Thanks again for all your lovely words of support! They truly mean the world to me.
Heads up: Chapters will be getting a little more adult from here on. So if you're reading this at work or school, some subject might be a little questionable is a colleague is looking over your shoulder. I won't be going fully explicit, but I won't be sugarcoating things either. I hope you understand what I'm saying.
Otherwise, thanks again for the support and enjoy more of my little vampire fanfic!
OOO
Sarah was fourteen (nearly fifteen) and a completely different person than she was when she was twelve.
The distance between thirteen and fourteen-nearly-fifteen is the distance of several countries lined up next to each other with ridges of mountains in the gaps. At least that's how it was for Sarah Chagal. No longer a baby was she, and no longer wasting her time playing princesses and dress up. Very nearly a grownup she was, or so she liked to think. And soon, if she was good, perhaps mama and papa would let her travel and she could go see the whole world. Maria got to travel all the time: why couldn't she?
But travels and fancies were not much a part of her life. School was done for her so now her parents made her assist them in the tavern. Which would've been better if not for the leering customers and general stress of it all. Luckily, none of the drunken men ever grew too brazen with her. Even when her father was gone they never tried anything too tricky. Sarah had wondered why that was, then she heard several women call her "the vampire girl" and she figured it out herself. Though she appreciated the lack of leering, she would rather it were for respect of her than fear of a vampire.
A vampire. Sarah had received no more presents from her angel since that night at Constanta. When Sarah had gone back for her second summer with Aunt Violet she'd hoped he'd appear again but he did not. Though the dogs would very often bark at things that were not there. Sarah would run to greet her angel, but he'd always fly away before she reached him. Or she was just insane. Sarah didn't know which was more feasible.
But this day, of all days, was a dreadful day. For Sarah had started her monthlies and was still required to run about the tavern because papa had gone on a trip and left her and mama alone to do absolutely everything. Worst of all was that it was Maria's birthday, so Sarah still had to work and was going to be horribly late to the birthday party. Everyone was going to be there and it was going to be so fun and Sarah was going to be late.
"Come sit, child, you look like you're about to keel over." A woman named Annabelle said with a soft smile. Annabelle was not a lady that Sarah's mother would very much want her sitting with. Annabelle was gypsy woman, Mama had said. They often received gypsies in the tavern, but they were handled far differently than other guests. While other guests could get drunk and rowdy without any trouble, a gypsy who did so would be turned out immediately. Mama and Papa did not much like the Romani.
Sarah, however, had no quarrel with them and did feel like she was about to keel over, so she took the woman's invite and sat across from her at the small table.
The woman spoke, "I've seen you here before. Always working. How old are you, my child?" Annabelle must've noticed how Sarah's eyes were gazing towards her uneaten bread so the gypsy pushed it to her gently. With a nod Sarah was given permission and greedily took a piece in hand.
"Fourteen," Sarah answered after swallowing her bite. Aunt Violet had been very sure to teach Sarah not to talk while she ate. "Nearly fifteen."
"Well, it is good to finally know you, fourteen-nearly-fifteen-Sarah." The woman had a laugh in her eyes that Sarah often saw on grownups. She'd already finished her bread before Annabelle spoke again. "You're always here. Do you have fun, child?"
Sarah nodded, "I'm going to my friend's birthday party today."
"Oh, a birthday party," Annabelle laughed lightly. "I've been to quite a few birthday parties." A mischievous light grew in her face. "I'm a fortune teller, you see."
Sarah's eyes grew in wonder, "A fortune teller?"
The woman nodded earnestly, "Cards and palms, mostly. Though I haven't my cards with me…I could read your palm if you'd like."
"Really?" Sarah felt herself leaning forward in excitement. But something in her caught. Romani, Mama and Papa had said, just wanted money. "I haven't any money to give you."
She waved her hand, "No charge for you, little princess. Now…" She waived her hands like she was conjuring something truly magnificent. "Let me see your hand."
