Christopher Buecheler [II Am The Blood That Bonds (epub)

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.Theroen looked straight, down the road, unable to meet Two’s eyes.His hands were clenched into fists, his lips pursed into a thin white line.“They loved it, and I hated them for it.And I hated myself even more.”“Theroen.” Two touched his arm.“Do these things surprise you, Two?” He took her hand, tightened his own around it for a moment, let it drop.“No.Not that you hated yourself for it.That’s no surprise at all.That’s not you, Theroen.”“Is it not? Abraham did not instruct me in these things.His first attempt was a dismal failure.The very next night I awakened, horrified to discover myself on a stone slab in a mausoleum, and Abraham was there, with a human.He forced the man’s neck to my teeth, laughing at my screams, my prayers, my promises of atonement and reasoning with a God I had forever left behind.“Oh, and his sweat was rank.Bitter.Disgusting.His screams mingled with my own, but I drank … and drank.I felt him pass into death, and I wept.Abraham looked upon me in disgust and left me there weeping, returning only near dawn to drag me back to the crypt where the coming sun paralyzed my limbs, battered me into sleep.“It was four days before I drank again.I starved.The thirst raged until I could bear it no longer.I took another human, this time away from Abraham, who had once again left me to my own devices, appalled at my inability to accept the gift he had given me.There was a young woman, kneeling at the grave of her father, whispering, grieving.”Theroen shook his head, his eyes distant.“I took her like a storm, unfamiliar with my strength, desperate in my hunger.I broke her spine shoving her head backward, tore away the heavy garments at her neck, ripped most of her throat out with my teeth … all of this before she could even have been aware of what was happening.And when it was done, I was glad.I was glad to take something from these creatures of God, and leave them nothing in return.”Two watched him, saying nothing.Theroen’s face was grim.There was no reminiscence in this tale, only the memory of events he would sooner have forgotten.“It’s all rather sordid, really.” Melissa came up behind Two, touched her shoulder, looked at Theroen.“Sort of surprising, given your nature, Theroen.My first time was so cut and dried.You brought me to that nice man’s house in Brooklyn.His wife had passed away earlier that year and he wanted to die.We sat and talked, kissed a little, and then I took him.He died smiling.”“You know less of my nature than you might think, Melissa.I’ve had four hundred years to study it, and learn it for myself.”“Well, what I know of it is that you’re way too conservative to be a vampire, and you’re really good at getting Two all nerved up on her first night as one!” Melissa touched Two’s shoulder again, smiling, impish, unwilling to allow Theroen any more time in his melancholy.Two laughed.“Actually, I sort of figure that this can’t possibly be as bad as what Theroen just described.”“I assure you it won’t be.” Theroen at last looked at her, then glanced down the street again.They were approaching the first houses on the outskirts of the small town, windows dark and dead.Two supposed that in the day the town must look quaint and picturesque.She wondered when she would see daylight again, how long it would take before her body was equipped to cope with it, as Theroen had told her it would be.For now, she supposed it didn’t matter.Theroen and Melissa had adjusted to life under the moon.So would she.Strains of music in the air.Two listened, but couldn’t pinpoint the source.“Where’s that music coming from?”“You owe me fifty dollars.” Theroen was grinning at Melissa.“Shit.Fuck! I totally thought it’d be at least another half mile.”“What are you talking about?” Two questioned, bemused.“I heard it about a mile ago.Theroen, probably back by the cars.We made a bet on when you’d hear it, while you were thinking about Theroen’s story and not paying attention.I didn’t think your ears would get that good, that quick.” Melissa shrugged.“There is a bar.It is the only place you’ll find anyone awake at this hour, without invading homes.” Theroen gestured down the road, toward the center of town.“I think there you will find a suitable—”“Client,” Two muttered.Theroen raised an eyebrow, and she shook her head.“Never mind, Theroen.Old memories.”“I know those well.This man … you’ll know him.You’ll sense him.Trust me.”“And why is he suitable?”“You wanted someone who deserves death, yes?”Two nodded.“He beat his wife to death, two years ago, for breaking a glass while cleaning the kitchen.She was six months pregnant with their first child.He beat her to death with a chair leg, and then drove across three states to dispose of her body.He lied his way through the investigation and came out clean.She is still considered a missing person.”“How do you know this?“I read the paper, and I read minds.I was curious.I parked my Ferrari, walked through the woods, stood in the shadows outside his home and concentrated until I had all of the information I wanted.”“Why didn’t you kill him yourself?”Theroen shrugged.“They are mortals.What does it matter to me? Besides, as Melissa mentioned previously, I prefer to drink from women.”“Is this the wrong way to start, Theroen?”“There is no wrong way.There is only the thirst and the blood.Is this what you wanted, Two? If it is not, I can happily lead you elsewhere, but I thought here you might find some respite from guilt.”Two nodded.“This will work, Theroen.Are you sure I’ll know him?”“You will sense that darkness in him, I believe.For me it shines out like a beacon.”Two took a deep breath, steeled herself.“Okay, then.”She headed for the bar alone [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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