#the bookshelf | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

heyitsmetonid · 27 days ago

Text

Word Count: ~4,376

Reading Time: 17.5m

Warning: Foul language. Mention of attempted r&p3. Slavery.

More works here!

As a host of a top-rated talk show, “I Was There,” I often rehearsed my lines and reviewed my note cards. Preparedness is crucial in this line of work. You never know what will happen or what someone will say, which may steer the direction of the show. Sometimes, I let the topic veer off just to address what happened or was said. Other times, I have to reel it in. Regardless of what occurs, I always get back on track to keep things organized and timely.

This particular night was like any other night. I was in my office reviewing my notes when a knock came to the door.

“Hey, Toni! Our guest is here,” my assistant Eddie said.

“Great! I’ll be there in a moment. Offer them a nice … refreshment,” I instructed.

I always felt weird saying that. “Offer them a nice refreshment.” The fact that the company kept fresh blood on hand for guests was surprising and disturbing. I tried not to think of it too much and instead stood from my desk and walked over to the full-length mirror, giving myself a once over.

“Alright, chick,” I began giving myself a pep talk, “you’ve got this. Another vampire, another story. No pressure. Let’s see what this one has to say.”

I walked out of my office and towards the guest dressing room with a pep in my step and determination in my heart. I always wanted to improve and make the next show better than the last. This show, I thought, would be legendary. I could feel it in my bones.

I arrived at the dressing room and knocked. “Hello? It’s me -”

“Yes, come in,” said a voice within. “I’ve been expecting you.”

I opened the door and found an attractive, tall man sitting in the makeup chair, wearing a makeup cape and a bright smile on his face. His beard and hair were neatly trimmed. He wore a black leather jacket, black pants, and a nice blue shirt with a sparkly dark-colored scarf. A silver necklace adorned his neck with what looked like two ruby crystals. Despite the makeup artist putting whatever amount of makeup on his ethereal face, I could tell that his skin was flawless. Actually, I’ve never met a vampire who didn’t have flawless skin, so I didn’t understand why there was a makeup budget for guests.

“Mr. Jackson! I’m Toni D. It’s very nice to meet you,” I greeted him with my hand extended.

He took my warm hand into his cold one and gently squeezed it as if not to break me. His touch was inviting and almost magnetic, like a bond was being made through this handshake. For some odd reason, being near him nearly felt natural.

“Please, call me Silas,” he insisted, placing his other hand over mine, thus encapsulating my hand between his giant ones. “There’s no need to be so formal.”

The way he looked at me made my face catch fire. I had a hard time staring this beautiful man in the face, but I held onto the little professionalism I could find to not fluster and break eye contact.

“Alright. Silas, it is. How are you feeling tonight?”

“Like I’ve hit the jackpot,” he said, smiling and caressing my hand. “Tonight is undoubtedly one of the best nights of my life.”

“Oh! Is being on my show that important to you?” I asked, glancing at my hand momentarily, then back into his mesmerizing brown eyes.

Silas grinned. “Not the show but someone.”

I couldn't help but blush, feeling slightly embarrassed. I tried to recover as quickly as possible by smiling brightly again.

“Ah, okay!” I responded and looked down at my hand, which was still in both of his. “Is my hand keeping yours warm?”

He chuckled and let go of my hand. “Ah, I’m sorry about that! I am just thrilled to have finally met you.”

“No worries! I’ll step out and let Celeste finish your makeup, and I’ll see you on stage,” I said with a wink.

Silas stared at me, tilting his head slightly, and smirked. “See you then.”

I said farewell to Celeste and stepped out of the room gently shutting the door behind me. Then, I ran to the bathroom and rushed over to the sink. I splashed some water on my face and studied myself in the mirror. Since I’d washed some of the makeup off my face, I could see my face was flushed. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins, and my heartbeat was so loud I was afraid he could hear it.

“Calm yourself,” I panted. “What’s gotten into you? He’s not the first vampire - or handsome guy - you’ve interviewed. Get it together.”

I snatched a few paper towels from the dispenser to dry my face. Then, I headed to my makeup artist’s station so she could reapply my makeup.

“Alright, Mr. Jackson,” Celeste said, looking over his face, “I think we are done here. Just allow me to put my makeup away and I’ll take you to the director backstage.”

“Thank you, Celeste! Marvelous job!”

Celeste grinned from ear to ear. “Oh, you’re most welcome!”

