A Vampire In My Dreams
Chapter 1
I got up at the sound of the alarm from the old clock on the wall with a startle and tried to sit on the bed.
I felt as if there was no happiness left in the universe. There was only sadness, loneliness and depression all around. Perhaps someone was mourning somewhere at his loss.
It always happens with me whenever I take an evening nap. It had happened two times before but not with this intensity.
I felt like crying.
Unable to find any more strength to sit I let myself fall back on bed again.
I turned towards the open window and looked out.
There were old trees of Zizypus loaded with over-ripe berries. Two baby mongooses were playing with each other. And then there were apple trees.
Nothing unusual.
My mood was returning to normal. Perhaps it’s the light. Of course it was evening but it was not complete dark. There was still some light of the day. Light changes some neuro-chemicals in the brain. Perhaps because of that I started feeling better again.
Does it happen with everyone, I wondered or is it only with me, this miserable feeling after an evening nap? Or that unfortunate accident three months back has to do anything with it. The accident had left me weak and I had spent these three months mostly in bed.
“Tea.”
My thoughts were broken and I turned towards the source of voice.
It was Old Mazeed, my servant, suffering from arthritis and was perhaps thousands years old. He used to do everything very-very slowly but it suited me very well. I had no hurries in life anymore.
He held the tea cup with his shaking hand and carefully placed it on the deodar table without spilling a drop but it took him one full minute.
He then kept a plate with a hot pancake too on the table.
He turned back and started towards the door.
“Thanks, Old Majeed”, I said but he always seemed to be in some sort of anger not only to me but to everyone in general even though we never had much company in this house. Without a reply he left.
Life has its share of miseries but then there are moments of joy too.
Ginger tea of Old Majeed with pan-cake was one such joyful moment.
Few sips from that aromatic hot tea were definitely going to cure me.
I got up and started with this minimal but delicious supper.
Chapter 2
At 5:30 in the evening I picked up my green jacket and ran out of that big gothic and frightening house for my usual evening week.
Old Majeed muttered some curses, “Pick up cold. Damn evening walk. Die.”
I could hear only few words.
He never wanted me to go out for evening walk trough woods and to all the way up to the lonely sea beach.
But I liked the nature, the different kind of vegetations and different kind of animals which come out at this time of the day, meeting them were really experiences worth collecting in the basket of memories.
At instinct I started towards south. In south the vegetation was sparse but trees were taller. The serene and beautiful beach was just half a mile where I would love to go and sit on nearby hillocks for hours continuously enjoying the beautiful nature.
I walked randomly in the woods and then for half an hour on the beach. It was 7:00 and sun was down when I decided to return. It was really getting cold.
When I was nearly six-blocks from my house, I halted. In this route there were hardly eight houses, mostly empty but this one where I stopped caught me by surprise.
Suddenly there was someone in the house.
I went towards the wooden gate.
I saw a very handsome man, wearing leather gloves and pruning the hedge which had grown so wild over the years, with big-scissors.
Facial features of the man were like of a model. He was nearly 6 feet in height. But it was his complexion which I found bit strange - he was very white. I had never seen any person so white in my life.
Just then the man stopped pruning and looked in my direction as if he sensed my presence and my staring at him telepathically.
“Hi, there”, he was smiling.
“Hi”, I felt embarrassed. I should not have examined him like some specimen.
He came to me.
When he reached the gate he took his hand off the glove and offered me for a shake.
I shook his hand.
It was firm and very cold.
“I am Nathan”, he shook my hand.
“I am Daniel”, I said.
He then looked in my eyes and I felt strange. Very strange for the first time. This feeling I couldn’t compare to anything. I felt frozen for a second.
“So you live nearby?”
“Yes nearly six blocks away.”
“This is my grandpa’s house. I inherited it. I am a writer actually so shifted here to finish my fourth novel in peace. And what do you do?”
“Nothing. But as a hobby I like to paint sometimes.”
“That’s great. There is something common in both of us. We both are creative people.”
“Well, it’s just a hobby for me.”
“Never mind. Still it makes you creative. Well I have some work to finish. See you later.”
“Sure and you can tell me if you need anything.”
“Sure.”
After saying bye to mysterious Nathan I left for my gothic mansion.
When I came into the house, the dinner was ready.
Old Majeed had cooked veal and it looked delicious. But when I sat at the table I felt my hunger vanished.
“What’s happening?” I thought.
I drank some pomegranate juice and left for bedroom.
“Why this meeting with this stranger has such an effect on me?”
When I lied on bed, I could not help thinking about Nathan. His Adonis like face, rosy red lips, white complexion, muscular build.
There was no sleep in my eyes.
I got up and started painting to kill some time. To my surprise the face I painted was of Nathan. I must be under some spell.
Chapter 3
Next evening when I reached my spot near the beach which was near a hillock, I saw him.
I froze there and then.
He was sitting exactly on my spot, lying and writing something in his journals. Some papers were scattered here and there. An old leather satchel was lying around.
His back was towards me.
Why he picked this very spot I thought.
Was his choice same as mine!
Or was there something more. Was he telepathic? Could he read minds?
I should really stop reading stories about paranormal things, I thought. He was not some paranormal creature.
He is little too white. That’s it. And little too cold. So what? Some people have higher body temperature other has lower. It’s simple biology.
After ruling out that Nathan was any supernatural being I moved towards him.
“That’s my spot.”
He turned and smiled.
The most beautiful smile ever. Dazzling white teeth. Perfect jawline.
