The Dark Gifts Birthright

by Willow Cross

  “Soon. Patience is a virtue.”

  Unwilling to play his game, she marched straight to the front door and went inside. Even before she stepped into the room, a new scent pulled her. Salty-sweet with a bit of metallic, it caused her stomach to rumble in an entirely different way this time. A low growl escaped her burning throat.

  Before her stood a squat grey-haired man in his mid fifties. The shock on his face mirrored her own. Upon getting a good look at her, that shock turned to fear. “What are you doing here? Who are you?”

  A red haze seemed to blur her vision. Liz grabbed the doorframe to steady herself. Her fingers sunk into the wood as if it were made of putty. In the pit of her gut she felt the darkness raging to be set free. “I...you...where’s--?” She tried to force out words, but the crazed thoughts in her head and his scent prevented anything other than heavy breathing. Her chest heaved as her breaths came faster and faster.

  “Young lady, this is private property. The owner of this cabin doesn’t take kindly to trespassers.” He said and took a step towards her.

  Her hand shot out in front of her. “Stay back. Don’t come any closer.” A cold blue fire began to burn in her eyes, turning the normal every day blue into the luminous eyes of a predator.

  “Listen Miss…whatever your name is. You should know that the owner of this particular cabin is not one to be trifled with. He will be here shortly, I assure you. ”

  Keeping her hand out, she attempted to bring her breathing under control. Through the red haze, her eyes focused on his face, but as if they had a will of their own, they moved to a spot on his neck. It pulsed and moved with every beat of his heart calling her. “Stay back. Please,” she begged.

  His expression held both fear and concern. “Look, Hun. It looks to me like you’re in a bit of trouble. Now I’m not going to hurt you. I know just exactly what you need, if you’ll just take yourself across the room over there,” he pointed, “I’ll fix you right up.”

  Liz followed his finger to the bed on the far side of the room and lost the battle to keep the darkness in check. Her voice grew soft and enticing. “I can do that. Why don’t you come over here first?”

  His eyes widened before darting between her and the door. “Oh no, girly. You’ve got this all wrong. If I’m going to help you, you need to get out of my way.”

  As if outside her body, she listened to a voice that sounded nothing like her own enticing the man. Part of her cringed at the words she said and the implied intentions. She tried to rein it in and make it stop, but his smell—he smelled so—edible.

  “Elizabeth, stop!” Blasted into her skull. So loud, the speaker should have been in the same room.

  Another growl rumbled through her chest as she took a step forward and to the side.

  The man’s hands went up in front of him. “Now just calm down.” Still eyeing the door, he made a running break for it.

  She slammed it shut before he could make it out. Cat-like she pounced. She saw nothing other than the red haze covering her vision. Hot, slightly bitter fluid poured down her gullet squelching the burn. Dizzy with the nearly orgasmic feel of it, her jaw tightened and she felt her teeth sink deeper into his flesh. His shrieks could not block out the slurping-sucking sounds as she drank. Inwardly screaming at herself to stop, she had no control. Nothing would stop the darkness from draining every last drop of the delicious nectar.

  Within seconds his cries of terror changed to barely audible pleas for mercy. “Don’t. You don’t have to. Please.”

  The door behind them splintered from the hinges and slammed into them. Flying backward, Liz lost her hold on the man and scrambled to her feet. The raven haired man from the night before stood between her and the prey. “Get out of my way,” she hissed.

  “Calm down. Had I known you’d wake so early, I’d have been here sooner.”

  Momentarily glancing at his face, she returned her gaze to the victim standing behind him holding his throat. “Get out of my way.”

  “It’s not happening, Liz. Give up before you get hurt,” Michael answered.

  Her eyes darted back and forth between the two. The older man groaned. Blood seeped through his fingers and ran down his arm.

