by L. M. Justus
I nodded.
“But you,” Sarah said, pointing at the Queen, “will do everything Reed says as if I had said it. No funny moves.”
I blinked and Sarah disappeared into the trees.
The Queen pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her crimson cloak around her like a blanket. I felt a pang of guilt. She looked like a twelve-year-old girl, lost and alone.
Then I pictured the horrible moment when I’d stumbled into the gruesome scene the Queen had left for me–Sarah’s body a ripped up, bloody mess. She had nearly killed Sarah, and she’d destroyed Sarah’s chance at a normal life. How could I have felt sorry for the Queen for a single second? She was a centuries-old vampire, responsible for hurting and killing countless people throughout her long life.
I wondered what had caused the Queen to become so cruel. Had she always had an evil streak? Then I realized I might actually know the answer to that question because several months ago I’d glimpsed her memories from her human lifetime. I filtered through the images I remembered, but most of them were already hazy. I did recall her brother, the King of New York, treating her like crap.
“Was it normal for girls to be treated so badly during the era when you were still human, or was your brother unusually mean?” I asked.
The Queen’s eyes widened in surprise. “What do you know of my childhood or the manner in which my brother treated me?”
“I saw the whole thing . . . your childhood I mean. Back in San Jose when we first met. You know, when you kissed me and sucked out my memories. I saw your memories too, kind of like a movie on fast-forward. I forget most of it because it’s been a few months, but I remember the gist of it. Basically, your life sucked. I’m wondering if that’s why you’re so cruel.”
The Queen’s mouth hung open. She’d always looked so confident and smug, but at that moment, she looked completely bewildered. “How . . . how could you have seen my memories? My power does not function like that.”
“Nothing seems to work the same way with me as it does for everyone else,” I said. “I’m a defective vampire.”
“I see,” she said, pausing for a minute. “Well, you can call your differences, such as your ability to walk in the sun, defects, but any other vampire would call them miracles. Also, I did not turn Sarah myself because it was my intention for her to inherit your immunity to sunlight. You see, I am not so cruel after all.”
“Yeah, well it didn’t work. That was a stupid gamble with her life. There are so many ways that could have gone wrong: if I hadn’t gotten there in time, or if I wasn’t able to figure out how to turn her, or if she hadn’t survived the transition. You had no right to force that on us. I get that you were treated like crap as a kid, and maybe that’s why you’re such a hateful bitch now. A tiny part of me even feels sorry for you, but the rest of me wants to smash your face into a pulp. I’ve never hated someone so much in my life.”
“You will never understand what it was like, suffering abuse virtually since birth at the hands of the ones who were supposed to love and protect you. You were raised by two loving parents, with your perfect little sister, in a household where I am sure nary a harsh word was spoken. You had the ideal family and a charmed life.”
“The key word being ‘had,’” I said, my voice rising. “Then your vampire buddy came along and killed them. I lost everything that day. And then on top of all that, I get dragged into your lair where you cut off my finger because you thought I was being rude!”
“Are you going to list every misfortune that has befallen you since the time we met?”
I opened my mouth to continue, but there was no point. She would never apologize.
“You consider me a harsh ruler,” the Queen said, “but I did what I had to do–to maintain my authority, especially in light of my outward appearance. Because I look like a young girl, it was even more imperative that I ensure loyalty and respect from my subjects. I could have done so much worse to you–things that I endured in the past. Would you like to compare lists of tortures we have suffered?”
“So because you suffered, everyone else should suffer too? You could have tried earning people’s trust and loyalty instead of forcing it on them,” I said. “Haven’t you ever heard of positive reinforcement? You know, rewarding good behavior instead of punishing someone.”
She looked at me, her brows drawn into a confused frown.
“Oh my God, are you serious? You haven’t heard of that? And you think I’m just an idiotic, eighteen-year-old kid who doesn’t know anything.”
“That much is true; you know nothing of import. If you did, you would not wish to be human again. Vampires are so much more capable of thriving amidst the grim realities of life.”
