It's been a while

I know it has been a while and I will continue with Lyra. I have some plots brewing.

The last part of the Newborn

Ok. Let me tell you guys that this part is only a piece of Lyra's entire story. A flashback. I plan using Gareth more later on...

I had no idea just how wrong he was. We continued on in our daily routines. His hunting went from once a day, to once a week and finally to once every two weeks. The sun remained no problem for him. At night we would sleep in each other’s arms. To this day I don’t understand why, but despite our passionate attraction we never had gotten around to making love. I say it that way and I know you are rolling your eyes. I’ve fucked men in my life. That is no big thing for me, but what I had with Gareth was so much more than that. Anyway, I digress. It was soon a year since I had found him in that alley, and I heard something from the constable that made my blood run cold. The attacks were increasing. The rogue vampire hadn’t moved on but had settled in. I knew what this meant. If the constable knew, that meant that the Council did, as well. The last thing I needed was a scuffle with the Council of Elders. I had heard about them during my stay with the researchers. They had told me that a board of the oldest and wisest vampires existed not far from our country. Their sole purpose was to handle problems that might arise and cause friction with the human world. The researchers knew about them because they were working against them. The Elders had no use for humans finding out anything about their kind. There were many times when the researchers had hidden me from the Elders. Being such a unique human would have been perceived as a threat to the Elders’ ways and rules of life. They had a very specific rule about rogues. If a rogue decided to put down roots in one location, which would cause alarm to the human authorities, the said rogue would be seen as a threat and eliminated. Before elimination, though, the Elders would search the rogue’s mind for any possible surviving victims...any newborn possibilities….and eliminate them, as well. This meant that the Elders would be hunting Gareth. It also meant that they would find out about me. When I returned from my lunch with the constable, I sat Gareth down and told him what I knew. I also told him what it meant to us. The room got deathly quiet. After a long, arduous amount of time, he spoke.

“I will go to them myself. I will let them know I am not a threat of any kind. I will tell them how you’ve helped me. I will ask to stay with you.”

“They won’t understand. If they knew about me….if they knew who I was…they would either kill me or imprison me. They can’t know my true age or any of that. They can’t know my name. I have no idea if Eliot and I were ever known to them. They won’t listen to you, Gareth, if they have it in their minds that you are to be killed, they will not listen.”

“How do we know if they even know about me? You said the rogue thought I was dead. Anyway, who’s to say that are even investigating yet?”

“The constable told me about some disturbed graves in the cemetery. Every grave dug up was a victim of an unsolved attack, including Aria’s. Becky had a headstone for you. It was dug up, as well.”

“So they know.”

“It’s only a matter of time before they find you. If they haven’t killed the rogue yet, he will lead them to you. He will lead them here.” At this, he sank to his knees. I kneeled beside him and pulled him into my arms. He shook his head furiously.

“No, there has got to be something we can do. We can run. We’ll take the horses and just leave.”

“You know as well as I do that running won’t work. They’ll find us. Our only hope of you surviving this is if they haven’t decided on your elimination. Maybe they will listen, but they won’t listen to just you. I will have to be there. We don’t have to tell them who I am or anything about me. It will hopefully make them listen to have a human witness. They can hear my heart beat; they will know I am human. Hopefully that’s all they will need to know. They are the Elders; they still have some weakness in the sun. This much I do know. They will wait until after it is dark. That gives us an hour.”

“That’s not much time. What should we do?”

“We prepare for our guests.”

They arrived an hour later, as if they were invited. I made sure to be the one to answer the door. If Gareth had answered they would have snatched him from the doorstep. I smiled welcomingly at the tall, icy group that stood before me. The one ahead of the rest seemed to have paper-thin skin. It looked like it was dusted in a fine, white powder. His black eyes looked as if they wanted to bore into me, but I felt nothing. He spoke abruptly.

“Miss, I am sorry for interrupting you at this lat hour, but I was wondering if you could help me.” He paused and looked back at a weasely looking man behind him. The man nodded his head nervously. He looked back at me and said, “I am looking for a man named Gareth Wynneman.”

