Dear Journal,
Today I recalled the first time I ever drew blood. I remembered she was a beautiful and innocent child. Here, you will not only have version of events, but also those of her suitor Charles, whose journal I found during our last encounter. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me return to the fading summer of sixteen hundred seventeen.
The First Time I Ever Drew Blood
That night, I awoke with a severe thirst for blood. My body craved not just any blood, but liquid lightning, blood from someone pure of body.
My body shuddered as I stepped from my crypt into the cool night air of the fading summer, both from nerves and desire. I never drank blood from a mortal before. For the past week, I kept my thirst somewhat quenched by drinking the blood of sheep and other livestock. But tonight, my hunger was insatiable and I knew animal blood would not be enough to satisfy it. Tonight, was my time to begin feeding on the human race.
There were so many victims to choose from, but I knew who my first was going to be. Every night for the past week, I went into the village and stared into one of the windows of a small cabin. Every night I watched her, stared at her through the window, my body burning with desire. I dreamed of what it would be like to loose myself in her flesh, to allow my fangs to seep deeper into her pale throat, drawing out her blood, while her body trembled in my embrace. I was sick of dreaming and tonight she would become mine.
My breath and pace quickened as I neared the village and I had to control my trembling body.
�Giovanni, control yourself,� I said angrily. I knew this had to be done with precision.
I finally reached the cabin and took my post at one of the lower windows. How long I stood there I do not know. When she entered her bedroom, I decided to make my move.
�Rebecca,� I called her name, making my voice low and seducing.
She dropped the diary that she had been writing in and looked around her tiny room when she heard my voice. �Wh�who�s there?�
�Rebecca, I must see you.�
�W�where are you?�
�I�m at the window. Please let me in.�
I watched as the girl walked to the window and threw it open, as if in a trance.
This is your chance, I thought to myself as I stepped through the window.
She instinctively back away when I entered her room.
�Do not be afraid,� I said with a small smile. �I am not going to hurt you.�
�Who are you?� She asked, her voice was filled with curiosity.
�I am your savior,� I said closing the distance between us. I raised my hand and gently ran it through her long auburn hair. �In me, all your dreams will come true.�
I seemed to have hypnotized the girl, because she did not recoil as I stroked her face. Very gently, I drew her over to the bed and we sat facing each other.
As I stared into her honest hazel eyes, a feeling of guilt washed over me. �She�s only a girl,� the guilt seemed to say. �Do you really want to damn her soul in the same unfair way your soul was damned?�
I raised her face to mine and passionately kissed her. In that kiss, the guilt was pushed aside and all that was left was hunger.
I broke the kiss and savagely drew her close to me. I held her tightly and held back her hair, exposing her neck. I then put my mouth to her pale throat and allowed my fangs to penetrate her.
She might have gasped in pain, but I could not be sure. I was too consumed by the fire that was raging in my soul; it was as though her blood was giving me a kind of strength I�ve never known. As I felt her blood flow through my veins, I was in absolute ecstasy. I felt her body violently shudder in my arms and at that point I knew I had drained her of all her blood.
I pulled my mouth away from her neck and sat on her bed with her lifeless body in my arms. I stared at what I had just done, and suddenly I felt repulsed with myself. The wave of guilt once again passed over my body, but his time it was one hundred times worse. The realization that I just destroyed another human being the way I was destroyed hit me heard. Not knowing what else to do, I left her limp body fall on the bet and I left as silently as I cane, my emotions conflicting between hate of my self and utter exaltation.
Now Journal, I give you Charles�s journal entry.
�Charles, where have you been?� A voice asked when I walked in the door.
�Hello Professor,� I replied, sitting down at out small table. �I went to the tavern for a drink.�
�Boy, it�s nearly sunrise,� Professor Reichenberg replied looking out the window. �You expect me to believe you were at the tavern all that while?�
�I�m telling you the truth sir,� I replied. I wasn�t telling him the entire truth, but after I walked Rebecca home. I did go to the tavern, so I wasn�t completely lying.
Professor Reichenberg shook his head and was about to reply when someone knocked at our door.
�Who�s there?� I said rising to answer the door.
�Is the Professor at home? This is an emergency!� The voice shouted in reply.
I looked at the Professor, unsure of whether to let the man in.
