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The Present is All I have.This group of kids was one of the stupidest yet. This place was abandoned years ago and even before that stories were told. But still they came, on a bet most likely. Not that I care why they came, only that they did. It meant that we wouldn't need to hunt. In case you're wondering my name is Stephanie Toth and I died here in this room over 50 years ago. In case you can't tell the room I'm talking about is the former band room. I sneered in contempt as I listened to the boy in front tell the others that this place was haunted by ghosts. Ghosts! The indignity of it! While he was right that the school was haunted, he was dead wrong about the ghosts. My circle and I are something far greater. I really shouldn't call it mine though. I called the rest down for breakfast as I waited in the dark. We would feast tonight. I suppose I should tell you my back story while I'm waiting. It's much more interesting than hearing about my hunger watching those humans. Though I should think that all of you would know it. It was national news. Twelve kids in band all killed in the same room, in the same manner and all those adults around? It was almost impossible not to make headlines. There were many guesses as to who killed us. They were all wrong. We were all at the school for the senior banquet; the one thing could bring us all together. Save for band of course. I went to the band room right after I got my award. I was the first to be killed. I know because when I left the others were all still alive. I remember walking around the room, saying my own little good byes and hearing a noise behind me. I wasn't really scared of course. None of the ghost stories ever mentioned the band room being haunted. But what haunted the school then-and still haunts it now, thanks to our circle-is vampires. So I turned to the noise and saw red eyes. After that all I have is what the others tell me. One by one they got worried and came after me. Kelley says that she was the third one to come down and bought her mother with her. She was the only adult to survive. We came all came around that night and met our maker. He's still here but stays in the gym while we roam. Every now and then we bring him food like tonight I suppose. I twisted my senior ring in anticipation. "Nervous, Toth?" whispers a voice on my left. "Oh didn't you know Kotzie? The sight of blood makes me squirm," I quip glancing sideways. Kotzie covered her mouth to hide a giggle. "Yeah me too. With hunger," Becky adds crouching beside Kotzie, “When do they plan to start?" I smirk at her. "Fifty years, Becky and you're still so impatient. Just wait. Everyone's nearly in place and the cattle aren't going anywhere." "I just don't understand why we're being so dammed theatrical about all of it," Becky whispered back, “Why not just surround them? My teeth are starting to hurt." "Silence thine mouth, Rebecca. After all you aren't the one who's had to sit here and wait for an hour. Now control your hunger before I control it for you." I growl. "There's our signal," hissed Kotzie.I pushed a row of music stands over and watch them jump. Our resident fallen angels, Kelley and Sarah, come out of the shadows looking quite apologetic. They've positioned themselves so the moonlight will hit them just right. It highlights their white shirts and golden hair for an interesting effect. I can feel and smell the boys reacting to it. "Oh god I am so sorry about that," Kelley simpers playing with her hair. Sarah gives them the wide eyed smile look and says "We're so glad you came." She too starts with the hair. "Yeah we've been here so long." Chyle and Brandie were the next up all the way across the room.They smile as well but they look more sinister, probably due to the fangs. Though I think the boys at least are paying more attention to their hip hugger jeans and belly shirts. Both begin to glide towards Kelley and Sarah, leaving just enough room for one person beside Chyle. One or two of the girls looks a little nervous but on the whole they seem okay. "Well you know we'd be glad to help you ladies out," says one of the boys trying to be macho. I take that as my cue. "Well ya know, we've been here so long we were almost dying of hunger," I whimper rising from the gloom. Kotzie and Becky are right on my heels. More of the ladies are getting worried but the males are to busy ogling what my lover calls my "come fuck me" outfit. And then one of them gets it. "Dying from hunger?" he asks getting nervous all over again, "Just how long have you been here?" Hartwell and Ponti move into the spaces we've left next to Sarah and Kelley. Our kill begins to back up. "W-w-well we'd love to help and all but we should be going," one of them manages to stutter out. One of the girls titters nervously. We keep them moving backward until they hit Jason and Kieran. The humans turn to look for at them and jaws drop. Kieran is tall, black and muscular-in short terrifying. "Aww have to leave so soon?" Jason asks. The two of them are blocking the only exit. "Well that's too bad," growls Kieran. He grabs one of the girls by the neck and pulls her forward. "Because you're our meal." His fangs sink into her neck and the cattle attempts to run. We begin the slaughter. I grab one as he tries to break for the windows. "You shouldn't have come here," I whisper in his ear before snapping his neck with one twist. I dump him on the floor and survey the room. "God damn it!" I shout. The others look up from their meals. "What's wrong, Steph?" Brandie asks. "One of them is missing," I growl, pissed at missing my meal. "Do you want help with finding him?" Becky asks. "No. He and I have business to take care of." I answer. Becky shrugs, "As you wish. Did you leave some for Ali?" I gesture to the boy whose neck I snapped. "Right there." She smiles and