Exsanguination Read online

  She disengaged herself from Nikki’s arms.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “I could eat a horse!”

  Vanessa put her arm around the girl’s shoulder and laughed. “Well, I don’t have horse but I do have cow and fish. You’re not vegan, are you?”

  “God, no.”

  “Good! C’mon.”

  “Can I go freshen up a little first?”

  “Of course!” Vanessa nodded. “Phillip, sweetheart? Would you show Nikki to her room please?”

  He returned shortly after. “What did you do to her?”

  “Is she alright?” Vanessa responded with an innocent look.

  He shrugged and frowned. “She raved about the woodwork and the big four-poster bed. What did you do?”

  “A bit of shock therapy, so to speak. Imagine a large plateau. Large enough to hold all of mankind. Almost everyone is gathered toward the centre of it. All the way on one side there’s a sparse population – fewer and fewer people as you get to the edge. Some are standing with their toes literally hanging off. They are the extreme religious zealots ready to topple. That’s where Nikki was. What I did was to pull her back and bring her a bit closer to the centre of the plateau where the average people live,” she poked him gently in the chest. “You and I are at the other end, Phillip. Never underestimate a young person and their need for speed and excitement.”

  “So no hypnosis? No nibbling?”

  She shook her head. “Of course I’ve got scads of charisma if I do say so, myself and that doesn’t hurt.”

  He heaved a sigh. “So, she’s cured?”

  “No, she may possibly backslide. I may have to take her to the far edge where we reside. Possibly multiple times.”

  “You’re not going to snack?”

  “I’ve never lied to you, Phillip, and I won’t start now. You have to realize it might be necessary. It may come down to a choice but she’s your sister and I’ll abide by your wishes whatever they may be. You could be faced with having a sister who is a religious fanatic or one who is a hedonist and loves physical pleasure. On the other hand, if I snack on her, she’s going to realize what I am and that could backfire.”

  “Thanks for putting it all on me.”

  “She is your sister, darling. Besides, I don’t see you suffering the agonies of the damned due to my snacking.”

  “You present a persuasive argument,” he sighed.

  “A skill honed over thousands of years, darling,” she smiled.

  “Well, let’s play it by ear.”

  Nikki came running into the room.

  “Do I smell horse cooking?”

  Vanessa laughed. “You smell fish and chips, little one. Much tastier.”

  As they sat down and Robert brought in the food, Nikki looked somewhat unhappy.

  “What’s wrong, Nikki?” Vanessa asked. “You look a little down.”

  The girl sighed. “I feel guilty.”

  A strong component of the Catholic faith, Vanessa mused. That and fear. “Why? Guilty about what?”

  “Enjoying those rides so much.”

  “Ah, well, let me ask you a few questions, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you think that God loves you?”

  “I know he does.”

  “And do you love Phillip?”

  “Of course! He’s my brother.”

  “Guilt makes you feel bad, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes,” she lowered her eyes.

  “Since you love Phillip, would you want him to feel bad?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Does God want you to feel bad?”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Guilt is an emotion that does nothing positive, it just causes pain. You need to try to set it aside as hard as that may be,” Vanessa held up a finger. “One of my rules – never regret.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Wine?” she hovered the bottleneck over Nikki’s glass. “It always helps to ease guilt.”

  “Okay,” Nikki smiled.

  Vanessa waited until Nikki had emptied her glass and continued.

  “What do you do in your free time, Nikki?”

  “I read, pray, listen to music sometimes.”

  “Do you enjoy reading?”

  She nodded.

  “And do you feel guilty about enjoying a book or listening to music?”

  “No, she frowned.”

  “Do you pray for world peace?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Phillip suddenly had a mental image of Vanessa as a blacksmith hammering away at a piece of glowing iron. Bam . . . bam . . . bam.

  “How many people do you think pray for that?”

  “Millions and millions, I’m sure.”

  “And how long have people been praying for it?”

  “Centuries, I guess.”

  “Nikki, do we have world peace.”

