Forever Indeed
A large cloud rose. She breathed in deeply, leaning back. Her hands held tight to the chains, as her body laid across the seat. Her legs high in the air, she titled her head back and released the breath. Another cloud emerged. Elizabeth erratically shivered. Goose-bumps swarmed her pale arms. Sucking in more air, she closed her eyes. The blood rushed to her head, as she leaned further and her long locks stroked the grubby ground as the swing began to teeter.
"Deserts shouldn't be cold." She whispered breathlessly. Another mist that developed in the air, as she exhaled, faded into the abyss above. Elizabeth pulled herself up, eyes closed. She leaned her head against the chain. She shook her head with a frown.
A light violated her eyelids.
Opening her eyes, she spotted a car. The driver settled in front of the park gate. The door opened, a beep persistently penetrating her ears. She turned her head to the side, releasing a pained moan. The headlights were left on, blinding her. Elizabeth could not identify the intruder.
"Hey," a roguish voice greeted.
Elizabeth cried out as an object hurtled towards her. Blindly throwing her hands up, the thing ricocheted off her wrist. She reached out hastily, attempting to grasp it.
The apple dropped into her lap.
"I saw you leaving earlier," Jerry said, "Thought you might need a friend."
He smiled down at her, as she stared at the apple. Raising it to her lips, she looked up into his dark eyes. As he gazed, she unashamedly bit into the fruit. He nodded, grin broadening, "There's the bite that accommodates that large smile."
"You've been watching me." Elizabeth stated. One of her eyebrows rose mordantly, as she stared at him.
He playfully retorted, "You've been watching me."
A small smile weaved her pink lips together. He took the second swing, looking at her. "What is it?" he asked.
"I didn't even think." She admitted. When she caught sight of his puzzled expression she explained, "When Sam asked me to marry him."
"Ah," Jerry sighed, "You're having second thoughts."
She frowned, gazing at the gate. The headlights of his car illuminated the metal and a barred shadow stretched out over the grass. "It's not that – well maybe." Elizabeth groaned, brushing a hand through her hair. The chains of the swing protested, as she kicked off the earth and began to sway. She anxiously licked her lips, "I suppose I never realised how much weight there is in 'yes'."
Jerry swung too. Slowly and gently they both swayed, though not together. As she moved forwards, he moved back and so on.
"Why were you so eager?" he queried, visage inexpressive.
Her eyes squinted, as she thought, "I think, like you suggested… I think I just wanted to be with someone 'safe'. Sam has always been 'safe'. Maybe that's why I liked him in the first place."
His shoes dug into the dirt. He abruptly stood, holding a hand out to her. "Come on," he commanded, "I'll take you back."
After a few moments Elizabeth took his hand and he led her towards his car.
She snuck a glance at him as he parked the car. They got out of the car, Elizabeth's eyes wandering round his garage. She uneasily ventured, "I noticed a woman heading over to your place earlier. Are you seeing her?"
Laughing, Jerry replied, "No, I invited her and Charley round. Others too, but only they were free I guess." He locked the car and walked her out of the garage, pulling the door down. Elizabeth silently watched, as the muscles of his arms flexed against the weight of the garage door.
"You should have come," he said, catching her staring. Her cheeks slightly reddened, as he grinned, "You still can."
Glancing across the road, Elizabeth suggested, "I don't think Sam would approve."
Jerry's brows furrowed and his fists clenched together. He gulped, eyes darkening as he gazed at her uneasy figure. "Why's that?" He gruffly asked, "It's not like I'm a monster or anything."
Elizabeth laughed, swiftly looking up into his blackening eyes. Her eyes glazed over and she hauled in a shaky breath, moving closer to him. A hand upon his chest, she gripped his shirt and pulled herself up. She timorously kissed him.
Petrified, Jerry did not reply in kind.
As his mind returned, he pulled back. Gently pushing against her shoulders, he escaped her embrace. He pried her hand from his shirt, as she avoided his gaze.
She mumbled, stepping away, "Here I thought that's what you wanted."
Dispassionately, he replied, "I don't want your kisses."
He turned away from her, entering his house.
Elizabeth hesitantly tiptoed after him for a moment, but stopped when he shut the door without a glance. She gulped, hands shaking. Tears moistened her tired eyes. As the first rays of sunlight fell upon her, she dashed away from Jerry's home and into the Grant's.
She hurried up the staircase, ignoring Sam's impatient holler.
