Whaling City Vampires: Love Beyond Death

By Alison Fish

When Amy's eyes met Robert's, it was love at first sight. However as a wealthy whaling ship owner's daughter she was destined by her father's wishes to marry a young heir to another successful whaling firm. Robert, who was a mysterious stranger in town, was not an acceptable suitor, but a vampire determined to have Amy for his own. When Amy's father forbid any contact between Amy and Robert, Robert appeared in Amy's bedroom to rescue her from the arranged marriage that would separate them forever and carry her away to a future that promised a life full of love and passion. After five blissful years of love and hunting for blood in the whaling city in the mid-nineteenth century, Robert abruptly and mysteriously disappears leaving Amy heartbroken and alone. In order to find the will to go on Amy refuses to believe that Robert cruelly abandoned her and chooses to believe that he would one day return to her making her life complete once more. Read how Amy patiently and faithfully awaits Robert's return, creates new vampire friends, destroys an obsessed self-proclaimed minister determined to rid the city of the evil he believes is murdering his congregants all while she and her friends get away with murder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alison Fish
• Release date: Mar 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301442881

Alison Fish

Alison developed a love of reading before even learning to do so and begged her parents to read to her until she was old enough to attend school and learn to read for herself. After reading Gone With the Wind as a teenager she was so impressed with Margaret Mitchell's talent that she dreamed of writing novels herself. After many years of raising a family and taking classes whenever possible, she earned an associates degree in liberal arts from Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, Connecticut, and a bachelors degree in English at Eastern Connecticut University in Willimantic. Being a lover of ink on paper, she has spent most of her working life in the printing trade.She has lived her entire life in historically rich New London County, Connecticut.

Book preview

Chapter One

The luscious aroma of blood drew Amy through the dark streets and alleys in search of some easy prey. A rum-soaked sailor or an unconscious vagrant would serve her need for nourishment. Rats skittered past her feet, their fur ruffling the hem of her cloak and skirt. But even in her desperate and heartbroken state she wouldn't resort to feeding on the blood of filthy rats. She moved in slow hungry despair through an alley made even darker at night by the soot from the local factories and the smoke of the hot tar used for shipbuilding along the bank of the Thames River. This was her first night out hunting alone and the first time in her life she had ever been so utterly alone. For days she had sobbed alone in her coffin grieving the sudden and mysterious disappearance of her lover and sire, Robert.

Several days earlier she had risen from her casket to find Robert and his casket gone from the lair they shared in the basement of a burned and abandoned house a few blocks west of the river. After the initial momentary shock of his sudden absence had passed and she fully comprehended the reality that he was gone, Amy fell to her knees in the musty dirt where Robert's coffin had rested only hours before. She ran her icy delicate-looking hands over the bare earth before her as though caressing the space where her lover had once occupied. Her lips pulled away from her razor-sharp teeth as her mouth opened wide enough to release a terrified scream that nearly overpowered her from within but only managed to escape her lips as a deep groan of anguish. The profound and powerful groan began in the pit of her stomach and spread throughout her entire body possessing her whole being and finally escaping through her gaping mouth, wracking her body and shivering the rotting abandoned remains of the house above. She remained in that spot on the cold bare cellar floor moaning and sobbing in pain until dawn when she crawled back into her coffin after considering exposing herself to the daylight and ending her agony for good. The idea that Robert could possibly return to her was the only reason Amy was able to gather the motivation to preserve her now worthless life by sheltering herself in her coffin before the sun fully rose.

She couldn't understand what would possess him to leave her. Robert had promised they would be together forever. Each night just before dawn as they retreated to their caskets to rest until evening, he would look deeply into her eyes, tenderly kiss her and whisper, for eternity. What had happened to prevent him from fulfilling his vow? Amy had never loved anyone the way she loved Robert, with all her heart and soul, and she believed he felt the same about her. She couldn't think of any reason why he would abandon her, especially after promising daily to be with her throughout eternity. They had already enjoyed five years together living, loving and hunting together in Amy's hometown of New London. Life without Robert would be unbearably painful and even unimaginable. Amy had devoted every moment and every thought, her entire life, to Robert and their existence as lovers, two halves of a whole. She had never been in such agony and never felt so utterly alone.

