Opal and Brass • Jasper Whitlock Hale

Chapter 2.

   A few minutes later, the man returned, a limp form on his shoulders.  Immediately, flames ripped up and down my throat, begging to be quenched by this person's blood.

I let out a small whimper as I brought my hands up to cover my nose and mouth, my back pressed firmly against the wall.

"Time to eat, my dear." The man said with a smirk.

I squeezed my eyes shut, wiling myself not to breathe lest I lose what little control I had over my insatiable thirst.

"T-that's murder." I choked out, my breath hitching in my throat as I stopped myself from inhaling.

"The humans are beneath us.  We need to feed, and they are our means of survival.  You aren't one of them anymore, dear." suddenly the man's hand was cupping my chin roughly, forcefully jerking my face up to meet his eyes, which were now black with what I assumed was hunger.  I'm sure mine were black as well.

He moved out of my line of vision, making me look at the young human who was meant to be my meal, "He's as good as dead anyway, my dear.  If you don't finish him, I will."

It was true.  I could hear his heart beat as it unsteadily drummed in his chest, the sound was utterly mouthwatering but even through the temptation I could see that my creator had done too much damage for the boy to be saved.   Too many bones were broken, too many organs were punctured.

I squeezed my eyes shut, "I am not like you," I seethed, "and I will never help you."

Then, with the last of my air running out, I broke his hold, spinning around toward the door and running with even more speed than the man did while carrying me.

The setting sun caused my skin to glow with a faint luminosity, and I studied it while I ran.  Eventually, the sky turned black and speckled with stars.  My vision was oddly not impaired by the darkness, and I did not grow tired. 

After a while I slowed, confident I was far enough away from humans to be in danger of losing control.  The flames were still ravaging my throat, and I didn't know how long I could keep starving myself. 

Suddenly, I heard the whinny of a horse, and the echo of its hooves as it galloped ever closer to me.  I stood in waiting, listening for the sound of its rider and preparing to run, but only heard the thick thumping of the horse's heart.

My eyes immediately trained on the dark brown stallion as he broke through the small grove of trees and into the dusty clearing, and immediately I ran toward it, jumping on its saddled back.

I didn't know what had happened to his rider, but I was glad he wasn't present.  The large animal bucked at the sudden weight, but stilled as my hand reached out to stroke his neck. 

I leaned forward to whisper gently into his ear, "I'm so sorry."

My teeth pierced his skin, and the soothing warm liquid slid down my throat, the flames growing ever smaller.  I registered the poor animal sinking to the ground as it's knees buckled from blood loss. 

When at last I stepped away, the fire was only a dull ache, entirely manageable but ever-present.  As I stared down sorrowfully at the beautiful stallion, I knew I could control myself.  I knew it would get easier. 

But I had to stay away from people. 

It is an emotional thing, to realize that everything you knew could never be yours again.  I only had one thing left of my time as a human.  As I turned away, ready to find an expanse of wilderness, my finger stroked the opal ring which still rested on my right hand. 

As I touched it, images flooded my mind.  Flashes of the old woman who owned it previously, a little girl stroking the center stone, a man with a curled mustache on one knee, and Jasper, smiling fondly at it just before he gave it to me.

I gasped, my vision returning to normal as my finger fell away from the ring.  My eyes were fixed on it, staring blankly at it as I waited for another onslaught of images.  When I realized there wouldn't be one, my mind journeyed back to Jasper in realization.

I would never see him again.

With that thought, and a tearless sob, I turned and ran away.

And I've been running ever since.