Silence Must Be Heard

4
Bloodlust

The heat of the morning sun blazing onto my face brought me back to consciousness. I smiled, squinting through blurry morning eyes and reached over to feel Slade beside me. Instead of feeling his warm body I felt empty cold blankets. I jumped to the realization that he was gone. Maybe he was using the bathroom or he was in the kitchen fixing breakfast? I hoped anyway after a night like that I thought for sure I wouldn’t wake up alone. I snapped on my bra tugged on my panties and pulled on Slade’s sweater. I felt like I had been magically recharged but was it possible to be over-charged? Instead of climbing down the ladder I effortlessly floated down to the latch door. His room was empty and the bed remained untouched. I floated down the second ladder to the main top floor of the cabin. It was quiet, very quiet. I looked out through the massive window to the driveway and noticed all the cars and jeeps that were there last night had gone. Did everyone leave already? Again I had no idea what time it was but the sun was still just rising, so it was early.
“Slade?” I called out.
I could hear birds chirp outside but no answer from within the cabin. He must be down in the kitchen. I turned the corner and peered down the dark hallway where the sun hadn’t hit yet. All doors were closed except for one that was left cracked open with no light inside. I tip-toed down the hall to the door and slid my hand inside to find the light switch.
I instantly smelled blood. Being a witch I was trained to be aware of it and what it smelled like. The smell was surprisingly strong. I flipped on the light.
My eyes adjusted to the florescent red pool of blood that glistened off the white tile floor. I gasped and the air disappeared from my lungs. I pushed the door open and my eyes followed the splatters of blood to the bathtub. I recognized Chelsea’s face along with two other of her friends. I couldn’t feel the energy from their souls. They had gone…
They were dead.
I gripped the door frame and covered my mouth. Their bodies laid lifeless in the tub with deep red gashes in their necks and wrists. My eyes narrowed. They were bite marks, two deep distinct gashes. A vampire had been here.
“Shit!” I backed up to the wall.
Where the hell was Slade? Did he take care of the vampire? Was he still fighting him or her? Was Slade dead too? No... He couldn’t be he was too strong. I had to prepare myself…. Arm myself. How to kill a vampire? Wooden stake through the heart or decapitation but if it was a mixed vampire it would take a specific type of wooden stake. Forget it, I was going with decapitation. I had to summon my sword.
“Damn it…” I muttered, hesitating.
I had trained with my sword but never actually used my sword nor have I ever killed a magical being or a human for that matter. I didn’t want to, I really didn’t. I couldn’t think anymore, I had to find Slade. I floated quietly down the log stairs to the second floor.
BAM! Suddenly the air was knocked out of me. I felt hot hands pinning my shoulders to the cabin wall. I took in gasps of air as I watched Slade’s face, tormented, blood stained, and eyes catlike fiery red!
“SLADE!” I gasped, “Holy shit!”
“Ivy!” He breathed, “You should’ve stayed in the tower!”
His breathing was rough and very rapid,
“God you smell too damn good!” he grunted, “I’m too thirsty!”
I was fixated on his eyes and the expression on his face. His energy was seducing me, luring me in; I wanted him to bite me.
“No!” I yelled, “Jesus Slade!”
He smelled my hair and then I saw them; the sparkling white razor sharp cusped teeth that his luscious lips surrounded. God I wanted to give in!
“Please you have to get away from me!” He huffed.
He shook his head shaking off a tremor of pain. I saw tears swell in his fierce eyes. I couldn’t stand to see him like this. I had to do something! This I knew would take a lot of power. Without hesitation I let the damper on my over-flowing magic open completely. My green eyes I knew had illuminated to their full capacity, instantly feeling the magic flow from my heart and pulsate into my hands. I ran my hands up his bare chest grasped his neck with my right and my left traced up his neck into his blonde hair. I held him tight and got within centimeters of his lips.
“Ivy! Are you insane?!” he breathed digging his fingers into my back.
“Look into my eyes!” I demanded, “This will be quick!”
He obeyed instantly as a small tear escaped down his cheek. How much pain was he really in? I could taste his breath which was still sweet even after he drank all that blood. I concentrated my power on his throat and his heart. My lips brushed his lips as I whispered,
“Katapravno sas dipso. Kalmaro sas kardia. Mais eseis eimai apokathisto.”
