Savage Dreams

by dazzystar aka shelby taylor

**********************

I am walking, following the music.
The music that awakens my soul and makes me come alive.
I walk, coming to a gate.
A gate that seems to be locked.
And nothing I can do seems to open it.
But the music still calls, and I do not give up hope.
I close my eyes and lean on the door
And it opens…as if it had never been locked at all.

I step inside, into a beautiful garden.
Full of strange and wonderful plants.
I sigh, happy to have found such a place

Just then I hear a voice…
“Beautiful isn’t it?”
“Oh yes, absolutely stunning.” And so is the person I
see.
“You should be careful though, the master of the
garden exacts a terrible price for viewing his
garden.”
“What price could be so terrible, for to see such
beauty makes me happy.”
“You’ll find out soon enough, the master will be here
shortly. I won’t be here when he arrives.”
“But why?”
“I don’t dare risk the punishment. If I were you, I’d
leave.”
As he turns away, I try to stop him, but he won’t be swayed.
“At least tell me your name.”
“Its Daniel, now hurry, leave before my master comes.”
His master? Just who is his master? Suddenly there is
thunder and a fierce wind blows. I shrink away, hiding
behind a tree.
“Who dares to enter the Garden? Daniel? Are you here
again? Answer me and you won’t be punished.”
This was the master? From my viewpoint, he didn’t look
much older than 18.
“Daniel? Answer me!”
Daniel wasn’t in the garden of course, I was. And if
I were lucky, the master wouldn’t find me.
“Damn it Daniel, I hope you got out. But I know
someone is here, show yourself.”
I stayed where I was; something about the tone of his
voice frightened me.
“I said show yourself! Don’t make me find you, you
won’t like what happens.”
With that threat over me, I stepped out from behind
the tree, right in front if the master.
“So you decided to show yourself, good. What is your
name?”
“Shelby, my lord.”
“Shelby? Hmm, I guess it will do, maybe I’ll change
it later on. What do you think of Colby? Or Alana?”
“My name is Shelby. Shelby Lynn Taylor, you shall not
change my name.”
“You have no choice, haven’t you heard? You have to
marry into the family now.”
“What?”
“That’s the punishment, you have to marry into the
family. Where have you been?”
“I just arrived yesterday.”
“Then you had no clue. That really doesn’t change
anything, rules are rules.”
“But I had no idea…”
“No excuse.”
“But I can’t marry, my family needs me. Colby,
Jannette, my mother. They’ve all been so sick. We
moved here on doctor’s orders. Can’t you please
forgive me?”
“It isn’t up to me, its up to my father. The true
master of the Garden.”
“You’re not the master?”
“No, what gave you that idea?”
“You were the one who came.”
“My father is old, he can no longer take care of the
garden as he used too. My brothers and I care for it
now.”
“You’re brothers?”
“Yeah, mine five brothers. I also have a couple of
sisters.”
“You have a large family.”
“I know, and I’m the youngest, try getting attention.”
“I do know the feeling. May I ask a question?”
“If you wish.”
“What’s your name?”
“Darren, Darren Stanley Hayes.”
“I’m pleased to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, believe me. Its not
everyday one meets their future wife.”
“What?”
“I’m the one you’re going to marry. My brothers already have.”
“But I don’t want to marry you. I don’t know you.”
“You think I like it? Its archaic, these stupid
rules, I want to know my betrothed before I marry
her.”
“So do I, I mean, you’re a handsome man, but I’d
rather marry a sheep right now.”
“And you’re beautiful, but I’d marry a horse first.”
“There has to be a way around it.”
“I don’t know, but how’s this for a start? I let you
go, and you tell no one of your being her or that
we’re betrothed. IF you come again, then we have to
marry. I won’t hide you again.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“I do have one request?”
“And what would that be?”
“Let me come visit you.”
“You want to visit me?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes, you may visit me, just beware of Colby.”
“You’re sister?”
“Yes, she’s vicious.”
“Oh. Don’t tell her about the garden.”
“I won’t and I doubt she’ll find it by herself.”
“Good, now you’d best leave before my brother’s come.”
“”Of course, good-bye Darren.”
“Farewell Shelby, I shall visit soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I went outside the gate and turned towards home. I
had no problems getting back. In fact, no one seemed
to notice I was missing. Everything seemed normal.
A few days latter Darren came to my door. He met with
my mother who allowed me to go out walking with him.
Colby was her vicious little self, but somehow Darren
managed to keep her in line, he had a way with her.
But Darren and I got closer, it was very hard when he
never had much time to stay, taking care of the garden
took much of his time.
Then one day Darren stopped coming. It was rather
abrupt, and I had to wonder what had happened to him.
My mother urged me to go look for him, and since I had
her permission, I did so.
I went back to the garden. I got in the same way I as
before, but the Garden was different, darker, and more
dangerous. It didn’t stop me from going in, I looked
around, hoping that Darren would be close, no such
luck. So I went in deeper.
The very plants got darker, more evil, but finally I
got to a clearing. There was a huge castle. I went
to investigate and met Daniel again.
“Don’t go in there, its too dangerous.”
“I must find Darren?”
“Darren? What do you want him for?”
“I need to know if he’s all right.”
“Believe me, he’s fine.”
“Why should I believe you? You’re too scared of the
