by April Smyth
I oblige purely because I don’t have the heart to turn her away. I want to be alone to read my book and find my bearings but this is her house, I have to agree. My emotions are still unsettled. While I am unhappy to have left my family so abruptly, afraid of what is to come of the next few days, I am also excited and satisfied about how the day has unfolded. New faces, smells and the prospect of meeting a vampire all make me feel giddy.
I sit in a basket on a chair facing the large mirror and Rose stands behind me blow-drying my hair with great intensity in her eyes like my lank hair is a work of art. Once my hair is dry, she combs through the knots and I can see her mind ticking away with ideas of what my hair could become. Her dark hair is so long and falls in soft curls that reflect the same curves of her womanly body. “I wish I had fair hair like you,” she says, pulling my hair away from my face, and I can tell she is lying to flatter me. My lemony blonde hair is something I think I must have inherited from my mother. Before dad went grey, he had jet black hair and I am certain Shannon has naturally dark hair too. Bruce and Jana are like twins with their matching short black hair. Yet again, I am the oddball of the family.
Rose plaits my hair and ties it up in a knot on the top of my head. She sprays it with hairspray and smiles at her finished product. I don’t normally wear my hair away scraped back like this and it takes a few seconds to adjust to seeing my face so clearly. I do like it though. I wish Rose was always around at home to make me look and feel like a proper girl.
“Thanks,” I say, touching the side of face which feels bare now. “It looks lovely.”
“No problem.” I see Rose’s gaze turn to the sky outside which is still showing signs of light. The vampires won’t be awake just yet.
In a bid to get some more time to myself I ask Rose for some dinner. When she is gone, I lie across the bed, which fits around my skin like a good hug, and start reading my book. My brain is not truly focusing on the words so they fly past my eyes and don’t sink in.
The sky has darkened considerably when Rose calls me for dinner and I can tell she and Gabe are tense when we sit around the dinner table. Are the vampires awake now? Rose has made pasta with a spicy tomato sauce and serves it up in a big glass bowl that sit in the middle of the round table. “Help yourself,” while making dinner Rose must have found time to change from the red dress she was wearing earlier. Now she is wearing a strapless gold top that looks like foil with black dress trousers. Her make up has changed too. The red lips have been replaced for a deep purple and her brown eyes are highlighted with gold shimmering eye shadow.
I didn’t think I was hungry until the fiery aromas hit my nostrils and I’m ravenous. I fill my bowl up twice and I am acutely aware that the heavy sound of my chewing it the only noise to be heard at the table.
The phone rings. Gabe glowers at Rose. Rose smiles back and, in a smooth movement, rises from the table and moves to answer the phone. While Rose talks on the phone, my eyes are glued to Gabe who is moving his mouth gently like a child who has memorised the lines of his favourite movie. I watch his face move while he watches Rose but still keep my ears pricked to listen to Rose’s side of the conversation.
“Hello… she’s here… at my house… yes… I understand… he’s very sorry…” her eyes flicker nervously towards Gabe who looks angry. She offers him an apologetic face but he maintains his frown. “I understand… thank you… we’ll see you soon, goodbye.”
Gabe doesn’t waste time before demanding, “What did he say?”
“He’s pleased,” is all she offers and returns to her place at the dinner table where she takes a dainty bite of the pasta.
“Is that all?” Gabe says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“No,” she says. “Perhaps we shouldn’t get Cassie involved with our business, Gabe.”
“She doesn’t mind,” he says, glancing at me quickly.
“I don’t mind,” my voice squeaks and it’s true. I would appreciate being included in their whispered conversations about me.
Rose smiles at me like I’m a silly child who needs coddling from the real world. She doesn’t understand that my pampered life has not been through choice. I’ve wanted this for a long time: taking a chance, experiencing a different life with my own eyes. But she sighs, giving in to our stares, “He is doing business in Spain currently. He wants us to stay here for a couple of nights until someone can send us over a fake passport for Cassie and then travel to France tomorrow where we can see the sights.”