  Her tongue slipped from her mouth, running over her supple burgundy lips. Unable to wrest her gaze from the ruby fluid dripping from the man’s elbow, another growl rumbled softly through her chest. Pure animal instinct kicked into overdrive and she crouched and sprung through the air. With lightening speed, he stepped out of the way. She landed behind him and spun. Aiming for his nose, she threw her right fist. Before it could reach the desired destination, his hand clutched hers with an iron grip. Holding tight, he pulled, twisted, and was behind her with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

  "Had enough?" he whispered in her ear.

  The coldness of his breath sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. She shook her head and struggled against him.

  With little effort, he lifted her body and briskly walked outside.

  Out in the open air, the haze lifted and the knowledge of what she’d done overwhelmed her. Even the blood high was not enough to assuage her guilt. Grief and disgust burrowed through her. Her body went limp. It was then that she realized he still held her tightly against him. His rock hard body sent a shock through her own. Trembling, she whispered, “I’m all right now. Put me down.”

  His grip loosened allowing her feet to touch the ground, but his arms remained closed around her. “You need to stay right here for just a little longer. When Amos leaves I’ll let you go.”

  As if on cue, the older man appeared in the cabin doorway. “You got this, boss?”

  “We’re good. You?”

  Still covering his neck, Amos answered, “I’ll live. Thanks to you. I think I’d better be moseying--if you know what I mean.”

  “Quickly.” Michael agreed.

  Amos nodded and began walking around the side of the cabin.

  “Hey, Amos?”

  He stopped and glanced back. “Yep?”

  “I’m sorry I was late. I didn’t expect--”

  “It’s okay, Michael. Hazards of the job.”

  A few seconds later, the hum of a car’s engine roaring to life filled the air. Michael waited as the sound faded into the distance before releasing his hold on Liz.

  She stumbled forward, grabbing a large tree trunk for stability. “You’re--I’m--I almost--”

  “Yes.”

  Her stomach clenched, closing her throat.

  “Don’t. Fight it. If you do you’ll have to--”

  Bent over, still holding onto the tree, her mind won the battle with her body and the contents of her stomach emptied.

  “--hunt again,” Michael finished.

  A tearless sob escaped her chest as the cell came back into focus. She pulled in her legs and rolled to the side holding her throbbing head. “Please stop,” she begged. “Please.”

  But they didn’t listen. They wouldn’t.

  “Not much more,” the woman’s voice whispered in her mind. “Open your mind to us. It isn’t painful when you’re willing.” The room went black and she was back in the cabin.

  Seeing him caused a dull ache in her chest. Confusion clouded her thinking as some nefarious force tugged inside her.

  He towered over her. His sheer size made her feel small and vulnerable. As he moved, the muscles on his chest and arms rippled through the baby blue polo he wore. His hair cascaded down his head in a whirlpool of dark, shiny curls. It was a little longer than she preferred, but then again, she’d never been attracted to men with dark hair. Sparkling green eyes, reminiscent of that first green of spring when leaves are fresh and bright in the morning sun, peered from a nest of long thick lashes. He blinked. His crimson lips drew back slightly to show perfectly formed teeth and her heart began beating erratically. Even knowing what he was did not alter his beauty.

  Apparently, he found the situation comical. She didn’t happen to agree. An
gry with herself for feeling such a strong attraction to this creature, and even more upset with him, her fists tightened.

  “You don’t have to worry about me now,” he answered with a grin.

  “I should kill you.”

  He smiled. “Such hostility. And a serious waste of time. That little stake you carved wouldn’t have done you any good.” His lips drew to the side as he made a tisking sound.

  She took a step back. “Oh yeah? Well, how would someone, theoretically, kill someone like you?”

  He cocked one eyebrow while his lips curled into a smirk. “You really aren't in any danger now. I had to hunt you last night. Our laws don’t allow us to make new ones without permission. They also do not allow us to kill each other without provocation. Had I found you before the change was complete, I was duty bound to dispatch you.”

  “Dispatch me? That sounds like a lame way to say rip out my throat. Oh, no, wait--I forgot you did that already.” Uneasiness returned as she felt him gaining access to her thoughts. Feeling the tension build inside her, she forced him out. “If your laws don’t allow you to make new ones, why am I here?”

