Lost Souls ~ Part One
I was only a little girl when the vampire frenzy hit the world. Someone had discovered them living with people in our everyday lives and had exposed them to the planet. Hysteria and disbelief were everywhere. Politicians and religious
groups came together announcing the end of the world and life as we knew it. The military along with small armies of vigilantes had set out to exterminate the vampires but had returned unsuccessful, if they returned at all. Historians,
scholars and self-proclaimed vampire hunters also attempted to rid the world of this new monster. Poised with holy water, garlic, crosses and the midmorning sun at their backs, they ventured into prospective lairs trying to catch the
vampires off guard. No one knew that history and legend was wrong. The vampires did not hide from sun, the sign of God nor had any particular allergies to garlic. They too had returned unsuccessful in their plight. All efforts had
failed throughout time and the vampires still lived. That was nearly twenty years ago and the world was still intact, almost thriving as life went on as it tended to do.
I think it was maybe ten years after the start of the failed vampire extinction campaign that the vampires disappeared from sight. After nearly a decade of fighting for their existence among the humans they had literally vanished in the middle of the night. Their nightclub had become a gutted shell and their homes were deserted with for sale signs in the front yard. It made the news, like everything vampire did. It was always sensational, whether it was a sighting of a known vampire or how the disappearance of a small child was no doubt the work of a vampire in the neighborhood. Humans had found something to hate more than each other: vampires and they were easy targets.
I remember watching the news when I was barely sixteen, wondering how many vampires it must have taken to move their families in the middle of the night
and disappear without a trace. How could they have slipped past everyone’s eye? How was it no one saw where they had gone? I sat feeling sad, wondering if they
would ever return. Primetime news showed groups of men claiming that they had scared the vampires into leaving, that they had convinced them to move on. I
frowned at the t.v. not buying their stories for a minute. After ten years of fighting and watching their backs, it was a half a dozen toothless, beer drinking boys from a sleepy island town that finally did it? No, I didn’t think so. But the local town folk still revered them for saving the world.
It wasn’t until I was twenty-five that the world shook again with sightings of vampires. They had returned and settled in California. I was working as a waitress then and I remember how the news had broken through the lunch hour. Customers and employees gathered around the small, wall mounted television for the first bit of news on their return as well as the first glimpse. I was in front of the crowd, glued to the screen and waiting to see him. The one I had been fascinated with when I was just a girl and the only vampire that I had accidentally stumbled upon one night when I was fifteen, Gabriel.
The news anchor was recapping the last sighting of vampires when my mind started to wander…back to that night in Keaau when I first saw him…
I never felt very pretty but I knew I wasn’t ugly. I had brown wavy hair which was sometimes called "mousy" but was very nice if I managed to keep the
waves in check. My eyes were also brown, that my dad said reminded him of honey in the sun. To him I was his "honey girl". My skin was naturally tan from my
Portuguese and Hawaiian heritage which wasn’t very special on an island filled with tanned natives but my mother was always quick to point out my cleverly
placed beauty mark that was on my cheek, marking a spot for the perfect dimple. That, she said was unique. However, the girl that I had just caught my boyfriend
with was not as pretty as I was, or at least that’s what I thought when I ran away from the beach that October night. There were dozens of teens there, barbecuing, dancing and sitting around a bonfire. I had surprised my boyfriend, my first love Keoni and had decided to attend the party at that last minute. It was a surprise for both of us. By the time I saw him I only had a few short seconds of disbelief with racing thoughts before he and I made eye contact. He kissed her! I screamed in my head. He was sitting with Nani, a girl we went to school with, a cheerleader. Ugh how typical. I glared at him through the flames of the bonfire and turned and ran from him. Keoni chased after me screaming my name until he finally caught up with me and grabbed my arm.
"Angel, stop!" He spun me around.
"Let me go!" My tears were flowing and as much as I desperately didn’t want him to see them, I couldn’t stop them from coming.
"I’m sorry!" He shouted, as if that apology would be sufficient.
I yanked my arm from his grip, breathless from the sprint I paused to take a deep breath and glared up at him, "Nani?" I asked in disbelief. She had gone with just about every guy in school and her reputation was to be expected, not very flattering. "How could you?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "She likes me."
"You told me you didn’t like her!" I yelled at him.
I actively searched his eyes out while he continued to avoid my direct eye contact. He shrugged again, "She’s okay."
"You’re a liar!" I yelled again and stabbed his chest with my finger.
"Hey, I’m a guy and I have needs." He puffed his chest out.
My mouth was open as I stared at him, needs? What kind of needs, he was sixteen years old!
"Needs?" I repeated his word with emphasis.
"Yeah, I’m a guy and I have needs. I need a woman who does more than just kiss. And you hardly do that." He rolled his eyes.
I cocked my arm back and with all my strength tore through the air with my fist pounding him in the jaw and sending him staggering backwards. "You bastard!" I yelled.
He grabbed his jaw not saying a word but his eyes told me he was hurting.
"I never want to see you again! Leave me alone Keoni or so help me…" I waved my fist at him again and turned to run into the darkness.
I could hear him calling me, his voice drifting further away, "Angel! Where are you going?" When I didn’t respond he added, "Fine! Go then. Let a vampire
eat you in the dark!"
I ran wanting to burn all of the adrenaline that my heart was pumping. I needed to get away from him; I didn’t want to hear him anymore. I ran until I
literally couldn’t run anymore. I stopped and tried to walk, my hands on my hips and my chest heaving I tried to slow my heart down. My mother would be mad if
she knew I was running. Since I was little I had a bad heart, I was born with it. Four surgeries and countless medication later, I still had to be careful. I had regular doctor exams and daily medication to try and keep the rhythm in place. The doctor first told my parents that I wouldn’t live past thirteen and here I was fifteen, almost fifteen and a half. What did doctors know anyway? I thought to myself.
I stood in the dark looking around trying to recognize my surroundings while I rested. I could tell I still had quite a trek to get home. The only other solution was to go back to the beach and find a pay phone and call my mom to come get me. But I would rather die than go back there. I sat on a rock and rested, listening to my heart pound in my ears and hoping that it would slow down soon. I laid my arms on top of my legs and leaned over cradling my head, suddenly afraid of my heart giving out. It was terrible to live in fear of your body failing you. My heart had stopped so many times before and had been subsequently restarted that I honestly didn’t know how much more we could take. But then after thinking I would never see fourteen and making it clear to fifteen, well I was beginning to like the idea of living; of proving the doctors wrong and proving my mom wrong. I hoped that I hadn’t pushed myself too far this time.
A faint thought came quickly into my head, Keoni was shouting; Let a vampire eat you in the dark! My head shot up as I peered into the darkness. I looked around it was almost pitch black here. I fumbled in my pocket for my tiny flashlight that I used to see the key hole of my front door. I flicked it on and shone it around wondering if I was alone out here. So what if a vampire found me, maybe it would be better than just waiting to die from my heart. I sat up and tried to be brave, daring a dark shadow to come into the light. Ten minutes had passed and nothing had come to me. My heart was back to normal and I finally stood, wiped bits of dirt from my shorts and headed towards my house, somewhere in the distance.