  She looked at Vanessa with an expression that bordered on being a plea for help. Vanessa gave her a sympathetic smile.

  “It’s okay to feel confused. Out of confusion comes understanding. Out of chaos comes order. Just rest your mind. I don’t wish to make you uncomfortable,” she hesitated and decided to play a hunch. “Just a couple of more questions.”

  “What?” Nikki asked timidly.

  “How long have you been a Catholic?”

  “About six months,” her tone was meek.

  “Ah,” she nodded. “How did it come about?”

  “A friend talked to me about it.”

  Vanessa nodded. “I think I know what happened. Has anyone ever tried to get you to join a club or organization, Nikki?”

  “Yeah, in college.”

  “Why do you think they did that? Maybe to validate themselves? To convince themselves that they were right in thinking it was a good thing?”

  “Possibly,” Nikki’s face looked worried. “This is really starting to mess with me.”

  “I know it is, sweetie,” She could hear Nikki’s heart rate accelerating. “It’s like taking out a splinter. It hurts but you feel better afterwards.”

  “You mean it was all B.S.?”

  Vanessa shook her head. “I wouldn’t put it that way. I would probably guess that your friend was someone who might have been lonely – maybe there weren’t a lot of others who believed as he or she did. He or she. . .”

  “She.”

  “She wanted companionship – someone to join her club who she could talk with. It’s sad, but sometimes people talk others into doing things or believing in something just so they can feel some kind of kinship. Did you feel a strong connection to God before she talked with you?”

  “No . . . nothing.”

  “Were you feeling lonely or left out before she spoke with you?”

  Nikki nodded. “A little.”

  “It’s okay to go back, Nikki. Religion is something that many people get into so they don’t have to think or make their own decisions. Remember when you called me an evil, loose woman?”

  “Yes,” she started to tear up. “I’m really sorry.”

  Vanessa held up her hand and shook her head. “You were just parroting what you thought your religion would say. Not your fault, sweet one.”

  Nikki’s lip curled in anger and she brought her fist down on the table, rattling glasses. “Damn that bitch, Beverly!” she growled.

  Job done, Vanessa thought to herself.

  “I guess she’s is the one who talked you into taking up Catholicism?”

  “That bitch!” Nikki responded to Vanessa.

  “Religion is like a corset that’s laced far too tightly. If you’re accustomed to it for long enough, it doesn’t feel right when you take it off, but it hampers and injures you in so many ways. Fortunately, you only had that corset on for a few months. Trust me, you’ll never miss it and you’re far healthier for removing it.”

  Nikki grabbed the bottle and poured another glass of wine. “I was programmed, wasn’t I?”

&nb
sp; “That you were,” Vanessa said softly.

  “I’m going to kill her.”

  “Don’t do that, little one. As gratifying as you might find it, the authorities frown on it.”

  “Well then, I’ll beat the crap out of her.”

  “That too. Besides, think about it. What if, when you were saying those things about me, I started slapping you? Would it have helped either of us? Trust me, there are times when vengeance or violence is warranted, but not for the little things.”

  Nikki looked at her in amazement. “How did you get so . . .?

  “Wise?” Vanessa widened her eyes and chuckled. “It takes years but don’t let it fool you. There are times I knowingly do the most foolish of things because I just can’t help myself.”

  Phillip was looking at Vanessa in disbelief. “How did you do that?” he whispered. “You deprogrammed my sister in fifteen minutes!”

  Vanessa smiled at him and shrugged. “Just know it’s done.”

  He turned to Nikki. “You feel different?”

  “Fuckin’ A!” she exclaimed. So it’s like I was in a cult?”

  “All religions are cults, dear,” Vanessa responded. “They differ only in size.”

  “So, is there a God?” she looked at Vanessa intensely.

  She tilted her head. “I really don’t know but, to tell the truth, sometimes I find myself thanking him when something wonderful befalls me. A habit I picked up somewhere, I suppose,” she winked at Phillip and then turned back to Nikki.

