Abira Shinde

CONTENT WARNING: brief references to sexual deviancy; substance abuse.

The Kalidas-Dawns sisters sat, sopping, on the sandy crest of a hill. Despite the humming nightbirds and Lake Michigan’s lapping waves, Parvati felt uncomfortable. Immensely damp, and massively cold from washing off the salt. Trying to move her wounded arm resulted in shoots of absolute agony, so Rukmini bound it to her chest. It still ached, especially around the elbow.

Glancing at her surroundings, Parvati reminded herself that discomfort was necessary.

Husked, bloodless animal carcasses surrounded the campground’s charred remnants. Mira had been drinking from them to avoid draining people. But only human blood could fill a vampire’s belly.

She has human blood now, Parvati thought firmly. I’m healthy enough to give her mine.

Mira leaned against a damp Rukmini. Mira’s face was relaxed, making Parvati grateful for small mercies.

Blair sat a distance away from the girls. Parvati had explained their investigation: he disliked her methods. His matted russet hair fell to the shoulders of his threadbare coat; his nose ran, and his eyes were crusted, reddened and watery. His jaw had a hard set to it.

But that hardness softened when he glanced at Mira, huddled safely with Rukmini. His dry lips cracked in a smile.

“Mira likes you,” he told the Kalidas-Dawns sisters. “So I’ll forgive the stalking.”

“She likes you, too,” Rukmini said. “And sorry about the stalking. It was Parv’s idea. But how did you two meet?”

Mira and Blair exchanged glances.

“Look,” Blair said, “you girls won’t go rat us out to the cops?”

“‘Course not,” Rukmini said.

“On my honor, no,” Parvati echoed.

Blair stared at them, face a mask of suspicion.

“Mr. Hector?” Mira said.

“Kiddo, I know you think they’re trustworthy —”

“I don’t think they’re trustworthy,” Mira said. “I know they’re trustworthy.”

Blair bit his lip, then sighed.

“A couple weeks back, I was hanging around that strip mall and old Adam’s coffee place. It was around the time of those first murders.” His voice quieted. “Bad days. Nobody was taking it seriously—”

“Parvati was,” Rukmini interjected. “She wouldn’t shut up about it.”

Blair’s eyebrows shot up his forehead, but he nodded to Parvati. “Good on you, Miss.”

“Anyway, I was hanging around old Adam’s place, when he started to act…odd. I mean, he’d always been a strange guy: believed in aliens like my Baptist grandma believed in the Bible. Thought little green men built the pyramids. But he’d been approachable. And this new Adam was withdrawn. He spent more time in that coffeehouse, except when he left to get supplies.”

Blair quieted. “It was around the time of those first murders, before the bloodsucker shucked the college kids. Nobody was paying attention, and I was, well, a little paranoid. Thought Adam got himself into trouble. I might’ve done a little light stalking. Found one of Adam’s usual hideouts.”

“It wasn’t a supplier?” Parvati guessed.

“Pth. A refurbished shop in a neglected mall. You kids wouldn’t go near it.”

Parvati had memorized the map of Bluewood. “The old JC Penney’s right? The one on Main?”

Blair nodded curtly.

Whenever crime struck, the police would raid that old mall first. If the vampire sovereign operated out of there, she would have already been caught.

But Adam could have met one of her Soldiers there without rousing suspicion.

“Adam was talking to this lady. Real pretty woman. Wore UFO earrings. She was youngish — twenty or so — and I figured they’d gone to the mall to avoid judgement. Plenty of folks hide their vices there,” he said ruefully, toying with the cusp of his coatsleeve.

“When the stuff with Adam happened, and the cops didn’t look into it, I got scared. Hit the mall, got blasted. Made me a sitting duck for robbers. A couple boys caught me. Would’ve been roughed up something fierce if she —” he nodded to Mira — “hadn’t found me.”

He wiped his damp eyes and nose, and swallowed heavily before continuing. Mira sat up, eyes wide with concern, but he waved her away.