“See the sights?” Gabe spits out his words like they’re venomous.
“Yes,” Rose takes my hand from across the table and grins, “Maurice wants you to taste the world, wants to spoil you.”
It is strange that a man, a vampire, I don’t know is so eager to please me. He is so fond of me but knows so little about me. And willing to commit a felony to but arranging a fake passport for me. I am not surprised though. Vampires make their own laws. I am completely overwhelmed by the idea of visiting France. Eating frogs legs and snails. Taking photos by the Eiffel Tower. Speaking the titbits of French I know to a man with garlic breath wearing a beret. I cannot deny that being the fancy of a vampire has its perks.
Gabe shakes his head, “And what did he say about me that has made me so sorry?”
“He’s a little upset that it has taken so long,” she shrugs.
“A little upset?” Gabe raises a thick eyebrow.
“Ok, he’s angry but don’t worry he’ll just be so glad to see her that he’ll forget all about it,” she says but she is lying just she like she did when she said she’d like to swap hairdos with me. She would make a good politician.
“I’m counting on it,” Gabe massages his face and guzzles a mouthful of beer. It’s a wonder he can still sit straight with the amount of alcohol he’s been drinking.
Rose must be thinking the same thing and slides his drink away from him, “You should slow down on the beer, Gabe, I’m not dragging your sorry drunk behind to Maurice’s house. It won’t be the first time.”
It saddens me that a boy of only nineteen or twenty years old is forced to drink like an alcoholic. And why? Hatred for the life he lives? I wonder what keeps him working for Maurice if he hates it so passionately.
There is a moment of brittle silence as Rose and Gabe glower at each other. I get the impression that beneath Rose’s scornful warnings and Gabe’s indifference there is a fondness between the pair like watching a fight between siblings.
When Rose turns away from Gabe the tension is severed and she speaks melodically, “You are going to love France, Cassie, and Maurice is going to throw you a huge welcome party when you arrive. He’s so excited to finally meet you.”
I don’t respond. I don’t know how to react. I am besieged with excitement for the coming days but also uncomfortable that this powerful vampire is so eagerly anticipating my arrival. What if I disappoint? What if Miracle Girl isn’t all that miraculous? What will happen then? I shudder.
“What’s wrong?” Rose asks.
“Nothing,” I reply. “It’s all a bit much right now.”
“I understand,” Rose seems to understand everything. “This is probably quite scary if you don’t really understand what’s going on but Gabe and I are obliged to be as professional as possible.”
If Gabe felt obliged to behave professionally, he wasn’t showing it. He retorts, “I don’t feel obliged to do anything for Maurice.”
Rose rolls her eyes, “Yes you do, Gabe, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. Don’t listen to him, Cassie, he’s drunk and is just trying to frighten you. Vampires can be quite intimidating but trust me, you’ll love Maurice.”
Gabe scoffs.
For the first time in the whole day Rose loses her temper. Her delicately posh English accent sounds bizarre when she‘s angry, “Oh for Christ’s sake, Gabe, stop being such a baby. Go to bed and sober up before morning. I’m sick of the sight of you right now.”
Like a dog with his tail between his legs, Ga
be leaves the room without saying goodnight. Rose tries her best to make the atmosphere breezy again, “I’m so excited for you to see France. Have you ever been?”
“No, I’ve never left Scotland before,” I say, mustering up a voice that tries not to sound self-pitying.
“That’s so sad,” Rose rests her chin on her well manicured fingertips as if she is hanging on to every word I am saying. “With Maurice you can travel the world. There’s no where I haven’t been and I’m sure Maurice will want you to have the best of life.”
Why do I get the feeling I am being married off to this man? I just want to meet him. Experience that otherworldly aura that vampires are supposed to emit. I ask Rose about the places she has visited over the years and listen intently as she tells me stories about Brazil, Venice, Bali, Hong Kong. There was no place on the map left uncovered by the time we finished talking and I became aware if there was no other reason the ability to journey across the globe would be enough reason to work for a vampire.
