Melabeth Forgive Me, For I Am Sin! (13 page)

脱出

It didn’t take me long to find a nice sundress hanging on a clothes line. The houses were closely packed, and I found that I was on a small strip of land, only a few homes wide at some points. I crossed the strip of land, only to find the ocean again. I found a small store and it was open. I picked up a map from the counter top. I was on Bimini Islands; with map in hand I could see where I had been. If I would have headed north, I would have arrived here twice as fast without having to go through mangroves.

I realized the man behind the counter was trying to speak to me, “On vacation?”

I simply answered, “Yes.” Satisfied that I could learn no more, I folded the map up. Returning it to its place then headed to leave.

The man yelled out as I left, “Have a nice night.” I didn’t answer him; I just walked towards the beach.

I walked down the beach considering how I might escape this Island. On the map it showed there was an airport on an Island just south of here. Of course I didn’t know how to fly a plane, nor did I have money or ID. There were plenty of boats, but I have never been on a boat in my life. And if it took more than one night to get back to the mainland, how could I drive during the day. Every plan I came up with had its challenges. Half of them required money that I must first steal. The worst part was that every plan I came up with, took too much time. Time, that I would not know if Michael had survived. I had already been on this Island for almost two days.

I walked down the beach; lost in thought. A smell hit my nose, a smell that made my senses come to life. It was the smell of blood, human blood. My eyes strained down the beach toward the direction of where the smell came from. My eyes could make out a lump on the sand. Closer examination, I could see it was a person lying lifeless upon the beach. I flashed closer, the smell, it intoxicated me.

I could see the body; the throat had been ripped out.

Panic set in.

My eyes searched frantically for any movement, all my senses were now working overtime. I flashed up the beach and in-between some homes for cover.

How could have I been such a fool? To let him live… and then forget about him; Peter was here, I could smell him.

I moved without sound between the homes. A small road was before me, and across the road were more homes. I had no idea which way to go; I hadn’t a clue where he was at. I peaked down the street; it was quiet with no movement. At the end of the street there was a corner grocery store. A man came out and locked the door. He then walked away in a different direction whistling.

I was half afraid to use my own whistle for my second sight. I was not a hundred percent sure that he couldn’t hear it, and therefore give away my position. The shop owner had been helpful; the sound of his whistle carried through the air and gave me my second sight. With that sight I could see a man standing at the end of the street, the opposite direction of the grocery store. He stood there with arms crossed, still as a statue, staring at the houses I was hiding behind.

The sound of the wind made some chimes ring in the distance. Peter was downwind from me; as soon as I came up the beach he had known. I came out from between the homes and walked slowly into the middle of the street. The only part
of him that moved was his head, it slowly followed me. He wore a pair of beach shorts and a T-shirt. He had been shopping on clothes lines as well.

We stood there quietly, staring at each other. There was no way one man on the shore would have brought his strength to what it once was. On the other hand, I had only had two ghosts, and had spent the last few days starving. I was nowhere near back to my full strength. He didn’t know this, it might be the only reason he was hesitating.

His face was serious, and then he grinned at me like a funny thought came to mind. I spoke first, “I will have you know, I never runway.”

His face didn’t give an inch, with a voice of confidence, “I know. You’ve told me before. Your bravery my lady is truly second to none.”

I grumped, “I’m no lady old man. You will not walk away…
what the
…” My voice raised an octave as it filled with excitement. I was now intensely looking over his shoulder.

He turned to see what was behind him; I wasted no time. I turned flashed as far down the road as I could see. Then shot between some homes, twisting and turning my body as I fled. Behind me I could hear a deep laughter fading away. I had never run away before, this was true, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t give it a try. The man has beaten the hell out of me twice, and even with my pride, I knew he held back.

I ran like a mad woman, in-between houses, over houses through trees and bushes. I was whistling as I ran, using all my senses to move fast. I had no idea if he were behind me, or if he was catching up, but I wasn’t going to slow down to find out.

I did have a plan; I had double back to where I had seen the man leave the small grocery store. When I approached, the door was shut, but it had a large glass window in it. I ran straight through the glass, I went through so quickly, that I
didn’t even cut myself. I spied what I had come here for. Quickly grabbing a bag full of garlic I made a mad dash out the back of the store. Smashing the back door, then I ran outside into a small alley.

