Sleeping Village
It seemed ridiculous but, this is the assignment they'd given.. (The sleeping village). She decided to go alone. A writer with 'writers block' needing inspiration,that's what she would be, and inspiration there was.
The feeling that came over her suddenly though was eerie, the urge to leave...so strong...there was no movement, no sound, no birdsong, no breezes, no rustling of the trees....no,,nothing. She stared at the buildings and they brought to mind the Hansel and Gretal story. My god,,, all they needed now was to be made out of gingerbread or whatever it was. The village was built on a slope at the end of a mountain. It was beautiful...cobblestone streets, little stone houses with chimneys. It would be a writers dream, the scenery and the quiet and the quaint..quaint? she had been using those words since the new editor had come aboard, she had to stop.
The feeling that came over her suddenly though was eerie, the urge to leave...so strong...there was no movement, no sound, no birdsong, no breezes, no rustling of the trees....no,,nothing. She stared at the buildings and they brought to mind the Hansel and Gretal story. My god,,, all they needed now was to be made out of gingerbread or whatever it was. The village was built on a slope at the end of a mountain. It was beautiful...cobblestone streets, little stone houses with chimneys. It would be a writers dream, the scenery and the quiet and the quaint..quaint? she had been using those words since the new editor had come aboard, she had to stop.
There was no fast food, no big name department store, just a family restaurant, a general store, (something she hadnt seen since she was a kid) there was a movie theatre. something was missing,, it hit her,, no churches, there wasn't a church in sight,, which didn't matter to her, she figured everyone had thier way of worshipping but, she hadn't been to one place yet, that didn't have a church, this was truly a first.
"The Village Inn" that was original, she smiled and pulled the bag from the trunk. What exactly did rustic mean? wooden furniture, stone fireplaces, the head of beasts on the wall? And the little man behind the counter.. was he rustic, another word. She wondered how long could a human being possibly live . He looked all of one hundred plus. His skin looked like paper, the veins were very blue and ran along his hands like tracks. His eyes were gold like,,,coins, yes like shiny gold coins. She thought of him as a little man but in reality he was very tall, 6' 5" or more.. The little perhaps referred to his slight frame. The next thing she noticed,,, he had hair, a lot of hair, it just didn't seem to match, it was like wearing a tux with a pair of P.F. Flyers, oh well.
The room was gorgeous, ruffles, lace, sachet? Her grandmother would have been in heaven, but she would have fought grandma for that bed. Bed skirt, comforter, pillows, all done in deep blues and black. The sheer fabric that draped the bed silky, gauzy, black,,,. very inviting. She put the key on the bedside table.
The restaurant was empty. which made sense, after all there wasn't a soul around well except the rustic little old man So,, a sandwich, how much trouble can you get into with just a sandwich? and she wasn't surprised that the old man cooked too.
In a normal person all these things would have been enough to make them give in to that urge,, that urge to leave.. she however was from that rare breed, she was a reporter and had become accustomed to strange things, it would take more than that to scare her off. but maybe, she should have let matt, her camera man come.
she started to yawn,, it was only 4pm, It took all she had to walk the short block back to the inn. The bed,,,, that was what she wanted,, just to sleep. She stripped off her clothes and slid between the sheets.
In a normal person all these things would have been enough to make them give in to that urge,, that urge to leave.. she however was from that rare breed, she was a reporter and had become accustomed to strange things, it would take more than that to scare her off. but maybe, she should have let matt, her camera man come.
she started to yawn,, it was only 4pm, It took all she had to walk the short block back to the inn. The bed,,,, that was what she wanted,, just to sleep. She stripped off her clothes and slid between the sheets.
He sat next to the bed, watching her sleep... "curious one"... he laughed to himself, most would have been gone by now, except the ones he didn't allow to leave. She made him needy though and the burning started deep down inside him. He reached out and touched her hair, she sighed softly and the burning intensified. "we will meet,, soon" his voice was a growl now,, he felt the pain rising in him. He needed food.
She had slept fourteen hours, that was ridiculous, she never slept more than four or five hours,,she was used to being up for days at a time. However, she was rested and this made her eager to explore the village.
There was no one to talk to but,the old man and, he wasnt overflowing with information. He told her to go to the library and she would find what she was looking for. The library was the largest building in the village and the most modern. Talk about a clash of ideas,, the people that put this village together were different at best, it was a hodge podge.
There was no one to talk to but,the old man and, he wasnt overflowing with information. He told her to go to the library and she would find what she was looking for. The library was the largest building in the village and the most modern. Talk about a clash of ideas,, the people that put this village together were different at best, it was a hodge podge.
