Dorian's Destiny: Altered (9 page)

“We're friends, aren't we, Dorian?” He
inquired from his seat opposite Dorian.

“Yes, of course, Thomas,” Dorian answered
without pulling himself from his latest adventure.

“Well...as your friend...I am concerned
about your reluctance to kill your victims.”

The side table shook as Dorian slammed down
his book. “I do not understand why my decision on whether or not to
spare my 'victims' would concern you. It's none of your business!”
He spat harshly. “Besides, it's rather foolish to eradicate one's
food source,” he added calmly, trying hard to sound convincing,
hoping a plausible excuse would end the conversation.

“Do you now?” Thomas responded with a smug
grin. “You expect me to swallow that rubbish? There are billions of
humans for us to enjoy. I seriously doubt you believe by killing
when we feed that we would somehow drive them to extinction.”

“Well I suppose there is a surplus of humans
to feed upon, but it just seems wasteful to kill them when leaving
them alive provides us with more blood.”

“Why do you insist on making pointless
excuses?” Slamming his arms against the armrests of his chair,
Thomas grabbed his long since abandoned Scotch, flinging the half
full glass into the fireplace in an effort not to knock out some of
Dorian's teeth. Still tasting the need for violence, he rose from
his chair and paced in front of the fireplace. “The fact is, we are
predators, you and I. It's in our nature to kill. Does a lion
attack a gazelle, take a quick nibble, say thanks, and then let it
go? No, it kills the damn thing and eats its fill.”

“Please, stop trying to dictate my life,
Thomas,” Dorian pleaded, desperate to end the uncomfortable
conversation.

Sitting again, he placed his hands on top of
Dorian's resting in his lap. “I don't intend to, Dorian, and I am
sorry you feel like I am. My intention is only for you to embrace
what you are, to live up to your full potential, and you won't
fully do that until you have taken a life.” He squeezed Dorian's
hands as he tried to pull them away, showing his intent to be
heard. “Just hear me out before you interrupt me with more
excuses.”

“Fine,” Dorian sighed.

Releasing him so that he
could be more animated, Thomas continued. “I want you to experience
the sensation of taking in that last drop of blood – to have
someone's life in your hands. We have the power to take any life we
choose. That makes us like God.”

Dorian leaped from his
chair at the mention of God's Name – a name he had not heard or
spoken in ages, and longed to forget. “I want nothing to do with
God! He turned His Back on me and I returned the favor! So why the
hell would I want to emulate Him?! No, if being godlike is the
final step in my evolution, I want no part of it!” He ranted,
pacing back forth before the fireplace.

“Comparing us to God wasn't the best
strategy, I take it,” Thomas whispered more to himself than
Dorian.

“Not at all,” Dorian huffed before halting
his pacing directly in front of Thomas. “So, since you and I are
friends and you have my best interests at heart, will you please
stop asking me to do things I don't want to do?”

“Fine, Dorian. I'll
stop
if
you can
give me a reasonable explanation for your lack of follow through
when feeding.”

“I can't,” Dorian whispered, turning from
his disappointed face.

“Continue on with your life as you see fit.
I will no longer butt in,” Thomas regretfully promised to Dorian's
side profile.

“Thank you,” Dorian breathed out in
relief.

The silence that followed was palpable.
Neither vampire spoke or moved from their respective placement in
the study. Dorian stared into the flames of the fire as if they
held the answer to Thomas' inquiry while Thomas stewed in his
chair, sipping his Scotch, rethinking every move made in his
attempt to evolve the 'stray'. Hours passed without either having a
revelation.

True to his word from that evening on,
Thomas no longer pressed Dorian about his latest evolutionary
stall, but it was apparent Dorian's unwillingness to evolve further
was a thorn his side and a strain on their friendship.

Seeing Dorian's uncertainty as a perfect
opportunity to mettle, God introduced a catalyst of His own; a
counter to Thomas' vile influence. Using a seemingly chance
encounter, He ensured both participates would be forever changed by
their collision.

