Illyrian Blues

By MrbillyD

1

She had a high fever, and felt pain throughout her body. She was groaning in agony, and unable to stop trembling. Her lungs were filled with fluid, and she was wheezing heavily. When she tried to sit up, she felt dizzy and nauseous. All she could do was lie in bed.

“Sarcophagus.” Winifred (Fred) Berkel thought, it’s a Greek word meaning “Eater of the dead.” Now the one that I opened is eating me alive.

She was lying in her bed in her apartment. 

The 30 year old woman thought, I’ve come home to die. At least I’m not dying alone. Wesley is with me. He’s hovering over me. His troubled face is above mine. Before this, I’ve always loved having him above me, while I was lying in bed, but I never expected it to be happening this way.

“Wesley.” The researcher mumbled in her Texas accent, “Make love to me.”

He looked troubled. Then spoke in his upper class British accent. “Not now Fred.”

“I’m sorry Wes.” She told him, “I’ve seen myself in the bathroom mirror. I know that with the way I look now, no guy'd want to go 'wham-bam thank you ma'am' with me." 

“It’s all right Fred.” He spoke in a comforting voice. “Once you’ve got your health back, you and I will...”

The doorbell rang.

He said, “I’ll be back in a moment.”

He was gone from her.

He and I will what? She thought, What I did when I was a high school girl in a backseat?

Sorry Wes. I’d love to, but that’s never happening with me and any guy, ever again. Sorry. I know you're gentleman. You always say 'Thank you ma'am'.

She tried to put her mind to something else. She remembered the beginning of this week, when she’d opened the sarcophagus, and the overwhelming stench had hit her in the face. Since that moment, her health had rapidly deteriorated.

Be back quick Wes, she thought. I don’t want to die alone.

She heard a woman’s voice just outside the bedroom door. 

It’s Harmony, a vampire who works at Wolfram and Hart, like me and Wesley, but she works as a receptionist. She has nothing to do with Research.

A vampire? She’s come to see me while I’m dying?

She’s come for? Has Wesley’s actually arranged for?

Should I refuse? Just let it happen?

Now Wesley was back beside Fred. A woman with a thick mane of long blonde hair, stood at the foot of the bed, looking as distressed as Wesley, by the sight of the sick woman. She wore a yellow business dress, with matching vest and shoes.

Winifred spoke with a wheezy voice. “Hi Harmony. How’re things going?”

“Hi Freddie girl.” Harmony spoke uneasily.

“Winifred,” Wesley told her, “Listen carefully. There is no way you can survive in your condition, for very much longer. That’s why I’ve asked Harmony to come over.”

“She’s gonna bite me?” Fred spoke to Harmony, “You’re gonna kill me, and turn me into a vampire?”

The blonde woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties nodded. “That’s what friends do for each other girl.”

“Wes.” Winifred’s voice shook. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

"I know," he said, “that right now, I'm exercising terrible judgment. I’m sure I may regret this, but right now, I’d rather have an undead you in my life, than none of you at all.”

Harmony sighed. “Why Wes, that’s beautiful.”

Winnie began to choke, and coughed her throat open with difficulty.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

He said, “I think we’d better get on with it now.”

The vampire nodded, “Right.”

Then Wesley stepped back. Harmony came over beside the bed, and got a close look at the dying Miss Berkel.

Then she said, “Eeew! Her blood’s gonna taste rancid! It’s gonna be full of what’s doing this to her.”

“It won’t have any effect on you Harmony!” He spoke sharply. “You’re already dead!”

“Okay Wes, but keep the bathroom door open. I’m probably gonna puke it all up.”

Now Winifred asked, “It’s not gonna hurt too much, is it?”

“Of course it is.” Harmony chuckled. “Why do you think they call me ‘Harm’? But don’t worry. I’ll be quick. You’ll be dead before the pain gets too bad.”

Then she looked at Wesley. “You want to leave the room Wes? I’d rather not have any witness looking on.”

“Oh right. I’ll be outside the door.”

He left the room quickly, shutting the door behind himself.

Now Harmony put her hand on Winifred’s trembling shoulder, and smiled.

“It okay Freddie girl. The best is yet to come! You’re gonna be one of us now. And don’t worry. I’ll teach you all the ropes.”

Harmony removed her vest, revealing her bare shoulders and arms. She leaned over Fred, who looked up and saw the vampire’s extended fangs; larger and sharper than the Wolfram and Hart researcher had ever seen.

The vampire went on. “First chance we get, after you get your fangs, I’ll take you hunting with me. There are certain places in Mexico, where you can have all the hombres you can eat. We can totally pig out.”

Wesley was in the living room seated on the sofa, staring blankly at the magazine he’d opened. From behind the shut door, he heard Winifred make a loud, sharp scream. He shot up straight, but remained seated. After that there was just silence. 

Five minutes later the bedroom door opened. He tossed the magazine onto the coffee table in front of him and stood up quickly. 

Harmony stepped out into the living room. She made a gagging sound and had a sour look on her face.

“I was right Wes.” She told him, “Her blood was absolutely rancid. Do you know if she’s got any Maalox here?”

“Then she’s dead?”

The vampire nodded, “She’ll be undead in three days. Then she’ll be beautiful, strong and healthy, with a very cute pair of fangs, for the two of you to play with.”

“Three days?”

“That’s right, so you can relax; but right now I just got to puke.”

“That’s easy for you to say 'relax'. I may thoroughly regret this.”

Then Harmony coughed, and began to gasp for breath.

“What’s going on Wes?” She sounded frightened. “I’m already dead, but whatever was killing Fred, is doing the same thing to me!”

Then Harmony collapsed, and lay stretched out limp and lifeless on the floor. The skin of her face, her bare arms, shoulders and her legs had turned a splotchy blue; so had her blonde hair.

Wesley knelt down, beside the doubly dead vampire woman. 

“Harmony? Can you hear me? Harmony!”

Now the woman spoke with a strong, sharp, commanding voice. “My name is not Harmony!” She demanded, “Why do you address me that way?” 

“If your name is no longer Harmony,” Wesley asked, “what should I call you now?”

She sat up in an instant. She had a stern expression on her dark blue face, and displayed a larger pair of fangs, than she’d had before. 

Her eyes glared brightly, as she again spoke with a commanding tone. “My Worshipers address me as Illyria! ”