After The End (4 page)

The newbie interrupted.

“Why do you guys refer to this as Nova Nocte?
I mean it sounds kind of cool and all, but why Nova Nocte instead
of Awesome Ville or Camp Badass?”

The elder vamp answered first.

“It’s my phrase. We spoke one evening about
the need to start fresh instead of attempting to regain what is
already lost. The words translate roughly to fresh new night; each
night we help one another is a new chance to remake our existing
civilization.”

Cal noted the fledgling’s nods and changed
the subject. “Perhaps we should all get some supper soon so we can
take a tour of the area. Afterward, I can show you how we uphold
our end of the pact.”

The two vampires looked at their calendars
like tourists reading a theme park map; I half expected one of them
to ask what time the three o’clock parade was. I grinned at the
mental image; Daemon’s current attire lent itself far too well to
the imaginary scenario.

It would be just starting to get busy at work
right now. The tour groups from Brazil, kids from schools that get
out early in the year, and business folks from the conventions
would be swarming the parks if the zombies hadn’t already beaten
them to it this season.

Arriving at the cabin we found Cal’s donor
waiting. They were in and out of the building in only five minutes.
The human pressed his hand to his neck to stop the trickle of vital
fluid and the Roman’s skin had become flush. As they exited, I
walked inside, Daemon trailing behind me like a stray following a
child home.

Aware that a question was coming, I
explained.

“It feels less awkward for everyone if the
feeding is done privately. We clear out of the cabin at dusk except
for the person donating that night.”

He was shifting his weight back and forth,
fidgeting with his hands.

“That makes sense. It just feels kind of
strange for me; this is really intimate and I almost think people
outside are wondering if we are making out or something. It’s sort
of odd.” He blushed and looked around the room, “So, I just bite
you?”

“Unless you can suck out blood from there,
yes. You drink what you need, I get some dinner myself, and then we
get our chores done.”

He took a step forward, tripping over his
feet a bit before baring his fangs. This guy really was young; he
seemed so nervous it was as though he’d never fed before. It was
cute seeing this powerful being so flustered. I felt Daemon’s
breath on my neck as he lingered a second and then the familiar
twin pricks.

He was right, despite efforts to make this
just another necessary chore; the act of sharing your lifeblood
like this is very personal. The fledgling vampire drew several
large gulps and I sensed the tug on my veins.

I started to feel lightheaded and considered
what he said about the calendar to distance myself from the
intimacy of the moment; the room went out of focus as I remembered
what it took to track the dates. I felt myself floating back to
that day as the room tilted away.

I don’t know why the exact passage of time matters so
much, so abruptly. I simply need to get a calendar. I slip through
the library door and my backpack gets wedged in place. Pulling
myself inside I curse. The calendar should go a few years ahead
just in case. In case of what, I don’t know. It feels like not
knowing what day actually would be my birthday, or Christmas, or
the anniversary of the recent day of rising death would be as
unbearable as laying naked on asphalt in summertime.

I scamper to the computer stations. Power is still on
in the building, so maybe the Internet still exists too. It’s only
been three days. Maybe. Maybe I could search up a printable
calendar for the next five years. Hit the power button. Thank
goodness for a buzz and glow and glimmer. “Load faster you out of
date piece of junk.” Searching and found. “Good signal for an
apocalypse.”

Why this even exists I don’t know but I could weep
for the comfort of it. It’s like knowing time will still exist.
Print to station 1. “Enter print credit code? Crap-tasticness on a
Communion Wafer.” Circulation desk must have an admin override.
Search the desk, toss a book, open the drawers. “Under the register
maybe?” Manual for operation of register and blank code cards in a
file. “Pay dirt.” —thud thud crash— “Really? More zombies, ugh.”
Outer door. Lights are off in the lobby. I must’ve made too much
noise (knew there was a reason to be quiet here). Basic
instructions… scan card add $1-5 to card with admin code 0037.
Enter twice, scan again, —Thud Thud— “um okay, not good” agree to
terms. Okay done. “$2 max for new card? Whatever, fine, just do
it.” Again button button yes $2 and on. Bolt to the computer and
enter code…printing total is $3.60. “Dammit” sprint back to
register —Thud THUD crack scrape— I’m not looking, not looking,
just move quickly “hurry hurry” $2 added. Dash to station.
“Computer printing…faster faster”—THUD THUD Crack scrape moan—
“Time to bail like the bar tab is coming” and… printed. “YES!” Four
years of time. If I can get out, I have four years.

