Friend to a Vampire

That morning, only minutes before dawn, Adrian awoke. A quick look around told him he was still in Amarante's room, and a warm figure next to him revealed that he was lying beside her within the confinement of her closed canopy curtains. Jolted into a sitting position, he looked down to see his sister, who had been snuggling next to him, blinking sleepily up at him. 1

"What?" She said in a half whisper, still unable to speak coherently. Adrian tried hard not to notice how beautiful she looked. How she trusted him, how her gown revealed her shapely bosom and her flawless hips even in this darkness. 2

"I don't understand. Why am I here?" He answered, trying hard to keep the sweat from betraying him and straying to his brow. Amarante giggled. 3

"That is all? From the way you moved, I would have thought you heard bombs going off. While I ate you fell asleep, and I could hardly carry you back to your room. Since you were already on my bed, I just left you. I remembered that father is leaving for the day, so I trusted that he would not bother you or me at such an early hour as to which he will leave." Adrian tried to smile back at his naive sister, but his emotions got the best of him. Amarante seemed unfazed and turned around so her back faced him. 4

"You should go back to sleep, there is no use going to your room now. Besides, the slaves are up, and it would look quite strange if you were to go waltzing out of my room at such an untimely hour." Adrian looked down at his sister's backside, the gown's falling lace adding to emphasize her beauty. He shakily drew a breath and lay back down, careful not to touch her. Amarante quickly threw his safety out the window as she turned over, and curled into his side again, sound asleep. Blushing furiously, Adrian tried to remember every word he had read out of his Bible the night before.5

The morning did not come fast for Adelaide. Acacius had fallen asleep long ago, and yet Adelaide could not. Her fear of her husband had deepened, but she feared worse for her children’s safety, namely, Amarante.  She knew that she could not fend for Amarante, and as long as she lived here, she was in constant danger that Acacius might take extreme means to put Adelaide in her place. But what could she do? Combing her fingers through her tangled locks, she tried not to imagine what horrors Acacius might do next, what possibly disastrous and dangerous things he would do to prove a point. Could he not do them to her alone? Why did he have to bring her daughter, his daughter, into this bottomless dispute? Is there no end to his evil reign? Was there no way that she might change him? A light brought Adelaide out of her dark thoughts. Looking to the window she saw the sun rise. Acacius stirred and Adelaide hurriedly laid on the bed, her back to him. Closing her eyes and slowing her rapid breathing she felt him leave her side. He seemed to stand over her, and he kissed her cheek before getting dressed and leaving the room. When Adelaide was sure he was gone, she opened her eyes and sat up. Is there an end to his evil?6

That morning when Adrian and Amarante had dressed and come out for breakfast, they found that Ame had gone off with his father to town for the day. Walking down the stairs hurriedly, both had the same thing boring into their mind.7

"Mother?" They cried in unison.8

"Mother-" They both stopped short at the sight of their mother sitting in the parlor, reading a small book. That was not what surprised  them. What had made them stop was the way their normally ravishing mother looked. Her eyes were dull and glassy, not really seeing the book she held, and her skin was white and lifeless, as if stretched over a soulless skeleton. But what frightened them most was her beautiful hair, pulled back into a severely tight bun. Both stood horror stricken until Adelaide finally turned to face them.9

"Hello Adrian, Amarante. Whatever is the matter? You look as if you have both seen a ghost." Her laugh was hollow and her smile empty. She placed her book on the table and beckoned at her two children. "Come on now, let us have our morning tea." Adrian and Amarante gave each other significant looks, and sat with their mother as the tea came. Adrian, who was sitting directly to the right of his mother, grabbed her hand only to find it unnaturally cold and bony.10

"Mother," Amarante started, "Adrian and I were going on a horse ride to have a picnic this afternoon. Would you join us?" She finished just as the slave girl served her tea. Her mother looked at her with a blank stare for a long time, and as if only just hearing her she blinked and answered in a dull voice.11

"Yes, of course dear." Amarante looked at her brother, tears growing in her big eyes. Adrain could only give a grim smile. What was wrong with mother? He thought hopelessly to himself. Finishing his tea, he stood.12

"I'll get the horses ready, and tell the chef." Leaving his teary eyed sister and unresponsive mother, he walked outside into the fresh autumn air. The leaves were all brown and red, and some few still green, making it a colorful scene. I'll have to get my drawing utensils and paper out, he thought to himself as he walked into the stables. He stopped and took a deep breath, wallowing in the smell of fresh hay and horses. Bitter, the barn cat, strutted over to Adrian with his head held high, and in his mouth was a big rat.13

"Ahhh, Bitter, I see your earning your keep." Smiling and petting the overweight feline, he tried not to remember how they came by the name. It had been Amarante that named him, for the cat had been hers, at first. But as always Acacius had intervened, and so the cat was named Bitter,14

