I

Chapter 1

Well, I’ll tell it to you straight: the world is going

to end. Soon. In all my 17 years in this world,
nothing had prepared me for it. I mean, how can
you prepared for the end of the world? Knowing
that at any moment you could die? It kinda freaks
you out non-stop, always looking behind your
shoulder, not caring how much weight you put
on, or how you look. Being a teenage witch does
help you prepare a little bit, but honestly, death
scares even me, even worse than that is eternal
life in a post-apocalyptic world. Unfortunately, as
a witch, it is standard procedure for me to be
‘turned’ in between the ages of 17 and 20. So shit
for me now.

II
In this world, we ‘living’ people walk amongst
the ‘undead’. In fact, they out populate us by a
couple of million, which technically means that
we are nearly extinct. They feed from us legally,
and we can’t do anything about it. Everyday I
hear of someone I know becoming either a
‘fangbanger’ or being found drained in their
rooms. I don’t believe that anyone should have
the right to take another’s life, but it’s a death
warrant to say that out loud. You can’t tell
anyone how you feel, not even your closest
friends can be trusted.

So I lead a solitary life. Keeping myself to

myself. I go to school, learn and try and remain
invisible to ‘Vampyr’ groups working in the area.
I daydream constantly, wishing I was somewhere
else, anywhere where they don’t have a
bloodsucker lurking round the corner. I have
survived all these years without being an
unwilling or even willing blood donor, and I hope

III
to keep it that way, well, until the world ends
hopefully. Which, as I said, is soon. Within the
next month it is going to become apocalyptic,
wiping out all humans, and leaving the Vampyrs
to die out slowly, who will eventually die out
because there will be no blood left for them. I
really don’t want to be around in a world where
there are feral, hungry Vampyrs roaming with
that stare of death in their eyes.

Oh, I forgot to say who I am! My name is Alice

Bronte, and I am a really bad mage (or witch but
they’re the same thing to be honest). I grew up
with my mum; dad left couple of year’s back, so
it’s just been us. We live in London, UK. Which I
think is brilliant, so many opportunities here, and
loads of places to hide. I hide a lot, because
almost everyday I’m hunted by bloodsuckers. It
gets annoying after the first year. I mean, I used
to find it exciting to be chased by Vampyrs, the
whole ‘if they catch me’ factor made it thrilling,
and a great rush. But when you’re running after

IV
school, or on the way home from buying milk, or
even just answering the door, you just get sick of
it. My mum doesn’t know I’m being hunted,
which is really hard to keep secret as I’m home
late everyday, and sometimes I just disappear for
a day. She’s given me shit about it, but she
knows something is up, but doesn’t try and tell
me to stay home, or tell her what’s happening. It
makes me love her even more.

I first found out that I’m a mage when I

accidentally set the flat on fire. Mum wasn’t
pleased about that, but she had tears of joy in her
eyes. She found out that day that I was as special
as she always thought I was, It was like a kind of
validation for her. That was 2 years ago, and the
hunting came a year later. It first occurred on my
way home from school; I had just finished my
first mage class with 4 other people (all guys to
my despair) and I found 3 of them waiting
outside the school gates. They looked too
suspicious to be just hanging there, and it was

V
just my luck that it was an overcast day. I tried
walking past them, but once I passed through the
gates, they started stalking in my direction. I
freaked of course. I was used to the Vampyrs, but
I had never had any of them come after me. I
started to run for the bus stop, but they sped up
too, can I just say that Vampyrs may be
incredibly strong but they’re not fast, they run at
the same speed as normal humans, so yay for me.
I got as far as the corner about 3 minutes from the
school, and I could see the bus stop. There was
no one there. Shit. They caught up with me very
quickly after that; I’d given up all hope of being
rescued or even of out running them.

To my surprise, all the guys from my mage class

were running up behind the Vampyrs .I was so
glad they were there; it showed that us mages
stick together. Unfortunately they had no power
over the Vampyrs, and once they reached them,
they were slaughtered. I took the chance to
escape, and bolted to one of the residential streets

VI
across from the bus stop. Thank god I knew my
way around here. I was far away from that scene
of death before the Vampyrs had even finished
draining their prey. That was when I began to
hate the Vampyrs. I witnessed my first massacre,
and I had run instead of died with them. Well, at
least I wasn’t dead.

VII
 Chapter 2

Exactly a week ago, in the middle of my mage

class, I was told that the world was going to end.
And that I was the one who had to save it. I just
laughed. And I mean laughed, I ended up
hyperventilating, nearly rolling in my seat. Shit,
if I knew that Mr Hamilton (my mage teacher)
wasn’t joking, I would’ve looked less of an idiot.
But, I was a lot more naïve a week ago. Now, I
suppose I’ve matured a bit, I’ve started to prepare
myself for the end. But I want to spend it with
my mum, not traipsing off and leaving her while
I supposedly ‘save the world’. Feels selfish.
Actually not saving the world seems selfish. I
don’t know, it’s all too confusing. All I know that

VIII
is if I want to have a future in this world, I have
to save it.

When I’d finally stopped laughing, and had

wiped the tears from my face, Mr Hamilton told
me he was being serious, and he was so sincere in
his words, and the look in his eyes told me he
wasn’t joking. He told me that it was prophesised
that in the year when the 7th Vampyr King dies,
all of life would be wiped off the face of the
earth. Total apocalypse. Everything living would
die, and the things that walked upon the earth that
were not of the sun, would perish after a month in
a state of starvation. Meaning they die of lack of
blood. Yay for them. At least we go quickly. Mr
Hamilton finished his little information lecture,
but didn’t tell me how I am the source of the cure
to all of this. Little shit wanted me to suffer in
silence, and worry my ass off wondering how I
can save man and Vampyr kind alike. But, turns
out he wasn’t, he just didn’t know himself. He
told me to wait at the fountain at Piccadilly

IX
Circus at 2am in one week for this ‘Gaspard’ to
show up. He said that if I didn’t then the world
would end. Tricky decision. Die with dignity in a
month? Or die saving the world and maybe even
staying alive and becoming a hero?

So here I am, waiting in the rain at Piccadilly

Circus, waiting for this guy to show up.
Apparently he’s going to tell me what it is I’m
supposed to do to save the world. Mr Hamilton
didn’t tell me anything except that I had to wait
here, and ‘wait to be approached’. Whatever that
means. I’m completely soaked, and actually
deciding to go home and let the world end. I
don’t care now; I’ll probably die out here, all
alone, and vulnerable, with nothing but my
hairspray to protect me. I’m shivering now, and
it’s 2:10. The little wanker isn’t going to show. I
knew it. This was all a ruse to get me alone so I
could be turned. Well, if that’s the case, I’m
going home.

X
“Alice?”

Oh. My. God. He is cute. I mean seriously the

cutest guy you will ever see. Shaggy blonde hair
that covers one eye, dimples, skinny jeans and
Doc Martins. Yummy. And knows who I am. Oh,
it must be Gaspard. Answer, quickly!

“Yeah, and you must be Gaspard” luckily my

voice stayed neutral, thank you whoever is up
there in those hateful heavens. For once you let
me do something right.

“Yes, I am Gaspard. You’re soaking, why didn’t

you bring a coat or something?” his eyes flicker
over me, taking in what must be a sight of
tangled wet hair, and … shit, wet t-shirt. My life
is over. I’m blushing now. Lucky me. Cute guy
and I blush. Well, I have a good reason to. The
guy can probably see my bra right now, actually
it is quite dark, and maybe I’m too covered in
shadow?

XI
“Well, it wasn’t raining when I left, and I don’t
really care if I get wet. I like the rain. It refreshes
me.” I think I’ll try a coy smile. Nope, comes off
as a smirk, now I’m really going to look
unattractive.

“Same for me, but I think you’ve had a bit too

much rain. We can’t have our saviour dying
before the world is supposed to.” He’s walking
towards me and I’m shivering like a lunatic.
Didn’t actually realise how cold I am until he
mentioned it. Now I’m too cold, and the rain isn’t
helping one little bit. In fact I think I may die.
But, wait. I now have his coat round my
shoulders. “Here, this should keep you warm.”

“Err, thanks,” now I sound pathetic. Great.

“Maybe we should go somewhere covered? My

flat isn’t far from here, just round the corner. You
know, the road leading to Chinatown? There’s

XII
blankets and clothes if you want to borrow
something dry.” Wow, he really cuts to the chase.
But I suppose if we have to talk, we might as
well do it out of the rain. So I find myself
nodding, and my hair is now flapping like
seaweed.

Walking with Gaspard is like walking with

someone really fast. I’m so out of breath it’s a
wonder I have any left. But I mean I have to keep
up with him, he’s my only protection, and I really
want to know how I’m going to save the world.
So I gotta keep up. God my feet hurt, stupid
converses, I swear my feet are going to fall off in
a minute if don’t stop walking.

“Just here, sorry I was so fast. It’s just I don’t like

being out so late.”

Finally, he has actually stopped. It’s so nice not

to be moving, but I suppose this is only till he can
get the door opened, which he has now done.

XIII
Very quickly I must say. His hand gestures to the
door so that I can now go through.

“Thanks,” smiling as I’m going past. He’s

smiling too, and… bugger. He’s got fangs.

XIV
 Chapter 3

“You’re a fucking Vampyr!” Shaking in my

converses, and not from the cold. Fear shivers
down my spine. This is not good, why the hell is
he a Vampyr? Why would the only guy able to
help me turn out to be a bloodsucker?

“Didn’t anyone tell you?” Actual concern is

flickering in his eyes. Didn’t think these sleazy
pricks could feel. “Well obviously they didn’t.
you wouldn’t have come if they had.” The door
was suddenly closed behind him, and the stupid
idiot I am, I didn’t move at all. In fact I haven’t
moved at all since I saw the fangs. I don’t know
what’s wrong with me, it’s like I can’t move. I

XV
have to get out of here, it isn’t safe. He could
attack me at any moment, and no one would
know where I am. I’m so stupid; I can’t believe I
fell into this obvious trap.

“Let. Me. Go.” Even my voice is shaking now.

So much for being a confident person. My teeth
are currently gritted, because if they weren’t I
think I would scream. I hate being trapped; the
fact that I have no power over a situation really
freaks me out. I have to have power, or I go mad.
Must be a dominance thing.

“You know I can’t do that. We need to talk. Like

you, I don’t want to die, and to make sure of that
we have to work together. I promise you I am not
going to hurt you.” His hand is held out to me.
Well, seems to me like I have no choice. I’m not
strong, and I suppose, if he wanted to kill me he
would’ve done that by now. So I take his
outstretched hand and we start going up the stairs
to what I suppose is his flat. Well, it is a flat, a

XVI
very small one at that. Clean, but really, really
simple. A bed, a kitchen and a very small living
area with what seems like an ancient TV set.
Might even be black and white. Sheesh, talk
about living in the past. The kitchen is
completely bare, but seeing as he takes meals on
wheels, it really isn’t surprising.

I find myself being seated on the sofa, a blue,

saggy three-seater, and being offered a blanket.
Wow, talk about hospitality. Even after my, err,
little hissy fit, he’s nice to me. I never thought a
Vampyr could be so nice, but I suppose I tend to
be running from them, not being helped by one.
When the table turns, I suppose I have to admit
that they can be civil. Well, to a limit.

