Vampire Manifesto (18 page)

The ride back to school was amazing. I held on to Ethan for dear life and he cranked up the Night Rod Special to heart attack inducing speeds, swerving in and out through traffic like that’s just how it’s supposed to be done. I loved every minute of it. The sad thing about how fast we were going, we ended up at school a lot sooner then I had wanted.

I think I might be turning into a speed junkie.

Class was still in session, but I was the only one with the keys to the car. I had no intention on staying however, that was utterly out of the question. I was tired, extremely tired in fact, considering I never went to sleep last night and all I wanted to do was crawl into my bed and take a nap. That was the plan at least. First I needed to find Abigail so I could give her keys to the car. I could’ve had Ethan drop me off at the house and have him give the keys to her, but I didn’t consider that an option.

First, as much as I liked him, I didn’t know him well enough to leave the keys to the
Rolling Stone
with him and second, I just wanted to spend more time with him. Plus I wanted to ride that bike of his again. The hum of the engine between my thighs was very interesting.

I found Abigail at gym, running around the track. She was killer in anything under three miles, which she could make in under sixteen minutes easy. I posted up against the fence, watching her do her thing, while Ethan had disappeared somewhere behind the bleachers to smoke a cigarette and to check out those books that John gave him.

John freaking Rogers.

That dude, I don’t even know where to begin. The things he said, they were just so left stratosphere. You have your government conspiracy theorist, you had your alien conspiracy theorist and then you had John Rogers, speaking that educated madness so proficiently that when he was done, you really would think two plus two equals three.

The Mark of Pandora. Alternate realities. The Seventh dimension. Gods that exist across the Bleed of Creation. It was asinine, ludicrousness to the second power. Ethan just ate it all up. I’m not sure if I believed anything the guy said, but…

He knew Connor though.

“
Hey girl, what’s up?” Abigail had completed her run, coming to a stop at the fence. “What are you doing here?”

I dug into my pocket. “I’m done for the day, about to bounce. Wanted to leave you the keys to the
Rolling Stone
.”

“
Yeah, cool.” She looked worried. I could tell she still wanted to talk about what happened to me, but I wasn’t in the mood for all that right now. All I wanted was my bed, some ice cream and some Twizzlers. Not in that exact order however.

She took the keys from me. “How are you getting home?”

“
Ethan Blackwood.”

It took a second for Abigail to process. “Oh God Madison, you slut, you just met him like, yesterday.”

“
What? No, were not gonna do that, he’s just gonna drop me off.” I laughed.

“
Yeah, okay, just use protection.”

“
God you’re such a perv.” I proclaimed. “Get your mind out the gutter.”

“
Get your vagina out the gutter.” She fired back.

“
Whatever. I’m out.” I love that girl. “You stopping by afterwards?”

“
And you know this, maaan! Ma thinks I’m gonna be working at the restaurant tonight, slaving away at some grill. I keep trying to tell her, I’m too pretty for menial labor.”

I gave her a high five. “Damn straight. You and me both. I’ll check you tonight.”

“
Later alligator.”

“
After while, crocodile.”

I walked off, heading towards Ethan who had posted himself up on one of the bleachers. He was smoking a Newport, quietly reading one of the books that Rogers gave him. “You ready to Rock and Roll?”

Ethan looked up. “Listen to this.” He said. “I am premeditated paradox waiting to happen. I ride the singular point of the present until the future is past tense. When your future is another man’s past, yet the memory for it no longer exists, the prophecy of the Forgotten Future will be complete. Does anyone remember tomorrow?”

I just stared at him, a blank expression on my face. “You and my brother would get along just fine.”

“
I’m sure we would.” He stood to his feet. “Did you find your girl?”

“
Yeah, everything is cool.”

“
Come on then, I’ll be sure to go a little slower this time. Sorry if I freaked you out, I know it’s your first time on a bike.”

“
If I wanted to take it slow, trust me, you’d know it by now.”

In an instant, I was back on the bike again, racing towards my house, wind in my face. I still held Ethan close, my face resting against the back of his shoulder, my eyes closed. I could still fill the world whip past me even though I didn’t see it. I could still process the speed, like closing your eyes on a roller coaster. Well nothing that dramatic, but it was close enough for me, I hate roller coasters, but this, well this was something entirely different.

We turned on my street when Ethan called out to me. “Hang on tight, okay.”

I opened my eyes. “Okay.”

“
You ready?”

“
Yeah.” I said.

Ethan hit the throttle and raced down the block, popping a wheelie as he did. We rode like that the rest of the way down the street before coming to a stop at my driveway. I had to admit. The wheelie thing kinda freaked me out a little. I wasn’t prepared for it. I’d never let him know that though. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

I hopped off the back, while Ethan stayed on, keeping the engine running. The way he was sitting, the all black bike, the hair cut, he reminded me of a young James Dean.

Dream as if you’d live forever, live as if you’d die today.

“
What are you up to tomorrow night?” I asked.

“
Same old, same old. What’s up?”

“
Wanna go bowling?”

“
Bowling?”

“
Hey, there really ain't a lot to do here in Palm Coast, okay.”

“
I’d do anything with you.”

I placed my arm around his neck. “Careful Mr. Blackwood, bowling is considered a gateway sport.”