Midnight has come and gone and it is near two in the morning by the time Rose finishes her stories, reassuring me that there are plenty more, and we revert to our rooms. I hesitate outside Gabe’s bedroom door. I want to say goodnight. He has been nothing but rude to me but I still feel a pang of remorse when I look into his eyes and see how haunted he is by loathing. I allocate myself the task of making friends with Gabe before this journey ends but decide that tonight is not the night. He is probably too drunk and won’t even remember my kind gesture in the morning so I continue on to my bedroom.
I read a few pages of my book, afraid that I won’t be able to sleep, but when my head hits the pillow I am surprised by how quickly I drift into a dreamless slumber. Rose must spend thousands of pounds on her bedding to make it feel like you are sleeping inside a warm cloud. Money well spent.
FIVE
For the next two days, Gabe and Rose walk around the house on eggshells. They are totally afraid to upset me. Gabe isn’t drinking anymore but now he doesn’t talk at all. He stays in his room watching action movies with a lot of blood and gore but mostly I have noted he is feeling sorry for himself and it’s frustrating.
Rose takes me shopping. I find myself at ease as we walk through the busy city centre together. Rose is great to be with; she’s sunny and always fills my tense silences with her merry chatter.
At first I feel guilty as Rose lavishes me with expensive clothes insisting that she wants me to feel comfortable. She carries bags full of cashmere sweaters, tailored jeans, little vest tops in every colour. She even picks out my underwear. Rose claims that Maurice wants me to feel as relaxed as possible so it is only her duty. I hope he is picking up the bill.
The rest of the time I spend reading books from Rose’s private library and when I can, I use her extravagant computer to surf the web for news on the vampires in America. I like to keep myself updated. I even find myself sneaking a peak at some articles about the European underground vampires but, disappointingly, there still isn’t much to find out. They are good at keeping themselves hidden.
All of the flashy gifts and dusty books keep me from thinking about home for the most part. But whenever I think about my family I am overcome with guilt that I’m allowed to be distracted at all. Have they called the police yet? I imagine dad crippled with worry; his round face flooded with tears. Shannon will keep it together for the sake of Bruce and Jana, I know she is stronger than dad. Although she cares for me deeply, her own children are her main priority and I understand that.
Three days pass when my phoney passport arrives through the post along with three letters. One for each of us from Maurice himself. Gabe doesn’t even read his. He crumples it up into a small ball and I twitch as I see it lying unread in the bin. Wondering what words it conceals.
Rose reads her letter aloud around the table where we are eating breakfast, “Dear Rose, my sincerest gratitude is flying over from Bilbao, Spain, as I write this. I trust you are asserting my will and indulging Cassie as I requested. Give her anything she wants, I want her to be entirely comfortable for her arrival to my home in Toulouse. I have attached a passport, flight tickets and your payment for the last three days work. I ask that you travel solo while Gabriel escorts Cassie through the journey where you will meet again in Paris for Cassie’s day trip. I hope it is clear that this is in order not to draw attention to yourselves and remind Gabriel profusely that keeping a low profile is his priority, second only to caring for Cassie’s needs. I will see you in two days in Toulouse. I look forward to it. Be safe, Maurice.”
Maurice’s affection for Rose and contempt for Gabe is made clear in the words of his letter. I gulp as I watch Rose finger the wad of cash she draws from the brown envelope. She licks her finger and counts it quickly. “Two thousand,” she smirks at Gabe.
“And I get nothing,” Gabe rolls his eyes.
“Why?” I ask.
“I’m not as high up in the food chain as Rose. She’s an employee, I’m... returning a favour...” I’m about to ask Gabe what he owes Maurice but I bite my tongue. Later, I tell myself. Be patient and the truth will reveal itself eventually.
