the vampire

this story is for my fantastic, extremely talented friend mani, she is a very, very talented writer, check out her stories @ completelymistaken.wordpress.com

ONE

It was raining cats and dogs since evening that is the time when she wakes up and comes out of her bedroom.

She prefers spending some time out in the balcony, watching human beings scurry by, down on the alley. Sometimes they are alone, and sometimes in a group. She watches them and then goes downstairs after she feels hungry. Just like a child waiting outside kitchen, inhaling the aromas of food inside and then heading for the dining table.

She gracefully perched on the narrow railing of the balcony and stared intently- at her elusive preys.

Now her stomach was growling. She was feeling a little restless.

“Come on! Get inside!” she muttered playfully.

The only answer she heard was the gushing of rain.

Then her prayers were answered. Someone darted for the ground floor balcony. She slithered down from her seat and headed towards the stair.

She was on the top of the stairwell when she heard a feeble cry, “Let me go! You are hurting me!”

She quickened her speed that meant double pack; she can always keep one for tomorrow locked in the cellar. But she will have to stop before the second one gets killed, she hates cold blood.

The pair was too busy, one trying to save oneself the other trying to kill. The man was about to smother the life out of that little girl when she intervened.

Good that the girl was unconscious because of the strangling. Or else she might not have liked the scene….

She sat there licking her lips after finishing her dinner. The child was still unconscious. She was barely three or four years old.

“There is nothing to keep here….” She thought to herself. “Let’s finish this one too…”

She picked the girl up, her cold body brought her senses back to her and she wrapped her chubby arms around her neck and hugged her tightly “Mommy!”

TWO

Something stirred in her long dead heart. When she was living she had a little sister, ten years younger than her, she used to sleep in her bed.

In the nights when she had a nightmare or was scared without any reason she used to cling to Deepali just like this.

“Get over it!” she thought…. “Or else you will lose the delicacy.”

The girl cuddled against her body. It was strange that she was not able to feel the cold skin, freezing skin, most probably because she herself was cold as ice.

She laid her down and went to the man, he was wearing a raincoat, that meant his own clothes were dry, she removed his shirt and vest; used the vest to dry up the girl and shirt to dress her.

She took the child downstairs; she was still clinging to her like a monkey baby. She rocked her to sleep and locked the door from outside and went upstairs.

She quickly got rid of the corpse and went out for a little chore of her own- after walking around for a while she located some small girl clothes hanging from the line in a balcony, she could see that they were about the size of the girl, so she hopped up to the balcony and took the best pair along with other necessary things. One of the windows was open, she moved inside and quickly located the girl’s bedroom; she picked up the necessary items and slowly disappeared in the night. On her way home she collected food for next day- of course for the her new pet not her!

She reached home and the moment she stepped inside she heard muffled cry, the girl was shrieking.

She quickly entered the cellar.

THREE

The girl ran to her the moment she saw her, “Where have you been mommy!” she was sobbing hard- hiccupping.

“Sorry sweetie, I was out shopping- look what I brought you!” she displayed her loot.

The girl snuggled against her and started to check her gifts. She too noted that the dresses were perfect fit.

“What’s your name darling?” she asked sweetly.

“Ratri, why mommy have you forgotten my name?” the girl innocently asked.

“How did you recognize me?” she prodded curiously, to know why she kept calling her mommy.

“Auntie in orphanage told me, if I ever fall in danger you will come down from sky to save.” She answered innocently.

“You live in an orphanage?” she asked with bit dismay, she was hoping to return her to her family and go her way.

“Yes!” she answered. “Auntie asked me to go with the uncle who was hurting me; she said he will give me chocolates and new dresses.”

Her heart sank further. She realized what will happen if she returns her to the orphanage.

She sat there watching her eat and thinking. She could not leave her here. The girl will cry to death in this damp dark cellar or worse someone will hear and something worse might happen. She was thinking hard if she will let the girl go and face her own fate or keep her with her. After all, it’s nice to have someone you can talk to, it’s been so long since she has met another vampire, and she hated playing with her food so she just went straight for the kill.

Then she found her answer.

FOUR

After feeding and dressing she hypnotized Ratri to deep sleep and took her flight across the ocean. She knew a small island, deserted because of rising water level and deadly rocks all around it. Even fishermen avoided the area like plague. There was a lighthouse in that island, in absolutely habitable condition; the best part was it took her a few minutes in flight to travel from there to mainland.

There was enough room for the girl, for the first few years she will have to keep her locked in the lighthouse, then once she is old enough she could let her roam in the island.

She cleaned up the lighthouse and gathered the necessary things from nearby places to make it habitable for the girl.

“Human beings are lucky that we vampires don’t rob or steal usually.” She chuckled to herself after checking her booties.

Then an hour before the dawn she gently woke the little girl up, “Ratri, mommy works all day, you will have to live alone here. I will be back by dusk. Okay?”

She coaxed the little girl and made her fall sleep before retiring to her coffin in the basement.

When Ratri woke up mommy was not there but there was food, water, a television, a music player, books and lots of toys waiting for her.

She played to her hearts content, was waiting for Deepali when she showed up.

