The life of a mountain vampire ch 6

Chapter 6

Childish Thoughts


The shadows parted and Xavier steps out into the light of a new day.  With out meaning to, he now finds himself standing at the top of Christmas Tree Hill.  It is the highest point in Richland’s, and from here he could see almost the whole town stretching out at his feet.  “How did I get here?  I was heading back to the house."  A light breeze began to blow, and the sound of soft laughter caught his attention.  “I brought you.  I needed to speak to you before you rested.”  Nioby steps out from behind the main pole of the tree and gives him a slight bow.

Xavier bows his head and kneels on one knee in front of her.  “I am here to serve ma-am.  What could someone so high want of someone so low? “

Smiling down at him she places her hand on his head.  “You have something that should not be kept.”  Kneeling down in front of him she softly places her finger under his chin and lifts his head.  She gently brushes a lose patch of hair from his eyes and smiles softly.  “You know of what I speak, do you not?"  Looking into his eyes she just tilts her head to the side and smiles again. 

“Yes, Ma-am."  Reaching into his pocket he pulls out the stone and gently cradles it in his hands.  Looking up at her he made a slight smile and hands it over to her care.  As she takes it and stands in front of him, he sits back on the ground and pulls his knees up under his chin.  Pulling his cap over his eyes, he begins tracing small circles in the sand with his finger.  “What will you do with it?  That is if I can ask I mean.  I saved it so he wouldn’t die."  Nioby walks to the edge of the cliff and looks out over the still sleeping town. 

Turning back to face him, she runs her hand through her hair and brushes it back from her eyes.  “I plan on releasing it, so it can finish its journey to the after life.  It is not to be kept, but set free.”

Xavier pulls his cap further down over his face and looks at the ground.  ‘I sorry, didn’t mean to do anything wrong.  Is it too late to make things rite? “

Nioby walks over and kneels down in front of him and kisses him softly on the cheek.  “No child it is not too late.  Shall I release him, or would you like the honor? “Gently she hands him the stone and steps back and disappears into the rising sunlight.

Xavier rises to his knees and places the stone on the ground in front of him.  After taking a few deep breaths, he traces his finger around it in the sand making a small circle.  This aint gonna get it done now is it, he thought as he picks up the slightly gleaming stone. Sitting back on his knees once more, he turns his cap around backwards and holds the stone close to his chest.  With great care and ease he begins to squeeze until the stone starts to crack and splinter.  With one last tight squeeze the stone shatters and falls to the ground in front of him.  A strong wind begins to blow as the pieces are gathered up and begin spiraling around him.  Great dark clouds pass over head and cover the newly risen sun, blotting it from the torn sky.  Xavier grabs his cap and pulls it down over his eyes as the pieces whiz by his head with ever increasing speed.  With out warning the wind stops and the shards drop to the ground, creating a circle around his huddled form.  The clouds stop their racing across the sky and small rays of sunlight begin to filter through their torn fabric.

“Hey man what’s up?”  The voice was familiar and spoke as if nothing had just happened.  Xavier slowly looks up from under his cap and sees Chris standing in front of him with a smirky smile on his face.  Xavier stumbles backwards to the ground and just looks up at him in shock.  “H-Hey man nothing much.”  Chris just shakes his head and laughs.  “Man your jumper than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I'm not gonna bite ya."  Xavier nerviously stands to his feet  and walks around him looking him over, then skittishly reaches out to poke him on the arm, but instead of touching warm skin, his finger goes straight through.  Jumping back he looks at him wide eyed and just stairs with his jaw dropped in disbelief. “Your not there I...I mean you are, but your not."  Chris just starts laughing and shaking his head pointing at him.  “Man common, you’re a freaking vampire, and now you freak out when you see a ghost.  This is just too much."  Chris continues laughing as he sits on the ground and crosses his legs.    After a few seconds more of laughing he wipes his eyes and a serious looks comes over his face.  Looking up at Xavier he pats the ground beside him and motions for Xavier to join him “Common man we have to talk.”

