Blood Moon

-What the hell is wrong with you?!” I snapped at Jenna. She just stared at me as if I were crazy.-What do you mean?” she asked in a way that made me want to slap her. I rolled my eyes in frustration , letting myself drop on my bed dramatically.-Seriously Jen, give it up! There are no such things as vampires, please!” Jenna had an obsession with vampires. She spent hours on end researching them on- line and in different libraries and bookstores. She claimed to be an expert on the subject and to be close to finding evidence of their existence. I had to admit though, that as much as it was exasperating and annoying, it was actually kind of fascinating to watch her speak about them. Her eyes lit up and her cheeks flushed pink.

Suddenly and without warning, I started to giggle out loud. Jenna who was in the process of what was very obviously a monologue glanced at me with disapproval, but, before she could say anything I made my special silly face at her and pretty soon we were both laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. That night there were no more talk about vampires, at least until the next day.

After breakfast the next morning, Jenna and I decided to go to the mall for awhile and maybe catch a movie. Once at the mall we busied ourselves at the video arcade, and browsing the many stores. Everything was normal until I heard a familiar shriek of joy. When I looked up I saw Jenna rushing to a magazine stand. I followed curious as to what had caught her interest and excitement. She purchased a newspaper and started to read it avidly. In the meantime I decided to ignore her until she was ready to tell me what she had found.

Since it was evident that she was going to take awhile, I stood up and went into a music store. As soon as I had set foot inside, someone grabbed my wrist pulling me back. -Hey!” I protested and saw it was Jenna. Her eyes were gleaming bright and she was breathing hard. -Check this out!” she practically yelled in my ear, and started speaking so fast and garbled that I couldn’t understand a word that she said. -Whoa Jenna! Slow down! I said irritably. She drew in a breath and gave me the newspaper. There was an article about Lakeside Cemetery.

I glanced at the article and then back at Jenna. I couldn’t for the life of me understand what all her excitement was about. So I lifted an eyebrow quizzically. Jenna sat down on one of the mall’s benches, gesturing for me to do the same. Then she began talking slowly. -Don’t you see, Cat? -Lakeside Cemetery. That’s where Nosferatu’s supposedly buried! He was the first vampire, more like the father of all vampires. Any way, I did some research on it and they say that every five hundred years on the night of the Blood Moon, Nosferatu rises from the grave! Vampires from all over the world come to see him and venerate him. Isn’t that-

-Unbelievable!” I yelled. -This is what you’re so excited about?!” -Please, just hear me out! Look, next Saturday is the night of the Blood Moon, that’s when the moon turns as red as blood. I was thinking we could both go, being summer vacation and all, and-

Jenna stopped short, I guess the fact that my face had darkened a shade had to do with her hesitation. I was seething! -Are you kidding me?! Who will drive us?! What will we tell our parents?! Come on Jenna, give it up! This is just some sort of publicity stunt. A hoax! You can’t possibly believe- Now I was the one who stopped. Jenna was my best friend, and she supported me no matter what. She was always there at my side, always loyal and always a great friend. Jenna looked at me expectantly. Finally I sighed knowing I would regret this someday. -Fine. I ‘ll get Jake to drive us. Let’s do it. Jenna hugged me and smiled.

The following week, all Jenna could talk about was Lakeside Cemetery, Nosferatu and vampires. I had resigned myself to listening. She explained that there was some sort of ceremony where the vampires gathered around Nosferatu’s tomb and roused him from his five hundred year slumber. I dutifully asked questions . She answered them enthusiastically until I asked her what was the reason for the Nosferatu’s rising precisely that night. Jenna hesitated and whispered. -What?” I asked -Well, the vampires sacrifice a young virgin feeding her to the Nosferatu. The virgin’s blood makes the Nosferatu more powerful and stronger every five hundred years.

