I was a vampire. Then and forever.
This he explained to me while I cried the only tears I will ever cry again. After losing everything, and then killing someone there isn’t much that can make me emotional.
Azurite had made me an immortal, someone who would never grow old or die. Something that no spell could ever accomplish, something that no witch would ever want.
Because living forever has one, horrible downfall. I will never be reborn. Ever. It makes sense, as I’ll never die, but on the off chance that my head should ever become separated from my body, I’ll just cease to exist. Poof. That is when I fall into the void of eternity. A fate worse than death.
I cried more. I didn’t even know these things existed. Yeah, witches. But vampires? Never. We defy every law that the Great Mother ever made. I’d lost my faith in the space of a day.
He came up and sat next to me, hugging my huddle form to himself. “Mary, don’t be sad. Don’t you see? Now we can be together forever.”
I peered at him through my tears and saw in his face some hope that I might come to accept what he’d done to me. Fat chance, and in that moment I was filled with unbridled hatred. He didn’t even ask me! He just acted like he knew what I wanted, when I wanted it. And so then, with any love I ever felt for him fading, I hit Azurite in the face.
His nose began to gush blood as I discovered my strength had doubled. His icy blue eyes show with nothing but confusion. “Wha-”
I hit him again. His jaw was visibly dislocated. Again. A rib cracked. I stood up, and just started wailing on him. All the fear and confusion were draining, leaving me with a numbness that, to this day, has yet to subside.
Eventually, when he’d been knocked unconscious, I stopped.
“Well, I feel better, but what now?”
Azurite had been right, I couldn’t go home. My parents would be frightened, and I couldn’t stand to think of the look in my mothers eyes when I had to tell her, “No, grandkids here, ma!”
No to mention the fact that I still sorta liked Azurite, just a little bit. And my daddy woulda killed him dead. So, I ran. I withdrew all the money out of my savings account, snuck into the window of my room and left a note.
It said something to the effect of, “I love you, but I’m a monster now. I’m so ashamed.”
But, while I was on my way back out into the night, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. That was another barrel of fun!- because my eyes had changed once again. Now, the silver streaks weren’t the only things lighting up the night sky of my eyes. Intertwined with the stars were brilliant blue novas that seemed to be swirling in the darkness…
Then I blinked. And kept running. So here I am.
Not exactly, but I think I’ll skip the stupid stuff where I traveled cross country, rented an apartment, found a job as a bartender in a club and then, when the owner died, bought it.
The Dark. The Dark what, right? Just, The Dark. I never was one for words, even though I talk too much, which you can already tell.
I died ten years ago. A twenty six year old stuck in a body that’s forever sixteen. Do you realize how much that blows? I can’t even pass for eighteen. Which means that I can’t even buy a six-pack on my own.
But illegally, I can buy as much as I want.
So come on! It’ll be a party.
*************************************************************
Full moons have always made me nervous. Cat’s die, people get run over and animals howl. No… wait. I’m just hearing the drunken frat boy werewolves, nightly regulars.
It amazes me sometimes just how retarded my customers are, I swear. It’s like they practice at being that dumb. From vamps who think “Hey baby.” is an entire pick up line to the stupid humans who fall for it. You know what? Retarded doesn’t even fully describe their idiocy. They’re just ’tards.
Can you tell? I’m in a good mood.
I survey The Dark from where I stand, my second floor balcony. It’s my apartment, my sanctuary, my curse. Daren’s spirit (the former owner) still loves to pop up and scare the shit out of me. He died there, on the main floor of an overdose. Who else but a druggie would hire a sixteen year old to bartend?
Nah, but he’s nice. Handing me a towel when I step out of the shower, finding a pair of panties I thought I lost- wait a minute. That’s perverted. Ack, I’m going to have to discuss this with him.
Regardless, it’s the big Summer Solstice bash and everyone is at my club. I figure why let the leaders have all the fun? All they do is sit there and talk about how today’s supernatural youth is beyond their help. Who ever heard of talking at a party? Y’know, real partying is drinking and stomp dancing on tables. What great fun!
I make up my mind. The infamous M.J. has to make an entrance, doesn’t she? I couldn’t possibly disappoint my patrons. So I begin to climb down the trellis attached to the stone wall, kicking at the thorny roses and grinning at the slurred cheers I hear behind me.
People back away as I jump down and smooth my hair. Long, as it was when I was made, and for tonight it’s dyed blue. My clothes are simple, tight blue jeans and a black halter top. I feel good, like everything is going to be O.K.
At least until I hear a voice shout, “Hey Janey!” Now I think I should have taken the stairs.
Please, please don’t let it be… “Zinnia!” Fake smile, but I’m really thinking Shit!!! Not many people can take me out of a happy, airy mood but Zinnia Deava but this girl can snap me out of a stupor with one word uttered in her screechy soprano any day.
You know, she thinks that she’s so much better than I am because she has a pulse. I was a witch once, too, goddamnit! And at least I don’t date werewolves.
Her green eyes flash as she smiles. Her mouth is plastered in red lipstick. I mean, how tacky can you get? “How are you, Mary, dear? Hanging in there?”
I grit my teeth and reply with a sugar coated voice. Yes, Zin. I’m just hanging. But I-”
“Oh, did you hear?”
