Wilted
Aline went to work the following morning and she had a spring in her step, and life seemed so much rosier than it ever had before.
One issue still pressed on her mind though.
She was still going to die, yet now, she did not want too. She did not covet death like a child did a comfort blanket, no longer did she see everything as black and grey, dull and boring.
Dracula, in his infinite wisdom had made her want to survive, just for a little longer, so she could sort out her life, make excuses, and leave the city.
To die in peace is all she wanted. But when that would happen was unclear.
The young woman's workday was fairly quiet, Monday's always were. The morning's would be packed, then the rest of the day would travel at a slower pace.
At her last break of the day, Jemma sat next to her and handed her a pamphlet. It was for a new takeaway place and she really wanted to go. Aline however, was not so eager.
"So, you look really, really happy. Something happened, didn't it?"
Aline didn't have to say anything, or even look at her friend. Her answer was clear.
"Aline! Wow, he has done you well, I can tell. Lucky girl! I won't say anything, don't worry. So...is he any good?"
Aline gasped, and then thought of a very dirty thing to say.
Should I?
Oh fuck it.
"Why? Am I still walking funny? I'll have to give him a telling off".
Jemma burst out laughing and almost spilt her coffee.
"You are so bad. Anyway, come out with me to the pizza place. I know, you are on a health kick and pizza is forbidden but, it's a one off. And I won't ask you to keep on going there, I promise. I can't go today, or tomorrow, but Thursday is good. How about you?"
Aline did think about her diet, and pizza really wasn't good for it. But Jemma was right. It would be a one off.
And besides, she knew that she would want to eat a huge pizza, before she died. She may not get the opportunity too otherwise. She nodded and Jemma smiled.
"Great! I'll pick you up around 7. Right, back to the grindstone, eh?"
Aline playfully jabbed her friend's arm and they got back to work.
Aline had just arrived home, and was preparing for her takeaway night. She had purposefully not eaten much today, so as to accommodate a big dinner.
She had just finished curling her hair, when she felt lightheaded. Her fingers became numb, and she dropped her curling tongs. She went to turn them off at the plug, but she fell out of her chair and could not get back up again.
Oh no...no, please. Just give me one more day. I can explain myself, say I am leaving. Don't take me yet.
Aline barely made it into her living room. She had to shuffle along the carpeted living room floor, and grab onto anything she could, with what little strength she had left, and pull herself along.
The sun was beginning to set, so Dracula would be awake soon.
But how was she supposed to drag herself to his castle?
She was supposed to be going out with Jemma in less than an hour.
Yet all Aline could do was scuttle around like a damn cripple.
When some of the feeling came back into her legs and hands, Aline shakily stood up, and grabbed an old stick she had. She had used it before she had gotten swords, for target practice.
All these years later, and she still kept the stupid, useless stick, that now, wasn't so useless.
Aline stumbled out of her front door, and grasped onto the banister of the stairwell for dear life. Luckily, she did not live that far from the castle.
But she could feel herself fading, her body was failing. It was agonizing, it washed over her in a vicious tide, an unrelenting torrent.
She reached the door of the Prince's castle and threw down the stick. She used the last of her energy to run, as fast as she could manage.
When she arrived at the throne room, she was distraught, and sobbing. Tears streamed down her face, and she fell in front of him.
Dracula took one look at her, and realised.
Her time was up.
"Dracula, please, give me some blood. I only need it for today and tomorrow. I will leave my job, and lie. Tell everyone I am going to travel. I don't care about having many more years, I only care about right now. And I can't die, not yet".
Dracula felt a pang of distress at Aline's plight. He now did not believe that she deserved to die. He knew he should honour her request.
The Prince stepped down and picked Aline up, so her back was leaning against his chest. He then cut his wrist and offered it to her. She latched onto the cut and drank heavily.
She did not look older, but the way her body was acting, was that of someone much older than herself.