returns to her kill. See Ali was the only one who couldn't handle being undead. She went fully insane within 3 months. Most of us wanted to get rid of her since she was so violent, but Becky said guard girls take care of their own and promised to feed and take responsibility for her. We keep her up in the spotlight area chained up. We always leave some food for her.Once I walked out of the band room I picked up the runt's trail easily. The scent of his fear was like a neon sign pointing the way. I found him in the sewing room on the second floor trying to get out of a window. I lounged carefully against the door. The windows through out the school were sealed shut and boarded over; he wasn't getting out. "You can't leave that way," I said casually. The boy whipped around and he wet himself. "Please," he whimpered, "Please I'm just a normal kid. Don't kill me." I glide to where he's kneeling on the floor and cup his chin in my hand. "So was I, once," I smiled sadly. I heaved him up and threw him across the room. He slammed into the ironing board and tried to stagger back up. I walked over lazily slammed my fist into his chest. After just generally beating him up I decided to take pity on him and sank my fangs into his neck. His blood exploded into my mouth and I savored every drop. I could taste adrenaline and fear and some undeniable spice which is in all human blood. After I was done with him I sat on the window sill and crocheted. You might be wondering why a group of vampires would choose a catholic school for a hunting ground. Mostly because the city was an excellent food source. The crosses just sting a little they don't really hurt us. And we cut up the tarp from the gym to cover the windows once the school closed down until then we were very careful where we slept. Which was hard, considering teachers like to stay after hours. But you get really good at hiding after ten years. That's how long we had to wait until all the deaths forced the school to close down.
Ponti popped his head in after a few minutes. "Hey your lover's looking all over for you and Keiran's coming around in fifteen minutes," he says casually. I notice him looking at the shirt my kill was wearing. "If you want it take it," I say gesturing towards him, “It’s not like he'll be using it. And check the washer for me." The washer is in the foods lab. I had our uniforms in there to be cleaned. We kept them for hunting, after all nothing is more innocent than a catholic school uniform. After Ponti took the shirt and left I locked the door behind him and went to the closet. I needed to change for the big night. I opened the closet and tried to decide what to wear. Tonight was our anniversary. Not a big one you understand, only the 32nd but I still wanted to look good. I took off the lacy, baby blue top I had been wearing and pulled out three or four outfits I wanted. There came a knock on the door. When I opened it Kelley stood there holding my lover's present. I beamed at her. "You are the greatest," I said. Andrew pokes his head out and whistles. I growl at him. Kelley looks me up and down. "You look like you could use some help," she remarks. "You mind?" I ask. She waves it off and turns to Sarah, who followed her up. "Sarah, go be a distraction while help lover girl out," she says. Sarah nodded and moves off. Kelley glides into the room and throws the black chick she'd grabbed in the closet. She turns back to me. I gesture to the clothes on the table. "Do I go with pants or a dress?" I ask. "Pants," she afirms,"Now let's see what we've got." She picks out a red midriff bearing top with a black dragon printed on it. It shows off my perfect abs and it's his favorite. "You're lookin' cute," she says. "Now can you do the hair? I want it back but flowing. Think you can do it?" I ask. "Of course. We are going to make you look like a star." Kelley. She pulls out some make up as well as hair things. She sets me down in front of mirror and begins toying with my hair. It's a total myth that vampires have no reflection though I can see how it got started. You see the mirror has to be a certain type of smoked glass and have the moonlight reflecting off it. The best is full moon light otherwise things look a little fuzzy. Once she's finished with me my waist length hair is pinned back and curly and my face has some light makeup. I look at my rather pretty reflection and smile at Kelley as I add some bracelets and a necklace. "Thanks Kel. You are an absolute angel." Kelley smiles back. "Are you talking to me or the mirror?" she asks. I roll my eyes at her. She takes off and I haul the body of the boy out as Kieran comes past. "Here take this," I snap at him. Kieran takes the body for burning looking me up and down. "Man, this job takes sooo long maybe you could help me work out all the kinks I get doing it," he says leering at me. I turn away from him sneering, as I head back into the room. "There's a way to make the job go faster Kieran," I call over my shoulder as I enter the room, “It’s called keeping your mind on the job and off of my ass." A voice that is definatly not Kieran's answer's from behind me. "Oh but it's so hard not to look at your butt. Especially when it's in those tight leather pants." I whip around to face my lover. My eyes travel from his black jeans, up to his satin button up black shirt, past the hair curling at collar and into his blue eyes. Lounging comfortably against the doorframe is my lover aka Matthew Hartwell. I ran into his arms and buried my head in his shoulder. I still have a hard time realizing it's him; we've both changed a lot, such as wearing glasses. Neither of us has worn them in 50 years but we still think we do. I hear Ponti whistle again and Kieran joins in. Matt tightens his grip and growls loudly at them. "Leave them be Matthew," I whisper as I pull him inside and shut the door, "It's our night."
