Bitter Sweet (13 page)

“Huh?” I said, losing my train of thought.

              “Did that surprise you?”

              “A bit...”

              “I see you haven’t given it any thought until just now with so much going on in your life.”

“I’m not doing that mother, you know that,” Alik stated.

              “Alik, I love you as if you were my own child, but sometimes your views on our race are so disappointing. We are not monsters as you said so yourself not more than ten minutes ago.”

             
"I said I am not a complete monster. I’m still a monster.”

              "Vanessa, does my son have green skin, tentacles coming from his head, or an odd addiction to cookies?"  The sesame street reference made me laugh and she smiled. "Vanessa doesn't see any of that either.”

              "That's not what I mean and you know it."

              “Then what part of you is a monster, dear? You look human, you speak like a human, and you walk like a human.”

              “But I am no longer human; would you say a wolf is a dog, as it barks like a dog, walks like a dog and has a fuzzy tail?”

              “Of course not, because it does not act like a dog.”

              “As we do not act like humans.” His voice wasn’t angry, but there was a finality to it that said he no longer wanted to talk about the subject.

              “Will you never believe differently?”

              “So you would have me turn every girl that comes across me? Emily, Susan, Daina, Crystal, Elci, and Alison would all be vampire now.” How many girls does Alik deal with? I couldn’t help but wonder. He is the cutest boy I’ve ever met, so it shouldn’t be a shock that he has girls around him often I guess. I wonder who he likes the most? Am I high on that list?

              “Not that others did not do that for you, but you could at least consider beautiful girls like Alison and Vanessa. There is a presence about girls like them. Something innately special. I think that’s what has brought you here tonight.” She smiled at me. “As for Alison, the subtle assertion she gives off, it’s compelling; close to how Alisa gets those to follow her. These traits would make for great additions to our kind.”

              “No” was all the response Alik gave.

              “You say you’re not human, but you still think of               yourself as a monster, which is a human idea you still cling to. As vampire, a human’s idea of a monster should not matter.”

             
“My idea of a monster matters.”             

“Well you aren’t the only vampire in the room dear, don’t think

so highly of yourself.”

              “You talk about me, yet compared to the other Elders, June and I are the only ones you’ve ever turned despite being around for however many millennia you’ve existed,” he said with a smirk.

              She was next to him in the next second. “Well, that’s because I love you two. Alison will be eighteen in two weeks. Also, you don’t know everything I’ve ever done,” she teased.

              “Sure, mother,” he said and slipped away from her, going back over to the bar to refill his glass.

              “Do you see how he treats me?” she said in a mockingly sad voice.

              “Can I ask a question,” I asked timidly.

              “Of course dear; I’ve been waiting for them.”

              “Why are you different from the vampires that attacked me?”

              “What do you mean dear?”

              “Well, don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem human enough.” She threw Alik another smug look. “I mean, they seemed to enjoy the idea of killing and scaring me. You and Alik have been so…

nice; nothing like what movies portray or anything.”

             
“Alik saving you felt like your own Edward Cullen coming to save you, huh?”

              "I couldn't take anyone who sparkles seriously, but is it anything like that? Is my presence here hurting you?”

              “No dear, I am perfectly fine. The main difference between us is our ages; the young are more susceptible to emotion than the mature. They haven’t found out how to lure a human in and make them calm to make the blood calm. When whatever chemical markers fire off that create fear fill the blood that enters us as we feed, it can alter the emotional state or personality of the young, making them wild and uncontrollable. In some cases, even self-destructive.”

              “Do some make wild vampires on purpose?”

              “The major covens will hunt wild young for sport. A sick hobby but I can't watch everyone."

              “How do they make them wild?”

              “If you were being stalked in the dead of night by a young vampire, your heart rate would slowly climb faster and faster as he drew closer; the sound of your elevated heart beat would be clearly audible to the young one. That would drive the young one mad with the need to drain you dry. Although, it is rare that we don’t figure out where an outbreak of wild young stems from and punish the coven that is responsible. It’s just that trying to keep tabs on every vampire in the world would be impossible; some create just to have something more challenging to hunt. When the young wake up and find out what they are, they assume like you have: that they must act like what they see in movies and attack humans who are scared. Vampire like June and Alik here remove threats to our secrecy.”

              “How do you make a vampire?”

              “Hasn’t he told you yet?” she asked, outraged.

              “It was confusing because he’s told me something about it being like a viral infection, and then on the way something about Lucifer and Eve and souls?”

              “Hmmm, I never thought he would have told you that story since he doesn’t believe in it himself. Considering I lived it in a manner of speaking, although, the simple explanation is that: enough of your blood needs to be removed from your body and replaced with the blood of vampire to allow the change to take place unhindered.”

              “Is it painful?”

              “There is a small amount of pain. The bite, for instance, may hurt a little as your blood count lowers, but for the most part our saliva creates a sensation of euphoria in the blood stream. It’s why humans don’t get away; they like our bite. The sensory overload when you first wake up is a little troubling, but you are unconscious for the most part and feel very little. Also, since you don’t have to breathe, you might catch yourself wanting to speak and find that you've forgotten to breathe. I’ve seen a few mild panic attacks over that; you’ll be fine once you remember to breath." She smiled, I didn’t know if I should take that last one seriously or not.  “Are you considering my offer?” she asked.

              “I don’t know really, it’s a lot to take in.”

              “That’s true. Do you have any other questions?”

              “Actually, how many humans work alongside vampires and actually know it?”

