“You look lovely,” the bloodman offered kindly, nothing lecherous in his voice or gaze. Valerie relaxed a little. “Your date is a lucky boy.”
“Thank you,” she answered demurely, her eyes on the floor. Valerie heard a little bit of belief in her daughter’s voice for the first time. “Mom, can I borrow a sweater?”
“Take my white mole hair.” She smiled at her daughter. This date would be good for her. Give her a little confidence.
“Thank you.” Shyly, she raised her eyes to the bloodman, gave him a small smile, then rushed back down the hall.
“Where would you like me to put these?” he asked.
“Oh, the blood. I almost forgot. Sorry. It’s been hectic around here today.”
“I can tell.”
“In the kitchen please. Follow me, if you don’t mind.”
She took him into the kitchen distinctly aware of his large presence behind her. She could feel herself going flush.
“Must be quite the bash you’re throwing. This is a lot of blood.”
“Yes. For my husband’s boss.”
“Dr. Venjamin.”
Valerie turned around surprised.
He smiled. “Everyone knows Dr. Venjamin and his associates.” That was true. Sangre Valley was a small town after all. “Where would you like me to put these?”
“Just on the counter. Thank you.”
He nodded. “Enjoy your party, Mrs. Murray.”
“Mom, this sweater is all scratchy. Do I have to wear it?” Harry complained walking into the kitchen scratching his chest.
The bloodman smiled. “I’ll show myself out.”
Harry looked up at him unimpressed.
“Yes honey. You have to wear it.” She turned to the bloodman. “Thank you.”
Chapter Nine
Highballs and Eyeballs
“Welcome,” Valerie said holding the door open for her guests, a smile painted on her face.
“You look beautiful tonight, Valerie,” Dr. Venjamin said. “Of course, I’d bet you look beautiful every night.”
“Kind of you to think so. Dr. Henrick, it’s wonderful to see you again.” Dr. Henrick was the physician for the family medical practice in Sangre Valley. He was in the later years of middle age, a ring of black hair connecting his tiny ears, a trim salt and pepper mustache under his nose. Unlike everyone else in the town, his skin was tan and speckled with liver spots. A short man, his bald head barely came to Valerie’s chin when she wore heels. He reminded her of a jolly walrus with his mustache and blubberous body.
“And you. It’s been too long.” He smiled at her with his yellow teeth and kissed her hand.
As the doctors walked past her, she breathed in their scent. Both men always had a strong, earthy human smell attached to them. Neither doctor lived in town; both owned ranches in the desert where they raised humans for relaxation. The cattle’s smell had permanently stained them. Spending an evening with the doctors always brought back a flood of memories from Valerie’s childhood. Her parents had been raised on human ranches too. Even years after moving to Sangre Valley, the human scent lingered strongly upon them. Being around that clean scent—not the sanitized scent of market humans—gave her a sad but happy sensation. Perhaps that was why she liked the doctors so much.
“Can I take your coat?” Harry asked in a monotone standing behind his mother. The only reason for him to hang out with his parents and their friends was to feast on a human, and since he was being denied that, he certainly did not want to sit through their chit chat.
“Thank you, Harry,” Dr. Henrick said and handed over his hound tooth jacket.
“How are you doing, Harry?” Dr. Venjamin asked. “Staying out of trouble?” He ruffled the boy’s sandy locks.
“Yes sir,” he said sullenly. He obvious did not want to play the role of the cute little boy tonight.
“We brought you flowers,” Rhett said handing her a boutique of orange lilies.
“Hi Valerie. You look lovely,” Marie said with a hug and kiss on the cheek. Her black hair curled around her face, her green eyes emeralds on her pale black skin, a pink scarf tied around her long neck . . . she was exquisite.
“So do you. Come in. Come in.”
