That night, after everyone goes to sleep, I creep into Matt’s room. I am determined to find out more about him and Mason. Some of my associates had retrieved items from their homes at their request after the police and FBI had done a thorough investigation. They say you can learn a lot about a person by what they hold dear to them. I myself believe this. So now I wish to see what Matt hold s dear to him.

Being as quiet as a cat sneaking up on its prey, I slink over to the chest of drawers. The drawers make no noise as they slide easily in and out of their spots. Nothing strikes me as unusual as I sift through the first four, but as I hit the final drawer, something catches my eye. Tucked neatly into the back corner behind some fresh pressed shirts lies two scrolls. I find this highly odd. They are old, frail and I handle them with delicate care. It is an odd sort of paper. I have seen it before about 400 years ago. It resembles a document of the dark Society. There is a trace of blood smeared on it.

And I know it’s not human.

Gripping the scrolls, I race back downstairs. These scrolls are authentic, I can feel it. But something holds me back from opening them. The dark Society was very powerful and one of my hardest foes to escape from. Their practice of the art of magic allowed them to do things that I thought only a vampire could do.

*~*~*~*~*

“Might I have a drink of water?” I asked the merchant as we stopped by a lake.

He looked at my face, studying it. “Of course.”

His name was Gonlimoht. He was a young sorcerers apprentice, and a good one at that. Being a merchant was only something he did to supply food for himself. Gonlimoht had an interesting look on life for that time. He felt that a woman held as much authority as royalty did. I admired that. Equality was so uncommon that even I couldn’t think of a time like today where women held political office.

Gonlimoht looked over my body with amusement. I was dressed in peasant’s clothing, but it could not hide the alluring look of a vampire. “I have not seen a bird like that before,” he noted, remarking to a discolored hawk.

“Nor I,” I lied. I had already seen quite a few things in my time, including rare forms of birds. I liked spending time with him, even if his master had made him a vow of celibacy like a priest. “It cleanses the mind,” Gonlimoht had explained. “I do not mind.” True, it made things a little uncomfortable for both of us. But his company was enough for me.

“There I something I must confess to you, Lorna,” he said as we sat in a meadow, collecting daisies. “I have known you for a while now and yet I have not told you my darkest secret.”

I stood in front of him, eye-to-eye, and smiled. “There is nothing you could say that would make me think less of you, Gonlimoht. You are a true friend to me.”

He turned away from me. “You do not understand. I-I think I am in love with you, Lorna. I do not want to hurt you.”

I gently touched his shoulder. “It is all right. Tell me, please?”

He sighed, but did not face me. “I am an evil man. I am the Devil incarnate. I have done something so wrong.”

I turned him around. “What do you speak of? What have you done that makes you so evil?”

He could barely look at me. “Have you heard of the murders that have plagued our town? How they are so unusual that they could have only been performed by the Devil himself?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Those acts of cruelty have been performed by a group of people I lead. I had them commit those acts.” His lip quivered. “They wanted me to kill you here, tonight, but I cannot.”

My breath became rapid. “You are mistaken, Gonlimoht. You could not have...”

He shook my shoulders. “But I have! Do you not see the confusion in my eyes? How can I kill what I love most?”

“But to do such evil...”

“I know. I told you that this would change your view on me and how you felt.” He stroked my hair, but I couldn’t fell it. “I love you. How do you feel about me?”

I swore to you that whatever you said would not change my position upon how I felt... but this? Am I to love someone that. . .does these detestable crimes? What am I to think, dear Gonlimoht, if I can even call you dear?” My head spun. These gruesome murders had taken the life of another friend and to find that someone I love took that life frustrates me. “What can I say?”

It was then that he did something I had not expected. He leaned forward and kissed me, deep and passionately. He had never laid a hand on me before. “You see? I do not want to hurt you. I wish to love you. I am a very powerful man. You could have anything you wish if you would just join me. Make a unity with me, Lorna, my love.”