Eagerly, Sarah stretched her hand out to the woman and Annabelle grasped the girl's wrist softly. It was then Sarah studied the woman. Her long sleeve had rolled up to reveal several slight cut marks upon her skin. Vampires. This woman knew the vampires. Sarah's mind drifted, though she hadn't meant it to. She wondered what it would be like to be Annabelle. The gypsies traveled wherever they wanted, with whomever they wanted. They have lovers in every city in the world, ladies had whispered maliciously in gossip.
Sarah wondered what that would be like to have a lover. She did not quite understand how all of it worked, but something in it fascinated her endlessly. What if her lover were a vampire? Would it hurt to cut your skin and have them drink it? Or did it feel nice in some very strange way? Sarah imagined herself older and more beautiful dancing around a fire in Romani garb. Her angel too was there and soon he was dancing as well. Sarah would so love to dance, especially with him. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him…
Annabelle began, "You're a creative thinker, Miss Sarah." She began by touching the line in the middle of Sarah's palm. "One for fantasy and mystery." Her fingers moved up the palm. "You're moved by love, as well. You give it freely." She nudged Sarah softly. "A very good thing. And…" Her finger touched a line near Sarah's thumb. "A strong life line. Deep and curved means energy and vitality."
Her head cocked, "You've strong fate line as well. Many do not have this." Her finger moved down the middle of Sarah's hand. "Though it splits." She looked into Sarah's eyes. "A choice." Sarah knew not what she meant by that. "And here: A high Mount of Venus." The woman smiled at that too and again Sarah knew not why. "So it seems you've some star-crossed fated love ahead of you, Miss Sarah."
Sarah felt herself flush as the woman released Sarah's hand. Back to her lap she brought it, her hand feeling much more electric than ever before. Star-crossed love: that sounded adventurous. Even if the woman were simply mad, Sarah thought she must be at least a little bit magical.
She watched as Annabelle rolled her sleeve back up, but not before noticing Sarah's eyes on the slit marks there.
Annabelle grinned like a cat, "I've met all types in my travels. Vampires aren't even the scariest of them." As the gypsy brushed her arm, Sarah saw thoughts pass over Annabelle that she could not know. "Do you know much of vampires, my dear Starchild?"
"Starchild?" Sarah inquired dreamily.
"Someone special," Annabelle explained. "I think you might be a little bit magical, fourteen-going-on-fifteen-Sarah. I sense it in you."
"I'm not so special," Sarah mumbled though her cheeks were red. "And I do know about the…vampires." The word she spoke quietly for fear of looks.
"Don't you," Annabelle mused while looking to her nails. Sarah did not get that explained, for her mother soon rushed over and chided her for idleness. Rebecca Chagal did not much like the gypsies, and especially not the gypsy women. She had not liked them as a rule, but now especially disliked them since she had caught one of them with her husband. There had been several women Rebecca had caught her husband with, but the gypsies were the worst of them. Sarah need not be talking with such women. Especially given Sarah's history of less savory interests.
This Annabelle woman seemed to be a sort of leader of the gypsies. Rebecca knew the sort of creatures Annabelle kept the company of. The woman cared not if her lovers were human or monster, she took them all the same.
Rebecca let her daughter run off to the birthday party, for at least Sarah would be away from such an unsavory woman. It seemed Rebecca was not soon to be rid of them though. It had grown very late at night when Annabelle came to the bar, drink in hand, with her catlike grin upon her lips.
"Your daughter is lovely," Annabelle spoke. Rebecca could not help but think something sinister in the comment. "It's a pity such a flower stays tucked away."
"Sarah is my daughter, Annabelle. I do for her what I think is best."
"Hmm," Annabelle mused as her smiled flickered to some drunken man at the end of the bar. Rebecca was absolutely fuming. How dare this Romani woman come into her bar and cause such a stir? The woman was flirting with everyone and everything and all the wives had become exceptionally jealous. Rebecca would hear of this upset, not Annabelle. They should've banned the gypsies years ago.
Rebecca huffed, "I'll thank you to leave, Annabelle. You've caused enough upstart tonight and I doubt you've the money to pay for all you drank. I don't need you here upsetting people with your…ways."