  “Want to go clubbing?”

  “Really?” Nikki seemed excited at the prospect.

  Vanessa changed into a black leather miniskirt with a chain mail top and called a cab. Soon they were on their way to London proper.

  “Does it have to be that place?” Phillip complained.

  “Yep,” Vanessa replied and then looked at Nikki. “We’re going to a Goth club. Do you always wear clothes like that?”

  Nikki stuck her finger down her throat. “Just during my Catholic period which, in retrospect, was worse than my regular one.”

  “Too much information, sister,” Phillip rolled his eyes.

  “Well,” Vanessa nodded, “if it’s not sunny tomorrow we’ll get you some new stuff.”

  “What’s the sun got to do with it?”

  “I’m a bit photosensitive, my dear.”

  “Wait . . . we’re going to a Goth club and you’re photosensitive? Are you like a vampire?”

  “Phillip closed his eyes and wished he could close his ears.”

  “Uh huh,” Vanessa replied, smiling.

  “No you’re not,” Nikki scoffed and laughed. “I haven’t seen any fangs.”

  “Sometimes appearances deceive,” she said with a wink and wrinkled her nose.

  Nikki got right into things, taking to the dance floor immediately, laughing with a drink in her hand high above her head.

  “Well,” Phillip sighed, “you think she’s going to be okay now?”

  Vanessa nodded. “Definitely. She’s become the other sort of Catholic.”

  “There’s more than one kind?”

  “There’s the ex or lapsed Catholic who harbours nothing but animosity toward the religion. Those are actually the most vehement anti-Catholics.”

  After two or three drinks and as many dances with Vanessa, Phillip looked around the dance floor and became alarmed.

  “Where’s Nikki?”

  “I don’t know. I thought you were keeping an eye on her.”

  They looked at each other in horror and, at the same time, said: “Antoine!”

  Rushing over to the bar, they located him. Before either could speak, he held up his hand. “I don’t even want a drink. I want nothing to take this flavour from my lips.”

  “Where is she, Antoine?” Phillip barked.

  “On the sofa in the back,” he responded drunkenly.

  They rushed to the back room where Nikki was sprawled out on a couch. Phillip ran to her side and pressed his fingers against her neck.

  “Oh God! I’m getting no pulse!”

  Without hesitation, Vanessa yelled “Move!” and shoved Phillip away from her. She took a deep breath and sank her fangs into her own wrist.

  “Open her mouth, Phillip.”

  He did so. “What are you doing?”

  “Saving her life,” she said flatly as she began to dribble her blood into Nikki’s mouth. After a moment, Nikki moved, her lips making smacking sounds.

  “Thank God, she’s alive!”

  “Don’t be too grateful.”

  “Why?”

  “I saved her in the only possible way I could. I turned her. Your sister is now a vampire. Stay with her,” Vanessa ran from the room, reached the dance floor, and yelled. “I need a donor in the back room! Stat!”

  Several people ran up and Vanessa grabbed the girl in black makeup who was yelling. “Me! Take me!”

  “You’ll do,” Vanessa led her into the room and up to the sofa where Nikki was now sitting up with half open eyes, looking quite disoriented.

  Vanessa looked at the volunteer. “You’ll remember nothing of this.” Then she whispered in Nikki’s ear.

  “Feed.”

  Nikki’s eyes went wide and she lunged forward. Phillip could actually see her fangs extending and then sinking into the girl’s neck. Nikki began to suck voraciously. Phillip caught a glimpse of his sister’s eyes. They were glowing red and he wondered if Vanessa’s did the same when she fed on him. When she judged the limits of safety had been reached, Vanessa pulled Nikki back.

  “Let’s get her home.”

  As they passed the bar, Vanessa yelled: “Antoine! I’ll have you before the Council for this and, if they don’t take your head, I will!”

  VI

  Vanessa carried Nikki from the cab into the house and then upstairs to a bedroom. Laying her on the bed, she watched as the girl moaned in pleasure, smiling. Vanessa lightly patted her cheek.