“Well sir, then please come in.” I responded plainly, shifting myself aside to let them in. “Would you please sit down? I have plenty of room in here.” I showed them to the library, where we had arranged several plush chairs for our guests. After they sat, I began politely, “Might I ask your name, sir?”

“My name is Caelius. I have come a long way, Miss. I can see you are willing to cooperate.”

“Caelius, hmm… you must be the representative from the Roman sector. I have heard you have a more reasonable nature than some of the other sectors. That is a long way.”

“It is quite a distance. It seems that this rogue has caused quite a stir about the regions. You see, he was sired by one of ours in Rome, so we must be the ones to deal with it. We shall take are of him as soon as we are completed here.”

“What do you wish to complete here, Caelius? You must realize that I have spent an entire year with Gareth. I found him when that thing, that rogue was finished with him. I have taught him much. He hunts animals and he has never tasted the blood of a human.” As I said this, I saw Caelius’ eyebrow arch curiously.

“You do realize, though, that he has much to learn that you cannot teach. There could be abilities latent within him that only we could find.”

“So you will not kill him?”

“You have piqued my interest in him. I can only promise to keep my mind receptive.”

“That is all that I could ask.” I smiled a small smile of relief. I had studied about the Elders well in my days with the researchers, but there was no accounting for their unstable nature. I called Gareth in. He moved swiftly to my side. We remained standing as Caelius took a moment to take in Gareth.

“It seems you were right, Miss, in piquing my interest. Is he strong?”

“Very strong and very steady. The sun seems to have little effect on him. He has retained all memory of who he was and the transformation was surprisingly smooth.”

“Transformations are never smooth.” He corrected me.

“I am sorry. I will explain. His transformation was much shorter than what I have seen. He regained composure soon after his first feed.”

“And what was his first meal? You said he has never fed on humans.”

“I had a lame mare. I cut her throat and left as soon as he was conscious. I own much of the eastern woods. He hunts there. He sticks to deer and elk, but if we are having a predator problem he will hunt them. He stays away from the wolves, though, at my request.”

“Have a soft heart for the dogs?”

“No, I just do not wish to have a battle in my yard.”

“That is understandable. If we are to teach him, though, you understand he must learn to feed properly.”

“Feed on humans? Is that really necessary?” I asked. I was frightened what Gareth would become if given to feed on humans. He saw the look on my face, and decided to speak for me.

“Caelius, I understand that my life is at stake here, but I have to ask. Is there any way you could forget about me? Let me stay here and live with her as I have for the past year. I don’t want to kill people. I mean no disrespect to you or our kind, but it just doesn’t suit me.”

“Gareth, you must understand that there are laws that govern our kind that we cannot ignore. First of all, any sire must have guidance, vampires’ guidance, if they are to be allowed to live. You have potential, and it would be a shame to have you eliminated. If we are to understand, and have you reach your full potential you have to be at your best. Human blood strengthens us. Animals can only sustain us, despite what your human thinks.”

“You will only let me live if I go with you?” The sadness crept into Gareth’s face as Caelius nodded slowly. Caelius cast a glance at his two counterparts behind him. They had been holding onto the rogue. With a nod from him, they left swiftly. I knew then that he would be dead soon. Despite what he had done to Gareth, I felt myself shudder at the thought.

“Only on one condition.” he paused as he watched Gareth carefully. Suddenly, I knew what his condition would be. I stepped closer to Gareth, wrapping my arms around him. Caelius could see I understood as a tear escaped down my cheek. Caelius smiled broadly as Gareth swallowed hard.

“What condition?” He asked softly. I had told him that they might ask for this. He didn’t want to hear it, but I told him that they would want him to feed on me. I told him they would want me dead. That is why I never gave up my name. I knew that rumors existed of me and my brother. I knew they would never ask this of him if they knew I wouldn’t die. I had told him what to do; I just hoped he had the nerve to do it.

