PART 5.

POSSESION

Katie had been at collage for just over a year and was enjoying every minute of it. Studying Drama, she enjoyed  the classes and had got very good results in her exams so far. The people here accepted her, she had even been to a few parties. The strange feelings would still hit, invade her body and mind but she ignored them, pretended they didn't exist. For the first time in her life she felt normal...almost.

She hadn't been in touch with Mary or Valan since she left, fear of being dragged back prevented her from even picking up the phone. But someone was keeping a close watch on her, every night a small creature would fly across the sky circle the rooftop then settle on a street lamp. It would watch the activity below before flying off to report.

One afternoon while studying a man appeared at the table Katie was sitting at. "Hi there! mind if I join you" not waiting for an answer, "Wow! what a crazy place, you wouldn't believe what happened just as I was walking in here, a streaker, that's right, a lad run passed me naked as a jay bird".

"You'll get used to it, happens a lot here" Katie laughed. "Gary Williams"

"Katie Hatfield" taking his out stretched hand. "So what you in for?"

"Drama you?"

"Physics" Gary announced proudly. "That's heaving going, I heard it's not an easy class"

"You can say that again"

Gary latched on to her, she didn't mind he had a great sense of humor always coming out with something silly. There wasn't anything between them, Katie wasn't interested, Gary was slim, blond and boyish if she was looking for a man he would be tall dark and brooding, someone like Valan... Gary talked non stop, about  family his home anything that came into his head, if he wondered why she never spoke of her family he was polite enough not to ask.

                    

The dorm was quiet everyone asleep, everyone that is but Gary. Sealing the letter in an envelope he headed to the main door. Checking nobody was about he put the letter in the post box. They will be interested to know what he had written, very interested.

                    

Katie attended a few more parties but they weren't really her thing, Gary was the party animal but if she didn't go then neither did he. The two of them would spend there evenings studying, playing cards or computer games. Having become close friends she was looking forward to the following year.

Katie woke feeling great, in fact she felt so good she could have run the Glasgow marathon. Heading for the shower she grabbed her wash bag from the dresser, glancing in the mirror. She stared at her reflection, her eyes had changed to that odd colour and blood smeared her face. What the hell had she done? Fear griped her plunging deep into her stomach, she felt sick. "OH my god"

It became a regular occurrence, every morning she would wake to find herself looking at a blood stained stranger. She couldn't eat, the smell of food made her feel sick, she was scared to sleep, worried what she would find in the morning. It was if there were two different people within her, Katie the quiet student and then....this. The worry and lack of sleep started to tell on her.

                     

One night she found herself standing in the middle of the street in her PJ's. How she got there and why she couldn't remember, she had visions of flying, her mind was messing with her. Sitting in the corner of her room she tried to think, was she going to do something, go somewhere? Was she following her dad? Physically she felt fantastic mentally she was a mess. The blood, did that come from someone?, was she a killer? if there was a murder surely she would have heard about it, collage gossip, the papers, TV! Her mind filled with all sorts of horrible thoughts all ruled out by a sensible Katie, a Katie that knew from one minute to the next her actions for the day, but she didn't know the other the Katie, the one that wondered the night, that would leave her bed her room and....?

Then the dreams started. It was walking the streets an immense hunger over whelming it, controlling it's actions. It moved silently blending in with the shadows, looking to satisfy it's need. It fixed on something, watching it's every move. Pouncing it took it's prey by surprise, there was a scream. The human didn't stand a chance.

It stepped back and looked down at the life it had just snuffed out. With a screech it took to the air circled a few times then climbed higher. Watching the people below, they new nothing of the life that had been extinguished nor would they care, all to obsessed with their own lives, there jobs, friends, to selfish to care about anything else. The bat flew on over towns and farm land, free from the concerns of normality, from life.

It cared for nothing but it's need, the desire to kill, to feed, it's existence revolved around this act, and when that was satisfied it returned to it's lair to sleep and wait for the next sunset.

