The Week I Was A Vampire (13 page)

             
“Your friend is interesting,” Jude said as Kyle finished loading Simon into the car. 

             
The werewolf closed the door before looking at Jude curiously.  She gestured to the second story of the club and watched a small smile stretch over Kyle’s face.

             
“Most mermaids are,” he said, “but Saoirse kind of takes the cake.  Even her own kind think she’s strange.”

             
“Is that why she’s so sad?”

             
Kyle opened his mouth to respond, but closed it quickly when words failed to come out.  He tried again, but once more couldn’t find the right words to say.

             
“It’s not sadness,” he finally settled on.  “At least not in the traditional sense.  Something happened to her, a long time ago, that changed her life against her will.  Kind of like you, actually, but there’s no way to undo what was done to Saoirse.”

             
Kyle stared up at the second story of the club, but the vacant look in his eyes said he wasn’t truly seeing the building.

             
Jude reached out a hand and patted his arm.  The werewolf turned his attention to her and smiled.

             
“You should hit the road,” he said.  “Apparently you have a date tonight.”

             
“Aunt Tess?” Jude guessed and Kyle nodded.  “I don’t suppose she told who I’m going out with?”

             
Kyle smirked before sobering.

             
“I promised not to tell,” he said, “but Jude, just hold onto yourself, okay?  Saoirse couldn’t change what happened to her, but you can.  I’d hate- we all would- to see you carry around the same sadness she does.”

             
Jude looked at her car where Simon sat sleeping in the passenger seat before turning back to Kyle.  She smiled and gave him a quick nod before stepping around to the driver’s side.

             
“Thank you,” she said, “for everything.  Tess was right when she said I’d need you.”

             
“I’ve been around for a few centuries,” Kyle said, “and I don’t remember Tess being wrong about anything.  Take care, Jude.”

             
The pair waved to each other before Jude slipped into the car and turned on the engine.  Beside her, Simon slept soundly as she pulled away from the Eerie Street Club, leaving behind Kyle, Saoirse, and the strange vibe of the building.  If the Fates had drawn Simon to that place, then they were doing their best to keep Jude away.

Thursday Night

Almost Gone

Jude didn’t know who to expect for her second “date.”  She was hoping it would be Daniel who’d been absent ever since they’d met with Grigori, but if she allowed herself to be extra wishful, she would like to meet the illusive Daphine Valois.  Mafe had seemed at ease explaining how Daphne came to be a vampire, and Jude couldn’t help but wonder if the Franciscan would be as forthcoming about her own children.

              Why did she turn Daniel and Jemima?  Daniel she could understand, but Jemima had been a sixteen year old girl and from what Jude already knew of the story, the circumstances surrounding her turning had been special, for lack of a better word.

             
Unfortunately, wishes don’t come true, as Jude quickly figured out when, low and behold, she answered her front door at six o’clock to find Jemima standing under the porch light.  The pouty, pubescent blonde took one look at Jude’s outfit before grimacing in distaste.

             
“You are not going out in that,” she said.  “I refuse to be seen with someone dressed as if they were going to a funeral.”

             
Jude glanced down at her smart black pencil skirt and blazer, before looking back up at Jemima.

             
“Isn’t having an unhealthy love of black a vampire stereotype?” she challenged.

             
Jemima rolled her eyes.

             
“There’s black like you wear it,” the vampire said, “and there’s black like vampires wear it.  Or better yet, Tess, who I’m pretty sure only owns black clothing and has been looking better in it than everyone else since the dawn of time.”

             
“Wow,” Jude said.  “First Kyle calls her old and now you’re saying she’s as old as time.  How old is Tess really?”

             
“No one knows,” Jemima said.  “And I’m surprised you don’t smell like mutt after spending time with Kyle Tierney.”  She spat his name out as though it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

             
“So I guess the vampire versus werewolf feud isn’t total crock,” Jude said before picking up her coat.

             
Jemima’s eyes narrowed.

             
“I said you weren’t going out in that,” she said.  “Show me your closet and I’ll find something suitable for our plans this evening.”

             
Jude stepped back and held the door open before remembering Jemima needed an invitation inside.

             
“If I invite you in,” Jude said, “can I kick you out, or is the invitation permanent?”

