F.D. (Ch.9)

Thelonious left Lori to sleep on the comfortable purple plush chair as he went back to his bedroom. In the far end of it, there was a door leading to a hallow chamber with another bed, chair, desk, nightstand table, bookshelf, and mirror. On the bed lay the young girl Queen Andréa had scolded him for bringing to his lair, Ashley Forks. She had been asleep for the better part of the night, and the sun would rise in a few short hours. Thelonious sat on the edge of the bed and looked down upon her sleeping body. She was so small, and so delicately lain that he felt if he only touched her, her skin would melt away from his contact. This was his sister? Why couldn’t he remember her? Her dirty hands reached out in front of her in a stretch as her mouth opened, and she began yawn. Thelonious’ stomach flopped. Her eyes opened and she looked directly at him, as if, all this time, she knew exactly who he was, where she was, and how to handle it. His mouth became dry and sweat began to pool up around his neck. He could smell his own skin.

            “Hello, Thelonious.” She said coolly. He nodded compliantly.

            “Hello, Ashley. How’re you?” His voice cracked. Why was he so afraid? She propped herself up on her elbows and looked at him, smiling, showing her childish teeth. What a human she was.

            “Oh, I’m fine. Mother doesn’t know I’m gone, and she never talked about your disappearance, but, well, I always knew you just didn’t leave. I knew something happened.” Thelonious smiled half-heartedly.

            “Yes, something happened, and tell me if I’m wrong, but I hear you know something of it?” Ashley bit down on her lower lips, gazing up at her older brother, in awe of his transformation.

            “Somewhat.” Thelonious waited for her to say more, he rolled his eyes and realized she was playing him.

            “And what do you know?” he said, almost enjoying her young, innocent company.

            “Oh, you know.”

            “Well, I believe I know what happened, but I don’t know what you know.” Ashley laughed, now on her back studying her bruised hands.

            “I know something is going on, blood suckers.” She rolled over on her side and began a staring contest with Thelonious.

            “That’s an interesting way to put it.” He chuckled to himself. He could see a resemblance, and now that he knew they were related, the feeling urging him to take care of her was not as persistent. But was he to do with her? He couldn’t possibly keep her, and changing her, well, she was already half vampire without fangs. He didn’t understand it.

            “Look, Thelonious, I know what you are, and I know what you do to survive. Someone has done this to you, and I want you back. That’s all.” Ashley sat up straight and firmly started at her brother. Thelonious sat down beside her, taking up her small, delicate hand and placing his pale thumb on top to rub her skin affectionately.

            “I’m not going to lie and pretend that I remember you because I don’t, not really. All I know is that you are my kin, and I can feel that within me. As for wanting me back, I am no longer human, and I don’t think you or I ever were human.” She withdrew her hand quickly and inched away from him. He pleaded with her. “You must understand, Ashley, that the reason you wanted to find me was because you are meant to be here with me, this clan, these beings.” She shook her head in rejection.

            “This…what you are… it’s sinful!” She tried to scramble off the bed, but Thelonious took her arm in his tight grasp and held her there, forcing her eyes to match his gaze.

            “I’ve only just found out myself, that you, Ashley, are one of us without a bite. Apparently, mother was in love with a vampire, a Tremor like myself, and we were both born.” Ashley didn’t want to hear anymore. She pushed against his firm grip, but Thelonious held on too tight until she gave up and burst into gigantic sobs that sent her entire body into an uncontrollable quiver. “Ashley,” he soothed, “I know this is coming as a shock, but no matter how hard you try, I won’t be able to go back with you.” She put her hands up to her face and tried wiping away the on pour of her tears.

            “Thelonious, I can’t be one of you! I…I eat food, I play, I can walk in daylight!” She squeezed his hand in desperation. She couldn’t be a vampire!

            “You are one, you have our traits. Ashley, you are a Tremor that can venture out into the world as a human, unsuspected!”

            “But I’m not immortal.”

            “Ah, neither are we. We die if someone comes to kill us, only, they have to know how to kill us.” He smiled. “This will work out, you’ll see.” He kissed the top of her sweaty head, and she watched him leave. Before he opened the door, he turned around and their eyes met. “So, you’ll find her, and kill her?” Ashley looked at him, half in fear of him and half in fear of herself.

            “Elizabeth…” she breathed.

            “Precisely.” He smiled his huge smile and shut the door. At least, she thought to herself, I’m with my brother again.