Chantelle's Journal - A Vampire Tale Pt1

Chantelle’s Journal – A Vampire’s Tale.1

December 24th 2004 – New Orleans, LA2

It’s Christmas Eve in the city of Jazz. The music is filling the city, music of a thousand different songs, a million different lives. This is my first Christmas as a Vampire, and it feels so different to me. I always loved this holiday, even when I was growing up and we had nothing. I love the way the city changes, fills with gaudy decorations, twinkling lights cover everything, it’s a time of hope and of peace. Yes, I love Christmas.3

David said we should still give gifts, as it was what we were used to. Even if we don’t believe in the virgin birth or angels or all the other religious stuff. I don’t believe in the religious side, but I still adore the music. I love hearing the choirs of children as they sing, their voices filled with the joy and magic of Christmas. 4

David gave me this book that I am writing in. It’s black leather, smells wonderful, and feels soft in my hands. He said I should start to record my life as an Immortal, just as he has done. I questioned his logic, but he is so wise in things like this, that I know he’s right. I bought him a first edition of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. His eyes shone when he saw it, it made my heart sing to see his happiness. I love him so much.5

That summer night when Pandora chose me to be her fledgling will live forever in my eternal memory. That was the night my life truly began, it was the night I met David and fell in love with him. I love his spirit, I love his adventurous nature, I love everything about him. I love that he wants to teach me all he knows. David learned a lot of life lessons in his 70 plus years, and it has made him very wise. Looking at him, his long dark hair, his tan skin and his dark brown eyes, it is hard to believe that he has all this life experience. 6

He told me once of his life before he was changed bodies and became who he is now. He said he had a long, fulfilling life, but that he constantly gave up his chances at love and replaced it with learning and books. I think he regrets that sometimes, but then it made him who he is today, the man, the immortal that I love.7

There is something that bothers me though, and that is the shade of a person named Merrick Mayfair. She was David’s lover, his charge, a member of his Talamasca. She was a remarkable person, a scholar, a witch, a bringer of spirits. She stole the heart of more than one of the immortals, until finally she became one. 8

Now I am here, and I am compared to her, held up to her and I feel like I am left wanting. I can never be her, I can never call the spirits forth, I do possess her knowledge. I am a singer, an orphan from the swamplands; I couldn’t even read a book until I was 8 years old. I am me; I cannot be the replacement for a dead vampire everyone adored. I may share her colouring, I may share her look, we may even be confused for sisters, but I am Chantelle Falzon, formally Lena-May Du Pre of Magnolia Creek, Louisiana. I am a singer, not a voodoo priestess. So tell me why do I feel that I have so much to live up to?9

Enough now about the ghosts of dead Vampires. I want to enjoy this first Christmas I share with David. Enjoy the merriment and the music and most of all share the wonderful moments with the man that I love.10

Chantelle xx11


December 31st 2004 – New Orleans, LA12

The New Year approaches me with speed. It fills me with both happiness and a deep unsettling panic in the back of my mind. Time stretches out before me into infinity, and I have finally come to realise what being immortal really means. I cannot die. I will never see the tunnel with the light at the end; meet my Momma and my Papa in heaven like I always dreamed I would. I am trapped in this body and in this realm of existence. Trapped and there is no hope of escape. Thoughts fill my mind, of watching all I love crumble and turn to dust. I will see the end of things, the end of civilisations, possibly even the end of mankind itself.13

One of the deepest fears that I had as a human was the end of the world. I would have nightmares when I was troubled of demons rising through cracks in the earth, burning everything in their path. Of the chosen few being picked up from the ground and carried off by shimmering angels. I would always scream for the angels to pick me up, I was a good person, I had never hurt anyone in my life, but now…now I was a demon, I was the one rising through the cracks and feeding on humanity. I would be the one at the end who would devour those left on earth and then finally seal my own fate in the process. 14

So on this night of celebration, of dancing in the streets and merriment, I am sat here alone, locked in the old vestry of the convent, hiding from David and hiding from the world. I’m scared of what will come in the future, terrified of what will become of me. So I am writing all my fears down in this book given to me in love, writing it all down so I can see the words before me in black and white, so it doesn’t seem as frightening to me anymore. I hope this helps me, or I fear I will go mad.15

* * * * * * * * * * 16

At four minutes past twelve in the brand new year of 2005, David finally found me. He had searched for me all night, wanting to watch the fireworks and welcome the New Year in. It is an English tradition this welcoming the new year. Apparently the people there congregate in the street just before midnight, welcome it in together, set off fireworks and offer kisses and hugs. Then a dark haired man must open your door and then let you and your family back inside. I don’t really understand why this man should be lucky, but David likes his traditions. He is so very English in all things, from his Saville Row suit to his Burberry brogues.17

“Chantelle my darling, what’s troubling you?” He said in his Father-like manner. And I had begun to cry, sobbing into his shoulder, clinging to him in my despair. He read my thoughts, read the jumbled thoughts of Armageddon and of angels and demons and his hold tightened on me. He whispered soothing words into my ear as I sobbed, blood red tears staining my white dress and his expensive suit.18

“Chantelle you cannot dwell on such thoughts my darling, it will take you beyond madness. Please just know that I love you with all my heart and I will never leave you.” As I clung to him sobbing on that first morning of the New Year, I realised what I had always known, That David truly did love me. That was all that mattered for now.
Chantelle xx