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