He still is gorgeous though. Even for a filthy

bloodsucker. Oh God, don’t say I’ve become soft
on them, just because I think some guy is cute?
That’s just effed up, I really mean it. Gaspard is
now sitting on the opposite end of the sofa,

XVII
looking sheepish. And I mean sheepish, I mean
what’s that about?

“I suppose I should start at the beginning of my

life,” ok, maybe that’s why, “and then go onto
the prophecy. In 1774, I was born Gaspard
Toulouse in pre-revolutionary France, and a
distant cousin of King Louis XVI. Unfortunately
close enough to be put on the execution list
during the Revolution. I was studying in Paris
when it broke out in 1789, and I was unable to
leave. So, I stayed, hoping that it would pass. I
was naïve.” Even his sigh is gorgeous. Shush,
brain, must listen to Gaspard. “I spent a year of
studying, living without much money, and trying
to avoid the mobs who flocked the streets. But in
1791, they came for me. A group of 7 or 8 large
men with torches broke down the door to my
small room, and dragged me to one of the
dungeons where they held the other nobles. I
knew then I was going to die.”

XVIII
Bloody hell, the poor guy. Must’ve been really
hard on him. Thinking you were going to die
because of who you were. Wait, I’ve already
experienced that, I don’t need to pity him.

“On the day before I was due to visit Madame de

Guillotine, I was visited by a shadow who offered
eternal life. Of course, what was I supposed to
answer with? I was about to die, and eternal life
seemed so much more promising than being
beheaded. So I said yes. I did not know that I had
made the biggest mistake of my life.”

“Turning is not as bad as one might think. The

bite itself is actually soothing, you feel no pain,
and everything seems to swim around you. You
feel weightless and really happy. But that was the
nice part. When it is over and you have drunk
some of your sire’s blood, then your whole world
becomes your enemy. You’re hungry, and you
start sniffing out your first victim. Unfortunately,
I was turned in the dungeon, and the only other

XIX
people were my family, but the blood lust was
too strong and I drained them all. No one
screamed, they were too tired for that, I like to
think that it was better for them to die there than
in front of those crowds. More humane.”

“How the hell is that more humane!” This is why

I hated Vampyrs; they claimed they were doing
the ‘humane thing’ by draining people. “You kill
people by draining their blood, and you do it
without their consent. That’s like life rape; you’re
murdering these people for food.”

“Humans eat meat do they not? It is the same; we

kill for food as you do. But you do not need it to
survive as a race, whereas we do if we want to
stay in this world. You can repopulate the world
by having just one male and one female in
existence in the world. We cannot. We depend on
humans to produce children so we have more
food, just like you depend on cows or chickens to
produce babies so you have more meat.” His eyes

XX
are staring into mine; I never noticed how
beautiful they are. They’re kind of blue-y green/
like the ocean. And he has just completely
changed my viewpoint on how Vampyrs live.
How did he do that?

“We do not have much time, I must continue

with my story,” all I could do is nod my head. I
need to let him continue. He’s right, before I
know it, it will be morning, and he can’t be
awake, he’ll burn. “I travelled after that, I fled
Paris in the night. Killing all who came my way.
I knew the legend of the Vampyr, which I had
become, and knew I had to find shelter out of the
sun before dawn. I found a boarded up nobles
house about 40 miles outside Paris, and stayed
there for the day. The next night I continued to do
so until 3 years ago when I settled here in
London. Although I have been in the UK for
around a hundred years, and that is why I do not
have a French accent anymore. I needed to blend
in, and adjust to the modern times. Hence the

XXI
outfit, which I have to say, is more comfortable
than the wigs and outfits I wore in my time.” Oh
definitely, that outfit made him look scrumptious,
and I’ve seen what they used to wear in his day.
Not scrumptious.

“Anyway, here I am, in this day and age. Forever

nineteen, forever young, just as the shadow
promised.” There’s such sadness in his eyes. I
really want to hug him. “About a year ago I had a
dream. In it, you and I were travelling in the land
of the Faeries, on a mission to save both Vampyr
and human alike. I could sense in your aura that
you were a mage, and that told me that you were
powerful. I vowed that when I awoke I would
search for you, and see what powers you held. To
see if the prophecy would become true or not. I
had heard of the prophecy almost two hundred
years ago, it said that a pure Vampyr and a mage
would save the world from apocalypse when the
7th Vampyr King dies. Well, the current Vampyr
king is the 7th, and his powers have slowly started

XXII
to deteriorate, leaving him a hollow shell. He is
the first ever Vampyr to die of a natural cause.
Which for us isn’t natural, we are either staked,
burned or poisoned with garlic. Natural deaths
are not part of our world.”

“What does any of this have to do with me? I’m

one of the worst mages in history. I can’t do
anything.” I can’t keep the disappointment off of
my face, I’m so ashamed that I can’t control any
of my powers. I’m a crap mage.

Gaspard’s mouth is now a smile, showing off his

gleaming white fangs, and he’s looking sheepish
again. “Well. You’re the only female mage ever
to have existed.”

XXIII
 Chapter 4

Wow, that’s news to me. And if I may say so,

completely unsurprising. I thought it was weird
that I never saw another female mage. But I put
that down to them being turned before I could
meet them.

“No shit! God, that’s, err, news.”

“Well, It means that you are currently being

hunted by some of the world’s most famous
Vampyr assassins.”

XXIV
“What the fuck? Why are they hunting me? I
thought I was supposed to be their saviour?”
Sheesh, you try to do a nice thing and it bites you
on the ass. Great.

“You are, but some Vampyr leaders believe that

this apocalypse is going to cleanse the world of
humans, so Vampyrs can rule. They are too
ignorant to realise that we will become extinct
nearly as soon as your species do. We depend on
you for our survival. Without you, we are
nothing.”

“Even with us you’re nothing,” I find myself

scoffing in reply. Gaspard’s eyes have turned red,
talk about quick mood changes.

“You should be lucky to have us near your

species. We are a superior race to yours. You
would be nothing without us. We have made you
the creatures you are today.”

XXV
“Ok. One, you are not superior. And two, we
worked our butts off to get where we are. You
can’t exist without us so don’t go saying shit like
you’re superior.”

Wow, he looks really, really angry now. Maybe I

shouldn’t have pissed him off so much? Well too
late now. Looks like he’s gonna blow.

“You dirty little vermin! How dare you speak to

me like that! I have been around much, much
longer than you have. And have more experience
than your pathetic human life. It is blasphemy
that you speak to me like this.” Sheesh, anger
management problems. Obviously.

Ok, maybe I need to try and, err, sort this out. I

mean, I’ve got to travel with this guy, and save
the world with him. I think it would be better if
he didn’t hate my guts. So, I clear my breath
and… “Ok, chill. Can you just remember that we
have to like travel together? And also, did you

XXVI
forget the sun? It’s nearly 5am; the sun’s going to
be up in an hour or so.” Well, that ought to do it.
Postpone the argument to tomorrow. He can
think of ways to kill me slowly while he sleeps,
or whatever he does during the day. “You ok
with finishing this discussion tonight?” Because I
have to go, and you have to sleep. I have school
as well today, and if I don’t go home now I won’t
have my stuff. And also I need to say hi to my
mum.”

That look’s back. Like he could murder me look.

I don’t think he liked my postponement of the
argument. Well, for all a care we could argue till
he burns, but I don’t have that long. And I really
do want to save the world. And I want to see my
mum, it might be the last time I do.

“Ok, then” gritted teeth now; he’s going all out

on irritated Vampyr attitude now. “Until
tomorrow then. Just make sure you are here as
soon as the sun sets, grab a key on your way out

XXVII
for the outside door. I will leave this door,”
gesturing to the one to his flat, “unlatched.”

Well, I definitely heard him talk, but I blinked

and he’s gone. Literally. The guy really does
freak me out, he’s cute, but he freaks me out.
And that is not a good thing. Well, I suppose I
better grab the key by the door. Heading for the
door, I grab it, and put it in my jeans pocket. Do I
close his front door? No, better not. He’ll
probably close it when I’m gone. Sure enough,
I’m halfway down the stairs and I hear it
shutting. A giant ‘creak’ emanating from
Gaspard’s floor. Well, gotta get home. Maybe I
could grab some coffee at the McDonalds at
Piccadilly Circus, and then the bus straight home.

I’ve got my coffee, and there are actual people

around. So nice to be among civilisation instead
of hostile Vampyrs. Turning for the bus stop. Red
eyes are staring at me. Who the fuck? Ok, don’t
panic, it is not a Vampyr; they can’t come out

XXVIII
during the day. It’s just some stupid person trying
to make people scared by wearing red contacts.
Breathe. Oh no. A sneering smile coming from
the mouth of this weirdo, and he is definitely a
Vampyr, I can see his fangs. This cannot be
happening, how is he in broad daylight? It’s not
possible!

I’m running in the opposite direction of him. I

have to get as far away as possible. I feel like
crying, this is not supposed to be happening.
Vampyrs cannot stand in the daylight and
survive. They have to be underground or at least
in a lightproof room. Oh god, I can feel him
behind me. And do you know what the worst
thing is? I can’t run anymore. I’ve run up Regent
St, and am nearly at the Oxford St diagonal
crossing. I. Have. To. Slow. Down. But instead, I
find myself stopping. He’s now behind me,
lurking. I really can’t take this. So, I’m turning
around.

XXIX
 Chapter 5

Good for me. A stand off. I’m being bumped by

the masses of people on their way to work. But
he’s standing there. Still staring at me with those
inhuman eyes that glare in the sun. Unmoving
between the humans. How the hell hasn’t anyone
noticed that this freak is a Vampyr? Am I the
only one who can see him? Talk about freaky.
Leave it up to me to be chased by an invisible
Vampyr. Just my luck.

“Ok. Who the fuck are you?”

XXX
Silence. Ok new tactic. Push someone into him.
I’ve tripped some poor man into the space, which
the ‘thing’ inhabits. And… he’s falling right
through him. Well, time to run again I think. So
yet again I’m running, but at least now I kind of
know what I’m up against: a hologram of a
Vampyr. Better than the real thing.

“Aaaalllliiiiicccceeee,” oh god that’s creepy. Sort

of like a whine and a beckoning. “Come here
Alliccee, you cannot hide forever.” Now I’m
seriously freaked out, this is a whole new level of
freaky. How the hell have they projected an
image of this Vampyr into the daylight? They’re
not even awake! I know this must be like one of
the dreaming or something, forcing a diluted
version of him into the world where he can’t
tread with his real body. Shit, if they can do that.
What else can they do?

XXXI
Well, I definitely don’t want to find out, so I’m
jumping on the first bus I see with its doors open.
Thank god, it’s a 7, lucky me to find a bus that
takes me straight home. I’ve already buzzed my
oyster and am walking to the back of the bus, just
need to sit down and catch my breath. People are
staring, well fuck them. They haven’t just been
chased by a hologram of a Vampyr; they have no
reason to stare. So, I’ve pasted on my face the
‘piss off and leave me alone’ face. And it’s
already working. And also, at least that fucked up
hologram Vampyr thing has gone.

Home, I’m trudging up the stairs to my flat, the

lift, of course, is broken again. All I can hear is
the lift randomly stating,

“This lift is out of order,” fucking retarded. Ugh,

so I’m finally on my floor, but I’m at my door
and… what the fuck? The door’s open!

