The Art of Darkness (Part 3)

On the run

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Part 1 Part 2

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Part 3

Later that night, after receiving my paperwork and laundry list of to-dos and medications, and reassuring my very panicked father that I would indeed be okay, the nurse wheeled me down the long hallways and out the doors where Morvinus had his car waiting.

To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. The thought alone of a vampire doing something so mundane like driving a car seemed strange to me. Even then I had it skewed in my brain that it would be some sort of weird contraption. So when we emerged around the corner and I saw him leaning against it, I couldn’t help but chuckle a little. A mid-size sedan, four doors, solid black, sleek. How unusually normal of him.

Before I could even open my mouth to object, he scooped me up into his arms, placing me gingerly into the front passenger seat. It was effortless for him, a strength I wasn’t used to seeing.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I couldn’t help but be in awe. A dangerous animal he may be but fascinating nonetheless.

His brow raised when he noticed me staring. “Is something the matter Ms. Hollings?”

“You can call me Amber, you know.”

“Apologies. Old habit.” He put the car in drive, easing us out of the drop off bay and into the street. For a moment we were quiet. And I began to wonder if he was still angry with me. Then, his expression softened some.

“May I ask you a question?”

“You saved my life. I think that entitles you to ask any question you want.”

“Fair enough. What, precisely, began all of this? This obsession of yours?”

“With vampires? I guess it started when I was a child. I met one when I was seven.”

“You mean you saw one?”

“More than that. He talked to me.”

“Were you certain he was a vampire?”

“I caught him, um, feeding on a young woman in an alleyway. I probably should’ve run screaming, but I was too terrified. I tried to hide myself the best I could crouching behind a stack of packing crates. It was the strangest thing I had ever witnessed. Watching the old films I had always assumed vampires took their victims by force. But that’s not what I saw that night. The entire time he was feeding she didn’t object, didn’t even fight him.”

“Our fangs contain a serum of sorts. When introduced into the bloodstream, it enhances a feeling of euphoria. It also acts as an anticoagulant, allowing us to feed more deeply. You say he talked to you?”

“At one point, she went limp and he let go of her. I’ve never seen a body fall like that. I knew she had to be dead. I don’t know how long it took me to breathe again. He stood with his back to me for a few minutes, and I wondered what he was waiting on. That's when he called for me to come out.”

“He probably heard your heart beating. Our hearing is especially attuned to it.”

“But it wasn’t just that. He knew my name. By then running wasn’t an option so I just stood up. ‘There you are,’ he said. I couldn’t do anything except stand there, frozen. I thought I was going to be sick. Even had to swallow my stomach at one point. He either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Just continued on.

He said he had been searching a long time for me, that I would change things some day. Then he grasped my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him. I’ll never forget how cold his fingers were. He stared for a solid thirty seconds. I thought he was trying to hypnotize me or something but he had an odd expression on his face. The kind a dog makes when he sees something new. Inquisitive. Almost confused, as though he didn’t believe what he was seeing. The last thing he said to me was that I had my mother’s eyes.”

“How did you escape?”

“I didn’t. He let me go. Walked away and I haven’t seen him since.”

“He never told you his name?”

“No. He said when the time was right I would find him. I was hopeful my email might draw him out. Still, nothing. I’m starting to wonder if it was all bullshit. But then why go through all of that? And how did he know my name or that I have my mother's eyes? I don't even know what my mother's eyes look like. These are the questions that drive my research. I suppose, in a way, he was right. I am searching for him.”

“That’s a rather dangerous quest.”

“I know. But I can’t shake the feeling that he was right. Somehow, this is all a part of a bigger picture I can't see yet. That's why I can't give it up. Not yet. The problem is, where do I go from here?”

“What about your father?”

I sighed, “My father won't talk about Mom. She died when I was two. At least, that's what he tells me. I have very little memory of her myself. And of course he says he has no idea why a vampire would know my name. Every time I bring up the subject he shuts me down. So, eventually, I stopped asking. And with that lead dried up, I've exhausted all my resources. But, if you were to, say, extend our interview a bit…” I looked over at him, grinning, trying to appear as innocent as possible.