Matt smiles at me as we move into the sewing room. He puts his arms around me and we start slowly waltzing. "You look gorgeous tonight," he says with a lazy smile "Are you dressed up for anything special?" I laugh a little. I look down and laugh harder. The two of us are about 10 feet in the air and still waltzing. I look back up at him with my own lazy smile. "Yeah I'm waiting for a special guy. Seen any around?" He spins me around and starts humming the theme song to Bewitched. I look at the clock. "I think it's time we exchanged gifts," I tell him. W e float back to earth and he lets me go. "One of yours is in the closet," I say. I hop on a table as he opens the closet. He looks back at me and smiles.
Once he finishes the girl off he reaches to a higher shelf in the closet and pulls down a rectangular bundle. He presents it to me with a flourish. I tear off the paper to reveal-"Oh Matt. My high school yearbooks," I gasp, "Thank you." Matt grins at me and moves behind me on the table. "Well you're always talking about how our past is important and all that crap." I punched him playfully in the shoulder and start turning pages. As I’m looking through he rubs my shoulders. Within seconds I'm drowsy and purring like a kitten. It's a rare thing to hear a vampire purr. We only do it when we are completely relaxed and content. "Oh look Matt it's our pictures," I said. He peers over my shoulder at our freshmen pictures. "God we were such dorks," he sighs. I laugh. "By the way," I drawl, looking through my sophomore yearbook "If you're this sweet when it's only a minor anniversary then what will you do when we've been together for 50 years or 100 or 500?" Matt smiles his lazy smile, "I already have those planned out. For 50 we'll have a big party. Blood will flow like wine. 100 will be when we get married and 500, well we'll just play it by ear then."
I laughed and moved on to my junior yearbook. I notice one face in particular. "Hey I know that guy." Matt looks at the picture. "Who is that?" he asks without much interest. I think back hard. Fifty years does a number on your memory. "I think is name begins with an N. It was something like Nick or Nigel or Nate! That's his name Nate." I smile proudly. It's not often I can remember names from high school. "Nate, huh?" he asks "Was he anyone important?" I shrug. "I suppose so. After all I don't remember that many names. So he must have done something to make him stick." "Don't suppose you remember what it was," he drawls. "Um, think he was like the first guy to ask me out. I remember he was pretty funny too...and sweet, though those occasions were rare." Matt stops rubbing my shoulders. "You're singing his praises pretty highly," he says archly. "Oh Matt," I laugh "He must be over sixty years old by now; there's no reason to be jealous. Besides I turned him down so what does it matter? I think he was killed shortly after we were anyway." "A lover’s suicide?" Matt whispers in my ear and goes back to rubbing my shoulders. Another picture catches my eye as the pages turn. "Oh hey it's Amber!" I laugh. "Amber?" sighs Matt. "She was my first freshman," I tell him "She was really cool." I keep turning pages and only other name jumps out, Ellie Holey. Matt actually remembers her and we remince about band together as the night wears on.
It’s amazing how 50 years changes people, I muse as we continue talking. When we were alive neither of us could stand being in the same room with each other. Now we're lovers. I suppose the fact that he saved my life doesn't hurt. I'm almost falling asleep when Matt's voice brings me back to reality. "Do you mind if I stay the night?" he whispers. I shake him off and turn to him. "I thought you promised to stay the night with Chyle?" I ask. He shrugs "So? I want to stay here. It is our anniversary."
