15
My hand fumbled blindly for the nightstand when I woke. The room was black and seemed like midnight, the heavy curtains preventing even the tiniest sliver of daylight from entering. It gave no indication of the time. Vaughan was sleeping peacefully by my side. Propping myself on one elbow to watch him, his chest moved slowly up and down, much slower than usual. I watched with held breath waiting for the next rise and fall. His skin looked cold and hard, like stone. I dared not to touch it, but he was still perfect.
As I sat on the balcony and watched the harbour growing darker with the setting sun, my mind escaped into the beauty of the view from up here. Life seemed so peaceful and carefree. I could easily lock myself away up here with Vaughan forever and not have to deal with the real world. It would be just the two of us in our own private sanctuary, one where we didn’t have to face reality. Life could pass me by as long as Vaughan and I were together. The bedroom door creaked and I felt breath brush against my cheek. “Good morning my love.”
“You mean, good evening” I corrected.
“This is my morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Very well, thanks to you” I teased as I kissed him.
He smiled triumphantly. “I love you Nicola.”
“I love you too” my smile beamed and for the first time I knew I meant it. Now I knew what it felt like to be in love, it wasn’t the same lusty feeling I usually felt, this was different. This felt ingrained into the very depths of my soul. Vaughan lifted my hand to his lips and he kissed the inside of my wrist softly, closing his eyes as though savouring the moment. “You have no idea what you do to me. For the first time in 65 years, I feel… alive. I know that’s an ironic explanation, but I now have this fire burning inside of me, something I never felt before. Human or vampire.”
“I feel that way too.”
Vaughan’s face suddenly looked morose “I just wish that I could give you the whole world.”
For the first time in my life, I had someone who loved me for me, not for what I looked like, but for just plain old me, baggage and all. “Vaughan, you’ve given me you, what more could I ask for?”
Vaughan took my hand and led me to the lounge room where we sat down, side by side. His fingers linked into mine, the expression on his face was serious “Ivan’s right. I would be denying you everything you desire out of life. It’s something that you may not realise now, but in five years, maybe ten, you will want things that I can’t give you. I can’t ask you to make that type of sacrifice.”
This was starting to feel like an ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech, my heart started to hammer in an uneven rhythm in my chest and I could feel heat burning inside. It rose up from my neck into my cheeks “You decided this now?” I exclaimed, my hands shaking.
“It’s something that has always been there, I haven’t embraced it until now.”
“Haven’t embraced it until now” I repeated “Now that you have got what you want from me?” I shouted pulling my hand from his.
“No!” his face looked disgusted with the thought “What I’m trying to say is, if you want to walk away, pretend I never existed, and get on with your life. I won’t stop you. I’m too selfish to do it. I will not change you. If I could go to Egypt now and beg to be changed back to a human, I would do it, without hesitation. I want nothing more than to grow old with you, but that’s something I know won’t happen and I can’t ask you to sacrifice that for me.”
I soberly thought of what he was saying, I knew what I would be giving up, but what I would be gaining was so much more. “Vaughan,” my voice whispered as I moved onto my knees beside him on the lounge. “I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my human life with you, no matter how long or short that may be. I understand what I’m sacrificing, but I’m gaining you.”
His eyes were dark and somber “Is this really what you want Nicola?”
“More than life itself.”
“You can walk away at any time, I won’t stop you.”
“I won’t” I pulled Vaughan to me and he rested his head on my chest, listening to my heartbeat. My hands ran through his hair, stroking it “I love you” I whispered again.
“I love you too” he answered, the sound of his voice vibrated in my chest.
Monday night Vaughan stayed with me. As we lay in bed, Vaughan’s arm around me, he seemed far away, distant “What are you thinking?” I asked.
He swallowed “I need to go away for a few days.”
“Do you need to feed?” I lifted my face to him. His eyes were starting to show the signs of thirst, they were paler than usual and lines were starting to appear at the corners.
“Yes, but that’s not the reason I need to go” he shifted next to me “I need to go and see my brother.”
I sat upright in bed and turned to Vaughan “Your brother?”
He nodded slowly “Yes, he’s still alive, barely. He’s in a nursing home in Abermain. I go and see him when I can.”
My eyebrows pulled together and my lips pouted in confusion “I don’t understand.”
“My human brother is still alive. He has dementia and is living in a nursing home.”
“Does he know who you are?”
“Yes. I know I’m hindering his condition by seeing him, but he’s the only family I have left and I know he doesn’t have long to live.”
The thought of Vaughan with a human family, is something that had never occurred to me, especially after hearing Gerri’s story, how her entire family had been wiped out by plague. How could I deny Vaughan this? “Go, see your brother.”
