CHAPTER SIXTY SIX
ELEVATION
DANIEL MERRYWEATHER:
My blood burned fiercely through my veins and a white hot fire raged within me. I did not think I could take the heat of the changes wreaking havoc on my body. After what seemed like an eternity the heat subsided and I felt cool, calm and collected. The whole time the fire raged I had listened to Etienne's husky voice telling me to be still,silent and stress free. It was hard to keep a coherent train of thought when your blood was being quickly eradicated by a raging forest fire of venom. I felt my beating human heart cease and I did not mourn. I felt the venom fill up my body, rendering me strong and powerful. It was like a switch being flicked and I had made the transition from ordinary to extraordinary. I was elevated up and beyond my usual self. Although Leah assured me that I had never been a normal human just before she bit me and let her life changing venom enter my bloodstream.
I had wished to become something elevated from human as far back as I can remember. I was overjoyed to find out I had clairvoyant powers when I was only seven years old. My talents grew and by the time I had reached fifteen I was already captivating audiences with my psychic abilities. I could hear the spirits of the dead , I could walk amongst them, and I could easily communicate with souls on the astral plane. I found out about astral travelling completely by accident one night a few years ago. I thought I was dreaming when I flew through the starry night sky and found myself in a dark alleyway in Dublin. I watched a tramp being stalked by a creature who appeared to be more than human. This woman was beautiful and magnificent with flame red hair and scarlet eyes to match. I stood open mouthed as I watched her pounce on the man and bite into his neck ferociously. Bright red blood oozed in a trickle from the side of her mouth as she appeared to drink the poor victim's blood. He slumped to the floor in a discarded sorry heap when she had sated herself. He was quite obviously dead. I saw his spirit leave his body and float up into the night sky like a balloon whose string had been cut. The creature narrowed her blood red eyes at me with curiosity. "Who are you?" she spoke in a sweet musical voice. I stuttered out my name in fear. I had seen many things in my life but this vision of beauty and terror frightened me beyond belief. "Pleased to meet you Daniel, I'm Victoria" she smirked.
She came up close to me and I swear my astral body shivered with shock and fear. "What are you?" she asked as she passed a pale white hand through my shimmering barely there astral body. I explained to her that I had been sleeping in my bed and presumed this was all a dream. She assured me that she was not a dream but most possibly my worst nightmare. She was so beautiful and powerful I was completely blown away with fear and also desire for this strange creature. "Lucky for you I have slaked my thirst, Daniel" she purred. I nodded and tried to plaster a smile on my ghostly face. I hoped she would leave soon. I wished she would stay and take me in her deadly embrace. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Then she was gone. Just like that. I fervently wished I was back in my warm safe bed. Then I was. How strange. So that was my first experience at astral travelling. I knew it was real because the newspapers were full of the story of the tramps murder the next day. I recognised him, the alleyway – everything. It had all been real which made me surmise that my red haired and red eyed demon was also very real. I shivered with desire and fear once again. Another year passed and my family moved to London when I was nineteen. I loved the vibrant city with it's old history and ancient spirits. I set up my own business doing one on one clairvoyant readings with the public. My best friend Lukas had died in a car accident when we were only sixteen. He was my angel guide. He had brought Katherine Constantine back from the brink of death. He had shown her marvellous sights which had changed her outlook forever. We were still best friends despite him now existing beyond the veil. I was a night owl and very often couldn't sleep. I still astral travelled when I had mind to but other times I liked to walk the city and see what the night would bring.
This night a couple of months ago I had passed a most striking and beautiful young couple by the river bank They were engrossed in each other and did not notice me. I knew what they were though. They were just like Victoria! At last I had finally come across not one, but two of her kind once again! She had plagued my waking and dreaming moments since that night in the dark, damp alleyway. She had fascinated me, thrilled me and sent chills of fear through me every time I recalled her perfect face. I read up every little morsel I could find on vampire's since that night. Until I saw Leah and Etienne taking their midnight river stroll I honestly believed I would never ever encounter the creature or her like again. Here were two perfect specimens inches from me! I shivered with excitement and fear. These two did not have red eyes like Victoria. They seemed very much in love and at peace. How fascinating. You know the rest. I started having visions featuring the female vampire. I had to find her and tell her. I knew right there and then, when I spoke to Leah for the first time, that I wanted to become like them more than anything else in the world. I just had to find a way. Luckily my powers gave me an edge over other humans. Leah and I became friends. I helped her out twice. She promised to make me like her so here I was about to open my eyes to this new world. Etienne was softly calling my name. I felt power hum through my venom filled body like electricity. I opened my now red eyes. Leah was the first thing I gazed upon as a newborn vampire.
I instantly fell in love with her all over again, deeper and deeper until I knew I had to have her no matter what the consequences might be.