• Double the Person, Double the Blood.

    The moon shone bright over the dark town, shining to its fullest. I’ve always loved the moon, a light that isn’t blinding like the garish light of her sister the sun. I call her my “nightlight” as a human child would say. Without her I am frightened, strange yes, I am scared of the dark but I hate light. I guess that’s the price of being an immortal vampire. I do love this little town I live in; it’s located on the boarder of South Carolina. Not many people live here but there are a few curious travelers who stop to venture into the once famous Davenport Theater, now just an abandoned movie theater (long before, a stage for many actors) Only a few come late at night, that’s when I take my prey. Ah I love to hear them, always curious, “Ooh let’s go check it out.” From adventurist teen, “Oh hey, privacy.” from young couples and so on.
    As I arrive to my humble home, out of habit, I check the large clock on the entrance wall; Still stopped at five minutes past twelve, as usual. The first floor near the ticket booth is my least favorite place; it has been flooded with river water at least two feet deep. Flowing water is a nuisance to vampires, water rejects the dead. A corpse floats to the surface, no matter how long it takes; I can feel it trying to push me miles away from it. I slowly form into a mist, mixing with the mist that lies low over the water and make my way to the winding stairs. “Ah there we go.” I form back into the man of 24 (42 in vampire years) with the long black hair, dirty white shirt and black tattered pants, know as Ian, (only to myself though...).
    Carefully I walk over the floor of the balcony which wobbles, going around the boards that are missing in some places. Let’s see here… I think to myself, dusting off my stuffed bear. The musty, furry thing had been given to me as a young scamp by my mother. I still regret killing her… she was dying from a disease and begged me to kill her. The cure was found just 6 small months later! “Calm, calm… almost went into a craze again.” I mumble to myself, giggling psychotically. “Where’s my jar… where is it?!” I look around, laughing crazily as I notice it behind my little table, which holds a dead flower in a cobwebbed glass vase. I need this jar to live, if that’s what my existence can be called, it holds soil from my homeland. “Mommy…” I feel myself slipping back into my childish side. I pull out my gold locket from around my neck, running my thumb over the small picture graph. “Ah!” I shout out sometimes to keep myself out of that stage. I tuck it back in my shirt along with its companion, a red sphere on a silver chain. “So pretty. Hehehe…” I laugh once more, sitting in my corner, legs pulled up to my chest. “Ah footsteps… so someone did follow me.” I whisper, trying to hold in an excited squeal. They’re wearing shoes… I hate shoes! Gripping my hands, I stand, putting on my dark red coat, ready to perform as I did many years ago. Pulling back my black hair with a silver ribbon, I hold back a giggle of madness. The footsteps are louder, closer now, too soft to be a grown man, Perhaps a young teen boy? Running away from his home, his problems? “H-hello?” Had my heart still been beating, it would’ve skipped a beat, perhaps two, at hearing this soft, dove like voice. It’s a girl… My face flushes, the shy part of me coming out. Splash splash splash. She’s wading through the water? Why? Please leave… I’ve always had a soft spot for females, thanks to killing my mother… As long as she doesn’t see me I’ll be ok. Clomp clomp clomp. No please, not up the stairs! Cursing myself, I walk to the mouth of the stairwell to greet her. Ah good, she’s looking down. As she is nearly to the top, she looks up letting out a small gasp. “Hello young lady. Might I ask why you’ve entered my house without being invited in?” She is stopped like a frightened mouse, staring up at the grinning cat.
    “I-I um…” I smile more and walk down to the step above her.
    “Come now, speak.” Softly I put my hand to her cheek.
    “I-I was following you, I was c-curious…” I take my hand away and cover my mouth.
    “But my dear, didn’t you know that curiosity kills the cat? Well in this case, the mouse.” I grin and she looks like she’s about to run. As I’m about to place my hand back she turns and runs back down the stairs, going towards the stage door. “Why must they always run?” I sigh and mist, following her over the water and forming back behind the stage, cobwebs hanging from the rotting red velvet curtains that cover it. If I’m correct, she should be looking for an exit. I start walking, repeating lines from days long past. I finally spot her fighting with the door, above it a burnt out electric exit sign, broken and hanging crooked and upside down. “Why are you leaving so quickly my dear?” I hold back a laugh.
    “Please, don’t hurt me…” this girl… with her dark hair, timid green eyes, smelling of a sweet, subtle sent of vanilla and lavender. She’s going to drive me crazy! I must’ve scared her with my wicked grin.
    “Good, good. You’re playing your role perfectly; the scared, shaking victim.” She tries to step back, forgetting the door. “And I shall play my role as a blood thirsty vampire quite well.”
    “V-vampire?” her hand flies to her throat. My eyes shine white and I feel myself slowly loosing it. “Oh yes, vampire. Now the real question… Shall I spare thee or take your life?” Both of my “personalities” come out.
    “Y-you should let her go…”
    “No I should kill her.”
    “N-no… just spare her.”
    “Stop telling me what to do!”
    “Don’t yell at me!” I put my hands over my ears. Oh this is killing me! I look at her, confliction on my face. “Go, get out, please…” She doesn’t move. “Go!” She steps forward and… puts a warm hand on my cheek. Why on earth…
    "What is your name…?” I blink, now completely confused.
    “I-Ian…” She just nods and takes away her shaking hand.
    “I-I’ll leave now…” I hold myself back, trying not to let loose. As she walks timidly, a realization hits me, she knows now! She will give me away! I can’t trust her. Like a flash of light I am behind her, grabbing her arm and turning her around.
    "You’re not going anywhere.” Her face twists in pain and she tries to get away, screaming and crying. “Please stop making so much noise! Just stay here with me!” I lose my grip and she sprints for the stairs, running up them in hopes of an escape. I don’t take the time to shift and just run through the water, wincing. I hear her footsteps slowing down. The balcony… CRACK! “No!” I scream out, flashing up the stairs to try to save her. Thud! I start shaking, smelling blood. “He-help me…” My body freezes, hearing those words repeat over and over in my mind, in her voice and my mother’s… I strain my legs to move and jump down the hole and hold her close. “I’m so sorry…” She’s bleeding everywhere, suddenly a question pops in my mind, “What’s your name…?” She barely whispers back, “Alice…” I start crying, curse me. “I’m sorry mother…” with a sickening snap, I take my mother’s life a second time.