(Soothe your thirst. Calm your heart. May you be restored.)
I couldn’t hold back anymore his luring seduction was too much but I knew it was safe now. Our lips met eagerly as we moved together. He tugged and pulled at my sweater and ran his hands over my chest. He pulled at my bra, ripping the sweater and breaking the clasps on my bra. This was too much! I couldn’t breathe! I pushed him hard sending out a wave of power from my hands,
“Ochi pia!”
(No more!)
He hit the back wall with a thud and slid down to the floor. I leaned against the wall trying to catch my breath.
“God damn it!” Slade breathed putting his head in his hands shaking.
I watched him carefully. He still had dried blood on his hands and chest but his eyes were blue and his vampire teeth were gone. I had done it. I felt the no support from my broken bra and noticed just how large the rips were in Slade’s sweater I wore.
“Jesus, I look like a rape victim…” noticing the small tear in my panties.
I looked back to Slade who was wiping his wet cheeks. I rushed to him kneeling down,
“Are you okay?! How do you feel?” I asked concerned.
He was breaking down completely, shuddering off the sobs,
“Did you see them?” he asked, “Chelsea…”
“Yes.” I answered softly.
I held his head up and straddled his legs wiping away the silent tears,
“Just breath for me… deep breathes.”
He obeyed and then asked,
“I thought I was going to kill you… How did you do that? You made the burning go away….”
“It was a strong spell. Fortunately, you feed to my energy well and you help me produce more powerful spells.”
Another tear fell down his cheek, “Thank God for that. Will it come back anytime soon?”
“By pure vampire rules your thirst shouldn’t come back for another six months. But you are a mix, so the possibilities are unknown.”
He exhaled,
“What do I do? What have I done!? I’m sorry! I didn’t want to kill those girls! I’m not a killer!”
“I know! It’s okay! Do not be sorry!” I yelled back, “It was natural for you; your thirst had just awakened! This is what happens! We will figure it out!”
“You still want to be with me after this? After what I did?” Slade asked.
“I don’t care what you did or that you are a mix breed! I’m here with you and I don’t see any reason why I would want to leave you. By some crazy force in this universe I know that we are finally meant to be together! I love you! Stop questioning it!”
“Alright! You’re so forceful!”
I smiled, “So are you and you know you like it.”
“You know me so well already.” He cracked a small smile wiping the tears off his cheeks.
I laughed and stood offering my hand to help him up.
“I don’t think I can stand. I really can’t feel my legs right now.”
“You need to get some real food in you. Come on, just take my hand.”
He did and with a little magic he stood effortlessly.
“You are amazing. You know that? You really are.” He said putting his arm around my shoulders.
“I know. But so are you.” I answered simply.
I helped him downstairs and sat him down at the kitchen island bar which was still packed to the edge of empty liquor bottles and an array of trash. I opened the fridge and quickly poured him a glass of orange juice.
“I don’t think orange juice will mix well with blood…” Slade said picking up the glass I set in front of him, swirling the juice in its cup.
“You won’t vomit trust me. Not when you’ve been touched by my magic… no one vomits when they’ve been touched by me.”
“What does that mean?”
“Everyone has a different reaction to magic… or I should say a different reaction to each witch. I can be feisty if I want but usually my magic will make you feel good. My parents told me I have a healing touch.”
“Interesting.” He replied.
He hesitated then took a gulp of orange juice and swallowed. I watched the color return to his cheeks. He smiled,
“Not bad. Just one gulp and I already feel myself gaining strength.”
“How’s breakfast sound?”
“Extremely appetizing! Oddly enough even after what I had just done.”
“You’ll think clearly after you’ve eaten.”
I walked around the island and sat at the bar next to Slade and snapped my fingers, creating a small spark between my fingers.
“Aren’t you going to make breakfast?” Slade asked confused.
“Of course,” I answered with a smile.
Slade watched mystified as a bottom cupboard opened by itself and a medium sized frying pan floated out and gently landed on the stovetop; as did the eggs and butter from the refrigerator, and a spatula from a kitchen drawer.
“No way…” Slade gawked, “How can you do this when you’ve never been in this kitchen before?”
“It doesn’t matter; the spell knows where to find its tools to get the job done. Breakfast is my favorite meal so I’ve customized it well.”
“You are good.”
