Got Bitten: William's Story

Chapter 6: Origin

In South Africa.

I am going to South Africa to meet with a man name Alu. One of the vampires I meet in England said he knew more people like us in the lower countries. Alu is one of us. He came to London as a laborer but returned back to Africa for his family. Unfortunately, they were killed in a fire accident.

"You here," the small broken down bus finally stops. A dark skin man tells me. He helps me get out and gets my bags. I arrive near a small village. I see a tall and lean man standing with normal clothing while next to him there is a man with only paint, jewelry, and dirt covering his body.

"Hello," I say.

"You are Henry?" the man with dirt asks.

I nod. I take in both their scent. Both are vampires.

"I'm Alu. This is my friend," he points to the normal looking man. "This is Mudiwa."

"I am grateful," I say. "Meeting others like me is amazing. I only know 4 personally."

Mudiwa smiles, "Welcome then."

I get my luggage and walk with them into the village. It is very small with homes build from mud, wood, and aluminum. This is so poor.

We go into one of the "prettiest" houses, it is made from actual bricks.

I see a young girl, maybe 15, sitting down Indian style on the floor. She has her hair pulled back and her skin is brown and smooth. She is wearing a tiger fur dress. She is a human.

"This is my home," Mudiwa says. He sits next to the girl and tells me to do the same. I put my luggage beside the door and sit.

The girl lightly jumps and I hear her heart beat so fast. She is scared.

Alu sits in front of us. "What brings you here?"

"I want to know more about this," I point to me. "This is impossible."

Alu chuckles, "It is. It is the gods power. It is possible but unexplainable."

"I was bitten by Alu 4 years ago, I was dying of a beaten by an army of soldiers. But he saved me," Mudiwa says.

"He was special." Alu says.

"Do you have an idea of how we become this?" I ask. I want to know why is he nude, but other things are more important.

Mudiwa and Alu shrug. "We have a myth in South Africa," Alu says, "But first, can you guess why a man like me understands you?"

"Umm," I try to read his thoughts but he is blocking me.

"Heh, I am a mind reader too," Alu smiles. "You are weak. You can't read my thoughts but I can read others with a simple touch. I learned English by just reading minds in these past 50 years."

"Wow," I say. "And who bit you?"

"I don't know, I was a young man like you when I got bitten at night by the demon."

"So what about the myth?"

Alu nods, "Some call it impundulu, it is said that this bird transforms into a bigger bird with a form of a man. It can even transform into one just to lure women to drink their blood."

"It is immortal and cannot be killed by a bullet or an arrow in the heart, but by fire," Mudiwa finishes the story.

"I haven't heard that one before," I say. "So it can be a possible cause."

"Whatever the cause, we have the poison," Alu says.

"How long have you lived?" Mudiwa asks.

"Since 1907," I answer.

"Still a young one," Mudiwa says.
Alu explains about his appearance. He is stuck in tradition.

"You hungry?" Alu asks. He looks at the young girl. "She is a virgin. Her father volunteered her."
"Umm, no, I hunted already, thank you."
"Alright."
...
The night comes. I stay in a single room. I am not sleepy at all. I'm still not satisfied with what I am. What I got turned into. But at least I know there are many others out there.