“I was wasted as hell,” he said somberly. “Mistook her for a couple old friends, and those cherubs they put on Valentine’s Day cards.”

He turned to Mira, eyes were fierce with gratitude. “You might’ve saved my life,” he told her. “And you didn’t drink a drop of blood from those bastards.”

He wiped at his eyes again. Rubbed his wrists and shoulders.

“When the high ended, I saw her eyes,” Blair said. “I was scared half to death at first, but then I realized. She hadn’t killed me. And, y’know, she’s young.”

“He offered to help me find my home,” Mira said quietly.

“She refused,” Blair said. “We’ve been traveling together ever since. She’s never touched a person,” he added, with no small amount of pride.

Shock veered through Parvati.

First, because of Mira’s refusal to return home. She remembered Noe’s worry, Rohini’s drunkenness and tears. Rukmini had nearly died trying to find the youngest Belizaire.

Why, she almost asked, but thought better of it.

“Mr. Blair?” She asked.

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t you give Mira your blood?”

Rukmini gaped at her; Mira stared; Blair’s face became downright hostile.

“For starters,” Blair said coolly, “I’m not a pedophile.”

“Parv didn’t mean it that way!” Rukmini cried, though she still looked shaken.

Parvati, who now knew where everyone was coming from, held up her hand.

“It’s fine, Rukmini. Mr. Blair, you assume a vampire’s bite automatically releases intense sexual pleasure within both the vampire, and the human they drink from?”

“Well, yes,” Blair said, more calmly, “It’s their best-known trait. No offense, Mira.”

“None taken, Mr. Blair. Parvati, you aren’t seriously saying —”

“The Bite of Pleasure is the most common way for a vampire to deliver a bite,” Parvati said firmly, “for both purposes of consuming and transforming. It will make the human welcome the bite, and, naturally, is exceedingly pleasant for the vampire.”

“Parv?” Rukmini said.

“Yes?”

“That is the creepiest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“The Bite of Pleasure can be given consensually,” Parvati replied. “When it isn’t, though…” She couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought.

“Mr. Blair, you’re right not to let Mira drink from you via the Bite of Pleasure. But the Bite of Pleasure isn’t the only bite a vampire can produce. The other Bite, the Bite of Pain, is, um, a little self-explanatory. It hurts a lot, but it’s not sexual at all.”

Blair and Mira exchanged glances. Mira looked worried, Blair doubtful.

Doubtful, but fragilely hopeful, too.

“You’ve never heard of it, ‘cause it’s rare,” Parvati said. “And, with me here, you don’t even have to receive the Bite.”

Blair opened his mouth to say something, but coughed. It was a drippy, wet sound,  shaking his thin shoulders with its force. He coughed again, and again — spittle splattered into his beard —

Parvati made to move, but Mira got there first. The fledging vampire jumped to her feet, and raced to the ill man. He waved her off, covering his mouth with his sleeve. After a moment, his coughs eased.

Then, he stiffened.

“Shit,” Blair rasped. He staggered to his feet. “S’cuse my language, kids. I’m going to —” he coughed, viciously, again, then swallowed. “Bathroom,” he said weakly.

Then, he staggered down the hill, behind a scatter of brush and trees.

Parvati looked away. Rukmini turned to Mira.

“What was that?” Rukmini asked.

“Withdrawal symptoms,” Mira said sadly. Since I arrived, Mr. Blair has wanted to cut down on drugs.” She turned away from the Kalidas-Dawns’ sisters, and looked to the moon.

“I thought it was a good idea. He took one injection today, but, well —” she quieted. “Withdrawal kicked in fast. He’s been struggling with cold symptoms and stomach problems since sunset.”

She hugged herself. “We don’t have medicine, or a bed for him to rest in. If I wasn’t so strong, I don’t think I’d survive here. And Mr. Blair has been living like this for years.”

