Chapter Two
We walked for fifteen minutes before I got bored. I know that sounds stupid. Here I was, walking beside a supernatural creature that just killed a guy from my school, headed toward what could be my death, and I was tired of the scenery. This didn’t seem important as I stopped, and the vampire, who was one or two steps in front of me, turned around.
“How far are we walking here? Is this going to take much longer?”
“Actually, it’s several blocks yet. We’ll probably be walking at least a half hour before we get where we want to end up.”
I slumped. Normally I don’t mind walking, but it’s not my favorite thing. The buzz I got from what just happened was wearing off. I needed to get to the next high point, or I’d lose my nerve and spend the rest of my life regretting being too scared to follow the most interesting guy I’ve ever met. He seemed amused at my impatience.
“Well there is a faster way, but I don’t know if you’d like it.” he hinted mysteriously.
“Try me.”
He nearly laughed. He did show another grin and his smile was much nicer without the red tinge, fangs and all. Smirking, he came towards me, and when he was right next to me he bent down and scooped me into his arms.
“Wait, what are you...?” But I never got a chance to finish my sentence.
He started running. Only he didn’t run like a human does. For one, we were quickly going faster than any car I’ve ever been in, and two he seemed to be the one standing still while the world was whipping by so fast. The ride was exhilarating, the small ups and downs on an otherwise straight road made it better than a roller coaster. I looked back at my abductor, savoring the feel of his arms around my legs and back, and noticed he wore a smile on his face that matched my own. His hair flew back and I could clearly admire the sculpture of his face. He really was handsome.
A little while later we slowed and I found myself back on the ground. I was dizzy from the trip, and leaned against him for moment. I realized that although my adrenalin was back on high, I had no clue where we were. In retrospect he might have done that on purpose. As my head adjusted to the shock, he led me, bizarrely, into an old church. My strange host must have sensed my confusion, or saw it on my face, because he quickly explained.
“This is the best place to hide from fools with garlic. There are a huge number of people like that around here, but since most go by gothic thrillers they wouldn’t look for me here.”
“That makes sense. So most of that stuff isn’t true?”
“Yes. Sorry to disappoint you.” He still seemed amused.
“I knew it.” He really did laugh then. “So what is true?”
“Not a lot. Certainly not the whole ‘sacred ground’ thing, although it might bug a Christian just on principle.”
“Aren’t you Christian then?” I asked, genuinely intrigued.
“It’s hard to say. I was born before Christianity began, so it’s never really been an issue for me.”
I silently battled to remain calm when I head how old he was.
“Do you have any particular reason for not converting?” I hoped this wasn’t sounding like an interview.
“It’s hard to follow commandments when you purpose in life is to suck the blood of innocent victims.” He laughed. I was beginning to think this guy had a sick sense of humor. “Besides, I’m immortal. I won’t get to see the afterlife. Good or bad.”
I was surprised how deep he could get. It interested me, but I decided this night was dark enough, so I distracted him with something lighter.
“You haven’t told me your name.”
“Ah, yes. It’s Ambrose.”
“Perfect.”
“It means ‘Immortal’”
“Extra perfect.” Ambrose smiled and shook his head.
‘Then what’s your name?” he asked.
“Natasha.”
Surprisingly, he seemed to like my name. Before now it’s always been deemed unique at best, weird at worst.
“You have a beautiful name.” I blushed. His was much nicer. “It suits you.”
I didn’t think too hard about the double meaning, and looked around the church. There were still a dozen or so pews still inside, but only a couple in the right place. Cobwebs hung from the rafters and dust coated the stained glass. The chapel had obviously not been used in years, but Ambrose took off up a spiral staircase in the corner. I followed him up to a loft above the main sanctuary. A faded rug covered the floor, on which two cozy, if decrepit armchairs. I didn’t bother asking where he got them; since I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. The great thing was the moon light that pooled down from a hole in the roof and illuminated the area. I was so delighted I almost didn’t here Ambrose ask what I had been doing that night.
“Why?”
“If I’m right, mortals usually don’t stay out this late unless they have something to do or nowhere to go. Which is it for you?”
“Kind of both,” He laughed. “I’m serious! I have no desire to head home, and I was out clubbing with my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Ambrose repeated. I couldn’t read his expression.
“Ex. Very Ex.” I assured him, delighting when he looked relieved. “As of tonight he’s become too much trouble. We weren’t serious anyway. No connection”
I still couldn’t tell what Ambrose was thinking. I wasn’t even sure what I meant by that comment. Although, I kind of hoped he was pleased, but I was beginning to think everything pleased him
“Where do you live?” That caught me off-guard. When I hesitated too long, the fist hint of true anger crossed his face.
“You still don’t trust me do you?” he accused. “I promised I wouldn’t hurt you, and I’m bound keep my word! It’s part of being what I am!”
This was an interesting revelation, but it made me angry, him thinking I would automatically spill my guts. Plus he could be lying.
“Do you blame me? I don’t know anything about you except I just saw you kill a man.”
“He attacked me, in case you need reminding. Besides, I hadn’t eaten in weeks.”
That was just slightly too much information. He sighed.
“Look. Just before I turned, I came down with a deadly fever. I’m still not sure what I was ill with, never found anything that matched the symptoms, but even then I knew it would kill me. I was just a young man, I didn’t want to die. Becoming a vampire saved my life, and I thank every god I can name for giving me this gift.”
“What happened to the person who changed you?” I asked, watching as he turned from exalted to desperate.
“She died.” he murmured, pain singing though the words. I knew there was a story here, but Ambrose wasn’t going to tell it to me just yet.
I tried to comfort him by telling of my past bad luck in any kind of relationship. My anecdotes might not have helped, but distracting him did. Soon I was telling him about school, and how I lived with my uncle, and how I started to hang out with the group I did because they ruled the night scene. I babbled about other lighter things too. Well not airy happy stuff, but not as bad as the previous conversations. I didn’t even notice when I fell asleep. I awoke the next morning with the sun streaming through my window.
I’m ashamed to admit my first thought was not of my new companion. At first I had no clue where I was, but it finally dawned on me that I hadn’t got drunk and crashed somewhere. My neck was hurting and for a second I was sure he had bitten me after all. After further examination, much to my shame, it turned out to be a stiff neck from spending the night in a chair.
Eventually I started to wonder about Ambrose, still not sure what would happen t o him if he had dosed off like I had. He wasn’t in the loft or the basilica, but he said this was his home so I plunged down another tucked away staircase. It was pitch black down there so I had to pull out my pocket flashlight just to let my eyes to get used to the dark. When they did I saw mostly just a few crypts and a stone table surrounded by someone’s personnel effects. On the table was a body.
