Crimson Tears

“what a strange, beautiful town this is” I daydreamed as I

walked along the gothic-style streets of Transylvania, my

visitor’s nametag clicking against my chest, proclaiming

simply my first name, James, my picture, and oddly my blood

type standing beside it on the 1x1 piece of plastic. I

pondered on meeting anyone worthwhile, going from one

place to another, seeing the sights, bored out of my skull. A

pang of jealousy would always come rushing through me

every time I walked by a happy couple in the streets,

practically turn green with envy. I come all the way here to

see sights and meet people, yet all I really want is to finally

meet someone who’ll sweep me head over heels and not

completely freak me out. Oh wait… if that’s so… what in the

world am I doing in Transylvania?

1
 I ask myself this, while walking up to one of the famous

graveyards, my black cargo pants wafting around my dark

combat boots, which leave indentions in the soft earth. I

reach into my pocket with my be-gloved hand, pulling out a

morbidly black iPod, switching the tune from Killswitch

Engage to Disturbed, to fit the mood. My long, dark hair

swayed around me with the gentle breeze. I notice that it is

much cooler, for the sun had set, and a harvest moon had

arisen, casting its gleaming yellow light over the entire

cemetery. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I wondered

why I was here, my fingers curling the edge of my deathnote

t-shirt mindlessly. There was someone, I then realized,

staring right back at me from the other end of the

tombstones. It was a beautiful girl with emerald eyes and

raven hair. Her skin was deathly pale and her nails pitch

black. Yet, when she spoke, she had the sweet voice of an

angel. She locked her eyes onto mine, holding me in an

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intangible grip that seemed to stretch across all twelve of

the headstones. I felt my pulse fly at a million miles an hour,

my face flushing. For the first time, I’m beginning to believe

that fairy tale crud about “love at first sight” was real. I

could feel my knees buckle and my head go light, my eyes

staying open long enough to see her appear beside me in an

instant, a look of both concern and amazement crossing her

face. The last thing I saw before passing out in that angel’s

arms was her dazzling smile, revealing all-too-pointy

canines. I drifted happily off into unconsciousness, whilst I

felt her carry away my fainted gothic self. Strange how some

wishes come true. And in a graveyard of all places.

My, how this night has been. Here I was minding my own

business, and this gorgeous Goth steps into the graveyard,

listening to an iPod, and looking up to see none else but I,

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Catherine vladislov, walker of the night, the last vampires

in all of Transylvania. I’ve been so lonely all of these

centuries, feeling the ages go by, trying to adapt. When all I

ask for is someone to share my eternity with. I hope, that

surely, this “James” as his nametag proclaims, is that “one”.

Yet, as I stare into his amber eyes, he seems to grow weak,

his legs failing him, he’s losing consciousness. (Wonder if

it’s my eyes again, they seem to have that effect on

everyone) I caught him in mid-air, carrying him away to my

castle, all before he could pass out. Strangely though,

Instead of screaming, he looked to me lovingly, like he’s

known me forever, even though we hardly met. Awkwardly

enough though, as sweetly as I can, I whisper to him, “fear

not, my darling, you will not perish.” With the lightest touch

of Romanian accent this side of nosferatu. Strangest,

though, all I can think of on the way home is how warm he is

in my arms. It must have been longer than I thought it was.

4
 “Where…am….I?” I pondered, seeing the angel’s eyes

gazing right back into mine. I looked around, realizing that it

wasn’t a delusion when I felt this beauty carry me away. We

were in a HUGE castle foyer, adorned with chandeliers of

gold and diamond, drapes depicting some sort of ancient

insignia, lining the walls were ornate chairs of an earlier

time than my own, carve of an expensive cherry wood and

inlaid with many more appearances of that symbol,

apparently some sort of family crest. It was so much to take

in at once; I thought I might pass out again.

“You are in my humble abode, my love” she purred.

“Castle Evernight”

I swear, if this gets any better, I’m gonna freak. I could

feel the blood rush to my face again.

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 “May I ask your name, now that you’ve gone and swept me

off my feet?” I smiled, while saying this, trying to keep

humor so that I didn’t break down right there.

“You may call me Catherine” she said so sweetly I

thought my brain was going to explode. Friggin’ blushing!

“And yours?” she practically sang.

Everything started swirling again as I remembered how to

breath.

“James” I exhaled.

“What a handsome name” she cooed, touching the side of

my face with the tips of her fingers, tracing my jaw line. I

felt everything get really light; maybe it was just my head. I

could practically hear my heart hammer its way right out of

my ribs, my face turning redder than a tomato. And then,

things got really crazy.

