Little cara
This is a warning this contains child abuse do not
It is an unfortunate fact of life that a man has to eat
and my particular tastes are a little different than most. While many of the entities on God's green earth are content with his bounty, I require something more.
Inside every living thing in the world is a little flame. A warm, pulsating glow that beats like their heart. There are many names for it. Life force, energy, chi, vitality, soul. Whatever it's called, that's what I'm after. That is what has gifted me a life that has lasted throughout the centuries.
Like any discerning diner, I prefer only the freshest of ingredients. The older the soul, the less I get out of consuming it and the worse it tastes. Therefore, I prefer my meals to be fresh off the vine, as it were. It's why I favor children. They have so much life ahead of them and so much to spare. Really it's quite noble that I prefer to take from them as opposed to anyone else and that fresh flavor just can't be beaten.
I don't kill them of course. I learned long ago that it's better to sample from a wide variety and get a mix of different flavors as opposed to draining one single person. Bodies are not easy to get rid of, the death of a child attracts attention and too much of one flavor can very quickly get boring. Instead I was quite content with finding a few children to sample every time I felt a bit peckish and I'm sure I would have been content to do so for the rest of human history had I not encountered little Cara Weeks. After that, I really couldn't help myself.
Cara Weeks was pushing ten years old. She was a scrawny little thing. Not a girl I would have thought much of in any other context besides as food. However I could sense the fire in her when I first saw her in the park and I knew on sight that hers burned much brighter than the others around her. Think of it much like seeing a juicy, tender, fatless cut of steak running around with several other subpar cuts. Naturally, one would choose the best meal even if all they could have was a nibble but I thought a nibble would be more than worth it.
It didn't take me long to figure out just which of the inattentive parents nearby was her mother and I lingered close, waiting for my opportunity to speak with that girl. She was playing a small game of soccer with a few other children and it wasn't long before someone kicked the ball off their agreed field and Cara was the one who went to go and get it. That was when I made my move.
I reached the ball before she did and picked it up just before she reached me. She looked up at me, slightly confused and mildly annoyed that I'd gotten involved and she kept her distance. Children these days are so wary of strangers. I agree with their caution in concept but in practice it makes it so much harder to eat.
"Can we have our ball back?" She asked. Polite, but to the point.
I just smiled at her.
"Of course." I said. I could sense the fire inside of her. Warm, new and at its peak. I could barely contain my hunger as I looked down at her. My movements were deliberate. I bent down, offering the ball to her and coaxing her closer to take it. Cara hesitated for a moment before she reached out and in that moment, I struck. A casual observer may not have noticed what had happened and I don't think Cara herself fully understood exactly what I took from her either.
The moment she put her hands on the soccer ball, I breathed in deep and with that simple gesture, I took something from her. Just a little piece of her. Nothing she'd miss. The process wasn't painful or anything. It was just one breath and then, just like that I had what I wanted.
Cara took the ball and pulled away from me, a slight stumble in her step. Though I hadn't physically done anything to her, she no doubt felt the effects of my little nibble on her soul. Fatigue was the most common symptom and as Cara hurried away from me, I noticed that she ran just a little bit slower before I stopped focusing on her entirely.
Something else was overwhelming my senses. A gourmet sensation that energized me and left a sweet flavor in my mouth, like fruity jelly candy. I'd tasted countless souls as I'd roamed the centuries but never before had I had something like this! I felt like a blind man who was able to see for the first time, or a hungry man who'd just tasted his first bite of Wagyu beef. 'Flavor' does not do justice to what I felt. This went far beyond flavor. This was something new, something beautiful and something that left me an instant addict. It made my soul tingle in a way that was truly exhilarating and it stayed with me afterwards, a lovely aftertaste that surpassed anything else I'd eaten!
I looked at the girl playing soccer in the nearby field and immediately had to fight the urge to attempt to go in for a second taste. Acting too suspicious would only get me in trouble. I knew I'd need a more subtle approach, and though I hated the concept of waiting, the knowledge that my patience would pay off was enough to tide me over…
I followed the girl and her mother home from the park, keeping my distance so they would not notice me. Over the next few days, I learned that her name was Cara Weeks, she lived in a nice suburban house just down the street and she went to school nearby.
Her school had three recess periods a day. Fifteen minutes in the morning, half an hour at lunch and fifteen minutes in the afternoon. Her school backed onto a large field where the children could run around and play. They'd planted a few trees close by that had grown tall and offered nice cover from where I could watch and plan. Cara had a group of friends she would spend time with. Often they played soccer but sometimes they just sat or walked around and talked. At first, I saw her friends as a detriment but during the first instance where they got close, I quickly learned that they were anything but.
Time has taught me cunning. Traps require bait and I had enough to use. I kept a small dog in my home, a lovely little yorkshire terrier named Lola. Lola was an affectionate little dog, despite having the trademark temper of her breed. I took good care of her and she took good care of me in turn… She was the perfect bait for schoolchildren who wandered too close to the trees. I kept her on a long leash and sat on a nearby bench, letting Lola bark and run towards the children as they drew near. Their reaction was predictable.