�It�s all right Charles,� he replied. �Open the door.�
I obeyed and standing in our doorway was the heavyset assistant of Preacher O�Neill.
�John, what are you doing here?� I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
�Professor Reichenberg,� John said, looking past me. �Can you come to our home immediately?�
�What�s wrong my good man?� Professor Reichenberg asked our visitor. �Charles,� he said directing his conversation to me. �Get the journal.�
Quickly, I pulled our medical journal out of my vest pocket and opened it to a clean page. �Sir, I�m ready to hear you problem,� I said, attempting to sound important.
�I don�t know what the problem is sir. I just know that something is wrong with Rebecca, Master�s daughter.�
I felt my blood turn to ice in my veins. �What happened to her?� I asked, seizing the man by his collar. �Tell me now!�
�I already told you I don�t know what the problem is!� John said, his voice shook with fear. �Please, you gentlemen must come quickly.�
�My horse is already saddled Professor,� I said releasing John and pulling on my jacket.
�Good,� Professor Reichenberg said putting on his hat. �Boy I want you to saddle my horse. I will meet you at the stable.�
In less then the time it takes to write, I was at the stable and saddled the Professor�s horse and was atop of my own by the time John and my teacher arrived.
�Good work Charles,� Professor Reichenberg said getting on his horse. �You are very quick in an emergency. � He then turned to John. �You ride ahead and tell your master that Charles and I are on our way.�
John immediately whipped up his horse and rode out of sight.
�Professor,� I said once we were alone. �Do you think it�s serious?�
�I�m not sure my boy,� he replied. �If it is, I will do everything in my power to help her, not just because it is my duty, but because you love her. Am I right?�
I nodded and the Professor gave me a reassuring smile. We rode the rest of the way in silence.
When we arrived at Rebecca�s cabin ten minutes later, I jumped off my horse and rushed inside with the Professor at my heals.
�Oh thank God you�ve come,� Preacher O�Neill said extending one of his pudgy hands to the Professor.
�Yes yes,� the Professor said, handing his hat to the preacher and picking up his medical bag. �Just take me and my assistant to your daughter.�
Preacher O�Neill led the way up the stairs followed by me and the Professor. When we reached Rebecca�s room, I rushed ahead of them and entered first.
I nearly screamed at what I saw. Lying in the bed was Rebecca, her throat was torn open as if by some wild animal and dried blood stained her ivory skin.
Professor Reichenberg pushed her father out of the room and closed the door behind us. Slowly he walked over to the bed at stared at Rebecca.
�Professor,� I said, attempting to hold back tears. �Is there any hope?�
Professor Reichenberg�s ancient eyes met mine. Sadly, he shook his head. �I�m sorry Charles.�
The tears I attempted to hold back suddenly streamed down my cheeks like a waterfall. �No, not Rebecca!�
�Charles,� the Professor said sternly. �Calm down. Go into my medical bag and take out the wooden stake,� he said closely examining her neck.
I suddenly felt as though I was going to faint. My face must�ve showed my sick feeling, because the Professor suddenly seized my arms. �Easy Charles,� he said gently. �She was bitten and there is nothing I can do but try to save her immortal soul. You know that my boy.�
Sadly I nodded and did as I was told. �Professor, just let me say goodbye.�
�As you wish. I must go and tell her father. I will return in five minutes� time,� with that, Professor Reichenberg left the room and silently closed the door behind him.
When I was sure I was alone, I sat down next to Rebecca�s lifeless body and cradled her head in my arms. �My darling, I am so sorry,� I cried. �I will avenge you. I will not let that monster live after what he did to you. I promised you that we�d spend the rest of our lives together, but now that can never be. But, I promise you that I will spend the rest of my life without any woman companion and track that monster down and kill him. I will succeed and you will be avenged!� I leaned forward and kissed Rebecca�s lifeless lips one last time.
Professor Reichenberg once again entered the room and I left it. I walked downstairs, my heat heavy with grief and rage, and outside to where my horse was tethered. I climbed onto my mount and stared into the horizon.
�Where ever you are Monster, I will find you. You killed my girl and for that you will die at my hand. So prepare to meet the devil in hell!� I shouted this as loud as I could in hopes that the bloodsucking monster that killed Rebecca would hear me.
Then I rode back to the Professor�s small house to formulate my plans for revenge.