|
Post by demona on Dec 1, 2009 19:01:03 GMT
VH Season 2 – Ep1: Growing Pains
Dr Reginald Murdoch screwed his eyes up as his ears rang at the sound of a girl’s high pitched and very loud screams. Slowly he opened them to see a small framed African girl, his student Mimi Sperling; dressed in the latest fashions, running over to embrace fellow student Dillon Vanderson in a huge bear hug. A smile spread across his face.
“Welcome back Dillon, I trust you had a good summer.” Dr Murdoch said as he walked over to the two girls. He scanned his student, dressed in her normal baggy trousers and vest top combination but the previous red-headed teenage girl had re-dyed her hair over the summer; her new black hair dye made the girl appear even paler and washed out than usual. “Yeah, it was a barrel of laughs.” She merely stated; staring blankly at the teacher of 50 years dressed in a grey tweed suit standing in front of her.
“Of course it was,” Mimi said holding on to Dillon’s arm, “Come on there’s a huge buffet in the solarium, and we’re turning it into a massive party.” She said pulling Dillon away from the entrance hallway. Murdoch stood, with his arms crossed, he stared down at the floor, it had been a brief encounter, but he had detected the sarcasm in Dillon’s voice and the look of sadness in her eyes.
******
It is never easy to start something new. Both humans and vampires find change hard, for some it has not come early enough, for others too soon, but change is part of growing up and the objective of the Mansbridge experiment. The rough transition of change can be eased if trust and connections can be made with others, if one can ‘fit-in’ and this may be the hardest of hurdles for my vampires to overcome.
********
“So the day schoolers are back at Mansbridge.” Marty Strickland kicked his booted feet onto the table and leant back in his chair, placing his hands behind his head, “No falling in love with mortals this year Drew and no snacking on them either Karl.” His Cheshire cat smile grew on his lips as he taunted his fellow classmates.
Drew French and Karl Todman threw dangerous looks towards their fellow vampire reminding them of their past mistakes; a slight growl escaped from Karl’s lips as the big vampire edged towards the table.
“Don’t let him bate you,” Merrill Young said to them trying to calm the situation before it got out of hand, as she walked past the snarling youth to take a seat next to Marty to get ready for class. Essie Rachimova followed suit seating herself next to Merrill, whilst Drew and Karl took their seats on the opposite side of the table so they could glare at Marty some more.
“Ah good, you’re all up.” Dr Murdoch said as he reached the bottom of the stairs into the cellar. He surveyed his night schoolers, his vampires, his students. They had come a long way in the last year when they had entered the experiment to learn how to control their urges for human blood and killing, and now the second phase was to begin. “The Elders have decided that this year at Mansbridge will be slightly different, given the progress you have made in forming a community amongst yourselves and generally learning to control your urges to feed from humans, there will be some changes.”
“What kind of changes Dr Murdoch?” Merrill asked eager to please the wishes of the Elders in becoming more human-like, her long brown hair falling over her shoulders as she leaned forward in expectation. Marty rolled his eyes at her eagerness to please and removed his feet from the table, placing them firmly on the ground with a thud. He leant forward in his chair; clasping his hands in front of him on the table and over exaggerated his attention on Murdoch, mimicking Merrill.
“Well,” Dr Murdoch began hesitantly, “it has been decided that you should have a little bit more freedom,” “Let me guess, you lengthen the rope and see if we hang ourselves with it.” Drew interjected; a sullen tone in his voice,
“A slightly pessimistic take on it but essentially yes. We are relaxing the rules concerning your contact with the day students.” Dr Murdoch finished, the silence in the room personified the disbelief evident in his vampires’ faces.
“Define ‘relaxing’.” Marty asked; breaking what was fast becoming an uncomfortable atmosphere of anticipation.
“Well,” Dr Murdoch began pacing about the room, his hands behind his back, “as you know for the past year all contact with the day students has been forbidden, and except for a few circumstances you have observed these rules, therefore the Elders want to see if you can control your urges when you are around humans on a more regular basis, and to see if you can connect with these humans, to see them as more than food. This is essential for the experiment as if you can do this, it means you can live out in the world without attracting attention of vampire hunters or even the Fury so we are allowing you to move about the school freely, and interact with the day students in the evening before their curfew.” Murdoch looked at the table of vampires, their eyes wide, their mouths open. For the second time that evening they were completely speechless; there were no questions, no wise-cracks.
“The programme will work as follows;” Murdoch continued, “each of you will be allowed to interact with the day students one evening each week. You will not tell them what you are; you must learn to act like any other human. The premise is that I am tutoring you for your college courses.”
“Tutoring us on what?” Drew asked.
“Well that depends on what you want to study, for example, Merrill I thought I might tutor you on literature and writing, if you would like.” Merrill smiled at the suggestion and nodded her head.
“Thank you Dr Murdoch.” She said.
“Well I’d like to study fashion, but I’m not sure you can tutor me on that.” The blonde royal vampire stated; turning her gaze up from her nail’s that she was painting a blood red colour to her teacher, a hint of disapproval in her voice, her eyebrow arched.
“No Essie, I couldn’t tutor you on fashion as I’m sure you can tell I am not a follower of the current trends, however, I could tutor you on say, business management so that you could for instance sell your own designs.” Essie smiled at the suggestion at the thought that she could become a fashion designer or at least work in the fashion industry.
“This is nonsense! We are vampires, we don’t need jobs to survive, and I don’t think a 9 to 5 job would be very good for us, you know it being daylight an all.” Drew said shaking his head, venom in his voice. “This is a total waste of time.”
“What’s the matter Drew, scared of the day schoolers?” Marty teased. Drew pushed his chair away from the table, leaving silently to his dorm and the sanctuary of his coffin. Marty, Essie and Karl turned and stared expectantly at Merrill and her mind-reading abilities. “He’s just a little upset that we weren’t allowed to do this last year when Sherry was alive.” She said quietly.
“Right then,” Marty said clapping his hands, relieving yet another awkward moment, “So what are you going to tutor me on then Doc?”
“How about developing a personality?” Essie chimed in.
“Ha ha, very funny Es.” Marty answered unable to make a smart come-back.
“You think you could tutor me on something to do with sports?” Karl asked
“It is regretful Karl, but you are still on probation after your incident with Dillon last year.” Murdoch said in a grave tone.
“Meaning what?” Karl questioned
“I’m sorry Karl, but you cannot progress to this stage of the experiment just yet, you won’t be allowed to mix with the day school. There is also the matter that Malcolm Fry knew you before you were made a vampire and thinks you are dead, the last thing we need is for him to see you and alert Marianne Hackett and the BPDA again.”
“But that’s so unfair!” Karl cried out.
“I am sorry Karl, but this is the price you have to pay for attacking Dillon last year, just be grateful that you were not punished by the Elders and that the experiment was allowed to continue and not least that Dillon survived!” As Dr Murdoch finished, Karl pushed back his chair with a screech and walked out of the room towards where he kept his dumbbells. Dr Murdoch sighed loudly; exasperated with the way his students were receiving his news.
