Chapter Ten

Reval’s eyes glazed over as his lifeless body fell to the ground. His blood splattered onto Espran’s face. He jerked away with a cry of shock and terror. He was alone now, against four vampires.

“It seems you’re on your own now, Espran.” Bram pointed out as Monet, Lestrade and Catherine surrounded him. “I am a fair man; I’ll give you one final chance. Either join me…or die.”

Espran sank to the floor, the tears flowing freely down his face. He was only one weak and scared boy; it was all too much, too soon. He sat there for some time, silently praying under his breath. What else could he do? What did he have left to lose? Slowly at first, he felt a soft, quiet peace descend on him. Finally, he shakily got to his feet.

“No…” he whispered. He was standing in front of Bram, his head down.

“What was that?” Bram asked, inclining his head into Espran, pretending he hadn’t heard him. “Could you repeat that?”

“NO!” Espran shouted, raising his head and stepping away defiantly from him. There was still fear in his eyes but it was mixed with anger. “You’re pure evil- nothing could make me side with you!”

“Evil.” Bram smiled smugly at the little outburst, “Of course, naturally I’m evil but it’s far more enjoyable than the alternative.” He turned to the wanton vampire, “Wouldn’t you agree Catherine?”

“Oh, yes,” Catherine replied, pouting her lips. “Eternal youth, the power to seduce any living man; it’s enough to turn me on,”

“Monet?” Bram turned his next friend.

“Life…whatever that is…has never been better,” Monet agreed, putting a cigarette to his thin lips and lighting up.

“Lestrade?” Bram turned to the last vampire.

“Without a doubt. All the supernatural powers of the night and an indestructible liver; it’s everything I crave.” Lestrade remarked. He smashed open a bottle and swilled the contents down.

“That is what you could have had,” Bram returned to Espran, “But you chose death!” the vampires lunged at Espran, bearing their fanged teeth.

“O Lord, deliver me from this evil!” Espran cried out, raising his hands to the sky desperately. He had put all his hope in his master. If there was anything that could save him, it had to happen now. The vampires kept coming, the bloodlust shining in their eyes.

Suddenly everything exploded in a bright white light. Espran remembered burning magnesium in the chemistry lab. The light burned even brighter that and it filled the entirety of his vision. He couldn’t even see Bram or the others anymore.

He could hear them though. They were screaming in agony. It sounded like every part of them was on fire. Bram was cursing him with every scorching breath. He felt something touch his leg. It was Catherine. She was begging him for mercy, begging for him to stop the fire.

Espran couldn’t understand it. He felt fine, or as fine as he could after what had happened. Even the light didn’t bother him. He expected it to at least sting his eyes but no. Nothing. Yet the vampires were being burned alive. What was happening?

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the white light was gone. There was no sign of Bram, Catherine, Lestrade or Monet. They had disappeared with the dead bodies of the students and Reval. It was as if nothing had happened.

Slowly, everything became lighter as the sun rose over the trees. Dawn was breaking, the day was beginning. Espran was all alone. He looked back at Crimson Meadows, the sunlight catching on the windows. There was nothing there for him except empty classes and bad memories. The only way for him now was forward.

Espran got up and walked away into the sunlight. It was a new day.

The End