The Changing Of The Guard
By
CSquared




Chapter 2:
Perhaps I should explain. As youve probably worked out, I am a vampire. Well, vampyr actually. A more ancient, more pure breed. Each of us is descended from Nosferatu either directly or indirectly. Those of us who are indirect (like me) need to be sired to unlock our powers, while those of us who are pure are born vampyric. Indirect descendency is difficult. What happened is that somewhere back in my past, a direct descendant married a non-descended. That creates a unison which results in an indirect descendant. Of course, once were sired, its impossible to tell us apart.

Vampires are another matter. They are the... well, for want of a better term, the half-breeds. Its not a very nice term, it sounds like white over black prejudice, but its the best description. A vampire is a human who has been turned. When they have a child, they have a vampire. A vampire can never become part of the vampyr bloodline.

Getting back to the story, the girl had struggled out of the car, and was crawling across the ground, leaving a thin trail of blood (none of which was hers). She was making gestures like a cat trying to cough up a hairball. I stood up from the dead man, and walked towards her. I soon got an explanation for the mans grave injuries. She finally got the obstruction out of her throat. Half of the mans cock flopped onto the road. When the gun had been fired, she had been so shocked she bit it off. The immediate danger to her life gone, she curled up in a ball on the floor, and began crying. I knelt down next to her, and lifted her up until she was sitting, rather than lying. I wrapped my arms around her, and rocked back and forth, cooing, Shhh... shhh, its ok now. Youre safe. No-ones going to hurt you. After a few minutes, she seemed to cry herself out, and looked up at my face with watery eyes. Who... she asked, who... are you? I smiled warmly at her. My names Lucien. I replied. Lucien Tschostacovich. Everyone calls me Luke.

Thats not quite true. Granted, it is my name, but not everyone calls me Luke. Only humans, and those close to me, call me Luke. Everyone else calls me Lucien. Its a sign of respect. Despite my young age, I am a very senior vampyr. Well, I say young. Young by vampyr standards, anyway. I was turned when I was 19. However, this was over two hundred years ago. Actually, lets see. I lost count after my hundredth year. I was born 1740, which would make me... holy shit. That makes me 264. Time has worn easily on my shoulders. I was turned when I was 19, I only look about 22 now. I have known vampires turned at the same kind of time as me, who are no longer with us. Not through any fault of our enemies, either. Through simple old age. Thats another of the bonuses of being a pure-breed. We live for millennia with no problems whatsoever. Our longetivity depends on our age at the point of our turning. Since I was very young, theres at least another 3, 4 thousand years in me before I reach middle age.

Normally, I would have drained the girl too. But this time, there was something different. I couldnt bring myself to kill her. She looked so beautiful, curled up in my arms, looking innocently up at me with tears in her deep blue eyes. Even in this light, her blonde hair shone. Her complexion was perfect, which was a blessing in itself. She looked about 15, so if shed managed to avoid acne then she was a lucky girl. A twinge of pain in my leg reminded me of the bullet. It couldnt do any lasting harm, but if I left it in, then my leg would soon heal over it, sealing it inside. That could cause problems. I cant stand sharp objects, you see. Its kind of a survival instinct for vampyrs and vampires alike, as stakes and sunlight are the only things that can kill us. Actually, thats another half truth. Vampyrs are immune to sunlight. Vampires have none of that luck. And just let me dispell another myth. Both vampyrs and vampires have reflections. None of that shit of not showing up in mirrors. Well, not any more. It does need a very precise and smooth mirror to show us. We dont reflect in water, for instance. The reason for the stories of vampires not having reflections arose from my time period. Mirrors were often flawed. They would reflect everything except us. It was quite annoying, actually. I had to avoid rooms with mirrors in. Otherwise, people would notice.

I needed the bullet out quickly, in order to avoid being slit open to get it out. I leaned the girl against the crashed car, and stood up. She buried her face in her arms, but looked up again when she heard the all-too familiar sound of tearing fabric. I had torn a large hole around the bullet wound in my tight black jeans. That shocked her in itself. I balled my hands into fists, and closed my eyes. I strained, and tensed muscles that had lain dormant for almost three years. They shrieked their protest, but contorted into action. I bared my teeth, clenching them tight together. The bullet started to move - I could feel it. Within a minute, the reddened metal cleared the skin, and popped free of my leg, tinkling against the road. I gasped a breath; I had been holding it until then. I opened my eyes and looked at the girl. She was pressing herself tight against the car, staring at the bullet. I grimaced. Shit. Maybe that wasnt the best thing to do in front of her. Look, whoever you are, she said, her voice quivering, Im grateful for you saving me, I really am. But... I dont know how you did it. Or that. And I dont think I want to know. I dont think I ever want to see you again. Or hear from you again. Theres something weird going on here, and its scaring me. Please, just leave me alone. I can make my way home. I sighed. No. I said. I cant let you do that. Youre in no state to be on your own right now. This was true, and I was a gentleman. I was part of a noble family back home in Novosibirsk. I had been raised to protect members of the opposite sex, and the habits of a lifetime, especially one as long as mine, die hard.

No. she said. Please. Please leave me alone. I shook my head. One way or another, Im coming with you, so you can either tell me where you live, or you can stay with me for the night and Ill call your... parents? She nodded. In the morning. Now which is it going to be? She was in turmoil. She didnt want me to know where she lived, but she also didnt want to come with me. In the end, she replied, Ill come with you. I nodded, and held out my hand to help her up. She stood on rather shaky feet, and was wrapping her arms around her, both to keep warm and to cover her magnificent breasts. I slipped my trenchcoat off, and laid it across her shoulders. The gesture seemed to relax her a little, and I put my arm around her waist to help her to walk. Shed had a hell of a shock, and wasnt going to get over it for a while. I struggled down the road for a while, before realising it was hopeless. I was easily strong enough to carry her, but it just wasnt the right thing to do right now. I reached into my pocket, and removed a slim-line black mobile phone. I flipped it open, and pressed a pre-set number. The phone bipped a few times, then I put it to my ear.

_<Hello?>_ said the voice on the other end. Terry? I said. Listen, its Lucien.
_<Lucien? Oh, hey, man! Whats up?>_
My death count, for one.
_<Ha! Nice! But you wouldnt call just for that. Whats going on?>_
Ive saved a girl.
_<So? Drain her already!>_
I... cant.
_<Cant, huh? You must be going soft in your old age! Good looking, is she?>_
Well, yes, but thats not the point.
_<Suuuure its not...>_
Just shut up, Terry! Ill explain when I get to the house, but I need a car. Can you send someone out?
_<Sure, no problem. Where are you?>_
About halfway along St Martins Place.
_<Ah, the big long one. Yeah, ok. Therell be someone with you in about ten minutes.>_
Thanks, man. I appreciate it.
_<Hey, my pleasure.>_ I flipped the phone shut again, and sat us both down on a wall. Youll be safe and warm soon, I promise. I told her. She shivered, and snuggled close to me for warmth. I thanked the stars that I was a vampyr. Vampires are ice cold. I dont even know your name. I said, almost in passing. She was starting to fall asleep, and murmured, Im Dana. Dana Rivers. Pleased to... meet... you... Her head slumped down on my lap, and a dainty little feminine snore escaped from between her lips. I stroked her shoulder length blonde hair, and smiled. Soon, the car arrived, and I picked Dana up in my arms and climbed in.