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I heard the unmistakable melody of a man singing. Or more so humming gently under his breath. My eyes were still closed, and though I yearned to open them, the sweet raptured harmony that was softly flowing through the air had me in a world of peace, and I feared that should my eyelids rise, the song would meet an abrupt ending. The sound was sort of haunting, but nonetheless, much to my liking, and I lied there, where ever I was, and allowed no thoughts to pass through my mind as I concentrated on the soothing notes released so lovingly. Finally I opened my eyes, determined to discover whose voice this was, and there, towering over me was... Amos?
He was dressed in his usual apparel, the velvet suit, and his bronzed hair was let out in waves. An affectionate smile was planted on his pale pink lips, and his brilliant eyes were tamed and appeased as he gazed upon me. I couldn't sustain a smile as I stared back up at him, my father, my creator, and brushed a strand of hair away from his face, my smooth skin sweeping across his. I paid no attention whatsoever to the atmosphere around me, or anything, in fact, other that Amos. No questions entered my mind, and if they did, I honestly don't remember them. It was just he and I, nothing else existed.
"Mon chéri," he finally whispered, his words so soft and lingering, "you are home."
My eyes watered with crimson tears, tears of joy that I had never experienced, tears of loss for those I'd loved, and tears of admiration for the being that was hovering over me now. His face descended towards mine, and he placed a lingering, closed mouth kiss on my lips, his thick wavy hair hanging down like a veil around my face, tickling my cheeks and cuddling up to my neck. And though the kiss was not a lover's kiss, it was nevertheless passionate and deep, his many styles and mixtures of love for me entwining with mine. Then he pulled away, sitting with a slight slouch to his posture, leaning in my direction, and took my pallid hand in his. He pressed his lips to my hand with a smile, then caressed my flesh with his thumb to put me at ease. As I glanced down, I realized that the flesh upon my arms was still burned, and I threw my head back into the pillow I was propped against and groaned in irritation.
Amos' hand softly touched my wounds and he whispered, "It will heal, cher. It just takes time."
I nodded to show my comprehension, then allowed my eyes to wander the room, realizing that it was my own. I was back in the mansion, lying on the silken sheets of the bed, my mind now swarming with unasked questions. How did I get here? Did Amos know what had happened to me? What happened to Desmond? Where was Evan? Had Vance survived? Was Conrad really dead?
But I asked none of these aloud, deciding that it was for the best to hold them inside of me until my lungs would burst with the thirst for knowledge. And I was still weak from my encounter with the sun, my battle against death. And now that I think about it, I had actually won. I had beaten death.
Amos rose from the sheets and trudged towards the door. I let out a tiny whimper, and Amos turned back to gaze at me once more, his hand grasping the door frame. He sighed, and I yearned to penetrate the depths of his mind, but my powers were almost forbidden, and I could not do it!
He must have known this, for Amos chuckled and explained, "Your powers will return eventually, mon chéri. But it appears you've had quite an adventure while I was gone. Lay back for now and later I will assist you out."
"Out?" I repeated, causing him to halt abruptly once more, just as he was beginning to walk away again.
"Yes, we are leaving for Edmonton tonight," he grinned. "I found a place for us."
"Will... Evan be coming?" I asked hesitantly, extremely curious on the matter.
A sad expression fell onto Amos' face, and even his boyish smile couldn't cover up his woe as he replied, "Evan... has left us."
My eyes widened slightly, a very human reaction, and I watched in awe as Amos left the room, leaving the door open so that I wouldn't feel so secluded. I cupped a hand to my forehead and moaned, letting out the anguish and drama that had been my last few nights. My hand slowly descended down my face and a couple of fingers touched my dry lips, which were still tingling with Amos' taste. I dropped my hand and allowed it to rest on my stomach, my hair tucked under my back, reaching down to my waist again. I used my parched tongue to moisten my lips slightly, sighing a little as I consumed the sensual gustation of blood, most likely from the mortal whom Amos had killed before touching his mouth to mine.
I couldn't believe it. This was it. After living my entire life in Reon, we were finally moving away, traveling over an ocean to reach our new location. And here, in the old ruins of the graveyard due north from the mansion, Alissa and Kassia would lie in shattered peace among the land of the dead. Would I ever see their headstones again, the ones I composed myself? I did still love them, very much so, and I rose tardily to my feet in a last attempt to carry through my final acts of existence in Reon. My muscles rattles under my weight, as if I had been drained in my sleep, but nonetheless I slowly eased myself to the window, determined to slip out unnoticed. One last time, that was all I requested. One last time to gaze upon those of whom I'd loved so dearly...
