Bad Blood

Underneath the broiling sun, Sebastian spit pink swirled saliva on the sidewalk. It popped and sizzled like grease. Rivulets of rose-colored sweat beaded up on his brow. An oily drop of flesh colored makeup tinged with chemically enhanced sunblock trickled down his cheek. Sebastian carefully fixed the smudge. Another couple minutes in the sun and his protective skin would melt like hot wax. He stepped on the stairs and glared at the cardboard sign above him. The silhouette of an infant suckling its mother's breast stood out luridly against a yellow background, topped by a faded rainbow that read: The Wellness Center.

"Well now," he mused, "isn't that a spiffy name for a ghetto clinic."

His bone white hands curled around the iron guardrails and squeezed. The metal crumpled like paper underneath. Bits of black grit clung to his palms. Sebastian released his grip, and smoothed back his short cropped black hair. It was soaked with mousse, perspiration, and spots of blood from last night's dinner.

The chains on his boots jangled as he stepped up another step.

I have to do it. I've got to know. If I don't, I'll go...

Crazy. After three decades of being undead, all he had left to lose was his mind. He pounced over the last four steps and landed in front of the door. Sebastian's attention lingered over the peeling paint and cracked frame. If she infected me, I'll kill her. Snap her neck like a twig, and watch her writhe on the floor. Just as soon as I finish with the doctor...

He reached up to check his face; no more dripping ooze.

Sebastian groped for the knob, and went in.

He knows.

The song is playing for our final dance.

But, shouldn't he be immune? Didn't all the horror novels she had read say that vampires couldn't contract diseases? How can a virus kill the undead? Maybe it wasn't her fault.

They hadn't seen each other in over a week when the phone woke her up at two in the morning...

Trina jumped out of bed, and snatched up the receiver.

"Hello?", she said groggily.

"Trina?" Sebastian's voice sounded hot and ragged. There was an edge of fear in his tone, but it was mixed with something else. Pure anger.

She was instantly awake...and shivering with icy fear.

"I'm sick."

Trina felt nauseous.

It's happening...I should have known it would...but I didn't know it would be so quickly...How?...How can it be happening already?...It's supposed to take years to incubate.

She lied to keep him from blaming her.

"Maybe it was someone you ate.", she snapped. "Why are you bothering me with it?"

"I've never been sick before. Until..."

Her throat tightened.

"...I was with you." He said it with great pronouncement-as if he just decided it was true.

Trina couldn't speak. Oh god. She had to tell him. Wasn't it his right to know? But, what would he say? Even worse, what would he do? He could be so violent sometimes, so cruel.

"You still there?"

Her voice was numb with terror, "Yes, have a test done. Go get the test." It was over. She did it. Finally.

Sebastian sounded genuinely puzzled. "What are you talking about? What test?" Then it hit him. "You don't mean..."

"Yes.", she was crying now. "An AIDS test."

"You never told me. Why? Didn't you think I should know? You filthy slut. I'll get my test. Tomorrow. And, if it's positive..."

She slammed the phone in his ear and spent the rest of the night fearful. The slightest noise sent her into a bawling frenzy. Finally, she found an old hammer and fell asleep with it in her arms.

That was fifteen days ago. If he went the day after he called, then his results would be in today. Once it was positive, he come for her. It wasn't his nature to forgive. Sebastian would simply kill her.

She went to her nightstand pulled out a withered black rose. Even old and dead, it looked beautiful. She clutched it to her chest and began sobbing. "Oh god ...why?...why is it coming to this?"

A plump black woman slurped a large thermos of coffee and chomped down on a giant size eclair. She chewed and grunted like a pig in slop, until Sebastian pounded the desk to get her attention. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see Dr. Monroe some time today."

She calmly finished her snack and scowled right back at him. "Sit down. I'll buzz him."

Sebastian tuned in her thoughts like radio waves.

Spooky lookin' freak, but I ain't gonna take his crap.

He grinned wolfishly. "You're alright lady, but I don't have time for this." Sebastian leaned over the desk and made a dash for the intercom, screaming, "Yo doc, I'm here."