Why everything was to be excessively perfect about him.
Relax. Not again. I ordered my brain shut with this soothing but effective command.
“I didn’t know. Do you mind if I used it for a while say two hours.”
“Definitely, I mind. Ha ha.”
I sat beside him.
“So what are you doing here?” I asked.
“Came to visit this lonely sea and write something.”
“Oh, did I disturbed your writing?”
“Of course. You did.”
He said it with such seriousness that I really felt guilty.
“Oh, I am sorry. I can leave If you want.”
And then he bursted into laughters.
“I got you. You think only you have sense of humour.”
I started laughing too. I thought his laugh was too contagious.
One more clue, my brain whispered. And I told it to shut up.
While controlling his laughter Nathan then patted my back and said, “Now tell me what are you are doing here.”
“Well, I came for my usual evening walk.”
“You come daily in the evening?”
“Ya , mostly.”
“Alone.”
“Ya, alone.”
“Oh, that’s interesting.”
“What’s interesting?”
“Nothing.”
“So you never come for morning walk.”
“Well no. Can’t get up in the morning.”
“Are you telling me you are nocturnal like me?”
“I don’t think I get you.”
“I mean the one who is very active in night but sleep all day. You know I sleep very late in night and thus wake-up very late in day.”
“Is it same with you.”
“Well, no. I go to bed at 11 and wake up at 11.” I lied. But I didn’t want to give him a wrong impression. After the accident which killed my parents and only sister three months earlier, I had developed not only insomnia but amnesia too. I didn’t remember the accident and anything related to my family. Only Old Majeed had told me. Doctor Hawthorne said it’s a kind of survival mechanism. My brain had shut down the memories related to accident so that I will not feel the pain. Because I was so sensitive they feared that I might take my own life.
Of course this was his hypothesis. Of Dr. Hawthorne’s. He taught psychology at the University too.
But a hypothesis is a hypothesis and not truth until proven.
And then he had another hypothesis related to my insomnia. One part of my brain was guilty. Because I had survived the accident when my parents and sister had died. This guilt avoidance had created insomnia in me. Dr. Hawthorne had explained.
Bravo Dr. Hawthorne. My brain and all parts of it know everything about me and what to do about a particular situation of course except me. Whose side is this funny organ brain really is?
“You are partially nocturnal then”, Nathan said.
And then came the stereotypical question by a stranger to another stranger
who was trying to strike a friendship.
“Tell me about your family.” Nathan said.
“No. Can he really read my mind!”, I thought.
Shut up again – I said to my brain. The funny little organ.
“I don’t know about them.”
“Sorry. But I didn’t get you.”
“They died in a car accident and I developed amnesia after that. All memories blocked.”
“Oh. I am so sorry for your loss”, Nathan hold my hand while saying that.
“That’s alright. Months have passed.”
“You want to go and say hello to waves”, he said cheerfully trying to change the topic.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“How do you say hello to wave?”
“You sound so innocent at times. Just like a child. And I like it”, he looked at me.
I felt little ashamed. I should have understood there was no literal meaning to what he said and it was only figurative.
“Well, I was just saying. But now since you asked, there needs to be a method to be created to say hello to waves. Come.”
With suspense I followed him. What was he upto?
We reached near wet sands of the beach. He knelt down. When a wave came he pressed both his palms on it and said – Hello waves.
“This is how you say hello to waves Mr. Daniel.” He smiled.
“You can also say hello to waves.”
I found it childish but I did it.
“And how many babes you have said hello to?”
“Just this one. Now.”
“Ha ha. Mr. Innocent I mean babes, girls.”
“Oh.”
The question itself gave me pain.
“Did I have a girlfriend who may be searching for me?”
Old Majeed had said he never saw me with a girl. But what if it was a secret affair? In that case she would have come in search of him to my house.
But then again what if, if she didn’t know the address!
“Why you went so quite Danny? Is something wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You didn’t answer my question?”
“Which question?”
“Babes question.”
“No. I am single.” I tried to smile.
He looked at me and I made a mistake to look into his eyes. The hypnotism was still there.
“Let’s go home. It’s getting late”, he said getting up.
“Ya. It’s my supper time. Old Majeed will be angry.”
We started back to our homes.
Kindle e-Book: Read a new theory about the cause of homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality and even heterosexuality from which all three are derived. CLICK HERE or IMAGE.
Chapter 4
It was middle of the night. Sleep was away from my eyes as always.
I stood at the window and looked outwards. There was this orchard which had trees of different varieties – Apples, Pomegranates, Almonds, Apricots, Guavas and other wild trees, herbs and shrubs.
Beyond the orchard was his house – Nathan’s or rather his grandfather’s.
I don’t know why but I felt a strange urge to go through the orchard. It was not such a good idea. It was midnight and there was dark outside. I struggled with my mind but then decided to go out.
First I crossed the Apple trees, and then a small bunch of Pomegranates. I knew the garden very well. Next were Almonds.
Although there was moonlight in the sky but canopy of trees was preventing it from reaching in the orchard. I was using a small torch to move ahead.
After crossing Apricots and Guavas I saw the old boundary wall made of black granite stones.
I slowly moved ahead. And then I saw the towering house.
As I reached the wall and looked up I was totally shocked.
He was there.
Standing on the window of the topmost room of the house, directly looking at me.
I quickly slipped to the ground and sat there.
