Birthright
December 24th 2002
The snow keeps on falling. Even for my trained senses it is difficult to see things clearly before me. Then I feel a slight wind in my back, immediately I rotate sideways so that the thing that is attacking me, stumbles right to the ground. It tries to get up but with a quick snap of my left foot it falls to the ground again. Quickly I pull out my stake and shove it right into its heart. Don’t know if it is a vampire or not, but there are not many beings out there who can survive a stake through their heart. When it doesn’t go poof, I know it is not a vampire. Did you get it? My watcher asks me after he just regains consciousness. Always Joe, I reply with an air of nonchalance. I may not be the chosen one yet, but I still have more strength and agility than a normal person, plus the twenty years of training you gave me. In my mind I am thankful that the snow keeps on falling, so my watcher won’t see me panting and trembling on my feet. I may still be a Potential, but I am also 35 years old. If he knew my condition was getting less, he would never allow me to patrol anymore. So I keep up the charade that I’m still like that flexible, perky sixteen-year old, who was told she had a destiny. A birthright, only meant for one girl in each generation. That was a long time ago and I know that he has lost the faith that his Potential one day shall be the Chosen One. Me, I still keep on wishing, hoping and praying.
December 30th, 2002
My watcher tells me to take the night off. In winter it is always difficult to patrol. Too many people walking about, doing holiday shopping. It is difficult to do things secretly. But many people on the streets also means more food for the creatures of the night. Ready to be taken when needed. So I lied that I was going to a party. When I hear a scream near the cemetery, I’m glad I didn’t take the night off. I couldn’t stand myself for letting somebody die, not on my watch. My years of experience tell me not to rush in, first check how many there are and if I can take them on alone. Crouching to the ground I can see three vampires trying to snack on some teens, who were making out in their car. I hope my daughter, Chelsea doesn’t do something that stupid when she goes out on a date. Three is too much for me, I calculate. Last time I beat three of them was almost 8 years ago, when I was at the peak of my strength. But when I see the terror in those kids’ eyes, I know I couldn’t allow them to be food for some filthy demons. So I take my hand crossbow and aim for the nearest vampire. Between heartbeats I shoot. Unfortunately the arrow doesn’t hit home and only points the, now angry vampires, to my direction. In the blink of an eye they’re surrounding me. In the corner of my eye, I see the teenagers driving away as fast as they can. A bit mad that they left me behind, I try to keep the vampires at bay. When the leader lunges at me, I sidestep and kick him to the ground. The other two jump towards me and I am able to fend one off. With one hand I squeeze his throat and with my other hand I stake. It hits home and his body goes poof. The other one is more lucky and he gets a hold on me. I struggle, but his strength is too much for me. The leader walks towards me. He puts on the same story I keep on hearing, all these years. I’m gonna let you pay for hurting me, vengeance is mine, yadda yadda. I always break free, but now I’m not so sure. When he takes a bite out of my neck and starts sucking, I fear my children will be motherless after tonight. Then I realise that this isn’t suppose to my destiny, I still have to be chosen. So with regained strength, I break free from the vampire’s hold and manage to stake another one. Only one left, but with so much blood loss, it is difficult to just stand. I whip out my cross and point it towards him. He hisses and says I can’t keep on holding it forever, he will get me. So we sit and look at each other. I don’t now how long we sat there, but when I see the first rays of the sun, I smile. I made it. Just when I see the vampire running back to the cemetery, I lose consciousness.
January 15th 2003
It’s been more than two weeks since that night. My watcher is still angry at me for not listening to him. But I know it is just an act he puts up. I know he is more worried than angry. Ever since I first met him, something has grown between us. A connection usually only reserved for father and daughter. But he has been a better father to me than my real one. Although he has given up the hope I will be the next chosen one, he never gave me a disappointing look. I’m back from the hospital now. It’s nice to be around my family again. My children keep on asking if I need something and my husband doesn’t want to leave my side. Now I know why Joe doesn’t like me patrolling anymore. It just breaks my heart, when I think of my children growing up without their mother. I am really thinking about quitting the Slayer work. I almost died that night.
February 21st 2003
What more groceries do I need? I think. Everything has to be perfect for Mike’s birthday. He’ll be 10 in a few days. I hope I got everything. It has been almost two months since my last patrol. Also the last time since I looked at the local paper. I don’t want to read about mangled bodies or people slain by some wild animal. Although I know who or what killed those people, I know I am not the right person to stop it. I am not the chosen one, never will be. Then I turn right and head for the check out counter.
March 28th 2003
Last night I dreamed. It was really strange and also familiar in a way. I can’t remember it, but it has really made an impact on me.
May 10th 2003
I open the door and walk into his office. He greets me and I walk to sit on the dark brown leather couch. It squeaks a little, when I sit down. So tell me about last week, he asks me. Well the same as last weeks. I still have those horrible dreams. I am chased by a creature. I try to run, but he always gets me. Then I die. But last night I was a sixteen year old girl form India and the night before I was an African girl, walking the Serengeti steps. I don’t know why I am having those dreams. Well my guess is, he tells me, that your near death has been too traumatic for you. Your mind tries to cope, by letting you experience it in your dreams. In your dreams you can’t be harmed. I think the first thing for us to do, is to let you recall that evening and see how you felt and what you were thinking. Okay, I reply, then I start talking.
May 20th 2003
Therapy hasn’t really been helpful to me, last night was really terrible. I kept screaming and hitting things in my sleep. I accidentally knocked Mike out when he came to ask why mommy was screaming so loud. I’m glad he only has a small concussion, but I am afraid I might hurt somebody really bad one day. I still keep having those dreams. Tonight Joe will come and perform a ritual to enter my mind and see what really is going on.
It is almost 7 o’clock. The sun has set and Joe will be here soon. The ceremony has to be performed during the night. When I hear a knock on the door, I yell. It’s open, Joe, come on in. When I turn around I look at the face of somebody familiar. His eyes are burning bright yellow and sharp white fangs reflecting the lamp in the living room. It is the vampire that almost killed me.
Like a deer looking into approaching headlights, I stare at him. I don’t know what to do, it’s almost like I forgot all my training. Then I realise he wants me, he wants my blood. He jumps towards me and we both stumble to the ground. I tell him to leave me alone, that I’m not hunting his kind anymore. But he says once you join the fight, you can never turn your back to it. Then Michael and Chelsea come running down the stairways. They must have heard the noise. When they are downstairs, I hear Chelsea screaming when she sees a strange man with a bumpy forehead. He smiles and whispers to me, 'you will be dessert'. Slowly he walks to my children. What can I do, I ask myself? I am not the slayer, I am too weak to stand against him. But just as he reaches for Michael, I feel a burning sensation from within me. It burns so strong, I feel like I could combust any moment. But then the fire spreads. It goes from searing hot to warm as it revives my muscles. But it does more than that, I can feel strength in my body unlike I have ever felt before and somehow I remember what I was born to do. I grab a pencil Chelsea left on the table and throw it to the vampire. With newly regained confidence I know it will hit its mark. And then, not to my amazement, he turns to me with a surprised look in his face and then it disintegrates. How is that possible mom? Chelsea screams. Who are you? Michael asks. I am the chosen one, I answer.
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