“Uh,” the sigh escaped her pale pink lips.
Her weary green eyes scanned the never ending sign-in sheet. On
nights like tonight, Megan trusted in the wisdom of the old saying
that a full moon brought out the crazies, especially if those
crazies were hypochondriacs. Shifting the weight of her small frame
in an attempt to alleviate some of the aching in her feet, she
mentally calculated how long it would take to clear out the
overflowing lobby.

1,2,3,4 hours, and that's
only if we locked the doors. This night will never end.

These thoughts of eternal
servitude were interrupted by a familiar voice
–
one of her favorites.

“Go home, young lady!” Ordered the motherly
voice. “You have already worked a double shift and I don't have
time to be picking you up off the floor and treating you for
exhaustion, not with all these crybabies, I already have to deal
with.”

“Josie, be nice!” Megan chided.

“Oh, don't tell me you weren't just thinking
the same thing. You are just too sweet to speak up.” Yanking the
sign-in sheet from her sight, Josie insisted, “There is not a thing
wrong with half the people on that list. Now, shoo! I can handle
this lot.”

“Yes ma'am!” Megan acknowledged the command
with a semi salute. “You're coming over for dinner and a movie
Saturday. Don't forget.”

“I couldn't forget a date with my favorite
girl,” Josie assured, softening her voice, “although you could go
on a real date.”

Megan rolled her eyes at her suggestion.
“Don't start 'mother', you know I already have the perfect fella at
home so why would I waste my time dating.”

“Four legged fellas don't count,” Josie
reminded her friend for the hundredth time.

“Why not? Blaze is perfect,” Megan joked
with a dreamy stare. “He listens to me and likes to snuggle.”

“True – minus the fur and
fleas,” Josie teased before turning serious, “I just worry about
you being alone.”

“For the record, Blaze does not have fleas,”
Megan protested, “and I am never alone.” She kissed the cross
dangling around her neck. “I have God, you and Blaze. Who else
could I possibly need? So stop worrying about me.”

“Never!” Josie stated adamantly.

Stealing a quick hug and a kiss on the
cheek, Megan headed for the sliding glass doors. “See you Saturday
night. Love you!”

“Love you too!”

Stepping out into the crisp cool night,
Megan immediately felt rejuvenated. She relished the night, which
drove her friend and self-appointed surrogate mom crazy. A young
lady has no business wondering around at night alone. She knew
those words might save her life one day and she should probably
heed Josie's warning, but she held no fear of the night nor its
occupants. Without a doubt, she knew she was protected by not only
God, but two guardian angels who were taken from her too soon. She
wasn't delusional believing herself invincible with their
protection. However, she knew where she would end up when her time
on earth ended.

She lost her parents a year ago in a fatal
car crash involving an intoxicated teen. That event tarnished a
pivotal moment in her young life, leaving the nest and flying on
her own.

*****

Late Monday evening, two
weeks after graduating nursing school, Megan was ready to start her
new job in the ER at St. Mary's Hospital. Dressed in frog adorned
scrubs, she raced back inside her tiny one-bedroom apartment to
answer the ringing phone. Bringing the receiver to her ear, she
expected to hear her mom's voice wishing her good luck on her first
day.

“Hi,” she said excitedly.

“Ms. Miller?” Questioned an unfamiliar
voice.

“Yes,” she answered curiously.

“This is Officer Davis. I am sorry to inform
you but your parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julian Miller, were involved in
a two car collision this evening on Interstate 4.”

“Oh my God!” She grabbed the cross around
her neck.

“They were both killed on impact.”

Silent tears streamed down her face as her
world came crashing down. “You said it was a two car collision.
What about the other driver?” She questioned in between sobs.

“Yes, ma'am. I am not supposed to give out
information to non-family members.”

“Please, I need to know.”

“The other vehicle was driven by a teen who
had been drinking. He suffered only minor injuries and is currently
being treated at St. Mary's Hospital.”

After several more minutes of being told
what needed to be done, she ended the conversation.