A few minutes into my walk it started to rain. It was normal to have random rain showers in Hawaii; after all it was a tropical paradise. Lush green plants were overgrown and wild being constantly fed by sun rays and periodic showers. The rain was cool, which I did not appreciate. It quickly soaked through my threadbare shirt and cooled my already cold skin. I folded my arms across my chest and shivered slightly still pushing myself towards home.
I caught a glimpse of something sparkle in the brush. The moonlight hit is just right, making my heart practically leap out of my chest. I stopped instantly and stared wide eyed into the foliage. Nothing natural would shine like that; my eyes grew wider as I tried to see into the darkness. After a few unsettling moments I gingerly stepped forward, keeping my eyes peeled for that hint of sparkle, that tiny bit of reflective light that nearly gave me a heart attack. I walked around a large tree and there stood a man. He made no attempt to hide from me or move. He stood, looking directly at me once I came into full view. I stared up the length of his gigantic body. He was so tall I barely came up to his chest. From where he was standing I couldn’t see much, just a faint outline of his body, dark colored hair and his green, almost fluorescent eye color that pierced through the black and shone directly at me. His eyes were the only thing I could accurately make out and once he made eye contact I gasped.
I think I started to hyperventilate because my throat had become very dry. I couldn’t move, I was frozen in my spot staring at what I knew had to be a vampire. Little droplets of rain water on my eyelids were the only way I would blink. I stared at him waiting for him to move. I was afraid to run and it was pointless to scream. This area of Keaau was rural; no one would ever hear me out here. Another full body shudder ran through my body as I held myself tighter in the rain.
He stepped out of the darkness and stood under the small bit of moonlight that hung above us. I watched his gaze look quickly at my face, then down to my
feet before meeting my gaze again.
"You’re soaked. What are you doing out here?" He asked in a deep, masculine voice.
He spoke.
I kept thinking. I didn’t know whether to answer him, would it be rude not to?
He tilted his head to one side, almost like he was trying to read my thoughts through my eyes.
"Well?" He prompted.
"I-I’m going home." I stuttered, partly from the cold, mostly from fear.
"You don’t live around here. Where are you going?"
I pointed in the darkness ahead.
"Why are you alone? It’s dangerous out here and you’re a young girl."
Another shiver passed through my body.
Something in the dark caught his attention, his head turned staring into the bushes along the side of the path that we stood on.
"Are you a vampire?" I squeaked out. "Are you going to kill me?" I asked stupidly. I didn’t really want to know, that last part sort of slipped out.
His eyes turned back to me glowing with that perfect green hue.
"Yes." He said.
My heart dropped.
He continued, "I am a vampire and no, I’m not going to kill you." He turned and walked up the path a ways seeking out whatever had gotten his attention.
I followed behind him, not hearing or seeing anything in the bushes. "W-What are you looking for?" I whispered.
He stopped and turned his attention back to me. "Nothing." He pulled his shirt off over his head, a dark undershirt remained underneath. "Here, take this." He stepped closer to me and pushed the shirt down over my head, helping my arms through the sleeves. His shirt was damp from the rain but still fairly warm. I smiled thankful for the extra bit of protection from rain sprinkles and the cool, damp air.
"T-Thanks." I smiled up at him.
"You’re welcome." He turned and walked up the pathway pausing for just a moment to see if I was following him.
It took me a few seconds to realize that he was going to walk with me. I quickly sprung forward and caught up to him before he started walking again.
We walked silently for a little while, taking numerous paths along the ocean cliff before going deeper into nature. I knew these paths very well; I used to take them quite a bit when I was younger. My father and I would walk down here to go fishing once in a while. Up until my mother’s paranoia convinced him that it was unhealthy for me to walk so far. We started driving after that point, but I still remembered the way.
Every chance I got, I stole a quick peek at the man that walked next to me. He walked silently, not making a sound on the gravel beneath our feet. I tried to walk quietly too, I felt like an elephant walking on walnuts compared to him. He was beautiful; I had seen their pictures before, vampires I mean. They were all very lovely. I wondered if that was part of the attraction, of how they pulled you in. Amazing good looks, fabulous, magical eyes and a smile that could melt an iceberg, those were the vampires that I heard about. I was suddenly subconscious of my hair. The soft waves of my medium brown hair were frizzy and wet with beads of rain water cascading down one tendril at a time. I smoothed my hair down trying to make an impression. I could only imagine how ghastly I looked with my frizzy, brown-blah hair. He turned to look at me; I stopped stroking my hair and smiled sheepishly. He smiled back before returning his gaze to the path ahead.
I rolled my eyes thinking how excruciating it was to be caught primping in front of a vampire.
"What’s your name?" I finally got the courage to squeak it out although it came out barely audible.
"Gabriel. What’s yours?"
"Angel." I smiled because he asked my name. My heart was fluttering but somehow I figured that was a good thing.
"So Angel, do you want to tell me why you’re out here walking in the middle of the night by yourself and far from home?"
"I got into a fight with my boyfriend." As soon as the word left my mouth I regretted it.
"Boyfriend?" He asked.
No, no, no, not boyfriend. I’m single! I shouted in my head.
"My ex-boyfriend." I corrected.
"Aren’t you a little young for a boyfriend?" He asked.
I was offended. How could he say that? "No, I’m fif-sixteen years old!"
He looked at me briefly and smiled. "Sixteen, huh? You sure?"
"Yes." I lied. "Besides, that’s not young. Girls are dating when they’re thirteen now." I added for good measure.
"Okay." He was appeasing me.
We walked quietly for a few more minutes when I finally had to fess up. "I’m almost sixteen."
He smiled again, not looking at me this time.
A few more minutes of silence and Gabriel grabbed ahold of my arm stopping me in my tracks. I looked up at him in surprise but he wasn’t looking at me. He was
looking into the bushes along the road.
A couple of boys jumped out of the foliage laughing and being generally obnoxious. They clutched onto a few brown paper bags and reeked of alcohol. One
boy who was oblivious to me standing a few feet from him finally looked up and smiled. His smile quickly faded when he met Gabriel’s eyes. He instantly stepped
several feet back putting more distance between him and the vampire. His buddy finally became aware of Gabriel too. The two of them dashed up the one-lane road
before vanishing through the trees. "Damn vampire!" Was the last thing I heard.
I looked up at Gabriel, smiling and thankful that he was here. He released my arm and we continued our walk.
He glanced down at me, "So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong with your heart?"
My eyes got wide, "How-how did you know that?"
"I can sense things in people."
"I was born with a congenital heart defect."
He looked at me, still listening.
"I had a couple of surgeries when I was kid that closed a hole that I had." I tried to make light of it, "And now I’m fine." I smiled a phony smile.
"No, you’re not fine." He said.
"What do you mean?" I got nervous.
"Your heart is working hard, I can hear it. You’ve had an overly exciting day. Do you take medication?"
"Yes." I was still stunned, listening more intently to him than any doctor I had ever visited.
"That’s good. You should take it easy." He said.
I nodded. Still hanging on every word he uttered.