Katie woke in terror, the dream so real she could have been there. She sensed it, saw what it saw, felt what it felt, the hollowness the deep craving that caused it to seek out satisfaction. The thing that scared her the most was she felt part of it, the desire to quench the craving to seek out and take what it wanted what it desperately needed, to obtain fulfilment and satisfaction, but it was only a dream, something her deranged mind had made up to torment her.

Katie was missing classes, hiding in her room. Her body ached, her blood roared through her body demanding what she couldn't give. You are going nuts, maybe one day you'll put a gun to your head too, blow your brains out like dad did. If she was going mad would she be aware of it? Her work had fallen the teachers worried about her, she didn't look well, maybe she should go home. But she had no home, where would she go...back to Agor, face Valan....no!.

In the end the rector of the collage made the decision, calling her into the office. She was sorry but she had to let Katie go, her grades were slipping she was missing classes. She could tell she was ill but it was collage rules, if she sorted herself out got better then maybe she could pick up were she left off. Katie agreed, it was all she could do, picking up the phone she took a deep breath. "Hi, it's me...is it alright if I come back for a while"

                           

Packing her stuff she said a tearful farewell to Gary. "Hey! you'll be back soon enough and then we'll party like mad" he chuckled giving her a hug. "I'll give you my address, if your ever in the area look me up" Getting in the taxi she waved goodbye. Gary watched till it went round the corner. This wasn't what he planned, it would have been easier here. Gary smiled, no matter.
                       

Mary waited for Valan in the kitchen apprehensive about what she was to tell him. How would he react? the night she told him Katie had gone played in her mind. He was furious he was going to fetch her back by the hair if necessary. Valan stood at the door, he looked at Mary.. "She's coming back!"

"Yes" she never could hide anything from him. "Go easy on the girl Valan, I sense something is wrong, I heard it in her voice a desperation, fear! don't loose your temper...please!"

"Very well" Valan promised but he would give her a piece of his mind.

         

Katie walked up the hill, dejected, the one thing she never wanted to do was come back. Mary was delighted to see her, when she explained she was coming back, taking a brake from collage. "This is your home" Mary had told her. Bet Valan would be pleased Katie thought grimly. "Katie!"Mary exclaimed, trying to hide the shock, the girl looked dreadful. "Come in, come in" Mary ushered her through the door.
                         

"You must be hungry!" putting a plate in front of her. Katie smiled politely and made an effort to eat. The housekeeper chatted away cheerfully for a while. "Are you alright dear?" Katie nodded.

                           

Her room hadn't been touched. Pulling on her nightie she climbed into bed. It was waiting for her, it forced it's way into her subconscious, tormenting her. Getting out of bed she ran her hand over her violin. She was her fathers daughter, his insanity griped her was slowly killing her. The dream invaded her sleep, teasing her with the it's satisfaction, it's desire quenched, Katie wanted that satisfaction to feel that same fulfilment, her body screamed for it. The hunger was torturing her, it wanted, needed sustenance but not food, no it didn't want burgers and chips or haggis and neeps, it wanted something else?

                           

Valan sat in the hall, he was quick on his hunt tonight, feeding then rushing back to the castle something told him to get home. He sensed it, the turmoil the confusion and fear and then there was the other feeling the one of  profound hunger. The awakening! this time was fierce. Normally not painful it was instantaneous, the turn from human to Vampire, but for a halfbreed?. Hearing the door close he turned. Katie walked from the kitchen. He watched as she headed to the stairs, the scent of her awakening overpowering. This was the reason she was back.
                         

"Katheryn!" Katie stopped, give me it! "So you've come back?" She didn't answer, I need it! "The world to frightening for you?" Nothing, Give me what I want! what you need! "You run away, not a word for eighteen months then come back as if nothing happened!" Still nothing, GIVE ME IT!

             

Valan was behind her, he was pushing trying to start a fight, angry at her for leaving. "Katheryn"She turned. Take it, take him! Valan's stomach hit the floor, she was beautiful, the pale skin, vibrant eyes and dark hair framing her heart shaped face, she was nearly as tall as him a bit on the skinny side, his eyes went down following her outline stopping at the hem of her nightie, below long creamy legs, something inside him stirred.

He could...

