Dark of Night

by T. F. Walsh

  “I’ll try to remember that - Tom.”

  “Well, isn’t this cozy?” Raf asked as he slid his arm around me and kissed my cheek. His nose wrinkled. “Something stinks in here.”

  “Sorry.” I noted he was dressed and had taken time to tan as I got him a bottle and nuked it. Tom concentrated on his drink.

  Raf took a big gulp and his eyes grew.

  “ … Cherries?”

  I nodded.

  Tom offered his bottle. “Try mine.”

  “What have you two been up to?” Raf asked.

  “I had nothing to do with it. Ask her.”

  “It’s really nothing special. I just added some powdered drink mix to yours and some hickory flavoring to Tom’s. Do you think the fruit flavor might be better cold?”

  “Let’s find out.” Raf got a glass and filled it with ice. Slowly pouring the flavored Red over the cubes, he swirled it round in the glass for a minute or two before taking a sip. “Umm, it’s good either way. Sort of cherry pie-ish when heated and more fruit drink when chilled. Did you try it?”

  “Me?” Sorry, I don’t do rare. Willy liked it.”

  “Hey, some humans get off on it!” Raf said.

  “Some people get off on anything.” I stuck my tongue out at him.

  “Well, I think you’re on to something here,” Tom said with a smile. “Needs some tweaking, but that’s what R&D is for. I predict Razorback Red sales will go through the roof!

  “And this makes you happy, why?”

  “’Cause it’s one of his companies, Doll,” Raf answered.

  “Oh!” I should have made the connection. Most businesses with vending machines have several different companies represented. Midnight Sun had a Coke machine, Pepsi machine, and a Tom’s snack machine for the humans, but for the vamps, only Razorback Red.

  The number of blood replacement brands ran about even with soda. Everyone had jumped on that bandwagon to make a buck. Heck, I’d read negotiations were ongoing with the Red Cross to use human hemoglobin in place of, or in conjunction with, porcine to make the vampire beverage. It was doubtful the Red Cross would comply, so other alternatives were being explored.

  “Do you own one of those new blood donation centers?”

  “They aren’t open yet. Why?” Tom paused to finish his ‘steak’.

  “Won’t they take donors away from the Red Cross?”

  “Not really. We will accept blood they can’t. Vampires can’t catch human diseases. So, people with hepatitis, tuberculosis, cancer, and other diseases could still donate. We tried to negotiate for their outdated blood, but they’d rather dispose of it than let it go to a good cause. Of course they’re all too happy to accept vampire blood.”

  “If you use tainted blood, won’t you have to use warning labels so humans will know not to drink it?” Ick factor aside, some people truly would drink anything!

  “Yes, but with the human component we won’t need added supplements. We pay our donors, so everyone wins.” A frown etched his brow. “Unfortunately, due to the risk factor, the plant will have to be manned by vampires. That may cause a discrimination issue.”

  “Well, maybe not, once the risk is known.” I took a deep breath, time for a subject change. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is the company policy on dating?” Well that certainly got their attention! Both men stared at me like I had a mouse hanging out of my mouth.

  Tom frowned. “Could you be a little more specific?”

  The question is pretty self-explanatory. “Are we allowed to date customers or for that matter, other employees?” Raf turned to Tom. Tom stared at Raf. Raf grinned. Tom didn’t. Color me confused.

  “Why?” Tom asked.

  “Someone asked for my number and we hadn’t discussed the official policy so I didn’t know what to say. I’m sure the same thing has happened to Raf — right?”

  “Not yet! But I’m hopeful … ” Raf smiled brightly into Tom’s glare. “What?”

  Tom cleared his throat. “The salon is not a dating service but I suppose that would be acceptable — but no fraternizing during business hours.”

  “So, no making out in dark corners or the service closet?” Why are his panties in a bunch?

  Tom growled. “It’s late. We’ll discuss house rules another time.” He turned the bar stool and stalked from the room.

  “Was it something I said?

