Salvation (Full Story)

Her breath is labored, her heart is racing. Running fast, running for her life. She cannot stop, she cannot look back. She hears him coming up fast behind her, closing in every second. The full moon is shining brightly on the forest path. It is her beacon. It allows her to see the cottage in the meadow, just beyond the trees. There is an orange glow in every window. It’s her salvation. His children of the forest howl in anticipation. She has made it through the forest, but trips on her dress. Crawling through the snow, she only has a few feet more to go she feels his breath on the back of her neck. She turns over to fight him off. But he is too powerful. He pins her to the ground, pressing into her. She looks into his shimmering eyes. She tries to scream but he silences her with his mouth He smells her fear, her adrenaline. He wants her. His long black hair brushes over her bared breasts, he takes her. Her resistance gives way to pleasure, to want. As she feels his fangs bite into her soft flesh of her neck, she looks up as a cloud passes over the moon. She knows she is completely his now. She is his companion, his lover, his salvation.

Tara sat straight up in bed. With her heart pounding, she looked around dazed for a moment. Then realized it was only a dream. It was the same one that Tara had every night for the last couple of weeks. ”Yawning, and running her hand through her hair she thought, “Maybe I need to quit studying so hard, maybe I need a psychiatrist, or maybe I just   need some really good sex!” .  “Shit, I am late!” She said as she looked at the clock on her nightstand. She was supposed to meet her best friend Isabella for lunch before her afternoon classes started, So Tara quickly texted Isabella letting her know she would be running late and then she jumped in the shower. A little while later as she looked into the mirror, brushing her long auburn hair, Tara didn’t think she was hideous looking or anything, she just never thought herself to be a “head turner” She could lose a few pounds and she wasn’t crazy about the splash of freckles on her cheeks and nose, but others were always telling her how pretty she was. They would compliment Tara on her light green eyes and her smile. “Oh well” she thought putting on her coat and hurrying out the door. “Hopefully in the next life, I will be so beautiful that men will fall down on their knees and worship me as a Goddess. Yeah right Tara.”

 She caught the underground train to Piccadilly Circus and got to the café about twenty minutes later. The café was busy at this time of the day, but Isabella had been able to save them a table. Looking up Isabella noticed Tara, and waved her over.

 “Hello darling” Isabella said. “I didn’t think you were going to make it in time.”

 Not only was Isabella Tara’s best friend but a guardian angel for her too. Two years ago, Tara had moved from Lancaster Pennsylvania to England to study at the University of London. Her family had traveled on holidays to England a few times while Tara was growing up, but visiting a foreign country was a lot different from actually living in one. Isabella had been a lifesaver helping Tare adjust to living in London.

“I am sorry” Tara said sitting down and taking off her coat.  “I haven’t been sleeping very well the last couple of days.”

 Looking at Tara with concern Isabella asked “why hon, what’s going on?”

 The waiter had come to table to take their order, so Tara waited till he was gone and said.

 “Well, it’s rather silly, but I’ve been having the same dream every night for the last two weeks.”

 “What kind of dream?” Isabella asked her. Tara quickly told her about the dream.

 “But what is really strange “Tara said, “I can never make out his face in the dream. I can only see his eyes.”

“Oh it sounds like you are going to meet the man of your dreams that unfortunately might also be a vampire.” Isabella said laughing slightly. “But seriously Tara, I think you have been stressing over your classes and you need to get out of the city for awhile. Since we are having our winter break soon, then we could go visit my Great Aunt Doreen in Somerset. She lives alone in this huge house, and wouldn’t mind your company too. We could visit Glastonbury and make a time of it! What do you say? You might even meet a really nice bloke. As long as he doesn’t have a thing against crosses and garlic right? “Isabella said smiling at Tara.
 

Tara smiled back and said “you always know how to make me feel better Isabella. I would love to, and you’re right I might meet a nice guy there.” Isabella herself never had problems finding guys. She was a beauty with her long curly brunette   hair, and beautiful brown eyes. When she walked into a room everyone noticed   her, but Isabella’s heart was as beautiful as her looks, and that is why Tara viewed Isabella more like a sister, then just a friend.