He tried to talk but his mouth was dry, looking at her he felt himself falling, can you feel so strongly for someone at first sight? She looked bad the awakening controlled her, it's grip tight, consuming her, if she didn't fight back learn to control it, he dreaded to think. Katie looked straight through him, the feelings manipulating how could she didn't understand what it wanted, what she had to do to pacify it, she didn't know the truth about her father the mother she lost as I child. "Katheryn!" Valan searched her face desperately looking for a sign anything that told him she wasn't already lost.

                           

Inside his heart was breaking. He had to get her back show her it didn't have to be this way. "Let me take you to your room" taking her arm and leading her up the stairs. Katie didn't resist, like a puppet on strings she did as she was told the voice in her head still screaming, Give me it!  Valan's body tingled feeling her slim body under his arm, it would be easy, so easy.....

The first sign of the dawn and Valan returned to his coffin trapped there till dusk. He lay feeling what she felt, so in sync with her it was if they were one. Staring at the lid of his prison he wanted to be with her to hold her. Christ what was the matter with him? He already knew the answer, he was falling for Katheryn..hard.

Katie slept unaware of Valan's thoughts, his feelings. She too was trapped but by her own mind, lost in a world of the subconscious, she was flying higher and higher over fields and lochs, searching. Her unbalanced mind found what it wanted, circling it waited for the right moment then diving, it attacked.

The sun had gone down when Katie woke. The hunger, it wanted needed satisfaction, the desire consumed her driving her to seek fulfilment. Valan walked the halls, how do you tell someone they are cursed, come straight..... "Katheryn?" She stood before him, he sensed anger a raw need...for blood. A low rumble escaped her like a growl barely audible, but he could hear it. Valan waited.

                        

She stood watching him, Take him! The want in her dominating her body, mind and soul, the rumble turned into a scream, TAKE HIM! Katie lunged at him. She was quick but Valan was quicker, stronger. Grabbing her arm he tried to turn her round so she was facing away from him. Anticipating the move Katie stepped back then lunged again. He had no choice, he ran at her, in an American football move he tackled her to the ground.

Pinning her to the floor. "KATHERYN! FIGHT IT" Katie squirmed screaming at him like a wild animal. His hold was tight. "Katheryn, listen to me, listen to my voice, you can fight it". Katie stopped struggling the screaming became a snarl. "Katheryn please, look deep inside can you feel it the fire the burning through you're veins, close you're eyes push, push hard force it back you can do it, concentrate listen to me" Katie went quiet, a flicker of recognition, her Vampire eyes stared at him, she listened as he whispered softly to her. "Valan?" Katie murmured. He watched her change back to normal, felt the need fade, leave. "I'm going mad!" she began to cry. "No my love, not mad" Valan stood, lifting her effortlessly, he took her to her room.

                           

Placing her on the bed he turned to leave. "Don't go, please!" Valan lay beside her, wrapping his arms round her he pulled her close. "What's wrong with me, am I going crazy?"

"Ssh! sleep"

"Stay with me" she mumbled as her eyes closed.

Dawn was approaching, carefully Valan slid off the bed, he looked at her then slipped out of the room. He would have to rest soon. Wondering onto the parapet he looked at the stars, this was not going to be easy for either of them. The Vampire blood in her was powerful more than he expected, if he didn't tell her, show her how to master it it was going to kill her. Valan was back in the field, amongst the dead, the man hovered over him. "Please!, kill me" he had pleaded with the stranger. "Why?" the stranger had asked. "I am done for the pain to much, release me now"

"And if I told you there is a way to free you from death from pain, what then?"

"Anything, please!

If he had seen what was coming, what he was to become he would have found the strength to lift a sword and plunge it into his own heart. He felt something dig into his neck his blood surged through him, taking one last breath.... It was still dark when he came round, the stars shone as bright as they did tonight, he felt no pain just an immense hunger, standing he checked himself over, not a mark, nothing. Taken a deep breath, something was wrong, putting his hand on his chest, his heart! it should be beating.... Valan looked round but the stranger had gone.

