Path of the Vampire forum

Cael hugged his torso as he staggered forward. The night was below freezing, Cael was beyond freezing. He was not dressed for this weather. Not enough layers, not enough money to buy layers. He thought he could make it to Toronto, spend what he had left on a cheap motel, find some work, go from there...but something seemed to be conspiring against him. First his heater quit. Then he got a flat, then his spare got a flat. Luckily he had the foresight to keep a can of fixaflat for just such an occasion, but that was not the end of his troubles. That same night he was almost run off the road by what he can only assume was a drunk guy in a Honda, while swerving to avoid the guy his cell phone slid off his dash and out an open window, he didn't even try to look for it. He got food poisoning from gas station food, and he was beginning to develop a cold from driving bundled in blankets with no heater. At least he hoped it was just a cold and not pneumonia. The ultimate insult to injury occurred five miles outside Harper Rock, when his truck finally died after around a year and a half of slow but steady travel. He was surprised it lasted as long as it did, but the timing could have been a bit better. After a fairly long string of creative cursing and steering wheel punching, Cael decided to wait for someone to drive by, but after two hours he noticed he couldn't feel his hands anymore, and the storm was progressively getting worse. He didn't have a choice. He had to walk.

Cael was used to hardship, he was even used to the cold, but not this cold. This cold seemed alive. Every wind gust felt like some sort of malicious attack. He would lean into it and clench his shivering jaw in defiance, but after awhile he couldn't even do that anymore. He just put his head down and kept walking. He just had to keep walking.

The streets of Harper Rock were empty. No one was out in this storm. He hugged himself and looked around. He perked up at the sound of an engine in the distance. Cael mustered every ounce of strength he had to attempt to wave down the eighteen wheeler, but it roared by without missing a beat. Cael cursed under his breath and continued to walk. He had no idea where he was or where he should go, but he knew he wouldn't last much longer without finding some sort of shelter.

Cael was startled by the sudden sound of a woman's voice. He spun around still shivering. He was surprised to see a very attractive red head standing right in front of him, her unkempt hair blowing in the wind gusts. Where did she come from? He was pretty sure no one was anywhere in ear shot a few moments ago, but why did he care?

"Uh, h..h..hey," Cael stammered, "I don't know how I missed you, but I'm g..g..glad you're here. My truck broke down a few miles away..." Cael erupted into a coughing fit. If he didn't have pneumonia before he'd bet money he did now.

She appeared indifferent to the cold that seemed to ooze into his very bones. She just stood there staring at him. Her extremely casual and curious demeanor made him uneasy for some reason, but he quickly shoved the notion away. He needed help, and here was someone that could help. Finally something was going right for a change.

"I've been walking a long way, as you c.c.can see I'm not really dressed for the occasion." Cael rubbed the arms of his leather jacket he had zipped up to his chin. Underneath he only wore a sweater and a t-shirt. His jeans were so useless to the cold that they might as well have been made of paper. He was from California, he wore flip flops and shorts in the winters there. He really wished he stayed there at the moment. Where did he get the idea that heading for Toronto would be a good idea?

"Um, i.i.if you could tell me where I could find a motel or something, hell an open restaurant, you would be my f.f.freaking hero." He blew into his hands and rubbed them together, but he still couldn't feel anything. He lost feeling in his feet and his lower legs around the time he reached the outskirts of Harper Rock. This made walking a bit of a problem. He was starting to think maybe he should ask her to call an ambulance.

Cael heard about vampires in Harper Rock. Everyone had. He just didn't believe it. One day all the sudden the media proclaims vampires are real and living in Harper Rock, some sort of washed up actor publishes a book claiming to be a vampire, and he's just supposed to eat it up? Just like that? Oh yeah werewolves exist too, and the tooth fairy, and Santa as a matter of fact, you had it right when you were eight. All the monsters that lurk in the dark, just waiting to bite or claw or whatever monsters like to do to hapless fools that wander in their path, they're all real now. So, you know, finish that bowl of cereal and have a great day! How could Cael believe it? Easier to suspend disbelief. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Sometimes it's fatal.

It was on the radio as he crossed the Canadian border. Some talk show guy, some random caller, "Vampires are just people you know. They aren't all blood thirsty killers, you can't stereotype every vampire you encounter, that's just ignorance if you ask me..."
"Can you believe this s***," Cael remarked to the customs officer, "Is everyone losing their f******* minds?" The customs officer, named Paul if you looked at his name tag, gave Cael a somber look and a slight nod, "I've been doing this job for 20 years. I thought I've seen it all. I truly did, but I'm telling you, and I can't believe I am, there are indeed vampires in Harper Rock, and it is safe to assume they could be encountered anywhere during your stay in Canada. Everyone says they are nice, or just like people, or whatever, like that fellow on the radio... just watch your back out there. I know I'm watching mine. These are strange times, indeed sir, strange times." He gripped the sterling silver cross on his neck tightly as he spoke those words. Maybe that's why Cael decided to drive through Harper Rock. Maybe he had to see for himself. Of course he wouldn't admit it. It was just on the way, just a stop.

It all happened so fast. She was just a pretty perky red head. A little quirky maybe, but such a sight for sore on the verge of icing over eyes. He didn't think much as she brushed his shoulder off. Then she stepped a little closer, ”I know a way I can warm you up. Get your blood pumping. Adrenaline, yeah? It’s …holistic,” Something in her voice raised the alarm bells again. Before he could react her hand was on his neck, painfully squeezing with amazing strength. Then she was on him. She leaped onto him savagely, faster than he could blink. Cael could do nothing to prevent her legs from wrapping around him, completing her predatory lunge. He cried out in pain and complete terror as he felt a sharp pain in his neck. Was she biting him? He struggled to unlatch the red head, push her off, knock her off, something, anything, but her grip was absolute. As the vampire fed, by now Cael knew exactly what she was, Cael's legs gave out and he flopped down onto the snowy pavement. He had no fight in him or a chance if he did. He was slipping away. It was just a matter of moments.

At first he couldn't feel anything. There was cold, and fear, and pain, then it all slipped away. Like a dream the moment you open your eyes. Her red hair, the snow, the night sky...fade to black. No sound, no fury. Was this death? Shouldn't there be a light? No, he was still breathing. This was a cliff. Then he did feel something. Something warm, something wet, when he licked his lips it was like an electric jolt. His eyes opened. While his vision was blurred, all he could see clearly was the blood. His whole being was its taste, its energy, its life. Without thinking he reached for the source. He grasped her wrist eagerly and brought it to his mouth. He would have more of her blood. He never wanted anything more.

Slowly as Cael drank he began to come back to himself. He was reacting on an instinctual level. His eyes widened as he realized what he was doing, and then what had recently occurred flooded back to him instantly. He took his mouth away from the woman's bloody wrist and released it like he was holding onto something scolding hot. He sat up and scooted away from the woman a couple of feet and stopped. He stared at her for a second. She looked absolutely elated. She was smiling, strangely beautiful and somewhat vicious all at the same time, joy and fascination swam in her stare. Cael licked his lips and tasted her blood. It tasted better than anything he had ever had. It was her blood he was drinking. He was dead, or dying, and it quickened him. He felt warm, strong, more lucid than he ever had before, although a little confused at the moment. A wave of panic washed over him. He looked at the woman, the vampire, and asked a question that he sort of already knew the answer to, "What the f*** did you just do to me?"