I broke a small branch off a tree and started to snap twigs from it one by one, tossing them into the snow. “You know, it wouldn’t even be so bad, being a vampire, if it weren’t for you. You’re the one making our lives miserable.”
The Queen twirled one of her golden ringlets around her finger. “I wish I could see your reaction to some of the more brutal vampire rulers. I was a kind sovereign by comparison to most. You should ask Nathaniel about his opinion of me–you might be surprised. And while you are at it, you should ask him about some of the questionable deeds he has carried out; he has plenty of blood on his hands too.”
“If you’re trying to turn me against Nathaniel, forget it,” I snapped. “He has more integrity and goodness in his left thumbnail than you have in your whole body.”
The Queen snickered. “Oh, you are a delight.”
“Shut up,” I said, glaring at her. I couldn’t believe I’d wasted my breath saying more than two words to her.
She turned away, her chin held high.
A sizable pile of shredded twigs lay at my feet when Sarah finally returned about an hour later. With the fresh infusion of blood in her veins, her cheeks were rosy and her eyes bright.
“There were three deer,” Sarah said. “Two of them took off when I showed up, but you shouldn’t have any trouble tracking them down.”
I remembered how awkward my first few feedings had been, yet Sarah barely seemed fazed by the process. “How did it go?” I asked. I wanted to reach out to her, but it felt like she was trying to keep her distance for some reason.
“Fine,” she answered.
“Okaaay . . .”
“Go ahead. It’s your turn,” she said. “Whenever you’re ready, I mean,” she quickly added.
Had I been on the cusp of racing off into the woods until she’d clarified her words?
“We’re going to have to work on getting your new ability under control,” I said.
“I know. I’ll be fine here while you feed anyway. I’ll see you soon,” she said, dismissing me in a more subtle way.
She’d gotten herself into trouble before when I’d left her alone, but I couldn’t imagine how anything else could go wrong. Sarah was probably more likely to protect me from now on than the other way around.
I tried to enjoy the peacefulness of the forest, but the twisty feeling in my stomach was too distracting. A mix of emotions played across my mind: guilt, apprehension, and general unease. If only we could go back in time and avoid being turned into vampires in the first place, then we wouldn’t have to worry about feeding, or controlling Sarah’s frightening new ability, or any of the problems we’d faced. As I continued my line of wishful thinking, I imagined finding a cure for vampirism. If Sarah and I became human again, we could live a normal life. I’d never realized how great ‘normal’ was until it was too late. Not that all the wishing in the world would change things.
I decided to be more realistic and think about it scientifically. Were vampires really a separate species from humans, or were we just infected with something? Nathaniel had once told me it was like having a disease; he’d said I couldn’t be half a vampire the same way you couldn’t have half a disease. If it was a sickness, maybe it could be cured.
My brain tumbled in circles, tryin
g to find a solution. I’d wanted to go back to being human before, but now that Sarah was a vampire too, I felt a hundred times more motivated.
I closed my eyes and drew in a breath of cool air. Focusing on the task at hand, I pushed all other thoughts out of my head. I picked up a trace of the deer’s scent and felt the sting of my fangs pushing through my gums as I sprinted toward my prey.
Nathaniel
The two young men, who called themselves vampire hunters, emerged from the upper level of Marcel’s cottage. During the day, they had taken at least two showers apiece in an effort to rid themselves of the skunk odor, yet they still smelled only slightly less foul. It had been more bearable for the last several hours when Nathaniel was safely tucked away in the chalet’s lowest level. Now that Nathaniel had emerged onto the main level, he surreptitiously covered his nose with his hand to block the stench wafting throughout the cabin.
“Excuse me while I go for a stroll,” he said. “I need to get some fresh air.”
The blond-haired man, Alexandre, said, “We’re stinking up this entire building, aren’t we? If you don’t mind, we’ll join you outside, but we can go for a walk in the opposite direction from you if you like.”
Nathaniel had already begun dressing in his winter wear, when Trudy and Sophie rose from the couch to follow his example.
