Posts Tagged ‘Tales of the Reluctant Fangpire’

DOUBTING THOMAS: By Liza Larregui

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

Tales of the Reluctant Fangpire—Part 7

The doorbell rang just as I was applying the finishing touches on my face.  It had been days since I saw Lori and was wishful that it was she who was at my door.  With the special cream still on my fingertips, I ran down my stairs, quicker than normal, and opened my front door.

“Lee, it’s been forever.”  he said.

She looks so pale, he thought.

Though I tried to avoid humans since my gift was bestowed upon me, I did gain some experience in determining what was thought and what was actually said out loud.  However, sometimes it was hard not to respond to thoughts.

 
“Thomas!”  Standing on the tip of my toes, I leaned in to hug his much taller body.

Wow, she’s lost so much weight, too.  I hope she’s okay.

“Please, come in.  I was just getting ready to visit my mother but you are a welcomed delay,”I said, smiling.

“Lee, where have you been?  It’s like you’re a ghost.  No one has seen you lately.”  Thomas inquired as he bent his body to sit on my couch.  His blonde hair revealed dark brown roots and he was almost as pale as me.  Maybe he had turned into a fangpire, I thought.  I sat myself next to him.  Our legs touched and electricity ran through my body for the first time in a long time.

“I lost my job and I’ve just been trying to stay under the radar.  What’s new with you?”

With our history, I was afraid I’d reveal too much if we talked about me so I instantly changed the subject.  “I heard you broke up with your girlfriend.  I’m sorry to hear that.”

 “Well, that’s kind of why I’m here.”  I noticed his leg began to twitch and his face started to sweat.

How do I tell her?

“Tell me what?”  Oops!  “I mean, why are you here?  Not that I don’t want you here because I do but is there something you need to tell me?”  Real swift, I thought.  I had to learn better control.

“I still love you.”  Thomas looked away as his hands started to sweat.

Though normally I would be most agreeable to Thomas admitting his love for me, being a fangpire definitely changed things.  I still had feelings for him, but love?  Can fangpires even feel love?  Where was Lori when I needed her?

 “Thomas, I–”

“Don’t say a word.”  He put his warm fingers on my cold lips and kissed my forehead.  I was pale, cold and thin.  Thomas wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box but I was beginning to worry he’d catch on.

She’s so cold.

He leaned in and wrapped his arms around me squeezing tightly.  With Thomas rubbing his hands over my arms to warm me up, I read his thoughts.

I miss this so much.  I will wait for her to be ready for me.  I need her in my life.  I love her.  Lee, I love you so much.  If you only knew how much.  Please, tell me you love me.  Please!

I resisted answering his pleas as I removed myself from his arms.  Thomas’ eyes saddened as I moved away from him.

“You don’t love me back, do you?”

“Thomas, it’s not that simple.  I wish I could explain what’s going on, but I can’t.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have left you for her.  I’m sorry I did.  I’m also sorry I came here today.  I shouldn’t have put this on you.  I’ll go.”  As he pushed himself up from my couch, I noticed Lori in the kitchen motioning for me to join her.

“Thomas, don’t go.  I just need a minute.  I’ll be right back.  Don’t go, please?”

 With a slight smile, he nodded and sunk back into his seat.  I briskly walked into my kitchen, sliding the door shut for privacy.

Lori was sitting on the counter, filing her nails that never grew, and didn’t budge when I entered.

“Lori, what the hell is going on?  What are you doing here?  Why did you leave the other day?  What am I supposed to do with Thomas now?”  Feeling overwhelmed, I pulled a chair from the table and sat.  My head was spinning.  I realized I hadn’t eaten in some time and my fangs were starting to protrude.

“Relax.  Calm down.  Take a breath.”  Lori chuckled as she realized that I couldn’t breathe anymore than the chair I was sitting on.  “Do you love him?”

“I don’t know.  He left me over a year ago and I’ve moved on.  I still have feelings for him but… WAIT!  Can I even BE with a human?”

“Yes, silly.  My grandmother was human, remember?  Anyway, do you love him?  Do you want to be with him?”  I rubbed my head as if it ached.  Old habits die hard.

 “I think so.  I don’t know.  Maybe.  Yes, I think I do still love him.”

“Then tell him, but don’t tell him about us.  If he finds out, we’ll have to turn him, or worse.”  Lori appeared genuinely concerned for my happiness, though she still had many questions to answer.  “He’ll figure it out when you walk back in there.  Your fangs are fully extended.  You need to eat.  Here, honey.”  Lori threw me over a water bottle filled with blood.  “I picked it up on the way over.  I knew you would need it.”  She said as she winked.

Opening the cap faster than I ever had before, I guzzled it down, satisfying my intense craving.  As I wiped the drops of blood off my lips that had escaped my mouth, Thomas walked in.

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©2010 Liza Larregui

THE COUNCIL MEETING: By Liza Larregui

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Tales 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