was a new smell that was overly sweet
wafting in our direction. The odor was similar to fresh squeezed limes. The
source was close to us, somewhere to my right about fifty yards away. Looking
in that direction I saw nothing of significance. My nose was telling me
different.
Veronica lightly touched my bicep. "There is nothing to
worry about. It is another of us who is a little nosey and over protective. If
she doesn't come in to meet you then she will definitely introduce herself when
we get into town. Come on let's keep going."
Turning to her, I nodded I was ready to proceed.
She removed her hand and allowed me to set the speed at
which we were to walk. The hunger pangs had been reduced so I walked at a
comfortable clip. The odor of limes moved at our pace, maintaining her
distance. Occasionally, I would hear a very quiet girly giggle, but I tried not
to let the vampire with me become a distraction because there was so much I
wanted to ask Veronica before we neared what she called town.
The girl beside me appeared normal. I tried not to stare as
we walked silently. Sheepishly, I would glance at her every few steps. She
would slyly smile whenever she caught me. Once she tucked her hair behind her
ear without me realizing allowing me to see how truly beautiful of a vampire
was helping me to safety. Momentarily, I thought we were flirting. There were a
few shared grins and stolen looks until I reminded myself she was a creature
that needed my blood to survive.
She broke the silence that had dominated the last mile of
our walk. "So what shall we call you? I mean you have to have a name. Do
have one you prefer? Fabio, for instance, or Bill?"
She stopped walking and doubled over laughing. There was
even a hearty laugh from a female somewhere in the dark.
Undeterred and unsure of how to act, I answered. "Give
me some time to mull over your suggestion. Not to hijack this conversation, but
I have a question that has been nagging at me.” She allowed me to continue.
“What is a changeling?"
The scantily dressed vampire did not stammer with her
answer. "You are becoming one of us. Your transformation is not final, but
from the changes I can smell within your body, it will not be long after your
first drink that you will fully move into your place here with the rest of us.
Listen, we are about to come upon the GV1s territory and we will have to be
careful. We will finish this conversation when we carry you to meet Walter. We
have to be quiet for the next little bit."
I heard the careful part and the GV1s. Those were more questions
that we would have to discuss. My thoughts were climbing over her answer. The
answer did not catch me off guard. I had really expected that to be the case. I
had wanted her to say it. I had to hear her say it. I had known for the better
part of the walk that I was more like her than I cared to admit. Why else would
she have protected me and not killed me herself? Why else had she treated me
with kindness and patience when none was warranted? I was family.
Chapter 8
Soon the long walk through the forest had given way to a
vast open field littered with burning torches. Fifty feet away was the curve of
a paved roadway that was in a state of repair. Paving equipment sat idly by
awaiting another day of use. The sight of the massive machines sitting empty
surrounded by the burning torches was an eerie site.
Before us the pavement cut through the middle of the plowed
earth. The roofs of some dilapidated farm houses and buildings could be seen in
the distance. The structures were dark. I try not to let my mind wander into
thoughts about what could be making its home there. Past those, lit street
lights were visible. The lights were miles away.
Tempted as I was to ask the obvious question if that was our
destination, I held back at her behest.
She anticipated the question. Placing her finger to her red
lips to remind me to be quiet, Veronica simply pointed in the direction of the
lights then
wafting in our direction. The odor was similar to fresh squeezed limes. The
source was close to us, somewhere to my right about fifty yards away. Looking
in that direction I saw nothing of significance. My nose was telling me
different.
Veronica lightly touched my bicep. "There is nothing to
worry about. It is another of us who is a little nosey and over protective. If
she doesn't come in to meet you then she will definitely introduce herself when
we get into town. Come on let's keep going."
Turning to her, I nodded I was ready to proceed.
She removed her hand and allowed me to set the speed at
which we were to walk. The hunger pangs had been reduced so I walked at a
comfortable clip. The odor of limes moved at our pace, maintaining her
distance. Occasionally, I would hear a very quiet girly giggle, but I tried not
to let the vampire with me become a distraction because there was so much I
wanted to ask Veronica before we neared what she called town.
The girl beside me appeared normal. I tried not to stare as
we walked silently. Sheepishly, I would glance at her every few steps. She
would slyly smile whenever she caught me. Once she tucked her hair behind her
ear without me realizing allowing me to see how truly beautiful of a vampire
was helping me to safety. Momentarily, I thought we were flirting. There were a
few shared grins and stolen looks until I reminded myself she was a creature
that needed my blood to survive.
She broke the silence that had dominated the last mile of
our walk. "So what shall we call you? I mean you have to have a name. Do
have one you prefer? Fabio, for instance, or Bill?"
She stopped walking and doubled over laughing. There was
even a hearty laugh from a female somewhere in the dark.
Undeterred and unsure of how to act, I answered. "Give
me some time to mull over your suggestion. Not to hijack this conversation, but
I have a question that has been nagging at me.” She allowed me to continue.
“What is a changeling?"
The scantily dressed vampire did not stammer with her
answer. "You are becoming one of us. Your transformation is not final, but
from the changes I can smell within your body, it will not be long after your
first drink that you will fully move into your place here with the rest of us.
Listen, we are about to come upon the GV1s territory and we will have to be
careful. We will finish this conversation when we carry you to meet Walter. We
have to be quiet for the next little bit."
I heard the careful part and the GV1s. Those were more questions
that we would have to discuss. My thoughts were climbing over her answer. The
answer did not catch me off guard. I had really expected that to be the case. I
had wanted her to say it. I had to hear her say it. I had known for the better
part of the walk that I was more like her than I cared to admit. Why else would
she have protected me and not killed me herself? Why else had she treated me
with kindness and patience when none was warranted? I was family.
Chapter 8
Soon the long walk through the forest had given way to a
vast open field littered with burning torches. Fifty feet away was the curve of
a paved roadway that was in a state of repair. Paving equipment sat idly by
awaiting another day of use. The sight of the massive machines sitting empty
surrounded by the burning torches was an eerie site.
Before us the pavement cut through the middle of the plowed
earth. The roofs of some dilapidated farm houses and buildings could be seen in
the distance. The structures were dark. I try not to let my mind wander into
thoughts about what could be making its home there. Past those, lit street
lights were visible. The lights were miles away.
Tempted as I was to ask the obvious question if that was our
destination, I held back at her behest.
She anticipated the question. Placing her finger to her red
lips to remind me to be quiet, Veronica simply pointed in the direction of the
lights then
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