Evanescere: Origins (3 page)

He explained to me what I
was becoming. I knew I must surely be in hell, creatures such as him are only a
figment of our imagination, a myth. I focused more on his face and his face was
becoming clearer. He had a soft square jaw. His face was contorted in anguish.
I could hear the faint accent as he spoke to me. I could hear the voices
outside these walls of wherever I was. I could faintly hear his thoughts, what
he said was true.

How can this be? I thought
to myself. Suddenly myth had become reality. Legend had become fact. No this
was not real. This was all in my head. I was damned to hell for all eternity.
This was my death, my end.

The pain was over. I
looked at him and in fear jumped away from him. I found myself on the other
side of the room in the same instant I thought it. He approached me slowly,
cautiously. I did not know this man. I did not know if he was friend or foe.

I looked at him
cautiously, afraid he would hurt me the way those men did. When I thought about
that I could not remember their faces clearly. He held out his hand to me and
still I stayed away from him. In another second I was on the other side of the
room, near a beautiful French door. I could see the tattoos on his muscled
arms. They looked intricate. He had more tattoos on his hand and on the side of
his neck. These were not modern tattoos, that much I was sure of.

I could smell his sweet
scent. This was no cologne, his scent was sweeter, and lovelier if that could
be possible. I could smell another smell distinct from his, the smell of
morning rain and honeysuckle. Maybe a hint of jessamine. My perfume
Amore
Eterno
has jessamine notes in it, but not the honeysuckle, I heard him
inhale and hold his breath. I did not expect what came next.

He smiled at me.

“This must be very
disorientating to you,” he began,” but don’t be afraid. I saved you from
certain death.” I saw his tall figure slowly approach me. His hands held out
with his palms up. I was unsure of my own thoughts. Naturally, I was very
confused about what occurred.

The way he spoke was odd.
He spoke English with a foreign accent that was very subtle. It sounded
Slovakian or maybe Romanian. It was definitely European. I just could not place
it. It was difficult to tell since you had to really listen to him speak in
order to detect it.    

“You do smell delicious.
I have never noticed one of our kind, with such a beautiful scent,” he said.

Had he just complemented
me about the way I smell? I asked myself. I was not sure if this was a good
thing or a bad thing. I was lost by what he just said. This total stranger just
said my scent was the most delicious he had ever smelled on one of our kind. His
words to me sound so foreign like I was having a very difficult time
comprehending what he was saying.

Our kind. How very
unfamiliar? I thought. I was just as confused, uncertain of the meaning. I
could see the dust bunnies floating in the air around me. I could smell the
magnolias outside from somewhere. I could smell the different aromas in the air
and I could easily identify them.

I heard the whispered
word
“Magnifico,”
break through my thoughts. For a split second, I had
thought I was alone with my thoughts. I jumped up again at the sound and
instantly found myself curled up in the corner of the room, so fast I had not
realized I moved. I heard laughter, someone clapping. For some unknown reason I
felt a slight fear deep inside of me. I felt the need to survive. Maybe it was
because the recent memory of my death.

“My little one you are
perfection, come see.”

I hesitated before I
approached him. He had his hand held out to me. So quickly, my hand was in his.
I looked at him confused. It was as though both the thought and action worked
simultaneously. He turned me to face a mirror on the mantel. The mirror was
old, the frame around it looked gilded. I saw a girl in the mirror. I did not
recognize her. This girl in the mirror was perfection not a single flaw, except
her hair. It could use a brush. The hair took on a more reddish-brown tone. I
saw the beautiful satin dusty purple gown that I now wore. To see the girl in
the mirror, I was fearful. This was not me. I was not this perfect. He must
have felt my emotions. He gently placed a hand on my shoulder and told me I was
pure perfection. The girl in the mirror was not a broken body. The girl in the
mirror was whole, not a single blemish or bruise.

“What happened to me?” The
sound of my own voice shocked me it was melodic. The way I imagine an angel
must sound. I recovered quickly and looked to him for explanation.

I cocked my head to the
door. I could hear the people talking outside. He looked at me and explained my
hearing has become more acute it would take time to distinguish the different
voices and sounds. I looked at him in disbelief.

