Beyond Her Kiss

Chapter 8- Professor Fe

Five Years Ago

Annoyed, professor Fe sighed, shook her head, and said, "Give me a break! Do you think we go around in those scruffy raven capes with maroon colors or wear those old obsolete costumes? We change with the times so that...we can blend in."

"Do we have mystic powers", the charmed young Mia asked. Her eyes went round.

"So I'm told, ..... No!" her eyes flickered with anger. But soon she will, very soon, she reckoned. At the moment, that glint of resentment protected her from the pain. When she relives it, she would try to summon more strength. Yet, she failed herself, and her one and only daughter too.

If only she has the power to turn back time. There were times her brain fries up. It's no alibi she knew; she owns her behavior. She tried to encourage, tried to be reasonable, and then a trigger was flicked. Her sentiments turned- cold, frightened, scared... Her memories of her daughter back away. In these moments she was least proud of who she was, for she failed to be the warrior she was born to be, the powerful vampyre with the softness of a mother. Instead, she revealed the feeble within, scarred and worried, the one still hiding in the dark.

"Well that's boring," Mia added. "How long have you been experimenting with these....creatures, I mean us?"

"Oh, about twenty years now", Professor Fe said. "My studies began while at University in Russia. I have a Master's Degree in Parapsychology."

"Are you going to go for your Doctorate?" Mia asked, lifting the glass of red wine to her lips.

"I'd like to, but I have other interests that... consume my time these days dear." She felt her thirst commencing to course through her. She found the young woman desirable, but it was neither the place nor the time to crave nourishment.

"Are you okay prof? You look a little pale."

"I'm always pale... No worries dear, I'm okay." Everything was brighter, yet this place looks less shady, though she could hear clearer than ever, still, this place feels hotter and that made her uncomfortable. She had expected as much. After so long of living in such a cursed state, it came as no shock to her that something could change in a second. She was a monster dressed in delicate lace.

"So those Hollywood portrayals of bloodsucker were all true?"

"Vampyre dear, never a bloodsucker. You should know that by now and no, thought everything was heightened for a vampyre; speed, strength, sight, hearing, smell, and emotions..."

"For a long time I thought that this whole thing was absurd, Vampyres don't exist, yet here we are." Mia agreed as her nose flared. The smell of humans was everywhere, she might feel less disgusted and agitated but they were sustenance, so she doesn't have a choice but to accept that this world belongs to them and not with their species.

She flashes her fangs and blood-red eyes to the professor which causes her to smile. Mia touched her eyes and teeth, is this what she looks like now? A monster? She might regret it for a day or two, but it saves her life. All she needed to do now was accept her fate. At least she was alive rather than six feet underground.

"Yes and no, Vampyre's exterior comes out when you're overpowered by the craving for blood or when you need to feed, but you can also choose to bear it." The professor announced.

"You can read my mind?" Mia asked and wondered why she could not.

"Yes, I'm your sire, so yes I can." Professor Fe replied as her pupils were suddenly dilated.

" Argh! Why do I feel this hunger? ...already fed earlier." Mia asked.

"Well, It's the urge for blood sweetheart, You're craving for more human blood because now you're a vampyre." Professor Fe added. "And are you willing to hold up with this new life? You haven't started holding your end up to our bargain."

"Don't worry my sire, I don't intend to forget it." Mia smiled, but she was sneering inside.

"So, about your study, you said you could find a way for us to walk in the sun," Mia raised a question as she squeezed her eyes shut. She has been strong for many years, caring for others, pouring out love without an extent, yet never realizing how to ask for it. It was the only therapy that could heal her fractured heart. So like a foolish kid, she endures for love, broad eyes, and trembling limbs, still gaping for that shady place all over again, but pleading for the light, and yet her fate teased her, and she was willing to beat her fate this time.

She missed her so badly. How did you leave me so alone sister? You left me forever, you promise to never leave my side. You promised to grow old with me. You and me forever. Mia remembers it so clearly, her sister, her twin.

Ten years ago they were both teenagers, naive of the cruelty of the world. Adventurous by nature and unafraid of everything.

She sighed, leaning over and turning off her alarm before Nina, her twin sister whack and beat her for the alarm going off for too long and waking her up. She carefully and gradually gets out of her aged creaky wooden bed, trying hard not to make any additional sound. They were given a bedroom in the attic, and sure it was large and spacious, but it was directly over her grandmother’s room. Since their parents died from the car accident, their granny took care of them.

Walking slowly, she reminds herself to remember that they needed to increase the support of the floorboards, but they haven’t had enough time recently and any loud commotion would disturb those sleeping under them. It was only four in the morning, her granny would be very irritated if she woke her up. She loves them dearly but with old age, her granny had a hard time falling asleep, so any noise was forbidden until she woke up. Shortly, she brushed her long wavy dark raven hair, pulling it hand up into a messy bun, and promptly took a shower and changed into her favorite Sunday dress. Today was the day for the church meeting, and she was excited to meet her crush. The boy next door.

She quickly gathered her picnic necessities for later, so she wouldn’t have to come back up here after preparing for breakfast, she sighed, looking down and feeling invisible. They were the opposite. Nina was loved by everyone, she was funny and so loveable and she on the other hand was the opposite. Nina was a happy-go-lucky kind of girl and so charming yet she wasn't jealous but recently, even the boys and their friend liked her more than her.

After breakfast, they hurriedly went to the neighborhood, but a fire broke out and burned the church, however, little Jonas, their neighbor's youngest kid was inside and Nina went to rescue her. Stupid really, but her shouts were ignored and Nina went to rescue the child without contemplation. But unfortunately, she too didn't survive. Mia was devastated and blamed her sister's death on the Doctor who rented the church attic for her research. Whatever it was, the Doctor was to blame. Whatever happens, she will have her revenge. It became her mission to find the doctor and recently Professor Fe offered her immortality in return for her knowledge towards the doctor's research program. She was sneering with vengeance and hatred. The Doctor will pay for her loss.

Both lost in their thoughts and after so many glasses of red wine. They started to loosen up a little.

"Right, that's why I need you, my dear. Remember that." Professor Fe thought were beyond control. She could be who she needs to be, who her daughter needs her to be, but her bitterness was just that, a flicker of fire to cover her weakness and demon.

"No silver ring or mystical totems involved?" Mia asked. If she couldn't walk into the sun then it would be inconvenient for her. She needs what the ancient had. The ability to walk even in the daylight. Being a newborn vampyre has a disadvantage though.

"Of course not, you are watching too much Hollywood version of our species," she answered back. If only it was that easy. However only the ancient vampyre could walk into the sun, even the professor couldn't. She was almost eight hundred years old yet she couldn't walk through it.

"Alright then, wait, how are we so sure it's gonna work this time? I mean your plan?" Mia inquired again, a line appeared between her brows, if one's willing to play the game, then she would play it with her card on the table. What could go wrong? She was a vampyre now, and she was not afraid and so she tells herself.

"Don't you trust me, enough dear?" She scoffed as she sized her up. She knew this young woman couldn't be trusted. But she doesn't have a choice, she needs her help and would endure her presence for now. She knew about the research of Dr. Ruby and she needed her to infiltrate the research lab to gather more information about some crucial data and blood samples from their research. Dr. Ruby was the answer to their mission. All she needed was the knowledge and lots of it.

However, they need a better plan. A plan for retribution. For their loss of humanity.

If only, that human had saved her Jade.