Caroline Awakens
Part Two

When I opened my eyes, it was as if I had opened them for the first time. I looked up and saw Justine looking down at me. She had such a look of concern on her face, I tried to say something to her but could only smile. She fed me and allowed me to sleep again.

Upon opening them the second time, I felt stronger. I knew I was no longer a mortal. I felt every nerve in my body, every layer of skin. I looked around and it was if I was seeing things for the first time. The colors were intense, all the detail more defined. I was a little overwhelmed at first. I looked over at Justine and knew her thoughts. It was as if we were connected in mind. I read her words just as if she were speaking out loud. I raised my wrist to her so she could drink from me. If she drank from me and didn't become ill then we would both know I was well. I felt well. I felt alive for the first time in my life.

When she placed her mouth to my wrist and drank it was almost sensual. She was very gentle but I could feel my blood going into her. When she had drank enough to be sure, we laid together and waited. We watched the moon move across the sky. We talked very little. There was nothing really to say. Not yet. When we knew for sure, then there would be questions. Until I knew, they were of no importance. I felt my body grow weak as the time slowly passed. This hunger I felt was unlike anything I had ever felt before. When I had left home, I had gone days without much to eat. I know what it is like to be hungry, but this was something I had never experienced. I felt my blood burning as it flowed through my veins.

When the moon disappeared over the horizon we both slept. She knew we would have to feed when we woke. She was weak from giving me so much of her blood, but she was still so much stronger than I. When we woke again she went out to bring someone to me. I was very weak by then, the hunger all consuming. I thought of nothing but feeding. I had to feed. She was only gone a short time but it felt like forever to me. I felt my blood as it flowed and it was like liquid fire running through me.

I knew when she entered she had already fed from him.She had color in her face and she looked stronger. He was somewhat disoriented from her bite so it was not hard to lay him beside me. She helped me find the right place to bite and I quickly bit into his soft skin. There are no words to describe what it was like. Feeling his life's blood flowing into me. Cooling the burning in my blood. It was beyond anything I had ever experienced, pleasure or pain. Justine let me drink till I was satisfied. She had drank from him also and knew he would not leave this place. She waited untill I fell away from him, before she reached down and lifted his lifeless body from me. I felt almost drunk from the intense pleasure of having my blood so alive. It was a living thing all to itself. It flowed through me and I felt it reach every inch of my skin. No longer burning, but soothing and warm like a lovers touch.

I don't know how long I slept then. When I opened my eyes again it was still night. I heard Justine moving around the room, and when she saw I was awake she came to me. Now it was time to talk.

"You look so strong now. Unlike the frightened child I found in the park two days ago." She was smiling down at me as she talked.

"I feel strong, Justine. I have never felt strong before. Never in my life have I felt strong. It's nice." I couldn't help but smile.

" You are a newborn now in a sense, it will be a while before you feel the strength all the time. When you feed you will be your strongest. I can go a couple of days without feeding and still make it ok. You on the other hand will need frequent feeding just like a baby would. Not as much as I just let you drink, but more often. I don't usually drink until death occurs. It is too risky to leave drained dead bodies around. I drink enough to satisfy me, then I leave them to wake up and wonder what happened. They feel hung over and weak, but nothing more. It is safer, unless you wander and never stay in one place. I tried that for awhile, but grew tired of it and wanted a place to come to. We will need to leave this place now that you are stronger. There are people here who will know both you and the bodies found in the park so it is no longer safe for us to stay. I have few things so it will not take me long to be ready. We will get you clothes and personal stuff after we settle somewhere else. I have grown tired of this place anyway. We need to be in a big city to escape attention, but it is vile here. Even for one such as I. I want to move south. Do you have any place you have always wanted to go to?"

I didn't have to think long, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.

" New Orleans! I have always dreamed of New Orleans. The French Quarter, I want to walk through the Garden District and look at the old houses on St. Charles Avenue. When I was a a little girl I had a book with pictures in it that had belonged to my mother. I used to sit and dream about being a fine southern lady and living in a huge old house on St Charles. I wanted a big beautiful rose garden and weeping willow trees in the yard. I would sit in my room and go there in my mind when my dad would drink. It was my safe place."

I liked that I could still enjoy the memory of that. I didn't know how I would feel now no longer being mortal. It was nice to still want to go there and have my dream.

Justine was smiling at me as she knew my thoughts. She was sharing my dream and enjoying the idea too. We would go to New Orleans.

I thought of leaving this place behind, finally leaving. I had wanted away from here for so long. I never had enough money to get away. I would love to go to Miles and get back the money he had taken from me the last three years. I turned to look at Justine as she was putting her things together. She turned to me when she felt my gaze. I didn't have to say anything, she nodded her head yes when I looked at her. I wondered if I was strong enough to repay him for the last three years of hell he had put me through. I would face him unafraid for the first time. He had beaten me so many times and had his way with me so many times in that three years, I had lost count. I wondered what it would be like to face him and not be afraid. I would soon see. Justine looked around the room to make sure she had everything as she spoke to me."I have my things together Caroline. When you are ready to go I am ready."

I'm ready. I have never been so ready in my life." I smiled as we went to the door and I took the first step out into the night. The first step of my new life.