Xavier quietly sat on the ground beside Chris and just looks at him from under his cap.  “What do you want to talk about?”  Pulling his knees up under his chin he just sits and looks at the ground, tracing his finger in circles.  Chris leans back bracing himself with his hands behind him and looks up at the sky, which by now was fully lit by the morning sun.  “I just wanted to know why you did what you did.  Or more likely what you tried to do. “

Xavier just shrugs his shoulders and continues making his marks on the ground.  “I’m not sure, I just didn’t want you to die that's all. “

Chris just closes his eyes and smiles sitting back up straight.  “Man its ok.  Everything dies when it's their time, and I guess it was just mine.  Besides it's not everyday that a person is forgiven for something they did.  Even if it was against there better judgment or will. “He smiles as Xavier just looks at him a bit confused.  Before he could say anything Chris stands up and looks down at him smiling.  “Well, it's time I got out of here.  Don’t want to keep you out to late in all this sun."  Putting his hand over his eyes, Chris looks up into the sky and smiles.  “Looks like it's gonna be a hot one taday.  Not really sure, but I kinda remember something about you not likein the sun too much.  Even before you went and became a vampire and all. “

Xavier quietly stands and brushes the dirt off his shorts, looking at him still a bit lost and confused.” Where are you going? “He fallows Chris to the edge of the cliff and they both just look out over their small town. 

“I’m going out there he says as he points up to the sky.  “Not sure where I'll end up, but now that we have talked, I don’t think it will be any place too bad.  Who knows, might just go see my grand folks or something like that up there."  Smiling Chris turns and puts both his hands on Xavier’s shoulders.  He just looks at him and then smiles shaking his head.  “Your ok man, that is for a blood sucker I mean.”  With out another word he pulls Xavier’s cap down over his eyes.

“Hey man that's not fair.”  Pulling his cap back up Xavier looks around, but there was nobody there, just him and the ageing metal Christmas tree.  Hearing sirens, he looks over in their general direction and notices that the police are surrounding the parking lot of the church.  “Well I guess they have found his body then.  It didn’t take them long this time. "  Stepping back from the edge, he just watches for a few minutes, then turns and begins walking down the trail that leads from the mountain.  He decided to walk instead of risk being seen flying during the day.  This gave him the chance to mill over in his head what Chris had said to him.

As he walks through town, Xavier tips his cap to those he meets on the street and says his good mornings.  As he was about to cross the street near the middle of town some one yelled out his name, well his human name that is.  Turning to see who it was he was about knocked over by one of his friends.  As he regains his balance and pulls his cap back up from his eyes there was Sara with one of her annoying smiles on her face.  Oh, lord, not her he thought, as he tries his best to smile and be sociable.  It's not that she is a bad person, it's just when she starts talking she don’t know when to stop.

“So bitch, where ya been?  What ya been up to? Have ya seen Lisa yet, oh and how was your night? Interesting I hope. Mine was boring, all I did was sit at home and watch TV.  Hey what’s wrong, why aint you talking to me?  Xavier just stands there and shakes his head smiling a smile of SOME ONE PLEASE SHOOT ME NOW.  Sara just stands there tapping her foot on the ground, arms crossed with her lower lip stuck out in a little pout.  When he finally got the chance to answer her Xavier just said that he had just been out for a walk, and that he wasn’t up to anything interesting, no he hadn’t seen Lisa yet, and that his night was not to interesting.  Having answered her questions to the fullest extent that he wanted to go into at the time he just stood there smiling at her. 

She just stands there and looks at him for a second or too then with out warning, grabs him and about squeezes him to death.  “Ya know something Jev I love you.”  An expression of shock and terror comes over his face as she grabs his butt and smiles.  “Them there are some firm buns you got there.” 

Pulling free from her death grip, he forces a smile and steps back a few steps.  “UUUmm thanks I think."  He looks at the ground a bit embarrassed and tries not to let her see him blush.  For some reason a few of the people he knows at the pizza place can’t seem to keep their hands off his butt. 