XXXII
“MUM! You in there?” oh god, what if the
Vampyrs had been here while I was out? What if
they’d killed my mum?

I’ve entered the front door and closed the door,

seems a bit too late now, but never mind. And
coming up the corridor is: my mother. All in one
piece but looking like shit. “Alice Bronte, where
the hell have you been?!” yeah, this is worse,
she’s the devil incarnate. I think I would’ve
preferred her being kidnapped, than her doing
this to me right now.

“Err, out with friends?” well, better lie than tell

her the truth.

“You said you didn’t have friends,” oops, busted.

“You were with a boy!” And bingo, she’s made
me blush, which to her is conformation. Geez
how does she do that?

XXXIII
“No mum, not with a boy. Ok? I’m not interested
with them full stop. So you can skip the whole,
protective mother thing. I’m here and that’s all
what matters.” Moving towards her, “and if you
don’t mind, I need to change and collect my stuff
for school.”

And now she’s blocking the door. Sheesh. “You

are not going anywhere young lady. I know
something’s up and you’re not leaving for school
until you tell me what.” Goody, I get to explain
the end of the world to my mum, and the fact that
I have to save it along with; you said it, the most
gorgeous Vampyr. Hell, even I’m having some
problems adjusting to it. Here goes:

“Ok then mum, the world is going to end in one

month. I have to save it because I’m the only
female mage that has ever existed. Oh and I
forgot to tell you: I have to work with a
Vampyr.” Shock horror, my mum’s speechless.
Well, for a short amount of time:

XXXIV
“Oh, darling,” and she’s hugging me, err weird.
“I didn’t think that the king was dying! No one
told me! I could’ve helped you…”

“You what? You knew about the prophecy? You

knew that the world was going to end?” and here
I was worried to tell her. That was a kick in the
butt.

“Of course darling. I mean, I’m descended from

Vampyrs, as are you, and we all know that…”

Now THAT was an even more giant kick in the

butt. “I’m descended from scum? What the fuck
am I descended from them? They can’t even
reproduce for fucks sakes.” I believe I’m now
red.

“Well, your grandfather, my father, was a

Vampyr with the gift of fertility. But he could not
reproduce pure Vampyrs; instead he brought me

XXXV
into the world. A half-breed. I can live off both
blood and normal human food. I have no allergy
to the sun, but if I spend too long in it I get a very
bad migraine.”

Wow, my innocent mum can live off blood.

That’s not something you hear everyday. “But
mum, how is me being related to bloodsuckers
have anything to do with saving the world?” she
has the same sheepish look that Gaspard has
when he’s about to tell me something big.

“It was also prophesised that a daughter of the

Vampyr, you, would vanquish all evil from the
realm of the Faeries. That, I suppose is where the
origin of the apocalypse is.”

That gives a new meaning to ‘away with the

faeries’.

XXXVI
 Chapter 6

Ok, I think I kinda freaked out when mum told

me that stuff. Well, maybe a bit more than that. I,
err, ran out of the flat, skipped school and cried
in Hyde Park. Yeah, I think that’s a bit more than
just freaking out. Well, I ended up at Gaspard’s a
tiny bit earlier than he said to be. Ok, ok, a lot
earlier. So, what am I supposed to do? Go home?
Stay out? I don’t think either of those options is

XXXVII
going to agree with me, so I might as well just let
myself in. it’s not trespassing if I have a key.

So, yet again I’m going up these stairs. It looks

different in the daylight, not so threatening. But I
suppose that yesterday (or this morning I should
say) I was coming here under different
circumstances. I was panicked this morning; I’d
just found out a cute guy was a Vampyr and that I
was completely alone with him. Which is really
not good. I mean, I’ve spent the past couple of
years running from them, and now I have to work
for them.

The door is actually unlatched yay. So, I think

that gives me permission to enter, don’t you
think? Actually don’t answer; I don’t want to
hear it. So, I’m pushing the door open, and its
pitch black inside. I mean even bats would get
claustrophobic in there. I really don’t want to go
in! I’m really scared that something’s going to
jump out at me, but I’ve got to brave it.

XXXVIII
One-step… two steps… and I’m in. shit its dark
in here. Ok, gotta feel around for something,
anything that will light this place up. Aha! Cold
steel is tight in my hand; I think it’s a torch.
Either that or a steel pole. I really hope it’s a
torch. Yes! I can feel the button near what I
suppose is the top of the torch. Click. And it
works. Must be my lucky day. The beam of the
torch glares searchingly over the sofa, the TV
and… oh fuck the sleeping Vampyr.

Ok, don’t panic. Just calmly walk around the

scary sleeping Vampyr, that’s it, don’t beam the
light near him. Just slowly walk by. Ok, in the
kitchen, I need to get a weapon. I mean, what if
Gaspard wakes up hungry? I’m the only human
here! God, I should’ve eaten some garlic, ugh, no
not garlic it doesn’t work! I’ve tried it, but it had
no effect on any Vampyr! Just my luck really.
“Just relax and take your time. Sunset isn’t for
ages, and he can’t wake up before then” I’m

XXXIX
finding myself whispering for comfort. Sheesh,
I’m so weird.

I think I fell asleep! I don’t know how, but I’m

curled up in a ball on the kitchen floor. This is
getting a bit weird, I mean I find out I’m like a
quarter Vampyr, and before that I found out that I
have to save the world, and now I forget if I
sleep. Something is up. I don’t know what, but
something is definitely up. Time to uncurl, I
think, so slowly I go. One body part at a time
righting itself. My legs, my arms and finally my
torso and head. Well, at least I didn’t get a head
rush. They’re just nasty.

Ok, the light is on, not the torch, but the main
light. That means… shit. Gaspard must be up.
And he must’ve seen me sleeping on the floor,
just great this evening just gets better and better.

“Alice?” I’m twirling around and… ow! Who the

fuck would have a cupboard right there? Oh

XL
yeah, a normal person. And now I’m in
Gaspard’s arms. How did that happen?

“Are you ok?” wow, he’s really warm for a

Vampyr, almost like a living person, and he’s so
tall. “Alice? Answer me. Are you ok?”

I’m trying to talk but all I can do is croak out

“yeah I am.” Did I say that out load?

“Good.” Well, seems like I did, but I’m alone

again. Why’d he let me go? I enjoyed his gentle
hold. It seemed strong, but not oppressing. Ok,
am I yearning for a bloodsucker now? I must’ve
really banged my head. Gaspard’s on the other
side of the room, arms crossed over his chest.
He’s looking protective of himself. Why? He’s
the one who held me, not vice versa. I should be
the one holding myself defensively, not him.

XLI
“Why are you standing like that? I’m not going to
kill you or anything” well, it’s better to ask than
let it lie.

“Because I don’t trust myself with you Alice,”

well that’s kind of, err, surprising, “I am not in
control when I touch you.”

“What are you talking about?” I am so confused

right now.

“I mean, that when I am with you, I want to touch

you. I want to smell your scent and feel your
breath upon my skin.” I think my jaw just
dropped. Oh. My. God. I Vampyr likes me likes
me. This is bigger than weird. It’s weirder.
“Alice, I’m sorry.”

I’m being slammed against the wall. Gaspard’s

above me, our bodies touching. He’s leaning in
and I can’t help it, I’m leaning towards him too.
And… bliss. I think I’m in heaven, his mouth is

XLII
now on mine, and I have to say that he is the best
kisser I have ever known. And I have had a lot of
kisses. His hand’s in my hair now, grasping the
strands and entwining them between his fingers. I
can’t even open my eyes right now, but I can feel
everything he’s doing to me. Oh god, his tongue
is in my mouth, I always thought of tongue as
eww, but with him it’s gorgeous. But, his mouth
is getting too rough. His lips are now more
demanding. Any minute now he’s going to break
the skin on my lips with his fangs and… he’s
drawn blood.

His eyes are now red.

XLIII
 Chapter 7

So here I am, my lip bleeding ferociously, and a

hungry Vampyr is holding me. Bugger. You'd
think I would've tried to get out of his grip, and
you'd be right. But this guy is so frickin' strong.
Oh yeah, he's a Vampyr, I forgot. This is so

XLIV
unfair, I thought I was supposed to live, not
become some Vampyr chow. I mean, he's
supposed to help me not drain me for god's sakes.

"Gaspard," my voice sounds really thick for some

reason, maybe my lips are a bit swollen or
something, "you've got to let me go ok?" reply?
Nope. Ok, gonna have to do this the hard way.
I've kicked him, hard, in the nuts.

Oh. My. God. The guy has bloody balls of steel.

He will not even flinch! I am never going to let
another Vampyr kiss me ever again, well, that's if
I survive this one. "Gaspard we have to go.
Remember? You and I are to fulfil the prophecy,
and if I die, then you're going to die." That should
make him move. Ugh, my legs are going numb
now. Great.

"I would die anyways if I killed you," wow,

emotion, and I have a feeling it's the truth. Well,
now I have a Vampyr stalker person. Just

XLV
brilliant, more baggage. His eyes are still red, but
I'm looking into them and all I see is regret and
pain. Why the pain? What the hell could be
causing this pain?

"Gaspard, lighten up. I mean it. I can't travel with

Mr Moody that you're showing right now. I just
can't ok?" I can see a smile forming... and it's
gone again. Sheesh what a depressing creature he
is.

"I am not moody. I am tortured," oh just great,

now he's Mr Dramatic. "I want to taste your
blood, but if I do, then I will no longer be a pure
Vampyr."

Ok. What the fuck did he just say? Does this

mean he doesn't drink human blood? Because I
could totally go out with him is he doesn't.

"So you don't drink human blood?"

XLVI
"Yes that is correct. I do not drink human blood. I
drink the blood of pigs only. They are close to
humans, but have many imperfections."

"Oh, well good for you," yay! He's like veggie

Vampyr like that Cullen Clan in what is it? Oh
yeah, 'Twilight', crap movie to be honest. But that
doesn't matter. It just means he's morally better
than I thought.

"Yes it is good for me. Do you want me to, err,

get out of your personal space? I seem to be a bit
close."

"If you wouldn't mind. You are kind of close, and

I need to sort this lip out," oops, drawing
attention to the blood again, not good, I don't
know what's wrong with me. But, he's let me go,
and I'm scurrying towards the bathroom so
quickly I'm surprising even myself. I'm like a
whirlwind of a person, flying to the toilet roll,

XLVII
cleaning the lip and flushing the used tissue down
the toilet.

Ah, now I can relax, no blood and the wound is

clean. Now all I have to worry about is saving the
world. This should be simple.

"So, Gaspard, where the fuck are we going to

start saving the world? I have no idea how we're
going to do this" he's looking relaxed now, like
he knows that I'm ok with him now.

"Well, we need to go to the Realm of the Faeries.

From there, I do not know. I have been told that
there will be a sign to tell us what to do."

Ok, that narrows it down. Not. Just great, I'm

going to god knows where, and relying on 'a
sign'. Talk about a crappy plan.

"Yeah, err, where the fuck is the Realm of the

Faeries? I don't even know what it is, except for

XLVIII
that it's a, err, a realm of the Faeries?" I sound so
pathetic and naïve. Not attractive.

