by Strider, Jez
“You feel aware and in touch with the world as you never have been before.” His voice was gentle. “The only reason you’ve been allowed to get away with living so human, outside of vampire society is because you were weak. You didn’t feed as most of us do. But now….” He looked down at his hands.
“Now what?” I was afraid to even ask the question. Living outside of “vampire society” suited me just fine. I didn’t even know what vampire society meant!
“Dante escaped and returned to a mansion he has nearby. Many of his followers now back me as the society’s Master. A dictator can only rule for so long before there is rebellion. You know about rebellion better than most.” He straightened his silk tie before looking back at me once more. “I had planned to protect you by claiming you as mine, but with that ring, I doubt either of you will agree to this plan.”
When I looked toward Marcus, I expected him to be grinning over the victory, but he just looked deep in thought and concerned. “Why would she be safer if she were your…mistress or whatever the hell she would be?” Surely he wasn’t considering agreeing to that plan.
Antonio pinched the bridge of his nose. He was weary. The stress he’d been enduring because of me was clearly visible. “Dante has been spreading rumors, many of them true about Evelina. The vampires feel threatened by her potential power and influence. Being with me wouldn’t protect her from Dante’s devout legion of followers, but the others, they wouldn’t risk crossing me by harming my companion.”
“This is insane!” I cried out, standing to my feet. “I’m not a threat to anyone. Seriously, I just want to be left alone. I don’t want to be part of a vampire society!”
Both men outstretched their hands in a motion to calm me down. Marc had moved closer and Antonio was on his feet. I felt cornered. Not just by the men, but by my circumstances. After a few moments of silence and several deep breaths, I regained some of my composure and sat back down. The guys looked at each other before each took a seat near me.
“First, we have to take care of the problem with Dante.” Antonio explained. “That place is like a fortress with all his minions doing his bidding.” He gave a tired shrug. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to get to him. There have been a few volunteers who have offered to try to infiltrate his group.”
One person had already died because of me and I didn’t want anyone else to. “No. I still think about that girl that was enthralled by Dante. She was shot because of me. Marcus almost died because of me! We need to do this without any more casualties.”
“Give me the address. I can have some bikers I know ride by the place.” Marc said with surprising calm. “They won’t get hurt. It’d cause too much attention for the vamps to attack a group of people just passing by.”
Antonio looked to me for approval and I nodded reluctantly. I had just said I didn’t want to put anyone in danger, but there was something I had realized. It was up to me to get rid of Dante and I had to get my hands on that address.
Way too much had happened in a short period of time. My mind was clearing up of all the hysteria and I was becoming, as a great band once said, comfortably numb. I had tried to seem disinterested when Antonio had written down the address and given it to Marcus, going so far as to lay down on the sofa and pretend to be taking a nap. They had been speaking quietly to each other, which was pointless, since my hearing had intensified. I’ll admit that it pissed me off. Perhaps I should have been flattered that they knew me so well. Antonio was giving warnings to watch out for me since I was recovered and to never underestimate me. Marcus was all nods and agreement. Once again, I had to scold myself for letting him read my journal.
The paper with the address was slipped into Marc’s wallet. I wasn’t watching, but I heard the gentle crackle of the worn leather and jingle of the chain as Marcus opened and closed it. Antonio walked over and gently touched the top of my head. With effort, I keep my breathing steady and made no reaction. I’d never been able to keep my heart from racing at his slightest touch, but this time I found that I had the resolve. He left without a word.
Marcus was quiet in the kitchen. Finally, I heard him toss the empty beer bottle in the trash. His footsteps sounded across the room and then the door to the bathroom shut. My eyes flew open. I’d never moved so fast, silent, and agile. The wallet was still lying on the counter, but my phone was across the room on the dresser. Antonio had me break my old phone, so I was glad for this one the guards had dropped by as a gift one day.
“Shit.” I mouthed as I pulled the paper out and read the address. The toilet had flushed. I’d just have to remember the location for now. I put the paper back as I had found it. Despite my newfound prowess, I tripped as I rushed to get back onto the sofa. The coffee table nearly had an imprint of my face on it, but I caught my balance just in time.
Marcus came into the room just I’d gotten back into position. “Babe?” He called out softly and I gave a sleepy, unintelligible grumble before opening my eyes.
“Yeah?” Sitting up slowly, I looked around the room. “Is he gone?” Lying made me feel like complete and utter crap. And no matter what the reason, what I was doing was dishonest.
He nodded as he walked into the kitchen then picked up his wallet and keys, putting them in his jean’s pocket. “You should probably think about his offer. He can protect you better than I can.” This obviously pained him to say, but it made me love him that much more. I wouldn’t want to depend on Antonio’s protection even if we were a couple, but it touched my heart that Marcus would put my safety above what he wanted.
“There’s nothing to think about,” I said. “I’m not going to be his girl just because of some crazy society that I don’t even know for sure exists.” Casually, I walked over to the dresser and picked up my phone.
He followed me, pulling me tightly into his arms and hugging me. “I just had to tell you it was okay and I’d understand.” The words meant the world to me as he whispered them against my ear. His lips pressed against my forehead in a soft kiss.
