I opened the door.
"Sir?" the woman said, turning toward me. I locked my gaze onto her watery blue eyes.
"I believe you left something in the dining car," I said. "Something you need." I continued, copying Damons low, steady voice. Her eyes shifted, but I sensed that this was different from the way the conductor had responded to my words. When Id tried to compel the conductor, it was as if my thoughts had collided with steel; here, it was as though my thoughts were breaking through fog. She cocked her head, clearly listening.
"I left something " She trailed off, sounding confused. But I could sense something in my brain, a sort of melding of our minds, and I knew she wouldnt fight me.
Immediately, the woman shifted her bulk and stood up from her seat.
"Why, ah, I believe I did," she said, turning on her heel and walking back down the hall without a backward glance. The metallic door of the car closed with a click, and I pulled the heavy navy curtains over the little window to the aisle.
"Nice to make your acquaintance," I said as I bowed to the two girls. "My name is Remy Picard," I said, surreptitiously gazing down at the ticket poking out of my breast pocket.
"Remy," the taller girl repeated quietly, as if committing my name to memory. I felt my fangs throb against my gums. I was so hungry, and she was so exquisite I mashed my lips together and forced myself to stand still.Not yet.
"Finally! Aunt Minnies never left us alone!" the older girl said. She looked to be about sixteen. "She thinks we arent to be trusted."
"Arent you now?" I teased, easing into the flirtation as the compliments and responses volleyed back and forth. As a human, I would have hoped such an exchange would end with a squeeze of the hand or a brush of lips against a cheek. Now, all I could think of was the blood coursing through the girls veins.
I sat down next to the older girl, the younger ones eyes searching me curiously. She smelled like gardenias and bread just out of the oven. Her sister--they must have been sisters, with the same tawny brown hair and darting blue eyes--smelled richer, like nutmeg and freshly fallen leaves. "Im Lavinia, and this is Sarah Jane. Were going to move to New Orleans," the one girl said, putting her needlepoint down on her lap. "Do you know it? Im worried Ill miss Richmond horribly," she said plaintively.
"Our papa died," Sarah Jane added, her lower lip trembling.
I nodded, running my tongue along my teeth, feeling my fangs. Lavinias heart was beating far faster than her sisters.
"Aunt Minnie wants to marry me off. Will you tell me whats it like, Remy?" Lavinia pointed to the ring on my fourth finger. Little did she know that the ring had nothing to do with marriage and everything to do with being able to hunt girls like her in broad daylight.
"Being married is lovely, if you meet the right man. Do you think youll meet the right man?" I asked, staring into her eyes.
"I I dont know. I suppose if hes anything like you, then I should count myself lucky." Her breath was hot on my cheek, and I knew that I couldnt control myself for much longer.
"Sarah Jane, I bet your auntie needs some help," I said, glancing into Sarah Janes blue eyes. She paused for a moment, then excused herself and went to find her aunt. I had no idea if I was compelling her or if she was simply following my orders, because she was a child and I was an adult.
"Oh, youre wicked, arent you?" Lavinia asked, her eyes flashing as she smiled at me.
"Yes," I said brusquely. "Yes, I am wicked, my dear." I bared my teeth, watching with great satisfaction as her eyes widened with horror. The best part of feeding was the anticipation, seeing my victim trembling, helpless,mine. I slowly leaned in, savoring the moment. My lips grazed her soft skin.
"No!" she gasped.
"Shhh," I whispered, pulling her closer and allowing my teeth to touch her skin, subtly at first, then more insistently, until I sank my teeth into her neck. Her moans became screams, and I held my hand over her mouth to silence her as I sucked the sweet liquid into my mouth. She groaned slightly, but soon her sighs turned into kittenish mews.
"New Orleans, next stop!" the conductor yelled, breaking my reverie.
I glanced out the window. The sun was sinking low into the sky, and Lavinias nearly dead body felt heavy in my arms. Outside the window, New Orleans rose up as if in a dream, and I could see the ocean continuing on and on forever. It was like my life was destined to be: never-ending years, never-ending feedings, never-ending pretty girls with sweet sighs and sweeter blood.
"Forever panting, and forever young," I whispered, pleased at how well the lines from the poet Keats suited my new life.
"Sir!" The conductor knocked on the door. I strode out of the compartment, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. He was the same conductor whod stopped Damon and me just outside Mystic Falls, and I saw suspicion flash across his face.
"Were in New Orleans, then?" I asked, the taste of Lavinias blood in the back of my throat.
The ginger-haired conductor nodded. "And the ladies? Theyre aware?"
"Oh yes, theyre aware," I said, not breaking my gaze as I slipped my ticket out of my pocket. "But they asked not to be disturbed. And I ask not to be disturbed, too. Youve never seen me. Youve never been by this compartment. Later, if anyone asks, you say there may have been some thieves who got on the train outside Richmond. They looked suspicious. Union soldiers," I invented.
"Union soldiers?" the conductor repeated, clearly confused.
I sighed. Until I had compelling under control, Id have to resort to a more permanent style of memory erasing. In a flash I grabbed the conductor by the neck and snapped it as easily as if it were a sweet pea. Then I threw him into the compartment with Lavinia and shut the door behind me.