Out Into the Open - Herus

Out Into the Open – Herus

S. C. Grodin

Copyright © 2016 by Sara Camilla Grodin

Map by S. C. Grodin

Cover art and design by S. C. Grodin

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2016

ISBN 978-1-329-92585-4 (e)

ISBN 978-1-329-89636-9 (sc)

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All media clips appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real media clips is purely coincidental.

Published by S. C. Grodin

Copenhagen, Denmark

scgrodin@gmail.com

To Daniel, thank you for your support, love and presence!

Indhold

Out Into the Open – Herus

Acknowledgements

Part of Copenhagen

Prologue

My own personal Torture

Dust to dust

Tanned

Bloodchild Student

Seeking the Vampires

Forcibly Alone

Mine meets the Tanned

Sweet secret of Mine

Harald

Secret Mine

New Orders

Partytime

Bloodmagic

Marcsa

Changes

Decisions

Anger

A lot at Stake

Bloodsamples

Free to Flee

Atle

Epilogue

About the author

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Stina Anja Christensen and Daniel Kristian Lundsby for your invaluable help and support. I have learned so much from you and I value our friendship immensely.

Part of Copenhagen

Prologue

I had been 9 years old and sleeping while the world learned that vampires were real. Old enough to have just started not to believe in monsters... due to my parents’ insistence that there was no such thing. As a younger kid, I had been terribly afraid of anything even a bit monstrous. Witches and ghosts above all, but vampires came close. I still believe in witches and ghosts, too. Maybe it’s silly, but I find it hard not to believe. I don't hate witches and ghosts, though. I hate vampires. I hate them, and the way everybody seems to worship them.

I was now 17 years old and had just started my third year of high school, again. I had dropped out last year... going through some personal stuff. Honestly, my mother’s death-but-not kinda kicked me out of the loop. She’s a vampire now and I haven’t seen her for months. My dad fought hard to make the media he works for forget about her family. She being the new famous vampire, youngest of the undead. I guess that’s why we move all the time. It’s incredibly tiresome to move every few months, and yet it gets easier every time because we now know the drill. My father, Troels, promised me that this time we would stay put. He doesn't promise things often, so I guess I believed him. Well, also because his new connections in vampire society had increased his influence at the newspaper. He never told me, but I know that he no longer works for the newspaper. During an unboxing in a new apartment, I saw some papers of his. Apparently, his new title is Independent vampire liaison. I mean, how corny is that?

I had spent the last year assimilating to my new life. Sometimes I felt like an orphan. The vampires had taken away everyone. But of course that was rubbish. I still had dad and my sister Camillie, both of them nagging me to get back to school. Everybody seemed to be so very interested in what I did or didn't do with my life, and yet totally uninterested in what I wanted or didn't want to do with it. To be honest, back then all I wanted was to be able to turn back time and change everything.

It had been a Friday night a few days after my 9th birthday, and I had fallen asleep on the couch while the rest of the family watched television. My mom Seanne, my dad Troels and my older sister Camillie. They left me sleeping in the living room when they went to bed that night. The next morning I had turned on the  TV and watched a rerun of last night’s talk show. The show where for the first time, vampires told the world that they existed. I still remember that show.

Out into the Open

The Talk show - rerun

Let’s welcome our next guest. She was one of the first models to place Eternal Models Inc. on the map of the fashion world. Eternal Models Inc. is now known as one of the most coveted model bureaus in the business! Our guest tonight has been a top model for over 10 years, and is still going strong. Please welcome Sharon Swift! The host stood up and smiled toward the amazingly beautiful woman coming at him. The audience applauded loudly and genuinely. Sharon was wearing a tight yellow dress that went to her ankles. A long slit in the side showed one perfect leg with every second step. The v-cut in front revealed a diamond heart on a thin silver string around her neck. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back. Every person in the audience had waited for this moment. Sharon was the kind of person you just couldn't take your eyes off. Beautiful, elegant, charismatic. The host was the envy of many as he hugged her and kissed both her cheeks.

