Snow Hunger

An 'ANN THE VAMPIRE story.

     The snow fell, large beautiful intricate flakes. At first the snowfall was light, but as the hours passed it became heavier and the flakes grew much larger in size. They became so big the patterns on them were plain to see.

      Tyler stood at the big picture window in the living room watching the snow fall past outside. An outdoor floodlight was on to make the viewing more enjoyable. “Wow, those snowflakes are sure betting big!”

   Justin came to stand beside him. “We should pull up a couple chairs, get some popcorn popping, grab a Pepsi and enjoy the show.”

     Curled on the couch next to Eddie Ann chuckled, “It's a show well worth watching.”

     “Yeah.” said Tyler sitting down on the floor. “If it ever stops it will be fun riding the dog sled over the snow.”

    “How about going out in the storm?” grinned Justin, throwing a quick glance Ann and Eddie's way.

     “Now Justin....” started Ann.

     “Stop teasing.” said Eddie. “You'd freeze to death before we could find you.”

     “What about Ann's werewolf friends?” asked Tyler.

     “In an emergency, yes. But why be foolish just because the werewolves will find you?”

     “I'm sorry Mom.” said Justin. “I was just teasing. It hurts, teasing does, I know.”

     “Inappropriate teasing does.” said Ann. Her gaze went to the window and falling snow.

     Tyler glanced at his Mom and noticed her skin looked a little drawn and tight and there was a gray tinge to it. He knew she hadn't fed for awhile and the snow storm couldn't have come at a worse time. He felt concerned for her. “Mom, you look like you need to feed.”

     Ann looked at Tyler and smiled, “I'll be alright.”

     Now Justin turned to look at her more closely. “Yeah Mom, you look grey, like you're suddenly getting old!” There was alarm in his voice.

     Eddie put his arm around Ann. “They're both right Ann. You've gone a bit too long without feeding.”

     “Well, it's rather stormy out. It will be hard for me to hunt. Even vampires can get lost in a blizzard.”

     “Really? Are you sure?” Justin asked.

     “I was knocked from the sky once during a harsh blizzard.” Ann said.

     “The werewolf leader saved you.” said Tyler.

     “Yes he did.” Ann stood up suddenly. She was feeling the desperate need for blood very badly. It was like having fire burning in her veins, getting hotter and hotter. She looked down at Eddie.

     Eddie saw the desperation in her eyes. He stood. “I think we need to take the risk. We will go together.” He looked at the two teenage boys who were watching them. “You both will be fine here alone? Are you planning to go out into the blizzard? You know how to use the generator if something happens?”

     “We'll be fine and yes to the other questions.” said Tyler.

     “Ditto.” said Justin. “Just take Mom out to eat before something bad happens to her.”

     “Nothing bad will happen. We can feed on some of the locals in Coldfoot.” said Ann.

     Justin and Tyler both nodded. “Good.” said Tyler.

     Both Ann and Eddie dressed for the weather and stepped outside. The snow fell thickly and the wind was still high but not at blizzard levels. Ann stretched her black feathery wings out wide. She felt like it would be safe to fly, she was certain she could handle these winds without too much difficulty. Thankfully there were humans close by in Coldfoot, she felt too desperate to want to fly a long distance for her meal in this storm.

     “Definitely Coldfoot.” Eddie said.

     “Coldfoot.” Ann agreed.

     They didn't really have to fly to reach Coldfoot quickly. They raced over the snow so quickly there wasn't any time for them to sink into its depths. It was as if they were gliding along inches above the snow. Using vampire speed they reached the tiny town of 10 people, the current total population of Coldfoot, Alaska.

     There would be no killing, just light feeding on more than one person. They would leave Ann's victims with confused memories of what had happened to them. There would be no one who remembered that a creature like a vampire had attacked and bit them and drank their blood. They'd suffer time loss, weakness and mild confusion when they woke but nothing more. Neither Ann nor Eddie wanted to kill anyone in Coldfoot, they lived much too close to the little human community to start a scare like that amongst the local population. It would be too dangerous for them and Tyler and Justin.

     The humans chosen were staying at the Slate Creek Inn. Travelers usually not found this far north at this time of the year. These were travelers with enough influence to be able to acquire a place at the inn this late into winter and what seemed like light years from the tourist season.

     “At least I won't have to feed off the locals.” Ann said as she and Eddie approached the inn through the thick snowfall. They could scent the strangers right away as they approached Coldfoot.

     “Let's slip in, feed then leave.” said Eddie.

     Ann nodded and both vampires misted and easily found a crack to seep through. They drifted into the room where they would start their feeding. Once inside they took their solid forms and attacked before their victim realized anything was happening. They both fed on him at the same time, Ann at his throat, Eddie at his wrist. They took a lot of blood but not enough to harm him. Then they swept into a couple more rooms and fed again. They both fed off the same victims but Ann took more blood than Eddie did. Once they each had enough blood and Ann was feeling right again they confused everyone's mind so they wouldn't have a memory of how they became so weak and sickly. Their bite wounds had healed within minutes after the vampires finished feeding. Vampires have a healing enzyme in their saliva that heals wounds their bites make quickly, a survival mechanism for them. Even if their victims died the wounds would still heal, it just takes longer.

     Misting again Ann and Eddie seeped back out of the inn through another crack in the building. Once they were safely away from the inn they became solid once more.

     “I'm feeling so much better! I'm glad we did this!” Ann said giving Eddie a tight hug.

     He kissed her on the top of her snowflake dotted head. “Let's go home and enjoy watching the snowstorm from our bed.”

     Ann grinned. “Sounds good. We need to check on Tyler and Justin. We've been gone a while.”

     “I bet they're sitting by the downstairs picture window with popcorn and Pepsi's watching the storm.”

     “I bet you're right.”

     They rushed home through the snow and discovered Tyler and Justin doing just that!

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good chapter. I missed reading this story. I like how you made the characters life seem almost normal. Description and detail is making the story a pleasure to read. I like how you describe the family and Alaska. A excellent chapter.
Coyote

[Star Wolf]

Awesome chapter in the continuing saga of Ann the Vampire. I enjoyed this one!