“Did he know that I was coming? What will I say tomorrow? But wait a minute, has he really seen me? Or was he just looking at the orchard. How can he see me in this darkness?”
I was really feeling foolish. To come here at this hour of the night on the first place was a foolish idea.
After some more contemplation I started back to my house.
I woke up at nine in the morning with a startle. It was a nightmare. I didn’t remember much of it but it felt as if something was sitting on my chest. Something big and black and with wings.
I stood up to go to the toilet but suddenly felt strange. Before I could do anything I fell on the floor and lost my sense.
It was Old Majeed who waked me up which was after about five minutes as I saw from the clock.
“What happened?”
“I feel very weak.”
“I see you haven’t taken your medicines. I will complaint to doctor Hawthorne.”
“Bring the medicines. I will take them right now.”
I was fearful not because of Old Majeed’s warning of complaint to Doctor Hawthorne but from the experience of fainting that I decided to take medicines.
Old Majeed brought the medicines and I took them with the milk he had already brought.
I went back to bed and slept for most of the day.
In the evening I got up and went for the evening walk but in north direction. I was embarrassed to face Nathan.
“What if he had seen me last night? He may get a very different idea about me.” I thought.
I walked half a mile when I saw a gathering of people. I went near them and was shocked.
There was a body of dead man. His face and body had marks as if some animal had clawed him.
“What happened? Who is he?”, I asked an old man standing nearby.
“I don’t know who is he? But he has been attacked by leopard or some animal.
He is dead.”
Two men brought some sheets and other started wrapping the body in them.
“Police needs to be informed”, someone said.
I didn’t feel to continue the walk so I turned back and started towards home.
Chapter 5
Next night I had a nightmare again but more vivid and terrifying this time.
I realised something was hovering on me. It was some monster with big black wings, red eyes and fangs.
I tried to repel the creature but could not move. I tried to scream but no voice came out.
The monster moved towards my throat. Now it was the end. It will cut my wind-pipe and I will die. It was this fearful thought which made me wake up with a start.
I was sweating and panting.
It took me some moments to realise that it was just a bad dream.
But then worse happened. Worse than the nightmare itself.
Something was sitting on the window. When I looked toward it, it jumped out.
I was never frightened in my entire life more than this.
Was I still in sleep and what I just saw was part of the night mare? Or was the nightmare a reality? Was that thing really hovering on me?
I got up and hurriedly went to Old Majeed’s room. I woke him up and narrated my ordeal.
He immediately brought some holy water and sprinkled on me and then in my room and the entire house.
He gave me a small bible to keep near my pillow.
I spent rest of the night in his room. But only towards dawn I fell asleep in the couch.
In evening I decided to stay home and skip the walk.
To change my mood, I thought of an idea for a new painting. I set the aisle and colors when Old Majeed came and said, “Some Mr. Nathan is asking for you.”
“What? Where is he?”
“At gate.”
“Gate? Didn’t you invite him in the house.”
“I did. He refused.”
I wiped my hands with towel and rushed out.
Nathan was standing outside the gate of the house, looking all the more handsome.
“Hi.” I said reaching near him.
“Hello. Where are you lost? I didn’t see you yesterday. I was waiting for you at the beach.”
“Oh. Sorry. I had fever.”
“Fever?”
“Ya. but I am fine now.”
“So do you want to go towards beach for some fresh air? It will be good for you.”
“I guess so. You want to come in and have some tea?”
“No. We shouldn’t get late.”
“Okay then. Let me get me my jacket.”
“Sure. I will wait.”
I ran inside the house and came back with my green jacket. I was relieved. He had not seen me that night in the orchard.
We then started towards the beach.
While sitting near beach I raised the topic of yesterday’s murder.
He was unaware of it.
“So how was he killed?”
“People were saying some leopard like animal might have killed him. But in the morning Old Majeed got to know about coroner’s report which said the man was not killed by any wild animal. But he was not certain what killed the man. Of course there were marks of claws but major injury was not there. The strangest thing was there was no blood left in man’s body. He might have died of bleeding but there was none at the site of murder.”
“May be someone killed him somewhere else and placed him there.”
“Yes. But there was no wound.”
“He might have died of heart attack.”
“But coroner didn’t say. He would have known. He is expert.”
“One thing is not making sense.”
“What?”
“There are no leopards or harmful canine in this area.”
I simply nodded.
We talked about different things for about half an hour. Surprisingly I was enjoying Nathan’s company. He could hold the conversations very well and he was very entertaining.
I didn’t tell him about my last night nightmare and the creature sitting at the window.
After a while we started back to our houses.
When we reached at the gate of his house he said, “Why don’t you come inside and have supper with me?”
Well I was surprised at this sudden invitation. I looked at the house. It was too big and gothic. Back portion standing tall on the hill.
“Thanks but some other day. Old Majeed will be worried.”
“Okay. Well I need a favour from you.”
He hold his journal towards me.
“This is the first draft of my novel. Will you please read and tell what you think about the plot?”
I felt special. A writer is entrusting me in reading in his first draft of his novel, something so personal and close to his hearts perhaps.
“Well, I am no good in literature.”
“I don’t need a literary genius. I want to know whether you like the story or not.”
“Well, okay.” I took the journal.
“See you then.”
“Good night.”
He opened the gate and went inside. I left for my home.
After supper I started reading Nathan’s novel. It was short and neat. I really liked the story which was basically a love story.
Somewhere towards the end of the novel I fell deep asleep.
