Night's Promise

by Sandy Lynn

  “Excuse me,” a handsome brown-haired man said when she bumped into him.

  Remembering every movie or television show she’d ever seen, she smiled up at him. “Looking for a good time?” She pasted what she hoped was a sexy smile, a sexy look on her face.

  The man’s eyes widened in shock. “You can’t be more than… Where’s your family?”

  “Never mind,” Melissa said, feeling completely incompetent. To her embarrassment, her stomach growled as she turned to walk away.

  Reaching out, the man stopped her. “How about you and I go get something to eat?”

  “No thanks.” Looking at him, she decided she couldn’t chance him taking her to the police.

  “Come on. There’s a little place right down the street. My treat.” Her stomach began to rumble again, tightening as she felt the effects of going without food since the previous day. “I know you’re hungry.” She still just stood, staring at him. “Come on, if you were willing to ‘show me a good time’, surely you’re willing to sit across from me and have a simple conversation.”

  Reluctantly she agreed, unsure when she would be able to eat next.

  They walked to the diner in silence. When they sat down, the man sat across from her. He ordered bottled water and nothing else. With a smile he said, “Order whatever you like.”

  She ordered a hamburger and onion rings.

  “So, what’s your name?”

  “It’s not that I don’t appreciate this, but why are you being nice to me. You want me to go with you after I eat? I’m fine with that,” she quickly added.

  “Nope, just want to talk. It’s been a while since I got to sit down over a meal and have a decent conversation.”

  She watched him suspiciously, but didn’t move. When the food was put in front of her, it took all her willpower not to simply shove the food down her throat.

  “How long have you been on the street?”

  “A week,” she told him between large bites. When Melissa looked up, she saw him nod thoughtfully.

  “My name is Gareth.” He held his hand out. She wiped her hand on a napkin then shook it.

  “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Melissa.”

  “Melissa, a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” He was quiet as she continued to eat her food. After a short while he asked, “Where’s your family, Melissa?”

  “Thank you for the food. I should probably let you get back to your life. I’ve taken enough of your time.”

  “You haven’t had dessert yet.” He motioned for the waitress and ordered the biggest slice of apple pie they had.

  Looking into his eyes, not understanding what she was searching for, she asked, “Why are you being so nice to me?”

  “Because, Melissa, no one should ever feel like they don’t have anywhere to turn. Especially not someone so young. You’re far too young to be forced to depend on yourself for everything you need.”

  Tears filled her eyes and she quickly rubbed them away, trying to maintain the tough-girl persona she’d had to adopt since she ran away. As the pie was set in front of her, she was able to eat at a slower pace, thankful that her stomach was no longer in knots.

  “What happened?”

  “I ran away from home. Things are…I don’t belong there.”

  “Home is the one place we all do belong. Whatever happened, I’m sure things will blow over. Would you really prefer to make your home on the street?” His voice was hypnotic. It allowed her to finally admit to herself that she was scared. “Would you like me to walk with you?”

  She nodded. If she could get home, and make it to Kate or Ben’s, she wouldn’t be alone. She just didn’t want to be left alone in the dark anymore, where boxes had glowing eyes and squeaked. Or visions of her stepfather jumped out at her from every shadow. Even there in the dark, in the middle of the city where he couldn’t find her, she had nightmares about the things that could happen to a single girl in the dark.

  As they walked, Gareth continued to ask her questions in his calming voice. While she didn’t volunteer any information, it did become easier to talk to him. She told him her mother had died not long ago and that it was just her and her stepfather at home. She told him about school, how much she studied and her dreams to go to a college far away from there.

  All too soon they were standing in front of her house. The white paint was chipping and sorely in need of attention. Melissa felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her as Gareth looked at the house. She began to walk up the path to the front door and was relieved when she heard him follow her. If Travis was there, at least he wouldn’t make a scene in front of the kind stranger.