"Exercise is good so long as you don’t push your tiny body too far."
Tiny?
My doctor always told me that I needed to lose a few pounds. I haven’t been tiny since I was a baby. I suddenly felt very pretty, much prettier than
Nani. I had a vampire that was escorting me home and calling me tiny. I smiled brightly at him.
He caught my expression, "What?" He asked curiously.
"Nothing." I continued to smile but looked away.
I was very disappointed when my house came into view. I didn’t want to stop talking to Gabriel. He had been the first vampire I had ever met and was so
beautiful I knew that he would be in my dreams for months to come. I wondered if I should just keep walking and loop around behind the house for an extra mile of
time with him. No, he’s too smart, he’d figure out what I did.
My once happy expression dropped when I stated that I was home. "This is it."
He looked up at the house with a single porch light and stopped beside me.
I pulled his shirt over my head and handed it to him. "Thanks again."
"Sure." He folded it in half and draped it over his shoulder.
I stared at him not wanting to leave or say goodbye.
He smiled a slight smile as if he could read my innermost thoughts. I hoped he couldn’t.
His expression became solemn. "You’re a good girl. I can see it in your eyes."
I smiled again.
"I can fix your heart."
"Huh?"
"I can."
"How?"
"My blood."
My eyes got wide. "Your blood?"
"If you drink my blood, it will fix you."
My thoughts went racing, wondering what it would be like to taste a vampire’s blood and then what it would be like to be normal. I didn’t know what to do or say while he stood watching me wrestle with my thoughts.
"Why would you do that?" I whispered.
He thought for a moment, "If time has taught me anything, it’s that life is precious, every life. Albeit some people that are healthy don’t deserve to be and others that are sick deserve to be well. You have a good soul and I don’t like the idea of you not being able to be healthy and live your life the way you want. You should be happy; living in fear is not living at all."
He pulled a stray hair from my face and I melted inside. "I can see you trying to be brave but I also see your fear. If you want, I can heal you but you must decide now."
I couldn’t speak, I nodded. Maybe because he was standing so close I thought he asked if he could kiss me. Perhaps he said something about healing me, I had
no idea. As long as he touched me, I didn’t care.
I was brought back to reality when he quickly tore through his forearm lengthwise. Crimson, almost black looking blood rushed to the surface just before he placed his arm to my lips.
"Drink this."
I quickly looked into his flickering green eyes and took hold of his arm placing it to my mouth. My lips parted and sweet, warm blood flooded my mouth. It tasted like blood, only different. It wasn’t as metallic as I remember my blood tasting. It had a hearty but subtle sweetness to it that made it very easy to take. After a few short seconds he pulled his arm away, ran his tongue quickly over the wound and instantly sealed the vein. I watched closely as the parted skin grew together and the flowing of blood abruptly stopped.
I licked my lips and tasted the last bit of his blood. When I looked up at him his eyes were slightly darker.
"Good night Angel." He kissed the top of my head.
He turned and walked away from me.
"Wait! Am I going to see you again?" I yelled after him.
His body quickly sped up and disappeared into the darkness while I stood there and watched, waiting for maybe one more glimpse.
I never saw him again after that. Never any vampire for that matter, they had all disappeared. He was like a dream coming into my life briefly and disappearing without a trace. All evidence of him was gone except for my own memory and my miraculous recovery. My doctor’s patted themselves on the back declaring that they knew that I would outgrow this defect in time. I sat with my mother and father who were both beaming at the doctor’s and thanking them profusely. My mind wandered, thinking about Gabriel and knowing the truth. Thank goodness I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut; the last thing I wanted was to be a scientific guinea pig if they ever found out a vampire had shared his blood with me.
I snapped back to reality, ten years later and staring at a television waiting to see him. I thought briefly of all the allegations of child kidnappings and murders being tied to vampires and I knew that was not true. Gabriel had the chance to hurt me if he wanted to, instead he healed me. Not all vampires were evil like the media had portrayed them to be, not him, not Gabriel.
I had found out a few years after I met him that he was one of the leaders of the coven, a pureblood. My heart danced when I thought that it wasn’t some random, "still feeling a human’s conscience" vampire had saved me but one of the first, original purebloods; an elder, an old, powerful and incredibly gorgeous vampire.
A quick glimpse and I saw him on the screen, I gasped out loud and had to cover my mouth. It was him, he still looked the same. Completely untouched by age and somehow even more exquisite than I remembered. They were in California, I kept repeating in my mind. I had to go to California, I had to see him. He would remember me, I could thank him and tell him that I was cured, he healed me and it had worked. I wanted it more than anything, just to leave, to dash out of the restaurant, quickly pack and jump on a plane but that wasn’t realistic. Tickets to the mainland were expensive, especially at a moment’s notice. I already started mentally counting what was left in my bank account along with the tips in my pocket and my projected tips throughout the night. I still only had about three hundred dollars to my name. Not nearly enough for a round trip ticket.
My boss came up and turned off the t.v., "Alright, break it up no more to see." He shooed the waitresses and busboys away and sent us back to work. Vampire news was still sensational news, they were exciting! We couldn’t help ourselves. I tried for the rest of the night to be on top of my game, hoping for the best tips ever.
groups came together announcing the end of the world and life as we knew it. The military along with small armies of vigilantes had set out to exterminate the vampires but had returned unsuccessful, if they returned at all. Historians,
scholars and self-proclaimed vampire hunters also attempted to rid the world of this new monster. Poised with holy water, garlic, crosses and the midmorning sun at their backs, they ventured into prospective lairs trying to catch the
vampires off guard. No one knew that history and legend was wrong. The vampires did not hide from sun, the sign of God nor had any particular allergies to garlic. They too had returned unsuccessful in their plight. All efforts had
failed throughout time and the vampires still lived. That was nearly twenty years ago and the world was still intact, almost thriving as life went on as it tended to do.
I think it was maybe ten years after the start of the failed vampire extinction campaign that the vampires disappeared from sight. After nearly a decade of fighting for their existence among the humans they had literally vanished in the middle of the night. Their nightclub had become a gutted shell and their homes were deserted with for sale signs in the front yard. It made the news, like everything vampire did. It was always sensational, whether it was a sighting of a known vampire or how the disappearance of a small child was no doubt the work of a vampire in the neighborhood. Humans had found something to hate more than each other: vampires and they were easy targets.
I remember watching the news when I was barely sixteen, wondering how many vampires it must have taken to move their families in the middle of the night
and disappear without a trace. How could they have slipped past everyone’s eye? How was it no one saw where they had gone? I sat feeling sad, wondering if they
would ever return. Primetime news showed groups of men claiming that they had scared the vampires into leaving, that they had convinced them to move on. I
frowned at the t.v. not buying their stories for a minute. After ten years of fighting and watching their backs, it was a half a dozen toothless, beer drinking boys from a sleepy island town that finally did it? No, I didn’t think so. But the local town folk still revered them for saving the world.
