This will be deleted soon - The Wrong Hope *Complete and Free*

11. History Lesson

Sally-Anne

Year: 1983

Guy relaxed in his chair, lazily smoking his cigarette. I didn’t know what to think. My emotions were all over the place but mostly I was disgusted with myself. Disgusted that I had hurt Guy. Disgusted that I hadn’t been able to stop myself from drinking the blood off the floor. Seriously off the floor!? Disgusted that I had enjoyed it.

My head raced, his words rolling over in my brain ‘I am going to kill you’. There was a deep sense of relief attached to Guy’s words; I didn’t want to live, not after what I had done and not like this, as this monster. I was causing so much mess, I should have just listened to Guy in the first place, after all he knew about these things and I didn’t. If I had just behaved and done what I’d been told then Guy wouldn’t have gotten hurt. It was entirely my fault.

“So Sally-Anne, are you ready to be a good girl?” He smirked.

I nodded.

“Good, I’m going to ask you some questions and I expect you to answer them. NO dithering, got it?” Guy said firmly.

I nodded.

“You said you ‘killed them’. Who? Who did you kill?”

“My Ma and Pa.” I said flatly, staring at the floor. I would give him what he wants; it would all be over soon.

“Your Brother?” He asked.

I shook my head. My poor baby Brother.

“Huh, ok. Just those two?” I nodded. He paused before asking. “Who put you in the dungeon?”

“I did.” I looked him in the eye, I wanted him to know that I had intentionally imprisoned myself, intentionally caused my 32 years of suffering. I hated myself.

He regarded me with a curious gaze.

“You were cuffed to the wall. How you manage that yourself, huh?” He said agitated.

“The cuffs just closed when I put my hands and feet in, I don’t know how.” I replied in earnest. I had sat on the brick ledge, pressed back into the shackles and they had just clicked shut. The sound had been such a relief.

“How did you know it was there? Your Father tell you?” Guy leaned forward just slightly, a thoughtful look on his scruffy face.

“I found it a few years back when I was playing in the fields.” Realising what I'd said I closed my eyes and took a shallow breath. I tried again. “I was around 14 or 15, I found it in the field, Pa didn’t tell me about it.”

“Whatcha think it was?” A slow grin spread over his face making me nervous.

“Old slave prison.” I shrugged.

“Ye, right.” He scoffed, rolling his eyes. “What do you know about your family history Miss Brice?” Guy dropped the end of his cigarette to the floor and crushed it with the sole of his boot.

The question was perplexing.

“My family history? We’re just farmers, my Great-great-grandpa came from England. He sold his farm there to come to America and start a new life.” I could hear the confusion in my voice.

“Well you're wrong there. Brice family, leaning on tradition right to the end, just couldn’t bring themselves to change with the times. Might have saved their lives if they had.” Guy spoke nonchalantly and didn’t understand it.

“I’m not lying. They were farmers; I don’t understand what you’re trying to say!? How – how can this,” I gestured to myself, almost yelling the words, “be my parents fault?”

“Hate to tell you this Sally-Anne but Mummy and Daddy were liars.” His tone was condescending and he looked smug.

“NO!” I screamed at him suddenly on my feet. “Take it back. You’re the liar!”

He didn’t acknowledge my outburst at first, instead lighting a fresh cigarette while I glared at him. I could taste hot rage in my mouth. I wanted to hurt him for being so disrespectful to my family.

“Miss Brice, your family,” He took a deep drag on the cigarette before blowing out the smoke slowly, “are farmers as much as I’m a detective.”

“No, no, I don’t, I don’t know what you’re, what –what are you... no, no.” My mind was whirring, running what he was telling me, but without actually telling me, on loop. It couldn’t possibly be true, could it?

“You know what I’m saying, Sally-Anne.” He said pointedly.

“But... but they would have told me.” My world was spiralling, everything had changed. Thrust into a world that I didn’t understand, rapidly what remained of what I thought I knew was being crushed to dust.

“The Brice family – a patriarchal lineage of Vampire Hunters, stretching back 100’s of years, renown amongst the Hunter community, feared by those they hunted, steeped in tradition and secrecy, the biggest downfall of your family was their unwavering belief that women are helpless and incapable. If your Father had told you about this world, had trained you like he would have a son, this,” Guy pointed at me, “might not be your reality. Ergo, it's their fault. Get my drift?” He finished harshly.

“Why are you telling me this? Why?” I looked at him wide eyed, he stared back blankly. I wanted desperately to cry but instead my chest clenched with a dry sob. “Please. Please.” I begged, I didn’t want to hear anymore. “I answered your questions, just kill me already. Please,” I got on my knees as close to him as the chains would allow, “end my suffering, I hurt so much, I just want to die. I –I don’t have anything left.” I stammered.

“That’s the thing Miss Brice, you do have something left and I need it.” Guy explained.

“W-w-what?” I said, trying to stifle the sobs.

“You have inherited your Father’s estate and with it all the history and gear from your prestigious ancestry. I need you to get it for me.” He spoke evenly before crushing out his cigarette and rising from his chair to kneel in front of me.

Slowly he brought his hand up to my face, caressing my cheek with burning hot fingers before cupping his hand on the side of my head. His wrist pressed against my ear the sound of his heart echoing through my mind, stealing my focus. My stomach clenched with anticipation, my mouth was watering and the beast within was watching, ready to pounce. His touch was making me lose control. I wanted him. I wanted to feel his flesh beneath my teeth. I wanted to feel his pulse consume me with its violent beat as I quenched the blood lust of the demon that had replaced sweet Sally-Anne. He leant forward just a little more, staring into my eyes, a mocking smile dripping on his lips. So close, I leant in as well; the chains taught behind me. He opened his mouth to speak and I breathed in the scent of the escaping breath.

“Sally-Anne.” He whispered softly, seductively. I would give him anything. Anything for a taste. Just one taste. Something in my mind whispered that wasn’t right, that wasn’t what I wanted but I ignored it, entranced.