“Your vision will be
improved, as well. You will be more attractive to your prey. Your scent is like
jessamine and lavender, or wild flowers in an open field. You will now move
more swiftly, much more in which human eyes will never see your approach. There
is much more for you to learn and you will have an eternity to learn. However,
there is one thing you must always remember,” he explained.

“And that is…?” I
interrupted.

“That is secrecy. You
cannot ever reveal yourself to anyone and you cannot go near your family. It is
our ultimate law,” he finished telling me.

“You mean my family will
never know what has happened to me?” I questioned.

“Unfortunately you can
never see them again,” he told me. I could hear the sadness in his voice.

“I have to see them. I
have to let them know I am alive. I cannot leave them this way, never knowing
what has happened to me,” I begged him. I could feel a warm tear slide down my
face. I brushed it off and realized it was blood. I was afraid now. How can
this be? I was now crying tears of blood. This was something you hear about in
religion and I was not a saint, nor was I special to any God.  

“If you love your family,
you will stay away from them. You would be a danger to them,” he quietly
explained to me. I heard the urgency in his voice. He wanted me to accept this
and let it go. I just was not sure if I could do that.

Slowly the realization of
what I have now become dawned on me. It was best if I stay away from them.
Somehow, deep down, I knew he was right. I just did not know what kind of
threat I was to my family. I felt a new burning sensation in my throat. It felt
dry, like I was thirsty. I ignored this new sensation for the time being.

OME LET US WALK. I assume you
have several questions for me?” he asked.

We walked around what
appeared to be an open courtyard. There was a beautiful garden with a fountain
in the middle. The fountain had a small pool at the bottom, with lily pads and
large orange Koi swimming in it. I could see the bright night sky reflected on
the pool. I saw the beauty in this image.

I felt the cool damp
Louisiana air on my skin. I could still smell the fresh rain. I looked up at the
night it was beautiful and the stars looked like shining gems. I was astounded
that I could see it so clearly. I used to wear contact lenses, but now my
vision was beyond perfect. It was unnerving. It was as though I was seeing
everything for the very first time. I realized I was seeing everything life had
to offer for the very first time it was up to me to decide what to do with this
new knowledge.

“What happened,” I asked
him, my voice unsure of what I was asking.

He explained that a
horrible atrocity had befallen me and he saved me in a way in which human
doctors could not do. The injuries I had sustained were devastating, life
ending. He looked away from me when he described the condition in which he
found me. I had been broken and beaten beyond repair. Somehow, I was here,
alive in some form. He did mention having a surprise for me. I was not sure
what that meant since I did not know him.

To change the subject of
conversation I asked him again what I was.

“You are a vampire now,”
he answered.

“What exactly does that
mean?” I asked. I mean I know what a vampire is but I want you to explain this
to me,”

“To be vampire, means you
will be more than human, you will feed on the life’s source of humans,” he
began.

“Life’s source,” I
interrupted.

“Blood. Your survival
depends on sustenance; the way a human depends on food for survival,” he
explained. I raised my eyebrow in confusion before he continued. “Times have
changed. The media has changed the perceptions of vampires in general. We are
no longer feared. It appears society as a whole has become more accepting of
our kind, but still we must be we must keep the secret.”

“Does the sun kill us?” I
asked.

“No,” he replied.

“What about crucifixes
and holy water?” I asked

“No and No. Holy objects
have no ill effect over us,” he responded.

“Do we sparkle?” I asked.
I had to laugh after the question was out of my mouth. I had seen one too many
vampire movies and television shows to know that everyone has a different
opinion of what harms a vampire or what a vampire does.

“No we do not sparkle.” I
could hear the smile in his voice as he answered. Each word broken up,
individually emphasized. Suddenly he let out a loud, rumbling laugh. I could
swear an earthquake hit with how loud he laughed.

“Like I had not heard
that one,” he tells me.

I doubt anyone has asked
you that, since you are a vampire and I doubt you have many friends to begin
with.” He looked stunned then laughed some more.

“Am I missing something?”
I asked him.

“You are missing the
obvious,” he stated.

He explained to me how in
today’s world it is necessary to blend in with humans.

“You see; I work amongst
humans as a police officer. It helps me when I am hunting. I find my victims
through the databases. So to answer your question. I have heard those exact
comments, just not directed at me personally,” he clarified.

“So then where do the
legends of only coming out at night come from?” I asked.