She started to teach her alphabets and the methods of using television, music player, painting and other things.

It was an intriguing way of passing time. Then the little one fell asleep before it was midnight and she went to mainland for her dinner.

She returned an hour before dawn, woke the little one up, spent some time with her and then sent her back to sleep before retiring to her own chamber.

FIVE

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER:

Deepali was happy that the island was still above water, actually there was no sign that it will submerge under water.

The second thing she was glad about that Ratri truly loved her, she was a bright young girl now, but did not dig too deep in her disappearance during day time or asked too many questions about their isolated life.

She told Ratri that she had dangerous enemies in world outside, powerful and deadly, that’s why she was hiding here. If Ratri wanted to leave she could, she will make arrangements for her living in any place she wants to but she will have to stay here in the island.

Ratri refused to leave her behind and lived like Miranda did in Shakespeare’s play.

She was a beautiful young girl, with raven black hair that she kept short, did not allowed it to cross her shoulders. She had huge, brown very innocent eyes; they had the angelic glow of pure love.

Her heart knew no dark passions and that reflected in her eyes.

She roamed around in the island, Deepali has formed a small animal sanctuary for her at one side of the island, where the animals wont alarm Ratri by being alarmed by her presence.

“I am severely allergic to animal furs honey! So after you play with your pets, please be careful to lock the door of the park and never, ever bring one home!”

She doted after Ratri and tried to keep her happy. Her cold heart was grateful that she did not desert her.

She woke up in the evening and came upstairs. She was quite smug that she has been able to keep it a secret. Her bedroom of course, she kept it barred shut from outside and used a small ventilator to come in and out of the room!

She had the power to disintegrate her body to mist and then rebuild it back to human body.

“Mother…!” Ratri was flustered when she saw her.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” she asked thinking that she has lost something or the television is not working properly.

“There are human beings in the island!”

“What!!!!”

“Yes! I saw them and ran back to the lighthouse. They were tying their boat so did not see me.”

“Stay in the lighthouse! Don’t come out, no matter what you hear and close the door from inside.” She kissed her on the cheek and went downstairs. To play safe she closed the door from outside, there was only one exit, windows were too high and grilled really sturdily, so were the balconies.

SIX

She discovered them in the sanctuary. She stood in the darkness watching them. They have occupied the small rooms she has built there for Ratri to rest, already slaughtered one of the deer and were having a gala feast.

There were nine men and a prisoner.

The men were scattered on the spacious porch, their prisoner was locked inside. A young man in his early twenties, clearly from a very rich family!

“His father will never even imagine that he is here!” one of the men said smugly. “All we have to do is waiting for the police to cool down a bit and make the old man cough up the money.”

“Or else disposing him will be really easy.” Another man said.

She stood there watching them; soon they were drunk and asleep.

These years with Ratri have changed her too much. She knew what she will do with the crooks but was a bit perplexed with their victim.

She picked up the men one by one and properly tied them up and stored them in an underground bunker, she has kept absolutely secret from Ratri; she has camouflaged it perfectly, so perfectly that the girl who has scouted every inch of the island missed it.

She looked at the young man, he was sleeping peacefully.

She did not have the heart to kill him, she decided to leave him here on his own and make his own decision.

But Ratri will come here and what if he acts like a monster or abuse her innocent angelic nature?

She stood there watching him for a long, long time… then moved forward.

SEVEN

“Hey!!!” she poked him in the ribs with her finger.

Madhup opened his eyes…. A beautiful woman was standing right beside him. She was wearing a body tight suit. Her eyes were black, so was her head full of hair. Her skin was pale white with very red lips.

He sat up, his head was hurting like hell, he remembered the pretty girl from bar.

“You know I don’t go to bars…. I don’t drink!” he has feebly insisted to his new friends he has met on internet.

“Come on Madhup! It’s your birthday!” Shashank has scoffed.

“You can sip fruit juice…. We want a real party for men.” Dinesh has demanded.

He has given in. His father was out of town, and as always has given him money to celebrate his birthday on his own.

“Enjoy with your friends Madhu, I am really sorry that I have to go out…”

His father doted after him but never celebrated his birthday because his mother passed away during his birth. His mother was the light of his life, it took a lot for him to pick up his pieces and bring Madhup up.

“Meet Anu!” the young girl has smiled coyly at him. She was not beautiful but she was a perfect charmer. Hours flew by.

“It’s almost midnight!” he jumped up from his seat. “I will have to leave now, you guys have fun I will talk with the manager he will collect the bill from me.”

“Hey! We are not pigs!” Shashank has laughed.

“Will you do us a favour” Dinesh asked him when they were outside the bar.

“What?”

“Please drop Anu home, she lives near your house and we are heading in the opposite direction as you know….”

He nodded.

She sat down in the front seat. With growing uneasiness he noted that she was snuggling against him in a pervert manner.

“Your place or mine…?”

“Sorry???…..”

“Come on! You know what I mean!” she smiled licking her lips.

“I am not interested. Where will I drop you?” he asked his voice getting hard.