"Like Daddy." Amarante had said. Adrian picked up a brush and started to brush on Gonaria, his black stallion. Amarante, his beautiful, loving sister, how could anyone hate her, and yet her own father despised her very existence. Adrian saddled Gonaria up and tied her to the wood fence outside. Looking back at the mansion, he saw his sister rushing to the stable. Her golden hair flew out behind her in cascading waves, and she wore a long sleeved green dress that flowed out behind her in her flurrying run.15

"Adrian!" She called. "Adrian!" He noticed that her face was streaked with tears, and her voice was fogged with sorrow. She fell onto her knees, and Adrain hurriedly closed the gap between them.16

"What?" He asked holding her close to him. "What is the matter?" He looked down at the grief stricken Amarante. She looked up at him with sorrow ridden eyes.17

"It's mother. Something is wrong, she won't talk to me, and when she does I don't understand what she says. I am worried." Amarante looked to her brother, hoping he would know the answer, and he could see it in her eyes. Though he was worried also, he had to be the rock that held the family together. Smiling down at his sister, he wiped away her tears.18

"Amarante, why are you so worried? It is okay, mother probably didn't sleep well." Adrian brushed a few stray hairs out of her face and kissed her head.19

"Are you sure?" She asked, but she didn't doubt him, not even a little.20

"Of course I am sure." Hugging her, he felt slightly guilty for the joy that surged through his body at their closeness. 21

Only minutes after Amarante left the room Adelaide heard the crash of distant thunder. So much for my darlings picnic, she thought to herself. She started to rock her chair, and she continued to count the hours to which she knew Acacius would return.22

It was pouring down by the time Acacius and Ame returned. It was late, but everyone was still awake and sitting around the fire. Acacius walked in, Ame at his side, proudly carrying boxes in his hands. 23

"Hello, Sweetie." He said in a jolly tone, kissing his Adelaide on the cheek, unfazed by her sickly appearance. He handed her a small box, which obviously held some sort of jewelry in it. She opened it without blinking and pulled out a pair of dazzling citrine diamonds. He puffed his chest out with pride, expecting to be praised for such a fine pair of earrings. Adelaide smiled and asked in a hollow tone, 24

"They are simply marvelous. Wherever did you find such a fine pair of diamonds?" Though Adrian and Amarante knew the tone was meaningless and empty, Acacius seemed to take it to heart. He winked and bent over his wife.25

"It's a secret." He whispered kissing her on the cheek again. Turning to his oldest son, he handed him a long box.26

"It's nothing special, it's just a long shot musket." It was obvious by his tone that Acacius knew better than that. Adrain looked up at his father with composed happiness.27

"Thank you." He said respectfully. Next Acacius turned his sights on his middle child, Amarante. He practically bubbled with warmth as he handed her a small square package.28

"This is for you, Amarante." He said, smiling. She could only gape at her father, confused at his actions. "Open it." He said, hardly able to contain his joy. Amarante opened the package to find a huge jeweled necklace filled with diamonds and quartz and many other precious stones. But there was one that stuck out far more than any, and it was the blood red ruby that dangled down. It caused a chill to go down Amarante's back, and she couldn't explain it.29

"I had it made specially for you." Her father said happily. He pulled it out of her hands and pushed her hair out of the way. "It came all the way from Egypt." He stated as he put it around her neck. It was surprisingly heavy, and Amarante disliked how warm the Ruby dangle felt on her skin.30

"I love it." She lied, forcing herself to smile against her growing discomfort. Her father helped her stand, and she looked at it in the mirror. "It's simply beautiful." Ame held her hand and swelled with pride, "I reminded father to pick it up." Amarante smiled down on her little brother.31

"You did? Well, it is splendid." Ame glowed with glee and Amarante looked at the grandfather clock. "My word, look at the time! It is almost 10! I am so terribly tired, I think I should like to go to bed early." She smiled down at Ame, and walked over to her father. "Thank you for this marvelous gift." He presented his cheek, which she kissed, and then she turned to her mother. "Good night mother." She said, waiting a moment to see if Adelaide would respond, but her dull eyes just stared at the fire. Letting go of Ame's hand she nodded to her older brother and left the room. Adrian looked up to where his sister had left, even though it had been minutes since she had disappeared. Then, listening to his father's endless babble, he pretended to be interested even though his mind was preoccupied with other things.32

Armand had been hunting when he felt it. It was the strange presence of death, an old death, much older than himself. It was strong, and oddly familiar to him. It was in the forest just outside the mansion, somewhere waiting. Though Armand felt the pelting rain, he knew that this presence could also feel him, and it had the same confusion about him as he did it.33

Adelaide walked to the window unnoticed by her preoccupied husband and sons. She looked out into the rain, through her ghastly reflection,34

