Siege At Freaktown Ch. 17

Helena stood by the cot, holding on to Carlos' blood covered hand. He barely opened his eyes but managed to catch a glimpse of her in tears. She noticed he was looking at her.

"Carly?" She said. "Carly?"

"Hey," said Carlos.

"Hey."

"It's going to be all right, carino. It's going... to be all right."

"No, you're not going to die; not without my permission."

"Don't worry... about me."

"Did you hear what I said, you son of a bitch? You're not going to die without my permission. Not without my permission. I won't allow it. I won't."

Helena placed her head on Carlos' chest, listening to his heart beat, staying by his side nonstop. Her tears kept pouring down, feeling powerless to do anything for him.

"Stay with me, Carly," she said. "Please, don't leave me."

"I'll always... be with you, Blanquita," Carlos whispered. "That... will never change."

"You can't just die now. These people need you; they still need their savior."

After Tek and his fellow officers were done conducting their search for anything out of the ordinary, he reported back to Helena, despite insisting on not being interrupted while watching over Carlos.

"Helena," he said, "everyone is accounted for. No spies or disguises of any kind. I thought you should know that."

"Thank you, Tek," she answered without looking at him.

"If only I thought of that sooner, then none of this would have happened."

"Don't blame yourself, Tek. It wasn't your fault."

Tek could do nothing but look on, seeing his friend slowly dying. Despite Helena's comforting words, he still blamed himself for not taking action sooner.

Count Vargas returned to the warehouse, seeing the man he called friend dying, and his former protege in emotional pain.

"Helena," he said, "I am so sorry."

"Don't feel sorry for me," she said. "Feel sorry for these people. Who's going to lead them now?"

"Let us talk."

"I'll be right back."

Helena kissed Carlos' forehead before leaving him alone to have a private conversation with her old mentor. It was a conversation that was even more painful for her to handle.

"Helena," he said, "you may not want to hear this, but there's nothing you can do for him. He is dying, and he rightfully deserves peace."

"No," she said, "I won't accept that."

"I know you love him, but I did warn you about forming attachments, and the heartbreak that goes with it."

"I haven't forgotten."

"You're a vampire; you will find love again."

"He is the only human I ever fell in love with. He reminded me what love really was like I never had before. Without him I'll be lost. I can't just let him go like that. There has to be a way to save him. Damn it, I need to do something."

"Helena."

"I won't give up on him, and he wouldn't give up on me if I was in his position."

"What could you possibly do for him?"

The old vampire saw the look on Helena's face, knowing exactly what she had in mind.

"No," he said. "Absolutely not."

"Why not?" Helena asked. "You did it for me."

"That was a different situation; you chose to be a vampire."

"Well, I choose to make him one."

"You can not force him to have a life he may not want, even if it means saving him."

Helena turned her back on the old vampire, something she had never done before for as long as she'd known him. She didn't want anyone else seeing the pain she was going through, including the children who became friendly with her.

"Should I forget about it?" She asked. "Is that what you want me to do?"

"Of course not", said Count Vargas.

"Then tell me what I should do; I'm all out of options."

"Give me a moment to explain the situation with him. I will ask him if he wants this or not. Remember, if he chooses not to go through with it, you must respect his decision. You have to let him go."

Helena didn't give him a yes or no answer. She turned back around watching the old vampire approach the young lieutenant.

"Mr. Perez," he said. "Mr. Perez, can you hear me?"

"Yes, sir," Carlos whispered. "How's... Hel?"

"Devastated I'm afraid. I have not seen her this way in such a long time. She loves you very much, and would fight the devil himself for you."

"That's my girl."

"Listen closely, she wants to save your life."

"I'm all ears."

"In order to do that, she will turn you into a vampire. I told her that it is not her decision to make; it is strictly yours and yours alone. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes."

"I must warn you that if you choose to do this, there is no going back. You will be one of us; a creature of the night who hunts, feast on blood, and you will live forever. Is that what you really want?"

Carlos took a moment to make the important decision that would change his life. Time was running out and he couldn't waste any more precious minutes.

"I can't leave Hel... alone," he whispered. "She can't win this fight... without me. If making me... part of the family... saves my life, then who am I to refuse? If I live forever, that's fine... with me, just as long as she... and I are... together. She's the only thing... that keeps me going. She has... my full blessing."

Count Vargas admired his courage and respected the decision made. He looked at Helena, waiting and still in tears.

"You have a huge heart," he told him, "and a strong spirit, Mr. Perez. You're the most courageous man I know."

"I aim... to please," said Carlos.

The old vampire extended his hand to Helena, leading her to the love of her life who was ready to take that big step.

"Carly?" She said, taking his hand and kissing it.

"Mi amor," he whispered.

"Are you sure about this? Absolutely sure?"

"Yeah, it might be fun... being a vampire."

"Fun? It'll be more than that; I promise you."

"Well... then sign me up."

Another kiss on Carlos' hand and some tears trickled down his arm. For as long as he's known Helena, he had never seen her shed tears before. He always thought she wasn't capable of sadness since he was used to seeing her all smiles or pissed off.

"I shouldn't have argued with you," she said, "I'm such a fool letting my pride get in the way."

"Forget it," said Carlos, "none of that... matters now."

"I love you so much."

"Forever?"

"Forever and ever, babe."

Helena turned his head to the right. Her sharp fangs once again protracted, all set to present the young lieutenant a new life.

"Be gentle," said Carlos.

"Never," said Helena, placing her bite on his neck.

It felt like two hot needles digging through his flesh and down to the veins. Carlos' eyes rolled back and drifted into a deep sleep, falling into darkness and seeing images that were not his own.