Silas smiled back. At that moment, he quickly turned his attention toward the door, then toward what he understood to be panting. She was panting, and her heart was racing. He started to rise from his seat to check on her, but he thought it was best not to, fearing he’d expose himself.

So, he held onto the armrests of his chair tightly, metal collapsing under his grip, and he closed his eyes and focused on the sound of her heart. After about a minute, her heart rate slowed and her breathing started evening out.

“That a girl,” he whispered as he loosened his grip on the chair.

“What was that?” Celeste asked giddily.

Silas glanced at Celeste and rubbed his hands together. “Oh, nothing! I was just thinking of Toni. She is quite charming.”

“Oh.” Celeste’s smile faltered a bit with the realization that Silas’s attention was on someone else. “Yes, she’s something else,” she said dryly, putting away the last of her tools.

Silas gave Celeste a sympathetic smile and clasped his hands together as he waited for her to finish cleaning her area.

Yes, more than you’ll ever know. So charming with that little wink of hers. He used to do the same, too.

The bright lights shined onto the stage and illuminated us as we sat across from each other in our comfy armchairs. The director stood behind the cinematographer as he did his countdown. Then, the red light lit up on the camera, and that’s when I knew it was time.

“Hey! It’s me, Toni D, and thank you for tuning into yet another episode of “I Was There”. Tonight, I have a very special guest with me. One who has been in the Richmond area for a very long time and has witnessed many things that I certainly could never fathom. Please, help me give a big welcome to Mr. Silas Jackson!”

The audience applauded and cheered. Silas waved at them and nodded towards me.

“Thank you for having me, Toni,” he said, expressing his gratitude. “I absolutely love the show and what you’ve done with it.”

“Ah, thank you so much! You are so kind, Mr. - I mean – Silas! Hehe!” I blushed, almost totally forgetting the fact that he preferred I refer to him by his first name. “So, let’s get into it, shall we?”

“Let’s,” he nodded.

“How long have you been in Richmond?”

“Since birth.”

“Since birth,” I repeated. “And when were you born?”

“March 3, 1750.”

“Wow! That’s almost 275 years ago,” I stated. “Tell me, what was life like back then? Any childhood memories that stand out?”

Silas hummed as he thought of a response. “Well, life was certainly much more drab then. Quite honestly, it was horrendous. I was born a slave, and as soon as I was able to stand steadily on my own two feet and walk properly, I was put to work. While most people today spent their childhoods on playgrounds or in school, I spent mine in the tobacco fields, and it was laborious. Clearing the land for the crop took a long time. After that was done, I prepared the seedbeds in January. It was freezing! I barely had enough clothes on my back to keep me warm. The only thing that probably kept me from freezing to death then was the work that kept me moving.”

“That’s awful,” I muttered.

“Yes, it was. That’s why I was determined to get away, and I did. I escaped when I was 20 years old.”

I was surprised to hear this. “Really? How?”

“In the dead of night. I saw an opportunity and took it. One of the slavers had come to my quarters to … claim me …,” he said with a wrinkle on his brow, “but I was stronger than him. Working in the fields did grace me with that gift. I was able to pin him down and snap his neck. He carried a pistol on him. I took it along with his boots and coat and ran north. I knew I had to head in that direction. After what seemed to be weeks, I found myself in Philadelphia. There, I found the Quakers, promoters of abolition before the first radical society of abolition was created in 1784. They hid me. Helped me.”

I released a breath that I didn’t even realize I was holding. His account of events thus far had me overwhelmingly absorbed. It was always tough to hear Black and Brown people’s accounts of the past, but by the end of the interviews, I was always glad that they were willing to share it. Their stories needed to be told, just like Silas Jackson’s.

“Once you were in Philadelphia, what did you do?” I asked.

“I survived,” he simply put with a resolute gaze, “and I lived one day at a time.”

The audience applauded him and spoke many words of encouragement. I followed suit.

“Such bravery! I don’t know if I could’ve done it myself.”

“Of course you could,” he told me. “When your life and freedom are at stake, you will do what is necessary.”

I gave him a warm smile. “Yes, I suppose you are right. How long did you stay in Philadelphia?”

“I was only there six months before I had to leave,” he answered.

“You had to leave? For what reason?”

“My mother died. I wanted to bury her body and give her a proper funeral. I wanted to say my final goodbye.”

“Oh my! I’m sorry! I completely understand, but tell me,” I sat up straight, “how did you hear of your mother’s death?”

