Blood Sisters_ Vampire Stories by Women - Paula Guran Page 0,36

silence, Ariel could hear the cracklings and rustlings of the forest. It was never silent. It seemed to be quiet but was full of noise. Things moved unseen.

At last Zenna said, “You can only see them for yourself. This isn’t something that can be told.”

Perhaps it was just a game, the wild fancy of a girl at the cusp of womanhood, seeking romance and danger in the breathing forest. If Zenna had come across a strange creature in this place, it might not be a vampire, but something else, far less mysterious and far more dangerous.

“I would like to see for myself,” Ariel said.

“Then wish for it,” Zenna said. She held out her arms and turned slowly in a circle, head thrown back. “Wish for it with all your might. But you will never know when it might come true.” She was clearly in love: with the place, with an idea, with life itself.

Ariel did what she thought people were supposed to do when making a wish. She closed her eyes, very tight, and thought hard. I want to see the vampires. Even as she thought this, half of her was playing a girlish game, but the other half was standing at the brink of fear, holding out a tiny flickering candle into the dark. This half was actually a very old part of herself, who was wise enough to know even the most outlandish wishes can come true.

Two days later, Zenna shook her cousin awake in her bed, in the dead hours of the night. Ariel awoke from a dream of red flowers, something to do with a white dog, a star that could speak. She blinked at the pale vision of Zenna, whose eyes were wide and dark. “What? What?” she hissed, suddenly afraid. Was the house on fire?

“I need you to come with me,” Zenna said.

“Why? Where?”

Zenna pursed her lips, screwed up her eyes and shook her head briefly. “It’s your wish,” was all she’d say. “Please hurry.”

Ariel got out of bed and put on her clothes. Were there vampires on the roof now? If she listened carefully enough, would she hear them scratching at the slates? Part of her was lecturing the rest of her many parts with a quiet and patient voice. Don’t go with her. Whatever she’s found, whatever she wants to show you, it won’t be what she thinks it is. A good girl now would say “no”. Why are you putting on your shoes?

“Don’t put on your shoes,” Zenna said. Perhaps she could read minds and could hear the measured voice of Ariel’s inner good girl. But her reasons were different. “We must go barefoot. It’s quicker that way.”

At night, the forest dares to speak aloud. As Ariel ran with her cousin, she could hear the immense cracks and groans of the trees, as if they were flexing their stiff ancient spines, pulling painfully their twisted roots from the possessive soil. The breath of the forest was now loud in Ariel’s ears. All manner of creatures might lurk in the darkness; humans were interlopers in this particular time and space. But when Ariel held Zenna’s hand and ran so fast, she felt she became something other than human and that this would protect her. She would not let go of Zenna’s hand, whatever happened.

The dragonbark grove felt as if something had just finished there; it had the air of a room where twenty people had just walked out of the door. All that is left is the smoke of their conversations, wisps that will eventually fade away. The bright moonlight made it possible to see almost as clearly as if the sun were in the sky.

“The vampires were here,” Ariel whispered. It was clear to her now that Zenna had wanted to share this experience and had come for her quickly. A pang of affection went through Ariel’s heart. It felt like a long, white-hot pin.

“It’s not just that,” Zenna said. She let go of Ariel’s hand and immediately Ariel felt fear, not affection. The pin was cold in her heart, making her breathless. Zenna was already walking away through the dappled moonlight; she was like a white hind again, lifting her feet delicately. Ariel blinked. She ran after her cousin.

Zenna had come to a halt before the greatest of the dragonbark trees; it must be their queen. “Here,” she said. “Look.” A pause, and then, with the slightest tremor of doubt: “Can you see?”

Ariel came to stand beside her cousin, and