“Well, uumm, I guess I best get home.  Mom doesn’t know I spent the night out last night. “

A wide smile comes across her face as she grabs him by the arm and drags him into her car.  “So bitch who is he?  What’s he like? Is he cute? How big is he?  Did it hurt?  How is he in bed?  Come one I'm dieing here. “

He just looks at her surprised and shakes his head.  No it aint anything like that.  I just wanted to take care of a few things and just didn’t get done till a few minutes ago. “Smiling embarrassed he just looks out the window.  “You perv, your getting almost as bad a Kathy and let me tell you that’s bad.” 

Sara just squints her eyes and smiles as she hit the gas and off they went.  The car tires squall as they head down the street towards the edge of town. 

“Uuumm,, where are we going?  I done told you I have to get home. ‘“

“Geese, you big baby, I have to run some errands and then I'll drop you off at your place.  That is after I ravish your hot little body."  She just laughs as Xavier scoots as far away from her as he can.  She looks over at him and smiles a playful smile, then starts goosing him in his side.  “What’s tha matter, nervous? You know you want me. “  Oh My God she squeals, as she hits her breaks and skids off the side of the road.  Giggling insanely she jumps out of her car and runs over to where another car was parked by a fruit stand. 

He just sat there with his arms braced against the dashboard and his eyes wide in terror.  After a few seconds, his eyes manage to roll back forwards in his head.  Xavier now could see what the cause of her reckless driving was over. It was Kathy and her daughter Casey that had caught Saras attention, causing her to go nuts while driving.  After catching his breath, he noticed that Sara was busy talking to Casey, and that this might be his only chance to escape her endless questions.  He quietly opens the door and starts to sneak out of the car when some one grabs his butt again and yells.

“Goin some where trelk?  I don’t think so. 

Yelping in surprise he turns and sees Kathy standing behind him smiling.  “Please don’t do that.  It’s embarrassing. “

“Aaahhh shut your pie hole.  You know you like it. “ Kathy laughs as she gets ready to grab him again.

Casey and Sara start laughing about something and Kathy walks over to see what thier up to.  Seeing his chance to escape, Xavier quietly sneaks off into the nearest shadow and continues on his way home.  Kathy turns to say something else and sees that he is gone.  She just scratches her head and shrugs her shoulders.  “Now I wonder where that trelk got off too.  Oh well I'll just get him when I see him again.

The rest of the trip home was blissfully uninterrupted, as he practices stepping between shadows.  Hey this aint to bad he thought to himself as he stepped into one shadow and appeared out of another one in a different part of town.  His last shadow crossing took him to the bottom of his hill.  Turning around he bumps into his mom, as she steps out of her house to feed her cats in the back yard.  She just looks at him puzzled and frowns. “Where did you come from?  Thought you would still be in bed.  It's not like you to be up so early. “She gives him another one of those mom looks just looks as he shrugs his shoulders looking at the ground.  “What are you up to?  Better not be anything not right, or I'll take a switch to your hide. “She smacks him on the back of his shoulder as she walks back into the house and made the remark that he still wasn’t too old or too big for a whippin. 

Rubbing his shoulder he just smiles and walks over to pick Cleo up off the ground.  She had come down from his house when she heard his mom calling to the other cats for breakfast.  Cleo meowed loudly and began nuzzling her nose against his neck.  “Come on you sexy beast.  It's time to go home and sleep. I've had a long night. “Cleo just purred loudly in his ear and continued nuzzling his neck.  Stepping through a shadow by the back porch he found himself standing in his bed room.  The curtains were still pulled closed and the room was nice and dark, despite the suns best efforts at getting in.  He puts Cleo on the bed and walks off into the kitchen to see what there was to drink in the fridge.  The house was already starting to heat up so he opens the front door and just stands looking out across the mountains.  Cleo's meowing brought him back from his musings and he ran the cold soda bottle across his forehead.  “Well I guess I should get to bed.  I'm beat. Wonder who’s online.  Guess a quick peak won’t hurt much. " 