“One of the Quakers, Mr. Mott, was keeping tabs on any news coming out of Richmond and the surrounding areas. He wanted to make sure no one was hot on my trail or knew of my whereabouts. He also had someone close to Mr. Jackson, my old enslaver, who would report back to him. That’s how I found out, and with that news, I headed back.”

“With help, of course, from this informant?” I questioned.

“Yes, and a few others. He got me in and out of Richmond safely. He orchestrated everything perfectly. I almost felt like a free man walking about as I did. After laying my mother to rest, I returned to Philadelphia, but only stayed for a few days. I was ready to go.”

At this point, I didn’t know whether to ask him about the man who assisted him or why he left Philadelphia. Both questions needed to be asked, but as if he could read my mind, he answered one of the questions for me.

With a smile, he said, “I left Philadelphia because I got a taste of what it was like being a free man, and I wanted to actually live as a free man.”

“Were you not a free man in Philadelphia?”

“Not looking over my shoulder every five minutes, no.”

“And you weren’t afraid of being captured and killed?”

“Of course, but determination got the best of me, so I went back to get my freedom and help others get theirs, too.”

Needless to say, I was enthralled. Never had I met anyone who escaped slavery and was willing to go back to where they escaped to live openly. It was a bold move, and I needed to know how he did it.

“How did you do that?”

He stared at me for a moment. I could see the wheels turning in his head trying to figure out what to say and how to say it. He smirked at me, and I could see he was having fun with this.

“My newfound friend helped me,” he finally said.

“Mmm!” I nodded. “Care to share this friend’s name?”

“Duff. Lord William Duff.”

I froze.

William Duff? No, no way! He can’t be talking about -

Yes, that is precisely who I’m talking about, a voice not my own echoed in my head.

I looked around at the audience, the director, and the cameraman before my gaze landed on Silas, who had been staring at me now with a grin on his face. Out of nervousness, I licked my lips and bit my bottom lip.

Cat caught your pretty little tongue, Miss Duff? he asked telepathically.

“W-what?”

“You asked my friend’s name, and I said Lord William Duff,” he answered.

The cat indeed caught my tongue. I wasn’t sure how to follow up. Was he messing with me? Lying to me? Or was he really telling the truth? Because even though it seemed like he was toying with me, William Duff was alive and living in Richmond during the time he described.

“Psst! Psst! Toni!” a hushed voice called from backstage.

I turned to the curtain and saw my producer and my assistant trying to egg me on. So, I cleared my throat in an attempt to regain my composure and asked another question.

“So, this friend of yours,” it was hard for me to say my distant relative’s name, “how exactly did you meet him, and how did he help you?”

Silas smirked as his eyes sparkled and grew slightly redder, the tint swirling in his irises like glitter. “I met him through another Quaker, John Woolman. He lived in New Jersey but traveled through Virginia, Maryland, and Philadelphia, often seeing firsthand the devastation my - our - people were going through.” He pointed between us. “During one of his travels, he met a man named William Duff, a freed Black man, roaming Richmond ‘without a care in the world’ were his words. Haha! He told me he had to meet him and know just how he was able to do that and find out he did indeed. The power that man wielded was extraordinary, and I wanted a piece of it.”

I was starting to see where things were headed, and as much as I didn’t like it, I had to keep the show moving. I certainly didn’t want to cause mass panic among the audience or start panicking outwardly until everything was in the clear, and I got my Black ass out of there.

“Power? William Duff?” I asked breathily, barely able to form sentences at this point.

“Oh, yes! My maker was one of the first to take a stake in Virginia and overseas. Solidified his lordship in England and came back to the States to live lavishly and fight the antiabolitionists. And I fought alongside him, of course. Even fought together during the American Civil War about 100 years later. He gave me everything I needed to become the man that I am today. I am so grateful to him.”

I slowly nodded. “Uh-huh.”

Yes, I am grateful for what your 11th-generation great-grandfather did for me.

I shuddered. Fucking hell! But then, a question came to mind.

“Is he still around?”

Silas frowned. “No.”

“Where did he go? Did something happen to him?”

“Something did happen to him, but …” he looked away from me to the audience and back into my eyes, “perhaps I shouldn’t talk about it. It is all in the past after all.”

“But, Silas, we’re here to talk about the past,” I reminded him. “You’ve spoken so candidly thus far. What’s stopping you now? What are you hiding?”

He tilted his head, and the corner of his lip curled up. “Hiding? I have no need.”