Aline stooped feeding, and moved her limbs around, to check if she was okay. She was and she hugged the Prince. He was not used to this, but he put his arms around her waist. She moved up and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you. Look, I don't expect you to 'save' me all time. I just needed you to now. I have to go. See you".
Aline ran out of the castle, leaving Dracula all alone again.
In solitude, he reflected on Aline. She was so warm, and her heartbeat brought him right back to when he was a mere man.
Gabriel, the man who tried to save his wife, and was betrayed.
How he hurt that day, and then, to make matters worse, he was made into a creature of the darkness. A unique being, that terrified mortals, and monsters alike.
He cursed himself for many centuries, his existence, the fact that he should be dead. Denied even that, he barely persevered without guidance, without Marie...
Yet now, a woman who was the opposite of Marie had his attention.
And he could not leave her to die.
Aline had managed to get back to her apartment, and slip on her favourite leather jacket and biker boots, before Jemma's car pulled up, to pick her up. She picked up her house keys, and some money and headed out the door.
When they arrived, the pair ordered a special offer pizza, half and half, 16', and Aline giggled childishly at the man who had just told her about it. Jemma laughed back, and Aline cleared her throat.
"Erm, okay. I will have on my half, chicken, garlic, mushrooms and sweetcorn. You, Jem?"
"Ham, pineapple and black olives please".
They payed half each and ordered some drinks too.
The man nodded and went off to give their order to the cooks.
The girls sat down, but Jemma gave her friend a concerned look.
"Are you alright? You look, well a bit off".
Aline waved her off.
"I ran around the block a few times, and it afterwards, it always make me look, er, off? Hahaha. Anyway, I was thinking of taking a holiday. I figured that since I have no sick days in ten years, nor have I ever taken a holiday, I should have some time travelling".
Aline hated lying, but right now, she had to.
Jemma agreed.
"That's true, you deserve it. Taking it easy, basking in the sun. Where are you planning on going?"
"Paris, I am half French, so I wanted to visit the birthplace of my Mother and Father. Then the South of France, maybe Spain, Brazil, anywhere tropical really".
Jemma grinned and poured some of their drink. They had to bring their own glasses, but they didn't mind. The pair sipped on their drinks for a few moments, before returning to the topic of holidaying.
"Paris sounds beautiful. I have always wanted to go, I am a hopeless romantic. I kinda want a man to whisk me away, on a private jet, to Paris, for a romantic dinner. And then he would propose and I would gush and say yes".
Aline internally thought that was sappy as hell, but she kept that inside.
"Sounds sweet".
Their pizza arrived and the smell was heavenly. Aline's stomach growled loudly, and she shushed it, to no avail. Jemma laughed for a while, before taking her half of the pizza.
"Planning on taking lover boy with you?"
Aline smirked.
"Oh he isn't a boy. And yes, if he wants to come along, he can. If not, then that is okay too".
Jemma sighed.
"Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Well, at least enjoy it for me, and have some cocktails, for me too".
Aline's smile became a wry one.
"For you, of course. God, this pizza. I am very glad I let you convince me to come now. Thanks Jem".
Jemma nodded a few times, and tucked into a pizza slice.
When the pizza was finished, Jemma wanted some cake, but Aline said no. Jemma kept on nagging, almost childishly until Aline agreed. But she only wanted half, so it was split. Jemma dropped her off, before returning home herself.
Aline walked up to her apartment and felt someone behind her. She opened her door and put the cake box on the table before turning to face this person.
"I guess you want me to repay you, since you did help me. I guess I could work this pizza off, but I have to be up early for work. I am quitting tomorrow. I already have a cover story. I am going on holiday, or so they will think".
Dracula nodded and walked up to her.
"Aline, what have you been eating?"
Aline laughed.
"Ah, so vampires are affected by garlic. A pizza, a rather delicious one at that. It is already fairly late so...".
The Prince scooped her up before she could finish talking. He backed her up against her bedroom wall. He pinned her hips against his, and his strength was phenomenal.
"So overpowering, so strong. You know I can handle it, though if I end up walking funny, I will blame you".
Dracula shook his head, and opened her bedroom door.