Breaking through the door, Elizabeth flung herself upon the made bed. She pressed her face into the quilt, crying. Looking up, as the need to breath overpowered her mood, she stared out the window. The day brightened and she groaned as the ever persistent desert sunshine bombarded her fatigued eyes. Elizabeth sat up and brushed at them, crushing her lashes against the top of her cheeks. When she stopped, she caught sight of Sam outside.
He wandered over to Charley who knelt on Jerry's lawn. He was crying too, his arms outstretched and mouth gaping.
Elizabeth glared. She stomped onto her feet and viciously pulled the tether to close the blinds. Hidden from the raw sunlight, she tore the quilt off the bed and burrowed into it. She slept.
Sam cautiously approached Charley. "Hey, are you okay?" He doubtfully asked.
Charley's head swiftly turned, his eyes focusing upon Sam, "Uh." He dragged out.
Nodding and smacking his lips together indecisively, Sam avoided the issue, "Is your mother in? I was hoping Lizzie-beth and I could reschedule with her."
Stuttering, Charley gasped out, "She's already gone to work."
Sam sighed, "Alright," He held out a hand, helping Charley to his feet, "I guess I'll pop by her office then."
As he wandered back across the street and towards his father's car, Charley screamingly sobbed out, "You should keep Elizabeth far away from Jerry!" Halting, Sam turned to stare at Charley. His eyebrows rose dubiously, as he stepped back towards the raving teen. "Whatever you do, don't invite him in." Charley continued.
Sam guffawed, saying "The sod has already been in," he patted Charley's shoulder, moving back over the road and pulling the car keys from his jacket pocket, "He made moves on Lizzie-beth all evening too. You want to be careful of leaving your girlfriend in his company Charley." He called back.
A terrified expression pasted over his face, Charley scrambled to his house.
Sam shook his head, muttering "Weird kid." As he unlocked the car door, his eyes wandered away from Charley's front door and to Jerry's house.
Scowling, Sam got into the car and headed towards the city to Jane's workplace.
The sun no longer glared through the blinds.
Sam slept soundly beside her, as she woke. Creeping out of the bed, Elizabeth pulled off the clothes she had worn the night before and adorned a fresh pair of jeans and dark green jumper. She quickly brushed her hair and quietly swished some mouth wash in the dark en-suite before escaping into the gloomy hallway.
Donning a black coat as she left, Elizabeth stole a pair of house keys and locked the front door behind her. She turned and trailed along the path and down the road. However, as she crossed to the other side, she was captured in the towering form of Jerry's house.
Elizabeth stared up at the upper floor windows, wondering which could be of his bedroom. Pondering if he were asleep or at work, deliberating the chances of him thinking of her, as she was him. Elizabeth gulped, furiously shaking her head. Crossing her arms against the bitter wind, she mentally damned herself to an eternity of perdition and continued down the street.
"A star shimmering in the moonlight, such a sight it is." A voice pronounced, "Stars are forever though, you're not are you… not yet."
"Aren't you going to push me?" She boldly asked.
"Now why would I do that?" He retorted, taking the swing next to her.
Lips pouting a little, Elizabeth sulkily replied, "You usually do."
Smiling, Jerry reached out and nudged her back. She swung just a tad bit.
"Well if you're not going to put the effort in, just forget it." She sullenly retorted. He grinned, getting to his feet and padding behind her shivering form.
A short squeal escaped her, as he forced her forwards.
"Sorry, was that too much?" he asked, laughing.
"A little," she replied, staring at the stars.
Gnawing on her lip, she blurted, "I'm sorry." When he didn't ask, she explained, "About that kiss… I shouldn't have done that. It must have made you feel so uncomfortable and I didn't mean for that at all."
"You haven't apologised to Sam."
"Oh, well… I don't think tha-"
"You're not going to marry him then? You're going to break it off?"
"I think so," she confirmed, nodding. "I rushed into this and it's clear, despite our feelings, that we're not really compatible."
"Plus, you've been thinking of nothing but me since you got here." He replied with cheeky grin.
"That's not true!" Elizabeth insisted.
"You've been watching me." Jerry mirthfully stated.
"You've been watching me!" She indignantly retorted.
"I have."
"What?"
"Take a bite." He orders, holding the apple out to her.
"What is with you and apples?"
"They make me look normal."
She laughs, "Normal, what isn't normal about you?"
"There you go, see. They make me look normal."
"Okay, what isn't normal then?"
"I could show you if you'd like."
"This isn't some strange thing, is it? I saw the look on Charley's face this morning. What did you do to him and Doris… actually I don't think I ever saw Doris leave."
