The Week I Was A Vampire (11 page)

             
Jude nodded and tried to think of other questions to ask, but sparkling and coffins seemed too childish.  Also, some instinct told her that asking a vampire where they slept was a highly personal question, so she avoided it.

             
“Can you go to church?” Jude asked, thinking of her own church upbringing and how she’d hate to give up the familiarity of Sunday services.  Granted, church was a fairly noncommittal thing in her family.  It was more for show than anything.

             
Mafe smiled, as if knowing her thoughts, and nodded.

             
“While we are not banned from holy ground,” she said, “we are repelled by the articles of our faith.  Daniel and Jemima, being Christians, cannot handle any crucifix.  Daphne is the same.  Being as I was an unbeliever in everything, there isn’t a holy article in existence that can cause me harm.”

             
“I suppose that had to have been useful,” Jude mused, not entirely sure why, but Mafe nodded, so she had to be right.

             
“That was handy during the Inquisition when I was asked to touch a cross.”

             
Jude gawked at Mafe who shared that detail about her life as if she were casually discussing the weather.

             
“Why didn’t you just persuade your way out of it?” Jude said.

             
Mafe laughed, a light, lilting sound much like her voice.

             
“Daniel told me about your name for the mind bending we do.  I must say, I like persuasion.”  The vampire smiled.  “And to answer your question, I didn’t persuade my way out because I didn’t want to.  I’d lived a long life and I was perfectly content with dying.  Even now, if I were to be killed by someone, I would not mind.  Even vampires, my dear, sometimes long for an end.  Eternity is, after all, a very long time.”

             
Down the hall, a clock chimed and Jude was surprised to see how quickly time had passed.  She rose from her chair, smiling politely at Mafe who remained seated.

             
“I should go,” Jude said.  “My brother is expecting me home for dinner.”

             
Mafe nodded in understanding, but caught Jude’s arm before she could leave.

             
“Take some of my blood,” Mafe said, offering her wrist.  “It will not cause you to complete the transition, but it will take the edge off the cravings.”

             
Despite the connection Jude felt to Mafe because of Daniel’s blood, she couldn’t bring herself to accept the kind offer, no matter how her body craved just a drop of blood.  She wouldn’t risk endangering her chance to be human again.

             
“I’m sorry,” Jude said, “but I must say no.  If I take blood now, my cravings may only worsen.  Thank you, but no.”

             
Mafe nodded and gestured to the door.

             
“Have a pleasant evening, Jude,” she said.  “Expect a member of my family to arrive at your home at six tomorrow night.”

             
Jude bobbed her head before heading towards the door, walking through the eerily quiet and empty home that was shrouded in darkness at this time of night.  If she were a vampire, she wouldn’t want to live in the dim and gloom all the time, so why did Mafe and her family?

             
She smiled as she stepped outside, buttoning her jacket as snowflakes clung to her hair.  A harsh wind blew as she walked to her car and while she was aware of the cold, she could not feel it.  Somewhere, in the back of her mind, a voice told her she would never feel cold again.

Thursday Morning

Kyle the Werewolf

Thursday morning came and with it, a message flashed on Jude’s cellphone reminding her she had an English test to take.  So, despite loathing the sun and not wanting to eat any members of her graduating class, Jude hurried through her morning routine.  It was pointless, really, since her vampire skills made everything faster and easier to do, but she wanted to make it to school early and scout out a few places to run to incase the cravings became too much to handle.

              “Is this a smart idea?” Lux said when she climbed out of her car having parked it next to Jude’s in the section of the lot designated for upperclassmen. 

             
Jude shrugged, looking hesitantly at the doors of the school.  So focused was she on not eating anyone, that she jumped when Lux touched her arm.

             
“You’ll make it,” Lux said.  “If anything, you make it through English and then say you’re feeling sick again.  You’re going to have to drop your glamour for the day, though.”

             
Jude shook her head.

             
“I don’t know if I can,” she said.  “It’s like I’m at the default setting and can only change it for a second.”

             
“Well,” said Lux, “don’t try to up the glamour or else you’ll definitely win prom queen.”

             
The girls laughed and watched a few more cars join them in the parking lot.  A couple students waved to Lux, who waved back, but everyone seemed confused as to who Jude was.  It was like they were staring at someone they vaguely recognized, but couldn’t quite place her.

             
“Try imagining yourself as you were,” Lux said.  “You know, uneven complexion and frizzy hair.”

             
“Gee, thanks for the visual,” Jude said dryly, but nonetheless closed her eyes and tried to picture how she’d looked before her death. She could feel the glamour lifting as her toned and slim figure filled out more, her jeans once again snug on her hips.  Her skin dried and the luscious curls that stayed immaculate even throughout the night deflated and sagged down her back in sad ringlets.

