I will always be there

It all started our first year of university, we were both starting our bachelor’s in psychology. You sat beside me and told me your name was Elsie, I informed you mine was Arthur. We made small talk about our class until our professor came, we continued to talk after class, and this became our routine. I always found the mind to be a vast and fascinating place, but you brought that interest to an entirely new level. The way you thought and looked at the world was simply exhilarating, and you took me for the ride of my life. You said walking through the cemetery was like walking through a lush spring garden, it was blooming with the beauty of humanity's greatest mysteries like morality and legacy. You always did make me think more deeply about life. I think it was at that moment I realised I loved you. It scared me, I never thought I would love. I never thought I could meet someone who could challenge me and understand me, especially after all this time. You changed everything.

For months we got to know each other, shared our dreams, hearts desires, and secrets… well, most of them. Everything seemed perfect, you helped me experience the seemingly fleeting pleasures of life in the otherwise barren existence I was accustomed to. However, seasons change and you grew distant. I tried to connect and begged you to let me in but everything about you was pulling away and changing, even your scent was different now, perhaps even tainted with something. Nevertheless, it all came to a head. You claimed I was smothering you, possessive and unpredictable. You said you think we’ve grown apart and life is pulling us in different directions. I knew there was more, but you refused to let on any more information. I knew there was someone else, I had suspected it for some time but by this point. However, I never believed you would leave me for them. All I wanted was the truth, but you refused me that simple courtesy. There was nothing I could do to change your mind, so I let you walk away, and I could feel the foreshadowing of the returning coldness and calamity to my tortured soul.

I remember the first time I saw you after we broke up, you caught me staring at you from across the park in which we used to talk about the future (both before and after death) and you were hand in hand with someone else. You may have left me, but I knew it was never truly the end. I knew soon enough you would realise how he bores you with his thoughtless ramble and dull company, then you would come back to me. I know his type all too well. The artsy airhead who would prefer a blunt to any kind of mental stimuli. It ached to know you left me for someone so dreary and almost lifeless, but I knew if… no, when you came back I would forgive you. You need not worry. I swore I’d always wait for you. No matter how long, I would wait.

However, the longer I waited, the more restless I grew. I saw you every day, I walked past your house and saw you’re still with him and I just couldn’t understand it. When I attempted to talk to you, you said you need your space and I need to accept it’s over, but you still don’t understand we’re meant to be together. I knew it from our first date. I knew it was wrong, but I followed you home the last time I saw you and watched you from the park across the street, something just didn’t seem right with you. I saw him greet you at the door, it disgusted me. When I asked you about sharing an apartment you told me I was moving too fast, but then you move him into your flat the first chance you get. When will you understand I will never leave you, we are soul mates. It was also more than that though, the way you avoided his eyes and tensed at his touch, yet you still kissed him. How can you still embrace him although he’s leaning over you trying to intimidate you. I heard him say you were late, and he was suspicious but even stranger, I heard you apologising and making excuses. You should never need to explain yourself to the likes of him. You call me possessive then let this brutish filth disrespect you? I do not understand you right now, why is this happening? All I know is that whatever is happening, is not right. I can taste the tension in the air and feel the aggression radiating off him but before I can present myself and intervene, you step inside and shut me out. Again.

I waited to make sure nothing was brewing, and I turned to leave. That’s when I heard the crashing and raised voices. Not voices, voice. I had to make sure you were okay. I knew you would hate me for it, but I had to ensure your well-being. I raced over and banged on the door hard enough to rattle the windows. I heard and hushed voice laced with malice tell you to stay put and shut up, that’s when I decided he didn’t deserve you. When the door finally opened, he was anything but pleasant. He had no idea who I was and tried to brush me off. He went to slam the door in my face. I put my foot in the door and sighed.

“If I may have but a moment sir, I believe I heard quite the commotion and it seemed to be emanating from your dwelling. Again, may I ask about the well-being of all those inside and can I offer any assistance.”

He simply eyed me up and down, sneering and barked,

“It’s Jessie and I told you, there’s nothing happening here. Just watchin’ the footy.”

