Free Evanescere: Origins by Vanessa Buckingham

I began, “please do not tell me that you
were Jack the Ripper.”
    “How did you know?” He asked still glaring at me.
    “I didn’t until now,” I hesitated.
    Realization of my joke suddenly dawned on his face
and he smiled.
    “So what happened in England, Mr. Jack the Ripper?”
I asked in a teasing manner.
    “That would be my alter ego Hyde,” he answered.
    We both laughed. That he would reveal something
about himself surprised me. I dropped the issue for now. If he wanted to talk
about it he would do so at his own time. I could sense he was not ready to open
up about it. I held his hand as we walked back to the house on the corner of
Ursuline and Bourbon Street.
    The anticipation of traveling to Europe has been
near erupting inside me. To visit the places that I only dreamed I could go as
a mortal, it was so surreal. I still felt a longing for my old life, but I have
come to understand that my family is safer from me now and forever. The
sacrifices I make, this pain burns and tortures me every day that I do not get
to see them.
    Jack makes sure to keep me busy these days. I have
met another vampire here in New Orleans, her name is Lorelei, a friend of
Jack’s. Lorelei has been amazing. She is more of a babysitter for me whenever
Jack is not at home. According to Lorelei she is younger than Jack and from
somewhere in Germany. Lorelei has a very colorful past that has become infamous.
Everything I had always thought was myth has proven to be true. I asked about
werewolves once. He scoffed at me; yet, he never fully answered me.
    The ride to the airport was uneventful. When we
arrived, the plane was being prepped for our departure. Jack still felt unease
with me being a newborn vampire. I think he was afraid I would eat the crew and
passengers.
    “Where is the trust, Jack? I asked him.
    “I trust you, it is your newborn instincts I am
unsure of,” he tells me.
    We met the pilot at the hanger. I was surprised
when the pilot addressed him as Jack De la Croix. It was awkward when Jack in
turn introduced me as his daughter Marie, even though I look nothing like him.
My skin was on the chalky olive side, almost like a permanent tan, where he is
fairer than I with a light tan I guess you would call it that. I guess when you
have been around you learn how to coexist with the humans.
    As in Jack’s case. I knew Jack had money and I just
never realized how much. He has been generous with me as his prodigy and I
still had a difficult time accepting his generosity. I flashed my eyes in the
direction of the captain and I smile at hearing his inappropriate thoughts, at
this point he was also starting to question his sexuality. I shook my head. Now
there was an imagine I would like to avoid. I smile wide flashing the captain
my perfect pearly whites. All the while Jack looked at me questioningly.
    “Later,” I tell him.
    I was so excited about being on a plane much less
having the entire plane to ourselves. I had never been on one before more out
of fear that it would explode. But now as a vampire come to grips with the fact
that I am virtually indestructible I look forward to flying without fear. My
thoughts shift suddenly to my family and just as swiftly I force them away. I
apologize to Jack. I know it tears at him when I give in to these emotions.
    We arrived at Heathrow Airport at dusk. From out
of the window, I can see the sun beginning to set. The sky looked so beautiful it
was awe inspiring. The airport was crowded, as travelers from every part of the
world ran from terminal to terminal trying to catch their plane. I had never
seen so many people from different countries and cultures all in one place. I
felt elated. I remember this feeling, I had it on my last night as a human. I
quickly set aside the memory. A quick glance at Jack and I could tell he was
feeding off of my energy right now. I am not sure if he ever felt this way. Childish
almost. We grabbed our bags and walked towards the exit.
    As we walked, I