“Well you know what?” Marty said jumping up out of his seat, a big smile on his face, “I’m going to storm off too!” To which Marty walked over to the blood store, helped himself to a packet of blood, and wandered out of the cellar, up through the secret entrance to Murdoch’s study. Even Murdoch couldn’t help but smile, but his expression became serious once more as he addressed the only two vampires left in the room.
“Don’t worry Dr Murdoch; I’m sure they’ll come around to the idea.” Merrill said reassuringly.
“And if they don’t who cares, they get stuck down here, whilst we get to have more freedom.” Essie added with a shrug, and Murdoch allowed himself to smile once more.
“So then, who wants to be first?” He asked crossing his arms.
******
Dillon looked around her in the darkness, an early morning autumn mist had gathered around her. She hugged herself tightly to ward off the cold night air. Hesitantly she walked forward with no real direction or destination in mind. She paused peering into the gloom, and there she saw them, and she was once again in her nightmare. The red glowing eyes approached her at an alarming rate. She tried to scream out but no sound would come from her throat, she turned to run and all of a sudden she felt weak and heavy. The red glowing eyes were upon her and she felt the sting in her throat, a biting followed by noisy sucking sounds. Her continued efforts to scream and to run away came to no avail, and she sunk into darkness.
Mimi slowly opened one sleepy eye, early morning greyness seeped through the bedroom curtains, and she became aware of what had awaked her. Mimi sat up and watched her room-mate thrash around in her bed, moans of pain coming from her lips. Quickly Mimi got out of bed and rushed her Dillon’s bedside. Her brow was furrowed her face a mixture of fear and agony. Mimi gently touched Dillon’s arm.
“Dillon, wake up.” She whispered, as if in answer the troubled sleeping girl became still in her bed. Mimi moved closer to Dillon checking her breathing, “Dillon?”
Dillon became aware of the presence beside her, on top of her, so close to her, she could smell her, hear her heartbeat, feel the rushing of blood in her veins.
“Dillon?” Mimi whispered as a hand shot up in the morning gloom to grab her by the throat, Dillon sat up in her bed, holding a petrified Mimi by the throat. “Dillon, wake up, it’s me, Mimi.” The African girl managed to choke out. Dillon’s eyes stared blankly at the frightened girl in her grasp. Mimi removed one hand that had instinctively grasped those which held her, slowly strangling her and used all her strength to slap Dillon around the head.
The shock woke Dillon from her dream, immediately loosening her grip on her room-mates throat. Mimi gasped for air, as Dillon pulled back her arm and began to tremble as the reality of her actions hit her.
“Are you alright?” Dillon croaked out, her voice thick with sleep. Mimi nodded as she regained her breath.
“What were you dreaming about?” Mimi breathless asked as she sat on the edge of her friend’s bed, rubbing her tender neck.
“I don’t remember.” Dillon’s voice wobbled as if she was going to cry, but her pride would not allow her to. Mimi felt sorry for the girl so tough she wouldn’t cry, even when she needed to.
“There are still a couple of hours before we have to get up, I’ll lie with you until you get back to sleep.” She said as she climbed into her room-mate’s bed, hugging Dillon in her arms.
*****
Dr Murdoch opened his study door, with his morning cup of tea in his hand. Mimi greeted him with her eyes full of concern.
“Mimi, what can I do for you this morning?” He asked.
“Dr Murdoch, I need to speak to you about Dillon, I’m really worried about her.” Dr Murdoch nodded, he had been expecting this.
“Is there anything else, or is it just the nightmare?” Mimi shook her head at her teacher’s question that came from behind his large oak desk. She sat with a china teacup and saucer still full of tea resting on her lap.
“Should I be looking out for anything in particular?” Now it was Murdoch’s turn to shake his head.
“I’d really appreciate it if you could keep an eye on her for me, and let me know if anything else happens and if she continues to have these nightmares, but this time don’t get so close.” Mimi placed her teacup and saucer on Murdoch desk and stood,
“Oh there is one more thing,” she said, “Dillon was eating sausages at breakfast.” Murdoch looked at Mimi confused,
“Is that important?”
“She’s vegetarian.” Mimi answered.
****
“How’s it going in there?” Essie yelled impatiently through the red velvet curtain.
“Almost ready.” Merrill called back.
Marty sauntered up to where Essie was standing outside her dorm, her arms crossed against her mid-rift, an irritated look on her face.
“Hey Merrill,” Marty called, “you nervous?”
“More excited, I can’t wait!” She called back, and mere moments later pulled back the curtain. “Well, what do you think? Do I look alright?” Merrill did a little twirl as Essie and Marty surveyed the knee-length simple black skirt, white shirt, tie and black sweater combination, her hair tied back in two pony-tails either side her head. Marty opened his mouth and raised a finger to comment, then promptly stopped, dropping his hand and closing his lips.
“Well,” Essie began surveying Merrill’s outfit up and down, a distasteful look on her face, “I think...”
“Ready Merrill?” Murdoch stifled the fashionista’s comments, as he came up to the vampire group. Merrill smiled excitedly, nodding her head.
“See you later.” She spoke, pride in her voice of being the first vampire to interact with the day school students. Merrill grabbed a small pile of books from the table and followed Murdoch up to his study. Marty and Essie looked at each other.
“She’s going to get slaughtered up there.” Essie said matter-of-factly.
“Yeah,” Marty sighed seriously, nodding his head, placing his hands on his hips and gazed at the ground thoughtfully for a few seconds, then lifted his look back to Essie, a wicked smile on his lips, “Want to watch?” The two vampires moved to the large screen and turned on the monitor showing the security footage of the Mansbridge academy common room.
Merrill paused at the door leading from Murdoch’s office to the common room and the throng of human students. She peered over her shoulder at the middle-aged man sitting behind his desk, an old-fashioned ink pen in his hand, waiting to fill in his journal for the night. He smiled at her warmly, reassuring her.
“You can do it.” He spoke to her softly. Merrill pressed her lips together, turned her attention back on the door, and held on to her books just that little bit tighter. She nodded her head in a notion of readiness, and pushed open the door.
The common room looked so different from the times she and her fellow vampires had been in there during the night, empty and quiet. The room was now noisy with a gentle hum of chatter from various groups of students. She blinked several times becoming accustomed to the bright lights, normally switched off when she and her fellow vampires were out and about. Merrill swallowed and walked forward in to the room, intent on making conversation on the way to the library across the way.
“Murdoch’s really bringing in the troubled this year.” Nick whispered to Mimi and Jennifer, one eye as always looking at himself in the mirror, checking that his blonde hair was stick perfectly gelled the way it should be. “I mean, rejects from the Adam’s family?” The two girls giggled as they unashamedly stared at the new girl who had just walked out of Murdoch’s office, deadly pale, dressed as if she went to school in the dark ages, and obviously scared stiff. “Who do you think, Morticia?”