As the computer warms up, Xavier walks out and sits on his porch watching a few dark clouds start working their way across the sky.  He soon hears the familiar sound of some one messaging him online.  Walking back in he sees that it is Sebastian.  Smiling he responds and they exchange their news of the day and what they plan to do the rest of the evening.  Xavier doesn’t mention what he has really been up to lately, or what has happened to him on the few days he's been off from work.  Sebastian was talking about how he was considering moving out on his own and wanted to know what Jev thought about the idea.  Xavier wanted to tell him what really had happened, but was worried that he might start freaking out.  They had started talking in a vampire chat room and Xavier had been using the name Green_Eyes_Vampre, but wasn’t to sure if he should reveal his new secret.  Xavier sat and stared at the screen for a bit then nervously asked the question.  " Hey Sebastian, what would you say if I told you that I had been kidnapped and killed, then reborn as a vamp?  Then I went out and killed two of the three people that had killed me. “Nervously biting his lower lip he waited for the response.  The response didn’t take to long to come back, and it was a mix of relief and disappointment to read.  (Man how do you come up with this stuff.  It’s great, I mean I know you like all that stuff, but I don’t believe in vamps.  It's a great game to play, but it's not really my thing. )  Xavier just smiles sadly and types in his response.  (Got ya, I just wanted to see what you'd say. Occurs there's no such thing as vamps.  Might write a book with that story line in it thou?  Well I best get off here and get some sleep.  I aint been to bed yet and I'm starting to nod off on here. )  Sebastian sent back his love and a little smiley face blowing a kiss.  (Night handsome, or should I say morning LOL.)  Xavier types back his love and good nights then sadly turns off the computer.  “I was hoping to share this new part of me with some one, but I guess it's not that easy a thing for some to take in."  After brushing his teeth Xavier stretches out in the middle of his bed and just looks at the ceiling.  A bit upset that Sebastian thought he was making all this up.  Looking over at the clock he saw that the time was only 10:00 am.  Looking back up at the ceiling he closes his eyes and just lays there listening to a song on the radio. 

Xavier woke up as Cleo jumped up on the bed and started scratching him on the arm.  “I’m up I'm up.”  Rubbing his eyes and looking around he notices the time and can’t believe what he sees.  The clock now said that it was 11:00 pm.  “Damn girl, I done went as slept the whole day away.  Didn’t think I was out that long. “Sitting up on the bed he stretches and yawns, looking around to see where his cap had gotten to.  Leaning over he notices it sticking out from under the bed.  Now how did you get down there he thought as he picks it up and knocks off the dust bunnies that seem to have taken it over.  Heading into the bath room he starts a shower and again pops the top off the tooth paste, humming as he brushed his teeth.

Slipping out of his boxers, Xavier steps under the cool water and just stands there for a bit, letting its icy fingers run across his shoulders and down his back.  Turning to face the opposite wall he sits in the middle of the shower, his legs crossed and eyes closed, just letting the water wash over him.  After a few minutes he opens his eyes and notices that small droplets of water are slowly circling around him.  A bit surprised he looks down and notices that he is himself floating about a foot off of the shower floor.  Relishing this newly found ability, he lets out a small yelp and falls to the floor.  “AAAAWWWWW.... My poor backside I think I broke something.  What was that and how did I do it?"  A bit sore but excited he steps out of the shower and grabs a towel. 

As he is drying off he hears his human name being called and he pokes his head out of the bathroom door to see who it was.  Standing down the hall was his mom and dad.  They just shake their heads and cover their eyes.  Ops were sorry.  We just wanted to see if you were ok.  Got a little worried when you didn’t answer the phone.  We tried calling like ten times or so. "  Smiling embarrassed Xavier shuts the door and asks if they could hand him his cloths.  As his dad hands the cloths though the door, Xavier explains that he had fallen asleep and didn’t here the phone.  He was sorry for making them worry and as they could see he was fine.  Just a bit embarrassed.  His dad said that they were leaving and that they were sorry for just barging in like they did. 

After dressing and getting a bite to eat he took a bowel of water and sat it in the middle of his bed.  Carefully he climbs onto the bed and retakes the position he was in while in the shower.  Closing his eyes he again tries to make the water move.  Half peeking to see if it was doing anything he could see that a small spiral of water was starting to rise up out of the bowl.  Suddenly the water splashes back into the bowl as his concentration was broken by some one calling his name.  “Hell fire and brim stones.  What now, can't a guy get a minute’s piece around here? “Turning around to his horror he sees that Nioby was standing in the door way with a concerned look on her face.  “Oh great lady I'm so sorry.  I didn’t know that it was you.  Please I’m sorry. “In his attempt to get off the bed he knocks over the water, spilling it all over the floor.  He just hangs his head and looks at the floor.  Nioby smiles understandingly and walks over to where he was still trying to get his foot free of the covers. 