I jumped up on the roof of a house and this time ran north. Dropping in-between homes; dodging in and out of trees. The whole time I squeezed the garlic until juice was everywhere. I wiped it on my clothes and pulled it through my hair.

I could remember what garlic smelled like, but now it had no sent at all. It was so strange because I could smell everything, even the fabric softener that someone had used on this dress. Now I couldn’t even smell that, I couldn’t smell my hands. This was my only chance of losing Peter.

There was this nagging thought in my mind. How long could I evade him? How could I get off this Island while he was hunting me? And why haven’t I stolen a bra, for all this running?

I came to rest in an empty house on the edge of this small village. Anymore North, and I would find nothing but beach, South I would find Peter. I would hide here tonight sleep my day, hidden somewhere in the sand, and hopefully figure this out tomorrow night.

The house I had chosen had no furniture in it. It was a nice home that needed a little T.L.C. The realtor sign out front is what had led me to it. The home had a nice large window in the front of the house, overlooking the beach. The window had seating built into it, there I curled up and watched the waves.

I had been watching the ocean, not sure how much time had passed. I never heard him, but I did smell him, I knew Peter was in the living room. He was standing right behind me.

I tried to hide the surrender in my voice, “I knew you would find me.”

He spoke calm, “I can see why you don’t run. You’re not very good at it.”

I couldn’t hide the indignity in my voice, “Hey, this isn’t a very big Island. I thought the garlic would work better.”

He chuckled, “The garlic worked fine for hiding your scent, but when you squeezed the garlic so hard that small pieces of garlic fell upon the ground. All I had to do was follow the trail. You also left foot prints… Oh you also went to the only empty house I could find.”

Staring out the window, my voice shook with embarrassment, “Anything else I forgot to do.”

He answered me in a surprisingly soft voice, “I have not come to kill you.”

I turned and looked at him, then raised my eyebrows, but said nothing.

He couldn’t make eye contact all of the sudden, “I came to apologize.”

It was impossible for me to hide the hurt, “Apologize, for what? Trying to kill me?”

He shook his head, “No, for assuming that you would allow me to take you as my lover.”

I was still embarrassed by my failure to get away. I was also angry at him, I was angry because he scared me, “I don’t have time for you, if you're not going to…”

He interrupted me, his eyes narrowed, “Please, let me finish.”

His intensity scared me; I soften my tone, “Ok… finish.”

Peter explained, “I have made a fool of myself. I foolishly believed that you would be my bride. I am vain, I see this now. All my life I have never taken a bride and it is my right. My clan is powerful and well known; I have never met a lady who would not throw herself before me. I believed you would want me to take you; as I said, vanity. I have never met your equal, or seen your power. I believe you would be the prize I was looking for. Never did it cross my mind; you would be willing to destroy yourself and me to be free. It was that act… the act of no self regard; it showed me how free you are. Forgive me my lady; give me a chance to prove myself worthy of you.”

Did he just declare himself to me? What the hell, did I land on Bizarro Island? My voice stuttered as I tried to take in Peter’s behavior, “Are you serious?”

He smiled from my reaction, “Of course… your beauty is almost too much for me to behold.”

What choice did I have, I quickly gathered myself, “You’re forgiven… so I'll see you around then… bye.”

His eyes narrowed at me dismissing him, “Can I tell you a secret?”

I wasn’t ready to get all buddy, buddy with him, “No, I am bad at keeping secrets, I will tell everyone.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I caved, “Ok already. I will take the secret to the grave, the next grave that is.”

His face lightened. He moved toward me, it took will power to not get into a protective fighting stance. He sat next to me by the window, looking out the window at the ocean. He told me, “For eight hundred years I have walked this earth. Two days ago I felt my death, never has it been so near. And for two days my mind has been lost. Did you out smart me? How did you nearly bring the end of me? In the end, I figured it out. You are without a doubt the oddest person I have ever met. You are brave and ready to die for whatever cause that lies before you. And let us not forget your beauty, for it is something to behold.”

