Vampire Dream

Chapter 4 - Parties Suck

After the long dinner at the banquet, a ball took place. Madame Red was in -surprise, surprise- a deep red ball gown with a puffed hoop skirt and a corset of lace. Gabriel looked like the devilish prince he was, in all black with a red bow tie and a confident smirk on his face when speaking to anyone. I noticed how Gabriel would look bored and agitated when he was alone.

Walking into the ballroom with Kingston on my arm in his all-white tuxedo with a royal purple tie, I wore a similar gown to Madame Red’s, but it was dark purple. My chestnut hair fell in ringlets around my face. Gabriel stopped talking with a few men to look at me as I came in, but I ignored his gaze and continued to let Kingston lead me to a table beside the dance floor.

“Are you sure it was a good idea to wear dark colors to a wedding celebration?” Kingston questioned in my ear as we sat down.

“She isn’t even wearing any white. I don’t think this is a traditional wedding, Kingston,” I replied, looking around at all the other guests wearing very dark clothing. Kingston’s anxiety was palpable, but I decided to have fun tonight rather than dwell on the misfortune. Gabriel was going to be tied off to someone else and leave me alone, which was what I wanted. Is it, though?

“I could feel you thinking about me,” whispered a voice in my ear. Started, I jumped up from my seat and twisted, ready to fight. It was Gabriel, hands up as if in surrender, with a genuine smile on his face. “I must say, you look ravishing in that dress,” he added.

“Well, your fiancé looks even better than I do,” I haughtily replied. “You should go tell her that yourself. She has quite a keen eye on you. Like a puppy.” He chuckled at my words, causing Kingston to join in on the conversation.

“You know, we should go say hello to her. It would be rude not to,” implored Kingston.

“Great idea! Let’s go. Now.” Giving a slight nod to Gabriel - who looked confused and hurt - Kingston and I left to go say hello to Madame Red.

“Good evening! What a lovely party you have,” I exclaimed to her.

“Why, thank you, dear. I didn’t think you would... show up,” she hesitantly responded. “You both look astonishing! Maybe you’ll be the next couple getting married.”

“Well, we’ll see, ” Kingston joked with a laugh. I was reminded of how much we had loved each other, especially before the job from Madame Red. Wait… had loved?

“Actually, Kingston, would you like to go dance with me?” I asked him. His face brightened as he replied, “I’ve been waiting for you to ask all night.” I curtsied and he bowed, then we headed off hand in hand to the dance floor. The party had a very Victorian theme to it, making the dancing very old-fashioned. We followed the crowd and began an older dance that caused us to giggle as we attempted to dance like the rest of the couples. Most of them were much older, in their 50s or 60s, but I spotted a few couples only a few years older than us. Numerous dances had a similar rhythm as this one, Kingston and I whispering funny jokes in each other’s ears as we danced together. After the fourth dance, there was a tap on my shoulder.

“I do believe it is my turn with the young lady,” Gabriel demanded. And with a bow, he took my hands and glided me across the floor. I began to sense some changes. I was in Madame Red’s dress and the people around us were all much younger. They stood along the sides of the dance floor and watched us as we danced in perfect unity, Gabriel leading.

“Everyone’s staring at us, Gabe,” I whispered frantically in his ear.

“That’s because they are noticing how beautiful and enchanting you are,” he whispered back. I also noticed their mouths, upturned in smirks that showed their sharp fangs. Gabe pulled me closer to him as we danced and I could feel his warmth and comfort radiating from his body, encapsulating me under his trance. He always had a way to make me feel safe. After the music stopped applause filled the room. People from everywhere began to crowd around us, causing my claustrophobia to uproar. Gabe took me in his arms and led me to a room on the left side of the stairs: to the library.

The music stopped, and I was back into reality. Gabriel’s head was uncomfortably close to my neck, and I noticed Madame Red take notice, giving me a glaring scowl. I pushed Gabriel off of me and strutted back to my partner, who was making talk with what seemed like some professors or teachers.

“How was your dance?” he said cooly. “You looked like you were having a great time.”

“We have to go,” I told him. Concern covered his face.

“Are you alright? You look really pale.”

“My... Claustrophobia is getting to me.”

“Claustrophobia?? You never told me you had claustrophobia! Yes, let’s go get you some air.” As we began to walk out, a couple of Madame Red’s men came to us.

“M’lady has asked that you await her in the library,” the leader said.

“Look, my partner isn’t feeling well. Can’t you let us go?”

“You can go, young man. It’s the girl she wants to talk to.” The goon grabbed my forearm and dragged me away from Kingston. Kingston tried to follow, but another one of her men stayed with him and held him back. To the left side of the staircase we went, and I was taken into the library. It was just as I saw - or remembered - it. However, it was really dusty.

I was thrown onto a bench and told to wait. The goon stepped out of the room, leaving me alone. My first instinct was to search everywhere for an exit: there was only one door and no windows. My second instinct was to search all the books. I didn’t know which one I was looking for, but I ran my hands across each book until I felt a strange sensation when I touched it. I pulled out the book titled A Vampire Histoire. Opening it, I found that the object was not a book, but rather a box. Inside it were four vials with a deep blood-red liquid substance in each. There was a space for one more vial, but it was empty. As I heard shuffling next to the door, I set the book behind the bench I was originally sitting in and jumped onto the neighboring bench. In came Madame Red, furious.