I literately trembled as I hauled myself up onto the window ledge, my feet hanging over the edge down into the reluctant nothingness. I clutched to the frame that withheld the already open window, closing my eyes to release a sigh. I knew I was not yet strong enough to fly again, and as I peered at my split white skin, I became even more self conscious of my appearance. I would have to feed, as I hadn't last night at Desmond's, and now I was almost as weak as I had been that night when I had refused to feed, and found myself unable to escape the sunlight that had came seeping into my room. Amos had saved me that night, but tonight he could not. But with an appearance as shriveled up and wasted away as this, how could I possibly attract prey? And most definitely I had to attract a mortal to me, as I most certainly felt too meek and broken down to just attack one out of the blue.
Deciding to cross that bridge when I came to it, I tossed my limp figure out the window, plummeting to my doom. I collapsed into a nearby bush, moaning slightly as the twigs inside thrashed at my open wounds. I moaned quietly in pain as I rose from the hedge and took one shaky step after another, advancing down the street at a slow pace. With my luck, no one came out of the mansion after me, and the streets were practically deserted. I say practically, because there was a young man advancing towards me from afar, and my hopes rose as I prayed that he would pass me by, get close enough for me to sink my fangs into his tissues. I was famished beyond reason, as you could never imagine.
His sweat smelled so sweet and alluring, even from so far away, and though my vision was damaged from the sun's rays, I was able to keep a dazed stare on him, attempting to use my mind to lure him to my side. The blood pulsed so freshly through his veins, gushing like running water to his tendons, and I felt that I would break into a swooning state just by nearing him further. The scent of his fear, which he has silently felt as he'd walked alone down the street, was so crisp and certain, and his heart beat in time with mine, the same slow, steady rhythm. I sighed slightly, and he grew all the more nearer to me.
I ignored his appearance, though now that I think back on it, I can recall it with little difficulty. He had thick black hair, uncombed and messily tossed every which way, looking as though he'd just risen from bed. His eyes were a mellow blue, washed out and gentle like the ripples in a pond, and his flesh a darker tone than most of those who dwelled in Reon. But of course, none of this mattered. It mattered no more to me than it did that he was appareled in a thick black coat and wide brimmed top hat, a cane in his left hand, much like those used for fashion in previous centuries. No, all that mattered was that he had blood, and I wanted it, needed it.
The hunger was overwhelming, and by the time that he was at my side, attempting to pass me by, I used the remainder of my strength to lunge at him, immediately forcing my fangs into his neck and draining him rapidly. I felt the intense ecstasy of rejuvenation wash over my limbs and meek muscles, restoring their energy at a rapid pace. Finally I forced my lips off his neck, and dropped his cold, dead corpse to the ground, the eyes of the man still open and wide, as though in shock. I licked at my lips and moaned in pleasure from the incredible rush of life that was running through my system, then turned and headed in the direction of the cemetery, prepared to take a last look upon the ones that I'd lost, my loved ones.
The air was cold and crisp, and once in a while a bleak fog crept up around the city, but nothing was too intense to hold me back from the iron gates. I slammed at the lock with my fist, and to my surprise, it fell to the ground in pieces. The chain that had held the lock in place slipped off of the gate and I kicked it open, entering the graveyard once again.
Graveyards were certainly not my favorite place to be, with the stench of decay from the rotting corpses below filling my nostrils with repulsion and instinctive insecurity. But nonetheless, I was determined to accomplish my mission, and walked rather slowly towards the willow tree, which appeared to be weeping and mourning my last visit to it's sanctuary. I gracefully fell to my knees before the two crosses under the draping branches, the leaves brushing up against the waves of my long hair as the wind picked up behind me.
I bowed my head to show honor and respect to Kassia and Alissa, the last two survivors of my former life. And inside I really did honor them greatly, pleased to have this last opportunity to pay my debts back to them.
"Kassia," I mumbled allowed, as if speaking to her directly. "I will forever cherish the lessons you've taught me, the wisdom you've shared. I love you, and thank you for everything, my child, my love."
The wind whispered in my ear as I spoke, singing a sad whistling tune to mourn the death of Kassia alongside the willow and I. I then drew in a deep breath and allowed my thoughts turn to Alissa.
"Alissa," I murmured, my own voice barely audible over the hoarse breeze now pounding at my ears. "I shall not rest until all those who have wronged you are burning in the fiery realms of Hell. And now I must make a final promise to you. Before I leave tonight, I will make sure that your mother knows of your death, though I apologize in advance for the lie I will have to sell, not only to protect the Immortal Law, but to save her as well."
And with that I allowed myself a moment of silence, eyes closed as I recalled all the memories I'd shared with both Kassia and Alissa. No tears formed in my immortal eyes, the well of weeping spells had long but ran dry. And now I was ready to leave, and yet, not ready at the same time. I forced myself to my feet, bowed one last time to the remains of my loved ones, then turned and trudged back to the mansion.
