unvamped

by Elizabeth Stevens

  “Well, frankly, I’m not surprised,” Ellie answered. “I don’t often talk to animals myself.”

  “Really? I would say that that’s quite strange.”

  “You’re a ferret. How can you find that strange? Why do you talk to people who can’t hear you anyway?”

  “I like talking to people.”

  “What do you talk to them about?”

  “All sorts of things. Whatever I feel like at the time. The weather sometimes.”

  “And, when they don’t hear you? What do you do then?”

  “I pretend they talk back.”

  “You... Right. Of course you do.” Ellie looked at the time. She found a missed message on her phone from Melissa.

  Have to reschedule. Mum and Dad issues. Talk tomorrow.

  Ellie looked up at the sky; it was getting dark so she thought she may as well go home. “Well, I guess I’d best get going...”

  “Where are you going?” The ferret climbed into her lap. She looked down at him.

  “Um...home.”

  “Can I come with you?”

  “You want... Well... Why?”

  “You know how I said not a lot of people can fear me?”

  “Ye-es...”

  “Well...actually, no one’s ever heard me...”

  Ellie looked fondly at the little creature. She hesitated. They’d never had a cat because Morg was allergic, but surely a ferret was different. Besides, it wasn’t like he would move in with her... He was just coming to visit. He would probably be gone by bedtime.

  “Sure.” She patted his head, not sure if that was acceptable. He made a sort of chittering noise and nuzzled up to her. He didn’t get off her lap. “Do you, um, want me to carry you?”

  “Are we going now?”

  “We can go now.” Ellie smiled.

  “Okay, I’ll follow you.”

  It leaped off her lap and stood jumping from side to side while she stood up and dusted the dirt off her butt. She walked a bit hesitantly, wondering if he would follow her or not. After a few steps, he bounded beside her.

  “Why are you sad?”

  Ellie was slightly taken aback. She wondered how the ferret could tell. “What makes you think I’m sad?”

  “I don’t know... I just know.”

  “I, well... I had a fight with a friend and my boyfriend is being strange.” She didn’t know why she was telling him this, but it felt nice to talk about it.

  “How is your boyfriend being strange?”

  “It’s hard to explain. He’s a bit distant and less affectionate than he used to be I suppose.” She wasn’t sure how to explain her feelings to a ferret, so she shrugged.

  “Why did you fight with your friend?” The little ferret still loped along beside her.

  That she was able to put into words. “I’m not really sure. Part of it was because he asked me to do something I couldn’t do, but mostly I think we just lost our tempers for some reason. He’s just so stubborn and ungrateful, and he makes me so mad sometimes. But, he’s also nice and sometimes charming, and we seem to get along so well usually.”

  “It sounds as though you like him.”

  Ellie stopped and the ferret looked back at her. “I... I mean... He’s nice…” she fumbled and the ferret cocked his head to one side.

  “I meant as a friend, but perhaps not just that. Perhaps that is the cause for the boyfriend’s strange behaviour.” He made a chuckling noise.

  “No, no… Charlie and I are just friends.” She began walking again. “Well, not even that, really. He tried to kill me, then I cursed him to be human, and now I’m helping him control his fluctuations...” She ran out of breath.

  “What?”

  “He... He was a vampire...” Ellie explained to him all that had happened between her and Charlie since they’d met, not even feeling ashamed to mention that time they touched.

  “All things considering, he doesn’t sound all that bad.”

  Ellie couldn’t help laughing. “No, I suppose all things considered, he’s not.”

  “Maybe you should forgive him?”

  Ellie thought for a few moments. Part of her wanted to do just that, but another part was scared about what might happen if she did. Not only that she was drawn to Charlie, but also that she might give in and lift the curse. She wasn’t entirely sure she could continue to refuse him if they kept spending time together.

  “I could help you…” the ferret said.

  She looked down at him. “Can you hear my thoughts?”

  “Sort of... Sometimes... When you’re worrying.” He sounded confused, like he wasn’t sure how to explain it himself. “I can kind of feel your feelings? Sometimes. But, I can help you be strong. Wouldn’t it be a shame to throw away such a potential friendship?”

  Ellie thought about it some more and decided the ferret was right. If he could read her thoughts, or whatever it was he could do, he might just be able to help her with her problem with Charlie.

  “And, the Mike one,” the ferret chuckled.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, why don’t you take steps to spend more time with him? Don’t wait until he asks, just go and watch him play football, cheer him on, be there for him.”

  Ellie looked at him again, wondering how such a small animal could seem so wise and sensible. He chattered and she smiled.

  “I may be small, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”

  “All right, then, I will.” She strode on, feeling more confident and decided than she had in days, or even weeks.

  As they got closer to her house, she saw Charlie slouching up his front path.

  “Right, first things first,” she said to the ferret.

  ****

  Charles left the cinema feeling very dejected once more. His next date, with April, had not gone well. Although, she had appeared to enjoy it. The only good thing about it all was that Charles had not bitten her while they kissed. Part of him had wanted to, but when he remembered Courtney’s reaction the urge swiftly passed.