Empathy seized Parvati, hard and sharp enough to scar. She wanted to help Blair, but had not thought of how, yet: she could help Mira.

“You can go home,” Parvati said earnestly. “Noe and Rohini miss you.”

“No,” Mira said.

Rukmini stood, and crossed the sandy hill, coming to stand near Mira. She reached out to touch the smaller girl’s shoulder.

Mira pulled away. Rukmini dropped her hand and stepped backward.

“Y’think your folk will judge you?” Rukmini asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Mira replied.

We have to talk about it, Parvati almost said. Blair is a good man, but you have to go back to your family.

But Rukmini got there first.

“Keep quiet if you like,” she said roughly. “But we want to know, ‘cause we care about you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, Sparkles. You can’t blame me for wanting to know why you’re… doing all this.”

Mira looked down, away from the moonlight, and to the trampled sands. Her shoulders hunched, small and fragile.

“They want the perfect kid,” she said. “My parents, I mean. They were born into poverty, both of them. My grandparents were, too. But they all worked so damn hard to come here and make something for me. They brought me here, so I’d have the world. Someone who can carry on their legacy. But now I’m a monster.” Her voice cracked.

For perhaps the first time in her life, Parvati was truly stunned. Gentle Mira; Loving Mira; Mira, who’d saved a man’s life, but called herself a monster.

Noe and Rohini so wanted to give their daughter the world, they’d torn out her confidence and tried to fill the hole with good grades and a degree she hadn’t even wanted.

“Do you want to return home?” Rukmini asked.

“More than anything,” Mira sniffed.

Closing her eyes, Parvati recollected Noe and Rohini’s misery. When she opened them, her resolve was firm.

“The first place I visited, when you disappeared,” she said firmly, “was your parents’ place. The house was a mess. They were playing goth indie songs, because you liked them, and the music reminded them of you. Rohini was dead drunk. Noe was sobbing. They actually said they regretted being so harsh on your fantasy novels —”

Mira stiffened. “Don’t lie, Parv.”

“You didn’t see them, Mira,” Parvati said.

Mira and Rukmini turned to her.

“You’re serious.” Mira’s eyes were wide.

“They want their daughter back, no matter what,” Parvati said. “And I promised them I’d bring her home.”

“I’ll go back and fail them,” Mira said weakly. “I’m designed for bloodlust, now.”

Parvati had only ever been mildly annoyed by the urban legends around vampires, but she despised them now.

“If that were true, you would have drunk some nonconsenting human’s blood by now,” Parvati said. “I’m the closest thing you’ve got to a vampire expert. Believe me, 99% of modern Soldier Vampires go on to lead normal lives.You can attend school, have a job and kids. Your lifespan might be prolonged, but Tame undead age and die like mortals. Our medical facilities are prepared, because some of our veterans return home like vampires.”

Vampire-specialists were drastically underpaid, but that was beside the point.

Parvati stepped toward Mira.

“Like you.”

“I have a psychosexual connection to drinking peoples’ blood,” Mira said. “I can only be full through another person’s pain.”

“You have hyperspecific dietary restrictions,” Parvati retorted. “There are people who donate their blood so vampires can live. Noe and Rohini would give you their blood in a heartbeat. You can take mine, right now, if you want.”

Parvati and Mira’s eyes locked in a contest of wills. So Parvati saw the second hope fluttered into Mira’s frightened, skeptical gaze.

Rukmini cleared her throat.

Mira swiveled toward her.

“And Sparkles,” Rukmini said, “if you want the Bite of Pleasure with an, um, personal connection, I’ll gladly volunteer.”

Mira’s shoulders tightened. She moved, a flash of ashen pink and ruby eyes beneath the silver moon. And in that second, her arms were around Rukmini. Her head was buried in Rukmini’s shoulder; her dry lips brushed Rukmini’s cheek.

Rukmini held Mira close. She blushed, but her eyes didn’t have the awkward, puppy-dog light of a schoolgirl with a crush. Instead, they burned with a fire that could have melted steel.