Two weeks later, the two were headed to Somerset in Isabella’s red mini. The English countryside was breathtaking, with its beautiful green fields and trees lining the narrow roads. Tara was imagining all the ancient battles that had been fought over the centuries on this land. Men either on horseback or engaged in hand to hand combat, with shields and bows. They would be fighting for the land; their rich blood seeping deep into it, and turning the rivers and streams red. She really liked the small villages they would drive through. The quaint cottages, churches, and cemeteries hadn’t seemed to catch up with the rest of the modern world. Tara loved it all. A light snow had started to fall when they left London, but the time they arrived at Isabella’s aunt’s home, it was really coming down, and soon it would be  a winter wonderland.  

“Wow” Tara said when they pulled up to the manor. It was stunning! On one side of the house was a long wall covered in moss and on the other were rows of trimmed bushes. The house’s exterior was a rich brown marble, with three high arches, and it had beautiful brown rustic windows. 

“Your aunt lives here by herself?” Tara asked Isabella. 

“No” Isabella said, Her friend Jean has lived here, ever since my Uncle Robert died 10 years ago, so it’s just the two of them. You will be surprised though how well my Aunt gets around for being 75 years old. She has enough energy for a 25 year old!

 A very old woman wearing a black dress with a crucifix around her neck, answered the door for Tara and Isabella. Tara couldn’t stop looking at the crucifix, because for some strange reason it fascinated her. 

 “Hiya Jean!” Isabella said. “Did you miss me? “ As she and Tara set their suitcases down, and drawing Tara’s attention away from the crucifix.

“Of course I have dearie” You haven’t been out in such a long time.” The old woman said back smiling. 

Isabella began to explain how busy she had been and while she was talking, Tara noticed Jean staring at her, with a strange look on her face. She looked frightened almost.

“So my best friend Tara has come with me” Isabella was saying. “Tara say hello to Jean, my Aunt Doreen dearest and oldest friend.”

“It’s Nice to meet you.” Tara said holding out her hand to the woman.

Jean seemed reluctant to shake Tara’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you too.” She said back in a whisper of a voice. “She quickly let go of Tara’s hand and said to Isabella.”`Your Aunt is fixing tea. So let’s go back to the kitchen ’ 

As they made their way through the house, Tara was admiring the beauty of it. The furniture was made of solid dark wood, and the floors and tall pillars of marble. There were tapestries on the walls, depicting scenes of medieval life. But it was the gothic winding staircase that Tara loved the most. When they entered the kitchen, there was an elderly woman with her back to them. She was stirring a pot on the stove; she turned around and looked very happy to see Isabella.

“Hello darling” she said as Isabella went over and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. Tara liked her instantly. Doreen had a genuine smile, and was a beautiful woman, who really didn’t look her age.

“Hello Auntie Doreen” Isabella said. I am so happy to be here.”

“It’s nice to have you here. We have really missed your company, and this must be your friend Tara She said looking at Tara.”Welcome to my home dear.”

“Thank you” Tara replied,” It is very beautiful.”

“Cheers dear. It has been in my Robert’s (God rest his soul,) family for many generations. This house is steeped in a long and colorful history.”  But enough talk of that right now. After dinner, Isabella can give you the grand tour , but for now let’s eat girls!”

After a very delicious dinner, they visited for awhile with Jean and Doreen in the family room. Tara could see where Isabella got her warm and bubbly personality, because Doreen had the same one, and made Tara felt like she was part of the family. Jean on hand was still giving off strange vibes to her. Tara would catch her staring at her, and she really didn’t have a lot to say. She was beginning to feel very uncomfortable around the old woman.

Isabella showed Tara briefly around the house, sharing with her stories of her Aunt Doreen’s life.

A bit later as Tara and Isabella was going up the staircase to their rooms; Tara said “I don’t think Doreen likes me much. She kept staring at me, and I got a very weird feeling from her.”

