Vampire Born

Found

When Marius gets home from Ashford, he goes straight to his study.  I contemplate going to see him, but decide to let him come to me if he wants to.  I make blood this morning as usual.  I set Marius and Rose’s mugs on the stove and take mine out to the patio.  I am out there for about two minutes when Marius decides to join me.  I look over to him and he looks somber.

“Did you find him?”  I ask.

“Not yet.  But we are close.”  He replies taking a sip of his blood.

“So, what’s next?”  I wonder.  Marius looks over at me and smiles shyly.

“Next we follow the lead I received while at Ashford the first day.  I chose to ignore it at first, but I think it’s solid.”  He says.

“So, where are you off to now?”

“Dublin.  I will probably be gone at least a week.”  Marius sighs.

“I see.  When do you leave?”

“As soon as I’m ready.”  We sit in silence while finishing our blood.  “Well, I’d better get going.”  Marius says and walks into the house.  I go in shortly after him and wash the mugs and pot.  I set them in the drying rack and go to the library.  Marius finds me in there to say goodbye.  I wish him luck and he’s off.  I get a book from the shelf and start to read mindlessly.  I can’t get into reading right now, so, I head to the pool.  I swim for about an hour then go upstairs and wash off the chlorine.  When I get out of the shower, I braid my wet hair then get into comfy clothes.  I don’t feel as embarrassed about my clothes right now because Marius isn’t here.  I don’t like looking like a slob when Marius is here.  I go back downstairs and find Rose.  She is in the billiard room.  We shoot a few games of pool before I go to make more blood.  I make two packets and find Rose to give her her mug.  After afternoon blood, I go upstairs to my room and take a nap.  Before I know it, it’s been a week since Marius left.  The morning of the week mark, I watch for him.  It gets to be ten in the morning with no sight of Marius.  So, I go to the kitchen and make blood for me and Rose.  I take mine out to the patio and enjoy the cool, overcast day.  I love these days.  I drink my blood while worrying about Marius.  But he did say at least.  So, maybe it’s taking longer than he thought it would.  I am washing dishes when I hear the front door open and close.  I finish the dishes and head to Marius’s study.

“Come in, Dahlia.”  He says before I can knock.  I enter and there’s a strange man standing beside Marius’s desk.  “Dahlia, this is Valencio.  Valencio, meet Dahlia.”  Marius says introducing us.

“Oh.  You’re Dahlia.  I have heard many things about you on this trip.”  Valencio says.

“This is the rank that we’ve been looking for.”  Marius explains.

“Oh.  Nice to see you’re all right.”  I smile.

“Yes.  Thanks to Marius.”  The Fae says.  “I am so lucky that Marius found me.  I was kidnapped by vampires.  They wanted to know how to use the portals.”  He explains.

“Wow.  That’s intense.”  I say.

“I’ve taken care of the vampires who kidnapped him.”  Marius says.

“That’s good to hear.”  I smile.  “What now?”  I ask.

“Now, I take him back to Aladia.”  Marius replies.

“What about the favor from her?”  I wonder aloud.

“Well, I will have to think of one.”

“Okay.  Well, you better get him back to Aladia.”  I say.

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”  Marius says.

“Sounds good.  I’ll be here.”  I smile.  Marius nods and the two of them leave the room.  I hear the front door open and close and know that they have left the house.  I go to the pool and do some laps.  After I’ve done some laps, I get into the hot tub and relax.  I sit in the warm water for about an hour before I decide to get out and go take a shower.  I turn on my stereo and stand under the cascading water.  It feels so good.  I turn the shower to the massage setting.  I stand under the warm water as it massages my back.  I stand there until the water starts to get cold.  I dry off and braid my hair then wrap it into a bun.  I get dressed and go downstairs.  I make another pot of blood.  Rose comes in just as I finish pouring the blood into two mugs.  I hand her one of the mugs.

“Thanks.”  She smiles.

“You’re welcome.”  I smile in return.  I go out onto the patio and enjoy the crisp afternoon air.  After I finish my blood, I wash the dishes and go to the library.  I grab my sketchbook and pencils from their spot.  I grab a book off the shelf depicting pictures of bridges.  I start to sketch the Golden Gate Bridge.  I finish my sketch and go upstairs.  I go to my room and crawl into bed.  I quickly drift off.  I wake up in time to make evening blood.  I go downstairs and get out the blood and the pot.  I find Rose to give her one of the mugs.  I find her in the pool.  “Here’s your blood.”  I say to her.

“Thanks.”  She goes from the pool to the hot tub and grabs a mug from me.  I set mine down on a table and sit down.  “So, where’s Master?”  She asks.

“He went to return something to the Fae Queen.”  I reply.

