Chapter Twenty-Two

Curiousity Kills

I woke up that night... or it most likely was day, but either way, I woke up because Mikel wasn't in my head. He seemed to be having more trouble lately in concentrating enough to enter any words into my thoughts, so he would wait awhile to build up the ability to do it without causing the reverbrating effect he had a while back. I think it had to do with the fact that he's been looking a bit tired. Maybe by feeding on humans, it's bothering his conscience and he's having trouble dealing with it. That's what I guessed it to be, because before he had been feeding on them, he seemed just fine in his health. But now it was getting easier to see that he was becoming more tired by the day by how human he seemed to be getting. Not human as in actually becoming human, I mean by how he isn't as quick in his sudden movement, and when he grips me a bit too hard, it's no longer a completely defining grip, but more of a human grip in its weakness. Plus, when I tried to get him to speak fast like that vampire language, he tended to be slow in it so that I could actually make out some words, and then that would tire him a bit.

I had asked if he was sick, but he said he wasn't... just a bit tired. That he'd get over it and for me not to worry. That response was the one that made me believe it was guilt, which was most likely. He wasn't used to killing innocent humans, so by suddenly doing it, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that it was bugging him. Which was why I wanted to tell him tonight not to do it anymore. To go back the way he used to do it, where he was healthier and less guilty... and he couldn't stand being around me too much. That's a downer, but it was worth his health. If being together meant he felt horrible, I preferred him to be happier in health.

Usually by now he had built up the strength to say something in my mind, but there was nothing. And this worried me. So on brave impulse, I moved out of Evanen's bed, which I've done before but not when his face was in front of mine like that. I was always afraid he'd wake up, but he didn't. He never did. So I moved to the bedroom door, and twisted the knob, expecting it to be locked. It wasn't. I opened it quietly, and shut it behind me just as quietly. I lightly stepped across the floor, moving my way towards Mikel's room. I've snuck my way to his room a couple of times, when I didn't want to run off somewhere in the night and just wanting to be held by him. To have him talk to me with his calming voice and look at me with his carmel brown eyes that said he'd never hurt anyone.

When I got to his room, I tapped on the door with my finger tips, causing no noise to even reach my ears, but it usually reached his. There was no response, and against better judgement, I opened the door quietly in order to step into the room. I was about to call Mikel's name, seeing as I couldn't really see too well, when I saw him laying on his stomach on the bed with pj pants on and no shirt, either dead or completely asleep. Both was unusual, because vampires don't usually sleep unless they're like Evanen, which none are as far I know. I didn't know too much what a dead vampire would look like, so I wasn't too sure about that. But the thought of him being dead scared me, but I didn't see any silver stabbed through him anywhere, and his head was still there. So I moved towards him carefully, expecting him to pop up like he had the first time I had ever expected him to be asleep.

I still couldn't see any sign of bites to drain him and he hadn't been starving himself or he would've gone crazy around me. So I assumed he must be asleep, which is weird but seeing as he had been tired lately I guessed that some vampires do have that down time. I moved onto the bed and crawled over to his body. "Mikel," I said lightly, "Mikel? Are you asleep?" He didn't move. "Are you dead?" No answer. "It's me, Hailence." And I reached over to touch his shoulder. The moment I touched him, he suddenly moved sharply and slammed me down onto the bed, pulling back his other hand into a fist in preparation to bash my skull in. I had the wind knocked out of me at the moment, and was trying to breath, but he had me pressed down by the chest and I couldn't expand my lungs.

His silver eyes seemed wild at the moment, but suddenly they widened in recognition, and he quickly released me. I gasped in air, rolling over onto my side, and water burned into my eyes. Mikel bent over me in concern, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I thought you were someone else... I guess I was asleep. I'm sorry. Are you okay? I didn't break anything, did I?" After a while of recovery, I waved off his questions, not feeling any abnormal pain that indicated a broken bone.

"I'm all right," I responded finally, "Just had the wind knocked out of me. It's okay." I moved back onto my back, breathing in deep breaths while Mikel peered at me guiltily. Then I pushed myself up to sitting position. "I wanted to talk to you." He moved a bit closer to me, and I could see how tired he looked suddenly.

"I don't think you should come around me anymore," Mikel said in response, "I'm feeling a bit weird."

