Sympathy for the Undead

By:

Saslyax

Chapter V

"Familiar Stranger"

My dearest brother Von and his fiancé, Elizabeth, passed away too soon. A drunk driver killed them, on their way to visit our estate. The foul man got off on light charges, due to his fame and the money stashed away in politicians' pockets.

Sadly, the Sackville-Bagge name does not go as far as it used to in political circles. Our history tells of a branch of ancestors that sullied our noble name, and we still suffer the consequences.

Gregory shuts himself in his room, listening to terrible music. He sneaks out often, now. He probably gets inebriated or smokes marijuana. No amount of punishment or parental talks cures him of his bad habits and poor choice of friends. I watch as his grades slip and his hatred for me grows. I do not want to lose my eldest son too.

Rudolph has distanced himself from his friends. He shoves them away and chooses to sit underneath a tree in the yard, sullenly playing his Gameboy Color. He yearns to visit Von and Elizabeth's grave often, but it is too far of a walk; it is a few hours drive away.

When he is not playing video games, Rudolph wanders through the local cemetery, and sometimes I have to pick him up, where I find him curled up in the grass, in a fitful sleep. Rudolph has terrible nightmares that he cannot remember. He runs about at night in a sleepy terror. I have to guide him back to bed and assure him everything is fine.

I hear Anna cry herself to sleep every night. She tries her best to hide her tears, but she can never banish the red tinge in her eyes. She sits in her room and writes sorrowful poetry. How I miss the daughter that dreams about finding her one true love. It is a thought I never thought possible.

Everybody loved Uncle Von and Aunt Elizabeth. They were the fun grownups. I am the strict, overprotective father. The family begins to fall apart, all because of that dreadful man. He has never apologized to us. He only put on a pathetic show for the jurors at court. I hope he feels drenching guilt with every breath he takes.

Why did man create funerals? It only spreads sadness. I wanted a small funeral, but I was forced into a large gathering, filled with strangers, due to the Sackville-Bagge name. I can tell these strangers do not wish to mourn with us; they only show for courtesy and the hopes to sink their hands into our family's favor.

Fools, the lot of them.

I try my best to brighten up that dreary funeral pallor. Why do they all look the same? Depressingly plain and cheap air fresheners to hide the stench of death.

I place happy photos in a memorial. I dowse the room with sunflowers and daisies that Elizabeth loved so much. I bought the best double casket, made of the finest wood and had it especially engraved. I place a rose in their stiff hands and forever shut the casket. Their corpses too gruesomely mangled for any eye to see. The mortician did her best.

Few tears are shed, forceful hugs passed around like candy, and so many empty apologies hushed into my ears. A simple apology will not make up for this tragedy! Von and Elizabeth deserve a better service than this monstrosity!

After the procession, the hearse drops off their casket, and it is buried in a cemetery, in our hometown, a few hours away.

After that, we gather in a small room, and the will is read. We find out that there is an old estate in Von's name. Apparently, it belonged to our ancestors hundreds of years ago. I never knew of it, and Von never touched the place. It is right in our hometown, in the heart of Scotland. My parents never spoke a word of the place.

I hear the gossip about the estate. How my ancestors cursed it. They brought shame upon their noble name, and got themselves hung at the gallows during the witchcraft hysterics. My acquaintances tell me not to step one foot into the place. It will only bring horrors upon our family. It has been abandoned for over three hundred years. I am not a superstitious man, and I think a change of scenery will help ease the hearts of my family.

It will take a few months for the place to become livable. It is filthy and falling to shambles. I occasionally travel there and oversee the repairs. I make sure contractors modernize the place, but keep to the old structure and history of the estate. I do not wish to insult my falsely accused ancestors. It is a cheery shade of color, for a cursed home. Not quite to my tastes, but hopefully it is a sign of healing for us all.

Gregory protests the move. We fight so loudly; the neighbors can hear our bitter words. Gregory even has the audacity to threaten to move out, even though he is underage. I sometimes wonder if Gregory just looks for an opportunity to argue with me. He always disobeys me. He storms to his room, and I hear his screaming music from his upstairs bedroom.

However, I am surprised I am met with little protest from Freda, Rudolph, and Anna. I thought they would not want to uplift their familiar roots and strive to make friends in a strange, new town. They are almost happy for the change. It is the first time I see something of a smile on Rudolph and Anna's faces.

