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.In fact, your blood is so weakened at the moment that the process would not even advance.Missy is, of course, unaware of this, but at best Samantha will remain a half-vampire for decades or centuries.”Two turned her head up to glance at Theroen.“Why?”“Melissa’s blood needs time to rejuvenate itself.But to remain a half-vampire, Samantha needs periodic infusions of that blood.Before Melissa could strengthen enough to complete the process, she will either have to give Samantha blood in order to keep her a half-vampire, or allow Samantha to revert.If she allows the latter, then when she begins the process again, it will be to the same result.Melissa will not be prepared to create a fledgling for hundreds of years yet.”Melissa rolled her eyes.“Great.”“Such is the nature of our particular strain.This, of course, is the least of our current problems.It is just the most easily discussed.There are other things that we need to speak of, Melissa.”The dark-haired vampire on the couch across from them was quiet for a long time.Finally she said, “I’ve known Missy for a long time.There, I said it.I’ve never said her name before.Missy.I hate that name.I hated it before she even existed.But I knew her before she existed.She.Abraham didn’t create her, exactly.He just woke her up.She was just a dream before that; something that only came occasionally, and brought nightmares with it where I did awful things.“I hated those dreams.Not because they were frightening, or awful, but because in the moments right after I woke up, I could feel her.I could understand the appeal.Christ, I’d wake up totally fucking aroused, like a part of me I couldn’t feel when I was awake not only enjoyed the things in those dreams, but got off on them.“The pain of the blood, Abraham’s blood.it brought her out.It spoke to her like nothing I had ever allowed into my life.Once she woke up, she didn’t want to go back.She can’t take over.not yet.She has to wait until I’m asleep.But she can keep me out for longer and longer each time, and she can let me back in whenever she wants.She’s stronger than I am.She spends more and more time with my body.Eventually, what happens? I wake up next to a half-vampire I don’t even know, and find out that it’s my blood that did it.“So that’s when I really knew.This body is Missy’s.I’m just along for the ride until she beats me back completely.Then I’ll be the dream, and maybe those will be her nightmares.”Two opened her mouth to say something, and could think of nothing to say.Melissa wasn’t telling them anything they didn’t already know.She was simply admitting the truth to herself.Melissa was crying now, unable to look at them.“When you first told me about Two, Theroen, you said you thought you would stay here maybe twenty years.Twenty years? I’m not sure you’ll last another twenty days.I could never read people like you could, and I could never read you.but I’ve been able to all the time for the last few weeks.Escape.Escape.It’s like a flashing neon sign in your head.“And I can’t even f.fucking bring myself to hate you for it.Either of you.It’s not your fault, and I know it, and that makes it so hard.”Theroen stirred.Two shifted her weight, allowing him to sit up.He looked at Melissa and when he spoke, his voice retained its nearly ever-present calm, but there was deep sympathy in it, and an almost heart-breaking sadness.“A hundred and twenty years, Melissa.It comes and goes like the wind, and I hate myself for all of this, even if you cannot.”“Don’t.”Theroen shrugged.It can’t be helped.“I don’t want her to win, Theroen, but she’s going to.”Two spoke up.“Does she have to? Is there any other way?”Theroen answered her.“I don’t know, Two.We have little time to find out.”“Why?”“There are two things eating away from our time here, my own desire to leave not included.The first is Samantha.She will wake, soon, and that will force a decision on her fate.A minor matter, perhaps.Perhaps not.The second is Abraham, who has instructed me of his desires.He wants us gone, Two, the sooner the better.As Melissa said, we will not be here another twenty days, but not because of any desire on my part.He says he has grown tired of me.As for Missy, Samantha, Tori; he feels they are his, and when I do leave, it will be without them.”Melissa made a quiet sobbing noise.She was not looking at them, was instead watching the silent images on the television [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]