“Feed…on…her.” Caelius said deliberately. If there was blood in Gareth’s face, it would have drained from it. Caelius sneered. I felt Gareth hold me protectively. I could see on his face that he was considering fighting. I knew that would be bad for us both. If we did what he asked, we would both live. Caelius didn’t know that. I pulled Garth’s face towards mine and kissed him. I nodded as the tears dripped from my chin. I moved my dark hair off of my shoulder and presented my throat to him. He whispered into my ear that he loved me and I whispered to him the same. Then I told him to do it. I could hear a sharp intake of air into his lungs and I closed my eyes. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before. The bite was sharp, but I barely felt it. All of a sudden, all I could feel was him. I could almost hear his thoughts. I felt like I was becoming a part of him completely. My blood flowed easily into his mouth. I heard him moan softly and I realized he was as aroused as I was.

My loins burned for him and it took me a little while to realize what I still had to do. I took a deep breath and slowed my heart rate. I took another deep breath and slowed my breathing. I opened my eyes to see Caelius’ triumphant smile. I consciously stopped my heart and breathed out in a rattle. The room went black. I could feel my body drop to the floor. Echoes of laughter and sobbing rang inside my head. I could feel his warmed lips press against mine as his hand closed my eyes. It didn’t take long for my cells to take over. I breathed in sharply and coughed. I opened my eyes. I was alone. I ran over to the window and saw Caelius follow Gareth into the back of a carriage.

The Newborn...cont'd

I will now correct something I said Yesterday...I realize that even though My muse is inspiration for this one, it is more of an idealized version, and not the real guy.(just figured I'd clear it up in case he eventually reads this...LOL) Well, so here it goes...this continues on from yesterday's.

I walk wearily into the bathroom. Several lit candles lined the shelves. He appeared behind me and pulled the robe from my body. He picked me up swiftly and laid me into to warm water. I could tell from some towels on the floor that he had wiped the blood from his body. He kneeled beside me on the floor, and with a calm expression, he began to wash my hair. My body relaxed and the world faded into darkness.

I woke late the next morning alone in my bed. I was dressed in a light nightgown and the covers were pulled over me. From the intensity of the light filtering into my room, I could tell it was noon or later. My body ached slightly, but I felt refreshed. A clean robe was laid across the foot of my bed. I put it on and headed into the hallway. I headed straight for the guestroom he had been in. The bed was empty and made up with clean linens. I then decided to head down the stairs into the main rooms. I found him in the library room, seated comfortably in a plush hair. Several books were scattered in piles on the floor. I moved towards the piles and kneeled to pick them up. His hand was on mine in a moment’s time. I looked up at him and noticed he was dressed simply in clean clothes I recognized.

“I see you found my brother’s room. I was going to offer you his clothes. He was about your size. I have no use for them.”

“Thank you. You had mentioned it as I got you dressed last night. You were so tired, I didn’t argue.”

“I d-I don’t remember that.”

“You were nearing exhaustion, Lyra. I’m surprised you remember anything after I carried you in.” He smiled his disarming smile and I felt my insides churn. He continued on in his sweet, baritone voice, “Come, now, I will make you some breakfast. Becky wasn’t the only cook at the Inn.”

The reactions I had to him made me feel like my own body as somehow betraying me. His voice, his touch, and his smile made my stomach flutter like it was full of butterflies. This wasn’t how I normally was. Normally, I would be able to speak well and be in full control. The fact I had trouble even squeaking out a word troubled me greatly. I had heard of some vampires having the ability to affect the humans around them, but I had never had any affect me before. This shook me and disturbed my core being. I followed him into the dining room, where I noticed a place set for me already. I sat down as he disappeared through the kitchen door. He reappeared with a pitcher of juice and poured it into the tall goblet in front of me. Then he disappeared again, returning with a domed dish that he set in front of me. He lifted the dome and the delicious aroma of eggs, bacon, onions, and cheese hit me. This was followed with a dish of fresh strawberries. I ate hungrily, trying to keep from eating too quickly despite my hunger. He sat across from me, smiling and watching me as I ate. As I took the last strawberry from, the plate, he was up and clearing the empty dishes. As he exited into the kitchen, I marveled at how easily he moved. I faintly remembered seeing him at the Inn. Becky had done most of the serving, but he remained behind the bar. Back then, he had seemed to move clumsily, like he was uncomfortable with his own size. Becoming a vampire had seemed to change him for the better. He now moved with a confidence and grace that was effortless. As I was lost in thought, he had returned and sat across from me again. His eyes showed he was also deep in thought. After much time had passed, I reluctantly broke the silence.