 

 

“I hope so.” Tara replied as they reached their rooms.

“Since your right next door to me, if you have another one of your dreams, then you can always come snuggle with me” Isabella said.

“I am sure I will be fine, but if I do get scared I will.” Tara said laughing as she hugged Isabella. “Good night.” 

“Night love” Isabella said. “It’s not supposed to snow anymore tonight, so we can a make day of it in Glastonbury.” 

After getting ready for bed, Tara got under the warm covers of her four poster bed. Yawning she said, “I will be waiting for you mystery man of my dreams.” She fell asleep instantly. 

But the next morning, when she woke up, she realized she hadn’t had the strange dream. “Isabella must have been right. I just needed to get away.”

A little while later, Isabella knocked on Tara’s door, before going in. “Good morning “She said, “How you’d sleep? “

 “Like a rock.” Tara replied, “And I didn’t have the dream.”

“Oh how wonderful” Isabella said looking out the bedroom window. “Didn’t I tell you it was just stress? Come on then and get ready. There isn’t much snow, but we are in the country now, so it’s going to bloody cold. Bundle up babes!” 

They spent all day in Glastonbury. Tara really enjoyed visiting the magical shops. Every time she walked into one she could feel the positive energy, and the bookstores were fun to browse through.  Tara loved the legends and myths about King Arthur, Guinevere, and the Knights of the Round Table, so she was disappointed that because of the snow that she and Isabella didn’t make the long trek up the hill to Glastonbury Tor, but they did visit the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey.

 Tara and Isabella were walking along the grounds of the Abbey, and Isabella was talking about the history of it, when Tara saw him. 

He was standing a few feet ahead of them between parts of the ruins and staring at Tara. Dressed all in black, with the wind blowing through his long dark hair, she knew it was the man of her dreams. Tara couldn’t move, she couldn’t think. It felt like someone had punched her hard in the stomach, and all the blood had drained from her face. Isabella had continued ahead, still talking, till she realized that Tara wasn’t beside her anymore. 

“What are you..” Isabella started to ask her till she saw Tara’s face. “What is it darling?  She said with concern.”You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“It’s him” Tara said pointing ahead of them.

“Who, where?” Isabella replied looking to where Tara was pointing. “I don’t see anyone.”

Isabella was right, He was gone. Was Tara day dreaming? Was she going crazy? But she laughed and said “Oh nothing, It has been a long day. I think I am letting my imagination run wild and seeing ghosts of the abbey.”

“Oh okay” Isabella said frowning. Tara knew she didn’t believe her. But Isabella wasn’t the type to pry. She knew Tara would tell her what really was going on, when Tara was ready. When they got back to Doreen’s, Tara said she had a slight headache, and she was going to bed early. But really she just wanted to be alone to think about what happened at the abbey.

“Are you sure you’re ok? “ Isabella asked her before Tara went upstairs.

“Yes, I am just tired. It has been a long day but I had a wonderful time. Thank you.” Tara replied hugging Isabella good night.

Standing at the window, and looking at the night moon, Tara began to think about the man at the abbey. Even though she had never seen his face clearly in her dreams, she knew that it was him. The feeling was too strong. Tara felt she was close to discovering who he was, and why he was so important to her, but he was just out of reach. It was like she was underwater trying to swim to the surface. She can see him waiting for her, his hand out, waiting to pull Tara up. But it’s like Tara is swimming in place, and she is not able to swim any further up.

 This time in her dream, Tara is standing in front of a set of double doors. She opened the doors to a large brightly lit ballroom. It was full of people dressed in beautiful costumes, each wearing decorated masks. Tara looked down at herself, and she too was wearing a beautiful deep red dress that had a long train, that flowed out across the floor. On top of Tara’s head, was a red veil that covered the front of her face. As she walked towards the front of the room, everyone parted for her and as she passed, the men would bow their heads and the women would curtsy. When Tara got to the end of the room, the man of her dreams was standing there, his back to her.  He turned around, and spoke to Tara for the first time.