"My Angel, beautiful Armand, where are you?" She whispered out into the night.35

"Come out to the porch." Said his melodic voice in her head. Walking out of the room without a wondering glance from anyone, she stepped out onto her front porch that was guarded from the rain. She looked around and saw no one.36

"Angel?" She called, confident she would not be heard by anyone but the one she wished to hear.37

"Yes, I am here." She heard the voice say behind her. Before she could turn around she felt hard hands in circle her waist.38

"Don't turn around," He whispered in her ear softly. His hands went up to her tight bun and lightly he tugged on the pins that held it up, letting her hair fall piece by piece. When he had finished, she turned to him, finding hope in his pinkish skin and warm hands. 39

"What is wrong with you, child? Why to you look so sad?" Armand asked holding Adelaide's face in his hands, studying her eyes that looked up at him filled with trust and hope. 40

"My Angel, precious child of God, I am at a loss. I cannot handle my husband anymore. My daughter, oh my beautiful Amarante," She stopped and tears fell from her sorrowful eyes. Armand could hardly understand why she felt such hopelessness. It was as if she had it bottled up inside, and she would never let it out, not to anyone, except him. He looked down at this frail woman in a new light, a light that shined through the darkness that seemed to surround her. She was so beautiful, and her tears were like diamonds that fell from her eyes. Armand tipped his crying child's face up and kissed her. Adelaide's hands went to his shoulders,and he held her around her tiny waist. Before Armand knew what he was doing, he bit into her tongue, just slightly, and drank bits of her blood, not enough to hurt her, but enough to put them both in ecstasy. Suddenly, The presence Armand had felt was there, right in front of him. Opening his eyes, he saw no one, and the presence was gone. But he heard a voice in his head, a voice he could never forget even if he wanted to. And that voice belonged to someone so close, that even as he writhed in Ecstasy with Adelaide, he felt a chill travel down his spine as the voice repeated its simple message.41

"Armand, why are you here?" 42

Amarante paced across her room hastily, wringing her hands in anticipation and nervousness. She wore a long dress and a heavy wool  travel cloak, and her hair was rolled back into a low ponytail. The rain had subsided, but the continuous rolls of thunder promised more. Her slave girl watched her with no expression. Then, Tulian walked in the room.43

"Your parents are asleep, Cherie." She said, standing at a respectable distance from Amarante. 44

"And my horse?" She asked45

"Saddled and ready." Tulian answered. Without another word Amarante waved them away. Checking herself in the mirror, it was to her dismay that she had forgotten about the necklace her father had bought her. It hung on her neck, glowing, just daring her to take it off. He'll know why it makes me feel so strange, she said to herself. Blowing out her candle, she opened her door quietly and looked down the hall. It was dark and deserted, just as it should be. Silently, she walked out into the hall, careful not to let the floor creak. Hurriedly she rushed down the stairs and opened the door. A rush of cold wind blew at her, and she thanked God Tulian had picked out the wool travel cloak. Taking in a deep breath she raised her hood and stepped out into the dark and lonely night.46

Adrian had been pacing in his room also, except for different reasons. He tried not to think about her, tried not to picture her sleek body lay ed over her black satin sheets, and he tried not to imagine the softness of her peachy skin brushing against him, or his hands caressing her neck and shoulders. Groaning, he threw himself on his bed, holding his head in his hands. The hotness between his legs was killing him, and yet he could not rid himself of the thought of Amarante's warm figure cuddled into his side, or her full bosom on his chest... Adrian suddenly sat up, and looked toward his room door. Had he not just heard the front door open? Jumping to his feet he ran out of his room, careful not to make any noise. Stopping at the staircase, he looked down the descending steps at the door, and saw that no one was there and the door was closed. He laughed at his foolishness and walked slowly back to his room. But something called to him, past his own room, down the hall. He walked, aware of the feeling he was getting, the one between his burning legs, his member hardening as he walked to his sister's room. But he stopped, now embarrassed at his abhorrent thoughts of lust. Turning back to his room he sat on the bed hoping that the wanting, the need for her physical contact, would go away.47

Amarante rode out into the night, glancing back only once to see if anyone had followed her. Positive that she was alone, she turned her horse for the forest.48