“Why can’t you travel with us?” Gabe asks. He makes it sound like being alone with me is a chore and I don’t know why but his abhorrence to me is more than a little hurting my feelings at this point. What have I done so wrong?
“Because the three of us together present an odd combination that will draw attention. The authorities have their eyes out for anything suspicious to try and catch the underground vampires in the act but if I travel alone I just look like a fabulous jet-setting business woman,” she flicks back her hair glamorously, “And…”
“And we look like a couple taking a romantic trip to Paris,” Gabe finishes her sentence with a roll of his eyes.
“Exactly,” she smiles and turns to me. My face has gone red at the mention of the romantic trip. “Aren’t you going to read yours?”
The paper in my hand feels heavy. “Can I read it in private?” I ask and they nod. I leave them to finish their breakfast in the kitchen and go to my room.
It is a beautiful day outside. The sun is streaming into my bedroom and is hitting off of the different glass facts of the chandelier. Light bursts across every corner of the room. I sprawl myself across the bed which Rose changed the covers of this morning to a white lace set. I carefully unfold the letter which is sealed formally with a tacky piece of red wax.
Dear Cassie,
I am certain this is all very unexpected and you may be feeling a lot of different emotions right now: worry about the coming days, guilt and remorse at leaving your beloved family behind, perhaps even excitement at the anticipation of the wonderful world you are about to belong to. I am writing to reassure you that once you arrive at my home in Toulouse all of these tangling emotions will dissipate. You will feel completely comfortable here. You probably do not understand most of what is happening to you but it will all become clear in time. Just know that I am eagerly anticipating your arrival and believe that we will have a lot to talk about. I understand you have felt like something of a misfit over the years and this is what has drawn me to you. I, like you, cannot relate to ordinary humans and for this reason I feel bonded to you, Cassie. I hope you are as excited to meet me as I you and I trust my employees have satisfied all your needs and desires while I am unable to. We’ll finally meet in two days when I will throw you a grand party to welcome you to your new home.
Yours faithfully, Maurice Baudin
I read the letter twice before tucking it away between the pages of my book. These words seem so intimate that I feel embarrassed at the thought of Rose or Gabe seeing them. Especially Gabe. I can just imagine his mocking laugh escaping from the back of his throat.
Maurice’s words make me feel rosy. Now I am not just looking forward to seeing vampire but I am eager to meet Maurice himself. I paint a picture of him in my head using his words written in his neat scrawl. He’s dashing, elegant, romantic but strong and int
imidating too.
Rose is flustered when she comes up stairs and explains that I don’t have much time to get ready for our trip. Rose helps me pack my bag, a designer suitcase she has ‘lying around’, with all the nice clothes she bought me. I take a shower and cover myself in all the fragrant lotions and potions so I come out smelling of candy floss.
On the top of the suitcase I sit the book with the edge of the letter peeking outwards and I feel like it’s a secret between only Maurice and I. I knew I was right about vampires. Their danger lures me in. The possibility that there’s something out there that I’m not resistant to. But it’s more than that. I am bonded to these creatures because of a sense of rejection from society. I don’t belong because I can never be hurt and they don’t belong because all they can cause is hurt. Or that’s what people think.
Gabe appears at the doorway, “You know her dad will have a huge search party out looking for her. Her face will be all over the news.”
This was true. Dad would make finding me his number one priority. I am glad I had steered away from watching television during our stay in case I caught a glimpse of the news to find that I was a headlining story.
“What are we going to do?” Rose asks.
“We’ll just have to make me look… not like myself,” I say softly.
Unsurprisingly, in her attic Rose has a small collection of costume wigs. I can’t help but giggle at the candy pink afros, electric blue Mohawks and I wonder what use these ever had to Rose. Eventually we all agree on the chestnut brown bob. Once on it falls no further than my chin. I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The sleek hair is a glossy frame of my heart shaped face. I have never considered being a brunette but after seeing how the darkness of it sets off the blueness of my eyes; I decide that one day in the future I will dye my hair this colour.
