The Week I Was A Vampire (14 page)

             
The answer was yes and judging by the smug look on Jemima’s face, the vampire knew it.

             
“No,” Jude said firmly.  “Not like this.  I don’t need to learn like this.”

             
“Oh, but I think you do.”  Jemima latched onto the woman’s neck again, tearing into it with enough force to break through the persuasion and make the woman cry out.

             
“Enough!” Jude shouted and with a strength she didn’t know she possessed, she charged Jemima and ripped the vampire away from the woman before slamming her into the brick wall.

             
Stunned, Jemima took a moment to orient herself before her bloodlust quickly morphed into rage.  Jude had only a second to throw her arms up and shield herself before Jemima lunged, but the impact never came and Jude opened her eyes to see a flash of red before Jemima skidded across the ground, coming to a halt against the far wall of the alley.

             
“Go home, Jemima,” the woman growled.  “I’ll deal with you later.”

             
Jemima looked around the woman to sneer at Jude.

             
“Your ship is sunk like the Titanic,” she spat.  “I should know, I was there.”  She gave the bleeding woman a brief glance before disappearing from sight.  Jude was left alone with the injured woman and a vampire who, when she turned, possessed a beauty almost on par with Tess’.

             
Red hair fell to her waist in waves that stood in stark contrast to the crisp white pantsuit that matched her skin almost flawlessly.  She was older than Mafe, that much Jude could tell, but her sweetheart face was youthful and her brown eyes glowed in the dark.  Stripping away the glamour, though, Jude was left with the brief image of a frail girl with limp hair and lifeless eyes.

             
“Daphine Valois,” Jude said and the vampire nodded.

             
“You must be Jude Carstairs,” she said, a faint French accent detectable.  “I’ve heard a lot about you.  Please, call me Daphne.”

             
Jude nodded her consent and moved out of the way as Daphne stepped towards the bleeding woman.  She knelt on the ground, unconcerned about ruining her white suit, and Jude watched her bite into her own wrist and feed her blood to the woman.

             
“Are you going to turn her?” Jude said and Daphne shook her head.

             
“The blood will heal her,” Daphne said, “and then pass out of her system.  You, my dear, had the misfortune of dying before the blood left you.  Although, had you died without the blood in your system, I imagine there would be a few heartbroken people in the world.”

             
Jude helped Daphne get the woman on her feet and watched the redheaded vampire persuade the woman to forget what had happened.  She staggered down the alleyway, her footing becoming surer as she neared the street, before she returned to what she’d been doing before Jemima had fed from her.

             
“Come,” Daphne said, stepping from the alley.  “Let me walk you home.”

•§•

The pair walked in silence for a while, Jude’s mind churning about a plethora of questions her mouth refused to speak.  Daphne seemed to know, though, the way everyone seemed to know what Jude was thinking.  Was she that transparent?

             
“That was good of you,” Daphne said and, at Jude’s confused expression, elaborated.  “You did not have to save that woman.”

             
“You saved her,” Jude said, but Daphne disagreed.

             
“You’re in transition and you went up against a vampire who is two hundred years old,” she said.  “The fact you managed to pry her away from the woman is impressive in itself.  You did save that woman, Jude.  Do not think so little of yourself.”

             
“Kind of hard to change a lifelong habit,” Jude muttered as she turned down her street.  Beside her, Daphne chuckled, her laughter light and airy.

             
“I know how that is,” Daphne said.  “Then again, it is easy to think little of yourself when you spend your whole life in a sickbed.”

             
“Mafe told me,” Jude said and Daphne smiled knowingly.

             
“Jemima was the same,” she said.

             
Jude stopped and stared at her, brows furrowing as she tried to imagine Jemima confined to a sickbed.

             
“Maybe not the same,” Daphne said, “but she did fall ill when she was young and never fully recovered.  When I met her, she was dying, and while no one else knew it, she and I did.”

             
“How?” said Jude and Daphne shrugged, a gesture that seemed out of place when compared to her sophisticated air.  Her lithe build left her shoulders sharp, which made the movement seem jerky.

             
“Vampires can tell when someone is dying,” she said.  “It’s the smell of decay in their body.  And Jemima, well, wouldn’t you know if you were dying?”

            
 
Yes
,
Jude thought.
 
I knew I was dying the night Jemima almost killed me.

            
 
Aloud she said, “So that’s why you saved her, even though she was so young?”

             
Daphne nodded.

             
“She was young, yes,” she said, “but when I looked at her, I saw something of myself and could not let her die.  Make no mistake though, she wanted this life.  She asked me to turn her into a vampire and while her immortal existence has been difficult, I do love my child.”

             
“But she’s so mean,” Jude said and quickly regretted her words as a dark look flashed across Daphne’s kind face.