  Still grinning, he nodded, and gave a slight bow acknowledging defeat. “Honestly, I didn’t expect you to turn like that. It’s never happened before.” As if meeting her for the first time, he offered his hand. “Just in case you don’t remember, I’m Michael.”

  Son of Satan would be more appropriate.

  Ignoring the thought in her mind, he sighed and shook his head. “There’ll be trouble over this. You have no idea how lucky you are I stopped you from killing poor old Amos. Regardless, we must go before the Council of elders tonight.”

  “You’re going to get in trouble? Have you happened to notice that you killed me last night?” Liz nearly hissed as she spoke. The darkness bloomed inside her, and like a rising mist it attached to her anger. Seeping throughout her, it began to take control.

  “How exactly do you propose I explain this one to my parents? …Oh gee mom, I kinda had a crush on this vampire last night. And the jackass bit me so I can’t come home for like…ever! Yeah that’s going to go over real well.”

  “Look I’m not exactly thrilled with this situation either. You were supposed to be lunch and I generally don’t play with my food.” Stepping forward, his smile dissipated as he loomed over her. “You’re stuck with me. Get used to it.” With a shake of his head and another annoying chuckle, he turned and walked away.

  His brusqueness rushed through her, giving birth to that primal instinct. She hurdled towards him. He met her mid air, wrapped his arms around her, and landed lightly on his feet. Liz growled and snapped, trying to sink her fangs into his neck. His grasp eased just enough for him to spin her around.

  “This is becoming redundant,” he whispered in her ear.

  Once again, his breath caused vibrations within her. Her anger refused to allow the reaction to gain strength. "You killed me, you monster! Y-You took everything away from me.”

  “I did, but you didn’t stay dead. So, no harm, no foul. Right?”

  She didn’t answer. The muscles in her face pulled tight. His humor washed over her in an overbearing wave. Her life, all of it, was gone. She had already suspected there was no way to better the situation, but now she understood that she couldn’t even kill the man who had done this to her. Worse than that, she didn’t even know if she wanted to. To journey to a Council of Vampires seemed too much, like far more than anyone should have to bear in one day’s passing. Bit by bit, her body relaxed against his as a deep sadness replaced the anger.

  Michael sighed and loosened his grip. Grabbing hold of her hand, he led her into the cabin.

  She tried to yank free as she stumbled behind him. “Let go of me.”

  “Come in, we have a lot to talk about.” He looked over his shoulder. “Hopefully you didn’t expel all of Amos’s unwilling donation. Otherwise, you should be fine until tomorrow night.” He turned around and continued walking, pulling her behind him.

  “I said let me go.” Liz said through clenched teeth as she yanked hard and pulled him off balance.

  Michael faced her. His eyes glowed. “Do you really want to do this again? It didn't go so well for you last two times.”

  Liz squared her shoulders, pushing her chin up in defiance.

  “I could just carry you.”

  She didn't want to be that close to his body again. Did she? Relenting, she followed.

  Once inside, she sat at the table and let her eyes wander around the small cabin. Nothing about the place screamed vampire. He pulled open a cupboard door and placed two wine goblets on the counter. Opening the fridge, he pulled out the large carafe.

  “Everything in there is rancid you know,” she said.

  “It’s not rancid, Liz. It’s people food and you’re not human anymore. If you had done a little more digging, you would have found the carafe of blood I keep in here and wouldn’t have needed to slaughter all those poor innocent deer or attack my sentinel.”

  “You’re kidding me, right? You killed me last night. Drank my blood, and now you‘re preaching to me?” Crossing her arms over her chest, she sulked in her seat muttering, “You’re insane. Totally, undeniably, insane!”

  “There is a difference.”

  “Explain this so-called difference, would you? I don’t remember giving you consent to rip out my throat.”