“Your love...” I had never really been loved before, and the thought appealed to me. I was incompetent, still learning and vulnerable. “Yes,” I said reluctantly. “But I cannot give you my total heart knowing that you have done this. I cannot lie to you. It scares me to think of what you might have done.”

“Yes, but this is not the same with you. There is a different sort of light that illuminates around you. I can feel a warm glow that radiates from you. You make me happy.”

In the next few days, after he had left his apprenticeship, which he didn’t need, I was to meet his “followers.” They were all mainly merchants and simple folk except for on little addition, the Duke’s daughter, Rowana. She was very affectionate towards Gonlimoht, which I admit upset me. His open affection in return upset the supposed fact that he loved me. I questioned him about it as we sat in our private courtiers. “How is Rowana?” I asked innocently.

He nodded. “She is doing well; She holds promise.”

“Promise of what?

He set aside his plate of chicken. “She holds great power within her... Lorna, are you all right?”

I sighed. “I am sorry, my love. It is just that your acts towards Rowana make me wonder if I am enough for you.”

He scooted closer and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "My sweet Lorna, you have no need to worry. Rowana is just a faithful follower and I have made it clear to her that is all that may happen.” He kissed my cheek. “I love you, and I will prove to you that you are all that matters to me. We shall be married.”

*~*~*~*~*

The scrolls stare at me, almost making me recall Gonlimoht and how I loved him. But love can turn to hate very quickly.

“You can’t sleep either, huh?” Aubrey scoots a chair over and sits by me. “Whatcha got?”

I hand her the scrolls. “I found them in Matt’s room. Careful.”

She handles them as I did. “Have you opened them?”

“Not yet. I don’t know if I can build up the courage.”

She chuckles. “Reva Belmont has to build up courage?”

I snatch the scrolls from her. “For one: I am Giselle Bond now. Two: This is a different situation.”

She senses my distress. “Reva?”

I grasp her hand. “It’s all right,” I smile.

“You sure?”

“There is just something so familiar about these. I can’t place it. But I don’t like it. It’s so-“ My words trail off as Mason comes downstairs. “Well, let’s throw a party!” I exclaim.

He rubs his drowsy eyes. “I just came down for a drink, sorry.” He wobbles lazily over to the refrigerator. His age shows much more now. His brown hair is frazzled, his tattered robe clinging slightly to his muscles, his eyes worn from stress. I once again notice his large hands, well defined, hard work put into them. I had removed the make-up from his face, making his natural lines return. His beautiful squared jaw, well placed cheekbones, dark eyebrows and gorgeous smile make him quite handsome.

“May I have a word with Mason, please?” I ask Aubrey. She only nods and heads upstairs. “Please sit,” I gesture to Mason.

He does. “What’s up?”

“I just want to know how you’re feeling. I forgot that you mentioned children back in Port Angeles. I know it must be hard for you to be away from them.” My eyes are caring.

He nods. “But they think I’m dead. What more can be said or done in this situation?”

“You can tell me about them.”

I see the pain build up in his eyes. “My oldest was Tori. She’s going to be a freshman next year in high school. She’s an excellent student, straight A’s. I’m so proud of her.” He pauses to take a drink of milk. “Next down the line is Andrew, my only son. He’ll be starting the seventh grade. But he’s not as good of a kid as his sister. Got into a lot of trouble last year. He’s rambunctious.” He stops. “I can’t do this.” He quickly stands. “How could you do this to me? I love my children and now they’ll never see me again!” His voice raises. “You can’t begin to understand what it’s like! You’re an evil creature! Damn you!” He throws his chair across the room. “Damn you all!”

I rise. “Mason please-just sit. Please.”

He sobs. “My children...” Falling to his knees, he howls in emotional pain. I run to his side and slide my arm around his shoulders.