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 “James, please, understand I mean you no harm when I do

this…” she murmured as she leaned closer slowly, she

closed her eyes as she did so. I followed suit, probably

thinking she might bite me. Then, I felt something that threw

my pulse so high; I thought I was having a heart attack. Her

arctic lips touching mine ever so slightly, almost a caress.

At first I was shocked, my breathing went much faster. But

then, I found my arms wrapped around her angelic form,

kissing back. didn’t see this part coming. I broke the kiss,

realizing I couldn’t breathe. She somehow looked both

worried and pleased at the same time.

“I’ve scared you, haven’t I? I knew I shouldn’t have gone

so far…” she said, starting to lean more towards depression.

This time, I put my hand to her face.

“Please don’t say that. I know we’ve only met, but, no,

that’s not it. I had to breathe , honest.” I said pleadingly,

7
wanting her to hold me again. Geez , when did I get so

greedy?

“Do you feel the same way you did when we met in the

graveyard?” she said longingly.

“Yes, of course I do. And not just because of the kiss, and

not just the looks, either. It’s because, unlike everyone else

who would have just panicked back there, you saved me

instead. It’s because instead of just looking at what I wear,

and casting me out like everyone else, you took me for who I

am, not what . And, I bet if I got to know you better, I could go

on for days about how great you are.” I smiled yet again,

feeling the weight slide off of my chest from finally getting

out what needed to be said. I could visibly see her face light

up as I spoke every word of it. Maybe I’m not such a screw-up

after all.

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 “James, you don’t know it, but I could do the same for you,

but I have something more… surprising to tell you.” She

dreamily said, as if she were thinking all of this in her sleep.

“Yes?” I patiently prompted

“James…I’m a vampire …”she answered. She must’ve been

waiting for me to freak out, running and screaming like a

headless chicken.

“Aren’t you scared or anything ?” she asked wondrously.

“As long as it’s still you behind the vampirism, and not a

psycho, you could pull a Freddy Kruger and I wouldn’t mind.”

I boastingly stated. She smiled that angelic shimmer of hers

again. Then she moved quicker than I could blink, pulling me

crushingly close to her, her lips locked to mine, a kiss so

deep I could hardly breathe, like I really cared at the

moment. I remembered to use my nose, this time, not

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breaking the kiss. I then let my conscious self go bye-bye

and let things go as they would without question.

The next day, early morning

“Strange, I’ve only known this “James” for less than a day…

and yet…” I thought aloud, looking over to his sleeping face,

his hair covering the bridge of his nose, and caressing his

cheek, following the same line down past his shoulder. His

breathing was even and smooth, his heart in a regular

rhythm. “Must be having a nice dream” I thought, smiling.

Thirty Minuets Later

“He still sleeps…I’m worried. Is this normal for your kind?”

I asked one of the maids as she washed his clothes, which

had gotten a little dirty from the night before.

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 “Why, of course it is my lady!” She answered, all too

willing to idly pratter. “We humans tend to tire out very

easily, you know. Unfortunately, we don’t have an infinite

supply of stamina such as yours.”

I blushed bright red at the thought of this, realizing how

drenched in sweat the bed sheets were this morning… had I

really worn him out that much? Then as if reading my mind

through the expression my face held, she added in “why yes,

you did wear him down that much!” as she giggled at the

thought, sounding almost childish, even for her age.

Ok. First the graveyard beauty, then having “fun” in her

foyer, and now I wake up in this extravagant daydream of a

princess’s room brought to reality.

Huge bed with drapes: check.

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 Stained glass windows: check.

Everything else that could make this into a Disney movie:

double check.

I thought of all this as I realized I felt silk blanket

wrapped around me. And then I realized why I could feel the

silk all over and again turned beet red. I looked down to my

feet and noticed some fancy clothes about a foot further

down, black, silken robes, embroidered in red with what I’ve

come to suppose to be her family crest. Nice. I’ve gone and

fallen in love with a vampiric princess. Quite literally.

I thought of all this as I climbed out of the bed,

straightened the sheets, and pulled on the extravagant

clothing left for me, oddly enough finding them to be a

perfect fit . How strange. “Almost as if they were made for

me…” I spoke aloud, but not enough for someone to hear, as I

walked into the hall, finding matching slippers at the door.