“I think it’s safe to say we’re all dying to get out of here,” Trudy said to Nathaniel under her breath as she pulled on her knitted hat.
After everyone had donned their outerwear, they stepped outside into the fresh night. Nathaniel took in a few deep breaths to clear his nose. He detected a scent he recognized and wondered if his sense of smell had been compromised by the skunk stench. He inhaled again to confirm his suspicions.
“There are vampires approaching,” he said.
Everyone in the group froze.
“How many?” Trudy asked.
“The fennel and moss smell of newling vampire is unusually strong. I believe it is Reed and . . . the Queen.”
“What?” Sophie shouted. “I’m getting my sword,” she said and dashed into the cabin. Justin and Alexandre sped inside to grab their own weapons.
Trudy dipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out her UV ball. She gave Nathaniel an intense look. “Are you sure it’s the Queen?”
“I cannot be certain. My nose may be playing tricks on me,” Nathaniel answered. “Watch for my signal to use the UV ball and give me a moment to seek shelter from its rays. Do not hesitate longer than the two seconds I need to find safety.”
Trudy nodded and the others quickly rejoined them, weapons ready. They stood in a line, facing the forest as a united front.
Reed stepped into the clearing first, his hair a disheveled mess and clothes stained with dried blood. The Queen’s much smaller form became visible behind him as they continued forward. Her haughty mannerisms were strangely absent; she walked with her head hung low and her eyes downcast. Sarah brought up the rear, surprising Nathaniel. He had not noticed her human scent at all.
Sophie’s samurai sword dipped to the ground and she stared at her sister open-mouthed. “Sarah?”
Old blood covered every inch of Sarah’s clothing and the front of her coat had been ripped to shreds. A subtle glint of moonlight reflected out of Sarah’s eyes: the cat-like effect of a vampire’s eyes in the dark. The realization hit Nathaniel hard.
Trudy shifted her hand with the UV ball–a barely perceptible movement–and Nathaniel pressed her arm down, shaking his head.
She lifted an eyebrow, but he said nothing. Nathaniel stepped forward to address the Queen.
The sound of Trudy’s hand slipping out of her pocket reached Nathaniel’s ears. Had she understood his unspoken instructions not to use the UV ball, or was she readying it for use at that very moment?
He turned slightly and whispered, “You must not use it. Trust me.”
Desperately hoping Trudy did as he asked, he refocused on the Queen. “What have you done?” he asked, fighting to keep his voice steady as sadness washed over him like a waterfall.
Lifting her head to look at him, the Queen gave him a smug grin.
“I’ve forbidden her to speak,” Sarah said.
Nathaniel turned to Sarah and studied her expression, trying to comprehend.
“My mind reading ability is gone,” she said, “but I have a new ability now. The Queen is at my mercy; she has to do everything I say.”
The Queen blinked and pursed her lips, and Nathaniel knew it to be true. Unbelievably, the Queen was completely under Sarah’s control.
Nathaniel walked over to Sarah, his footsteps crunching in the snow. He reached up and smoothed down her hair, resting his hands on her shoulders for a moment while he searched her eyes. “I am greatly relieved to see you survived, yet I feel that I have failed you,” he said. “I am so sorry.”
“No, don’t say that. It’s not your fault.” Sarah glared at the Queen. “She’s the one who did this to me. She turned me. She stole my humanity, not you.”
The Queen broke into a huge smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
“It’s not funny,” Sarah shouted. “Tell them! Tell everyone what you did to me. You’re going to pay for what you did with your life, so stop gloating dammit.”
“What did she do to you?” Sophie yelled.
“I did not turn you,” the Queen said to Sarah, ignoring Sophie’s outburst.
“What? Tell the truth for Christ’s sake,” Sarah demanded.
“I did not turn you,” the Queen repeated, carefully enunciating every word. “I wonder why your boyfriend looks so guilty though.” She shot Reed an innocent look.