  He missed being a vampire. He missed having that urge to feed and not having any cares or worries about doing so. He missed the feeling of his belly full of fresh blood. But, along with that memory came the memory of his first kill; another dream he knew he would have, but had not been looking forward to. At least he was able to get through that one slightly detached, but he still was walked around in a daze for most of the next day.

  It was not that April had not been nice. She was a lovely young girl, if a bit too willing. She was just missing something, just like Courtney. He sighed as he trudged through his front gate, thinking fleetingly of Pet again. He felt he should continue his quest for companionship, but he was at a bit of a loss. He did not want any more one-night stands, or secret trysts, he wanted something he could keep and enjoy and perhaps through which he could find love. Perhaps that was not his destiny. He had found love before in the form of his wife and child, and he had lost them. Perhaps that was all the chance he would get.

  He looked up as he heard a familiar voice coming down the street. Pet was being followed by a small black shape. Charles, with his current human senses, could not quite make out what it was, but it loped along quite happily beside her. He could faintly hear Pet talking, but could not make out the words. He turned to hurry inside before they could be forced to talk to each other, but he stopped when she called his name.

  He turned and saw her hurrying towards him, a smile spread across her face. His heart fluttered seeing her like that, but then he remembered how they had fought and how that made him feel and the fluttering stopped dead.

  “Pet… Um, how are you?” Now that she was closer, he saw the small shape following her was a small black ferret.

  When they stopped, it hissed at him and ran up Pet’s legs to snuggle around her neck. She winced once or twice but appeared happy to let it do so.

  “Hi, Charlie.” She smiled. She patted the
ferret on the head and softly spoke to it, even though Charles had not heard it say anything. “Shh, it’s all right. This is Charlie. Remember?”

  Charles heard the ferret chitter, sounding almost angry, and he retreated a few paces.

  “Don’t worry; he’s all bark and no bite,” she said to Charles.

  “Oh, I see.”

  “We’ve been talking about you. He says he didn’t realise you had been a vampire, or he wouldn’t have taken so kindly to you.” She lowered her voice as though the ferret would not hear, “although, I did tell him. I think he might just be putting on a show for you.”

  “I see,” Charles repeated. “You do realise that if you were not a witch, I would be inclined to think you were mentally unstable...” Charles smiled nervously, but Pet only laughed.

  “I know, I know! I don’t really understand it myself.”

  Charles started thinking. “Perhaps...he is meant to be your familiar?”

  Pet looked startled, as though she had not thought of that herself. The ferret just made a chuckling noise. Pet looked at him somewhat accusingly.

  “Did you know that and just weren’t going to tell me?”

  The ferret chuckled again. Pet sighed, looking back to Charles.

  He waited for her to say something for a few seconds, then started. “Look, Pet, I am sorry for the way I behaved-”

  “I know, me too.” Pet smiled at him again.

  A part of him did not want to be forgiven or to forgive her, but he found he could not help himself. He smiled at her reassuringly.

  She continued. “I do understand... Well, no not really... But, I’m trying to understand how you’re feeling and why you want so badly to go back to being a vampire. But I can understand that if you’re missing your old life, and you want my help to get it back, since I’m the one that took it away... I guess what I’m trying to say, so convolutedly, is that I realise why you had to ask. But surely, you must realise why I can’t. I don’t know if I can or how I would... And, it would probably kill me. And, that I’m not so fond of.”

  Charles could not help but smile. He liked it when she rambled like this, it made him feel like her brain moved faster than her mouth, making her talk in circles. It made him believe how smart she must be, even if she did not know it yet.

  “I do understand, Pet. I cannot say that I like it, as it were. I do miss my old life, but it was not fair of me to ask such a thing of you. I’m sorry.”

  “Why, Charles, was that a contraction you just used?” Pet laughed.

  “A what... Oh... Maybe. I do use them sometimes.” He felt himself blushing.

  “So, how have the fluctuations been?” She appeared to have trouble meeting his gaze now.

  “Um... Not bad. I’ve actually been stuck on human for a while now. I do not know if I can say I like it all that much, I feel a bit confined in my own skin, but I much prefer it to changing between them so much.”

  “That’s great, I think.” She laughed again.

  “How are things with Mike?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he had not said them. Pet did not look pleased at all.

  “Fine, fine. You know, he’s busy with football, his last year and all that.” She patted the ferret as he chattered again. “How about you... I hear you’ve been on a couple of dates?”

  Charles smiled, but brought his palm to his forehead. “Hopeless, each one... Well both, there were only two. I would be on the verge of calling them trollops if it did not seem to be the norm these days. Hey!” he cried out as Pet punched him in the arm, “I did not mean you!”

  “Well, good.”

  “At least I did not bite the last one.”

  “You, what?”

  “My vampire senses took over when I was out with Courtney... And I bit her...without fangs...” He felt heat rising through his cheeks.