I got up at four in the morning, all sweating and panting. I had the same nightmare.
Something was hovering on me. The nightmare was becoming more and more vivid. The creature had wings and face like a bat.
I looked at the window and was surprised. It was open.
Last night I had bolted it very carefully. How it can be opened? I went to window and looked out. There was orchard standing in pitch black dark.
I closed the window.
I went to washroom to wash my sweaty face. I splashed some water on my face from the tap and it was then when I saw some blood on my hands.
I was worried too much.
I checked in the mirror. There were scratch marks on my neck. Such marks will be formed if something claws at you.
Oh no. Something was terribly - terribly wrong. I thought.
I felt weak and lied in bed, thinking.
Soon it was dawn.
To light up my mood I decided to go to Nathan’s house and return his novel.
I took a breakfast of meat, bread, potato and pomegranate juice and left for Nathan’s house.
It was ten in the morning when I reached Nathan’s house. It was more frightening from inside than from outside. There were so many rooms and there was dark almost everywhere. Huge and thick curtains were covering the very few windows.
“Where was Nathan? Must be sleeping.”
And then I realised I had made a mistake. Hadn’t he told me he was nocturnal? He sleeps late and wakes up late.
I decided to glance at him from a distance and then return and come back in the evening.
I went towards his bedroom, but it was empty.
“Perhaps he was sleeping in some other room.”
I started roaming around the house. The rooms were dark and contained very old furniture and strange antiques pieces of decoration.
I could not found Nathan in front part of the house.
“He must be sleeping in the back part”, thinking I started ascending the staircase and reached at the upper level.
Rooms in this wing were all the more gloomy and dark.
I searched every room but Nathan was nowhere to be found.
Finally I reached the same room at the top, where I have seen Nathan that night.
The window was there overlooking at my orchard but it too was covered with thick curtains.
I wanted to see my orchard so I tried to pull the curtains back.
“What are you doing here?”
I turned with a startle.
Nathan suddenly appeared behind me. He appeared sleepy and agitated. He was in black sleepy robes.
“I came to return the novel.”
“Keep it there.”
I kept the journal on the table he suggested.
“We can see my orchard from here”, trying to strike a conversation I tried to pull the curtains back.
“No”, he almost shouted.
I was surprised at this aggressive tone of his voice.
“Light bites my eyes.” He tried to sound calm.
“Anything else?”, he said bluntly.
“No.” I said.
“I need more sleep.”
“Okay, Good bye.”
“See you in the evening.”
I just nodded and hurried towards the stairs.
I had never felt so insulted in my life. I resented and hated Nathan.
“What a great way to treat a guest who is visiting your house for the first time. What does he think of himself?
I tried to calm myself.
“How decent he had appeared so far but today he showed his true self. I can’t be friend with an unpredictable and insulting person like this.”
My day was all spoiled.
I took Doctor Hawthorne’s medicine and went to bed. “Even I need more sleep”, I thought.
Chapter 6
I was awakened by Old Majeed for lunch. After lunch I strode in the orchard. I ate an apple, a guava and went a mile south.
Finding nothing better to do I asked Old Majeed to model for a portrait. He denied at first but I offered some money.
I made his portrait in two hours and it came very nice. Even he liked it.
By now I was so tired that I decided to take a nap. I asked Old Majeed to bring ginger tea at six in the evening directly to bed.
It was five when I opened my eyes with great effort. For fifteen minutes I kept sensing a presence in my room, subconsciously while in sleep.
“There is someone standing at the foot of your bed and watching you. Wake up”, my mind was whispering.
But my eyes wouldn’t open up.
When finally awake, I looked at the window.
He was there.
The most beautiful creature among human was sitting there. Smiling.
It was Nathan.
He looked so elegant sitting on that window.
“Good evening.”
“Good evening.” I got up in the bed and yawned.
“Get up you lazy bones. We need to go for our walk.”
I remembered his behaviour in the morning and compared with his mannerism now.
“How one can be so antagonistic?”
Before I could say anything, Old Majeed entered with his food trolly.
“On time you are.”
“Mr. Nathan had come to see you.”
“I met Mr. Nathan.”
“Old Majeed tried to make tea for us.”
“You can go. I will do it.”
“Old Majeed left.”
I made a cup of tea and offered it to Nathan. I made another cup for myself.
I offered him pan-cakes also which Old Majeed had brought. But he denied. I ate one myself.
After evening snacks we went out.
We didn’t talk on our way to the beach. He tried to strike conversations in between but I answered as briefly and uninterestingly as possible.
When we reached at beach we sat on the rocks near oak trees.
“Why are you so quite today?”
“Nothing. Just don’t have the mood I think.”
“Or is it my behaviour in the morning?”
He hold my hand, “I apologise. I really do. You need to understand this. When I have to get up that early in the morning I feel quite agitated. You understand this.”
“I understand.”
“So you forgive me.”
“Yes.”
“That’s great.”
Well, everything was all right again. He explained his behaviour and apologised.
So it was not a big thing, I thought. We all have some weaknesses. He had no control over his mood in the morning that’s it. No big deal.
“So tell me what you think about the story. And give me honest opinion. Don’t act like my mother.”
“Well, I really liked the story. It’s so unique. But the little girl should not die in the end.”
“Really? You liked the story!”
“Yes. It’s brilliant.”
“Okay.”
“What about the little girl?”
“Look she has to die. That only would be logical.”
“But it made me sad.”
“So you will remember the story better.”
