No Welcome Home?

It had been several weeks. Thank God the monster goddess has not come, as she promised. She probably knew she wouldn't be welcome. In the meantime Ivory and I began to get along very well. She was a good girl, just about a woman, with a good sense of humor. She had many friends on this small island nation…some human and some not. I didn’t have the nerve to ask which was which because I didn’t want to know. I had come here to escape all of the news and confusion and it was working.

My life was quiet. I began to do my routines again like taking walks by the coast, eating at various little stop and goes, the simple things in life. Since Ivory was just about grown she didn’t need me to be with her every second so I could leave the house without worrying about her, or anything happening to her. She was also one of those vamps, so I doubted whether anything would be foolish enough to challenge the so-called family. Yet again, she often hid her identity from some of the other vamps.

I didn’t know much about them. They were very good at hiding their own identities. I think they were looking for peace and solitude here too. Seemed that everyone was living in a world that seemed to be careening toward loudness and madness. We took walks every so often or ventured into some of the small restaurants. She did eat, which was interesting, but like she said, it took a long time for her to digest her food. These vamps, the original ones, were strange. They could use any type of blood or blood products to live off of most efficiently so they would always find something. I was just glad it wasn’t me.

Terry and Ivory had gotten more friendly. He didn’t seem to be as afraid of her as he had been for a while anyway. I didn’t know where that came from considering that he had been hosting her and the guardian that had come with her. I guess she never showed how much a part of that family she was until later. That family must have been terrifying…to him anyway. I didn’t know. I hadn’t been changed into a vampire, yet again, that monster Hermosa has nicked me and changed me a little.

I wrapped myself a little more in my thick blanket. It was dark. I was outside, believe it or not, sitting by the coast looking out over the water. There was a beautiful full moon just hanging there, and thousands of stars puncturing the night. It was a time for me to just rest and relax. I, of course, would wonder if some vampire up there would be stalking me, but I realized they didn’t do that. The population was too small for that. It would make waves and we all wanted peace, and to be left alone. I didn’t want to fall asleep though, or get attacked by a bear or wolf so I had my 454 Magnum nearby. Animals, vampires, what kind of world was I living in? I looked at the moon and began to wonder if there were such things as werewolves. I let that go as quickly as possible. Just what I needed.

It was quiet. I was warm. I had friends, and even somewhat of a family. What else did I need? I hugged myself tighter in the blanket and let out a sigh. I heard a noise and turned to the left. I could see Terry lumbering toward me like a big bear. He stood next to me and looked up at the sky.

“Beautiful, Isn’t it?” He asked. “I’m glad people can’t mess that up too.” He looked at me. “You know, we're very lucky to live in a place like this. The community is small. It’s quiet. We can live without struggling. It’s beautiful. Life is beautiful when we're allowed to just live and not struggle against artificial blocks put in the way.” He took a seat. “Don’t you think so?”

“I totally agree. Sometimes I wonder why the world isn’t peaceful. Why is it that some people won’t let it happen?”

“Vampires,” he answered. “Psychic vampires who live off of anger and stress. You didn’t know that, did you?”

“There’s a lot I didn’t know about until lately. I traveled all over the world writing books and stories about vampires. I didn’t know the half of it. Now to think that there are some psychic parasites working to foment anger and violence really scares me, but it could explain everything happening.”

“Aliens,” He simply said. “Or Extra Terrestrials not necessarily from space, but from other timelines and dimensions. Look at it this way.” He began to draw in the snow. “You have a universe that is like a flower. There is a center.” He drew a very small circle. “From that center you have branches of reality moving out like the petals. Each branch is a separate dimension or timeline, but they're all part of the same thing.”

Some beings on one timeline…no let me explain it better. We exist on all dimensions as different expressions of the self, but there are also beings on those timelines who have learned to gather strength by crossing those timelines and living off of the violent emotions of beings on other timelines. In other words, there are beings here, right now that we can’t see, on a different vibrational plane who can feed off of the lower vibrations like anger, fear, depression and so on, on this timeline. Higher vibrations are toxic to them. They can’t bear them so they make sure that there are as many low vibration emotions as possible so they get stronger. They create strife on another timeline and feed off of it so they won't mess up their own. Does that make sense?”

“I guess anything would, about now. Is that really happening though?”

“Of course. But…they may not be beings. They could be powers, principalities, the way of balance and nature. It doesn’t matter what they are because they work the same way. They suck the life out of their subjects because they have no life within themselves. Do they give back anything? Only the things that continue to create strife, and suffering. They give that to people who are like them…parasites…haters, things that are a little less than human. The things look good and may be pleasurable, but in the end they bring about strife and destruction.”