“Welcome home my darling.” He said taking her hand and pulling her close to him. Looking into his deep brown eyes, Tara did feel like she was finally home. He lifted the red veil from Tara’s face, and gently kissed her pale lips with his  red ones. When they parted, he said “look my dear, we have a present for you” Everyone in the room had gathered around them, their masks removed, their eyes and faces filled with hunger. A man appeared holding a beautiful young girl with long blood hair. She was completely nude, and struggling against the man.

“Please Madame Let me go” she begged looking at Tara. “I don’t want to die like this, without absolution.”

“Shhh my child” Tara said running her hand through the girl’s honey colored hair. “

The hunger Tara felt was almost unbearable. She looked into the girl’s green eyes, and at once the girl stopped struggling. Tara kissed the girl’s soft lips gently, and then pushed her hair back from her neck. She bit into the soft flesh, tasting the warm virgin blood. Tara held the girl close to her, drinking slowly savoring the blood. She then pushed the girl to the others. It didn’t take long for their mouths to cover every inch of the girl’s body, making low growling noises, draining the girl of her life’s blood.

“Oh god” Tara said sitting up in bed, her whole body trembling. It had seem so real, more like a memory then just a dream. It was still early morning, the sun was just started to rise, and so Tara thought she would go downstairs while everyone was still asleep, and get a glass of water to try and calm her nerves. She knew there was something wrong. This was more than stress. But Tara didn’t want Isabella to worry about her, or treat her any different, so when she got back to London, Tara would make an appointment with her doctor, and not tell Isabella.   As she walking down the stairs, Tara suddenly heard Jean’s voice behind her.

“I know you who you are. You took my precious Mary from me, but I am not frightened of you. I will enjoy watching you die as I put a stake through your cold dead heart.”

Startled, Tara turned around and saw the old woman standing at the top of the stairs “What in the name of god are you talking about? “ I’ve never met you till I came here, and I don’t know any Mary. I don’t know who you think I am you old crazy woman.” 

Jean all at once let out a short scream and ran down the stairs towards Tara. She grabbed a hold of Tara’s neck and started choking her.

 “Die you evil span of the devil, die!” she said. Her eyes filled with rage and madness.

“Get off of me!” Tara said trying to get the other woman’s hands off around her neck, but the old woman was strong for someone her age. They struggled causing the both of them to lose their balance, and tumbling down the rest of the stairs till they reached the floor of the hallway. Tara wasn’t hurt just dazed for a minute. But when she looked over at Jean, she knew the woman was dead, by the way Jean’s neck was twisted at a unnatural angle. A light suddenly came on upstairs, and Tara panicked. She thought the police would suspect her of something, since she’s been having these crazy dreams, and seeing things. Tara jumped up and ran out the front door, only wearing a night gown, and slippers. But she didn’t care, she had to get away. Tara didn’t care about the cold, or the snow soaking her shoes. She just kept running, just like in her dreams. She suddenly tripped and fell on her knees, He was there holding his hand out to her. 

“Come Sophia, it’s time to go home.” He said as he pulled her up from the ground.

As soon as he touched her hand, she remembered really who she was .

 Her name was Sophia Brentworth. She had been born in 1792, to an aristocratic family in Paris, France. When Sophia had been seventeen years old, her father had lost all the families money and fortune after years of gambling and other unscrupulous dealings. He then committed suicide, and it was just her and her mother struggling to survive. Sophia’s mother became an alcoholic, and a year later she too was dead. Sophia was totally alone then. Having no home, she began to steal and panhandle on the streets of Paris. It was on a cold December night much like this one, when Sophia had her life and soul stolen away, when she had been made a vampiress. Sophia had been standing at her usual spot for the last two hours selling small cheap trinkets that she had stolen from shopkeepers. Sophia was cold and tired but she was also very hungry. So she did her best to ignore the bitter cold wind that took her breath and cut through her thin coat and gloves, just to make a few pennies. Sophia looked up and saw a tall man with long black hair smiling down at her. He had an angelic face, but it was his dark brown eyes with long eyelashes that mesmerized Sophia so that she couldn’t think for a moment.

