ALLUSIONS: A Vampire Story

Do you believe in vampires? was the question, Milly, my rabbit asked me.
Now it might strike you as odd that a rabbit could actually talk, but remember, this was a time
before silly notions like logic and common sense were invented.

And it was just as well, otherwise, I would have turned back at that very instant.
Still, before they earned their reputation as nasty, superhuman bloodsuckers, vampires were
once viewed as nothing more than slightly eccentric humans who dont like to come out during
the day.

It turns out that Milly stumbled upon a real vampires lair on one of her foraging expeditions. She
said that his name was Johnny and he was once a noble, but became a vampire in his old age.

At that time, I was about 7-8 years old give or take. Thus, the prospect of meeting a real live
vampire struck me as very exciting. I mean, wouldnt it be cool to be the first kid on the block to
have a real vampire friend? Of course it would!

So, unwittingly I let Milly lead me straight into the vampires lair. It was a really long walk along
this dense trail in the forest. It was like no one had been using that trail for a very long time. We
came upon some metallic gates. They were kept uninvitingly closed by a padlock and some metal
chains.

Seemingly unperturbed, Milly hopped towards the gates and turned to me.

Alright, Samantha, now use this key to open the gates. I cant reach them.

Milly held a shiny silver key in her right paw.

Uh how exactly did you get this?

Oh, I just found it lying on the ground.

Oh, okay.

With a click and a thud, the padlock and chains fell to the ground and, though with strained
creaks from years of neglect, the gates slowly gave way as I forced one side open with all my
strength.

It was dark now, there was still a long walk from the yard to the vampires mansion, but I didnt
care. There were no ominous hooting and howling sounds from the creatures of the night. No,
this was a time before people invented that sort of silliness and implanted them forever in the
minds of children everywhere. Only a bright starlit sky with a smiling crescent moon accompanied
our journey.
Reaching the weathered but elegant looking double doors, I hesitantly grabbed the metal knocker,
gave it two quick knocks and stepped back to wait for the response from inside.

There was none. Milly and I looked at each with bewildered looks on our faces, or at least I had
one on. Its hard to tell a rabbits facial expressions.

A sudden gust of wind blew behind us and struck the doors. As if sighing in protest, the double
doors creakily flung wide open, leaving us free to enter.

Upon entering the mansion, I noticed a huge chandelier hanging on the ceiling and lighting the
first room, which was like a huge lobby. There were twin stairs in front that led to a balcony.
Then, I glanced up and saw him, Johnny. Clad in fancy noblemans clothing, he looked totally
different from how I imagined him. Based on Millys story I was expecting a withered old man,
but instead, I saw a young man in his late twenties with a slender physique, long, jet black hair,
tied up in a ponytail and deep, crystalline blue eyes.

He greeted us with a smile.

Hello there, little girl. Ive been expecting you.

You have? I asked confused.

Yes, yes. Your little friend Milly told me all kinds of stories about you.

I turned to Milly who looked at me with a sheepish smile, or as sheepish as a rabbits smile can
get.

Youve been expecting me?

I have indeed.

Elegantly, he descended from the staircase and made his way towards me. He was a tall man and
I would have been intimidated, but he also evoked a friendly atmosphere that made me feel at
ease.

Yes, Samantha. Ive been waiting for you for a long, long time. But, you must be tired from your
journey. May I invite you to share dinner with me?

Oh, thank you sir, I am kinda hungry right now.

Dinner was delicious! We had steak, mashed potatoes and carrots. I didnt like the carrots, so I
gave them to Milly. It was hard to concentrate on the meal while sitting right across Johnny,
though. He just had this certain flair, this air of eccentricity and confidence around him that
made me feel inept. Not to mention that he looked really handsome. Still, I couldnt see what
was so vampiric about him. He seemed to be a very ordinary young gentleman.
After dinner, he led us into this cozy little room with a fireplace and a big comfy chair in front.
Johnny offered me a seat and I accepted. Then, he paced the floor in slow, deliberate steps
while Milly and I looked on. He didnt seem bothered by our curious stares.

Well, Samantha, I think Milly might have asked you before, but, do you believe in vampires?

I thought for a moment before replying.

Im not really sure, sir. I think I want to believe in them though.

Ha ha ha! What a candid answer. Do you not believe that I am a vampire, Samantha?

Im not sure, sir.

Wait a moment, then he gave me a sly grin, now.

POOF!

And with a cloud of pure white smoke, Johnnys body disappeared before my eyes. When the
smoke had finally cleared, he had transformed into a sort of black, rat-like bird. People would
later label this creature as a bat.

Flapping its dark, tattered looking wings, the creature hovered above me and talked to me in
Johnnys voice.

Now do you believe me?

Awestruck, I replied, Oh yes, sir. Ive never seen anyone who could do something so magical.
You must be a real vampire.

POOF!

And with another puff of magical smoke, Johnny reverted to human form and was standing right
in front of me again.