“I see.  When will he be back?”

“Tomorrow.  Or at least that is what he said.”

“Interesting.”  We finish our blood and I go upstairs and wash the dishes.  Rose soon joins me, still in her suit, and dries for me.

“Thanks.”  I say.

“You’re welcome.”  After the dishes are done, I go back upstairs and change into my pajamas.  I crawl into bed and drift off.

The next morning, I wake up to my alarm and go downstairs.  I go to Marius’s study to see if he’s back yet.  The study is empty so, I go to the kitchen and make two pouches of blood.  I drain the pot into two mugs.  Just as I finish pouring, Rose comes in.  She grabs one of the mugs and goes out onto the patio.  I put the pan in hot, soapy water then go out to join her.

“So, I see Master hasn’t returned yet.”  She says as I sit down.

“He never said when he would be returning today, just that he’d be back today.”

“That’s true.”

“So, it’s a nice day.  Want to go for a walk later?”  I ask.

“Sure.  When do you want to go?”  Rose replies.

“I was thinking after afternoon blood.  That way it’s a little sunnier and warmer.”

“Sounds good to me.”  Rose and I finish our blood and, as usual, I wash and Rose dries.  Once the dishes are done, I go to the library and pull a random book off the shelves.  It turns out to be The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.  I lay down on the leather couch and am soon lost in the book.  When I remember to check the clock, it tells me it’s time for evening blood.  I lay my book down on the armrest and head for the kitchen.  When I get there, Rose is waiting for me.  I go to the fridge and grab two pouches of blood.  I set them on the counter and get the pan out.  I dump the blood into the pan and set it on the stove.  I ignite the stove to start heating the blood.  When the blood is good and warm, I pour it into two heated mugs.  Rose grabs her mug and goes out onto the patio.  I start a sink of warm soapy water and set the pan in the water.  I grab my mug and go back into the library where my book waits.  I read and sip my blood.  By sunset, my blood is gone so I go to the kitchen and place it in the warm water.  I notice Rose’s mug is in the water as well.  I wash the dishes and set them out to dry.  I go in search of Rose and find her in the pool.  I go to the locker room and change into my bathing suit.  I slide into the pool and start by doing laps.  I do about five laps then climb into the hot tub.  Rose sits in the hot tub with her head resting against the side.  I lean my head back and accidently drift off in the warm water.  Rose wakes me to let me know that she was getting out.  I get out too and go upstairs and take a shower to wash the chlorine off.  I relax in the warm, cascading water.  I switch it to the massage setting and feel my muscles start to relax.  I get out of the shower and into comfy clothes.  I lay down and am soon drifting off into a restful sleep.

The next morning when I wake up, I notice that it’s gloomy outside.  I go downstairs to Marius’s study to see if he’s home yet.  I knock, but there is no answer.  So, I go to the kitchen and grab two packets of blood.  I heat the blood and separate it.  Rose walks in just as I finish pouring the blood.  I hand her a mug and then the two of us go outside to the patio.  We enjoy our blood and the early morning light in silence.  Suddenly, I hear the front door open and close.  I go back into the house and watch as Marius goes to his study.  I finish my blood and wash my mug and the pan.  I leave the water for Rose’s mug.  I go to Marius’s study and knock.

“Come in, Dahlia.”  His voice comes from the other side.  I enter.

“You look exhausted.”  I comment.

“I didn’t get much sleep last night.”  He confesses.

“What’s wrong?”  I ask.

“The Queen of the Fae wants to know my favor by the end of the week.”  Marius says.

“That’s only two days away.”  I acknowledge.

“Yes.  I have no idea what I’m going to ask for.”

“Well, what do you want most in this world?”  I ask.

“I can’t have what I want most.  I have to think of something else.  And quickly.”

“I see.  Well, would you like some blood?”  I ask changing the subject.

“No.  I had some already this morning.”

“Okay.  Well, I will leave you be for now.”  I go to walk out of the study.

“Dahlia?”  Marius says stopping me before I reach the door.

“Yes?”  I question turning around.

“How were things while I was gone?”  Let me think.  How were things while he was gone?  Miserable.  Lonely.  Uninteresting.  I think to myself.  Marius smiles.

“Things were fine.”  I lie.

“You don’t have to lie to me.”  He says.

“Okay.  Things were lonely.”  I admit.

“You had Rose here with you.”

“Yes, but it’s not the same as when you’re here.”

“I see.  Well, I’m glad to be home myself.”  Marius says with a smile.  I nod and leave his study.  I go into the library and grab my book.  I get comfortable on the couch and wind up finishing the book before it’s time for afternoon blood.  I put the book back and go into the kitchen.  I make three mugs and deliver one to Marius.  He is on the phone when I go into the study.  I set his mug down and leave.  I grab my mug and go out onto the patio.  I sit and wonder what it must be like in the outside world.  Rose comes out onto the patio.

