Realization and memories flood my mind once again. I’m by the river. A vampire named Harrison Chamberlin killed me. Why was I so stupid? Carol was right. My mother taught me never to be alone with a strange man. I knew better. I know better. Now, I’m dead. Am I dead? Hell, I don’t know what I am.
The bird conversation fades, replaced by the sounds of faraway laughter.“Hello?”I call. Again, nothing happens. Instead of the hollow feeling I felt earlier, my body feels…heavy. Arms and legs each feel like they weigh a million pounds, impossible to move and trapped in awkward positions. One of my legs, I’m not sure which one, is twisted behind me at an odd angle, while an arm is behind my back, locked beneath me.
Something cold touches my bare skin. It slithers down my leg, leaving wetness behind. I have no idea what, but lying in the woods of Louisiana, I can only imagine. My ears roar as I lose connection to my body once more.
I don’t know how much time passes before the sound of leaves crunching echoes through my ears, sending hope. Please let it be a person.“I’m here!”I try calling again.
The crunching crescendos until stopping next to my ear.
“You’re still here? Fancy meeting you again,” a familiar voice says. It’s the voice of my killer. The man who took my life.
“Fuck you,”I scream through my mind, using a word I’ve only muttered once before. Mother would be humiliated by my language.
“Violet, young ladies don’t use curse words. If you can’t say it with acceptable English, then don’t say it.”Her familiar words play through my mind.
“Your heart is still beating,” Harrison says, interrupting my thought. “You surprise me, little one. You’re stronger than I expected.” Something kicks my untwisted leg. “I nearly took every drop of blood from your body. Might I say, you tasted amazing. Certainlynot the best blood I’ve had but definitely in the top one hundred.” His voice sounds amused. Soft fingers slide across my cheek.
“Don’t touch me!”
“I can take the pain away, Violet. Would you like that?” He’s inches from my ear, whispering like his words are a secret. “One bite, one last drink from that divine blood of yours, and it all goes away.” He laughs softly. “You should see yourself. You look rather…broken.” He sighs. “Oh, Violet. You’ve suffered enough. Taking your life is the least I can do, really. After all, you did share yourself with me.”
“Kill me,”I silently plead.
“Or,” he says, sounding more serious than before, “you could join me…forever.”
“No.”
“Think of it, Violet. An eternity at my side. An eternity of wealth, health, and taking whatever and whoever you want. Together, we could be unstoppable.”
“No!”I scream.“No!”
“Yes. I think that’s the answer to both of our situations. I’ve been rather lonely since Penelope left. Someone to take her place is exactly what I need at the moment.” A long section of my hair is pulled from behind my head and caressed. “Your hair is quite…boring. Nothing a bottle of dye can’t fix. I hope you’re as partial to redheads as I am.”
“No!”I scream once more.“Kill me! I’d rather be lefthere at the river than spend one day at your side…let alone centuries.”
He sniffs my neck just before forcing my mouth open. I have no control over what’s being done to me. A soft tearing sound, followed by something metallic touching my tongue. The thick substance slowly runs down the back of my throat and inside my body.
“That’s it. Drink my blood. We’ll be together forever.”
“No!”I continue my mantra.“Let me die!”
More blood enters my mouth. “Keep drinking, Violet.” I don’t have the strength to fight. I don’t have the strength to do anything.
“Now, I need what’s left in you.” Sharp teeth enter my wrist, and the pain, the fear…everything goes away.
……
“Violet?” a familiar voice calls. I don’t know why it’s familiar or who it belongs to. It feels far away, yet nearby, like I’m standing in the middle of a cave, listening to ghosts call from another realm while their voices echo through the stone.
My body is on fire. Every cell, every pore, every inch of my body is alive with something other than living. The blood rushing through my veins reminds me of electrical storms I’ve watched over the river. Spidery patterns of bright light fill the sky with images of beauty. Whatever is happening to me isanything but beautiful. Inside, I feel the scurry of thousands of ants, making their way through me. I need to scratch. I need to cry…I need to scream. Instead, I’m lifeless. Still. Unable to move.
A memory of Ramona asking me to be her maid of honor plays through my mind. We’re on the playground, and it’s recess. Ramona and I are hiding behind the large oak tree that provides shade for the sandy space. It’s our favorite place to get away from everyone.
“When I grow up, I’m going to marry a prince,” I say, kicking the sand with a dirty boot.
“Violet, that’s silly. There aren’t any princes in New Orleans.”
“You don’t know that. I’m going to wear the grandest dress of all time. It’ll be so wide it will barely fit down the aisle.” I smile at the mental image. “You and my baby sister will be waiting for me at the front, along with my prince. He’s going to wear green.”
