Gold arrived at the door leading to the first floor and opened it. Immediately the scent of blood greeted her nose, mixed with a sour hint that came from the gunshots that had recently filled the mansion. It smelled nice to her.
“What do I do now?” Gold asked herself.
Her father answered inside her mind.
Go back to the store. Get dressed there and then we leave.
“Leave for where?”
The world! There is a big and delicious world out there for us to experience!
“Will we have to feed?”
Sparingly, I’m afraid. My abilities are a little more limited until Jane Elring releases me.
“When will that be?”
When she dies. Could be years from now, could be tomorrow. Her world is dangerous and hostile to her. We’ll see what happens next.
Without another word Gold started through the mansion. She traversed the corridors, stepping over two dead bodies on her way out. Sniffing in the beautifully sour air that her father seemed to adore. It was the blood that he loved, Gold knew.
Near the front door she found an injured young man sitting against the wall. He had removed his helmet and Gold could see his sweaty forehead and terrified eyes. She knelt down next to him and took the man’s hand. Gently she pressed it against her naked breast.
“It’s all over now,” she said gently as she used his hand to rub her nipple. “Isn’t this wonderful? Life can be like that, you know? You don’t always to have fight just to have a good time….”
Ahhh…. How about a little bite, Gold? I could use the energy.
Without a moment’s thought Gold leaned toward the young man and sank her teeth into his neck. She did it with a ferocity that was fueled by her father’s presence. The young man struggled briefly with a terrified moan before she tore out his jugular and the blood splattered across the hallway.
The blood covered her naked body as she drank, and drank, and drank. She consumed him until the blood no longer rushed from the ugly wound she had created.
Satisfied, she stood up and felt how the man’s blood dripped from her chin. She looked down only to find her chest and abs colored by the beautiful red that had occupied the young man’s body.
“Should I look for clothes?” she asked.
There is no need. I will not allow them to see you unless you need to be seen.
“We could look for Jane Elring, couldn’t we? We could release you.”
We could. But we won’t. Jane Elring is an exquisite horror unleashed on this world. Man has created his very own demon. We will watch from afar to see how her beautiful tale unfolds.
Without another word Gold walked out of the mansion and into the rest of the world.
OPEN ENDINGS
(December 31, 2019)
Ellie sat at the kitchen table with the Holsworth family. She listened to family stories, old memories and bad jokes that got worse as the alcohol flowed from glass to throat. This was what a family looked like, the girl thought to herself.
Two months had passed since the horrible ending at the Toaves mansion. Ellie thought back frequently to how she had found Arthur sitting in his office chair. His body had been so terribly pale and cold. Still, she had seen on his face that he died peacefully, with fond memories on the forefront of his tired mind. It was the most anybody could ever ask for, Ellie thought.
Ellie looked around the table and saw friendly faces left and right. The Holsworth family was very loud, and very warm. All of them had welcomed her to their table and she enjoyed the company, even if it came from complete strangers in a house that she was still getting used to.
Mary Holsworth had inherited Arthur’s fortune and, with it, the many obligations he had left unfulfilled. The strong and capable woman was in the process of redesigning the Southeastern Reintegration Project. In the long term she wanted to make it economically viable, which meant that money could no longer be spent blindly.
She had taken Ellie apart in the days after Arthur’s death and she had asked what the girl wanted to do. Ellie could stay, or she could leave, but Mary had very much wanted her to stay.
Ellie had remembered her terrified moments in the locked bedroom, stroked by Mary and shielded by her strong, motherly body. So she had decided to stay.
Mary Holsworth was currently in the process of officially adopting Ellie, something Arthur had neglected to do. It would take time, but when the strong woman put her mind to something it got done.
Together they had decided that they couldn’t live in the mansion anymore. Such terrible things had happened there and they both knew they could never shake the memories of gunshots, blood, and death. So Mary had taken some of the money left to her and purchased a farmhouse near the edge of Brettville.
They all sat in that house now. At the new kitchen table, with Mary’s wonderful guests. Ellie sat quietly as she listened to the tall tales she kind of believed, some of the time. Ellie had seen some pretty strange things herself, after all, so who was she to say what was true and what wasn’t?
Soon the year would end and, together with the Holsworth family, they would greet 2020 with fireworks and champagne. Ellie could have half a glass, Mary had told her beforehand, because she was old enough to try some.
Ellie knew that her life would forever be strange. Touched by her past, moving toward an uncertain future. But she had been blessed. Blessed that day when Arthur picked her up on the highway. Blessed by Jane Elring, who had torn the demons from her mind. Whatever happened next, it was her decision and she felt accountable.
She would live under the guidance of Mary Holsworth now. A woman who could teach her many things about the world and the character required to survive in it.
The foundation of that character was love and Ellie knew that she had it. She had received it from others and, so she believed, in time she would be able to pass it on. That was what she wanted to do with her life.
To live kindly and generously. The same way Arthur had done.
(March 12, 2020)
Larry Bradford sat in the living room as he listened to his wife and daughter arguing. He didn’t have the strength to intervene. Nowadays, he didn’t really have the strength for anything anymore.
Caleb Epps had almost killed him. Or maybe, the ex-special agent thought, he had actually succeeded.
Larry’s body would never be the same again, scarred and torn by the bullets that had pierced it. Those bullets had done more than damage his flesh. They had obliterated his pride.
Jane Elring was on the loose. The most dangerous thing on this planet, so he believed, had escaped him. Larry had failed his country and, by extension, his family. So he didn’t try anymore. He didn’t feel like he had the right to try anymore.
His days were always the same now. He stayed in bed until noon, neglected to have lunch most days only to dive straight into the booze Becky supplied. Life was horrible, but that was what he deserved for failing so miserably.
His son ignored him. His daughter hated him. Becky, beautiful Becky that had always been so generous with her body. That had always been so understanding and patient with his moods. That Becky now gave him the cold shoulder most nights.
He had climbed on top of her a few times in a drunken stupor and forced himself inside of her, but she had cried softly and it was difficult for him to climax that way.