It wasn’t until I was twenty-five that the world shook again with sightings of vampires. They had returned and settled in California. I was working as a waitress then and I remember how the news had broken through the lunch hour. Customers and employees gathered around the small, wall mounted television for the first bit of news on their return as well as the first glimpse. I was in front of the crowd, glued to the screen and waiting to see him. The one I had been fascinated with when I was just a girl and the only vampire that I had accidentally stumbled upon one night when I was fifteen, Gabriel.
The news anchor was recapping the last sighting of vampires when my mind started to wander…back to that night in Keaau when I first saw him…
I never felt very pretty but I knew I wasn’t ugly. I had brown wavy hair which was sometimes called "mousy" but was very nice if I managed to keep the
waves in check. My eyes were also brown, that my dad said reminded him of honey in the sun. To him I was his "honey girl". My skin was naturally tan from my
Portuguese and Hawaiian heritage which wasn’t very special on an island filled with tanned natives but my mother was always quick to point out my cleverly
placed beauty mark that was on my cheek, marking a spot for the perfect dimple. That, she said was unique. However, the girl that I had just caught my boyfriend
with was not as pretty as I was, or at least that’s what I thought when I ran away from the beach that October night. There were dozens of teens there, barbecuing, dancing and sitting around a bonfire. I had surprised my boyfriend, my first love Keoni and had decided to attend the party at that last minute. It was a surprise for both of us. By the time I saw him I only had a few short seconds of disbelief with racing thoughts before he and I made eye contact. He kissed her! I screamed in my head. He was sitting with Nani, a girl we went to school with, a cheerleader. Ugh how typical. I glared at him through the flames of the bonfire and turned and ran from him. Keoni chased after me screaming my name until he finally caught up with me and grabbed my arm.
"Angel, stop!" He spun me around.
"Let me go!" My tears were flowing and as much as I desperately didn’t want him to see them, I couldn’t stop them from coming.
"I’m sorry!" He shouted, as if that apology would be sufficient.
I yanked my arm from his grip, breathless from the sprint I paused to take a deep breath and glared up at him, "Nani?" I asked in disbelief. She had gone with just about every guy in school and her reputation was to be expected, not very flattering. "How could you?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "She likes me."
"You told me you didn’t like her!" I yelled at him.
I actively searched his eyes out while he continued to avoid my direct eye contact. He shrugged again, "She’s okay."
"You’re a liar!" I yelled again and stabbed his chest with my finger.
"Hey, I’m a guy and I have needs." He puffed his chest out.
My mouth was open as I stared at him, needs? What kind of needs, he was sixteen years old!
"Needs?" I repeated his word with emphasis.
"Yeah, I’m a guy and I have needs. I need a woman who does more than just kiss. And you hardly do that." He rolled his eyes.
I cocked my arm back and with all my strength tore through the air with my fist pounding him in the jaw and sending him staggering backwards. "You bastard!" I yelled.
He grabbed his jaw not saying a word but his eyes told me he was hurting.
"I never want to see you again! Leave me alone Keoni or so help me…" I waved my fist at him again and turned to run into the darkness.
I could hear him calling me, his voice drifting further away, "Angel! Where are you going?" When I didn’t respond he added, "Fine! Go then. Let a vampire
eat you in the dark!"
I ran wanting to burn all of the adrenaline that my heart was pumping. I needed to get away from him; I didn’t want to hear him anymore. I ran until I
literally couldn’t run anymore. I stopped and tried to walk, my hands on my hips and my chest heaving I tried to slow my heart down. My mother would be mad if
she knew I was running. Since I was little I had a bad heart, I was born with it. Four surgeries and countless medication later, I still had to be careful. I had regular doctor exams and daily medication to try and keep the rhythm in place. The doctor first told my parents that I wouldn’t live past thirteen and here I was fifteen, almost fifteen and a half. What did doctors know anyway? I thought to myself.
I stood in the dark looking around trying to recognize my surroundings while I rested. I could tell I still had quite a trek to get home. The only other solution was to go back to the beach and find a pay phone and call my mom to come get me. But I would rather die than go back there. I sat on a rock and rested, listening to my heart pound in my ears and hoping that it would slow down soon. I laid my arms on top of my legs and leaned over cradling my head, suddenly afraid of my heart giving out. It was terrible to live in fear of your body failing you. My heart had stopped so many times before and had been subsequently restarted that I honestly didn’t know how much more we could take. But then after thinking I would never see fourteen and making it clear to fifteen, well I was beginning to like the idea of living; of proving the doctors wrong and proving my mom wrong. I hoped that I hadn’t pushed myself too far this time.
A faint thought came quickly into my head, Keoni was shouting; Let a vampire eat you in the dark! My head shot up as I peered into the darkness. I looked around it was almost pitch black here. I fumbled in my pocket for my tiny flashlight that I used to see the key hole of my front door. I flicked it on and shone it around wondering if I was alone out here. So what if a vampire found me, maybe it would be better than just waiting to die from my heart. I sat up and tried to be brave, daring a dark shadow to come into the light. Ten minutes had passed and nothing had come to me. My heart was back to normal and I finally stood, wiped bits of dirt from my shorts and headed towards my house, somewhere in the distance.
A few minutes into my walk it started to rain. It was normal to have random rain showers in Hawaii; after all it was a tropical paradise. Lush green plants were overgrown and wild being constantly fed by sun rays and periodic showers. The rain was cool, which I did not appreciate. It quickly soaked through my threadbare shirt and cooled my already cold skin. I folded my arms across my chest and shivered slightly still pushing myself towards home.
I caught a glimpse of something sparkle in the brush. The moonlight hit is just right, making my heart practically leap out of my chest. I stopped instantly and stared wide eyed into the foliage. Nothing natural would shine like that; my eyes grew wider as I tried to see into the darkness. After a few unsettling moments I gingerly stepped forward, keeping my eyes peeled for that hint of sparkle, that tiny bit of reflective light that nearly gave me a heart attack. I walked around a large tree and there stood a man. He made no attempt to hide from me or move. He stood, looking directly at me once I came into full view. I stared up the length of his gigantic body. He was so tall I barely came up to his chest. From where he was standing I couldn’t see much, just a faint outline of his body, dark colored hair and his green, almost fluorescent eye color that pierced through the black and shone directly at me. His eyes were the only thing I could accurately make out and once he made eye contact I gasped.
I think I started to hyperventilate because my throat had become very dry. I couldn’t move, I was frozen in my spot staring at what I knew had to be a vampire. Little droplets of rain water on my eyelids were the only way I would blink. I stared at him waiting for him to move. I was afraid to run and it was pointless to scream. This area of Keaau was rural; no one would ever hear me out here. Another full body shudder ran through my body as I held myself tighter in the rain.
He stepped out of the darkness and stood under the small bit of moonlight that hung above us. I watched his gaze look quickly at my face, then down to my
feet before meeting my gaze again.
"You’re soaked. What are you doing out here?" He asked in a deep, masculine voice.
He spoke.
I kept thinking. I didn’t know whether to answer him, would it be rude not to?
He tilted his head to one side, almost like he was trying to read my thoughts through my eyes.
"Well?" He prompted.
"I-I’m going home." I stuttered, partly from the cold, mostly from fear.
"You don’t live around here. Where are you going?"