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Okay, now it’s getting creepy. “oh well, I like creepy” I

thought as I grinned, coming up to a fancy set of doors again

fancily decorated yet again with what else but her beautiful

ancestral insignia. I could hear voices softly speaking on

the other side, one hers, my angelic savior, the other,

someone-ne who sounded “slightly” older than what

Catherine appeared to be.

“My lady, speaking of your lover, I do believe that to be

him, about to enter.” The maid stated hurriedly “you might

want to wear more than your underclothing if you wish to not

make him faint yet again.”

“Oh my, Stefanie, you’re absolutely correct! Could you

please stall him for a moment while I go dress myself?” I

said, I could almost feel my icy veins burning again.

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 “Why, of course, my lady. I’ll see to it for you.” She said,

smiling so that her kindly old face crinkled at the eyes.

I opened the door slowly, not wanting to startle whoever

was on the other side, having heard Catherine leave the

room, making it just me and this little old maid (I supposed

that what she’d be in a place like this) whom Catherine

called “Stefanie”.

“Hello” I murmured warmly, meaning to seem friendly to

this total stranger. “May I ask where Catherine is?”

“Why yes you can, kind sir. She’s gone to make herself

presentable for you; she thought it’d be better than

appearing to you in her bedclothes.”

I turned beet red at the thought of this, Catherine dressed

only in the lacy attire which I had seen last night…

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 And suddenly realized she could put any model in

Victoria’s secret, or any other model for that fact, in crying

shame.

How in the world did an ordinary guy like me ever have a

chance with such a goddess like her?

I openly goggled at her when she walked back into the

room, dressed in a red and black dress, form fitting and

silky, just like the robes I wore at the moment. She’d dyed

her black hair light blond, like that of an angel’s her blue-

green eyes shimmering in the light like jewels. Her lips were

crimson, her skin still that same ivory, smooth and soft.

And all this did was reassure my theory of “vampiric

goddess”…

Again, I ask, how’d I get so lucky?

15
 “James! There you are! Did you rest well? I hope you did.

We’ve got so much to talk about, and I have so much to show

you.” She again said in that tone of hers that could make my

heart explode…

Please, oh please let this be heaven!

Yes, this went on for a small time, and they came to learn

a few things, like how they’d come to discover how he

actually had a royal lineage as well, the exact one that

corresponded with Catherine’s, ironically enough.

This went on for a few years, learning about a few things

here and there, they grew closer and closer, realizing that

one could no longer exist without the other, and they did

everything together at this point. Dances, movies, you name

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it, they did it. Hell, they even went to concerts together. As a

matter of fact, that’s part of what’s happening right about

now, only instead of attending the concert, James has

created a band and decides that it’d be a good idea to invite

Catherine to the concert. Little did he know just how much

danger he was putting himself into, let alone her as well…

So let’s just fast-forward a teensy bit and get the concert.

Wow.. this is absolutely amazing.. they really outdid

themselves. The lights up here are practically scorching me

to death. I think of the irony in that, my girlfriend being a

vampire, and laugh a little to myself, walking out onto stage,

the adoring fans screaming, the rush of adrenaline driving

me insane, or what it feels like.. It reminds me of that night

so long ago with her, my Catherine. In the foyer.. when we’d

first met. I switch from walking to straight up running at full

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blast, I dive out and the guitars roar at my entry, clawing for

competition of their attention, the drums thundering behind

me, everything blaring so loudly I thought my ears would

explode any second, the whole stage was shaking insanely,

the ground threatening to shatter underneath the enormous

mosh pit waiting to envelope all who dare get near it.

The opening to the song was ending, and it was my turn,

my time to shine. I even recall how everyone there almost

froze in place at the thought. Could’ve sworn all of their

pulses stopped right along with it. “don’t screw up” I’d told

myself at the moment in my head, as I rose my voice, the

lyrics coming out so smoothly that even I was amazed, the

tone actually carried out over the crowd, and that’s saying

something seeing as I had no microphone in front of me, and

the crowd itself reached over a number over 5,ooo… I was

sweating bullets, and not from the moves on the stage, but

mainly I didn’t want to screw in front of her . I wasn’t worried

18
about any of them , they were just ticket buyers, but her ,

Catherine, my other half, my reason for being, this was

driving me crazy, and it seemed no matter how loud or

powerfully I screamed out the lyrics, it didn’t seem enough,

the seemed to dull out when my eyes fell on her, everything

numbed. And then I spotted something unusual: after being

with her for this whole year, I had never, not even once seen

another like her. I’d never seen one single other vampire…

and here were 500 of them all in one spot.. and something in

the back of my head screamed that this was bad, very , very

bad. She didn’t seem to even notice though, and I began to

worry just how many times this’d happened before, and I

didn’t notice. I ignored it though. The sounds of the music

roared on, through the progress of the song, these strangers

seemed to draw closer and closer to me, and not her…

strange. You’d think they’d go for a royal if they were

volatile. Guess not…

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 The song ended, and backstage, there she was, my icy-