How to leave? “Ouch! Stupid chair”. Looking looking…
meeting room window! Any fleshies out this side? Nope. Clear and
climbing out. Lower the bag as silently as possible. Two books on
wilderness survival and medieval weapons fall out. Okay here I go.
“Ummph. Big drop, little legs.” Made it. Stuffing the tomes back
into my pack. Sword out, backpack on, hauling ass towards the
woods. No Dead are following and I’ve got all I need for now. I
feel better just knowing today is September 19th.

Something was different; there was a handsome
vampire half-holding me and Cal stood over us. My senses were
coming back to my body. Daemon, that’s his name. I tried to
remember, but my mind was foggy.

He must have drunk too much; when had this
guy last fed?

It felt like forever before I realized Cal
was spooning me stew and feeding me pieces of orange. All I heard
was the young vampire apologizing profusely while holding me
upright; his grip on me was delicate and warm.

I vaguely understood him say he’d been
without nourishment for over a week and hadn’t wanted to worry us
before.

I would’ve rather been given a warning.

I took the remaining fruit from Cal’s hand
and finished it on my own as the silver-haired vampire gave a sigh
and leaned back. His worry for me eased for the moment.

“We will work on your control first, I
think.” Cal announced to his student; it was as close to a
reprimand as I heard. Daemon nodded quietly, his expression
penitent.

Soon, I had completed my dinner and my focus
returned. I joked with the overwrought vampire.

“Okay, that wasn’t a bad trip, but it wasn’t
much fun either. Let’s not do that again; if the hunger is that
strong, give me a heads up next time, alright?”

He still wouldn’t look me in the eye, but
remained crestfallen and almost whimpered; he was a scolded
puppy.

I tried to lighten the mood.

“I’m fine now. Let’s just pop out of the
cabin and knock out the rest of this tour. If anyone asks, you just
asked a ton of weird questions about your new powers and about
taking guard shifts and raids or whatnot. We’ll be the only ones
who know how much you drained; no need for any alarm, it was only
due to the lack of meals. Let’s go outside all happy and you two
can compare fang-size or whatever.”

The sad little puppy beamed so much I checked
for a wagging tail.

Not a bad view.

After a cursory tour of the camp, our trio
ambled over to the gate to initiate Daemon’s vampire practice – he
referred to it as bloodsucker boot camp. I placed items Cal
instructed me to pick up on the ground just outside of the gate.
There was a candle, a steel rod, and some arrows placed in a
straight line.

I sat on the ground nearby with my hand on
the grip of my sword; I took no chances, even with a sentry
watching from the gate and two vampires to protect me.

Watching Cal attempt to instruct Daemon in
the finer points of being Undead became a great source of amusement
in the coming months. I have to assume that the elder vampire had
never brought across anyone who asked so many questions. It
reminded me of a t-ball coach dealing with a child who keeps asking
why he should hit the ball, instead of just grab the ball and run.
His experience as an Under-Commander in the Roman Legion was
evident in the way Caelinus initiated the training.

“Primarily you will be learning the
following: flying, glamour – also referred to as mind control - and
how to control both your feeding and your strength. As you
progress, I will also assess any secondary powers you may develop
over time. This would be skills such as telepathy, animal control,
telekinesis, and in rare cases shape shifting or pyrokinesis –
control of fire.”

Daemon raised his hand, cutting short his
teacher’s spiel.

“So can I get X-ray vision and invincibility
like Superman?”

The elder answered in a soft tone.