The girl was beautiful he guessed,,, as people saw beauty, her appeal to him was something much more than outside decorations. The burning in him couldn't see beauty, it could not appreciate it... he held her with one hand,,the other he pulled her head back by her hair exposing the pulse there.. she whimpered, Ahh fear,, it made the blood sweet, he could smell it. He sank the fangs into her throat, immediately the burning began to subside...she expelled her last breath... There was no pity, no sorrow, just as he had taken her mortal life,, he would take her immortal soul, he clamped his jaws shut and tore out her throat,
Sleep, sweet,sweet sleep, she had to have it. It clouded her thinking and rendered her helpless. For the past week at the same time she slept. First she read the book, looked at his picture then sleep. There was nothing, not the {no doze, not the whites, not coffee}, nothing could keep her awake,, it was all she could do to take off her clothes,, most of the time, she slept nude. After sleeping fourteen hours again, she decided she was going to have to do something,, so far she hadn't accomplished anything,,, just picked out a book from the library and started reading. She didn't know what to do. How do you fight sleep, but she had to, there was a feeling, a feeling that while she slept something was going on. She felt as if someone watched her while she slept.. for the past couple of nights she was sure she had felt a touch on her cheek.
So, she wanted to know...he thought for a moment.. he would allow it. How would she react to his world. She made him feel things he hadn't felt for centuries, he had been alone for a long time, He leaned over and kissed her lips, touched her face and turned her head, he watched the pulse. Tomorrow they would meet.
Another fourteen hours, it was starting to irritate her. She picked up the book, the picture fell out. Her pulse raced, she wondered what he had been like, he had been beautiful, not like the model of today beautiful but, like a man, his face was strong, the lips full, he had long hair hanging below his shoulders. The picture was actually a pencil sketch but,, you could see the color in the eyes, it was strange, a blue light emanating from the paper . She traced the picture with her finger and imagined herself touching him. She had a strong urge to kiss the lips,, but that was silly wasn't it?
Preparations for the day, not to do too much..take a nap. She had it written down, rest, rest, rest, that was the project for the day, rest and finish the book.
The village had been settled in the seventeen hundreds by a family called Rucalda, it spoke of the women and children, thier every day lives but, not too many men. The only man mentioned was Michael Rucalda. she took the last name and changed the letters around a couple of times and came up with,,,,, THAT WAS RIDICULOUS!!! . She took a sip of her tea and stared at the picture. What feeling was this? What? It made her want to cry, loneliness,, so profound, so cold, so painful. She closed the book and fell asleep.
Preparations for the day, not to do too much..take a nap. She had it written down, rest, rest, rest, that was the project for the day, rest and finish the book.
The village had been settled in the seventeen hundreds by a family called Rucalda, it spoke of the women and children, thier every day lives but, not too many men. The only man mentioned was Michael Rucalda. she took the last name and changed the letters around a couple of times and came up with,,,,, THAT WAS RIDICULOUS!!! . She took a sip of her tea and stared at the picture. What feeling was this? What? It made her want to cry, loneliness,, so profound, so cold, so painful. She closed the book and fell asleep.
She felt his pain, no one had in eons, the curse that had been passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes he thought about the sun, how did it feel to have the sun touch your skin, to warm you, to deliver you from a perpetual coldness that crept into the muscles, into the bones? It would be delightful to know her......if she would accept him.
this was different, it was 9pm and she was awake. she heard something,, what was it....a bell.. a church bell but, there was no church, and voices, many voices. she looked outside, the village was alive, people,, walking around, talking,,, children playing.. 9pm at night.. ok,
No one noticed her as she walked around the village rather, if they did, they didn't acknowledge her,, the bell kept ringing, it was heavy to the ears, it made the heart skip beats... all she could think of was she had to find it and for one brief moment....it sounded like a voice,
No one noticed her as she walked around the village rather, if they did, they didn't acknowledge her,, the bell kept ringing, it was heavy to the ears, it made the heart skip beats... all she could think of was she had to find it and for one brief moment....it sounded like a voice,
all heard him, all those that had come before, they heard but, he didn't care about thier wills. she was different, she had to come willingly, she had to search for him, she had to long for him, she had to accept him as her master.... the teeth started to descend....he started to burn inside,,,he felt the muscles in his back start to tighten,,, he had to keep control, that was one thing he had learned over the centuries.....
where was it coming from? she felt hurried, flustered, something she needed, something she was looking for, something,,, something? him, it was him, she had to find him, she had a need so deep inside it made her feel faint... she walked through the village, past people that had not given her a second glance a minute ago, now... all eyes were on her.. the bell was louder and more demanding,, she had to do this, she wanted to do this, she needed,, to do this.. she walked towards the sound.
she was coming to him,, though there had been no doubt that she would...there was a difference,, she came willingly and she wanted, she felt the need.. his need, his ,,, desire...
the sound became louder,, but now it reached inside her, it touched her,,,, it was behind the library,, the sound came from behind the library... she walked around the building.. in the back it was dark, what light there was came through the windows of the library.. she could not see where the sound came from...instinctively she turned towards a building,,, she hadnt seen it but, she knew it was there.. she also knew that was where he waited....
he closed his eyes and inhaled her scent, sweet, warm, fresh, the chemicals made his skin tingle. the excitement was almost too much and the burning began... "NOT YET".