“Gareth, I was thinking of calling a friend of mine to report the attack as soon as possible. You will have to stay out of sight until we can figure out how to proceed.”

“A man came to see you this morning. I believe he was the constable. I didn’t answer the door, but I could see from the window he was carrying something. He seemed quite worried. From what I could see, it looked like a woman’s light jacket.” I blinked, confused, and then realized what it was.

“It was my jacket. I had it on my arm when I found you. I must have dropped it when I picked you up.”

“There was blood on it.”

“Yes. It’s yours. I can make this work---“

“So that’s what I smelled like.” He said reflectively and laughed softly to himself. I smiled back. He seemed so different. I had barely noticed his presence the few times I had seen him in his other life. He was insignificant before, and so much so, that I hadn’t even recognized him when I found him near death in the alley. His eyes felt like they were staring deep into me. Why hadn’t I even noticed him before? Would anyone even recognize him now? His next comment jolted me out of my reverie. “You said you had a brother. Wait a second, your name is Morrigan…Your brother was Eliot Morrigan?” I nodded soberly. “I always wondered what had happened to him. He stopped frequenting the bar a couple of years ago. He was a nice man. I remember he was going on about getting married.”

“To Aria Maglund, the constable’s daughter. That’s how I know him.”

“I had heard she was attacked, but never got the details. What happened to her?”

“She died. Eliot was inconsolable. After only a few months, he killed himself. That was two years ago…” I felt the tears sting at my eyes. Remembering my brother brought back the pain I had shoved down since his death. I shut my eyes to hold back the tears which fell of their own accord. Pain ripped though my chest as I started to sob. It was never easy to speak about my brother, let alone to remember he was gone. He was the only family I had left. I felt cold hands gather mine into my lap. I opened my eyes and tried to see him, kneeling at my feet, through the tears. “Gareth, I am sorry. I shouldn’t be…” His soft hush quieted me as he pulled me closer.

“Lyra, I know. You are a strong woman to be alone in this life. I remember Eliot. I remember you, now. You came into the bar to find him. He ordered a glass of wine for you. I spilled it all over myself, and Becky got it for you. Eliot had just met Aria. He had gone on for the last two hours about her. How she walked, and how she talked. I remember wondering what it felt like. Becky and I had been friends since we were children. Our parents had our marriage arranged since we were ten. I would take over her family’s Inn and bar, and she would provide a wife for my family’s unsightly son. It was earlier that day that Becky had told me she loved someone else…I was so shaken. I remember thinking of how unlovable I must be…When you walked in I remember thinking that someone with your stature and grace would never even look at me. I was pouring the wine and you looked at me. You looked right into my eyes. You were so concerned about Eliot. I was so distracted that I spilled the wine. You seemed to have the weight of much more than your years upon you. I wished I could ease that weight. When I saw you last night, lying in the grass, I recognized you… My last memory had been of the attack. I figured you were my angel. I was so grateful to you, yet I was so shocked that you paid any mind to me, that all I wanted to do was to ease your pain. All I wanted to do was help you. I still want to help you. Let me help you, now.” I curled into his lap in hopes that he could help me ease the pain I had shoved down for two years. I felt his lips press into my hair. I felt him lift me as he sat into the chair. I was still so aware of him. His touch as he gently rubbed my back. His lips as they kissed my hair. Every touch seemed to electrify me. I had been so alone. His mere presence reminded me of just how alone I had been. I wrapped my arms around his waist and turned my head up to look at him. Concern furrowed his brow. I reached up and moved a stray hair from over his eye. This seemed to startle, and the concern turned into a soft smile. My heart felt like it was tap-dancing inside my chest. I suddenly pictured him naked in my bed, and felt the blood flush to my cheeks. His smile changed slightly, as he let me go. The smile then turned into a strange look. I slid off of his lap as I realized what it meant.