A long silence followed her statement. Finally I decide to break it. - Well that’s nice “ I said sarcastically. -Remind me again why you want to go there? Jenna smiled shyly. -I am just curious that’s all. “ I rolled my eyes shaking my head, though I couldn’t help smiling back. The fact was, that I was going with her no matter how crazy and far fetched it sounded.

Saturday finally arrived. Jenna and I decided to go shopping for food. While we ate we enjoyed some movies on HBO. Jenna was quite subdued and hardly spoke at all. -Having second thoughts about tonight? ‘ I teased. Jenna shook her head and smiled absent mindlessly. -Then what is it? What’s wrong?” I was suddenly worried about her. -Nothing it’s just that I was thinking we really ought to be careful tonight.” I nearly laughed at her worries, but then I saw that her face was very serious and I refrained from doing so.-Hey it’ll be all right , we’ll be in and out quickly and quietly. We‘ll be safe. No problem.” I said reassuringly. She laughed softly - Yeah. What was I thinking? Besides my best friend will be there!.”At a quarter to ten, Jenna and I showered and dressed. An hour and a half later we were on our way with Jake, my eldest brother who had agreed to drive us. Lakeside Cemetery was about half an hour away from where I lived, so we arrived with fifteen minutes to spare. My brother said he’d pick us up in one hour at the very same spot where he left us.

He’d figured a lot of people would come to “witness” the event ( I was still skeptical). Jenna barely acknowledged him and was almost running towards the cemetery’s entrance gate. -Jenna!” I whispered harshly. She stopped turning towards me. -Wait for me!” Ignoring me, she started walking , although slower this time. I rolled my eyes and shook my head , but quickly followed her.

Lakeside Cemetery was usually very eerie and dark, but the full moon was set high and her bright light illuminated our path making our surroundings seem less frightening in a way. Suddenly, Jenna and I caught movement up ahead and hid behind an old oak tree in the middle of the cemetery. We waited several minutes, not seeing anything at first. Then Jenna gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in the process. I started to ask her what was the matter but then I fell silent as I saw what seemed to be figures in black robes walking towards us. Jenna, eyes wide and frightened turned to say something to me , when all of a sudden we were surrounded by a reddish light. We searched frantically for its origin.

Jenna and I both looked up at the same time , and what do you know? The moon was as red as blood! We stared at the moon with our mouths hanging open,nearly forgetting about the hooded figures. They kept coming but instead of walking towards us they turned right. We followed them with our eyes and saw they were headed towards a secluded area. Jenna and I waited what seemed to me like an eternity before following them, walking slowly, trying hard not to make noise. Who were these beings? Could they be vampires?

We caught up with them soon enough. They were standing in a circle around a certain tomb, chanting in Latin. Their chanting started softly and slowly increased to a crescendo. I could see Jenna was scared out of her mind. She turned to me and her eyes almost fell out of her sockets. Jenna tried to speak but her words were jumbled out of pure shock and fright. You see she had seen my face. My eyes were as red as the moon’s light. She saw my malicious grin, my sharpened fangs.

I was in fact one of the hooded figures. I was a vampire. Before I could say anything, there was a cry in the night, a terrible howl, that for me was the sweetest sound. It came from the first of our kind, our father, the great Nosferatu, and he was ravenous. I turned to Jenna and she cringed away from me. She was too terrified to speak. Tears rolled down her cheeks and her hands trembled.

Finally the hooded figures, my brothers and sisters stood before us, erect, red eyes gleaming, fangs dripping. Jenna screamed, as they pounced on her, dragging her to where the Nosferatu stood waiting. Calmly, I followed. Jenna’s clothes were ripped off of her and she was pushed towards him. Our father, gave one final cry, wrapping his cloak around Jenna, who did not have time to make a sound.

Soon it was all over. We stood besides his tomb, closing it up once more for another five hundred years. My family congratulated me on a job well done. I smiled, all fangs now. Too bad about Jenna, though, after all she was my best friend.