cold angel of both life and death, waiting there to greet me. I

couldn’t suppress a smile as I walked up to her, her arms

held out to embrace me. As I approached though, a look of

wariness and concern crossed her beautiful features, and at

first, I couldn’t think why... then it hit me like a brick to the

face. The other vampires. They are troublemakers. Well

that’s just great. One innocent concert after weeks of

planning and readying and now this happens. You see...

Catherine’s not just a vampire, or a royal vampire, no. she’s

the royal vampire, the very last of her great family, the

ravenheart. She’s basically the vampiric equivalent of the

queen of England, so yeah, I’d expect some kind of attack,

but as usual, my “wonderful” luck just happened to have led

300 plus vampires right to her. Great. So much for “trying to

expose her to modern culture”. I’m starting to think we’d be

better off just playing guitar hero in her basement.

20
 The vampires approached them step by step, advancing at

a speed not too noticeable by the surrounding mortals, but

enough to arrive in moments backstage, the greater lot of

them staying in that one spot at the main entrance, 12 of

them walking to the actual dressing room where both James

and Catherine were, the leader, a large, muscular male,

about 6’8” decided to knock on the door and be polite,

surprisingly not knocking the door right out of the frame. His

dark eyes stared the two down from the moment that he

turned the knob.

“Catherine Vladislov, if that’s the name you’re going by

now, you are to appear before the council for divulsion of

the secret to a non-vampire, should you refuse, the

punishment is your permanent and untimely death.” Spoke

21
the giant, his voice booming down to us, he was gilded in

black and silver, from the leather boots to the pitch black

hat on his head. “And before you ask, my name is Vlad,

Capitan of the royal guard, keeper of the royal secret.”

“You can call me Vlad.”

“Ok…now how’s about explaining what we’ve done wrong

and why there’s so many of you here all at once? I’m kind of

a newbie to this.” James bluntly stated.

“what’s wrong is that you know what she really is, she

hasn’t turned you yet, you’ve been out in the open, spreading

the scent of your… “interaction”, which by the way is

disgusting, and the reason for the huge number, is that

believe it or not, although she looks like a delicate little

flower, ms. Vladislov there could take them all if she wanted

and not even, how do you say : “break a sweat”?”

22
 “Wow. Well that answers both questions” James

unthinkingly blurted out

“Yes, it does.” Vlad spoke monotonely as he punched

James, rendering him unconscious, as Catherine willingly

followed, climbing into their van in the parking lot, the drive

seeming inconspicuous to on looking fans.

“Was punching him really necessary? I think I could’ve

just convinced him to come with us, you know. He’d do

anything I ask him to.” I innocently stated to Vlad

I stared at his unconscious self once again, wondering if

he was ok, thinking “please, oh please, let him be alive” and

looking around the back of the van, at the faces of our

captors, Vlad, and these other vampires whom I did not

know, but somehow, they knew me. My real name… just how

23
much more did they know? What if they knew what James

really is? What if they were there when he remembers

everything? It could both kill us…and save us… so what

should I do? Tell them? Risk the chance of their mysterious

and apparent leader feeling threatened? Oh James. Why

don’t you just know? Why can’t you just remember that

you’re the king of all vampires, the one who I’ve sworn my

eternal life to? Why can’t you remember that you’re really

Damien, the all immortal, the indestructible angel and devil

of the vampires?

When I woke up, we were in a bedchamber, “we” here

meaning Catherine beside me on the bed, and Vlad standing

guard at the door. Oddly enough, instead of feeling the pain I

should’ve from the blow, the only thing I felt at this moment

was an extreme thirst, which whatever it was the guards had

24
left on the gold platter in front of us, was not about to

quench. I felt at least a hundred-fold the strength from

before all of this crap today… had it been today? It feels like

it’s been ages… all I can remember from the little “ride” to

this weird place, like another castle from the aspect the

room we were in was foreshadowing, was that she was on

me, and I felt a few points in my neck, and at first, everything

got so blurry, and I couldn’t tell what was going on, and then

everything got oh so clear. I could see everything from the

pores on Vlad’s dead face, to the leaves on the trees over

twenty miles away through the back windows on the van...