             
“First off,” Jemima said, crossing her arms over her chest, “Mafe made me promise to behave tonight and I’d rather not get on her bad side.  Secondly, to answer your question, you can’t kick me out, but the invitation will eventually wear off.  Considering I have no intention of coming by after tonight, it’ll wear off quickly.”

             
“So the length of the invitation is effected by how often you use it?” Jude said and Jemima grinned.  It wasn’t a grin like Lux or Kyle’s, though.  Jemima’s smile was more predatory, like she was sizing up a meal.  It reminded Jude of the night she was almost killed by the blonde vampire.

             
“You know,” Jemima said, “for someone who isn’t planning on becoming a vampire, you seem pretty interested in the fine details.”

             
“Healthy curiosity,” Jude covered.  “Besides, if Lux were here, she’d be giving you a full blown interrogation.”

             
Jemima frowned, as if unfamiliar with Lux, before she licked her lips and smiled.

             
“Your purple haired witch,” Jemima said.  “I remember her.  Thought about taking a bite out of her, but witches aren’t always flavorful.  You, on the other hand, were rather delicious.”

             
“Okay,” Jude said a little too loudly.  “That concludes the part of the evening where you talk about me as if I were a steak.  Please, come in and find something you deem appropriate for me to wear so we can get going.  The sooner we leave, the sooner this little date can be over and I get can back to my life.”

             
“Some life,” Jemima said as she stepped into the foyer, giving it only a passing glance before heading up the stairs.  “And for the record,” she called down to Jude, “this isn’t a date.  You’re not my type.”

             
Jude followed, directing Jemima to her room, but the blonde vampire seemed interested in something else.  That’s when Jude saw Simon, standing shirtless just inside the bathroom door.  He hadn’t noticed the girls yet, but Jude recognized the look on Jemima’s face and moved to stand in front of the vampire, blocking Simon from her sight.

             
“Hands off,” Jude said.  “When Mafe told you to behave, I don’t think she meant for you to turn my brother into a snack.”

             
Jemima growled low in her throat before turning on her heel and stalking down the hall towards Jude’s room.

             
“If he were more attractive,” she said, entering the bedroom, “I’d be tempted.  As it is, he’d be nothing more than a plaything.”  She flung open the door to Jude’s closet and looked revolted as she peered inside.

             
Jude shut the bedroom door and leaned against it, a glare firmly in place when Jemima emerged from her closet.

             
“What’s your problem?” the vampire said before tossing a set of clothes on the bed.  “Change.”

             
Jude pushed herself away from the door and stalked forward, coming to a halt when she was toe to toe with Jemima.

             
“That’s my brother,” Jude said, “not some toy for you to play with.  I was wondering why no one likes you and I get it now; you have no humanity in you.  You’re just a spoiled rotten child who never grew up.”

             
The backhand Jemima delivered to Jude’s face sent her head snapping to the side and her body followed.  Looking up from her new position on the ground, she saw Jemima’s eyes had turned solid black.  A brief tremor of fear ran down her spine until she realized Jemima couldn’t hurt her anymore.  Or, at least she couldn’t drain her.

             
“You’re lucky you’re in transition,” Jemima hissed, “and you’re lucky Mafe told me to behave.  But make no mistake, little girl, you speak to me like that again and I’ll be wearing your teeth as a necklace.  Now get dressed.”

             
Jude rose from the ground and quickly traded out her skirt and blazer for the black jeans and long sleeved shirt Jemima had pulled from her closet.

             
“No need for a coat,” Jemima said when Jude tried to pull her jacket on.  “You don’t need it and we’re not going to be out in public.  Much.”  She lead the way out of the house and onto the street, Jude following because she didn’t have a choice.

             
“Could we go to Grigori’s?” Jude asked.

             
Jemima didn’t break her stride as she spun about to look at Jude, staring at her blankly before turning back around.

             
“Why you want to bother yourself with that decrepit old man is beyond me.”

             
“Maybe he has a potion or something to help curb the cravings.”

             
Jemima came to a dead halt that was so abrupt, Jude had to awkwardly stumble around her to avoid crashing into her.  Granted, the vampire probably would’ve remained unmoved.  Jude had a feeling it would take a great deal of strength to knock the blonde vampire to the ground.

