Death - Part 3

A Raina Drew story

After the first few weeks of shock, Raina had pulled herself out of the whole she was in and tried to get a hold of her life. Since she had no family left, she was sent to  a foster home. Candice and Robert were good people, but she always new they wondered and worried about her.

After that night Raina had become obsessed with vampires; renting movies and books, researching online. For weeks she soaked up all and any information she could find, and when she thought she had learned enough, she set out into the night, searching.

It had taken her two months to find a vampire; Her intentions had been innocent when she started out, only wanting answers, information. She knew Thomas had been a vampire, but how, why? So many thoughts that had been plaguing her and she only wanted to put them to a stop.

The moment she realized he was a vampire thought her intentions had instantly turned dark. Remembering what had been done to her family by his kind, their innocent blood being split to quench a thirst. She was filled with rage, grief, and wanted vengeance. So she attacked him. Or rather, she had tried to attack him.

The vampire she encountered was much stronger that Thomas had been, more skilled in the way of the undead. Within seconds she was bruised and bleeding, just another snack that had foolishly thrown herself at him. When she tried to call the fire to her hands in panic nothing came. She knew she had not been crazy, the fire had come from her body that night, she didn't imagine it. No matter how hard she tried though, it was no to avail. She was going to die all because she had let her grief take over.

She never felt the sting of death though, and no matter how much she had thought about that moment over the years she could never remember what happened. One moment she was bracing herself for death, and the next she was standing alone in the alley, a strangers voice calling out to her in the night.

"Go home and stay there. You have the rest of your life ahead of you, don't waste it away chasing monsters."

He was no where to be found, and with no better plan she went home. The only clue she had as to who saved her was the mysterious voice. She would never forget the sound of it, and one day she hoped to hear him speak again, so she could thank him.

When Raina had got home that night Candice and Robert had been horrified at her beat up appearance. They stopped letting her go out at night, giving her a strict curfew to be in before sun set. Raina was not easily deterred though, and occasionally slipped out in the middle of the night, hunting for another vampire but never finding one.

She always felt like someone was watching her; And she liked to think it was the man that had saved her, keeping an eye on her just in case. No matter how many times she went out though, or how long she searched, she never ran into another vampire while she lived with Candice and Robert.

Twenty-three years old now and she had only encountered three vampires in all her searches. Thomas, the vampire in the alley; Then another, on her twenty-first birthday. She had been out bar hopping, lapping up the luxuries of her age. When she had stepped out back for some fresh air he had been waiting there; and attacked her on sight.

That was the only other time Raina had been able to call the fire to her hands after Thomas. It licked at her hands just like before with no harm, and burned the vampire to ashes where he stood, screaming in pain. She had ran, afraid someone would come to his cries;

Now Raina walked down the street, still sipping her soda as she mused about the fire. Over the years she had thought about trying to call the fire by will, but was always too afraid to go through with the though. She didn't know how to control it, and had only ever used it twice, both times in a distorted state of mind. Though both times it had saved her life, she was still scared of it. Scared of what it meant, of what people would think if anyone were to ever find out.

Instead of relying on her ability, she had bought a gun, taken self defense classes, gotten herself into shape for any further encounters in the night. She carried a knife with her at all times, but she had not seen another vampire in years. She knew they were out there, watching their prey till the moment was right to strike.

Then there was her mysterious protector from that night long ago. Over the years he stopped coming around as much, she only felt his gaze once every now and again when she was out and about. Tonight though, he was watching her; Rain could feel him in the air around her, his presence making the air on her body stand on end.

She did something she had never done before, but always contemplated. She called out to him, letting him know she was aware.