"It lies within your mind. It is not really a place,

just a state of mind. Your soul leaves your body,
and travels to the Realm of the Faeries, and
rematerializes as a solid object once it reaches
there."

"You make it sound so simple. But one, how do I

send my soul there? And two, what happens to
my body then?"

"Ah, good questions. Well, I will perform a

ritual, I which I will ask for acceptance into the
Faerie land, which will be granted as we are both
pure, and on a mission to protect the human and
Vampyr worlds. And to answer your question
about your body, well, it will stay as you left it,
but any wounds or malnutrition will show up on
your body while in the Realm of the Faeries."

XLIX
Wow, that's a lot of information to process. "I am
planning to go tonight, unless you have any
objections?"

"No, I don't. I just need to eat something before I

go. That's all, I don't travel well on an empty
stomach." And now I'm trying to joke, I must be
nervous because, let's face it, I'm not funny.

"I'll go and get some food from the fridge then. I

think I have so stuff there." Actually that's kind
of weird. He drinks blood, not eats food.

"I thought Vampyrs didn't eat."

"We do, it just doesn't sustain us. We enjoy the

taste but that's as far as it goes. I am quite taken
with Chinese takeaway. The sweet and sour
chicken does it for me." That is so freaky, that's
kind of my favourite too. "I have some left over
in the fridge from yesterday. Did you want it?"

L
I nod; no way was I going to turn that down. So,
I'm wolfing down the most delicious sweet and
sour chicken, and Gaspard is setting up the ritual
for later. Some candles, I don't know what type;
I'm not really into them, and a blanket. I'd
thought he'd need more stuff, but apparently not.
I suppose all he really needs are the words.

So I'm now finished my food and precariously

lying down on the blanket, careful not to go near
the candles because I don't want to burn. Gaspard
is coming over, and I know that he's going to lie
beside me. Romantic or what? Shame it's for this
though.

"Ok, I'm going to start now," he's now beside me;

our feet are touching at the end of the blanket.
For some reason i want to giggle. "Just stay calm,
and whatever happens, don't move until I say so.
Got it?"

LI
"Yeah I do. Don't move unless you give the A-
ok."

"So let's begin." And he is. He's saying a whole

load of shit I don't understand. Must be Latin or
something. I studied it for a while, but I just got
too confused about it. I recognise the words
'mistress' and 'accept' but that about it.

I feel really weird. Like I'm not really here.

Gaspard's still reciting his Latin, but I feel
weightless, like I don't exist in this world. And I
suppose now, I don't if what Gaspard said is true.
I suppose, I'm travelling, my soul trying to escape
from my body, from this world.

Oh god, I never said goodbye to my mum.

LII
 Chapter 8

Fucking hell. I think I died, bypassed hell and

came back alive again. That was the most
horrifying experience I've ever had. As soon as
Gaspard had finished his ritual speech, my whole
body felt like it was on fire. From my scalp to my
toes I burnt, slowly and at like 100 degrees. I
wanted so much to move, to pour cold water over

LIII
my blistering skin, but I knew better than to go
against Gaspard's words of wisdom, especially in
a situation where I don't know what's going on. It
would've been naïve to do so, and at that moment
of time I really couldn't afford to be naïve. So,
there I stayed; completely still and trying to think
of other things.

What felt like hours after Gaspard fell silent next

to me, my vision began to blur at the edges.
Slowly, my whole vision faded out to black and
all there was was emptiness. A blank expanse in
which I was the only entity. The silence in itself
was deafening, and the fact I couldn't see made
my head ache. Being completely alone is
something I have never been, always there have
been noises, people, objects that make me feel
part of something real. Here, well lets just say
that being real is not the problem. It's the doubt
you put on yourself, the questioning about if you
were real in the first place. If your whole life was
a lie.

LIV
I should have known better than to doubt my own
existence. My thoughts alone should have been
validation of my existence. If I didn't exist then
why could I think for myself? Have my own
personality? Love, hate, eat and drink? As I said
before, I should have known better. I waited
there, just standing, just being. Believing I was
nothing made me lost. Made my journey stop
momentarily and veer off its path. I'd questioned
reality, so it had banished me from itself. I
suppose that was only fair. I mean, if I told
someone they didn't exist, they would hate me
and try and cut me out from their lives. So it
looks like the same goes for reality.

Gaspard was nowhere I missed him. I wanted

him near me. I wanted some sort of solid object
near me, to dismiss my rising vertigo. And
Gaspard seemed like the best option. He made
me feel real, wanted and for some strange reason:
loved. Wow, can't believe I admitted that.

LV
"Oh god Gaspard. Where are you? I need you," I
nearly cried, right there and then. I never cry. It's
weak to show that sort of emotion.

"Alice? Alice!"

"Gaspard! I'm here!" as if anyone knew where

'here' was.

"I'm coming just keep talking to me, and I'll find

you."

"Ok," I couldn't believe it. He was actually near

me. The crying really worked. "Well, I don't
know what happened back there, but whatever
you did it seems to have gone wrong. No offence
to you, but this wasn't your best attempt to
impress me. I think the kiss was better to be
honest. At least I enjoyed the kiss. This I do not
enjoy."

LVI
I could here laughing somewhere, "so you
enjoyed the kiss when I nearly could've turned
you. But this you don't enjoy. Well I learn
something about you all the time. Keep talking, I
think I'm near you."

"You really do think too much. You don't know

anything about me. Let me put it this way; I
know as much about you as you do about me.
And that equals zilch. Don't even think about
arguing with me about this. We've only just met,
and I don't think anyone could know me after
only one day."

"Oh but you see," and there he was right behind

me, "I can very easily get to know someone after
only one day." The bastard was smiling. Fucking
retard. "We have to get out of here."

"You don't say," I really couldn't keep the

sarcasm out of my voice. "I'm not staying here

LVII
any longer. If I do, then well, you'll have a mad
woman on your hands." And I really meant that.

"I thought you were already mad?" innocent

puppy eyes were staring back at me. I kicked
him.

"Stop the flirting. You've already kissed me once,

you're not doing it again anytime soon."

"Oh, we'll see." And for that he deserved another

kick. Yay, pain flickered across his face. I caused
a Vampyr pain.

"Come on, we have to go." With that he pulled

me into the nothingness, our feet scuttling across
blankness. Step after step we took, going straight
the whole time. I still don't know how he knew
where to go. It was all so... blank. But, I suppose
Vampyrs have like a sixth sense about anything
magyk.

LVIII
We stopped after my feet had actually blistered
and were bleeding. Although I didn't know that
then. Gaspard whirled me around so that my back
was facing him. He held me tightly with one arm
and chanted quietly. My stomach lurched,
threatening to bring up the Chinese I ate earlier.
It wasn't a good feeling.

"Do you trust me?" I could feel his arm

tightening around me.

"Of course I do," and I meant it, I was being the

most honest I've ever been.

"Then you have to just close your eyes and let me

take us to the Realm of Faeries. We'll get there
this time. I promise." I felt the truth in that
promise. I knew that he wasn't lying. So, I let him
hold me and guide me towards our destination. I
had to struggle to keep my eyes closed,
everything screamed danger. I couldn't see, I was

LIX
moving and being held by a Vampyr. But I
trusted him, so fair play to keep my eyes closed.

"Alice? You ok? We're here." Eyes opened and...

wow.

"I think I just found where I want to live." With

you, I added to myself.

Chapter 9

Well, I think that I have found out where I want

to spend the rest of my life. The Realm of the
Faeries is the most magykl place I have ever
seen. The grass is green, the water is blue, and
there is absolutely no pollution what so ever. I'm

LX
in heaven, and I don't ever want to leave. I could
forget all my troubles here: I could live
peacefully without the hustle and bustle of
modern day life. Everything here was more
natural than my world. The air smelt like freshly
mown grass, and the birds sang the purest of song
that delighted the ears.

The sun is shining... wait a second. The sun is

shining? How the fuck is Gaspard still alive
(figuratively speaking)? He should've been burnt
to a crisp by now. It was like that hologram of
that Vampyr (yesterday?), defying the laws of
Vampyrs.

"Err, Gaspard?" eyes flickering over to me, "how

are you not a piece of charcoal right now?"

"Well, the Faerie lands do not actually hold an

orbital sun, this is actually a sun produced
entirely on magyk as the Queen of the Faeries
liked the idea of bathing her lands in a golden

LXI
light. This sun in any way does not affect me, in
fact I love to just stare at it as it reminds me of
when I was alive." Wow, that's, err, deep
thinking.

"Oh, so this is the only place where you can be

part of the human you once were?"

"That is correct. It is nice to bathe in the light of

the sun, even though it is an unnatural sun. I feel
whole and warm, whereas when I am in our
world, well, I feel cold and evil."

How could he say that? He wasn't evil, not at all.

He was one of the kindest people I had ever met.
He was just being a wanker and trying to gain
sympathy from me so that I'd like him even more.
Well if this was his way of flirting, then no way
was he ever going to get me. It just won't happen.
I mean, come on, who uses sympathy to get the
girl? Ok, stupid question because all guys do it to
tell you the truth.

LXII
"Number one: you are not evil. Number two:
don't you dare start-using sympathy to try and
'woo' me or whatever it is you're doing. It's not
working."

"Ah, but if it wasn't working then you wouldn't

have said anything. You saying it isn't working
just shows that it is." Fucking cocky guy, oh and
now he's smirking. Just great, I feel like an idiot
and he gets what he wants. Arrogant tosser.

How I wish I could humiliate him somehow, but

I mean, how do you humiliate a Vampyr? Break
his fangs off? Even I'm not that horrible. I may
occasionally have evil thoughts but that doesn't
make me evil in itself. If I carried out the evil
thoughts, well then I would be evil, but I don't.

Well, our journey, I suppose, has only just begun.

We're here now, but we don't know what the hell
to do next. So, I think we're just going to set up

LXIII
camp here. It's a perfect place to be honest: a
large clearing surrounded by trees, a small river
of spring water running just to the left and mossy
ground so if we sleep it's not too hard. I don't
know what to do if I need the toilet, but I don't
think I want to think about that until the need
arises. So, I'm sitting down now, legs folding
beneath me so I can sit comfortably. Gaspard's
right next to me, just breathing in and out. It's
really comforting to hear that, like a kind of
validation that all of this is real and not some
daydream I'm having.

"Alice? Do you, err, like me?" and I've stopped

breathing. I shouldn't be so surprised; this
question was bound to come up sooner than later.
Although I had wished later. So now I'm
surveying him up and down, trying to find what I
like about him the most. Actually I do like him,
but any relationship we start now will not help
our task at all. It will probably end up like one of

LXIV
those spy novels where they fall in love and one
of them gets killed. I do not want that to happen.

"I suppose in a way I do. You are certainly

attracting to me, and I really do like your
personality. But we can't advance on those
feelings yet, or even ever. Not only are you a
Vampyr, but also we have to save the world
remember. We can't jeopardise that."

"I see what your saying. I think. But, you didn't

really answer the question, you just said things
about why we can't be together." Shit, didn't see
that one backfiring.

"Ok, I do like you. Happy now?"

"Yeah," egotistical prick.

"Don't you dare smile or smirk or do whatever

you do when you're satisfied. That's one reason I
don't love you. You're such an asshole

LXV
sometimes." There I've said it. I don't love him. I
never have and I never will. Well, as long as I
don't spend too much time with him.