He dumped her on the bed and pounced on her.
The next morning, Aline felt achy, but satisfied. She has never felt so good in the mornings. Her bedroom window was still covered, so Dracula could sleep. She left for work and left him, sleeping soundly.
She told everyone at work about her 'plans' and her boss let her have two months off.
If I even have two months left that is...
They all remarked on the fact that she looked cheerier, and she had an air about her. Aline shrugged that off, but they did have a point.
She did feel contented now.
But she had done some thinking.
If it hurt so badly when she almost died the last time, and she felt so weak, she could barely stand, let alone walk, how would it feel when she actually died?
That frightened her. If it hurt half as badly as it did the last time, then her death would certainly not be peaceful.
But what if someone could help her? End her suffering, but give her eternal life? A gift so dark, undeniably evil, and corrupt?
Could she accept it? Would she accept it?
Would Dracula bestow upon her a more dignified death? Bring her into his world? Or would he just drain her, and throw her limp, lifeless body aside?
She no longer saw herself as alive, well not truly, and if the Prince did bite her, and turn her...
She would end up undead, forever young, beautiful, yet formidable.
Aline weighed up the pros and cons:
Pro: I would live forever.
Con: I would never be able to show my face to my friends ever again. I'd hate that.
Pro: I could be so much stronger.
Con: I would have so many enemies, so many wanting to kill me.
Pro: But I have Dracula, and no one would ever separate us. If he didn't want me, I would leave.
Con: The danger to the people would increase tenfold.
Oh hell, they both stand on equal footing. What the hell do I do?
After mulling it over, Aline had made a decision.
She walked back to her apartment.
She needed to speak with the Prince.
Dracula was not there, so Aline checked his castle. When she could not find him, she went to leave, but then he walked into the room and looked at her.
"Aline? What is it?"
Aline stepped forward, her inner bravery cheered each step.
"Gabriel".
Dracula shot back, and shouted.
"What did you just call me?
"Gabriel, that is your real name, isn't it? I read about it in my book".
"I do not care for your book Aline, never call me that name again".
Aline walked closer, but the Prince backed up.
"I have been thinking about my life. I have made a decision on it. I do not want to die in agony, and I know you can help me with this".
Dracula laughed bitterly.
"You think I want to kill you? If I did, you would already be dead".
The young woman sighed.
"Ugh, my point being, is that you can kill me, or turn me. And I know which one I would prefer. I don't have very much longer on this planet, but I at least want to be able to control my death. And I read about the Vampire Killer, if it can kill you, then it could kill me too".
Dracula laughed again, venom spat from his tongue.
"You make it sound so easy, so simple. Well it isn't. Call me Gabriel one last time, and I will not hesitate. You will die by my fangs, tonight".
Aline was now inches away from the livid Prince, and she uttered the few words that made him snap.
"Gabriel, turn me, please!"
Aline's begging and pleading had paid off, as Dracula gripped onto her and dug his fangs deep into her neck. He placed a hand on her heart and felt it pound. He then slashed his wrist and let her drink his poison, his liquid chaos. She cried out, before slipping into the abyss.
Dracula felt her body sag against him. He stroked her cheek, her skin was warm, but it would not remain so for much
The Prince picked her up and took her to her bed. He would have to stay with her, just to check that she was okay.
He felt remorse, he should not have bitten Aline, no matter how she taunted him, or wound him up.
But she was going to die anyway, and the way he did it meant that she died in seconds, not minutes, or hours. The pain flared up, but died down quickly.
He placed her in her bed, and lay down next to her.
A tear threatened to escape his eye, he felt like he should apologise over and over to Aline's dead body.
But he would not cry, not here, not now, not ever.
Now there was another like him, another menace on the streets, another terror for other creatures, more prey for the hunters.
But Aline would not be like him. He would make sure of that.
Aline, you made me do this, but I would do it again.
If it meant I got to save you from a worse fate.
Save you from yourself.
But I, I cannot save you from me.
I am so sorry.