Ahahaha! So, Samantha, as you can see, I really am a vampire with magical powers.

Oh yes. I definitely believe you now, but if I may ask how come you know Milly?

I glanced at Milly who just gave me a resigned shrug.

Hmm~~? Johnnys smile looked kinda scary at this point, Lets just say Milly was my pet long
before she became yours, Samantha.

What? Really? Then I should return her to you, sir.

No, no. Theres no need for that, Samantha. You can keep her, but in exchange

In exchange?

I didnt know what he wanted to exchange with me. What could a little girl like me possibly offer
someone like Johnny?

I want you to keep me company?

Eh? I was taken aback by his request and by the straightforwardness by which he made it.

Samantha, I know that youre an orphan. Ive been watching over you for a long time through
Milly. You are old enough now to make your own decisions. This is why Ive asked Milly to lead
you here. I want your companionship. I want you to stay with me here and tell me stories stories
of your world. However, if you choose to stay, Im afraid I cannot allow you to go out again. So I
will let you decide. Will you stay here with me?

I closed my eyes. It was a hard decision for a child of my age to make and yet, because I was a
child, it was also so much easier. For as far back as I could remember, I had always been alone.
Milly had been my only friend, but she actually belonged to Johnny. I saw no compelling reason
not to accept his offer. Johnny was the person who sent Milly to watch over me. I was indebted
to him and all he wanted in return was my companionship. It wouldnt be so hard not being able
to go out. This mansion was huge. Surely, it had everything that one could ever want or need if a
vampire like Johnny could stay here for so long.

And so I accepted.

Yes, Ill stay.

And so I chose to stay with Johnny. For years upon years, we kept each other company within the
confines of his estate. Johnny was very kind and he always listened to my stories with such
delight in his eyes. I would have been content to stay there foreverbut

Before long, I had grown into a young woman. At this point, I had no more stories to share with
Johnny and Milly was long gone taken by an unknown illness. The seeds of adventure had begun
to take root inside me. I longed to see the outside world that I had left so long ago.

Still, I could not break my promise with Johnny. I was not allowed to go out and I would not
disobey his one request of me.

So I contented myself by staring out the window and basking in the comforting rays of the
morning sun during the day. I imagined what it would be like to be out there to encounter all
sorts of different people and new experiences.
Day after day, I would return to the same spot and stare outside. With only Johnny to keep me
company, I longed more than ever to once again venture out into the world, even for just a few
brief moments.

My longing didnt go unnoticed. It was a pristine day. The sun was shining brightly but the heat
wasnt painful. I was at my usual spot when I saw Johnny coming down from his room. He was
dressed in more flamboyant clothes than usual.

Johnny approached me with slow deliberate steps, the same way he had when I first met him. He
stopped a few paces before me and bowed gracefully. I had no idea what to expect.

Lady Samantha, would you join me for a walk outside?

I was awestruck. It had come so suddenly and he said it so nonchalantly as if it were nothing. My
heart pounded with excitement. I didnt know what to say so I didnt. I simply took his hand and
allowed him to lead the way. I dont know what made him change his mind about the pact, but I
couldnt care less. I had been waiting for this day for far too long.

And then we lived happily ever after if only that were true.

But things did not bode so well for us as soon as we stepped past the estates metal gates. The
dark clouds hanging overhead should have been sufficient warning. Perhaps Johnny had noticed
them, but I was far too engrossed in my own selfish thoughts to care about anything.

We came upon the town where I once lived. Johnny was taking in the view with child-like
curiosity.

It was such a glorious day. We blended in quite well with the townspeople. Apart from a few
inquisitive glances at Johnnys handsome, ever-youthful face, nobody paid any particular
attention to us. It should have ended there, with just the two of us happily exploring the shops,
sights and sounds that the town had to offer. Afterwards, we would return to our cozy residence
and talk until dawn of our experiences.

If only I hadnt met him

Samantha! Heeey! Samantha, is that really you?

I turned to find a young man about my age running towards us. He looked vaguely familiar.

Hey, remember me? Im Jack, your neighbor back when were kids.

Jack! Now I remember. How have you been?

An old friend, Samantha?

Yes, Johnny. Meet Jack, a childhood friend of mine. Jack, this is Johnny. Hes been taking care
of me. Hes a vampire.

Huh? Pfft! Youve gotta be kidding me!

Why? What makes you say that?

You still believe in vampires at your age, Samantha?

Well, why shouldnt I?

Bwahahaha! This is priceless! Hey, everyone. Check this out!

Jack seemed to command some respect in the town. No sooner had he said that when a small
crowd had gathered around us.

Samantha here says that this guy is a vampire. Jack pointed at Johnny while chuckling.

Get real! One of the townspeople cried out.

If hes a real vampire, then why doesnt he eat you? Another bystander asked me.

Eat me? Why would he do that? Vampires are friendly, magical beings.

