Fan Fiction ❯ The Anteroom ❯ The Anteroom ( One-Shot )

THE ANTEROOM
by D. L. Barsottini
                                         

I like it here. There is this room, and an adjoining bath. That's all I need, a protected bed and a bath. I use the electricity very little. I've learned to much prefer candles. Their fire gives a soft glow that soothes my eyes. Over the years electric lights have begun to hurt them. I can, however, spend some time surrounded by electric light when necessary. Still, I run to the darkness when I can.

Myself? I stand about five-foot, ten-inches tall. My legs are long, and my stomach is beautifully flat.  I've been lucky. I've never had to work too hard to keep it that way. I'm not too happy with my breasts.  They're rather small. My hair, sun-blond; and my skin, typical California bronze.

At least, that is what I was. Years of hiding in the darkness has changed that. My hair is still blond, but darker. I lost my bronze coloring. I've actually whitened. I didn't think I could do that. The rest of my  features are the same.

People I've known for years have caught me like this. They've looked straight at me, but didn't recognize me because of these changes. I've let them go. It's better for them.

Please, don't think I was an innocent virgin when this happened to me. I had my first sexual experience when I was sixteen-years-old. By choice. I've had several lovers since then.

I wonder if my parents knew?

My parents. They hadn't had a vacation by themselves since before I was born. They asked me if I didn't mind if they went to Europe by themselves. I was glad for them to go. Imagine, eighteen and just out of high school with time alone. A free room too. I had gotten a job at Taco Bell across from the pier at Huntington Beach.  That was all the money I needed.

"You sure you'll be all right, Dear?" my mother asked me at the airport.

"We don't have a little girl any more," dad said. "She'll be fine."

"Please Mom, go," I said. "I'd feel guilty if you didn't."

We'll miss you." she said.

I kissed them both. "I'll miss you too."

"Last call for flight 96, to Pittsburgh, connecting to New York, at gate 23," the attendant said over the P.A. system.

We kissed again, and I watched them enter the jet way. That was the last time I saw them.

I wonder what they think became of me?

I left the John Wane Airport and headed for the coast. The beautiful sunsets we have here in California always calmed me enough to give me a good night's sleep. And I was a little scared to be alone all summer.

I reached Huntington Beach, and stood on the pier. People were around me with their cameras to capture the sight. I wish I had brought a camera that night. I miss sunsets so much. The light gives a fiery golden color to the water and the air around. Now, I can't come out until just when the sun's completely gone from the sky.

The sun disappeared behind the horizon of the water. I watched the campfires. The people in their wet suits surfed on the white waves. The air smelled and tasted of the cold Pacific ocean. Its salt. The sky darkened. I finally headed to my car.

I passed a man. "Beautiful," he said.

I kept walking. He followed. I kept walking.

"I'll never understand why women of today insist on aging their skin with the damage of the sun and cigarettes. But, we can take care of that in you." He grabbed my arm and pulled me to see his eyes.  "The damage will fade."

I opened my mouth to scream. His eyes stopped me.

"Come along," he said. "We need to do this alone."

I only remember his eyes, so don't remember how, but he brought me to this room that is now my refuge from daylight.

Scooping me up in his arms, he said, "This won't take long."

Gently, he laid me on the bed. "I waited for you," he whispered. "I knew you'd be alone soon." He opened my blouse and removed my bra.

I wanted to stop him. I couldn't.

He covered my body with his. A smile came across his face. It chilled my body. I was helpless. He lowered his head, and covered my breasts and neck with kisses.

I shivered. He laughed. "I enjoy what I do. You will to," he said.

His kisses became deeper on my neck. His body pushed me deeper into the bed. Suddenly, I felt him bite me. I wanted to cry out, but was unable. The sound stopped in my throat. The room blurred. My heart slowed. Breathing became a chore. It hurt.

I couldn't see him, but I heard him talk to me. "Yes, I know you're scared. There's nothing to be frightened of, Sweetheart. I'll feed you." He lifted me.

I could smell something. He put my helplessly open mouth to his shoulder. A foul taste entered my mouth. I fought. He held me. I had to drink, or choke. It gave me back my strength. I drank deeper. I
drank as much as I could. It became the sweetest think I ever tasted.