Clutching her chest in an attempt to stop
the pain, she unleashed her sorrow. Blaze, who had been standing by
her side since she picked up the phone, meowed in response to her
wails. Yearning for his comfort, she snatched him up, and cradled
him to her chest. His purrs soothed her as she soaked his fiery fur
with tears. When no more would fall, she released him and knelt
down to pray.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me
with the most amazing parents and granting me twenty-two years with
them. Although it saddens me deeply to know that I must continue my
journey on Earth without them, I know they are in Your Loving Arms.
Hold them tightly for me, Father, until my time comes. Please give
me the strength I will need to get through this difficult time and
the courage to forgive. Amen.”

Rising from the floor, she gave Blaze a
quick rub and headed out the door. The three blocks she walked to
St. Mary's were the longest of her life. It felt like she wore lead
boots. She trudged along, knowing she needed to speak to her
supervisor. She could have easily discussed her predicament over
the phone, but she wanted to visit the teen who had shattered her
world.

Why not kill two birds with one stone?

A crazed cackle rushed from her as she
thought of the irony of that saying. She covered her mouth in shock
over her sequence of thoughts and her involuntary reaction to
them.

Get hold of yourself,
Megan. Save the insanity for later.

Composing herself, she continued through the
double glass doors of St. Mary's ER. Two steps inside, she received
a tender, caring embrace from Josie, the head nurse of the ER and
the person responsible for her training. Squeezed tightly but
lovingly, she wept anew.

“There, there sweetie. I am so sorry for
your loss. If there is anything you need, don't hesitate to ask,”
Josie spoke sweetly, gently rubbing her back.

When the tears stopped again, she pulled
herself from her embrace. “Thank you, Josie. Is April here? I
wanted to talk to her about taking the next few days off.”

“No, sweetie, but I will let her know about
your parents. Take all the time off you need. Don't worry about
work. I will be ready to train you as soon as everything settles
down,” Josie reassured her.

“One other thing, I was informed the teen
responsible for the accident was being treated here. I was
wondering if you knew where he was and if I could speak to
him?”

“Oh, honey, are you sure you want to do
that?” Josie asked, reservation obvious in her tone.

“Yes!” she insisted, both to herself and
Josie.

Soon, Megan apprehensively stood outside
Room 221. Curiosity had brought her this far, but she hesitated in
the hallway as she questioned her resolve.

What will I say? I forgive
you or damn you to hell. What would I feel? Will it be forgiveness
or contempt? What will I see? Will it be a young man or a
monster?

These conflicting thoughts and countless
others burned through her mind like a wild fire threatening to
scorch her entire being.

“Go with me, Father,” she whispered, finally
reaching for the door handle.

On the bed lay a battered
and bruised young man – not a hideous monster.

Phew, I can do this.

She entered the room as quietly as possible
since the young man appeared to be resting. A tear-stained face
turned to meet her.

“When will you nurses leave me alone? I've
told you a dozen times that I'm fine,” the young man grumbled.

She glanced down at the scrubs she still
wore, dressed for her first day of work. “I'm not a nurse. Well, I
am, but I'm not working today, although it was supposed to be my
first day.”

“Well whatever you are, why are you in my
room rambling?” He barked.

The harshness of his words hit her hard. She
almost stormed out wailing, but the hurt in his voice glued her in
place.

“I am here to forgive you.”

“For what?” He asked puzzled.

“Please, don't interrupt
me?” She pleaded, fearful any interruption would crumble her
fragile will. Inhaling a deep breath, she began. “Earlier today,
during a trip to visit me before my first day of work at this
hospital, my parents, Julian and Rose Miller, were killed in a two
car collision.” The young man's eyes opened wide as those words
identified his visitor. “You were the driver of the other car. You
are responsible for taking two precious lives from this world far
too soon and possibly destroying two more. However, that is up to
us. I myself am going to attempt to lead a life my parents would be
proud of and that is why I came here to say I forgive you. Although
I can't foresee what type of life you will lead from this point
forward, I hope to instill in you the desire to become a better
person than you were yesterday. It would be refreshing to know
something good could come from this tragedy.” Knowing her emotions
were about to take over, she turned for the door.