A Fate Worse Than Death

Chapter 5

Thursday September 30, 1886

Clara woke up to Xandria shaking her violently. "Clara, get up! We need to get off the train at the next stop." Clara sat up slowly rubbing her eyes

"Xany what's wrong?" She looked over to see Xandria packing quickly, shoving clothes in their bags.

"I found a body. A DEAD body Clary!! There's a murderer on the train."

Clara smiled and rolled her eyes her friend always did have an over active imagination. "Xany I doubt he was murdered. How do you know he was killed? Maybe he died in his sleep?"

Xandria looked over at her friend with an exasperated expression and sat on the bed next to Clara. "Because," Xandria said quietly "There were two holes in his neck like he was stabbed!"

Clara felt sick to her stomach "I need to talk to Vlad," she said as she jumped out of bed.

"That's fine," she heard from behind her "But you might want to get dressed first!"

____part 2____

Clara ran down the hall as she was trying to put on her shoes which was a harder feat than she imagined. When she got to Vlad's room she pounded on the door.

It didn't take long before he opened the door and pulled her into his room, shutting the door quickly.

"Vlad," she demanded, "what happened? Did you kill that man?"

He paced around the room then finally looked up at her. "Let me explain. He was one of the partners that was going to leave. I haven't bitten anyone for so long. He was threatening to run the business into the ground. I couldn't let him do that so... I snapped. I've never killed anyone before. You need to believe me. I only take what I need. Never more. But he just got me so angry. I couldn't control it." He said as he sat on the bed and looked at the floor.

Clara wasn't sure if she should be angry that he didn't tell her sooner, or sad that he was so upset that he at what he did. She sat next to him and held his hand.

"I do believe you Vlad. What can I do to help?"

As she said that she felt him pull her closer and kiss her gently. She felt like staying in his arms forever. She reached her arms around his neck. As they kissed Clara felt his teeth grow longer and sharper and his skin grow colder. She felt his hold on her tighten.

This time she wasn't going to stop him. She realized she wanted this more than anything. As she lied down with him, the train stopped suddenly, throwing them off the bed.

Vlad stood and helped her up laughing slightly. He looked out the door and saw Benedict running towards them terrified."Vlad! There was another death... Was it you?"

Clara walked up behind him and heard him whisper, "No, only the first. Do you think there could be another vampire on the train?"

Benedict looked around the hall "It's possible. Did you sense anything?"

Vlad shook his head sadly. "Alright," Benedict said quietly, "we may have to tell the group, just for their protection."

Vladamire nodded softly as he looked around the hall. "Tomorrow. We will gather for dinner and I'll tell them then." Ben nodded and patted Vlad on the shoulder as he left.

He closed the door and looked over at Clara. She looked up at him and smiled softly. "I guess our timing never works out."

He chuckled and walked over to her. "It seems that way. We will get it to work eventually."

Clara smiled and kissed him softly. "I need to go. I was going to eat with Eliza." He nodded slowly and put his arms around her hugging her close.

"Still on for dinner tonight?" he whispered into her ear. She wasn't able to speak, only nod 'yes'. She felt him chuckle as he let go of her.

"Right well I'll let you go then. Good bye Miss Clara."

Clara blushed and bit her lip softly. "....Ok bye!" she said as she ran out of the room.

"Stupid Clara!!" He heard her yell as she ran down the hall.

___part 3____

Clara sped to the dining cart just as Eliza got there "I guess we're both late." Eliza said laughing. Clara pushed her hair out of her face quickly, trying to look as nice as possible in a few seconds.

They sat eating breakfast and laughing "So how did you meet Benedict, Eliza?"

A big smile came across Eliza's face as she retold the story:

"Well I was in London trying to get home when I turned down the wrong road. I was very young you see, no older than ten. I became very frightened and I started to get worried. That's when I heard Benny call over to me. 'Hey girl. You lost?'

"Like all good children I was taught to never speak to strangers even though this boy wasn't much older than me.

"I ran away. Well sprinted was more like it. He soon caught up to me and tackled me to the ground. I told him I was lost and he took me to his uncle's house so he could help me get home. We were friends ever since then."

Clara laughed at the thought of Benedict tackling Eliza. Eliza looked over to Clara. "What about you and Xandria? How did you two meet?"

"My father owns the bakery that her mother likes to go to. We met when we were really young and just stayed friends ever since."

___________

After breakfast, Clara decided to become more familiar with the train. As she walked around she found out there was a second level with another dining cart where other people ate and a study full of chairs and books.

While she was walking through the many bookshelves, she felt someone behind her. Thinking it was Vlad she turned around, but found an older man with very sharp features and skin as grey as an elephant standing over her

"Oh sir," She said stepping back in surprise, "I'm sorry I'll get out of your way." She tried to step to the side to get past him but he grabbed her arm and held on tightly.

"It's a fate worse than death," he whispered sadly.

"Wh-what? Let go of me!"

He looked into her eyes with such sadness that Clara felt like crying. "Love is a fate worse than death." As he said that he let go of her arm and fell to the floor.

Clara ran to Vlad's room but he wasn't in there. Remembering he had a meeting, she ran to the room he said he had used before. She knocked on the door "We're busy!" she heard from inside the room.

"Vlad I need you right now!"

He opened the door and she saw the charming smirk on his face "Well, Miss Clara if I'm needed that badly I can spare a few minutes."

"Great come with me!" Clara grabbed his hand and ran out of the room with him.

They ran up the stairs to the library "Well this won't be very romantic you realize?" Vlad said as he pulled her closer.

She looked at him confused "Why would it be romantic?" She said as she led him down the row with the body.

They stood there for a while before Vlad finally said "Oh... This is why you needed me. Not... alright then." He knelt down next to the body and pulled down the collar of the shirt it was wearing.

Clara saw two small holes in the man's neck. As Vlad pressed down on the man's neck, the corpse turned to dust. Vlad stood up suddenly and made a little squeak. "That's not supposed to happen."