She slapped his hand off the button. "Get outta my face, and in a chair, or get the out. You WILL wait until he's through."

Tough old buzzard. He had to admire her strength. It reminded him of Trina. "Okay lady, I'll play it your way. For now."

He trudged off towards the chair like a petulant child, and slumped down in the cracked leather padding. He hated waiting. All it did was give him more time to dwell on Trina. It hurt to remember that, at one point, he really did love her...

"Excuse me sir, but unless you're going to purchase that...", she pointed to the copy of Penthouse in his hand, "I'll have to ask you to put it back on the shelve."

He spun around to tell the nagging clerk a thing or two, and found himself staring into a pair of dazzling violet eyes.

She dressed in black. All the way from her Doc Martens, laced at the knees, to her frilly ruffled blouse. Perfect body, pallid face, and a long ebony mane of cornsilk straight hair. Woof! His kind of girl. She'd make a juicy vampire.

His eyes drifted down to her cleavage. "Well honey, there's probably better things to look at in this store anyway."

Trina stared at him indignantly. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

YES! She took the bait.

Sebastian grinned. "When do you get off work?"

"Midnight."

"Good. I'll come back and show you what I mean."

Trina slapped him; leaving a palm sized red welt. He barely flinched. Sebastian traced the mark with his finger and smiled. The sting was sweeter than anything he'd ever known, except blood of course.

"Look, I'm not trying to bang you. I just wanted to take you out for a while. No strings." He slumped down and lowered his eye brows in an effort to look innocent. "Please?"

She fought to repress a smile. "Maybe. As long you try not to be so obnoxious."

He winked. "I promise."

As Sebastian walked out, he could feel her watching him. He turned around and saw a big grin rippling across her face.

His Harley came to a roaring stop, outside the store, at midnight. She took her time, chatting with replacement clerk, and shuffling her feet across the store. Trina was trying to play it cool but he could feel her excitement. Finally, she came out and leered at Sebastian like he was a walking cesspool.

"I don't even know your name, yet you expect me to just get on that thing, and ride off into the moonlight with you?"

"It's Sebastian."

"I'm Trina."

"Wonderful, now can we go?"

"Momma told me never to go out with strangers.", she purred.

What a tease.

He slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a single black rose. Sebastian held it out for her approval. She reached for it tentatively and blushed. "Cool. I've never actually seen one before. It's beautiful"

"Now, why would I have spent the past four hours looking for a late night florist unless I wanted to assure you of my good intentions? I may act like a jerk sometimes but I'm as vulnerable to a gorgeous woman as any other man."

She was hooked. Trina clenched the rose between her teeth and mounted the bike. "In that case, let's ride."

The rest of the night was smooth as silk. First they went for a late night dinner at Denny's, then to Battery Park for a walk. Their conversation flowed easily. Going from past, to present, to future without any problems. Sebastian was impressed. She was intelligent, funny, down to earth, and wildly romantic at the same time. It had been years since he'd enjoyed being with a woman without exchanging any bodily fluids. Maybe he could eventually be truly honest with her and confess his big secret. He wondered if she could handle falling in love with a vampire.

Then it happened. A ray of light peeked out over the clouds. It was almost dawn. He'd been so enraptured with her that he never noticed how long they'd been out. He rummaged through his pocket, but it was empty. No sunscreen.

You idiot! Now what are you going to do?

Trina noticed the wild look in his eyes and tugged at his sleeve. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Where do you live?", he ordered.

"Huh? Why?", she glared at him with disgust. "I'm not that easy."

His skin started to tingle. "I have to get indoors before dawn. Don't make me beg, I'm telling the truth." Please believe me.

She relented, "It's close. Two blocks over. 16 Tatnall street."

Before Trina could protest further, he grabbed her and ran for the bike. They cut through the streets like a speeding bullet until they reached her house. As they ran for the door, she turned to him and said, "What the is going on?"

"Look, just get us inside."

"But-"

"Please."

They stepped in and he slammed the door to block out the oncoming sun. "Is there a room that's safe from the light?"

