Corben's Thirst: The Thirst Within Part 1.5 by Johi Jenkins Page B

William and George had moved you both inside to the sitting room while Gulya endeavored to wake me up. I immediately locked myself in the room with the two of you and fed you my blood. You first, then Thierry. I did my best with him but I lost so much of my blood healing you. Then I went to the drawing room and questioned the servants. From what William and Gulya were able to tell me, some men had attacked you and Thierry, but those men were now dead. No one knows who killed whom.
    I went outside and saw their corpses as their mother attempted to take them. I knew them. They were Sara’s brothers. I also recognized their mother, Azra. They live near Garfield Park, where Sara was from. The mother was loading the last of their bodies onto a cart with the help of some older men. I approached her, and the instant she saw me, she attacked me—inside my head! It was some form of witchcraft. I had never felt such pain in my life before. It only stopped when the servants rushed at her, bless them, shouting in my defense. Corben, I am afraid of her. She knows what I am, and can hurt me greatly without laying a finger on me. As she ran away she swore she would come back to finish me!
    I have now brought you up here and will block the door when I leave. I believe she is not aware that you are alive and will not come looking for you, but I will hide you in the chance she tries, while you heal. Corben, my love, you are changing as I write this; you will become like me. For this I am sorry, but I had no other choice. You had almost bled to death. Thierry was in much worse condition, his neck sliced open, and his body did not respond to my transfusion. I would have attempted to turn him as well, but I had not enough of my blood to do it. I am sorry you have lost your brother. I also brought Alexandra up here to keep her safe.
    I return downstairs now hoping to defeat the witch. She caught me when I was weak, but I will feed and regain my strength. I hope to see you again, but I must write this in case I do not return before you wake up. Take care of our baby.
    Eternally yours,
    Charlotte
     
    She had weakened herself attempting to heal me and my brother, and paid with her life. A little of her blood had not been enough, apparently, and she had given me a full transfusion. My brother had saved my life earlier today at the cost of his own. And now her.
    Strangely, I felt numb. I didn’t register the great weight of their sacrifices; I was frozen inside. There was just nothing left of me, no will to do anything, if she was gone. I had made my decision before I woke up; I only needed to take care of a few loose ends before I executed it. I wasn’t afraid, or nervous even.
    After all, dying in a world where she didn’t exist didn’t feel like dying, really.
    I moved to Alexandra’s makeshift bassinet, as she had started to cry in the earnest, and picked her up. It was only the fourth time in her short life that I had taken her in my arms, I noted with a pang. My daughter was not yet six months old and would have to grow up without her parents. Her mother was dead; her birth mother was dead. My brother was dead. My mother was dead. My father was unfit to raise a child alone. I would leave instructions with Gulya, the elderly housemaid, to take care of Alexandra and deliver her to Garfield Park, where she may be taken as a ward by the baron and his wife, who had already raised three daughters.
    As I pondered this, Alexandra cried louder, and the smell of her soiled cloth diaper immediately filled my nostrils. In her basket were other diapers, washcloths and ointments—Charlotte must have left them there for me to take care of our daughter.
    Take care of our baby .
    Charlotte’s written words flashed again before my eyes, but I shook them off. I knew I could not live in a world where my wife did not. I could only provide a safe home for Alexandra and make sure she was in good hands before I joined her mother.
    But I would change her diaper,