The Seducer: A Gone From Daylight Inspired Story - 38. William Harker’s Journal: Entry 38

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Monday, January 1, 1990 - New Years

The second bite was supposed to be done tonight after the party. At least this is what Vlad promised. We’ve been home for about an hour and he hasn’t seen me yet. I’m in his sitting room with a nice fire going as I write this…waiting. Waiting rather impatiently, I might add. I don’t know what is taking him so long or what the deal is.

The New Years Eve party was interesting. It seems that it’s the only party the Salon has where it mixes up vampires and mortals without some of the mortals being, well, basically juiced dry in the back rooms. From what Vlad explained, New Years Eve is the only night of the year when the San Francisco Coven is not allowed to take ‘guests’ as donors. Not in the Salon Rouge in any case.

It is supposed to give a veneer of ‘normalcy’ to the club. Though exclusive, it opens it’s doors to non-members who are rich enough to pay the ‘cover charge’ - $5000 bucks per head! For the elite of San Francisco it is the New Years Eve party to go to if you are anybody who is anybody. The fact of it is only circulated among the who’s who of San Francisco society including big business tycoons, major politicians, and some discrete celebrities. The media is strictly forbidden from entering although the Paparazzi do try to get around the club to snap photos of certain people coming out of cars. They try, but Vlad tells me that their pictures rarely ever make the magazines or papers. One of the vampires that works at the Salon Rouge has the strange ability to ‘wipe’ photographic film so that nothing develops! Conveniently, he is the Doorman, ‘Bruce’. Vlad never told me what his last name is. I wonder if he even has one. Vampire guards cover the back stairs of the club where we were attacked that night. No one gets in that way. The guards, apparently, are very good at their jobs. I know I didn’t notice anyone sneaking in from back there.

I’m still a bit traumatized by that whole part of the Salon. The deaths (or second deaths) of Charles and Rochelle still haunt me, of course. It actually took a lot of courage for me to come back to the Salon Rouge after that. I’ll never forget that night for as long as I live and that will be closer to forever…if Vlad ever comes back to give me the Second Bite!

In any case, Vlad was as popular as ever and introduced me to some mortals I never thought I’d ever get to meet including: San Francisco’s current mayor, Robert Tyrell who owns Manzana - the biggest computer company in the world, and even our United States Senator Peter Willis! Arnold Schwartzhaus was probably my favorite introduction. He is amazingly charming in person and funny! He always plays heavy action heroes, but has started taking on comedy roles which I can see him doing quite well. I think he might have political aspirations because he was schmoozing with all the political types as well as those in the vampire community that have influence…which includes Vlad. Naturally, none of the mortals actually knew they were consorting with vampires, but the vampires were more than happy to consort with them and paint on that veneer of ‘normalcy’.

So, it was quite an interesting evening. I even got to try Dom Perignon champagne for the first time. Everyone got a glass to toast the coming new year and new decade. As of midnight, the 1980s were over! What a weird decade. I loved the music and the videos from when I was a teenager watching VTV, but there were a lot of other things I didn’t care for growing up. I’ll be happy to put all that behind me as well as the fact of my family’s death and any other bad mortal memory I might have. The 1990s will begin my immortal life! From 1990 forward…I will be eternal and I’ll be able to share that eternity with Vlad who loves me and whom I love in return!

A-ha! He’s come for me! The time has come for the Second Bite!

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Saturday, January 6, 1990 - I think

I’ve only been up for a few hours. According to Vlad, I’ve been out for five nights! I barely have strength to write this. I swear, my fingers are numb and bone white and I’m still having some cramping in my legs. It’s hard to hold this pen while I write.

I’ll admit…that was a rough one!

I wasn’t sure if Vlad had changed his mind on me at the last minute after he gave me the bite. I thought he might have, simply, wanted to finish me off. That, maybe, he was done with me finally. I really felt like I was going to die this time!

We had sex before and while he was doing it, but I wasn’t as distracted by the sexual feelings this time. I really felt that sharp ‘crunch’ when he bit down. I know, Vlad had to restrain my arms to keep me from flailing and his body held me down as I tensed up. The last thing I remember was the awful draining ache coming from my whole neck and I felt my heart fluttering as my vision started to dial out. It was…well…terrible. After that, I don’t remember anything at all until I woke up just a few hours ago.