“Living in the shadows of
the night is a metaphor. It means to not reveal yourself to anyone. You can
interact with humans as prey and live quietly amongst them, but remember this,
we are also a danger to them. It is imperative that we keep a low profile.”

“So we can befriend them
without them suspecting what we are,” I interrupted him. I was still hoping on
some level of my subconscious that I was just dreaming. I still could not wrap
my head around the existence of vampires. My mind brought up the image of a
distorted Nosferatu.

“Oh they will suspect you
are something you are not. Our scent, our looks are appealing and you will find
that no one can resist us. Every instinct tells them to stay away from us. We
are virtually indestructible, like titanium. We are predators and kill
indiscriminately. Personally, I prefer the evil doers, but then there are
others like us, who have chosen to live differently from me. Of course you may
choose your path,” he explained.

“Others live differently.
What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“There are those of our
kind who prefer to eat rats or larger prey. They claim it saves their humanity,
their eternally damned soul if you believe that. Others, it is just a way of
life. In some parts of the world there are those like us who by choice live in
sewers or caves. Rats and other animals just happen to find their way to them.”

“Do you believe we are
damned?” I ask him.

“I do not care either
way. Had I a different choice I would not have done this to you? I owed it to
you to allow you to seek retribution,” he admitted. I sensed remorse in his
admission.

“What do you mean?”
Confusion filled my voice.

“I live on the corner of
Bourbon Street and Ursuline. This is my house we are in. As I mentioned before,
I moonlight as a police officer at night. It makes it easier to find my prey.
As it so happens, about three nights ago on my way out I find this delicious
scent lingering outside. So I followed your sent. I merely meant to get a
glimpse of this delicious creature, that would dare taunt me. I was also
curious about why your scent was on my doorstep. When I found you alone and
broken, nearly dead, I took pity on you, yet I took you for my own selfish
reasons. You see, I thought to let you die and abstain from interfering in
mortal affairs; however, the thought of never smelling your scent again it
nearly broke me. I had never in my entire existence smelled something as
delicious as the fragrance that emanated off of your skin. I took you to save
you, but I believe I really did it because I am a selfish creature by nature
and have been alone for so long. I did not know you, or who you were, I only
knew you were broken. You belonged to someone. You did not deserve the
indignity that befell you,” he said.  

I was a bit surprised
about what he had just said and I thought back to what he said about scents. I
remembered their scents but I could not see their faces clearly. I explained
this to him and he told me not to worry about it because with human eyes I
could not see clearly no matter what my vision was.

“Also, you my dear, need
to feed,” he stated in matter of fact sort of way.

Out of my thoughts I
stopped to ask him his name.

“Oh I forgot about the
niceties. I am Jacques St. Germaine, also known as Detective Jack Whitecloud,
and you are?” he asked. Clearly remembering his manners.

“I am Salome,” I said
softly and I was sure he could hear me. Saying my name only brought pain. I
knew deep down I was no longer Salome. I was a creature of the night, your
worst nightmare. This would take some getting used to.

“How did you do that?” he
asked, slightly confused.

 “Do what,” I asked
unsure of what his question was.

 “One minute you were in
pain, a pain I could not imagine and have never felt in my entire six hundred
years and the next you were accepting, might be the word,” he clarified.

 “I don’t know what you
mean,” I was just as confused as he was and he saw that. He left the issue
alone for now, but I heard the slight whisper of his wonder, only his lips had
not moved.

“I should have known that
night at the cemetery, the pity I felt for you. You were much more in your
previous life. I felt sympathy for you as you lay dying on the tomb. I wonder
what else you can do” he mentally questioned. I could hear the wonder in his
thoughts.   

“Are you gifted as well?”
I hesitated when I responded to his unspoken question.

“I just feel the emotions
in the atmosphere, the tension, anger, rage or happiness. What I just felt
emanate off of you I never felt. It was as though you were going to break into
pieces and the pain came from somewhere deep within,” he explained.

“Jack, it is the pain of
all I have lost,” I explained.

He looks at me
questioningly.

“Jack, I did belong to
someone. More than one actually.”

My response quickly
dawned on him, “You had children?” he asked. His voice rose an octave in
surprise.

“Yes, Jazmine is ten and
Max is six. I had a family whose name I can easily recall, but I cannot
remember their faces, it is very heartbreaking,” I explained to him.