"Ooh I'm hurt," Wow the sarcasm is thick on his

voice, "I'm sorry I brought it up. Maybe we
should just get some sleep then. It's been a really
tiring day, and if we want to save the world, I'd
rather do it while not trying to fall asleep." Ok, I
can agree with him on that for once.

"Ok then. I suppose so. Just make sure you sleep

lightly though. I don't want to be left alone
defending myself because you sleep really
deeply."

"It's ok, I don't really sleep. I sort of go into a

trance. I'll be here, don't worry."

With that he's lying down on the moss, back

straight now, and legs tucked up. Aw, he looks
like a baby like that. Shut up brain, I just want to

LXVI
sleep. So now I'm finding myself lying down too,
turning to my side and...

Chapter 10

Fuck. I can't move. This is not good. I can't feel

my legs or my arms, it's like something or
someone is pinning me down. But... I can't see
anything! This is complete bull, if I can't see
anything then I should be able to move, it's just

LXVII
fucking mind tricks. Oh god, I can't even see
Gaspard in the clearing, where the hell is the little
shit? I'm alone and I can't move. Great. Just great.
I can't believe how vulnerable I am, I mean I've
spent the last two years not being vulnerable, and
now, when I really can't afford to be vulnerable, I
am.

One toe wiggling, two toes wiggling. Ok, small,

but it's a start. If I can just make that my legs and
my arms, I'm free. Yeah right, as if that's going to
happen. Whoever, or whatever, made me like
this, wouldn't have made it so easy for me to
escape. Then again, it's worth a try.

I think it's been about ten minutes, but that's only

a guess, and I'm half free! I've managed to loosen
the invisible burden on my legs, but my arms still
keep me frozen on the ground. Come on, come
on and yes! I think that I am the greatest person
on the planet. Shit, I don't even know where I am.

LXVIII
Standing now, wobbly but upright. So I gotta be
happy. At least I can move.

"Gaspard?" My voice is small and barely audible.

Wow, it's so dry, need to go and have some water
from that river by the edge of the clearing. Cool,
refreshing water trickling down my throat. Mmm,
wait though, what if this is like that myth? The
one where Persephone is kidnapped into the
underworld, and because she ate from there she
had to stay there forever. I have o objection to
staying here, but I love where I'm from more, and
I want to go home. Shit, too late now, whatever
I've condemned myself too it's done.

The trees are looming up ahead of me,

whispering in the sun. Sheesh, now even the trees
are against me. They're all plotting my demise.
Anyways, I've got to keep moving now. If I stay
here something will get me, and at least if I go I'll
be more able to find Gaspard and finish what we
came here to do. So, now, I'm dragging my feet

LXIX
to the opposite side of the clearing, somehow I
feel heavy and tired, like I'm wading through a
thick bog.

I have a theory that something doesn't want me to

leave this clearing. It's just a hunch, but the
evidence is all there. I need to get out of here, if I
don't then I'll probably starve and die. Or
something like that. So I have to get moving, and
so I am. Slowly but surely I am actually getting
closer to the edge of the clearing. Ha! Nothing
can stop me now.

Oh, shitake mushrooms. Something just growled

behind me. What should I do? What should I do?
Ok, keep calm. Don't move. Breathe. Just turn
very slowly, that's it. There's nothing there, what
the fuck?

"Ok, whoever the fuck is stopping me from

getting out of this clearing get your butt out here

LXX
so I can kill you," now something is cackling, yes
cackling, in some nearby trees.

"Well, well, the little human has courage. I didn't

know you creatures had a spine." I still can't see
the thing; ugh it's so retarded that it's still hidden.
I need to see this creature. I need to know what
I'm up against.

"I know I have more courage than you, you're

still hidden. Makes you look like a coward." That
should smoke it out.

Rustling in the direction of the voice is occurring,

thank god. Finally, "How dare you call me a
coward you filthy, inbred piece of shite!" ok, I
did not want to hear that.

The creature is emerging, face red and looking

feral. And I mean feral. It has wings! So I
suppose it's a Faerie or something like that. I
mean I am in the Realm of the Faeries for Christ's

LXXI
sakes. I think it's about the same height as me,
not at all like the Faeries I read about in books. A
tragically handsome male face is framed by long
brown hair. If he weren't so rude to me I'd have
really fancied him. But, as it is, I already hate this
guy; he thinks he can piss me off? He's got
another thing coming to him. Shit, he's flying
towards me.

"Ok, listen here you turd. Number one, I am NOT

inbred. And don't you ever say I am. Two, fuck
off! How dare you fucking piss me off like that? I
haven't done anything to you and I wish you'd
just disappear and leave me to find my own way
out of here." Wow, this prick's silent. Then
again...

"No, you listen human. You will never find your

way out of here. Your Vampyr has been taken to
the Queen..."

LXXII
"Wait a second. Did you just say that Gaspard
has been taken?" not good at all.

"Yes, and I will curse you if you interrupt me

again. Where was I? Oh yes, well he's been taken
and I don't really think you will ever see him
again. So, I'm offering you a way out. Shock
horror, I'm nice." This is so weird. I can't leave
Gaspard, and is this Faerie bi-polar or
something? I mean make your mind! Hate me or
like me, sheesh.

"You're telling me that you would get me out of

here, but I'd have to leave Gaspard?"

Sarcastic little piece of nothing is looking at me

like I'm stupid. "Yes, wasn't that clear in my
'idiots talk of getting the hell out of here'?"

"Err, yeah it was clear. I was just voicing it

because it's such a stupid idea." And it is, I mean
why would I leave Gaspard? He's saved me a few

LXXIII
times, and I think I like him, so no way am I
going to leave him!

"To a human it may seem stupid, but I have lived

here all my life and have seen what this Realm
can do to your fragile little minds." Well I think
he's telling the truth, but I'm still not going. Not
without Gaspard.

"I can't go. The Vampyr is my friend and consort,

he has saved me, and so I must do the same.
Thank you for the offer, but I must refuse. My
journey has taken me this far, and I will not stop
until I have completed it."

"Well it is your death that will complete your

journey if you don't go back. But I suppose it is
your decision. I'll just be going then. You can
leave the clearing now." He's flittering to the
bushes where he came from. I don't know his
name yet...

LXXIV
"Wait! What's your name?" he's stopped, looking
back towards me.

"Hamlet."

"Mine's Alice."

Wow, he's smiling, good sign I suppose and...

he's gone. I didn't even get to say goodbye.

"Weird Faerie" but I can't wonder about him right

now. I need to find out where this Faerie Queen
lives. I'm supposing she's a Faerie Queen, being
surrounded by Faeries and everything. First, I
need to get to like a ditch or something because I
really need to pee.

Ok, bladder empty thank god. Now to find

Gaspard. He would be in a castle I suppose, so
I'm looking for just that. Something big,
extravagant, pointy towers and looks like it's
from a picture book. Can't be that hard to find.

LXXV
Three hours later. Yeah, I take that back. It is
really hard to find it. I thought that a castle would
be kind of obvious, but I was wrong. I've been
walking and walking, but to not avail. I can't see
any castle-like buildings or any buildings at all
for that matter. My feet hurt so much! I wish I
hadn't worn my best converse today, it's rubbing
my ankles and I think I have blisters now. I'm
hungry too; the last thing I ate was that sweet and
sour chicken. And that was too long ago. If I
don't quit moaning I'm not going to survive.

"Allliccceeeeee." Oh God, the whiny voice is

back. I really hope my ears are deceiving me
because I really can't cope with that 'thing' right
now. Turning and...

Shit. He's back.

LXXVI
 Chapter 11

"Allliccceeeeee, come to me. Come to me

Alliccee, I will protect you." Yeah right, as if I'd
go anywhere near that thing. Backing up, backing
up and I've hit a tree. Great, dead end. Just when

LXXVII
I thought it couldn't get any worse I get myself
into a corner. Now that thing can kill me easily.

What a second. Didn't that guy I push into him

pass through him? I remember, this Vampyr isn't
solid. Yes, now he can't touch me I'm safe. Well,
as safe as I was before and that wasn't very much.
But at least I can pass him without having to be
worried that he'll grab me or something.

"Fuck off you retarded hologram," yeah, lame,

but it's the only thing I can think of at the
moment.

"Noooo Alliccee. I will not go. Listen to me

Alliccee. Gaspard is in danger of becoming a
normal Vampyr," hold the phone, did he just say
Gaspard? This is really weird right now. I don't
know if I can trust him, but might as well listen
to him.

LXXVIII
"You have five minutes of my time. That's it ok?"
Yeah right, as if this would take only five
minutes.

Its head is nodding in agreement. "That is fine

Alliccee. That is all the time I need. Gaspard has
been taken to the underground lair of the Faerie
Queen." Underground! That's why I haven't seen
it. So stupid not to think of that. "He is being
starved so that he has to resort to human blood;
your blood Alliccee. You are the only human
here. If he drinks human blood then the prophecy
cannot be fulfilled. Also if he drinks from you
then you will die."

"Why is the Faerie Queen doing this? Does she

want the world to end?"

"The apocalypse will not affect her Realm. She

wishes death on all humans, but is willing to save
some Vampyrs. Her love is one and she doesn't
want him to be the last of his species. She hates

LXXIX
humans. They willed her out of existence in your
world, not believing made it so that she can never
set foot in there again."

Shit, now that is a story and a half. And to tell

you the truth, I believe it. It all adds up. That's
why Gaspard was taken, and this hologram is
actually helping me. He's not that scary actually.

"Thank you so much. How can I repay you?"

"Well Alliccee, on your journey, should you meet

a Vampyr called Demeter: stake her. She is an
abomination to all Vampyrs and should be turned
into dust." Wow strong words from a hologram.

"I will try, I promise you," and I meant it. "What

is your name?"

"Some call me Lord of the Night, but I prefer my

informal name: Dracula." Well I'll be damned. I

LXXX
just got help from the lord of the Vampyrs. I must
be special if he doesn't want to drain me.

"Thank you again Dracula. It was an honour to

make your acquaintance."

"Likewise my child Alliccee, likewise." And now

he's gone. Vanished. Sheesh, Vampyrs do know
how to make an exit.

Well, I'm alone again. I don't really care about

that, but sometimes you just want someone talk
to. Tell everything to even if it kills you. That's
what I needed right now, not the blank horizon
that swept across me. It is eerily silent. Nowhere
this covered by trees and mud should be quiet. It
should have a cacophony of sounds emitting from
it. It should sound as if it is alive, not dead. It's
just plain creepy to be honest.

Night's approaching. I can feel it under my skin

like a cool breeze. I better either find the

LXXXI
underground lair of this bitch, or find shelter and
food and water for the night. It looks like it's the
latter of those plans. Night is coming in thick and
fast and I don't think I'll find the castle tonight.
So the search is on. Maybe a hollowed out tree or
a cave or something should do the trick? Ah,
here's a tree, it looks big enough for me and... yes
here’s some berries. Looks like they're
blackberries. There isn't any water nearby but I'm
not thirsty.

Entering the tree is quite hard. It's really dark and

I can't see anything. There doesn't seem to be a
back! Wait a second, let me step inside. Yep,
there is no back at all. It just goes on. What the
heck? I might as well take the risk and walk on
inside. I have nothing to lose now. Well, except
my life.