"Where have you been?" Amos shrieked in relief as I opened the front door and stepped inside, rushing over to me from the couch and squeezing me in his arms.
I brushed a loose strand of bronzed hair from his face and tucked it behind his ear, then announced, "Taking care of some last minute stuff."
Amos nodded in agreement, then hugged me tightly once more. A smile came to his lips as he pulled away, and I rolled my eyes, being naturally stubborn. He seemed to accept my reaction, and just as he was about to return to the kitchen, he doubled back and looked me straight in the eye.
"Oh, and I forgot to mention, Roswell is upstairs waiting for you," Amos told me calmly. He then winked and added, "I think you should go see him."
I blushed slightly, then let my eyebrows sink in rage at the fact that I'd done such a human thing. But I sighed and thanked Amos, heading towards the stairs. As I climbed higher and higher, I could sense Roswell's presence, his tension nipping at me like the last result of the icy wind I'd just escaped having come inside the mansion. I found my door closed as I approached the hallway, and jerked it open, revealing Roswell standing in my room, staring out the window. I don't suppose he noticed me, for he made no movement or sound, and his thoughts were still worried and tense. Smiling, I crept up behind him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Startled, he shook and turned to face me, grinning as he looked upon my face.
"Hello there, Ross. I..." I started to say.
But I was abruptly cut off by the force of his soft pink lips on mine, melting into his arms and entwining my fingers with his. When I finally pulled away, I stared into his entrancing green eyes, observing the warm radiation of admiration reflection inside of the. I could feel his love and I threw my arms around his back, and I buried my face in that area between his chest and neck, hugging him closely. It had seemed like eternity since I'd last seen his face, touched his hair, felt his lips, and I sighed happily for perhaps the first time ever as he rubbed my back and whispered, "I love you, Kasey."
"I love you, too, Ross," I mumbled in his ear.
"Where have you been?" he asked suddenly, pulling away from me and looking me in the eye with the utmost seriousness.
"It's a long story," I grinned, beaming at his gentle composition. "I'm sure that they'll be enough time to explain it all to you on the trip to Edmonton."
Roswell gave me another quick kiss and agreed, "Yeah, you're probably right. But just make sure you tell me about it. I don't want to be jipped out of a good action-adventure story."
I giggled and slapped him playfully, jesting, "God, you're dumb!"
Roswell smiled at my comment and pressed his lips to mine again. I had never felt so taken with anyone before, and at that moment, it was as if I couldn't believe that it was possible to get any closer to him. I hugged him again.
"How did I get back here?" I asked softly, my eyes closed as I absorbed his sweet rapture.
"Desmond brought you," Roswell mumbled. "He came to the door carrying you, and told Amos that he was one lucky guy to have you at his side. Personally, I was a bit confused about the whole situation, but either way, I'm glad to have you back."
I nodded in agreement and stated, "Feels good to be back."
But just then something crossed my mind. I pulled away from Roswell and sat slouched on the bed. The though was of Alissa. I had just promised to alert her mother of her death! I couldn't do it myself, as her mother would realize who was, wonder why I looked so pale and flawless, and of course, fear for the fact that my body hadn't really aged after all these years. I sighed.
"Ross?" I asked him with a sly smile on my lips. "Do you think you could do me one favor before we leave?"
***
And that is it, that is my story. I suppose there are questions in your mortal minds, eating away your pitiful souls. Perhaps you wonder what happened when Roswell told Alissa's mother of her death, for I'm certain that you are aware that he did indeed do me that last favor. Well, to be honest I don't know either. I assisted him to the house, told him to make up a somewhat logical explanation, then left. I did not want to know how she took it, to hear her grieve, to feel the loss that I felt.
Or perhaps you are wondering what happened to Evan? I don't know this, either. Evan did not join us on our journey, of course, and I assume that he is still a pledged member of Vance's gang, or else is attempting to find acceptance elsewhere. And was Vance still alive? I presume he was, knowing how crafty and sly he could be.
And Conrad Malevont. I suppose you are wondering about Conrad, am I correct? Well, this is just another matter that I am uncertain of. But I have a strong sense that he is dead.
And as for the rest of us, the journey lies ahead. I am unsure of what dangers await us, but am eager to find out! And with Amos, Keegan, and Roswell at my side, I am sure that we can overcome any obstacle that we are faced with.
So, you ask, what am I certain of? That is simple. I am certain that this is who I am, the stubborn immortal with a lust for vengeance and concealed love for those who care for me. I am a silent mourner of pain, one that strikes fear into the heart of mortal, and perhaps someday, immortals alike. Yes, this is me, the vampire, Kasey.
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A/N: So, that's it! I hope you liked it, please review quickly because I'll be taking this story down soon to keep it safe from being stolen. And I'll be starting the next book relative to this one soon. THANK TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE REVIEWED ME!!!!!