Bite, p.32
Bite, page 32
“Okay. Have fun,” she responds and gives me a kiss. I smile and quickly run out the glass doors.
Ever since being with Gina, I decided to try to give up feeding on humans since I know it bothers her. It’s not as satisfying as the good stuff but animal blood is all I try to feed on now. Every now and then I’ll get donated blood from the blood bank that Evan makes sure to keep stocked in the fridge but I want to get to a point where there would be no more hunting humans for me at all.
I run towards the woods where I know a few deer have been spotted and as I get ready to pounce on a huge buck, a breeze blows in my direction. I take a deep breath and inhale a delicious scent that has the venom in my body going wild. I know it is human blood but something about the scent makes me shift in the direction the breeze is blowing it from. I know I shouldn’t even entertain the thought of hunting whoever it is but something takes over me and I start to run in that direction and when I finally get to the source, I stop.
I end up at a mall during closing and I spot a young woman heading for her car. She’s talking on her cell phone while fumbling around for her car keys. The breeze blows again and her scent hits me more strongly than before. I feel my fangs grow and the urge to take all her blood seems to overcome every thought in my mind. I try to turn away but something inside me pushes me forward and with every breath I take, the scent of her blood becomes stronger and stronger until I’m practically drooling. Everything around me seems to disappear until her blood and my thirst feels like those are the only two things that exist. Caving in, I finally start to walk towards her and when she finally reaches her car, I emerge out of the bushes and say, “Hello.”
Startled, she looks at me and says, “Hi.”
I smile as I say, “I didn’t mean to scare you.” I move forward while staring at her and I start to use my influence on her to put her in a trance. When I’m inches from her, I softly ask, “Do you want to take a walk with me?”
“Sure,” she says softly and follows me as we disappear back into the woods. When I feel we’re deep enough, I turn to face her and see she’s still under my influence. I pull her closer to me and staring at her neck I can almost see her blood flowing through her veins. I can’t take it any longer; I sink my fangs deep into her neck and I feel a rush take over me as her blood flows down my throat.
The moment I start feeding, I feel Charlie trying to contact me but I ignore him. I continue drinking the blood and I feel this strange sensation take over my body. I suck as hard as I can to be sure that I get every drop and after the blood is drained, I toss the body aside. As I stare at the girl, the blood streams through me and this feeling of euphoria washes over me. I haven’t felt this way in ages and I want to go find another human to feed on to keep this feeling going. In fact, I want to find several humans and fill my body with so much blood that I feel like I’m going to burst. But something is telling me to stop so I shrug my shoulders and proceed to head for the house. The closer I get, I begin to feel like myself again and I stop in my tracks when I realize what I’ve done. I killed a human and then tossed her aside like she was a rag doll. I’ve killed humans before but I try to at least lay them down on the ground to give them a little respect but her I treated her like she was a piece a garbage that I just threw aside. I didn’t even look in her mind to see if she was married or if she had any children or anyone she would be leaving behind. At that moment, she was nothing but food.
Just then Evan appears and I stop and ask, “Was Charlie trying to contact me?”
“Yes. When he couldn’t reach you, he sent me to find you. Are you okay?”
“No.” The image of how I drank the girl play before my eyes and I wince as I whisper, “Evan I did something.”
“I know Sam. Where is the body?” I point in the direction of where I left her and he says, “Okay I’ll take care of it. Charlie is waiting for you. And something is wrong with Gina.”
That snaps me out of my self-pity instantly. I tense up and my gaze slightly hardens as I ask, “What happened?”
“Just hurry and get to the house.”
I run and in no time I’m home. As soon as I arrive, I run over to Gina and ask, “Are you okay?”
She has a look of fear in her eyes and she replies, “Sam, what have you done?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why don’t you tell us? Why didn’t you respond to me when I was calling you,” Charlie asks as he hurries over to me and I cringe from the way he is looking at me. “Gina felt something happen when you were feeding. She was describing what you were doing but it wasn’t totally clear to her. But it apparently got her upset.”
I look at her and put my arm around her and say, “Since we’re now connected, this was the first time she’s felt me as I was feeding. She just got a little freaked out that’s all.” Charlie looks to argue further but I just turn to face Gina and ask, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine.”
“Where’s Mark?”
“He went home. Joseph and David dropped him off. Sam, are you sure you’re okay?”
I’m far from okay but I don’t want to worry her so I just smile as I reply, “Yes I’m fine.”
A few days go by and I’m still bothered by my slip up. I couldn’t understand what made me feed on that human in the cruel manner that I did or even want to hunt her in the first place. I know changing my diet is going to be a challenge but I’ve been doing okay since I know it makes Gina happy. But that night nothing in the world could have kept me away. The thirst was just too intense and I had to have that human’s blood and worse yet, I enjoyed every drop without any remorse.
Gina is out with her friends so I’m using the time to rethink what happened and try to figure out a way to make sure that never transpires again.