“You’re hungry.” I whispered. “Y-you can hunt. My land expands through the woods on the Eastern end. You can find something to hunt there.”

He looked at me sadly and said, “That would probably be smart. What type of game should I hunt? I mean, I’m not sure what to do. You sliced that mare’s throat for me…”

“Stay small, and work your way up. Start with game that can’t fight back. The predators can be rough, but stay away from the wolves. I can’t afford a feud right now, if you make a mistake.”

“A feud? What are you saying? Wait….I read in one of those books. Werewolves. If vampires exist, why not them, too?” He laughed softly.

“While you’re gone, I’ll talk with the constable.” He smiled, nodded, and left.

I took are of what I promised to do. Constable Maglund was relieved to see me alive. He was concerned I had been attacked. I told him my version of why my jacket was found in the alley. He took care of the rest. I told him that a stranger to town had found me and brought me home. I also mentioned that the stranger was staying with me, and that I had hired him to care for my horses. Once he seemed satisfied, I went home. I spent hours trying to pass the time. I was concerned if he had survived the hunt. I worried that the scent of a predator would entice him into trying to take one too soon. It was another mistake many newborns made. After dark, I decided to go to bed. I slept for little while, battling dreams of Eliot. It was during one of these dreams I woke up screaming. A soft, deep voice emanated from the foot of my bed.

“It was just a dream.” I sighed in relief. His torso was naked, and his body was flushed. He wore loose pants, so he had changed after returning. As if he could understand my thoughts, he said plainly, “I took down a couple of stags deep in the eastern woods. After that, I wandered around a bit. I ran across a couple of wolves. They seemed the normal type. I let them be, like you asked. I had much time to think. I am sorry if I worried you. When I got back, you were asleep, so I took the liberty of cleaning myself up. I’m afraid Eliot’s shirt is ruined, though.”

“That’s okay. I have plenty. I told the constable that I hired a stranger to care for my land and horses. That should explain any extra purchases I may have to make. He listened to my story. He’s already called Becky.” At this, I saw him tense slightly. “He says that he will proclaim you officially dead and that she will hold a memorial service for you in a couple of days.”

“Part of me wants to be sure she will be okay, but maybe it is good I can’t see her. I so hate making her cry. He will have Wayland and her family to comfort her. This is the best for everyone. Will there be an investigation?”

“Yes, there will be, but not much of one. Constable Maglund says that his superiors don’t want people to panic. They’ve put him in charge of it. He says there’s not much evidence to go on because I saw so little. I was their only lead. The case will remain unsolved and it will be forgotten by next month.”

“That will be good. You were sleeping so fitfully I was afraid things had gone wrong.”

“No, it was nothing like that. It was just a bad dream. I have it every so often, especially on days where I have thought of my brother.”

“Sometimes it helps to talk about it.”

“I- I don’t know…I’m taking one of my normal nightly walks. It’s usually during the winter season. I focus on the sound of the snow under my feet. Then, suddenly, Eliot appears in front of me. I am so excited I move to hug him, and he stops me. He then tells me that if I don’t let in the light, the darkness will swallow me. Then he disappears, and a dark mist starts to envelop me. The darkness is so cold that it stings. I can see no light. I ask him where the light is, but he doesn’t answer. He never answers me. That is usually when I wake up screaming. There hasn’t been anyone to hear me before…”

“It seems to me like he’s trying to help you.”

“A message from the grave? I suppose that isn’t too unthinkable, considering what I have seen in my lifetime.”

“I have wondered about that. You carry so much in your eyes; it is like you have seen much more than your age could allow for. How do you know so much? I have read the books in your library and they don’t even touch on the extent of your knowledge. It makes me wonder about you. Are you a vampire? Then I realize that you eat normally, your heart beats, and your blood pulses through you. It flushes to your cheeks and I wonder what it is that made it happen. I wonder what I could do to make it happen again. I am asking you, Lyra, how old are you? What was his age when your brother died?”

