THE COUNCIL MEETING: By Liza Larregui
Friday, April 30th, 2010Tales of the Reluctant Fangpire—-Part 6
I sat on a bench with several other new fangpires waiting for my name to be called. The experience was much like jury duty as we were all pushed into a darkly lit room with some benches and told to wait. I was half expecting to see a video hosted by Sally Field explaining why it was my civil duty to be a fangpire and that I should feel proud. Luckily, or maybe unfortunately, I had Lori by my side.
“I’m sick to my stomach.” Lori announced.
“Relax, this will be over soon and we can go home. And why am I comforting you? Shouldn’t you be comforting me?” I asked playfully.
“Lee, this could be it for me. They might not accept us. Well, they’ll accept you since you didn’t kill a fangpire. But me…” Lori sighed deeply and fell into her own world. I rubbed Lori’s back for support and hoped this would end happily, or as happily as a fangpire judging could end.
“Lee Sharpe? Lori Radcliffe? Lee Sharpe and Lori Radcliffe, please come to the front desk.” A womans voice over the intercom called on us. We walked to the front desk together, hand in hand. A tiny woman stood behind a circular desk. She looked us over as she lead us to another room where we were seated in front of the council.
“Will Lee Sharpe please step forward?” An elderly man asked as I started to worry about my fate. His cold and wrinkly hand touched my forehead as he began to chant. The volume of his voice grew with each indistinguishable word. “You may sit while I explain your new gift.”
“Thank you.” I said as I sat down, though I was unsure I was even supposed to speak.
“You have been given a very special gift, Lee Sharpe. You have been given the gift of knowledge.” Old Man must have seen the look of confusion on my face because he continued without pause. “You, Ms. Lee Sharpe, will have the ability to read the human mind with a single glance. It will be overwhelming at first but I have the utmost confidence you will grow to control it.” I raised my hand hesitantly as I had not been briefed on the proper etiquette. “Yes, Ms. Lee Sharpe?”
“I was told there would be a duty as well as a gift. Something I would have to do to give back to the community. I’m just eager to find out what that might be.”
“You will soon find that your gift is also your duty.” And with that, Old Man disappeared before my eyes. I turned to Lori for some answers but she too had vanished.
***
“Where the heck did you go before?” I pounced on Lori as soon as she walked through my door, literally. I reminded myself to ask her later how she did that.
“It’s been a long day. Can we just call it a night? Can I crash here?” She plopped herself down on my couch and closed her eyes.
“Lori, what happened? You need to tell me what that old man did to you or said to you and why you disappeared and why my gift is also my duty?” I bombarded her with all the questions I had been storing since she disappeared hours ago.
“ENOUGH!” She belted. “I don’t owe you anything. I gave you the greatest gift of all, immortality. And all you do is complain, nag and whine. Do you know how many people would kill for the chance at immortality? I’m through with you, Lee. You’re on your own.”
I stood there, shocked and hurt, as I watched my only friend, my only ally disappear into thin air.
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©2010 Liza Larregui