I couldn’t believe this guy, of course I really didn’t mind being called beautiful, but odd. “Well, that’s nice… but this odd bird needs to get going, thanks.”

He turned his deep green eyes upon me. The weight of his stare made me feel small and helpless. I wasn’t responding the way he hoped, but he wasn’t ready to give up. His voice was even when he asked, “Let me make it up to you?”

This should be good I thought, “How?”

“Let me help you off this Island.”

I felt defensive again, “I can get off… ok, how would you get me off the island? I’m not saying I’ll go with you, I would just like to know how you plan on leaving.”

He tried to hide his smile, “They have a small airport, and I will fly a plane back to the main land.”

I asked, “You know how to fly planes?”

He answered, “I have been around for awhile.”

He put his hand out for me to take it. I crossed my arms over my chess, “No biting, no hitting, and no holding me against my will. And I can leave at anytime.”

His smile was triumphant, “Terms, well, well.” With a grin, “I give you my word.”

I narrowed my eyes, “I don’t know if that’s any good.”

I knew that I was pushing it, but that’s what I’m good at.

He became serious, “I swear upon my clan’s name, that no harm shall come to you. I will not bite unless invited and I will respect my ladies personal space.”

I put my hand into his, “Deal.”

He pulled me to him, “Shall we kiss on that?”

I pushed him away; he laughed and did not try to hold me. I realized he was joking but I still scowled him, “Space, personal space. Damn men have short memories.”

He pointed out the door, “After you.”

I gave him a look, “Don’t be watching my ass.”

“My eyes will be over every inch of your body.”

I laughed, “I’m riding in the back of the plane.”

He asked, “If you do, how will you learn to fly?”

I like the idea of learning how to fly; it intrigued me, “Are you teaching me?”

He took me by the hand, “Of course.”

飛行予定

Peter informed me that it was too close to sunrise to finish the flight. Plus both of us were hungry, so he suggested we hunt then leave after sunset. We walked down the road quietly; I had never hunted with him. Also now that the shock of Peter acting like he was taking me on a date, and over all wooing me was wearing off. I was starting to get concerned. Why on earth would he be suddenly in love with me?

I didn’t understand Peter’s change of heart, therefore I don’t trust him. I had no idea if he might fall out of love with me as quick as he fell in. The thought made me nervous, Peter was a perilous adversary.

We came to a house and Peter stopped walking. He stood quietly in front of it, studying the home and the surroundings. The home looked like the other houses we passed by. The real difference was it stood away from the other homes; it was separated from the other houses by trees and bushes.

Peter spoke, “This will do. I believe there is a man and a women inside. Shall we eat?”

Apprehensively,  “This house, are you sure? I have never just randomly picked someone before.”

Peter laughed with Amusement, “Oh and just how do you do it?”

I put a finger to my chin as I organized my thoughts. “I set traps; sometimes at bars, hitchhiking and overall acting stupid. Men come to pick me up, and I feed off them.”

Peter looked back and forth dramatically while saying, “I see no bars. Nor do I see men hunting for women. It’s almost sunrise on an Island, I would venture that we are the only ones awake. How would you feed in this situation?”

“Well I would… I think I could… hell I don’t know.” I was flustered; I didn’t want to kill without reason. “Do we have to kill them?”

Peter laughed, “You must be joking. Of course we shall kill them, we are vampires, no?”

I tried to keep control of my emotions, “We are vampires, but it’s still a choice. We don’t have to kill to feed… not every time. Do we?”

Peter stared at me, his face void of emotions. After what felt like forever, he answered, “It is a choice, I agree. Still if we kill them we can gain all our strength back without feeding again. In my experience I have found it to be in my advantage to be well fed. I shall leave this decision in your fair hands.”

I tried not to smile to big, I liked getting my way, “In that case, I say, let them live.”

He didn’t argue anymore, he gave me a nod as he told me, “As my Lady wishes.” And with that he led me to the front door, and together we went inside.

The couple would awake tired and worn out. They would think that they got a bad flu, but in a few days time they would be as right as rain. After feeding I felt whole again, I could tell that Peter still wasn’t satisfied. He would survive and I wouldn’t lose sleep over killing random people.

