Chpt.7
Here's the next chapter of this series, one that continues to put a different, more Sci-Fi spin on the age-old vampire myth. By the way, the term vampire is a human construct and not one of Terrian lexicon. Therefore, they don't consider themselves vampires, regardless of their similarities in abilities.
Because it's science fiction there are aliens, good ones and bad ones, and yes, the good ones are here to stand against those who would suppress the more fragile human race. In this chapter, Maura meets her biggest challenge so far, and continues to struggle internally with it for some time.
This chapter could be rated PG-13 for action, but I still like to caution my readers. I hope you enjoy it, leave a comment once you've read it. Good feedback is the lifeblood of any writer...dreamweaver594.
7- Moving Day
Two weeks later, Jason cradled the phone on his shoulder while carrying a box from Maura's bedroom. "Hey Sis, we need a few more large trash bags while you're at it. And can you grab carryout for lunch? I just cleaned the fridge." He sat the box down next to the others. "Oof, what does she have in here?"
He stood up, twisting the kinks out of his neck. "And remind Maura that she still needs to pack her bathroom stuff. Oh, and don't forget to set the warder stones on the perimeter when you come back. Okay, bye."
Jason pulled the small empty leather pouch that held the warder stones from his pocket and deposited the bag on the kitchen counter. Lisa took the stones with her when she and Maura went shopping for last minute items to help with the move.
The doorbell rang and Jason peeked out of the back hallway holding a large box in his hands. He wondered who that could be. His grandmother wasn't due until tomorrow. He glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. The landlord said he wouldn't be by until after 5pm. "Coming, just a minute."
Jason juggled the heavy box and managed to open the front door. The box partially blocked his view of two women who stood with clipboards in their hands. "Good morning, Mr. ah..." The first woman looked down on her clipboard for his name. "Ah, yes, Custos. My name is Amanda. Mr. Donaldson, the building superintendent, sent us. We understand that you are moving tomorrow, is that correct?"
The two women walked past a rather perplexed Jason still balancing a heavy box. "I thought Mr. Donaldson would be over around five."
"He sent us instead, my name is Alice," said the second woman briskly, "He'll be tied up all day with other concerns."
The first woman, Amanda, began looking into all the rooms while the Alice kept Jason distracted with several questions. "Have you finished cleaning the apartment? Is there a security deposit that you expect to reclaim? We will be doing a thorough inspection as soon as you indicate that you are ready for us but in the meantime we would like to take a quick look around. Purely routine you understand."
"Is this necessary right now?" Jason set down the heavy box near a collection of others stacked in the living room area. "I've been cleaning all morning so I'm sure that the place isn't ready for a checkout inspection."
"No, no, sorry," said Alice. "Take your time. We just need you to be through before five pm."
Amanda returned from the far room. Jason turned to her; she shook her head at Alice.
"What are you looking for? Wait a minute. You two aren't inspectors! Who the hell are...?" But a massive blow cut him off; Alice had sunk a knife through his ribs, hilt deep. She pulled the knife out and stabbed him three more times before he collapsed on the floor.
As Jason collapsed Amanda pushed a stack of boxes over. "Throw a few boxes around to make it look like a burglary."
"Obviously, she's not here." Alice licked the knife as she looked down as Jason began to lose consciousness. "Foolish human, harboring a criminal just won't do. Hmm, this tastes different." Alice spit the blood from her mouth as the pool of Jason's blood began to grow.
"Leave the knife," Amanda said. She leaned over Jason. "We'll be back lover boy."
Ten minutes later Lisa and Maura arrived back at the apartment complex. Maura took several bags out of the trunk of the car and gathered them together to make the long climb up the two flights of stairs to their apartment. "Lisa, I've got most of the stuff. Grab the boxes and I'll meet you upstairs."
Lisa sat several stones along the front of the apartment building. "Okay, up in a minute. I need to set the warder stones."
As Maura climbed the last flight of stairs to the apartment she sensed something was wrong. Seeing the front door open, a feeling of dread enveloped her. "Lisa! Quick! Something's wrong!"
Maura sprinted towards the door, her movement a blur. In front of her, Jason was sprawled inside the doorway covered in blood. The color drained from her face nearly matching Jason's ashen shade.
As Lisa appeared in the doorway she saw Maura smeared with Jason's blood trying to compress his wounds. "He's dying, Lisa, he's dying."
Lisa threw several towels at Maura. "Here, take these and try to stop the bleeding! I'll call Grandmother!" Lisa pushed a few buttons and in an instant Grandmother answered. "He's been stabbed...yes, several times...they look critical...No...an amateur did it."
Lisa knelt down and with her free hand she tried to put pressure on one of the stab wounds. She spoke into her cellphone. "I don't know, probably the ones who have been watching the apartment all week...what? We took the warder stones with us...Jason insisted...what? Yes, I'll tell her." Lisa turned to a frightened Maura. "Grandmother says you know what you must do."
Maura covered her mouth in shock. "But if I do - I don't know how his body will react. It may turn him mad."
Holding the phone in one hand and pushing against Jason's chest with the other Lisa screamed at Maura. "Grandmother says it won't. Just do it!"
"How does she know it won't?" Maura was nearly hysterical.
"She just does, now do it! Grandmother says you have no choice!" Tears began to well up in Lisa's eyes. "Please Maura," she whispered pleadingly. "Just do it...now."
Maura turned to Jason in her arms. Lisa dropped the phone and put both of her hands on Jason's chest as Maura opened her mouth. Maura glanced at Lisa's hands. A golden light began to glow from beneath them. She turned to Lisa in wonder.
"Quickly Maura, we're running out of time!"
Maura's fangs extended then she brought her wrist to her mouth and sunk her fangs into her flesh. She moved her head to one side and tore open a gash across her wrist. As her blood spurted and oozed out, she brought her wrist to Jason's mouth. The Terrian's blood slipped slowly into his mouth.
Maura knew that the rejuvenation powers of a Terrian's blood were strong but she didn't know if it would be enough. She dabbed her blood from around his mouth with her shirttail. "His spirit is weak, perhaps we're too late." Her voice was trembling as she licked the wound to stop the bleeding.