“No, this is not a comic book. While it is
difficult to kill one of our kind, we are not invincible; we merely
heal at an accelerated rate so long as we have fed enough. We will
still be injured and the pain is likewise quite vivid. As I was
saying…”

“But are there Werewolves or Leprechauns or
Dragons out there too, because I still haven’t seen any. Creepy
pulse-less guys doing leper impressions, yes, but none of the cool
entities.”

Cal pinched the bridge of his nose as he
spoke, aggravation coloring his voice.

“Again no. This is reality; there are only
humans and vampires, no radioactive superheroes or aliens or
magical beasts. Just us.”

Before I had time to think I blurted,

“And the zombies, don’t forget they’re real,
too.”

He glared at me, eyes shimmering a bright
green with scarlet flecks.

“Yes, and the Dead.
Thank you for
reminding me
.”

The fledgling chortled as I shrank back on my
seat; the phrase ‘seen-but-not-heard’ resounded sharply in my head.
When Cal looked for the source of the muffled laugh, he saw a hand
again in the air; it fell as soon as eye contact was made.

“How are you so sure that those other beings
don’t exist? I mean, I never believed vampires were real until I
became one, and I’m sure you didn’t think the dead could rise until
they started chomping on people. Why discount the possibility of
other paranormals?”

Cal. Lost. It.

“WE ARE DIFFERENT! We’re not magical fairy
tale creatures, despite what we may have let the idiot masses
conclude for centuries. We are legitimate, flesh and blood people.
We think and feel and have a history and a culture; those others
are just imaginary figments.”

It felt like I was watching a car plow
towards a wall at eighty-eight miles per hour; someone was
definitely going to have a bad night.

“But we used to be human, so how did we get
changed? I remember what was done, I just don’t know why it worked
if not for some kind of magic. If magic allows our existence, then
other magical beings should also be possible.”

The guard was backing further into the camp,
probably alarmed by the sight of a vampire shouting and
gesticulating wildly. Cal rebuffed his protégé, his fists clenched
and eyes burning red at the edges.

“It succeeded because that is the nature of
our existence; we do not bear children so we must bring across
other humans to carry on our lineage. When we turn them, our
vampiric DNA overruns and changes their human DNA. Our blood works
more like a virus as part of our procreation; hence the reason we
can only feed on human blood. Their biological components replenish
ours.

Our species evolved to adapt differently and
– unlike other offshoots of mankind that failed — we are able to
thrive. We develop powers because of our differing genetics; some
abilities are simply tapping into more of our brains and others are
far more complex adaptations. Essentially, we maintain a certain
amount of stem cells in our blood throughout our lives. They allow
us to heal and function at a higher level than our human
counterparts.

It is not magic but simple science and nature
at work. That is why we exist, and those supernatural creatures are
pathetic stories told to scare children into behaving so their
parents can get some sleep.”

He ceased his rant, fury cascading off of him
as he scowled at the fledgling. His nose flared and his final
statement was more growled than spoken; the seething could be felt
from where I sat staring wide-eyed.

“Cool. Thanks Cal. So what do I learn to do
first?” Daemon asked with the innocence of a toddler.

My sword hilt jabbed me in the stomach as I
rolled over cackling; my eyes watered and sides ached from the
laughter. Both immortals looked at me as though seeing me for the
first time. I wondered if all sires had to train new vampires like
this.

Probably would limit their population
growth.

Cal strode off towards the forest shaking his
head,

“I’m taking a break. Squirrel, please check
the camp’s perimeter and traps with Daemon.”

In an instant, the young Undead was at my
side.

“You always have to screw with the teacher on
the first day; it’s like a law.” He explained with a smile.

I rubbed my ribs as we patrolled, the pain
was minor but distracting. Daemon turned to me. “So what kind of
ninja genius were you before the outbreak? Everyone seems to follow
you; your skills must be killer.”

I shook my head.

“Not even close. I’m just a regular
twenty-three year old woman who worked a cruddy job in theme park
sales. I had to wear cheesy polyester outfits and have my hair in a
ponytail just to work a register. When our little Zombie Apocalypse
started and everyone fought over guns, I raided gaming shops for
swords and axes. That’s it. I’m the dorky chick who hit up the
library for a calendar and some books. How about you?”