“Are you sure? I can stay.”
“No, I will be fine. You need to see him” I reassured him as I lay back onto his chest “When will you be leaving?”
“Tomorrow. I will give you Gerri and Ivan’s number, just in case.”
“Vaughan, I don’t need babysitters. I will be fine.”
Bec and I were seated at a little café for dinner and she told me all about Joel. They had more in common than Bec originally realised “That’s great Bec, he seems like a nice guy.” I was happy for her, finding a guy she really liked. Especially after the incident with Brad, it was good to see her faith in men restored.
“I know I can’t believe how things are working out. I’m with Joel, you’re with Vaughan. We should double date sometime.”
The thought of Vaughan sitting at a dinner table with myself, Bec and Joel amused me; I had to fight back a smile “That sounds like a good plan.”
“So, what’s Vaughan doing tonight?” she asked as she twirled the last of her pasta with her fork and spoon.
“He’s gone to see his brother” I hated that I had to keep secrets from my best friend, especially when she could read me like a book. But this wasn’t really a lie.
“Where does his brother live?”
“Abermain.”
“Is that where Vaughan’s from?”
“I think so” I had never asked Vaughan where he grew up. There was so little I knew about him, about his human life and his vampire one. What had he done in the last 65 years?
Bec checked her watch “We better go, I don’t want to be stuck sitting in the front row for the movie.”
The distraction of a Sandra Bullock rom-com was welcome, it allowed my mind to switch off and relax. “I’m going to the bathroom, I’ll meet you in the lobby” Bec said as the credits started to roll at the end, the lights not yet on. I waited beside the concession stand and began scanning the crowded lobby of people, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling I was being watched. My eyes fell upon a couple standing by the stairs. They both wore all black, the woman had short bobbed hair, with too much make up, and the man’s hair was slicked back, it was the couple from The Ocean Bar. I looked toward the bathroom for Bec, and then heard a soft deep voice in my ear “I’m surprised Vaughan would let you out of his sight given the current situation.”
I spun around; they were now beside me. The woman with the same arrogant smile, head tilted to on
e side, smirking.
“Do I know you?” I asked, trying to sound more courageous than I felt.
The man held one hand to his chest “How rude of me. My name is Dante” he held out his other hand for me to shake. “And this is Elisabetta.” I shook Dante’s hand cautiously; his skin was cool to the touch. I now knew what he was. “We’re acquaintances of Vaughan’s.”
“I’ve never heard him mention you” my eyes drifted to the bathroom door again, trying to sound confident.
The couple looked at each other and laughed, their voices together made a melodic sound, like chiming bells. “I’m not surprised. Would you be a dear though and let him know we said hi and hopefully we will see him soon, very soon.”There was something sinister in Dante’s tone and the way he looked at me that made my skin crawl.
“Dante” the woman interrupted “Let’s go. I want a snack” I followed her gaze to the door of the women’s bathroom, just as Bec walked through it. Elisabetta smacked her lips together. All the air from my lungs seemed to escape and my heart sank into my stomach “Don’t hurt her” I whispered. The pair left through the exit door, Elisabetta turning to wave at me as she departed. My feet were frozen to the ground, my hands shaking. An overwhelming sense of claustrophobia came over me, the walls seemed to close in. But I couldn’t go outside, for fear they were waiting for me. I pulled my phone from my bag and shakily searched for Gerri and Ivan’s number. I knew either one would be here in a matter of minutes. ‘Calm down and think’ I told myself. How would I explain any of this to Bec. I had no choice. I had to do it alone and hope for the best. Bec was now standing in front of me “Are you ok? You don’t look so good.”
Breath. I reminded myself “I’m fine” I tried to assure her, although I didn’t even assure myself.
“You look like you’re about to faint, let’s go outside in the fresh air.”
Reluctantly I forced one foot to move in front of the other and followed Bec outside. My eyes darted around the darkened street for any sign of movement; people were everywhere, all leaving the cinema at the same time. A crowd of about six were waiting at the lights, the pedestrian light signaled green and the group started to cross. I took Bec’s hand and ran for the back of the pack, safety in numbers. Surely nothing would happen with so many witnesses. On the other side of the intersection the group all disbursed in different directions. We were left alone and exposed. I quickened the pace towards the car around the corner from the cinema. There were too many places to hide, my eyes darted in all directions. The skate park attached to the youth centre across the road, the alley leading to an out of the way Chinese restaurant, the staff entrance to the shops in the mall. “Slow down Nic, what’s your hurry” Bec complained as I continued to drag her along beside me. Seeing the car ahead I slowed and released her grasp. We reached the car, as I opened my door a hand clasped over mine; a frightened scream escaped my lips. Heidi was standing beside me, her hand on mine as I held the door open. A sardonic smile on her face “Hello Nicola” she taunted.