  Opening the door, Melissa felt a wave of revulsion sweep over her as she looked at the filth thrown around the room. Dirty clothes were scattered everywhere. She could smell the trash can they kept in the kitchen from the door and there were fast food wrappers, cans, and beer bottles everywhere there was space. The place looked as though she’d been gone for a month not a mere week.

  When she saw the expression on her stepfather’s face, her fear rose, paralyzing her. He won’t hit me in front of a witness. He won’t hit me in front of a witness. He won’t hit me in front of a witness. Over and over she repeated the litany, trying to convince herself it was true.

  To her shock he pulled his hand back and slapped her, full force across the face. Freed from her terror, her body fell to the floor.

  “How dare you leave me? Look at this mess. How can you expect me to live like this? This dump isn’t fit for a pig to live in. I expect this house to be spotless before I get home tomorrow.”

  Curling into a ball she looked up at him, her hand covering her throbbing cheek, trying to protect the sensitive flesh from another blow.

  Gareth made a low sound in his throat that got Travis’s attention. He stepped closer to where her body had landed and snarled. “How dare you whore yourself out to the first man you meet. Your mama was a whore, too. I shouldn’t be surprised you followed in her footsteps.”

  She wanted to scream. She wanted to defend her mother but past experience told her that would only be rewarded with more, much harder smacks. Instead she hid her face, trying to protect her head from the worst of the blows. Tears ran down her cheeks as she kept her mouth shut, too afraid of the pain to defend the mother she had loved so much. She felt like a coward, like she didn’t deserve to have even the memory of her mother, but she wasn’t sure she would survive another full beating from Travis.

  When the blow never came, she looked up again and saw him dangling three feet off the floor as Gareth gripped him by the throat. Gareth’s teeth, so normal as he had spoken gently to her, coaxing her to return home, were now long and sharp. They looked incredibly lethal, like in the vampire movies she and her mother used to watch all the time before she got sick. For a second she wished he would kill Travis.

  “If you touch her again there will be hell to pay.” He threw Travis through the open doorway to the kitchen and Melissa could hear him hit the wall.

  Crawling to the corner, she curled into a ball once again, intending to be as far out of reach as possible when Travis returned. Perhaps he wouldn’t even notice her, and just leave for the bar.

  “Don’t be afraid of me, little one,” Gareth told her, looking down. His fangs gleamed dangerously in the light, but she couldn’t muster enough fear to be afraid of him as well as the monster she knew. Not when he’d shown her nothing but kindness, and even protected her. “I promise you have nothing to fear from me. You never need to fear me.”

  Her control broke. “Please don’t leave. Please. I’m not afraid of you, I swear,” she told him honestly, easily begging him. “Please stay. He’s going to beat me when you leave.” Her sobs grew stronger. She didn’t care that she was begging a perfect stranger. She didn’t care what he asked for in return for defending her. He could have her body, he could have her blood, he could have her soul! She just didn’t want to be left alone with Travis any longer. “He’s going to be so far b
eyond pissed that someone protected me.” Hugging her knees she tried to become a smaller target. “It’s why I ran away… Please don’t leave me,” she sobbed into her knees.

  Gareth pulled away from her slightly. “Little one, I must leave.” His voice was filled with remorse. “But I will return tomorrow night. I swear on my honor, by the gods, I will return for you tomorrow night.” He turned away from her and when she followed his line of vision she saw her stepfather propping himself up with a wall as he stood in the doorway. “If you harm one single hair on this child’s head while I am gone, I promise you whatever hell you believe exists will become a paradise compared to what I will do to you.”

  A small grain of hope sparked to life within her. Could he mean what he said? He certainly sounded like he did. But she was so scared to feel hope, so scared she would be disappointed yet again.

  As she watched, Gareth approached him. Leaning down, it looked as though he were giving Travis a kiss on the neck. He straightened and Melissa could see a few drops of blood on his lip before he licked them away. “I will be back tomorrow night. Eight sharp, when I arrive, you will sign papers giving me full custody of this child. If you refuse, I will make you wish you were never born. I will make you beg me to allow you to sign those papers. Have I made myself clear?”