He thought of Katheryn, could she survive this? was she strong enough? he hoped so, he had never believed in love at first sight but he did now. Was that the reason he was so tuned in to her? Laying beside her he had felt wonderful, her warmth her softness, he wanted to hold her again, to kiss her make love to her. As long as the sun shone he was stuck, he would sleep till dusk, a permanent reminder of what he was, a Vampire.

CURSED

Torment

She stood watching him. The want in her dominating her body her mind her soul. The rumble turned into a scream. Katie lunged at him.

part 4

AWAKENING

Katie was in her room, a week since the move to Scotland. Valan owned a castle it had been in his family for generations, standing on top of a hill it overlooked a lake or loch as they called it. It was a distance away from the village the housekeeper warned that in the winter they can get cut off. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she pulled a face, the school she was to attend insisted on a uniform, no makeup and the purple hair had to go. "We pride ourselves on our neatness and good curriculum" the headmistress had told her proudly. Katie thought she looked a nerd.

School was as she expected, the kids felt uneasy around her so avoided her. The teachers were OK she guessed but she was glad when the day was over. Jumping off the bus she run up the hill and in the door, slamming it behind her. "That you Katie?" the housekeeper, Mary asked. Plonking herself on the kitchen chair she watched her take a pie out of the oven. "Good day was it?"

"It was OK"

Mary cut two pieces of pie placing one in front of Katie. "You must be hungry!"

"Mr Cambell out is he" Katie asked, her mouth full of pie. Mary nodded. "How long have you worked here?"

"Och, I've been here for years, my husband died in WW2, we never had kids"

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be child, it was a long time ago, Valan has been very good to me"

"You two seem to be getting on!" Valan stood in the doorway. "Oh my! is it that late, I must get the dinner started" Katie stared down at the table, she hadn't made up her mind if she liked Valan or not, there was something about him she couldn't put her finger on it just...something. Valan sat at down and looked at Katie, he should say something, talk but what, what were kids into these days.

"How are you finding the school?"

"It's OK"

"It has an excellent reputation and a good range of subjects I believe"

"I guess" Shit! this wasn't easy and she wasn't making it any easier. "The rest of your things arrived this afternoon Mary put them in your room"

"Thank you"

"I see you have a violin, do you play?" her reaction was surprising. "Yes, yes I do" her face lit up, the passion showing in her eyes. "What kind of music do you like?"

"Anything really but my favorite is goth metal"

"Goth what?" Valan had never heard of it. "It's a mixture between classical and heavy metal, like Apocalyptica"

"Apoca who?" Valan was lost. "I'll lend you one of my Cd's " Katie offered. "Err thank you" Valan wasn't sure about this Apoca whats a ma call it but he accepted the offer.

In her PJ's Katie sat on the floor of her room her homework in her hands. She stared glumly at the book, Valan insisted she did her homework every night. He had left the castle shortly after her and Mary had eaten. Opening the book she got to work, Rabbie Burns was the subject they were doing in English class, she couldn't see the point, the language old and difficult to understand his poems boring.

A cloud of red smoke passed through the locked door, it crept a few inches across the hall then stopped. Hovering in the air it swirled, thickening, a shape formed in the centre. Valan was home. His hunger sated he walked the castle checking that the doors and windows were locked. He knew the castle was the safest place for her, no one would dare enter uninvited but it was best to be sure.

Walking into the kitchen he sat at the table. Mary had just had her coco and was about to go to bed. "Your back early tonight!"

"Yep"

"Everything alright?" she asked. "Everything's fine" he smiled, "Katheryn asleep?"

"I think so, she went to do her homework that was a few hours ago" Mary frowned, "Poor kid, what a lot to go through at such a young age" Valan shrugged. "What do you think?"

"Think about what?"

"Well is she human, Vampire or both?" she wouldn't hold the latter against the child, it wasn't her fault. "I'm not sure, I can feel the Vampire in her but as to how strong it is I don't know, it may never come to anything, we will have to wait and see what happens"

Katie stood at the kitchen door, thirsty she had come down for a drink of water, she heard voices. It was Mary and Valan, their discussion serious. "But Katie..."

