(Continued from 03/01/11)
CHAPTER 2.
Alice read John’s email. It contrasted sharply with the other replies that she had received; a Goth Girl called Cat who got sunburnt easily and would maybe like to drink blood sometime, someone calling himself Vlad the Impaler, who was clearly taking the piss, and a creep who kept asking to drink her blood.
Its matter of fact nature bothered her. She was expecting madness, she was used to madness, but his tone was calm and serious, almost objective. Far too sane. Or if he was crazy, he was far too crazy; so crazy that he would kill someone and think it was natural. There was something else about it which bothered her too, but she did not know what.
She looked at her watch. There was a little time before she had to meet her boyfriend, so she replied.
Stay cool, she told herself, this is just research. I am a modern woman with a rational mind. Lets find out how disturbed this guy really is.
“Dear John,
Thank you for your reply. That was very interesting.
Could you tell me more about yourself? How did you become a vampire? You mentioned that some vampires are harmed by holy things, are you? Could you, for example, go in a church?
The memories of past lives thing is interesting. Could you tell me more about that? How much do you remember?
Do you think vampires are at all common? Do you know other vampires?
Thanks again,
Alice.”
She nearly put an ‘x’ after her name, but though better of it. She had to stay detached.
The next day she checked her emails again. She was not in the best of moods after her date the night before. She had been a few minutes late and so Sam, her boyfriend, had sulked for the rest of the night.
The first email said.
“Dear Alice,
How are you?
I cut myself today and drunk some of it. It made me feel better.
Got sunburnt again, think I’ll sleep all day tomorrow.
Cat. xxx”
After taking a deep breath, Alice replied.
“Dear Cat,
Am ok thank you.
Have had to end my study, there is no need for you to write to me again.
Please take care of yourself.
Thanks.
Alice.”
The next message read;
“Dearest Alice,
‘Tis a fine night in Transylvania, but I yearn for you to join me in my castle. Ve could make such sweet music together.
Forever your servant,
Vlad the Inpaler.”
She did not reply.
The third email read;
“Hey babe,
Just found a fantastic graveyard by a ruined church. You should come round here some time and let me bite you.
Steve .xx”
Again she did not reply. In addition she marked his email as ‘Junk’ and blocked his number from her phone.
The last email read;
“Dear Alice.
We are more common that most people realise. About one in every hundred people are vampyres. Most of the people I associate myself with are vampyres.
Entering a church would not prove a challenge to me. Nor am I harmed by holy water, silver, or the sight of crosses. I have not yet fallen so far from Grace With God. However, all of the above would cause a great deal of pain to a certain associate of mine.
Was not turned into what I am. Nor can we turn others. If everyone who we bit turned, most of the world would be vampires by now. Think of us as half way between a different race and a state of mind.
Do not feel inclined towards discussing past lives in depth at present. It is more complex than direct reincarnation. Know only that you are lucky not to remember how is feels to die, or to miss people who you have not seen for centuries.
Is your curiosity satisfied yet?
Yours,
John.
P.S. Do not ever trust me.”
Alice did not know how to reply. But she did know that she needed a drink. Fortunately, she was meeting her friends soon.
She showered, put on a little make up and tied back her long dark hair before driving to an extremely modern and fashionable wine bar called Stage which her friend Tracy loved.
She stepped through the glass doors and looked around the small room for Tracy and her friend Louise. She was horrified when she saw, sitting at a round steel table, Tracy and Andy. Louise was no where to be seen, and instead Alice’s ex boyfriend from two months ago was sat with his arm around Tracy.
What the hell are you doing Tracy? Alice inwardly cursed her best friend. You’re supposed to be a Feminist. This is supposed to be a girl’s night out. What are you doing with that cheating bastard?
At that exact moment, Lloyd was sat on the deck of a cross channel ferry. Thousands of stars and the waning moon shone down on him. A warm breeze blew through his hair, and the sea sprayed against his pale skin.
With a slim cigar in one hand and a glass of tomato juice in the other, he relaxed against the wooden bench and stared out into the sea.
Images were stirred in his mind of another journey on the same sea long ago.
He and John Harvey sailed back from France. They stood on the deck of the vast war ship, watching the coast of France disappear. Their once magnificent uniforms were torn and stained from years of war against Napoleon, their swords rusted in their scabbards, but their hearts were filled with joy. They had defeated the enemy. They had fought in Wellington’s army, they had marched from Portugal to Paris, they had faced the columns of the Old Guard, and they had won. They had battled for King and county and glory and gold, and now they returned to England to…
His memories were abruptly cut off as he noticed an unusually tall girl with hair which ran like a sea of starlight stalking past him.
