A Slice ofUndead Life

By

January Bain. 

Winter Kennedy had spent all her time, like most of us on earth, with a sense of waiting for her life to begin. And now, as she took a moment to check her appearance in the rear view mirror of the rental car, then reaching over and pulling a lip gloss from her purse resting on the front seat and applying a light touch, she knew that time was here. She was running late for her dress rehearsal but still wanting to look her best. Just thinking that tomorrow would be her wedding day was charging her body with electric sensations of pure adrenaline. Satisfied she was presentable, she put the key into the ignition and froze—a voice filled the space around her and pierced her unguarded mind.

     “Nice to see you again, Winter.”

     The smooth voice of Christopher St. John sucked up all the air in the vehicle. The contrast to the last few wonderful days was too much and she was unable to make a connection to any other thought for a few paralyzing moments for her brain had shut down, over ridden with apprehension and the beginnings of terror.

     Finally she found her voice as the vampire appeared in the passenger seat in a blur of hazy movement, dumping her purse on the floor in the process.

     “I…I didn’t expect to see you again.”

     “Ah, but I am a man, or should I say, a vampire of my word.” His sardonic comment gave her a queasy feeling.

     “Things…have changed. I don’t want to be a vampire now. I’m getting married tomorrow and…” She hated the pleading tone of her voice. She was stunned by the sudden arrival of the creature and the words spilled out on their own violation.

     “Yes, I am aware of your pathetic dabbling with the human. It’s all beneath you. You’re too fine for their world. A beauty like yours comes only once in a thousand years and needs to be preserved for all eternity. That is my quest; that is my service to the Lore.”

     “No, I’ve changed my mind. I…”

     “What you want is not of importance, you are confused—too human. You were meant to call me. As your new age humans like to profess, nothing happens without a reason. I will help you see the truth and that is my final elucidation on this subject.”

      The vampire’s eyes glittered in the lamplight as he placed his hands on each side of her face. She froze once more, her eyes huge as he bent down and caressed her throat, the vein containing her life’s blood throbbing under the pressure of his cold fingers.

     “You said… I had a choice.”

     “Did you really believe that.” His unholy voice was now colored with patronizing overtones. “I gave you too much credit—I thought you were one of the more intelligent women of your species.”

     His condescending words enraged Winter and she pulled away violently only to be trapped in an instance by his inhuman strength as he pulled her close in the claustrophobic confines of the vehicle.

     “The pain will only be momentarily. Fighting it will only make it worse. Relax, hush little one.” His voice was mesmerizing as he gathered her close and sunk his lips into her neck. A brief start of intense pain caused Winter to let out a moan and then she felt nothing, thought nothing, as the vampire stole the life force from within her.

     And then it was her turn and she was dimly aware of his taking up an ornate dagger and cutting a slice open on his upper chest where he unbuttoned his silk shirt and pulled her lips to the spot and forced her to take in the fluid that leaked from the deep cut. The taste was abominable and she wanted to spit it out but he held her head still against his broad chest and finally she was forced to swallow the bitter substance. She would have given anything not be aware of these last few moments of her human existence and it was all she could do not to howl aloud like the cornered wolf.

     “There, it’s done. Soon it will be over and we can be together as one.” These were the last words Winter heard before she was taken over to the dark side.

* * *

Winter opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was the vampire, Christopher St. John, making her drink from his blood—if blood it was considering, its vile taste. She licked her dry lips and sat up, her eyes looping around the strange room, checking for any sign of vampire. She was thankful to be alone and she went back over what had transpired just before she had lost consciousness: the vampire appearing in her vehicle, the pain at the sinking in of his fangs, and the dreadful sucking sound as he had drank from her carotid artery. She drew her hand to her neck and felt for the holes only to find her neck smooth. She was healed! That could only mean one thing—she was now vampire…and Aiden, her beloved, was lost to her forever.

     Trying to make sense of a senseless situation, she found her sea legs and got up, finding herself very weak, almost too weak to make it to the dresser. She managed to stumble the short distance and turn on a lamp. She had had it all wrong. She thought she would wake up strong and healthy and here she was weaker than she had ever been. Why? Because of her pre-existing illness? Was the aggressive form of ALS—Lou Gehrig’s disease that she was cursed with, hampering her transition?

     She sat down on the vanity chair and looked into the mirror and saw, with relief, that she looked almost the same. She had always been very fair so a little whiter made no real difference. Perhaps her hair had more life as it flowed out in white-blonde profusion down her bare shoulders, and her eyes were very intense, like the blue-violet color had picked itself up a notch, but no one else would notice the subtle differences, she considered, surprising herself at the casual acceptance of her new undead status.