"That's nonsense," I replied, irritated, "But that's what I'm here to talk to you about. I don't want you killing anymore humans just to be around me anymore. I want you to go back to the way you were, hunting only when you had to, and only going after the dying and old. I don't think you were made to be a regular vampire, and I don't want to force you to be one. So even if it means you won't be able to stand being around me, I want you to go back to the way you were."

"I can't," Mikel responded, shaking his head, "I can't give you up just so I'll feel better. I don't think I could handle that."

"But I can't handle you feeling so horrible," I said, suddenly feeling very depressed, "Please, just do it for me."

He moved closer to me until he was right in front of me. "I'm sorry," he moved his fingertips over my cheek, "I can't do it. I love you too much to just leave you alone, and if I did go back to the way I was, then I'd be more likely to hurt you, and that would tear me to pieces. So I can't." And I bent forward to kiss him before he returned it. This time it was different, though. It was almost as if we weren't ever going to see each other again, and suddenly I couldn't pull away from him and he didn't pull away from me.

Mikel pressed his hand against my lower back, pulling me closer to him, and suddenly he gripped my knee with his other hand. My heart started pounding furiously, and the feeling rushing through me was so much like fear, but I knew it was more than that. He pressed his lips against my neck and nipped it lightly with his teeth, causing me to gasp. "I've never done this before," I suddenly said on impulse. It was just something embarrassing that you felt a need to throw out there before it got too far.

"It's okay," Mikel reassured, "I'm almost sure I'm not going to kill you." And he smiled to show he was kidding, which didn't make me feel any much better, but I figured if I ever wanted to lose my virginity with anyone, I wouldn't find anyone as good as Mikel. So I pulled off my shirt, assuming that was the next best thing, and he lightly led me down against the bed before beginning to pull off my orange pajama shorts. At the expression on my face, Mikel hesitated. "Are you okay?"

I felt stupid, but I said, "What if someone hears us?" Mikel looked around and I decided I didn't care. "Nevermind." Then I thought about mentioning the fact that I'd always assumed there'd be music or something, but I decided I'd eventually be a mood killer if I kept it up. Which is probably what I was trying to do because I was kind of scared. But then Mikel was pressing his lips over mine lightly, and I felt as ready as I could, which wasn't much. It hurt quite a lot at first, but then I assumed the endorphins kicked in at some point. Plus, sometimes Mikel would grip me a bit too hard, but he seemed to understand the sudden hiss and wincing was a sign to slacken a bit. There were no shooting stars and fireworks, but love itself boiled enough to make up for any of that.

And eventually, he was holding me in his arms, his cold skin helping ease the immense heat from my own. I didn't feel too different besides the pain of the road not travelled until now and the bits of future bruises that I was sure Mikel had left on my arms especially. Still, I was utterly content laying next to Mikel, who still worried me even though he was trying to hide any sign of being exhausted. It's not right that a vampire becomes tired, when that's suppose to be erased by the power of vampirism, but I no longer mentioned it. Instead, I looked at him, and he looked at me.

"You still love me, right," I asked carefully.

"Why wouldn't I," He responded curiously.

"Well, they say that what we just did is the last mystery of a relationship, and that's what ends them," I stated curtly.

"I'm sure there's more mystery to find between a vampire and a human," Mikel said certainly. And I smiled.

"And if we get bored, you could always turn me into a vampire to spice things up," I suggested jokingly, and the expression on Mikel's face made me laugh. "I was just kidding with you. I promise I'll never become a vampire just for you, okay? I'll become some old lady and die by choking on a peanut, never to experience the joys of human blood." And he smiled.

The moment I slid into Evanen's room, I moved to the bathroom instead in order to wash off any scent of Mikel, even though in my head I figured that would be impossible, because now it felt like I was a part of Mikel and that's something you can't wash away. Still, I did the best I could, and then I inspected my body to see the arriving bruises on my arms and thighs, and just a few on my hips. Then a big whopper of one on my chest from where Mikel had first held me down and knocked the wind out of me. Those on the thighs, hips, and chest wouldn't be seen by Evanen, but the ones on the arms would, and I was a bit worried about it.

I put on pajama pants and a baggy t-shirt before sliding back into bed next to Evanen, whose sleeping self seemed to sense me and move closer to me. I went to sleep with my own thoughts running through my mind, humming, and ultimately drifting me into a contented sleep.