We walked down the beach and said very little. We found a nice place that was dense with trees. Between the trees was a patch of white sand big enough for both of us to lie down. There we buried ourselves for the coming day.

I fell asleep only to wake again, in the library.

The library was a beautiful place. Full of books as far as the eye could see; I always felt like I was wandering through a great castle as I moved around the library. There was no ceiling, instead it was a night sky, full of stars. Torches hung from the walls, but even with torches and the light of stars, it was unnaturally bright.

It didn’t take me long to find Nicks, from the look on his face he had been waiting for me. He had been pacing back and forth in front of his fireplace. As soon as our eyes met he closed the distance between us and embraced me with a hug.

He offered me a seat, with a hot cub of java. Pulling his own chair across from me, our knees were almost hitting he sat so close. With a twinkle in his eye, “Let me know everything. You don’t come often enough. Staying in Vegas has kept us apart, I must know how you’re doing.”

I poured out, everything… talking to Nicks was always easy. For some reason I could not explain how I trusted him with my most inner thoughts. He was always quick to listen and slow to judge. His advice to me was full of wisdom, but he never forced it upon me. It was good to see my father and hear his voice, until this moment I had forgotten how much I had missed him.

When I had finished, Nicks took a deep swig of his coffee. He set quietly for a moment, processing all I had told him. With a kind face he asked, “Why do you think this Aaron
Reite dream bothers you so bad?”

I searched for reasons, “I don’t know, maybe because it is real.”

Nicks brought up the question, “What about the memories of the man you and Alice killed, do they haunt your dreams?”

I laughed; I had barely even given thought to the man’s memories. I answered, “No, he was a sick puppy. All he ever thought about was having sex with little girls.”

Nicks voice was full of understanding and kindness, “It was real. So real, must not be the problem. What else might cause these nightmares?”

I didn’t want to answer him, I had always known the answer, but until now I never had to face it. I spoke in hushed tones, “He wasn’t evil. He was a good man, with a wife and children. My friends tell me it’s the price of war. Are they right?”

Nicks looked thoughtful, “Yes, I do believe they are right. Fighting wars are awful affairs, and most all people who start them, never fight in them. If you stopped and looked at the opposing army as humans and not monsters, it would be hard to kill them.” He was quiet for a moment. I thought he was done speaking, but then he asked, “Are you in a war?”

What a strange question I thought. I start answering, “Yes I’m in a war. I am at war with The Order.” I stopped mid sentence and thought about it for a second. I was unsure of myself, “I don’t know if I am at war. All I want to do is kill the men who raped and killed me. All I ever wanted was revenge; I don’t need the fall of The Order for that.”

Nicks simply stated, “Then you have your answer. The memory is a nightmare; because deep down inside yourself, it’s not what you want. You must follow your own path.”

I moaned, “Easier said than done.”

Nicks chuckled, “Never has there been wiser words.”

I didn’t feel that Nicks understood. I tried to explain, “I owe David, and I need his help.”

Nicks was guarded when he spoke, “Sometimes help is good… sometimes the price is too steep. And you owe David nothing. He knew the risks when he decided to help you. Even if he didn’t understand them, you never meant to put him and his family in harm’s way. You are not responsible for Devon’s actions, nor could you have known what was to come.”

Changing the subject, I asked, “What about this power of mine, to take the power from the dead. What do you know of it?”

Nicks was stern, “I realize you will discover your powers and gifts as time goes by. You are no mere vampire Melabeth, but you have no idea what you’re asking. Let me try to make you understand. There are powers at work right now, and they mean the world harm. You will do great things one day, I truly believe this, but for now worry about your justice. I will worry about what you are.”

I was mad he wouldn’t tell me. I spouted off the first thing in my head without really thinking about it. “You sure don’t act like a father. Hiding secrets, you don’t give a shit about what happens to me.” Nicks sat with hands folded, just looking at me. He was not angry; he was just calmly waiting for me to calm down. His patience made me feel ashamed for my behavior, “Sorry.”

