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Forever Turned Part 4
Meier was shocked that he had heard it the same time that his Borzi had. Usually the dog was the first to notice anything.
The world around him was becoming sharper. Clearer. The smell of incense, which was barely detectable before the bite, was
now filling the air with a sweet scent that permeated the air.
“Who...” the child began. He tried to concentrate over the growing bombardment of his senses.
The Count was alarmed for several seconds and his eyes glowed a dark red as he angered. He stared out the Gazebo’s meshed
openings like a wild animal ready to pounce its quarry. This frightened Meier. He drew away from the Gazebo wall to stand
closer to the alter. The Count was listening intently to something, apparently probing the approaching individual’s mind.
When he got the answer he wanted, he relaxed. He motioned the child to come over and he had the child look down the path.
“A worshiper.” he said. “You know their minds when you search. Because we are empaths, we don’t know an
individual’s thoughts. We do know intent. A worshiper’s mind is filled with devotion and honor. There is rarely
anger. If there is, you can feel where it is directed.”
Meier sat and listened to the Count. He was beginning to understand why his father considered Vampires so fascinating. He
looked down at the link still on his finger and out of curiosity, he focused on it, willing it to form the gauntlet the Count
had formed before. To his surprise, he felt it ripple into shape and the white bone - like armor formed around his hand. It
was several sizes too big, but it was there as if it had been slipped on.
“Well, done!”
Meier stared up at the Count when he spoke. The expression of surprise was plain on the young Vampire’s face.
“Why couldn’t I do it before? Why can I do it now?”
Count Regis took another sip from his goblet.
“You had the gift, but it was only a trace amount. It was enough that when I Turned you that my abilities fused with
yours. Had you not had that hint of the ability, you would not have been able to mutate the link.”
Meier carefully poked at the gauntlet, inspecting the smooth, bone-like material with the tips of his fingers. He pulled his
hand away when he noticed that his nails were no longer short and round, but long and sharp like a predator’s claws.
He was filled with revulsion for a moment, but it was quickly replaced with fascination as he sought his other changes. His
hearing was improving with every second and the sound of the approaching stranger’s boots on the path rang loudly in
his ears. He flinched, covering his ears with irritation.
“Your hearing’s sensitive.” Regis said, drawing the young boy close. “It will take a few hours to adjust.
“ When the Borzi rose to greet the approaching stranger, the Count took the opportunity to pull out some cotton from
the wicker basket beside the alter. He handed it to Meier.
“Put some in your ears. It’s going to get worse until your change is complete.”
Meier didn’t complain. As he busied himself with the cotton, a dark clad figure walked up the path. It stopped before
the Gazebo. The stranger’s laughing eyes glowed slightly in the darkening light.
“Good day, Young Link.”
The stranger’s voice was deep, silky and sang of quiet power. It almost purred as if it were a hungry dragon trying to
be friendly.
Meier couldn’t find the words to answer the vampire. He looked up at the Count, hoping Regis would help him. The elder
Vampire had sensed the child’s discomfort and spoke for him.
“Good day, Master Morpheus .” he said.
The stranger climbed the Gazebo steps and entered so quietly that it was as if a ghost had entered. It was almost impossible
to imagine as the being was incredibly tall. Immediately Meier recognized the strange Vampire.
“You were there when Regis Bit me!” He said in a rushed whisper. His eyes were wide as the stranger approached to
kneel before him.
The stranger took off his velvet covered, wide brimmed hat. He held it on his knee and with his other hand, carefully lifted
the young boy’s chin to inspect him with a hard, expressionless gaze.
“A suitable choice, Lord Regis.” The stranger said. The Count bowed.
“Thank you, Ancient Ancestor.”
Meier wheeled to stare at Regis, awe on his face. He then turned to stare at the kneeling form of Dracula. The Vampire God’s
face was elegant and long and his dark brown hair dangled in a thick, silky mass that hung to his hips. His eyes were quiet,
stern but loving and they were measuring the young boy with critical retrospection. He held almost no expression, but Meier
could sense the being’s emotions through his stare. The Vampire God leaned over the child to take a long, analyzing sniff,
then rose, his hand on Meier’s head.
“A good choice. A Very good Choice.” He said, a hint of a smile appearing. Meier noticed how red Dracula’s
eyes were. They were the color of fire, or blood from a fresh wound. They seemed to glow under their own power and the child
resisted the urge to reach out and touch the God’s face. Dracula, as if knowing Meier’s mind, purred softly. With
one, graceful sweep he had the child against his chest, with one arm under the child’s rear. The motion was so effortless
that Meier wondered how powerful the God really was.
“Regis. You do realize that you will be in charge of rearing the child as he were your own.”
The Count lifted one eyebrow, perplexed.
“I wouldn’t think of doing otherwise, Ancient Ancestor.”
“This is your first siring.” Dracula continued. The silky voice dripped of hidden power. “His gifts will be
new to him. You will be expected to train him as you were trained.”
Regis bowed, his smile wider than Meier ever remembered seeing it.
“Again, Ancient Ancestor. I would not think of doing otherwise.”
The Vampire God nodded.
“Good. You put more thought into this than most Sires have.”
(Okay. You can scream. The story is incomplete...)
Forever Turned, part 1
Forever Turned, part 2
Forever Turned, part 3
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