Confession
1000 Words
The evening went by in a blur of conversation and drinks. It didn’t occur to me until later that evening that Gabriel may be insane. I didn’t truly believe that Gabriel was a vampire, but I also didn’t understand why someone, crazy or not, would go to such lengths to convince another person that vampires existed and that this person was speaking to one. So, I watched him over the course of the evening, looking for an explanation for his un-aged appearance. The more I looked at him, the more certain I became that I was correct; he was the man who saved me fifteen years prior, but I couldn’t figure out how. I did decide to discuss Andy’s new job the next day, when we could have complete privacy. I no longer felt I could trust this crazy man.
Before we all went to bed, Andy and I argued over who was going to sleep on the couch. My argument was his long drive and need for a good rest; his argument was ladies always get the bed. Gabriel tried to intercede by offering to crash on the couch and one of us take his bed. We both refused. In the end, I won.
“I’m more rested than you, Andy. Besides, I’m a lawyer. Do you really believe you’re going to win this?” I smirked at him. I knew he’d eventually cave.
“Fine, but I’m not going to sleep a wink knowing you’re on a couch.” He rolled his eyes at me. “Women? Am I right, Gabe?” Andy had warmed up to Gabriel faster than I expected, but I was happy he already had a friend to confide in, crazy or not. I need to talk to Seth about this.
I showed him to the room I had been using and grabbed my pillow and pajamas. “Sleep well, big brother,” I chanted on my way out the door. It was something I used to say to him when we were much younger and still shared a room.
“Don’t bite the bed bugs, lil’ sister.” I smiled when Andy repeated his convoluted reply. I shut the door behind me and headed for the study, already making a game plan for snooping.
When I went in, I saw Gabriel putting a blanket on the couch. “Aren’t you glad I talked you into the study couch instead of the living room? You’ll have some privacy,” Gabriel said as I walked into the room.
“Actually, I only said yes so I could snoop. You’ve got a really good version of Photoshop to be able to fabricate such authentic-looking photos,” I replied as I put my belongings on the couch.
“So you still don’t believe me?” His disbelief was hollow and his shocked look was implausible. He knew that I would never believe the vampire excuse.
“No, I don’t. Nothing you showed as ‘evidence’ is concrete. You wouldn’t be able to win a court case with such flimsy evidence, why do you think you’d win my confidence.” I turned to the couch to fix the blanket just the way I wanted it.
“How’s this for proof?” He almost hissed from behind me.
When I turned back to him, alarmed at the difference in his voice, I was not met with the beautiful emerald eyes I’d become so accustomed too, but by blood red irises and silted pupils. I gasped at the change. Gabriel opened his mouth slightly; just enough to show his newly elongated and sharpened K-9s.
“Gabriel, take out those ridicules contacts and false teeth. You’re not going to scare me into believing that you’re a mythical creature,” I snapped
“Okay,” and right before my eyes, his teeth and eye color went back to normal.
“Oh my God,” I gasped as I fell to the couch. “But you can’t be…Vampires don’t…You aren’t real!” Gabriel began to walk toward me with his hands out, palms forward, obviously meaning to consol me, but I didn’t want him near me. I tried to scoot farther away from him, through the back of the couch. “Stay away from me, Gabriel, and stay away from Andy. I don’t know how this is possible, but I do know I don’t want you near us.” Gabriel backed away from me, giving me a wide birth. His expression wasn’t clouded like it was most of the time. My words hurt him, physically wounding him. A wave of sadness that I ignored pushed its way through me. He’s a monster. Why should I feel sad? “I think it might be best if I slept in the room with Andy.” I grabbed my pillow and pajamas again and grabbed the blanket Gabriel had laid out for me and left the study.
Luckily for me, Andy was exhausted and had already fallen asleep by the time I tiptoed into the room. And slept like the dead all night. I barely slept that night though, keeping an eye on the door to make sure we didn’t become the next meal. As I sat in the floor next to the door, I contemplated the ideal of vampires, the myths I knew, and the strong feelings I had for Gabriel.
Is everything I feel for him just a lure? If it is, why did he save me and then let me go? What about the protective vibe he always gives off? From what is he protecting me? How can he be out during the day? Why does he eat regular food? How has he not been caught? Surely someone would have noticed his un-aged appearance by now? What about his ‘Uncle Seth?’ What’s his role in all of this?
There were too many questions and no answers. I had to prioritize my thoughts for the day. I still had to talk to Andy.
- Writer
