Vampires in Maine

The newly founded portside town trembled under the brittle winter winds. All the boats in the harbor rode the powerful waves while carrying an extra two feet of snow on their decks. The buildings looked so frail against the black forest surrounding it and they all creaked and moaned as if they were ancient buildings, not buildings that had been constructed two summers ago. The hotel and the general store had only a few candles burning, and the bank, lumber company and post office where completely dark. The only building with lots of light was the town pub. The small pub looked almost cheery. It was low to the ground so it was out of the way of the howling wind and the snow surrounding it had not yet turned to ice. Light shone through the windows and leaked under the door onto the cobblestone street.

The door swung open and warm music floated out, only to be swallowed up by the wind. A young woman walked out, laughing and waving to the people whom she was leaving behind. The door swung shut again and the wind roared with victory, another victim was in its domain. The woman glanced behind her at the shut door, as if wanting to go back inside. However she pulled the thick wool shawl around her and began walking down the road. She had long blonde hair that hung in ringlets down her back, her pale face was still rosy from the drinks she just had, and her blue eyes matched her blue dress, even though you couldn’t really see it under the brown shawl. The wind died down a little and almost instantly she wished it would pick back up again. Hearing her footsteps echo off the buildings made her feel even more alone. She looked back miserably over her shoulder at the pub that seemed so far away now. She turned back to the road ahead and thought she saw a shape out of the corner of her eye from a window of the hotel. She looked at it sideways as she walked past. It was empty. She laughed and shook her head. She looked again to reassure herself. There was a deathly pale blue face watching her, illuminated by candlelight. She blinked, and it was gone. She stared at the window for a few seconds, it was empty. She swallowed and pulled the shawl around her tighter, and continued the walk.

She heard a whooshing sound and she turned quickly, nothing was there. It sounded like a cloak, but it was probably just a random wind. She heard it again, this time it was behind her. She turned, nothing. She picked up her pace and kept her head down. She heard the whoosh again but this time it was accompanied by the faintest laugh. It was so soft she thought she imagined it. She started running a few tears sliding out of her eye. She had never been so scared in her life! She was near the pier when she looked up. There! In front of the post office was a tall dark figure, it could have been a shadow or even just the pole holding up the roof but she turned quickly and ran down the pier, not taking any chances. Her feet made loud noises as she raced toward the end of the pier. Once she reached the end she was gasping. She leaned over the railing and breathed in the salty air. It calmed her somewhat. She put both hands on the rail, gripping it so hard her knuckles where white. She shakily looked over her shoulder. Nothing. She looked at the post office, nothing. The moon came out from behind a cloud and cast some light on the town. A powerful crashing wave made her laugh with relief. This was stupid. Then she heard the thick footsteps.

She whirled around with a scream on her lips, but held it back. It was just a man with a cane, walking with an exaggerated limp. She glanced at his face. It was pale, with stringy black hair surrounding it. Circular black glasses that were on a somewhat pointy nose hid his eyes. A top hat and long coat pointed to obvious wealth.

“Excuse me sir, ya nearly frightened me to death you did.”

“That was not my intention my dear lady.” His voice was as smooth as velvet and she felt so calm, increasingly so with each step toward her that he took. There was also an accent to his voice she had not heard before. Possibly Russian. “What’s your name dear?”

“Megan, sir. Megan Craft.” She answered with out even thinking about it.

“How old are you Mrs. Craft?” He asked, still stepping forward.

“Ms. Craft, sir. I’m turning 19 next month.”

“Mmm.” He was right in front of her now and she was wearing a dumb smile. It faltered slightly when the moon went behind the cloud again. His skin took on a strange shade of pale blue. She hesitantly took a step backward. This was wrong, something was wrong. “Where are you going Megan?” He chuckled. Her back was pressed against the wood railing.

“Leave me alone,” She said nervously, “please leave me be.” He took off his glasses and his eyes were closed as he pocketed them.

“Why should I Megan?” He grinned and opened his eyes wide. They were pitch black. Megan whimpered.

“Please! I’m getting married in the spring! My mother and father are expecting me home, please.” She sobbed.

“I was married once,” He said, tossing the cane aside and straightening up, “Her name was Jacqueline and she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. She begun my second life, she taught me how to hunt, how to stalk prey, how to scare them silly. Fear is important you know, it really gets,” He leaned in close, “it gets the blood pumping.”