It is a beautiful sunny day so since I’m home alone, I decide to sit outside so the sun will numb me. Since no one else is around, I don’t want to take any chances on the thirst coming on that strong again with no one here to help me. While I stare up at the sky, I feel his presence as he enters the house and without looking up I say, “Hello brother. Finally back from your date from last night?”
“Yes. Marcy was quite the tiger,” Charlie replies with a wicked smirk.
“I’m sure she was,” I respond dryly.
He chuckles a bit and then in a calm tone he asks, “How was your evening?”
I hear the inflection in his voice so I jump up while answering, “If you’re wondering if I went on a feeding frenzy and killed anyone then no my evening was quite boring. Oh and thank you for having the others watch me so closely. Maybe you could teach them how not to be so evident while keeping an eye on me next time.”
I didn’t mean to sound so bitter because I know Charlie and the others mean well. I’m more frustrated with myself for allowing my weakness to get the best of me to the point that I need babysitting in the first place.
“It might not be a weakness but something worse that could be happening here,” Charlie answers my thoughts. I sigh as he whispers, “It’s quite possible that the venom is starting to react because Ursela could finally be waking up.”
The moment he says her name, I freeze. I didn’t want to give that bitch not one thought but I knew this day would eventually come. Ursela waking up will only be nothing but trouble because I know for sure she’ll hunt me down to punish me for what I’ve done. I look at him gravely as I ask, “Do you really think that?”
“It’s the only thing that would make sense but we need to be sure. It’s been awhile and she’s about due to curse us with her presence.”
I mull over his words and I know in my cold heart that Charlie is right which means only one thing. “How will this affect Gina?”
“Well you marked her so she has your venom or I guess Ursela’s venom in her.”
I wince as I ask, “Does that put her in danger?”
Charlie hesitates but says, “I’ve never heard of a human that was marked with Ursela’s venom so I don’t know what will happen Sam. But my guess would be yes. Gina could be in serious danger if Ursela comes looking for you here.”
I let out a growl but I want to kick myself for marking Gina with this venom that’s inside me. How could I have been so stupid? Or better yet, how could I have been so selfish? Because that’s what I am selfish, I wanted her and I wanted every other vampire out there to know that she belonged to me so I just marked her without giving it a second thought. But my selfishness has put Gina in danger and I have to do the right thing to protect her.
“I’ll leave. When Ursela wakes up, I’ll leave so she won’t come here looking for me,” I say while hating the idea. I don’t want to be apart from her but if Ursela comes to Long Island, Gina will be caught in the crossfire. I can’t let that happen. Leaving will be hard but I know it is the right thing to do; it will keep Gina out of danger.
Charlie is shaking his head as he says, “Nope that won’t work Sam. Knowing our friend Tanya, she’s probably been spreading the word that you have a human so I’m sure once Ursela wakes up, she’ll know and immediately come to track down Gina knowing that would lure you back. Leaving Gina alone would be the worst of all ideas brother.”
“Then what do you have me do,” I roar as my frustration builds.
Charlie remains calm and replies, “Well leaving her human is making Gina vulnerable so maybe you could change her completely so she would at least have a chance against Ursela.”
I shake my head, as I say, “Can’t do that yet I want her to finish school and graduate first. You know if I change her now, she’ll have to stay away from everyone she loves for awhile and I want her to be able to enjoy her last year in college.”
He gives me a questionable glance as he asks, “You’re still not sure if you can do it yet huh?”
I cringe which answers his question. I still didn’t know if I would be able to change her. To do it successfully takes a lot of concentration and I will need to hold on longer than when I marked her so I will taste more of her blood and that would make it harder for me to let go. I don’t want Gina to die due to my lack of control. Even though she has my mark, her blood is still intoxicating and I want to be sure I can stop when I’m supposed to. I reply, “I just want to be sure that I can change her without accidentally killing her.”
Joseph enters before Charlie has a chance to respond and he has a worried look on his face but he nonchalantly stands by the glass doors. Curious, I’m about to walk over to him when out of nowhere it hits me.
What is up with all these breezy days we’re having? A strong one blows inside the house and the scent it brings in is just as good the one from a few days ago. I feel the burn beginning to build in my throat and it is an urge unlike anything I felt before. It’s even stronger than the one I encountered when I fed off that human at the mall. I begin to savor the slow burn that builds in my throat and I feel my fangs grow to their full length. I start to head outside but Charlie yells at Joseph, “Don’t let him go out!”
Looking at me he asks Charlie, “How far do you want me to go?”
“As far as you need to take it!”
Joseph nods and I see his eyes getting red and his fangs grow as well as he prepares to fight me to keep me from leaving the house. I give him a menacing glare as I roar to Charlie, “Tell him to move now! I don’t want to hurt him but I will if he doesn’t get out of my way!”
“Can’t do that Sam,” Charlie replies.
I look at Joseph who is ready to fight me and say, “Just move aside Joseph!” He slowly shakes his head and I growl, “I will have no problem moving you myself!”