As the food began to cook itself I decided to ask some questions,
“It’s interesting. You still have a heartbeat and you are able to sleep and eat normal human food, yet you thirst for blood. Obviously the vampire traits did not come in order to you. You are part vampire and part something else.”
He nodded looking sullen and took a few more gulps of the orange juice until it was gone.
“Thank you Ivy. I wouldn’t have known what to do if you weren’t here.”
I stood and hugged him kissing his forehead.
“Come on; let’s get this blood off you.”
We stood at the kitchen sink as I soaked a kitchen towel in warm water. I gently washed off the dried blood from his chest and felt his eyes watching me intensely.
“I can’t concentrate when you’re staring at me so hard.” I blushed.
“Sorry… I can’t help it.”
I smiled as I washed off the blood from his neck and jaw line, “Well what are you starting at?”
“You… in nothing but panties and my torn sweater,” smiling big.
“Shut up.” I laughed, being self-conscious of going braless. I had set the broken bra on a kitchen stool.
Slade looked over his chest and arms,
“I don’t remember blood ever washing off this easily.”
“I am using some magic… that’s why.”
“Wow, look at you go.” He said surprised.
“It’s usually not like this. I mean I don’t use this much magic all the time. It mostly has to do with you. You’re like my own personal energy supply.”
“I think I like being your own energy supply.”
Slade pulled at a thread rippling out another hole in the sweater I wore,
“Whoops,” he laughed.
“Would you stop, you’re almost clean!”
I rubbed off the last bit of blood off his shoulder as he ripped another hole out.
“Slade!” I said annoyed.
Next I knew his lips were against mine as he lifted me and carried me into the living room. He slammed me onto the couch and ripped off the remains of the sweater and threw it to the side, leaving me in just my panties.

The dishes had cleaned themselves and the food had gone cold by the time I summoned my clothes down from the tower. I felt even more charged with magic then when I did this morning but Slade was drained from not having any food yet and he could barely put his jeans back on. I found him a t-shirt in the other room and helped him put it on.
“Just stay there and I’ll get you your food.” I said.
“I know it probably wasn’t the right time for that. But your amazing-ness was too overwhelming; I couldn’t stand it any longer.” He murmured slumped over on the couch.
“That’s okay… I… I didn’t mind.” I stammered embarrassed.
With a quick snap of my fingers the food was hot again. Slade wolfed down the bacon, sausage, eggs, and toast within five minutes. His heart rate evened and the rosy pink color returned to his cheeks. I finished my food while I watched him look out the front windows.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.” I said.
“I’m not sure what to do with the girls upstairs.” He said quietly.
“Did anyone else see you do it?”
“No… everyone else had gone. The girls were on their way out when I ran into them… Chelsea’s metro is still here.” He finished running his hand through his hair.
He looked at me seriously,
“Can you bring them back?” he asked.
“What – The girls?” I asked surprised.
He nodded.
“Not unless you want them to come back as zombies! Otherwise I’ve never heard of that being done successfully. That’s dark magic.”
“Zombies…” he shook his head, “She was already unpleasant alive…”
“Yeah, Chelsea as a zombie would not be so fun.”
“What do I do?” Slade asked.
“What do we do you mean… I know I don’t want you to go to jail. Now that I finally have you I don’t want to lose you.”
He gave me a warm smile, “Yeah,” he agreed, “I can’t be away from you right now.”
“We’ll have to do something about the evidence.” I suggested, “The girls and the car.”
“I think I have an idea. I’ll have to get my hands dirty. Can you do something about the blood upstairs?”
“Easily,” I answered, “What do you plan to do?”
“I can make it look like they got in a car accident… That’s the most logical thing I can come up with.”
“Okay. Just make sure you don’t leave any finger prints or anything like that for the police to find later.”
“Right. Can you set the car on fire, I mean without lighter fluid?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you done this before?” he asked sarcastically.
“No… I’ve just watched a lot of movies.” I smiled, “And also… you’ll probably have to give a police report. Hopefully the girl’s families don’t press any charges against you or your adopted parents.”
He sighed heavily, “right,”
“What about the teeth marks? Will they find traces of my saliva or venom?” he asked, coming to the sudden realization he actually had venom to leave behind.
