Chapter 12
Calm Before the Storm
Emrys picked up a remote from the table near the loveseat, aimed it at the stereo system, and pressed a button. Soothing piano music played a pleasing melody as soft violins and flutes mingled with the sound of gently flowing water in the background. If I had been able to keep my eyes off him, and allowed them to close, I could have drifted off to sleep. The melody embodied a perfect picture of serenity.
His captivating gaze held me; I was fascinated by his ability to express so many emotions without uttering a word. I felt his undying love for me as it radiated forth. I sensed his gratitude for the good fortune we had in being guided by The Veinvedia. I captured his promise to be with me always. He ran his fingers through my hair and then held my face in the palm of his hands pulling me to him for yet another kiss. Warm, soft and tender kisses. Always sweet. I couldn’t believe my good fortune! It truly would be happening for me, and, it was Emrys! A part of me had hoped he was the one, ever since the first time our eyes met. And to know, without a doubt, it would be forever - made it that much more exciting. The passionate way Emrys looked at me and kissed me, made it easy to believe that we would experience a never-ending love. His warm, yet intense, electrified touches filled me with such exhilaration.
I marveled at the melody playing in the background. It seemed to mimic my feelings exactly: gently flowing water - gently flowing emotions, the sweep of the violins and flutes rising to the sweep of electrical surges. The sound of the soothing piano carrying us down a river of bliss: adrift, and no longer weighed down with worries and cares. Maybe this will be easier than I had imagined. I felt stronger, fearless.
“But first, you have a few more questions for me, don’t you my sweet, beautiful Elizabeth?”
I wondered if I would ever get used to him knowing my every thought. “I suppose your mind reading could come in handy if I ever lose my voice, but will it always be this strong?” I asked with a slight bit of impatience.
“It could seem even stronger as you experience the quickening - after my blood is freshly consumed. We will be as one for those few hours until your transformation is complete. Then it will be... different, my dark haired beauty.” He put a hand on my head.
My cheeks flushed. I wasn’t used to hearing so many compliments, not used to the tenderness he showered on me with such great abundance.
“Oh, but I am the fortunate one,” he said, hearing my thoughts of happiness. “And yes, I can answer your other question now.”
I smiled, so grateful he could sense my every need.
“Before I begin taking your life force, I must remove some of my own and set it aside for you to drink later. It will give you strength, and supply you with all you need to know about your new life.
He put his hand on the back of my neck touching the Sign. It felt hot and a jolt of electricity surged through me.
“Ouch! What’s that?”
“It is our proof that I am the one who put the Sign there. If anyone else were to touch you there, you would feel nothing. You belong to me, and I to you. Remember when you commented on my medallion, when you touched it that night in the pub?”
“Yes, “I said, recalling earlier this evening how hot it had felt too. I glanced at it still around his neck. The raven’s bright red eye glowed in the light.
“Until that moment in time, the raven’s eye was black. Now you see clearly, it has turned red.” He continued slowly, “Your touch has turned an onyx into a ruby.”
I shook my head, frowning. “How can...? Why would my touch...? I don’t get it.”
“Sibelle had quoted a line from William Shakespeare’s Cymberline just before she placed this medallion on me.” He touched the black raven and said from memory: “Swift, Swift, you dragon of the night, that dawning may bear the raven’s eye. Then she gave me the prophetic riddle. I did not understand the quote, or what the riddle meant, until the morning after you touched it. Not only had the medallion been changed, but now when you are near me it becomes hot.”
I smiled to myself, thinking about how cool and supernatural everything was. Things kept on happening right before my eyes, which I had never before thought possible.
Emrys went on, saying, “I will be somewhat weakened after drawing my own blood, but your life force will make me even stronger than a normal draft of blood does. In order to maintain our normal state, we must drink human blood at least every three or four days. We are never in lack of donors, and there is always a surplus which we keep stored away. If all else fails, we use animal blood, though the taste is much poorer. Most agree that lamb is the closest to human blood. Many of the people you saw here tonight - the doormen, the waiters and other staff members, are human donors. They are paid quite well and are able to live posh lifestyles.”
“Okay. I’m switching subjects. Everyone keeps saying that being turned doesn’t hurt much. Is this true?” I asked with raised eyebrows.