“I suppose I could tell you.” I sighed heavily. “Eliot and I were born the winter of 1508. We were twins. Neither one of were never really sure of why we healed so well. That started when we hit our teens. Slowly, we just stopped aging. We heal from wounds rather quickly, so it is difficult to kill us. So we just existed, day to day. It was just him and me for a long time. We moved from place to place before anyone could notice that we weren’t getting older. In some places, we liked it there so much that we would make ourselves look older. I have some friends now, doctors, which have been studying your kind, as well as others. That is how I know so much. They have been trying to figure out why I am the way that I am.”

I looked at his face, which seemed deep in thought. I sat stupidly sat there in my bed, not moving. Finally, he smiled and stood up. He moved closer to me and sat beside me, swinging his long legs onto the bed. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close. He took his other hand and pulled my chin up to face him. He smiled wickedly and said, “Well then, Lyra, it seems I have a lot to learn and you have plenty of time to teach me. You don’t have to be alone now.” I could feel his body close to mine and my heart began to race at his words. I bit my lip as I realized what he truly meant. The blood flowed to my cheeks, making them feel hot. His hand moved from my chin to the back of my neck as he pulled my face closer to his. Something inside me snapped and I kissed him. I wondered if that was what passion truly felt like. His lips were soft and sweet. The kiss seemed to last for an eternity before he pulled away. He faked a frown, but his laughing eyes gave him away. He settled himself to cradle my body as he whispered to me. “Settle yourself. We have enough time for that. You need to sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

A snippet..The Newborn

If you are reading this...Welcome to my blog! This is The Chronicles of Lyra Morrigan. The stories will be out of sequence...and you will find out more about Lyra as I write...This particular installment was inspired my several things:1-my recent endeavors into watching and/or reading the Twilight series and the Vampire Diaries show. There is also a bit inspired by a recent muse, who has tod me that I write about him is flattering. How cute! LOL...well, I hope you enjoy!

I am writing because I am tired of reading and watching the vampire stories that all seem to take place in high school. There is so much more to this world. There is so much more than vampires. There are so many creatures and extraordinary humans out there. I have seen, and lived, through so much of it. They say that vampires are immortal. I disagree. Immortality means you cannot die. To say you’re immortal means that you can live forever. Everything can die; it’s simply a matter of how difficult you are to kill. I am mortal. I have lived for over 500 years, but I can die.

So, let me tell you a story of a vampire I once knew. He was a victim of one of those useless rogues who felt that it was their right to kill anyone they wished and leave them in an alley. Those rogues are usually not careful enough to realize that if you allow your victim to live, the poison left by the bite will create another vampire. They often leave a wake of clueless newborn vampires. Most of these newborns die quickly: some by their own hand, others by starvation, and many at the hands of older vampires culling the herd. This man, this newborn vampire, I happened upon during one of my nightly walks. The night air always soothed me and I had had one particularly boring day. I had caught the scent of fresh blood when I was a block away. From the strength of it, I could tell that it was too late for a rescue, so I slowed my pace as to not surprise a feeding vampire. I really was not in a mood to fight and get dirty. I heard the full predator shuffle away, and I stepped into the alley. The victim was lying still as death on the wet ground. As I stepped quietly towards him, I could hear his soft breaths quicken sharply. I knew what this meant. If he was going to survive this, I had to intercede. I lifted his limp body and carried him to my home. The sight of a woman of my stature carrying a seemingly dead body would cause quite a stir, so I made sure to take the deserted backstreets to avoid detection. I’m not sure what my reasoning was for it, I just felt sick at the thought of him awakening, and dying, that day as a vampire. That walk home was longer than I had realized.

When I got home, I immediately began bathing him. He already had begun to stink of death. I knew once the transition was complete that the scent would change, but until then, decay would permeate my home. When I finished, I carried him into one of my many guestrooms. His hair was dark and shaggy as it clung to his pale forehead. I wondered what his eyes looked like as I laid him into the bed. I had undressed him before the bath, so I covered him with clean linen and a blanket. I smiled softly as I pulled an old, upholstered chair beside the bed. I hummed a soft song to myself as I drifted into a light sleep.