master to do anything.”
“I’m smart enough to be afraid, you’re a fool.”
“”If you’re so smart, why are you still talking to
me?”
“I’m trying to save your life.”
“I must see Darren.”
“Why are you so insistent?”
“Because I’m betrothed to him.”
“He found you and let you go? His father would never
allow it.”
“His father didn’t know.”
“Oh. Did your really need to see him?”
“Yes. Please, if you could only show me where he way,
if he’s in the castle.”
“He’s not, he’s at my house, recovering from his
injuries.”
“Injuries? What happened? Is he all right?”
“He lives, he’s not doing well on healing, but he
lives.”
“What happened?”
“The slaves revolted. His father and the rest of the
clan died. Darren, he jumped from the window, he’s
hurt pretty badly, but he does live.”
“Take me to him.”
“Of course.”
Daniel took me to Darren.... And when I saw him, it
was terrible. He was covered with cuts and had
several broken bones. He was lucky to be alive. He
was sleeping, but woke when I sat beside him.
“Shh, you’re hurt.”
“I feel better, now that I’ve seen you.”
“Rest now, we’ll talk later.”
“I am tired.”
“Then sleep.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Darren went back to sleep and I went back to Daniel.
“Why did the slaves revolt?”
“They didn’t want his kind to live any longer.”
“His kind?”
“You mean you didn’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Darren’s a vampire.”
“What!”
“He’s a vampire. He drinks blood to survive.”
“But he’s not dead.”
“No, he’s mortal, but he needs the blood of others to
survive.”
“Oh.”
“Does this change your feelings for him?”
“No.” I still love him.”
“Would you give him your blood?”
“What?”
“He needs somebody’s blood other than mine. I’m not
strong enough. You might be.”
“I’ll try.”
“Wonderful, he can’ live much longer without it.”
“If I don’t die.”
“I doubt you’ll die, unless I can’t stop him. That’s
only if he loses control.”
“Is it possible?”
“Yes. Darren hasn’t fed on blood for years. It was a
bane for his family. They couldn’t understand his
ideals.”
“So what did he eat?”
“What he could in the garden, and what he managed to
steal.”
“He ate was us several times.”
“See, he managed to survive.”
“Leave me with Darren.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“If that’s what you wish.”
“I do.”
“Then I will leave, be careful.”
Daniel left and I was alone. I lay down beside
Darren, trying to wake him.
“Darren, come on, wake up.”
“Shelby, you’re still here?”
“Of course my love, I couldn’t leave you when you
needed me so.”
“I don’t’ think I’m going to make it.”
“Don’t’ be silly, of course you’re going to make it.”
“I’m so tired…”
“You need a decent meal is all.”
“Nothing you have can save me.”
“There is one thing…”
“No! Shelby, I won’t take your blood.”
“You have to.”
“I do not.”
“Yes you do, I’ll not have my fiancée dying before we
marry.”
“I will not take your blood.”
“You don’t have the strength to fight me.”
“I’ll fight you until I die.”
“You will not die, and you don’t have to feed again
after that. All you need is a little so you can
heal.”
“Shelby…”
“Please Darren, take my blood this once, I don’t want
to lose you.”
“I won’t do it again.”
“I know.”
“It’s only because I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“It might hurt, a lot. I don’t’ have fangs so I’ll
need to use a blade.”
“Fine, I just don’t want you to die.”
Darren tried to raise himself, but couldn’t. He went
down again.
Shelby, there’s a blade in my pocket, could you?”
“Of course.”
I reached around him and pulled out a wicked looking
blade, very sharp. Darren took if from me, took my
wrist and ran the blade across it. A crimson line
traced where the blade had cut. Darren dropped the
blade and brought my wrist to his mouth. Sucking
lightly. It didn’t hurt, so I lay down beside him,
strangely calm.
I never knew I had passed out until I woke up sometime
later, Darren was there, sitting beside me. There were
tears in his eyes.
“Darren? What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry Shelby, just so sorry.”
“But why?”
“I did something I never planned to do, I didn’t mean
to do it.”
“What did you do?”
“I made you one of us.”
“one of us? What do you mean?”
“I made you a vampire, it was an accident, I took too
much of your blood, you were dying. I didn’t want you
to die, so I made you a vampire.”
I’m a vampire? You made me a vampire?”
“It was an accident, I’m sorry.”
I was a vampire. Daren was now crying uncontolably, so
I did the only thing I could do, I put my arms around
him and told him it was okay. And it was, I saw all
our options in front of me, and all of them included
Darren. My love, my life, the owner of my soul.
“You don’t mind being a vampire?
“Not as long as I’m with you. I’ll be fine, and if one
day we part, I’m sure I’ll be fine then too.”
“Really?”
Really., now I’d better go home so my mother doesn’t
worry.”
“You can’t go home Shelby, they’ll destroy you.”
“But I need some items.”
“Leave them, you won’t need them where we’ll be
going.”
“Are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow night, We can’t stay here, it isn’t safe
any longer.”
“All right.”
“You can send a letter later on.”
“All right.”
“Rest now, you’ll need all your strength tomorrow.”
“All right. Join me?”
“Yes.”
Darren lay down beside me and we fell asleep. I
didn’t wake until the next night when Darren woke me.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Of course. Whenever you are.”
“Then we leave now.”
Darren and I said our good-byes to Daniel and left.
We had many adventures. Our share of joys and
heartbreaks. But those are stories for another time.

Shelby Lynn Taylor Hayes

~fin~

other fics to be read

~return~