“I’ve been at home,” I answered.
“Why aren’t you answering the phone?” Dad asked. “After recent events, I want you answering when I call.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I should have kept you informed, or better yet, why don’t you come home, and actually spend some time with your family.”
“What did you just say to me?” Dad asked.
“I asked you a question,” I said calmly. “And I’m still waiting for an answer.”
“You listen to me, young lady,” Dad said.
“No,” I said. “I’m done listening to you. You can either be a part of my life or not, the choice is entirely up to you, but don’t play the part of a concerned parent now, or I’ll leave you just like Mom did.”
I didn’t wait for his response. I just hung up the phone and continued my drive with a smile on my face. For maybe the first time in my life, I wasn’t interested in Dad’s opinions. The man was selfish and not worth my time.
I drove down to the beach and parked. From my vehicle, I watched bunches upon bunches of families arrive with their towels and umbrella’s. I wondered what it would be like to be one of them. It seems that at some point in my life, I would have loved to come here with my parents, and Tyler.
Tyler.
I loved my little brother. I made a poor substitute for a real parent, I was too selfish, but I loved the little guy all the same. Leaving my life behind probably wouldn’t be the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, but I wasn’t sure I could abandon Tyler.
He needed me.
I left my car and walked out past the sand until my feet were wet with the gentle lapping waves. The tide was low, so there weren’t many surfers out, but that did little to stop the flow of tourists.
My thoughts were on Derry.
When I got back home, Tyler was still in front of the television. I talked to him briefly, gave him a hug, and took a shower. After that, I made sure there was food in the house, took a sleeping pill, and went to bed.
I woke up at sunset.
I didn’t expect Derry to arrive any time soon, but I knew he’d be waking up just about now, and that thought made me happy.
Tyler wanted attention, so I took him swimming. The outside was already beginning to cool off just a bit, but the water still felt refreshing. When we finished, I watched a bit of television with Tyler before he went to bed.
After tucking him in, I went back outside and smoked out. I could see some stars in the nighttime sky, and I began to wonder about what Derry was doing. What took him so long to come and see me?
I went to bed at about eleven. I was wearing jean shorts and a tank-top, and I wasn’t really interested in sleep. I felt rested enough. I only wanted to close my eyes as the curtains on my window moved in the breeze.
I fell asleep.
When I next opened my eyes, Derry perched on my window sill. I watched him quietly, wondering if he knew I was awake.
Eventually, I smiled, and Derry was suddenly next to me, wrapping his arms tightly around me. I kissed him. I kissed him roughly and deeply, and I felt his hands around my waist.
“Will you come with me?"
“I have to come back,” I said. “This can’t be forever.”
“I understand,” Derry said as he picked me up, and walked to the window.
Suddenly I was afraid, and I stiffened in his arms.
“Am I safe with you?” I asked as I looked into his lifeless eyes.
“Yes,” Derry answered. “Tonight, you’re safe with me.”
“Only tonight?” I asked.
Derry didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped away from my windowsill and hovered in the air with me still in his arms. Derry looked down at me, as we rose higher and higher, and then both of us began to fade away into mist.
I was terrified.
I thought I was dying, but I wasn’t. My body was gone, but I still had thought, and some sort of form. Derry led me through the night sky. Together we were invisible to the world below us, as the miles fell quickly away.
We landed on a shadowy bit of beach, and as we descended from the sky, my body became more and more material.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“Don’t try and understand,” Derry said. “It’s supernatural, and that means it can’t really be explained.”
Derry wasn’t looking at me as he spoke, but I was getting used to that.
“It might not be safe here,” I said. “There’s a psycho or something running around killing people.”
Derry finally looked at me, and in doing so, he pulled his hoodie up over his head and took my hand. I loved holding his cold hand, but it wasn’t like holding the hand of a normal boy. Instead of living flesh, Derry’s skin felt harder and a bit unyielding.
“Don’t worry about that,” Derry said. “Nothing can hurt you when I’m around.”
I smiled and snuggled up close to him.
“You’re my personal guardian angel,” I said.
I heard a soft chuckle in response.
“I love the beach,” I said. “Flying, on the other hand, might take a bit of getting used to.”
“I took to flying rather quickly,” Derry said.
I tried to look him in the face, but the hoodie made it difficult. At most, I could see only his reflective eyes shining at me through the darkness. Instead, I looked at his hand in mine. Each of his puffy fingertips had a perfect slit in the middle through which his claws would appear.
“How sharp are your claws?” I asked.
“Very,” Derry answered. “I sharpen them on a woodpile every day.”
I laughed out loud.
“Liar,” I teased. “You probably never even use them. You’re too sweet, much too sweet.”
“Am I?” Derry asked.
“Of course you are,” I answered. “I’m shocked you’ve managed to survive so long without me.”
Derry laughed, and the sound was surprisingly child-like.
“You never told me what we were doing tonight,” I said.
“I don’t have plans,” Derry said. “I just wanted to take you somewhere.”
I turned to face my vampire lover.
