The Monhagan Chronicles: Prelude

Chapter 3

Dean

I sighed wearily when the woman finally passed out. I was particularly glad she was no longer conscious as I had no intention of taking her back to her apartment. It wasn’t like I could get past the threshold. I had been put in a very awkward position. I couldn’t let her die at the hands of that lillian and yet the damage that was done to her wouldn’t heal on its own. Her body was at the tipping point now. I could hear her heart beating erratically. Hypovolemia. 

I began to walk faster. My car was parked just around the next corner. As soon as I had the woman loaded into the back seat I threw myself behind the wheel and started the car. I cut off a BMW and planted my foot down on the gas. I weaved through the night life traffic at breakneck speeds, making the 40 minute drive to my house take less than 20. 

By the time I was carrying her limp form into the living room she had started to cool, her heart was barely beating. There was no more time. I knew I should make a call, just one, but the situation had now become emergent. I laid her gently on the couch. Tilting her chin up I bit into my hand and began to squeeze the blood into her mouth. I rubbed her throat when it didn’t seem as if she was swallowing fast enough.

When my wound closed on its own I pulled my hand back and waited. How long should this take? I’d never done this before. Did I need to give her more blood? Then I heard it. Her heart picked up again, quick staccato beats, like it was galloping then it shuddered. The beats became slower, less frequent before they stopped all together. Her ragged breathing became clearer, less labored. A shiver ran through her body.

I was content enough that she would survive. Now I needed to make that call. I had to follow the letter of the law and let the council know of the situation I had found myself in. I pulled my cell from my pocket as I shut the door to my study.

“Yes?”

“This is Dean, Cainite, Columbia, Missouri. I had an emergent and unexpected turning this evening. Female, approximately thirty years old. She was attacked by a Lillian.” I rattled off the pertinent information without taking a breath.

“Understood. An agent will be sent to your address on file.”

That didn’t sound good. The call ended. I contemplated throwing the phone onto the desk but returned it to my pocket instead. I didn't know if it was unusual for the council to send an agent out in this situation. My own turning had happened in 1865 and while I remembered it like it was yesterday I didn't recall any council involvement. Perhaps this was more normal than I had thought. 

At any rate I would need to prepare. It wasn’t every day one received a visit from an agent of the council. I felt slightly anxious. I walked back out into the living room and watched as the woman slept. She stirred slightly, her head rolling to one side and a soft sigh escaping her lips. It was kind of adorable I suppose. The red highlights in her hair had become more pronounced, the turning would suit her features well. I again found himself unsure when I considered how to break the news of her new existence. Shaking my head I went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

I had just poured the water into the machine when I noticed a tingling on the back of my neck and the slight smell of ozone. My eyes closed briefly in trepidation and my body stiffened.

“What are you doing here?” I asked coldly.

The two men leaned against the island in the center of the kitchen. One taller wearing all black with short sandy hair. The shorter in his usual pinstripe slacks, tank top and suspenders, his blond hair standing up in a mohawk. The taller one pushed off the island and stalked over to me, laying a hand on my shoulder. I tried not to react to the power I felt radiating from him.

“We were in the neighborhood. Thought we’d check in, see how you have been since your time with Devon.” He looked at his companion, tipping his head to the doorway leading to the living room.

Devon was the sadistic vampire that had turned Me. He kept his fledgling vampires chained as slaves. Torturing them to the breaking point before loaning them out for darker purposes.

I couldn’t stop my reaction. “It’s not what you think, Bain.” But Mime had already left the room. 

“I know, kid. But he just wanted to check on her. Sit.” Bain steered me over to the table and pushed me gently into a chair. “But we also know your history, even if the council doesn’t. I just want to be sure the situation is handled correctly.” It had been nearly 15 years since my escape from the compound where Devon and a small group of witches held various supernatural beings for bloodsport. These two had shown up minutes before the rescue team to tell myself and Lucian, my only friend, to stall but refused to release us outright claiming they were neutral parties and didn’t pick a side.

“I thought you didn’t interfere. Aren’t you supposed to be Switzerland?”

One corner of Bain’s mouth tipped upwards. “It is what it is. I just came to say you need to think long and hard whether or not you want to accept the role you have given yourself. There are other ways. And also if you f**k this up I’m not the one you should worry about.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, understanding washed over me. Airryck. The dragon that led the secret police force that watched all supernaturals. I had no idea how old the dragon was or how long he had been policing the supernatural community. What I did know was that Airryck was powerful. I had some inkling that Airryck’s group was connected to the council.

“Will it be one of his agents coming?” I questioned.

“Most likely it will be Mckiel.” Mime said as he walked back into the kitchen. “We have no worries here.” He stated, looking at Bain.

