17

The Massacre

Here is the chapter of what happened that night in Pam's home. It's not going to be graphic and it's not going to be filled with violence. I know that it's a short one but it's just an inkling of what happened. I want to thank y'all for the comments about my King Bill. He is an asshat and he'll always be an asshat. You haven't seen anything yet. As always, I hope that y'all enjoy. I'd also like to thank each of you for reading, reviewing, alerting, and making this story and me one of your favorites. Happy reading.

The story idea belongs to me but these wonderful characters belong to Charlaine Harris.

Maxwell, Heidi and I were enjoying each other's company in the living room and we were having a great time. Charles was with us but he'd gone into the kitchen to warm bloods for us. I know that I have humans here but they're not food. They work for me. They keep me company when I am lonely. Though I would never tell anyone, I consider them my family because they've been with me for so long. I would have never let anyone feed on them. Anyway, Clancy was here but he was somewhere patrolling as he always is. He's not into socializing. He feels that he's wasting Eric's money by sitting around and telling jokes. I know that I've strongly expressed several times that I hate that they are staying in my home … babysitting me at the behest of my maker but I've come to enjoy their company. Maxwell has always had a wicked sense of humor but I never knew that he was as funny as he is. Though I hate to admit it, I feel safe with him ... with all of them. At the time, I believed that no harm would come to me. To any of us if I am to be honest. Needless to say, I was wrong. I was so wrong. The feeling of being safe was nothing more than an illusion.

Heidi was playing the piano as Maxwell and I danced together. I stared out into the dark night and admired the lonesome moon. The stars were nowhere to be seen and the sky was so very black. I'd never seen it so dark. That should have been my clue that something was going to go wrong. I knew that we only had a couple of hours before the dawn. I could feel it and for the first time in a very long time, it bothered me. I wanted to stay awake just a little bit longer. We'd had a really great night. I didn't want it to end. I'd settled deeper into Maxwell's arms as we danced. He moved so gracefully. Not knowing why, he decided to share a secret with me. He shared that he has always loved to ballroom dance. "It has been a favorite pastime of mine," he said. "My wife, my human wife, she loved to dance."

I looked up at him ... surprised by his words. Maxwell has never been one for sharing. For just a brief moment, a flash of sadness passed through his eyes. "I never knew that you were married," I replied.

He nodded. "No one has ever asked me about my human life but I was. I was married and I was in love with her. Her name was Jillian. For three years," he whispered. "I was taken from her after only three years of marriage." He smiled at me. "I think of her often."

I rested my head on his shoulder as he held me tightly to him.

As Heidi was about to begin another song, the sounds of popping filled the air. Maxwell held me closer to his body. "Is that gun fire?"

Before I could answer, Charles came running into the room. "Run!" Charles screamed out. "Get her to safety now! They have come!"

He never got to tell us what was going on because he exploded right in front of us.

"Heidi, come," I said.

She stood from the piano bench. She took her knives from the sheaths. "I will be fine," she said. She looked at Maxwell and said, "Do as the master has ordered of us. Get her to safety. I will fend them off as best as I can."

Maxwell blurred me from the room before I could even see Heidi leave the room. He dragged me down the hall and forced me into my room. I tried to fight against him. I wanted to fight with him … as his side … at their sides. I didn't want to be hidden away like some priceless treasure. I'm anything but. I am a warrior. I am fucking fighter. I don't hide. I am no coward. "I can fight with you," I growled at him.

"No," he said. "Eric said to keep you safe and that is what I am going to do."

"But …"

"No!" he yelled at me. "You will stay here. Your life is important, Pam."

"As is yours," I exclaimed.

"If I don't return, stay in this room."

I said nothing.

He touched my face before locking me in my room and blurring away. I tried to stay put. I did but I could hear my friends and my humans as they fought and died … for me. I tried to remember that Eric said that I was not to put myself in danger. I tried to remember that my master told me how much I mean to him. I tried to hold onto how much he means to me. I knew that if anything happened to me, it would destroy him. I tried but I couldn't do it. I couldn't stand by and let my friends and my humans die while I stay locked away in that damned room. I am of my master's blood and he didn't make me to be a coward. That has never been what I am. That is not what he would truly want me to be. He knows that I can't stand by and let someone else fight my battles. My fight and my will to live is what drew him to me. I grabbed a sheet of paper from my desk and scribbled a note to Eric. Once it was written, I kissed it and slid it under my pillow.