“You ruined my night with that explanation.”

“The truth will set you free. It’s nothing you have to worry about. It is just the way of nature. The way of the world. And when you look at the sky like this, and the water and the waves and you are at peace, they cannot touch you or come near you. That is the good news. Love conquers all.”

“Really? I’ve never heard you talk like that before.”

“You’d be surprised what I know. I used to be a Philosophy Professor, you know.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I wanted to dump it all so…here I am. And of course the vamps didn’t help. They got me up here. You better be careful. Yet again, you are like…as close to being one as possible and part of the family.”

“Don’t remind me. Please.”

“What difference does it make? You drink blood or you live in a society that spills blood and lives off of the deaths of tons of animals and vegetables all your life. How is it any different, really? Everyone who has to survive on this planet is a vampire.”

“Well if you give back for those lives it makes a difference,” I said in defense of every living thing.

“Same can be said about vampires. Some of them give back. Just think about it. Hermosa gave you a nick.” He started laughing. I just shook my head. Hermosa was a nut. I didn’t even know her real name. We sat for quite some time in silence after our initial conversation. I liked Terry because I could be with him and not feel the need to fill every moment of silence with words. We could just be there.

I was out so long I started to feel numb. Terry looked at me. “I think it’s time to go in now, don’t you?” he asked. He looked off into the horizon. “I think you should check on Ivory. She seems to be kind of…there seems to be something wrong about her. I can sense it and I notice how she tries to hide it. I think she’s ill.”

“Can Vampires get ill?

“Not that I know of. That’s why I’m a little concerned. Let’s head back. You should keep an eye on her.”

***

When we got back the house was dark. A fire was going in the fireplace, but was very low. Terry went over and put a log on the fire as I went into the back room. Ivory was there in bed, believe it or not. She had been sleeping very long hours and I hadn’t noticed. I walked over to her and sat in a chair near the bed. She opened her eyes and looked at me.

She smiled. “I just seem to be tired lately. I don’t know what’s going on. We aren’t supposed to be tired. I’m feeling bad, Father. Very bad, like I’m dying.

“How can you be dying?”

“I don’t know. It is a very strange feeling. I’ve heard that it is a phase we go through when we reach a certain age…the royal family, that is. But I don’t know what to do about it and Mother is very quiet. She won’t tell me anything.”

“Could you die, Ivory? We couldn’t let that happen.”

“I’m not sure.”

“Well where is Mother? She can’t let you die!”

“She’s not…I don’t know.”

“How can I contact her?”

“I don’t know. She’s not answering me.”

I put my hand on her forehead. “You have a fever. I can’t believe it. I’m going to get a wet towel. You relax. Do you need anything to drink?”

“No thank you.” I got up and headed out the door. Terry had finished the fire and was sitting in a chair gazing into the flame.

“She’s sick. She has a fever,” I said. “She said she may be dying.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know. She said she’s going through some phase or something and she can’t find Hermosa anywhere to help her or tell her about it. I would punch her in her stupid face if she was here.” I marched into the kitchen and pulled out a dish towel. I ran some water into the sink. “I don’t know what’s with that woman. She doesn’t seem to care about anyone, does she?” He shrugged. “Yeah you just shrug. Your Queen may be listening and might kick your butt if you say the wrong thing.” He grinned.

“She may kick your butt.”

“My daughter may die and she’s playing her stupid games. I don’t like it.”

“It’s family business.”

“F the family.” I put the wet towel in a bowl of water and headed back into the bedroom. I folded the towel up and dabbed it onto her forehead.

“Thank you father. I didn’t know you…”

“Don’t you dare say it.”

“You wanted to get rid of me, this is your chance.”

I don’t want to get rid of you and never did. Why do you think I brought you into my home? I don’t want you to die anyway. That would be kind of evil, wouldn’t you say?”

“I'm a vampire. You'd be doing the world a favor. Your species anyway." She sighed. “That towel feels good. I never thought I’d have to have anything like this before.”

“I never thought I’d have a sick kid before. I hope you know I care about you. I do love you. As I have gotten to know you these past few months you have grown on me a little. Like a fungus or something,” I joked. “All jokes aside, I do care about you and I want you to grow and be happy. I don’t want you to be sick and die. I have to find out what I can do.” She turned her face away from me.

“What’s that about?” I asked. She wouldn’t say. She looked at me again.