Behind them followed Charlie, a strained smile on his gaunt face. His color was ashen, sickly. He looked even more haggard than usual. He had certainly skipped lunch. He had just learned about this new project today. If it had taken this type of toll on him already, she worried if he would survive the promotion. Maybe he had been trying to tell her that he needed a break. Valerie didn’t want his job to make him ill. They didn’t need the extra money. Maybe Charlie could even cut back for awhile. Surely they could survive on a tighter budget. If it would make him healthy and happy again, there were sacrifices she could make. She honestly did love him. After the dinner party, they would sit down together and talk. Really talk.
“Good morning dear,” she said and kissed his cheek, lingering a moment.
He just smiled at her weakly. She lovingly stroked the side of his face. “I love you.” She smiled, took his briefcase and coat, and turned back to her guests. “Have a seat.”
“Can I go to my room now?” Harry asked with a tad of attitude.
She ignored it. “Yes you may.” He already had his punishment. She wasn’t going to add to it by making him keep them company. “I’ll call you for dinner.”
“Whatever,” he mumbled and shuffled back to his room. She almost called him back. Attitude she would let slide. Talking back, she normally would not. But company was already here. She didn’t want to make a scene.
“Dr. Venjamin, can I get you a drink?” Charlie asked heading for the wet bar.
“No thanks, Charlie. My ulcers.”
“I’ll have one. Let me help,” Rhett said quickly. “Honey?”
“Yes, please.”
“One eyeball or two?” Rhett asked.
“After fifteen years of marriage, you still don’t know how I like my highball?” she teased.
“Two eyeballs, it is,” he said with a bright smile. “Dr. Henrick?”
“No thank you. Just getting over a bug. I have to be careful.”
“Valerie. What would you like?” Charlie asked.
“Just one.”
With the drinks handed out, everyone settled into the living room, the doctors on the sofa, the Millers on the love seat, and Charlie in his chair.
“So I heard your boys got themselves into some trouble,” Dr. Venjamin said.
“Ah, to be a young boy again. To have mischief be your job,” Dr. Henrick said fondly.
“All boys get themselves into a little bit of trouble. Lord knows I did,” Rhett said.
“But skipping school. At nine,” Marie said shaking her head.
“I’m sorry about that,” Valerie said, perfectly perched on the arm of Charlie’s chair. “I’m afraid Harry might have talked him into it.”
Marie sipped her blood and shook her head. “No. Bobby never does anything he doesn’t want to. I don’t know what we’re going to do with that boy. His grades are fleeting. His teachers say he has a high intelligence. I don’t understand.”
“He’s bored,” Rhett said.
“You know, Harry told me that exact same thing. He’s too bored in school. I was going to have a talk with his teacher on Monday about some special classes.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Dr. Venjamin said.
“Until then, we’ve taken away all human blood,” Valerie said. “It’s the only punishment that would affect him.”
“Excuse me Valerie, I don’t mean to intrude, and I certainly don’t want to tell you how to raise your child, but do you think that’s for the best?” Dr. Venjamin said.
“I don’t know. It’s more the just skipping school. It’s that fight. He has this bloodlust that frightens me. He has no control. I don’t know what to do.”
“We gave Bobby a spanking and grounded him for the next thirty years,” Rhett said with
a smile and took a sip.
“You want to punish the boy, but to deprive him of the nutrients he needs . . .” Dr. Venjamin said. “I can’t say I’d support that as appropriate punishment.”
“No, no,” Dr. Henrick said. “He’s still a growing boy. He needs all the blood he can get. His physical development is already behind other boys his age.”
Valerie didn’t want to be harming her little boy. “What should we do?” she asked searching out Charlie’s hand to grasp.
“If Harry’s body is craving the human blood so gravely, then he must need it. Harry has always had great instincts. I’d trust them,” Dr. Venjamin said.
“But the fight at school. Sneaking into the pantry . . . John and Amelia were never like that.”
“Bring Harry by the hospital next week. I’ll examine him myself.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you. That would make me feel so much better.”
Charlie shifted in his seat. He had yet to even sip his blood.
“Rhett told me about the promotion. Congratulations,” Marie said to Charlie.
He just nodded and tried to smile but it never quite formed on his lips.
