Path of the Vampire forum

One security camera. That was really all it took. One camera and one more vivid dream. For all the skill the shadow had at crafting and managing security systems it was inevitable that she could fail, miss one or just plain forget. Forgetting happened to everyone when it wasn’t important. Maybe the last camera wasn’t worth remembering but what it would erroneously reveal would never be forgotten. No matter what his last words in the notebook he left behind claimed that would take place after he was gone. He would never be forgotten. Ever.

Another alert illuminated across the black iPhone where it was resting on the sales counter in the upstairs of Twisted Sister. The vibration sent a low hum over the black lacquer surface. After a few seconds it finally reached her ear and cheek. Both had been planted there for the last several hours where she had surrendered to exhaustion. HOPE moved sluggishly across her cool cheek
brushing at the black strands that blanketed her face. The vibration was becoming a quick annoyance as her fingers fumbled to grab the device and tap the screen to end the irritation. The glow faded and all was dark once again.

LESS pulled from beneath her head and gently asserted her palm enough on the counter that she was spared the effort in the task of rising up. Her neck was stiff and she met the condition with a brief cool rub down of her hand. HOPE patted the edge of the hard surface and it instantly won an award in her mind for the most uncomfortable spot she had fallen asleep on in quite awhile. A gentle roll of her hips had the black leather stool beneath her nudging back so she had the space to hop down. She was awake again. It registered as her bare feet landed on the industrial grade factory flooring.

A brief glance down at the inked roses blooming out of the permanent ink set at the top of each foot had her questioning her state of dress. Where were her shoes? She scratched at the cloud of black hair that needed brushing on the back of her head. They would turn up eventually. Vader likely took them for a long walk and buried them in the grounds of Vita Bella.She shrugged and rolled her shoulders to loosen up the muscles that were taking longer to wake than she cared for.

A yawn caught Dominique off guard as she moved towards the ice cream freezer by the lockers. She paused with her hands resting on the frozen treat cooler. Would she ever wake up? She slid open the plexiglass and reached down for one of the wrapped bars. While her hand dropped down she didn’t even bother to look. She would take whatever her hand touched first. The chill that was cradled against her palm reminded her she was not as cold as ice and that was a relief. It was certainly a random assessment but still her thought none the less. Reluctantly she closed the sliding door on the top and accepted the fact she would be back to work once she consumed the sweet fuel her body didn’t need.

The blinking light on the counter caught her attention as a hand was about to hit the switch and light up the shop. Leaving the task unfinished she instead padded her way back to the light while biting down on the Rocky Road Klondike bar. LESS worked at the silver wrapper to give her more biting room while HOPE swiped the screen to see what woke her and saved her from further cramps. The alert from the camera she neglected to remove. It appeared someone was not giving up their twisted game or she really did a number on crafting that particular security device. She had given up the Thai food so what else could it be? Whatever it was It was easy to remedy. She took another bite of the bar and walked down to the main floor of the shop. Ignoring the lack of shoes or perhaps what she must look like in her still sleep deprived state she made her way to the one place she could find if she was blind, deaf, powerless, bloodless and near total ruins. It was what a home was meant to be. The one spot you never failed to find your way back to.

The ground beneath her feet was soft. The scent of water and the sounds of it lapping at the dock was tempting. She would have peeled of the shorts and halter top she had on and dive in but there was that issue that she needed to deal with first. Sleepy or not there was a camera that needed to be repaired. The last bite of rocky road disappeared from the silver foil wrapper in her hand. The sound of it balling up in her hand was followed by the subtle hiss of it being stuffed into her front pocket.

Small pebbles stuck to the bottoms of her bare feet as she stepped in the house. She brushed them off lightly on the rug and took a slow walk through the back of Vita Bella where the industrial grated flooring continued to the stair well. She was untraceable and lost in the covers of the shadows that constantly enveloped her. Perhaps it had become a blanket of security or another wall that she found she had the power to build around her. Either way it brought her comfort in moving about.

Upward the roses climbed without a sound. One after the other leading Dominique to the top floor. She curled her fingers around the handle and pushed the door open. Another length of dark corridor was left to navigate through in the dark. She felt a warmth increase with each new step while the familiar knots began forming in her chest and stomach. The scents of this home were so vivid she could almost be sold on the idea that their sources were still present. She felt the ache each time she took another step closer to the place where the living room would be.

The door was left open and she moved through the space. Dominique left no sound as she headed to the spot where the camera would be. HOPE reached up and pulled it down and tossed it in the garbage. She stayed still and that was a mistake. It was then that she could hear the sounds of keys dropping on the kitchen island. The aroma of steak cooking reminded her the place was not just a home. It fed the heart and soul of those that inhabited it. Her feet slid over the light wood floor beneath them and she pulled out a stool and sat on it. Her eyes took in the space with affection that would never wane.

The table that was the spot of gatherings. The trampoline that looked impractical where it was but made total sense to those that used it routinely. The fish tank where she found the cigarettes taped in the back when she went to fix the water filter. The massive screen television that hosted epic movie marathons and provided her sound to fall asleep to when the place finally went empty of all except her. She rubbed her face and took a deep breath in and held it. She was stronger every time she came back home. Her hands dropped down and gripped the far edge of the counter while her body lifted up and hopped off the stool.
Vita Bella. It was full of magic, beauty, love, peace and dreams. Dominique felt that still even as her feet stepped over that spot at the foot of the bed. She smiled softly. Now it was more about the days he laid there sketching new designs instead of the blood that had been washed away. It had been nearly a year. In that time she learned to let go of the pain, the fear and anger. It was the guilt of failing him that would eternally haunt her and she accepted that too. She earned it and it kept her connected.

The trail of clothes laying around was another reason to smile. A mind was powerful when it reflected and this moment was no different. Last year she would have attempted to reach down and take hold of them only to find her hand moving through the thin air left empty. Now she knew better. They were perfect where they were. The pattern was so typical, so him. She left all as it was and moved down the stairs towards the lounge. The sounds of the television being on didn’t seem unusual to her as she entered. She had these vivid dreams a thousand times. She sighed softly looking to the leather armchair. Eventually she would snap out of it and find she was still at the island counter upstairs. For the moment she would appreciate it for what it was.

In the shadows outside the glow of the colorfully animated screen her body sank to the floor against the wall and she pulled her legs into her chest and hugged them tight. Her tired eyes didn’t blink in case he disappeared again. It was then as she watched him sleep the tears finally came. After all that time they found their way back pooling in her dark eyes. Verne wasn’t wrong very often but he was about one thing. He was not forgotten. Even if he had left by his choice there was still a part of him that would always remain and for that she was grateful. It just took losing her mind to accept it.