  Raf’s answer was a toothsome grin.

  Tom returned brown, dressed, scowl still firmly in place. Time for us to head out. So much for those ground rules I planned to get set!

  “Still didn’t get the grand tour, did you doll?” Raf draped an arm across my shoulder.

  “No big. I showed myself around but I didn’t want to barge in with you sleeping and all. I’d just need to know what to do in case of an emergency and where the laundry and tanning stuff is.” We emerged from the elevator into the dark garage. Raf flipped the light switch.

  “Middle room, our side of the hall.” Tom clipped as he stepped into the Hummer.

  “My goodness — what got into him?” Raf held the Civic door open for me, grinning like a possum. “I’m in the room across from you. Next to mine is the bath we refurbished for the tanning stuff. Laundry is at the end of the hall. And Hon? Unless I get lucky, you don’t have to knock.” The door slid down behind us as Raf headed the Civic uptown.

  “Raf?”

  “Um?”

  “You can tell a vamp on sight right? Even if they’re tanned?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “So if one asked me out, you could tell me what to expect? Not that I’m looking!”

  “Girl, expect the usual. Sex is a constant. You’ll know. If he’s a vamp and interested enough to ask you out, he’s going to show fang. We just can’t help it.”

  “But don’t other things cause that, too?”

  “Yes, but I was speaking in context. If a vamp asks you out, he’s going to be interested in you sexually, and as a snack.”

  I squeaked.

  “Oh, like you haven’t thought about it! A little love bite, nothing deadly — vamp’s version of a hickey. So he’ll show fang. But you’re correct. Extreme emotion can have the same effect, anger, fear, lust. You need to read the body language.”

  “I’m not sure I know how.”

  “You do it every day with Willy — same thing. We’re all animals.” He pulled in beside the Hummer. “You get Willy to do his thing before we go in. Boss says I’m not to leave you out here alone.”

  “He told me not to call him that.” I placed Willy on the ground and tugged the diaper tabs. “Do you see, Raf? No help needed!”

  “Well, my, my! When did this start?”

  My stomach rolled, threatening to empty. “What’s that smell?”

  The sweet, cloying smell was sickening. Something like formaldehyde mixed with vanilla. Willy growled. I glanced down. He stood on his own with hackles raised, tail slowly wagging from side to side. This was a threatening wag, not a happy one. I had no time to dwell on his demeanor or stance. Raf grabbed my hand, snatched up Willy with his other and whisked us into the salon lobby before I had time to blink.

  “What’s wrong? Did you see something?” The smell seemed familiar to me but it took me a minute to put it together. The smell was like the dumpster, minus the rotting garbage. “Raf?”

  In the office he waved his hands in agitation. Tom rose from his desk and walked to the door.

  “May I have a word?”

  I nodded and hurried to finish up with the customer at hand. I provided the requisite goggles and towel, and then punched a second hole in his card. He was blond and seemed about my age, very tall, very pale, with bright blue eyes and a ready smile. He winked at me as he entered the tanning room. Tom scowled. This might have
been an exciting development if not for the strange occurrence in the parking lot. With a sigh, I followed Tom into the office.

  “What’s up?”

  “Someone or something doesn’t seem to want us here.”

  “Okay. Care to elaborate on that? Wait! Something?”

  “A spell has been cast that’s designed to drive people away.”

  “Magic has an odor?” My learning curve swerved. “A witch cast a spell?”

  “Other things dabble in magic. How do you feel?”

  There was that word again! “Not so hot now that you mention it, kind of woozy and nauseous. Why?”

  “Because I suspect this spell is only binding to humans. We’ll know soon enough if no human customers arrive this evening.” He shrugged, as if this was all commonplace. “Stay inside. If you go out, it’s doubtful you’ll be able to re-enter until the spell has been lifted.”

  “Hold on and back up! You said things! What things?” I’d always known we weren’t alone on this piece of rock. I never doubted there were others. Were they friend or foe? “You are so going to have to brief me on all this!”

