4 - On and on it goes

Placing his finger under her chin Vlad tilted her face towards his “Why are you afraid of me?” Maddy gasped “I’m not” her eyes met his defiantly. “Liar” he whispered softly. Sensing someone behind him he stiffened and moved away “That will do for tonight go back to the house” Turning he saw Marcus standing in the doorway “Yes Marcus” Marcus stepped forward and tried to keep his emotions in check “I was wondering if there was anything you wanted me to do before I turn in” Maddy headed for the door unaware of the eyes that followed her.

In the safety of her coffin Maddy planned her next move, did she feel guilty, yes but she was Vampire and isn't that what they did?

Rising with the others Maddy went to the kitchen where a warm class of blood awaited her. Still not allowed to leave the grounds she had not yet had the privilege of hunting. Helping to get the bar ready for opening time she found it hard not to look at the clock all the time but eventually the place was ready. Making her excuses she mumbled about having a shower and made a swift exit. In the bathroom she took the knife from behind the laundry basket and opening the window turned into a bat and flew into the night.

Outside Jay’s house she waited for him to arrive home, football practice was over and sure enough the school bus pulled up and let him off. “Jay”

His face had been a picture; at first surprise then shock and horror. She toyed with him made out it was a trick then when he turned, had his back to her she had plunged the knife into him. She felt the sharp steal slice through his flesh, make a charring sound as it hit bone.  Jay didn’t make a sound, his eyes widen in disbelief as he fell to his knees. He opened his mouth to say something but his voice was frozen instead it just opened and closed like a fish out of water. Open, close….open, close it was comical in a sad kinda way. She watched as the blood seeped through his clothes turning his football shirt crimson red.

Something clicked inside her, or rather erupted, her eyes turned black again as she snarled exposing her fangs. Grabbing the injured boy she dug her fangs deep into his neck.  In the back of her mind a voice screamed ‘what are you doing?’ but she ignored it and its pleas to stop. With his last breath Maddy felt his heart stop beating, well that was new. She stood and stared at the corpse, shit what had she done? In panic she flew back to the house.

Turning the tap on the shower she gave it a quick blast then turned it off. ‘Psycho lunatic’ rung round her head like a broken record.

She had fucked up majorly; there was no way it would be blamed on the killer. What she had done tonight was definitely the act of a Vampire. She was in big trouble. But she wouldn’t stop, couldn't stop, they deserved this all of them, all the time she had taken their shit, had wanted to fight back but couldn't, chicken that’s what she was but not now, now she was a lion, a Vampire that had the will and means to destroy those that ridiculed her. But she wasn’t normal, she never had been and this was bringing even her to new levels, a killer she had taken human life and for that she would be eternally damned.

“Maddy” Greta called from the foot of the stairs. “Coming” splashing water on her face she headed downstairs.

Taking a tray of glasses she stacked them on the bar shelf. Vlad watched; she took that long to shower and her hair wasn’t even damp? Sliding round the bar he walked over and grabbed a bottle, inhaling deeply he could smell no evidence of a shower. “I’ll need to get more” Back at the house he went straight to the bathroom, the shower was wet but looked staged, as if someone had turned it on then off, the towels were dry and there was no sign of dampness. His nose picked up the scent of blood; following the smell he found the knife. Running his finger down the blade he tasted the half dried goo, it was human. Shit Madison, what the hell are you doing?

Marcus watched as Vlad came back in and walked over to Maddy, he was trying not to make it look obvious but any idiot could tell he was talking to her. Maddy looked uneasy, time he stepped in. Walking over to the pair he asked Maddy to give him a hand “Everything alright, what was Vlad saying?” he asked once Vlad was out of earshot. “Nothing, he was just asking if things were alright” Marcus didn’t believe her and dragged her to one side “Look if something’s wrong talk to me I can help” Maddy shook her head “I’m fine honestly” Marcus wasn’t going to be fobbed off “Maddy I……” Maddy turned to Marcus her eyes black her fangs bared “Leave me alone” Marcus was shocked and quickly looked round luckily no one had seen except, he groaned as he saw Vlad march towards them “I’ll handle this” he growled as he grabbed Maddy and pushed her roughly  through the door.

