Unlife in the Suburbs: Part 4 (667 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 2 on 17 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Impassive-Digressive (View user info) at 2004-12-01 00:17:12 EST
Part 1: http://www.ubersite.com/m/52429
Part 2: http://www.ubersite.com/m/52527
Part 3: http://www.ubersite.com/m/52869
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"Well, no doubt you remember how we ended up out here..."
Laszlo let the sentence trail off.
"Naturally."
How could I forget that morning? It would be burnt into my memory for all eternity.
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There had been a shower during night, and the rich, earthy scent that always accompanied rainfall hung in the air, along with the fog, through which the morning sun struggled, somewhat unsuccessfully, to punch more than two or three beams of golden light. As the fog swirled, plump drops of water dripped off the long racemes of white flowers on the wild cherry trees outside my window.
I had planted those trees a century previously, in the small abbey orchard, before the low stone wall around it crumbled at the hand of the elements. Though wizened with age, they endured, as I have. Of course, my age is less apparent - my body, like that of all vampires, frozen in time - it will be twenty-two until the day I die. My auburn hair will never lose its youthful shine, my skin shall remain smooth and soft and my breasts will be firm as long as my body lives.
Instead, as a vampire, age and the resulting experience have crept into my eyes and voice. A single gaze or correctly pitched utterance can be enough to surround me with an almost palpable air of inhuman age. Most mortals cannot stand the feeling this induces, and will quake with fear before such a display. It is an unparalleled way to ward off unwanted guests. I would later find out that even the most determined Mormon would be scurrying from your front door faster than a six-legged rat after a five-second stare.
I look away from the window and slip on a warm robe, gently padding my way over the cool stone floor to the kitchen. Bela is fussing over a warm stove; the smell of freshly baked bread mingles with that of frying eggs. The aroma of the venison that she roasted last night still hangs in the air.
I met - or rather found - Bela almost fifteen years previously. I had spent several months away from the abbey, enjoying the club scene in London, and returned to find her squatting in the barn, a half-starved and woebegone teenager. Born mute, and orphaned, she had lived on the streets much of her life, and would not be missed had I have slain her on the spot and sucked her young veins dry.
My pity however, got the better of me and I agreed to let her stay at the abbey as a maid-cum-caretaker. I had only envisaged a temporary arrangement, however fifteen years later she is still here - as much a part of this old building as the stained-glass windows of the small chapel and the centenarian cherry trees in the orchard.
After all this time, she is not fully aware of my true nature, but knows what I am not. Not normal. Not human. I have rarely engaged in long friendships - or lengthy relationships of any kind - with mortals. Usually, when they realize that you are something else, you are forced to selectively edit their memory and disappear, or simply empty their veins down your throat. Bela however, has been loyal, and her service, friendship and the joy of her company during the cold, winter nights at the abbey have been welcome additions to my typically solitary life.
She looks over from the stove and smiles, signing a quick 'Good morning' before returning to the frying pan and her scrambled eggs. I wander over to the stove myself and peer into the pan as she seasons the eggs. She looks down at me in mock admonishment and brushes me away, directing my attention to the fresh loaf of bread on the kitchen counter. A pad of butter and the remnants of last autumn's jam are laid out next to it. I need no second bidding.
Presently, she joins me at the kitchen table, with a steaming plate of breakfast for each of us. I am still amazed on a daily basis how the bedraggled, awkward girl in my barn grew into such an adept and efficient housekeeper. Tall, pale and freckled, with soft blue eyes and flaxen hair, she may yet have the chance to become a cherished wife, and perhaps a loving mother. For now, I am grateful to have her seated across from me at the breakfast table, excitedly telling me of the flower garden she is going to plant in the courtyard with one hand, while toying a piece of bread with the other.
Breakfast passes, and I am helping her clear the plates away when a spark ignites in my mind. I stand bolt-upright and Bela looks at me apprehensively. I close my eyes, and focus on the spark. There is a vampire traveling at high speed through the forest - making a bee-line for the abbey. I can't make out much of their psyche at this distance, but clearly, something is worrying them. Vampires rarely travel like this unless they have an important task to complete, or something fearsome to flee from. I put the plate down, and ask Bela to wait in the cellar for a few moments. She nods, and obeys.
Over the years, I have collected an extensive armory, scimitars to sub-machineguns, and much of it now hangs on the abbey library wall. I dash in and remove the most recent addition, a Glock that I 'borrowed' from a charming Austrian police officer a few months ago. Satisfied that it is fully loaded and in working order, I walk to the front door, which promptly flies open, the cool morning air flooding in.
The intruder's eyes widen slightly at the sight of the gun pointing directly at his head. Vampires are fast, but bullets are faster. He is breathing heavily, and appears to have been running for hours - but why, and from what?
I lower the pistol and push the door closed. He is still hunched over, getting his breath back. As an afterthought, I bar the door. Finally, with more than a little impatience creeping into my voice, I address him.
"Laszlo, what the hell is going on?"
User Reviews
Submitted by GodLovesALittleLovin (user info) at 2005-01-19 01:25:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2004-12-29 11:42:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked it, but I thought your transition into flashback was a bit jagged. But still, not jagged enough for me to want to mess up your perfect streak.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2004-12-07 10:10:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Impassive-Digressive (user info) at 2004-12-03 10:11:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by bigbabylons (user info) at 2004-12-03 04:50:01 (#)
Ranking: 2
This is some shit hot stuff buddy
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I love the phrase 'shit hot' I wonder what was wrong with the person's bowels that came up with it....
Oh, thanks for the kind words though.
Submitted by bigbabylons (user info) at 2004-12-03 04:50:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is some shit hot stuff buddy
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2004-12-02 16:33:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I like how they are more human than anne rice's vampires.
and I LOVE anne rice's series.
Submitted by Impassive-Digressive (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:21:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh dear, everybody seems to be going into withdrawl....
Fingers crossed, I should have time to write Part 5 by Friday afternoon... depends on how the remainder of my work week pans out.
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2004-12-01 11:52:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The average passerby would think I was molesting my monitor, I was so close to it.
More!
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2004-12-01 10:59:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You should re-name these posts "Uber-Heroin" cause I just can't stop...
MORE DAMNIT!!!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!
Submitted by Scarlett13 (user info) at 2004-12-01 07:17:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
More more!!!!
Submitted by heyzues (user info) at 2004-12-01 06:55:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2004-12-01 06:05:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
More please.
Really enjoying this series.
-Davros
Submitted by Impassive-Digressive (user info) at 2004-12-01 05:43:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Tigre (user info) at 2004-12-01 00:27:57 (#)
Ranking: 2
*Foams*
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Rowr!
Thanks for the support guys.
Submitted by Saxon (user info) at 2004-12-01 01:33:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I concur
Submitted by Shaun_Rocks (user info) at 2004-12-01 00:46:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I second that Tigre, this series is amazing
Submitted by Tigre (user info) at 2004-12-01 00:28:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This series seriously kicks ass.
Submitted by Tigre (user info) at 2004-12-01 00:27:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
*Foams*