              “There aren’t that many; we like our secrecy as I’ve mentioned. June and Alik showed you the lengths we go to remove vampire who will not follow the rules. I am in contact with a few notable human figures that I have allowed to know about us, a few world leaders and high-ranking business officials, but that’s it. I like useful company. Oh, and you and Alison of course; the other two Elders also have a few humans in on the secret as well. Of course, they consider their contacts to be servants or pets along with the other coven leader who are allowed to keep their company. I like to keep friends.”

              “Before you get her closer to agreeing, I promised her father I’d have her home alive. I can’t afford for you to kill her tonight,” Alik pointed out, setting down his glass a little harder than needed.

              "Really, he specifically asked you to bring her home alive..." she questioned in mock surprise.

              "You know what I mean," glared Alik.

              "You can never take a joke." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Still, aren’t you just my little gentleman.”

              “Ha ha.” His tone was harsh.                           

              Lilith stood and walked over to a shelf and came back holding out a small crystal square wrapped in cloth for me. “Please place each of your fingers one at a time on the surface,” she instructed, and when I did, it beeped and glowed into life. “This is a phone that will only work for you now. This is a very special phone; very few of them exist and it will work anywhere in the world. Programmed in this one are the numbers for me and the other Elders, Alik, June, Alison, and a few others I thought could be useful to you in some way. They all know you have it and will be willing to help you with whatever you need. Do not take this lightly please; all you have to do to use it is run your finger along one of the edges. Try it.”

              I took the small crystal square, no larger than an iPhone. Now that it was closer, I could see thin black beads aligned into the shape of a rose. I slid my finger across the top and it turned black and a dial display appeared. A normal smartphone layout appeared and lit the space. “Wow,” I said in awe.

              “Good, you look through that when you have some free time, and please keep it with you at all times. It will let us keep you safe.”

              “How?”

              “We aren’t going to track you or anything, but the rose will tell the major covens that you are under my protection.”

              “Won’t the battery die?” I asked, looking up from the phone.

              “Just keep it in the sun when it’s not in use.” I smiled at the irony. She walked me to the elevator where Alik was waiting. We stopped and she turned to hug me one last time. “Please don’t be a

stranger, Vanessa. You can nearly always find me here,” she said, letting me go.

             
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I smiled back.

              "Good."

              Then I stepped in the elevator and Alik and I headed back to the lobby.

Vanessa Stanton

Chapter 15.0

             
Alik was silent in the elevator as it descended to the lobby. He gave Alison a dull wave as we walked out. She still seemed annoyed at him and turned away. The valet already had his car waiting, and as he shook Alik’s hand, he released it with a bill clutched in his fingers. As usual, Alik opened my door, shut it, got in, and drove off. Soon, I noticed that we weren’t heading to my house as he drove along silently. He stopped at a small diner in a shady area near some raised subway tracks. He parked across the street and we walked inside; it felt like I stepped into the seventies. Posters and memorabilia lined the walls; even an old section of a Cadillac sat in a corner, its headlights still working to light the entrance. A kind-looking woman greeted and sat us at a booth and left us with menus.

              “What’s this all about?” I asked, tired of the silence.

              “I’m not going to take you home hungry. What would your father say? This diner’s owner is an old friend; he’s waged a war on germs for year.” He took the sleeve of his jacket and wiped it across the table; it was still spotlessly white. “It’s very clean. Your new sense of taste shouldn't bother you here.”

              I ordered some pancakes and sat at the booth while Alik talked with the chef, who I assumed was the owner. I watched him talking with the man, laughing and joking about something they did a long time ago. As I watched him, my only thought was whether or not Alik could really be a vampire? There was so much human in him.

              With a pat on the back, a smile, and a wink toward me, the man handed Alik a plate, which he brought over. I hadn’t eaten all day and was starving. Alik just sat there, staring out the window at two guys who had come along and were admiring his car, with a distant look in his eyes.

              “You know, you don’t have to let her bite you,” he stated, still not looking at me

              “I know, she told me so.” I was more worried about my food than his strange tone that matched his distant look.

              “It’s just… your questions; you seemed interested in our existence.”

              “I might be.”

              “Oh.” He was silent for a moment. “How come, if you don’t mind me asking.”

              “What do you mean?”

              “Why would you want to be vampire?”

              “You’ve been describing it like you’re in some tragic novel. You sound a lot like Edward Cullen as Lilith said. Alison is looking forward to it.”

              “Alison doesn’t know what she is doing.”

              “Lilith wouldn’t hurt Alison?”

              “Not intentionally, no. Still, vampire who are close to my mother more than often end up burning in the sun. My mother is cold and ruthless; do not be fooled by her human act.”

             
“Is that what you are doing right now? Just acting?” I asked and he looked so hurt that I felt guilty for asking.

              Still he answered, “about some things: yes; about others, no.”

              “Then why don’t you explain?”

              “All you have to do is ask the questions, and I will answer.”

              “Do you want to answer or is it just some mystic vampire thing?”

              “I already told you that all our connection means is that you will know when I lie to you, not that I will have to admit anything, so ask.”

              “Do you regret Lilith creating you?”

              “No, I don’t. I enjoy my… situation.”

              “Then I don’t get it? Does it even have something to do with Lilith?” I asked, making a leap in logic.

              “In parts yes, it has a lot to do with her.”

              “What has Lilith done?” I tried to sound concerned I realized I had been very accusatory.

              “She created me for a specific purpose.”

              “What purpose?” I asked, putting down my fork.