Found

It took a moment for Deidra’s eyes to adjust to the darkness of the chamber she had just entered. It had been so bright and alive outside, but here, inside, it was as dark and dank as a dungeon. She advanced a few steps, and the door slammed shut behind her. She jumped and turned, but there was no one there. She yanked on the doorknob, but it refused to turn, and the door would not budge. She was trapped inside.

There was some light. Candles were hanging from the walls, and their flames flickered in the stone chamber. She saw various weapons hanging on shelves: knives, crossbows, balls and chains, and the most beautiful sword she had ever seen. That is when she saw the vampire, Magna. He was standing against the wall in the shadows, next to the beautiful sword that hung on the wall.

“H..H.Hello,” Deidra stuttered.

“Welcome,” said Magna. His voice was deep and rich. He stepped out of the shadows and his magnificence took Deidra’s breath away. Magna was tall, well over six feet, she surmised. He looked nothing like she had pictured a vampire to be. He was ruggedly handsome with strong brows and a roman nose. He wore a fedora on his head, a brown leather jacket, and brown boots. At his side he held a whip in his strong hands. His cheeks were unshaven, to give him a very masculine, hard look to his features. But his smile softened his face, and lit up his eyes.

“You must be Deidra. I am Magna, at your service.” He bent at the waist and bowed at her. “Come closer, let me have a good look at you.” Deidra walked towards him and met him in the middle of the room, never taking her gaze off of his. Magna spoke as he examined her. “Yes, you have good height, around five nine I would guess. Good muscle tone, so the Slayer training has prepared you somewhat. That is good. Nice long brown hair. I always liked brunettes!” He then vamped out with a leer.

Deidra screamed and backed away. Magna was a monster. His handsome human face was just a disguise.

Magna then went back into his human form. “Yes, Deidra, I am a demon inside. Best you don’t forget that. That is the first lesson of many you are to learn.” He threw the whip across the room onto the floor, and floated his hat next to it. “First we will start with some basic hand to hand. Show me what you have got.”

Deidra closed her eyes and tried to relax, and then crouched into her fighting stance. Magna smiled at her again, but this time it was a kind smile. She just glared at him, faked with her left, and then drove her right fist into his stomach, following the punch with a roundhouse kick to his chin. Before she could regain her balance from the kick however, he swept her legs with his, and she fell to the ground. He stood above looking down on her. “That was a good start, but you must never lose your balance. Balance is the key to everything, whether that be offense, or defense.” He held his hand out to her to help her back up to her feet.

Time moved differently in this dimension, but it seemed like several hours later that Deidra stopped, bruised and battered and exhausted from the hand to hand combat. But she had to admit she had learned more now with Magna then in all of her previous practice with Rupert and his father. She was very relieved when Magna told her to sit, and he placed a jug of water in front of her. She took dipper full after dipper full, enjoying the sweetness of the cool water on her tongue and parched throat.

Magna went around to all the candles and torches relighting those that had gone out. She watched him in silence for awhile, and then he came and joined her, sitting across from her. “May I?” he asked, before reaching for the water.

“You need water? I mean…you get thirsty…for water I mean?” Deidra stammered out the question.

Magna barked out a laugh before answering. “I guess I don’t need it as you do. But I could get very uncomfortable without it. Lack of water wouldn’t kill me, since I’m already dead, but it does cleanse the pallet.”

“What happened to you? Can I ask you that? Can you tell me about it? Everyone seems to know everything about me. It would be nice for some sharing?” Deidra smiled at him as she asked. She liked Magna, as long as he didn’t put his vamp face on. That had freaked her out big time! His man face was very handsome however.

Magna settled his back against the wall. “It’s fine for you to ask, but it’s a very long and complicated story.”

“How about a short version?”