Get outta here! What kind of bubble have you been living in? That type of vampire was phased
out years ago.

Phased out? Johnny inquired. He was just as confused as I was.

Look, you. If you were a vampire, then theres only one reason that youd be with this girl here,
said Jack arrogantly.

And that would be? asked a bewildered Johnny.

Duh! Youre planning to drink her blood someday, of course. Thats how vampires operate.

I couldnt believe what I was hearing, why was Jack saying such terrible things? I turned to
Johnny, and what I saw shocked me even more.

Instead of the handsome face that I had come to know and love, I saw a pale-white visage with
twin fangs. The face that was once Johnnys now looked like a creature of pure hunger and
bloodlust.
AAAAH! Run for your lives! He really is a vampire! Hes going to rip us to shreds and drink all our
blood!

In a chorus of panicked, frenzied screams, the townspeople dispersed, leaving only me, Johnny
and Jack behind. Strangely enough, Jack seemed unimpressed by Johnnys sudden transformation,
or perhaps its because Johnny had always been that way in his eyes.

And a few other things, Jack continued, vampires are creatures of the night.

I wanted to rebut his assertions. I wished that I had been more eloquent, wiser, that I might
come to Johnnys defense. But I wasnt. I was helpless as even I found myself seeing more and
more truth in what Jack was saying.

Johnny did not utter a word in retort. He merely closed his eyes as if in total acceptance of
Jacks words. But, I couldnt stand this anymore. I had to come to the aid of my benefactor. At
least, I had to say something.

As if he read my mind, Johnny blocked my path just as I was about to step forward.

Im afraid hes right, Samantha. Open your eyes and look at me. Johnny said sadly.

I refused to look at him to look at the creature that he had suddenly become no, that he had
always been.

Stop living in a bubble, Samantha, Jack said scornfully, thereve been numerous discoveries
about vampires during the time you were away.

I didnt want to hear about it. I had grown up in the belief that emotions were private. That
vampires were nice people who had magical powers. I had been living on the surface, never going
any deeper, and Jack was forcing my very reality to crumble before my eyes.

Jack mercilessly continued.

And you know what else there is about vampires? They die when exposed to sunlight.

No! I screamed in anguish and protest.

No sooner had Jack said this when Johnnys body began to literally go up in smoke before my very
eyes. Johnny just stared at his own burning flesh, seemingly awestruck.

Why did you have to do that, Jack? Sure, Ive been living in a bubble, but it was very nice and
cozy bubble!

Jack closed his eyes and smiled annoyingly.

What can I say, Samantha? I just wanted you to improve your world views. Youre an adult now.
Youll never amount to anything if you stubbornly cling to archaic perspectives.

Tears fell from my eyes and streamed down my cheeks. I couldnt say anything back at him. Then,
Johnny touched my shoulder gently, even though the pain on his skin must have been unbearable.

Samantha, youll have to forgive me for just this one time...

SMACK!

Johnny unleashed a vicious left hook on Jacks cheek leaving him instantly unconscious.

Thatll teach you to make my little girl cry. Cmon, Samantha its time to go home.

Johnnys voice was strained. I hung his arm around my back and together, we walked slowly and
surely back towards the forest back home. The townspeople were long gone and a tranquil
silence now filled the air around us.

Johnnys body felt heavy against mine. I wasnt sure if I would be able to support his weight all
the way back, but it didnt matter. I had to try.

Samantha I am dying now

Johnny I-I dont know what I would do without you.

Ahahaha arent you glad, child? You will be free from now on. You can see the world. Havent
you always dreamt of doing that?

It would be meaningless without you!

I see it makes me so happy to hear that.

Johnny?

BecauseSamantha from the moment I first laid my eyes on you

The tears that I had been trying to hold back welled up in my eyes and ceaselessly streamed
down my cheeks. I didnt want him to say it. I didnt want him to say anything with finality.

You had already taken my heart.

Step by agonizing step, I struggled, even as I began to lose all sensation in my legs. I urged myself
to continue walking for Johnny who was counting on me.

He had stopped talking some time ago, but his body somehow felt lighter. At that moment, I
knew that we would make it back together.
I turned to my side to look at his face. Gone was the pale-white creature with fangs of bloodlust
that I had seen before. Now, he was only Johnny, the same Johnny who had loved and raised me
to be who I am today; the handsome and ever-youthful vampire who had sent his familiar to keep
me company.

Epilogue

Milly once asked me, Do you believe in vampires?

I didnt need to answer her, because in my heart, we both knew the answer. I wanted to believe
in vampires and that is all that matters.

Once I made the mistake of letting myself be swayed by sweet words anchored on logic and
common sense, because of this, I lost something irreplaceable.

Never again would I allow that to happen. I would live out the rest of my life staying true to
myself and to my own beliefs. I may not always choose the right path, but now I have Milly and
Johnny by my side all the time to correct me when Im wrong.

The spirits of our loved ones continue to guide us beyond death, didnt you know?