“No way,” Jennifer said as she turned to Nick, “She’s not sexy enough for Morticia, she’s most definitely Wednesday!”
The stifled laughter that emanated from the group nearest to her didn’t sound inviting. Merrill recognised a couple of the students, friends of Sherry and Dillon. Merrill didn’t need her mind-reading abilities to know they were taunting her. How could they judge her so harshly on the way she looked, they didn’t even know her. Merrill pulled her books even closer to her chest and developed tunnel vision on the doorway of the library.
The collision took her by surprise, causing her to drop her books and let out a small cry she crashed to the floor. Merrill looked at her ‘road-kill’ getting quickly up from the floor, his black leather shoes where clean and polished, his grey trousers pressed, the white shirt crisp under the burgundy tank-top, she knew who she had bumped into before her view reached the spectacled teenaged face.
“Sorry about that.” He said, offering her his hand intent on helping her up. Merrill took his hand, and tried not to let her vampire strength pull him back to the ground. “I’m Malcolm,” he eyed the group that had been giggling, and knew all too well their judgemental ways. “I’m Merrill,” Merrill said straightening out her jumper. Malcolm paused and looked at her hard.
“Hey,” He paused adjusting his glasses on his nose, “do I know you?” Merrill knew all too well they had met last year, and wished she possessed Essie’s mind-control powers.
“I don’t think so, I’m a college student; Dr Murdoch is providing me with extra tuition.” “Oh really. What on?” he asked.
“Literature, I’m doing a major in English literature. I was just on my way to the library to review the text Dr Murdoch gave me to study.”
*****
“Well she’s not exactly in with the popular group, but at least she interacting with someone.” Essie stated as she watched Merrill follow Malcolm into the library on the large screen in front of the table she was sitting at, sipping her blood allotment through a straw.
“Yeah geeks united.” Marty muttered darkly, noisily sucking up the last of his blood packet.
“Jealous?” Essie asked raise her eyebrow and looked at Marty out of the corner of her eye. “Yeah right,” Marty said sucking at his empty blood packet, looking disappointed that it was finished already. Essie smiled, as Marty thingyed his head to the side to look at her. “So let me guess, you’ll be hanging out with the popular crowd then?” The male vampire changed the subject back to the experiments second phase.
“And you’ll be hanging out with the guys who think they are cool, drinking, smoking, causing trouble, and always trying to get the girls.”
“What do you mean trying, I don’t need to try. They just come.” Marty said confidently.
“Aha, with no need for love spells then.” Essie mockingly agreed, “So where do you think Drew will fit in?”
“What Mr deep dark and emotional dysfunctional? He’ll be discussing poetry and the woes of life with the other boring people.”
****
Malcolm sat on the opposite side of the library table from Merrill, hoping that he could make a new friend, somebody who enjoyed studying like he did. Merrill certainly looked like someone who did. “Try not to pay too much attention to Nick, he’s a jerk all of the time.”
“Thanks.” Merrill said, grateful that she was interacting with a human, and so far had absolutely no intention of making him into her next meal.
“Mimi, the African girl, she’s ok, in small doses and Jennifer, the brunette, well, I don’t think she’s actually ever spoken to me; she just kinda walks away.” Malcolm shrugged trying to show he wasn’t bothered about being in with the popular crowd. Merrill nodded. “They’re not so bad when you get use to them, we do hang out occasionally. You should meet Dillon though, she’s really nice. I’ll introduce you if you want.”
“That would be wonderful!” She said and hoped it sounded convincing, she wasn’t sure she wanted to make friend with the girl that Drew seemed to have taking a liking to whilst nursing her back to health.
“So what made you choose to come to Dr Murdoch for tuition?” Malcolm asked Merrill.
“Erm, well a ... friend of mine came here last year for help, and he recommended Dr Murdoch to me.”
“Oh yeah, and who was that?” The girl’s voice from the doorway drew Merrill’s attention away from Malcolm. She stared at the girl that only a few months before had been knocking on deaths door and had no memory of it.
“Hey Dillon, I like the new hair colour!” Malcolm said enthusiastically then leant over the table to whisper to Merrill, “It used to be bright red!” Merrill again nodded showing that she understood.
“Dillon, this is Merrill; Merrill this is Dillon. She’s a college student getting extra tuition from Dr Murdoch.” “Yeah, I got that.” Dillon said slowly moving towards the table. “Your friend didn’t happen to go by the name Drew, did he?”
“Erm yes, how did you know?” Merrill asked curious as to how she knew, and worried that perhaps Essie’s mind wipe didn’t work as effectively as it should have.
“Sherry talked about him lots when they were going out with each other, and I met him a few times.” Dillon’s hard act melted for a few moments as she asked “Is he ok now? Sherry’s death hit him hard.”
“Yeah, he’s better now; he went away for a while and got some help. But he’s getting over her now.” Merrill admitted, biting her lip not wanting to talk about Sherry and Drew’s relationship.
“Woah Sherry had a boyfriend, and it wasn’t Nick?” Malcolm interjected.
Drew stopped in his tracks as he walked into the main area of the basement, Essie and Marty were staring at him. Essie shook her head disapprovingly.
“Looks like everyone knows you and Sherry were an item.” She commented.
“It doesn’t really matter anymore she’s dead remember.” He snapped back at her.
“and you’ve already found a replacement.” Marty motioned at Dillon’s picture on the TV. “She’s even changed her hair colour for you.”
“Can it Marty!” Drew growled as he moved to the screen to get a better look at the situation.
“Can you get something to him for me?” Dillon’s voice came over the screen as she addressed Merrill. “I have the drawing he drew of Sherry and I think he should have it back.” Drew watched Merrill’s reaction intently.
“I don’t know whether he’s taking part in Dr Murdoch’s tuition programme this year.” She answered truthfully, aware that she was probably being watched by the other vampires. Drew’s expression grew hard as he moved away from the group and walked up the exit to the basement.
“Where are you going?” Essie called to him but there was no answer; he was gone. Essie looked at Marty to which he just shrugged.
Karl watched silently from the sidelines, the image of Dillon on the screen disturbed him, he felt drawn to her in a way he couldn’t describe.
*****
Merrill sat aware that the others were speaking but their words were a distance mumble. Pain racked her body. It had been a long time since Drew’s love for Sherry had been mentioned and she thought she had come to terms with it all. She thought she had reconciled herself with the fact that Drew didn’t want her, that he only wanted Sherry instead; she thought she had overcome the guilt over her sudden death that Merrill had wished for, and thought that perhaps she could develop feeling for someone new. Yet the current conversation was opening her old wounds, and rubbing salt into them.
The opening of the library door, made everyone look up; Merrill’s heart skipped a beat when she saw him enter, just like it had when she first met him.
“Drew?” Dillon spoke before Merrill could even think of a greeting.
“Hey, erm Dillon right?” Merrill looked at Drew playing it cool, like he knew of her vaguely; that he had not spent a night nursing her whilst she healed from Karl’s bite. Dillon nodded, “How are you?” He asked her.
