by K. A. Poe
“What do you want to know?” she asked, tapping her long nails against the table surface. I noticed the distinct British accent in her voice arising as she spoke, now that her true identity had been revealed. It caused me to wonder how long it took her to teach herself to speak without it.
“Everything,” Salem said somewhat enthusiastically, “from the moment Raz...Daniel...took you from the house.”
“I haven’t thought of any of this in a very long time…brace yourselves for a long story,” Hannah smirked. It was relieving to see her in a calm, friendly mood but I was still cautious, worrying that at any moment she could strike. “I can vaguely remember the fire. You were sleeping in my bedroom that night because I had a nightmare. Something woke me, and Daniel was standing in my room. Before I knew what was happening he stole me away from the house. As I looked back I could see the smoke, and the red glow. I was horrified, but he assured me that everything would be okay – that you would be okay.
“He took me to a small house far away – he was unbelievably fast! After tucking me away safely inside and insisting that I stay put, he said he would save you, too. I never saw you, but he swore you were safe. He told me that Arthur and Margaret perished in the fire, and he held me as I cried myself to sleep.
“The following morning, he told me that he would protect me, no matter what. He said it wasn't going to be easy for him, that part of him wanted to hurt me more than I could even imagine. What way is that to speak to a child? I was frightened, of course, but I stayed with him. What choice did I have, being only three at the time? He stayed with me as often as he could, only leaving when I was asleep or otherwise occupied with toys.
“Years had passed, and eventually I could fend for myself. Daniel would leave for hours, sometimes days, at a time – but he never failed to come back. I never saw or spoke to another person during the thirteen years he kept me there, but he took care of me. He treated me like the daughter he viewed me as. It wasn't until my sixteenth birthday that he finally told me who he really was,” she paused, appearing deep in thought, “he told me what happened between him and Mother, and how she refused to tell me that he was my true father. Instead, she made me believe I was imagining him. I will admit that for a long time I hated her for keeping the secret from me.
“He told me what he was, what he did, and how hard it was for him to be around me. He told me how delicious I smelled to him, how tempted he was to kill me every time he was near. It was my choice, I told him to turn me into a vampire so that we could be together forever, so that he would not have that temptation,” she smiled fondly at the memory. “Daniel was hesitant, much like Salem was about turning you, Alexis, but with time he agreed. After the process was over, he taught me the ways of being a vampire. I enjoyed every moment of the experience. We hunted together, and he was impressed by my strength and speed – more than even he was capable of. Then, he spoke of you...Salem.”
“I was long gone by then,” Salem said quietly.
“Yes,” Hannah agreed, “he told me how he kept you with him for a short period, hoping you would take to being a vampire as I had. You disgusted him, Salem. He expected so much of you...you were his first. He told me that you decided to kill yourself rather than 'commit to a lifestyle of murdering humans' – those were your exact words, he said. You were convinced that daylight would end it all, but it was only a story he had told you to keep you from leaving, while he worked on molding you to be like him,” her voice grew slightly less affectionate, “you never returned.”
I watched Salem nod his head, “if only I had known you were still alive then, you could have been mere miles away and I never knew...”
“It doesn’t matter,” Hannah said.
“And these abilities of yours?” he asked, “When did you discover those? What all are you capable of?”
She grinned. “I told you Father taught me many things. He had a gift to see into the mind of whomever he touched, or put his thoughts into theirs. With time, I was able to take it beyond this. For the most part, everything I can do relates to the mind. I can manipulate dreams, as you should have gathered by now. The affect is only temporary, sadly, and requires contact between myself and the...victim. Occasionally I can see into people's minds without even needing a touch...I haven't quite gotten the hang of that one yet, though. It worked on raven-girl's little friend Karen, that's how I knew about your relationship.” She spoke the last word with strong distaste. “Daniel told me you had relocated to Colorado in search of some girl he foresaw in your future...that's what brought us here. We had been traveling together.”
“Did you get separated?” I asked.
“He told me to stay behind one night, that he had something private to take care of,” she growled. “I followed his scent later that night, only to discover his remains in an unmarked grave.”
“I will not apologize for what I did,” Salem said, averting his eyes from her.
“Neither will I for what I did to your little birdy there.”
“Right,” he grumbled through gritted teeth.
“How did you manage to convince Karen you were her cousin?” I asked out of nowhere, partly to try and ease the tension.
“That was easy,” she laughed her melodic laugh, “she is far too gullible for her own good. I discovered her outside of the school and saw you in her thoughts, so I ran
up to her and introduced myself as Claire Davidson and stated I had just transferred from a school in Wyoming because my parents found jobs here and we had relatives in the area. I said I was looking for my cousin Karen Williams and that I heard rumor she was a senior this year, about to graduate. She was so excited.”
“How did you know she was one of my friends, how did you even know her name?” I asked suspiciously.
“As I said, I could see into her mind,” she explained, “if I have long enough to dig deep, I can see things that they are not even currently thinking about. Memories. Truths. I have to say, she was really easy to dig into, but anyway…that’s how I learned her name, and of you.”