             
“First off,” Jemima said, “there isn’t a potion in the world that can change what’s in your nature.  Or if there is, a backwoods warlock with a watered down bloodline isn’t going to be able to help you.”

             
When Jemima remained quiet for an extended moment, Jude spoke up.

             
“And secondly?”  She regretted asking immediately as a grin that would’ve made the Cheshire cat proud spread across Jemima’s face.  It was the same blood chilling smile she’d given Jude right before she’d attacked her.

             
“Cravings, huh?” Jemima said, her tone conversational, but there was an underlying current that had Jude wondering if she was about to be dragged straight to hell. 

             
Without another word, Jemima resumed her brisk pace leaving Jude to scurry after her.

             
“Where are we going?” Jude asked as they hurried down the street.  Jemima’s blonde hair was billowing behind her as she took clipped, hurried steps as if she were in a great rush to get somewhere.

             
“I’m going to show you how a vampire feeds,” Jemima said and then glanced behind her to see Jude’s shellshocked face.  “Relax, you’re not going to be feeding.  I just want to show you how it’s done.”

             
“But can’t vampires drink from blood bags?” Jude said.  “Or animals?”

             
“Humans today,” Jemima muttered before slowing until she was walking at Jude’s side.  “To acquire blood bags, you’re required to steal, which is fine when you’re a vampire.  But let’s play on your conscience a bit and wonder what would happen if a hospital needed those blood bags?  What if someone was in desperate need of the blood you stole?”

             
Jude grimaced and bowed her head, shoving her hands into her pockets.

             
“As for animals,” Jemima said, “I’m sure you could live on a vegetarian diet, but there’s the fur and feathers you have to contend with, coupled with the fact you can’t... what do you call it?  Persuasion?  Yes, you can’t persuade an animal.”

             
“So you feed on involuntary humans and make them forget,” Jude snapped, but Jemima was unaffected by her tone and directed her down another street.  At the end of the block, a woman was loading a pair of suitcases into a car.

             
“Would you rather they remember?” Jemima asked before quickening her pace.  Calling back over her shoulder she said, “Wouldn’t you rather forget?”

             
Jude remembered her fear at seeing Jemima with black eyes and fangs, but she also recalled the strange acceptance that had settled over her.  She had known she was going to die and, not dissimilar from Mafe, she’d been accepting of the fact.

             
“Leave her alone, Jemima,” Jude said seconds before she found herself stopping to watch Jemima strike up a casual conversation with the woman.  Jude knew the second Jemima had used her persuasion as the woman’s eyes turned glossy and vacant.

             
Looking over her shoulder, Jemima gestured for Jude to follow her as she lead the dazed woman into the dead end alley separating an apartment complex and a closed bookstore.

             
“The first thing you tell them,” Jemima said, “is to be quiet.  Then, you tell them to stay calm and follow you.  Tell them to trust you.”  She positioned the woman against the wall, as if she were a doll and not a human.  She looked at Jude and flashed her a wicked smirk before turning back to the vacant woman.

             
“Now darling,” she purred in a calm voice that sounded vaguely like Daniel’s, but more sinister, “give me your neck.”

             
Jude watched the woman stoop to accommodate the height of the shorter vampire before tilting her neck to the side, giving Jemima full access.

             
“Now relax.”

             
With a strange sense of awe, Jude watched the woman’s face transform into a picture of bliss as Jemima’s face turned dark before she sank her fangs into the exposed neck.  The scent of blood filled the alleyway and Jude felt her own canines elongating, pulsing with the desire to have a taste.  She kept her attention on the woman’s face, though, watching for even the slightest hint of discomfort, but the persuasion seemed to have erased any free will the woman had.  It wasn’t long though, before the woman’s eyes began to droop and no glamour or persuasion in the world could hide the truth from Jude: Jemima was killing this woman.

             
“Jemima, stop!” Jude said, taking a step forward and regretting her decision as the smell of blood grew stronger.

             
Jemima pulled away from the woman’s neck long enough to smile at Jude, her mouth smeared with blood.

             
“You’re going to kill her,” Jude said and watched the blonde vampire cock her head to the side as if confused.

             
“Accidents happen, Jude,” she said.  “Don’t you want to know what we do when there are accidents?  Aren’t you curious to see what I was planning on doing with your body?”