I was shocked when Vlad told me that I’d been out for five nights! Oh, I need to take a break…

~

I just woke up again. I must have fainted!

Vlad just came in and gave me some of that reddish broth/potion (whatever it is) and that seems to have strengthened me a bit. I can at least feel my fingers now, though my fingers are still white and there’s no color under my fingernails at all. I’m very tired. So very, very tired right now and cold despite the big fire in the fireplace.

I’m noticing some other things too. Not that unpleasant, really, just…strange!

Vlad has lit my room with candles. I’m surrounded by them and the smell of the wax burning is almost overwhelming! The light from them is also brighter than I’ve ever seen candles be. Also, I keep having to pause my writing because I’m finding myself totally mesmerized by the flames in the fireplace! I can see each flame flicker almost independently and their colors are such bright shades of orange, yellow, and red! I’ve never noticed how beautiful fire can be until now!

The flavor of the broth is also much stronger and better tasting than it had been. I had to wonder what extra spice or herb he used to make it taste so good. I crave more of it. It’s given me a major thirst for it! It’s almost unquenchable!

I’ve asked Vlad for more, but he said I need to metabolize that ‘dose’ first before I should have any more. His using the word ‘dose’ does make me think that the broth is more of a potion or elixir rather than a soup. In any case, I’m very thirsty for it. I don’t even want any food or water…just that next ‘dose’.

I hope that I can trust Vlad that he isn’t doping me up with something. I’ve never done drugs before, but I have to say that my craving for his red potion feels like what an addiction might be like. What else could it be when you’d rather have that than food and water after nearly a week being unconscious with no way to eat or drink anything?

~

He just came back in to check on me. He checked the wounds on my neck and put some kind of salve on them. Whatever that salve is, it takes out the soreness almost instantly. He stayed with me for a while, holding my hand. It was a strange kinship I felt with him with both our hands being so cold even held together.

I asked him why this time had been so rough and he answered, “I had to take you as near to death as possible without actually killing you. It is the only way this can work. The ‘Nectar Of Immortality’ that will cause you to cross over can only work if your mortal body dies and it can resurrect you. I will warn you, William, and, I fear that it is too late now for you to turn back, but that the Third Bite will have to kill your mortal body so that the Nectar can work it’s miracle.”

“I guess, I’ll have to endure whatever I have to if I’m going to be as you are.” I said with a touch of fear and sadness.

“Trust me when I say, this way of doing it - with the three bites - is the easiest way for you to cross over into Darkness. Most vampires suffer greatly in their transition since their sires often turn them with one draught.” Vlad assured me.

“Is that drink you’ve been giving me this ‘Nectar Of Immortality’?” I wondered.

“No…the Nectar can only come from me as I take your blood. It mixes with your body’s chemistry and allows the change to occur. Our doing it this way assures that your transition is done in stages rather than all at once. You will already notice changes in your body. Your senses are sharpening and you may have noticed that you now have the ‘Thirst’.” Vlad explained quietly.

“Then…what is that drink you’ve been giving me? The one I want even more of now as we sit here chatting?” I asked with some suspicion.

“A mixture of things…but the primary ingredient is my own living blood.” Vlad raised his arm and showed me that cut on his wrist. It looked fresh and deep as well as painful.

“I…I’ve been drinking your blood?” I asked in shock. He was sharing his own blood with me?

“Yes, William. It is all part of the process. You’ll find it will now be the only sustenance you’ll need outside of water, which I’ve provided. After you turn, you’ll not need water anymore than you do food. Only the raw blood of living donors. This is what it means to be Vampyre, William. This is the ‘life’ that you have come into.” Vlad said with a touch of sadness.

“Yes. I knew this going in, Vlad. Sorry for being shocked I just didn’t know…it would come this soon.” I said.

Then I was struck by something that I had overlooked with all my shock…Vlad was giving me his very own life essence to me! I felt a swell of love and admiration come up in me at this revelation.

“You’re…giving me your own blood so that I can live and not suffer?” I felt a teardrop form in my eye and fall down my cheek as this ultimate act of love showed itself to me in full.

“I would give you it all if I thought it would help make this easier for you, William. It is with extreme patience that I do this. I so want you with me…for always!” Vlad said and he reached down to take me into his arms and embrace me.