"With my ways?" Annabelle repeated, a light growing in her eyes. She thought, for a moment, the gypsy woman might hex her. Instead, she finished her drink slowly and carefully before setting it upon the bar. "Your daughter is so lovely, Madame Chagal. Others have noticed it as well, I know this for fact."
Rebecca inhaled, "What are you talking-"
"You know exactly what I am talking about, Madame Chagal." The gypsy woman pulled out a small purse and from it brought fourth far too many coins that necessary. She poured them onto the bar deliberately. "Have a nice night, Madame Chagal. And I'd be sure to see your daughter comes home tonight."
OOO
"Sarah, don't!" She heard her friends behind her, but she did not care. Elijah Stowenn and his stupid friend Ioan would not laugh at her today. This was her dare, her big dare, and Sarah would not back down. In fact, it wasn't even that scary of a dare. Maria had been dared to kiss Elijah, and that had been scary.
The party would've been more fun if Maria had not announced that her family was moving mid-way through it. Sarah's truest friend was moving and all because her father had to get a new job. Sarah knew not why it was all done in such a hurry, but no one seemed to want to talk about it. Instead, Maria had suggested games. Games and lots of games and now the game was one of dares. And if this were the last game of dares she were to play with Maria, Sarah was not going to back down.
The castle. Sarah had been dared to go and touch the castle. Not a hard dare, but not a dare anyone wished to complete. They said that if you stepped onto the castle grounds you would be eaten by vampires. Sarah knew that was silly: vampires didn't eat you. And they certainly wouldn't eat her. Maybe her angel no longer left her gifts, but Sarah knew he had not forgotten her. She felt him near her all the time even if he didn't wish to be seen.
Everyone waited far outside the grounds for her to do it. They'd walked so far already just to come near the castle and now it stared at Sarah like some great dragon on the hill. She wanted to go inside of it. Not since she was six had she been inside of it. Many times she'd walked past and many times she'd gazed, but rarely had she been this close to it. Everything seemed to halt as Sarah came near to it.
It was like…it was like the castle wanted her to touch it. No, no…it wanted her to go inside. It wanted her to step inside and join the court of vampires. It sang to her and Sarah knew somewhere inside of her that this was where she was meant to be. Annabelle had said something about that. Something about fate and being special… Special people lived in this castle. Sarah was a Starchild. She was special.
There was a voice. A soft voice that was sweet and wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Like her red blanket. It was the voice from the sea. Yes, her angel. For it was an angel, wasn't it? The angel she had prayed for all those nights ago, it lived here in the castle. It wanted her to go inside. It did, for it was singing to her. Sarah, Sarah, it was saying. She did so want to go into the castle. If she went to the castle, she would be a princess. She'd be free.
Sarah, Sarah, she moved towards it as it hummed the song she'd sang at the beach. The woman was going towards the drowned man and he was saying how he loved her and how they'd always be together... Wouldn't that be nice? To always be together.
"Sarah!" Maria yelped, grabbing her friend's hand. Her eyes looked at Sarah like she had gone mad. Sarah had not even heard her friend approaching. "We have to leave!" And Maria's eyes darted to the castle gates that had now opened. When had they opened? Why could they not go inside? The gates wanted her to go inside. They were glowing yellow…no green…and the green light wanted her.
"Don't you hear that?" Sarah inquired softly. Sarah, my Sarah, sang the kind voice. Yes, Sarah needed to stay. The voice wanted her to stay. She did not want to upset the voice.
Maria pulled her, "Let's go, Sarah. Come on!"
But she didn't want to. Didn't Maria know that Sarah didn't want to? Sarah wanted to stay. She needed to stay. They wanted her to stay. Sarah was pulled away by Maria regardless for Maria had no regards for the singing. No, Sarah whimpered but followed suit regardless. They were gone and back to Maria's house before Sarah's mind could catch up to her. And when it did it was absolutely flooded with thoughts. Fantastical thoughts. The gypsy woman had said Sarah was good at those.