"Shit," my head just crack on the top of the

tunnel thing I'm in. it's really small in here and I
can't see a damned thing still. This is annoying

LXXXII
and unfair. If only there was light. I suppose I
have to keep moving. The earthy smell is getting
stronger and stronger. It's so strong now it's
making me choke.

So here I am, choking and spluttering while

blindly walking forwards to god knows where.
I'm becoming really claustrophobic now. This
tunnel is too small. Closer and closer it has
become. I can't stand it I need to get out. This is
shit, it's really shit. How did I get in here? Why
didn't I just stay at the beginning of the tunnel
and wait for the sun to rise again? Because I'm an
idiot: that's why.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid" yeah I'm so stupid I even

voice it out. I sometimes wonder about my sanity
to tell you the truth. Right now though, I feel like
my sanity is slipping away. Just waiting to cut
away from me at anytime. It's driving me crazy
thinking about that.

LXXXIII
The ground has suddenly pulled away from me!
I'm falling so fast I'm gonna throw up. Shit I feel
like Alice when she falls through the rabbit hole.
Hell, I am Alice falling through the rabbit hole,
just not into Wonderland, but into hell. It's still
black, but wind is whipping my face, making it
raw and nearly bloody. My arms are now numb
and I think I can see a light. Fuck it is a light and
I'm heading straight for it! I'm going to die, I
really am. I'm just going to fall until I reach the
ground in a big mess of flesh and bone. This is
the worst death ever. I wanted to die peacefully,
not horrifically. This isn't fair.

"Gaspard. I love you." I've finally said it. It's a

shame it's when I die. And double shame that he
isn't here to hear it. But that's how life goes. And
in my case that it how my life is going to go.

Here comes the ground.

LXXXIV
 Chapter 12

Bad head, and I mean a really bad head. This

sucks. All I remember is falling down that

LXXXV
fucking dark and steep hole in the floor. And
right now I don't know where I am. All I know is
that it's underground and I'm stuck here for now.
Shit, this must be the underground castle! Yay for
me for actually finding it but I am not ready for
this. I needed to prepare before I started
searching down here.

First thing's first, I need to check for broken

bones, blood or anything I could've got from that
fall. Anything? No, good then. Well I know I'm
not dead because I can see things that I don't
think would be in heaven or hell. I see lamps and
concrete walls and furniture. From the depictions
of both heaven and hell, I don't think this is
either.

I had landed on pile of old leaves, soil and god

knows what else. At least I'd landed on it; if I'd
landed on the concrete then I would have
definitely died. But none of that matters now. I
need to get my bearings, find out which part of

LXXXVI
this underground kingdom I'm actually in. By the
looks of it, I'm in the dungeon area. Which in a
way is good because there won't be many people
around. But on the other hand, it could be really,
really bad as there might be extra security at the
exit.

"What the fuck am I doing here?"

Rustling. "I don't know 'what the fuck' you're

doing here," so don't waste the breath asking
me." Talk about unexpected company. I'm getting
used to these things popping out everywhere now
though. Doesn't surprise me now that much.

"I wasn't asking you. I was talking to myself."

Like I didn't sound crazy enough, I'm admitting
that I talk to myself yay. I'm such an idiot.

"I knew that. I'm just messing with ya." I think

he's human! He sounds it, might as well ask as
he's still in the shadows.

LXXXVII
"Are you human?" Simple and direct. Ugh, I
should've asked 'what are you?' as if he isn't
human then I won't know what he is.

"Yep," and he's emerging from the shadows, all

6tf blonde gorgeousness of him. Wow. "Name's
Raoul. Born 18 years ago in Brooklyn. And may
I ask, who the fuck are you?" Cute smile, and
now I'm drooling and staring. I can't look
anymore stupid. Answer, must answer.

"Alice. I'm called Alice and I was born in London

17 years ago." That couldn't have sounded
anymore lame.

"Well Alice, I don't know how you got into this

hell-hole, but I'm sure gonna get you out." What?

"Err, no thanks. I have things to do round here. I

can't go until I've regained my Vampyr."

LXXXVIII
Regained my Vampyr? Yep, I'm insane now. And
I sound like a complete retard.

The face is now like thunder. He looks like

someone has shoved a stick up his arse. He really
does.

"You're with a Vampyr." Not a question more of

an 'I loathe Vampyrs' kind of statement.

"Yeah, we have to, err, save the world. Sounds

insane but it's actually true."

He's laughing! Who does he think he is? And

why the hell is he here in this realm? How dare
he laugh at me!

"You are going to save the world? I thought

you'd be more likely to read a book or
something." I think I'm going to kill this guy; he's
really pissing me off. No one talks to me like
that, well, except my mum, but she's allowed.

LXXXIX
I can't stand this guy anymore, and the longer I
linger her, the closer the Apocalypse approaches.
And I can't waste anymore time, Gaspard's purity
depends on it. He has to drink animal blood, and
soon. If he doesn't, then I came all this way just
to get bitten by a fucking Vampyr.

"I'm really sorry Raoul, but I gotta go. Even if

you don't believe me, I have to go save my
Vampyrs ass, before he starves and tries to drain
me. Therefore ending my life so I can't stop the
Apocalypse. You understand?" I really hope he
does, I can't stay here, I have to move."

"Alice, I don't know you, but understand this:

trust nothing here. Everything is a trick of the
mind to get you confused and get yourself
killed."

XC
"Then technically, I shouldn't be trusting you
then." Smart comment, shame I can't keep it up
usually. "I have to go. Right now."

So I'm walking down this concrete tunnel, and I

can hear Raoul heave a long sigh and become
quiet. Didn't think he would let me do that, I
really didn't. I thought he would've restrained me
or something. I would've done that in his
position. But different people have different ways
of doing things.

"Alice! Wait up!" Is he coming towards me?

Why is he doing this? I can't be responsible for
yet another person. Even if they come willingly
I'll feel guilty if something bad happens. No, he
can't come; I'll just have to speed up.

"Alice! Just stop ok?" and I did. I really don't'

know why. "Thank God, if you'd gone any
further I would have lost you." Err, how? It's a
straight tunnel for fucks sakes.

XCI
"What do you want Raoul?" I can't keep the
hostility out of my voice.

"I want to come with you." Yeah right. As if I am

ever going to let that happen.

"I'm sorry Raoul but I have to do this alone. I just

met you and I can't trust those I've just met. You
even said so yourself." He can't argue with that.
Can he?

"I know you said you have to do this alone, but I

know this castle." What? He knows this castle?
How long has this guy actually been here? "I can
help you find your Vampyr friend." He said
'Vampyr' civilly. That's a drastic change in
behaviour.

"How do you know this castle? You do know that

by saying that you have just made me think that
you shouldn't be trusted? It's all a bit dodgy."

XCII
That couldn't have come out scrambled enough
even if I said it really, really quickly.

"Well, I'm not really allowed to tell you this, but

I'm the Queens' son."

Fuck me.

Chapter 13

XCIII
Recently, nothing seems to surprise me: but this
did. I mean really? How come the guys I like are
either Vampyrs or the sons of creatures that are
apparently bent of the end of human existence?
Actually, what surprises me most is that she has a
human son. Doesn’t she hate us?

“That I did not expect. I thought she hated all

humans, I mean we have stopped believing in her
and everything.”

“Yeah, about that, she does hate you, but she

kind of had a fling with a human, who was then
turned into a Vampyr.” Yep, that explains it,
well, kind of.

“Oh, so the Vampyr who is her lover is your

dad?”

“Yep, some wasted guy stabbed him just after

mom got pregnant, but she loved him too much
to let him go, so she asked Dracula to bite him.

XCIV
Hence the Vampyr dad, and also a more powerful
hatred of humans.” He’s sad. That’s kind of
interesting, maybe his mum doesn’t love him or
something, and I mean it would figure seeing as
she hates all humans.

“Ok, so you know your way around obviously,

but I can’t really trust you. You’re the son of the
Faerie Queen, and right now, I don’t think I’m on
her happy list. More of the ‘I need to eliminate
you’ list.”

“You probably are, but it’s not everyday I get to

rebel against my mom and also help a cute girl
find her way out of this hell-hole.”

Blushing, oh god no, not now. Really? Why does

this always happen, they flirt and I blush. First
with Gaspard, oh shit I’ve got to remember what
I fell down that stupid hole for. I need to rescue
that little Vampyr shit, because if I don’t then we
die. End of.

XCV
“I’m sorry Raoul, but I have to go. I mean it. If I
don’t find my friend then there will be hell to
pay. And I mean serious hell for me and any
Vampyr who’s on earth.” I need to get away; if I
stay in this stingy corridor I’m going to go mad,
especially with this guy next to me. He’s keeping
me rooted here, if I get out then I can get free,
find Gaspard and finish what I came here to do.

“Alice, listen to me. I’m not going to let you do

this by yourself. You need me to help you. Think
of me as a guide and as your protector. I promise
to keep you safe until we find your Vampyr
‘friend’.”

I’m really sick of him; I mean it so, “ok then, just

keep quiet and lead me to wherever Gaspard is.”

"Thanks Alice, I knew you would let me come

with you eventually," he's such an arrogant,
cocky little shit, but I suppose he's going to be

XCVI
useful along the way. "Look, I know you don't
really want me around, but it's just that I feel
protective of you somehow, like if anything
happened to you I would blame myself."

"Ok, what did I say you had to do if you wanted

to come?"

"Be quiet?"

"Exactly, so shut up." And he has, thank god, if

this guy talks anymore, I'll die of boredom. " Just
walk in front of me, and I'll follow you."

So that is exactly what he is doing, he's walking

slowly in front of me, and, ugh, I keep tripping
on his ankles. I hate it when I do that, but I really
can't help it. He keeps grunting with pain, but to
my relief he's not saying anything. Serves him
right though, It's payback for wearing me down
and allowing him to come with me.

XCVII
We've been walking down this passage for
around ten minutes, and I am so tired! But I
suppose I have to keep walking, step-by-step. It's
so quiet down here, it's black and it's quiet. Not a
good combination to be honest, you never know
what's lurking behind the blackness. Anything
could jump out at you, and when they do, they're
not exactly going to give you a hug or something.
Raoul doesn't seem to be afraid of this darkness,
but it's freaking me out by the second. I mean,
how can being surrounded by nothing not freak
you out? You would have to be inhuman to not
be freaked out.

"Just another couple of seconds and we'll be in

the light again. Trust me, we'll be out in a sec."
Well, I can't really do anything else can I?

"Just make sure it is in a couple of seconds,

otherwise I'm going to completely freak out. I
hate it down here."

XCVIII
He's laughing at me! The little git, he has no right
to do that. So, might as well kick him just to
make him sorry for it.

"Fuck!" I'm flat on my arse. Great I completely

missed him and slipped and fell. I must look a
right state just sprawled here, helpless.

"Are you ok?" I can feel his hand on my leg,

felling to see if there are any breaks.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Maybe not, I can't fucking get

up! Ok, this is just shit, really shit. Why can't I
get up? I haven't broken anything.

"No you're not fine, you've sprained your ankle.

Here." Oh. My. God. I'm in his arms.