His screaming was what woke me hours later. He was sweating profusely and screaming in pain. His veins bulged, thick with the multiplying poison, as his back arched spasmodically. He was still unconscious as his howls of pain echoed throughout my empty mansion. I silently became thankful for my reclusive nature. No other soul was able to hear him but me. I knew it would be a few more hours before he became conscious, so I quietly stayed by his side. I had to be there to be sure he didn’t accidentally snap a bone during the spasms. He would heal from it quickly, but it was still painful. I thought about what I could feed him when he woke. He would be insatiably hungry. My heart sunk as I realized I would have to give up one of my horses. I quickly decided which one, she was an old mare whom had recently fallen and I was avoiding putting down. This, at least, would be less painful for me than shooting her in the head. I nodded lightly and refocused on my patient. He was a tall man, but he was well-built and lean. As his teeth clamped down, I noticed he had a strong, angular jaw. The sweat beaded and rolled down his body. I put my right hand down onto his chest to hold him down. His skin was scalding hot. I could feel what was left of his blood burning the venom through his muscles. After a while, the heat turned cold. The colder he got, the quieter he became. It was almost over. I got up to stretch my legs and glanced out the window. From my understanding of the process, it should’ve been nearing sunset the following night. As I looked out, I realized that it was much sooner. It was almost noon. I closed my eyes and hoped that the last of the transformation would wait until dark. I wasn’t sure I could carry him to the barn, and vampires, especially newborns, were weak during the day. I sighed heavily and returned to my bedside vigil.

A few hours later he was quiet and still. It was nearing the last leg of the process. I wondered what his name was and if he had a family. What was his job, or his talents? Things I should have thought of sooner. As I at forward in my chair, I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. A sharp twinge of fear ripped through me. I glanced at the sky outside, and I could still see some light. I cursed to myself as I ripped the bedding off of his body and lifted him into my arms. If he became conscious, and I was the only living being there, he would attack me. I didn’t want to have to kill him. I carried him swiftly out to the barn and into my beloved lame mare’s stall. I dropped him heavily and he snapped awake with a mad snarl. I took the dagger from under my skirt and punched it into her jugular. He couldn’t resist. I stepped outside as he fed, and wiped the blood from my horse off my face.

I lay in the grass outside the barn and watched the sun sink below the horizon. The air began its nightly chill, but the ground was still warm. The grass was soft and damp against my cheek. It had been quiet in the barn, so I watched the door. When he emerged he staggered. His eyes were glassy and blood trickled down his naked body. He walked slowly towards me and sat beside me in the grass. He looked at me curiously as he lightly touched my hair and asked quietly, “What has become of me?”

So I told him.

“You were attacked by a vampire. He thought he had completely drained you and left you for dead. I found you in that alley and brought you here. That was a day ago. This is my home, and you are welcome here. I can teach you what I know, but I am afraid it isn’t much. Vampires have poison, venom of sorts, if left to run through the bloodstream, will transform their victim into one of them. Most who survive the transformation don’t survive long after that. What I know about them is that the daylight weakens, but not kills, them. They heal quickly, and feed on blood. I have met some select few who do rather well on just a diet of animal blood. That is why I gave you my mare to feed on. I did not want the hunger to take control before I could counsel you. Your heart does not beat. Blood only flows through your veins when have fed. The only use for breathing is for scent. Essentially, by a human standard, you are dead. It may take hours, days, or even weeks for the memories of your life to return. Why that would matter, I do not know. You can’t go back to it. My suggestion would be to stay in the shadows. Go out only at night until your strength can handle the sun. Some, but rather few, vampires gain enough strength to remain in the sun and lead a perceived normal life. I will help you handle whatever you may need to settle your old life. You are not my prisoner and may leave whenever you wish.”