Sharon, please take a seat. The audience kept on applauding, and the two people on stage had to wait with the interview until they had quieted down – both of them looking out over the crowd, laughing self-consciously.

So, Sharon... Let's talk about what is so special about Eternal Models.

Yes.

Or, rather ONE of the special things about Eternal. I want to ask you how you can have so many models stay in the business for so much longer than other model agencies can. Sharon, you have been on top for over 10 years now, and... Look at you... He gestured toward her, you are still one of the most beautiful women on this planet. How do you do it?

Well, Emil, we are on a special diet.

That's it? A diet? So you are saying that you aren't using plastic surgery? No botox?

Sharon laughed. No, nothing of that kind.

No, really... everybody uses botox right?

Not everybody, Emil she smiled sweetly, no Eternal models has ever been to a plastic surgeon. We are all pure natural beauty.

The host waited a second, hoping for more. Looked down at his papers, I have heard rumors in the industry that your agency has a reputation for being rather arrogant. How do you feel about that?

Well, I'm not sure what the rumors are about really, but it's true, we like to decide for ourselves whether we want to send models to a certain show. I mean, we don't just jump at any opportunity. We don't need to.

Because you are the best?

Because we are the best!

What I heard was, that you don't attend to any fashion show if it’s during the day. Is that true?

Well, we do take very good care of our models, and we don't want them to go out into the sunlight. It would be really bad for them. She smiled secretly.

Is that part of your anti-ageing plan? Avoid sunlight?

Sunlight is simply not good for us. Sharon smiled.

But surely you need vitamin D?

We get everything we need through our diet.

OK, tell me – what exactly does that diet contain? The host leaned forward, conversationally. Genuine curiosity colored his features.

We don't eat. We just drink.

Liquid food. I'm sure you have eternal hunger then?

No, not at all. We have no cravings for food anymore.

I see. So to help those of our viewers who will now abandon all solid food to get your youthful features... What do you drink, and how often?

Well, if we are active, we try to drink every night or at least once a week. Sometimes more. In dormant periods we can go without anything for weeks, or even months. Apart from a few stray laughs, the audience went silent. Sharon exuded seriousness. The host looked undecided on whether to laugh or cry. Was his guest making fun of him on national prime time TV?

Sharon just smiled. We drink blood.

The host chose a nervous laughter. So, you are saying that if we begin to drink blood once a week and abandon food and sunlight, we can obtain youth like an Eternal Model?

Sharon smiled, her eyes caressed the audience, I would not advise any human being to live on our diet. It might be fatal to you.

So, what are you saying?

We are not human. She smiled gloriously, blindingly. It took a moment for the host to recover his composure. He laughed.

OK, so what are you? Aliens, vampires?

Yes, we are vampires. We do not age. I'm forever 22, and I'm going to keep on modelling for Eternal for many years to come. As long as I enjoy it.

The host smiled to the camera. Unfortunately it’s time for a commercial break, but stay tuned.

You don't really need to go to commercials, I can prove to you that I'm speaking the truth. The host was visibly confused. He looked to the cameras, found one with a red light. He had to continue.

I hope you are not gonna drink from me or anything. He smiled. A different smile than what people normally saw him wear on his show. A pleading smile? Sharon got up and moved around the studio with amazing speed. She froze in front of the camera that was currently broadcasting, and with her hands on her hips she changed her hair. Short and brown, green mohawk, long curly orange, smooth red, blood red.

I’m Sharon Swift of Eternal Models. I’m a vampire.

This was all long ago. These days vampires have their own TV shows and there is a human made magazine about them. It seems like they love the attention, and mainstream culture sure seems to love giving it to them.

Sometimes I felt like I was the only creature in the world that saw them for what they were. Nah, the world is saying too much. Apparently, a lot of people from other countries didn't even believe we had vampires here in Scandinavia. There was a lot of speculation going on as to why we had created this illusion of living vampires. Some thought it was merely a publicity stunt, intended to steal the vampire tourists of Romania, or perhaps some trick to make our models more desirable and Copenhagen a more significant fashion capital, or even some way for us to regain the intimidation power of the Viking age. All this speculation was ludicrous, though I cannot blame them. I knew for a fact that vampires were here.

