The Guest & The Change

chapter 8





Sarah was alone. It was still dark, and right before her eyes Sebastian had sighed, looking at her in frustration. Then transformed into a bat. She was awestruck. It had been such a smooth transition. He’d swooped off into the darkness.

Unfortunately he hadn’t left her free, able to escape. He had bound her to the tree, her arms firmly held by her sides. And the rope was uncomfortable. Sarah wriggled, trying to stretch her fingers. She didn’t stand a hope of moving much though. To top it off Sebastian had influenced her to stay silent, so even if a source of help wandered nearby, they wouldn’t find her. She was still high up in the tree, engulfed in darkness. At least, with Sebastian gone she was free to think as she pleased. No worries about him eves-dropping on her mind.

She longed to see her children, it was only this morning that she’d dropped them at their Grandparents’ - but it felt so long ago. She wanted to give them each big hugs and kiss their soft cheeks.

They would now have a life with no father. She had stayed with Jo, even after he had betrayed her, to stop this from happening. What would happen to them if she died out here? If Sebastian killed her, or turned her. God, what if he turned her, then she hurt her kids. Her heart tore at the thought.

She struggled again, hoping against hopes to find a weakness in the ropes that chaffed at her wrists. She rested her head back, closing her eyes. It had been such a long day. She was tired, so tired.

She listened to the night sounds, hearing a distant owl, then a howl from a wolf. She shivered. It was freezing. She still had her thick coat on, and was very thankful that she’d decided to wear jeans, not a dress. Yet, inside her coat was wet with blood. Even though her neck had healed and the blood flow had stopped, the blood was still there, drying and cracking against her skin.

It would be heaven to have a bath. A gloriously hot bath with bubbles and candle light. Her head lolled to the side as she fell asleep, but she jerked it back up again, heart pounding. It wasn’t that she was worried about falling, she was just so hyped, her mind full of thoughts. Fear. Sleep would be blissful though. She could forget about her situation. Lull herself into relaxation. Make time pass more quickly.

She closed her eyes again, feeling them get heavier, but as she was about to drop off she heard an animal scurrying near the tree. Her eyes snapped open, searching through the night for the source of the sound. Breathe, she thought, try to focus on breathing. She rolled her eyes, she’d been to a few yoga classes but never really got to grips with the breath work. Her mind always got distracted. Like now. Thoughts of Jo swam into her mind, his smile, his scruffy hair, years of love broken with human weakness, infidelity. She thought of their early years together, how much she had loved him, and he her. How they’d met when they were very young. Thinking back on it, she’d been so innocent. As had he.

His body lying on the floor, catching fire, disintegrating before her eyes. That was right before Sebastian had attacked and whisked her away from Daniel.

Daniel. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She wanted him here, now. Sarah visualized him untying her, taking her in his arms, caressing her, kissing her, taking her away from this place. Somewhere safe from the night, safe from Sebastian and the threat of death. But, she thought, even if he rescued me now, then what? We wouldn’t be safe at all - Sebastian would still be at large, killing people, destroying families and towns. How could they possibly kill him?

***

Sebastian had had enough of sitting around, hoping for something to happen. He decided he’d try and track down Daniel, see what he was up to, wondering what plan he was concocting to rescue Sarah. He raised his eyebrows and smirked. He wouldn’t stand a chance. Sebastian would keep her. In fact he would turn her, he’d do it soon. But before that he would indulge in her blood a few more times. Her delicious warm blood. He felt hungry just thinking of it.

He swooped in and out of trees and into town. It was so dark he kept his form. Each swoop sent adrenaline flooding through his body, making him feel alive.

His vision was acute in this form, any sign of Daniel and he’d be sure to spot him first. Why had he bothered all this time with Daniel? He had really wanted him to change. Daniel was strong, and resourceful. They could have made quite a team. Now there was a women involved, he’d never win Daniel’s loyalty. That was over. It had never really begun, he hadn’t even had control over him when he was freshly turned. It was obviously time to give up on Daniel, to kill him, make sure he didn’t get in the way of any more schemes.

***

Daniel flew at high speed towards the grotty end of town. He dived down and used his wings to create resistance as he came to a halt, his claws against the freezing pavement. No-one was out so he quickly transformed back into himself, straightened his clothes and approached a bar.

He chose a different one from earlier, hoping to reduce his chance of discovery. This place was a little cleaner, and the smell wasn’t quite as assaulting as he opened the door and entered the crowded, noisy atmosphere. A rock band played on a small stage and people crowded around, jumping in a sweaty mosh pit. Other people hung back, drinking in the shadows, trying to talk but needing to shout to be heard.

Daniel bought a drink from the bar, downed it, and started looking for an appropriate victim. He spotted a pretty tall girl with dark skin, dancing at the edge of the crowd. She was modestly dressed, with a high necked jumper that would hide his bite marks. He moved in, making himself dance to the music to blend in. He wouldn’t prolong this though, he wasn’t Sebastian, he didn’t approve of actually seducing his victims. He danced next to her and touched her arm, leaning in to comment on the music. As she looked back to respond he quickly caught her eye and said ‘Leave with me.’ She smiled and nodded, following him into the cold.