I pointed in the darkness ahead.
"Why are you alone? It’s dangerous out here and you’re a young girl."
Another shiver passed through my body.
Something in the dark caught his attention, his head turned staring into the bushes along the side of the path that we stood on.
"Are you a vampire?" I squeaked out. "Are you going to kill me?" I asked stupidly. I didn’t really want to know, that last part sort of slipped out.
His eyes turned back to me glowing with that perfect green hue.
"Yes." He said.
My heart dropped.
He continued, "I am a vampire and no, I’m not going to kill you." He turned and walked up the path a ways seeking out whatever had gotten his attention.
I followed behind him, not hearing or seeing anything in the bushes. "W-What are you looking for?" I whispered.
He stopped and turned his attention back to me. "Nothing." He pulled his shirt off over his head, a dark undershirt remained underneath. "Here, take this." He stepped closer to me and pushed the shirt down over my head, helping my arms through the sleeves. His shirt was damp from the rain but still fairly warm. I smiled thankful for the extra bit of protection from rain sprinkles and the cool, damp air.
"T-Thanks." I smiled up at him.
"You’re welcome." He turned and walked up the pathway pausing for just a moment to see if I was following him.
It took me a few seconds to realize that he was going to walk with me. I quickly sprung forward and caught up to him before he started walking again.
We walked silently for a little while, taking numerous paths along the ocean cliff before going deeper into nature. I knew these paths very well; I used to take them quite a bit when I was younger. My father and I would walk down here to go fishing once in a while. Up until my mother’s paranoia convinced him that it was unhealthy for me to walk so far. We started driving after that point, but I still remembered the way.
Every chance I got, I stole a quick peek at the man that walked next to me. He walked silently, not making a sound on the gravel beneath our feet. I tried to walk quietly too, I felt like an elephant walking on walnuts compared to him. He was beautiful; I had seen their pictures before, vampires I mean. They were all very lovely. I wondered if that was part of the attraction, of how they pulled you in. Amazing good looks, fabulous, magical eyes and a smile that could melt an iceberg, those were the vampires that I heard about. I was suddenly subconscious of my hair. The soft waves of my medium brown hair were frizzy and wet with beads of rain water cascading down one tendril at a time. I smoothed my hair down trying to make an impression. I could only imagine how ghastly I looked with my frizzy, brown-blah hair. He turned to look at me; I stopped stroking my hair and smiled sheepishly. He smiled back before returning his gaze to the path ahead.
I rolled my eyes thinking how excruciating it was to be caught primping in front of a vampire.
"What’s your name?" I finally got the courage to squeak it out although it came out barely audible.
"Gabriel. What’s yours?"
"Angel." I smiled because he asked my name. My heart was fluttering but somehow I figured that was a good thing.
"So Angel, do you want to tell me why you’re out here walking in the middle of the night by yourself and far from home?"
"I got into a fight with my boyfriend." As soon as the word left my mouth I regretted it.
"Boyfriend?" He asked.
No, no, no, not boyfriend. I’m single! I shouted in my head.
"My ex-boyfriend." I corrected.
"Aren’t you a little young for a boyfriend?" He asked.
I was offended. How could he say that? "No, I’m fif-sixteen years old!"
He looked at me briefly and smiled. "Sixteen, huh? You sure?"
"Yes." I lied. "Besides, that’s not young. Girls are dating when they’re thirteen now." I added for good measure.
"Okay." He was appeasing me.
We walked quietly for a few more minutes when I finally had to fess up. "I’m almost sixteen."
He smiled again, not looking at me this time.
A few more minutes of silence and Gabriel grabbed ahold of my arm stopping me in my tracks. I looked up at him in surprise but he wasn’t looking at me. He was
looking into the bushes along the road.
A couple of boys jumped out of the foliage laughing and being generally obnoxious. They clutched onto a few brown paper bags and reeked of alcohol. One
boy who was oblivious to me standing a few feet from him finally looked up and smiled. His smile quickly faded when he met Gabriel’s eyes. He instantly stepped
several feet back putting more distance between him and the vampire. His buddy finally became aware of Gabriel too. The two of them dashed up the one-lane road
before vanishing through the trees. "Damn vampire!" Was the last thing I heard.
I looked up at Gabriel, smiling and thankful that he was here. He released my arm and we continued our walk.
He glanced down at me, "So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong with your heart?"
My eyes got wide, "How-how did you know that?"
"I can sense things in people."
"I was born with a congenital heart defect."
He looked at me, still listening.
"I had a couple of surgeries when I was kid that closed a hole that I had." I tried to make light of it, "And now I’m fine." I smiled a phony smile.
"No, you’re not fine." He said.
"What do you mean?" I got nervous.
"Your heart is working hard, I can hear it. You’ve had an overly exciting day. Do you take medication?"
"Yes." I was still stunned, listening more intently to him than any doctor I had ever visited.
"That’s good. You should take it easy." He said.
I nodded. Still hanging on every word he uttered.
"Exercise is good so long as you don’t push your tiny body too far."
Tiny?
My doctor always told me that I needed to lose a few pounds. I haven’t been tiny since I was a baby. I suddenly felt very pretty, much prettier than
Nani. I had a vampire that was escorting me home and calling me tiny. I smiled brightly at him.
He caught my expression, "What?" He asked curiously.
"Nothing." I continued to smile but looked away.
I was very disappointed when my house came into view. I didn’t want to stop talking to Gabriel. He had been the first vampire I had ever met and was so
beautiful I knew that he would be in my dreams for months to come. I wondered if I should just keep walking and loop around behind the house for an extra mile of
time with him. No, he’s too smart, he’d figure out what I did.
My once happy expression dropped when I stated that I was home. "This is it."
He looked up at the house with a single porch light and stopped beside me.
I pulled his shirt over my head and handed it to him. "Thanks again."
"Sure." He folded it in half and draped it over his shoulder.
I stared at him not wanting to leave or say goodbye.
He smiled a slight smile as if he could read my innermost thoughts. I hoped he couldn’t.
His expression became solemn. "You’re a good girl. I can see it in your eyes."
I smiled again.
"I can fix your heart."
"Huh?"
"I can."
"How?"
"My blood."
My eyes got wide. "Your blood?"
"If you drink my blood, it will fix you."
My thoughts went racing, wondering what it would be like to taste a vampire’s blood and then what it would be like to be normal. I didn’t know what to do or say while he stood watching me wrestle with my thoughts.
"Why would you do that?" I whispered.
He thought for a moment, "If time has taught me anything, it’s that life is precious, every life. Albeit some people that are healthy don’t deserve to be and others that are sick deserve to be well. You have a good soul and I don’t like the idea of you not being able to be healthy and live your life the way you want. You should be happy; living in fear is not living at all."
He pulled a stray hair from my face and I melted inside. "I can see you trying to be brave but I also see your fear. If you want, I can heal you but you must decide now."
I couldn’t speak, I nodded. Maybe because he was standing so close I thought he asked if he could kiss me. Perhaps he said something about healing me, I had
no idea. As long as he touched me, I didn’t care.