~...~

I nearly screamed when I woke up to see Evanen's face directly in front of mine. Instead I gasped in startlement, but then I sighed noticing he wasn't attacking me. "Where'd you get those bruises," Evanen suddenly asked, pointing at the ones on my arms that were viewable to him. I looked down at them, and suddenly put on a front of irritation.

"What, don't you remember clobbering me to death last night," I asked him angrily, "You sleep just like some crazy boy, you know? I had to practically beat you off of me because for some reason you thought I was some stuffed animal you could cling to... a bit too roughly if you ask me." And I grabbed my pillow and swung it on his head playfully. For a moment he just looked at me with his eyes narrowed in suspicion, but then he seemed to have let it go, and grabbed the pillow to lightly swing it against my own head. And then it was a period of a morning/nighttime pillow fight, in which Evanen won easily.

Evanen took me down to get some breakfast, where we were greeted with Cecilian's presence, but instead of trying to egg Evanen to follow her, she sat down at the counter with us. I slowed in my eating, both Evanen and I looking at Cecilian cautiously. This was weird behavior she was showing. Still, she didn't say anything for a moment, and then she asked how I was doing. Okay? Good.

"Mikel's seems to be doing a bit oddly," Cecilian stated suddenly, and I felt myself become flushed. See, I knew someone would've heard us. No wonder she's nice to me. She's probably completely sure that I'm not going after Evanen, and so any feelings of complete hatred towards me was gone. Now she just thinks I'm some stupid human, but not a threat either way.

"And we care why," Evanen said sarcastically, still brewing over those feelings of hatred towards Mikel.

"Because Mikel is still a Dreale, even if you don't like it. He's family," Cecilian snapped, "And you will show respect in front of me." Evanen glared at Cecilian bitterly, and I felt very weird because it felt as though this was a serious human family moment, with Cecilian being a strict mother scolding Evanen for talking bad about his brother, Mikel.

"We're all not actually related," Evanen stated bitterly.

Cecilian glared at him and said, "In the vampire world, having a group of vampires together with the same last name is--"

"--considered a family, yeah, yeah. So what about Mikel is it you want so to talk about. Spit it out already," Evanen interupted irritatedly. I kept quiet, continuing to eat my Apple Jacks today, especially the orangeish colored ones. But I listened closely because I wanted to see what Cecilian was going to say about the man I loved.

"I talked to him today about his present state, seeing as he seems to be acting oddly. And seeing as you avoid him, I'm sure you didn't notice, but he's becoming extremely weak and has started to spend more time sleeping in his room than natural of a vampire. Normally I'd say he's been starving himself, but he's been out feeding -- is out feeding right now -- and when he comes back I can smell the blood in him... plus he'd be going insane after your pet here. Any starving vampire would attack any human nearby to feed themself, but he isn't even interested in her," Cecilian stated as if in a business-like manner, but for some reason, I could slightly sense a bit of worry coming from her words, as though she might actually consider Mikel her son and might actually be concerned about his well-being.

"What do you want me to do about it," Evanen asked, trying to conceal the bitterness and apathetic feelings but failing miserably.

"I would like to hear your thoughts on what it could be," She responded, and waited for his thoughts.

"I think he's being an idiot," Evanen stated, "And is trying to get attention because he's a sad little vampire who wishes he were a human."

Cecilian scoffed at those thoughts, but before she could respond, I said, "I think he might be bothered about something." Cecilian and Evanen both looked over, Cecilian looking as though she had been waiting for my thoughts rather than Evanen's and Evanen looking as though I had smacked him or something. I ignored him. "I think that by feeding on actual humans rather than what he'd been doing, he's been trying to ignore his conscience, and now it's not working. I think feeding may be what's bothering him so much. His symptoms kind of resemble depression, if you asked me..." I moved off into a trail to make it seem as though my thoughts weren't actually needed to listen to.

"That makes more sense than being an idiot," Cecilian said, glaring at Evanen, "But I'm not too sure about that. Vampires don't usually turn weak like this, but it's possible." And she got up before leaving the room.

"Being depressed is being an idiot," Evanen muttered bitterly, obviously bothered by Cecilian's previous presence.

"I'm sure it is," I reassured him, shoving his shoulder before continuing with my breakfast. And then Evanen led me back to the room, telling me he was going to go hunting. I pouted, sitting down on the bed. "I wish you wouldn't."