Even though her chest felt like it would tear into pieces from her broken heart and she was tempted to simply remain confined inside of her coffin forever or remain outdoors until sunrise and let the sun turn her to ash, she gathered what little strength she had left to leave the lair in search of blood to keep herself strong in the hope that Robert would soon return to her. She had no desire to go on living without Robert, but she couldn't yet abandon hope that he would find her again.

As she exited the alley that led away from the riverbank, which was crowded with wharves and workshops that serviced the booming whaling industry the faint sound of sobbing caught her attention. She followed the sound until she caught the unmistakable scent of a young woman barely detectable at first through the smell of livestock waiting to board an outgoing ship and work animals stabled for the night throughout the city. Her hunger for blood and the sound of crying gave Amy hope that a distraught victim consumed with emotion would be easy prey. She hungrily followed the sound of soft sobs, the deliciously bloody aroma becoming stronger the nearer she came to a young black woman sitting on the grass behind a small white garden shed in the back yard of one of the larger white houses that lined the main road leading into the city center. The young woman sobbed uncontrollably into her arms, which were folded over her bent knees and didn't detect Amy's silent approach.

Why are you crying? Amy, as a rule, never spoke to her prey before attacking. Robert had taught her that stealthily stalking a victim from a short distance, then quickly moving in for the kill when it was certain the attack wouldn't be witnessed, was the safest, most efficient method of feeding. A victim shouldn't under any circumstances have the chance of identifying their attacker in case a clean kill was interrupted. Nor should they be given the slightest opportunity to scream or make any sounds of a struggle. Even though the physical strength of a human was no match for that of a vampire, a few seconds of futile fleeing or struggling could attract the attention of anyone who may be approaching the scene. Looking down at the young woman who appeared to be about the same age as Amy at the time of her own death, she sympathized with the profound sadness of the sorrowful figure.

The girl looked up to find a young nicely dressed white woman looming over her and slowed her sobs for fear of being punished for crying as she had been many times in the past. She feared that what was already an unbearably horrible evening was going to get worse.

I can't say, Miss, she wiped her tear covered face on the front of her worn nightdress as her heart beat rapidly in fear, I'd be in awful trouble if I told and I wouldn't say what happened out loud anyhow. She began to rise from where she was sitting, but something in Amy's steady gaze made her return to her seat on the grass.

It must be something terrible to make you cry so inconsolably, Amy knelt down and tried to appear compassionate as her near desperate hunger for blood threatened to overpower her attempt to befriend her prey and put her at ease. She had yet to taste the blood of a Negro and wondered how different the flavor would be in comparison to white blood. The aroma, especially at such close range, was certainly just as alluring as the blood of a white person.

Yeah, I can say that much, she still looked nervously downward toward the front of her tattered dress, It was the worse thing that could ever happen to me.

Amy didn't really care what horrible event had put this girl into such a state of despair, but guessed it had something to do with the musky scent of recent sex that mingled with her alluring bloody aroma. She wanted to gain the girl's trust, and slowly lowered herself down closer to her prey, Maybe it will help you feel better to talk about it.

No! she became tense with fear and shrank away from Amy, I'll never tell anyone what happened. If he found out I told, he'll kill me. He told me so. Besides, I don't even know you. He probably sent you here to test me, so he can have a good reason to kill me, not that he needs one.

I haven't the slightest idea what or whom you're talking about, Driven by hunger Amy was becoming impatient with the girl's resistance but was also beginning to feel strangely sorry for her. She had seldom felt any compassion or sympathy for any of her victims of the last five years, but the loss of Robert caused such deep sadness and loneliness like she had never felt before. She realized that this girl was all alone with a horrible secret she could never share just like Amy, I only wanted to try to help you.

Why? the frightened girl still looked downward as she spoke, Nobody's ever wanted to help me before, especially a pretty white lady.

Amy moved slightly away as she sat on the ground next to the girl in an attempt to make the girl feel less threatened, What's your name?