“Heidi, what are you doing here?” I panted as my heart stammered.
“I hear congratulations are in order.” Her face was cold and angry, her molten amber eyes almost glowing with hatred.
“I’m sorry?” I asked shaking my head, not understanding what she was talking about.
“You won, you made Vaughan yours, you won the bet” her voice was laden with sarcasm.
“What bet?”
“The bet you had with Cassidy and Rebecca, remember?” Her eyes were darkening and narrowed to catlike slits.
Bec leaned across the driver’s seat at the sound of her name and smiled at Heidi “Hi” she offered timidly.
“Humph” was the only response Heidi offered. Bec move back to the passenger’s seat. “I’m not with Vaughan because of some bet Heidi. I love him.”
“Ha! You wouldn’t know the first thing. You can’t give him what he wants, what he needs.”
My patience was growing thin “What do you want Heidi?”
“I want you to give Vaughan a message.”
Pulling my hand from under hers, I folded my arms across my chest trying to be braver than I actually felt. “What’s the message?”
“That I’ll be seeing him soon” she said menacingly as she stepped backwards then moved away in a blur into the distance. My hands shook as Dante’s words also echoed in my ears. What was happening? My heart was punching through my chest, pulsating in my ears and my knees felt weak. I wanted to run, run as fast as I could away from all of this. A voice calling my name was the only thing that brought me back to the present moment. “Nic, Nic. Are you ok? Do you want me to drive?” I looked towards the voice, Bec was calling me. I shook my head to clear my thoughts “No, I’m fine.” I slide into the car and drove carefully to Bec’s house, checking over my shoulder the entire way.
“Nic, are you sure you’re ok? You’ve been acting strange tonight.”
I smiled weakly as I pulled my car into the Pearson’s driveway “I’m just a bit tired I guess.”
Bec didn’t seem convinced by my weak attempt as reassurance “Ok, well, call me tomorrow.”
“Promise.”
I watched Bec make it safely into her house before I reversed out of her driveway. As soon as I was in the safety of my home I ran to the front door, locking it behind me. Double checking each lock as I went. Mum came into the hallway to see what all the noise was “What are you doing?”
“I’m just checking the door is locked.”
“Is everything ok?”
“Fine. I’m going to bed” I kissed mum on the cheek and brushed past her quickly to my room, throwing myself onto the bed where I curled into a ball. Should I call Gerri? She would be here in an instant and not leave my side until asked. I tipped out the contents of my handbag in search of the piece of paper Vaughan had written her number on. My fingers fumbled over the buttons on my phone as I dialed Gerri’s number. She answered on the first ring “Hello.” her sweet Irish voice answered.
“Gerri. Its Nicola” My voice was coming out much higher and faster than I hoped it would.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice suddenly became grave.
“I ran into Heidi tonight.”
“Where are you now?”
“I’m at home.”
“Stay there, Marcus and I will be there in ten minutes” the phone was suddenly dead. I curled back into my protective ball on my bed. Waiting, the minutes seemed to pass by so slowly, until I heard a tapping on my bedroom window. I jumped; fear froze me to the spot. Tapping again slightly louder this time. “Nicola?” I heard from outside my window. I would recognise the Irish accent anywhere. My fear subsided slightly and I slid off the bed, throwing back the curtains. “Open the window.”
Slowly I opened the window, trying not to make a sound. The last thing I wanted was for mum to come into my room, it slid open almost too easily, without the rusty screech it usually made. “Come in” I invited as Gerri and Marcus leaped from the ground, graceful and catlike. They both landed silently on the floor of my bedroom. Marcus slid the window shut “Good thing Vaughan fixed that window.”
“What?” I asked.
He looked at Gerri and they laughed to each other. “Are you ok?” Gerri asked me, avoiding my question. She led me to the bed and sat me down. Marcus walked silently around my bedroom, looking at my possessions. He picked up a photo of Bec and me on our last day of high school, and then set it back down in its place. I told Gerri everything that happened this evening, about Dante, Elisabetta, and Heidi. The warning she gave me, which was identical to Dante’s. How I had seen Dante and Elisabetta on the weekend. A low hiss escaped Marcus’ throat. I looked up to see his lips curled back over his teeth, fangs exposed with dark blood thirsty eyes. My body shrunk back into Gerri.
“Marcus!” Gerri warned.
“Sorry Nicola” he comforted “I’ll call Ivan and do checks around here” he slid open my window and sprung out, without making a sound.
Gerri turned back to me and put her arm around my shoulder “Have you spoken to Vaughan?”