“I know it hurts. I’ve had a lot taken away from me as well. You and I are not that different. I really don’t want to hurt you, but someone has decided that we are going to be here.” I lift his face. “If it is at all possible, I will reunite you with your loved ones. But I make no promises. Understand?” He nods. “Have faith,” I tell him. “Sometimes it’s all you have left.”

2-Audacity

For a week, things continue innocently. I have hidden the scrolls, still not daring to open them. Evidently Matt has not noticed them missing, or doesn’t care. Not too concerning. Silence has fallen over us. What is there to say? We can only wait until the news reports die down and things settle into place. I hate waiting. Since talking with Mason, he seems slightly more relaxed. I guess he truly understands the situation. Matt still remains a mystery to me. He doesn’t choose to talk about his life with Aubrey or myself and Mason only knows his professional background. I guess that’s what I get for taking hostages without a background check. This evening finds me sitting with Aubrey here, staring at the blanket of stars.

“What are ya thinkin’ about?” she asks.

“Why we’re here. It’s always puzzled me. If God loved the Earth, why would he put something like us here? We live off of life. Isn’t that odd?” I press my full lips together.

“Ya know, I’ve never really thought about that. It is kinda strange. But then again, you have to think about everything we’ve done. Murderers, psychopaths, political pigs... we’ve taken care of a lot of bull shit.” She pauses. “You think of ending it? Closing the doors?”

I shake my head. “I would only consider that if I knew we were the last, but I don’t even know if Maripev is dead. What if he made more? He has the ability. It’s not a one-time thing. And if he did, they could reproduce as well. Hell, the entire world could be filled with vampires if I died.” A pause for what I do not know. “If I <i> can </i> die.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have cheated death before. Sometimes it seemed that yes, this would finally be it, my existence would cease to be, but no. I lived.”

*~*~*~*~*

“I would die without you,” Gonlimoht pleaded. “Please, Lorna, marry me.”

Flabbergasted. I was so shocked. I almost laughed. A creature like me, marry? Ha! The idea was preposterous. “I do not know what to say.”

“Say ‘yes’, my love!” His smile was so sweet.

“I cannot yet. I will tell you soon, my love. Soon.” I held him. “Soon.”

“Excuse me?” Rowana poked her head in our door. “My Lord, Lady, I did not mean to intrude.”

I slipped away from him. “No need to apologize, Child. Please, come in,” I beckoned.

She timidly entered and sat on a pillow. “I came to seek guidance from the both of you.”

Gonlimoht sat in front of her and I took my position beside him. “How can we help?” he asked.

“I have had a troubling dream, my Lord. About my Lady.” She gestured to me. “At first I thought nothing of it. Then the dream came again and again. It must mean something.”

“Tell us,” I persisted.

She calmed herself, crossing her legs and taking a deep breath. Her small frame shook slightly as she brushed her golden blond hair from her vivid green eyes. Her small nose wrinkled slightly. “I have seen things before and you know how accurate their insight has been. That is why I am frightened.”

“Tell us!” I barked.

She gulped. “So sorry, my Lady. It is just that in this dream, you were a sacrifice. Killed.” She bowed her head. “I am sorry. You are going to die.”

Gonlimoht sat silent for several moments. “Leave us, Rowana. I would like a word with Lorna.” As she left, his face softened. “My love, you know what this means. Rowana has not been wrong yet.”

I was frantic. “No! This- this is the time that she is wrong! You asked me to marry you. How can you kill your bride to be?”

He stood. “We have never consummated our love, maybe that was wise. Maybe you are not to be my wife.” With that, he left.

I sat for several moments before Rowana returned. “May I come in?” she asked.

I nodded.

“You know,” she said as she sat in front of me. “None of this had to happen if you would have let Gonlimoht love me.” Her eyes remained sane.

“What?” It became clear to me that Rowan’s affections were more than an innocent gesture. I was the only obstacle between her and Gonlimoht. Instead of being a traitor to the Society, she devised a plan of attack that would leave her in the clear and with a grief stricken Gonlimoht to comfort.