I liked our new apartment. It was a bit smaller than the last one, but I think that was due to my dad accepting that we were only two now. Well, my sister Camillie still had a room with us, but it was mostly for show, and furnished only with a bed and a chest of drawers for clothes. All her personal belongings were in there too, but they had been boxed up for moving since we left our family's first apartment a year ago, and they had not been opened since.

Camillie is really pretty; blond hair and clear blue eyes, her skin tans well and she has never had any problems with freckles. I also have blue eyes but other than that I look like my father with dark brown hair and pale skin. My mother used to tell me that I looked like a porcelain doll. I know she did it to make me believe I was beautiful, but it never really stuck with me. I do have rather large eyes, my best feature although they sit a bit too far apart, but who would make a porcelain doll with dimples and freckles? I always found my cheeks too fat, even though I’m slim. How do you lose fat in your cheeks without losing it in other places? No, my mother probably took into consideration that Camillie is the pretty one when she made her bloodchild. Or maybe she just loved her more.

I had successfully avoided my sister since I came home that day. I didn't even know if she had heard me come in.

We had moved a lot since my mother died. The first times it had been in order to avoid the press. Dad had kept it a big secret who Seanne’s other daughter was - me. Seanne is my mother, the most recent vampire in modern history. The only contemporary human ever known to have become a vampire. The beautiful immortal Seanne who’s the lure, the promise, everything a human can get if they seek vampirism as their future. She’s proof of what benefits the transformation will give you, the hope and dream of every sick human walking the earth. Live life eternally as a beautiful corpse. Only price: a selective diet and a reversal of your sleeping pattern.

The press already knew of my sister, Camillie. When my mother had chosen to make her a bloodchild she became immortal, and will remain so for as long as my mother wills it. She can even walk by day and eat regular food. bloodchildren get this translucence in their skin. Kind of like the pale glow of vampires, only fainter. While a vampire seems to dazzle with their perfect skin, the bloodchild is just pale. That goes for all bloodchildren, whatever color their skin might have been, they all seem like their skin has been dusted with flour.

My mother had never told me that she would make Camillie her bloodchild. I had once asked my dad if he knew, and he only said yes. He said it in a dismissive manner that somehow prevented me from digging deeper. I often wanted to ask either of them about it, but I didn't know how. I was afraid that I'd sound jealous of her, or that they would interpret it that way. Maybe I was jealous. In so many ways she had it easy – she could do whatever she wanted with her eternal existence. She wouldn't have to worry about education, job, death, love... well, I actually don't know about that one. Love. Do bloodchildren fall in love? I didn't think vampires could. After the transformation my mother seemed like a loveless creature. Or maybe time just works differently to her, and an affectionate hug once a month is like a daily hug to her.

Since she was embraced to vampirism - their phrase not mine, Seanne had only been home three times, and just to visit. In this new apartment we had a basement. We lived in one of the expensive villa apartments in Østerbro in Copenhagen. We also had a garden there, although I reckon my dad cared less about that, than he did the basement. He had made it really nice down there. The walls had gotten new wallpaper, the floor a soft carpet and the windows were now bricked up. No day light would penetrate to this room, unless through extensive use of mirrors. In the deep end of the room he had placed an expensive oak coffin with dark wooden lacquer next to an ordinary double bed. I guess he was uncertain of what she would need as a bed in her new existence.

I had helped him make the basement fit for a star. We couldn't agree on the wall paper. Dad wanted it to be daylight blue with paintings of sunsets, flowers and a lake reflecting the sunlight in glowing spots. Yeah, I know, corny as hell. I had managed to convince him that it might be a bad idea to furnish the basement as a constant reminder of what she had forever lost. He countered by saying that my midnight blue wallpaper would be too much a reminder of what she’s now stuck with. In the end we agreed on a deep bordeaux. More red wine than blood. A nice warm color that would soon drive me insane, but in some way fit the feel of my mother perfectly.