“So you will not change it because you want people to remember the story.”
“No, I said her death is logical. Long remembrance is just an added benefit by default of it.”
“Allright. You know better. So when will the book be published?”
“First I need to send it to publishers. The whole process may take six months.”
“That long?”
“Yeah. That’s how it works.”
We walked along the beach for sometime.
“What’s that?”, Nathan asked. He was pointing towards the old temple on the hill.
That’s a temple of some old god. Great piece of architecture. If you want to go we can go there tomorrow morning.
“No, not in the morning.”
I realised my mistake.
“In evening?”
“What about after sunset?”
“Well it’s very far. And will be midnight while we return.”
“Night is good. And exciting”.
“And full of wild creatures”.
“No wilder than me”.
“Really?”
He laughed and I joined him.
Finally we could not agree on any schedule to visit the old temple so the plan was abandoned and we returned home.
I had developed a fear of sleep owing to my recurring nightmares. So all night long I tried to do one thing or the other to keep myself awake.
Sometimes I will start reading some romantic novel or try to paint some picture.
At one I felt sleepy. I started reading a horror novel but just after five pages I felt fearful and threw the novel on chair.
I went to kitchen for water.
While returning I peeped in Old Majeed’s room.
To my surprise he was not there.
It was past midnight and Old Majeed never stayed out so late. Maybe he had gone to his sister-in-laws house where he used to go sometimes but he would have told me.
I returned to my room. There was nothing else I could do.
I started a painting but threw it away after some time.
Near dawn I got a powerful nap and the nightmare.
Some creature was again hovering on me. Just then it started sucking my blood from my neck. It was whispering strange things in my ears – I love you Daniel. I love you. You are so charming, youthful, and warm. You will be mine.
I tried to scream for help but nothing came out of my mouth. I could not move a finger even. I felt as if I was paralysed. I was getting weak and weak. After full meal the bat like creature flew away from my bed.
I opened my eyes.
I didn’t bother to check my neck or wash my face. I just wanted to sleep and relax.
After few hours Old Majeed brought me breakfast of scrambled eggs, bread, and hot coffee.
I ate like a hungry man and felt good.
“Where were you last night?”
“At Terryl’s.”
“Terryl’s? That old bar.”
“Yes. My friends invited me. It was Tiro’s birthday.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Why din’t you tell me?”
“You were sleeping.”
“Sleeping? I didn’t sleep till late.”
“Yes, you were. Perhaps a nap. You sleep so less I didn’t think it wise to wake you.”
“What time you came back?”
“Very late. I thought at three. It was long time since I had so much fun in my life.”
He really looked ecstatic.
“Good Majeed. You should go out often. You should enjoy a little.”
“If only this arthritis would allow me.”
“Why don’t you go out? I saw your friend at bar.”
“Which friend?”
“Nathan.”
“Oh. He was there? What was he doing there?”
“Drinking. What else?”
“Did you meet him?”
“No. He didn’t see me. We were in other room. I glanced at him while I went to toilet. But he didn’t see me.”
“Okay.”
“He didn’t invite you?”
“To what?”
“For a drink.”
“Umm. No. besides I don’t drink.”
“But how does he know when he didn’t invite you.”
“Take away the plates please. I am done.”
Old Majeed got the signal and dragged the trolly away. His old sullen mood was back.
“Who was he with?”
“Alone”, Majeed said and shut the door.
Chapter 7
Me and Nathan were going towards beach in the evening. After few blocks we saw a crowd. People were loading an unconscious man in a jeep. After sometime the jeep drove away.
“What happened?” Nathan asked a man.
“Another one died”, the man replied.
“How?”
“Like the other two.”
“Animal attack?”
“Yes. It seemed so. There were marks of claws on face and neck.”
“Let’s go”, Nathan said and we both resumed our walk towards beach.
“Do you really think an animal is killing these people?”, I asked.
“No. There is no such wild animal in this area.”
“Then?”
“Some serial killer must be on the loose.”
“But those scratches of claws.”
“Well, the killer may be wearing some gloves with claws. After killing he may be putting those marks on faces and body of the victim to put the suspicion on some animal.”
“Hope police catches him soon.”
“Yeah.”
We had reached the beach and sat on the hill on our usual spot.
“So, how was your last night? Could you sleep?”
“Boring. I started editing my novel and this is the most boring part of the job.”
“For how long?”
“How long what?”
“I mean how long you edited?”
“Perhaps for three- four hours. After that I slept.”
“So you stayed home all night?
“Yes. Why?”
“I was thinking there is an old bar of Terryl’s. They serve amazing beer. If you like sometimes we can go there, at night of course since we both sleep late.”
“Well, that’s a great idea. Were you there last night?”
“No. it’s been a while since I went there. Almost a month. Didn’t have a company.”
“Okay. We can plan some night.”
“Okay.”
When I reached the house, I saw Old Majeed was putting some weird necklaces around the house.
“What are you doing?”
“Protecting you.”
“Protecting how? What are those things?”
“Garlick necklaces. Haven’t you heard? There is a rumour, no animal is killing these people but some vampire.”
“What? Do you really think vampire exists in reality?”
Old Majeed looked at me as if I have asked – Do God exists?
I felt guilty to spoil his mood again and ran into the house.
I could not sleep that night. I was deeply anxious.
“Why Nathan lied to me? He was there at Terryl’s last night, Old Majeed had seen him. He was out last night and a murder had also occurred.”
Thoughts after thoughts begin to torture my mind.
