone, harder this time. I followed his eyes as they trailed down my arm, resting on my bloody hand. I hid it beneath the ruffles, hoping he'd ignore what he had seen. "I suppose I could use a midnight snack!"
"Tarra!"
"Don't worry about it Amber. Stay where you are," I ran my tongue over my wounded lip. The rough texture of my tongue peeled off the scab beginning to form, and blood began to trickle down my gums. Tom clasped a hand on my shoulder and rummaged through his jean pocket. I began to panic and attempted to jerk free, which only brought my back in close contact with the wall.
"No … no…no…no darling! Your not going anywhere tonight!" he smiled, retrieving the item he was searching for. He grabbed my wrist tightly with the hand that had cupped my shoulder. I felt an unbelievably large shot of pain, spark through my hand, and blend into my forearm.
The pain was not that of the wound on my hand, but of the touch of a monster I felt as if he lord of the underworld was forcing me to be with him and to escort me down to the depths if I refused. Still holding my wrist and clutching a small in his other hand, he suffocated me once more. This time, with his lips. His tongue found the holds in my lip that he had mad, but hours ago.
He pulled back, "..you are now one of us," One of 'us'? What does he mean by that? "I've spilt your blood with but one touch…" Was he was indicating at the bite on the inside of my lip? My lip was now swollen on the interior. "Now! I shall make it 'official',"
Tom lifted is hand, gripping the handle painfully tight; The veins popped from his arm. I feared he would strike at me, but instead … he plunged the blade into his exposed arm. He cried out in agony, throwing his head back. Seeing the blood reminded me of previous events and I fought against my gag reflexes once again.
Tom turned his gaze back at me and brought my hand to his gashed limb. He closed his eyes and conveyed our wounds together. The two fluids flowed together. The pain as they did so, was unbearable so that tears formed and began to push down my cheeks.
"Tarra … welcome … to the unloving," What! What was he saying?! I continued to cry. My tears were now a result of my mixed emotions; Pain and Fear. Tom pulled out a white cloth. He yanked off the fabric Amber had put there to stop the bleeding and held it to his lips. He began to suck the juices from it. I had to look away. This was beginning to be too much.
When he was through, he wrapped the fresh cloth (well … I hope it was fresh) around my bloodied hand. He licked away the stray trickles of his blood, and did the same with another kerchief of identical shape and size. Why would he cover it up? … Ohh … I answered my own question. Probably didn't want any more temptations.
The blood instantly stained it red. He dragged my back to the cave and sat me down on the couch. His next move was highly unexpected. He pulled out a tiny silver cellphone and pushed it towards me. I grabbed it unsure, my fingers brushing slightly against his. They were cold, yet surprisingly soft.
"Since you are so …keen to escape. Tell your friends. Call the police. I don't care what you do. They will never believe you. Filthy human… You'll be locked away and I will be your only visitor. There to laugh at your pain," He stood up, leaving me lone on the hard sofa. "And if someone does believe you …" He leaned down close to my face, "You will be the first I come after. I wouldn't think of it as … hmm … 'revenge', (for lack of a better word). More like... a last meal!" He left the room with not one glance back.
I clutched the phone tightly. My eyes lingered on three of the ten little green numbers. I dialed them slowly, looking behind me as I did … afraid he may retract his offer and jump me. He was right. Who would believe me, besides those who already were witness? Two of which were trapped here (Amber and I) and the other barely conscious.
I brought the cold cellular to my ear.
"911! What's your emergency?"