Trina looked petrified, as if she just figured out exactly what was wrong.

He placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

She winced at his touch.

Full light poured through the window and he screamed,"Please, save me."

Trina snatched his arm and dragged him to the basement. She was so frantic to get him down the steps, he almost fell. Once they were in, she bolted the door behind them and stared at Sebastian with undisguised awe.

He was pissed. "You could have killed me."

Fear alchemised into red hot rage and Trina was fuming. "How was I supposed to know your intentions? You're not even human, are you? I'm not stupid. I know exactly what you are. I'm down here with a bloodsucker. Well, you stay over there. Don't come near me, or I'll open this door and let the sun pour in."

Sebastian was genuinely hurt. "I didn't mean to take it out on you. When I'm scared, I take it out on other people. I'm sorry."

She smiled at him and whispered, "What am I going to do with you?"

He laughed.

It was start of a beautiful relationship.

They were together every night for three months. He told her all about his condition. Eating food was possible, but it always made him throw up later. Daylight was fatal unless he had protection. Crucifixes were a okay. So was garlic. Unless he ate it.

Sheer bliss. Except for the one thing it was missing. Sex. Once he felt it was time, Sebastian handled it with his usual tact.

He stopped eating in the middle of dinner and said, "Vampires can have sex you know. Just like mortals. except our sperm is inert."

Her voice twittered like a frightened bird, "Really? I was afraid to bring it up."

"Oh yes. I rather enjoy it. Especially if I sip my lover's blood during orgasm. It's very intimate."

"That doesn't sound too bad.", she whimpered.

Sebastian wasn't sure if she was trying to convince him, or herself.

"I want to be with you Trina." He walked up, wrapped his arms around her. "I love you. It's time for us to be together."

Whatever hesitation she had was gone. Trina fell into his arms and let him carry her to the bedroom. It was incredibly romantic that Sebastian never noticed the foreboding look on her face.

She never gave him the slightest hint of her big secret.

They tumbled into bed and stripped. He mounted her and let all his fury go. It was rough and tumble. They both wanted it that way. Like wild animals. Trina writhed underneath him, moaning, "Do it. Bite me." She dug her nails into his backside and hissed, "Drink my blood." He contracted her pelvis and slammed her hips into his. Sebastian lost all control. He snatched her head up by the hair and sunk his fangs in. She yelped, and her whole body shuddered with joy. Blood rushed through him; sweet and coppery like hot butterscotch. Trina screamed in delight. He bucked up against her like a newly born colt and spurt his love in scalding waves across her thigh.

He rolled off and sank down in the bed, limp with exhaustion.

She started crying.

Sebastian caressed her cheek. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, it was wonderful."

"Then why are you crying?"

"Nevermind, it doesn't matter now. Just hold me for a while."

He did. That night and every night they could get together. It was bittersweet perfection until she started to make excuses. More and more often, she didn't want to see him. After a month passed, Sebastian hardly saw her at all.

The one time he stormed into her house and demanded answers, she threw him out. Her only excuse was that she was sick. He remembered her muttering about sleeping all day, and throwing up all night.

In retrospect, he figured AIDS must have finally kicked in and she didn't want him to know.

That had to be it.

Yet, he dimly remembered something else it could be.

Another possibility he didn't want to even consider.

"He's ready to see you now." The receptionist's shrill voice broke his train of thought. Whatever he was thinking would have to wait until he had the results.

Dr. Monroe frowned as Sebastian entered the office. "Hello, how are you today?"

"Cut the small talk doc, just give me the results."

"Well...", he made a gurgling noise to clear his throat. "I want you to know that we have several counselors on staff that can give you advice on your results, and will be happy to help you in any way to make you life easier..."

"Look, I got that spiel before the test. Just spell it out in black and white. NOW."

The doctor sputtered his reply, "It's positive. You have the HIV virus." He expressed his relief with a heaving sigh. "Your test results were...um...unusual. Apparently the virus has affected your system in a way we've never seen before. You've contracted the virus, but none of the antibodies. Yet, with the way your cells are structured, there maybe hope."