"Forgive me, Eric," I whispered. I grabbed my swords from the wall before leaving my room.

Sadly, I was too late. My swords dropped onto the carpeted floor as I walked into my living room. There was so much blood. My humans were sprawled out on the floor. They were lying in pools of blood. My vampire friends were no more than globs of what they used to be. I could only imagine the carnage that waited for me outside of my home. The vampires that I've known for decades were now gone. The ones that I considered friends had been sent to their final death.

The pile of former vampire that was closest to the hallway, I'd assumed it was Maxwell. He died for me. I dropped to me knees and I cried. I'd failed them. I failed him. When they all needed me the most, I'd let them down. I'd let them die when I could've fought with them.

"Come with me, Pam."

I turned to see my enemy standing behind me with my swords in his hands. I stood from the floor and stared at him. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I couldn't believe who was standing before me. "Why, Maxwell? Why have you done this?" I looked out at the carnage that lay before us. I looked at the vampires that we'd both traveled with whom we both traveled the world. And he's killed them. He's sent them to their final death. "They were our friends."

He began to shake his head no as he ignored me. "I knew that you weren't going to do as you were told. As soon as I closed that door behind you, I said that you were going to come out and do the exact opposite of what you were supposed to do."

I looked down at the former vampire that was in front of me. "Who is this?"

"Clancy," he said. He laughed. "He tried but he was no match for me. He was quite young. No more than a century I do believe."

"Why?" I repeated.

Still holding onto my swords, he walked over to me and offered me his hand. "Come with me, Pam," he repeated.

"You will die for this," I whispered. "He will kill you just as soon as finds out what you've done."

Maxwell shook his head no. Pointing to glob that was on the floor, he said, "Enough of my blood is in the pile for him to believe that I have met my end. He will never know. The cameras were disarmed earlier this evening. Your regular guards have been replaced with new ones. I'm fairly safe for now. But if he does find out," he hurriedly added. "I am well prepared. When the time comes, he will see the light. He will know why this had to be done." He stepped in closer to me. "Come with me, Pam. I don't want to have to hurt you. I have always had an affinity to you."

I looked down at the swords in his hands and did as I was told. I walked ahead of him with my head held high and my back straight. He smiled at me and said, "I'm so glad that you've decided to finally do as you were told."

As I walked ahead of him, I said, "The least that you can do is tell me why."

He sighed. "No more questions, Pam. We don't have time for this. The sun will be upon us soon. The others will be here soon." He then chuckled. "Is that what you're banking on, old friend? That someone will be here to save you?" He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. "That is not going to happen. Everything has been taken care of."

I glanced behind me. "The swords in your hands are the only reason that you live."

"I can't disagree with that," he said. "You are one of the best fighters I've ever encountered. Eric taught you well. I knew that …"

I turned to face him. "You fucking coward," I said. "You are a disgrace to the blood that runs through your fucking veins. You will ..."

The last thing that I remember is the cracking of my jaw.

A few hours later, I woke up in a cage. A well decorated, silver cage. I sat up from the king sized bed and looked around me. I didn't know where I was or who Maxwell had delivered me to.

"I didn't know that vampers could wake up in the daytime." The young guard was smiling as he looked at me. "I had no fucking idea. Can you walk in the sun?"

"No, you fucking idiot," I said. "I'm a vampire that woke up during the daylight. I'm not a fucking human. I can just wake up early at times. Like today obviously." It is a gift that I've inherited from my maker. When I am distressed, I have the capacity to wake up early. Though, I am distressed, I can keep my feelings in check … for now. "Where am I?"

The guard shrugged his shoulders and walked away.

"Hey!" I yelled out as I walked to the silver bars.

Nothing.

I heard nothing.

"Someone talk to me!"

Nothing.

"Where am I?"

Still, I heard nothing.

I instantly thought of Eric and what he could be walking into if he goes to my home when he rises. I wrapped my hands around the silver bars and screamed out in pain. Though fear was the last thing that I wanted to send Eric, I needed to let him know that it has happened.

Painfully prying my hands from the bars, I walked slowly to the bed. I lied down and closed my eyes. With my hands face up, I smiled up at the ceiling. My master is going to find me. He's going to find me and he's going to bring me home but not before we kill them all.