“
So I’ve heard. Next thing you know, we’ll be playing darts.”

“
Call me.” I gave him another kiss then headed up the driveway.

“
No doubt.” Ethan peeled off, disappearing down the street.

The first thing I did once inside was grab one of my dad’s beers from the fridge, twisting off the top with my forearm, a little trick I learned last year from Aiden. The beer was ice cold and delicious. I had never heard of the brand before, Pop was always buying beer from his past. I think this one is some type of Asian brand. Wish he would buy more Coronas.

Speaking of which, I pulled out the cell and tried his number. Straight to voicemail. I tried Moms number, but it just rang before the voicemail kicked in. I put the cell back in my pocket, forgoing leaving a message. I was really tired and it was all starting to catch up with me, so I downed the rest of the beer as quick as I could then headed upstairs, collapsing on my bed, falling asleep almost immediately.

“
Well what are you waiting for?” I yelled out in challenge. “It’s not like I got all fucking night!”

It was the dream again, just as vivid as before and yet, it was as if I was watching it take place, my Dreamself preparing to battle the nine Vampiric combatants that surrounded her/me. I or rather she dived towards the Vampire closest, swinging a haymaker, slamming the Blade of Osiris into his temple, the Vampires eyes clouding a dull black, with currents of crimson electricity swimming through it.

She/I pulled the weapon free as the Vampire slumped to the ground, ducking underneath a savage attack from a male Vampire on my/her left, driving the Blade upwards into the bottom of his chin, thrusting the Blades tip into his brainpan.

I/we pivoted suddenly, spinning on my/our heels, jabbing the Blade into the heart of a female Vampire as she tried to sneak up from behind. This time the Vampire burst into flames, the skin burning away to reveal the muscles and tendons underneath, only to burn down to its skeleton, then to ash.

I/we pressed the attack, the Blade of Osiris, suddenly increasing in length, extending from dagger size to the size of a full broad sword. She/I swung, slicing a Vampire in half at the midsection, bringing the Blade close to my/her face to block a taloned claw strike.

I/she did a backflip, then another, landing a low crouch. There were five Vampires left. We/I ran towards them, screaming in defiance, diving over a lunging monster, driving the Blade into its back, through its heart. I/She continued the front flip as the Vampire burned to cinders behind me/her.

One of the things came at her/us, but we/I sidestepped the attack, ducked underneath a kick to my/our face by another creature, grabbing it by the leg, then slicing the leg off. The Vampire fell backwards to the ground, and she/I drove the Blade into its skull before it had a chance to come to its feet. I/we left the weapon there for a moment, then turned to face the last three remaining Vampires. She/I cracked our knuckles then pulled the weapon free from the corpse, motioning them to attack with my/her free hand.

The first one charged, swinging wildly, as we/I ducked underneath the blow, grabbing the Vampire by his face, my/her fingers digging into its eyes as we pulled its head back, exposing its throat. The Blade of Osiris shrunk down instantly, no longer then a short sword as I/she slit its throat, then its spine and as the body burst into flames, she/I tossed the head towards the last two reaming Vampires, the skull completely burning to ash just before landing at their feet.

“
Is this all there is?” I/she challenged. “Is this all that you are?”

There was a hiss, then something unintelligent as a response.

The Blade of Osiris fully extended itself again as the Vampire attacked, swinging its clawed fingers wickedly, left, right, left, right…

I/we just side stepped each attack like it was nothing, right, left, right, left, swing, decapitation. The last Vampire was already in the air, launching towards us/me when the Blade of Osiris, fired, just as a gun would, the explosive round catching the Vampire in the mid-section, the body bursting in to flame, the astral form of its whispery soul being yanked free from its burning frame, dissipating into nothingness.

I/her spun once again, yet this time it was me personally looking down the barrel of the Blade of Osiris, the very tip of the sword resembling the barrel of a gun, the hilt and handle of the weapon resembling that of gun hand grip and trigger.

She looked directly at me. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

The tip of the Gun Blade was smoking, my Dreamself’s beautifully tattered white dress coated in thick, black Vampire blood. She could see me. Just like that Vampire could see me the last time, except he didn’t speak, he was simply aware of my presence. This girl though, the other me with the shredded, pretty white dress, kung-fu moves and the sword that shot explosive, soul rendering bullets, she not only acknowledged my presence, but…

She cocked the Blade of Osiris. “ANSWER ME!”

I came awake suddenly, the force of her scream bringing me back to consciousness. I was covered in sweat, the pillow and sheets soaked through, my heart pounding mercilessly in my chest. The dreams were becoming more vibrant, more real, more…dangerous. Even though I’ve had the same dream for over a month, it was only just now, within these past couple of days, these last couple of dreams that I was able to remember more upon...

“
I hope you don’t wake up like that every night.” Came a familiar voice. “That would be such a killjoy.”

It took a second for my vision to adapt to wakefulness, but a second was all it needed. I saw him there, resting comfortable in my love seat in the corner, sipping what looked like…a strawberry daiquiri?

My Dark Haired Savior.

“
Connor.” I whispered, surprised to not only see him, but to have him here, in my home, in my room no less. “What are you…how did you…”