“So what is my husband working on now, Dr. Venjamin? He hasn’t had a chance to tell me. Or is it top secret?” she teased with a smile.
Dr. Venjamin smiled. “He is coming in on our fertilization studies. I think Charlie is going to bring vital skills to our quest in ending barrenness. Of course, I cannot go into details for security and confidentiality reasons, but I think we’re going to see some major breakthroughs in the next few years. Miraculous breakthroughs.”
“That’s wonderful news.” She thought of Betsy in the Blood Market from the other day. Maybe in a few years she would have her baby. Valerie smiled at that thought.
Marie took Rhett’s hand. “Speaking of wonderful news, we have some of our own.” She looked over at her husband.
“Marie’s pregnant. Bobby’s going to have a little brother or sister!”
“Oh my gosh! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, honey.” Valerie rushed to give her a hug.
“We weren’t even trying. We decided to be happy with Bobby years ago. Then . . .” She shrugged her shoulders, her smile radiating. “I may finally get my little girl.”
“It’ll be a little longer before we can determine the sex,” Dr. Henrick said with a smile. “Don’t get too far ahead of yourself.”
“How far are you?” Valerie asked.
“Six weeks. It’s still early . . .” and the women continued to talk about the baby—swapping pregnancy stories, possible names, old wives tales about conception tricks. The men began discussing the boys’ basketball team, home renovations, and the upcoming hunting excursion. Charlie rubbed his temples, snippets from both conversations irritating his headache. It was obvious he wasn’t paying attention to either discussion, but no one was paying attention to him either. He had no time left. He had to come to a decision tonight. All in or all out, on either side. There was not a day to sleep on it. There was no time to think about it. Tonight was all he had.
There was a knock at the front door. Laughing over something said, Valerie went to answer it.
“Hello Drew. Good to see you. Come in.”
Charlie suddenly became alert as Drew Sanders walked in dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, his white blonde hair greased back except for that defiant strand falling into his cold eyes. He never had a problem with Drew being friends with his son. John needed someone in his life who’d break the rules a little, let him have some fun. John could be almost too good of a kid. But he knew what kind of vampire Drew was. He knew about the work he did with Dr. Venjamin. Charlie certainly didn’t want him going out with his daughter.
“Hello Mrs. Murray. Mr. Murray,” Drew said coming over to shake his hand. Charlie stood. He did not like the smile on the boy’s face.
“John! Amelia! Drew’s here!” Valerie called down the hall. “So what’s the plan tonight?”
“A movie at the drive-in then stopping at the malt shop,” Drew said. “Don’t worry, I’ll have Amelia home at a descent hour.”
That thought did not comfort Charlie. There were three hours until the kids’ curfew. That was ample time to get his daughter into the worst kind of trouble. The only reason Charlie did not object to the date right this moment—besides Dr. Venjamin’s presence—was knowing that John would be there to watch and protect his little sister, and that Amelia really liked the boy. If Charlie had forbidden the date, he would have broken his daughter’s heart.
His son came down the hall all cleaned up wearing his letterman jacket. Behind him, Amelia emerged. She wasn’t his little girl anymore. She was suddenly all grown up wearing her mother’s clothing and looking . . . stunning. Her face flushed as all eyes were on her, especially Drew’s. Not even in his wildest imagination did he know Amelia Murray could look like that. Charlie couldn’t believe Valerie had let her wear that dress. It showed way too much cleavage, hugged a little too snug to her hips. That sweater hardly covered anything. But he wasn’t about to embarrass her in front of everyone by making her change. Charlie wouldn’t do that to his children.
“Wow, Amelia, you look . . .” Drew’s eyes went down her body than back up again slowly taking in every inch of her. “There aren’t any words for how you look.”
“Thank you.”
John had a frown on his face. He didn’t seem to like Drew’s admiration of her anymore than Charlie. “We have to pick up Lisa. We won’t be out late.”
“Have fun, sweetheart,” Valerie told her daughter.
Amelia didn’t say anything.