“Be that as it may, I still request a quick word with the lady of the house.”

“Who’s she to you?” He was definitely suspicious of me, little did he know he had good reason to be.

“An old friend, now please send out Miss Elsie.”

“And if I don’t.” Jessie shifted uncomfortably.

“Then I shall have to force entry and see her myself.”

He finally and begrudgingly turned away to get Elsie. When she reached the threshold, it was clear what had been going on. She had a plumped, purpling bottom lip and jaw. There were also visible lacerations on her forehead and I could just make out bruising where her sleeve was partially pulled up on her arm. I saw red.  

“Elsie, did he do this?” Like I didn’t already know the answer.

“Artie-” I held up my hand and cut in.  

“Just yes or no, did he do this to you?” She looked at me with pleading eyes before eventually nodding. I gave a sharp nod and stepped closer.

“Then I shall take care of him.” She stepped forward to stop me, but I stopped her at arm’s length, gently took her hands in mine, and explained, “He’s only going to get worse and you deserve so much better, you deserved to be cherished and praised. To be truly loved, not this. Let me help you.”

She just looked down and shook her head, “I love him.” She sobbed as tears started to caress her cheeks.

Jessie came back to the door, pulled her in, gave a just as unpleasant farewell, and slammed the door in my face. Never have I felt so utterly defeated in my life. I only made it one block down before I leaned with my back to the brick wall of the library next door, slumped to the ground, and looked to the sky. I had no idea how to help her. She didn’t want me there and wouldn’t let me help. I felt this intangible sense of dread for the future and what might come of all this. That’s when I heard the scream. I strained and I could hear him saying he knew she was unfaithful, along with a great deal of expletives and slurs. He was attacking her more physically every time she tried to deny it or defend herself. He was going to kill her. I bolted as fast as I could but as soon as I broke through the door, I realised why she screamed.

I looked and saw her lying in a puddle of her own blood, with multiple stab wounds in the chest and torso. She was just hanging onto life while gasping for air and clutching at her wounds. He tried to turn on me also with the knife, but I was already upon him, thrusting him into the air with my hand on his throat. His eyes grew wider as he realised by my swiftness and strength, I was not human. I slowly walked him into the other room, I would never let Elsie see this. I smiled and he turned as white as a sheet as he saw my teeth lengthening, I always loved the look in their eyes when they finally grasped what I truly am. His screams were stifled by a more sickening gurgling sound as I pinned him to the wall and used my now-exposed teeth to tear his throat from his neck. It was always such a satisfying feeling. I dropped him to the floor and watched the life drain from his body and pool around his head. Such scum like Jessie isn’t even worth feeding on. Vampires may be seen as monsters, but even we have standards.  

I run back to the dining room to see Elsie barely conscious, she must have only been seconds away from death. I fall to my knees beside her as tears start falling from my face to the floor between us. As I close the distance, she sucks in one last breath and her face and chest drop and I know she is gone. I pull her into me and embrace her once last time as I cry my heart out. I always vowed I would never turn anyone but if it’s the only way to bring her back I have no choice. I’ve never known anyone like her, and she deserves life. I calmed my ragged breath enough to bite down on the soft supple skin of her neck, sinking right down into one of her major arteries. It would normally be impossible to pierce flesh and not feed but I have lived with this curse through many centuries and have gained enough control to leave Elsie whole. I release her but she remains still and lifeless, through gritted teeth I lay her crumpled body flat on the ground and start chest compressions in the hope of circulating the venom and bringing her back from the dead. I would do anything to return her to this world, I would pray to her God or even give her my own life force if I could. I needed her to live, I needed her to be okay. I remember just continually uttering,

“Please be okay.” Through broken sobs.

Just as I’m starting to lose hope, I see her eyes flicker out of the corner of my eye. I stop and look at her. Her eyes began moving under her eyelids and soon they fluttered open. My Elsie was back. Her eyes grew wide as she saw the red that covered my face she pushed away and looked as if she was preparing to scream or pass out. Although her look and her reaction to me hurt I grinned, all that mattered was that my Elsie was back, and she could live her life again.