Something began to change inside me. My mouth tingled. My teeth grew. I bit into his flesh. It made it easier to get more of the thing that strengthened me. I wasn't going to stop.

His shoulder tore from my grip as he pushed me away. But he only laughed. "That's all right, Sweetheart. You didn't hurt me. Watch how fast it heals."

But I didn't care about him being hurt. Inside. My stomach burned. The fire shot through my body to my fingertips. I needed something. Something to make the burning stop. "Help me!" I cried.

"You won't die," he said. "It will take several hours for you to do that. I'll be back before then and bring you what you need to live." He left.

I lay there in agony. "Where the hell is he?" I thought. The pain only grew worse.

He returned. "Here you are, Sweetheart. I brought you what you need."

I looked at him. He held a man in his arm. That odor came back again. "Then give it to me," I growled.  My body quaked. No human could sound like that.

"Be patient. You'll get it." He laid the man beside me.

The odor grew stronger. I saw two small marks in the man's throat. The odor came from there. Some of the pain had already stopped. I opened my mouth. My teeth sharpened. I drove them into my victim.  Blood. His blood flowed into my mouth and down my throat. The pain finally left me. My body shook with the pleasure his blood gave me. I heard my companion laugh. I wanted to bathe in my victim's blood. I did.

I pulled away. My victim's blood covered me. He lay beside me, dead. I jumped away.

My companion didn't stop laughing. He picked up the dead body and dropped it in a box. The lid fell on my murder. I cried.

He fell on my body, and licked away the blood. "You'll get used to this. You liked it. The pain is gone?"

"It's gone," I admitted. "I liked it."

I let him finish undressing me. I watched while he undressed himself. "This is another fun part of what have given you." He covered my body again. We made love.

The blood need took my body again. "No," I cried.

"Don't be afraid," he said and pulled my mouth to his shoulder. "You do it this time."

I did. I ripped his shoulder wide open. His blood poured so fast that I couldn't drink it all. Some poured down the side of my mouth. I felt him rip at my skin. I felt him drink. The pleasure I experienced held my body. I got more pleasure from this man than any man I had before. Or was it his blood? It really didn't matter. I was pleased. He moved away from me. We dressed.

Opening the box he said, "You have a lot to learn. I have to teach you. Come over here." I did.

"Go ahead," he said. "Get it out."

I did. We went to another beach. This was one I didn't frequent. It wasn't the beautiful clean sand of Huntington. this beach had broken glass and garbage all through it. I hated it. But is served us. No one
was occupying it. I carried the body out into the cold water. The undercurrents pulled at my legs. I dropped the body. The currents pulled it away.

"Good-girl," he said. "I'll take you home now."

We didn't go home. We went back to this room.

"You'll be safe here. I'll stay with you tonight," he said. "Shower. It's almost daybreak."

I showered. The water felt good on my skin. When I returned, he was peacefully sleeping in the bed.  Unable to lie down, I sat in the chair. Fear shot through me. I screamed.

He looked at me. "Come over here."

I jumped beside him.

He pulled me close. "Your first sunrise. We're safe. Sleep."

I slept, but it was a restless sleep.

From that night he became my constant companion. Each night he'd bring me a new victim. I'd enjoy their blood, then I'd share it with him. Usually they were men, but sometimes they were women. I remember my first woman. He brought her to me and laid her on the bed. Taking my shaking hand, he placed it on her skin.

"Incredibly soft," I said.

"Yes, Dear," he whispered. "Do you like it?"

"Yes."

"Do you want her?" he asked.

"Yes." I laid on top of her. Her body smelled of her perfume, but I could still smell her blood through it.  "Is it sweeter?" I asked.

"Much," he said with a smile. "Taste."

My long teeth touched her as I pushed her down into the bed. I ripped her skin open. I tasted her blood.  I swam in it. I loved it.

One night he dressed me and said, "It's time you learn how to hunt on your own." Adjusting my clothing he said, "The sun damage has corrected itself. You are truly beautiful. Too bad you can't see it."

