IDrakula - Bekka Black [14]
We came looking for you and the Count, Abe and I. It was the middle of the night. We wanted to find and destroy the Count’s last box of dirt and end the nightmare. I’d been bitten by that point, but I’m sure you know that. I wasn’t fully turned, and I was sick and weak in a way I hope never to be again. I also had to hide it from Abe. You know how he is.
So we went to the yard and broke open the lock on the Count’s container. That smell is terrible for…
I was going to write “humans.” I guess that’s right.
Abe threw up. He even swore in Dutch, which in spite of everything was kind of cute. Anyway, we had to wait for it to air out. A human frailty that cost us time.
Inside the container we found the last box of dirt. Near the top, where you must have rested your head, was Mr. Bubbles. That’s when I started crying. I knew it meant that you were there. That you were a vampire. And that we would have to kill you. Hard to believe that a little stuffed kitten could mean so much.
But the security guard caught us. Officer Quincy Morris asked us to freeze and put our hands in the air.
Of course Abe and I did, being good citizens.
But you and the Count didn’t, did you? I saw you rise up behind the security guy, past his car.
Abe crossed himself, as if that would have helped. I just stood there staring at you. You were both so terrible and fierce. But to tell the truth? You were beautiful, and I was grateful for a second that you were not dead.
His blood was in my veins, and it started to burn. So I knew it was real and I was in the middle of it and I might never get out. I was scared, but I was also grateful that I might be with you, like all my life, and you would lead me into trouble and out of it again.
That was when the security guy, Officer Morris, shot the Count. How can you blame him? He was scared out of his freaking mind. It didn’t do anything, of course. The bullets just went right through him and pinged off the metal containers. I was scared out of my mind, too. Bullets still kill humans.
The Count put a stop to it. He grabbed the security guy and threw him into his windshield.
Officer Morris lay there like a sack. I almost sensed that he was dead then. I’d never seen anyone killed before. It wasn’t grotesque or loud or even all that bloody, like it is in the movies. It just…was.
Abe grabbed my hand and pulled me away. We ran together. But even after all that, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to run away from you two. I wanted to talk to you. To ask you how it was.
I have to go now. I just heard something. But I’ll send you the next part soon.
Mina
-----------------Attachment Below-----------------
From: Mina Murray
To: Lucy Westenra
Subject: I’m sorry: Part II
Sent: June 27 8:03 PM
* * *
Lucy,
I’m back. Nothing important. I think my senses are heightened. I’m on edge after last night.
Where was I? We were running.
Abe and I ducked behind Officer Morris’s car. Abe wanted to get inside and drive off. Sensible man, Abe.
But you know what? I knew that if the Count got away I would become a vampire, like you. I was scared but not scared enough. Abe wanted to wait for full daylight, but I asked him to come with me right then so I didn’t have to face you by myself. He took my hand, and we stood up together. The sun had already risen, and I saw you standing in the shadow of the Count’s container. Abe and I were in the sunlight. I know you know this part, but I want you to see it through my eyes anyway.
Abe drew a circle around us with a piece of wood from his pocket and filled it up with liquid. He told me to stay in the circle but didn’t explain why.
It didn’t make sense to me. The only thing that made sense = you. My best friend was far from me and standing next to a vampire in the dawn in a godforsaken industrial wasteland.
I ignored Abe and I held up Mr. Bubbles for you to see. I wanted you to come take him back. I wanted to tempt you into the sunlight.