Chapter 24: The Bee
Chapter 24: The Bee
Conversations came and went. I went back to my room, trying to get back to my mandatory afternoon nap, when I heard the sounds of a piano keyboard.
I walked through some corridors following the sound trail.
On the second floor, in a large and closed room, like the entire mansion.
Blake was sitting in front of a huge grand piano, unlike the traditional ones, the piano was white.
Blake was shirtless, wearing only black pants made of some rare fabric.
He played the piano very well. He was the type of person who could close his eyes and feel the music shine through his soul.
I liked the song, even though I didn't know its origin. But I confess that the greatest pleasure was seeing that vampire man, half-naked. His shoulders were broad and white. As he played the keys, his athletic muscles jumped from side to side. I was no longer paying attention to the music; I was paying attention to Blake. I wanted to get behind him and hug him, kiss every part of his body. I was sure he would let me. But I held back.
I got closer and he noticed my presence. He kept playing while asking me: “Did the music keep you awake?”
“Everything is fine, this afternoon, sleep is taking a while to come. Did you also not sleep during the day?”
“No! I had already planned to wake up this afternoon. I needed to go outside, under this sun, I wanted to see my crops.”
“Do you grow plants?”
“Yes, I have my own private garden. When I’m not riding my motorcycle fast through the streets, I’m watering my garden, my own personal hobby.”
“Why don’t you water them at night? Walking during the day is dangerous.”
“I could do that, but during the day, when the plant gets water, photosynthesis occurs. They grow faster. I like to grow them.”
“That outfit you’re wearing is funny, it looks like one of those nuclear radiation control guys.”
“It was actually a beekeeper’s outfit. Spider-Man got it for me and adapted it by gluing on a dark anti-ultraviolet screen, protecting my face from the sun. At first I only wore it to go out and water the garden, but I became interested in the origin of the outfit and started keeping bees too.”
“Do you have bees here?”
“Yes, they are in the woods, do you want to go and see them with me?”
“I want to go and see them after dark.”
“Let’s not go now!”
“But, Blake, it’s four in the afternoon… the sun is out and I don’t want to turn into invisible toast.”
“Don’t worry, I have other spare clothes.”
“Oh! Let’s go then!”
Blake and I got dressed, everyone in the mansion saw us putting on those outfits and thought it was strange that he was getting close to me. I didn’t even care, I was already used to people staring at me because of my profession as a model. But there I felt like an astronaut.
“If you feel a ray of light entering your robe or if something happens, run inside the mansion or look for a place with shade.”
Blake explained to me, and I gave the YouTube like sign. He opened the door, and for the first time since I became a vampire, I went out during the day. Despite the light, I saw everything as gray due to the dark protective screen on the visor. I put my little foot outside the mansion.
We walked under the sunlight. Blake turned around the whole time to see if everything was okay with me. And I was, however, I felt weak. And even though I was protected, I felt like the sunlight was weighing down on my back. Why does the sun hate vampires? I never knew.
Blake took me to see his garden. It was quite beautiful. Very well organized. I saw tomatoes and other edible vegetables. Then he took me to see his bees. Even though I was a vampire, I was afraid of being stung. Blake removed a honeycomb and squeezed it, filling a container with honey. We went back to the mansion and he put honey and blood in a glass of wine just for the two of us.
I was really enjoying him… his blood! Drinking blood was already becoming normal, I could taste the honey and wine, but it was the vital liquid that filled my being.
“How are you feeling about being a vampire?”
“I’m getting used to it. I thought it would be hard, but I’m starting to find this vampire life cool. I’m just worried about how long I’ll have to stay here.”
“Erika, stay as long as you think necessary. Due to our condition, we vampires are used to living in groups, one protecting the other.”
“I appreciate it Blake, but I have to go back to college and I need to work to earn my money, now I can only work at night. I can’t go to job interviews during the day.”
“Don’t worry about that, I have several contacts, I can find you a suitable job, and if you don’t want to work, let me support you, I have enough money for all of us.”
“By the way, how do you manage to afford this mansion?”
“I have business!”
“Business of what?”
“Guess?”
“Ah! I know, Motorcycles! It couldn’t be otherwise, right?”
“But of course, I make a living from what I love. I have a few motorcycle shops, as well as a factory that makes custom motocross bikes. I also organize events and night competitions where my friends and I can participate.”
“That’s cool!”
As we were talking in the kitchen, a white man came in carrying a red and black rolling bag.
“Mr. Blake! Are we going to class today?”
He slapped his right hand on his backpack. “What class?” I asked, puzzled.
Blake nodded to the man who opened the backpack and pulled out a fencing sword!
“Today is Fencing class, this is my teacher, James Watson.”
The man nodded. “Do you want to train with me?” Blake asked.
“I don’t know how to fence.”
The visiting man laughed and said to me, “But that’s what the class is for!”
I looked at Blake, who insisted: “Since you are now a vampire and will soon be a biker, you should learn how to use swords, like me and my fellow Blades, we normally use cutting weapons, because we know that bullets don't work on us, not even silver ones. A vampire only dies if its neck is cut. You better learn about that.”
I agreed. And I went to my first fencing lesson.
Blake, of course, had been training for years and was much more skilled, but I started to get the hang of it quickly. Being a vampire made my senses sharper, even more so after drinking blood. Despite Blake's superiority, I managed to make quick movements with the sword.
James helped me by teaching me the correct steps I should take, the position of my legs, body and hands, the possible movements and everything else.
Night had come, my body was getting even stronger.
“Shall we train on the bike?” Blake suggested. “Sure!”
Before getting on the bike I had some mechanics lessons, I learned about the engine and how to change wheels :)
Then we went on to do the stunts. Now I understood why boys were so passionate about motorcycles, the speed, and the joy of performing a risky stunt. That night I did my first somersault. I had tried it before, but now I managed to spin my body in the air with the bike, it was really cool.
I stopped the motorcycle near Blake and his friends.
“Congratulations Erika, you’re getting better every night.”
Suddenly the roar of a powerful motorcycle appeared on the horizon, a pink motorcycle with black parts stopped right behind me, the rider took off his helmet, and I could see his long blond hair.
“Ashley?!” Blake said in surprise.
“Hi Blake, my love!” She looked at me, the hot pink uniform with black colors, were perfectly on her body. How jealous I was of Ashley’s body, because some women develop better than others?
“What about this motorcycle?” Blake asked.
“Do you like it? I’ve decided to become a biker too and live here with you guys!”
I was stunned. Ashley, of course, would not forgive me for living near the man she so desired. Now she wanted to come live with us. From that day on, I slept with the door locked. The sting of this bee is dangerous.