“Why is he so white?”
“Why is he cold to touch?”
“Why I feel strange while looking into his eyes?”
“Why he hates sunlight?”
“Why he sleeps in day and wakes in night?”
“Who have I started getting nightmares as soon as he had moved in the neighbourhood?”
“Is he visiting me in nights and sucking my blood? And I foolishly think that it’s a nightmare whereas it’s happening in real. There were scratches on my neck also. And do I feel weak day by day because of loss of blood?”
“Who is killing the innocent people? Was Old Majeed right?.”
“No. No. No.”, I tried to tell my brain but suspicion has got it’s tight hold on it.
“So was Nathan really a Vampire? A monster who is killing people? And who eventually kill me too?”
All of a sudden I felt heart - broken, sad and depressed.
I had found a great friend in him. I used to feel so happy around him.
“But wait a second,” I thought, “Am I thinking too much again. Just because he lied about yesterday’s night is it fair putting everything against him? He may have other reason to lie and who doesn’t lie every now and then?”
I was in great dilemma. My one half of brain wanted to suspect Nathan as vampire and other doesn’t.
After battling with thoughts for long, I finally decided to spy and collect evidences. That’s it. With some proof only I could prove the true nature of Nathan.
Chapter 8
In morning I tried to carefully speak to old Majeed about vampires again.
“Majeed, I get nightmares about a creature who hovers on me and tries to bite my neck.”
He was shocked.
“What? You are not joking again.”
“No. God promise.”
“And I feel very weak. You have noticed. What do you think is happening?”
“May god bless us. He crossed his head and darted towards me and analyzed my neck.”
“What are these scratches?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you think? A vampire is visiting me?”
“I don’t know master. But you should visit Dr. Hawthorne immediately. He is a man of great knowledge. He must know what to do.”
But I suspected.
“Do Doctor Hawthorne believes on vampires.”
But instead of visiting Doctor Hawthorne I decided to visit Nathan. It’s morning and he will be sleeping. The maid was only part-time and must not be there before 11:00 according to his instructions. I could search the house for clues. There must be a coffin. A vampire has to sleep in that. And if he wakes up I must force him in the sun on some excuse.
I picked an apple pie and started for Nathan’s house.
I searched nearly a dozen rooms in the lower quarter of the house. There were no windows and no mirrors but only dark and gloom.
I went upstairs and looked in his bedroom. He was sleeping there looking more handsome than ever.
“Had my blood given him more life and beauty?”
I went to other rooms.
In one room at the attic, I saw a candle was still burning. There were so many pages scattered on the carpet. There was an old box on one side. I opened it and was surprised. There were so many leather bound books about vampires; their origin, history, immortality, rituals, traditions and many more.
I tried to read some of the books, but they were written in strange language.
Leaving the books, I turned to my left and saw a locked door. There was a symbol of bat on the big iron lock.
I stared at the lock for some time when I heard the noise of a broken cup.
I got up immediately and rushed down. I stood in the living room with the apple-pie.
I saw Nathan coming out of the kitchen.
He was drinking something from the cup.
“Oh Daniel. What a pleasant surprise?”
“He was not agitated or angry today on the contrary his mood was very pleasant.”
“Majeed had baked apple pies. I brought you one.”
I offered him the pie.
“Wao. Thanks. They are my favourites.”
“You want tea or coffee?”
“No thanks. I am good.”
“Okay. Make yourself at home. I will have a bath and then we will talk.”
“Sure.”
“When he went for the bath I searched some more rooms but I could not find a coffin anywhere.”
Nathan was back from his bath. We both were drinking hot chocolate shake.
“Have your written any novel about vampires?”
“Vampires? No. Never.”
“Okay have you read any vampire literature?”
“No. I don’t like that crap.”
“Okay. Can we go out? I want to see your orchard.”
“No. Not at this time.”
“Why?”
“Too much light out there. I prefer to sit in dark Daniel. I am different from others.”
I sipped my chocolate shake quietly.
When I returned home I was almost sure that I was sipping chocolate shake with the vampire.
He had never read vampire literature and I saw one trunk full of vampire history in his room at the attic.
And then was he really admitting it when he said - I prefer to sit in dark Daniel. I am different from others. Was he dropping hint at me? Does he want to get discovered like every killer?
Or was he sure of my naivety that even after confessing, I will fail to see the truth.
I decided to meet Doctor Hawthorne to know about his opinion. I asked Old Majeed to get my car lying idle in the garage ready for next morning. He felt happy that finally I was going to see the doctor.
Chapter 9
Next morning I donned my best attire and came out of the house. Old Majeed told me that he had parked the car just in front of gate. I saw it. It was an old model of Mercedes. I walked toward it when I stopped in my way with my jaws dropped.
Nathan was walking toward me. In bright sunlight.
“No. His skin didn’t sparkle like diamonds! Neither it burned”, I was baffled deeply.
“Going somewhere”, he met me in the middle.
“To see Doctor Hawthorne.”
“Oh. That’s a good idea. You look so pale. Handsome but pale. By the way I thought we could go to that old temple but your visit is more important.”
All this time I kept on looking at all areas of his bare skin - face, hands, neck.
But no smoke anywhere, no glitter.
But no smoke anywhere, no glitter.
He was standing there smiling.
“So he is not a vampire. Not a monster. Now what’s the use of going to Doctor Hawthorne now”, I thought but I had told Nathan and Old Majeed also knew it so I had to go anyways.