  Travis nodded dumbly, his hand going to his neck, where there was no visible sign of any wound. Not even a bruise.

  “And just so you don’t try to run, I’ve tasted you. I will be able to find you wherever you go.” Gareth returned to Melissa, kneeling down as though he didn’t care about the filth around him ruining his beautiful clothes. When he spoke, his tone was gentle once again. “I will be back for you tomorrow night. Pack only what you want to take with you, whatever has any special meaning for you. I will provide you with everything you’ll ever need.” He turned his head and his voice dripped with contempt. “And if he so much as raises his voice to you, tell me when I return and he will pay for it.”

  “You’re going to believe whatever that little bitch tells you?” Travis was clearly panicking.

  “I will always believe whatever my little sister tells me. So I suggest you be very careful in how you treat her while I am gone.” With a final reassuring look, Gareth left the house.

  Not waiting for Travis’s reaction, Melissa flew to her room, angling a chair underneath the knob to prevent him from getting inside.

  Please, please God, let him have meant what he said, she prayed as she rested all of her weight against the door. The front door slammed and Melissa finally allowed herself to relax slightly. She wanted more than anything to take a shower, to get clean after her extended stay downtown, but decided she would rather wait one more day. After what had happened tonight, if Gareth didn’t come for her, she was sure the mortician wouldn’t care if she smelled of body sweat or coconuts.

  Walking around her room, she gathered up the few items that carried special memories for her. The jewelry she had been given by her mother, a sweater her mom had loved seeing her in, the teddy bear that had grieved with her, her diary, and her mother’s pillowcase. Finally, she grabbed the last letter her mother had ever written to her, the one the nurse handed to her when Melissa found out about her death. It was the last thing her mother would ever write to her, apologizing for her deception. Her meager possessions were placed carefully in her backpack, her notebooks and textbooks taken out.

  Outside, the night sky grew lighter as the sun rose. Hugging her knees, she spoke aloud as she rocked back and forth, unsure if she were praying, but knowing she had to talk to her mother at least one last time. “Please, please let Gareth return for me. Mom, I love you so much, and I’m sorry if this makes you sad, but I can’t stay here. I swear I’ll give him my soul if he asks for it. I’m so sorry, but I’ll give him anything he wants if he takes me away from Travis. I miss you so much mommy. I miss you so much and I’ll never stop loving you, but I can’t stay here. I can’t stay here any longer. I can’t.”

  *

  Duncan’s eyes jerked open as he felt a tear slide down his arm. In her sleep, Melissa was crying and trembling.

  “Shhh, love, you’re safe. You’re safe here with me.” He pressed a kiss to her hair, then another to her neck. Giving a slight whimper, she began to calm as he pulled her tighter against his body and murmured into her ear.

  Lying back, he closed his eyes, unable to get the images of her rocking back and forth on her bed out of his mind. No wonder she had problems sleeping. He could still feel her terror, the pain from that bastard’s blows. His teeth lengthened, the bloodlust growing deep inside him. Since he’d heard about her stepfather, he’d wondered why Gareth had allowed that bastard to live. Now he knew. Melissa had never told him exactly why she ran away. She’d never told him just what the sick fuck was planning to do to her. He was willing to bet any amount of money that to this day Gareth didn’t know exactly how bad that thing—he refused to call him a man—would have hurt her.

  Closing his eyes, he conjured a memory of what her stepfather looked like. If he was ever lucky enough to run into the bastard one night, he swore Travis would feel the pain he inflicted on Melissa tenfold.