“Well, I didn’t know you were coming here to crash my party. Otherwise, I would’ve uninvited you immediately.”

“I came with my boyfriend, Kingston. It was the morally correct thing to do, as I came as a representative of the Yurling family in contribution to the celebration of your marriage,” I recited.

“I’d prefer if you stayed silent,” she spat. I simply gave her a nod. “I told Gabriel that I’d endure his strange obsessions, but this is outrageous. I’m his betrothed. I am supposed to be his love. But do I get attention? No! Instead, I watch as he goes to play with his little puppy, who looks at him with her big eyes and follows his every move.” My head tilted slightly, with a confused expression.

“Oh yes, I see how you look at him. And guess what? I’ve had enough.” At the last word, the door jostled open, revealing a disheveled Gabriel, flustered and conspicuous.

“What’s going on in here?” He asked. Kingston came in from behind Gabriel and stood beside him.

“Your little flower and I were just having a chat, dear,” Madame Red sarcastically commented.

“There’s a whole crowd out there waiting for us to dance, Isabella. Don’t you think we should give them what they want?”

“Is it us dancing as a couple? Or as a show for your endearing fans?”

“I mean, it can be both. It’s your party, after all.” This pushed Madame Red over the edge.

“This is the last straw!” Pulling a gun from a hidden pocket on her dress, Madame Red pointed the gun at me. “Gabriel, you have tried my patience. When you first came to me, you told me that you had the secret to eternal life. Where is it?”

Kingston interjected, “Ma’am, I think there’s a rational decision-”

“Oh shut up, kid! You know nothing of this situation,” Madame Red screamed. She was slowly moving closer to me with the gun, aiming at my head.

“Isabella, don’t you dare.”

“Oh, I will if you don’t tell me in the next minute. I know you’re a vampire, Gabriel. That’s why I had these buffoons dig you up in the first place. How does it feel to be losing someone you love, huh?”

“My entire team was lost in that expedition! How could you let them all die, knowing it was only to grab a vampire?” I interjected. She had finally reached me and was holding the barrel of the gun to my forehead.

“I don’t think you are in a position to speak,” she said. “Gabriel, I’ll give you one more chance. What is the secret?” Gabriel stayed silent until Madame Red flicked the gun off safety mode.

“Vampire blood,” he growled. “Becoming one. That’s how. To become immortal, you must become a bloodsucking beast who devours anything in their path until satisfied.”

“Turn me. Make me one.”

“Never. I refuse to be the vampire who brings more to our race.”

“Then why do you love this girl so much?” She asked. Gabriel only glared at her. “Oh. I see. So you knew her before. Or she reminds you of your past life. Is she your little doll until you find a new trinket?” A malicious laugh escaped her throat. “Well, I’ll tell you what. You’re nothing but a monster, and will never be anything else.” And with those last words, she aimed down at my stomach and pulled the gun’s trigger.

Bang.

I felt a numbness fill my body. As I crumpled to the ground, everything became slow motion. Kingston tackled Madame Red to the ground and wrestled the gun out of her hands. She continued to laugh as Gabriel’s menacingly cruel face turned to one of horror and agony. He raced toward me and pulled my body into his arms.

“Leave me,” I said. Gabriel’s eyes were watering up, but I could read his mind as he began to think of the vials. I was beginning to remember bits and pieces of my past life. What I was. Who I was. I didn’t want to go back. I was ready to go to the light.

Gabriel jumped up and began to search the shelves, as I had done when I entered the room earlier. Kingston had tied Madame Red up and gagged her, placing her in the corner as she evilly witnessed the crime she had caused to unfold. Gabriel’s vampire senses were kicking in because he began to look starving, but he held himself back as he looked for the vials.

Kingston saw the book behind the bench. “Here, prop your head up with this,” he said. Gabriel perked up as he saw the box, and seemed to transport straight to the box. Pushing Kingston aside, he tore open the box to reveal the four vials. He took a fifth out of his pocket, which was only half full. Madame Red saw this and went ballistic, spitting out the gag.

“So! You’ll use those on her but not on me, huh? Is that how it is?”

“Please. Don’t,” I croaked, but Gabriel’s ears had turned off. He was doing all he could to not rip into me.

“What are those, Gabriel? What’s your plan?”

“You and Isabella need to leave. Now,” Gabriel demanded. His tone was even hypnotic to me as I watched Kingston gather Madame Red up and cart her out of the room. Tears slid from my eyes as he worked on opening one of the full vials. I placed a hand on one of his arms.

“Gabe,” I pleaded. “I’m ready to go.” He shook me off of him and drank the finally opened vial. His whole body shook as the blood from the vial tempted him to swallow. I grew weaker and weaker with every passing moment, but I didn’t want his plan to work. I would lose everything I had tried to gain in this life. This normal life. I pushed Gabriel away with all my might, but after he pinned my body down with one arm, there was nothing I could do. He tilted my head to give him enough room. Finally, as I was losing consciousness, Gabriel sank his fangs into my neck and pushed all the blood into me. The last thing I remembered was the screaming and the pain.