He was lying, and I could tell, and he knew I could tell he was lying. Whatever happened to my 11th-generation great-grandfather, I wanted to know about it. Before I could press him any further, he spoke to me.

We are due for a break, aren’t we? Let’s get away from prying eyes and ears, and I will tell you what you want to know.

Alright, I agreed.

“I have to admit you’ve piqued my interest. I want to know more right after we take a commercial break.”

The audience clapped, and I motioned for us to go backstage. Silas followed me as I walked toward my office.

“Hey! Where are you going? You can’t go too far from the stage! The commercial break will be over before you know it,” my assistant Eddie called out.

“Don’t worry! We’ll be back in just a moment,” I said, closing my office door behind me.

Being alone in a room with a vampire who was being secretive about my lineage’s past was not the best idea, but I needed privacy. It’s not every day one discovers they’re a descendant of a vampire, and I thought it was best to keep that information off national television. At least until I knew all the facts. I had so many questions.

I faced the handsome fellow standing before me with his hand clasped behind his back, his chest puffed out, and a shit-eating grin on his face. Silas acted like he was playing a game and winning. I was determined to change that.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” I finally spoke.

Silas took in a deep breath and exhaled. “Well, I find that asking the first question that comes to mind usually helps.”

“Why did you come here?” This question had been on my mind ever since he brought up my distant relative.

Silas smiled. “I came here for you.”

“Me?” I started backing away slowly afraid of what he meant by that. “What do you want from me?”

“You and your blood.” He was straightforward.

And I was scared.

However, before I could scream or even think of running, he said, “Not in the way you’re thinking, Toni. No! I’m not here to hurt you.” He waved his hand as if to dismiss the horrific thoughts that had invaded my mind. “I need your help to continue our legacy.”

“Our legacy? We don’t have anything, and I certainly don’t have a legacy - do I?” I was so sure, but then I quickly realized that I didn’t actually know any of the facts. “How do I know what you said out there is true? What are you talking about, Silas?”

“You’re the 11th generation great-grandchild of my maker, Lord William Duff. His blood courses through my veins as well as yours. Although yours is much more pure and genetically bonded than mine.”

“You could be making that up for all I know. 11th-generation great-grandchild of a vampire!” I said animatedly waving my hands around. “Nowhere in my family’s records does it say or even suggest that we are something other than human. Also, Silas, vampires cannot conceive, so I’m having a hard time believing you.”

“Your family wasn’t going to keep records because it was a risk,” Silas said, approaching me and trying to convince me. “Not only does power come with a tremendous amount of prosperity and responsibility, it also comes with enemies, and William had plenty. Keeping his offspring’s true identities a secret was the best way to keep them safe. And you’re right. Vampires cannot conceive, but humans can.”

“Ha! Yeah, right!” I laughed in his face. “The only thing I need protection from are these deceitful half-truths you’re spewing. Yes, I am a descendant of William Duff, his grandchild, but he is nothing more than that. A descendant.”

I started towards the door. “We’ll continue the interview as if nothing happened. Once it’s over, we don’t have to see each other again.”

I placed my hand on the doorknob and turned it but paused when he began asking me a series of questions.

“Have you ever caught a cold? Broken a bone? Perhaps you got a paper cut, and moments later, the skin healed as if you had never cut yourself. Hm? Have you ever wondered why you haven’t suffered from any ailments like your friends and colleagues?”

I let go of the doorknob and looked over my shoulder. “I’ve been real careful my whole life."

“Ah! Now, who’s the one lying?” He laughed.

It was true. Besides the occasional cut, I have never been sick or gotten hurt, but it always healed amazingly fast. I just thought that’s how it was for me and my family. That’s just how things were. Silas got me thinking, and I reluctantly pulled myself away from the door to hear what else he had to say. I turned to face him once more.

“Toni, my dear,” said Silas, tapping his necklace three times. Ting! Ting! Ting! “I would not lie about this. I would not lie to you.”

What I thought was once before rubies or some kind of red stone on his necklace started swirling in the settings of his necklace. I watched in awe. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sight.

“What I say is true.” Ting! Ting! Ting! “So, please believe me, my dear Antonia Clare Duff -” Ting! Ting! Ting! “- that when I say we must save our legacy, I am telling the truth. Our bond is special. Unbreakable even.” Ting! Ting! Ting! “Isn’t that right, Antonia?”

I nodded mindlessly. It felt as if I was in a daze or a fog of intoxication and ecstasy, and my body felt relaxed and light. I was wholly focused on Silas.

