David and the Dying Buzz: A Vampire Short
By Ellen C.. Maze
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PUBLISHED BY:
David and the Dying Buzz
Copyright © 2010 by Ellen C. Maze
All rights reserved.
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The following is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, to factual events or to businesses is coincidental and unintentional.
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LOOSE RABBITS OF THE RABBIT TRILOGY—this eBook content has been previously published in the aforementioned book. If you’ve purchased/read LOOSE RABBITS, you have this already.
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Rakum (RAH′-kum) – a.k.a Wraith, from Heb. raca; vain thing. Def: From Semitic mythology; a race of vampire-like beings thought to be descended from fallen angels.
THIS DOCUMENT is an uncovered history of two of such mythical creatures. Bloodthirsty, but as real as you and I, the Rakum (also known as Wraiths) live among us, living underneath the radar of the mortal authority. How they live, love, and feed can be understood from reading the following chapters…
Enjoy,
The Author, Ellen C. Maze
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1
“Peculiar Origins”
David Walker was born in 1935, graduated First Ritual at 17, and was excommunicated at twenty. Such a thing was unheard of in his clan, but in his faults, he was incorrigible: David enjoyed watching the sun come up.
Much to the violent chagrin of his elders and fellow disciples, David could think of little else that gave him more pleasure than to see the night turn to day, the sky go from black, to purple, to pink, and then bright white. David enjoyed supernatural resistance to pain which gave him the ability to remain in the light longer than his brethren. But his infatuation with the movement of the sun made him the laughingstock of his group-lair, and earned him more than a few offensive nicknames. His people had no use for sentimental weaklings, no matter that David denied being either of those things. Still, it only started with the sunrise.
By the time David was 13 and headed for First Ritual, which would eventually graduate him to full Rakum, it was obvious that he would not fit in anywhere among his brethren. Because he was impervious to painful stimuli, he found the physical tests of the Ritual a breeze. But when it came to exercising his superiority before the cattle with whom they shared the planet, David failed repeatedly. When he graduated the Ritual, his group proctor recommended him to Tomás, a brutish Rakum Elder of some renown in Miami.
“Tomás will make you strong, David, trust me,” the proctor told him as he packed his one bag for the trip south. But it wasn’t meant to be. Elder Tomás hated David from the start.
Recognizing his inability to assert himself, Tomás renamed him Snake as an ironic joke and then did everything he could to force him to comply with the rules of the pack. David couldn’t bring himself to kill, maim or destroy anything much less, anyone. By the time he was 20 years old, his Elder sent him north to Gainesville, Florida, as an experiment; to see if living alone would toughen him up.
A college town, Gainesville was populated with students and David had little trouble fitting in appearance-wise. He was young and slim with reddish brown hair and friendly dark green eyes. But finding lodging as a penniless and friendless Rakum wasn’t easy. David lived decades on the streets, hidden in boiler rooms and abandoned housing, fearing the sunrise instead of loving it.
Yet he persevered.
Eighteen months ago, he was approached by the person who fed him at the moment. His people referred to these voluntary donors as Cows, and this man was his first. Many of his brethren held four or more Cows in their respective cities and David had been longing for such a find since he’d been sent here. But it took maturity to develop the sensibility required to attract these odd characters, mortals whose greatest desire was to give blood to a mythical being they only thought they understood. Since then, David became adept at seeking them out. Finally.
So here he sat, fifty-five years after Elder Tomás sent him away, in the professor’s bedroom, drawing blood directly from his wrist and ignoring the moans of delight from the old man beside him.
David didn’t look a day over 18, and a year and half ago, Professor Benjamin Oppum followed him into an internet café. The educator struck up a conversation that eventually moved outside, and finally into the professor’s white BMW.
David wasn’t bothered that the man was gay. He was wealthy, and more than anything, David wanted a steady place to call home. Once the professor understood what kind of creature he had found in David Walker, he opened his home and his veins to the kid he now referred to as ‘master’.
Eyes closed, David ended his meal and pressed his tongue to the incision he had made. His saliva would accelerate the clotting process. It was not nearly as impressive as the touch-healing some of his brethren possessed, but it was helpful nonetheless.
“Master, I—” Oppum began, but David grunted to remind him to be quiet. It was one his few pleasures, allowing the blood to settle into his system, and he had warned the old guy many times to be still.
“Sorry,” he whispered, and David leaned forward over his knees. They were sitting side-by-side, on the edge of the man’s roomy bed, and when he bent forward David sensed the professor’s urge to touch his back.
