NightFall: Book One: Bloodlust Is the Cure for the Immortal Soul (4 page)
Read NightFall: Book One: Bloodlust Is the Cure for the Immortal Soul Online
Authors: Anastacia Kelley
Van followed Saldivar obediently as he led the way to a room, holding a black candlestick to light the way.
Van noticed a large basin brimming to the rim with warm water. Beside it was a washcloth and cleaning soaps. Van inhaled the scent of cleanliness. It smelled wonderful to him. He didn’t know the time he actually used cleaning soaps on his withered looking body.
Saldivar went to a wooden chest filled with a variety of clothing. He pulled out a suitable and sensible white shirt and black trousers, under clothing and shoes. He placed them neatly upon the bed.
“You
will find these comfortable,”
Saldivar stated as he pointed to them.
Van smiled, somewhat embarrassed. He wasn’t used to such hospitality. “Thank you.”
Saldivar nodded. “I will leave you to your business. I will be in the kitchen, which is down the hall to your left, when you are ready. But take
all the time you need,”
Saldivar said politely.
Van nodded. Before he t
urned to the basin, he shouted,
“Wait!” Van quickly lit another candle. “You will need a candle to see by. I have yours.” Van started to hand Saldivar the candle but he only shook his head and smiled slyly.
“That will not be required,”
he pointed out. “I can see quite well without it.” As he walked out, Van stood there, shaking his head, his brow heavy with consternation. Somehow he thought Saldivar e
njoyed being the human enigma
.
*
Saldivar needed nourishment. He had not fed all night and now he was quite ravenous. But he had things to take care of and feeding had become last on his list of things to do.
Bloodlust was a powerful force to be reckoned with, even with the strongest of vampires, but it was one he always held in check. He was very careful not to harm any one during feeding.
It would not take long to feed tonight and he would be back to prepare Van’s meal in plenty of time.
He shut the front door quietly so as not to arouse any suspicion to Van. He took in the picturesque beauty of the night and drew in a deep breath.
He bolted at once. Running with lightning speed and capability, he scanned the town, searching for a secluded area. Most people were already in their homes either resting or hosting some kind of dinner party.
It was pitch dark by now, but he could see clearly in the black night like an animal, it not better.
As he ran, he inhaled at the air, picking up the scent of blood.
A fresh, young female.
He could hear the blood running through her veins. He could sense that this blood was pure.
Innocent.
His blood of choice.
Saldivar waited stealthily behind an enormous tree. Patiently, he waited for her to cross his path. He felt somewhat like a tiger stalking its prey, though he never killed his catch. The cl
oser she came near him, the headier
and
more
potent her blood became.
The pretty young female passed by the tree, oblivious to Saldivar and what awaited her. Quick as a flash, he grabbed her. She had no time to react before he dragged her behind the massive tree. No one would see them there should someone happen by.
Saldivar gazed into her panic stricken blue eyes. Though she was afraid, not a sound escaped her now pale lips. He peered into her eyes intently and willed her to be calm. With that, she went lax in his arms. Her blonde tresses flowed in the slight wind.
Her arms,
falling be
side her body.
Saldivar caressed the supple flesh of her neck just before he lowered his head to the left pulse of her creamy, yielding skin. His canines pierced her neck and he
drank greedily.
Deeply.
Hungrily.
He did not take enough to kill the young woman. He cherished li
fe. He would not take a life even if to
save his own. Sometimes the blood sucking beast came to life inside of him while tasting his treasure but he had tight reins on it and always squelched the urge to drink more.
When he had his fill, Saldivar lifted his head and looked into her slightly vacant eyes once more. She would not remember
this. She would go home
, sink into bed and this will feel like a dream. The two puncture marks will not be there when she awoke. He let her go gently and bolted so fast she could not see him.
Saldivar made his way into the door and went into the kitchen to prepare Van’s dinner. It was a rather simple meal and he knew Van would appreciate it. He finished quickly then sat down. He was pouring the wine when Van entered a few minutes later.
Van beamed as he sat down to a meal of roasted meat, fruit, cheese and bread and wine. He inhaled the heavenly aromas gratefully. He could not remember a time he had had such food.
Saldivar nodded toward the pale blue plate. “Please. Eat. You must be famished.”
“Yes,”
was all Van said before he began
eating.
The food was delightf
ul. It tasted as foo
d is supposed to taste.
Absolutely savory.
Van consumed it with gusto, not leaving a crumb. He washed it all down with a glass of wine.
Extraordinary,
Van thought. That beastly hunger still gnawed at his gut even though he had eaten a large quantity of food. There was something definitely wrong here. Food was supposed to be satisfying.
Filling.
Yet, the hunger still loomed over him like an unseen entity.