As soon as they were outside he pulled her round the side of the building into the dark, and influenced her not to be scared. He pulled down her top, exposing her smooth enticing neck. He bit gently, not wanting to hurt her, and sweet warm blood flowed into him.

He’d never indulged so much, but being a vampire he could always take more. He would never feel entirely full, never completely satisfied. The need for blood was always with him. He drank as much as he felt was safe, then withdrew and pulled up her collar. ‘Forget me and return to the bar.’ And she complied. It was as simple as that.

Next he was lucky, a couple left together, laughing and embracing. He quickly influenced them and pulled them into the shadows, feeding like his nature demanded.

He was enjoying the rush, feeling alive with all this energy. He wouldn’t need many more victims, two or three maybe, before he’d be strong enough to use that spell. Then all he’d have to do was find Sebastian.

***

It didn’t take long for Sebastian to find Daniel. He’d taken the form of a cat, slinking around corners unnoticed. He’d sensed Daniel feeding. Indulging in his own blood bath. Preparing for a fight, no doubt to win back his woman.

He watched as a drunken couple emerged from behind the building, then came Daniel, looking all dark and intimidating. He radiated power, probably not thinking to hide it. Sebastian wondered how many victims he’d taken. Daniel went back inside the bar.

Sebastian sat there waiting, deciding that this was it, next time Daniel emerged he would confront him. End it.

Daniel was out in minutes, far quicker than Sebastian had imagined. He had a pretty blond in toe, she looked giddy and happy to be with him. He followed them around the corner and watched as Daniel bit into her, no prelude at all. No fun - boring Daniel.

He considered just staking him in the back while he was feeding, like Daniel had done to Jo. But that wasn’t really his style. Plus, he hadn’t actually brought any stakes with him, killing vampires wasn’t exactly his style either. It would be decapitation for Daniel. Or ripping out his heart, that would work too.

He resumed his form and approached from behind - Daniel didn’t even notice, so consumed was he in his feed. ‘Daniel,’ he taunted.

Daniel quickly pulled back, influencing the girl to forget and run, both in one simple breath. She lurched away, but she could never be faster than Sebastian. Sebastian moved at high speed, blocking her way.

She was a pretty one, all those blond waves and rounded features. He smiled at her seductively. As she started to return his smile, blood flowing to her face in a blush, he snapped her neck. She fell to the ground in a useless heap. Daniel scowled. Moving almost as fast, Daniel was before Sebastian, and rammed him hard in the chest.

‘What have you done with Sarah?’ Daniel asked.

‘She’s safe, but you are not having her back.’ Sebastian went for him, he pushed Daniel hard. He fell back, hitting his head on the stone. Sebastian contracted his leg muscles, and in one smooth motion, he sprang, landing on top of Daniel, pinning him down.

Daniel wasn’t putting up much of a fight. How dull. He lay there, still scowling. I might as well end this now, and he reached for Daniel’s cool neck. But as he touched his skin he felt an odd sensation, first a light tingling, then his power started flowing down his arms, out of his fingers. Into Daniel. He tried to pull away, but his fingers wouldn’t move, they were stuck. He looked into Daniel’s face, he was concentrating hard, focused within.

Rising panic filled him, his power was now rushing out of him, he could sense Daniel growing stronger. This was not going as he had planned. What was happening? How had Daniel learnt this?

He felt himself weaken, it spread from his fingers, and ran through his veins to his heart, he felt it still, and opened his eyes wide. This was not how he had expected his life to end.

As the weakness rose, his last power left his body. At that moment his fingers were released from Daniel, and everything went black.

***

Daniel gasped as the last vestiges of Sebastian’s power entered him. Sebastian fell back and Daniel rose, pushing Sebastian’s weight from his body with ease.

He couldn’t believe it, he had held A LOT of power. He felt strength coursing through him, everything was heightened.

And Sebastian… he lay before him, mummified. His skin had gone all wrinkly and dry, his hair had lost its shine and had faded in color. His body was slumped, his eyes were dim. Daniel reached over and closed them, so he didn’t feel them watching what he had to do next.

He pulled out a wooden stake, previously hidden in his jacket, and braced himself. This would end it for good, all he’d have to do was find Sarah and they could be together. He wouldn’t be bothered by Sebastian any more, wouldn’t have to fight. He could be at peace.

He rammed the stake into Sebastian’s chest.

Daniel moved back, watching from a distance as flames sprang from within Sebastian, feeling the heat as they consumed him.

He waited, wanting to be sure that he was really gone. He wasn’t going to take any risks. The flames lit up the alley one final time, then dispersed. In their place were fine ashes, all that remained of Sebastian.

Daniel was prepared for this too, he pulled a plastic bag from his pocket and scooped up the ashes until he had as much as he could get. He wanted to disperse the ashes in far-away places, to make sure beyond all doubt - that Sebastian could never be resurrected.