"Sorry, but it's a job requirement in being a vampire," Evanen stated, and he was gone. I awaited a night full of boredom, seeing as Evanen took his sweet time hunting. Usually he has to walk about, look for the perfect one, and then get them alone before doing it. I knew, seeing as it had been one of my questions to him.

"What kind of girls are they or do you always just go after those who just are female and wear a bunch of black?" I had asked.

"Usually they're too curious for their own good, don't smoke, and laugh too much. Most are shy, but sometimes I find one who likes to talk a bit too much, and then when I get them, I'm never too rough with them. Remember? It's not like I tore you to pieces, I just sneak into it, and drain them until they're seconds from death. Then it's over." It was a conversation I hadn't particullarly enjoyed, but it was a bit interesting to hear the vampire view of things. I think I'd be just as curious with animals if they spoke my language. I could already imagine the questions I'd ask them.

I got bored pretty quickly of just sitting there, so I did my routine thing. I moved over to the door to try to see if it was locked, which it always was. But this time it twisted all the way, and then it was opened. I hesitated, no longer used to this type of freedom. And I looked out of the door slowly, searching to see if Evanen was here and testing me. But he wasn't there, and if he was, it was his fault that he left the door open. What is he going to do? Stay up forever to make sure I never leave? Confine me into the bathroom instead? Whatever. So I moved out of the room and stood there for a moment, utterly happy that I was kind of free.

And I moved my way towards the direction of the house I hadn't actually gone before. Normally I would go to Mikel, but a glance in the room showed me he was still out feeding and destroying his conscience. I cleared Katha's door from what I had known before was her room, not feeling the urge to die just yet. Then from there, I was a bit nervous because I couldn't exactly remember where the other two rooms of Drewdon and Cecilian were, so I decided not to go opening too many doors. At some point, I looked up because there was a string hanging from the ceiling. I figured it must lead to the attic, and in my curiousity, I pulled it down to unfold a ladder. Then I climbed up to the attic, wondering what vampires would hold up there. But when I looked around, there was nothing much up there except some big metal table looking thing leaning against the wall unused, and a door that led to a part of the roof that was flat and fenced off to look like a large balcony. I walked out to see that the view looked over the trees. It was a beautiful view, and I wondered what a sunset would look like from here. But then I got bored and went back down the ladder to look around elsewhere.

That's about the time when I saw a different set of stairs. I wasn't sure where it led, but when I looked down it, I just saw a door at the end. It had to lead to the first story, for if it were any further than that, the stairs seemed as though they would be longer. For a moment, I just looked down it, and then I figured nothing too bad could happen and I walked down the stairs to the door. I expected the door to be locked, but it opened easily and I was suddenly in a boxed in room with one other door and more stairs that led further down. I opened the door first to find myself in the kitchen. I hesitated, not remembering there ever being a door in the kitchen, and when I looked at the other side of the door, I could see why. It was the same shade as the wall, obviously a hidden door. I shrugged and shut the door, deciding I wanted to see what was in the basement of a vampire's house.

It seemed to get colder as I went down these stairs, and darker as well. At some point, I felt as though I should turn around, but I continued. And then I was in front of another door. I turned it, but it didn't open. Then I realize there was a bolt lock, and I twisted it until it was unlocked. There was a loud click, followed by dead silence. I listened for any movement upstairs, but there was nothing. And so I opened the heavy door slowly. The silence behind it wasn't so silent suddenly. It was like I had turned on some radio, and suddenly there were groans, whispers, gasps, and cries. I hesitated, but continued to move forward slowly. The heavy door shut behind me, making me jump.

It smelled horrible down here. And I couldn't see too well. This combined to cause utter fear as I slowed down in my walk. What was this? I walked far enough until suddenly something grabbed my ankle. I screeched, jumping the opposite way and ripping my ankle from the grip. I fell on the ground, which was slightly muddy for some reason. But then I stopped struggling in fear when I saw what had grabbed me was a young girl leaning against bars of what seemed like a cage. I hesitated, and then crawled towards her slowly.