As Emrys took my hand in his, the electrical surge shot through me - warming me, and as before, calming me. “I promise you, I will not hurt you,” he started. “As I explained, I will at first be in a weakened state myself, and it may take some time for my strength to return. I will be gentle.” He paused for a minute. “I love you, my dear sweet one, my Elizabeth.” His eyes bore into my soul, my life, my eternity. Without a doubt, he was literally - my immortal.
I took in a long, deep breath, then blew out slowly through my mouth, and finally, in a soft, quiet voice, said, “Okay. Let’s begin then.”
“No more questions? Once I begin to prepare myself, there will be no turning back. Would you like to use the rest room, or get something to eat or drink first?” he asked.
Was he the one stalling now? It had been a long time since he did this himself. Maybe he felt out of practice. Perhaps I should give him some time to get himself together.
He chuckled, amused at my silly musings. For one brief moment, I had forgotten he heard my every thought.
I rolled my eyes at him and snickered, “Sure, where’s the bathroom?”
“I shall show you, my beautiful one,” he said, taking my hand.
He led me to the far corner of the suite near the bed. Adjacent to the bed was the spiral staircase, and now I could see that it led to an inviting loft area.
He walked me up the stairs and pointed to the door. “Here it is, my love. I shall begin to prepare things down stairs. Take your time.”
I kissed his cheek and watched him as he moved down the stairs - quick and light on his feet. Turning my head back, I discovered a small sitting area which was every bit as lovely as the rest of the suite. Two wrought-iron chairs stood beside a matching table. The tabletop was smoked glass and the chairs had black satin pads. Right in the middle of the table sat a large, white vase containing at least two dozen roses. Here, too, there were wall sconces with candles, all lit and sending out waves of shimmery lights. I noted the beautiful scent of lavender with a hint of vanilla, all so romantic and calming. Behind the sitting area I spotted a set of glass doors leading to a balcony which, I resolved, needed further exploring. But, first things first: I turned to the right and went to use the bathroom.
While washing my hands, I checked myself in the mirror, assuming this would be the last time I’d see myself as a human. I touched up my eyeliner and blush, put some fresh lipstick on, and ran a brush through my hair. I put the tip of my finger on the spot where my sign should be, and felt nothing unusual on my neck at all now. Weird. Gazing into the mirror, I started daydreaming about the aspect of forever. It was incomprehensible! Although at that exact moment I knew, without a shadow of a doubt: I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Of course, I had read that all new relationships started out like this: exciting and wonderful. Unfortunately for many, the excitement usually wears off in time. I thought about Amrita and Larkin. I had seen with my own eyes how she still looked at him
after all these years. And to imagine that Larkin still worried about losing her! How amazing. The love they shared radiated; anyone watching them would think they were newlyweds. It appeared that forever actually did exist in this Raven world.
Blinking back to reality, I took one last look into the mirror, one more deep breath, smoothed out my dress, and opened the door, whispering, “Welcome to forever!”
I lingered at the top of the steps, listening to the sounds coming from downstairs: glass clinking, plastic and paper rustling, and drawers being opened and closed. A quick glimpse over my right shoulder, and I remembered my need to explore.
“Emrys,” I called down the stairs, “Is it okay if I check out the balcony?”
“Of course. Take your time; I am not quite ready yet.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
I set my purse down on the table, taking some time to smell the roses. Their delicate sweet fragrance reminded me of a velvety-fresh spring morning. I inhaled again, enjoying the deliciousness of the moment. Upon opening the glass door, a cool breeze drifted in; not at all like our freezing wind earlier in the week. I was flushed from the wine and heat of the fireplace, or possibly the constant rush of electricity that flowed from Emrys to me, and the air felt refreshing on my warm face. I stepped through the door into the night. Bright light from the full moon fell on an angle between the trees, lighting up a small section of the balcony. As I peered over the railing and looked down, I found that our suite seemed to be the highest point of the building. Far below, a few individuals strolled through the garden pathways, though they looked quite small from this vantage point, appearing to be nothing more than shadows moving among the trees and bushes. I glanced back up into the sky as a thin cloud passed over the moon, making it appear hazy. As the cloud moved away, it left a pale, thin ring circling around it. I marveled at how visible the night sky was here. With no buildings or streetlights nearby, the stars sparkled brilliantly like a million pieces of glitter tossed across a huge black canvas. Some of them shone steady and clear, and others blurry and winking. I spotted the constellation of Orion. The distinct row of the three brightest stars of his belt made it easy for me to find. I leaned over the railing and glanced down again taking in a deep breath. A soft breeze billowed through my hair, clean and crisp, bringing along the scent of fallen leaves sprinkled with dampness. These aromas mingled with the fragrance of the flowers from below and the candles burning behind me through the open door. I took another breath, sighing softly. It was a beautiful autumn night. I was unbelievably relaxed. The calmness I now felt was quite unexpected and completely amazing, since I knew full well: this was the last day of my life - my human life.