He smirks as he says, “I know you’ve been dying to get back at me so let’s settle this now and get it over with!”
I ease up slightly because I wasn’t expecting to hear that from him. Did he really think I want to attack him for what nearly happened with Gina? Didn’t he know that even though I’m still a bit angry about it, he is still my friend and I wouldn’t let my anger take me that far? I try to analyze it but my throat is burning and the need for human blood is increasing. Charlie is trying to get me to focus so I can calm down but my thirst is blocking him out. I move forward ready to knock Joseph out the way when I feel my body being slammed to the floor. I hear David say to me in my ear, “Easy Sam. You better calm down buddy because we’re not letting you go out there like this.”
And that finally curbs my mood and as quickly as it started, the urge suddenly fades away. I look around in a daze trying to figure out why I’m ready to fight one I consider a brother just so I can go out to feed. When David feels that I am calm, he lets me up and I quietly say, “I’m sorry for that. I don’t know why I behaved like that. Joseph please forgive me. No matter what you think, I do not want to fight you.”
Joseph stares at me for a moment but says softly, “It’s okay Sam.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening to me. Maybe what you said Charlie is accurate. Maybe Ursela is waking up and that’s why I’m freaking out lately.”
Just as Charlie is about to respond, the front door opens and Gina yells, “Hello! What’s up guys?”
The moment the scent of her blood fills the room; I feel David grab me and pull me outside while Charlie races over to her and throws his shield around them. I hear David and Joseph trying to calm me down again as Gina looks in horror while crying out, “What the hell is going on here?”
One Hell of a Bite
(Charlie)
I never realize how strong Gina is as I struggle to hold her so she doesn’t go running to Sam. Looking at him I stare in horror as I see his eyes glowing an emerald green and his fangs grow to the longest I’ve ever seen them. Watching him, my fears are confirmed and I know what is happening to my brother. Ursela is getting ready to wake up soon and her venom is trying to regain control over my brother’s mind.
After watching David finally get Sam under control, I turn to Gina and say, “Are you okay?”
“No,” she says while pouting. “I want to know what the hell is going on with Sam. Why are you keeping me from him and why are David and Joseph outside wrestling with him?”
I sigh with sympathy for her because we never explained the whole truth to her. Sam told me she asked how we became vampires but he never told her the story. He always tries to protect her from things that seem too scary but I feel differently about it. I know Gina can handle hearing the truth. And since this affects her too, it is time for her to discover who we really are and how we were given this curse.
When Sam finally calms down and once David and Joseph see that he’s really okay, they let him come back into the house. With a wretched expression on his face, he says, “I’m okay Charlie. I’m under control now.” He looks at Gina with heavy remorse in his eyes as he says, “Gina I am so sorry. Please forgive me.”
I finally feel comfortable with his mood so I let her go and she runs over to him and says, “Sam you didn’t do anything wrong. At least I didn’t see you do anything. But I don’t understand why Charlie wouldn’t let me go over to you.” He doesn’t respond and her concern grows. She takes his face into her hands while murmuring, “Something is definitely going on and I hate being out of the loop. Sam please tell me. What’s happening to you?”
“I think it’s time we tell Gina the story Sam,” I say and knowing that he can no longer keep it from her, he just nods.
“Why don’t you tell it,” he asks.
“Sure no problem,” I respond with a tired grin.
He leads Gina over to the couch and they both sit down. She looks at me and asks, “What story are you talking about? Are you finally going to tell me how you became a vampire?”
I nod as Sam replies, “Charlie is going to tell you love since I don’t have the heart to tell it myself. But yes you are finally going to know what happened to us.”
Her eyes grow wide with excitement and curiosity but she contains herself. She makes herself comfortable and gives me an encouraging smile as she says, “Okay Charlie, you have my undivided attention.”
I sigh as I begin, “Okay so you want to know how we became vampires?”
“Yes,” she replies with eagerness in her eyes.
“Well it’s not pleasant but here it is.”
As I speak, the whole memory begins to replay in my head. I go back to May 24, 1864 the day of Sam’s twenty-first birthday. I couldn’t wait for this day because I’ve been looking forward to taking my baby brother out for his first official drink practically since the day he was born. I tried all day to contain myself as we spent it with our parents and through the dinner our mother had prepared for him. It almost felt like torture as the dinner conversation droned on about pointless details that we should be concerned about for our futures. Once dinner was finally over, I was excited because now it was my time with the birthday boy. Our father wanted to tag along but I was able to convince him to let me have some alone time with my brother. Besides, if a couple of good looking women came into the bar, we wouldn’t have stood a chance trying to hit on them with Daddy on our backs. So we were out the door and we headed to the local bar in our Boston neighborhood where Bill the owner had a bottle of his finest whisky waiting for us. Sam’s never drank anything that strong before and he was ready to just have a few beers and call it a night. But I wouldn’t hear it.