Snapping back into the present, he admired her figure as she left the deck. He took a few moments to finish his cigar and drink, and then followed her inside.
Alice sat with her friend and her ex boyfriend. Tracy, with her short, spiky hair, fitted suit and high heeled boots looked entirely at home in the ultra trendy bar. Andy, in his worn out jeans and black hoody looked entirely out of place. Out of place in this wine bar. Out of place with Tracy. Out of place in Alice’s life.
Andy and Alice stared at each other with equal disgust, whilst Tracy, who seemed oblivious to the situation, talked incessantly.
“.. and so that was marvellous,” Tracy continued. “so, Alice, darling, how goes the vampire hunting?”
“Odd,” Alice replied.
“How so? Tell me more.”
“There was this girl, Cat, who I really feel sorry for, and I just don’t want to encourage in any way… And the ‘let me drink your blood babe’ guy-
“The pig!”
“- and Vlad the Impaler, who clearly has too much free time. I’ve broken off contact with all of them. But there’s this other guy… I don’t get him. He seems really serious, and the things he says kind of make sense in some weird way.”
“Do you think you’ll learn anything from him?”
“Maybe.”
Before the conversation went any further, Andy stood up, asked if Tracy wanted a drink, then went to the bar.
As soon as he was gone, Alice leaned close to her friend.
“What the fuck are you doing with him?” she hissed into Tracy’s ear.
“He is my lover.”
“Since when?”
“Since yesterday.”
“He’s a complete bastard.”
“He’s sweet.”
“He’s the most lazy, selfish, sexist arsehole I’ve ever met.”
Tracy’s smile was like a tiger’s as she replied,” he will not be when I’ve finished with him.”
Lloyd found the girl in the bar at the stern of the ship.
He inspected her as he strolled towards her. His mind performed dozens of calculations at once.
Late teens. Six foot five. Hour glass figure. Pale skin. Dark eyes. No wedding ring. Fitted white t-shirt with red pentagram, black jeans, large boots. Listens to Heavy Metal. Maybe a pagan. .Travelling alone. Drinking lager. Still sober.
Excellent neck.
“Good evening,” he greeted her as he reached her table. “What would the lady like to drink?”
She looked him up and down as though he were an item in a sale, then locked her eyes firmly on his.
“Pardon?” she said.
“May I buy you a drink?”
“How about I buy you a drink?”
This was not going as he had planned. Never the less, he remained ice cool, sat down opposite her, leaned closer and smiled.
“How kind,” he said. “Tomato juice, please.”
“Do you not want a proper drink?”
“What ever do you mean?”
“A proper drink? Alcohol. Men drink beer.”
“No thank you, lady. I have already had enough alcohol for several life times. A tomato juice would be sufficient. Without ice. Thank you.”
She smiled in a way which he found slightly patronising, then went to the bar.
“What brings you to France?” she asked when she came back.
“I am going hunting.”
“What a coincidence, so am I.”
Alice got home in a foul mood and slightly drunk.
She put on her favourite Pear Jam CD and turned up the volume. Then she made herself a cup of tea and ate some chocolate. Still in a bad mood, she texted Sam;
“Tracy’s going out with Andy. Bitch. X”
A few minutes later he replied;
“That’s nice. Trying 2 sleep. C u tomorrow. Xx”
She finished her tea and chocolate and turned on her computer.
She reread John’s email and then replied.
“John,
No, my curiosity is not satisfied yet. You’ve not really told me anything, and what you said doesn’t made sense. Are you actually a vampire are you just some weirdo who likes blood? Do you even drink blood?
Tell me more about the past lives. Do you think you were Napoleon or what?
And no, I don’t trust you, you creepy bastard.
Alice. X”
Then she went to bed.
Lloyd and the girl spent the next few hours drinking until the ferry arrived in Calais.
“I have a hotel booked by the port, would you care to join me?” Lloyd asked her.
She tipped her head to one side in a manner which suggested serious thought, and also showed off her elegant neck.
“No thanks,” she said at last. “But I could see you tomorrow night. What’s your number.”
“Take my card,” he said, handing her a watermarked card with his name and phone number typed in italics.
“Thanks.”
She held out her hand and he took it and kissed it. Then they disembarked and went their separate ways.