Maddy protested as Vlad dragged her up the path and pushed her into the house “What the hell was that about?” Maddy stood and glared at him “What?” She knew she had done wrong but she couldn't help it, it kinda fell out. “You know the rules, the customers know we serve both kinds but the humans don’t want to be reminded, it’s a rule we don’t reveal our other side in public” Maddy could feel it rising, the anger that had bubbled over in the bar was now threatening to burst through again. Vlad moved towards her only to find she backed off “LEAVE ME ALONE” she screamed as she bolted for the stairs.

Vlad was faster and grabbed her arm. Maddy turned on him “Go away” but she wasn’t going to intimidate him. Vlad too showed his real self and glared at her “If you want to go head to head fine but as I'm older than you I am stronger so will win” He watched as her Vampire self vanished and was replaced by puzzlement and fear. “Now perhaps we can talk” Going to the fridge he pulled out a bottle and poured two glasses, handing one to Maddy. Sitting in the living room she swirled the blood in the glass. “I found the knife” Maddy’s head snapped up “What knife?” Vlad chuckled “I know it was you, you killed that Judy, what was her name and somebody else tonight, why” Maddy shook her head “I don’t know what you’re talking about” Vlad swallowed the last of his drink then looked at her with cold pale eyes.

“Have it your way but it stops now, do you hear me, if I find out that anymore have met an untimely death I will come down on you so hard…..” Maddy could only nod. The lyrics of Buried alive rung round her head ‘Evil thoughts can hide…..this is now your life’ Vlad watched her as she tried to deal with her demons, he had known all along from the night she had snuck back into the house. He wasn’t stupid; putting two and two together he had quickly added four. She was becoming dangerous, if word got out she would be destroyed and then they would have his head for letting it go so far, but he also felt sorry for her, it was not easy learning the ways, becoming a Vampire. People thought you were turned and that was it but they were wrong first there was the pain then the hunger, the inability to control one’s temper. “I have to go away on business and I'm certainly not leaving you here like this so you’ll have to come with me”

Part 3                                                                      Part 5

3. I feel I'm walking a fine line

Marcus read the headline aloud “Local girl slain, Vampire thought to be killer” Greta’s face turned whiter “Oh my god, what, it can’t be no Vampire is allowed to kill a human” Maddy quietly entered the room and sat at the table. Greta turned to Vlad “It can’t be true…can it” Vlad shrugged “I’ll find out soon enough and if it is then god help the poor bugger” Maddy looked at them confused “Why what will happen?” Marcus looked over from the paper and pretended to slit his throat. “What he’s trying to say is that we have rules, we can feed of a human if they agree but we cannot kill them” Greta explained then patted her hand and told her not to worry. “Well if it is one of us then he or she has signed their death warrant and believe me death by sunlight is not pretty” Vlad added turning to Maddy “Very painful”

Making her excuses Maddy went back upstairs to the bathroom. Sticking her head under the water she cursed herself, stupid, stupid, of course they’d be suspected well she ‘d just have to think of another way, a way that would keep Vampires in the clear. Pulling the towel from the rail she wrapped it round her just as the door burst open.

Vlad stood before her “What…what do you want?” Closing the door behind him he stepped towards her, pinning her to the wall his voice low “Where were you last night?”

“Here, I was here” His hand reached out to her then inches from her face it dropped back to his side. “Liar, I saw you last night I will not ask again where were you?” He saw me, how when…shit “I…I went to see my parents” Vlad stepped back “Your parents?” Yes, her parents, she had to see them just once, she hovered at their bedroom window and watched them sleep. Mum had looked as if she’d been crying. “And that is all; you never went near the park?” No…no of course not “Why is that where….?” Vlad nodded “It's not a good idea to see them, not yet” She knew but she had to, she had to know they were alright, to see their faces once more. Vlad turned, he had the feeling she was not telling all, that she was hiding something “From now on you stay here, got it” Maddy swallowed hard, she got it.