“No,” he mumbled, and the man’s hand went back to his lap. David had not developed much of a sex-drive at his young age—many of his people didn’t until they reached the century mark. Nonetheless, no human was permitted touch a Rakum uninvited. It was a tenet he was taught early on and he agreed with it whole-heartedly.
Moments later when the delightful tingle had faded to a memory, David turned his head to the side and waited to hear what the old Cow would say. Oppum looked at him with sleepy gray eyes, milky with cataracts.
“I need to tell you something,” he mumbled, as if the blood loss was affecting his speech. David knew better. The guy wasn’t anemic, he was aroused, but it didn’t matter. David left dead air and allowed the old man to fill it with his explanation.
“Tomorrow night at six, I’m having company. The Dean closed the Student Union for six months to renovate, and all of the kids are spreading across campus and will be meeting at their professor’s homes.”
“Oh, yeah?” David sat up and leaned back, resting on his hands. Oppum hadn’t had a visitor since he moved in and now he was going to have over a crowd. Could be interesting if Oppum didn’t ruin it by acting weird.
Which wasn’t likely.
“So what do you think?” the professor asked as he eyed him.
David didn’t tolerate his touch, but longing gazes were expected. After another moment, Oppum continued in a husky tone.
“I understand if you want to lay low while they’re here. I haven’t said anything to anyone about having a guest.”
“Tell them I’m your nephew,” David offered, but Oppum laughed.
“Of course, my nephew. They’ll believe that.”
“Then tell them whatever you want. I don’t care. I’ll probably stay up here.” Ready to leave the man’s presence, David got to his feet and headed for the door. Oppum was right behind him, keeping up despite his hefty size.
“Would you like to watch some TV?” The professor reached for the knob. “Or we could rent a movie?”
David shrugged and then shook his head. “No, thanks, Professor. I’m going for a walk. See ya later.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later,” Oppum called after him and even as David stepped lightly down the carpeted stairs, he could feel the man watching him go.
It wasn’t the most desirable way to garner lodging, but it was free. Oppum modified a bedroom for him upstairs, with blacked-over windows and soft ambient lighting. Since the old guy was busted sneaking into his room one day as he slept, David now had a dead bolt and the only key in his pocket. After all, he was a light sleeper, and he couldn’t have the professor creeping into his room only to be broken in two by a surprised Rakum.
David chuckled and rubbed his middle. A walk would do him good, and he set out to see what the neighborhood was up to.
♦♦♦
By seven-thirty the following evening, the meeting was coming to an end and David headed downstairs to catch the kids leaving. Oppum would prefer he stayed in his room, but David was curious. For over an hour, he’d eavesdropped on the conversation and question-and-answer session that closed the meeting. Now as he reached the landing, all eyes turned to him and he smiled shyly.
“Oh,” Oppum began and cleared his throat. “Everyone, meet my nephew, David. He’s staying with me for a while.”
David nodded and stepped into the throng of seventeen college students. He read suspicion in a few of the kids’ eyes, but most of them were openly happy to meet him. Each one greeted him with a handshake or a smile as they gathered their various belongings and headed for the exit. When David had reached the back of the crowd and the last student stepped up to him, the kid stuck out his hand wearing a huge grin.
“Weezer, right?”
David’s eyebrows went up. “Weezer?”
The kid laughed and shook his hand. “I saw you at the Weezer concert last summer. You were next to the speakers. Am I right?”
David smiled, impressed. “I was there.”
“I knew it. Man!” The kid pulled David aside to the kitchen without releasing from the handshake. “I’m Terrence O’Henry. It’s nice to meet you.”
“O’Henry, eh?”
“Yeah, like the candy, but not as rich,” Terrence laughed and allowed the kitchen door to close behind them. “Probably not as sweet either,” he snickered and finally released David’s hand.
“I’m sure you’re sweeter than you think,” David replied without thinking and the kid smiled wider. Terrence was his height, but heavier with a soft middle and rounded shoulders. He wore his wavy brown hair long enough to cover his ears and had bangs partially obscuring his hazel eyes.
“I never in a million years thought I’d see you again. Or like this.” He gestured around him. “In my professor’s house, just out of the blue.”
“I’m afraid I don’t follow,” David said, sensing already that the boy had made him as something unusual. Some humans saw what others refused to see.