I'll tell you my name but I won't tell you anything else. You can act nice to me all you want. You can even beat me all you want. I've been beaten plenty. But I'll never tell you what happened tonight. That's something nobody will ever beat out of me. I'll be taking this secret to my grave.

You didn't tell me your name.

It's Ruthie, she gave Amy a distrustful sidelong glance as she spoke. She hoped that divulging this bit of information didn't make Amy think she would get her to confide her horrible secret as well.

I'm glad to meet you, Ruthie, I'm Amy, and she surprised herself by genuinely meaning it. Amy had developed a real ambivalence for humans since her death and transformation to a vampire; however, Ruthie's situation made Amy realize that she could still have something in common with humans-loneliness and despair.

Amy slowly moved in toward Ruthie again and looked into her eyes as she tilted Ruthie's trembling chin upward, I can help you without your ever having to tell me your secret, As Ruthie's expression altered from frightened misery to confusion, Amy took her by the shoulders and holding her close, sunk her teeth into Ruthie's soft dark neck.

Chapter 2

Amy drank enough of Ruthie's blood to satisfy her hunger, but not enough to kill her. She had become practiced at controlling her lust for blood as a tool of survival. One of the ways Robert taught Amy to prevent drawing attention to themselves was to share a victim between them so as to reduce the number of dead bodies they left in town and along the waterfront. In a busy port city like New London with men frequently coming and going looking for work and opportunity, some random deaths of strangers and drunks were to be expected before the townspeople would suspect foul play.

When Amy released Ruthie, she realized that Ruthie had fainted. Wake up! Amy patted Ruthie's cool damp cheeks and shook her narrow shoulders, You need to wake up, Ruthie.

After a minute or two of being shaken and patted and pinched Ruthie began to stir. But before she could open her eyes, Amy quickly broke the skin on her own wrist with her teeth and pressed Ruthie's mouth to the wound, There, there, Ruthie. No one will ever hurt you again. We'll be sisters forever and take care of each other and neither of us will ever be lonely again.

Blood still shiny and sticky on the two girls' chins and lips, Amy swiftly lifted Ruthie into her arms and partially hiding her with her cloak and staying hidden within the shadows of houses and other buildings carried her through the swirling autumn leaves back to her lair. Although the rock walled dirt floored cellar was damp and musty, the interior of Amy's coffin was soft and silky. Amy lay snuggled up to the temporarily dead Ruthie listening to the wailing wind rattle the window frames and the plank cellar door of the house as she waited for sleep and the next sundown when Ruthie would awaken to her new life.

Silence met Amy's ears as she woke up the following evening and found herself looking into Ruthie's still unconscious face. The wind must have finally died down, Amy thought, as she waited for Ruthie to wake up. Although her grief for her loss of Robert was as raw and intense as ever, she felt slightly comforted to wake up and not be alone. Carrying Ruthie's body into the cellar several hours earlier, Amy had hoped to find Robert waiting for her. But finding the spot still empty where his coffin had once stood, not even a rectangular imprint in the dirt where it once rested, her broken heart remained so and a sob caught in her throat as she lifted the lid of her casket and laid down with Ruthie by her side. She wondered if Robert had returned while she was resting and raised the lid of her coffin enough to see that, except for the unconscious Ruthie, she was still alone and incomplete. She began to worry after a while that she had accidentally drank too much of Ruthie's blood and it was too late to save her when she had Ruthie drink from her wrist. Maybe Ruthie was permanently dead. But before Amy could lose too much hope, Ruthie began to stir. She lifted the lid of the coffin to give them both some space just as Ruthie opened her eyes and looked at Amy with confusion but without recognition.

Ruthie! Amy exclaimed as relief and joy spread through her. She had never transformed anyone into a vampire before and was thrilled that she had succeeded with only a vague and long ago explanation of how it was done to go on.

Where am I? Ruthie asked groggily, I feel funny, hungry-like.

Yes! Yes! Amy helped Ruthie step out of the coffin, You're just fine. Don't you remember me speaking to you last night?

Ruthie looked around for a chair and finding none, sat on the dirt floor. Amy sat facing her. This made Ruthie more confused, This is the first time I ever seen a white girl like you sit in dirt.