I spotted someone far below, looking up, and for a moment I thought it was Melinda. Though it was hard to see clearly, she seemed to be waving at me. Just then another cloud moved in, blocking out my only light - turning the individual into nothing more than a shadow. I waved into the darkness wondering if she could see me up this high, guessing we had to be on the fifth floor. But the shadow just stood there not moving, gazing up - at this point I couldn’t tell where. Perhaps it was the night sky that caught their fancy and not me at all. As I continued to peer down trying to see if it was indeed, my sister, all of a sudden the shadow literally vanished into thin air. It reminded me of watching boiling water turn to vapor. I shivered as an icy chill spread all through me - whether from the newfound sensation of being watched - or the fact that someone or something had just disappeared before my eyes. Was that only an illusion brought on by the night, or was I losing it? I wasn’t sure which thought unsettled me more. I wrapped my arms around myself and then decided I’d much rather be inside, closer to my long haired vampire as he prepared to take my life, than out here with who knows what.
I pulled the door shut with a slight bang, and grabbed my purse off the table. As I came down the stairs I could see Emrys; busy at work - his back to me. Just the sight of him calmed me, and I stood for a few minutes in the middle of the stairway; watching him. Still wearing his black cape, it was so dark that from this angle, his black hair seemed to blend right into it making it look as though he wore a hood. He stooped down and reached into a drawer, pulled something out and set it on the tabletop. In the dim light I saw him adding to a collection of various other articles. At one point he lifted his hair from underneath and pushed it back over his shoulder, and I wondered why he had not changed into regular clothes just yet.
As I continued down the stairs I noticed a new odor, though not anywhere as pleasant as all the floral and candle scents that permeated the room just a while ago. And that was when it hit me. This new odor reminded me of the doctor’s office. It smelled of rubbing alcohol or disinfectant, or a combination of the two.
Coming closer I realized Emrys was so deep in thought he didn’t hear me. He finished putting things in order on the table, and then I could see clearly what they were: a syringe and needles, plasma bags, cotton balls, bandages, and yes - there it was: rubbing alcohol. What? Since when are vampires concerned about infection? Behind all this medical equipment stood a large glass decanter and a beautiful, ancient-looking goblet, the only thing there to remind me of our actual plans.
This particular goblet was thick and heavy, made of dark clay on the outside. The base was carved to look like roots, and the stem formed a tree trunk all intertwined with limbs of brown and tiny intricate leaves of green. The cupped portion was crafted with a sculpted three-dimensional relief of a huge twisted oak tree, and just below the silver rim, a row of inlaid blue sapphires alternated with engraved stars and moons.
At this moment in time, I could not fathom drinking actual blood. Yet as disgusting as it sounded in my own head, overcoming this one tiny problem would be essential; my existence depended on it. Good intentions aside, my throat closed up – bone dry. Swallowing down the sudden lump, I hoped that Emrys had turned to the sound of my footsteps and not the loud gulp. He probably heard every thought going through my anxious mind as I glanced around, taking stock of everything in view.
“Elizabeth, my beautiful one - come and sit,” he said turning toward me. You have only been gone but a few minutes and yet I am glad of your return.”
He came closer and scooped me up in his electrified arms, lifting me right off my feet.
How is it that I could be so lucky to deserve all this praise?
“You deserve so much more than you realize. I have been blessed to spend eternity looking at the most lovely creature ever put in front of me. I am the fortunate one, my dear.”
He was so completely gorgeous in every way possible. I absolutely adored everything about him. I loved his long, black hair and ran my fingers through it. His face was like a Greek god with perfect features. I touched his cheek and kissed his nose. His eyes were so penetratingly perfect, and the way they held me took my breath away. I simply could not imagine why he had never found anyone else decades ago. He was so warm and kind, so wonderful in every way, not to mention his extraordinary handsomeness.