“You’re going to think I’m nuts, but I thought you were a ghost!” Terrence whispered the last and laughed nervously into his hand.
“Did I look like a ghost?”
“Well, sort of. You were surrounded by this halo of white light, and from where I stood, I thought you were transparent. Hah,” Terrence laughed again. “But my date didn’t see anything like that, so I guess I imagined it. Whew!” Terrence leaned against the counter behind him. “Was I thrilled to see you tonight. You have no idea…you’ve been stuck in my mind since then. I thought I was freaking out. Like I was a psycho. Huh.”
“I wish I’d seen you,” David began, but the kitchen door opened and Oppum poked in his round face.
“David, everything all right?”
David didn’t reply, but motioned to Terrence with his hand. “Come on up to my room and I’ll show you my Weezer poster. Every member of the band signed it.”
“You’re kidding!” Terrence stepped off the counter and tailed David past the frowning professor and up the stately staircase.
“David? Mr. O’Henry?” Oppum called to them as they reached the top.
The other kids were gone. David gave Terrence a look that they should ignore the professor and he giggled. Once inside his bedroom, David turned the deadbolt and threw Terrence another look that he understood immediately.
“Professor’s kinda attached to you, huh?” Terrence said and David returned a small smile.
“There’s the poster, I met the guys after the show. Pretty cool, huh?” David pointed to the only wall-hanging. He attended plenty of concerts, mostly to vicariously enjoy the life of the crowds, but the alternative rock band Weezer had a road manager who was a Cow to an amicable Rakum. Sometimes connections came in handy.
Terrence studied the signatures a moment and then turned to look around the room. “Nice digs, David. You really Oppum’s nephew?”
“Nope,” David answered flatly. “So, why didn’t you approach me at the concert?”
“Mostly, I was afraid,” Terrence said with a shrug.
“Are you afraid now?” David stepped forward and Terrence stood his ground.
“No, I don’t guess. Are you a ghost, David?”
“Am I glowing?”
Terrence chuckled. “No, but there’s something different about you. Am I crazy or are you more than just a college kid hanging with Professor Opossum?”
“You’re not crazy.” David lowered his head. “I’m not a kid. I just play one pretty well. Very few mortals can see me the way you do, Terrence. That makes you my new best friend.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” David continued forward until they were only a few feet apart.
“So, what are you?”
“A Wraith, Terrence. I’m not human. You’re right about me.” David put his hands in his jeans pockets and watched the kid’s expression. The word Rakum would have absolutely no meaning for the kid, and he never used the word vampire even though once the Cows got to know him they invariably labeled him as one.
Terrence’s mind was very open and more than once, David overheard thoughts regarding how wonderful Oppum’s houseguest was. Telepathy was a handy talent to possess.
“I…I don’t know what that is. A Wraith? Isn’t that a type of ghost?”
“No, my people are called Rakum. I’m immortal and I drink human blood.” David spoke matter-of-factly and Terrence’s eyebrows went up.
“Like a vampire.”
“Yeah.”
“Weird.”
“Yeah,” David said again, smiling.
“Do you drink Oppum’s blood, then?”
David shrugged. “He’s easy enough to control.”
“Wouldn’t you rather have a younger person’s blood? Someone who hasn’t almost killed themselves with bad liquor and cheap cigarettes?”
David smiled. “Know anybody like that, Terrence?”
Terrence blushed. “Actually, I do.”
“Introduce me,” David joked and Terrence put out his hand.
“Terrence O’Henry, nice to meet you.”
David smiled, took his hand and pulled him closer. “I usually draw from the arm. Is that okay with you?”
Terrence nodded and shrugged simultaneously. “As opposed to the neck, like Dracula?”
“Dracula killed people, Terrence. I like to keep my donors alive so I can visit again.” David took the kid’s arm in both hands now and Terrence watched with wide eyes.
“You have more donors than Oppum?” Terrence asked in a soft voice.
“I have four now. You’d be five. Is that all right?”
“Sure, why not?” he m
umbled, finally responding to David’s gentle hypnosis. “What do you want me to do?”
“Sit on the edge of the bed and relax.”
Once Terrence was in place, David set about slicing his forearm with his pocketknife and the kid flinched without making a noise.
A knock sounded at the door. David rolled his eyes and ignored it. Oppum was jealous. He’d chastise the old goat later. But for now Terrence O’Henry was doing his part to make David’s life more enjoyable.
And as it turned out, the kid was a lot sweeter than he gave himself credit.