The moon could be seen through my curtains. The little white table under the window is bathed in moonlight. I watched in growing fear how the moon suddenly became black. It was as if the darkness had swallowed the moon. I shut my eyes tight, trying to ignore the sound of my window being slowly opened. The hinges squeaked loudly; I shuddered under my blankets and kept my eyes sealed shut. Then, the soft breathing of someone, something that stood in my room. Whatever it was it just stood and breathed, with the wind howling through the window it had left open. I slowly opened my eyes, dreading what I would see.
Nothing.
I sat up in my bed, ready for anything.
Nothing stood in my room. I sighed, letting my guard down. My eyes fell onto the green blanket at the edge of my bed. I chose the blanket to stare at and I got lost in thought. This is what my mind does to me at night. I hate it! I have horrible dreams that are never real. But they always seem so real to me. I feel every emotion, every pain that happens within them. They scare me. Some mornings I wake up screaming, my mom on the bed next to me, trying for hours to wake me up. I shivered. Why? Why me? I hate what happens to...long fingers ran through my hair. One finger came to an end piece of hair and twirled it around like my mom used to do to me when I was little. My thoughts froze. I could feel my pulse getting faster; A steady, beating drum.
“Your hair is so beautiful.” came a males voice from behind me. It was laden with authority, wonder, and mystery. I breathed nice and slowly, in an attempt let my blood stop pounding in my ears.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice squeaking with leftover fear. Why did I ask that? I know who it is. He is in my dreams. It's Alexander Darkblood.
“My name is Alexander...”
“Darkblood.” I whispered, my voice suddenly shaking.
“Um...yes,” Alex said in a surprised tone. “So it is true. You do know. Do you know what I am?”
I gulped. Why did this have to happen to me?
“You are a Rakshan or, in other words, a vampire.”
I still could not see his face, for he is still behind me. I wish I could because I would feel a hell of a lot safer with his teeth where I can see them. I could feel his breathing on my neck get hotter. I began to hyperventilate. His hands softly touched my neck.
No! I swirled around in my bed and saw nothing. Where did he go? Could he be just a figure of my imagination?
“Don't be like that Klair.”
I gasped and turned towards the window again. He stood in the moonlight. It washed over his features like silver water. He wore a black cape that covered his clothing. His dark brown hair is pulled up into a ponytail. His black eyes connected with mine for a split second, then I glanced away, his gaze unsettling me.
“What do you want Alex? And how do you know my name?” I asked, surprised by the way my voice did not shake like before. I waited for his answer. He would probably not tell me how he knows my name. I better just accept it.
Silence.
“I need you to come with me,” He said. “I need you to follow.”
My heart seemed to stop. All of my thoughts went blank. “Why?” I whispered, afraid to hear the answer.
“Just do it. Get up and come with me.”
“And if I do not wish to leave?”
“Then I will signal my men that are ready to bite your mother and sister to go ahead and carry out the order. Then, I will force you to come with me.” He told me very, very, seriously.
“I have seen this night before in my dreams. In the first one I refused to come with you and you killed them, then forced me away. In the second one, I chose to come with you and you killed them anyways. I would rather go by choice and let them die than go by force and let them die. It is what mother would want.”
I saw Alexander frown.
“I will let you pass on this one. I will give you one day to say good bye. Tomorrow night at Twelve O'clock, I will expect you to be ready,” He said.
He climbed gracefully out the window and then turned back to me and looked me in the eye. He smiled, showing his glistening white fangs.
“If you or your mom and sister are not here, you will be severely punished,” Alexander warned me mercilessly. “You may bring extra clothing if you wish.”
Then he jumped out into the dark night.
***
“Klair!” Mom called from downstairs. “Come on down, it is time for breakfast!”
“I'll be right there mom!” I called back. I remembered Alexanders visit from the night before. How could he kill them? How could he kill such an innocent family without so much as a single hesitation? Tears swelled up in my eyes. I got dressed and flew down the stairs into the kitchen. I ran into my Mom and hugged her as hard as I could. Tears flowed out of my eyes.
How could he! How could he do this to me!
“Well, Klair. Good morning to you too. What is this all about?” Mom said, genuinely surprised.
“Just hug me mom, please, I need it.”
“Okay, okay. Hold on just a second.”
She set down her pan of bacon and put her arms around me. I cried even harder. I buried my face in her shirt and I could suddenly hear her heartbeat. I thought about how tonight it would not be beating anymore. How it would be forever quiet like a muted radio. I screamed out loud.
“Curse you Alexander! Curses on you!”
“Klair! What are you saying that for?” Mom exclaimed in horror.
I was at a loss for words for a moment. “Its a boy that I hate in school.”
“Never use the word hate, Klair. It is a powerful word. It is word that can kill a soul if used in the smallest of ways. It can make others never speak to you again. It can make others fill with sadness and grief. Do not use that word for your own sake and others around you.”