“Fine and you?” She answered with a hint of concern in her voice. “Much better now, thanks to you.” Drew looked Dillon directly in the eye she nodded at him, a silent recognition of something that had gone before past between them. Merrill resisted the urge to read her mind, a hint of jealously edging her thoughts. Drew cleared his throat and turned his attention to Merrill. “Merrill, I was wondering if I could borrow the texts Murdoch gave you to read when you are done.”
“I’m sorry what?” Merrill had been trying to wrestle with her conscious when Drew had spoken to her.
“Dr Murdoch says I need to read the text he gave you before my tutorial with him, I was wondering if you were done with them.” He repeated.
“Erm, no not yet, I can let you have them tomorrow.” Merrill stuttered out, now aware he was explaining his presence and was thankful that Drew had decided to go along with the second phase of the experiment but concerned if Murdoch caught him here now. “You’re at college too?” Malcolm asked him in amazement that there were others that were willing to get extra homework, just like him.
“Yes, I’m failing, so I was instructed to get extra help.” Drew answered. Malcolm sighed; perhaps not everyone liked extra homework.
“Well I should probably let you get on with the reading then, see you tomorrow Merrill,” Drew said rubbing his palms together, making a hesitant exit, hoping Dillon would mention his sketch of Sherry again. “Wait,” Dillon called out, “I know where that picture you drew of Sherry is, and I think you should have it back.”
“Really?” Drew’s heart skipped a beat of having his drawing back, he had no pictures of Sherry and his memory of her was fading, he needed something to remember her by, to ease his guilt of getting over her. “It’s in Murdoch’s office; I’ll just get it.” She said as she jogged out of the library.
*****
Dillon opened the big oak door carefully and peered inside the office. The room was lit by a single lamp stationed on Murdoch’s desk, but thankfully he was not there. Dillon walked in and headed for the desk, determined to find the drawing. She shifted through the paper work on the desk; Murdoch’s journal lay in the centre, calling to her curious nature. She shook her head and continued with her task, moving sequentially through the drawers, but something was making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
Karl stood still, like a deer caught in head lights, as he stood hidden in the shadows in the corner of Murdoch’s office. He stared at the girl in front of him rummaging through Murdoch’s drawers. Her dark hair covered her face as she bent over the desk. Part of him wanted to say hi, introduce himself as a college student, like all the others had been doing, but he knew he couldn’t, yet there was something familiar about the girl in front of him, calling him to her.
Dillon moved her hand around in the drawer open in front of her, fumbling with the piece of paper she desired to pick up and give to Drew. The eerie feeling that she was being watched prevented her from doing so. Her head was kept facing down, as she tried to quiet her breathing, allowing her to listen for the slightest of sounds that would confirm she wasn’t alone.
Karl felt an unbelievable pull towards the girl at Murdoch’s desk. He felt as if he wanted to go up to her, to touch her. He became aware that he was breathing loudly and as if he was on auto pilot, he had slowly yet silently moved out of the darkness and towards the dim light.
Dillon froze, plucking up her courage she forced herself to look up and confront whoever was watching her, grasping the sketch as if it would protect her, she lifted her eyes. The witty remark died on her lips as her gaze was met by that of ice blue eyes approaching her.
Karl instantly recognised the face that was hidden by the dark hair so out of place on the girl he had attacked a few months before, the girl he had only seen moments ago on the TV screen looking so sad and empty. Remorse and shame flood over him and something else too, something deep, meaningful, caring.
Dillon felt dizzy, her mind nagged at her to remember something but she had no idea what, her current task forgotten. She knew the face that was staring at her, and yet could not place from where. A strange hunger began to grow in her stomach, a sudden thirst at the back of her throat. The taste of raw meat played on her tongue. Her eyes focused again on the boy still moving towards her, specifically on his throat where she could swear she heard the rush of warm blood emanating.
Karl stopped in front of Dillon, Murdoch’s desk the only thing between them, he felt the tingle of his fangs unsheathing themselves, and fought to hide them. Dillon’s breathing was heavy and notice that the guy across the table was breathing in sync with her, time seemed to slow down.
The boy said something that sounded like a greeting, but Dillon didn’t hear it. Her feet moved her as quickly as they could away from the office. It wasn’t until she felt the soft touch of a velvet jacket that she realised what she had done. She felt strong arms gently move her away from the body to which she had collided. Drew’s blue eyes looked questioning into hers.
“There’s someone in Murdoch’s office.” She whispered, fear in her voice.
“Marty.” Drew muttered darkly under his breath, and stalked into the office. Drew looked around the office, the lack of light not hindering his progress. Dillon approached his side, and also looked around the room.
“But there was a guy in here, I know there was...he...he had really blue eyes.” Dillon looked at Drew, hoping he didn’t think her insane.
“It’s ok, I think I know who it was; just another one of us troubled tutees.” Dillon nodded, and moved back to Murdoch’s desk picking up the sheet of paper form the open drawer. Drew led her out of the office and to a sofa in the common room. Dillon handed him a sheet of paper.
“Here’s your sketch.” She said. Dillon’s watched Drew’s face display the evident torrent of emotions raging in his heart. His initial joy at seeing his beloved again brought a smile to his lips and a spark to his eyes, and then the pain of loss, as if it had only been that night that Sherry died. Dillon placed her hand on Drew’s knee, “It will get easier, in time, but the love we had for her, keeps her alive, and now you never have to worry about her face fading from your memory.” Drew lifted his eyes from the page, and smiled weakly at Dillon, his eyes glistening with the tears he would not shed.
“Drew.” He looked up at the familiar voice calling his name, a slight look of guilt at being caught tinged his eye, and he felt the touch of Dillons’ hand swiftly withdraw itself.
“I wasn’t aware you were joining us tonight.” Dr Murdoch said, holding his saucer and teacup in his hand as he looked down at the couple.
“Well I erm,” Drew stuttered as he stood up, instantly hiding the sketch behind his back, “I thought I would just pop by to tell you that I would take the extra tuition this year, if you still have a place.” Dillon frowned slightly at the mix-match of stories between what Drew had said to Merrill and now to Dr Murdoch.
“I’ll be glad to have you join us, would Thursday be a good night for you?”
“Yes, thank you.” Drew said moving to the side of Dr Murdoch and behind him, “Night Dr Murdoch, Dillon.” He said before looking for the main exit door.
“Oh Drew, if you wait in my office for me, I’ll give you some reading you can do before I see you on Thursday.” Drew nodded and moved towards the office.
“Dillon,” Dr Murdoch pulled her out of her thought process, she looked up at her teacher, “have you seen Malcolm?”
“He’s in the library with Merrill.”
“Thank you.” He said as he moved towards the library. Dillon sat still wondering why Drew had lied to Merrill about needing the texts.
*****
Merrill walked up the spiral staircase, listening to the conversation occurring below her, of course a normal human would never have heard the whispers emanating from below.