"No Mary she must not find out..." What must she not know, something about her dad? Trying to hear more she put an ear to the door but the conversation changed.

Several days had passed since she had eavesdropped on the conversation, it was past midnight. Valan checking the locks found her in the snug reading. "You should be in bed, you don't want to be late for school"

"I'm not tired" Katie replied then went back her book. About to insist he changed his mind, he heard her wandering the castle late at night. Sitting beside her he watched her reading, he glanced at the title, Myths and folklore of Scotland. "You interested in that kind of stuff?"

"I found it and it looked interesting" her nose still in the book. "And is It?"

"I guess"

"You've been her a while now, you settled in?"

"Yes thank you"
"You get on well with Mary?"

"Yes" Christ here we go again! Valan was frustrated. "You happy here?"

"I suppose"

"If you need anything just ask, myself or Mary will be happy to help"

"Thank you" putting her book down she turned to him and smiled. Valan smiled back, she was a nice kid, he wasn't sure how he would get on with a kid here but he found he actually enjoyed having her around. She felt drawn to him, still uncertain she felt something in him, a connection a feeling that they were alike. "I've heard you playing your very good"

"Thank you"

"You enjoy playing?"

"I love it, I plan to got to collage study drama" she said with excitement. Valan expression changed. "I'm afraid that's not possible"

"Why not?" she demanded. "I have my reasons"

"I will be sixteen soon and can do as I please"

"I will not allow it" Valan walked away ending the conversation.

Getting ready for bed she went to the bathroom, grabbing the soap she worked it into a lather giving her face a scrub. How dare he, he couldn't stop her going, Katie was angry, why can't she go to collage, she looked in the mirror... "What the...?" Closing her eyes she opened them again and stared at her reflection. Her eyes!

They weren't hers! Normally a violet blue instead a reddish colour with green flecks, she leaned closer to the mirror closing her eyes then opening them again. They were still their, frightened she blinked hard, it didn't work she started to panic, what was going on? Katie blinked again and again but they refused to change back. "Katheryn! are you alright? open the door" Valan shouted through the door. "Katie!" it was Mary her voice unsteady. She couldn't let them see. "Please, please ! go away" she whispered to the mirror. It seemed like an eternity but finally her own eyes stared back at her.

 Opening the door she found Valan on the verge of braking it down. "Are you alright?" he demanded looking behind her, checking out the room. "Yes I'm fine"

"But we heard you scream"

" I...I saw a spider"

"Spider?" Valan was sceptical. "A huge one, all legs and hairy, yuk! it was horrible" Valan wasn't buying it. "If you'll excuse me I think I'll go to bed" Katie stepped past them. "Good night dear" Mary called after her. Valan watched her, no he didn't buy that for a second.

 The week over Katie looked forward to the weekend, a whole two days of doing nothing. "Your birthday is only a few weeks away, so what would you like?" Mary asked over dinner. "I don't know" Katie hadn't giving it any thought. "There must be something?"

"There is one thing" she mumbled. "What is it?"

"I want to go to collage"

"OH! I see," Mary knew that was impossible.

Katie lay in bed she couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning, she wasn't tired. She counted sheep but it didn't work so she ran through her homework, learning a poem written by Rabbie Burns, if anything was to put her to sleep that would. It didn't. "Damn!" throwing back the blankets.

Making her way down the stairs she wandered the rooms looking at the pictures and statues, stopping in the main hall. It was big plenty of space, she smiled, why not. She started to dance, music playing in her head. Valan returned home, hearing a noise he went to investigate. He found Katie dancing round the hall giggling. He watched from a distance, he always tried to avoid kids, never really knew what to do with them, others of his kind would feed of them said they were the best kind but not him, he wasn't into that. He watched as she whirled round, humming quietly. The kid was getting to him, seeping into his heart, why he didn't know. Leaving her to her imagination he walked the castle.

Katie crept back to her room. Still giggling she lifted the bed covers.... It hit, it's intensity almost painful. she crumbled to the floor. Give it to me!, it demanded. She craved for it, the sensation took over, trying to control her, Katie started to cry. What was wrong with her? she wasn't ill at least she didn't fell unwell. Her body ached.