“Daddy’s little boy, are we?” she mocked then abruptly moved away from him a bit not much.

She fished inside her purse and brought out a perfume.

The last thing he remembered her spraying that perfume on him and herself. Then darkness engulfed him.

EIGHT

He regained his senses in the cabin of a steamer… locked from outside, and of course one of his new found friends was out in the deck, Dinesh.

“Don’t fret rich boy! We will let you go the minute we get what we want! Till then just suffer our presence.” He has taunted handing him over the food through window.

The food was of course drugged.

He was poked out of sleep by this strange woman he instantly guessed to be one of them.

“What do you want?” he rudely asked.

“Where is the gratitude young one?” Deepali raised her eyebrow.

“Gratitude for what, kidnapping me for ransom?” he mocked back.

“No! For saving you from your kidnappers….”

“Oh yes?” he taunted, “I don’t see the AK47 you used to wipe out the baddies….”

“I don’t need guns.” She answered playfully enjoying the defiant young man.

“Then how did you accomplished the impossible task fair maiden, by one shot of the glance of those lovely eyes?” he retorted.

“No!” she disintegrated herself, came out of the room, took her form back and opened the door to re enter.

Madhup was standing in a corner, shaking.

NINE

“What are you?” his voice was shaking with fear.

“I am a vampire.”

There was no reason why he won’t believe her.

“An angel lives in this island, she will see you tomorrow, if you harm her, hurt her I will hunt you like hell’s fury.”

“I am giving you two days, to get out of this island and am asking only one thing in return of the favour I have bestowed upon you…Don’t tell anyone about this island!” she stopped for a while then added, “And if you are decent don’t tell Ratri that I am a vampire, don’t hurt her.”

She brought a video camera and asked him to send his father a message to confirm him that he was well and will be home soon.

“I will deliver it to your father before morning; give me your address.”

“The boat that brought you here is tied to a tree in the shore. You can use it to row it a bit; you can stock up your boat with a bit food. If someone does not discover you by first night, I will make arrangements that someone notices you within two nights. All you will have to do is row as far away as you can from this island.”

“Come with me, I will show you the narrow path they used to successfully land in the island without being sucked down by the raging ocean around it.”

She showed him the path and after reminding him the consequences of playing any unkind game with Ratri left him there.

She came out of her bedroom next evening and went to the sanctuary, he was not there. She went to the shore; the boat was tied to the tree.

In a second she was standing on the stair of the lighthouse her heart beating barely… too burdened with fear and pain…

TEN

Then she heard them.

They were laughing like two young people in love. She was giggling demurely and his laughter was full of fondness.

She softly sneaked in the dark balcony and stood there watching them. They were absolutely in love. The love that can form only in young hearts, deepest, purest love!

“Why is mommy not back yet?” Ratri checked the watch.

“Where is she?” Madhup asked casually.

“She works all day and returns home at dusk.” Ratri responded, fidgeting, “She always returns dot on time…”

“Oh!” he smiled gently.

“Its seven!” she got up from the sofa.

Dipali quickly returned to the stairs, climbed the rest and entered the room.

“Hello Madhup!” she smiled. “Still here…?”

“Your father might be worrying for your well being…..”

“I asked him to stay mommy, I told him you won’t be angry, he was insisting again and again but I told him you will be happy to have him here!” Ratri said, looking at her with pleading eyes.

“Oh sweetie!” she hugged her to her heart. “How can I be angry at you or your friend? He can stay as long as you wish… or he wishes…”

ELEVEN

He was there next evening too…. The next and next…. Then a fortnight later he begged her for Ratri’s hand in marriage.

“Your family won’t accept her.” She answered coldly.

“My father will love anyone I love.” he answered firmly. “If he does not we will come here and live with you.”

“You will visit us after marriage, right?” he asked. “If he does not love her as much as I do we will come back and live with you.”

“Will you send him another message from me, please?” in that video message he requested him to accept his lover, an orphan girl without a single penny.

She stood watching his father as he viewed the video, as tears formed in his eyes and a loving smile hovered on his lips. He muttered fondly, “stupid boy!”

She could see he was speaking the truth. She returned to the young lovers waiting eagerly for her.

“Stay with me for a few days more then you can leave for your father’s home …. “ Dipali said, then she pulled Ratri close, “Sweetheart! A daughter stays with her mother till marriage, you have found the love of your life and I trust your choice, you will have to leave with him too!”

Ratri hugged her with all her might. “No mommy!”

She kissed her fragrant hair, “I wish I could keep you here with me my darling, but think of Madhup’s father!”

“I will come and visit you regularly. At least, once a week, till you stop aching for me!”

“I will come to visit you on your first day on honeymoon, please keep the marriage certificate with you, I trust you but I will rather prefer it if you keep that with you. She is more than my daughter! I trust you very much but not blindly!” she told Madhup in private.

She accompanied them to the shore on the small boat; to be sure that Ratri reaches safely. Then she hid herself behind the huge rocks littered all over the beach and watched Madhup’s father reuniting with his son. They entered the car and she flew back to her lighthouse, time to move on… will have to look for a deserted mansion in some town… no more solitary living…

the end

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