The Night Within Us: Dark Vampire Romance

by Sylvie Grohne

  “You're not serious, right?”

  Grinning, he drives away from the car dealership.

  12

  Amkaya

  We drive along Highway 50 toward Sacramento. It's roughly 200 miles to San Francisco. We should manage that in about three and a half hours.

  My stomach growls loudly.

  “We could stop in Sacramento and get something to eat,” Noah suggests and I nod in agreement.

  “There's one thing I can't stop thinking about.” He glances over at me and then focusses on the highway again.

  “Really? What?”

  “You weren't really a virgin, were you?”

  Did he really just ask me that? I'm embarrassed, and I notice how insecure I suddenly feel. Everything in me baulks at the idea of talking about it, and because I don't know what to say, I hide behind a laugh.

  “Exactly, a 133-year-old virgin, who was just waiting for you,” I say in an amused tone, and he joins my laughter.

  “I figured you were only joking. I just wanted to be sure.”

  After a good hour's drive, I see a gas station with a payphone on the way into Diamond Springs.

  “Can we please stop there? I have to use the restroom and I'd like to make a phone call. Do you have any change? Otherwise I might be able to make a collect call.”

  The need to at least give Airas some small sign of life has become too great for me to wait till Sacramento. Even if we know we're immortal, worrying about each other is still a given.

  “We have to fill up anyway,” he says, driving down off the highway. Then he adds, “You're also welcome to make a call on my smartphone.” He parks the Ford right by one of the fuel pumps.

  “You've got a cell phone? Why are you only telling me this now?”

  “I hardly use it. So I never think of it.”

  He pulls quite a small specimen from his pants pocket and hands it over to me.

  I murmur a frosty “Thanks,” as I hop out, and wonder how he could forget that in light of the situation. At least when he asked me if anyone would be missing me it should have come to mind.

  On the right side of the gas station there is a sign with an arrow pointing to the restrooms, which states:

  PLEASE ASK INSIDE FOR THE KEY TO THE RESTROOMS.

  As I enter the gas station my stomach growls at the sheer sight of the many sweets and various packets of chips. The few cookies from last night are long since digested, and thanks to losing my handbag, I don't have any money on me. There are too many people near the till to use a bit of thought manipulation. A glance back through the glass door shows me Noah is busy filling up the car.

  I ask the man behind the counter for the key to the restrooms, grab a chocolate bar and gesture to my driver with my head. “Put it on his bill.”

  “Of course, miss,” the cashier replies with a hint of sleaziness in his voice, and I hurry out of the store.

  Outside the door I bang into a stocky guy in a green checkered lumberjack shirt. The key to the restrooms clatters to the floor.

  “Oops, young lady. Why the rush?”

  I quickly reach for the key, but he gets there before me and picks it up. As we both straighten up again, his gaze remains glued to my body and his smile gets a dumb look about it.

  I hastily tug my dress, which has ridden up a bit, back down.

  “Thanks,” I feign friendliness and take the key from him, but he doesn't let it go.

  “Frank,” he introduces himself.

  “Thanks, Frank,” I continue to act friendly, jerk the key from his hand and rush toward the two restrooms.

  Thankfully the restroom is clean, but there is no window and only a little neon light which flickers every few seconds as if it is about to breathe its last breath. As I relieve myself, I wolf down the chocolate bar and dial Airas's number. Damn, it's engaged. So I try Wilson and get him after the first ring.

  “It's me, Wilson.”

  “Miss Álvarez, we've been so worried. The plane crash - where are you?” He sounds as upset and concerned as I imagined he would.

  “I'm fine, Wilson. I'm on the way back to San Francisco.”

  “Shall I pick you up?”

  “No, that's not necessary. Is my brother around?”

  “One moment. . .”

  “Hey, little one, where are you? Is everything okay?” He too sounds very worried.

  “Yeah, I'm okay. I'm on my way home. The crash was pretty intense, but you'll never guess what happened. . .” I pause dramatically, breathe in and search for words.