XCIX
 Chapter 14

How did I end up in this guy’s arms? Oh yeah, I

sprained my ankle. I mean, it’s just so annoying
that this would happen to me right now. But I

C
suppose it sums up my life so far which is…
crap. I can’t do anything else but let him carry
me. It’s wrong I know, but I can’t really do
anything about it, I’ve sprained my ankle.

“Err, thanks I suppose.” Lame, I know.

“Just keep quiet so I can not focus on how heavy

you are.”

“You son of a bitch! Just put me down, I’ll

hobble the rest of the way.” How dare he insult
me like that? I’m not that heavy. Ugh I hate it
when guys do that, they know how insecure us
girls are when it comes to weight. I’m normal
weight for my height and age. I know for a fact I
am.

“I’m joking Alice. You’re not heavy; to be honest

you’re really light. And I’m not going to put you
down. I need to take you to someone. They can
heal that sprained ankle of yours.” Oh goody,

CI
letting a stranger heal me is going to be so fun. I
can’t wait for it.

“Just get me there Raoul. The sooner the better. I

just need to find Gaspard and get out of here.” I
really do, I’ve wasted enough time, and now I’m
going to waste even more because of this stupid
ankle. God, I hate being so clumsy, if I actually
had any balance, I wouldn’t be in this situation.

I can see light at the end of this god-forsaken

tunnel. It can’t come quickly enough in my
opinion. I just need to be out of here, my ankle
fixed and finally moving towards my goal. I can’t
even feel any pain in it, but I need to get it fixed,
I mean what can I do with a useless ankle?
Nothing, that’s what. If I stand on it then I’ll feel
pain, but if I stay here in his arms then my pride
is going to suffer more. I think in the long run,
the ankle would last longer. So I might as well
stay here being carried and let my pride suffer
just this once.

CII
“We nearly there yet?” crap question but I’ve got
to ask it.

“Yeah another couple of minutes then we can get

that ankle all fixed and stuff.”

“Good, because I need to pee really bad.” Well,

what else I am I supposed to say when I need to
pee.

“Nice Alice, really classy how you said it. Just

don’t piss on me, ok?”

He thinks I’ll piss on him? Shows just how

highly he thinks of me. “I won’t I promise, but
just get me to a toilet like soon or the promise
will be broken.”

“You know Alice, you really surprise me. Girls

like you are usually refined and don’t actually
say much. But you, well you’re different. So far

CIII
you’ve said anything and everything you’ve
thought about me without even thinking about
how I feel about your comments.”

“Well, I say what I think, and to be honest, I

don’t really care what anyone thinks about me.
My life is my own and I won’t let anyone tell me
how to live. So if you think you can just swan
into my life and tell me how to go about it then
you’re wrong Raoul. No way, absolutely no one
has that right.” How dare he? I don’t even know
him and he’s already criticising how I am. “I
think I’ll hobble from here now.”

“Ok then, as m’lady commands.” Now that was a

really crap English accent. But he’s put me down
and… ow! Yep, just as I predicted. The ankle
hurts when I step on it. Great, I should’ve
swallowed my pride and just let him hold me, I
can feel tears in my eyes because of the stupid
pain. Damn my impulsive behaviour. It always
gets me into trouble just when I don’t need it. If I

CIV
hadn’t tried to kick him then my ankle would be
ok, and we’d be nearer to Gaspard.

Light. I will never go in that tunnel thing again. I

mean it. It seriously freaked me out with all that
darkness. Well, at least Raoul didn’t try to take
advantage of my weakness (aka my sprained
bloody ankle) while we were in the dark. Any
non-decent guy would’ve pretty much jumped on
me seeing as I couldn’t move or see. Oh how I
love dark places, so many great memories of
guys trying to grope me. They got what was
coming to them, which was usually a swift kick
in the nuts followed by a headbutt. They never
bothered me again.

“Alice, are you coming?” I didn’t realised I

stopped, but turns out I have. Creepy.

“Yeah, just thinking about something.” I need to

keep moving. Ignore the pain and look straight

CV
ahead. I can’t wonder from my path. Nothing can
stop me.

“You look pale Alice. Are you sure you’re ok?”

Pale? I’m always pale. “Yeah I’m alright.” But

already I can feel a blackness seeping into my
bones. Feeding on my energy. It’s such a weird
feeling, like being sucked of life. If I can reach
out to Raoul then maybe I can ground myself, but
…

Chapter 15

CVI
“What the fuck?” The light is too much. It’s
blinding me. Burning me. My eyes aren’t even
open so this isn’t a good sign at all.

“Hey Alice.” Raoul, just great. “How are ya

feeling?”

“Well, light burns my eyes, my whole body feels

like someone has jumped on it. So, to sum it all
up: I feel like shit.” The bastard is laughing. I
actually hate him at the moment, but I can’t do
anything about it, I seem to be wrapped a bit
tightly in some bed covers. Just brilliant, a
mummified version of me. Very interesting and it
must be extremely attractive. Not.

“Why the hell are you laughing at me? None of

this is funny. What the fuck happened?” I’m
shaking with anger because this is such crap. I
don’t want to be here.

CVII
“I’m laughing because you look cute when
you’re angry.” Yep, you guessed it: I’m blushing
like mad.

“Shut up Raoul, I’ve got another guy. So stop

flirting with me.” Well, technically I don’t have
Gaspard, but the flirting we have been doing
recently kind of makes it feel as if we’re going
out. What is wrong with me? I feel as if I’m
obsessed with this Vampyr! This isn’t good, I
can’ t be obsessed with him, I think I love him,
but even that is wrong. He’s a fucking Vampyr,
albeit a very cute, vegetarian Vampyr, but a
Vampyr all the same. It’s not right, it goes
against everything I’ve ever thought. But then
again, I am part Vampyr, which to be honest
disgusts me very much, but what can I do? It’s
my blood we’re talking about. I can’t exactly
change it all.

“Alice I’m human, it’s natural for me to flirt with

girls I find attractive.”

CVIII
“Actually you’re only half human, remember?
Faerie Queen mother human father, but you knew
that seeing as you’re here.”

“I always forget that,” laughing yet again, but I

suppose that was funny. His smile is really
yummy. No brain shush, I do not like him. I like
a Vampyr. Wow, that sounds fucked up, but I
suppose it is.

“Where am I then Raoul? And how long have I

been out cold?” Well, I’ve got to get straight to
the point, I don’t know how long Gaspard can go
without blood of any kind, and I don’t want me to
become the first human meal he’s had since the
night he was turned.

“We’re at a healer’s hovel just outside the castle,

and, err, you’ve been out cold for a week. I was
getting a bit worried.”

CIX
“A fucking week! Why didn’t someone try to
wake me up earlier?” This is ridiculous, how was
I unconscious for a week?

“I got you here as fast as I could, but you were

already burning up and getting restless. The
healer did what she could, but we just had to wait
for the fever to burn itself out, and well, here you
are. We think that your body was trying too hard
to adjust to all that has happened with you, such
as travelling here, the different atmosphere and
that fall you had.”

Well, that kind of figures. But I didn’t know that

there was a different atmosphere her, I thought it
would be the same as on earth. Obviously not.
But that doesn’t matter now, the thing that
matters most is getting back into the castle and
getting Gaspard out, I’ve taken too long as it is.
“How long until I can get out of here and back
into the castle?”

CX
“Tomorrow. I’ve already packed a satchel for us
and there are some new clothes for you for when
you can stand later.” Oh, great. I didn’t realise
I’m kind of naked under this sheet. That’s why
it’s wrapped so tight.

“Great, so can I kind of have those clothes now?

Err, I kind of need them desperately.” He’s
smirking. If I didn’t owe the prick my life then I
would’ve punched him. But I do owe him, so I
can’t.

“Yeah I’ll just go get them. I think you’ll really

love them.” Oh god, I can see that he’s chuckling
as he’s leaving. That means that I’m going to
hate them whatever they are. Probably some
multicoloured leaf dress or something.

I actually love them. Whoever picked out the

outfit had great taste. It consists of a knee-length
black hunter’s dress, slimming and beautiful, and
a pair of converses. The perfect outfit of modern

CXI
and traditionally beautiful. My bra is on top of
the pile, and I can feel my face flushing.
Actually, who cares if he’s seen my bra? It’s only
a bra and all women, unless they’re weird, wear
one. I’m wearing my pants I think, so at least
that’s one less embarrassing thing on show.

“Here you are Alice. I’ll just go and make some

tea up. Let me know if anything doesn’t fit, and I
will most certainly come in here and fix it.” His
eyebrows are waggling suggestively. Stuck up
wanker.

“Just piss off.” And he has.

I never noticed the interior of this room. It’s kind

of homey and Faerie like all in one. The bed, a
decent-sized double, is placed against the
window, allowing the sun to beam lightly and
warmly upon the head of it. The rest of the room
is based upon this main spectacle of the room,
and everything faces the window and the bed.

CXII
There is an antique dressing table that has a brush
and a handheld mirror on it. This mirror is the
only one in the room which is kind of weird, but
the room doesn’t look as if it is used much so
there must have been no need to put one in.

All dressed I’m heading out of the door to the

room. A kettle whistles somewhere down the end
of the hallway which I’m now standing in. so, I
might as well walk towards that sound, it’s
probably Raoul making the tea.

The kitchen is really small, and I mean really

small. In it is a small round table, a couple of
cupboards and a cooker. That’s it. Raoul is at the
cooker, taking the kettle off the heat. I may as
well sit down at the table.”

“Hey,” the chair is squeaking loudly as I pull it

back so I can sit down, “ how’s the tea coming
along?”

CXIII
“Just fine, you want anything to eat? We have
bacon, pop tarts and cereal.” Wow, all this in the
Faerie land.

“Err, I think I’ll have some bacon if you don’t

mind. How do you have so much here? I thought
you could only get this stuff on earth?”

Raoul has got a frying pan out and has

miraculously made a pack of bacon appear out of
thin air. “Well, I have a weakness for human
food, being half human and all, so I just collect
things whenever I’m there.”

“Oh, well that makes sense. But how on earth did

you just make that bacon appear?”

“You’re forgetting, I’m half Faerie. I have my

own powers you know.”

The smell of cooking bacon is now filling my

nose, god how I love that smell, reminds me of

CXIV
Sunday mornings at home when Mum always
made a fry up. The guilty pleasure of the week.
Raoul has served up the food and I’ve just taken
a huge bite out of it. Yeah, I’ve missed this food,
berries and a bit of cold Chinese cannot beat a
good bacon sandwich. Absolutely not.

“Rwher’s da heeler?” My mouth is so full of

bacon I can barely speak.

“Err what?”

My food is now all gone, so now I can answer

again without anything being illegible. “I said:
where’s the healer?”

“I’m right behind you.”

CXV
 Chapter 16

The healer is in her forties I would say, medium

build, hippie clothes and dirty blonde hair, just

CXVI
the right look for her title. I can’t pinpoint it, but
she just doesn’t seem all too human… it might be
her eyes; they’re almost too bright to be human
eyes.

“Err, hi. I’m Alice.” I think I should extend my

hand towards her, you know, as a polite
welcoming gesture, but I really can’t trust anyone
here.

“Yes I know, my name is Celestia, and I can’t

believe that you’re actually here. It was
prophesised a female mage would save humanity,
and here you stand, the power growing inside of
you.’ Wow, I think I’m famous. At least I’m not
a nobody anymore, that sucked when I was one.