After the civil talk with the rest of the family, I stalk upstairs. Gregory's music has silenced. I begin to worry he will stick to his word. I peek open his door, and I see him humming and packing his bags, while listening to his CD player, with headphones clamped to his ears. He stuffs his bags into the closet, out of sight. I gently close the door.

I stay up into the late hours of the night. Freda snores lightly beside me. Gregory does not even try to run away; he is sound asleep underneath his blankets, with a slight smile on his face. Maybe he is actually happy about the move?

I do not understand this strange spell that seems to cast itself upon our family, but I welcome it.

The estate happens to be closer to my new job, a promotion I have been eager to take. It is also near Von and Elizabeth's grave, and I hope this does not set back the family even further, especially Rudolph. But it feels right to return to my birthplace. Something tells me this move is for the better. I do not put faith in religion or the supernatural, but I feel like something strong wants me there.

The months pass by quickly and today is moving day. Boxes are crammed into the moving van, and we bid our farewells to our old home. Now that it is empty it looks as if we never belonged here in the first place.

We arrived to the estate in a few hours. It is ancient, magnificent, and retains the heart and charm of the three-hundred-year-old estate, even with the modernization.

Our new home is very spacious, enough room for my noble family. I walk inside, and it feels so empty, but that will quickly change when we fill it with our belongings that seem to fit well here.

Gregory screams echo through the house, "I've found my room!"

As long as it is not the master bedroom, I am fine with it.

Rudolph and Anna gather the last few things from the moving van that is light enough to carry. They are eager to have their possessions back in sight. I head back outside to keep an eye on the movers. I do not want them carelessly handling our belongings. Some are very timeworn and fragile.

Anna and Rudolph drag their suitcases along. I go over to help them. I do not want them to struggle and break their backs, but then they pause, as if cast in ice. I hear a haunting whistle. Vague, dreamlike thoughts flow through my mind. I cannot make sense of them; they are too abstract.

The whistling sounds so familiar. I move further outside to try and find the source. I stop when I see my two children burst into smiles. They have not been so joyous in such a long time. Gregory comes outside, with Freda not too far behind, and he too smiles. It is an astounding miracle.

All of my children flock to a boy, even Gregory, whom normally wallows in his teenage angst and screaming music and does not associate with children. They chatter away in the square of a quaint marketplace. People haggle and quickly pass by this beautiful sight. I am happy to see them make friends so quickly, especially Rudolph whom pushed all his old friends away.

Two adults smile at us. I assume they are the boy's parents. Something seems familiar about this family. I politely smile back at them. They may become good friends, especially since that boy of theirs brings delight to my children's faces. They crowd around this one boy and chat and laugh like they have met an old friend. Something seems special about this small, blonde-haired boy, with round glasses. It is an odd feeling.

Then I hear what the boy speaks about. How all of us used to be vampires! My children nod in agreement and talk to this kid like they are old friends familiar with this mental story. The boy must have heard the rumors about our family's dark past and spreads false tales!

I stride forward and yell, "Children! You still have a lot of unpacking to do!"

They frown and reluctantly leave the boy's side. I am met with much protest.

Freda jabs me in the side and snaps, "Frederick! They were happy and making friends! Unpacking can wait."

I growl, "I do not like the stories that child puts into my children's heads!"

"Dad, I hate you!" Rudolph growls.

"Yeah!" Anna agrees.

The strange boy's smile turns into tears as I usher my family away. I only feel slightly bad.

My words end the happy gathering, and my family returns to unpacking, with frowns on their faces. It seems unfitting for such a beautiful day.

With my blessing or not, my children continue to associate with this boy. Tony Thompson is his name. I do pray his schizophrenic delusions are not contagious. There is no such thing as vampires and vampire hunters.

I moved to help the family, but I seem to have ostracized myself from them. They all adore and support this insane child. He will put them all in the mental ward, if this continues. All I hear nowadays is vampire this and vampire that!

Though something about his words sounds familiar in my heart, but I refuse to allow this nonsense to enter my head! I mention to Tony's parents, Robert and Dottie that their son should receive mental aid, but they shout my ears off with commoner insults. They are no better. They are just as delusional. Insisting that I was a vampire! The entire family belongs in an asylum!