“You want to go to temple in daytime? But there is light.”
“Well, my moods change a lot. It’s psychological. I hope you can bear a psychotic friend like me.”
He laughed. And I had to laugh too.
“Okay my friend, don’t get late. Move on. London is three hours from here. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
I sat in Mercedes and drove off.
Nathan kept waving.
Doctor Hawthorne was so glad to see me. He received me with so much warmth as if he was meeting some old and beloved friend after long time.
After greetings and talks about health and life I asked him directly.
“Doctor Hawthorne do you believe in vampires?”
“Vampires? What rubbish?”
“You don’t believe?”
“No. Neither in vampire nor in god.”
Well with that statement from Doctor Hawthorne my purpose of meeting was already over.
“But why would you ask that?”, he said.
“I think a vampire is attacking me in the night and drinking my blood.”
“Ha ha ha. Daniel which century are you living in? Do you have any proof of what are you saying?”
“Yes. I saw the vampire in my nightmares.”
“Last night I saw a zombie ate me alive in my dream. What else?”
“I have marks on my neck. I showed him my neck.”
“Well, yes there are scratches. How do you got them?”
“I told you.”
“Well, my dear. I don’t know how vampire sucks blood. But I have seen Dracula, the fiction film of course, in that there use to be two round marks on the neck and not scratches like yours. Stop wandering in that wild orchard of yours. These are scratches from some thorny bushes.”
“What if this vampire has changed his strategy of sucking blood? What if he is clawing the neck and then drinking the blood to avoid suspicion?”
“Tell me one thing. Do you really believe what you are saying.”
“I am afraid not.”
“Then why are you talking in this manner. Which is definitely not Daniel’s.”
“Well there is a rumour in the countryside. Wanted to know your opinion about vampires.”
“You knew now. Well how’s insomnia now.”
“I think it’s curing slowly.”
“That’s great. And what about amnesia? Could you remember anything of accident?”
“No. Besides I don’t want to remember a thing about that wretched accident, doctor.”
“Well, that’s okay my dear. Time will heal all wounds.”
“But I feel very weak doctor.”
“You have anaemia. I can tell from your paleness. I noticed it at the very first look of you. I will give you iron tablets for six months and lots of vitamins. Try to eat healthy food - meat, eggs, fish, milk and yes, plenty of fruits from that orchard. Majeed is excellent cook. Why don’t you take advantage of him my young friend? Do this and in no time you will be as healthy as a rose my dear.”
While returning from Doctor Hawthorne’s house I crossed the University. I saw a library few blocks away. I stopped the car and went inside.
I wanted to check whether a vampire could stay in sunlight. May be there are specific days. Or it could be that, if a vampire stays in dark for one month he was allowed to spend a day or two in the sunlight.
I just wanted to make it sure that Nathan was not a vampire and his today’s feat was not a hoax or something to befool me.
I searched in paranormal sections and then vampire subsections.
After going through so many useless books I came across a book entitled
“Hybrid-Vampire.”
A hybrid vampire, according to the book was one who was born a human but converted into vampire due to his or her own will by the bite of a natural vampire.
Such vampires had no magical abilities, they could roam in sunlight also, garlic wouldn’t affect them and they needed not to sleep in a coffin too.
As I read my fear grew stronger. What the hell? Instead of solving the puzzle, this wretched book made me more confused.
So was Nathan a hybrid-vampire? Is that why I didn’t find any coffin in his house? Is that why he had no effect of sunlight? Is that why he came into my house without any resistance despite Old Majeed had hanged garlic necklaces?
My head was spinning.
I looked at the book. Perhaps the book was a scam. It seemed to be written by some con-man. I put the book back in the shelf and hurried out of the library.
At night I was at the south end of the orchard near the boundary wall. Just then I saw Nathan going towards the town. He was wearing a jacket with a hood covering his head and half of the face. But I could recognise him very well from here.
I saw a big opportunity to search the locked room in his house.
I rushed and went into his house. I searched in his bedroom and found a bunch of keys. While going out of the room I saw a large dressing mirror near the door.
Well, if he is hybrid-vampire…
But then I saw a large tub of sun-scream.
So he used suns-cream to come to my house this morning. Big cheat. But if he is a hybrid –vampire why would he need suns-cream?
Nothing was making sense.
Well time was running so I rushed to the room in the attic. I didn’t want Nathan to return and catch me red handed and kill me at once instead slowly.
Soon I reached the room in the attic. I searched for the key for the locked door but it was easy. On the key too there was a symbol of bat. I turned the key in the big iron lock and it opened with a click.
I went inside and it was then when I got the shock of my life.
In the middle of the room was lying an old wooden coffin.
On the floor was lying a black cape. I lifted the cape and dropped immediately. There was dried blood on the cape.
Tears filled my eyes.
Nathan was a vampire.
Chapter 10
In the afternoon while I was lying in bed thinking, Old Majeed told me about another murder which had happened last night.
I hated Nathan all the more.
I had decided to end his blood thirsty murder spree.
I could not let him kill any more innocent people. Neither could I let him suck my precious blood.
“I will visit the priest of the Church in the evening and discuss with him. If necessary I will show him all the evidences. Perhaps he will know some vampire hunters and send some who can put a wooden stake through Nathan’s heart”, I shivered at the thought but I had to gather all my courage.
Let his charm didn’t befool me anymore. After all he was a monster.
Planning everything I went back to sleep.
My sleep was disturbed with a loud thud.