My head is nestled in his shoulder and he's giving my a backrub again. "Don't you want me to stay?" he whispers. Oh how I do more than anything, but Chyle is my friend and I won't deny her the comfort she so obviously needs. I push him away. "You made a promise Matt. Besides I need some time to think." He pouts at me. "C'mon I don't have to be a bed buddy," he says. I laugh. 'Bed buddy' is a term we came up with for when two of us spend the night together, shacking up. "No way." I say firmly. I hand him his last gift. It's a CD I made with me singing all his favorite songs. He seems to like it, God knows why. My singing voice sucks. We start waltzing again. He's singing in my ear quietly. It's one of my favorites. I Do it For You Jane, by Harry Chapin.
I first heard you sing in the Empire Room/
Your husky hymn engulfed the gloom/
And whatever mission had brought me there/
Disappeared in the mist of your amber hair/
You laughed and surrender your gifts by degrees/
But I was convince that you spoke only to me/
After Matt leaves I feel too restless to go to sleep. I clean up my stuff and decide to wander. I can hear Brandie and Kieran heading into a room down the hall and ignore them. They can have their fun. Before I realize what I'm doing my feet take me to the gym doors. I push them open and continue on. I don't know why I'm here, why even now my feet take me up to Ali's lair. We all stay very clear of Ali because she's just as dangerous to us as she is to humans. I finally come to my senses when I am at the final barrier between the real world and what ever Ali sees. I decide to cross it. Ali is curled up in a corner clutching a filthy rag doll. She looks peaceful, the way she's smiling. Ali doesn't smile when she's awake.
I can't even begin to imagine what life must be like for her. Having to hear voices in your head all the time and not knowing what's real and what isn't. I try to carefully approach her, which is also never to be done unless Becky is near by. None of us really understand why she leaves Becky alone but we are glad for it. At least we don't have to worry about trying to feed her, Becky can have that job.
As I get closer Ali's vampire senses kick in. I swear since he became insane she's gotten even sharper. "Who's there?" she snaps searching the shadows. I make no move to come out of hiding. "I'm just a friend," I told her. Ali's eyes narrow dangerously. "You don't sound like Becky," she hisses "I don't have any friends except Becky." Without warning she charges. I barely dodge in time. Any chance I had at talking to her is now gone. She's nothing but monster.
I escape through the door and slam it in her face before running down the steps. I pause before the final door and take a moment to calm myself. When I exit Kelley is sitting on the platform waiting for me. "Morning," she smiles happily. I cross over to stand next to her. "It's that late already?" I ask casually. Kelley nods and takes a sip from the beer bottle next to her. From the smell I know it's filled with blood. "Want some?" she asks gesturing to another beer bottle. "No thanks I'm not hungry."
That's a total lie, I'm hungry as hell. Kelley glances at me curiously. "You can't have drunk much," she states. When I still refuse she continues to wheedle me. "Come on it's your favorite," she tells me. I smile cynically. "And what pray tell is my favorite?" I ask her. Kelley matches my smile with a confident one of her own. "Spanish American male, 15 years old, blood type B, and completely disease, sex and drug free," she rattles off. I must admit I'm impressed. She has every detail right and she knows it. Her grin gets wider as I reach for the bottle.
I take a long swig from the bottle and turn to face her again. "How'd you know?" I ask. "I'm good," is the simple reply as I sit down. I realize that if we're ever going to get to the subject I might as well bring it up. "How'd you know I would be here?" I ask not looking her in the eye. "I found the yearbooks," she answers quietly. I take another drink from the bottle and sigh. I knew I shouldn't have left those out.
We sit like that for a while before I begin talking again. "Well when is the lecture?" I ask her. Kelley looks surprised. "You already got it," she tells me. Now it's my turn to look confused. "You saw Ali, right?" I nod. "That's what happens when we try to hold on to the past too tightly. We left all that behind when we got turned. If you needed anymore proof just go back up there," she says. I just nod and don't look at her.
"Well it is long past bedtime," she tells me and stretches out. I gather the bottles and throw them away. As I pass the doorway to Siberia I open it just a little. Ali's quiet now, probably sleeping again. I wonder what she dreams about. I stretch out next to Kelley and try to think about what she said. I don't want to lose my past completely but some of her speech was true. The options I'd had before I no longer had.
Sigh. People always said I think too much. I was never very good at looking forward and like Kelley said I can't really look back. Suffice to say the present is really all I have