“
Mon petit
, it is
because you saw them with human eyes, that you cannot recall their faces.
Sadly, I have burdened you with this sadness that your family will never see
you again or the knowledge of what has become of you. I apologize for taking
your life from you,” he replied apologetically.  

“Jack, if I may say so, I
am not sorry, you have given me a second chance at life, do not be sorry for
what I have lost. You saved me the only way you knew how. I must mourn my own
loss, it is my burden to bear,” I replied.  

I stopped in the middle
of my speech because I felt a burning ache deep down to the pit of my stomach.
A feeling I have never felt before and suddenly I felt utterly savage. I looked
at Jack for an answer to this emotion, to this burn. I felt starved as though I
had not eaten and would soon die of hunger. The dryness I felt in my throat
intensified it hurt deep inside. I felt as though I had been deprived of hunger
for so long. I did not know what I would do if I did not eat soon.  

“
Mon petit¸
shall
we go hunt, I feel your hunger. Yes, it is hunger that you are feeling. I know
that it feels uncomfortable and I cannot tell you if this feeling ever goes
away. At times you may be able to suppress it, but once it rises to the surface
the monster inside of us comes out. I am able to suppress the hunger for a few
months at a time not much longer. Come, let’s not wait any longer, I know where
we shall start,” he explained.

I look back at myself in
the mirror. I am still in the beautiful gown and for the first time I notice
that my feet are bare. I wondered if this was appropriate attire for hunting.
Jack himself was wearing a casual button up shirt with black slacks, and a pair
of shiny black shoes. His dark hair was shaved close to the scalp. From this angle,
I could clearly see the tattoos down his arms. The tattoos themselves were very
intricately woven. I learned long ago that tattoos tell a person’s story.
Jack’s right arm bore the emblem of a dragon intricately designed with a double
cross above it. I also noticed the Roman numeral thirteen as well. I also
noticed a crest, but I could not place the symbols. He also bore the symbol of
Ankh.

As I stared at him, I
realized he was very angelic. Jack was extremely tall compared to my short
frame. He was lean, fit and muscled. I could notice the thickness of his
muscled arms. I imagined the rest of his body was muscled as well. This was a
man who had seen a fight or two in his time. I would not want to get on his bad
side if it ever came to it. I could imagine him being a brutal fighter,
wrestler or a boxer.

Jack turned to me.
Concern written on his face

“Is something the
matter?” he asked.

I was suddenly
embarrassed to be caught staring at him.

“How do we hunt?” I asked,
trying to recover from being caught looking at his beautiful physic. In my mind
I was seeing a hunter dressed in camouflage with a rifle aimed at a nine-point
buck. I could not imagine hunting in a beautiful evening gown and barefoot.

“You find your prey and
then let your instinct take over. Also you must never leave a wound. You must
always seal your bites with your saliva. It will heal the wound so no trace of
us is left,” he explained.

I was still confused by
his explanation. Maybe because I was so new to this life and there was so much
for me to learn. It is not like I took a class on how to be a vampire in
college. No one tells you how to hunt like a vampire. Another thought crossed
my mind and I asked it aloud for him.

“Are we going hunting
dressed like this?” I asked him.

“There is nothing wrong
with the way you are dressed. I will have to take you shopping though. I did
not anticipate, creating anyone, much less having a woman at my side. This was
the only thing I could find at such a late hour,” he responded. I noted a note
of sadness in his voice. I put this aside. I did not think I wanted to hear the
story behind his sadness.

“It is beautiful; it
would be a shame to ruin it,” I said.

“I doubt you will cause
it any damage,” he said, confident in his answer.

With that final word we
were off into the dark streets of New Orleans. We moved very swiftly. So fast
human eyes would not see us fly by. Everything was a blur as we walked through.
The bright lights of New Orleans blurred, had I taken the time to take a
picture it would have appeared like a motion blur. I felt the thrill of the
speed of my new life. I felt free, like I could do anything or be anything I
wanted to be. I felt like I could fly, but at the same time I was mourning
everything I had lost. I did not know if I would ever see my family again. I
avoided such heavy thoughts for now. I will think about it later.

I had so many questions for Jack and I figured he
would answer my questions along the way. I was still curious about his
surprise.