“You know what I am speaking of, do you not?” Her smile widened. “He trusts my visions. They have never steered him wrong.”

“But he trusts his heart more. He is in love with me. He has asked me to marry him.”

Her eyes flared. “You lie! He loves me!”

I smiled. “He has told me that his actions toward you have been nothing than that of a father to a child. He may love you, but as a child.”

She stood. “Even if you tell the truth, he will love me when you are dead!” She stormed out, taking her vile presence with her.

*~*~*~*~*

“Hey, Reva? Um, Giselle, could I talk to you?” Mason approaches me as I arrange a vase of roses. “I’d like to explain something to you.”

“Sure.” I motion for him to follow me into my garden outside. It is a tranquil garden made to comfort and calm. I figure it is the perfect place for a friendly conversation. “What’s on your mind?”

He sits by some tulips. “I've been thinking a lot about what you an I talked about before. My children, I mean. You didn’t make much sense to me then, but I took time to think.”

I sit beside him. “You are a very intelligent man and I respect you and your feelings. I can’t apologize enough for taking you away from your family.” I kiss his cheek. “Can you ever forgive me?”

He smiles warmly. “That’s what I came to talk to you about. I know that you didn’t mean to hurt us. It’s not like you planned this.” He stops, reviewing his words. “You didn’t, right?”

I laugh. It feels wonderful to be happy. “No! Of course not!”

He smiles. “Well then, it’s all settled.” He stands. “Thank you for listening.”

“Such a short talk? No more to say?”

“What is there to say? What more can be done?” He leans over and kisses my nose. “I feel that we’ve met before. I trust you.” I watch as he leaves. He has a nice ass.

*~*~*~*~*

When Gonlimoht returned, he looked calmer. As he sat beside me, I braced myself for the worst. Just in case.

“Lorna, I have been thinking. And you are right. Rowana must be wrong. I can feel it.” He kissed my lips. “My proposal is still good.”

I wrapped my arms around his broad neck. “As is your heart.” We embraced as if we had just found each other. Passion flowed freely as if a dam had been broken. Finally. I had known that Rowana’s little trick wouldn’t work. “Have you spoken with Rowana?”

He pulled back slightly. “No, not yet.”

I leaned back. “There is something I must tell you about Rowana. Something that might upset you.”

He walked across the room and filled a glass of wine. “Tell me, my love.”

He listened intently as I explained Rowana’s plot. When I finished, he closed his eyes. “Well?” I questioned.

He smiled as his eyes opened. “I knew this day would come. I did not know it would happen so soon.”

“What?”

“Rowana is in love with me, as are you. Both of you are very powerful. And it has come down to this.” He lifted the wineglass and spoke softly. “The moon retains its fullness every twenty-eight. On the twenty-eighth of next moon, we shall have a competition while your powers are at the fullest. Magic, physical strength...they shall all come together.”

“A competition?”

“Between you and Rowana for my affections.”

“But you told me I was your love! How can you betray that word? Do you not love me anymore?”

He grabbed my shoulders. “Of course I love you! This way, when you win the competition, Rowana will not be in our way!” He kissed me, deeply. “Let me prove it to you,” he said as he laid me on the pillows.

*~*~*~*~*

“Matt!” I yell up the spiraled staircase. “Matthew Tipton!”

I smile as he runs downstairs wrapped only in a towel. “What?” he gasps, water dripping down his slick chest.

“Did you make a phone call?” My tone is a little less than friendly.

He shakes his head tossing droplets to the floor. “Who would I call?”

“Question is, why? There are plenty of who’s.”

“I’m not lying to you. Don’t you believe me?” He closes his eyes. “Or do you only believe ‘Mr. Family Man’, Mason?”

“How dare you! After all I've done for-“

“What have you done, Reva? Kidnapped me? Kept me from those I love? Gave me an entire new life without my permission? Sorry if I’m not all that excited.” He turns to go upstairs.