"She did. She didn't want to miss the sun, getting a tan and all that."
"Ah."
As a silence fell over them, Jerry retook his seat upon the swing. He swung a leg over one side and sat facing Elizabeth. He stared at her, as she softly swung herself back and forth and avoided his gaze. He grabbed the chain in front of him that divided his view of her, slouching forwards to rest his left cheek against the cool metal.
Elizabeth hesitated a moment, licking her lips, "What about Charley? He looks at you like you've killed his puppy or something."
Averting his eyes towards the gate of the park, Jerry stated, "You're still wearing your ring."
"Oh, I'll probably return it when I… I don't know if I can go back there." Elizabeth's grasp upon the chains tightened, her thighs tensing. She gulped, "Of course I'll have to – if only to get my stuff and explain everything." Releasing a whispery gasp, she breathlessly whined, "He's going to hate me so much."
Jerry looked back to her, watching as a stray tear broke through her dark lashes and hurdled down her pale cheek.
He sniffed, chuckling a little before speaking, "You could stay with me tonight."
Elizabeth's eyes widened, brows drawing closely together as she hastily turned to stare at him quite incredulously.
Clearing his throat, Jerry elaborated, "You could stay tonight. I could go over with you or I could go over just by myself tomorrow evening and get your stuff for you." He shook his head, eyes squinting as he got up from the swing and moved round to kneel before her. Elizabeth's minor swings back and forth halted, as he came closer. "I've actually grown quite fond of you Elizabeth." He reached out and clasped a hand upon her kneecap. His thump leniently stroked her jeans. "I don't want you to have to go through that sort of confrontation when you're so… emotional." Jerry leaned in, Elizabeth's breath catching as he rested his chin on top of his hand that sat atop her kneecap. "This is clearly difficult for you and you're not just going to have to face him, but his mother and father too."
Elizabeth stammered, "I couldn't."
Jerry gently demanded, "Stay with me."
"Err, thank you I suppose." Elizabeth faltered, as his chin rose from his hand and said hand slowly careened up her thigh.
"Stay." He repeated whilst squeezing her thigh, as she uncertainly bit her lip.
Her teeth pulled at her bottom lip. "Yes." Elizabeth quietly declared, relinquishing her purpling lip.
Jerry broadly grinned.
Elizabeth's eyes squinted for a moment, but she shook her head and clambered to her feet. He stood up and backed away, as she pulled herself up.
"Shall we then?" She queried, "I'm feeling quite tired… and cold."
Nodding, Jerry brought a hand to her back, escorting her towards the gate.
"There's no need to be so skittish Elizabeth," Jerry insisted, "After all, forever isn't really all that long."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, frowning and twisting her head to look up at him.
Stopping, Elizabeth raised a hand to his cheek. Fumbling over her words, as the street lamplight illuminated their forms in the darkness, she mumbled, "You've got red on you."
His grin enlarged again and she stumbled back. His grip on her back solidified, pulling her closer.
"Forever, we'll be together forever, right?"
"I told Sam forever too."
"Forget him. He's not important – just another human. Stay with me forever, say you will."
"I-"
"I'm not after a fling Elizabeth. If you stay with me then it's because we're serious about one another. Will you forever stay?"
"You're teeth... they're."
"Yes," he confessed, stretching his lips further as she peered at his glistening fangs.
"You have red on you." She repeated, as her eyes drifting down his shirt as the blotches became more apparent beneath the dim street lights.
"I got peckish on the way over here." He dragged his tongue over his teeth, slicing it upon a fang, "Saw a lovely little flower walking home."
Elizabeth retracted her hand from his cheek and attempted to step away from him. He shrouded her, his arms embracing her to him. "She was very tasty, but," he watched her gulped, staring at her neck, "It did nothing to quench my lust for you."
"You… ate someone." Elizabeth stated, scrambling in his arms.
Chuckling, Jerry cooed. "Oh, Elizabeth, she was good, but not you. No!" A short scream escaped her, as his nails burrowed into the skin of her arms, "That girl was a neglected virgin, but you – you are so much more broken!"
Elizabeth tugged her arms away, managing only to smear the blood and widen the wounds. Jerry drew in a large unnecessary breath, expressing, "You are so shattered by this world. It's truly enthralling." He closed his eyes, savouring the scent, "Perfect."
A whimper lashed out from Elizabeth's mouth, as his blackened eyes latched onto her figure. She cried out, "I want Sam!"
Lips twitching and brows twisting dejectedly, Jerry sneered, "Sam doesn't want you."