He scoffed, “May I remind you, getting this far nearly got you killed more than once. And now you wish to have more information?”

“I told you, I'm not giving up.”

“Ms. Hollings– Amber, are you certain this is wise?”

I snickered, “Wise? No, probably not. But that's what you're here for right? Which reminds me, you passed my street back there.”

His expression turned grim, “We are not returning to your apartment.”

“Morvinus, my whole life is in that apartment. My cat, my clothes, my job, everything. I can’t just leave.”

He sighed deeply. I knew almost immediately what he was about to say. There was no reason for me to return. My eyes began brimming with tears as the weight of what he wasn’t saying hit me. “Those men, they killed her didn’t they?”

“I’m afraid so, I’m sorry. She was already dead when I arrived.”

I sunk further into the seat, a sharp stabbing pain lunging through my ribs with each sob. “Mrs. Norris?”

“I don’t know.”

“We have to go back, she’ll be worried about me.”

Suddenly his voice became firm, “Ms. Hollings, don’t you understand, you can not go back. If you do, they will kill you and everyone you care about.”

“Then where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“Which is where exactly?”

“I've made arrangements with a– with a friend up north.” His expression at the word friend was strange. Strained somehow. His fingers tightened their grip on the steering wheel.

“How long has it been since you've fed?” I asked.

He sloughed it off, “I'm fine, Ms. Hollings. You needn't worry about such things.”

“Well, considering I'm your primary food source, perhaps I should.” As I looked at him, gaging his paler than usual skin and his near strangulation of the steering wheel, a crazy idea came to me. “Pull over.”

“What?”

“Pull over, I have an idea.”

He lugged the car into an empty parking lot off the main road, sliding it into a spot towards the rear of the lot.

“We can not stay for long.”

“That's all right, we don't need long.”

I unbuckled my seatbelt, removing my heavy jacket and tugging on the neck of my shirt.

“Here.”

He sat motionless for a moment, mouth agape. “Ms. Hollings, I–”

“If you don't feed now, what happens?”

He didn't answer.

“Well, I'll tell you what happens to me the longer I wait before eating. Eventually I get so hungry that I gorge myself on food. Again, seeing that I'm your main food source, not exactly a good thing for me. And I'm not about to make myself an accomplice to murder, so it doesn't leave us with much of a choice does it?”
“And if I can't stop? You are weak enough as it is, barely replenished of your own blood and now you wish me to rob you of more?”

“All you need is a little, right?”

“In theory, I suppose it's possible. I have never attempted this myself, I can not guarantee I will be able to stop.”

“And the longer we wait, the harder it will be. We need to do this now. Morvinus, please.”

He let out a heavy breath, releasing his fingers from the steering wheel and unbuckling his seatbelt. After a quiet moment, he looked at me, pain in his eyes. “All right. Not here. Outside.”

My stomach sank. Though I knew it was the right thing, I had to admit, the idea of being bitten again, even if it was by someone I trusted, terrified me. Letting go of my shirt collar, I opened the car door, stepping out into the cold. He had already made his way around to my side, helping me out with his ice cold hand.

“Why out here?”

“The cold slows the blood flow, making it harder to–”

I nodded.

Slowly, he came to me, only this time, there was much more hesitation. He seemed far less sure of himself. And I realized…he was scared. One of the most powerful vampires I've ever heard of, and here he was, afraid. Not of being caught, but of hurting me. And who was I to ask him of this?

Back up against the car, his breath, and mine, was short, staccato in rhythm and pace, my heart pounding, despite the bitter cold. He cradled my face with his hand, trying to warm himself, he was so weak. I could see it in his face. I turned my head, and he leaned in, his hands gravitating toward my arms, keeping me pinned to the car door. No turning back now. I took a sharp breath in as his fangs pierced my neck.

Not at all like the last time I was bitten, Morvinus was gentle, soothing. Soon I was lost in his presence. I couldn't say whether it was the serum he spoke of or something else. Still, I was left floating. The cold melted beneath me. Everything around us, fading. When I felt the dizziness, I squeezed his arm as hard as I could, fighting the fog to utter a yelp. One sound that I could barely utter before everything went black.

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