With Vlad gone Maddy quickly dressed. It was close but she thought he bought her story. It was true she had gone home but after, damn being a Vampire sucked. Fight or flight, always the one to take flight she had the urge now but with nowhere to go she was trapped. She opened the window and flew down to the garden.

She was surrounded by silence, complete silence only the call of a coyote broke the stillness of the night but if Maddy opened her mind, truly allowed it freedom her mind would be assaulted by the sounds of voices, of screams and shouting, of thousands of thoughts, from here and the city ten miles away, she kept her mind closed.

With a huge wail she fell to the ground and for not the first time cried. She was a fuck up before but now, now she was a freak able to walk the dark world for eternity, to sleep in a box that she hated as it only confirmed the prison within her.  She was alone, truly alone for the first time in her life and it scared her shitless, oh Marcus and Greta had been good but they wouldn't want her around forever and what then. Why hadn’t the killer just finished her off?

Somebody appeared beside her and sliding down the wall pulled her towards him holding her tight. Maddy yearned for such contact, to be held by her mum her dad, hell anyone, wrapping her arms round the taught waist she clung on for all her might as she cried.

Emotionally exhausted the howls turned into spasmodic sobs. “Do you feel better now?” Maddy nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?” Maddy shook her head, talk, tell him she had killed Judy that here life was a mess, that she was a lousy Vampire “I miss cheeseburgers and a soft bed” A deep voice bellowed with laughter “Ah well cheeseburgers I can’t do but a soft bed, come”  Pulled to her feet Maddy looked up expecting to see Marcus, to her surprise it was Vlad and he was smiling. Leading her up stairs he took her to a room and opened the door, pushing her inside he waited for her to get her bearings “It won’t be possible to lay here in the day but at night you can, just be sure to be in your coffin by sun up”

Maddy looked at the bed with excitement then turned to Vlad her eyes questioning. Ignoring her gaze he pulled the covers back and lifting her up placed her on the bed. Pulling the covers over he tucked them tight “Rest well Moya rozovaya roza” Maddy closed her eyes, physically she was fine but mentally she was shattered.

The next time she opened her eyes she was staring at the wooden lid of her coffin and her body told her the sun was down. Lifting the lid she climbed out and went to the bathroom with no makeup she must look a state. Standing in front of the mirror she realised her problem, how could she do her makeup if she wasn’t there? After several attempts and not once convinced she looked alright she scrubbed her face and left it as it was.

Joining the others in the kitchen she tried to ignore the angry look on Marcus’s face. He wasn’t the one who had put her in her coffin or the one that had comforted her. “Right Maddy I have spoken to Vlad and he agrees to you working at the bar, he will see to getting you ID so from now on your twenty one, I'm glad to see you've removed the makeup” giving a chuckle when Maddy explained she couldn't see in the mirror “It takes practice but I’ll show you anyway the pink hair could be a problem so dying it is the only choice” seeing the look of horror on the girls face she quickly added “Don’t worry it will still be you just err toned down a bit” Maddy nodded if it meant she got out of here she’d gladly shave her hair off.

After rummaging in her bag she found something a bit more low key and threw them on, joining Greta and Marcus at the bar in less than ten minutes. Marcus seemed to have got over his bad mood and happily showed her the ropes “We get all sorts in here Vampires and Mortals so never show your fangs if you have a problem come to me or Vlad” Maddy listened intently and as the doors were unlocked she was ready to start. The bar opened at nine till four giving the Vampires the chance to feed after waking and to head home before sunrise on Sunday the bar remained shut, not for religious reasons but the rest of the town remained closed so did they.  The place was busy which seemed to be the norm and the night passed in a blur, most of the punters didn’t give her a second look and the ones that did just said hello and welcome.