When I paused, he smiled a soft, brilliant smile. I felt my heart skip a little, and if you knew me, you would know that it meant quite a bit. Confused, I smiled crookedly back. Then he spoke in a smooth, deep voice.

“You forgot your name, dear patroness.”

I blinked absently before answering, “Lyra Morrigan.”

“Well, Ms. Morrigan, it is my pleasure thank you for your hospitality. I am gratefully accepting your offer of help. The life I had before was one needing to be lost. I had a wife whom I cared for greatly, in the beginning. It was a marriage of friendship, at best. She is now free to pursue the man she truly loves, and I am happy to give that to her. We have---no, wait--had no children. I was never wealthy. I was in that alley in a drunken stupor trying to find a way to give everyone what would make them happy.” He then laughed softy as he lay on the ground beside me. “I turned it over and over in my brain, but it always came down to the same solution: the removal of me. I didn’t even want anything for myself. So, how does this work? Am I going have to lie still in a coffin as my wife pretends to cry over me?” He turned his head towards me and laughed one of his enchanting smiles at me. His face was just an inch or so away from mine. I was still startled over how cognizant he was. The newborns I had seen were growling, incoherent monsters for days before they even spoke. I gathered my thoughts as quickly as I could and tried to answer his question.

“I suppose I could say I was witness to a murder in which I saw the body taken away. I could describe you and then they could presume you dead. I have some connections with the local law. I suppose then, you wouldn’t have to sit through any funereal. Is there a reason you haven’t told me your name?”

“No reason, I suppose. I guess I’m not sure if I liked it all that much,” he paused as he took a moment to brush his thick forefinger down my face. He smiled sadly as he continued, “My name is Gareth. Gareth Wynnemen.” He sighed heavily as he rolled onto his back. I had heard the name before, but couldn’t place where. I looked at his strong profile for along time before it occurred to me.

“You’re that Innkeeper at the south of town! Someone’s going to be looking for you. I have to cook up something and fast. Becky will not fare well without you.”

“You know my wife?”

“I’ve met her here and there. Her cooking is phenomenal. I’ve seen the brutes that frequent that place, though. Heard them, too. Once they realize you’re not standing over her-Oh, the poor girl.”

“She’ll be fine. Her family is never far away. Then there’s Wayland-“

“Wayland Birch-the woodsman?”

“That’s the one. He’ll take care of her. He loves her, after all.”

“I never would have guessed. It seems I miss quite a bit out here alone!”

“Well, then, I guess it is a good thing I have come along to take you up on your kindness. “ He turned his head towards me, smiling, as he rolled his
body closer to mine. His breath felt like a cool breeze against my cheek as I felt his lips brush my ear. My body tensed as I realized how close his mouth was to my neck. My heart began to pound heavily in my chest. He wrapped hi arm around my waist and pressed against me. After a few long, tense moments, he whispered into my ear, “Please don’t fear me, Lyra. My hunger for blood is sated. Why would I ever want to stop a heart so kind? You have rescued me, not only from death, but from life as well. I owe you everything. I am yours until you release me.” As he finished speaking, he lightly kissed my neck, then my cheek, and he stopped before reaching my lips. He looked into my eyes and I could see everything he was speaking of. I saw joy, peace, and gratitude sincerely given. I got lost in those eyes. I hadn’t even realized he was standing, let alone carrying me, until I felt us move towards the house.

He carried me gently into the house and asked me where my room was. I was suddenly very tired and complacent, and so I told him where. When we reached my room, he put me down standing beside my bed. I could feel his strong hands undoing the back of my dress. I shook my head, trying to clear it. He took my chin in his hand and said kindly, “It’s my turn to care for you, now.” I started to pull away, and I felt his hold loosen. “You need to bathe. I will run you a bath and you may undress. I will have your night clothes ready for you when you are clean, alright?” I nodded and he walked into the bathroom. I undressed rigidly, suddenly I was aware of how sore I was, and I found my robe on the foot of my bed. As I slid into it, I could hear the water running. I detected the light, sweet smell of my bath oils in the air. I ouls also smell candles burning.