But no one moved to leave. They were all staring at Charlie.
“Dad, keys?” John said.
“Right,” he said. “Not a scratch.” He smiled. The condition of the car was about the last thing he was worried about tonight.
“Thanks Dad.”
Once all the young people were out the door, Marie said, “My, Amelia has turned into quite the head turner. Drew’s a lucky boy.”
“I’m starved. How about dinner?” Charlie said.
“Ah, a father’s worst nightmare come true: the night his daughter has her first date,” Rhett teased.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” Dr. Henrick said. “My daughter is married, and I still don’t like her going to bed every night with that man.”
“No. We like Drew,” Valerie said. “But dinner sounds good to me too. I have hearts and a human. Who’s hungry?”
Chapter Ten
Planet of the Humans
John kept a disapproving eye on the rearview mirror as he drove the foursome to the Sangre Valley Drive-in Theater. He did not like the way Amelia looked. He did not like the way Drew looked at her. And he did not like the way they looked together in the backseat—Amelia with her hands and eyes in her lap, Drew with his eyes down the front of her dress and his arm not-so-causally on the back of the seat. Lisa seemed just as uncomfortable with the situation. She hadn’t liked the way Amelia looked either. Her eyes had looked her up and down too, but brewing with something other than lust. John wasn’t sure what. Surprise? Jealousy? He could only guess.
“Wow, Amelia, you look . . . amazing. A little dressy for the drive-in though,” she said with a smirk. John had to admit that Lisa wasn’t the most attractive at that moment in her pettiness. But Lisa was still pretty hot at him for the whole double date thing. Maybe she was just taking it out a little on Amelia.
But when they parked in front of the big screen and Lisa snuggled up to him, John’s eyes checked the rearview mirror less frequently. When he felt Lisa’s lips on his neck, her hand on his thigh, he forgot all about his little sister and best friend in the backseat.
Amelia couldn’t watch the movie. She couldn’t even bring her eyes up from her lap. She could feel Drew watching her instead of the screen. She had dreamed for Drew to look at her just as he was looking at her now. To have him next to her. Be on a date together. But it wasn
’t at all like she imagined it. She was supposed to feel comfortable. She was supposed to charm him, make him laugh. He was supposed to tell her how he wished he would have realized what a smart, pretty girl she was sooner. He would brush her hair out of her face, touch her cheek, tell her how beautiful she was, and kiss her. But here she was in the back of her father’s car, her brother making out with his bimbo girlfriend, and as always, Amelia was tongue tied. She knew she was blowing it.
“Why don’t you move a little bit closer? You can’t possible see the movie from behind John and Lisa tongue wrestling. Come a little closer, I won’t bite, promise.”
She slid over—just a little. His arm immediately came off the back of the seat and wrapped around her shoulders pulling her even closer. He had a metallic blood scent to him; his arm was cold and hard. His long, slender finger trailed up and down the side of her arm giving her a chill.
“Can you see now?” he asked considerately.
She nodded not even feigning to look at the screen. She did not need another picture of her brother sticking his tongue down his girlfriend’s throat.
“Not your type of movie?” he asked.
“Not really.”
“I knew you’d have better taste than some sci-fi flick about a spaceship landing on a planet run by humans with vampires as slaves.”
She didn’t know what to say to that.
“Thank you for dressing up for me. I wish I could show you off. All the boys and girls would be jealous.”
“You don’t think I’m too dressed up for the movies?” She looked down at herself.
He smiled. “Like I said, you’d make all the boys and girls jealous. Don’t listen to Lisa.” His arm tightened around her so their thighs were now pressed together. She tried to put a little distance between them but his grip was too strong. Her eyes flickered up to the front seat. Her brother was engrossed in Lisa. Was his hand up her shirt?!
“So . . . so I noticed you know a lot about history. Do you read a lot about it?” she attempted.
He laughed quietly, throwing his head back. He had a habit of throwing his head back when he laughed. “No. I’m not much of a reader. I just pick things up as I go.”
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