At closing time Maddy offered to clean up alone as it gave her a chance to get to know things. Picking up an empty bottle from the far corner she looked at the music system and instruments, having a quick look round to make sure no one was watching she flicked through the music on the I Pod, Avenged sevenfold’s Buried alive popped onto the screen. Connecting the pod to the amp she switched it on. The intro was soft subtle, a single guitar and some Cellos gently played through the speakers. Then M Shadows voice exploded into the air. “Take the time to listen, when the voices screaming are much too loud” Maddy voice joined Shadows and together they filled the room.

Entering the office Vlad heard the music and quietly opened the door.

Maddy sung her heart out, the words oddly calming, real. As she sang she felt more and more connected to the song as if it was written about her. “I feel I'm walking a fine line, tell me only if it’s real” Oblivious to the man watching Maddy belted out the chorus pretending the bottle was a microphone “Hey I can’t live in here for another day, darkness has kept the light concealed, grim as ever” Vlad listened, she was good but their was something unsettling about her singing.

The tempo changed became faster and heavier Maddy matched it effortlessly “Evil thoughts can hide, I’ll help release your mind, I’ll peel away your skin, release the dark within” The song came to an end with the words “This is now your life, die buried alive” Maddy stopped and stared at the floor, buried alive isn't that what she is? She jumped at the sound of clapping, her face turned scarlet at the sight of Vlad. “I…I thought you were gone, away, I mean out” she stammered in embarrassment. “I didn't know you could sing?”  Maddy shook her head “I don’t” Vlad walked towards her slowly “For someone who doesn't it was good” Maddy was all too aware of the closing gap between them but she was backed into a corner. “Is that how you feel, buried alive” he asked gently.

He was so close she could smell his aftershave, his soap…his body. Maddy’s heart pounded wildly in her chest. “Madison, is that how you feel” looking up her eyes met his, her voice refused to work only allowing a weak “Yes” Vlad’s face lowered to hers “I am sorry” he murmured hoarsely. “It’s not your fault” her voice wavered at the last word. “You look better without that war paint on, you were scary before” Maddy giggled, scary, surly it was the other way round. “That’s better” Maddy looked away her face turning red again.

Marcus watched as Vlad and Maddy chatted closely, too closely. He gave a low hiss but stood where he was, it was not done to fight with the Overseer but at this moment he wanted to tear Vlad’s head off.

2. Trapped in the dark                                  4 - On and on it goes.

2 Trapped in the dark

Marcus and Greta were very good to Maddy teaching her the ways of Vampire. She was finding it difficult to adjust, sleeping all day and up all night was odd enough but not eating…god she missed hot dogs. They taught her how to turn into a bat and shift into mist. She knew they couldn't read her and that it made them nervous, it was not normal for a Vampire not to be able to read a mind and hers was locked to them. The only one she couldn't read was Vladislav which was maybe a blessing; his thoughts would be filled of his dislike of her. When she did see him he glared at her and any conversation consisted of barks.

Vlad avoided her as much as possible, the bar needed seeing to and as Overseer of this state he had the other Vampires to deal with. Snake canyon a small town in the shadow of a small but growing city in Arizona, the land was dry and barren and in the day could get hotter than ninety degrees. He hated the place, why he had agreed to take the post and live here was a mystery, no, he knew why…..Hazel. They had been together for decades then out of the blue she told him it was over, she wanted something else, commitment and he wasn’t prepared to give it. Klaus was more than willing; her last words were like a dagger through his heart “ I'm going to marry Klaus” Now he had this snot nosed clumsy kid that looked a mess and was a fledgling.

Marcus hovered round Maddy like a devoted puppy, Greta could feel his fascination with her, his thoughts were filled on the kid. Maddy was oblivious to his feelings as she had long ago learnt to block out other people’s thoughts and considered him a friend and guide, she felt nothing else for him. Greta had tried to warn him, tell Marcus to think but as always he was impetuous.

Maddy rattled round the house, picking up books and flicking the pages only to put them down again, the noise and music coming from the bar had her itching to go look. Finally her curiosity got the better of her and closing the door behind her she made her way down the path.