  Pet doubled over with laughter – which was not quite the reaction Charles had expected – and the ferret fell off her shoulders.

  “Yes, all right. You have had a good laugh...”

  “I... I’m sorry... But, that is really funny!”

  Charles waited for Pet to control herself. The ferret lay down a bit away from them, possibly worried that he would be thrown around again.

  “How are things going with Mr Coleman?” she asked, once she had calmed down enough to speak.

  “Oh, I suppose they are all right. He seems a very nice man; at least, we get on quite well. He asks about you a lot. However, I just do not understand most of the confounded nonsense he insists I learn. But, apparently must if I wish to live a reasonable life.”

  “You’ve been to uni before though, surely?”

  “Well, yes. But, I doubt that any prospective employer will take credentials I gained from university a hundred years ago.”

  “Ah... I see your predicament.”

  “Yes, and supernatural university is out of the question now that I am...” he indicated himself, “human.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, I guess. Although, given your background, they may make an exception?” Pet did not look convinced, but Charles appreciated her trying.

  “Pet, are you coming in?” Ethel stuck her head out of their door. “Oh, Hi Charles! How are things?”

  “Good, thank you Ethel, and you?”

  “Can’t complain. Sorry to disturb you two, but dinner’s on the table.”

  “Ah, right. I’d best go then,” Pet said. She moved forward, Charles did the same, and they hugged swiftly across the fence. The ferret hissed softly again and Pet made tutting noises.

  “Nice to meet you,” Charles said to the ferret, hoping it would placate the little fellow, but he was not sure his plan worked.

  “See you later, Charlie.” Pet waved as she went inside.

  “Bye, Pet,” he replied.

  Things were looking up for Charles.

  Chapter Eighteen

  C

  harles headed towards the small homestead, anxiety flooding him. He had lived as a vampire for almost three quarters of a century now. He was more confident with feeding and killing…well, he was almost enjoying it. He still had some trouble with his urges and impulses, but was enjoying life more. He realised now that de Savage may not have entirely ruined his life after all; he just wished his family had not had to die.

  He visited this homestead at least once a year, around Christmas time, though the inhabitants rarely knew he was there. It was the home of his living son and his family. Col had done well for himself in life. After the death of Charles’ wife, Col had been sent to live with her family. Charles had always intended to remarry someone to bring his son back to live with them, but he had never had the chance.

  Col had grown up loved and sheltered. He never knew of his father’s death. Charles sent him letters and sent the family money – usually taken from someone’s corpse, though Col need not know that – up until Charles thought he would have died naturally. At that time, he took a large sum of money and a will to Col, on the pretence of being his own lawyer, and broke the news.

  As Charles crept up to the window, he thought about that one time he had spoken face-to-face with his boy.

  Charles loved seeing Col and speaking to him that time. It was hard to control his impulses, so he kept his visit short, but he saw Col and his family grow up from a distance, so a short visit was not the worst thing that could have happened.

  Col had married a lovely young girl, and she sat by his bedside now as old and wrinkled as Col had become. They had had four children, three boys and a girl, who in turn had many children of their own. With the money Charles sent, Col had kept the family well fed and started a thriving farmstead, which ensured their comfort for their final years.

  Charles watched as Col’s wife wiped his brow with a damp piece of cotton. Charles felt a phantom lurch where his heart no longer beat at the sight of his son dying. Col was pale and sickly, Charles knew sickness when he saw it; he had often pr
eyed upon it.

  He wanted to scream from the depths of his lungs, he wanted to rush in there and offer Col immortal life, he wanted to find a witch – if they even existed – and get her to save his son... But, Col was almost eighty years old now, he had lived longer than many men in their world did. No doubt being a frail old immortal was not high on his list of priorities. No, there was nothing Charles could do, except be grateful that he had not come back any later this year.

  Charles watched throughout that night as Col’s family came in and out, watching him, caring for him, wiping his brow, forcing small sips of broth down his throat. The sun was dangerously close to rising and Charles hid himself away in the stable for the day, coming out and keeping his own vigil the next night. He repeated the pattern for three more days, until Col breathed his last breath.

  The family, knowing it was coming, had no need for great wrenching sobs; they had already said their farewells. But, Charles had had no such chance and he ran his fastest to get as far as possible from the homestead so they would think his howls were that of some distant wounded animal.

  Really, he was.

  ****

  Ellie, Charlie and Lee were sitting on the floor of her living room and, truthfully, couldn’t be sure exactly how they all got there. Charles and Lee had been helping each other out apparently, but Ellie hadn’t joined them before now.

  The three of them had found themselves in a similar vicinity to each other at the end of the school day and, keeping in mind their new English assignment, decided to work together. This was the third time they’d all got together now, and they worked well together – not that a lot of work was actually going on.

  Ellie thought there was something comforting in working with other supernaturals. It’s not like she didn’t enjoy working with Melissa or one of her other human friends, but having people over was so much easier when you didn’t have to worry that your sister would randomly appear in the middle of the living room. Not that Charlie was ready for that either.