Sarah thought of a ballroom. A beautiful ballroom filled with all those fantastical creatures. Vampires, hundreds of them. Sarah could see them as clearly as though they were before her. They were dancing and twirling and Sarah was searching for her partner. There he was. Right in front of her. Her angel. Sarah beamed as they danced. Her dress was white. No red. Perhaps blue. She could not tell. It was wonderful. It would all be so wonderful. He'd kiss her. He'd kiss her and they'd dance...
Sarah so wanted to be kissed, but certainly not by Elijah or Ioan.
"Sarah," Maria took her hand. Sarah was not in a ballroom, but her friend's front parlor. Moving away, Sarah remembered. Maria was moving away. Sarah was going to be all alone. Yet if she went to the castle, perhaps she would not be alone. Maria and Sarah were alone. Everyone had left. They had left when Sarah went to the castle.
Her friend continued, "Sarah, I think you should stay away from the castle."
"What?" Sarah blinked, all things coming into focus. For it had been Maria that Sarah had told all her secrets to. It had been Maria who thought everything so interesting and not scary. Maria had wanted Sarah to tell her everything and swooned at every word.
"I think you should stay away," Maria pressed ardently. "Those...creatures are not good. They do bad things. They make people do bad things."
"What are you talking about-"
Maria shook her head, "It doesn't matter. Just stay away. Promise me you'll stay away."
"I-"
"Promise!" Maria seemed so very certain about this that all Sarah could do was nod. Her friend breathed. "Good. Good. Now, um, everyone's left, but you can stay the night if want. It is dark. You shouldn't go home."
"I'll be fine," Sarah said softly. She was frightened but didn't quite know why. "It's not far. Mama's probably worried anyway."
It seemed Maria was not happy about this plan, for she hesitated a bit longer than normal before nodding and giving Sarah a great hug. Sarah promised to visit every day until the move, a promise she intended to keep. The other one... The other one was perhaps a bit more of a lie. They make people do bad things. Sarah hadn't the faintest idea what that meant but Maria seemed very sure of it. But Sarah wanted... She wanted what she'd seen in her mind's eye. A ballroom and dancing a beautiful dress and a kiss from a vampire...
It was then Sarah realized she had not even touched the castle. She had not even completed the dare.
Which made her mother's reaction all the more ridiculous.
For Rebecca was furious, absolutely furious that Sarah would do something so foolish. Though the girl insisted it were part of a game, Rebecca scolded her for being so idiotic as to partake in it. Touch the vampire's castle. God, it was like Sarah didn't even care. That was it, wasn't it: the girl didn't care. She didn't care about rumors or what she was…encouraging. This behavior was encouraging and it needed to stop. It needed to have stopped years ago.
The words of that gypsy woman were screaming in Rebecca's mind. They were empty threats, Rebecca had thought. Even if they were, what Sarah had done was still very wrong. Even if there were no such…infatuations…what Sarah had done would make those creatures upset. They were already not happy with Chagal for he never made rent. Spent all the money on idiotic things instead of the rent that had to be paid.
Perhaps the vampire would take Sarah as punishment for their ill finances.
Sarah whimpered, "Mama, I didn't do anything wrong! Maria came and got me-"
"Maria Reeds has been a horrible influence on you!" Rebecca bellowed as she drug her daughter to her room. Garlic. They'd need more garlic. Crosses. Sarah should wear a cross. They'd bathe her in blessed water if they needed to. "How dare you think it acceptable to even go near the place, especially in your condition-"
"Mama!" Sarah proclaimed with a blush. There were tenants in the halls and the tenants had heard, but Rebecca cared not what they thought. She pushed her daughter into her bedroom while a horrified look grew on her face. Of course Rebecca knew her daughter was bleeding: the maids told Rebecca everything. And to think Sarah would think it fine to be near vampires while she was bleeding-
Rebecca huffed, "Go to bed now, Sarah. We'll discuss things in the morning."
Sarah seemed to want to say something, but Rebecca shut the door before a word was spoken.