Wait, there weren’t any windows... whatever. I’ll worry

about that part later.

And then I could hear everything from the pounding thud

of my own heart as it lurched to a stop, which I haven’t heard

25
start again since, to the sound of the miniscule cogs turning

within the van’s engine, its very core.

My sense of smell was also extremely sensitive, yet in

that case, I wish it wasn’t. The three brawny guys driving the

van (apparently thinking they were in some kind of mafia)

were sweating like hell as soon as they added two and two

and found out who their passengers were. Well, not counting

me of course, but otherwise, yeah, that was the case. That

and I could smell Catherine’s scent, which was driving me

absolutely insane, but in the good way.

And yes, of course, my sense of touch is now extremely

acute, any sort of way she did after that point was amplified

a thousand times over from even the gentlest caress...

Wow. Who even needs all of these improvements? I mean,

seriously, if I stare at her too long, I can start to see

underneath, if you know what I mean. And that alone… makes

26
it very hard to “behave”, or at least at the guard’s standards.

But hey, back to the moment. I found that when I sat up

slowly, her arms were around me, gently and silently trying

to hold me down. I turned to look at her, gaze into her eyes,

and then she murmured to me softly: “are you well now, my

love?” the only strange part being that I saw her mouth at

the same time I did her eyes now. Her lips never moved...

how strange...

“Yes, it is very strange at first, hearing the thoughts of

others you wish to speak to.” She smiled warmly to me, and

then I realized that she spoke the truth, for Vlad had not

stirred once, and it was he himself who had set the rule of

“no talking”. I didn’t care though; I was with her, my

Catherine, my reason for being.

So I ignored the weirdness again, and kissed her, deeply,

forgetting that we were captured, forgetting that someone

27
was watching, forgetting everything but anything that had

something to do with she and I. the whole moment went away

for a second and I could swear that I felt my pulse for the

first time for what’s felt like 72 hours.

It was hammering away like a construction worker that

just learned he was going to be paid $250,000 for

deconstruction. I could feel like that there should be

warmth from blushing scorching my face off, and that I

should be so shaky that the room would quake right along

with me, but it wasn’t there. I couldn’t think, hell, I couldn’t

breathe... and I definitely couldn’t stop or let go of her... like

I would’ve wanted to...

And for that moment alone, for the first time for days,

sunlight, or what I think was sunlight, shone through the

windows so brightly that I thought we were going immolate.

28
Vlad flinched and took a step back, but nothing more. He had

turned to check what the light was, and was nearly blinded.

So, I tried in vain to recollect my thoughts, but only in

vain, for within a short time, her hand slid down my back

from where her arms were around my neck, and I lost all

comprehension again for a short while, and she kissed back,

and I could almost swear I was about to explode, and she

held me insanely close, so close it was almost unbearable,

and she exhaled while she kissed me, her taste in my mouth

amplifying the moment yet again, and I’d almost swear it

was heaven if it weren’t for constant watching eyes of our

“guardian”, I’d probably forgotten the entire situation

altogether, and spent all night there.

Finally, Mr. Stony Face decided to talk.

“You have completed the required task, Ms. Ravenheart.”

He stated appraisingly. “You are free to go.”

29
 Catherine looked up at him with an emotion I didn’t quite

understand right then.

“Don’t you think he has a right to know what he is now?

We’re in the royal palace anyhow, so why not just show him?

I’m sure he’d just love to know what you’ve made me do to

him, what he’s destined to become.” She snarled at him,

clearly enraged.

“Why yes, of course, princess Ravenheart, we’ll gladly

show him the prophecy.” He happily announced to her.

What in the world are they talking about? I don’t ever

recall ever being involved in anything bigger than a school

play, and I was just on the clean-up crew… all I want is to run

off with Catherine. And now, I’m caught up in all of this crud.

Screw it. If I’m all that like they’re saying, considering it

takes a lot to get yourself a prophecy (especially these

days), I’ll just punch this guy to kingdom come, knock the

30
wall down, and grab Catherine and run like hell. Easy

enough, right? Here goes...

“James, please don’t do that. Vlad is going to show you a

tapestry much like the ones at home, you have no need to

worry, my love.” I soothingly stated before he did something

we’d both regret.

“You have my thanks, miss Ravenheart.” Vlad droned, monotoned as

usual.

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