The Thirst In Me

Fifty-Seven

"The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails." - John Maxwell

Keisha's POV

I sat in the kitchen waiting for Veron and Damion to get home from school. There was so much to discuss and so little time.

When the kitchen door finally opened, Veron angrily pushed past me and bounced up the stairs toward his room.

"What is wrong with him?" I asked Damion who walked in a few minutes later.

Damion shrugged his shoulders. "I really have no idea. After our classes ended, he just drove us home without saying a word. That's all I can tell you. He seemed pretty upset so I didn't bother questioning him."

I nodded. "Well let's go find out now," I commanded.

He squinted his eyes at me. "You do remember he's a vampire right?"

"I don't care." I had already started walking away. Damion followed me reluctantly.

Veron had left his bedroom door open so we just walked in. He was sitting at his desk with his head buried in his hands.

"I want to be left alone." He said when we entered the room.

I walked over to him and rubbed his back. "Tell us what happened." I coaxed him. "We can't help if we don't know what the problem is."

He shook his head and chuckled lightly. "I wish it were possible for you to help. Damn! We're so screwed."

Damion chose this moment to finally speak up. "I'm disappointed in you man." He chastised. "You were the captain of our football team. What happened to that optimistic leader that we knew? What happened to that guy?"

Veron looked up and shook his head. "This is bigger than me. It's  bigger than all of us." For the first time ever, I saw fear in his eyes.

I pulled out a chair and Damion came and stood closer to us.

Veron sighed. "You guys remember Mellisa?" He asked and we nodded.

"She's the girl from your class, the one you did an assignment with right?" I queried and he nodded.

He sighed. "She flung me across the room..."

"Well, she has super strength. She is a vampire." Damion put in.

"She flung me without even touching me." Veron continued and Damion pulled out a chair to sit.

"What the hell?" Damion. "Is she a more developed type of vampire?"

Veron rubbed his hand over his head. "I really don't know....and I don't think I should ask Malik about it."

"Did she say anything to you?" I asked.

Veron sighed again. "She said I was going to pay for my crimes."

Say what now!

My hands went up to both sides of my face. "What crime is she talking about Veron?"

"I really have no idea," Veron responded. "But whenever I look at her I see Abby so I guess it has something to do with that."

Damion's eyes were wide open. "Do you think she is Abby.....back from the dead?" He asked in amazement.

"Abby isn't dead," I informed him. "She's still alive but her memory has been erased so she doesn't even know who she is."

Damion looked as if he was going to throw up. "I think I need some water."

Veron chuckled humourlessly. "Ahhhhh!" He let out his frustration.

"Here's the water," Vanessa said as she handed Damion the bottle.

I almost jumped from my skin with fright. I didn't even know she was in the room. She locked the door behind her and pulled up a chair so we were now sitting in a semi-circle.

"Ok." Vanessa clapped her hands. "How do we take down Malik....no offense Veron."

Veron looked at me and I nodded. There's no way Vanessa would work against us now after finding out what Malik has done to her.

"We're taking Malik down?" Damion asked and we all nodded.

"Ok. Let's see what we have against him so far." Veron started and Vanessa butted in.

"He compelled me to kill Keisha's family then erased my memory."

Damion stared at her. "You did what?!"

Veron tapped him on his shoulder. "She was compelled. She couldn't control it, man."

Damion calmed down a bit but he was staring at Vanessa with a bit of disgust in his eyes. This must be hard for him to know that his girlfriend viciously murdered innocent people.

"I think he erased my memory too but I'm not really sure," Veron said. "I cannot remember my parents or grow up with them. I cannot remember my life before college... After having sex with Keisha I get bits and pieces of my memory back though."

I blushed. I knew that they must have assumed that we'd had sex but I still felt a little embarrassed when he said it out loud.

A wide smile spread across Damion's face. "That's so romantic. How come you haven't told me about this Doll?"

"So what memories do you have?" Vanessa asked, changing the topic. She has never been very supportive of our relationship.

"Ah. I remember playing and my mom calling me inside. And I remember having a younger sister...I think her name is Becca."

Becca! Wait a minute.....

I pointed at Vanessa. "What if you guys are related? Your sister's name is Becca. It could be short for Rebecca."

Damion laughed. "Don't be silly Doll. Her name is Vanessa....that's very far from Becca don't you think?"

I glanced at Vanessa and she breathed out heavily. "My real name is Rebecca. Keisha restored some of my memories today."

Damion took a mouthful of his water. "Pause for a minute. Keisha can undo compulsions and restore memories?"

I nodded. "I guess so."

Veron and Vanessa were staring at each other intently. They were still in shock at this revelation.

"We are not really sure you guys are related. What proof do you have?" Damion asked.

"I have a picture of my parents," Vanessa said as she pulled the photo from her jeans pocket.

I gasped. Veron had the exact same photo.