“Sir, I am begging you!” She choked out tearfully.

“You know what happened to her? A hunter drove a wooden stake through her heart. My wife was killed!” He grabbed her neck and lifted her off the ground, “So you see, plea’s for mercy don’t really work on me. Jacqueline, did not beg though,” he hissed, “she was above that. You, you aren’t.” He threw her down like a rag doll and Megan lay gasping on the wooden planks. Her vision was red and she could barely see him pacing in front of her. She slowly got up and made a motion to throw herself off the pier and into the cold water. She closed her eyes, hoping she could drown instead of endure anymore of this. He was behind her in a second. With cold swift hands he pushed her head sideways to her shoulder and bit down hard. Megan screamed as she felt blood leaving her body and run down her body. The warm and sticky liquid was soon all over her skin and dress. The wind chose that moment to pick up again and it carried her scream away. He pushed her away and she slumped to the ground. He grinned and looked down at her. She looked up and began crying again. The fangs were not what the traditional vampire lore described them to be. There were not only two razor sharp fangs, there was a whole mouthful. Needles coming down from the top and bottom, blood and saliva made stringy red strands between them. With a sickening squelching noise the teeth retracted into his gums and he smiled at her with perfect, square, white teeth.

“You taste quite good, good thing to. I’m so hungry. Now my dear you have choice.” Megan’s eyes drooped closed. He had her by the neck again in a second. “You best listen to me Megan. Hold on for just a little longer. Now for your choice. You can chose to die, completely drained of all your blood and it will be slow and painful, or you can die somewhat faster, but you will rise again and join me. Become a queen of the night by my side. Are you listening? Would you spend eternity with me? You will be my daugher, I get so lonely” with his free and he stroked her face, “What do you choose?” He leaned in and liked a trail of blood up that was running down her chest. He gently set her down and took a step back, “What do you choose?” He said, wiping a small bit of blood from the corner of his mouth. Megan tried to speak but the strangulation had damaged her lungs somewhat.

“Will you join me?” He watched for a response. “Very well.” His accent could not display pleasure or dismay. The needles again protruded from his gums and he lunged at her. The moon was again hidden by fast moving clouds, the moon looked as if it where running away.

The next morning the body of Megan Craft was found floating in the tide pools a little off the coast about three miles out of town. A fisherman’s son saw it first and he and the three other men pulled the body onboard. They turned the body on its back and looked into the once flushed face of Megan. It was now blue and bloated with water; the eyes were wide open as if in fear. The father closed her eyes and sighed.

“What happened to her?” His son asked. He was about nine or ten and still a bit full of innocence.

“Looks like she fell of the pier last night.” One of the crewmen answered, lightly brushing her hair out of her face, his efforts unveiled the neck. All the men jumped back with fear, crossing themselves many times and muttering prayers, their voices thick with fear. The neck had a huge hole in the side, about the size of a fist. You could see shattered bones and a windpipe but all the blood was gone. All around the gaping hole were the tinniest of pinpricks.

“Holy Mary, mother of god.” Whispered the boys father, “Frankie, go get the chains from the front of the boat.

“Yes, father.” The boy jumped up and raced away. The men stayed far away from the body until the boy came back. Without a word, they wrapped the body tightly in chains and added fifteen pounds of weight. The oldest of them rested two fingers on her closed eyes and whispered a prayer. The men then unceremoniously threw the body over board.

“Do you think the monster is still here?” Whispered a crewmember, clutching a rosary he always kept in his pocket. The other men shrugged.

“Lets just get out of here.” The men hurried to move the boat. The boy watched the body sink with a morbid fascination. Her hair fanned out behind her and she looked so helpless. He looked at her face for the last time before it was out of sight. Her eyes were open, and there was a smirk on her face.

On a cliff surrounded by forest a tall man with a top hat and long coat watched the boat glide away. The sun moved slightly and exposed his hand to direct sunlight. The skin hissed and smoked, blistering within seconds. He watched it for a moment, twisting it about, but then pulled it back into the shadows. He grinned as the last of the ripples from the tossed body faded away. He spun on his heel and disappeared into the dark woods.