For a second, they put their heads together and whispered. Then, Rukmini glanced at Parvati.

“Parv, could’ya get Blair? Mira and I have to talk about the Bite.”

Fear shot through Parvati. An older sister was not supposed to let the younger one be wounded.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “Rukmini, this will hurt.”

“Parv —”

“Mira, I’m older. I know how vampires work. Bite me instead.”

“I’m not going to bite my girlfriend’s sister into horny agony,” Mira said flatly.

“Tonight’s nastiness proved I can take it,” Rukmini said. “Besides, you’re injured, and lots weaker than I.”

She nodded to Parvati’s aching arm, and spindly frame.

Parvati searched Rukmini’s eyes, wanting to argue.

But her sister’s silvery gaze was firm. And, student of vampires that she was, Parvati knew she was right. Rukmini was stronger, and (relatively) unwounded. Moreover, Tamed vampires often developed intensely close connections with those they drank from.

“Fine,” Parvati said. “Just be careful. And don’t administer either Bite without me there. The first one can be… intense.”

Rukmini nodded.

Parvati departed.

She stumbled downhill, scanning the area for Blair. But either the shadows of the trees, and night and hills concealed him, or he was away. There was a possibility he was still using the restroom, though for his sake, Parvati hoped not.

“Mr. Blair?” She called.

No answer.

“Mr. Blair?” She called again, walking in the direction he had gone. “Mira wants to Bite Rukmini. Where are you?”

Silence again. Parvati was about to call again, when something caught her eye.

Moonlight illuminated something small, white and squarish. A paper accidentally dropped the earth. Parvati picked it up, and held back an exclamation.

It was a photograph. It depicted a comely White man with thick auburn hair; his arm was wrapped around a plump, smiling woman of East Asian descent. The lady held a little brown-haired girl wearing sparkly magenta glasses and a princess-y pink skirt.

The man seemed strangely familiar; Parvati scanned his features. Those high cheekbones, and boyish frame. The russet beard.

Dear God, she realized, with no small amount of horror. That’s Hector Blair before the drug. The woman and girl must’ve been his wife and child.

Crack!

Parvati looked up, tensing at the sound.

Hector Blair staggered out from a thicket of trees, skin deathly pallid. His eyes bled with an almost-deranged wildness; he’d rolled up his coatsleeve. It exposed the garishly violet bruises and shiny red scabs on the delicate insides of his wrists, where he’d undoubtedly stabbed drug-filled syringes. One of those scabs had been scraped open; the skin around the wound had blackened. Blood trickled from it.

Fearing that the drug could make Blair rabid, Parvati stepped backward.

The manic energy in Blair’s eyes faded, replaced by shame.

“N-no,” he rasped. “Y’don’t have to back up. I’m not going to hurt you — I’m sorry for scaring you.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Mr. Blair,” Parvati said, as gently as she could. “I came here to ask you about Mira. She’s, um, ready to Bite Rukmini.”

Blair’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. Then, he sighed, deeply.  “Shouldn’t h’gotten wasted,” he muttered. “What a stupid time to do it. Mira need help?”

“I might have to, um, pull her off.”

“She’s a vampire, though.”

“A peaceful one,” Parvati said. “With our urging, she’ll back off, bloodlust or no bloodlust.”

Resolve hardened Blair’s lips and softened his eyes. “I’ll come. Uh, Miss?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I have that picture back?”

Parvati handed it over, mumbling an apology; he waved her off. Blair tucked it in his jeans pocket, and patted the pocket a couple times.

“Another thing, Miss,” he said, as he rolled up his sleeve.

“Yes, Mr. Blair?”

“Your eyes. Didn’t notice they were different colors.”

“Ah. That’s my heterochromia, Mr. Blair.”

“It looks badass.”

“Thank you,” Parvati said, deeply flattered.

He jutted his chin in the direction of the hill’s top.

“Let’s help the kids.”