“So, Master is back.”  She says.

“Yes.  But the Queen of the Fae wants to know what his favor is before the end of the week.”  I tell her.

“Wow.  That’s short notice.”

“No kidding.”  I giggle.  We finish our blood in silence.  As soon as we get inside, it starts to rain.  “Good timing.”  I chuckle.  Rose chuckles with me.  I wash the dishes and Rose dries them for me.  “Thanks.”  I smile to her.

“Anytime.”  Rose smiles in return.  I leave the room and go down to the pool.  I swim about seven laps then climb into the hot tub.  As I get into the hot tub, Rose joins me.  She swims a couple laps then joins me in the hot tub.  “So, what are you feeling for Master?”  She asks.

“I haven’t really thought about it lately.”  I lie.

“I see.  Well, has he said anything to you?”

“No.  I doubt if he ever will.  I don’t think he feels the same.”

“What way is that?”

“I think I love him.”  I admit.

“Wow!”  Rose exclaims.  “That’s intense.”

“Yeah.  I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to tell him just how I feel.”  I say.

“Well, I wish you luck with that.”

“Thanks.”  I get out of the hot tub and go into the locker room and shower.  When I get out of the shower, I braid my hair and get back into the clothes I had on before I went swimming.  I go upstairs and heat one more round of blood for the day.  I deliver Marius his mug and then go to find Rose.  I find her in the library.  “I’m going down to the bowling alley.  In case you wanted to join me.”  I tell her.

“Sure.  Sounds good.”  She gets up from the couch and follows me down to the bowling alley.  We bowl three games before we finish our blood.  After the dishes are done, I go upstairs with a book.  I grab the second in the Accidentals series.  I lay down and before long, I can’t keep my eyes open.  I lay the book on my nightstand and nestle into my covers.  I am soon asleep but it’s not a peaceful night.

I have this nightmare that I’ve had before.  I am walking in the woods and smell a human.  I chase it to the edge of the woods and devour it.  I startle awake so, I put some lavender on my pillow.  I drift off and this time it’s peaceful.

~

I awake suddenly.  “What is that wonderful smell?”  I wonder out loud.  I’ve never smelled this before.  Just then I hear a knock on the front door.  I run downstairs and the scent grows stronger.  It must be coming from whoever is knocking.  “Could it be a human?”  I wonder.  I start to feel my fangs elongate.  It is a human.  I go to head for the door, but arms wrap around me.  “Let me go!”  I say angrily, but quietly so the human can’t hear me.

“I’ll let you go, but you have to go back to your room and wait for me.  Do you promise to do so if I let you go?”  The person says and I know it is Marius.

“I promise.”  I say knowing it is the right thing to do.  Marius lets me go.  I rush upstairs to my room.  I sit on my bed and meditate to help my fangs retract back into my gums.  However, I can’t get the smell off my mind.  I open my eyes in frustration.  Not long after, Marius comes walking into my room.

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel fine, but my fangs won’t retract.”  I reply.

“Come here.”  He says.  I get off my bed and go over to Marius.  He points to a spot on his neck.  “Smell.”  He says.  I lean in and begin taking in his scent.  As I am smelling, I can feel my fangs retracting.  Once they have completely retracted, I step away.

“Thank you.”  I say.

“Anytime.”

“What did the human want?”

“He was lost and needed help finding his way back to the city.”  Marius answers.  “I’m impressed.”

“What is impressing you?”

“The fact that you smelled him, but didn’t attack him.”

“The smell woke me.  I’ve never smelled anything like it.  I rushed down the stairs and stopped to get a better smell.  Once I heard the knock on the door, I knew it was a human.  If you hadn’t shown up, I would’ve attacked him.”

“Wait a second.  Are you telling me that tonight was the first time you’ve ever smelled a human?”  He asks astonished.  I simply nod.  “So for all the times you’ve hunted in the woods; you have never caught wind of a human scent?”

“That would be correct.”  I say.  Marius just looks amazed at the fact.

“That astounds me.”  Marius says. “Well it’s late so try and go back to sleep.  I’ll see you in the morning.”  He leaves the room.  I crawl back into bed and the next thing I know I am waking up to my alarm.  I go to my bathroom and take a shower.  The memory of last night plays in my head.  Luckily, Marius’s scent overpowers that of the human’s so my fangs don’t elongate.  I finish my shower, dry off, put on my robe, and head back into my room.  When I am looking in my closet for an outfit, I sense that I am no longer alone in my room.  I turn around to find Marius standing in my doorway.