Her eyes watered. He leaned towards her, soothingly cooing and tenderly brushing his nose against her own.
"You're going to eat me." Elizabeth uttered, as tears gushed from her eyes.
He dragged his tongue up her cheek, lapping up a few of the tears. Kissing her cheek, he pecked her nose affectionately as she drew in an unsteady breath. Her lungs shook.
"No."
Her lids fluttered, as her eyesight clouded. Elizabeth's hearing faded for a moment, but returned well enough to hear him articulate through a thudding ringing, "I'm going to bring you to life." His gruff voice, slaughtered the muffled beat that churned in her ears.
Elizabeth blinked away the stars clouding her vision, spluttering, "My hearts already beating."
He pulled her closer, clutching her hips and relishing the quiver of her body.
"I'm not talking about a human life – they're so mundane." He hauled in a rapid breath, inhaling the aroma that surrounded him. Her sea-salt smelling hair and the blood that hardened against their skins eroded his stability. He purred, "You're heart will stop, but you'll go on; I promise."
Her hips tingled as his thump stroked the bones. Shaky breaths escaped her drying lips. Slowly placing her hand upon his stomach, Elizabeth heaved it upwards. Jerry groaned, as her eyes locked upon his own. Her hand tugged his shirt up and the cool night air prickled his skin.
Elizabeth's breaths ceased. Mouth opening, her eyes snapped to her hand. "You feel like death." She said, licking her lips as the pulses running through the veins of her hand were left un-echoed in his chest. "You have no heart." She whispered. Her watery brown eyes rose to his lips and she stared at the sharp canines. "You are a vampire."
Chortling, Jerry raised his hand to her head and entangled his sharp elongated fingers through her long brown locks. He complacently admitted, "Yes."
Her legs failed her and she almost collapsed to the dewy grass below. However, he hauled her to his chest, keeping her standing in spite of the lack of control that she sorely wished would surge through her lower limbs.
"I want Sam." Elizabeth wailed, beating her fists against him.
Jerry momentarily pulled away to release an exasperated sigh. "Love, you can have him for dinner tomorrow night if you'd like. Hell," he grinned, "We'll invite the whole family over."
Another howl protruded from her pink lips.
He nuzzled her jaw, sniffing a lingering perfume upon her skin. Elizabeth shuddered, as his tongue raked across her skin.
Flinching, her head pulled away and he growled.
Their noses brushed again, as they stared into one another's eyes.
Visage vacant, Elizabeth brazenly stated, "I hate you."
Impishly smiling, a sharp laugh escaped him. Jerry shook his head, unbelieving. He replied, "No you don't love." He swiftly kissed her snarling lips, "You're enamoured by me."
As he titled her head back, Elizabeth stared at the stars. The wind blew about them. Jerry's cold hands clasped at her. One pulled at her lower back, smacking their hips together and the other knotted her hair. Petrified as she felt his breath smother her neck, Elizabeth's eyes speedily shut. His teeth scraped at her neck, tongue seeking for the throb of a rich vein. Tears penetrated her closed lids and dampened her hair, as he inclined her head further back.
She could not scream. Jerry's fangs dug deeply and she choked on the blood that vented inside her throat. Coughing, she gasped for air. His grip tightened. Cherishing her trembling form, Jerry's chest rumbled with an internal moan. He guzzled her blood, lapping up the drops escaping her reddened lips.
The searing pain in her neck faded, as a rush of adrenaline sprinted round her body. Elizabeth's breath accelerated, as air began to break through the blood that clogged her windpipe. Jerry bit back into her neck and rejoiced in the hastened pulsating veins.
After a few more minutes, her breath slowed. Gradually, her lungs hauled in a difficult breath. Her chest began to hurt tremendously. Jerry continued to lug her blood. Elizabeth's lids opened a little and she gazed at the sky. The stars glimmered and her eyes glazed. Jerry released a snort, tearing his decorated lips from her neck. He stared at her face, hand pressed against her breast, as he waited.
She attempted to draw in another breath, but the oxygen did not satisfy her lungs. Darkness grew and new stars gleamed before her eyes, as the icy breeze about them muffled. Lazily, Elizabeth closed her eyes. Head dazed and dizzy, she lolled. Jerry rested her head against his shoulder, kneeling with her. He kissed her hair, stroking her cheek as she desperately wheezed for a satisfying bout of oxygen. It did not come. Finally, she slumbered.
As he lifted her into his arms and wandered from the park, her heart stopped.