Fan Fiction ❯ The Sleeping Vampire ❯ Chapter 1

The Sleeping Vampire

Chapter 1

The young man awoke with a jerk. Looking around he realized it was just a dream. He was safe in his room. Glancing at his clock he noticed that he had to get up in 10 minutes. Rubbing his eyes, he walked slowly to his bathroom. As he undressed, he noticed that he had 5 scratches on both sides of his body as if someone with sharp nails gripped him…or something with claws…

Shaking his head he dismissed the scratches as himself scratching during his nightmare.

As he exited the shower he noticed that there was a message on his machine. The message was from his partner, Everon.

“Hey Trist! What's going on? Time for work! I'm outside so hurry up. I'll fill you in on the love of my life on the way to work.”

The young man glared. He wasn't too fond of Everon's nick name. His name was Tristan not Trist. Letting out a sigh he mentally prepared himself for another starry-eyed romance love poem from Everon about the girl he will soon marry. Granted that Everon just met the girl last night and he always acts like this with almost every girl he has one successful date with. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, there is never a second date. Everon was his closest friend. They first met when they first started as rookies in the police force when they were just 19. Now 9 years later they were detectives still working at the same place but so much had changed. Everon was trying to find love and marriage while Tristan had found and… lost.

“Arrena…” Tristan whispered.

A car honk snapped Tristan out of his thoughts. Grabbing two slices of toast, he headed out to the car.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Tristan saw that Everon was waiting outside his car with a grin that ran across his entire face. Everon was a tall man and charming. He could make even the angriest girl blush with a compliment. With that and his blond hair with blue eyes, he was your real life prince charming. It was no wonder girls always agreed to go out with him. Tristan was the opposite in looks and personality. He wasn't ugly but a bit more ordinary with his short brown hair and brown eyes. He was slightly shorter and smaller than his friend. He also was more reserved and preferred to be left alone rather than chasing women.

“I take it your date went well?” Tristan asked as the two got into the car and drove off to work.

“It was magnificent. She is from a proper home. It is said that her great great aunt was royalty. She also has the most impeccable manners and the daintiest figure.” He smiled.

“So what are her hobbies?” Tristan asked already knowing that Everon didn't know the answer.

“Well…um… it was just the first date and we really didn't get to talk about it.” Everon replied quickly.

“But you know her royal lineage?” Tristan inquired resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Everon never changed. To him, appearance and background were the basis of all long lasting relationships.

“Of course”

Tristan nodded his head along having a feeling he knew where this was going.

“What is the deal anyways? I'm in love. Can't you just be happy?” replied Everon with a slight irritation in his voice.

“There wouldn't be a problem except the fact that you seem to fall in love at least twice a week with girls who are well off and good looking.”

“Oh and you go on SO many dates that you are the experts? When was the last time you dated?” Everon huffed.

“I was married!” Tristan argued.

“Years ago!” snapped Everon.

The rest of the car ride was in silence. Both men irritated.

At the prescient after Tristan had cooled off, he went and bought 2 cups of coffee. He walked into the office he and Everon shared. “Hey man, I'm sorry…,” Tristan began before stopping and looking at his partner and best friend. “Is one of those for me?” Tristan smiled as he saw 2 muffins on Everon's desk.

Everon grinned.

“Truce?” Tristan asked as he swapped one cup of coffee for a muffin.

“Truce”

“I didn't mean what I said…” Tristan began.

“Of course you did but I know you just care…and you know I just want you to be happy too. You really should date again. It has been long enough.” Everon said sincerely.

“Maybe but I don't know if I can. Maybe I'm just too old,” sighed Tristan.

“Too old? But I'm older than you.” Shaking his head Everon suggested, “How about I set you up? I'll pick a real sweet girl. Come on. It will be fun.”

“Can I think about it? Let me just think about it. Okay?” Tristan said quietly as he fingered the gold band across his left ring finger.

Everon's face soften. He knew it was tougher on his friend than he would let anyone know. “Sure man.” Everon smiled. “Just let me know when. No rush.”

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$

After work the two men decided to get some late dinner at their favorite pizza parlor but just before they ordered, a scream and gunshot was heard. Cursing, both men ran out and followed where the gun shot and scream was heard back in the alley.

There was a body lying on the floor with something hovering over.

“Freeze!” yelled Everon drawing his gun.

The figure turned and faced both men. It was too dark to see the figure's face. A growl was heard from the direction of the mysterious figure. Suddenly the figure began to charge. Everon positioned his gun and fired 2 shots at the charging attacker. The figure howled but did not slow its pace.

“Everon!” yelled Tristan as he pushed his partner away.

An arm reached out from the figure and slammed Tristan into the side of a building.

Tristan began to fall back when someone grabbed his arm and pulled him up.

Tristan blinked and looked around. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was no longer in the alley with the crazed murdered and Everon. It wasn't even night. Tristan was standing near the edge of a cliff during the mid day. His rescuer was a woman with a cold expression. Her violet eyes glared into him.

“Who are you?” she ordered. She wore a long black cloak that covered most of her body and face. The arm that gripped Tristan's shirt was covered in red sleeve and glove.

“Where…how…” Tristan couldn't think. One moment he was trying to stop a crime in the late evening, the next he was almost falling off a cliff.

“Speak human!” the woman commanded, but before he woman could do anything else, an arrow flew out from the bushes behind her and struck her in the arm that was holding Tristan. Tristan fell back and started to fall off the cliff. Just as he began to fall, he saw the woman turn and charge with her sword drawn. The hood fell off her face and she saw the woman's short black and blue hair.

Suddenly he hit the ground. Somebody was shaking his shoulder.

Tristan slowly opened his eyes. His eyes focused and he saw his partner leaning over him. “Hey Trist. You okay?”