I was brought back to reality when he quickly tore through his forearm lengthwise. Crimson, almost black looking blood rushed to the surface just before he placed his arm to my lips.
"Drink this."
I quickly looked into his flickering green eyes and took hold of his arm placing it to my mouth. My lips parted and sweet, warm blood flooded my mouth. It tasted like blood, only different. It wasn’t as metallic as I remember my blood tasting. It had a hearty but subtle sweetness to it that made it very easy to take. After a few short seconds he pulled his arm away, ran his tongue quickly over the wound and instantly sealed the vein. I watched closely as the parted skin grew together and the flowing of blood abruptly stopped.
I licked my lips and tasted the last bit of his blood. When I looked up at him his eyes were slightly darker.
"Good night Angel." He kissed the top of my head.
He turned and walked away from me.
"Wait! Am I going to see you again?" I yelled after him.
His body quickly sped up and disappeared into the darkness while I stood there and watched, waiting for maybe one more glimpse.
I never saw him again after that. Never any vampire for that matter, they had all disappeared. He was like a dream coming into my life briefly and disappearing without a trace. All evidence of him was gone except for my own memory and my miraculous recovery. My doctor’s patted themselves on the back declaring that they knew that I would outgrow this defect in time. I sat with my mother and father who were both beaming at the doctor’s and thanking them profusely. My mind wandered, thinking about Gabriel and knowing the truth. Thank goodness I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut; the last thing I wanted was to be a scientific guinea pig if they ever found out a vampire had shared his blood with me.
I snapped back to reality, ten years later and staring at a television waiting to see him. I thought briefly of all the allegations of child kidnappings and murders being tied to vampires and I knew that was not true. Gabriel had the chance to hurt me if he wanted to, instead he healed me. Not all vampires were evil like the media had portrayed them to be, not him, not Gabriel.
I had found out a few years after I met him that he was one of the leaders of the coven, a pureblood. My heart danced when I thought that it wasn’t some random, "still feeling a human’s conscience" vampire had saved me but one of the first, original purebloods; an elder, an old, powerful and incredibly gorgeous vampire.
A quick glimpse and I saw him on the screen, I gasped out loud and had to cover my mouth. It was him, he still looked the same. Completely untouched by age and somehow even more exquisite than I remembered. They were in California, I kept repeating in my mind. I had to go to California, I had to see him. He would remember me, I could thank him and tell him that I was cured, he healed me and it had worked. I wanted it more than anything, just to leave, to dash out of the restaurant, quickly pack and jump on a plane but that wasn’t realistic. Tickets to the mainland were expensive, especially at a moment’s notice. I already started mentally counting what was left in my bank account along with the tips in my pocket and my projected tips throughout the night. I still only had about three hundred dollars to my name. Not nearly enough for a round trip ticket.
My boss came up and turned off the t.v., "Alright, break it up no more to see." He shooed the waitresses and busboys away and sent us back to work. Vampire news was still sensational news, they were exciting! We couldn’t help ourselves. I tried for the rest of the night to be on top of my game, hoping for the best tips ever.
Part Two
Every day was a challenge for me. I watched every penny making sure that by the end of the month I was able to afford my trip to the mainland. I couldn’t miss this opportunity to see Gabriel again and I was far too impatient to extend my time frame any longer.
How silly and impulsive I had been thinking I’d land somewhere in California and run into him. I searched the web for any results on vampire listings. They had several web sites dedicated to their location, much like repeat felons and
child molesters. I found an area in southern California that had a high concentration of vampire activity and purchased my plane ticket. It was still a shot in the dark but I had to try. I would find him. It seemed obsessive, and
perhaps it was just a little bit but I quickly dismissed the creepiness I felt and continued to pack.
I had to tell my parents that I was going to Washington instead of California. They never would have allowed me to get on the plane if they knew the truth. I hated the lies that flowed from my mouth the last couple of weeks. I always felt that I had no control over bad choices and learning experiences but I had a choice as to what came out of my mouth. Lately if I spoke of my trip at all, it was all lies which I hated. I did my best to say as little as possible to my friends and my family.
Once I was at the airport I checked in, signed a release waiver stating that I knew I was flying into vampire territory and boarded the plane for San Diego.
Eight hours later I landed, with the time change I had arrived just after ten p.m. I had left the rain in Hawaii only to have it follow me. The rain was pelting the waiting cars outside of the airport; I stood just beneath a flimsy overhang trying not to get wet while I waited for a rental car. I could hear distant thunder
rolling through the clouds creating a solemn feeling when I should have been elated. Lightning flashed overhead scattering narrow fingers of light through the darkened clouds. I tried to shake a small ominous feeling that was trying to get inside my head and decided to flip through pages of the local phone book for listings on vampire clubs in town. When that failed I bravely asked the man next to me in line if he knew of where the club Lost Souls was located. He gave me a stern, disapproving glance and purposefully stepped away from me.
I knew that being "friendly" with the vampires was not widely accepted but for all he knew I was going there to kill them. Why the prejudice? I sighed and tried
again with the lady at my right, she was standing near the curb attempting to hail a taxi.
"Excuse me ma’am, do you know where I can find the club Lost Souls?"
She turned to me, wearing dark sunglasses, which I thought was very peculiar. She looked me over quietly before speaking in a soft, silvery voice, "That is a
vampire club."
"Yes, I know. I want to go there." I was trying to think of an answer as to why I wanted to go. I figured that would be her next question. But it never came.
She removed her sunglasses; golden yellow eyes looked back at me. Small bits of fire and flame danced across her iris’s studying me once more and warming my
whole body.
"I am going there now. Perhaps you’d like to join me?" She asked, smiling politely just wide enough to see small points of vampire teeth.
It was almost too easy, but I’d be a fool to say no after all I’d been through. It wasn’t lack of fear that made me join her in her cab but the complete faith that I
had in the only vampire I had ever met. I chose to believe that if Gabriel had a hand in selecting this vampire then he had taught her well. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and sat next to her in the cab.
The windshield wipers squeaked and rattled across the glass trying to clear the view for the driver but they were too old to do their job. It was difficult to see outside which made me a bit nervous. I reached for my seatbelt tucked deep within the cushion and secured myself.
"Where to?" The cabbie asked through the heavy metal mesh casing that protected him from his riders.
"Centre City, Lost Souls." My companion stated.
"That’s gonna cost ya extra." He replied, just before darting into traffic.
The longer I sat in the cab, the stronger an odor became apparent to me. It was a sour smell that made me wish it wasn’t raining so I could roll the window down. I looked around wondering what I was sitting in or perhaps what may be on the floorboards. My companion watched me intently as I lifted my feet and searched for the nauseating odor.
"What are you doing?" She finally asked.
"Can’t you smell that?" I wrinkled my nose.
"I make it a point not to breathe. If I do it’s for the sole purpose of talking and I tend to do it through my mouth. Perhaps you should try that?"
"You only breathe when you talk?"
"Have you ever tried to speak or scream when someone is strangling you? Tell me what happens." She responded nonchalantly.
I couldn’t say that I had ever been strangled but I had watched a lot of horror movies.
"I guess it’s not possible." I deduced.