Malcolm stared at the piece of paper that Dr Murdoch had just given him, amazement and pride in his smile. He looked up at Dr Murdoch, his mouth open but no sounds were being made.
“This is quite an honour Malcolm.” He said. Malcolm looked back down at the letter in his hand. “There are only a handful of students that make the accelerated learning plan.”
“I know.” He whispered, “But it’s in Vancouver.”
“There’s no hurry for a decision, it doesn’t start until next semester. Take your time.” Dr Murdoch left his student to his thoughts.
“Hey Merrill.” Malcolm called out; Merrill looked over the banister, as if she hadn’t been listening to the conversation.
“Can I trust you with a secret?”
***** Merrill sat on the edge of the table in the basement, deep in thought about the night’s events. Her first night in the human world hadn’t been as easy as she thought it would be, and yet it had given her hope.
“Rough first day?” Marty’s voice cut through her thoughts, he handed a blood pack and sat closely next to her on the table. Drew walked by with his own blood allotment, staring at them; malice in his eye.
“Why is Drew giving you the evil eye?” Merrill asked Marty as she sipped from her packet.
“Who knows why this time.” He answered with a shrug, “So how was your night with the day schoolers?”
“Oh come on Marty, as if you and Essie weren’t watching on the security cameras.”
“So you and geek features; summer wedding is it?” Marty teased.
“Who? Malcolm?” “Yeah, you really made a connection there; I think he may have a little crush on you.” Merrill shook her head at Marty’s suggestion smiling, but Marty registered the sadness in her eye. He gently moved his arm around her lower back making the slightest tough.
“It wasn’t easy talking about Sherry was it?” He asked her. Merrill shook her head, not willing to speak in case it gave away exactly how hurt she was by Drew’s excitement for Sherry’s picture and the jealous she felt over the closeness there was between him and Dillon. She became aware of Marty’s thumb massaging her lower back, it felt nice, but she just wasn’t ready. She looked up into his blue eyes, clearing her throat.
“I guess I’m not as over him as I thought, I just need a little more time.” Marty swallowed hard, and nodded at her statement; silently he removed his arm from around Merrill and stood up, walking away. Merrill was alone again.
Drew lay back in his coffin, his mind at ease for the first in time months. He had found a friend in Dillon, Merrill was moving on, even if it was with Marty, and most importantly he had something to remember Sherry by. He held the sheet of paper up in front of him and smiled back at his beloved Sherry.
*****
Making a connection is never easy. There is always the fear of rejection and humiliation. Humans gravitate to those who share common interests as a mediator for their connections. My vampires must also find these common elements with each other and with humans and be brave enough to use them to facilitate their movement in the human world. For then there is hope that connections can be made between vampires and humans, and then the challenges that face us may also be overcome.
R Murdoch
|
|
|
Post by demona on Dec 1, 2009 19:13:15 GMT
VH2 Ep2 – Sins of the fathers
Dr Reginald Murdoch sat at his desk. His elbows rested on his desk, his hands clamped together, served as a prop for his chin. He listened intently to the whispers of his visitor shadowed in darkness by the limited light Murdoch’s desk lamp provided. Outside the storm raged on, thunder rumbled and lighting lit up the sky, rain beat on the windows, adding to the atmosphere. Murdoch sighed loudly as the visitors tale ended. Silence filled the office, as Murdoch thought about what had been said. He let his arms mutely fall to the desk, and he looked his visitor in the eyes, suppressing the shudder he felt.
“What do you need from me?” He asked the visitor. The soft click of the opening jaw of the visitor preparing to speak was drowned out by footsteps hurriedly running up the open entrance from the cellar into Murdoch’s office. The entrance way clicked its way open. Murdoch and the visitor turned their attention to the arrival of the young vampire; her blonde hair caught in her mouth, her ice blue eyes wide; a mixture of emotions evident on her face.
“Uncle Dimitri.” She whispered in disbelief.
*****
The human personality is greatly affected by the choices that are made throughout our life-time, both by the choices that others make for us and those we make ourselves. The parental choices determine outcomes in early life and influence those in adulthood. For vampires they are forever tied to their makers, but to break free from their blood lust my vampires must start to make their own choices.
*****
Essie Rachimova sat in Murdoch’s office, the packet of blood in her hands little comfort and remained full. Her eyes fell vacant and un-responding.
“Essie, did you hear what I said.” It wasn’t a question; it was a demand for attention. Essie lifted her head slowly, her eyes filled with sadness. She surveyed her Uncle, her maker; jet black hair slicked back, his widow’s peak accentuating the paleness of his skin, his cold blue eyes, dark and emotionless; dead. His red velvet cloak bore the vampire royal crest, covering his simple black trousers and shirt. He looked every part the vampire found in literature.
“Essie, the royal family are dead.” Essie nodded slowly; dropping her gaze back to the floor. She opened her lips to speak, her throat and lips were dry, a burning sensation ripped through her throat as she croaked out quiet words.
“Did any survive?” Her voice trembled on the verge of tears but she knew she couldn’t show any emotion, so in front of her Uncle.
“Only a few that remained at the palace, we do not know about those who were travelling.” He voice displayed no emotion, just cold hard fact.
“Aleksandr?” Essie looked up at her Maker, a mixture of hope and fear in her eyes.
“Yes, fortunately, your brother is becoming a great warrior. He defended his bloodline, with bravery and honour. Together we killed as many Fury as we could.” Essie lowered her head to once again star at the floor. “Essie,” her Uncle was not through with his speech, “You need to come back to the palace.”
“But surely my Lord, it would be safer for Essie to remain here.” Murdoch interrupted the powerful vampire that stood before him.
“It is not for her safety that she must return to her family.” The vampire snapped angry at the human who dared to question his orders. “You must fulfil your duties as a Royal; you must help re-establish the bloodline.”
Murdoch stood agog at the words the vampire royal had uttered, “You mean...” Murdoch began.
“It is my responsibility to help make more vampires so the bloodline can survive.” Essie stated. Her voice was hard and cold, she looked Murdoch in the eyes and before him he did not see the young vampiress he knew, full of fun and sarcasm, but the cold dead stare of her maker.
*****
“Essie’s leaving the experiment to do what?” Merrill gasped aloud. Murdoch glanced around at the table before him. Notepads were open and their pens in hands yet their latest assignment had been forgotten and they were now studying him.
“Seriously, you gave her a pass to go round biting people again?” Marty asked, disbelief evident in his voice, and throwing down his pen added, “Why couldn’t I be in the royal bloodline.”
“And the Elders are ok with this?” Karl asked frowning. Murdoch remained silent for a moment, thinking about his answer. “The Elders refuse to become involved with issues concerning the royal bloodline.” He answered with a sad shrug of the shoulders; in truth he wasn’t happy with the situation, and the groans of his students also expressed their feelings on the matter.
“What caused the sudden death of so many of the royal family?” The others so preoccupied with the thought of Essie being allowed to actively return to their natural vampiric ways, they had not considered the why, Drew’s question silenced the general mumble of conversation that had begun between the other vampires. Murdoch stared at the now silent and expectant looks of the vampires before him.