“Matt, wait!” I run up the stairs and catch his arm. “That’s not what I meant. I-“

In an unexpected move, he pulls me close, almost loosing his towel, and kisses me. “Is this what you meant?”

“Mmm... No, but to hell with it! It sounds good to me!” I return the kiss, adding that spice that only a vampire can add. “What’s that SWAT protocol for this?”

He picks me up into his arms. “Treat the subject with tenderness and passion.”

3-Desperation

I feel tense. I feel something coming. And still, I know it concerns the Society. While making love to Matt, I called out Gonlimoht’s name. Embarrassing. Completely embarrassing. Luckily, Matt was too caught up in the heat of passion to realize my slip. After Matt falls asleep, I retreat downstairs to think for myself. All of this is happening so fast, that my head is spinning. I have been having so many flashes of my past... why? There is one conclusion I have come to.

Maripev is near.

That is the only reasonable idea I have had. He was one of the firsts, if not the first vampire. His power exceeds my own. Can he induce memories? I myself have never tried, never wanted to. Memories are something to keep in the past. Especially mine.

*~*~*~*~*

The competition between Rowana and I was nearing. The entire Society had been conversing about it. The right to the leader’s heart. Most of them believed that I would win because of Gonlimoht’s original decision to have me as his bride. I was still not sure. Two days before it was to begin, Rowana approached me. “May I speak with you, Lorna?” Her tone was not threatening.

“Of course,” I replied. Her eyes told me that she was hiding something of vale to me.

“I was just wondering,” she began, “how it felt to be over a thousand years old.”

“I do not understand.” Although I knew she had uncovered my secret.

“Oh, I think you do. I think you know exactly what I am talking about... Creature of Darkness.” She focused on my eyes. “Yes, I can see the age in your eyes now that I look more closely. You see, Lorna, I had a real vision about you. It revealed your deception. How much fun!” She laughed aloud. “Now all I have to do is explain this to Gonlimoht and the competition will be over. I win.”

“Do not come to that conclusion so quickly. What makes you think he will believe you?”

“Oh I will just have to tell him the next time he makes love to me.” Her smile broadened.

“You lie! He would not have deceived me like that! He made love to me! Not you!”

“What do you call yourself? You are not human, what are you?” Changing the subject seemed to be common of her.

“I am a...” Quickly I thought of what to call myself. I had never had to explain that before. Maripev flashed in my mind. Maripev. Maripev... <i> vampire. </i> Yes, that fit well. It reeked with evil, held something in check for whoever heard it ring through their hollow ears. “I am a vampire, Rowana. I feed off mortal life, like your own.” My lips curled slightly. “Just like yours.”

Fear gripped her, slightly. “Wha-what are you doing?” She took a step back.

I smiled. “Something I should have done a long time ago.” She turned to flee as I pounced on her. Her screams did not last long as I tore at her throat with my long nails. The warm coppery liquid flowed like a fountain. Her eyes bulged and she grabbed her throat. “So sorry,” I teased. “Did I ruin your dress?”

Telepathically she told me: “You haven’t won yet.”

“Yes I have,” I whispered as I began to feed.

*~*~*~*~*

“Do you have any paprika?” Matt asks as he sifts through my kitchen cupboards.

“What are you doing?” I question as I enter behind him.

“I am making potato salad. I use paprika to top it.” He motions to the glass bowl in front of him. “I’m hungry.”

“I have one of the best chefs in the world and you’re making potato salad?” I slip in front of him and wrap my arms around his waist. “You also have me.”

“I’m not the vampire.” He kisses my nose, the moistness of his lips lingering on me.

I lift myself onto the counter. “Did you have a girlfriend before I found you?”

His eyes shadow slightly. “Yeah, I did.”

I am understanding. “Tell me about her.”

He sighs. “Her name was Lillith.” He stops and walks to the fridge.