“Stop. You know I don't like that nickname” sighed Tristan. He started remembering what had just occurred. “Where am I?” asked Tristan, “What happened?”

“You're lying in the alley. That freak thing ran off after it shoved you into the wall.”

“Oh!” Tristan groaned as he sat up and slowly stood.

“So are you okay?” asked Everon again.

“Fine, how's the victim?”

“Dead” Everon said grimly. “It was a woman, killed by a slash across the neck. Not much else. No signs of a struggle.”

After the paramedics and police came and left, Everon drove Tristan home.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$

At home Tristan turned on the lights of the bathroom and began to scrub some of the dirt and grime off his face in the sink. He noticed that there was some fresh blood in the sink. He looked up but found a bruise on his right cheek. He then noticed that there was some blood on his neck but again, no wounds were found. Lastly his shirt had not only who knows what from the alley, but there was also blood near the collar.

He remembered when he blacked out and had that strange dream. An arrow had hit that mysterious woman but…

Tristan shook his head. That was a dream! There was no possible way that was real. After a few minutes, Tristan convinced himself that it was probably the stranger who had pushed him into the wall. He probably had blood him or something like that.

Tristan reached into the shower and turned the knobs. He really needed a good night sleep. When Tristan looked back into the mirror, the blood was gone. The bruise was also gone.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

After a soothing shower, Tristan fell quickly to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Tristan awoke. When he heard a door quickly slam. Without moving, Tristan tried to figure out where the intruder was. Behind Tristan, he heard some scuffling. Quickly Tristan reached for the flashlight that was in his nightstand.

Turning quickly he flashed the flashlight at the intruder. “Freeze!” he ordered. There stood two 3 foot strange animals wide-eyed, with sharp teeth that were tearing into some of Tristan's books.

“What the…”

The creature shrieked dropping the books and began to climb the walls. There was more shuffling and soon all Tristan saw in the darkness was a dozen pairs of eyes. A growl emerged and soon Tristan was trying to fight off the attacking creatures. Suddenly they stopped and vanished.

After a few seconds, Tristan realized that he was shaking. He felt hot and cold all over. He had no idea what was going on. Pain flared through his entire body and he collapsed to the ground. His body felt as if it was on fire. His heart felt as if something had a death grip on it and he couldn't breath. After what felt like an eternity, the pain lessoned and Tristan blacked out.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA< /div> Tristan awoke once again to the sound of scuffling. A small hand clamped over his mouth. In his ear, a voice whispered, “Shhhhhh.”

There was a crash in his bedroom as well as a growl and a muffled yell.

Tristan's heart was beating fast. “There's nothing you can do for him,” the voice whispered in Tristan's ear.

“Who?” Tristan thought. The only person who was here today was… “Everon” Tristan whispered against the small hands. Tristan struggled to get out of the grasp of whatever was holding him.

The small hands let go of Tristan's mouth and a small body landed on Tristan's chest. Small eyes peered at him. It was the small monkey-like creature from his dreams starting back at him.

“What's going on?” whispered Tristan.

“Shhhh” hushed the creature as a loud thud was heard from Tristan's bedroom. “I don't have time to explain. Just be quiet.”

“What is happening to Everon?”

“They think it's you. Just keep your mouth shut. It's better if they have him instead of you.”

“What?” Tristan asked.

Just then the door opened leading from the bedroom. An ugly snarling head popped out from the doorframe with its two small white eyes. It looked like a mix between a bear and a pig face with drool dripping onto the floor. The creature slowly sniffed the air. Tristan's heart sped up. A loud growl emerged from the creature's mouth. The hair on Tristan's neck stood on ends. The creature turned back.

The alarm on Tristan's watch began to beep. Quickly Tristan tried to turn the alarm off but it was too late. The creature yelled and began to charge toward the couch.

“Run!” screamed the monkey-like creature.

Jumping behind the couch, Tristan ran toward the door. The creature began swinging a large hammer in his hand wildly.

“Left!” ordered the small creature on Tristan's shoulder. “Right!”

Tristan followed, blindly listening to the orders the small creature gave him on his shoulder. He could hear the monster-like growling and charging after him.

Soon they ended up on the roof. Behind him stood the growling beast. Tristan backed up until he hit the railing on the roof's edge.

The creature swung the extremely large hammer. Tristan ducked and cringed as the hammer left a large dent on the railing. The creature kept swinging at Tristan, never slowing his pace.

“Jump” ordered the monkey-like creature.

“What?” Tristan asked, “Jump where?”

“Jump!” the monkey-like creature repeated again pointing to the edge of the building.

The creature snarled and lunged towards them.

“What's with you and jumping off things?” Tristan demanded.

“Trust me! It won't be pretty if that thing catches you. JUMP!”

Tristan's heart was pounding. The wind had spread up, blowing his hair into his face. He could see the creature coming closer. A sense of déjà vu flashed before him. Whispering a quick prayer, Tristan leapt off the building.

Cold hands suddenly gripped Tristan's waist and stopped his fall.

“Hello again,” a voice said above him.

“Again?” Tristan asked confused. Looking up, he saw the same woman who had caught him in his dream. Her long brown hair flowed around her face and her sky blue eyes shined in the darkness. Down below on the roof roared the creature. “What was that?” whispered Tristan.

“Shu-me,” answered the woman. “They are servants of the vampire's kingdom.”

“Yeah! Those things can't see and are dumb as bricks but their hearing is twice as strong as a vampire's.” continued the monkey-like creature.

“So now what? Where are we going?” Tristan wondered.

“All will be explained soon. For now just enjoy the ride. We are heading to my world, Arrendor. A world just above this one.” Answered the flying woman.

Despite the fact that he was just in danger and now he was being carried by a flying woman, Tristan felt strangely relaxed. Soon Tristan was lulled to sleep.