Slipping in the back door, she stood in an office, Vlad’s office. The room was dark and dingy but the furniture comfortable. In one corner stood his desk complete with the latest laptop and near the door stood a large but old filing cabinet, hearing laughter coming from the other side of a second door she opened it an inch and peered into the room. Greta stood behind the bar serving a customer, Marcus and Vlad were nowhere in sight. Pulling the door wide she stepped into the smoky room and went to Greta “What are you doing here?” Greta asked in surprise. “ I'm bored, I thought I could help” Greta snorted “Sorry kid but your too young to work behind the bar” Seeing the sadness in her face she quickly added “But you can go round the tables and pick up the empties”

Maddy smiled and went to work, quietly cleaning the tables and sweeping the floor. She was so immersed in her work she never saw Marcus and Vlad come in. Marcus spotted her and gulped hard “Vlad can I have a word with you” but it was too late the fierce look on his face told him she had been spotted. 

Maddy turned with a gasp as she felt a strong hand pull her aside. “What the hell are you doing here?” Vlad growled with barely contained anger. “I…I got bored……I thought I could help” Pulling her into the office Vlad gave her a piece of his mind “Do you know the trouble I could get into having a minor working here”

Maddy was shaking, as much as she feared Vladislav she was getting pissed off with his attitude towards her. “You’re not the boss of me; I can do whatever the hell I want and besides nobody here knows me” Vlad pulled her roughly towards him giving her a shake “You bloody fool, How many people do you know that look like you, that awful hair and dreadful clothes the makeup and piercings it would only take one to recognise you and the whole police force would be down on us” Pushing her aside he headed for the door “Go back to the house, I don’t want to see you for the rest of the night”

Maddy’s face burned with anger and humiliation, go back to the house…fuck that. Going out the back door she slammed it hard behind her…..

Judy McCullough, rich bitch and all-round miss popular.  Best friend of Candice she was one of the elite, the girls in school that thought they had the right to make her life a living hell, well it was her turn tonight. She felt her body tingle not just with revenge but hunger, the need for blood now overpowered her to the point of almost frenzy. She hid behind the climbing frame and watched as Judy made her way home, she could smell the fear in her the worry of being alone in the dark but it was ok, she was here, she would make the fear go away. “Hey Judy”

“Maddy where have you been, every ones been worried sick” Judy literally over flowed with sympathy. Maddy smiled “Around” Judy wasn’t listening “Well you certainly had me worried; I mean that stunt Candice pulled was way out of order, I for one was not part of it, are you coming back to school…..” Maddy listened to her ramblings but knew what she was really thinking “I wanted to thank you for that night” Judy stopped “Thank me, what for?” Maddy moved closer, her eyes darkened her fangs shone through her smile. “Oh my god, Maddy you’re…..”

Grabbing Judy she held her in a vice like grip “Do you know what you did to me, no of course not well let me enlighten you….that night I ran unfortunately I was not alone. I was stabbed Judy stabbed in the back by the killer who then tried to rape me but I was lucky, he ran off” Judy stared in horror as realisation set in “ I'm sorry Maddy really I am, It wasn’t me….” Maddy shook her roughly “I was lucky, the killer left me to die and I did” Maddy laughed with malice. “Please Maddy I won’t tell, let me go and I won’t say a word” Maddy gave a small but wicked laugh “No you want say anything……”

Judy’s scream was silenced as Maddy sank her fangs into her throat severing her vocal chords. The blood spurted from the wound and into Maddy’s mouth causing her hunger to intensify. Twisting Judy’s neck she plunged her fangs into the artery, she couldn't believe the feelings washing over her, the lust for blood seemed to kick start all sorts of emotions and power, she felt invincible as if she could kill the entire world. She could feel Judy going her body limp “You’re not laughing now” she mumbled as she drew the last of the blood from her body. Letting the girl fall to the ground she stepped over the body walked away.

1. Tell me only if its real                     3 - I feel I'm walking a fine line