“No… Vampires never leave traces of their fluids. I’ve read about vampire killings mocked up to be animal attacks. I think that’s what they’ll end up deciding about this as well… but if we set the car on fire they won’t be able to tell.”
“You know a lot about this don’t you?” Slade asked.
“My parents taught me all they could about the magical world before they died. I’ve also studied a lot since I was adopted. I was able to get my books back and some of my parent’s things after I was adopted too. My adopted parents have no idea what I am or that the magical world exists. Do yours?”
“No they don’t,” he paused, “Did you ever find out who poisoned your parents?”
The memory of the restaurant suddenly flashed through my head,
“No… but whoever it was wanted me dead too. I drank the same poison they did but it didn’t do a thing to me….”
I snapped my fingers and the empty plates floated off our laps and to the kitchen sink. I put my head in my hands. I could still hear my parents last breathes’ in the back of my head. See the scowl on the old woman’s face. Feel the way my throat felt after screaming for so long.
“Hey…” Slade said snapping me out of the flood of memories,
“Sorry I brought it up.”
“It’s okay really. I appreciate you asking.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m really glad you survived.” His eyes were intense, “Come on,” he said taking my hand, “We should take care of this before someone calls the cabin.”
“What about your parents? Will they be here anytime soon?”
“No, they’re vacationing at their time-share in Spain.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yeah.”
“And they didn’t take you with them?”
“No… I mean I’ve gone with them before but I’d been planning last night for a while.”
I stopped on the stair landing between the first and second floor,
“You have?”
Slade laughed, “Ivy! I invited you a month ago remember? It’s embarrassing to keep repeating it alright.”
The flirting mood came to an abrupt halt when we saw the three lifeless bodies laying in the tub. I didn’t say anything; I didn’t want to make Slade feel worse then he already did. He had just killed three innocent girls out of a blood rage thirst. After all, this is what happens when a vampire first gets his thirst for blood.
“If we move them the blood will get everywhere.” Slade said.
“Its okay, my magic will get every drop that falls. The important thing is to get them out of here first.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
I stayed at the door while he tip toed over the pools of blood on the tiled floor to the bathtub. He touched Chelsea’s arm and immediately flowing from his touch Chelsea began to turn to ash. He jerked his hand away in surprise,
“Gah! What the hell?! Is this suppose to happen?!” he yelled.
My mouth fell open watching the other two turn to ash, ash shaped like three eighteen year old girls. It sounded like running sand as their skin dissolved away. Goosebumps ran down my arms.
“Ivy? What’s happening?”
“I know what you are…” I said stunned.
Slade’s eyes went wide, “You do! From this?”
“You are part vampire part wizard. No wonder your energy connects so well with mine.”
“How-?”
“I know because if you were a pure vampire these bodies would not turn to ash! They would still be solidly there rotting away or turning, depending on how much blood you drank. This only happens if you are a vampire with magic in your blood!”
“Okay, we need to sit down and have a talk about all this. I know some basics, but apparently not everything.”
I nodded in agreement.
“So what now?” he asked.
“You can come back out.” I said.
He carefully made his way back and stood by me in the doorway of the bathroom.
“Put your hand on my shoulder. I’ll need some of your magic for this.”
He placed his warm hand on top of my right shoulder and instantly I could feel his magic power flow into me.
“Now kneel down with me.”
“What are you doing?”
“Just watch.”
We knelt together at the doorframe of the bathroom. I slid my hand out along the tile wall feeling the energy of the room. It was ice cold, raw, and full of fear. The last emotion the girls had felt before they died.
“What is that? Do you feel that?” Slade asked, “Its cold.”
“That is the feeling within the room.” I answered.
“How-?”
“Shh!” I cut him off, “Hang on a minute.”
I bowed my head to the girls’ lives that were lost. It was time to move on from this incident and erase the pain. I kept my hand flat against the cold tiles and let my magic surge from my hand into the walls of the room. The tiles began to vibrate and shake out of their sealants. The pools of blood separated and slithered together, disappearing under the floor. The splatters of blood on the glass shower walls dripped down, even the blood on the ceiling fell to the floor and vanished under the shaking tiles. The room shook until every drop of blood had vanished. I lifted my hand from the wall and the tiles slammed back into their sealants. But the ash sculpted girls remained untouched.
“Can you open the nearest window?” I asked.