Bain simply nodded. “If you need us.” He handed me a black business card with his name scrawled across in a flowing calligraphy script. Then they disappeared. No smoke, no flash, they were there then they weren’t.

I sighed, rolling my shoulders to release the tension. I now had more questions. Those two beings gave me an uneasy feeling. I simultaneously felt the need to run in fear and confess my sins and pray for forgiveness. I reached in the cupboard to retrieve a cup for my coffee. With the steaming cup in hand I went back into the living room to watch over my new charge.

She was already stirring. Was that normal? I was sure it would take hours for her to regain consciousness. Had I done something wrong? Listening intently I checked for a pulse, it was still absent. Her breath hitched, then another sigh escaped her. One small hand reached up and began rubbing one eye, then the other. She stretched and moaned softly. I felt it was quite an experience watching her wake. It was a slow, almost sensual thing. Her delicate features easing into consciousness. That abruptly changed. 

A sudden gasp escaped her lips. Her eyes flew open as she bolted upright. Her eyes frantically searched her surroundings and became confused as she obviously realized nothing looked familiar. Her frenzied scan landed on me. I was standing next to the couch she was now sitting on, keeping my distance but still close enough just in case. A shudder ran through her.

“What the f**k!” I wondered how she was able to scream at that decibel. I was certain dogs down the street were now howling in pain.

“Easy.” I sat my coffee down on the side table and reached for Audrey. “Everything is going to be okay.” I tried to pour all the sincerity I felt into my words.

“Where am I?” She began her scan again, but more slowly taking in my entire living room. The couch she was on was soft, plush. There were paintings and pictures along the far wall to her left, all of landscapes. The wall to her right, behind the couch, was lined with bookshelves. The wall in front of her was closer and held a doorway into my kitchen. The woman turned on the couch to put her feet on the floor. She seemed to be calculating her situation while taking in her surroundings. “How long was I passed out?” She grimaced.

I sat next to her on the couch. I opened my mouth but closed it again almost immediately trying to find the right words. After a long sigh I began rubbing my forehead. “This is harder than I thought. I had assumed it would take longer.”

Audrey

I tilted my head to the side. He really was a good looking guy. Tousled light brown hair, dazzling green eyes. He had light stubble on his jaw and a luscious cupid bow mouth. I suddenly startled again, remembering I  should be scared. Hell, I should be terrified after being attacked and abducted, but for some reason I couldn’t grab onto the fear. My mind couldn’t stop on any emotion except fascination. My eyes couldn’t lock onto any one thing for more than a second at a time. Since when did I have ADHD? The beautiful stranger had still not spoken. His mouth seemed to open then close almost immediately several times.

“What’d you say your name was?” maybe if I asked simpler questions first he would relax.

He sighed, seeming to relax only slightly. “Dean.”

I smiled. I noticed Dean's lips move to return it. “Sorry. I find myself in an altogether new situation and I don’t know where to start.” He ran his hand through his hair. I had no trouble latching onto that movement and staring. Watching the play of his muscles as they rippled through his arm. I became alarmed that I might be drooling and tried to subtly wipe my mouth.

“So start at the beginning.” I offered.

“You were attacked.” his deep voice pulled that weird reaction from my body again. I shivered from the memory. “I had to act quickly, you were dying. It’s not the way this usually happens but it does happen from time to time. I made the choice to save you the only way I could.” Dean paused as if he were working up the courage to tell me something bad, or at least something hard to say. “I need you to understand it was the only option.”

I was staring at his lips as he talked. The way they moved, the subtle movement and creases at the edge of his mouth, almost as if he was trying hard not to grimace. They looked so soft.

“I know it’ll take time for you to understand but I need you to believe me. Everything I’m about to tell you is real.”

I was captivated by his words and movements. He could tell me the sky was falling and I was almost certain I would believe him. He was so sincere.

“To save you I had to turn you.”

He became quiet. Waiting for me to understand. I was still staring at him. He fidgeted in discomfort, probably wondering if I had some mental deficit. So I went back to staring at his lips. I'd love to blame it on the alcohol but I was feeling surprisingly sober.

I pondered over his words. A thought crept in from the back of my mind. I reached for the thought. Remembering all the books I  have read and written. The fanciful worlds created. The creatures who lived in those worlds. The creatures, the worlds, the magic, the wonder… turning? One word ran to the front of my mind. A word that was meant to strike fear into the readers. A word romanticized by the media. One word, one creature, a creature I myself had written about. A loud gasp escaped me and I jumped to my feet.

“Vampire!” I shouted with glee. “I knew it! I knew they were real! Oh my god I have so many questions. How old are you? When were you turned? Or are you born? How does it work? Can you go out during the day time? Do you drink blood? Oh my god can you fly? You don’t sparkle do you? Oh bats, can you turn into a bat?” The questions ran from my mouth like a damn had broken.