Upstairs we had placed double blackout curtains at every window. Dad even bought a new fridge for blood. I was glad he didn't just give her a shelf in our fridge. I don't know where he got the blood that was in her fridge, he had so many secrets from me. The blood bags were unlabeled, but otherwise looked like the ones they use in hospitals. Maybe he used his own blood to fill them. I only hoped he knew how long they lasted, and got rid of the old ones himself. The one time she was home, she took one out, looked at it for a few seconds, and placed it back in the fridge. She didn't taste it, ask me about it, or anything.

My own personal Torture

I quietly closed the door to the living room, only to have it open again by itself. Old crooked houses - not all charm. I slumped down in the couch and turned on the TV. Right on time.

Welcome to this brand new season of Chance at Immortality. The quiz that allows humans a unique chance to become either a vampire or a bloodchild, the choice is yours if you win. Remember Seanne from last season? They ran an old clip of my mother from her time on the show. She’s now a highly respected member of vampire society, with a bloodchild of her own and a promising career at this network! I edged closer to the screen, knowing what would come next. See the change Seanne underwent, a before and an after picture divided the screen in two. I lifted a hand to the screen, gently caressing my mother’s before face. It would always be more beautiful to me than the new smooth mother on the other half of the screen. The thick blond hair was the same in both pictures, but the eyes had changed. Before her eyes had been hazel, now they were a lighter color and seemed green. A green sprung from the hazel from before, as if her eyes had always held the secret of this new color. Tonight one of our contestants...

I can't believe you keep watching that stupid show. My sister, Camillie, stood in the doorway regarding me with disdain. I ignored her, no need to take my eyes off the screen, knowing intimately the arrogant look Camillie would send me if I met her eyes.

It's my own personal torture, I mumbled. The show had moved on, no more pictures of my mother in this episode.

The after picture is photo-shopped anyway. She looks just like her old self on camera... Except for the eyes of course. Her voice was disdainful, the voice she used whenever she felt like telling me how useless she thought I was. I ignored her.

On tonight's show we have people from all layers of human society. Meet Simon Jensen! The picture changed to show a smiling man, wrinkles creased around his eyes. By the looks of him, he was a happy person. Why would a happy person try to win a Deep Bite? Not even the vampires could be certain that it would make you a vampire. Out of the ten contestants in the last season, only mom had actually gained immortality. In two of the shows no winner was found, one show had been so full of people who couldn't answer even the simplest questions asked, and in another the winner had chickened out. So far the eight episode winners had all chosen a Deep Bite instead of the Drops of Eternity which would grant you eternal life, but bind you to a vampire. Make you a bloodchild. Seven of the contestants had died. Only my mom had actually won the immortality that was the real prize in the show.

The host had introduced all 8 contestants, Simon tell us why you want a chance at immortality. The camera shifted to a close up of the wrinkled man. Well, I don't know if anyone remembers anymore, he chuckled, but I'm an actor. In my younger days I starred in films like Tale of the Grave robber and A Petal for Rose.

And you want a chance to regain your former glory, is that right Simon?

Yes. Most humans my age don't get any interesting acting jobs anymore, we just don't have the popular appeal that vampires do. I'd like to be the first vampire actor. I miss the times that I spent in front of a camera, he grinned again and the fame, the popularity isn’t bad either. The last bit was followed by a flirtatious wink at the camera.

Camillie had moved to stand next to where I sat on the couch. She had her arms crossed in front of her. Her long blond hair flowing down her back. She was wearing jeans and a tight blue t-shirt – day clothes. She usually wore dresses when she was with mom during the nights. I don't suppose that one will choose the Drops of Eternity.

I looked fleetingly at her. She looked a little sick with her light hair and ivory ghoulish skin. She used to be really tanned this time of year, now she looked oddly colorless.

You should turn it off. Camillie sighed.

I just wanna see the part with mom, don't you?

I see her every night, Tam. She hardly leaves me alone long enough for me to actually begin to miss her.

I know, but it's different, right? I looked up at my sister’s hard face.

What do you know about that? Camillie's eyes narrowed.

