By far my longest period of constancy was with Isabella and Claudine who stayed with me for several centuries. I truly loved them both and was devastated when they both left, one after the other in relatively quick succession. A strange family it would seem.
But my greatest surprise from this family was still to come. William, who I assumed had been long dead by the time of the sisters’ departure, appeared one day as if he had never left. I was laying back on a tree branch like some wild cat in the sun, when I saw him walking along my driveway. I thought my eyes were deceiving me as he approached but he continued to draw closer and soon I could not ignore the reality of the situation.
“William, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me. I was passing and thought I’d call in” he replied with a large grin on his face.
“But you’re…”
“Alive?”
“Yes. How can it be?”
“You’re not he only beings that don’t die.”
“I realise that. But I thought you were merely human. That was why you were so offended by your sisters’ condition. Wasn’t it?”
“It’s not really that simple. Their ‘condition’ did not ‘offend’ me. I just needed to get away and when you appeared and were able to look after them I took my chance to leave. I thought by doing it that way it would be easier for everyone.”
“So what type of creature are you?”
“I’m not really sure. In many ways I am a vampire, like my sisters, but I do not need to drink blood and I have no fear of the sunlight.”
“That sounds like a blessing in comparison.”
“Not at all. I feed off people’s thoughts. A simple craving for blood would be so much easier. I am haunted by their thoughts. If I let too many of their thoughts into me then they are left a living vegetable. Now that’s a curse!”
“Should I be concerned?”
“Not at all. I am powerless against vampires or yourself. It is just the weaker humans that are unable to stop me devouring their thoughts.”
“Hmmm. So what brings you here?”
“Like I said. I was just passing.”
“Well, come with me to the house. You are most welcome.”
I led William to the house where he fed and drank and talked of all the adventures he had over the last few centuries. I sat back and listened, amazed at how his appearance had not really changed. But his demeanor had changed considerably. When I met him he had been exquisitely beautiful and purely capable of inspiring love. Now their seemed a harshness to his features, as if the cruelty of time had eroded his beauty, leaving a ragged skeletal frame of the man that once was.
Naturally, I was not stupid, and the idea that he had been just passing was not something I could easily accept. But I decided I would let him tell me in his own time. Clearly something was bothering him.
William stayed for several days. He remained quiet, as if there was something he wanted to say but was too afraid to say it. I waited patiently. Eventually, after only a few weeks had passed, he finally summed up the courage to let me know what had been bothering him so.
I eagerly listened as he started to explain how he had been under intense pressure. How he had met a woman whom he had fallen in love with and how she had used him for her own evil plans. As I listened to the description I knew it was Her that he spoke of. As he continued, he admitted it was he who had sent me the note and laid the trap around Erin, Beatrice and Annette, who had all been killed either by flame or by stake. I had always blamed Her, and I know it was Her ultimately, but the fact that it was my friend that had been the instrument of so much pain was not something I could take in my stride.
I violently pulled myself upright sending the chair and bench across the room and raised my fist in defiance at William. I could see the fear in his eyes.
“You had better leave” I said in trembling anger, “Before I lose what little control I have left.”
“But…” he started to say.
He realised there was nothing he could say at this point. I don’t know what he expected. Slowly he moved toward the door. He took one look back but the vision of my face must have been enough to spur him on as he started to run. I watched him disappearing into the distance and I prayed I would never meet him again.
But now he has returned once more. As is becoming his calling card, he has arrived with another surprise to shock me further into the grave. Travelling with William is Beatrice who was supposed to have burnt in the fires under the cruel sun. Yet I now realise this too was deceit as she was never at risk. In reality, I can now see she had helped William plan the entire event, ensuring both Erin and Annette were to expire in front of my eyes that day. I do not know what I ever did to cause this. Maybe I will never know. This treachery seems to be more and more prevalent these days. But I do know that behind all of this, as always, is Her severe hand.
So I will patiently await, as I did before, the next revelation that William intends to share with me. Sara, who is still staying with me, has instantly taken a dislike to them both. I think she shows great promise if she could just build her confidence. I do not wear my emotions so visibly, but I do not trust either of them either and I am especially vigilant wile they are here. If I find out more I will let you know.