“Look me in the eyes, my sweet baby, and tell me that you believe me,” he instructed.

“I believe you,” I said.

“Good!” His eyes were bloodshot red now, and his claws were protracted. “Come to me. Come to me now,” he beckoned in his deep voice.

Without moving a muscle, I started levitating toward Silas right into his arms. He held me so tenderly and caressed my face.

“I’m so glad I found you. Now, I can finally have the one thing that’s been missing in my life.” Silas kissed my forehead and looked lovingly into my eyes. “You are so beautiful. You will make a fine bride, Antonia Clare Duff.”

Dozens of police cars and unmarked cars surrounded the broadcasting studio. Their strobe lights illuminated the area as police taped off the surrounding area and created a perimeter. A few canines searched the outside as well as indoors for the missing individuals.

“When was the last time you saw Miss Duff?” an officer asked Eddie.

“The last time I saw her she was in her office with that fucking creep,” he said, running his hands through his thinning black hair. “God knows where he’s taken her or what he’s done with her. Fucking hell!”

The officer jotted down what Eddie said. “We’ll do all that we can to find her. She hasn’t been missing for over an hour, so we should be able to track them down.”

Eddie scoffed. “You act like she just strolled out of here arm in arm with Joe Schmo off the street or a member of the audience. She’s been kidnapped by a damn vampire! Not sure if you know this or not, but they have inhuman super abilities. If he doesn’t want to be found, it’s very likely you won’t find them until he’s done with her.”

“I … I was just trying to be positive, sir. I do understand your frustrations,” the officer told Eddie.

“Yeah, I know,” Eddie said defeatedly. “Are we done here?”

“Sure, but don’t go too far,” the officer answered.

Eddie nodded and walked over to the studio entrance to have a semi-quiet moment on the steps. When he reached the entrance, he found a tall man wearing a neat, straightforward, all-black suit and silver jewelry. He looked a little out of place.

“Can I help you?” Eddie asked.

“Yes,” the stranger smiled. “I am looking for Toni D. Last time I checked, she worked here,” he said, looking at the spectacle around him.

“Uh, yeah, but she’s not here right now. If you haven’t noticed, we’re all looking for her.”

“What’s happened?” the stranger asked, concern etched deeply across his face.

Eddie looked the strange man up and down. “She’s missing.”

“What?!”

“I said she’s missing.”

Oh, dear! I'm too late, the man thought. "Was Silas Jackson here around the time of her disappearance, by any chance?”

“Y-yeah! He was the guest tonight. What do you know?”

The stranger cursed under his breath. “I know that she is in danger,” he answered Eddie, turning on his heel to walk away.

“Wait a minute!” Eddie hollered after him. “If you know something, you need to tell the police. Hey! Where are you going? Stop!”

“The police can’t save her,” said the stranger over his shoulder, “but I can.”

“And who the hell do you think you are?” Eddie asked, scoffing at the man.

The stranger stopped and looked back at Eddie, who was waiting for an answer. The stranger gave a small smile and said, “A relative that hasn’t seen Toni in a long time.”

Eddie cocked his head in confusion. He had believed that Toni’s family was small and most of them were dead.

The stranger didn’t want to continue the conversation, so he bid Eddie farewell. “Goodnight,” he said with a wink and walked away.

Author’s Note: My first historical/vampire fic! Wow! Never did I imagine that I’d write a historical fiction, let alone a vampire one. I did some research for this one so that I wasn’t making up everything. Citations are below. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and as always, comments, likes, and reblogs are welcome.

Citations

Google.com

Lots of vampire “facts” and lore

https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/virginia-society-for-promoting-the-abolition-of-slavery-the/

Abolitionists, abolition societies

https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/tobacco-colonial-cultivation-methods.htm

Tobacco facts

https://genealogyresources.org/Richmond_City_surnames.html

Common last names in VA

https://web.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/speccoll/quakersandslavery/commentary/people/woolman.php

John Woolman, NJ abolitionist

Toni D

Visit my bookshelf to read more!

Dividers by @cafekitsune 💜🖤🩷

You're the host of a popular talk show "I Was There" where vampires come to talk about historical events they were witnesses of. One day a vampire says something truly shocking.

#historical fiction #historical #vampire #vampire fiction #halloween #happy halloween #original #black writer #writing community #spilled ink #writeblr #writers of tumblr #black culture #black OC #black reader #poc #RVA #hey Toni #the bookshelf

4K notes · View notes