I opened my eyes and saw Nathan standing and staring at me.
“Go away. I said.”
“What?”
“I said go away. You monster”, somehow I didn’t fear him.
“Monster?”
“Yes. I know everything about you.”
“What are you saying Daniel? What everything?”
“You are not a human. You are a VAMPIRE.”
As I said this he burst into laughter.
“Stop it.”
He stopped and looked very serious all of a sudden.
“Go away. Your time is over.”
“Daniel”, he said very slowly, “I am not a vampire but….”
“Shut up. Shut up. I have evidences.”
“What? Do you really think that I am vampire?”, he sounded very serious.
So he was taking it as a joke.
“I don’t think. I know. I have evidences.” I said bitterly.
“Well, let’s hear about them.”
“Yes. One by one. Let me ask you some questions. And answer me honestly.
“Sure. I will.”
“Why are you so white? I never saw anyone so white.”
“Well I am a Caucasian and my origin is from Norway. I have seen people this white and whiter than this. I think you have not seen sufficient number of people then. So you think I am a vampire because I am white?”
“Wait. There are other questions. You are always cold. Why?”
“I have hypothermia. You can see my doctor’s report.”
“You don’t go in sunlight?”
“Yesterday, I stood in sunlight with you.”
“With sun’s - cream.”
“Yes. I have actually a kind of allergy from sun-light. Being this white and very less melanin I cannot bear sun-light for long. Doctors have asked me to avoid it.”
“You don’t sleep in night but in day.”
“Insomnia. Told you.”
“Why you lied to me that you were not at Terryl’s bar that night when you were gone there. Old Majeed had seen you.”
“Well, I always found an innocent boyish quality in you that I admired. I thought I should not spoil you by taking you to a bar or even tell you about some bad habit I have. Perhaps I was afraid that you will judge me as alcoholic. But later I found that you like alcohol.”
“Why you lied that you don’t read vampire’s literature? I saw a box full of vampire books”
“The box belonged to my grandpa’s. Besides the books are written in Russian and I don’t know that language.”
“I saw a coffin at your house and blood coated clothes.”
“So you were spying on me. Well, I do theatre sometimes. I have written a few plays too. The coffin and cape were props from my last play. The blood on cape was of goat bought from a butcher and used during the play.”
“Why did I start getting nightmares as soon as you came to this place? Who’s visiting me at night?”
“What nightmares? Well all people get bad dreams one time or the other in their life. And it may be a coincidence that you started getting them after my arrival. You have insomnia, you have amnesia, you get nightmares. Really Daniel you have quite a bit psychological problems. Are you done?”
I could not find any more questions to ask.
Was he telling honestly or was he lying?
So I asked him my last question, “Who killed all those people?”
“Do you really want to know Daniel? Then brace yourself. It was YOU. You Daniel. You have killed all those innocent people.” Nathan shouted.
“Shut up. Shut up.”
“I am not a vampire Daniel but - YOU ARE.”
“Liar. Stop it.”
“Okay. Now it’s my turn to ask questions. Why don’t you sleep during night?
Why do you lie in your bed all day long?”
“Accident had given me insomnia. You knew that.”
“Okay.”
“Where were you last night?”
“Here. In my bed. Sleeping.”
“Then who did we saw?”
I was surprised.
“Attacking and killing an innocent man. Not one but three of us.”
“What the devil you are saying?”
Suddenly I felt frightened and angry.
“Me and two people were returning from Terryl’s nearly at three in the morning. There was no vehicle so we were marching on foot.
When we reached near the old cemetery we heard a scream. We saw someone attacking a man. I saw the attacker was in black robes and he was hovering at least one foot in the air.
I was terrified to death.
But the old man with us had not noticed the hovering, perhaps he was too drunk. Suddenly he turned the torch at those two and to our terror shouted – Hey!
The attacker in black robes suddenly looked at us perhaps by mistake. And then in the torch light I saw to my extreme shock and horror – It was you Daniel. It was you. You were attacking the man.
Just then you left the dead man who fell on the ground and flew away like a bat towards your orchard.
All three of us were very terrified. But the two men hadn’t recognised you.
There were tears in my eyes.
“No. No. That’s no possible.”
“You are hovering Daniel.”
“I looked down and saw my foot were two feet above the ground.”
“You need any more evidence?”
I realised I was in a cape which had blood on it.
I put my feet down.
“I never knew. I never knew. Why I never knew.” I cried.
“Because you are a vampire with amnesia. You have killed people in your fugue state. In fugue state people don’t remember what they had done in that state.”
“Why mirrors show my reflection? Why garlic don’t repel me? Why sunlight doesn’t hurt me? Why don’t I need to sleep in a coffin?” I thought.
But I already knew the answers.
I was a hybrid-vampire.
Finally I looked at Nathan directly in his eyes. And I got the answer why I always felt strange because of his eyes.
It was nothing. Just passionate euphoria.
I heard bats screeching in some room nearby.
“I never meant you any harm.” I finally said.
“You are a monster Daniel. You are dangerous to humanity. The house is surrounded by people with guns and stakes. Everyone knows about you now. So surrender and go calmly.”
Just then I saw Nathan lifting his right arm. He was holding a sharp ended wooden stake.
Suddenly, he thrusted the stake towards me.
The aim of course was – my heart.
Kindle e-Book: Read a new theory about the cause of homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality and even heterosexuality from which all three are derived. CLICK HERE or IMAGE.
