Chapter 4 – How To Save A Life

Chapter 4 – How To Save A Life

In my old life, I wasn’t much. Not the ‘I have nowhere to go, no one to love, and not a penny to my name’ spiel, but I wasn’t going anywhere. My parents were constantly arguing with each other, loud nasty shouting matches that I pretended not to notice. I was watching my little sister turn into a mini-slut, and there wasn’t much I could – or would – say to stop her. I didn’t know what I wanted to do after school, and the small nagging feeling that I should worry never overwhelmed at any one time.

The only consolation I held was that my friends were the only ones I could count on. I supposed that if I were ever to leave for good, my friends would be the ones to give me a Hollywood-esque farewell. If I were to die, they’d be the ones who mourned the longest.

The first few nights after the Proclamation were the messiest. Jeanie and Derrick (those were my human parents) were for once in agreement that neither my sister nor I should be out at night, past sundown. It didn’t stop Nadia from sneaking out and coming back later than she did before we had the lockdown, though. She found it exhilarating to be out there where no one knew where she was, with the constant danger of being attacked by a rogue vampire, or even better yet, to be whisked away by the suave vampire we saw on TV.

She even talked to me about it. Just that she started a conversation with me surprised me, but she was actually talking about something worthwhile!

“Wouldn’t it be great if I became a vampire?” Nadia started, draping her arms around my shoulder. I’d grown to be very unaccustomed to her touch, and stiffened awkwardly when she loosely hugged me.

“Why would it be good?” I grunted, shifting uncomfortably.

“Well, first of all, I wouldn’t have to live with those two bitching idiots all the time,” she said, referring to Jeanie and Derrick. “And secondly, I’d look really hot for a really long time.”

“What about your old life? Your friends? School?” Even as I said the words I laughed at them. “No, nothing, don’t worry. You’re not leaving much behind.”

“What are you saying?”

“Have you thought about the consequences of becoming a vampire?” I asked, not wanting to start a shouting match. “What if you get bored of living forever?”

“You’re so boring, just like Mum and Dad,” Nadia whined, and let go of my shoulders. “I thought you’d understand what it’s like to want a different life.”

“What are you saying?” I echoed Nadia’s earlier demand. “I have people I’d be leaving behind.”

“Whatever. Just go on living your crap boring life, don’t drag me down with you.”

A week later Kellan found me. All the cards were laid down then.

Although initially Kellan had explained that my parents shouldn’t try to contact me, he didn’t say anything of the kind to my friends. In the first two weeks I didn’t have time to notice the lack of attempts, as I was occupied with Laela and then the training that Kellan put me through. But a month later, when Laela had fully healed and was once again by my side, I started aching for their company.

I still watched the news thirstily, wanting to know everything that was happening in the world outside. Kellan didn’t allow me to go out, because he deemed it not to be safe yet for such an early Drakee to be left to the media packs. There were already rumours that “there are humans being locked up and physically and emotionally tortured in the vampire mansion in the outskirts of Lilydale”. That mansion would be Kellan’s, and somehow my accident with Laela had been leaked. But there were no reports explicitly warning against humans to contact vampires, and I had written many letters to my friends, asking them to reply.

Only one of my ‘unconditionally loyal friends’, Veronica, ever wrote back.

Through her, I learned that Jeanie and Derrick had gotten divorced only a few days after I was Draked, and that Nadia had moved out to live with Derrick full time. She changed schools, and met her current boyfriend who, according to Vee, was the best thing that ever happened to Nadia. They kept in touch because Nadia had thought Vee was the only way she could still be linked to me, and now Nadia went to school everyday and was genuinely putting an effort into being a good person.

I know this will sound mean no matter how I say it, Vee wrote, but I think you leaving probably saved her life.

~~~~

“Did you keep in touch with all your friends after you were Draked?” Callie had asked in her usual straightforward tone.

“Only one,” I replied.

“Ooh. Was he someone special?” Callie stretched out on the picnic rug. Spring had hit rather enthusiastically that year, and Callie decided that my being a vampire wouldn’t stop her enjoying all that life had to offer. Apparently, having a picnic out in the youthful sunlight was one of them.

“It was a girl. Veronica.”

“Ooh. Was she someone special?” Callie teased playfully, closing her eyes indulgently as a breeze brought to her the scents of various flowers coming back to life. I sat dejectedly in the shade of the tree, wishing that the biting winds of winter that dulled all human scents would come back or at least that the wind would change so I didn’t have to sit downwind from Callie.

“She was my best friend,” I said. Immediately I knew I’d misspoken, as Callie sat up suddenly and glared at me. “Was, Cal. Geez could you be more jealous?”

“What about your family? Did you keep in touch with them?”

“I don’t think we’re meant to. Vampires have a really Godfather way of living, where you have to be completely loyal to your family. So obviously I can’t keep in touch with people who used to be family.” I sighed. “I had a sister, though. I wonder what she’s doing. She’d be about sixteen by now.”

“You know, I’m really glad I met you,” Callie said after a few minutes’ of silence.

“I’m glad I met you too,” I said, feeling awkward.

“No, I meant I’m glad I met you because if I hadn’t met you, you would’ve met someone else. I don’t think they’d be as good for you as I am.”

“Well the modesty is definitely refreshing…”

“No, think about it Sez,” Callie sat up and pushed her face closer to me with determination to prove her point. A lock of her hair fell over her chocolate eyes, but the irritation wasn’t enough to stop her roll now. “Someone like me is perfect for someone like you. I need to depend on someone, you need to protect someone. You’re sick of people idolizing you over your looks-”

“Ha.”

“-and I don’t idolize you at all.” Against her nature, Callie suddenly blushed. “So in a way, I’m perfect for you.”

“Do you know how gay you sound?”

“But I’m right, aren’t I?” Callie had sat back, and the air felt cold without her scent.

“I suppose, if you took out the part about me being sick of people idolizing me.”

“You’re going to get lots of competition soon. I heard Forreston’s being serious about enrolling other vampire students after the summer holidays. Have you seen some of the male Nobles? Wow.”

“They’re not that great. They’re mostly up themselves, and they’ve all tried getting into my pants.” I said offhandedly. Callie gave me a strange look, but didn’t say anything.

At some point, she fell asleep. The sun started showing its first signs of setting. The days weren’t very long yet, and as the sun started to noticeably sink in the west, a palpable chill crept into the air. I placed my jacket over her. A gust of wind blew over us, and Callie shivered awake. We packed up our picnic stuff, and started the walk to her house.

I reached over and hugged her. I smelled her surprise, but I held her tighter.

“Do you know why I’m glad I met you?” I said. “Apart from all the stupid reasons you said before?” I smiled. “Because you kept me rooted to being human.”

“What are you trying to be, Edward?” Callie scoffed. “Stop saying such creepy things.”

“You saved me, Cal.”

“Creepy.”

“Just don’t fall for a creepier vampire guy when they come along, okay?” I didn’t let her go.

“It’s really cold tonight,” Callie complained, avoiding my question.

“I like it cold,” I replied. I dreaded the summer that would inevitably come.