Van wiped his mouth with a napkin as Saldivar spoke. “I ta
ke it the food was acceptable?”
he inquired.
“Very much,”
Van rejoined. He put his napkin onto his plate and pushed it away.
“Now,”
Sald
ivar said and started to rise,
“bring your wine and we will sit by the fire and I will tell you my story
and why I am here to help you,”
he elucidated.
Van took his now refilled glass of wine and followed Saldivar into the living area. He sat on a plush burgundy seated chair facing the fire as Saldivar sat adjacent to Van so he could talk to him
face a face
.
Saldivar was obviously in no rush to start. He took his time settling comfortably in his chair.
“Do not interrupt me even though you might find my story unbelievable. What I am about to tell you holds no fallacy,”
he explained.
“
S
‘il vous plai
t?”
Van nodded.
Saldivar crossed his legs and thus began his story:
CHAPTER II
“I was born just as you were: from my mother’s womb. I was born with no nobility and our family did not have a lot though we did have some farm land. We did manage to eat every day from the vegetables my mother would get from our small garden. That in itself was a blessing. We had a small home but nothing like you see before you now. Life was pleasant enough but there were still very hard times to be had.
“I was brought into this world in the year 1200. I know what you are thinking: it’s impossib
le that I am still alive.
I will explain this to you in time.
“During this time, Philip II was the ruler of France. His reign began in 118
0 and lasted for forty-three years
. Life was somewhat difficult but Philip II had helped develop Paris into a place of culture and learning. Paris was the best it had been
in a long time and Philip II was to be credited for this.
“Now after the Hundred Years’ War in 1453, our people were able to drive the English away. Then King Louis XI had control ove
r our country for about twenty-two years.
I was there during his speech.
He was quite a powerful speaker with a voice held with conviction.
He had made it so that France had to be ruled absolutely by French Kings. France roared with happiness that day. We were able to be our own people, if you will.
“I still can remember when France built the Louvre Palace in the 1200’s. It is one of the largest palaces in the world. It has been rebuilt, of course, around the 1500’s. It is quite a wondrous, glorious sight. People for miles and miles come to see it. They travel from different countries just to see our culture, appreciate our talents. And I imagine that as long as it stands, millions more will walk through the doors of the palace.”
Saldivar paused t
o take a fortifying breath before continuing
. “I am giving you a little history of France to help accomplish the truth in what I am saying. I would not lie to you.”
Saldivar folded his hands over his knee. “As you well know, we are under a different King’s rule. I hear the whispers of some that wish the king would be overthrown. No one knows exactly who these people are. My assumption is they fear punishment for discussing about such things as this.
“I do not know what the future holds……for them, any way. I know my future as well as yours, if you let me help you.”
Saldivar took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say. He closed his eyes and then opened them slowly.
“My parents were killed when soldiers of our king’s enemy raided our archaic, simple little village. The village did not have a lot of money, so what did they want?
Blood?
The soldiers were fighting everywhere. There seemed to be bloodshed in every niche of the village. Blood seemed to cry down from the sky and drown our village in torment and anger. Children ran, screaming for help, screaming for their mother or their father.
Crying for the soldiers not to kill their family.
I can still see the aftermath. Still smell the stench of death that permeated the streets. I can still remember the small children who lay lifeless on the path, having been trampled by horses of the soldiers. Unfortunately, I had arrived too late to assist any one. I only
saw the agony left behind. I had later found out that my parents accidently got in the way and felt the bite of the wrong end of
the sword.
Given the state of the village, they would have died any way.” Saldivar blinked back tears. They glistened like diamonds in his ebony lashes.
Van saw the despair in Saldivar’s amber eyes. He swallowed the sudden lump that had formed in his throat. He wanted to say something comforting to Saldivar but words failed him. He figured that there were no words to mend such a broken past.
Still, Saldivar needed to press on. “It seemed like it only happened yesterday. But it had happened in 1227. I was young. I wanted to see the world. And that was how I was pa
id for my ambitions,”
he ground our roughly, his voice breaking. Van could clearly hear the regret lacing Saldivar’s words. It was evident that he was beating himself up over it every day of his lif
e.
“I was very distraught over the unlikely demise of my parents. I felt so guilty that I had been away when this tragedy had started. Sadly, as I had said, I had arrived too late. It seemed I should have been there with them. We could have died as a family.” Saldivar’s eyes were somber at his last statement. “Now I am-like you-the only one left.”
Saldivar’s eyes unexpectedly clouded over in a fiery rage that Van only slightly understood. “At first, I though
t
of ending my own life. Of going to the edge of France and jumping off into the frigid waters of an unforgiving sea. It would be my judge and executioner. I thought I had nothing left to live for.