             
“How do I look?” she said and opened her eyes to see a misty eyed Lux smiling at her.

             
“You’re my friend again,” the girl said and threw herself into Jude’s arms.  “I missed you.”

             
Jude buried her nose in Lux’s purple hair that smelled like gardenias and tart apples.  It was a comforting, familiar scent that was potent enough to mask the smell of Lux’s blood.

             
“We should go inside,” Lux sniffed, pulling back and wiping away a few errant tears.  “I’ve got to change for gym and you need to do some last minute studying.”

             
Arm in arm, the girls marched towards the front of the school while Jude complained about studying.

             
“Why can’t vampires just know everything?” Jude said.  “Or, at the very least, why can’t I read minds like Tess?  That’d be a cool power.  I could just dig around inside Mr. Harmon’s mind and find the answers.  Which I know is cheating, but considering what’s been going on lately, I think I need a free pass.”

             
Beside her, Lux laughed and Jude smiled as her friend shook her hair, purple ponytail swishing around her shoulders.

             
“And here you thought you weren’t cut out for this vampire stuff,” Lux said.  “You’re already feeling entitled.  Besides, considering the fact Tess isn’t a vampire, you can’t argue that you should be able to read minds just because she can.”

             
“It would be cool though,” Jude said and Lux agreed.

             
“I think persuasion would be cooler,” she said.  “I could persuade the captain of the football team to dump his girlfriend and take me to prom.”

             
Jude narrowed her eyes as Lux who shrugged.

             
“You wouldn’t,” Jude said and Lux grinned sheepishly.

             
“For an aesthetically appealing prom photo,” she said, “I would do anything.  Okay, no I wouldn’t.  But persuasion still sounds cool.”

             
“I’ll persuade myself an A,” Jude said and then, more realistically, added, “or maybe just a makeup test.”

             
“That’s the Jude Carstairs I know and love,” Lux said and affectionately patted her arm as they stepped inside the school.  “Take care, I’m off to the locker room.  Text me if you need any help, okay?”

             
“Okay,” Jude said and watched Lux disappear down the hall, waving to a couple people as she went.  Those same people, who often saw Jude hanging out with Lux, walked by her as if she wasn’t even there.  Grumbling, Jude was tempted to let her glamour shine full force, but knew that would probably cause a flurry of questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.

            
 
Just get through the day
,
she mentally coached herself as she headed for the room she had English in.  If she just made it through this test, she could do as Lux said and claim she was still feeling sick and then head home.  By Monday morning, assuming everything worked out, she’d be back in class feeling like a normal human being and could make up any missed assignments.

             
“Jude,” Mr. Harmon said as she walked through the door, “I heard you were out sick with the flu.  Feeling better?”

             
Jude shook her hand in an “iffy” motion, before gesturing to the back of the classroom.

             
“I’m feeling a little better,” she said, “but I really didn’t want to miss this test.  Can I sit in the back so I don’t get anyone else sick?”

             
Mr. Harmon nodded and gestured to the small desk pushed into the far corner of the room.

             
“Feel free to leave your finished test on the desk when you’re done,” he said, “and then you can leave out the back.  Just stop by the office on your way out to let them know you’re leaving.  I appreciate your dedication to school, but coming in sick isn’t the smartest choice.”

             
“I know,” Jude said as she set up camp in the back of the room.  “I promise it won’t happen again.”

             
Mr. Harmon smiled before turning his attention towards the other students who were slowly filing into the room.  Soon, the classroom was full and Jude was thankful she’d been seated at the back, away from prying eyes when the bell unleashed a shrill sound that left her feeling as though her ears were bleeding.

            
 
Maybe it’s a good thing vampires can’t go out in the daytime
,
she thought as Mr. Harmon passed out the test.
 
I can’t imagine Jemima putting up with high school students and annoying bells.  Then again, her story is she’s homeschooled.  Maybe that’ll be my-

            
 
“Here you go,” Mr. Harmon said, handing Jude her test.  “Good luck, and if you don’t feel well enough, you can always make the test up later.”

             
“Thank you,” Jude said, gritting her teeth as the pronounced veins in his hand thrummed with life.  He stepped away and she ducked her head, forcing herself to stop breathing as she focused on her test.  The temperature had risen in the classroom of thirty students, each one emitting a strong heartbeat.  With all of them beating, Jude could feel her body vibrating as if she were in an earthquake and not an average high school class.  Perfume, body wash, and sweat filled the air and she was distinctly aware of which girls in class were on their period.  She bit her tongue, wincing when a tangy, coppery taste filled her mouth.  The pain in her gums cued her in to the fact her canines had a elongated and she made a conscious effort to keep her mouth firmly shut.