  His sullen expression became a dimpled smile. Raf grinned. I got the distinct impression I had passed another test. My left eyebrow rose. Turning on my heel, I marched into the lobby to attend to my duties, wishing fervently someone would tell me what was going on.

  As it turned out we were busy, busy, busy all evening. And as Tom feared, every single customer was non-human! We were turning into the new vampire social club.

  Humans tend to find fault with anyone different than themselves. The more vamps blended in, the easier their lives among us. Every vamp in the state seemed to agree Tom’s idea was an excellent one. It seemed the entire Arky vamp population picked tonight to get some midnight sun! The ward around the salon was the conversational topic of the evening. The fact only the salon and about one half the parking lot was affected, seemed to be of special interest. The adjacent bars and restaurants weren’t affected. This led to speculation Tom had enemies.

  I overheard bits of conversations. The “old ones” it seemed, were unhappy with all the notoriety the vampire community was receiving. While happy to make money from and live — don’t forget feed — off the humans, they wanted their existence kept secret. They weren’t happy being outed.

  The elders considered themselves superior to humans! Yet these were some of the same vamps that held they couldn’t go into churches and would perish if touched by a cross, holy water or other religious icon. Since they believed so strongly, perhaps they would. So much for superiority!

  The tall, blond, and now tan vamp lingered after his session. He mingled with others waiting their turn. Each time our eyes met, he smiled.

  I took a minute to look up his membership info, Randolph Anderson. He bought the Lifetime package. Ouch! “Randy” was over a hundred years old because his age was not shown. Only Vamps under the century mark were required to list their ages. Their IDs would read BV1 through BV99, the BV standing for “Became Vampire” and the number, years since they were human. There weren’t a lot of BV1-10’s because of strict regulations regarding bringing anyone into the fold, accompanied by lots of red tape.

  Turning a felon into a vampire was illegal and would land both parties in prison. Turning a child was punishable by death. A human must be of legal age of consent, which varied some from state to state. A license was required, followed by a twenty day cooling off period. There was no do-over after the deed was done. There were occasional exceptions for the terminally ill, but other than those, the laws were very rigorously upheld.

  I was stuck inside when my break came. Raf said he couldn’t chance me being hexed out and we were way too busy for him to run things alone. Tom had been on the phone all evening trying to find someone to lift the spell. Oh goody, more weirdness! When two A.M. came, Willy and I took a break and headed for the restroom.

  Willy rolled around in his cart while I took care of business. From under the stall door, I watched as Willy repeatedly planted his little back feet. Could he feel them?

  Something good was happening in Willy’s spine. Thankful for the improvement, I didn’t over think it. Exiting the stall, I washed my hands, fluffed my hair and swung the door back for Willy. He rolled through. I stepped out and directly into the arms of Randolph Anderson! The top of my head barely came to his chin. I looked directly into his chiseled chest until a finger under my chin brought my eyes up to meet his. Then his lips touched mine and I forgot everything else Tom had said.

  I’m pretty sure I’ve only kissed humans, so maybe my expectations were low. But Geeze Louise could Randy kiss! I like to kiss — not that I’ve done much lately — and I’ve known a few guys who did it very well. Randy was in a class all by himself. The thought of pulling away never entered my brain.

  My arms wrapped themselves around his neck and I kissed him back with everything I had. Just when I thought I’d swoon, he stepped it up a notch, fanning the flames. I let my tongue explore his mouth as his had mine. No fangs. He can’t be human. A shiver started in my mouth only to be echoed much lower, where tension grew.

  His embrace tightened, and his hand pressed the small of my back to bring that part of me even closer. I was gone. All the adages apply here — rockets, fireworks, and explosions. His kiss was orgasmic. Literally! I whimpered as I clung to him to keep from falling, positive my feet wouldn’t support me. When the world stopped spinning, I looked up to find his blue eyes black, but still no fang showing. Human then. How did he get past the hex?