"Mirrors," I thought. "He has never shown me a mirror." I looked at my skin. My coloring had faded.  "What happened?" I asked.

"You have just become more beautiful," he said. "Come into the night with me."

I followed him. We passed a furniture store with a mirror displayed in the window. I saw myself.  Rather, I didn't see myself. I had no reflection. I stood there and cried.

He pulled me away. "Don't make a show of yourself. People will see."

"What have you done to me?"

"Beautified you," he said wiping away my tears. "Let's go into that bar over there. I'll buy you a drink."

We went inside and sat at the bar. He ordered us each a beer. "Drink this," he said.

I looked at the peanuts.

"Have some," he offered.

"I haven't eaten since you found me," I told him.

"Yes you have. I've always made sure you were fed." He chuckled. "Oh. That kind of food. You can still have some."

I ate the peanuts.

"I have to go to the men's room," my companion said. "I'll be right back."

A man sat beside me. "I'll have a beer," he said to the bartender. The odor of his blood filled the air. He smiled at me. "How about you? Need another?"

I smiled back. "Yes, thank you."

He bought me the beer. I drank it.

"I have to go now," I said.

"Alone? Let me see you to your car."

"Thank you again," I said and let him lead me outside. I looked into his eyes. "Take me to the beach."

"Sure," he agreed.

We went back to that dirty beach. Luckily, it was empty. We laid on the sand, and I encouraged him to have sex with me. The cold Pacific roared. The air moved over our bodies. I grew hungry. I ate. His flowing blood covered my body. I was satisfied.

"Well," came my companion's voice, "I see I didn't have to give you too much training to teach you how to hunt for yourself."

I looked at my companion. I smiled.

I lifted the body in my arms and carried it to the waiting Pacific. The waves took it out to sea. I dipped my body in the water to clean away the blood. Sand still covered me. Rinsing myself in the shower took
care of that. Dressing, I said, "I haven't been to Huntington Beach in such a long time. Can we go?"

"Sure we can," he said and took me there. We walked along the beach. The cold Pacific beat at our legs. I felt content. I felt safe. Near a campfire some people talked.

"Summer gone already," one said.

"School starts on Tuesday," another added.

I looked at my companion. "Summer? Gone?"

He said nothing.

I started to run toward the road.

He grabbed my wrist. "No Susan. Don't"

Susan? From him? What happened to Sweetheart, or Dear? "I have parents. I have a job," I said pulling at my arm.

"Had," he said. "You had."

"What the hell do you mean?" I snapped.

He jerked my body to his. "I chose you because you weren't so innocent. Don't act like that now.  You've tasted blood. Covered yourself in it. You even saw a mirror." He showed me my still whitening
arm. "Do you think you'd get this white normally?"

I fell to the sand. My arms dug into the sand, finding the warmer sand below. I cried bitterly. "A vampire. I knew. I knew." I knew.

He gathered me in his arms. "I'll take care of you. That's part of the deal. I have to. Come along home."

This room has sheltered me since then. With time I've learned not to kill my victims. I don't need to kill to be fed. Not any more. I can't call these people, still usually men, victims because the leave smiling. I call them guests. They must get some pleasure in return.

There are still occasional victims. These are the ones who try to hurt me instead of submit to me and my needs. It pleases me to give them the horror they wanted to give to me.

My companion has kept his word. He has always been there to teach and care for me. Just tonight he talked about moving on, and asked me to go with him. This place has always meant safety to me. How can I leave my safety? But, If I stay I would be alone. I'd have to take care of myself. How safe is that? He told me that it's okay if I decide to stay behind. I can do it. But, he said, he'll miss me.

I think I'll go with him. Everything I liked about this place left me with the sun. My sun-blonde hair. My bronze skin. My beautiful sunsets. My family.

We're going to a place with trees instead of beaches. Another room waits for us. If you should find me, remember what I've said. Give me what I need, and you'll leave with a smile on your face to return to your family. No one hurt. If you try to hurt me, I'll bathe in your blood. Then I'll find some nameless place to leave your body to decay. No one will care for, or cry over you. The choice is yours.