DESI
I heldher in my arms as midnight came and went and she continued her transformation. She stopped drinking from my arm and passed out, but I could feel the changes happening in her body. She grew cold and then raging hot. She paled, then returned to her natural tan self. Her body jerked as the vampirism took hold of her. As I held her, I tried to recall the things I knew about the change.
My parents had explained it to me as a young boy. When the clock struck the moment I was born into this world on my twenty-seventh birthday, my heart would stop, leading to my death and rebirth as a Bloodborn. My eyes would turn red, I’d grow fangs, and never be allowed in the sun again. I’d crave blood, although I could eat human food if I so wished, but I’d never age, my body would never change, and I’d live forever.
And now, I’d be allowed to live forever with Scout.
As she turned, I kissed her cheeks and forehead and whispered to her all the things we were going to do together. Sometime during the night, her body grew heavy. So heavy it became painful for me to hold her in my lap. I had to move her onto the ground. Panic set in as I realized we were in the middle of the road.
Using all my human strength, I managed to pull her off the road and set her in the grass. I looked around. There was no way I’d be able to lift her into my car when the morning came if she stayed like this.
I had a few more hours of moonlight. I could run to my parents, grab Gianni, my dad, whoever was there, and come get Scout. Surely, all three of us would be able to lift her frozen form. Making sure she was safe from the road, I left and quickly sped to my parents.
I was such a mix of fear and utter joy knowing that Scout and I had a future now, it was difficult for me to get words out. Finally, they understood me and followed me. We took Gianni’s car to the bridge.
“I thought you said she was here.” Gianni sneered when we came upon… nobody. Scout was missing!
“She is!” How could this be? I’d barely been an hour.
“We can check the hospitals.” My father sighed. “Or the woods.” He pointed to the trees nearby.
“I ain’t going through any fucking trees.” Gianni shook his head.
“I will,” I said and quickly ran toward them, screaming her name. Had she awoken? How long did it take to change?
But after hours of calling her name and trudging through thick branches and trees, I knew she wasn’t there. I returned to my family and asked them to drive slowly, so as to hopefully catch her walking.
Gianni threw his hands up. “The sun is going to come up soon. She’s probably already dead.”
“He’s right, son.” Dad nodded solemnly. “Her body probably went into survival mode and she went to find blood. You can’t finish the transformation without it, remember.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to reveal that she had already been given blood, my blood, but something held me back.
“And if she did find someone, she ain’t gonna want you anymore,” Gianni commented as we piled into his car. “That’s why you’re supposed to make the turn around family. Drinking your first blood bonds you. It’s better to bond with family, than someone you may only love for a moment.”
“My love for Scout isn’t just a moment.” I said. “What do you mean, bonded?”
“Your souls will call to each other. It’s nonsense.” My dad shook his head. “I’ve only ever heard about lovers doing it rather than family. They say that they can drink each other's blood.”
Gianni gagged. “Drinking vampire blood? Disgusting.”
My dad shrugged. “To them, it tastes good. Who knows. This is why we drink the blood of our family. It negates the bonding effect.” We drove around the town looking for her. Eventually, we made it back to their estate, and I had no option other than to return to the search alone.
“The sun is coming up, Desiderio,” my father said sadly. “I’m sorry.”
“Come home tonight!” My mother waved from behind him. “You must be here before ten.”
I saluted her and left to continue my search. I went to Scout’s house and found it empty. I went to the park, the mall, and all the other places I knew she frequented but no one had seen her. I wanted to keep searching but exhaustion won out, and I fell asleep in my car, parked in a random parking lot.
I was awoken at night by a loud rapping on my window. I jerked awake and blinked. My mood lifted and sank in an instant, when it was Aleida, of all people, looking down at me.
“Heard your girlfriend turned.”
I rolled my eyes and turned to focus on the front window. There was nothing but dark outside. “What do you want?”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s the tone you want to take with me, Desiderio Amato.”
“Yeah? Why is that?” I asked.
“Because I know where she is.”
I exited my car and lurched at her. “What did you do to her?” I snapped.
Aleida, with her vampire strength, shoved me away and smirked. “I didn’t do anything. I said I know where she is. Do you want me to take you to her or not?”
I forced myself to remain calm and nodded. I only had a few more hours before I would turn, and I needed to get to her before it happened.
“Yes, please.”
“All right. Now, give me your keys. I’m driving.”