"Exactly."
I tried to breathe through my mouth but the subconscious feeling of being able to taste this nasty air wasn’t making me feel any better. I decided to tough it out through my nose but I did crack the window just a bit.
The cabbie was looking in his rear view mirror with wide, dark brown eyes. "You a vamp?" He asked when our eyes met.
I shook my head profusely, "No sir."
His eyes darted between the road and the mirror keeping a watchful eye on both of us.
I stole a glance at the vampire sitting to my left. I was always amazed at how lovely vampires were in general. Aesthetically beautiful in every way, I wondered if they were chosen for their good looks or if it was a side effect of the vampirism. She sat silently looking out of her window, long, slender legs were gracefully crossed with her delicate hands resting on her lap. Her hair was tied behind her ears and covered with a silken scarf. Full curls of black hair cascaded over her shoulder and lay neatly against her chest. I stroked my unruly hair, feeling the frizz. No doubt Gabriel would recognize me by my hair alone, I thought.
I admired her sylphlike figure and again became conscious of my shortcomings. I tugged at my skirt that was knee high, trying to cover my full, shapely thighs. I
straightened my rain dampened shirt and tried to sit up straight so my belly wouldn’t show through. I grabbed handfuls of my hair and pulled it to one side, combing it through with my fingers and hoping that would help. It was no use, if I was this insecure with a stranger, how would I be with Gabriel? I sighed which got the attention of the pretty vampire.
After a few short moments she spoke, "Tell me, why is it a young woman is looking for Lost Souls?"
I looked up and met her gaze with a slight smile, "I’m going to see Gabriel. Do you know him?" I was hopeful.
"Gabriel?" It was then that I noticed she had a bit of an accent. Her tongue carefully rolled the ‘r’ sound when she spoke his name.
I nodded.
"Yes, I know him." She smiled in a friendly way.
"Really?" I was beaming.
"Oh yes, all vampires do." She turned to look out of the window again. "Look there, young human. It’s Centre City, we are almost there."
I leaned over slightly, not wanting to crowd her. I could see the tall buildings in the distance and spot lights shining upwards meeting the lightning halfway. It
was perfect, just as I imagined.
Centre City,
I thought to myself. I made it, I’m here.
"Where are you from?" She asked politely.
"Hawaii."
"And what does your family think of you traveling into vampire territory?"
I had heard that elders had special powers. They had gifts that allowed them to sense things about people. I wasn’t sure how old she was or if she could sense a lie from the truth but thought it was best not to risk offending her.
I smiled, a bit embarrassed, "They don’t know I’m here, no one does."
"Brave girl…so, you’ve come all this way for Gabriel?"
"Yes."
"Is he expecting you?"
"No, I doubt he even remembers me." I giggled like a school girl wondering what his expression would be.
"Well, I can take you to him." She smiled.
"Really?" I was beaming. "That would be amazing, thank you so much!"
A few minutes later and we had pulled up in front of Lost Souls. A large warehouse of a building converted into a nightclub. There weren’t many cars in the parking lot but I could hear the music booming from the street.
The cab driver was quick to leave the area, once he was paid. That left me and the mysterious vampire standing outside of the club doors.
"Follow me." She instructed.
The two of us walked past the doorman, who had quickly opened the door allowing us easy access to the club. No one questioned me or asked for my I.D., I felt
important.
I followed close to the vampire that led the way towards the back of the near deserted club. There were a few dancers and people sitting at the bars but it was difficult to tell whether they were human or not. Most of them seemed to be lost in another world, far from normal. The tiny hairs on my arms and the back of
my neck stood on end. I didn’t know if it was the idea of being in a vampire club or something else that bothered me but I tried to stay calm.
"I’m sorry, but I never asked your name." I smiled to the back of the vampire leading the way down a corridor.
"Miryea." She responded.
"I’m Angel, pleased to meet…" My sentence was cut off.
Miryea spun around pinning me to against the wall. Her hand tightly gripped my throat tilting my head to one side. In an instant I saw her yellow eyes bleed to red just seconds before a searing pain made me want to scream out loud. My mouth dropped open but no sound escaped my throat as the fangs of the vampire repeatedly bit through my flesh, tearing at the skin and releasing hot blood from the vein in my neck. The biting finally seized and was replaced by ravenous
licking and sucking of blood from my neck and collarbone. The moans coming from her throat told me she was either very hungry or enjoying herself. Both ideas
terrified me as I tried to hold onto to hope that these weren’t my last moments alive.
Still I couldn’t breathe and my body was starting to convulse, attempting to take a breath of air and feed my oxygen-starved body. I grabbed ahold of her
hand trying to remove her grip but her strength was incredible and didn’t budge through all my efforts.
Although my eyes were wide and focusing on a small sconce that hung on the wall a black veil, starting from the outer part of my eyes began to cover my vision. I kept my eyes as wide as I could struggling to stay conscious but my sight had disappeared, leaving only the sounds of feverous lapping and the sounds of a familiar voice.
"Miryea, release her." He spoke.
The grip on my throat released at once and I inhaled deeply. It was too late, I was still fading but maintaining consciousness long enough to feel the impact of the floor and then there was nothing…only darkness and silence.
How silly and impulsive I had been thinking I’d land somewhere in California and run into him. I searched the web for any results on vampire listings. They had several web sites dedicated to their location, much like repeat felons and
child molesters. I found an area in southern California that had a high concentration of vampire activity and purchased my plane ticket. It was still a shot in the dark but I had to try. I would find him. It seemed obsessive, and
perhaps it was just a little bit but I quickly dismissed the creepiness I felt and continued to pack.
I had to tell my parents that I was going to Washington instead of California. They never would have allowed me to get on the plane if they knew the truth. I hated the lies that flowed from my mouth the last couple of weeks. I always felt that I had no control over bad choices and learning experiences but I had a choice as to what came out of my mouth. Lately if I spoke of my trip at all, it was all lies which I hated. I did my best to say as little as possible to my friends and my family.
Once I was at the airport I checked in, signed a release waiver stating that I knew I was flying into vampire territory and boarded the plane for San Diego.
Eight hours later I landed, with the time change I had arrived just after ten p.m. I had left the rain in Hawaii only to have it follow me. The rain was pelting the waiting cars outside of the airport; I stood just beneath a flimsy overhang trying not to get wet while I waited for a rental car. I could hear distant thunder
rolling through the clouds creating a solemn feeling when I should have been elated. Lightning flashed overhead scattering narrow fingers of light through the darkened clouds. I tried to shake a small ominous feeling that was trying to get inside my head and decided to flip through pages of the local phone book for listings on vampire clubs in town. When that failed I bravely asked the man next to me in line if he knew of where the club Lost Souls was located. He gave me a stern, disapproving glance and purposefully stepped away from me.
I knew that being "friendly" with the vampires was not widely accepted but for all he knew I was going there to kill them. Why the prejudice? I sighed and tried
again with the lady at my right, she was standing near the curb attempting to hail a taxi.
"Excuse me ma’am, do you know where I can find the club Lost Souls?"