"Aww! What a cute puppy!" One of Caras friends said. Cara herself had immediately gotten down to pet Lola and didn't notice me at first.
"Sorry about that!" I said, "She's friendly, I promise!"
As I spoke, Cara looked up at me. I saw a flash of recognition in her eyes.
"What's her name?" One of the other girls asked as I drew nearer to them.
"Lola." I said, "You can pet her if you want. She loves attention."
The girls were more than happy to oblige, Cara included and with them all so close together I could take what I wanted from them at will.
Naturally, I took from Cara first. That overwhelming flavor returned to me and sent me into a state of bliss. It was even better after having been denied it for a few days. That divine flavor nearly made me drop Lolas leash. I felt my strength growing. I needed more… But I tried to stop myself. Greed has never ended well for beings like me.
As I inhaled, I took pieces from the souls of the other girls but compared to Caras, they were bland and flavorless. It was Cara that I needed and one more little nibble wouldn't hurt, would it? As soon as I took my second chunk away from her soul, Cara recoiled. Despite the lack of physical pain, I could tell that she knew something was wrong. She looked at me, trying to comprehend what was going on but her little mind couldn't do it.
Her skin had gone a shade lighter. Her breathing was just a bit more strained. I'd taken too much… But it was worth it. As her friends obsessed over my puppy, she kept her distance as if she knew what I was. I offered her a polite smile as if nothing in the world was wrong. She didn't return it.
I was back again the next day with Lola and I went through the same routine. I waited in the same place and when the girls came around, I let some slack out on Lolas leash. She went straight for the girls, no doubt eager for the attention and most of the girls were happy to provide it... Except for Cara. She hung back as soon as she saw me, watching me intently. Her skin seemed paler than before. She looked thinner and exhausted. As her friends pampered Lola with affection, she seemed genuinely unnerved around me.
"Is something wrong?" I asked in my nicest voice.
She didn't answer. Her eyes just met mine before she looked down at Lola and finally went in to give her a few paltry pets. Her hand got licked for her menial efforts.
I only needed a moment where I was close and just like before, I took another piece away from little Cara Weeks. Though I knew she felt it immediately, this time her reaction was a little slower. She didn't stay close for long. She looked at me, baffled and unnerved.
"I think she likes you!" One of her friends said in response to how affectionate Lola had been with her but Cara didn't seem to hear. She just stared at me before she left.
I knew I was killing her. Take too much of someone and they cease to exist. I could already see Cara starting to die. If I left her alone, in time, she'd begin to recover but there would always be a part of her missing. It would be missing for the rest of her life. The fruit doesn't grow back when you take it. A person can live without pieces of their soul but there's only so much you can take before they're gone for good. I knew that… But I didn't care. The gradual consumption of her soul was like drinking salt water. The more I took, the more I needed and I knew that I wouldn't be satisfied until I'd taken everything!
The next day, Cara was not at school. I brought Lola again and made a paltry meal off pieces of her friends and some other classmates who'd come to see my dog but it wasn't the same. Caras friends looked a little bit weaker themselves. I'd taken less from them than I had from her but I was still starting to see the effects. I was fine with leaving them be, though. They weren't the same gourmet experience and could be easily forgotten. I needed Cara. Not wanted. Needed… and I didn't care what I needed to do to get more of her. That evening, I took more drastic steps. I'd already accepted that I was going to kill the girl… therefore why not ensure I had her all to myself so I could take every little bit of her soul?
I arrived at her house and knocked on the door. Her Mother was the one who answered. She looked much like Cara herself, albeit older. She screamed when I grabbed her and forced my way into the house, but she didn't put up much of a fight as I began to drain her. Whatever fight she did give me died down quickly as her strength quickly left her. She didn't have the same exquisite taste as her daughter… I don't know if it was her age or something else but she was no different than any other adult I'd consumed. I took every single piece of Mrs. Weeks soul and the flavor was nothing more than bland, bland, bland.
Cara was upstairs, fast asleep in her bed. She was pale as death and only had a few good morsels left in her… I stole just a little taste before going downstairs to wait for her Father to come home from work. Best not to leave loose ends.
After I'd drained Mr. Weeks, I went up to Caras room. She was awake but too weak to stop me as I gorged myself on what was left of her soul… She was my main course. The single greatest thing I had ever consumed and when I was done, little Cara Weeks lay cold and dead in her bed, eyes wide open and staring up at the ceiling. The aftertaste she left was divine and I felt refreshed. With just her essence, I was sure I could live another thousand years! I felt invincible in every sense of the word and it was without a doubt a truly glorious feeling!
The only tragedy was that I had taken the last of her… Cara was gone. She would not come back and I would never again be able to experience that lovely flavor she offered. Ah… But with her death, Cara had offered me something more! She had shown me that there were still surprises left for me. Wonderful souls to consume and it was only a matter of time before I found another! While I mourned the fact that I had consumed all of her, I found myself excited by the concept that there was more out there… and I told myself that in time, I would find it.