“Thank you Father. I think I'm going to sleep a little bit more. I’m not afraid to die if it comes to that.”

“Wow. You seem to be sure of that, don’t you?” She took my hand and squeezed it.

“Don’t worry,” she said. She closed her eyes. I left the room. Terry was still sitting there rocking and just relaxing.

“I’m really worried, Terry. She thinks she's going to die. What can I do to help her?” He was silent. “Why are you silent? I know something is up with that.”

“I don’t want to say. I could. Do you want the truth?”

“No. I want you to lie to me. Of course I want the truth.”

“She’s coming of age. As a born vampire she needs blood. I had heard rumors about it, but had never seen it since there are so few born Vampires. She needs blood.”

“Let her get it then.”

“No. She needs your blood. The blood of her father or a mortal family member. That’s why vampires usually attack their loved ones. There are two reasons: One is so their loved ones can be with them forever; and one is because they have to have their blood at a certain phase in their life or they die. It is a right of passage. My guess is she doesn’t want you to bite you because it would make you a vampire and she knows how you hate it. So, she’s willing to die.”

“She never said anything.”

“Because you would insist, right?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I said. “I don’t want to be a vampire, but I also don’t want her to die. I can’t let her die even if it means becoming a monster.”

“Hey. Do I look like a monster.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. But a lot of them are monsters who don’t really care who their victims are. I know you aren't like that though. I’m sorry.”

“Well now you know,” he said. “I’m not sure, but that’s what I’ve heard. What are you going to do about it?”

“Get someone to draw some blood and give it to her.

“It don’t work that way. She has to bite you.”

”Why?”

“I don't know. I didn’t believe in any of this shit before I became a vampire. Don’t ask me.”

“Well she has to die then.”

“I’m sorry that you have to be left with such a choice, Ben. I shouldn’t have told you, but I think that I should have as a friend.”

“You’re right. You should have. Thank you. Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do.”

“On that note,” Terry said. “It is time for me to head home. It’s getting a little late and I think you should spend some time alone with your thoughts and your daughter.” He stood and headed to the coat peg near the door. “Life sucks sometimes, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, sometimes.” He unhooked his coat and put it on.

“See you again soon, OK?”

“Yeah. Be careful of the animals out there.”

“Sure. Good night.” He opened the door and headed out. I sat there thinking for a while. I moved from the sofa to the rocking chair sitting in front of the fire when I heard Ivory groaning a little. She really sounded bad.

I went into the room and she was lying there looking up at the ceiling with tears flowing from her eyes.

“I talked with Terry,” I said. “He told me what you needed.”

“Terry has a big mouth,” she said.

“Yes, he does.” I sat in the chair next to the bed. “You’re going to die, Ivory.” She turned to me.

“I don’t mind dying. I do love you like you said you loved me. Don’t worry about me. We aren’t afraid of dying, you know.”

“He said you needed blood.”

“He really does have a big mouth,” she said looking at the ceiling. I extended my arm toward her and held it over her face. Go ahead. There's a vein right there in my wrist. Take what you need. Just don’t kill me.”

“What are you saying? Do you know what might happen to you, Father? You would become one of us. Don’t you hate that? You hate what we are. I’ve heard you talking about us.”

“It’s better than seeing you die,” I said. She leaned back into the pillow and looked at the ceiling. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you would do this.” As she spoke the closet door swung open. Hermosa was standing there. My jaw dropped. She began to smile.

“I told you your father was a good man,” she said, stepping out. “I told you he would do this.”

“I know. I just couldn’t believe it.” She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She stared at me. “I just can’t believe…”

“What the hell is going on!” I exploded. “What are you doing here? Why are you in my closet?” I looked back and forth between the two of them. “You two must be insane. You were faking all that time and you’ve been hiding in the closet for a week?”

“No, just a few hours.”

“You’re crazy! And I guess you had your nut job Terry in on this did you?” She just grinned.

“Jesus. I’m surrounded by…”

“I love you Dad. Please don’t be mad. Please.” I looked at her angrily. “Mother told me you were a decent man with a beautiful soul. I couldn’t believe it. She said you’d do anything to help me even become one of us. It’s my fault, don’t be angry at her, please. I put her up to this. Terry didn’t know what he was doing. We planted the story in his mind.” She spread her hands. “I’m so sorry for testing you, Father.”

Hermosa walked around the bed. She stood in front of me. “Well, no embrace? You haven’t seen me in a long time…Mate.” I looked at her through narrowed lids which made her smile more than I thought possible for her. My peace was gone.

Part 5

The end.

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