Nathaniel turned his attention from the Queen to the boy. What was the Queen up to now?
“Hang on a second,” Reed said, raking a hand through his hair. “Sarah . . . I . . . what was I supposed to do?”
“Wait–you turned me?” Sarah said.
Sophie stomped down the cabin’s front steps and came closer, saying, “What the hell is all this about turning? What are you guys talking about?”
“When I found you, I thought you were dead,” Reed continued as if Sophie hadn’t interrupted. “Then I realized you were still alive, but barely. You would have died, Sarah. How could I let you die?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Sarah asked.
“I didn’t mean to hide it, but then you assumed it was the Queen and really, it’s still her fault. This never would have happened if she hadn’t hurt you. I didn’t have any choice.”
She hugged herself and looked at Reed with shock and disbelief written across her face. After a long pause, Sarah said, “I need a minute. Alone. No one follow me.” She ran out of the clearing without looking back.
“But–” Reed began and then sighed, raking his hands through his hair.
“You made the right decision,” Nathaniel said, immediately understanding what had happened.
Sophie held her hands up, gesturing for everyone to stop and listen. “Let me get this straight. My sister is a vampire?” She looked at Reed and he nodded. Then she pointed a finger at him. “And you’re the one who turned Sarah because the Queen hurt her and left her for dead?”
“That’s right,” Reed admitted softly.
Suddenly, she rushed forward and embraced Reed in a tight hug. He stood awkwardly, as though unsure what to expect from her next.
“Thank you,” Sophie said, taking a step back. “Thank you for saving her, Reed. Even if she seems ungrateful right now, of course you did the right thing. It’s better than being dead. God, what if you hadn’t been there?”
Reed looked past Sophie and seemed to notice Justin and Alexandre for the first time. “Hey, what the hell are you doing here?”
Justin waved a hand and grinned guiltily.
The two vampire hunters shared a look. Alexandre said, “Well . . . remember how you told us the vampire we were looking for escaped and you were heading up north to stay out of sight for a while? We tho
ught he might follow you, so we took a gamble and did the same.”
“You mean Kyle, right? Geez, that’s the last thing we need,” Reed said.
Trudy cleared her throat and pointed to the pile of ashes at the edge of the treeline. “Actually, we don’t have to worry about him anymore,” she said.
Reed’s eyes popped wide open. “Are you saying that’s Kyle?”
“That’s what I’m saying,” Trudy confirmed.
Reed swore quietly.
“Where is Marcel?” Nathaniel asked.
“He went back to Montreal,” Reed said. “Marcel betrayed us. The reason he brought everyone up here was to bring us to the Queen. Marcel knew about the Queen and her plans the whole time. Apparently, she got in touch with him right after we arrived in Montreal. She threatened Gabriel, so Marcel gave us up to save him.”
“No, that can’t be true,” Sophie said. “Sarah would have picked up Marcel’s thoughts if he was plotting to betray us.”
“The Queen told Marcel how to side-step Sarah’s ability,” Reed said. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter now; it’s too late. The reason we didn’t kill the Queen already is that Sarah wants to go about it the civilized way. She doesn’t want to be a mindless, killing monster. We already had a bit of an incident.”
“Incident?” Nathaniel asked.
“Um, yeah. Sarah sort of accidentally killed two people.”
“Sort of?” Sophie asked, cringing.
“Accidentally?” Trudy said.
“Yes, but never mind that part right now,” Reed said, waving off their questions. “Nathaniel, didn’t you say there was some kind of ritual vampires follow? You know, when they meet the sun before they get too old and go crazy?”
“That is true,” Nathaniel said. “Normally, it is voluntary, however.”
He glanced at the Queen, standing meekly in the snow, her crimson cloak wrapped around her like a security blanket. Nathaniel had spent decades in her service and had known her as a strong ruler. Her methods had become more severe in recent history and he had wondered if she would choose to meet the sun, but she had not. Perhaps the time had finally arrived. A look passed between them and the Queen nodded almost imperceptibly.