             
“She was turned young,” she said.  “Most humans who are made vampires at a young age do not last long.  They have a hard time adjusting to a changing world where they are forever children.  The fact Jemima has lived this long without taking her own life is an accomplishment.  She has no friends her human age and the older, male vampires do not wish to consort with someone who looks so young.  It is difficult for appearances when we go out.”

             
Daphne began walking again and Jude followed, trying to reconcile the cruel Jemima she knew with the lonely girl Daphne spoke of.  It was difficult, but she supposed with time she could learn to see the girl hidden beneath Jemima’s glamour that was turning out to be both physical and emotional.

             
“You remind me of someone,” Daphne said, jarring Jude from her thoughts.  “A human Daniel once knew.  Elaine was her name.  You’re quiet and thoughtful like her, but I think maybe you are braver.”

             
“What happened to her?” Jude asked and Daphne sighed.

             
“What happens to all humans, eventually,” the vampire said.  “She died, but fortunately, she died in her bed, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.  She lived a full life and was happy.  Some people do not get that.”

             
“Like Daniel?” Jude blurted out before her brain could make her mouth shut up. 

             
Daphne stopped in front of the Carstairs house and stared down at Jude.

             
“The next time you see Daniel,” she said, “ask him about Elaine.  It is not my story to tell, but it is one I think you should hear.”

             
“Alright,” Jude said and Daphne nodded her head.

             
“
À bientô
t
, Judith,” she said and continued to walk down the street. 

             
Jude remained rooted to her spot for a moment before turning to walk up to her house, only she stopped when Daphne called back to her.

             
“When you see Daniel,” she said, “please tell him he is my biggest regret.”  She disappeared before Jude could say anything, leaving the transitioning girl standing in front of her house with a puzzled look on her face.

            
 
Her biggest regret
?
Jude thought as she slipped inside and locked the door.  As she climbed the stairs, she could hear Simon’s music blaring from his room and slipped inside her own room with a smile.

            
 
No
,
she decided
,
I’m not going to tell Daniel that.

Friday Afternoon

The Pact

“You missed it,” Lux said as she breezed into Jude’s room with a flourish, bright pink tutu flaring out as she pirouetted her way to the the bed and promptly fell on it.  Jude, still snuggled beneath her blankets, looked at her friend with a grimace.

              “Sleeping,” Jude said, but Lux ignored her and poked her friend in the side.

             
“You’re turning into Simon,” Lux said.  “I wonder what he’d be like as a vampire.  I mean, he’s kind of already nocturnal, so do you think something weird would happen and he’d be the only vampire who could be up and about during the day?  I think that’d be kind of awesome.”

             
“I guess we’ll never know,” Jude said and sat up, knowing she’d never get back to sleep if Lux were here.  “So what did I miss?”

             
Lux launched from the bed with a squeal at Jude’s reminder, but quickly apologized for screaming when Jude flinched at the harsh sound.

             
“You may be the only vampire who’ll need earplugs,” Lux said before explaining what she was so excited about.  “The nominees for prom queen were announced today!”

             
Jude was instantly awake and just as excited as Lux, who produced a small flyer and handed it to her.  The pink paper was garish and covered in glitter and crown stickers, but Jude overlooked the tackiness as she scanned the list of nominees, finding two names at the bottom of the list that made her smile.

             
“Lux Reading and Judith Carstairs!” Lux cheered, jumping on Jude’s bed for a moment before pulling her vampire friend up to join her.  The pair danced, shrieking in joy and talking loudly about dresses and accessories before Lux’s heart rate reached a level Jude couldn’t handle and she quickly dropped back onto the bed and scooted away from Lux.

             
“Sorry,” Jude said as realization dawned on Lux’s face.  “I’m getting pretty good at ignoring the sound and smell.  Oddly enough, the way someone smells actually helps.  Like Simon, who smells revolting unless he showers and you’re usually wearing a half dozen different scents since your shampoo, perfume, and whatnot aren’t similar.  It gives me something to focus on other than the, you know.”

             
“Yeah,” Lux said, dropping back onto the bed as well.  “And don’t apologize, because it’s not your fault.  It’s Jemima’s.  Speaking of which, I got your text.  How was date night with the she-devil?”

             
Jude flopped backwards onto her bed with a groan.

             
“Almost a disaster,” she said and proceeded to tell Lux about the blonde vampire, the human, and Daphine Valois.

             
“Wow,” Lux said as Jude concluded her tale.  “Sounds like you have a hot grandsire.”

             
“Is that really all you took away from the story?” Jude said and rolled her eyes when Lux shrugged.

             
“I already knew Vampire Barbie was a soul sucking harpy.  I swear, she’s the bitchy blonde who inspired Tinkerbell.”  Lux waved her own comment aside.  “So what does Dame Daphne look
s
sans écla
t
?”

             
“Sick,” Jude said, thinking of Daphne without her glamour.  “She looks like someone who was sick for a very long time.”