“That’s it? Her name? Come on! There has to be more! Do you even know what her name means?”

He just shakes his head and sifts through the food in the fridge. Such a stubborn man.

“Her name means ‘evil woman’. Now she has to be interesting. Why are you so shut out about her?”

“It’s just a touchy subject. All right?” He slams down a carton of milk. “Just drop it!”

I withdraw. “All right.”

*~*~*~*~*

Everything was not all right. The death of the Duke’s daughter stirred more pandemonium than could have been imagined. I didn’t realize how important Rowana was to the community. The oddness of her death had scared the community more than I had ever dreamed. No visible wounds. A young, healthy girl was dead.

Dead.

Death.

It seemed to surround me everywhere I went. And I knew there was more to come. I sat next to Gonlimoht as he began his evening meal. “What do you make of Rowana’s death?” I asked him.

He set aside his meal, laced his fingers and closed his eyes. “I knew that you would ask me if I had known about her death coming and the answer is ‘yes.’ I did know you were going to kill her.”

I played innocent. “What do you mean?”

“The night before her death, I had a dream of my own.” He chuckled. “The one thing she valued most, her dreams. I shall continue.

“In my dream, you were sitting beside a clear lake looking into it. You had an odd look about you. Obviously, you were trying to find something. For several moments you simply stared at the lake.

“Then, my image appeared in the lake. You smiled, very happy. You loved me. My image was very welcome to you.

“Soon, though, the image began to ripple. You did not like this. You backed away, confused and very angered. The ripples died down. As it did so, Rowana’s image appeared.

“This did not anger you, at first. You simply acknowledged the fact that she was there. But Rowana’s image began to smile, laugh at you.

“In a blinding rage, you thrashed at the lake, tossing the water out of it, screaming at the top of your voice, until the lake was gone.” He stopped to study my reaction. “It is true, is it not?”

I shuddered. “Yes.” My voice came out a whisper, nothing more.

“I know you killed her. We will leave it at that.” He unlaced his fingers and returned to his meal.

“Is that all?” I had expected him to be mad at me for what I did. It was as if he cared nothing for Rowana’s life.

“What more do you want me to do, Lorna? Turn you into the Duke? No doubt he would kill you. And I cannot have my ride killed.”

I sat for several moments. “Your dream, did it tell you anything else about me? What made me so mad?”

Once again, he sets aside his food. “Yes it did. I know what you are. I know that Rowana found out about you. I know that you are over a thousand years old.” He kissed my lips. “And I know that I still love you.”

My silence was understandable. I didn’t know how to respond to such statements. “Oh,” was the stupidest thing that I mumbled out.

*~*~*~*~*

“Oh!” I cry as I slice into my forefinger with a butcher knife. Quickly, I raise the wound to my lips. But my blood does not taste coppery. It actually has a sour taste that makes me want to vomit. The wound heals almost immediately and I return to slicing carrots. This is the first time that I have ever lost concentration like this. Although I don’t doubt that it will happen again. My mind has been cluttered with memories that I don’t know what to do with.

“Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?” Aubrey asks me, obviously offended. “You’ve been acting strange the past few days. What’s wrong?”

“I wish I could tell you, dear friend. But I am afraid that it will endanger your life if you found out about my past. I do not wish to hurt you.”

This answer does not sit well with her. “I’ve lived for longer than most humans have dreamed! Do you think if I die helping you?” She touches my shoulder. “You are my best friend.”

I sigh. “Thank you. Your words really do mean a lot to me, but I can’t tell you.” I turn away from her. “I’m sorry.”

She rolls her eyes and heads back upstairs to rest. She is agitated, upset, and most of all betrayed.

I sit and rub my head. Oddly enough, I have a headache. I am learning a lot lately about my mortality, what is left of it. I have lived for four thousand years. Maybe it will end soon.

Probably not with my luck.