I smiled. The affection was great, but I wanted to get the address into the phone’s GPS before I forgot it. “Go downstairs and work for a while. I feel much better and I know you’re weeks behind.” I gave him a playful shove toward the door, wanting to lighten his mood.
The hesitation was evident as he looked at the door. “I’ll tell the guards to keep an extra watchful eye and I’ll be right downstairs if you need me, okay?”
“Of course. I’m going to call Ash and tell her I’m feeling better.” My personality was bubblier than normal, but I guess he assumed it was just because of my health and the engagement. If he had any suspicion of the plan forming in my mind, I’d never get away with it. Heck, I didn’t even have a good plan, just a vague idea.
Marcus was still reluctant, but I knew his business was at risk of failure if he didn’t get back to work. My funds were low, too. Becoming a veterinarian had been an expensive endeavor for me. I’d had to pay for college, even falsify my documents to get into school. Then the business cost and I didn’t turn much of a profit. Much of the work I did was for free or reduced cost. I couldn’t bear to turn an animal away that needed help, even if the owner’s couldn’t afford treatment. So, I was in no position to give Marc much money. Not that he would have taken it anyway.
“I’d wouldn’t work, if I could afford it.” It sounded like an apology, but he shot me that sexy, youthful grin. “Nobody’s gonna say I can’t support my woman.” He walked out the door and I couldn’t argue. Besides, I needed to be supported at this point. I didn’t particularly like that I was broke, but I was glad I didn’t have to worry about it.
As soon as he was gone, I pulled up the navigation app. I stared at the screen for a moment. What was the house number? Why was I so very bad with numbers? My head felt like it was about to explode as my blood pressure skyrocketed. I entered down the street name. That much I could remember. Surely I could find a mansion on a street without the exact house number.
Getting the address was the easy part. Soon I had to figure out how to escape my little safety net.
There was a computer and internet access in the apartment. I wanted to do research before I embarked on my crazy plan. Once I was finished, I cleared the history and brought up several websites about weddings. If Marc checked the computer, I wanted him to think that’s what I had been browsing. I couldn’t get what I needed by myself without raising suspicion, so I called Ashley.
Ash was thrilled to hear from me. She told me all about how her kids were doing, updated me on our favorite shows, and was thrilled when another local veterinary clinic gave her a job the day after she applied.
“You know, if you decide to reopen, I’ll come back.” Honestly, I hadn’t been in the mood to talk when I picked up the phone and called her, but it was good to hear she was doing fine. “I’ve got mouths to feed, you know? I had to go somewhere.” She said.
“I understand. I’m not even sure I’ll ever open the clinic back up. Time will tell.” I said, making sure we had plenty of small talk before I dropped my requests on my friend.
She was perceptive and eventually asked before I even had the chance. “What do you need?”
“You’ve missed your calling. I think you were meant to be a therapist or maybe a psychic.” Despite the fact that Marc was downstairs in the shop and I was alone, I had locked myself in the bathroom and turned on the fan to drone out my voice. I sat on the side of the bathtub as I talked to my friend.
“I think maybe I’d do better with something more serene, like a florist.” Ashley remarked, then spoke to me like I were a guilty child. “Spit it out.”
Asking for help was never easy for me. “There’s a small amount of emergency cash locked in the safe in my office.” I told her the combination. “I need you to take it and buy a sexy looking dress, matching purse, shoes, and some decent jewelry.” She was surprisingly quiet as I told her everything I needed. “Also…I need my medical bag and all the blood thinning medication we have at the clinic. Oh!” I called out, having almost forgotten. “Bring me those diet drinks that are in my mini-fridge.”
The line was quiet for several moments before she spoke. “I’ll help you, but you have to make me a promise first.”
“Sure.” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. Anyone would think what I asked for was odd, but if I made a big deal about it, she might balk.
“This may be shocking, but you are my best friend.” I could hear her younger children fighting in the background. “I know you’re in trouble and I also know that you’re a vampire.”
After hearing her revelation, I had to excuse myself to pick my jaw up off the floor. How would she have any idea about me being a vampire? “W…what?” It was the only thing I could say.
“Now isn’t the time to get into details about it.” There was a crash and I could hear her yelling at the children. “The promise is that when life gets back to normal, you will help Fate with some supernatural issues she has been having.” Fate was her oldest daughter, almost eighteen. I knew her well enough, but I’d never sensed anything out of the ordinary.
“Okay, of course, but…” I heard footsteps and then there was a knock at the bathroom door.
Ash was speaking on the other line. “I hear him. I’ll be discreet when I deliver your items. Talk to you later.” The line went dead and I slipped the phone into one of the dress pockets. I owed her, probably more than I’d ever be able to express.
“Are you okay in there? “ Marcus called from the other side of the door.
Relationships are difficult, but I was about to go mad from being in lockdown and babied every moment. “Yes, just a minute!” I flushed the toilet and washed my hands so he wouldn’t think I was hiding in the bathroom. When I opened the door he wasn’t hovering in the doorway as I expected but in the kitchen. There was a bag of Chinese food on the counter.