Magna chuckled. “It was in the early 1700s, and I was traveling with the family business. My father was a ringmaster at the British Royal Circus. It was a family business, and had been that way for generations. As a boy I was in charge of feeding the animals, caring for them, cleaning after them. The animals, especially the lions, became a passion for me. As I got older, my Uncle apprenticed me as a lion tamer. At the age of 25, I took over as lead lion tamer. We were in Liverpool for a performance one night. After the show, it was common for special dignitaries and important members of the community to come and view the animals in their cages after the performance. Usually I would have an apprentice show the crowds around, but this time a beautiful young lady had caught my eye.” He smiled in memory.

“Let me guess,” said Deidra. “She was a vampire.”

Magna squinted at her. “Are you going to let me tell the story, or not?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry,” she mumbled. “Please, go on.”

“I sent my apprentice off to bed, and gave the tour myself. When everyone else had left, this young woman stayed behind. I asked her if she’d like a nightcap, and she smiled at me and said yes, and followed me back to my tent. She was so beautiful, with black curls that fell almost to her waist, and deep penetrating blue eyes. Those eyes, they captivated me, hypnotized I w I was never a ladies man. I was always to busy with the animals. Plus, the smells, well, one just can’t get the animal smell off, you know? Not that attractive to the females. So for this lady to pay me any attention, it was quite something.”

Deidra watched his face as he told the story. Not many emotions crossed his face. He didn’t seem sad or wistful as he talked, or angry. He was just straightforward with the speaking of it.

“We shared a nightcap, and things..ah..started to progress. Only her idea of necking took on an entirely different meaning, if you get my drift.” Magna laughed at that, which in turn caused Deidra to smile. It just had to be the environment of this place, Deidra thought. Here I am, sitting in the dark alone with a vampire, but I’m really not scared at all. Well, as long as he keeps his man face on anyway. And here he is, telling me of his turning, and I’m not even frightened.

“It’s this place, isn’t it Magna? The reason I’m not scared, relaxed even. I know in my soul that you are not going to hurt me, that I am safe. It’s this place, dimension, Laus, whatever it is, it’s this environment that protects me, isn’t it?”

“Yes, you are safe here. We are safe here. But remember, when you return, you will not be safe, and that is why we must continue the training. Knives next I think. Are you ready?”

Deidra stood and dusted herself off. “Ready!”

And just as with the hand to hand, the two trained with knives, and then the crossbow, and then with swords. Time passed, but they never really tired. The water before had energized them for the task at hand. By the time Magna was finished with his teachings, there wasn’t a weapon that Deidra was not expert in. As a reward, Magna presented her with the beautiful sword that hung on the wall.

“I knew this day would come, and I’ve been saving this sword for you. I want you to remember me, and this place, whenever you touch it. This sword is a weapon of protection for you, and it will guard you and keep you safe. It has all the lessons and answers and truth of your training, and when you hold it, it will reward you always with it’s loyalty. It will remind you of this place, and hopefully remind you of me.” He again bowed before her as he presented the sword. “Your humble servant always, Forgotten One.”

Deidra was speechless. She took the sword in her hand, and felt it’s power and warmth spread through every part of her being. It felt like home in her grip. “Thank you,” she gasped.

Magna stood up. “We have one more lesson today, and now that it is dark out, we must proceed.” He led her to the back of the room and opened a door. They walked out into the night. A million stars shown in the sky. It was breathtaking, and Deidra was so caught up in the sky’s brilliance, that she didn’t notice Magna had stopped in front of her until she smacked right into him. “Oof” she gasped. She still had the sword in her hand, but thankfully it was pointed down. She smiled up at him shyly. “Sorry, I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Obviously. Here, hand me the sword.” Deidra didn’t want to part with it, but she did hand it to him reluctantly. He took it in one hand, and with his other hand he removed a tarp from an object in front of him. It was a motorcycle. A black and shining monster of a motorcycle. He opened a compartment on it’s side, and placed the sword inside. Then he turned to Deidra with a grin. “Want to go for a ride?”

“Heck yea!” she exclaimed. Magna got on, and instructed Deidra to sit behind him, putting her hands around his waist. He started the motorcycle with one turn, and it boomed into life. They sped off into the night, with the powerful motor humming underneath Deidra’s legs. It was so exciting, and she never felt more alive.

TBC