Fire & Ice (3 page)

“What were they like?” she murmured.

“They were…different. The rules that applied to most people no longer applied to them. They were civilized, often mingling with the humans as if they were no different. Of course, their lifestyles were drastically
changed
due to
only being able to wander
about at night. The ability to walk in the sun didn’t come to us for some time.”

“I thou
ght Austin did that for you?” s
he looked up at
me with those big brown eyes.
I smiled.

“
He did, but it’s not a secret.
Countless others have concocted or stolen different antidote to allow walking in sunlight. In our world, it’s a matter of who you know th
at allows for those resources.
I had the pleasure of living q
uite some time during the night,”
I couldn’t say I hated it. Some of the best times I had were among the nighttime festivities.

“I was quite unusual for a vampire, even before changing my lifestyle. I had no allegiances; no coven to call home. I was a nomad of sorts. I’d only stay in one place a few years before traveling again. A part of me felt lost or empty, as if I was searching for something.”

“Didn’t you have any friends?” she smirked.

“Not many, no,”
I pushed her hair behind her ear.

“Why do you always do that?” she said and mussed her hair, laughing as it fell into her face.

I chuckled, “Because you’re a beautiful girl, Lia.  Having anything hide
that is un
acceptable.
That
and I like your hair. It’s always soft and curls around my finger just so.”

Heat rose to her cheeks as I spoke. I smiled and pushed her hair back again. Her eyes were bright, but still hid much of her true intentions. Her smile faltered as she searched my face. Something she saw brought her back to reality and she edged out of my grasp.

“You said you didn’t have many friends, not that you didn’t have
any
. Who wer
e they?” s
he pulled the hood of her jacket over her ears and leaned her back against the log.

“Not friends, per say. They were more like teachers. Being a vampire wasn’t easy business in those days. Humans back then knew about us, but they also knew how to protect themselves. If a vampire caught himself among those types of humans, he’d probably end up dead.

“I wasn’t very careful. I would wait until I was all but starved before I’d feed, which meant I’d kill several humans in the process. It didn’t come
easily
for me. If I tried to feed when I wasn’t starving, I’d find reasons to walk away. I couldn’t bear the thought of killing someone unless I was on the verge of death. I suppose it was good logic then, but I was also very naïve.”

“I thought vampires don’t have to kill people to drink from them?”

“We don’t, but that’s something that is usually learned. I had no teacher. My maker left me the very day she turned me and I had no idea what I was doing. I lived like that for years. Moving from place to place, killing dozens of people every few weeks and then relocating before I could be fingered as the culprit. Not what you expected is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Most humans think vampires live extravagant lifestyles. Movies have glorified us as billionaire, blood-thirsty, sex fiends who can move mountains. Is that not what you think?” I teased.

“No. I think some vampires live that way. You, though, I thought would have been pretty wild back then. You had freedom to do whatever you wanted and no way of being caught, really. You can’t tell me that in the entire time you’ve been a vampire there haven’t been any times where you didn’t just have fun. That would be crazy.”

“Is that what you would do? You’d disregard everything you knew as a human, including the value of life, to have fun?”

“I don’t know what I’d do, but I can’t imagine I’d not have
any
fun. Vampires have so many abilities that are beyond what they could do in their human lives. It seems like it would be a bit freeing.”

“I could say the same about you, you know.  The abilities you have are well beyond anything I could do.  Why have you not embraced them?” I challenged.

Her eyes narrowed, “You know why.”

“Do I?”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone.  Too many people I love have died already,” she hugged herself.

“My answer is no different from yours, Lia.  I’ve outlived my family, too.  While I didn’t watch them die, it was worse because I couldn’t remember them.  It wasn’t until much later that I even realized I’d had a family.  All the time I spent searching was for something I didn’t even know I had.  It was also the reason I didn’t like killing people.  Something inside me knew it wasn’t right.  I hated myself for it.”

“Alright, point taken.
So what happened when you found the ones who taught you?”

“I thought the
y were crazy, of course.
I’d never been around vampires who were so fl
ippant about the way we lived.
Most of the ones I’d met before them hated what they were, but ga
ve in to the bloodlust anyway. It’s like an addiction.
Once you let it take over, you can’t even think of anything else.

“They saved my life, though, so I can
’t be too bitter towards them.
If they hadn’t found me I probably would
n’t have survived much longer.
I’d all but resigned to never drink another drop of human blood when they rescued me.”

Chapter 4

Canada, 1920

"Aren't you just darling
?
What is your name?"
she said as
she looked me over.

"Christian Mason. At least that's who I was," I answered in a whisper. I was so hungry. She smelled of fresh blood, making my chest ache.

"Oh no, you're still you. You've just gotten a second chance
,
is all. Now you can do all the things you never thought possible, the world is your oyster!"
s
he clapped her hands in delight.

"I'm sorry, I can't see how that's true. I don't feel like myself," I buried my head in my hands.

"Now, now, don't be so glum. How long has it been since you've eaten, sweetie?"

"I'm not sure. I do
n't want to kill anyone. I can't,
" I shook my head viciously.

"Once you learn what to do, it won't hurt them. They'll even like it
,
"
s
he patted my shoulder lightly. I wasn't sure why I followed her, but I did. I watched her graceful movements in awe. Her gown billowed as she walked, or rather glided over the ground.