"Look doc, you've known what I am ever since you and your lab buddies created that special sunscreen for me. Just say it before I literally spill your guts out."

"Fine, the virus has made you anemic. Your blood is dying. And with your condition, the blood really is your life. The lost plasma has to be replaced."

"So, all I have to do is drink lots of blood, and I'll be okay?"

"Not exactly. You have to find a human-with the HIV antibodies present-and drink their blood. That will replace what you've lost and make it possible for you to fight the virus. With that type of infusion, your body should heal itself within a day or two."

"What if someone with HIV was turned into a vampire what would their chances be?"

"If the person had contracted AIDS before their rebirth, then theoretically, the transformation would cure them. Why?"

Sebastian took a second to run over the implications in his mind. "Just curious. Don't worry about it. I have to pay a visit to a friend." He started to leave.

Dr. Monroe blocked his path. "Wait! You've must tell me what you meant."

"Don't worry, it was a long shot. Now get the out of my way. I've got someone to kill." He shoved past the doctor, and the receptionist, until he was outside on his motorcycle. The engine revved up, and spit exhaust fumes. "I'm coming for you. I've got a score to settle." He squealed off down the highway; heading straight to Trina's house.

Trina looked outside and cringed. The sun had been consumed by bitter nightfall. He could show up anytime now. Full of righteous fury and probably ready to kill. All Trina knew was that she couldn't run. No matter what happened.

Then she heard his motorcycle ripping across her lawn. He was screaming her name. "Trinaaaaaaaaaa." His pain was raw, like an open sore; festering with love and hate. She felt his torment as keenly as her own.

It was time. Trina made her way through the house, until she was downstairs. If they had to confront each other, it should be the place their love was born.

Bad blood had passed between him and her, literally and figuratively.

Trina was determined to do all she could to make it right.

"Whatever it takes.", she whispered and started preparing herself.

Sebastian burst through the front door like it was glass. "Where are you? Come here, NOW!" He marched through the house like a human hurricane; trashing everything in his path. "You gave me your disease and now I need the cure. Blood, baby. Yours. Give it to me."

He couldn't handle looking through the house to hunt her down like prey. All around him were memories of their relationship. The tattered sofa they made love on. Several old pictures were strewn all over the floor; like someone had laid them out on purpose. Then, Sebastian turned to the coat rack, and spotted the leather bomber he'd bought her on their last date.

Never again. Sebastian ripped the jacket to shreds and roared like a wounded beast. Every primal, sadistic urge he ever repressed swallowed all the memories and spit them out as pure venom. Whatever sanity he possessed was shattered.

"C'mon sweetheart, come out, come out where ever you are. I don't want much, just YOUR BLOOD."

A muffled whimper floated up from the basement.

He ran to catch it.

The door was open, so he flew down the steps in one leap.

Trina stepped out of the shadows looking like a bruised china doll. "Was it really necessary for you to be so loud? I have neighbors you know."

Unbelievable. She was still trying to play it cool. How calm would she be when he split her neck like a ripe tomato? Maybe that'll ruffle her feathers.

Sebastian thought all of this, but couldn't reply. He snorted like a boar and charged her. He caught Trina's waist in his hands, and they hit the floor with a sickening thud.

"I'm going to kill you. Do you hear me? I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

She didn't cry, scream, or even beg. All she said was "I loved you."

Sebastian shivered with ecstasy. Drool ran from his chin like a rabid dog as he hovered over her and gnashed his teeth together. "TOO LATE. YOU BETRAYED ME. I DRANK YOUR BLOOD, AND IT'S KILLING ME. YOU GAVE ME AIDS!"

Trina only smiled.

He dove for her throat; shrieking in agony.

Suddenly, Sebastian found his back mashed against the cold floor. His eyes were glazed from shock as he gawked up at her. She had flipped him, and landed right on his chest. Amazing.

Trina wrapped her hands around his throat and said, "I may have given you AIDS my love, but you gave me something far deadlier."

Then, she plunged her fangs into his neck and drained him dry.