             
“And Jemima?” Lux said, but Jude shook her head.

             
“I’ve never thought to look,” she said.  “Mostly, you know, because I never thought of Jemima being frail.  She’s so cruel.”

             
“Overcompensation,” Lux said as she undid, then kicked off her sparkling red flats that laced up like ballerina slippers.  “She’s probably a fluffy marshmallow underneath that hard shell of hers.”

             
“Marshmallow?” Jude said with a scoff.  “I don’t care how sick she was or how lonely she is; Jemima is not gooey nougat on the inside.  She’s more like barbed wire and acid.”

             
“Someone doesn’t like her future aunt,” Lux said.  “And possible sister-in-law.  Do vampires get married?”

             
“What are you talking about?” Jude said, turning on her side to look at Lux who was wearing a very unconvincing look of innocence.

             
“You and Daniel,” she said plainly, causing Jude to splutter.

             
“There is no me and Daniel,” Jude said and ducked when Lux tried to smack her in the face with a pillow.  “There isn’t!  He’s my sire, which pretty much makes me his kid.”

             
“Oh please,” Lux said.  “You have parents and they do not look at you the way Danny boy does.  Admit it, you think he’s pretty fine.  I know I do.”

             
Jude grabbed the pillow from Lux and whacked her in the face with it, worrying for a moment she might’ve hit her too hard until Lux rose from the bed with a laugh.

             
“Denial does not look good on you,” Lux said and Jude glared at her.

             
“Neither does chartreuse,” she said before climbing off the bed.  She opened her closet and began to rifle through her clothes, looking for something suitable to wear for her “not a date” date tonight.

            
 
It’d be easier to decide if I knew who I’d be spending time with
,
she thought, wondering if it’d be Daphne or Daniel, which made her wonder what Jemima’s punishment for not behaving had been.  A wave of sympathy washed over her and she quickly stamped it down, determined not to feel sorry for the mean vampire who’d almost killed an innocent woman.

             
“It wouldn’t be a bad thing,” Lux said and Jude turned around.  “You know, if you did like Daniel.  I’m sure he’d wait for you, if you wanted to wait a few years before becoming a vampire.”

             
“I don’t want to become a vampire,” Jude said, “least of all for some guy I don’t even know.  That’s not a good reason.”

             
“If you loved him, it would be.”

             
Jude frowned and shook her head before pulling out a burgundy blouse and holding it up for Lux’s approval.  The girl gave a shrug before pointing to a navy sweater folded on Jude’s dresser.

             
“That’s more Jude Carstairs,” Lux said and then added, “The human.”

             
Jude froze for a moment before hanging the shirt back up and returning to sit beside Lux who was staring intently at her glitter covered skirt.

             
“Hey,” Jude said, nudging Lux’s shoulder until she looked at her.  “What’s wrong, Lux?”

             
“What if you don’t make it through?” Lux said.  “What if you do turn into a vampire?”

             
Dread welled up inside Jude as she thought of Lux, no doubt terrified her best friend would snap at any moment and kill her.  The thought had her choking down the bile that rose in her throat.

             
“I would never hurt you, Lux,” Jude said, even if she knew that was a lie.  “You’ll be safe around me.”

             
Lux waved her off.

             
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” she said and Jude frowned, confused at what her friend was getting at.

             
“I don’t get it,” Jude said and Lux sighed, smiling indulgently at Jude before taking her hand.

             
“If you become a vampire,” Lux said, “you’re going to live forever.  You’re going to have to go away and I’m going to be left here, alone, until I die.”

             
“No,” Jude said, shaking her head.  “I won’t leave you.”

             
Lux smiled and Jude felt the briefest moment of jealousy flare inside her as her friend began to cry, something Jude was unable to do.

             
“You won’t be doing the leaving,” Lux said, “I will.  I’m going to die, Jude, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

             
“You could stay with me,” Jude said, impassioned.  “We could have Daniel turn you, or even Daphne.  Or Mafe.  You’d really like them.  We could be together, forever.  You wouldn’t lose me and I wouldn’t have to live without my best friend.”

             
“I don’t know,” Lux said and Jude felt herself deflate at her friend’s doubt.  “I used to think the supernatural was really cool, but now that I’ve seen what it’s doing to you, I don’t know if I want to be a part of this world.  I’m afraid I’d lose myself.”

             
Jude cradled Lux’s face between her hands, mindful about her strength as her friend began to sob.

             
“You’re the strongest person I know,” Jude said.  “If anyone could hold onto herself, it’d be you.  I believe that, just like you believe I’m strong enough to get through the week.  One way or another, Lux, we’re going to be together forever.  I will not leave you.”

             
Lux wiped furiously at her eyes before looking up at Jude who looked every inch the glamorous vampire.

             
“One way or another,” Lux said and Jude smiled.

             
“Together forever.”