“Thank you for the compliments,” he said grinning. “Obviously, I had to wait for you, my love!”
I smiled. “Well, I’m so happy you waited!” I had to admit to myself too: I was glad he’d chosen me and not Melinda.
Still smiling, he shook his head and as the long strands of his hair moved back and forth, they picked up highlights of light from the candle behind him.
“Truly, Elizabeth, you and your sister are not as alike as you seem to believe. I see you two as complete individuals, different in so many ways. I know you, I hear you, and I love every single thing about you; every thought, every nuance, and every blink of your dazzling blue eyes, your perfect lips, and this smile that warms my heart.” He bent his head and kissed me, holding my face in his electrically charged hands.
I looked up at him, and using two fingers and a gentle touch, pried open his beautiful mouth. I wanted to get a look at t
he teeth that would soon be sinking into my flesh. Were there real fangs involved?
Emrys grinned, raising his chin upwards, and opened a little wider so I could see. He tilted his head down sideways with a jerking movement, like a tick or a quick nod, and I heard a clicking sound. Two perfectly pointed and razor sharp teeth popped down through the roof of his mouth, just behind his eyeteeth. Looking at him straight on, they blended into the front row of teeth so well that the eyeteeth just looked to be longer and sharper. Retractable fangs, how cool! I suppose sharper was better than dull; it would hurt less!
“Okay,” I said trying not to sound too anxious. “How much longer until you’re ready to get on with it?” My palms were sweating, my stomach fluttered.
“I need a few more minutes, and then it shall be your turn.”
He went to the table with the medical equipment, sat down at a nearby chair, rolled up his sleeves, and tied an elastic band around his upper arm. After swiping the inside of his elbow with an alcohol soaked cotton swab, he checked the tubing, fitting it firmly to the plasma bag, and then he inserted the needle into his vein. The blood began to flow out down the plastic tube, and into the clear bag. He leaned back and put his feet up on a stool, smiling at me all the while. As the warm, red liquid drained out, his eyes remained fixed on me.
I sat down across from him on another chair, watching wide-eyed as the blood flowed out much faster than I thought possible. He started to look a little pale and tired. He had said he would become weakened, and no wonder, those bags looked like they held a lot; much more than I could imagine drinking, anyway. I hoped this scene wouldn’t start to turn my stomach. So far, I had no queasiness, though my head buzzed a bit with the thought of it, and already, my heartbeat accelerated. Fear or excitement - it didn’t matter now. It was too late.
“This is for you, my sweet, beautiful, Elizabeth. All for you, my soon-to-be-immortal one.” And then he added, “You question why we drain the blood this way, do you not?”
I nodded as I stared at the nearly full bag.
“We have tried to become more civilized in the past fifty years or so. Using the medical equipment is much easier than in the former days when all we had were sharp knives or our own teeth. It is faster too, and not anywhere near as messy. We have better control of the flow and the amount of blood let out as well.”
I wasn’t sure if my quick shudder came more from imagining a vampire biting a human or themselves. And then I tried to imagine the transformation and what it would feel like.
“In the beginning, you will be weak and extremely tired. Your eyes will be sensitive to light and your skin - overly sensitive to touch. Sounds can seem too loud. Basically, all of your senses will be heightened. It takes several hours - somewhere between three to five hours - for the transition process. New vampires tend to be completely dependent on their makers during this time, and we have been taught to take special care of Newlings, feeding them every hour or so, until they are able to take care of themselves. It is much like a new human baby - perfectly formed in every way, just lacking the ability to fend for itself.
“Fiona has already told you about the dreams during resting periods. These dreams open a link to all that came before. Everything you desire to know about your maker can be yours.” He paused for a moment to check the fullness of the clear bag.
“I remember enjoying Tansy’s memories. They went back to the days of my own father and his childhood home, long before he was turned. Tansy had been hired first as his nursemaid, and then later as mine. It was quite strange indeed to see myself from another’s eyes. It can be a very humbling experience.” He looked deeper into my eyes then, and added, “I look forward to letting you in on all my memories, Elizabeth. I have nothing to hide from you, and I want you to understand and know everything about me. It is only fair, since you cannot hide anything from me, even now before I partake of your life-force.”