“What?” Drew asked growing impatient.
“It was...the Fury.” Murdoch wasn’t sure the room could become any more silent, but it did.
“What did they do?” Asked Merrill meekly, not wanting to acknowledge the obvious reality.
“Merrill,” Dr Murdoch addressed his student with compassion, he approached her putting his hand on her shoulder, and she nodded to show that she understood.
“Why would they do that?” Karl asked, “Isn’t it us they are after?”
“They are ‘after’ anyone who backs up the Elders plan to change the vampire race.” The voice boomed from the stairwell. “And we must fight back.” Dimitri descended the slope, his cape flapping behind him. “This pathetic game of pretending you are human is not getting us anywhere.”
“Fine, then you fight back, but leave Essie out of this.” Karl stood up to face the older vampire. The others held their breath, as Dimitri looked Karl up and down. He snorted.
“A new-born, how quaint, I guess...” he paused for a second, “what is the human phrase?” He turned to Murdoch, but didn’t wait for a reply, “I guess one cannot fall off the wagon, if one has never known anything else but the wagon.” The elder vampire circled around Karl, surveying the vampires’ jeans and t-shirt, “obviously turned by accident, a careless meal.” He muttered to himself, his fangs bared as his ruby eyes focused on Karl’s neck.
“Please, My Lord.” Murdoch pushed his way past Karl, to place himself between his student and the royal vampire. “He is young and has not been taught the ways of the vampire world.”
“That is obvious, and there has been enough blood-shed of our kind already, this insolent child is of no harm or,” Dimitri sneered, “use to anyone.”
Essie stood in the passage-way listening to the exchange; she couldn’t face the others, knowing what was required of her. She had always deep down knew she could change and had believed in the experiment, and now she would truly be its failure. She wished that the Elders would intervene, but the royal blood-line was older than the convocation. Her own ‘Uncle’ was centuries old, perhaps even as old as Vakaal. Essie, at a loss for what to do she moved back into Murdoch’s office, picked up her assignment and pen, and headed for the library.
*****
Essie sat with her books open on the library table; she rolled her pen between her manicured fingers deep in thought, but not about her assignment.
“You look like you need this as bad as I do.” The voice startled the vampire back to reality, and she stared at the object placed before her.
“Ice cream?” Essie asked, looking up at the bearer.
“Not just any ice-cream girl, this is a pint of deluxe chocolate chip cookie dough.” Mimi sat down without invitation and offered Essie a sthingy. Essie looked at it dubiously, but took the sthingy to be polite.
“So what’s got you so deep in thought?” Mimi enquired.
“Why do you want to know?” Essie asked curious as to why the human wanted to help her out, she admitted that she liked Mimi’s dress sense and they had spent nights discussing the latest fashions but this level of closeness was something Essie as not familiar with, at least not for the last century.
“Because I’m your friend, so come on tell me what’s gone wrong?”
“You wouldn’t understand; it’s a family matter.” Essie snapped.
“I wouldn’t be so sure; my dad’s just screwed up my life totally!” Essie looked at the human curiously.
“I have to return home; I need to,” Essie hesitated, “face up to my responsibilities.”
“But it’s only temporary right. You can still continue on at college later? Me I’m never gonna get to go at this rate.” Mimi said taking the lid off the ice cream and helping herself to a large sthingyful of the melting dessert.
“Once I go back, I will never be able to return.” Essie said sadly, she was surprised to feel tears form in her eyes, she had not cried in decades.
“Sounds like both our lives got totally screwed then.” Essie watched as Mimi devoured another sthingyful of ice cream.
“Zach,” Mimi started with her mouth full, then thought better of it and swallowed, “My little brother, has been kicked out of another school. So, Dad’s answer is to move to England and have us both home schooled. Honestly if something doesn’t work out, his answer is always to move on a start fresh in a new place!” Mimi shook her head as she placed another sthingyful into her mouth. “I mean I like it here, I’m actually learning something, I thought I might be able to have future of my own thanks to Murdoch.”
“That’s what I thought too.” Admitted Essie; looking down at her business assignment on how to create a portfolio.
“Parents eh?” Essie eyed Mimi enjoying the ice cream, and her apparent ‘roll-with –the punches’ attitude; she was obviously use to her father’s decisions for her.
“Does that actually work?” Essie asked pointing to the ice cream.
“Its happy food, helps release serotonin in the brain with makes you feel good.” Mimi said. Essie picked up her sthingy.
*****
“Hey,” Essie looked up from her ice cream tub, her sthingy in her mouth sucking the last of the ice-cream off. Karl walked into the library; it was almost time for their class. “You’re eating ice cream?” He asked as he approached the desk. “I thought only human chicks did that.”
“Now vampire chicks do too.” Essie said placing the empty container on the desk, neatly placing the sthingy into it. “So you survived the encounter with my Uncle.”
“Yeah, though I think it was a bit touch and go for a while, I don’t think he likes me all that much.” Karl rubbed the tension away at the back of his neck as he sat down in a chair on the opposite side of the table to Essie.
“I think the whole marriage and annulment thing didn’t sit too well with the family.” She said with a hint of sarcasm.
“That wasn’t my fault.” Snapped Karl and Essie bit her lip, realising that it was too soon to try and make light of their failed relationship. Karl crossed his arms, and exhaled loudly and looked at Essie. Despite her attempt of trying to make of light of the situation, it was obvious she wasn’t pleased. “You’re not happy about going home are you?”
“When I took the pledge, I meant everyone word I said; I don’t want to go back to what I was, I’ve changed, I don’t want to kill anymore.”
“So tell him.”
“What Dimitri? You don’t tell him anything.” Essie shook her head, but it wasn’t out of fear, it was respect. “My Uncle lives for the royals,” she explained, “everything he does is to ensure that the blood-line survives.” Essie reached across the desk and rested her hand on Karl’s. “There is so much about the vampire world you do not yet know; it is full of politics, especially the royals. When they recruit they do so because there is a need, not because they fancy it, or by mistake. I have shared the privileges that being part of the royal blood-line has entitled me too, but now I have a debt to pay and this is the way I have to do it.” Karl felt Essie squeeze his hand as she stood up to gather her books for class.
*****
Mimi looked up over the desk as Dr Murdoch, the morning light streaming through the windows warming the room.
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?” She asked him. Dr Murdoch stood there, a teacup in hand, he looked at his pupil.
“Parents always want the best for their children, trying to control their children is a way of showing them that they care, that they are trying to prevent them from making mistakes. But even parents don’t know everything. You need to do what you think is right for you.” He told her.
“Do you think he’ll go for it?” Dr Murdoch smiled at Mimi, normally so full of confidence, she was now nervous, this was probably the first time she had to make one of life’s big choices.
“I’m sure you can convince anyone.” He turned away and walked towards the door giving his student the privacy she needed. Mimi took a big breath and picked up the telephone. Dialling the number she closed her eyes waiting for the click.