OOO
He'd watched as the friend gave her warnings and the mother yelled. He watched now as Sarah laid her head upon her pillows and muttered fervent prayers to a God she still believed in. There was no God, that he knew, and perhaps he could spare her if he told her so. Yet there was something so sweet and pure in her words that he could not tell her otherwise.
"I don't know what to do," the girl spoke to God as though he were standing in her room and not Von Krolock. "I thought you'd given me and angel, but now I don't know. And it makes mama and papa so cross. And I'll miss Maria so much. I'll have no friends at all when she leaves. I just want…I want to leave. I don't know to where…"
He stopped listening to the girl's prayer as he smelt the blood upon her. Every moment he thought he could control it, the fever would take him over once again. For a year this had been happening and yet still he'd come to see her. He could barely go three days without seeing her and he had absolutely no explanation for the power this child had over him. Von Krolock attempted to ignore the scent and caught the end of her prayer.
"…don't send my angel away, please. Let him be good. Let him be a good angel."
I am neither of those things, he mused as he moved nearer to her. Sarah, his Sarah. He wanted her to see him. He was unsure why he wanted this so suddenly, but the need overtook him instantly. She'd not sensed him since she held his hand and that had been a mistake. Maybe this would not be a mistake. If she just looked at him, everything would be far better. How he wanted her. He could not remember desiring anything as he desired Sarah.
He hadn't time to consider it, for Sarah raised her head and stared him right in the eyes.
"You're here," Sarah's eyes were wide and full of innocence. It made him damn every feeling that was tearing at his chest. She stepped towards him like he was something made of magic, her hand reaching to touch him but lowering before it did. "You're really here."
From her lips there was the lightest of laughs and she was so young. No one was as young as she. It didn't do anything to tell himself that for the beast tearing up his insides did not care for the morality of it. Frankly, neither did he. For they were alone now, and that was dangerous. They were alone and everyone else was downstairs and lost to drink or lust and would not know until morning that he had taken her. And in the morning they'd be far away at the castle, her resting safely in his arms...
A foolish fancy. Was he a child too to think such romantic and sentimental thoughts? It seemed he might've been.
His fingers reached to brush her cheek. He found it soft and hot with a flush. I'm not an angel, Sarah, he wanted to say. Not even slightly. Yet she smiled when he touched her and he could not wait another moment. Sarah would be his as he'd always intended her to be. He could not restrict himself anymore, for there had been no reason to from the start. Von Krolock as not a moral creature. Ethics and truth meant little to a creature such as him. He wanted Sarah. He'd wanted her for ages so why deny himself any longer? She deserved better than the life she had. The life she'd have with him would be better, luxurious, and unending. An unending Sarah...
Someone was at the door. Before they even knocked he knew there was someone at the door and suddenly his being was flooded with light. What was he doing? What was he doing with this child? There was no life he could give her. There was no sentimental fantasy. There was death. Death and only more death. This was a sign, this person's arrival. Von Krolock needed to leave.
"Please, wait!" Sarah begged when he faded back into the shadows. There were tears in her voice. "My angel, please don't leave me!"
A knock at the door and Sarah squeaked at the noise of it. Brushing back her tears, she trotted to her door and opened it to the mother.
Leave now, hissed whatever by of humanity was in him. Leave her and get out.
His mouth was salivating while he gazed at her. Beautiful Sarah. The scent of her was filling up every space in the small bedroom and every part of his body. So sweet. Such an innocent little thing. He watched while she ended her conversation and shut her door tightly. Her sparkling eyes darted about the room, looking and pining for him. She wants you, whispered that voice. Take her, for she wants you.
Von Krolock moved from the shadows again and his Sarah beamed to see him. She does think me fantastical, he thought with a prideful smirk. I am not so much so, my precious. And he stepped towards her, reaching for her little hands and bringing them to his lips. Sarah's eyes grew at the gentlemanly gesture, though he'd done it to inhale her scent. Sweet and pure was the pulse through her veins. He needed her. She was his.
Yet he let go over her hands and stepped back towards the window.
"Wait!" Sarah followed him closely. "Please, don't go!"