Just... it would be nice if she woke me up one morning, if she made breakfast for me - like she used to... or if we could go to the cinema together or something.

Gosh Tam, you are so spoiled, you know that? Camillie rolled her eyes. If you miss mom so much, you can just stay awake one night and be with her. She moved to the door. Or how about you invite some of your friends over for a sleepover, you could invite mom to breakfast and serve her one of them.

If Camillie was ever good at anything it was stabbing me with words. She had bled me often enough with her harsh tongue that now I did the only thing I ever could; I ignored her. I turned my attention back to the show.

Hell will break lose if dad sees you watching that.

No it won’t. It was barely a whisper. Our father had gently asked me not to watch any programs with vampires. He claimed they could hypnotize people, make them offer themselves up as blood donors or something.

Camillie rolled her eyes again. Well, see if I care... I'd love to come home some day and find you a mindless zombie slave to some lesser vampire's TV tricks.

I slowly looked up and met her eyes. Camillie had not much changed since before our mom made her a bloodchild. She had always been rather mean, only now, on top of it all, the new Camillie was arrogant due to her place in vampire society. She held my gaze stubbornly.

Mindless zombie slave... I whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. She swallowed, narrowed her eyes, turned, and left. Seconds later I heard the front door slam shut. Yay, I had won. A small victory though, my stomach felt tight. If only I could cry.

I went to the window and followed her with my eyes. Down in the street at the end of the garden path, I could see my dad getting out of his car. No need to anger or worry him. I hurriedly turned off the TV and went to my room.

A few minutes later I heard him at the door.

Hi. He called to the dark rooms. I found my Ipod and sat down at my desk with coal and paper, diving into a drawing of an undersea landscape while the music washed away every thought of vampires.

A hand on my shoulder caught a gasp from me. Dad! Gosh, don't you know how to knock?

Hi to you too, dear. He kissed me on the cheek. I did knock. He smiled, wrinkles playing at the eyes. I had begun to find wrinkles very beautiful.

You haven't shaved, dad. You scratch. It was so easy to get angry at him, and yet so hard to stay angry at him.

I know, I was still in bed when they called me in this morning. A great story needed some quieting down. He sighed and sat down on the edge of my bed. His hair was going grey in a few places, but those few chunks of grey in his auburn hair almost looked intentional. Fashionable. He was tall, almost 2 meters, and wore big black-rimmed glasses.

Vampires?

I guess so. It sure looked that way, two young girls sucked dry.

You covered for them?

I shouldn't involve you in this, Tam. The effort it took him to smooth over the worried wrinkles and send me a smile was tangible.

You don't have anyone else. We got to stick together, right? I forced a smile for him. He returned the smile - more genuinely this time, and nodded.

Yeah, you and me kiddo. He got up, his hand hovering over my head almost as if he would tussle my hair. Instead he rested it on my shoulder. Have you eaten?

Nothing healthy.

Let’s go out and buy some?

I got up, I want Thai-food then. I wanted to ask him more about his job, tell him I knew, but ever since he started working for the vampires he had been awfully secretive. And paranoid. He didn't like me to go out after dark anymore, and I had to make sure that a person could go out into daylight before ever inviting them home. Pretty stupid since we live in Denmark, and in the winter it gets dark at 4pm.

Let's get going then, I'd like for us to be home before sunset. He took off the name tag, he wore at work.

I glanced outside, no worries, we will just leave half an hour ago.

I guess the sun is setting already. Why don't I go get our food while you set the table?

I shrugged. Honestly I thought he was being silly, but it was kinda cute that he wanted to keep me safe from the big bad vampires. Every morning he placed a garlic tablet with my vitamin pill. Not that he made me breakfast, he was usually either gone for work or still sleeping when I did my morning routine, but the pills were still there at the dining table every morning. He even gave me a silver crucifix two days before Christmas, which was silly, as neither he nor I are Christians. My mother was a Christian, while dad claimed to have faith only in science. I guess she was not that strong a believer.