“Hey Dad.”
*****
Merrill stood biting her lip as she watched Essie pack her multitude of clothing into bags.
“So when are you leaving?” She asked sadness evident in her voice. Essie sighed as she folded her clothes.
“My Uncle is picking up at midnight,” Essie paused, turning her head to look at the meek vampire behind her. She looked at Merrill, slightly paler than usual, sad but understanding, after all Merrill understood responsibility, she had been made to look after her own maker for many years, but without the mutual respect between maker and child that Essie had been given, “It gives me time to say proper good-byes to my friends.” She finished. Essie barely had time to turn round to face her fellow vamp, before Merrill had wrapped herself around Essie. Essie froze, a comment on her lips about Merrill creasing her chiffon, but the sound of Merrill sobbing silenced her. Essie let her barriers down and returned the hug.
“Don’t let Drew get you down, he doesn’t deserve you.” She felt Merrill nod at her advice, and pulled away, her eyes were tinged with red with tears. “Maybe there is someone else who deserves a go despite his obvious and numerous flaws.” Merrill smiled at the comment, and nodded again.
Essie walked into the main area and saw Drew sitting patient at the central table, his fingers creating a pyramid, as he sat in thought. Her presence caused Drew to look up and he smiled at her, Essie smiled back thingying her head to the side.
“Look after yourself Drew.” She said as he stood up and approached her, his hug was full of warmth,
“You too! And thanks for everything.”
“You mean all the helpful advice I’ve given you and you have never taken?” Essie said drawing away from the embrace, crossing her arms. Drew exhaled with a smile.
“Something like that.” The sound of a boot scuffing a coffin drew Essie’s attention. Essie looked at Karl. He looked at her. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Essie couldn’t contain herself, she took the few steps towards Karl a bit quicker than she would have liked, and wrapped her arms around him. Karl initially startled by her affection, but after only a fraction of a second accepted it and similarly wrapped his arms around her. Drew and Merrill watched from across the room.
“Game of chess?” Merrill asked
“Yeah.” Drew answered moving into the girl’s dorm area. Merrill drew the curtains giving Essie and Karl the privacy they needed.
Karl breathed in the scent of the woman she was still in love with. He regretted pushing her too far, too quickly, insisting that they make the declaration, the vampire equivalent of a human marriage. There were so many what ifs.
Essie held onto Karl’s body, memorising every muscle. She knew she had made a mistake by keeping silent when Karl asked her to marry him, she should have spoken up, and then maybe things wouldn’t have got so messy. She wondered if history was repeating itself. Essie pulled away slightly from the embrace to be stopped by Karl’s strength, she looked at him, he looked at her, and both knew that this wasn’t the end of their goodbye.
*****
Essie exited Dr Murdoch’s study and looked around the common room, she saw the remaining vampire she had yet to bid farewell to, talking to his human jerk counterpart, Nick. She caught Marty’s eye and watched him as he whispered something to Nick, making him smile and then sauntered over to her.
“So you finally get to go back to having your every whim pampered too.” Marty said with a smirk. His arms open ready for a hug. Essie stared at him, her arms crossed, an ‘as if’ expression across her face.
“Ah com’on you’ve given everybody else a hug.” Essie dropped her arms and sighed; hugging him.
“Stay out of trouble you.” She said into his ear.
“Who me?” he asked innocently.
“Be gentle with her, she needs a lot of TLC.” Marty nodded knowing full well who she was talking about, Essie pulled out of the embrace as Marty moved to grab her bottom; she looked at him sternly
“As much as you are a pain in the arse, I’ll miss your antics.” She said with a flirtatious smile.
“And I’ll miss your arse.” Marty said with a smirk, “Kill me a few would ya?”
“Bet your arse I will.” Essie said with a wink.
Mimi walked down the stairs, seeing Essie she walked over to her and Marty, quickly checking her appearance in the mirror on the way.
“Hey Marty.” She said with a flirty smile on her lips, a glimmer in her eye.
“Mims,” he said with a wink, “I’ll let you girls talk, I’ve got study to do.” He said tapping his books then walked away towards the library. “See ya around some century Es.” He called over his shoulder.
“He is so hot!” Mimi said in a whisper to Essie.
“You wouldn’t say that if you dormed with him.” Essie said matter-of-factly.
“I should be so lucky,” Essie merely rolled her eyes at the comment. “Here, I’ve been carrying this around with me all day just in case you stopped by.” Mimi handed Essie a small bottle of nail polish, “thanks for the lend.”
“Keep it; the colour looks better on you anyway.” Essie said.
“I’ll take it as payment for my services then.” Mimi said with a smile.
“Services?” Essie asked
“For the pearl of wisdom I am about to impart on you.” Essie raised an eyebrow at the human in front her of, not even 20 years old and was going to impart wisdom on a vampire who had seen a hundred years. “You are in charge of your own life, and you shouldn’t do something that feels wrong just cause it’s your dad that tell you to. Sometimes you have to be true to yourself and make the tough choices so you are responsible for your own future.” Essie looked at the human that strangely made sense,
“...and this means what exactly?”
“I told my Dad I didn’t want to be home schooled in England I wanted to stay here.”
“..and?”
“He said that he wanted me to look out for my little brother, that he needed a mother-figure in his life. So I told him he should send Zach here.” She paused but the smile on her face gave away the outcome to the situation, “and he said yes! I get to stay.”
“and you’re point is?”
“If I can take charge of my own life then you can too girl, look whatever the situation is at home that you’re needed for there must be a compromise that means you can stay in college and still help out right?”
Essie looked at the human girl, suddenly seeming so young and naive but so full of hope; Essie wished she still had that same naivety, but a century of living had taken away that away.
“Sorry Mimi, but things aren’t quite that simple in my world.” Essie said giving the girl a quick hug and then retreated to Murdoch’s office, leaving Mimi to stare sadly after her and clasp on to the bottle of nail varnish she still held in her hand.
*****
The two vampires stalked through the faint glow of the few desk lamps left on about the Mansbridge common room. Essie took one last glance at the room.
“Come my dear, you are done here.” Although the centuries had harden Dimitri he was not insensitive to his children’s pain, and yet it puzzled him how his daughter had made such a connection with this place.
“God Essie, what the hell are you still doing here?” Mimi whispered from the door. She was dressed up and was obviously just sneaking in from a night out. Dimitri looked at his ward questioning.
“We were caught up talking to Dr Murdoch.” Mimi looked at the man, although he was older than Essie, he couldn’t be more than 30 years old, so he couldn’t be her father, could he? Dimitri looked at the human with interest, she showed no fear, just curiosity, perhaps she was just stupid, but she would make a nice entree.
“Nice threads.” She said sarcastically, surveying his cape. Essie saw the hunger in her makers eyes and moved towards her Uncle, grabbing his arm.
“We must really be going Uncle.” He looked at Essie, an amusement in his eyes,
“Surely she cannot mean anything to you?”