“And you fooled Karen and me into thinking you were an average teenager by wearing makeup and heavy perfume?”
“Yep,” she smirked. “I should have known my dear brother here wouldn’t have been as easily tricked.”
As we were in the middle of our discussion, I heard a loud bang in the other room. I turned and saw that Paul had rolled off of the sectional. With a grunt, he clambered back onto it in a sitting position and glanced groggily in our direction. Within seconds, he was on his feet, crossbow in hand aimed directly at Hannah.
19. NEEDS
The arrow whistled through the air. Hannah ducked down under the table and I watched as the arrow sped through the kitchen before impaling one of the mahogany cabinets. Salem shot an angry glare at my father and within seconds was beside him, ripping the weapon from his grasp.
“Have you lost your mind?!” Paul roared, trying to push Salem away. “That monster almost killed Alex, and you just let her in here?!”
“Relax, dad,” I said from the dining room, “we’re trying to come to some sort of agreement. She can’t help what she is, just like I can’t help what I am.”
Paul shook his head in disgust, “I won't allow this, Alex. You are a hunter, you don't protect them!”
“You’ve been letting Salem and I protect each other for months. This isn’t any different,” I glowered.
“I should just kill all of you now and end this!” he replied, to my surprise. “You're one of them now...”
“No, not exactly,” Salem uttered from beside Paul.
“What do you mean by that?”
“She isn't a vampire, Paul...at least, not entirely. She still has a heartbeat.”
Paul looked suddenly alarmed, “That's not possible.”
“Apparently, it is,” Salem replied, “but, we are not sure what it means. We were actually hoping you had some input.”
My father shook his head, “A Waldron has never been
changed before, like I said earlier...I don't know what it could mean,” he paused, rubbing his forehead as he thought, “there might be one person who has an answer for us, but I haven't talked to him in years.”
My eyes perked up when I heard there might be someone who could help solve this mystery. “Who?” I asked with growing curiosity.
“It won't be easy to get to him, especially in private,” he sighed. “Your grandfather.”
My grandfather? I hadn't even considered the idea that I had a grandparent that was alive. How had I not asked about them before, or even considered their existence? Probably because I was so caught up in other things, plus it wasn't like Paul ever made the effort to mention them.
“Where is he now?” I asked, my mind still wandering with ideas and speculations on just who my grandfather was, what he was like, and why I had never heard of him.
Paul grimaced and sat back on the sectional. “Your grandfather is locked up in a mental institute.”
“What!?” My eyes widened in shock. “Why?”
“It's a long story, kid,” he grumbled. “He was a great hunter during his youth, but once your grandmother passed away about five years ago, things got out of hand. I'm not sure if it was the loss of her, or something else – but he just wasn’t himself. He would publicly speak of vampires, of hunting, warning random people to be on the lookout for monsters...” he stretched across the couch once more, “Eventually he was reported for supposedly attacking some innocent woman, claiming that she was a vampire. That didn’t go over too well as you can imagine.”
“Wow...” I said quietly, my mouth wide in shock. “When was the last time you talked to him?”
Now my father looked ashamed. “I’ve not seen him since he was admitted.”
“What?! Why not?” I gasped. “That's horrible.”
“You wouldn't understand, Alex,” he said glumly, “He's just not the same man anymore. I doubt he’d even recognize me anymore.”
“That's not the point. I would visit you even if you supposedly went crazy, especially when I understand that some of those things are real.”
“Maybe you’re right,” he replied guiltily. “Not to change the subject but I’m starvin’. You think there’s any way that I could, well you know,” he nodded towards Salem, “get something to eat?”
“Now that you mention it, I'm kind of hungry, too...” I said.
Salem eyed me curiously, and then turned to glance at Paul. “What do you want?”
“Roast,” he mumbled in response, “Destiny always made a real good pot roast.”
I was taken aback somewhat at the mention of my birth mother's name. There was very little I knew about her, but I was afraid to ask – especially now. I observed the brief glow in Salem's eyes and watched a steaming bowl of broth, carrots, meat, potatoes, and onions appear on the coffee table before my father. Before I had the opportunity to request a meal of my own, Salem was at my side, dragging me away from my seat and leading me to the front porch.
“What is it?” I asked as he released my wrist.
“You said you were hungry,” he replied quietly, “Do you think...” he hesitated, “are you hungry for food or blood?”
My eyes grew as I registered what he was asking. “I-I don't know. How would I know the difference?”
“Do you have any cravings for real food?”
“No, not specifically, anyway.” I replied. “But, does that really mean I need blood?”
“I don't know what you need anymore, Alex,” he replied sadly, “but, there's only one way to find out.”
“Are you trying to tell me I need to go kill a squirrel or something?” I asked in disgust.
“Maybe. We need to figure out just what your body needs.”
“Well, I can tell you right now, my mind says my body doesn't want that!” I shuddered at the mere thought.
Salem smiled gently. “Regardless, we need to find out. It won't hurt to try, and it might satisfy that hunger.”