“No, I called you first.”
“That’s a wise choice, but you should call him. He won’t want to hear this from Ivan or anyone else.”
“I don’t want him to worry.”
“I know, but he’d rather hear it from you.”
I nodded, I knew she was right. I dialed Vaughan’s number, he answered before the first ring was done “Hello.”
I told him what had happened and that Gerri and Marcus were with me. “I’m coming home now.”
“I’m ok. Gerri is here with me” I tried to assure him to no avail.
“I’ll be there in two hours.”
“Stay with your brother.”
“I want to be there with you. I’m coming home, I’ll see you soon. Tell Gerri not to leave until I get there.”
“Ok.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” I hung up and turned to Gerri who nodded in agreement. Of course she had heard everything that was said. Her face turned towards the window, her beautiful features failed to reflect in the glass. But I could see the uncertainty and loyalty in her profile. She knew something was coming, they all did. “Gerri, what’s happening?” I asked.
She turned to me, her face was pleasant and happy “Marcus has spoken to Ivan, he is on his way. Marcus is waiting outside for him.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Gerri gave me a smile that didn’t touch her eyes and patted my hand gently. It was the type of smile you get when you know all is lost, but you try to remain positive, for someone else’s sake. “Ivan will tell you when he gets here.”
“Gerri” I started, a little sheepishly.
“When I called you earlier, you said that Marcus and I will be here. Was Marcus already with you when I called?”
Gerri’s head bent down. Her hands were in her lap. She picked at her fingernail, which I’m sure was a nervous habit she had acquired as a human. One that was never broken after her transformation.
“Yes, he was” she answered, almost embarrassed.
“Are you two a couple?”
Gerri still didn’t meet my face; she looked up and stared out of the window again.
Marcus sprang through my window, landing lithely on his feet. He crouched in front of Gerri, taking her hands in his, meeting her gaze “Well?” he asked.
“We’ve discussed this, it’s complicated” she whispered to Marcus. I had the feeling I was interrupting a private moment. I tried to look elsewhere, but my room wasn’t very big, there seemed no where to turn that would give them any privacy.
“Nicola” Someone called from outside the window, I turned to look, but no one was there.
“It’s Ivan” Marcus advised, he didn’t drop Gerri’s gaze as he stood up.
“Come in” I invited, and then Ivan sprang through my bedroom window.
“Are you alright?”
I nodded, my arms protectively wrapped around my mid section.
He turned to Gerri and Marcus “This threat has crossed the line.” His voice was deep and powerful. I had the feeling Ivan, was not one to cross.
“Ivan” I interrupted “What’s going on?”
“Nicola, Vaughan doesn’t want to upset you with any of this.”
“I have a right to know.”
Ivan thought about it for a moment, the look on his face gave way to the fact that he wanted to tell me, but his loyalty also lay with Vaughan. “Given the circumstances I agree, but Vaughan has asked me not to tell you.”
I felt my anger rising. “Vaughan asked you not to tell me?” I gritted through clenched teeth.
Ivan nodded.
“Then Gerri can tell me?”
Another nod from Ivan confirmed what I wanted.
“No! Ivan please” Gerri started to beg.
“I’ll tell her” Marcus interrupted, taking a step forward.
Ivan gave his nod of approval and I turned to face Marcus. “You know we found the other vamps and they are feeding here, in Belles Cove. They are preying on…” he seemed to deliberate on how to word his story and gestured me as an example “People such as yourself. Young and vulnerable, they are meeting them in nightclubs and bars around town, then feeding on them and compelling them not to remember. Sometimes they are luring people to areas where others are waiting and they all feed.”
My hand ran across the scar on the inside of my elbow as I thought of the other marks on my body. The ones only eyes liked Vaughan’s could see, I looked at Marcus and he nodded to my unasked question.
“Are they only feeding?” My voice quaked barely above a whisper. Marcus’ eyebrows pulled together, he didn’t seem to understand my question. Gerri put her arm around my shoulder “Yes” she assured me “They are only feeding.”
Gerri looked up at Marcus and his face twisted with disgust at the realisation. “When we went to see them, explain that Ivan has business here and we have all agreed not to feed in the area. To avoid exposure, they should do the same. They agreed not to draw attention to us and we won’t draw attention to them.”
“Are they still feeding in Belles Cove?” I asked.
“They are being a bit more discreet.”
“What does that mean exactly? No one knows they are here. You didn’t know they were here until Vaughan saw the…the…” my voice trailed off, I couldn’t say the words.
“We had an idea someone had been here, but we believed they had moved on” Ivan added to the conversation. His arms crossed over his chest.
“What’s going to happen now?” I asked.