"Nightmares of a Monstrous" Past

The air was warm and muggy. It was a warm summer night and the sky was clear. The smell of fire thickened the air. For any normal person it would’ve almost seemed difficult to breathe. Alex stood in the middle of a road in Paris, France dressed in a black skirt and a red and black leather bustier. The streets were lined with people screaming and running for their lives. Something was after them, and it was gaining ground quick.

Alex looked up at the stars and then over at the illuminated Eiffel Tower. She closed her eyes and sniffed the air. The smell of fear and desperation were in the air. Just then something within Alex clicked and she swept her head down and looked to the side with an evil smile. Her fangs gleamed in the pale light of the night combined with the soft glow of streetlights. Something caught her scent and made her mouth water. She craved this, need the blood that was calling her name. Alex took a step forward and continued to walk past the crowd of screaming people on the cobbled street. Alex swayed slightly as she walked, high off the scent that was drawing her. It seemed as if she had no control, she was like a zombie as she walked. Just then she stopped. Alex looked around puzzled. She had lost the scent. She sniffed the air again to see if it was possible to find it again, and found it. Her eyes turned a bright crimson and she spun quickly to her right, towards a dimly lit alleyway. Alex stealthily walked to the opening to the alley. When she reached the alley she saw a man trembling in the corner in the very back. It was a dead end. What was he doing here? If he was hiding, this was the stupidest place to hide. “Trapped like a rat.” Alex said devilishly. He looked up at the sound of Alex’s voice.

“Alexandria?” he asked terrified. “What happened to you?” he asked as his voice trembled. Alex looked her love in his piercing blue eyes and smiled a hellish smile. “I’m just being who I’ve always been Jacques.” Alex said as she licked her fangs. “Now sit still this is only going to hurt for a second.” She said calmly and then laughed. Jacques stood up and looked Alex deep into her eyes as she walked towards him slowly. What happened to his love? What was she doing? As Alex got closer Jacques found the courage to say what would be his last words. He looked Alex dead into her eyes with so much love and warmth and uttered just three words. “I love you.” He said in a whisper that only they both could hear. Alex cocked her head n smiled then she lunged towards Jacques.

“NO!” Alex screamed as she shot up from her bed with her eyes still closed. Xander was across the room watching TV and rushed to his sister’s side and grabbed her into his arms. She was shaking almost violently.

“Lex it’s ok. It’s ok.” Xander kept whispering to her as he rocked her to calm her down. Alex was on the verge of tears and looked up at her twin brother. Xander looked down at Alex wit h a serious face of concern.

“Another bad dream?” he asked. Alex nodded slowly. “The same one?” he asked again. Alex shook her head and pointed to his pouch of blood. He handed it to her and she took a long sip. She swallowed and let out a small “Ahhh”.

“Then what dream was it, Lex?” he asked sternly. Alex looked up at Xander with fear and regret in her eyes. She shivered and let out one single word.

“Jacques.” She said in a low whisper as she hung her head down low. Xander’s eyes became very wide and let out a small sigh.

“You’ve never had that one before had you?” he asked. Alex really didn’t feel like answering any questions right now so she shook her head slightly. She put her face in her hands and breathed deeply. She needed to get it together. She knew taking a nap after telling Xander everything about Damian would have some effect on her. She looked at the clock on her night table and looked at the time. It was only 1pm. That makes sense since she got back home at 7am. She looked at the clock in a trance for a little bit trying to recollect the events between the time she talked to Xander to now. Just as she was remembering her cell phone rang. Xander looked at her curiously. “What do you need that for?” he asked. Alex shushed him and answered.

“Hello.” She answered casually.

“Hey Alex it’s John.” The male voice replied. John. He was the really cute guy in her music engineering class; they both majored in Recorded music. He was tall, around 6’4” and had really nice milk chocolate caramel skin. He also had an accent that was country that every girl thought was cute.

“Hey John what’s up?” Alex asked. She and John had become friends when he forgot his notes in his dorm room and Alex helped him out. Since then they’d been study partners, project partners, etc.

“I was just calling to see if you were ok. You weren’t in class today.” He said concerned. John was a sweet country boy. Momma raised him right. Alex thought to. “No, I’m fine. My brother came to town and I wasn’t feeling too good today so I didn’t come to class. Did I miss anything?” she asked him casually. Their friendship was simple and safe. To Alex that was very comforting in more ways than one.

“Yeah a lot, but don’t worry I took really good notes so you won’t be behind. This time you’re gonna need my notes instead of the other way around. That is if you can read my handwriting.” John laughed.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to figure ‘em out. Nothing’s too illegible for me.” She laughed.

“Ok. Well if you’re feeling up to it, do you want to stop by later and pick ‘em up so you’re not behind if you come to class tomorrow?” John asked. Alex wanted to say no and skip classes for the rest of the semester while Damian was around, but school, writing, and music were the only things keeping her sane, aside from Alaska.

“Sure. I’ll meet you at the food court at 8.”

“Great. See ya then.” They both hung up. Xander looked at her with a sly smile.

“So who’s that, your boyfriend?” He asked teasingly.

“No. He’s my friend and that’s it.” Alex knew she was lying. She had some kind of feelings for john, but that was dangerous and she couldn’t act on them even if she wanted to. She wasn’t stable, she wasn’t safe, hell she wasn’t human. She figured if they stayed friends no one would get hurt. Her last boyfriend was now stalking her, and the last human she’d loved she ripped his throat out just for kicks and giggles. She was a heartless monster and she’d promise she’d never go back. She refused to put John or anyone in that situation ever again. She swore to never have any human, lover or friend, end up like Jacques. She couldn’t have anyone else’s blood on her hands. She couldn’t deal with another Jacques, not now, not ever.