I want you to kiss me, Sarah thought, even though it was a very stupid wish. She was not exactly sure why she wanted to kiss him so badly. She should not be wanting to kiss him. Sarah should be wanting to kiss boys. Elijah Stowenn, Grant Bree, or Ioan Samuels are who she should want to be kissing. Someone near her own age and human, not this much older vampire. But Sarah hardly cared. That vision played in her mind. The beautiful ballroom, the dancing, the kiss...
And he did wait. She'd asked him to and he did. Why wasn't he speaking? He had not said a word since he appeared.
He stepped forward, his hands cupping her face and she thought he might do it: she thought he might kiss her. Instead, he leaned from his great height and placed a kiss upon her forehead. It seemed he was trying to inhale her in some very peculiar way. Sarah wanted to be in his arms. It would be so nice to be in his arms. They'd fly away together and she would be a princess. A beautiful princess in a beautiful ball gown...
"Take me with you."
"Sarah-"
"Please," the little thing grasped his sleeves in such a childlike way. "Please, I want to go with you."
Go with him. Von Krolock could not remember a time when anyone wanted to go with him. Perhaps that's what was so peculiar about this girl: she wanted him. She was not frightened of him. As much as he wanted her, she wanted him. She knows not what she wants, and what you want has not even come into her mind. This is vile. You should not have showed yourself to her, you should not be standing here holding her hands. And yet the little thing had very much enslaved him. That was terrifying in its own right to realize such a small thing had any sort of dominion over him. Dominion he had given her, though he could not remember precisely when. Sarah ruled over every part of him and he had allowed her to do so.
This was a mistake, he stepped away from her though her intoxicating spell did not wish to release him. Forget, he willed her easily. Forget this.
"No," Sarah whimpered from somewhere behind him and he froze. "No, it was not a mistake. Don't make me forget. Please."
She had heard him. His thoughts…she had heard them. Impossible. It was not possible that she had and yet… Sarah was no witch. Sarah was nothing of great power or note so how on earth had she heard him? No one had ever heard his thoughts before. There was something different about Sarah. This fixation he had upon her was not as random as he had once thought. Yes, something strange about her. He'd always sensed it, but never thought that there was fruition in it. She had heard him. How on earth had she heard him?
Sarah moved closer, "My angel-"
"I'm not an angel, Sarah," he hissed suddenly. "Forget. Go to sleep. This was a dream."
"I-"
"This was a dream."
Sarah did and she dreamt of angels and ball gowns and did not remember that he had been in her room and she had seen him. He tried not think about how much of an idiot he'd been when he returned to the castle that night. Something indeed was strange about Sarah. How had he not detected it? He could always spot other beings of the supernatural, so how had he not spotted her? Maybe she wasn't supernatural, but something indeed was odd with her.
As he turned through books, the only thing he realized was his obsession was growing. He had to have her. It was not a question of if, but when, for he would not let her fly away from him. She was now too young, but he could withstand it if there was a promise: a promise that she would be his eventually. Of course he could not tell her this, but he needed her to know. He needed her to promise. This miraculous little being had to be his.
On Sarah's fifteenth birthday there were waiting three primroses on her red blanket. Sarah knew not what this meant but knew whom they were from. They were lovely, these flowers, and lovelier was the pair of earrings beneath them. Beautiful and so fine. Sarah tucked them away with her hair comb form years ago. For her own amusement, she wore both of them with her nightdress and pretended she was some great queen presiding over her court. It was great fun.
There were no more gifts until the next year when left was two primroses and a bracelet. Two primroses instead of three and a bracelet.
A countdown. Sarah didn't know why she thought of it, but she was certain that's what this was. On her seventeenth, she would get one primrose she imagined. What of her eighteenth? What would she get then?
Sarah knew. Knowing it filled up her insides and made her heart feel fit to burst. A ball would be waiting for her on her eighteen. A beautiful ball at the castle. He would be waiting for her on her eighteenth. She would get her kiss. She would be a princess.
Sixteen year old Sarah tucked her goodies away beneath the floor board and headed downstairs for breakfast. She supposed she could endure two more years of this life if she got to be a princess at the end of it.