Was nothing in her life going to be normal? She felt an emptiness a longing, so fierce it scared her. "Katheryn!" Valan knelt beside her. He had sensed it, the wanting the Vampire in her was strong. "It's OK" It kept demanding, urging her to release it let it find what it desperately needed., but what? "Come" Valan pulled her to her feet.

Placing his arm round her shoulder he pulled her close, letting her cry into his shirt. He could sense the turmoil, the fear. Valan entered her mind, this was not the first time, a young child when it started, the awakening they called it. He waited till the sobs became whimpers then sniffing. "Feel better?" it was passing, letting go for now.

"You OK now?" She nodded, stepping back, she couldn't tell him he wouldn't believe her, think she was making it up. "Look at me!" She lifted her head. Valan looked at her eyes, he had seen it before, new born Vampires had that same colour, but for a few it would change as they matured, fed more, Emily had that same colour, she one of the few.

Katie felt safe, with him she felt protected, normal. Dear god! he hoped it would not hit till she was older, if ever, she was still to young to tell. Valan tried to control his anger, how dare Emily do this, to curse her. Leading her back to bed he pulled the covers up tucking her in. Sitting on the floor he waited. Katie stared at him through the darkness. Finally she fell asleep.

Valan explained to Mary. "The poor child, what do we do?"

"We wait"

"How bad will it get?"

"I don't know, normally you change straight away, but then, you die first, this is different, human and Vampire blood mixed, one battling the other, it depends on how strong one or the other is"

"And if the Vampire blood wins, will she turn completely?"

Again I don't know, she could or it could kill her, this is unknown territory, there's never been a halfbreed before at least not lived long enough to see what happens"

Valan thought of his own change, his rebirth from mortal to immortal. It was 1314, Scotland was at war, his friend now known as Robert the Bruce stood by his side. The battle at Bannockburn was brutal, the sound of steel against steel, the shouting, of horses hooves pounding the ground, they had won but at a cost, a lot of lives were lost that day... including his. He didn't feel the pain of the sword as it went through him, looking down he tried to pull it out. Falling to the ground he lay amongst the dead, waiting for his last breath.

Katie lay on her bed starring at the walls. Nearly a month since she had been in tears after that nothing, she was relieved. Her birthday was next week and she had mentioned going to collage again. Valan still refused and Mary wouldn't go against him. She wanted out, a hollow feeling and been creeping in for months now it consumed her, something was missing she felt incomplete. Hoping her move would be the beginning of a new life she was determined to go.

The day came. Mary had made a beautiful cake and after blowing out the candles she had given the woman a big hug. "Thank you"

"Och child no need for that, we wouldn't have forgotten your birthday"

"You only turn sixteen once" Valan laughed. "I've forgotten the plates" Mary dashed of to the kitchen.

Valan produced a box tied with a red ribbon. "We didn't know what to get you, hope you like it"

"What is it" she asked giving it a gentle shake, she felt a bit guilty, after all she was planning a runner as soon as the chance came. "Open it"

"Right lets have some cake" Mary declared coming back into the room.

The present was a computer keyboard the rest having been set up in another room upstairs. "That way you won't be up all night on that facebook or whatever they call it" Valan laughed. Katie knew exactly what she would do on it. With Mary busy and Valan out the next day she booked a taxi and a bus ticket to Elgin. Now she just had to wait.

She carried on as usual, attending school trying to make everything look normal, inside she was bursting the excitement hard to contain. She was glad that Valan had insisted on her doing her homework it had certainly helped her get into collage. Mary was delighted when Katie played the piano for her and agreed to doing it again sometime when Valan was home. She liked Mary and was going to miss her but she had to go, a new start forget her past, Valan she was still unsure of she felt something for him?

On a warm sunny morning a figure quietly left the castle. To early for anyone to be up the figure walked down the hill unseen. Standing at the roadside a taxi pulled up. Putting a suitcase in the boot the figure climbed into the front seat, the taxi pulled away.
Katie had gone.

POSSESSION