Sitting on the bed beside him, she carefully untangles his ankle and smiles.  “Child I have to talk to you, and I fear you will not like what I am going to ask you.”  Her expression went from the amused smile of his entanglement to a more stern and serious one.  Sitting on the floor in front of her he just looks up and bites his lower lip. 

“Lady why do you look so sad?  Did I do something to upset you? “Softly smiling down at him she gently brushes a piece of loose hair from his eyes and shakes her head.  “No child, you have not upset me in any way.  I just have a favor to ask of you.  That is, if you will honor my request.” Xavier smiles and scoots closer to her.  “Great lady, all you have to do is ask and it will be done....... “Placing her left hand on his cheek, she shakes her head and touches his lips with the index finger of here other hand, effectively stopping him from finishing his sentence.  “No  ... you must hear all before you answer.”  Sitting back up on the bed she looks down at him and tries to regain her composer.  “I know that you have been hunting down those who brought you to your death.  You are within your rites to do this, and I will not interfere, but I ask that you stop and not go after the one known as Kevin. “With those words Xavier's jaw drops and his heart skips several beats.  Sitting back on his knees he just looks at the floor confused and is lost for words.  A range of emotions play over his face, from fear, to disbelief, to anger, then to sadness. 

“But why?  He is the last one.  He was the one that took the most pleasure out of it."  Standing up he begins pacing around the room and slams his fist into the books shelf at the foot of his bed, knocking over several of his collectable dragon pieces.  “The other two wouldn’t have done what they did if he hadn’t egged them on.  It’s not fair.  It's just not fair. “His eyes begin to cloud over as a strong wind starts to swirl around him.  As he is lifted off the floor the water that remained in the bowel shot straight up and immediately froze into a sharply pointed spike.  The wind increases as the frozen spike begins to fly wildly around the room.  Other things begin to fly about him as Nioby stands and spreads her wings wide.  Gracefully she is lifted off the floor, seemingly unaffected by the maelstrom swirling around them.  Softly she places her ftngers on his forehead.  “Enough child, calm your rage and regain your mind. “With those words his eyes begin to clear and the swirling objects start to slow and drop from the air.  After a few minutes he finds himself cradled in her arms and they are once again sitting on the floor. 

All he could manage to say is, “Why?" 

She looks him in the eyes and turns her head.  “I ask you this to possible save your life.  The one known to you as Kevin is not like most humans.

“Looking up at her confused he softly places his left hand on her cheek and gently returns her gaze to him.  “What do you mean?  Not like most humans. “

Not wanting to tell him, but fearing that he will find out too late to save his life, she begins her tail.  “His blood line is almost as old as ours.  Though he may not know it, his family has hunted our kind for countless generations.  He may not know why he hates you so, but his blood knows.” 

Xavier sits up and looks at her confused.  “Why does he hate me?  Other then my lying about a few bucks, he shouldn’t have any quarrel with me." 

She just looks at him and calmly tries to explain it to him.  “You see child, you may think that you were randomly chosen to become one of us.  Yes, there was a bit of haste to the decision on the account of your age and the fact that you were dieing before your time.  You see in ages past there were others of your family that have had their blood mixed with ours.  This could be the reason for your intense fascination with us. “Slowly standing to her feet Nioby walks over to look out the window.  She pulls back the curtain and stares out across the star filled sky.  “Your blood remembered us and a part of it longed to regain what it had lost.  You may not have been the one to join us, but instead some far distant descendants.  The choice was made for you when Kevin began his hunting of you. “Walking back over to where he sat she kneels in front of him and sits on her knees to look him in the eyes.  “Like you I could not let a soul that had no choice in its actions be lost.  Against the will of the other ancients I offered you the chance to join us, thus bringing your family back into our lives earlier then anticipated. And in doing so, places you in the middle of a war that has raged across time.  For that I am truly sorry. “Lowering her head she wipes a tear from her eyes. 