Where am I? Ruthie looked around, this isn't the cellar at my master's house but it looks like a cellar.

No, it isn't your master's house, Amy smiled, this is where I live.

Ruthie looked around and saw the coffin. Her eyes were wide in surprise, did you just help me get out of that? Is that where you put me?

Well, yes, Ruthie, that's where I rest during the day. You see, I can't go outside in the daylight or I'll die and now so will you.

Chapter 3

What! Ruthie scrambled to her feet, What did you do to me! Were we in there all day? My master must think I ran away-especially after last night. Oh Lord, what am I going to do now? I'm as good as dead.

Please calm down and let me explain, Amy pleaded with Ruthie. It took Amy some time to calm Ruthie down long enough to listen to Amy's explanation including the reminder that slavery was abolished two years earlier in Connecticut. Ruthie's raving began with renewed energy as she comprehended the truth of her situation.

You're a heathen, a tool of the devil, Ruthie pointed at Amy, and now you've made me one too. Oh God help me, Jesus save me! Ruthie dropped to her knees and stretched her arms toward the cobweb-ridden rafters of the cellar, And I know slavery was abolished but I didn't have anywhere else to go. My master and mistress let me stay and serve them so I could stay there.

You're not a heathen and neither am I, Ruthie, Amy pleaded for her to listen. Now, I want you to try to remember what happened to you last night after we met.

I don't know, you must have put me in an evil trance. I can't remember anything, Ruthie closed her eyes and concentrated, I remember you said you wanted to help me and then I don't remember anything else.

Didn't you have any dreams while you slept? Amy urged, anything at all?

Ruthie closed her eyes again and after some time said with surprise, Yes, I do remember a flash or two of something. I saw my mama and some other people I don't know. My mama was smiling at me real peaceful like. She was never smiling and peaceful that I can remember. She was smiling in a way that made me feel like everything was gonna be all right. Then everything was black.

See, you're mama was telling you that you're all right.

No, how can it be, you made me a tool of the devil, Ruthie was in despair as she hugged herself.

Do you still believe in heaven? That's where you saw your mama. She's in heaven, Amy explained with certainty.

How can you say that my dream wasn't a dream, I really was in heaven visiting my mama? Ruthie rolled her eyes as she stared at the floor.

Because it's true, it happened to me when I died. You see we were only dead for a few hours but long enough to give us hope that we'll see our loved ones in heaven one day.

Sinners don't go to heaven, Miss Amy, ain't you ever been to church?

I don't know how to explain it, but we have to have hope.

But you kill people and now I have to kill people too. You just told me that. Maybe I should just sit outside till the sun comes up and kill myself before I kill someone else.

But Ruthie, Amy tried to console her, you don't have to kill people to survive, you can feed off them without killing them. You can feed off animals as well.

Oh Lord, help me, Ruthie called to the ceiling again.

Please, Ruthie, let me tell you how much better your life will be now. Were you happy as a slave?

No, I hated being a slave, being some white peoples' property. But at least I was living the life the good Lord gave me. I don't know why He didn't make me white. I don't know why he made me a slave.

He didn't make you a slave, Ruthie, white men did.

You have strange ideas for a white girl, Miss.

First, I want you to call me Amy without the 'miss.' I know it wasn't God who made you a slave. It was white men because last night when I drank your blood, it tasted exactly the same as white blood. There was no difference whatsoever, Amy continued, until last night I thought whites and blacks were different, that blacks weren't really human, or some other kind of human, but that all changed when I tasted your blood.

You really are crazy. Ruthie remarked, Of course white blood is the same as black blood. Blood is blood.

All right, if you think I'm crazy, why do you worship a God you believe made you a slave?

You can't question the Lord. That will get you sent to hell just as quick as sinnin'.

What I'm trying to prove is that you don't have to break any commandments to survive as a vampire. You can still practice your faith if you choose. In fact, you can do almost anything you wish as long as it's at night.

Anything I wish? Ruthie looked skeptical.

Last night you were very upset about something. You were crying your eyes out. That's what got my attention. I heard your sobs. You said someone did something to you that was so horrible you refused to discuss it.