"Hello," I asked quietly, for her eyes were closed and her sunken face was blank. I couldn't tell what color her hair was, for it looked sick and was probably dirty by how she smelled. I touched her arm, and it was as though I had touched skin on bone rather than any meat. "Are you alive?" She opened her eyes partly, but didn't respond. "What is this?" I looked around, and shoved myself back to my feet. Then I walked slowly down, now able to see the continuous cages that was lined on each side of me like a prison. Or a dungeon. There were people in each one. Some were by theirselves, and some were with masses of others. Most were emaciated, some were unconscious, and others were in the far darkness of the cages so that I couldn't tell if they were alive or not. I could assume why they were here, and it broke my heart. Why do the vampires go hunting if they have food under their house? Were they here just in case they felt like staying in? Why hadn't Evanen or Mikel told me about this place? What if someone was down here, now, and I didn't know it?

My heart started pounding in fear, but I was mostly in sorrow for the pains of everyone here. I could imagine them being people I knew, starved and caged for death. And suddenly I paused when someone said, "Hail?" It sounded familiar, which is what scared me, but I couldn't place the voice on any of the vampires. Then I looked in the direction it came from to see someone leaning against the bars weakly, peering up at me from the sunken face. "Is that you?" And this time I recognized the voice on the slightly recognizable face of D.J. My savior at the SoundStage, and most likely my human boyfriend if I hadn't been taken by vampires. I automatically dropped to ground in desperation, moving close to the bars.

"D.J., what are you doing here," I said in a squeaky voice, now scared to death for D.J. because he looked so sick and starved. Then when I tried to touch him, he jerked back extremely fast and I moved my hands back to myself. "I'm not a vampire, D.J. You don't have to be afraid of me. See?" I opened my mouth wide to show no fangs, though that technically wouldn't count because fangs can be retracted. "Not a vampire. You want me to cut myself and show you how I don't heal?"

"NO," D.J. yelled suddenly with fear, but then he said quietly, "No, don't do that." I wasn't exactly planning on doing it, but I didn't.

"How'd you get here," I asked, now struggling to find a way to open the door to the cage, which seemed to be locked by key. I looked around, but I wasn't sure where the keys would be. D.J. stayed a distance away from me now for some reason, but he didn't seem in too much of a hurry to escape.

"Um.. I was looking for you," D.J. said slowly, his words slurring by weakness, "And this girl came up to me. She was really pretty. Blonde hair. Angelic eyes. And she said her name was Katha and that she knew where you were because you were living with her brother. So she said she liked me and she wanted to take me to you just because she thought I was nice. So I got in her car, and she gave me a ride to this big house... and then she led me inside, but before I could find you, she suddenly bit me on the neck and I was paralyzed. And then I blacked out and woke up here." He indicated to the small cage he was in.

"How long ago was that," I asked, noticing how starved he was.

"A really long time. She'll come down sometimes to visit me, telling me about how you're doing... but you don't look as bad as she let on that you were," D.J. said, now looking at me in relief, "She said that her whole family were vampires, and that her brother... Evan or something was the one vampire who had you as his slave. That he liked to hurt you, and I didn't hear any screaming until yesterday. She said he got you real good yesterday. I thought you were dead. I'm sorry I couldn't come and save you like I meant to. I'm sorry, Hail." And he moved closer to me, holding out his hand with something in it. I stopped trying to pick at the lock to look at it. It was a silver bracelet linked by diamond hearts. "I meant to give this to you that last night I saw you.. at the party when Kyler died."

I started to grab it from his hand when he let it fall to the floor instead and pulled his hand back. "You don't have to apologize for anything, Darwin Einstein Jets," I said sharply, "None of this is your fault. And I'm going to get you out of here." I grabbed the bracelet and put it around my wrist. It was extremely beautiful, even in the darkness.

"I prefer to stay in here and die," D.J. stated with disgust.

"Don't talk like that," I responded, shocked.

"You don't understand," D.J. told me.

"I don't care, I'm not going to let you starve to death as a vampire's food supply," I said with determination, and I grabbed the lock and pulled. In one sharp movement, the lock slipped out of my hand, slicing open the palm of my hand suddenly, and I winced at the pain. "I didn't mean to do that." And I looked towards D.J. to see in the darkness that his eyes were a familiar silver film with a wild look. My heart fell down to my feet with the realization. With amazing speed, I jumped away from the cage just as he lunged at the bars towards me, growling hungrily, with his fangs bare in preparation to feed off of me. I cried out in pain.