  “What happened?” my brother presses me and I exhale.

  “I met someone, and I'm bringing him along.” Alright, now it's out.

  “What do you mean by that, Kaya?”

  “I'll explain when I get back. Is everything okay with you?”

  “Not really.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “I'll tell you when you get back too.”

  “Okay, see you soon.” I hang up, flush the toilet and wash my hands in the small foyer.

  Suddenly the door flies open and Frank, the guy I bumped into minutes ago, forces his way into the little room and locks the door behind him. Crap, I forgot to lock up.

  “I was wondering what was taking you so long in here,” he explains and looks me up and down with a dirty grin. “And so I figured you must be waiting for me.”

  Suddenly he makes a grab at me, pushes my dress up and runs his filthy paws all over my naked skin. I'm stunned. I stare at the thick chest hair sprouting wildly up out of his shirt, and for a moment I can't move.

  “Did you think I didn't notice you weren't wearing any underwear, you little minx?”

  He doesn't get to say anything more. My teeth bore into his neck, striking his aorta and tearing it open. Blood flows like warm rain onto my tongue, while the life pours out of him. His vitality gushes down my throat to my stomach and has a pleasant calming effect on me. No blackout. Again, no fog to pull me out of the situation like it usually does, only letting me discover the bloody deed after it is done. Again I'm awake for it and strangely, in this moment I almost feel at one with the beast in me. I can no longer sense for sure what I am and what separates us.

  Frank thrashes about, but within only a few seconds he's hanging in my arms like a wet sack.

  “You can still stop now, if you like. He still has the chance to survive.” Noah is suddenly standing in the room and looking at me.

  Very handy, if you can get in anywhere even without a key.

  I want to stop. I want to release Frank. I really want to, but I can't. I can't manage to halt the killer instinct in me. As I drink on greedily, I cling to Noah's gaze, and in the flickering neon light I see how the dark blue of his eyes changes to a shimmering green again and he closes his eyes.

  Only now do I let go of Frank's body. Pale and heavy, he falls to the ground and stares off into space.

  I turn to the mirror in a daze and in the reflection I see Noah open his eyes. They examine me in their familiar blue again. Only then do I see myself – the blood smeared face, the blood stains on the dress and my wide open eyes. I breathe deeply and try to bring some order to the totally conflicting emotions raging inside me. The old, familiar guilt mixes with satisfaction, euphoria, fear and the feeling of a conspiratorial bond with this stranger at my side, who doesn't seem at all like a stranger to me anymore. Quite the opposite. The moment just now was so intense, so exhilarating and yet so . . . sick. I most definitely never pictured dinner together like that. My heart is all aflutter.

  Damn it. What have I done? In broad daylight, in a place like this. Everyone knows gas stations are equipped with security cameras, and I was in the store asking for the key to the place where Frank now lies stone-cold dead on the tiles. It all screams of trouble.

  I turn on the faucet, wash the blood from my face frantically, rinse my mouth out and try to rub the stains out of my dress. Luckily they mainly ended up on the black areas.

  “What are we going to d
o now? When they find him. . . the cameras!” I turn to Noah, my voice slightly panicked, and wish I could undo what I did.

  “Don't worry about the cameras. They weren't on.” He reaches an arm out to me and draws me to him.

  “What do you mean? How do you know that?” I'm confused.

  “Did you forget I can tell when someone's death is imminent? As soon as we arrived I felt those slight vibrations within me. I didn't know whether it had to do with you, but I thought it might be better if I deactivated the cameras.”

  “Is that also one of your powers you were telling me about?”

  “Manipulating electronic equipment? How did you think I paid for the car? And why did you think we never had to stop at traffic lights?” He kisses me and I can see the mischievous pleasure he takes in his abilities. I react hesitantly though. Isn't it strange and inappropriate to be kissing here and now of all times?