I wait for a sign when it will all be over. Four thousand lonely years have gone by while I stood there and watched history take its course, never wanting to be a part of it. After a while it does tend to get a little boring. You can only do everything a couple of times before it becomes old. Like me. Fidelity has meant nothing to me. I have had so many lovers that I lost count. Somehow, I can’t find the excitement anymore.

“Giselle?” Mason’s voice is a welcome sound.

I close my eyes and smile. “Yes?”

“Aubrey looked upset. What happened?”

I loose my smile and sigh. “She feels that I have lost my trust in her. She doesn’t understand that I keep things the way they are to protect her.” I pause. “Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m being selfish thinking that I can handle everything by myself.”

“You have years of experience in many different areas. I don’t know how many, but I’m sure it’s quite a few. Aubrey cares about your well being. Of course she worries. You gave her the eternal gift.”

“It’s more like an eternal curse,” I mutter. “Feeding off of the living, seeing the people that you love die while you remain young, living in death...how can that be a gift?”

“Think of all the things you have seen. How man has evolved-“

“Or de-evolved.”

He shakes his head. “Still, you have been there for it all! I would have loved to meet the past.”

I shake my head. “You don’t understand. What I have seen? I have seen death, destruction, hate-“

“Creation? Love?” he questions desperately. “There must have been something that brought you joy.”

I smile as I think of the happiness I had with Gonlimoht. “Yes, I did for a while.” I frown. “But like a flower, it withered away.”

4-Outside-In

I have decided that it is safe for us to move. I wish to go closer to Port Angeles where all this began. As expected, I am the only one who thinks this is a good idea.

“Are you crazy?!” Aubrey yells.

“There still going to know us around there,” Matt agrees. “Why go back?”

“There is no point in it,” Mason confirms.

“I know the three of you think it’s useless.”

“Know it’s useless,” Aubrey corrects.

“I know. Just listen to me. I have to find out why I have been acting so differently, and what is so special about Port Angeles.”

“What’s so special? How about the fact that you’ll be executed?” Mason suggests.

“I’ve been executed three times,” I point out.

“In what year?” Matt questions.

“In the seventeen-hundreds.” I nod to his reasoning. “But I have to find out. I do.”

“It’s still too dangerous,” Aubrey protests. “You like to test fate, but fate will win this one.”

I have to smile. “Are you sure?” I loose my smile. “We are going back to Port Angeles. That’s final.”

“So, when did this suddenly become a dictatorship?” Mason inquires.

I have no patience for this sort of ignorance. “I know what is right. My instincts have never led me wrong.”

“Do you mean to tell me that you have never had a problem in so many years?” Matt tests my leadership to the extent.

“Not in four thousand years,” I lie.

This is the first time that I have revealed my real age to them, and it does not settle well.

“Four thousand years?!?” Matt yells. “That was before the birth of many religions!”

“I was the birth of some.” This statement is true. There was once a religion worshiping the bloodsuckers of the world. Not politicians, of course. “But that is irrelevant at this moment.”

“Going to PA is irrelevant,” Aubrey remarks. She stands from her position on the couch. “We finally have a chance to have some friends and have a peaceful time.”

“It is not peaceful when I have all of these God-damn memories!” I scream. “Do you think I am joking about them? They are real and very dangerous. Would you rather live in danger? Is that it?”

“I sure as hell don’t want to walk into it!”

“Stop it! Both of you!” Matt shouts.

No sooner is this said than I hear a whispering sound and feel a sharp pain in my right arm. Glancing at it, I realize I have been shot. A second whisper claims my left thigh.

“Everybody down!” I hear Aubrey yell.

But I do not pay attention. I growl and pounce through the living room window. Twenty feet in the trees I see a figure shudder and run. I smile and pursue my prey to the fullest. It’s only a few seconds before I am on him. “Who are you?” My tone is very frightening.

To my surprise, he is almost in tears. “Jesus fucking Christ!” he manages to say.