"My name is Jasmine. I can show you all you need to know about being a vampire, if you so choose. Without me
,
you might just kill all our food. We can't have that now
,
can we?" she spoke over her shoulder.

I shook my head, "How can you speak of it that way? They're people! What I've done is vile. If I knew how to kill myself I would have done it
years
ago!"

"It's a shame you feel that way. You're simply y
oung. Let me show you what to do.  T
hen you can make your choice. Fair?"
s
he stared at me with piercing blue eyes.

There was something about the way she looked at me. Those eyes held many lifetimes of stories and knowledge. Was I willing to pay the price of trusting a stranger? Although the bargain she offered was an open one, there were implications in making that type of agreement. In the end the only question was if I was strong enough to walk away. Of course I wasn't. I'd barely eaten in days. I needed her and she knew it.

"Fine, I'll stay. I want to learn how to stop killing people," I confessed.

"Oh
,
how sweet. I'm afraid that's not always avoidable," she started walking
again, beckoning me to follow.
"I will do my best to show you the proper way to feed. I rarely kill anyone these days, but I'm not beyond playing with my food."

We were silent the rest of the way to her home. Automatically
,
I could tell there were several others living there and my nerves were on edge. Then I got irritated because I was getting nervous. Soon I was hyperventilating and pacing in small circles right inside the gates.

"Christian, there is nothing to fear here. If you don't calm down I won't be able to save you before Alex sends hi
s
minions out here," she said in a hushed tone.

"Who's Alex? Is he your husband?"

She laughed loudly before covering her mouth with her gloved hand, "Not exactly. We have a complicated relationship. Don't worry
,
you're un
der my protection here. Come on," s
he ushered me through the courtyard and up through the large metal doors.

With my new sight, everything was much more crisp and clear. Not only did I see the patterns and shapes, but the particles within them. The floors were made of some type of marble tile I couldn't identify, but I watched as tiny flecks of light twinkled on the surface of the delicate silver. When I finally looked up, the sight was breathtaking. It wasn't merely a house, but a mansion of sorts. Winding cherry wood staircases lined either wall of the large foyer, leading to a glorious catwalk overlooking the room. Meticulously hung portraits adorned the walls alongside candle fixtures of the finest brass.

As we walked through another set of double doors, it became apparent that the wealth they amassed was nothing short of spectacular. We stood in a large formal dining area dressed with the finest linens and silver cutlery. The china was placed just so on the long cherry table as if guests were a normalcy. The drapery billowed in the breeze of the evening, casting soft shadows on the walls. I continued to follow Jasmine, all the while trying not to be envious.

"I keep telling Alex that we need to move from this house. I may be a lady, but I'm in no way trivial. We don't need material possessions with what we've been given. Don't you agree?" she turned abruptly, startling me out of my reverie.

"I'm not sure
.
"
m
y brow knit together in concentration.

"Well I just don't get it. There's no sense in showing off," she shrugged slightly and began leading again.

The corridors were long and winding. I tried to pay attention to the way we'd come in, but I often got distracted by the scenery. I couldn't imagine living a life full of such things. It seemed so unreal.

"Your room will be here. You'll have your own private quarters and washroom. Dinner is promptly at six o'clock. You'll have a menu in which to order whatever you'd like from the kitchen. They'll cater day or night; you simply have to ring with your request. Do you have any questions?"

"No," my voice was strained. Even breathing burned.

"I'll be back in just a moment. Sit tight and I'll bring you
something to help with the pain,” s
he patted my shoulder again. Her expression was a mixture between pity and pleasure. I prayed I didn't make a mistake in going with her.

I walked into the room with wide eyes. It was bigger than
the tiny rooms I’d been living in combined
. A four poster bed sat in the center, surrounded by a canopy of ivory linens that were tied back with gold cords. As I walked around the edge of the bed, I noticed just
how large the room was. A
wardrobe rested on the far wall and another set of doors led to a balcony that overlooked the courtyard. Turning from the doors, the room seemed to stretch on forever. A small bar lined the wall opposite the bed with mirrors hung behind it. The soft glow of lights in the mirrors forced my eyes upward where a giant crystal chandelier hung high in the ceiling.

"Beautiful isn't it?" a male's voice startled me from the doorway. I jumped backward in a crouch.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. My name is Alex. Jasmine told me we had a guest and I wanted to introduce myself."

"I apologize. I mean you no disrespect, sir. I'm afraid my reflexes are not yet in check. Thank you for
allowing me to stay
. It is much too kind of you," I bowed slightly and extended my hand.

"No harm done. I remember what it was like to be young. Jasmine also tells me you have a
bit of a problem with feeding?”
h
e shook my hand and held it, no doubt gauging my reaction to his words.

"I don't like killing people. I just can't seem to stop before I do," I averted his eyes. He smiled a moment before letting go of my hand.

"It's a bit strange at first. A part of you still feels human which makes you protective of them, but the other part of you is a predator. Is that about right?" he asked with a nod.

"I think it is. How did you manage?" I asked nervously. Never in my life had something scared me as much. The problem was that I couldn't run from myself.