In those few minutes of locking eyes with that Thompson boy, Rudolph found his best friend, known throughout the town to be obsessed with vampires. Days turn into weeks of having to tolerate this imp's presence in my home. The child is sane enough to know I dislike him. I feel his discomfort every time we bump into each other. He quickly and politely makes excuses to escape my withering gaze. He never stays for dinner or sleeps over, and I refuse to have my children go over to his insane shack in the woods.

I keenly watch Rudolph and Tony play their Gameboys underneath the shade of a tree. Playing a game called Pokémon or whatever silly nonsense kids like these days. I sit on the back patio, pretending to read a book. My ears are astute to their conversation.

They pause their games and Tony whispers, "Why does everyone remember about being vampires, except your dad. He hates me." Tony looks down at his game and continues pressing buttons.

Rudolph thinks hard and after a few moments of silence he replies, "I think it's because Father tried so hard to make us human. It was all he every wanted for us, for centuries. I think it might have made it harder for him to remember. Denial I guess."

"I guess it makes sense," Tony mumbles.

Rudolph puts his arms around Tony and says, "Don't worry, Dude. He'll remember. Father really likes you and he'll never forget what you did for us!"

"Thanks, Dude."

They continue their game; I slam my book shut and walk into the estate.

To my shock Tony decides to stay for one of Freda's home-cooked dinners. We all gather in the formal dinning room. Everyone is silent, expecting me to scream and kick the imp out of the house for good.

Freda goes into the kitchen to get dessert; Gregory excuses himself to the bathroom; and it is Anna's turn to clear the table. She soon joins Freda in the kitchen. Rudolph stays by Tony's side, afraid I might strangle the poor shaking boy.

After dessert, Tony gathers his belongings and says his goodbyes to everyone. I walk the runt to the door. Tony pauses on his way out. He stares at his feet before meeting my stern eye. He takes off a weird necklace he always wears and says, "Sir, this belongs to you." He holds out an elegant amulet, far too expensive for commoners. He probably stole it.

It would be a kind gesture, but the boy believes this thing gave us humanity. I slap it away from me, and the boy looks hurt and close to tears, but I do not give a damn. Enough of this vampire nonsense!

Tony runs to into his parent's car, and he does not bother to retrieve the fallen necklace that he always likes to fiddle with. Against my better will, I pick it up and put it in my pocket. It is uncomforting holding that thing, never mind wearing it.

I suppose no one saw or heard our little spat, or I would have had a good scolding from Freda or the Thompsons. Surprisingly Robert and Dottie can be tolerable company when they learned to shut their mouths about vampires.

Later that night, I shove the necklace into my bedside dresser, fully prepared to return it to the little runt tomorrow.

It is like any other night. I change into silk pajamas, brush my teeth, and kiss my sweet Freda goodnight. I fall asleep, prepared for another day of frustrating work and more frustrating coworkers.

03:05 The clock reads.

My heart threatens to pump out of my chest, and I lay shaken in my bed, woken up in a disgusting sweat from a nightmare. I never remember dreams. It is the same case with this one, but strange words linger in the back of my mind: It's straight to Hell with you!

I get up and find Freda fast asleep, along with all of my children. They are all safe sleeping in their beds. I glance at that draw on my way back to bed. I take out the amulet and it feels comforting in the palm of my hand. I hesitantly place it around my neck, and I return to sleep easily. I feel relaxed wearing this trinket.

The next day, after work, I watch Tony and Rudolph playing together, as per usual. I approach the boy. He looks intimidated by me. I take off my source of comfort from my neck. I hand the amulet back to Tony and say, "You deserve to keep this, my friend."

My word sound odd, almost foreign in my mouth, but Tony smiles and gives me a big hug, and I do not shove him away. It feels as if a stranger has possessed my body, or maybe something lost is slowly returning to my heart.

Rudolph grins and I hear him say, "I told you so."

Talk of vampires cease whenever I am in their company. I know everyone mentions the V word at least every once in a while, even if I cannot always catch them in the act. I may not believe Tony's story like the rest of my family. I am still wary of this crazy kid, but he somehow seems to have squirmed his way into a deep crevice in my heart. For now, Tony will have to slowly earn my trust and true compassion because vampires really do not exist.

The End

Happy Halloween everyone! It's always been a tradition of mine to watch this every Halloween. I've watched this movie so many times! Well, it took a while, but this fic is done. I took a lot more liberties with the ending than the movie gave us. I hope you all enjoyed it. This ending seems to fit my story better. I may post more Little Vampire fics in the future.

Posted: 10-31-13