“Slade?” I said turning to him, “You can let go now.” His mouth was hanging open,
“Oh!” shaking his head, “Sorry, yeah!”
He got up and ran to the window at the end of the hallway and opened it. I took one last look at the ashen girls,
“Eisaste eleytheros.”
(You are free.)
I stepped back from the door and ushered Slade away from the window. The pallid sculpted girls dispersed into a cloud of ash. The ash shifted together and abruptly streamed out the doorway turning left down the hall and out the window. A swift and violent breeze immediately followed and slammed the window shut making Slade jump back. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re laughing? After that you’re laughing?” he asked shocked.
“Look vampire boy, you’re going to have to get used to this stuff. Weather you like it or not magic is in your blood… I couldn’t have done that without you.”
“What? But that wasn’t such a big spell was it?”
“No, it wasn’t. But it couldn’t have been undone without your energy. That’s why I had you hold onto me. You were the one to do this and you are the one to undo it. I just… helped.”
“Oh.” he said calmly peering back into the spotless white bathroom.
I gently reached out and shoved him into the bathroom,
“Whoa!” he yelled, stood there for a minute and realized it was safe.
He turned and gave me a suspicious look which made me laugh. His blue eyes sparkled as he smiled back. He really was beautiful it almost made me ache. Ache to not be near him. He walked up to me and took my face in his hands and kissed me so that the room spun.
“I’m such an idiot.” Slade suddenly blurted out.
“What? Why?”
“For not being with you sooner… I’m so sorry Ivy.”
I wrapped my arms around him tight and held my head against his.
“Just make it up to me.” I whispered.
Slade tried to go in for a kiss but I turned my head so his lips kissed my cheek. I pushed him away,
“Only after we take care of the car!” I said.
He gave me a look of frustration,
“Tell me you get to stay with me all day?”
“I do.” I answered with a smile.
“You know Ivy… I would not be handling this well if you weren’t here. Hell, I’d probably turn myself in and go straight to jail.”
I turned to see his beautiful face in such a painful expression,
“Slade, you are vampire part wizard… these things happen. As long as we stay together we will get through this. Just remember who you are and what you are.”
His expression lightened and let out a sigh of relief.
Suddenly the song ‘Bootylicious’ by Beyonce started to sound off from a room down the hall. We both ran to the open vacant room. The double size bed was a mess and there were a couple sweaters and three purses spilled onto the floor. One of the cell phones was going off.
“That’s Chelsea’s.” I said, “Don’t answer it.”
“Who is it?” Slade asked with panic in his voice.
I knelt down and saw a name lit up on the screen of her bright pink flip phone that read: RYAN GLASS.
“Why the hell is he calling her?” I said disgusted.
“Who?”
“Ryan Glass.”
“Go figure.” Slade said.
“Why would he want to fool around with her?” I asked.
“You know what Ryan is right? Didn’t you guys go out?” Slade asked.
“Aa…? Yeah we went out but it didn’t turn out so well. Why, is he one of us?” I asked. I was seriously concerned now.
“I’m surprised. There are a few of them at our school.” Slade said.
“Them- what?” I urged again.
“Ryan Glass is a werewolf.” Slade said simply.
I gasped. But it all made sense, the way he acted and the way he didn’t. I knew something was off about him.
“Werewolf. That is bad…. And his brothers?”
“Yeah… all of them.”
“Do they know about you or me?” I asked.
“Ryan doesn’t know about me, but I’m not sure if they know what you are.”
“Great.”
“Let’s take care of this and worry about them later.” Slade said.
“Alright then,” I sighed.
“Let’s take their stuff and throw it the metro.” Slade said, “I’ll drive the metro if you’ll follow me in my car. I’ll crash the metro off into the woods a few miles down then you can set it all alight and a…. heal me if I get hurt.”
“I’ll put a spell on you so you won’t get hurt at all. I don’t want to see that happen.” I said.
“Wow… you can do that? Can you make it permanent?” Slade asked.
I laughed, “No! It does take a lot of power and I can’t cast immortality upon you!”
“Oh right…” Slade said looking embarrassed.
I picked up the girls purses and sweaters and we made our way down stairs to the front door. I had finally had all my clothes back on and put on my warm pea coat. Slade put on his black hooded jacket that looked amazing on him and we set out into the winter cold to complete our criminally insane mission.