Free Eighteen Summers by Jessie M Page B

as it may come upon me very suddenly. I am to be supplied with short, frequent feeds to keep it under control. My bodily functions will be similar, but will occur far less often. If I am thirsty I can drink plasma, which is always available in the kitchen and also wine, water, and grape juice. These will not upset my stomach. No more human food can pass my lips or I will suffer a raging sickness, similar to human food poisoning.
    “Now, I wish to see your teeth. Open your mouth.” I open wide and she touches one of my canines. I feel it move, within my gum. My mouth waters, saliva pooling. I lift my finger and touch the sharp point that has descended. I try out the other side and smile a fanged grin, rubbing my tongue around them in satisfaction. I retract them and try them out again.
    “ Perfect. You will be able to raise your bite at will, without using your fingers after a while. It becomes a natural function. How does it feel?”
    “ It's certainly different. I like it though. Being fanged.”
    “ Good. Now all that is left is to explain your immortality. No vampire is truly immortal. We can die in a number of ways. You can bleed to death. You can drown. You can burn or freeze. But if you are careful in life, as any human would be, you will remain as you are forever.”
    “ Who were you, before you changed?” I ask her my burning question.
    “ At the age of twelve I became a servant in the Chesterfield family household. I worked there for nine years, on their estate in Lancashire. It is a National Trust house today.”
    “ How did you change?”
    “ I drank the blood of a vampire. It is the only way, other than by birth. Biological vampires, such as yourself, are formed differently.”
    “ Who turned you?”
    “ Gabriel.”
    “ Oh, and how did you meet him?”
    “ He and I became acquainted when he visited the Chesterfield ladies several times on business. He was their legal representative, a solicitor, and still handles all of our legal affairs today. He offered me the chance to escape my domestic station. That is why I was chosen for you. I used to be a lady's maid, you see.”
    “ Oh no... Sofia, I'm so sorry. You really don't have to wait on me. I'm sure you have better things to do.”
    “ No, I really enjoy it now. I have little else to do with my time otherwise. It is very pleasurable to me, to make you content and attend to your needs. It is how do you say? Jolly good fun!” She laughs heartily and I join in.
    “ Well, if you're sure.”
    “ I am quite sure. Now, let me finish and dress you.” I get out of the bath and she busies herself wringing out my hair which seems to be much longer than before. “As you don't need to sleep for eight hours any more, you will find your days very long. I hope My Lady has interests to keep her occupied?”
    “ I'm sure I can keep myself busy. How long do I need to sleep for?”
    “ It varies. I need perhaps two or three hours at most. I can get by on less. Some hardly sleep at all, others need a little more than I. Sleep serves a different purpose. It purely rests our brain. Our body cells do not need to regenerate as a human's do.”
    She finishes drying me and hands me a robe.
    “You are most beautiful Cali.” I glow with the compliment.
    She dresses me, fixes my hair and face, and leaves me for a while. I feel I am forging a good relationship with her. She is kind, thoughtful, and full of facts which I soak up like a sponge. After looking at myself in the mirror for an age, very immodestly, with the biggest smile on my face, I look for something to interest me. I poke around my wardrobe, jewellery, and shoes and finally, having exhausted all the things I can find to look at, I resort to the dusty old books yet again. I must find the media rooms soon, so I can play some music or read something more interesting than 'A Biography of Jane Austen', however wonderful an author she is.
    Finally Nico knocks and enters. I remain seated and smile at him