  “Nikki. Come on, Nikki, wake up.”

  “Mmm,” she suddenly sat bolt upright, her head snapping from Phillip to Vanessa and back.

  “What happened?”

  “What do you remember, sweetie?”

  “Oh,” she grinned, “Antoine. He said he wanted to nibble my neck. God, it felt unbelievable!”

  “He nibbled it alright. He drained so much of your blood that you were dead.”

  “Oh, God, and now I’m okay?” her brow furrowed in confusion.

  “I had to turn you to save your life. I’m sorry there was no opportunity for you to give your consent.”

  She shot Vanessa a sceptical grin. “Turn me? Like into a vampire?” she laughed.

  “Phillip, go get a mirror from the room next door.”

  He returned in a moment and held it up in front of his sister. Her jaw dropped and she screamed.

  “No! No! This isn’t possible! There are no such things! Wait! I remember! Did I bite someone? Oh my God! Oh my God!” she panicked.

  Vanessa nodded. “And drank almost a quart of her blood.”

  Nikki was wide-eyed with horror. She ran her tongue over her upper teeth.

  “My teeth!”

  “Those are your fangs, dear,” she took a deep breath. “Welcome to the most exclusive club in the world. Now, shut up, close your eyes and tell me what you hear.”

  Nikki shut her eyes and slowly began to smile. “Phillip! I can hear your heart! It’s beating very fast. Vanessa, yours is terribly slow and mine is too. There’s some kind of animal sniffing around outside the house. Oh, my God! This is real?” she continued smiling.

  “It’s real. I’m going to guide you through early days. This room has covered windows. You’re going to be quite sensitive to sunlight for a little while. If it’s overcast, you’ll just find it rather uncomfortable. I’ll take you out tomorrow night if you’re up for it. If you’re not, you can feed on Phillip.”

  “My brother? Ewww! That’s just wrong!”

  “Damned right it is,” he butted in,
frowning.

  “Okay, my head is clearing up. I want to go downstairs and have a bite of regular food if that’s ok.”

  “If you feel up for it,” Vanessa helped her to her feet and she wobbled a bit before steadying. They began walking downstairs, finally sitting at the table in the dining room.

  “I can’t believe this. Earlier I was ranting on and on about God and what he was telling me and now I’m the epitome of evil,” she giggled.

  “We’re neither evil nor good, no more so than humans are. We make our own decisions and are responsible to ourselves.”

  “You always seem to make things sound right and sensible, Vanessa.”

  “Stay put and I’ll get you a sandwich.”

  They sat at the table and Nikki looked at her brother. “I’m sorry I botched everything up like this, Phil.”

  He smiled. “Not your fault, kid. It just happened, that’s all.”

  “I know it’s sick but . . . if I was hungry, would you feed me?”

  Phillip let out a long-suffering sigh. “Yes, of course I would but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  “Well, when I get home, I’m gonna visit Sarah and turn her. I want to see her fangs pop out when she takes communion in church.”

  “You can’t go home,” Vanessa walked in with a sandwich on a plate.

  “Huh? Why not?”

  “You don’t have the skills, knowledge, or strength to make it on your own. There’s little likelihood that you’d survive. What if a woman gave birth and left the baby on the street or in a dumpster? How long would it last?”

  “Wow,” she frowned. “That bad, huh?”

  “Exactly why you’d die in short order – you don’t have enough information yet.”

  She seemed to brighten. “Well, on balance, England seems like a nice place.”

  They laughed at that.

  She ran her fingers over her eyes and lips. “Since I can’t see myself anymore, how do I put on makeup?” she frowned. “How do you do it?”

  “Mine is tattooed on,” Vanessa smiled.

  “That’s what I want! Tattooed eye makeup and lips.”

  Vanessa gave her a reassuring smile. “Of course but, before you do, let me do your makeup for a while. Phillip can photograph you with his mobile and you can see how it looks before deciding on something permanent.”

  “I want mine to be just like yours!”