“I see my reputation precedes me,” Well, I can’t

be serious all the time can I? “I’m glad you think
all this, but I can’t even conjure a flower for
goodness sakes, I don’t now how all of this ties in
with me… really.”

CXVII
The healer walks towards me and embraces me;
bit of a shocker for me as I’m not really one for
intimate dealings but as soon as our skin touched
I felt her power. And my god does she have a lot.
It swirled inside my head and made my eyes
blaze with light. The mere thought of possessing
this much power thrilled me but scared me all the
same. If I had more than this amount of power,
then how the hell was I supposed to control it? I
can’t control a child, let alone a wild power
which would surely kill me sooner or later
whether by disuse or by someone jealous of what
I could do.

“You’re special Alice, but before you go trying to

find your Vampyr,” I gave Raoul an evil look at
this, “you have to learn to control your powers. It
will not take that much time because you are in
the Faerie realm, but it will take at least a week
of training for you to be able to achieve half your
final potential.”

CXVIII
“Ok then, how do I learn about my powers? Do I
like meditate, or just get angry?”

“No, you have to be in a state where you are both

angry and calm, like in a limbo of moods. You
need to be in perfect control over these powers
and not to let your emotions get the better of
you.” Seems pretty easy…not.

In the week that followed, I became one with my

powers, reaching into my mind and creating a
world where I could control elements and well, at
least partly move objects, I haven’t fully
achieved complete control of that. Raoul has
become close to me, but I couldn’t allow him too
close because I love Gaspard, and I’m doing this
for him. Today is apparently the ‘final test’ of my
abilities, or at least that was what Celestia said to
me. I’m being led blind-folded to a room where
apparently I will meet an obstacle I have to
destroy. If I don’t then I will not gain full control

CXIX
over my powers. The blind-fold is taken off and
here I am.

The room’s dark, and I mean pitch black. My

senses are going haywire, my eyes are becoming
used to the darkness though, I can make the faint
outline of light from under what seems like the
door, and I can see a person. They’re breathing
heavily, but I can’t see who it is. I suppose I have
to go see them, but I feel cautious somehow, as if
I shouldn’t go over to them. As if they’re
dangerous. If this is my final test, then when I get
out of here I’m going to kick some serious Faerie
butt…I mean it.

The figure in the dark…his panting is more

increased and is he…sniffing? Yeah he is, but
why? It’s really freaky, no argument about that.
There’s nowhere else to go to, so I might as well
go to this stranger and, well decide whether he’s
a friend or a foe.

CXX
“Hello? Who’s there?” my steps sound like claps
of thunder in this room, it makes me wary, as if I
can’t go unseen even in the dark. As if someone
is watching me, marking my every one of my
moves.

“So hungry. So very, very hungry.” Gaspard?

What the fuck? Shit the healer is such a bitch, she
betrayed me. Raoul was probably in it as well,
that little prick, thought he could just try and
make me like him then turns out to be a
backstabber. I’m really going to kill him, but
right now I need to worry about Gaspard, and
how the hell I’m getting out of this room alive.

“Gaspard stop it, you are in control okay? Just

think of how pure you are, how you don’t need
human blood. Listen to me Gaspard! I’m trying
to help you not make the biggest mistake of your
Vampyr life!” I don’t think he’s fucking listening
to me, I need to get out of here, I physically can’t
kill him, it would kill me if I did. But if he kills

CXXI
me it will mean the end of both Vampyr and
humankind. I can’t decide! I love him too much
to hurt him, but I will lose my mum and pretty
much everyone I know if I don’t.

“Hungry, so very hungry. Feed me Alice, feed

me.” He’s lost it, he’s really lost it. He’s coming
closer and closer, his eyes are red and manic and
I don’t know what t do! He’s too close now, I
either let him kill me or kill him myself, but to be
honest I don’t think either of them is an option I
want to do. I can’t use my magic, I don’t know
what will happen and I can’t risk anything in a
room so small, so I suppose I surrender, let him
take my blood, there isn’t any other way. At least
I’ll die in the arms of the guy I love.

“Just do it Gaspard, just get it fucking over with

before I do actually kill you.” I don’t mean it, but
in his desperation he’s sure to believe me…and
he does. His hands are gripping my arms so hard
I can see finger marks and his breathing is

CXXII
becoming more staggered and deeper. I start
humming, not just to keep myself calm, but to try
and calm him down. It seems to work but…no, it
didn’t succeed, and he’s still edging towards my
neck which I willingly expose. His fangs are out
and I can just make out a line of saliva running
off them, emphasising his hunger. I knew I could
never stand up against a Vampyr, certainly never
one I loved.

“I’m sorry Alice, but you just smell so nice,

forgive me” and…light bursts through the room
and there stands Raoul, a dagger in one hand and
an evil look upon his face.

I must look like a bloodwhore. I’m being

straddled by a Vampyr and was just about to let
him take my blood. No one can lose their dignity
as fast as I just lost mine in that second. “Raoul
what are you doing here?” His face literally looks
as if it might blow up, and to be honest, that is

CXXIII
never a good look on anyone. Oh shit, he’s
walking towards us with and raising the dagger.

“Alice get out of here, this bloodsucker has to

die.” What the hell?

“Raoul what the hell are you doing?” I can’t

believe him! He sticks me in here then says he’s
going to kill the guy I love, bullshit. As if I would
let that happen, I was going to let Gaspard, who
is now just motionless above me, kill me so he
can try and save everyone without me, but if
Raoul even thinks I’m gonna let him do this then
he can go fuck himself, I have to protect Gaspard.
“Just fuck off Raoul, leave me to deal with my
own shit.”

“I’m here to save you, but also to kill this

abomination that is right now on top of you.” Shit
he means business, but why? What has made him
acts so harshly? Oh god, his mother. She’s
behind this, I know it.

CXXIV
“Raoul just shut up, your mother’s behind this;
she told you something about Gaspard didn’t
she?”

“Even if she did, this creature deserves to die,” I

can see him running towards me and Gaspard and
I can’t help but cling to Gaspard who has
suddenly come back into motion and is leaning in
again for my neck.

“NO! Raoul no!” but he doesn’t stop, he keeps

coming forward and with the knife brandished,
hits the hilt into the back of Gaspards’ head just
before he bites me. Gaspard falls and rolls to the
side of me unconscious, his fangs still out and his
red eyes staring in shock.

“Alice? I’m sorry” and my world goes black.

CXXV
Chapter 17

CXXVI
When all you can remember is the love of your
life being whacked over the head by some guy
who has the hots for you, you know the next part
of your journey isn’t going to be good. So when I
wake up with Raoul hugging is knees at the foot
of the bed I’m lying in, I know it’s doubly worse.

“What the hell happened Raoul, and where’s

Gaspard?” I can’t help my voice becoming
frantic, only because that is what I’m feeling
right now. The room I’m in is definitely different
to that at the healers’ house and I’m sure I’m not
outside the castle. That means I’m in a room
inside a building the Queen is in, what the hell?

“I’m sorry Alice, I couldn’t do anything for him.”

Err, what did he just say? “I had to leave him,
please forgive me, my mother was going to come
and finish you off herself so I had to get you out
of there. I did what I thought was best.” His eyes
are full of worry, but I don’t give a shit, he left

CXXVII
Gaspard again to the mercy of the Faerie Queen
after trying to kill him himself.

“I don’t fucking care if she was coming, you

should’ve gotten us both out even if it killed you.
Fuck your mother Raoul; I’m going to find
Gaspard.” The bed was kind of higher than I
thought it would be and I went flying into the
chair beside the bed, thank god I was still
wearing my dress. Raoul still didn’t move and…
was he crying? Shit, what had happened to him
while I was unconscious? “Err, Raoul what’s
wrong?” I know I’m a hypocrite, going from a
banshee to a puppy, but when the situation
changes, you have to too.

“I think I killed him when I hit him in the head”

Oh my god, he really thinks he can kill a
Vampyrs by bashing it in the head, didn’t his
mother or his father teach him anything? I really
want to laugh, but that would just be mean.
Moribund

CXXVIII
“Raoul calm down…you can’t kill Gaspard like
that. He has to be burned or staked, not hit over
the head. To be honest, I don’t think many people
can be killed by that way. It’s okay, just get over
yourself and help me,” I don’t think he will
though, he’s still staring as if he’s in a catatonic
state, not moving, just staring…but then again,
I’ve been wrong before.

“Well, we better be going then” and he’s up,

composed and ready to roll. I’m surprised by this
composure, one minute he’s nearly crying, the
next he has a steely look in his eyes and is ready
to kick some arse.

Raoul strides down a hallway, I’m at his ankles,

not wanting to lose sight of him in case I get lost
in this godforsaken castle. The castle hallways
twist and turn, seemingly endless, the shadows
cowering in corners, spectres of the castle.
Murmurs sound from everywhere; the lights

CXXIX
flicker, and I have to grab onto Raoul, my only
source of warmth and comfort as a soft chill
seeps into my bones, ripping away any last
thoughts of security in this desolate maze. Raoul
squeezes my gripping hand, a sign to show that
he knows how I feel, and that I shouldn’t be
afraid. He kind of swaggers when he walks, I like
it, but I can’t really focus on that right now, I
need to focus on rescuing Gaspard yet again. He
always seems to be in trouble…and everyone
says that humans are the weaker species.

“We’re nearly there Alice, near where I left him.

I don’t think my mother would have found him; I
left him in the shadows. I couldn’t bring him, I
tried Alice, I really did, but I thought he was
gone. I gave up, I’m sorry I did that Alice,”
sincerity laces his words, and the tightening of
his hand shows me he’s telling the truth. “We’re
here.”

CXXX
And boy are we here; this place is destroyed, it’s
burnt and hollow. I just want to curl up inside
myself and stay there. I don’t want to witness the
destruction that lies ahead of me. Its darkness
sparks fear, it makes me feel unwanted, unloved.
I might even go as far as to say that it made me
feel dead. “Raoul…what is this place? It feels
empty.”

Raoul’s eyes dim, only for a second, but it’s

enough to make me on my guard, “It’s a physical
type of hell, one of many in the Realm of the
Faeries, and my mother uses them as prisons, as a
type of torture.”

“Not exactly the sunshine kid is she? I’ve got half

a mind to strangle that woman,” wrong crowd I
think, I shouldn’t really be telling her son that I
want to kill his mother. “Can you hear Gaspard
anywhere?”

CXXXI
“No,” he’s searching frantically in the darkest
corners of the room, shaking with the cold which
visibly hangs from my mouth as my breathing
becomes more staggered. “I left him right...”
He’s become still, very, very still... I don’t know
what’s happening over there but it sure isn’t
looking too hot at the moment.

“Raoul...tell me what’s wrong or I swear to God I

will come over there and find out for myself,” I
mean it as well, I will leave this corridor and go
inot that soul-less room if that is what it takes.

“Alice...I don’t know how to say it but---“

“You little bastard! Tell me what the hell has

happened to Gaspard now? I am livid! What the
hell is happening now, first I’m unconscious,,
then I find out you left him in this hell-hole with
your mother coming and now...well I don’t know
what’s happening now but I’m really not happy.”

CXXXII
“Alice...” That’s not Raoul. That’s Gaspard.

CXXXIII