Part 15 (2/2)
At the last moment, as my lips touched her neck, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror, and thankfully that was enough to make me pause.
The face in the mirror was a twisted, unfamiliar mask, full of red eyes, sharp wrinkles, and a vicious grin. I lifted my head for a closer look. It was me but at the same time it wasn't. It was like there were two people sharing one body, a normal human boy and a savage animal of the night.
As I stared, the ugly face faded and the urge to drink blood pa.s.sed. I gazed at Annie, horrified. I'd been about to bite bite her! I would have her! I would have fed fed on my own sister! on my own sister!
I fell away from her with a cry and covered my face with my hands, afraid of the mirror and what I might see. Annie staggered backward, then looked around the bathroom in a dazed kind of way.
”What's going on?” she asked. ”I feel weird. I came in for a bath, didn't I? Is it ready?”
”Yes,” I said softly. ”It's ready.”
I was ready, too. Ready to become a vampire!
”I'll leave you alone,” I said, and let myself out.
I fell against the wall in the hall, where I spent a couple of minutes taking deep breaths and trying to calm down.
It couldn't be controlled. The thirst for blood was something I wouldn't be able to beat. I didn't even have to see spilled blood now. Just thinking of it had been enough to bring out the monster in me.
I stumbled to my room and collapsed upon my bed. I cried as I lay there, because I knew my life as a human had come to an end. I could no longer live as plain old Darren Shan. The vampire in me could not be controlled. Sooner or later it would make me do something terrible and I would end up killing Mom or Dad or Annie.
I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't. wouldn't. My life was no longer important, but those of my friends and family were. For their sakes, I would have to travel far away, to a place where I could do no harm. My life was no longer important, but those of my friends and family were. For their sakes, I would have to travel far away, to a place where I could do no harm.
I waited for dark to fall, then let myself out. No hanging around this time until my parents fell asleep. I didn't dare, because I knew one of them would come to my room before going to bed. I could picture it, Mom bending over to kiss me goodnight, getting the shock of her life as I bit into her neck.
I didn't leave a note or take anything with me. I wasn't able to think about such things. All I knew was, I had to get out, the sooner the better. Anything that delayed my exit was bad.
I walked quickly and was soon at the theater. It no longer looked scary. I was used to it. Besides, vampires have nothing to fear from dark, haunted buildings.
Mr. Crepsley was waiting for me inside the front door.
”I heard you coming,” he said. ”You lasted longer in the world of humans than I thought.”
”I sucked blood from one of my best friends,” I told him. ”And I almost bit my younger sister.”
”You escaped lightly,” he said. ”Many vampires kill someone close to them before realizing they are doomed.”
”There's no way back, is there?” I asked sadly. ”No magic potion to make me human again or keep me from attacking people?”
”The only thing that can stop you now,” he said, ”is the good old stake through the heart.”
”Very well,” I sighed. ”I don't like it, but I guess I've got no other choice. I'm yours. I won't run away again. Do with me as you wish.”
He nodded slowly. ”You probably will not believe this,” he said, ”but I know what you are going through and I feel sorry for you.” He shook his head. ”But that is neither here nor there. We have work to do and cannot afford to waste time. Come, Darren Shan,” he said, taking my hand. ”We have much to do before you can a.s.sume your rightful place as my a.s.sistant.”
”Like what?” I asked, confused.
”First of all,” he said, with a sly smile, ”we have to kill you! kill you!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.
I SPENT MY LAST WEEKEND SAYING SPENT MY LAST WEEKEND SAYING silent good-byes. I visited every one of my favorite spots: library, swimming pool, cinema, parks, soccer field. I went to some of the places with Mom or Dad, some with Alan Morris or Tommy Jones. I would have liked to spend time with Steve but couldn't bear to face him. silent good-byes. I visited every one of my favorite spots: library, swimming pool, cinema, parks, soccer field. I went to some of the places with Mom or Dad, some with Alan Morris or Tommy Jones. I would have liked to spend time with Steve but couldn't bear to face him.
I got the feeling, every so often, that I was being followed, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. But whenever I turned to look, n.o.body was there, Eventually I put it down to nerves and ignored it.
I treated every minute with my family and friends as if it was special. I paid close attention to their faces and voices, so I would never forget. I knew I'd never see these people again and that tore me apart inside, but it was the way it had to be. There was no going back.
They could do nothing wrong that weekend. Mom's kisses didn't embarra.s.s me, Dad's orders didn't bother me, Alan's stupid jokes didn't annoy me.
I spent more time with Annie than with anybody else. I was going to miss her the most. I gave her piggyback rides and swung her around by the arms and took her to the soccer field with me and Tommy. I even played with her dolls!
Sometimes I felt like crying. I'd look at Mom or Dad or Annie and realize how much I loved them, how empty my life would be without them. I had to turn aside at moments like that and take long, deep breaths. A couple of times that didn't work and I rushed away to cry in private.
I think they guessed something was wrong. Mom came into my room that Sat.u.r.day night and stayed for a long time, tucking me into bed, telling me stories, listening to me talk. It had been years since we'd spent time together like that. I felt sorry, after she'd gone, that we hadn't had more nights like this.
In the morning, Dad asked if there was anything I wanted to discuss with him. He said I was a growing young man and would be going through lots of changes, and he'd understand if I had mood swings or wanted to go off by myself. But he would always be there for me to talk to.
”You'll be there, but be there, but I I won't be!” I felt like crying, but I kept quiet, nodded my head, and thanked him. won't be!” I felt like crying, but I kept quiet, nodded my head, and thanked him.
I behaved as perfectly as possible. I wanted to leave a fine final impression, so they would remember me as a good son, a good brother, a good friend. I didn't want anybody thinking badly of me when I was gone.
Dad was going to take us out to a restaurant for dinner that Sunday, but I asked if we could stay home to eat. This would be my last meal with them and I wanted it to be special. When I was looking back on it in later years, I wanted to be able to remember us together, at home, a happy family.
Mom cooked my favorite food: chicken, roast potatoes, corn on the cob. Annie and me had freshly squeezed orange juice to drink. Mom and Dad shared a bottle of wine. We had strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Everybody was in a good mood. We sang songs. Dad cracked terrible jokes. Mom played a tune with a pair of spoons. Annie recited a few poems. Everybody joined in for a game of charades.
It was a day I wished would never end. But, of course, all days must, and finally, as it always does, the sun dropped and the darkness of night crept across the sky.
Dad looked up after a while, then at his watch. ”Time for bed,” he said. ”You two have school in the morning.”
”No,” I thought, ”I don't. I don't have school ever again.” That should have cheered me up - but all I could think was: ”No school means no Mr. Dalton, no friends, no soccer, no school trips.”
I delayed going to bed as long as I could. I spent forever taking off my clothes and putting on my pajamas; longer still was.h.i.+ng my hands and face and brus.h.i.+ng my teeth. Then, when it could be avoided no longer, I went downstairs to the living room, where Mom and Dad were talking. They looked up, surprised to see me.
”Are you all right, Darren?” Mom asked.
”I'm fine,” I said.
”You're not feeling sick?”
”I'm fine,” I a.s.sured her. ”I just wanted to say good night.” I put my arms around Dad, then kissed him on the cheek. Next I did the same with Mom. ”Good night,” I said to each.
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