Dean sat, completely still, shock the only expression on his face. Apparently I didn't react the way he had expected. Fear was probably the expected response, or laughter. I was excited. More than excited, happy. It was as if I had finally fallen into a book. Life finally made sense to me. Dean’s lips twitched like he wanted to smile or laugh. He gave in to the smile but not the laugh. I wish he would laugh.

“Calm down please.” He said gently, patting the couch next to him for me to return.

I skipped back to the couch and sat turning to face Dean with my legs tucked under me. I could feel a smile of pure joy spreading across my face. I knew it.

“Tell me everything!” my excitement couldn’t be contained.

“Yes, I am a vampire, and you are too, now.” He became quiet toward the end. He sounded anxious, like he didn't believe I understood him correctly, but I did. My smile faltered for a split second but came back in full force. Maybe he was upset that I was happy, maybe he didn't understand that I was okay with this part of what happened to me. Okay so I had a lot to learn but I was smart. I knew things would change but I could handle it.

“So, how did you turn me?”

“You were going to die. I’ve seen enough of that to last me more than a lifetime. You were bleeding out, lost consciousness, I gave you my blood and waited.”

“How long did it take?” I was practically bouncing next to him.

“Maybe an hour. It was much faster than I had expected.” Dean’s smile faded, worry creasing his brow.

“Wait, you’ve never…” I let the sentence hang there, unsure how to finish.

“No, you were my first.” 

At first I didn't know what to say. My face was hurting from the huge smile I had. “I’m honored.” I said sincerely. “So what now? I mean, what do I do? Am I going to want to munch on my family and friends? Do I need to leave?” I became heartsick at the thought but knew I would do whatever I needed to keep my loved ones safe. I would find a way to acclimate to my new life.

“That shouldn’t be necessary. You can stay here while I show you the ropes, get you accustomed to your new existence. I can show you the places you’ll need to go to to feed. For tonight I’ll call a friend to come for your first feeding. Eventually you won’t need blood, you’ll be able to pull the life energy you need without it. I have some books about our history that you can read or I can teach you about our world. There’s a website that has a lot of good information too if you prefer to get it that way. You are taking this much better than I anticipated.”

I laughed, there was a website? Of course there was. “I can’t explain it but I think I kinda knew already, you know, that humans weren’t all there was out there. I just always felt like there was more. I mean the fear of the dark had to come from somewhere right?”

“Would you like some coffee?” Dean smiled, patting my knee as he stood.

“I love coffee. Does that mean I can still eat real food? Cuz I love food. I would really miss it.”

Dean laughed. I became entranced by his soft chuckle. It felt as if the sound rumbled through my body, to the very core of my being. It was a very nice sound.

“Everything works the same, you just need a different kind of sustenance. You can eat and drink whatever you like. Though it does take a more significant amount of alcohol to affect us.”

I groaned, going to bars was going to cost a lot more now. I stood and followed Dean into the kitchen. It was a rather large kitchen done in shades of grey and white with stainless steel everything. I walked around the center island to where Dean stood, a cup of coffee already in his hand. I took the proffered cup and turned, looking for cream and sugar. 

“Cream is in the fridge, sugar is here.” He motioned to the counter where a small sugar container sat with a spoon next to it. 

After adding the ingredients to my cup I took a sip. It was glorious. Hints of butterscotch in the deep flavor of coffee. It was my favorite brand, I could taste it. Highland grog. I moaned. 

                   Dean

I felt her moan in a very non gentlemanly way. I had to step around the table towards the door and put some distance between us. It was that tempting of a sound. Her bright smile and soft sigh seemed to sink into my soul. She was light and I have ruined her.

"I have a spare room upstairs with an ensuite bathroom that you can use while you're here. There may be some spare clothes as well, nothing fancy, just something a friend might have left. You can get cleaned up and rest if you'd like." 

Audrey looked down at herself. She seemed startled to realize she was covered in blood and her dress had seen better days. "A shower would be great, but I still have so many questions." Audrey said desperately. Her hazel eyes seemed eager to know everything.

Looking into her eyes I knew that I would give her anything she wanted. And I had no idea why. "I promise there will be time for that."

Audrey nodded. Her coffee was almost gone so she chugged the last of the scalding liquid. I took the cup from her and sat it in the sink with mine. I motioned for Audrey to follow which she did without hesitation.

I was very aware of Audrey walking only two steps behind me. I could feel energy cascading off of her in waves. Everytime I felt the brush of her aura, warmth bloomed inside me. She was a good person. She carried a brightness inside her. I barely knew her but I could tell she was good. These thoughts were just ludicrous. I shook my head to dispel anymore errant thoughts on the subject of Audrey's inherent goodness.