Poisoning Ivy - Chapter Four

When I opened my eyes, sharp flashes of colour flooded through them. I was curled up in a pair of cold stone arms, flying through the night sky at an unbelievable speed. I noticed that there was a lot of pain throughout my body - my wrists and legs especially. I attempted to wiggle myself free, but my whole body had gone numb. Paralyzed. I clutched my eyes tightly, frightened to see the pain as well as feel it. I felt as though my body was being repeatedly stabbed by hundreds of sharp, pointed objects. I gritted my teeth at the pain; I couldn't bare the agony. A gust of cold air rushed down my wind pipe and I was suddenly very aware of the strange burning sensation coursing through the center of my chest. I wanted to scream, as if somehow that would take the pain away, but I couldn't, my voice was completely broken. As was I.

I continued to fly through the air in this stranger's arms, clutched tightly to their chest. It was like being in a very tight, very bone crushing straight jacket. I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes once more, one at a time, and gazed up at the being that possessed my fragile body. It was a woman, I guessed. Her pale blonde hair, shimmering in the moonlight, flew violently behind her. A wave of relief washed over me as I realized, despite all the pain I was feeling now... I was safe. Or was I?

She looked down to meet my gaze and smiled a toothy grin at me, her faded red lips exposing a set of pointed white teeth. I sucked in a gulp of the chilly air, sending another flurry of flames burning in my chest, rising up to my throat. "Don't worry, dear." The woman whispered, her voice was soft but also somewhat stern. "You'll be okay now." Her bright eyes flickered from mine and stared off into the distance.

For a while it was silent, no sound other than the wind flying past us and my shallow, frightened breaths. I winced as the pain in my body grew more pronounced, the numb feeling had subsided, and the woman looked down at me again, concern flooding her marble face. Suddenly, she came to an abrupt halt and placed her stone-like hand against my forehead and ran it down my face and before I knew it, I could see nothing but darkness and the inside of my eye-lids.

When I finally came to, there was a horrible burning ache in the back of my throat. It was very un-comfortable. I lay flat on my back, staring at the bright light above me - the light was harsh and hurt my eyes. Where am I? I wondered. I slowly moved my head from side to side, the pain seemed to have vanished almost completely, but my body was very stiff. I coughed once, trying to ease the burning sensation, but the fire raged on. "Ivy Jade." A faint, frail voice said from the foot of the bed; their voice sounded soft, and familiar. "So glad you've finally awoken, we were starting to get worried." The voice continued, I could feel the joy and relief as she spoke. "Here, drink this." A pale hand, with long finger nails painted with red varnish, reached towards me and handed me a white paper cut, fitting with a straw poking through the top. I hesitantly took the beverage off the woman and sat up, drinking it thirstily. The liquid was sweet and fresh and somewhat warm. I wasn't sure what it was, but it certainly eased the burning.

Now that I wasn't looking directly into the harsh light above me, I could see the shapes of the room around me. Four white washed walls, a rounded table with a potted plant on the top in the corner, and the bed I was sat upon. There was also a huge window on the side of the room with a beautiful view of a forest. I twisted my head around the room and I finally met the gaze of the voice that was speaking to me. She was a very pale, very beautiful elder woman. Light blonde hair that hung loose and gracefully down her face, bright topaz eyes, and red-painted lips. Her eye lashes were long and brushed her marble cheeks as she blinked. "Thank you," I murmured, studying the woman's features.

"You're welcome, my dear." The woman spoke clearly and sweetly, her voice was silvery and soft. "My name is Mackenzie. Mackenzie Tate." She whispered. She sat down on the floor near my head. "And this is my daughter, Cynthia-Lee," She gestured to the door and I slowly turned my head. In the door way, standing shyly like a statue, stood a petite, brown-haired girl. Beautiful bright eyes, the same colour as her mother's. Her hair fell in long, low pigtails either side of her head, tied with lovely pink ribbons and she had a full fringe. Just as Mackenzie, her skin was icy pale, almost like crystal marble. She looked round about my age, give or take a few years. "Cynthia, come and say hello." Mackenzie whispered after a while.

Cynthia quickly stepped towards the sofa and crouched down on her knees beside her mother. "Hello, Ivy," She chimed politely. "It's nice to finally meet you." Her voice sounded delicate, soft. She smiled at me and took one of my hands that were still attached to my cup. "I can tell we are going to be the best of friends." I looked down at our joined hands for a moment and noticed my skin looked... Different.

"Yeah..." My voice broke. "What happened to me? I feel..." I couldn't finish that sentence.

"Ivy," Mackenzie whispered with a sigh. "Do you remember what happened to you?"

I  begun to shake my head and then nodded slightly. "Yeah... It was dark... And a man in a cloak tried to..." I curled my free hand around my stomach, letting my empty cup fall to the ground. "Then... I was saved... Being carried through the air..." I looked down and then looked at Mackenzie. "Wait a minute... That was you!"

Cynthia nodded once at Mackenzie and then sighed. Mackenzie took my hand and held it between her two stone hands. "Yes, that's right." She paused, glancing to Cynthia-Lee once. "See, I was only a few blocks away when... He attacked you. I heard everything and could smell your blood, so I ran over to see what was going on." She frowned.

"My mother saved your life, Ivy Jade. She destroyed him before he could do any major damage to you." I shook my head, none of what they were saying was making much sense to me. Cynthia stood up and sat down on the bed beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder." "But, in order to save you... She had to... Um..."

"You had to be changed." Mackenzie chimed in.

"What do you mean? Changed?" I asked, my voice nothing but a whisper. "Can you please quit beating around the bush and tell me what the heck is going on!" I demanded impatiently.

"When I found you and got rid of that man, you were in very bad shape, Ivy. I wasn't sure if you were going to make it, there was blood everywhere, darling," Mackenzie whispered. "I had to... Do something to make you better. To take the pain away. To save you." Her eyes had closed as she spoke.

"You're a vampire now, Ivy Jade." Cynthia finally said.

I completely lost the ability to talk at that moment. A vampire? What? How was that even possible? Vampire's don't exist. How could I have been turned into something fictional!?

I could not speak at all. "Ivy?" Mackenzie whispered after several moments of silence. "I know this is a shock for you, but it will be fine. Trust me. We will explain everything to you."

"Eventually." Cynthia added.

I leaped off of the bed, much quicker than I initially intended. "Let me get this straight... You turned me into a vampire!? How is that even possible? Where even am I? What about my mother, my friends...?" I gasped at the sudden thought. "Will I ever see them again?!" I shouted.

Mackenzie and Cynthia exchanged a quick glance, their faces turning grave and somber. "No." They said at the same time. "I'm so sorry, Ivy. It was either this or... Death. And we just couldn't let that happen to you."

I threw them a bitter glance. "You couldn't let that happen to me? You don't even know me!" I exclaimed.

Cynthia's brow furrowed and Mackenzie seemed to grow more upset as I spoke. "Yes, but..." Cynthia begun to say before Mackenzie butt in.

"Ivy, I know you're upset, and we will give you time to calm down in a moment," She said soothingly. She stood up. "But trust me when I say, soon you'll realize this was for the best." She smiled weakly. "Cynthia, come on. Let's give Ivy some time alone." She said, still looking at me.

Cynthia nodded and walked out the room; her steps were so graceful it almost looked like she was floating. Mackenzie touched her hand to my cheek and smiled. "We'll be down stairs when you're ready." She whispered before skipping out the room.