One
“Turn you? Are you crazy?” Jeez – he’s annoying. What’s his problem? If he
turns me, we can be together, forever. He can let in his feelings and he wouldn’t
have to worry about hurting me. My life as a human is worthless; without him,
there’s no point in living. I need to be like him, I want to be a vampire.
“Why are you so against this?” Dalton bends down and rudely picks his leather
jacket up from the floor. I watch as he throws the jacket over his shoulders. He
looks furious and disappointed. I shake my head at him –what is his problem? I
know that he cares about me, he practicality told me, so why is he so against me
becoming a vampire? I don’t understand him. I need him to explain.
“I don’t want to talk about it, now get your things, I’ll drive you home.” Dalton
says in a firm tone. I fill the gap between us and I reach out and try to grab onto
his arm. Dalton pulls away from me at lightning speed. I scowl at him –what is
wrong with him? I can’t fit the pieces of his jigsaw together. One minute he is
screaming at me and the next he’s kissing me. He wants to feed on me, and then
he doesn’t, I don’t get him. He said that there is no point in him admitting his
feelings for me, because we can never be together. I am giving him a solution to
his problem, but why is he refusing to accept it? Dalton glides over to the door
of the dusty, old, smelly bathroom and he pushes it open with his foot. He slides
one of his hands into the front pocket of his jeans and he signals for me to
follow him with the other. I shake my head, declining his command. Dalton’s
eyes flash red and he hisses as his anger and frustration builds. I am not
frightened of him, just mad that he won’t do as I ask. I know that he says being
a vampire is a curse, but I don’t see it that way. I see it as a blessing. One that
allows you to be with the person you love, forever. I want him so much, that I
would do anything to be with him. I can’t lose him; I need him to turn me.
I finally gave into his commands and now I am sitting in his car. Dalton
dropped the hood, so that I could sober up from the fresh air. The wind is cold
and icy as Dalton speeds around the streets. He hasn’t said a word since we got
into the car and my heart is pounding as we drive. Every few moments he turns
his head to look at me, but he doesn’t say a word, he just stares. I don’t want to
fight with him, so I haven’t broken the silence. Although I am desperate to try
and persuade him to turn me, I can’t pick up the courage to fight. I am scared of
losing him –for good. I can’t risk him getting mad and leaving, I wouldn’t
survive it if he did.
We stop outside of my house and I push my hair away from my face as I look
out into the dark night. I feel tired, drained and completely awful. My head is
pounding from my alcohol intake and I can’t believe that I drank so much. I am
usually the one beer a night kind of girl, but tonight it was more like ten beers
and seven tequila shots –I’m going to suffer tomorrow. My cheeks are on fire
and all I want is to climb into my bed with Dalton by my side. I close my eyes
and I remember how amazing our passion was. His lips were ice-cold and
tremendous; his hands were sinful as they caressed my body. I shudder as I
think back and then I feel an overwhelming sadness –what if tonight is our last
night together? My eyes shoot open and I turn my head so that I can see him. He
looks sad, disappointed and defeated. I reach over and I try to place my hand
into his, but he senses my intentions, so he pulls his hand away, before I have
the chance to touch him. His eyes close and then they open, locking on mine
and flashing red. His lips part and there is hunger oozing from his body –he is
starving. My heart starts to race and I feel guilty that I didn’t let him feed on me
earlier, but glad at the same time, because he and I connected instead. We
shared a passion, burning hot as fire.
Robert J. Sawyer, Stefan Bolz, Ann Christy, Samuel Peralta, Rysa Walker, Lucas Bale, Anthony Vicino, Ernie Lindsey, Carol Davis, Tracy Banghart, Michael Holden, Daniel Arthur Smith, Ernie Luis, Erik Wecks