Nicks eyes were full of sincerity, “It’s ok… I know this has been hard on you. Believe me when I say, I would like nothing more than to tell you everything.”

I asked, “What are you? Never mind, I know you will not answer me, but I know you are no vampire.”

Nicks had a sheepish grin, “Well that brings up something I should tell you. It’s about your new friend Peter.”

I felt a nervous twitch run through my body. Defensively I asked, “What about him?”

Nicks spoke with a strange smirk on his face, “Well, earlier when you were telling me your story. You were wondering why Peter had fallen in love with you. You couldn’t put your finger on what had made him change… so quickly.”

The look on his face, “What… did you have something to do with it?”

He was trying not to laugh, “Yes, you see…”

I interrupted him with my outrage, “How could you? I don’t mean how you did it, but why would you? I don’t need some old… crazy vampire that could kill me at any moment; or worse, turn me into his wife. What were you thinking?”

Nicks explained, “I had no real time to think it out… spur of the moment. He was burning you to death, so I interfered in the only way I could.”

Surprise rang in my voice, “You saved me by making him fall in love with me? Thanks, I guess… you couldn’t have come up with something else?”

Nicks shook his head and once again looked as if he might laugh. He corrected me, “I didn’t make him fall in love with you. Peter is a very old vampire, and in all his hundreds of years, he has never felt the need for another; or anything for that matter. I simply… well it wasn’t simple, but I instilled need in him. I put the need for you. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it love.”

I asked, “Now what?”

Nicks face and tone filled with worries,  “That is where the real problem lies. The spell doesn’t last long; in fact it should have worn off already.”

I echoed his concern, “Are you telling me when I awake he is going to kill me?”

Nicks mused, “Not sure, I would have thought last night he would have been out for blood. I think that by awaking this emotion in him. That he believes that he is now in love with you.”

I wondered out loud, “You think, you mean you don’t know?”

Nicks chuckled darkly, “Well how could I? I have never used this power on a vampire before, let alone one as old as Peter.”

I asked with dismay, “What do I do now? I mean if he doesn’t kill me, or lock me into a dungeon until he works out his new found emotions.”

Nicks shook his head, “If I were you, I would kill him or get away from him. I think the later would be your best bet.”

I through my hands up in the air, “Great, I already tried that. And for your information, I'm not good at it.”

Nicks asked, “You have flight Plans with him, don’t you?”

I answered his question by going into a tyrant, “Yes, like I told you earlier he’s going to help me off the Island. Of course that’s before I found out my new stalker boyfriend is under a spell; that has most likely going to stop working. Changing him from romance, and love interest… to revengeful killer; are those the flight plans on witch you refer?”

Nicks laughed at my rant, “Yes those are the plans I am talking about.”

“What about them?”

Nicks conspired, “That would be a time to escape.”

I inquired, “Oh, do explain. How does thy escape?”

He scolded me, “No need to be a smart ass. Do understand it could be stalker boyfriend or permanent death. I chose stalker to save you… so I guess you’ll have to be thankful.”

“Ok, ok, the plan already.”

He let out a breath, then explained, “Simple, when he’s not looking… busy flying the plane that is. Hit him in the head… HARD. It will give you a few seconds to jump out of the plane. By the time he comes around he will have traveled quite a few miles. It will give you a large head start. From there I bet you can escape.”

I thought about it, with a laugh I said, “It might work. No harm in trying; that’s of course if he’s still in love with me when I awake.”

He took a drink of his coffee, “Well, yes there’s that.”

“Other than that it sounds like a plan.”

With a serious tone Nicks said, “I feel you will need your rest. Let us catch up at another time, shall we.”

I agreed with him, “Sounds good Nicks… I will miss you.”

Nicks rose to his feet as he spoke, “Me as well… and Melabeth.”

“What?”

With a smile, “I love you… good luck.”

We embraced, and as the library dissolved around me. I whispered into his ear, “Love you, and I will need all the luck I can get.”

The visit had been a good one. He had left me lots to think about. Like was I really into this war with The Order. Nicks was still holding back on me, but it didn’t bother me, because I knew he had great faith in me. Also he loved me as a daughter, and if you can’t trust the ones you love, who can you trust?