Sophia regained her compose though and said “Would you like to buy a pretty brooch sir? “

“Take a walk with me Chérie.” He replied in a gentle and musical voice that flowed sweetly throughout Sophia’s whole body, as he took her hand. 

It seemed like the most natural thing to do.  They walked down the sidewalk for a few minutes before he led her into a darkened alleyway. They stopped and he pulled Sophia closer to him.

“You don’t have to be cold or hungry anymore darling “He said looking down at her as he ran his hand gently down the side of her Sophia’s face. “I am going to give you a wonderful gift. You will be my queen throughout all eternity. Don’t be frightened.” 

And she wasn’t. It was like Sophia had been waiting for this moment all her life. He bent his head down to her mouth. His breath smelled of winter. He kissed Sophia softly at first but then with a growing passion, and her body melted into his. When Sophia looked into his eyes, she could see the hunger. She knew he wanted more than just her body, and Sophia wanted him to have it. He pushed Sophia’s red hair back from her neck, and she saw his canine teeth then. He bit down hard , Sophia’s warm blood running down her neck .It only hurt for a moment, and then she felt pleasure as she had never known before. Her head turned sideways as he drank her blood, the alleyway suddenly came into sharp focus, and she could see clearly very in the dark. Sophia could ever see the rats in the deepest part of the shadows forging through the garbage. She felt herself dying, her heartbeat racing then it slowed down, till it beat no more. Sophia was the undead now, one of the damned for all eternity. 

As soon as Sophia’s prince touched her hand she also remembered that his name was Guillaume Barraud. He too had been born into a well to do family in another part of France. Guillaume had been disowned by his family for falling in love with and marrying a prostitute. They had moved to Paris, where his young wife had died after catching the flu. He was too proud to beg for his family forgiveness, instead at twenty five he became an alcoholic and went a bit mad, before being turned by a older vampire, who wanted Guillaume as his companion. But Guillaume was always searching for a girl that looked like his Julianna, and Sophia had thought that is why he chose her at first. But in time she became his true queen, and Sophia had been his queen for almost three hundred years now.

One minute they were standing in the snow and the next they were in a room of their home in France. 

“What happened to me? I feel as if I’ve been asleep for years, and there are images of people and places in my mind that I’ve never been too” Sophia said to Guillaume.

“Sit down darling” he said leading her over to their couch. You have been asleep for weeks now. Take my hand and things will be clear to you.”

Sophia held Guillaume’s hand, and once again memories came back to her.  

 There were times when Sophia longed to be human again. She missed the wonderful taste of food and wine. Oh how to be able to stand outside in the early summer mornings and feel the sunshine on her face, or the warmth of a fireplace after being outside in the winter night.  Sophia would never be able to hold her own newborn in her arms for the first time, and to watch that child grow up into an adult, and maybe give to Sophia grandchildren. She just existed, as the undead, wandering from century to century with only blood sustaining her. Sophia’s body would stay young and beautiful forever, but her spirit was old and tired. It felt sometimes like Sophia was living in a glass cage, the world moving around her, but she would never be able to escape her prison. And so Sophia willed herself into a deep sleep and created the life of “Tara” for herself. She remained this way for weeks, never waking. Guillaume worried that Sophia would never wake up, and so he began to enter her dreams, to try and bring Sophia back to him. Her will was very strong and Sophia was able to resist Guillaume, but eventually she could not any longer. 

“I felt I would lose you forever my love” Guillaume said as he stroked her hair.

Sophia looked up at him “But Jean? She doesn’t feel like someone my mind invented.”

“She is not real, as none of it is.” Guillaume replied. “Your mind was fighting the fantasy life you created. I am so sorry my darling.” 

Sophia did feel emotion then. It was sadness. She knew she could never be human, no matter how many times she dreamt it. As Guillaume held her close to his cold body, A lone tear ran down the cheek of Sophia’s face.