             
The test, thank the Fates, was simple enough and Jude managed to make it halfway through before a bright ray of sunlight broke through the clouds outside and struck her in the face.  She winced, hissing lowly and drawing an unnecessary breath.  The combination of the harsh sunlight, the blood she could taste on her tongue, and the gnawing hunger she’d felt ever since she’d died was too much for Jude to handle.  She could feel the room beginning to spin.

             
“Jude?”  Mr. Harmon’s voice sounded muffled and far away. 

             
Looking down at her hands, Jude could see her pale skin had turned clammy and watched a bead of sweat drop from her nose onto the test in front of her.  Her eyes were burning, her throat was swelling up, and as the heartbeats in the room grew steadily louder, she felt as though she were dying.

             
“I have to go,” she forced out in a rush before jumping from her seat and running out the back door, maintaining just enough self-control to use a human speed instead of flashing out of sight.  Once in the deserted hall, though, she kicked her vampire speed into high gear and zipped into the nearest bathroom.  Her senses told her there was no one there, so she turned on the tap and dunked her head under the cold water, the chilling shock being enough to break through the haze that had come over her.  She was so focused on the sound of water rushing over her head that she didn’t hear anyone enter the bathroom until an abnormally warm hand dropped onto her back.  She jumped up, almost hitting her head on the faucet, and looked in the mirror to see a tall boy standing behind her, probably only a few years older than herself, looking concerned and pleased all at once.

             
“I saw you run by,” he said.  “You really shouldn’t use your speed in the halls like that.  Someone might see you, or you could hit a wet patch and go flying.”  He grinned sheepishly as though that had happened before.

             
“You’re not a vampire,” Jude said and while that was true, something about the boy was definitely supernatural.  He also smelled a bit... gamy.

             
“I’m Kyle,” he said and Jude instantly recognized the name.

             
“Tess’ friend,” she said and Kyle laughed before reaching around her to turn off the faucet.  She turned around to face him, gratefully accepting the paper towel he handed her, and wiped off her face.  Her hair dripped down her back.

             
“Maybe you’ve heard,” Kyle said, “but I’m the werewolf Tess adopted.”  He held out a hand.  “Kyle Tierney, at your service.”

             
Jude took his hand and did her best not to laugh as his large, warm hand dwarfed hers by a few sizes.

             
“Something funny?” he said and Jude looked up at the tall, curly haired brunette with steel blue eyes.

             
“You’re huge,” she said and Kyle leered at her.

             
“Women say that a lot,” he said and then winked.  “Come on, I told the chicks at the office that I was your cousin come to collect you.  You should know better than to come to school sick.”

             
“I had a test to take,” Jude said, following Kyle out of the bathroom.  He escorted her down the hall, keeping her close to his side as they made their way to the front of the school.  Something about his gamy scent was wholly unappealing and Jude felt herself relax as she inhaled deeply. He stopped long enough to poke his head into the office to say he’d found his sick cousin and told the secretary to have a nice day.  Jude frowned as they headed outside and winced as the sun struck her eyes.

             
“Here,” Kyle said and handed her a pair of sunglasses.  “Tess said you might need these.”

             
“Thanks,” Jude said and slid the glasses on.  “Did you use persuasion on the secretary?”

             
“Persuasion?” Kyle frowned.  “Oh, you mean that mind control thing the vamps use?  Nah, my natural charisma gets me anything I want.”  He smiled at Jude before opening the door of a blue truck and gesturing for her to get in.  He joined her a moment later and fired up the vehicle.

             
“Is Tess the reason you’re here?” Jude said as Kyle pulled away from the school.

             
“Actually,” he said, “I chose to stay.  Tess told me about you, the transitioning girl determined to be human again, and I was impressed.  When the rest of the pack went back to the city, I opted to stay behind and see if I could help you at all.  The vamps can keep you safe during the night, but I had a feeling you might need some daytime help as well.  Guess I was right.”

             
“I guess you were,” Jude mumbled bitterly.  She didn’t care if she seemed petulant as she crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

             
“Hey,” Kyle said and when she didn’t look at him, he reached over and pried her arms apart.  “Hey.  It’s not your fault.  Even if you did transition into a vampire, you wouldn’t be blessed with self-control overnight.  The fact you even managed to walk into a classroom full of students and not kill anyone is amazing.  I’ve known a few vampires, ranging from babies to Mafe, and there are some vampires that would be considered middle-aged that don’t have as much control as you.”