That bitch just cut me off! “What?” I say with forced calmness.
“Pomona Tief was just caught with a human! They’re thinking of trying her for treason. Isn’t that just horrible?”
“Oh, That’s nice.” I reply blandly. I barely know Pomona, let alone care what happens to her. Most likely, they’ll kill her and her consort. The rules for every species (Witches, vampires, ‘wolves, etc.) are different, but one thing they all have in common are the secrecy codes. In an age where we could all be found out by one persons stupidity, many elders have strict punishments for those who tell humans. Death, mostly.
Something like disappointment flashes in her eyes at my reaction. She begins again- “And you will never believe what happened to-”
That’s quite enough. “I’m sure I won’t. Slathering my voice with false remorse, I pour on. “Look, Zinnia sweety! I’m really busy! Y’know. The big shin-dig. Sorry…” I’m backing away slowly, like you’d do with some annoying little kid, which is exactly what she is. “Catch you later?”
Zinnia nods, stupefied. And that, my sweets, is how you deal with people.
Now that I’m done with that, I think I’ll go check on Hund, one of my bouncers.
************************************************************
One thing you should know about Hund before I introduce him…
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if I found him dancing around pretending he was Britney Spears. It has happened. Because, although it might kill a normal person, Hind is always either drunk or stoned out of his mind. Again, there’s a twist. Hund is a werewolf, and they are naturally resilient to any and everything. So, all bets are off.
And you just assumed I was abnormal. NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY! Never assume, because then you make an ‘ass’ outta ‘a’ and (of course, silly!) ‘me’.
Tonight I get lucky. He’s only on all fours howling at the moon. I guess he got an idea or two from the frat boys.
“Hund!” I snap, playfully kicking him in the ass. Oops. He falls forward, face into the pavement.
Acanthus, who’s currently being the mysterious, bad boy, responsible vampire bouncer, is laughing his ass off. “A little trouble, dog boy?”
I roll my eyes as I see Hund, trying to get off the ground, give Acanthus the finger. He must have a hard time looking like an idiot, but… don’t we all?
“Poor baby.” I mutter as he glares up at me. “Don’t act like it’s all my fault, someone would have done it eventually. Besides, I keep telling you to lay off the weed.”
Shrugging, my little wolf grins and reaches in his pocket to produce a- you guessed it- blunt. Lighting up, he finally drawls, “Fuck off, Mary Jane.”
“Good, you’ve finally kicked you’re addiction then?”
“By Mary Jane, I mean you.”
“You first, Snoopy.”
Sigh. Speaking easily around his smoke, he says, “What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing. I had a close encounter of the worst kind, though. Skank.”
“Zinnia, again?! Doesn’t she have anything better to do? Where’s her little boyfriend?”
“Running from the elders again. Supposedly, her was trying to traffic human slaves and was found out.”
“Oh, that’s rich!” His bronze eyes twinkle mischievously. “Got your cell phone? I say we call up Mr. and Mrs. Boder to let them in on their daughters’ escapades…”
“No. Don’t you remember what happened last time?” The memory is flowing in. Hund is always getting me into shit, and the last time we started the prank calls it was a disaster. Quartz, my bartender, was cheating on her boyfriend with this little human beefcake she’d met one night. Hund decided that her boyfriend ought to know, that the scary vampire guy would be interested to know his girlfriend was up in my apartment screwing the guy.
Well, Quartz’s boyfriend storms down here and pushes past all my customers to get to the stairwell marked “Private.” Smart boy.
Meanwhile, me and Hund are hiding behind the bar giggling our asses off. We’re amused, at least until I hear various screams and crashes coming from MY bedroom. (Notice how I stress MY.) We rush up there where, lo and behold, we find Quartz kicking boyfriends’ ass.
Apparently, she’d worn the pants in that relationship. But my apartment was still trashed. And Hund was still nearly kicked into a coma.
Oh, well.
He frowns, and gives me puppy dog eyes. Nope, I will… not… fold…
************************************************************************
Ring. Ring. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnggggg.
“Hello?”
“Yes, hello Mr. Boder. I have some information that you might just find interesting…”
“Who is this?” The male voice ebbs with suspicion.
“A trusted informant. Did you realize that your daughter Zinnia has had rather shady dealings with a notorious lion shape shifter gang? Her boyfriend is the pack leader, an outlaw with so many elders it’s difficult to count.” His serious demeanor makes me laugh, and he’s trying to stifle a cackle.
“She told me he was a nice boy from a witch family! Oh, Goddess!”
Click. Hund can’t hold back his laughter any longer, he collapses into grade school snickers. I’m doubled over.
Who knew ruining someone’s reputation could be so much fun!
“I wanna go see her! Y’know, before and then after when she figures out it was us!” I squeal with delight. Let her try to do something. Seriously.
“Okay!” We are both such kids.
Caught up in the hilarity of the moment, I barely feel the contact as I bump into someone. I have the courtesy to whirl around and try to mumble some type of apology.
“’Scuse me.” Two words from a voice I have the eerie feeling I’ve heard before. My gaze lifts from the floor to meet with the eyes of a stranger.
His eyes are gray, almost silver in this dim light. They look molten.
And so the fire begins…
To Be Continued…
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