“Fine,” I drawled.
It wouldn't have mattered nearly as much if my transformation had been complete – then I am sure I would have been all for it. In fact, I probably would have tackled Paul the second I saw him. While I was fortunate that I hadn't, I did wish I actually felt eager to do this...it would make it a lot easier. I felt sick to my stomach merely thinking about what Salem was about to have me do.
I followed him toward the clearing, running faster than I was ever capable of before. The trees, boulders, and berry-speckled bushes all flew passed me as we stormed through the forest. It wasn't quite as amazing as flying because everything went by in a flash, but it was still exhilarating. Within mere moments we were at the edge of the creek. I stared into the crystal clear water, spotting the exact location I had discovered Hannah's locket. Suddenly, I felt very alert. My eyes darted toward something rustling in the bushes ten feet ahead. I could smell the coppery sweet scent of blood. I stood still, sniffing the air for a moment longer. Another scent had caught my attention—wet fur. I could hear the distinct sound of a tiny heart beating. While it made me sick, it also excited me. Salem appeared to notice my reaction; undoubtedly he had sensed the creature too by now.
“At least some part of you wants it,” he said. I wasn't sure, but he almost sounded disappointed.
I was disappointed. Without thinking, I sped toward the distant bush. My eyes were wildly scanning the area, my ears listening for even the tiniest sound. The animal barely had the opportunity to run before I had my hands around its wriggling, wet body. I gasped and nearly dropped it when I stared at the panicking little butterscotch rabbit. How could I possibly hurt this adorable little creature? I looked pleadingly at Salem.
“You’ve already scared it, Alex,” he said calmly, a few feet behind me. “Rabbits are known to die of heart attacks when incredibly frightened. You might as well put it out of its misery while you still can.”
I gulped, staring at the beady little eyes that stared back at me. Then, as I felt its heart beating against the palms of my hands I felt a sudden desire to rip the creature to pieces. Slowly, I felt a pinch of unfamiliar pain in the front of my mouth. Fangs, I thought in horror.
My lips were against the rabbit's fur at once, my fangs digging deep into its skin and tearing at it. I didn't think, I didn't feel, I just let the warmth of the blood run down my throat. Soon the hunger was gone, the need had vanished, but something didn't feel right. The guilt was overwhelming. My grip loosened and the lifeless rodent plummeted to the ground.
I ran to Salem, tears streaming down my cheeks as I hid my face in his shirt – no doubt staining it with the moist blood from around my mouth and hands. He held me quietly, letting me release the anguish I felt. I wondered if he had felt the same the first time he committed such an act. I tugged away from him and started running toward the creek.
“Alex?” he stared after me, then followed behind.
I knelt at the water's edge and stared in awe and horror at my reflection. My skin was paler, but it was nothing compared to the snow-white complexion of Salem or Hannah. There was a hint of rosy warmth in my cheeks still, but the thing that caught my attention the most was the ring of red around my otherwise hazel eyes. My hands plummeted into the water, rinsing away the evidence of what I had done and scattering my horrible reflection. I watched the swirl of red dye the once clear liquid, then brought a handful up to my face and wiped it clean. If only I could wipe away the red in my eyes...
Was this truly what I had wanted? I felt Salem kneel beside me and pull me away from the creek. He laid me against the dew-covered grass and held me against him. His body felt cold, but not nearly as much as before.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered lightly into my ear. His cool breath tickled the nape of my neck.
“For what?” I asked, staring up into the sun and resting my hand across his abdomen. He tightly gripped my hand with his own.
“For doing this to you.”
“It was my choice, remember? It i
s what I wanted,” I replied quietly.
He lifted his head up to look at me, grief displayed across his flawless face. “What if it isn't, Alex? What if there is still the possibility that you will age and die as you previously feared, because you are in fact not a full vampire? For all we know you could still only have one life to live, but have to suffer through it as…”
My mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. I hadn't considered that fact. “I-I don't know...”
“Exactly,” he frowned.
“Well, no sense in worrying about it until we find my grandpa,” I replied, “and if that proves to be useless, we'll just have to find someone else that knows.”
Salem didn't reply. He simply lay down beside me, breathing ever-so-gently and I felt another unexpected feeling overcome me – sleepiness. With a stifled yawn, I curled up beside him and let myself drift away to sleep as I watched the sun fading in the darkening sky.
20. THE LOCKET
How much time had passed was a mystery to me when I felt Salem shake me awake. I blinked my eyes open and stared in disbelief. We were laying upstairs in his bedroom in complete darkness. The black curtains were drawn closed, and there wasn't even a hint of sunlight through the thin material.
“Was it all a dream?” I asked quietly, rubbing my eyes and stretching.
“No,” he replied flatly. “Paul and I are both worried about you, Alex.”
My eyes blinked again and settled on his. “What? Why?”
“You shouldn't need to sleep.”
“It’s not like sleep is a bad thing, though. So what if I am still mostly normal?”
“You have been sleeping for over a day, Alex.”