“Please, she is my friend.” Essie begged. Mimi crossed her arms, annoyed she was being referred to as ‘She’.
“Then perhaps we could take her with us. Then you could keep her forever.”
“Er, excuse me, but who is ‘She’ and where would you like me to go.” Mimi’s tone was not friendly. Dimitri arched his dark eye brow.
“Not exactly royal material, perhaps she could be a servant.” He said surveying the small human before him.
“A servant?” Mimi replied, “I don’t think so, and who do you think you are Dracula?”
“I think this human talks too much.” Dimitri said baring his fangs.
“No.” Essie stood in between her Uncle and her friend. “I won’t let you harm her.”
“You’ve changed Essie.” She felt the full weight of Dimitri’s disappointment on her, but she knew she couldn’t stay silent, not again, it was now or never; she couldn’t be unhappy forever.
“Yes, and that was the reason you sent me here, I know that I have a duty to fulfil, but I can’t do what you ask of me.”
Dimitri’s eyes glowed fiery red at his child.
“Esineeva.” He hissed and Essie shuddered at the sound of her full name, a name he only called her in anger. “How dare you turn your back on your bloodline, after the gift I bestowed on you. Out of your entire generation I choose you.” Essie dropped her head to the floor. “Think very hard my child; you will be cut off from the family if you refuse to take your duty.” The young vampire bit her lip, thinking of all the privileges she had been given over the last century, how at some point she had wanted to return to the royal family, to show them that the vampire race could indeed shrug off their dark nature. Slowly Essie lifted her head, her blonde hair getting caught in the damp streaks that fell from her eyes.
“I wish to stay here, Uncle.” She whispered.
“I never thought you could disappoint me;” Dimitri’s tone was cold and dead, “I was wrong.”
Mimi, forgotten by the two vampires, stood trying to make sense of the situation, but all she could feel was the pain of her friend, and one never to shy away from a challenge, she opened her mouth.
“How can you say that! You’re her what Uncle, Father? I don’t care, Essie is trying to make something of herself here, make her future better, how can you stop her from doing that?”
Dimitri turned his attention from his child to the human, completely aghast. Essie stared at the human, amazed of the compassion she was showing towards her, Essie felt a strange feeling deep inside of her. The she heard her friend cry out in fear.
Mimi staggered back away from the red glowing eyes boring into her soul, and those dangerously sharp fangs protruding from his mouth, mentally wishing she had never made the gag about him being Dracula. She fell into the soft armchair but it offered little comfort.
“You know nothing of our ways human.” Dimitri spat at Mimi. “You are nothing but food to us.” Dimitri grabbed hold of the armrests of the chair and leaned closer to the girl huddling as far into the back of the chair as she could.
“No.” Essie put her hand on her Uncle’s shoulder, “not anymore; if we are to survive as a race.” Her Uncle looked over his shoulder at her, “this is not what the Elders want, if I stay here at Mansbridge I can learn how to become more human, and if I can, then the rest of the race can too. Let me stay, so that I can teach the rest of the family how to do the same. Let me fulfil my duty that way. Let me show you how we can survive without killing humans and drawing attention to ourselves.”
Dimitri looked briefly at the human girl shaking in the chair and sighed. Standing up he turned to face Essie.
“You have grown-up more in the last year, than in the one hundred. I no longer see the spoilt girl whose every whim was pampered to, the girl who only wanted to have fun and everything her own way. What you speak is the truth, and the reason I sent you to the experiment. Revenge for the deaths of our blood-line and the will to see it renewed, blinded me to the reality of the situation. The royals have always led the way in our society, perhaps we should work more closely with the experiment to make sure we stay at the fore-front. I am proud of you Esineeva.”
Essie stood quiet, accepting the praise; she pressed her lips together tightly as her maker sighed again. “You are truly happy here, my child?” She nodded silently, “then I will not take you away from it, but remember your promise to come back to us and show us the way forward.” Essie continued to nod.
The whimper from the chair brought the two vampires attention to the human softly sobbing in confusion and fright. “You can take care of her?”
“Yes,” her voice was a soft whisper but confident.
“Then I bid you fair well my daughter.” Dimitri turned on his heel, and walked away toward the main door, his cape flapping behind him; he paused and looked once more at his child, “for now.” He said then continued his way. Essie watched him disappear in less than a second, and then turned her attention to Mimi.
“What the hell are you?” Mimi asked, her voice quivering, herself folded into the smallest crouching position she could manage, sinking as deeply as she could into the cushioned chair. If Essie needed anymore proof of the connection she had made with the mortal girl, it came as a stab of pain in her heart, the pain of fear of rejection.
“Look at me.” Essie said, weaving her spell.
“No go away, this isn’t real, this isn’t real.” Mimi said to herself, closing her eyes and rocking gently. Essie touched her gently on the arm, causing the human to look into her hypnotic eyes.
“Look at me. You went out tonight and came back to Mansbridge late and went straight to bed. What you saw, what you heard. You never saw, you never heard.” The fear in Mimi’s eyes gave way to a blank gaze revealing her trance state. She slowly stood up out of the chair and walked up the stairs to the girls’ dorm, leaving Essie alone.
The sound of a footstep behind the vampire drew her attention, and she looked to the direction from which the sound came. Dr Murdoch stood there, tea cup in hand, still dressed in his suit.
“Do you think Humans will ever accept us?” She asked him. “We can always hope.” The teacher said, “Ready for class?” Essie smiled at the thought of willingly attending class, and followed Dr Murdoch into his study.
*****
“Am I really to believe you gave up a pampered life, feeding off humans, for the experiment?” Marty looked puzzled at his fellow vampire sitting across him at the table.
“Yes.” Essie replied.
“Why?”
“Because she knows how important the experiment is.” Merrill answered happiness in her voice, and a proud look on her face. Marty continued to look perplexed.
“And I haven’t exactly given up on the idea of having my every whim catered for. My bags are still upstairs, go fetch them for me.” Essie added.
“What?” Marty retorted.
“Go on boys, “she said addressing all three of her male vampire friends sitting across the table, “chop, chop.” Drew and Karl looked up from their books at Essie. Karl sighed and stood up.
“Well at least it gets us out of writing the essay for a while.” He said as he moved towards the cellar exit. Drew shrugged and also got up. Marty sat still and folded his arms. Essie stared at him intently. Suddenly Marty threw down his pen and also stood up following the others, whilst Merrill and Essie giggled to themselves.
*****
There comes a time in everyone life, were they must stand up and make their own choices, take responsibility for their own lives. For some it is harder to do than others, whether because of an over-bearing influence in their lives or an unwillingness to accept the heavy burden of making their own choices. Despite this, when one takes their destiny in their own hands it is a liberating experience, and will result in respect from others. My vampires will have many occasions where to take the easy route and return to their predatory natures is presented to them, the question is how many will make the hard decision to take responsibility for what they now seem to believe is possible, and refuse to feed from humans.
Dr R Murdoch
|
|