Week 12 Story: A Single Soul

**I have also put this story on my Portfolio Page, found here.

The night air crackled with the heat. The coolness of the water clashed with the air and an eerie fog danced across the surface of the lake. Despite low visibility near the ground, the night sky shone bright. The moon bathed each surface in a pale-yellow glow. Every star painted the heavens with a brilliance that made her mind at peace, even if for just a brief second. This was her favorite time of the morning, when the earth was at it quietest.

Adeline sat atop the banyan tree overlooking the lake. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. As the quiet crept in, her mind began to wander. She struggled to come to terms with her choices. Leaving her home in the city was necessary, but she was so lonely. The kind of lonely that made her chest ache in a way that made the hopelessness seem vast and never ending. She wondered if she would ever become numb to that feeling. She wondered if she would ever find happiness again.

Lost deep in her thoughts, she almost didn’t hear the voices below her. She sat frozen in fear, praying that they wouldn’t notice her. She wasn’t supposed to be out this far. Her maker, Henry, would kill her. He had sent her to hunt for food hours ago. But she couldn’t bring herself to kill anymore, despite her thirst for blood.

She heard a deep, hurried whisper, “Rest here, under this tree. The low branches will hide us for the night.” There were other mutterings of what sounded like a half dozen people but she couldn’t distinguish their quiet voices.

Adeline’s mind raced as her panicked thoughts refused to come into focus. How was she going to get out of the tree without them noticing her? Why was she afraid of them? She was the monster. Her curiosity got the best of her and she dared to peek past the branches to what was below.

And then she saw him.

Although he was dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans, she could see his taught muscles press against the fabric. His skin the perfect balance of coffee and cream. His smell was clean and unobtrusive. She was drawn to his beauty and his quiet strength. She heard the others call him Michael. She let herself become lost in the fantasy of a life much different than now.

She became acutely aware she was being watched. Before she could see him, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and she could feel his presence. It made her nauseous to be so close to him. Henry was but a few inches from her, a sickening smile slowly spread across his face.

“My darling”, he drawled. “You found us quite a lovely meal. Be a doll and fetch me the child. I shall rather enjoy partaking in the innocent blood that runs through her veins.”

Her stomach wretched at the thought. Why had they come to this spot on this night? Didn’t they know these woods were cursed? She had to think of a way to save them. Killing Michael meant that the small remaining pieces of her soul would die with him. They were one in the same, she could feel his heart beat in her own chest. They were connected on a level she never thought possible. She had to think fast.

Slowly she approached the group. Butterflies crowded her stomach and made her breathes uneven. All but Michael were peacefully resting, unaware of the danger that surrounded them. He turned quickly at the sound of a branch snapping below her foot. His stance ready for attack.

“Who are you?”, he asked. She could sense his fear.

“My name is Adeline. You don’t know who I am, but I came to warn you. You have to leave! If you stay, all of you will be dead before the sun rises over the lake. Please, come with me and I will make sure you are safe.”

Michael was torn. He knew he shouldn’t trust this woman, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. And this stranger, Adeline, who was she? He felt as if he’d known her his whole life. He knew he should be scared of her, but he felt at peace in her presence. Why did he crave her touch and to be near her?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of another figure. He was tall and thin, his hair the color of freshly fallen snow. He eyes were hollow and sent chills down Michael’s spine. He could see the blood lust in his stare and that’s when Michael knew he would have to fight for his life.  He picked up the only weapon he could find within reach. A sharp stick he had planned to use to spear fish in the lake for breakfast. Now it seemed so primitive, almost laughable. As Henry rushed towards him, he raised his arms to fight. Henry came in low and hit him center mass, taking him down to the ground. They hit so hard it knocked the wind out of Michael.

Gasping for breath, he desperately searched for his makeshift weapon, only to realize it had penetrated his target. Adrenaline pulsed through Michael’s blood as he rolled Henry’s lifeless body off him, the branch had pierced straight through his heart.

Breathless and scared, he looked around in panic, only to realize his group lay peacefully in the same positions they had before. Unaware of how close they came to resting eternally.

He picked himself up and brushed off the dirt that clung to his jeans. As she walked towards him, all he could see was how beautiful she was. Her pale skin created a starch contrast from the red dress she wore. Her should-length hair perfectly framed her face. He couldn’t explain what he felt inside. All he knew is that his life would be drastically changed forever.

Author's Note: The original story is of Bhima and Hidimba, found in Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.  Bhima, son of Queen Kunti, took his family from the lac palace and took them to safety. They all rested under a tree except Bhima. Near by was Hidimba, a demon, who was hungry and smelled the humans. The demon’s sister was to lure them to her brother so he can eat them. When she saw Bhima, she fell instantly in love with him. She transformed herself into a human and talked to him. She questioned who they were and warned them about her brother. She asked the human to marry her. He said he can’t leave his family. So she said she would save his whole family. Bhima was boastful of his powers and said he could beat her brother. When the demon charged at his sister, the traitor, Bhima challenged him to a dual. For my version, I chose to keep most of the same parts, including the banyan tree. However, instead of a demon, I chose to make them vampires. These seemed easier to retell the story. I also told it more from the perspective of the sister, or in my case just another vampire, Adeline. She still falls madly in love with the human male and tries to protect him. I had a lot of fun with this version because it’s like a cheesy pre-teen vampire romance novel. However, I didn’t make my vampires sparkle 😊. Hope you enjoyed this version!

Title: Banyan Tree

Source: Needpix