“Sorry, wasn’t trying to be in your business.” There was grease on his forehead and I smiled when he spoke. Despite my frustrations, the boy made me happy. “I figured you’d be hungry since I was. It…scares me to leave you alone for too long.”
I headed over and climbed onto one of his pub style bar stools. “I know. I’m scared, too.” As he got a fork for himself, I pulled chopsticks out of the bag for me. “We’ll be okay.”
He just nodded and grabbed a few drinks from the fridge. We ate for a while in relative silence. The food was to die for after feeling sick for so long. “Do you need to feed on blood as well?”
“No, I don’t want you to be weak. We’ll wait a few days.” I’d drained probably half a pint from him. I only took that much because I needed to feed so desperately.
It was hard to tell, but I think he was disappointed. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him lightly rub the nearly invisible bite marks on his neck.
“Don’t feel weird or be afraid to ask.” He said. The rest of our dinner conversation was normal. I’d asked if he’d been able to get any work done and he went on about a bike he was restoring for a friend of his and that it was coming along great.
I made sure to savor our time together. The new stage we had taken the relationship to was an adjustment, but it was wonderful. I didn’t want to admit my time with Marc was limited. As soon as possible, I was going after Dante. In my mind, the only way to resolve this standoff was by one of us dying.
A few days had passed when Ashley delivered the items I asked for. She packed it all carefully in a gym bag. If anything, she was inconspicuous. My first concern was the state the dress would be in after being stored like that. It’d have to do either way.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” Marcus kissed my cheek and went downstairs. The regulars to his shop were happy to have him back to work so business was good. This was great for me since I had quite a few things to figure out before going after the ancient vampire.
Friendships with other women had always been hard for me, but when she started showing me everything I had asked for I hugged her tightly. I held her close until I felt sure that I wouldn’t cry and then pulled away and smiled.
“You are the best friend a girl could ask for.” I told her and I meant it. The dress she had picked out was black with a high slit up the side and low cut in the front. Matching high heeled leather boots were the shoes she chose. It somewhat surprised me. Maybe since I was a vampire, she figured I should dress like a gothic teen. When I checked the jewelry I half expected to see a spider medallion. Luckily, there was a simple white gold chain and small diamond stud earrings. The purse was a white clutch. It would work perfectly for my needs. The extra cash from the safe was inside.
Ash had just asked me if the outfit was suitable when her eyes locked onto my left ring finger and the new addition around it. “Is that an engagement ring?” Her expression was incredulous as she looked from the ring slowly back up to my face.
All I could do was give a little shrug. “Yes.” Then we were both screaming and jumping up and down in excitement. The world aligned briefly and nothing seemed out of place. It was nice to feel human and talking about the proposal with my girl.
While I caught her up to speed on how the whole thing had transpired, I packed the clothing back into the bag. I checked my medical supplies and the blood thinner. The pieces were falling together and if it went as I hoped, I might actually be able to get married.
“Enough about me, though.” I said after I had stashed the supplies in the closest. “What going on with Fate?”
She waved a hand as if to say it was nothing, but she started telling me anyway. I guess she needed me as much as I needed her. “You know that I’m into the ‘hippie’ stuff.” Her fingers curled into the quotation gesture when she said hippie. When I nodded, she continued. “It’s more than that. Daniel was what we called a mystic. I always tried to follow his lead, but could never get the same enlightenment. Before he died, he was speaking with the dead. Somehow he was walking with one foot in this world and one in the next.
�
��Wow…” I shook my head. The man was always different, but I didn’t expect any of this. I’d heard of people who could speak with the dead, but I thought it was mostly a sham to get people’s money. I wished I’d not made the assumption that he’d just smoked to much weed and dropped too much acid in his youth.
“His cancer was so aggressive. I figured he’d just reached this level of being since he was so close to dying.” She hesitated for a moment. It was still hard for her to speak of her husband’s death. “Fate says her father told her that you were a vampire and that I should help you when you asked.”
“Seriously!?” Being a vampire seemed relatively normal compared to speaking with the dead. I doubted it seemed normal from their point of view, though. “That is amazing….” Of course I believed it. She had no other way of knowing I was a vampire and she was one of the only people I didn’t think would lie to me.
Ash just nodded. “Fate always rebelled against us somewhat. She called us crazy old bohemians. Ever since speaking with her father she’s been reading our books and meditating.”
“How do you expect me to help? I don’t know anything about mysticism.” I had no idea how she thought I could help.
“She just needs someone to talk to who’s different. Someone that’s not her mother. I don’t want her to get into trouble with her pursuit.” Ashley was an easy-going parent who let her children make their own decisions. It was a great showing of respect that she trusted my input.
I couldn’t help immediately but I promised her I would try to help. “I just have to get out of this mess alive first.”
Her face looked grave. “It’s difficult for me to even believe what I know. Just call if you need me for anything else.” She stood up and walked to the door. Her smile didn’t cover the worry but it was sincere. “Besides, I have to be your maid of honor.”
I laughed. “Getting married will be more terrifying than any of this.”