I nodded. I will miss her wise sayings that always help in my times of need. I looked up into her eyes. They showed love, compassion, grace and a small spark of worry. It flashed across her face for a split second. Then her face became normal, loving again. She smiled at me. I smiled back as my tears ceased to flow.
“Thanks Mom. I love you so much.”
“Your welcome honey. Go get your sister and lets eat!”
***
The phone rang while I lay on the couch painting my nails bright green. I reached across the coffee table in the middle of the room for the phone and looked at the screen. It said: Dad 585-283-7900.
I yelped in surprise. Dad is away on a business trip! He rarely calls us during them.
“Dad is on the phone!” I screamed to Rosemary and Mom.
I eagerly turned on the phone.
“Dad? Is it really you?”
“Klair! You do not know how good it is to hear your voice!”
“Hi, Daddy!” Rosemary yelled into the phone.
“Both my little babies! What a surprise! How are you two doing?”
“Great dad. We all miss you a lot.” I exclaimed. Tears started to fill my eyes. I cannot let them hear me crying! That would be so humiliating. I turned back to my nails, letting Rose talk for a while.
“Yeah, what Klair said.”
“Well, that is just awesome. How is school?”
“Daddy! Guess what?” Rose said, tripping over her words.
“What?”
“I am the student of the month!”
“Oh, my gosh! Wow! Honey, how did that happen?”
“Well, first, I have good grades in all my classes, I am nice to new kids, I play kind on the playground and I helped put up decorations for the book fair last week!”
“Wow. I am so proud! How was your tip to Grandmas last weekend?”
“Oh, it was so great! We played Chinese checkers and we fed the kitties and pigs! Also, as a surprise, Grandma let me ride her horse! It was so fun! The horse, Chestnut, she was so bouncy . Her tail was pretty too! And every time a fly would buzz near her head, I would swat it away! I had a great time with Grandma!”
“That's good.”
“Daddy? I...um...have something to tell you.”
I perked up from where I sat on the couch.
“What is it Rosie?”
“Um...I sort of...got mad at school. And I..um...I slapped Harold on the cheek. I am not allowed to go outside all this week and I have to apologize to him in front of the whole class.”
“I...well...thats a first,” Dad stuttered, stunned at what Rose said. I accidentally dropped my nail polish onto the floor when Rose said that. How could my little sister do that? “Do you understand that is unacceptable? Your mother and I have told you two over and over again to never use physical touch as a way to get out anger. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Daddy. But he called me a retard! And..um...he also said my hair is ugly and flat.”
“Rosie. You know you are not a retard and your hair is beautiful!”
“It's too red! It doesn't match my blue eyes. I look like a freak!”
“Do not say that about yourself! You are beautiful! No matter what other people say or do, you are you. And being you is good. That is all that matters. Okay?”
“Okay, thanks Daddy. Oh, I have to watch my show now, bye. I love you!”
“I love you too Rosie.”
Rose clicked off.
“She talks too much. Hey Dad?
“Yeah, Klair?”
“Um...what would you say if I told you I would not be here when you came home?”
“Now why would you say that?” Dad asked suddenly suspiciously.
I shouldn't tell him. It would break his heart. He is too emotionally compromised to handle this right now (Aunt Mabel just had a stroke, she's in the hospital.). I'm sorry Dad. I am so, so sorry.
“No reason. You want to talk to Mom?”
“Sure, Klair, I love you. Okay?”
I smiled. A single tear fell off my cheek onto the tan sofa. “Okay. Love you too.”
***
Mom, Rose and I sat down at the dinner table. We held hands while mom prayed.
“Thank you for this wonderful food, Amen.”
We all served ourselves. We are having Moms famous lemon chicken, corn bread and really good snow peas. I ate slowly as to drag on my last dinner with my family. The flowers, I think daffodils, on the table made the dining room smell really good. The chicken made it smell even better. I watched the leaves fall outside on the patio. The rug under the table felt soft on my bare feet. I laughed when Mom said she hates her job.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Every grownup hates their job, Mom,” I said between laughs. She is the manager of the new Wendy's on South Brick Avenue.
Mom smiled. “I guess you are right. Rose? You seem awfully quiet tonight.”
I stopped laughing and looked at Rose. She has been quiet. In fact, she hasn't spoken since she spoke with Dad this afternoon.
“Rose?”
“I just have a really bad feeling about tonight okay? I just know something bad is gonna happen. I can feel it. You can too Klair, cant you?”
She looked at me in a creepy way. It is as if she knows about my encounter with Alexander. Mom looked at me expectantly.
I sighed. “Yes, I can feel it too.”
“Girls, why don't we stop being tense and just eat.”
“See Mom! You never care about what I have to say! It is always calm this, calm that, or we can do this. Well, maybe tonight, for once, maybe we cant do it!” Rose yelled. She flew up from her chair and ran to the door of the living room. She paused.
“I'm scared,” Then she continued upstairs to her room and mom and I could hear her slam her door. Hard.