she was at the opening, but he stopped her "if you come through the door, you come through at your own accord" she stepped inside... once again he spoke if you come to me, you must come willingly,, do you come willingly?" she moved towards him, she didn't say a word. he opened his arms and she walked into them.
she felt so good, she was warm, he wanted to love her, he wanted to be inside her to know her completely...she had to give to him, once she knew would she? the teeth pushed against his lips, the fire, the pain. the hunger...."you want to know me, you want to see what i see, feel what i feel,,, would you miss the sun?" he looked into her eyes,,, "then see me as i really am."
she could not explain what she felt but it was a need so great she didn't think she would survive, yes, she wanted to know him, yes she wanted to see what he saw, feel him, and yes, see him as he really was.
what was that sound, sounded like twigs breaking, suddenly stepped back.. she watched him, his body started to tremble, he started to ,,grow,, his fingers lengthened, his body muscled, she watched as the clothes shredded and fell from his body,, he was taller by at least a foot, which was something, since he was over 6' already,, the skin on his back split open and he threw his head back and howled......the eyes glowed with a phosphorescent blue light,, when he turned his head to her, the eyes warmed her skin wherever the light touched,,, that wasn't all,,,,,, had wings.
he was talking to her, but she couldn't hear him for the pounding in her ears. what was he saying? she focused on his voice,, his voice was a growl, like a lion, she smiled,, did he frighten her??? oh no,, he was magnificent, black wings that opened and closed, tipped with the color blue like his eyes.. once again, she walked into his arms,, he spoke and his voice was like a soft growl, the change had affected him inside also...."i dont frighten you?" she shook her head no. do i excite you? "yes,, yes very much." "this is my world, i live by night, there is no sun in my life, i have outlived everyone i have ever loved, people hate my kind,, i have seen things you would not believe, there are those that hunt me and do have the power to kill me,, this is my world,, if you will join me,, you will be hated, you will be immortal, but first, you have to die." she didn't hesitate, she wanted to be with him..
what was that sound, sounded like twigs breaking, suddenly stepped back.. she watched him, his body started to tremble, he started to ,,grow,, his fingers lengthened, his body muscled, she watched as the clothes shredded and fell from his body,, he was taller by at least a foot, which was something, since he was over 6' already,, the skin on his back split open and he threw his head back and howled......the eyes glowed with a phosphorescent blue light,, when he turned his head to her, the eyes warmed her skin wherever the light touched,,, that wasn't all,,,,,, had wings.
he was talking to her, but she couldn't hear him for the pounding in her ears. what was he saying? she focused on his voice,, his voice was a growl, like a lion, she smiled,, did he frighten her??? oh no,, he was magnificent, black wings that opened and closed, tipped with the color blue like his eyes.. once again, she walked into his arms,, he spoke and his voice was like a soft growl, the change had affected him inside also...."i dont frighten you?" she shook her head no. do i excite you? "yes,, yes very much." "this is my world, i live by night, there is no sun in my life, i have outlived everyone i have ever loved, people hate my kind,, i have seen things you would not believe, there are those that hunt me and do have the power to kill me,, this is my world,, if you will join me,, you will be hated, you will be immortal, but first, you have to die." she didn't hesitate, she wanted to be with him..
there was a part of him that almost said no, he would be condemning her to darkness, to eat like he ate, the very ones she considered friends would be her prey.. but he had gone too far to stop now, his need,,,, his need, was so great. he held her close to him, he kissed her mouth and she returned it eagerly, she pushed her body into his, he kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her chin, her shoulders, he tilted her head back and looked into her eyes. there was no sign of doubt, no fear, just desire,, he closed the wings around her and gently sank the teeth into her throat....
it had never occurred to her how it would feel to die..it was, something close to release, it was letting go, it was giving in,, it was so sweet, it was for him... she looked into his eyes, and gave up her last living breath....
he watched over her. she started to breath again, she opened her eyes. he pulled her close to him. she smiled and kissed him softly.. he felt her body tense,, he looked into her eyes, metamorphosis, she pulled away and stood up... he couldn't protect her from this, this was a part of his world too, she would change just as he did..
"oh god Michael,,, what is this!!" it burned, the roaring in her ears was like white noise.. she screamed as each bone broke and rearranged itself, she cried as muscle and sinew lengthened, she felt herself grow, her fingers lengthened, she realized and she understood the pain he felt... the skin on her back split, and the teeth cut her lips..
it was done and she stood next to him.. a mirror image but not as tall, and where his wings were black and blue, hers were black and tipped with gold like the light that shone from her eyes....
it was done and she stood next to him.. a mirror image but not as tall, and where his wings were black and blue, hers were black and tipped with gold like the light that shone from her eyes....
THE END
He hadn't felt good about her going alone. he was her camera man, he was supposed to go with her but, when she had her mind made up,, boy watch out! but she hadn't returned. it had been weeks, without even a phone call, he went to the village and the old man swore she hadn't been there,, kept telling him there was nothing there for him, but he could feel it, it was like she called to him. the feeling was strong and he had to go back, he had a need, a desire, he had to find her...