“You took me out of my bedroom,” I said. “That’s a bit unusual. Most boys would never want to leave my bedroom.”
Derry wrapped his arms around my waist and nuzzled against my neck before walking away from me in reverse as I playfully chased after him.
I was shocked at how quickly he moved until I realized that he was floating only a few inches from the ground. The smile fell from my face as I took in what I was seeing. I felt like I was walking in a dream.
Derry reached out for my grasping hands as he lifted a few more inches off the ground. I laughed out loud and tried even harder to grab his reaching hands.
Finally, I had him.
His body was floating higher and higher, but I was holding his hands tightly, keeping him rooted to the ground.
“Take me with you,” I said.
“I’d like that,” Derry said.
My feet started lifting off the ground. At first, I was frightened, but Derry was holding my hands, and his touch had a calming effect on me. I trusted him.
“How am I doing this?” I asked.
“Supernatural,” Derry answered. “Don’t try to understand everything, just know that you’re safe with me tonight, and I won’t let anything happen to you.
Together we rose higher and higher into the night sky. After a good thirty feet, both of us began to melt away until we were nothing but mist. It felt like cool water poured gently against my overheated body.
I was open to the experience, but I noticed that Derry never once released me. If he did, I imagined that I would plummet back to the earth.
The two of us drifted out over the ocean; we weren’t in a hurry. It was almost like we were joined together as one person in the safety of the mist. I enjoyed myself perhaps too much, and the higher we went, the clearer the stars became.
Over towards Huntington Beach, we saw a small fair despite the late hour. Derry must have sensed my interest, and we headed in that direction.
The two of us touched down just inside the fence-line of the fair and made our way towards the activities. Derry kept his hoodie pulled up over his head, but there wasn’t anything we could do about his highly reflective eyes.
“This won’t do,” I said.
“It won’t be a problem,” Derry explained. “I’ll keep my distance from everyone.”
“Well, that won’t be any fun,” I teased. “All we need is to find you some sunglasses.”
Derry nodded, took my hand, and led me around the fair. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on for a time, but eventually, I figured out that Derry was hunting for the sunglasses I mentioned.
When he finally found a man that had his sunglasses hanging from the front of his shirt, we followed him until he left his family and headed to the restrooms. Derry approached him and started speaking. I couldn’t hear what was said, but I understood what was happening. The man willingly handed over his sunglasses and walked away happily.
“What did you do to him?” I asked.
“I took his sunglasses,” Derry answered.
“Yes,” I said. “I understand that, but how did you convince him to turn them over?”
“I’m very persuasive,” Derry joked.
A spotlight shifted from somewhere, and despite the dark sunglasses, Derry was bathed in a very bright light. Very quickly, he let out an inhuman snarl, and damn-near vanished.
As soon as the shock of what happened left me, I followed closely behind him. Together we held each other in the shadows behind one of the many sales booths.
“It’s the light,” Derry explained. “It’s too bright. It’s blinding, and it exposes me for what I am.”
“I understand,” I said. “We can stay here for as long as you need.”
“I’m not meant to walk side by side with humans,” Derry said. “I’m meant to exist in the dark places the light cannot reach.”
“Says who?” I asked.
Derry couldn’t answer me.
“You’re with me now,” I said. “I can take the lead if you’d like, and I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe here with me.”
Derry embraced me and nuzzled against my neck. I kissed his flaccid lips and again tasted the blood in his mouth. The light had revealed the darker side of his nature, and I was shaking only slightly.
Eventually, we once again stepped in amongst the people. Derry and I were walking hand in hand, and no one had any clue that a monster was amongst them. I knew it would work. People just weren’t concerned about running into monsters nowadays.
Psychopaths and serial killers were an entirely different story. Just about everywhere we wandered, we could hear people talking about all the murders. Everyone was frightened; even the security guards we walked by seemed unnerved.
“Are you afraid of serial killers?” I asked.
“No,” Derry answered. “And you shouldn’t be either.”
“I’m not,” I said. “I’m not really worried about anything when I’m with you, but aren’t you ever afraid of getting hurt?”
“No,” Derry answered. “There are vampires that could hurt me, and there are certainly vampire hunters out there that would love an opportunity to destroy me, but none of my enemies really matter. They would have to be exceptionally lucky to catch me unawares.”
“Can you sense danger?” I asked.
“No,” Derry said, “but my senses tell me things that are hard to explain. It’s like having a constant source of information that I can access without really trying.”
“I’m not sure what all that means,” I admitted.
Derry only wrapped his arm around me as if we were a normal couple enjoying a nighttime fair. It wasn’t long before the two of us were on the Ferris wheel, looking out across the skyline.
“I’ve never done this before,” Derry said excitedly.
“Done what exactly?” I asked.
“I’ve never gone on a Ferris wheel before,” Derry said. “I’ve never done a lot of things. I’ve seen them, but I’ve always kept my distance.”
“Are you having fun?” I asked.
“I am,” Derry answered.
“Good,” I said. “I like being here with you. I think I like you more than I should.”