  In spite of my inhibitions, I can't resist the tender call of his lips and I return his kiss, which leads to more and more increasingly unbridled kisses.

  “Is that one of your powers too?” I ask breathlessly and draw away from him slightly.

  “What do you mean?” He looks at me questioningly.

  “Your effect on me.”

  He chuckles quietly, yanks me back in close to him and shakes his head.

  “Believe me, if it were, then you'd be the one with the stronger powers.”

  He takes my face in his hands once more and is clearly trying to pull himself together.

  “You have no idea what you do to me, angel.”

  “No, you're the one who's descended from that species,” I reply.

  “Genes are irrelevant,” he says smiling. He turns and unlocks the door.

  “Go behind the building. I parked the car there.”

  Once more my gaze falls on the lifeless body lying on the floor. But before I can form any thoughts, Noah pushes me gently but firmly out of the room.

  I can hear him locking the door again from the inside, and I run off.

  “I thought you would have been faster,” he greets me from his seat on the driver's side as I tear the car door open.

  “You. . .” I search for words.

  “Charming, adorable guy?” he finishes my sentence and flashes me his captivating crooked grin.

  “Something like that.” I climb in, trying – and failing – not to smile.

  Two minutes later the gas station is gone from view.

  “If they don't have a spare key, we've got a good head start,” he says. “But sooner or later they'll find him. They'll be confused. After all, the room has no windows and the key is in the hand basin. Still, we should swap cars soon, to avoid trouble.”

  He reaches for the paper bag sitting between us, and places it on my lap. With a nod of his head he signals me to open it. In the bag I find loads of chocolate bars, a packet of chips, two cold cans of Canada Dry and a pair of sunglasses.

  Now I give him a wide grin.

  “You're welcome,” he says as I put the sunglasses on and open one of the cans with a hiss. This is exactly what I need right now.

  Still, there's one thing I can't get out of my mind.

  “If you knew Frank was going to die, that it was destined to happen, why did you say he could survive if I stopped?”

  “To prove to you that you can't change destiny.”

  “And if I'd been able to?”

  “But you weren't.”

  I shake my head in disbelief. “That would clear me of any responsibility. Then we'd all be nothing but puppets.”

  “Every day we make decisions about many things within our control. Things that determine our paths. But we can't decide about death. It's out of our hands.”

  “That would make me something like death's henchman.”

  “We all are,” he says dryly and turns on the radio.

  'You are my destiny,' the old Paul Anka song rings out from the speakers and Noah grins without looking at me.

  Hmm, looks like he had a hand in that too. My attempt not to react fails again. The corners of my mouth twitch, which he immediately notes with an even wider grin. I turn my head away and look out the window. The beautiful landscape passes me by unnoticed, as I abandon myself to my thoughts. It's not as if I don't like that little, veiled declaration of love, but still it scares me. Scares me half to death. This thing between us is going at such a crazy speed and with such intensity, I can't keep up with my emotions.

  The attraction he exerts on me, and the feelings he arouses in me are so strong, I can hardly put them into words, let alone explain them. I have no idea where this will lead, but I definitely want it to keep going.

  13

  Amkaya

  In Sacramento, Noah drops me off in front of a large boutique. While he sorts out a new car, I'm going to look around for some new clothes and make-up. I can't wait to get out of this bloodstained dress. If the police are already searching for me, it would be better not to have this conspicuous outfit on anyway. Luckily both assistants on the shop floor are busy with other customers.

  “I'll be with you in a moment,” the older of the two calls out to me, only to return all her attention to another customer who is complaining that she has always been a size 10 and she's sure the dress she's trying on is small for a 10.

  The shop has quite a nice selection. I should choose a completely different style so I'm not recognized if they are already looking for me. Maybe jeans and a chic t-shirt or something more elegant. I try a few things on in the changing room but can't make up my mind. As I'm slipping into a fairly expensive black dress, I suddenly pick up his scent. I inhale deeply to make sure, but there's no doubt about it. Noah is here and judging by the intensity, he must be right up close to me.