  Chapter Eleven

  Duncan was sitting at a table, thinking about Melissa. It had been just over a week since the first time they made love and two nights since he’d shared her dream. His heart ached for her, but not with pity. In his opinion she was stronger than he had first thought. As he remembered the nightmare he had witnessed through her eyes, he fought to push it aside. If he didn’t he would be out in the night, hunting for his prey. And he would guarantee that blonde Melissa had beaten the shit out of would walk away from him with more than a headache. If she was able to walk at all. He fought a growl.

  The rage inside of him grew and he quickly shifted his thoughts back to her, to them. Since that first taste, he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He thought about feeling her sweet body beneath his hands. How perfect she felt in his arms, the way she managed to soothe him so completely. Since they had been together he hadn’t once felt alone, as though no one would ever be able to accept him.

  Staring off into space, he wondered if he could go back to life without her. No, his heart screamed, aching at the mere thought of being separated from her.

  Would she want to be changed? Would she be willing to go through that for him?

  Her brother’s a vampire, so at least she knows what would be involved. Will Gareth try to forbid her from changing, or will he be ready to dance with glee?

  “Is Bram here yet?”

  His thoughts interrupted, he looked up at the woman and smiled. Dani was the perfect complement to Bram. He didn’t know much about her other than what he saw on the video screens, but he knew, just from what he saw, that Bram was falling for her. Bram was so caught up in Dani he hadn’t been noticing the little things he normally would have spotted immediately. Like the fact that Duncan and Melissa were dating.

  “Not yet. Dani, right?” She nodded. “I’m Duncan.” He introduced himself. “Would you like me to call him?”

  “No, that’s alright.” She sounded disappointed.

  “You’re here early.” Duncan leaned on the table, making small talk. Something seemed different about her tonight. He had watched the couple together every night that he hadn’t been wrapped in Melissa’s arms. Watching and waiting for them to realize they each felt the same attraction. It was so obvious in the little things they did. At least, to Duncan, it felt obvious. Something was definitely different tonight. Could it have something to do with the way she danced with Bram last night?

  “I was just hoping to have a chance to talk to Bram before he got too busy.”

  Like he wouldn’t drop everything for you? Duncan began to stand. “Are you sure you don’t want me to call him?” Bram is gonna be pissed I didn’t call him. But maybe it will finally clue him in to how he feels about her…force him to admit it out loud.

  “No, I can wait.” Dani sat across fro
m him. The silence stretched out between them. “Do you know what time that woman, um, La I think her name is, usually gets here?” She broke the silence, finally. “You know the one who wears those really skimpy outfits… Last night it was a see-through dress…”

  He put her out of her misery. “That’s La. They don’t usually come until later, why?”

  “No reason. I was just wondering if we could have a little girl talk, that’s all.”

  Girl talk? With La? No…Dani is definitely up to something tonight. Before she could stop him, he stood. “I’ll call her for you.” Quickly walking away, he went to the phone behind the bar and dialed Lalita’s number.

  “What?” came the grumpy response.

  “Hey, La, it’s Duncan from CS.”

  “Oh, hey. Do you know how early it is?” she complained.

  “Yeah, but that chick Dani is here, she wants to have some girl talk. I think she wants something else, but that’s just me.”

  He heard La sigh over the phone. “He would have to fall for a human. Okay, tell her I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

  Duncan laughed. “Okay. Thanks, you’re a total doll.”

  “I know.” He could hear Lalita’s laughter as he hung up the phone and glanced at the clock behind the bar.

  On an impulse, he picked up the receiver again and dialed Melissa’s number, praying Gareth wouldn’t be there.

  “Hello?”

  Just the sound of her voice put a smile on his face. “Hey gorgeous. What are you doing tonight?”

  “Well, I was thinking about going clubbing. Maybe pick up a sexy man and lure him back to my place only to have my wicked way with him.”

  “Damn, sounds like a good plan. He’s one lucky bastard.”

  “I like it.” He could hear the smile in her voice.

  “Are you going to come to the club tonight?”

  “Maybe,” she teased.

  He groaned for her, enjoying their game. “Maybe. Angel, you’re killing me.”