I left that house satisfied after my generous meal. Mommy was and Daddy lay still in the foyer and little Cara was tucked into her bed, deader than dead… and I was sure that was the end of it. The weeks that followed were uneventful. I still craved the unique flavor I'd gotten from Cara and despite my searching, I'd yet to find its equal. That was fine. I told myself it would take time to find another gourmet meal and though I so desperately wanted another unique taste, I knew I could wait. I had been out walking Lola on the day things changed. I'd eaten while I'd been out and the sun was getting low in the sky.
I wanted nothing more than to go home and slumber and my little suburban house looked inviting to my tired mind as I returned back to it. I noticed nothing awry as I drew nearer. No broken windows or doors left open. No sign that anyone but myself was there. When I unlocked the door, Lola seemed so excited to be home that she ran in cute little circles until I let her off the leash. Then she took off deeper into the house with more enthusiasm than normal.
I didn't think much of it. Lola was an excitable dog and I was weary. I left her to her own devices before I went to my living room and put on the TV to catch up on some shows I'd recorded… Everyone needs a pastime after all and immortality is boring without entertainment.
I could hear Lolas nails tapping around the house as she ran around as I sank down into my favorite armchair to relax and de-stress as I prepared to ease myself into my inevitable sleep. At least fifteen minutes, maybe half an hour passed before I felt it.
There was something tugging at me… Not on my body but on some part of my very consciousness. There was something pulling at the edges of it, softly at first but it began to slowly grow stronger. It felt wrong… It felt like nothing I'd ever experienced before and I caught myself standing up.
I looked around me. I saw nothing in my living room. Everything seemed normal… Everything except that awful sensation gnawing at me.
"Hello?" I called. There was no answer. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lola scampering past the door. She looked over at my nearby couch, her stubby little tail wagging frantically but I couldn't see what she was looking at. However I was sure that something was there. The couch had been pulled out from the wall so that there'd be space behind it. I hadn't noticed it before… but I saw it now.
I approached the couch to investigate although I had no idea what I'd find there. I leaned forward, peering around the back to see what, if anything was waiting back there. I saw nothing at all. My attention shifted back to Lola.
"What do you see?" I asked.
Then I got my answer.
White hot pain cut through my calf. I screamed as something sharp cut through my leg and gripped the couch to stop myself from falling. I felt that tug at the edge of my consciousness growing stronger. Now it was less of a tug though. Now it felt as if I was being pulled out of myself. I felt weaker, as if something in myself was fading and as I looked over I finally saw the source of both the pain in my head, and whatever was consuming me.
Cara Weeks, pale as death stood beside me. In one hand she held a kitchen knife that was coated in my blood and her eyes were locked with mine, revealing a rage that made my blood run cold for the first time in centuries.
"Hello Stefan." She said, her voice a toxic growl as I collapsed to the ground and tried to crawl away from her. She stood over me, letting me try to run with a growing smirk on her face.
"N-No…" I stammered, "NO! You're dead! I took everything from you! You're *dead*!"
Cara didn't respond. She didn't need to. The fact that she stood before me made it clear that she was very much alive… but even worse was the fact that I could sense nothing from her. That fire that exists in every living thing was absent from her… Instead, there was just a yawning emptiness. A hunger so strong that even I could feel it.
Cara stared down at me and I could feel her consuming my very being, just like I'd consumed hers.
"You killed me." Cara said. Her voice was cold and toneless, "You killed me, you killed my Mom and my Dad… But I'm like you now. I'm hungry just like you. So I came looking for you so that I can kill you, just like you killed me. Then, when you're dead, I'm going to find everything like you… and I'll kill them too..."
"N-no…" Was all I could manage to say. My eyes were wide as I tried to crawl away from her. Cara followed me. She took her time, moving as if she had all the time in the world and I knew that she was simply toying with me. She knew I could not fight her.
Though she thought she was like me, she was wrong. She was something else entirely… Something alive and yet devoid of a soul. Something that could consume me. Something that could truly make good on her threat to consume everything like me. I could feel my every movement getting weaker as she advanced on me. I felt my life force fading as nonexistence began to creep into the edges of my very consciousness. My soul flickered like a dying flame in the wind and as I looked up at Cara one last time.
With the last of my strength, I managed to pick myself up to run. On my bleeding leg, I shambled towards the front door of my house, leaving Lola behind. I burst out through the door and collapsed onto my walkway before crawling out onto my lawn. I looked back to see Cara standing in my doorway. Lola stood loyally at her side, oblivious to the danger and unconcerned by my panic. I saw Cara bend down to scratch my dog behind the ears before she smiled at me and closed my front door.
I didn't stop trying to run. The weeks since have not gone well for me. Walking and running is difficult. My leg has not fully healed yet and I know that my soul will not recover from what Cara did to it… Once you've eaten the fruit, it doesn't grow back.
She's been following me. Hunting me for sport… Every few nights, I'll feel the drain on my consciousness and know that she's close. Sometimes I'll see her. Other times she'll stay hidden. I know I'm a monster… But I don't want to die like this! I'm not ready! Every time she takes more of me, I get weaker. Running gets harder and I don't know how much longer I can manage.[I'm tired. I'm scared. I don't want to die.