  “Is that how a gentleman behaves?” I whisper a quiet reproach. In the mirror I can see him taking form from one moment to the next.

  “Forgive me, I couldn't resist,” he whispers back. He acts contrite, but his eyes shine way too happily to show any real regret.

  “Besides, I thought you liked getting undressed in front of me.” He gives a cheeky grin. Indignant, I make to elbow him in the side, but he catches my arm, pulls me into his embrace and kisses me. A sneaky trick, because I immediately feel like I'm at his mercy once more.

  “Weren't you going to get another car?” I ask quietly, once I catch my breath again.

  “It's out front.”

  “Can I help you?” comes the voice of the saleswoman through the curtain.

  “You should definitely buy the dress,” Noah whispers in my ear then disappears before my eyes again.

  I pull the cubicle curtain aside with a jerk and look at the saleswoman, who seems to be confused. She peers into the cubicle and shakes her head as if trying to chase away a thought. She must have heard our whispers.

  “I'd like to keep this dress on, and I'll take the shoes over there too,” I say and point to a pair of dark red, high heeled Manolo Blahnik pumps. They're covered with black lace and done in a Moulin-Rouge style.

  “Size six and a half, and I'll take the matching chiffon scarf too.”

  The short-haired blonde hurries off to get the right size from the storeroom, and I have a look around the cosmetics area. I choose powder, mascara and lipstick, and put them on in front of the little mirror. Then I remember I don't have a purse, and with my wild hair a hat wouldn't be a bad idea either. On the way to the counter I notice a mid-sized, black Dolce & Gabbana handbag, which I place next to the till together with the cosmetics.

  “You're in luck,” calls the saleswoman as she hurries toward me with a shoe box. “I found a pair in your size, and they're even reduced to $649.”

  Slightly out of breath, she points to the handbag and the make-up. “And these too?”

  “Yes, and the hat up there,” I answer, pointing to a black, wide brim fedora hat.

  She fetches a pole and fishes the hat down. I look around discreetly for the other saleswoman, but she's busy with a
nother customer and there's no-one else around either.

  “There we are,” she says, returning to the till with the hat.

  “Ma'am?”

  “Yes?' She looks at me questioningly with her big eyes. “Is there something else I can help you with?”

  I stare into her eyes and draw her into my gaze.

  “Don't forget to tell me I'm your anniversary customer and I'll receive these things for free.”

  She hesitates and wrinkles her forehead. For a moment she looks confused, but then she beams at me.

  “Do you know what? You're our anniversary customer. You're in luck. Everything is free.”

  “How lovely. Thank you.” I smile, take the Blahniks, slip into them, lay the scarf around my neck and put on the hat.

  “Enchanting,” the blonde says and I thank her for the compliment. Then I push the cosmetics over the edge of the counter into the handbag and look at her again.

  “Please dispose of the flip flops and the old dress thoroughly once I'm gone. It's best if you burn them. Then you won't remember me and when you do the cash up tonight you won't find anything amiss. Everything will be as it should be.”

  “But of course.” Her smile is stiff. I hand her the flip flops, which look quite the worse for wear, and she takes them with her fingertips.

  “Come again soon,” she calls after me and I leave the store.

  I deliberately walk slowly over to the black Cabriolet in my new outfit, because I know Noah is watching me, and I'm enjoying putting on a show.

  14

  Amkaya

  “A villa in Pacific Heights. Not bad,” Noah says when we finally stop in Vallejo Street, San Francisco and hop out.

  His gaze wanders with interest over the light façade of the building.

  “We won it in a house raffle. Well, not entirely honestly. You know.”

  “You manipulated the owner. I imagine he couldn't but draw you as the winner,” he says and I nod.

  “And there was also a black Bullitt Mustang as a bonus, because the owner wanted to make it even more attractive. Once my brother Airas heard that he had to have it, and since I really liked it too, it's now our house.”