"Yaw, Gabriela." She said in a whisper, slightly kicking the horse. It moved without a moments hesitation and she galloped into the dark and shadowed forest. Thunder rumbled above her, again, threatening to break, and the winds whirled around the trees bringing fallen leaves. Amarante rode well, and about 30 minutes down the road she turned of the dirt path into the trees. For a while on she rode at full gallop, dodging trees with agility and strength, until she came to a small clearing. The only thing there was a huge boulder. Jumping off Gabriela, she tied her loosely to a low hanging branch. Pulling down the hood of her cape, Amarante crawled onto the rock. She looked around and began to hum. Soon her humming turned to words, words she projected out into the night. It was an old Roman hymn, older than anyone could remember. How could she know such an old song? Amarante continued to sing it out, in a high pitched voice that was so beautiful and so crisp, it was a wonder she wasn't a singer. Suddenly a figure emerged from the trees. It was a towering figure dressed in red velvet, and it had golden locks that fell past it's strong shoulders. It sang the harmony to the old tune, his voice rising in unison, and falling back with lower notes. Amarante turned to the man smiling, all hopelessness gone from her beautiful eyes. She stood on the rock and sang out to the man, who stood only an arms length from her. And even when she stood on this boulder, she was only a head two heads taller than he. They finished their song with a glorious note, and for a moment Amarante just stood and watched the blond man. Only for a moment...49

"Marius!" She cried over the thunder and jumped into his arms. "You came!" Marius laughed to the sky and held Amarante in his arms as if she were a child.50

"Has there ever been a time I haven't?" He asked, his shining eyes looking down at the beauty in his arms.51

"Of course not. I was just afraid that..."52

"That, what?" He interrupted. The smile died from Amarante's eyes and her shoulders drooped.53

"That, you might have forgotten, or had something more important to attend to." Marius sat her back on the boulder, and bent down to her face. His smile never left his lips and he put his hands under her chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze.54

"On the contrary, Mon Cherie, you are all I thought about while I was gone. It is a wonder I got anything done at all." Amarante smiled, enjoying the caress of his hands on her skin, the electrifying pulses of pleasure he gave her by just looking at her with his icy blue eyes. She leaned in closer, and her eyes glowed with excitement.55

"Do you want to know a secret?" She asked whispering. Lightning flashed overhead and thunder was close behind. Marius leaned closer, enjoying the way she shivered, not from the cold, but from her anticipation.56

"What?"57

"I think I had a vision, like the ones you used to give me." Marius's smile drooped and his brow knitted in thought.58

"You had a vision of my home country?" He asked. Amarante shook her head rapidly, her excitement getting the better of her.59

"No, I saw a boy." Marius tried to hide his growing discomfort. 60

"What did he look like?" 61

"He had long curly hair, copper in color, and a very beautiful face. He looked like an angel." Marius stood up suddenly, and turned away from Amarante. He is here, Marius thought. Looking straight into the trees, he saw Armand standing out of view, for a mortal. Marius lifted an eye brow at his vampiretic child.62

"Marius, what is the matter? Have I offended you?" Amarante wailed. Marius turned back to Amarante, a smile on his kind features.63

"No, child, no. I am just, thinking." Amarante looked reproachfully at Marius, unsure of whether to tell him of her necklace. Marius, seeing her confusion, looked her in the eyes. 64

"Amarante, what is it that you wish to ask me?"65

"Master, I might be over reacting,it's just," She paused, pulling her cloak off so her necklace could show. Marius felt as though he was being smothered, for the power that radiated from this small jewel was infinite, and alarmingly familiar. "It is a necklace my father had made for me, and though it is quite beautiful, it is very disconcerting. Actually, it makes me queasy just thinking about it." Marius had composed himself, and he looked down at the frowning Amarante, who fingered the dangling ruby. 66

"What is it that makes you fear it so?" Marius asked, reaching out to touch it. She allowed him to hold it, and he gasped when he felt the burning warmth it pulsated on the his cold, undead skin. 67

"It was already warm when I put it on." She said, looking for an answer in Marius's unreadable features. He let the necklace fall back on to Amarante's collarbone.68

"I do not have an answer for you." He said quietly. Amarante gaped at him.69

"What do you mean, Marius?" She asked incredulously. He looked away, as the thunder crashed overhead.70

"I cannot tell you why it makes you feel like this. And even if you are not alone in your feelings of concern, I cannot tell you why." Amarante looked down, heart broken, and tears filled her eyes.71

"I see." She said and out her cloak back on. Her tears fell over her cheeks, a down pour of their own, and Marius was over come with the urge to wipe her tears away, and to offer her The Gift, but then the temptation went away as she untied her horse and gracefully jumped into the saddle. He stood and watched as she pulled her hood over her wind tangled hair.72

"Goodbye, Marius. I must return home. I shall see you again." Marius wanted to grab her, to never let her go, to wallow in her warmness and love, but he could not. As she rode away he heard the faint sound of her sobs, and he could still feel that power that emanated from her necklace. He heard Armand walking up behind him.73

"Not a picture perfect ending, if you don't mind me saying. What is your relationship with her, Marius? What are you doing here, and what it the origin of her necklace, for I am sure that for one second, you let your guard slip, I saw your recognition of its power." Marius did not have to turn to see the smirk on Armand's face. He repeated what he had said before, this time out loud,74

"Armand, why are you here?"75