     And then a first sharp strike of hunger drove her to her knees and she lurched forward onto the plushy carpeted floor, pushing her fist into the pain that was radiating in every-increasing waves from her empty stomach. God, but it hurt. She moaned in pain and then distantly heard the bedroom door open and someone move quickly across the carpet to join her.

     Christopher picked her up in his arms and laid her on the bed.

     “Wait here, I’ll be right back.” She rolled back and forth on the cover as she felt the pain try to turn her inside out. It was like nothing she could ever have imagined and her brain shut down and her mind centered only on the agony as she felt her body shudder in ways that she could not have imagined it enduring and surviving.

     And then he was back and pushing a crystal goblet in her hands that smelled like manna from heaven and she needed him to guide it to her mouth where she drank deeply and kept drinking until it was empty. 

     “More.”

     The single word sent him out of the room as she waited, sitting up now, for the pain releasing ability that consuming blood, like a drug addiction, had instantly become.

     The second dose vanished as quickly as the first and Christopher obediently went back for a third helping.

     Finally satiated, Winter wiped her lips on the back of her hand and got up. She felt the power of the blood flowing into her system, recharging her life force and making her instantly aware of her body’s senses being heightened and fully charged with crackling energy. She laughed aloud at the overwhelming good feeling—a super high of strength and wellness that superseded any feeling humanly imaginable, except maybe becoming a super hero character with super human powers. She was similar to a manic depressive as she swung from the deepest low to the highest high.

     “I feel so alive!’ She couldn’t help exclaiming aloud.

     The vampire smiled smugly at her, happy to feed her ego “Yes, it’s an oxymoron experience—being undead yet so alive. It only gets better, Star. Your powers will grow daily until you are a force to be reckoned with—for human or beast.”

     “I had no idea that it would feel like this. Is this the usual way of it?” She was full of curiosity now and wanting to embrace the glorious feeling. She wanted to know everything that there ever was, read every book that had been written, go out and see every piece of art created since the beginning…

     “I think it varies. Some newly changed vampires don’t cross over well. Something goes missing and they become like beasts. Others, like you, change and become their better selves. Though I don’t think I’ve seen anyone change quite so dramatically as you. You are so fully formed—so quickly. It usually takes a few weeks, or even months before most become as on as you. I knew you would be the perfect partner for me, a true mate of the highest caliber, and here you are proving my belief in you.” He smiled in satisfaction at his protégé.

     “What kind of powers?” And to herself she thought, knowing he would not be able to read her thoughts anymore, and can I make my way back to Aidensoon?

     “Ah, that can also vary. But you should be able to physically defeat a human foe right from the beginning. I think other powers, like vanishing, will take more time to learn and develop. You have nothing, if not time now. Enjoy the learning process, I will take you through the journey—guide you carefully.”

     What most amazed Winter was the total lack of fear and guilt she was now experiencing. Human, she had been tortured with grief, driven crazy by fear, and made low by guilt. Now she was on a high that superseded any imaginable feeling a human being could have. She knew she could get back to Aiden and that he would want this too. It went without saying that they would be together again, only this time for all time. The thought gave her instant peace.

     “Are you ready to meet the others?”

     “Certainly.” No time like the present, she thought. She needed to meet her adversaries to prepare to do whatever was necessary to escape their clutches. Her beloved waited for her return.

     “I’ll leave you to freshen up and change into a new dress. Would an hour be acceptable?”

     Winter liked his new attitude. She gracefully nodded her acquiescence—like an Egyptian queen of old. 

     Christopher was supremely satisfied by his Star’s exhibiting a royal nature and left her with a brief bow of his own, in recognition of her new found importance to the Lore.

     Winter made her way to the bathroom and enjoyed a long shower, luxuriating in soaping and conditioning her long hair and young, healthy body. She surveyed her naked body in the mirror as she blow-dried her hair and was happy to see, if anything, it was better and firmer than before. A satisfied smile lit her countenance as she finished up her grooming. Adding make-up she would not normally have chosen, but finding that now it somehow worked better for her. Applying a rich red lipstick, she pressed her lips together to smooth out their appearance and felt a slight sting in her mouth.

     Going closer to the mirror, she lifted her upper lip only to find two small, what could only be called fangs, protruding from her former eye-teeth. The evidence was startling, and for a brief moment she stopped, arrested by the image. Then she shrugged, it was, after all, only to be expected. She was now an immortal and it was a small price to be paid for such an enormous gift.