Derry turned his face towards mine, but his hood kept most of his features well hidden. His hand reached out and took hold of mine. His cold skin was shocking, but I was rapidly becoming used to him.
“Put your hand over my heart,” Derry said.
I did as he asked.
“What do you feel?” Derry asked.
“I don’t feel anything,” I said.
“I’m dead, Selma,” Derry said. “I’m not like any boy you’ve met before. I’m here because I’m drawn to you, but you must understand that I’m a monster. You must understand how dangerous I am.”
“I do understand that you’re dangerous,” I said. “I know what happened to my kidnappers, but I don’t think you’d ever harm me, and I’d certainly never harm you.”
“Let’s leave here,” Derry said. “Let’s see how high we can fly. Maybe we can touch the stars if we reach far enough.”
I laughed out loud.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” I said, “but I don’t mind trying.”
Derry took my hand, and both of us began dissolving into mist, a cool and refreshing spray of water on my overheated limbs. I enjoyed the feeling, but I also understood it was both a blessing and a curse. No true human could ever hope to exist in the space between life and death like Derry. It was if he couldn’t decide on whether to be human or spirit.
The two of us drifted away from the Ferris wheel out over the ocean once more. I imagined what it would be like to be a vampire. I imagined Derry and I united together forever as the rest of the world grew old and died.
Could I join him?
Could I become a vampire?
Did I want that, because surely that’s where everything was heading? Derry would want to turn me eventually, and it would be best if I knew how to handle that.
I wanted the power. That was the only thing I knew for certain. I’d love to take to the air like Derry. My lover had a freedom that I could only imagine. Nothing seemed to bother him except for bright lights being flashed in his face.
All too soon I was back inside my bedroom.
I held Derry as he attempted to pull away.
“Wait a moment,” I said. “When can I see you again?”
“Tomorrow,” Derry said.
“Do you promise?” I asked.
“Nothing could keep me away,” Derry said.
“I want to meet your brothers,” I said. “I want to see what’s important to you.”
“That’s not a good idea,” Derry explained. “My brothers aren’t the gentlest of creatures. They might frighten you.”
“Will you keep me safe?” I asked.
“Of course I will,” Derry said.
“Then I want to meet your family,” I said. “And maybe afterward you can meet my little brother.”
Derry only looked at me with his usual blank expression, but I knew he was happy. I knew I was making him happy, and then he was gone, and I was alone in my bedroom. Suddenly I was very tired and only just managed to pull off my shorts before falling into a deep sleep.
I awoke to a ringing telephone.
The sun had already risen, and my curtains were wide open, letting the sun heat up my room to uncomfortable temperatures.
“Hello?” I said as I squinted my eyes against the light.
“You’re home,” Dad said.
“I answered the phone, didn’t I?” I asked.
“Do not leave the house,” Dad said. “I’m on my way over there, just do not leave. Under no circumstances are you allowed to leave. Am I understood?”
“This is rather odd,” I sa
id.
“Selma,” Dad snarled into my ear. “Grab your little brother, and wait for me.”
“Okay,” I said.
“I mean it,” Dad said.
“I can tell,” I said. “I’ll be here.”
I hung up wondering what my father’s problem was, and not really caring. Sure, I’d listen to him rant and rave when he got home, but I wasn’t interested in whatever his problem was.
Tyler knocked on my door, and I told him to come inside.
“Was that Dad?” Tyler asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “He’s on his way home.”
Dad entered the through the backyard gate. Tyler and I were watching the television, and all of a sudden, our father had invaded his own backyard with no less than eight fully armed bodyguards. Another group of six leather-clad individuals went around poking at the ground outside with metal poles the second they saw the two stray cats that hanging out by the pool.
“Vampires,” Dad said after the leather-clad group finished up whatever they were doing and met us in the kitchen.
“I know,” I said as the bodyguards all went outside, and my family was left with the leather-wearing ruffians.
“I know you know,” Dad said. “I’ve had my suspicions since the beginning, but I want you to listen to what these people have to say. We sort of found each other, and I think they may be able to help us.”
I looked at the ruffians and saw a pretty blonde, a pretty brunette, a chubby sort of long-haired individual, a muscular man with a lot of tattoos, another muscular man with a heavy scarring, and a younger handsome young man around my age. None of them looked friendly.
“Perhaps I should explain,” the chubby man said with an air of authority. “My name is Glen, and we are vampire hunters. I’m hoping we can keep you and your family safe, but I’ll need your help to do that.”
“My family isn’t in danger,” I said.
Glen took a long hard look at me before speaking.
“Young lady,” Glen said. “You and your family are in an incredible amount of danger. You just don’t realize it yet.”
“You think Derry is going to suddenly hurt me?” I asked with a smile. “I’ve been alone with him plenty of times, and I’ve never even felt threatened.”
Glen and the pretty blonde exchanged a look when I mentioned Derry’s name. I didn’t say anything, but I most certainly took notice.
The Forgotten: A Vampire Story Page 12