  “You’ll give me your number?” His breath in my ear sent yet another shiver through me. I backed away with some effort and a hot blush burst across my skin. Where’s a fan when you need one?

  “I just moved. I don’t know the phone number.”

  I didn’t know my own name! I was still trying to get my head around the fact I virtually had sex with a total stranger, fully clothed, in public. How many girls can make such a claim?

  “You can ask Raf at the desk.” What am I doing? I’ve sworn off men. They only mean trouble!

  He smiled again and I thought my knees would buckle. His eyebrow arched, “And he would know this, why?”

  He had the slightest of accents. German? Swedish? How the hell would I know?

  “Oh gosh! He’s my roommate. I’m … Connie.” I offered my hand, which I will admit seemed absurd after what just transpired, but what’s a girl to do?

  He took the offered appendage, turned it palm up, and planted a kiss dead center. “I’m Randy.”

  I shivered as I felt his lips graze my flesh.

  He turned to go and made his way to the desk. I watched as he spoke to Raf. When he titled his head toward me, if possible, my blush grew hotter. I gave Raf the go-ahead nod. Randy slipped the paper in his jeans pocket and gave me a little wave before making his exit. So many emotions roiled inside me, I couldn’t throw a rope around any of them.

  Damn! What the hell got into me? Perhaps Dee’s right and I’ve been celibate too long.

  I managed to stay very busy the rest of the night and avoided Raf like the plague but I felt his eyes on me. I tried to make some sense of my actions and came up empty. I regretted giving Randy my number the moment he left the salon. Not that I didn’t enjoyed our little interlude. I did, immensely! Therein lay the problem. I didn’t have casual sex with strangers no matter how handsome and seductive. I didn’t have sex at all. I had issues. When those issues were resolved maybe sex would be back on my menu, assuming I found a guy I cared for. So when had my credo changed? I hadn’t a clue.

  CHAPTER 9

  “Okay Doll, spill!” Raf ordered the moment our car left the parking lot. “Don’t pretend you haven’t been avoiding me.” He paused to yawn.

  It was very close to dawn.

  I could pretend not to understand, but he
wouldn’t buy it. We didn’t have time to start this conversation, much less finish it, before he had to bed down for the day, so I hedged. “Raf, honey, I’m not sure where to start and we’re both so tired. Could we put this discussion on hold until this evening?” I waited while he finished another yawn.

  “Fine, but you’re not getting out of this. Wake me early. We’re going to talk this through before the boss rises.” He arched an eyebrow at me. “Come to my room around noon and close the door behind you.”

  “Ah — okay. Are you sure you’ll be all right?”

  Raf nodded, stifling another yawn.

  I had some trouble with the whole vampires awake during the day thing, after a lifetime of being told otherwise. Of course I had also been told vampires didn’t exist — or any other preternatural creatures, entities, whatever — so I guess it’s better to accept what comes from the horse’s — I mean vampire’s — mouth.

  We pulled into the drive and Raf stopped. “You need to tend to Willy before we go up.”

  Unfastening my seatbelt, I took Willy out to the curb and watched in amazement as he wobbled over to sniff the hydrant. I was flabbergasted! Even Raf stopped mid-yawn to stare. His rear did more of a bunny hop, but he moved unaided. Speechless, my eyes welled and I dropped to my knees on the sidewalk.

  “I have a theory,” Raf said slowly as yet another yawn overtook him. “But honey it will have to wait till later. I’m beat. Get that hound and come along before I fall asleep at the wheel.”

  Tears streamed down my face as I scooped Willy up into my lap. “Good boy! What a brave boy you are!” I told him repeatedly, my kisses raining down on his head. His tail thumped my leg and I cried harder. I was just one raw ball of emotion tonight.

  “You gonna’ be okay?” Raf asked in the elevator. “I could stay awake a while longer.

  His offer meant the world to me but he’d never make it. He was deader on his feet than usual.

  “I’ll be fine sweetie, run on. I plan a long hot bath before hitting the hay. Goodnight.”