I was setting the table with our heavy green plates when I heard the door. Maybe my dad forgot something? I had just picked up our little bowl of salt and the wooden pepper mill when I heard her voice.

Cami said it would be in his bedroom. Wonder why... she said that he made a room for me downstairs, why not put my things there? I'll be just a minute. I usually thought of my mother as dead. It was just me trying to avoid thinking about her too much, but still allowing myself to mourn her. Hearing her voice sent goosebumps up my arms. I felt like disappearing into myself and crying, all of a sudden I felt cold and unprotected. Afraid to make a sound, wanting to make a sound. I wanted to go to her but my body didn't move. I just kept looking at the empty door frame. I could see the row of raincoats in the hallway, then a man moved into my view. He just stood there, looking at me. He had dark hair, it was hard to see if it was brown or black in the scarce lighting. He kept in the shadows, but enough light from the kitchen reached his features to cause my heart to beat a bit faster. He was not frightening, just immensely attractive. Gosh that sounds like my grandmother would phrase it. He was drop dead gorgeous. A hint of beard framed perfectly chiseled cheekbones, his straight nose leading from dark eyes to a soft mouth. I couldn't see the color of his eyes, but it looked almost as if he wore make-up. Long feathery and very black lashes to compliment his casually cut longish hair. He wore a dark shirt that stretched a bit tight over well-developed chest muscles, not too much, but enough to make me take notice. On his feet he wore Converse shoes and his jeans were light blue. Just the type of guy I would turn around to get a second look at in the street. I was hypnotized.

Cargo...? My mother’s voice brought me back to this world, she stood right next to him, looking at me. Gosh, he had used vampire guile on me! Ahh Tam, good to see you dear. I'd like you to meet Cargo. He’s... Anger flushed through me. He was just a damn vampire, tricking me, making me feel things that were not there. As if I didn't have enough feelings that should not be there as it was.

Little needles stabbed at my heart for every beat as I looked at my mother. She was still talking, smiling, looking like an Eternal vampire; cold and beautiful. I put the salt and pepper on the table with a thud and walked past them. My heart caught in my throat as I brushed against his shoulder. Damned vampire! You can't fall in love with a corpse.

Tamra? My mother's voice penetrated my thoughts. I turned to her, but glanced at him as I said: You didn't need to use vampire guile to make me find you beautiful. I was mad - no I was pissed, and you know what my mother did? She giggled. Not in a way like she found me funny, but a giggle to show she found me adorable. She looked at him as if to say: Isn't she cute?

He stepped toward me, an apology on his face. I avoided looking into his eyes - it’s said that old vampires can bespell you with a mere glance, but I strongly suspect they all can. Magic floats around them and steals away human willpower, makes us give in to them like snow to hot water. It’s said that people offer their wrists to the vampires and like it, when their life is drained away in a long bloody drink.

It was harder not to look at my mother. My anger at her was tainted by the loss and sorrow I felt, feelings that were tainted further by annoyance at myself for being childish and jealous. Or perhaps those were Camillie’s words. I tried not to dwell too much on my feelings or delve too deep into my soul. Living was easier when you didn't think. It was like I was floating on top of it all, sometimes I floated easily, enjoying the beautiful sky above me, but at other times the memories and feelings were tugging at me, dragging me down, forcing me to tread water to stay on top. If I had to tread water for too many days I feared my strength would fail me and I would drown.

My mother was smiling broadly, her face lit up by it, like it used to. I could even spot a hint of wrinkles around her eyes, spot my mother behind the vampire.

I have missed you mom. She was no longer my mom though. The smile faltered a bit, but she opened her arms to me. My anger was screaming at me, trying desperately to get my attention as I stepped into her embrace. The cold was more prevalent here, but her hair smelled of her usual shampoo. With my 170 cm I stood 5 cm taller than my mother, her soft hair touched my cheek in the hug. I kissed her cheek, she smelled of wet tiles. The smell made me close my eyes. Wet tile was our shared favorite smell, hers and mine. Maybe I have my love of the rain from her, she never told me to stay inside just because it was raining. When I was a kid we sometimes went