“Do all of the vampires do things this way?” I asked.
“No, I am sorry to say, they do not. There are those who choose to remain closed within themselves, not sharing the intimate details of their lives. They enjoy their selfish moment of satisfaction, learning everything about the one they turn, but instead of feeding the Newling their own blood, they hire an anonymous vampire.
“Societies like ours seem to be increasing. Many have now chosen to become more civilized, more careful who they turn, and have ended the use of humans without their consent. We never kill without good reason, especially just for a blood feast - only to leave the helpless victim with no hope of life. But, just as there are those who choose not to share themselves with others, there are still those who choose a very different lifestyle. In just the same way you can compare your human societies; most humans tend to be rational, generous, loving and humane to others, but still, there is the darker side of humanity; senseless murder, thievery, drug abuse, apathy. There is good and evil everywhere, Elizabeth. We are no different.”
This was a lot to think about. Maybe some of those horror stories weren’t so far from the truth after all. They say there’s a little bit of truth in every fable. I was glad I hadn’t run into one of the bad guys, and appreciative that Emrys was one of the good ones. I whispered a thank you to him and he gave me his brilliant smile, and without a word exchanged, we were on the exact same wavelength.
We sat in silence for a while then; Emrys draining his blood into the three bags, while I sat across from him watching, looking for changes. He looked tired, and his perfect face paled a little more as time moved on, yet he never took his eyes off of mine except when he needed to change the bags. He was so adept at this, never fumbling with the equipment; always flawlessly switching the bags over - one could almost believe he did this far more often than he’d said.
I knew he caught that fleeting thought when he smiled and said, “I have helped others during this particular portion of the process, but I make a habit of leaving the room before my fellow Raven partakes of his feast.” With that, he raised an eyebrow and a look came over his face that I had never seen before: he licked his lips as though he was thirsty.
Something inside of me shifted, and not as I would have expected. The Sign on my neck, just under my hairline began to heat up and radiated down into my entire being. I had all I could do to keep myself from jumping up and across the four feet or so to land on his lap and ravish him. The only thing holding me back was the needle in his arm. I didn’t want to upset the flow that was soon to be mine, and I started to feel like the amount he removed would quite possibly not be enough. It was plain to see why the new vampires were locked away as they transformed, for more reasons than one. All the while these thoughts flew through my mind, and all the while I felt my body beginning to crave this new force, Emrys sat silent and motionless, watching me, feeling me with his mind, tasting my new appetite. I heard a clicking sound and saw now that his fangs were visible through his smile. It had to be soon, I didn’t think I’d last much longer in this state. He was just about finished and I felt waves of excitement, and surges of fear all rolled into one.
“Elizabeth, my sweet, won’t you make sure all the lights and the stereo are turned off while I finish in here?” he asked as he pulled the needle from his arm.
I went all around the room snapping off switches and blowing out candles, leaving the room dim and filled with a lingering scent of smoky-vanilla. When I came back to Emrys, the only light left was on the nightstand next to the bed, and one lonely candle burned on another table near the foot of the bed. He had already successfully poured all his blood into the glass decanter, which now sat on the table with the empty antique goblet, and he had disposed of all the equipment leaving the room completely free of disorder. I looked at his eyes with one more question.
“You may lie on the bed now. It is time.”
As I walked toward the bed I sensed his eyes on my back. When I turned down the soft white covers, I felt his
breath on my neck as he stood behind me. When I turned to sit down and remove my shoes, he knelt at my feet removing them for me. And as I laid my head on the white satin pillow he appeared next to me like an apparition. I didn’t know if I imagined his fast movements, or if I just moved in slow motion myself, blinking in and out of consciousness. The whole room seemed to glow with electromagnetic forces, things unseen but felt with intensity. I glanced over at the glass decanter. The flame from the candle flickered next to it reflecting its light into the glass making the blood shimmer. I felt very thirsty - thirstier than I ever remembered feeling in my life. My life was about to end as I knew it. But I had a new appetite now, and I reached up and turned off the one light left on in the room. I laid flat on my back, closing my eyes. Feeling the heat of him at my side, and our mutual fleshly desires, I said, “Emrys,” so low, so sultry; I wasn’t sure if the voice was my own, and then I whispered, “Emrys do it - now. I give you my life, both now and forever.”