I press my lips together. “Mmm, no. I don’t think so. Jesus wouldn’t need a sniper rifle.”

“Please lady! Let me go!”

It’s odd that he doesn’t know my name. “Who are you?”

“Derek! Derek Unmacht! Please don’t hurt me!” His fear is pathetic. He is no professional.

I lift him up by his forearm. “Come this way.” I drag him back to the house, my curiosity peaking. How could such an inexperienced hitman find me so quickly?

I toss, let me rephrase that, rather I throw him into a chair. I hear his wrist crack and break beneath him. My wounds have healed, but my blood still stains my clothes. I can tell that this also frightens him. I sense do deception in his voice. He looks as if he is going into a state of shock. “Let’s start with the basics, Mr. Unmacht, shall we?”

He nods numbly.

“We have established your name. Mine is Giselle, if you didn’t know.” I pause, but get no response from him. “Now then, who hired you to kill me?”

He swallows. “I don’t know.”

I pat his head. “Now, now, Derek. Lying to me is not a very good thing for your health.” I pat him a little harder, giving him a headache.

“My services were requested over the phone. I was paid in cash. I don’t know who hired me!” He is not lying.

Aubrey, Mason, and Matt enter the room. “Who is he?” they question.

“Meet Derek Unmacht,” I chime.

“German?” Aubrey asks.

“He was hired to kill me.” I gaze deeply at my assassin. “Well?”

Derek seems to go into shock. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles. “This was the first time I’ve done anything like this. I didn’t know.” He repeats this last sentence a few times before I knock him unconscious.

*~*~*~*~*

“I don’t know,” Aubrey told me. “Eternal life? I don’t think that-“

I wave my hand. “Who needs to think about it? Your impulses and your emotions should tell you your true desire.” I lifted a small globe of the Earth in my hand. “It is as if three is nothing to stop you from dominating this planet.”

“But there is something, isn’t there?”

Her question caused me to pause. “To tell you the truth dear friend, I do not know.”

The next few moments were spent in silence. I had anticipated this. The candlelight flickered and the fire dimmed. My patience didn’t waver. I knew that this decision would change Aubrey’s life forever. I had prepared myself for the response of “no,” which, obviously, I hadn’t received.

“All right,” she whispered. “I’ll do it.”

I laughed. I really don’t know why, but I just sat and laughed.

“Reva, are you all right?”

I regained some of my composure. “I’m just happy. That is all.”

I didn’t want to jump into the procedure as Maripev had done. So the next day I explained the entire process and how it might make her feel. At the same moment I was reliving the horror I had been exposed to by him.

That night we sat in her bedroom, her oil lamp burning low, cautiously, as if what we were about to do would damage it’s flame. Aubrey laid on the floor, her back against the chilled, cool, polished wood floor. Her eyes were closed, as I had asked them to be. In my left hand, I held a clay bowl almost identical to the one that Maripev had used. In my right, a butcher knife from her father’s kitchen. The words that had been spoken over me flowed from my lips as I repeated them over Aubrey. A breeze shuttered thought the room, even though the window wasn’t open. In one quick movement, I opened her wrists with the knife. She didn’t cry out. She was unconscious as I had been. Using the same knife I slit my own wrist. My purplish-black blood began to fill the bowl. I found it odd that the wound did not heal instantly as it had before. Whatever energy was running through room was binding Aubrey and myself, human and vampire, mortal and immortal. I felt as vulnerable as a child. My mortality exposed. I felt as if I
was that young woman four thousand years ago, lying on the cold slabs of stone with an uncaring man of evil staring down at me.

Shaking myself, I poured the blood over her wounds. They vanished as mine had and I knew that the venom of my blood was overpowering her mortal immune system and replacing it with a curse that was unfathomable. The curse of immortality. I looked down at Aubrey’s new body. “Forgive me,” I whispered. My own face stared back at me and I knew that no matter what I did, I would never be forgiven.