Lifting her head gently Xavier looks into her face and smiles.  “Great lady I think I can take him.”  Standing to his feet Xavier tries to make a muscle but it doesn’t turn out as well as he had hoped.  A bit embarrassed he hides his arms behind his back and blushes.  Pulling his cap down over his eyes he begins pacing around the room.  Nioby just looks up at him and smiles in amusement.  “Child I know you are strong, but I do not think you are ready to face some one like him.  You are just too young and inexperienced.”  He looks at her and makes what seems to be a smile, but it just doesn’t come out rite.  “I know I’m new to all this, but I’m a quick study.  I’ve already learned so much, just watch.”  Running off into the bathroom, he soon returns with a new bowel of water.  Sitting on the floor in front of her he again makes another attempt at a smile.  Closing his eyes he tries to concentrate on making the water move, but all he can hear are her words and how he was too young to finish his hunt for revenge.  Seeing that the water isn’t going to cooperate, he hisses and knocks the bowel across the room and sits growling under his breath, “It worked in tha shower and just a few minutes ago.  Why aint it workin for me now?”    Becoming more aggravated by the second he pulls his knees up under his chin and barriers his face, trying to hid his growing unhappiness.  Nioby tries to comfort him as she reaches out to touch him on the head, Xavier hisses and growls aloud as he smacks her hand away.  “I’m not just a kid anymore.  I’m almost sixteen now.  Well I will be in a few months anyway.”  Quickly wiping the tears from his eyes he stands up and crosses his arms defiantly.  “How can you of all people ask me not to finish what I started?”  Pointing out the window he bares his fangs and hisses.  “He’s out there somewhere, and he is the last one that I need to find.  No…No I won’t do it.  I’m gonna find him and make him pay for what he did to me.  No matter what it takes.”

Sitting back against the bed Nioby just looks at him with an expression of surprise and disappointment, then begins to shake her head.  “No you are not ready and I will not let you throw your life away.  Not so recklessly.  There will be a time and a place for vengeance, this is not the time.  You need to grow stronger and learn your abilities, before going after some one like him.” 

Falling to his knees in front of her he slams his fists into the floor and just starts sobbing.  “I’m not too young.  I’m not.”  Slumping over he rests his head on the floor and starts crying uncontrollably, shaking all over from his rage.  “He has to pay.  He just has to, and if I don’t do it then who will.”

Pulling him onto her lap she cradles him gently and begins to rock slowly.  “Child you will have your time to go after him.  But that time is not now.  You need to rest, and be far from this place and its memories.”  Looking up at her confused he quietly asks what she means.  She just caresses his cheek and smiles down at him.  “SSSHHHHH, child, rest and calm your mind.  I will take care of you until you are ready.”  With that said she stands, with him still in her arms and slowly walks down the hall from his room and out onto the back porch.  She looks down into his face and smiles softly, unfolding her great wings she steps off the top step and they are air born. 

Xavier can see his house fading into the distance, and feels the cool nights wind blowing over his face.  Where are we going he asks in a small voice?  “Is it somewhere nice?”   

“Yes child.  Now rest and when you awaken you will be in a place where you can grow and become all you are meant to be.”  Nuzzling his cheek into her chest he smiles sleepily and yawns.  “That’s good, I can’t wait to wake up and see where we are.” 

A tear rolls down her cheek as she sees his sleeping smile.  She knows that he will not wake up from where she is taking him.  He will sleep until the threat of Kevin and his kind has long past, even if it takes a century for his memories to fade.  Winging her way through the night sky she soon passes from the world of man and enters into the vale of eternal night.  The shadows fall away and she now stands in a large dimly lit room.  A small fire jumps and crackles in a large stone fireplace as she places his sleeping form on a bed of soft pillows and warm covers.  Kissing her finger she gently and lovingly places it to his forehead and smiles a sad smile.  Moving slightly, Xavier yawns and turns over on his side, facing the wall.  Still smiling with the thoughts of what fun he will have when he wakes up, he nuzzles his nose deep into the pillow lost in his dreams.