She turned to me, wearing dark sunglasses, which I thought was very peculiar. She looked me over quietly before speaking in a soft, silvery voice, "That is a
vampire club."
"Yes, I know. I want to go there." I was trying to think of an answer as to why I wanted to go. I figured that would be her next question. But it never came.
She removed her sunglasses; golden yellow eyes looked back at me. Small bits of fire and flame danced across her iris’s studying me once more and warming my
whole body.
"I am going there now. Perhaps you’d like to join me?" She asked, smiling politely just wide enough to see small points of vampire teeth.
It was almost too easy, but I’d be a fool to say no after all I’d been through. It wasn’t lack of fear that made me join her in her cab but the complete faith that I
had in the only vampire I had ever met. I chose to believe that if Gabriel had a hand in selecting this vampire then he had taught her well. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and sat next to her in the cab.
The windshield wipers squeaked and rattled across the glass trying to clear the view for the driver but they were too old to do their job. It was difficult to see outside which made me a bit nervous. I reached for my seatbelt tucked deep within the cushion and secured myself.
"Where to?" The cabbie asked through the heavy metal mesh casing that protected him from his riders.
"Centre City, Lost Souls." My companion stated.
"That’s gonna cost ya extra." He replied, just before darting into traffic.
The longer I sat in the cab, the stronger an odor became apparent to me. It was a sour smell that made me wish it wasn’t raining so I could roll the window down. I looked around wondering what I was sitting in or perhaps what may be on the floorboards. My companion watched me intently as I lifted my feet and searched for the nauseating odor.
"What are you doing?" She finally asked.
"Can’t you smell that?" I wrinkled my nose.
"I make it a point not to breathe. If I do it’s for the sole purpose of talking and I tend to do it through my mouth. Perhaps you should try that?"
"You only breathe when you talk?"
"Have you ever tried to speak or scream when someone is strangling you? Tell me what happens." She responded nonchalantly.
I couldn’t say that I had ever been strangled but I had watched a lot of horror movies.
"I guess it’s not possible." I deduced.
"Exactly."
I tried to breathe through my mouth but the subconscious feeling of being able to taste this nasty air wasn’t making me feel any better. I decided to tough it out through my nose but I did crack the window just a bit.
The cabbie was looking in his rear view mirror with wide, dark brown eyes. "You a vamp?" He asked when our eyes met.
I shook my head profusely, "No sir."
His eyes darted between the road and the mirror keeping a watchful eye on both of us.
I stole a glance at the vampire sitting to my left. I was always amazed at how lovely vampires were in general. Aesthetically beautiful in every way, I wondered if they were chosen for their good looks or if it was a side effect of the vampirism. She sat silently looking out of her window, long, slender legs were gracefully crossed with her delicate hands resting on her lap. Her hair was tied behind her ears and covered with a silken scarf. Full curls of black hair cascaded over her shoulder and lay neatly against her chest. I stroked my unruly hair, feeling the frizz. No doubt Gabriel would recognize me by my hair alone, I thought.
I admired her sylphlike figure and again became conscious of my shortcomings. I tugged at my skirt that was knee high, trying to cover my full, shapely thighs. I
straightened my rain dampened shirt and tried to sit up straight so my belly wouldn’t show through. I grabbed handfuls of my hair and pulled it to one side, combing it through with my fingers and hoping that would help. It was no use, if I was this insecure with a stranger, how would I be with Gabriel? I sighed which got the attention of the pretty vampire.
After a few short moments she spoke, "Tell me, why is it a young woman is looking for Lost Souls?"
I looked up and met her gaze with a slight smile, "I’m going to see Gabriel. Do you know him?" I was hopeful.
"Gabriel?" It was then that I noticed she had a bit of an accent. Her tongue carefully rolled the ‘r’ sound when she spoke his name.
I nodded.
"Yes, I know him." She smiled in a friendly way.
"Really?" I was beaming.
"Oh yes, all vampires do." She turned to look out of the window again. "Look there, young human. It’s Centre City, we are almost there."
I leaned over slightly, not wanting to crowd her. I could see the tall buildings in the distance and spot lights shining upwards meeting the lightning halfway. It
was perfect, just as I imagined.
Centre City,
I thought to myself. I made it, I’m here.
"Where are you from?" She asked politely.
"Hawaii."
"And what does your family think of you traveling into vampire territory?"
I had heard that elders had special powers. They had gifts that allowed them to sense things about people. I wasn’t sure how old she was or if she could sense a lie from the truth but thought it was best not to risk offending her.
I smiled, a bit embarrassed, "They don’t know I’m here, no one does."
"Brave girl…so, you’ve come all this way for Gabriel?"
"Yes."
"Is he expecting you?"
"No, I doubt he even remembers me." I giggled like a school girl wondering what his expression would be.
"Well, I can take you to him." She smiled.
"Really?" I was beaming. "That would be amazing, thank you so much!"
A few minutes later and we had pulled up in front of Lost Souls. A large warehouse of a building converted into a nightclub. There weren’t many cars in the parking lot but I could hear the music booming from the street.
The cab driver was quick to leave the area, once he was paid. That left me and the mysterious vampire standing outside of the club doors.
"Follow me." She instructed.
The two of us walked past the doorman, who had quickly opened the door allowing us easy access to the club. No one questioned me or asked for my I.D., I felt
important.
I followed close to the vampire that led the way towards the back of the near deserted club. There were a few dancers and people sitting at the bars but it was difficult to tell whether they were human or not. Most of them seemed to be lost in another world, far from normal. The tiny hairs on my arms and the back of
my neck stood on end. I didn’t know if it was the idea of being in a vampire club or something else that bothered me but I tried to stay calm.
"I’m sorry, but I never asked your name." I smiled to the back of the vampire leading the way down a corridor.
"Miryea." She responded.
"I’m Angel, pleased to meet…" My sentence was cut off.
Miryea spun around pinning me to against the wall. Her hand tightly gripped my throat tilting my head to one side. In an instant I saw her yellow eyes bleed to red just seconds before a searing pain made me want to scream out loud. My mouth dropped open but no sound escaped my throat as the fangs of the vampire repeatedly bit through my flesh, tearing at the skin and releasing hot blood from the vein in my neck. The biting finally seized and was replaced by ravenous
licking and sucking of blood from my neck and collarbone. The moans coming from her throat told me she was either very hungry or enjoying herself. Both ideas
terrified me as I tried to hold onto to hope that these weren’t my last moments alive.
Still I couldn’t breathe and my body was starting to convulse, attempting to take a breath of air and feed my oxygen-starved body. I grabbed ahold of her
hand trying to remove her grip but her strength was incredible and didn’t budge through all my efforts.
Although my eyes were wide and focusing on a small sconce that hung on the wall a black veil, starting from the outer part of my eyes began to cover my vision. I kept my eyes as wide as I could struggling to stay conscious but my sight had disappeared, leaving only the sounds of feverous lapping and the sounds of a familiar voice.
"Miryea, release her." He spoke.
The grip on my throat released at once and I inhaled deeply. It was too late, I was still fading but maintaining consciousness long enough to feel the impact of the floor and then there was nothing…only darkness and silence.