Oh, my, gosh. Rose really feels strongly about tonight. You know what? She should. She should feel no obligation not to feel fear. Every person has fear. It just depends on how we show it. Obviously, she shows it with anger. Mom, I don't know. She shows it with calmness and peace. Which is weird to me. I do not see how she does it. Let alone control her fear that much. Fear is part of what makes humans what they are. The expressing of fear makes humans what they seem to be, not are.
Mom got up.
I stood and blocked her path upstairs. “Let me Mom. I can relate to her more. She gets mad so easily. One moment she is happy the next...poof! She is screaming and crying at the top of her lungs. Don't you think you going up there will just make her more mad?”
She sighed and looked longingly towards the stairs. “Okay, go ahead. Tell her I am sorry for misunderstanding her feelings.”
“I will Mom, don't worry.”
I headed up the stairs towards Rose's room.
I hesitated before knocking on her door. Her sobs were clear through the dark wood.
“Rose? Can I come in?”
“Uh, huh.”
I opened the door and saw Rose lying face down on her bed. Her loud sobs sopped. I took a quick glance around her room. Pink walls and Barbie dolls met my eyes. I hate pink. It is such a horrible color. Too bright and, well, too girly. I sat down next to Rose.
“Mom didn't know.”
“I know. It just makes me so mad when she acts so calm all the time! It totally infuriates me!” She yelled into her pillow.
“I can see that. Uh, I mean..it isn't obvious at all!”
She looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy from crying. Her tears ceased. “Even when I am distressed, you fit sarcasm in somewhere.”
I smiled. “That's what I do.”
“It's a wonder how you made me stop crying. It must be so easy for you.”
“No. It isn't easy. Half the time I wish I was you.”
She gasped. “Why!”
“Oh, I don't know. It just looks easy being young.”
Rose stared at me. “Really?”
The edges of my mouth twitched. “Yeah, really,” I giggled.
Rose laughed. “Liar!”
“No, I am so serious!” I laughed along with her.
“But you get guys. They call you 'sexy' in school,” she said as she became serious again.
“Don't worry, it will come to you someday,” I lied. I held back sudden tears. They felt hot in my eyes. “Come on, lets go downstairs.”
***
I kissed Mom on the cheek. I smiled and hugged Rose. Then, I headed to my room to pack for Alexander. The black suitcase came out from under the dusty bed. I blew off all the excess dust and dirt. I chose my favorite indigo blue cotton shirt and two pairs of jeans along with two other everyday shirts and my pajama top and bottom. I threw in my black lace dress, just in case. Next came my extra pair of sneakers and my red high heels. The whole box of my earrings and necklaces got thrown in too. Lastly came a white hoodie, a green sweater and my tan winter coat. There, finished. I threw on a red tank top with my purple sweater and a pair of brown sweatpants. I set my sneakers by the side of my bed, ready to slip on when Alexander came. I also set out my favorite purse on the little white table under my window.
Then, I laid down to sleep.
***
A couple hours later I awoke to a whisper in my left ear.
“Ready, Klair?” Alexander whispered.
I opened my eyes, his face inches from mine. His eyes stared into mine, hiding something, wanting something. I gasped. Then, I sat up and threw off the blankets. I leaned over, grabbed my sneakers and hastily put them on. I climbed out of bed and took my suitcase. I glanced at my bookshelf and quickly grabbed a book. Then I turned to Alexander.
“Ready.”
I followed him to the window and grabbed my purse, throwing the book in. Alex climbed out of the window and jumped to the ground, out of my sight. So this is it. I turned to my room, to my mom and little sister. Goodbye. I love you all. Then, I climbed out of the window. I threw my suitcase down to Alexander who caught it in one swift catch. Then I started down the tree next to my window ledge. The moon is full tonight. The crisp autumn winds blew my red hair around the tree branches. The houses around me felt empty, lonely. I sighed. I got to the last tree branch and jumped the foot to the ground. I caught Alexander watching me. His gaze unsettles me.
“Shall we?” He asked, holding his hand out towards the open, dark road.
I turned back to look at my home once more. I love you. Then I followed Alexander down the abandoned road.
***
When Alexander and I were at the mall, eleven blocks from my house, we met a black Honda and climbed in. As we drove away, Alexander spoke.
“I am sorry, Klair. I had no choice.”
“Do not even start feeling sorry for me when you just...”
“No, I am sorry for lying to you.”
I turned towards Alex. His coal-black eyes seemed to wander to the top of my tank top. I quickly pulled it up higher.
“Excuse me?”
“I did not hurt your family. I was going to but what you said made me change my mind. I decided to let you think they would be hurt and trick you into coming with me.”
I stared at him, stunned. For such an evil race, he is certainly kinder. Not at all what I expected. But, how could he lie to me about my families death? How could he put me through so much pain, just to steal me from them forever? How could he?
“I hate you, “ I whispered.
Moms words floated back to me. What she said about the word hate is true. It is an evil word. Yet, the word hate is meant to be used on evil creatures like Alexander and his fellow Rakshan Vampires.
Or is it?