     She didn’t pull on the first dress she found in the closet as would be her habit of old, but perused her choices, finally settling on a floating number that swirled in purplish-blue chiffon to the floor and left very little to the imagination, dipping down to her waist in a deep-v. It was totally unlike anything she had worn before; or anything that she would conceive of choosing in the normal course of a lifetime, but she felt invincible by the beauty that greeted her readily in the mirror and it was an easy decision to showcase that beauty for her subjects. Donning high-heeled strappy sandals in glittery gold, she was more than satisfied by the final vision in the mirror, her hair brushed to a burnished sheen hanging down one shoulder to her waist, tied with a matching ribbon coordinated to the colors in her dress.

     With just moments to go before the hour was up, she strode to the door, knowing that Christopher was on his way to greet her. And the satisfied look on his face was worth the effort, she thought with relish, as she allowed him to take her hand and guide her into dinner. While she was learning the ropes she would enjoy her new-found power, she decided in the moment, and be better prepared to escape and get back to Aiden, unaware of how very much becoming vampire had already changed her—already she was not the same woman that the love of her life remembered her to be.

     They were the last to arrive, Winter observed as she took in the small group assembled for her pending introduction. Christopher kept by her side as he took the time to fully introduce each member of his household to her.

     “This is my chef Alina. Alina, this is Star, my new bride.”

     The new bride announcement was a nasty surprise, but Winter hid it well as she graciously took the striking girl’s hand. Her black hair was swept up into a long sleek pony tail that cascaded half way down her back. The thick black bangs highlighted her bright blue eyes where a surprising twinkle lurked in their depths. “I’m happy to make your acquaintance, Star. Welcome aboard.” She pressed her hand affectionately and then moved aside to let others come up to greet her.

     The next vampire to be introduced was less warm in their curt introspection of Winter and cold, glittery eyes greeted hers. The mid-twenties male was slightly effeminate in his actions and she was left to wonder if she was seen as competition for the few possible partnerships that made up the small group.

     Next, she met a young, mated pair that were much like Barbie & Ken dolls, and obviously happy to be a couple. She could read no aggression in their eyes or body language and turned to the last vampire. Now this was a different type of vampire—ancient and commanding of presence, she could read instant dislike for her presence in its haughty stance and cold, black eyes. This male vampire had a body-guard type of stance, head shaved and prerequisite tattoos and facial piercings decorating its outer body.

     “Why, how lovely to meet you, Brandon! And I would bet your tattoos tell a story. Please, it you would be so kind as to allow it, may I look more closely at the work?”

     A quick expression of surprise flashed across his heavy face and he looked into her eyes where she was very careful to keep her expression warm and inviting. She waited patiently and then he tentatively held out his arm and pointed to a large tattoo of a huge knife driven through a glossy read heart.

     “That’s in honor of my first love. She earned this dedication with her devious ways as so many women do—vampires are no different in my experience.”

     His words challenged her and she smoothly replied, “It is a wise man that learns from his experiences. I admire you for that. And this one, what life experience does it represent?” Winter pointed to another tattoo of a dagger with the words Nil Carorundum Illegitimi carved into the base.

     He grinned dangerously and shrugged, “Loosely translated it means don’t let the bastards grind you down—just a personal philosophy.”

     “And a quite knowledgeable one I would imagine.” She remarked with understanding.

     “It is—both as human and as vampire.”

     “Well, I look forward with real pleasure to getting to know you better, Brandon.”

     She was rewarded with a smile and a courtly kiss to the back of her hand which pleased her to no end. She could almost feel Christopher puff out his chest beside her at the positive developments she was in charge of creating.

     The informal meet and greet stopped as a chime rang out the lateness of the hour.

     “Star, if you would be so kind as to be seated, we will partake of refreshments.” Christopher was holding her chair for her and she was gratified to see she had the place of honor at the right-hand side of hermaker.

     Christopher poured forth the dark red blood into her goblet and then his own. Handing the crystal decanter to Brandon, who sat next to Christopher on his left, he did the same and handed it on. All waited till the goblets were filled. It appeared to be a nightly ritual as they knew what to do, Winter surmised as she waited for events to unfold. Being the newest member, she was wise to watch and learn, she thought, waiting for a signal to partake of the glorious substance.

     “A toast,” Christopher held his goblet high, “to the newest member of our group, Star. Long may you reign being undead: the gift of gifts, the gift of the pharaohs, the gift of forever.”

     And in her mind Winter added the most important part, and the gift of getting back to be with Aiden, my true love.

     “Here, here!” Acknowledging his pronouncement and the positive response—Winter, aka Star, bowed her head slightly in appreciation of her new status as the new matriarch vampire of their tribe. It felt good to be vampire.

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