  “Technically, it was a bite not a rip. And I wouldn’t have taken much if you hadn’t fought so hard. Even then, you shouldn’t have turned. I planned on leaving you on a bench at the boardwalk where your friends could find you. But you changed and ran.”

  “I felt your anger and hate. It was brutal. If you’d found me last night, you would have ripped me to shreds.” She couldn’t believe the nerve of this guy. And why was she just sitting here having a conversation with the lunatic, like being turned into a vampire was nothing at all?

  Michael’s broad shoulders slumped as he sighed. Liz watched as his perfectly manicured hand slid down the wine goblet’s stem. Something about the way it moved over the glass made her insides tingle. Her tongue darted out of her mouth, moving over her lips. Frustration melted, leaving her with an odd feeling of desire. She wasn’t certain whether she wanted the man or the blood.

  Michael circled the rim of the glass with his finger, noticed the change in her demeanor, and continued, “I was angry and didn’t understand what was going on. Can’t say that I understand it now either. At first, I thought I’d taken too much blood, but that’s not even possible. I knew I had to find you. I was in the thirst, and you know now how the thirst overwhelms you. It is easier to surrender to it.” His mouth drew up in a cute little smirk as he continued, “Did you really want to hurt Amos?”

  “Of course not. I’d never--” What was wrong with her? Her body bristled with desire to be closer to him, but every time she tried to speak she sounded more like a petulant child than a twenty-four-year-old woman.

  Liz felt addle brained. Everything he was repulsed her. But at the same time, she liked him. The sound of his voice. His scent. His looks. It was maddening. Ridiculous. She was angry, happy, exhilarated, and scared all at the same time. Nothing made sense anymore. Why can't I stay mad at him?

  Sitting there watching him, she had an uncontrollable urge to reach out and touch him. Just to feel his skin next to hers. Then revulsion filled her. What’s wrong with me? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she found herself staring at his lips and wondered what it would feel like to kiss him. Her entire body buzzed as if millions of microscopic bees had somehow entered inside her. The cabin suddenly felt a whole lot smaller than when she’d entered and she was having trouble breathing. I’m going insane.

  Michael read her discomfort and drew his mouth to one side, trying hard not to laugh. “Drink, Liz, and listen. I'll try to explain what is happening to you.”

  She nodded.

  “I’m going to begin with I’m sorry.” He r
eached out and touched her hand.

  At first she flinched, drawing her hand away. After meeting his gaze, she placed her hand back on the table. Once again, Michael reached out to touch her. Her body reacted with an explosion of goose bumps.

  “I really don’t know what else to say.”

  “Uh huh,” she replied. Liz was trying to concentrate on what he was saying, but her body was still reacting to his gentle touch.

  “When vampires decide to take a partner, we must go before the Council of Elders to obtain permission. There are many rules and regulations we live by. This helps us to remain unnoticed and safe.”

  “How does it all work?” She whispered. “How did I become what I am now?”

  “I don’t understand it myself,” he sighed. “We feed mostly off of human blood, taking only what we need to survive. To become a vampire you must be bitten three times. Vampires have a kind of venom that isn’t harmful in small quantities. That’s why we never take blood from the same person more than twice.”

  “So what happened?” She had to figure out where to go from here. A gentle mental nudge announced that he was once again entering her mind. Liz narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

  Michael smirked. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I do not know. I’ve never laid eyes on you before last night. I can be almost certain from your scent that you have never been taken by another. This is profoundly impossible.”

  It was clear that he was being sincere. “Can I honestly trust the Son of Satan to be honest with me?” She thought to herself.

  “Would you please call me by my given name?”

  “Will you please stay out of my head,” she answered.

  “Look, I didn’t turn you on purpose,” he snapped. As Liz stared at him, with her lips snarled in anger, he calmed.

  He bowed his head once in what seemed like an apology, before continuing. “Now, we have bigger things to worry about. We have to see the Council tonight. There is no other option. The minute you changed, they knew you existed. If we don’t go before them tonight, they will hunt you down themselves.”