I still won't.

I'm not asking you to and I never will, but you now have the power to exact revenge on whoever hurt you so badly.

Oh, no! Ruthie shook her head adamantly, I'd be happy if I just don't ever have to see him again.

All right, Amy said, It's your choice, but I wanted to let you know what kind of power you have now. You do have to feed off someone, you know, why not him?

I couldn't do that, never. The Lord will punish him on judgment day.

At any rate, Amy closed the lid of her coffin, we have to feed and now is the time to do so.

Amy remembered the first time she fed with Robert guiding her and teaching her how to hunt. The first time was a bit awkward, but it soon became the most natural thing in the world, like a baby at the breast. It was what she lived for, other than Robert.

Showing Ruthie how to become one with the shadows of the night, they slipped from the derelict farm house and made their way through the chill black night to the city where their relationship began less than twenty four hours earlier. The evening was still young, leaving many men exposed to the autumn air as they made their way home after a long day at work in the nearby mill.

Don't you smell the blood? Amy asked Ruthie as they stood in the shadow of an old maple tree that was vibrant with color during the day, but dark and dull at night. Leaves dropped randomly like the intermittent raindrops that precede a heavy storm and fluttered all around the young lovely stalkers.

Yes, I do, Ruthie seemed surprised at the awareness of her new ability. The bloody aroma of the passersby was intoxicating and delicious, even better than the aroma of fresh baked goods, which was Ruthie's favorite scent. The irresistible fragrance made Ruthie's strange feeling of hunger deepen. But when she thought about what was causing that craving, what she now was, a night dwelling heathen, she felt slightly ashamed and felt she should repress the feeling. She didn't deserve to live. But if what Amy had told her was true, she could only be killed if she came in contact with daylight, if someone drove a wooden stake through her heart or if she was decapitated. Amy also described the superior physical strength she now possessed accompanied by speed and stamina unmatched in any mortal human. Suddenly her natural need to feed threatened to overcome her long held Christian beliefs.

We can't feed here. Amy warned, There are too many people about. We need to find a more secluded area. I only brought you here to demonstrate how you are now affected by the scent of fresh blood.

Still keeping in the shadows, Amy led Ruthie to the wharves where the bustling activity of the day had receded to a few night watchmen were left aboard the ships while the others entered the city to spend their wages. Here is where we'll find our feast. Amy announced, There are some men who drink their wages and return to the ships to sleep off the effects of the liquor.

Heathens, murmured Ruthie as she followed Amy to a hiding place along the side of a carpenter's shop that was dark and deserted for the night where they could watch the waterfront without being seen.

Yes, Amy continued, the authorities expect to find these men unconscious and sick from their drink, giving us the opportunity to feed undiscovered. No one knows the difference between a man who has drunken himself to death and a man who has had his blood drained.

It wasn't long before they saw a drunken man staggering and mumbling along a nearby wharf unable to find the ship he had left a few hours earlier. Eventually, he gave up and, succumbing to fatigue he slumped to the ground against a shed and fell into a drunken slumber.

Now you will see just how strong you've become, Amy smiled at Ruthie while Ruthie looked questioningly at Amy's pale face in the moonlight, I'll keep watch and you drag that man behind the shed where you can feed in peace.

You expect me to move a grown man? Ruthie challenged as she motioned to her petite figure.

Come, Ruthie, you'll see, Amy led Ruthie from their observation point to the shed. Amy leaned against the front of the shed where she would be able to distract any passersby while Ruthie easily dragged the snoring drunk behind the building.

Moonlight reflected off the water and created long shadows along the pier as Amy listened to the boats creak and rock against the pilings while she waited for Ruthie to move the sleeping sailor. Anticipation and hunger made Amy impatient as she slipped behind the shed and was enveloped by the delicious scent of freshly exposed blood mingling with the salty air. Ruthie was on her knees feeding on the throat of the unfortunate man and looked up at Amy's pale, wanton face and returned to her feast. Amy, pleased and surprised at how quickly Ruthie learned to satisfy her hunger, laughed, knelt down and began to feed on the other side of the nearly depleted throat. After draining him of all the blood they could extract, they silently dropped his lifeless body into the water and slipped away into the shadows.

When they had reached a secluded alley away from the waterfront, they stopped for a rest, How do you feel now, Ruthie? Amy laughed in triumphant expectation.

Ruthie stood with her head bowed and muttered, I feel like the tool of the Devil that I am.

How can you say that? Amy was surprised at Ruthie's response, you performed wonderfully. Can't you feel the strength and power coursing through you? Now that you've tasted the blood of your prey, aren't you satisfied and content?

Ruthie looked at Amy in disgust, We killed that man in his sleep. The lord will never forgive us now. Murder is the worst sin and we committed it. You told me we didn't have to kill anyone. We could feed without killing.

Admit to me that you've never felt so strong. Tell me that while you fed you didn't feel a thrill of power and domination that you've never felt before in your life and never even dreamed was possible.

After a few moments hesitation where Ruthie seemed to be struggling with her thoughts and twisting her worn nightgown between her fists she replied in tears, Yes, I did feel all those things. It was overpowering the way I felt, but now that it's over I feel guilty about it and unclean.

You have to stop feeling guilty because this is who you are now, so enjoy the power and superior strength that you have and forget about the rest. We still have a lot to do before daylight.

We have to kill someone else? Ruthie reluctantly followed as Amy headed toward the center of town, I'm really not hungry anymore.

No, Ruthie, Amy waited for Ruthie to catch up, we're going to find you a pretty dress and a coffin of your own.

Dresses! Ruthie looked up at Amy in incredulity What do I care what I'm wearing when I'm nothing but a sinner, a killer. How can you think of pretty dresses after we killed a man and pushed him into the river?

It's all right, Amy tried to console Ruthie, but Ruthie shrank from her touch, you'll get used to it just like I did. Do you think I was happy about becoming an evil creature of the night? I was horrified, just as horrified as you are. And I had a family and a home that I could never go back to. I still miss my home and my family. I suppose I always will.

I don't think I can ever get used to being a killer. I was a God fearing woman before I met you. Why did you do this to me? I can understand my master and mistress keeping me a slave to them even after slavery was abolished in Connecticut. They used me for free help, but why did you make me a killer? I'm a worse sinner now than I ever was before. God is gonna turn His back on me now, for sure. I'll burn in hell forever. There's no hope for my soul now. I don't deserve to live and I sure don't deserve no pretty dress. I never had a pretty dress in my life and now that I have someone, a white man's, blood on my hands, I don't deserve to wear anything at all, she looked down at her now filthy, tattered nightdress, I don't even deserve to wear this rag anymore.

That was in your old life that you never had a pretty dress, Amy grabbed Ruthie by the shoulders and looked into her eyes, In your new life you wear pretty dresses. You wear whatever you like. No one is ever again going to tell you that you are undeserving of anything. I transformed you into a vampire to help you. I sympathized with your despair last night when I met you crying in your master's yard. You'll never be a slave to anyone ever again. You're free to do what you wish without fear. Amy let go of Ruthie and said, Now I'm going to show you where you will find pretty dresses and we will find you a fancy coffin too.

The October evening grew still and quiet as the city settled down for the night. Ruthie's bare feet were neither sore nor cold as she followed Amy down the tree-lined lane crunching through fallen leaves and kicking small stones as she walked. She seemed to be full of new physical strength after her first feed that left her body feeling warm and comfortable even though she wore only a thin gown and no shoes. The fact that she needed to steal and murder to stay alive made her fear for her soul, but the fear of freezing or starving was gone. She didn't want to admit to herself that she felt the power and vitality that she had never experienced before because the demands of her new lifestyle were so contrary to her lifelong Christian beliefs.

Even though she struggled not to admit it to herself, everything Amy had told her was true. The perpetual fear of being abandoned or abused or murdered that had ruled her life of enforced servitude and dependence was gone and she experienced a slow dawning feeling of liberation that would have been impossible to know in her former life, even in the event of her complete emancipation. Maybe Amy was sincere in her declaration of wanting to help Ruthie and rescue her from her misery, but