“See you when you get here,” I said, and hung up the phone.
I finished making my bed and taking my clothes to the washer and then changed into my long sleeve t-shirt and blue jeans. When I walked into the living room, I caught a glimpse of Tony standing on my porch. “Come on in,” I said, heading to the kitchen to retrieve my keys.
Tony stood in the doorway waiting for me. Taking my last sip of coffee and the keys in my hand, we were ready to go.
We were off to pick up Malinda and Mike.
“What’s at this museum?” he asked.
“It has a lot of memorabilia, paintings, old things from the past and a Planetarium.”
“Sounds interesting,” he said, perplexed.
“I invited Malinda and Mike to join us.”
“The waitress from the diner?” he asked.
“The one and only,” I said, glancing toward him.
When I pulled up to Malinda’s, her and Mike was waiting on the porch. Tony opened his door and let them get into the back seat.
“Thanks for inviting us Jess,” Malinda said.
“No problem. The more the merrier and I knew you had been eager for it to open.”
The museum was small and took three hours to walk through, but I wasn’t entirely disappointed because it had old stuff I had never seen before.
Tony and I took off in one direction, while Malinda and Mike took off in the other. We looked at all the paintings, and then headed over to the Planetarium. Tony perked up when the lights dimmed and the stars came out above our heads. The tour guide pointed out the big dipper and the North Star along with the solar system and the Milky Way. When the tour was over, I needed desperately to go to the restroom and left Tony standing by the entrance to the Planetarium. “Be right back,” I told him. He nodded yes and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
When I returned he was fidgeting. “Are you okay?” I asked when I got back over to him.
In a low voice he asked, “Are we leaving soon?”
“I was thinking about grabbing a bite to eat before we headed back, why?”
“I wasn’t planning on being gone this long,” he said, trying not to sound anxious.
“Is something wrong?”
Tony looked at me and I knew he was serious about leaving.
“Let me find Malinda and Mike. Be right back,” I said, and went to look for them.
Finding them in the arts gallery awing over a painting called, Fireside at Night. “Hey guys, I’m a little hungry. Shall we go and find a place to eat?”
Mike and Malinda were holding hands walking back with me to Tony right where I had left him; at the entrance to the Planetarium, fidgeting more than before. Knowing he drank from a flask, he carried in his back pocket; I wondered if it was empty.
“Are we ready?” I asked.
Tony nodded, Malinda and Mike, in unison said, “We sure are.”
In the car everyone talked about the museum, except Tony. He sat looking straight ahead and appeared to be in deep thought about something.
“Jess, did you see the old fire truck?” Mike asked. “Wonder how they got it in the building.”
“I saw it and wondered the same thing.” I laughed.
“The old astronaut gear was out of this world. Things sure have modernized since the middle 1900’s,” Malinda added.
“The sculpture in the middle of the hall looked like a fire made of stone,” I said.
“Or tentacles from an octopus,” Mike added.
I guess it’s what your imagination wants it to be,” I said.
Pulling into a parking space at the Steak and Grog, I let Mike and Malinda out of the back seat. They waited at the front door for us to join them, but Tony didn’t move from his seat. Tony turned his head to the passenger window and then back to me.
“Malinda, why don’t you and Mike find us a booth, we’ll be in shortly.”
“Okay, Jess.”
I waited until they were in the restaurant, then I got back into the car. Turning to Tony, he was looking out the passenger window.
“Tony, what is going on?” I asked.
Tony sat there without saying a word, but started wringing his hands in his lap.
“Tony please, I’m getting worried here. What is going on?” I asked.
Turning toward me he said, “I just need to get home.”
“Are you sorry you came with me today?”
“Jess, I’m glad I came with you today. I just need to get home.”
“I thought we were having a good time and now you’re eager to get home. Why? I don’t understand.”
“We’ll talk tonight, okay. Join your friends, I’ll wait here.”
“You don’t want to join us?” I asked.
“I’d rather not.”
“Okay, suit yourself then.”
I got out of the car and went inside. The hostess took me to where Malinda and Mike were sitting. They had chosen a booth facing the car. Glancing out the window, I saw Tony looking around and then take a drink from the flask.
“Is everything, okay?” Malinda asked, concerned.
“Everything is fine.”
“Is Tony okay,” Malinda asked.
“He’s fine. Just a little tired.”
We finished eating and headed back to Mayville. During the drive, Tony sat in silence, but kept wringing his hands while looking out the window. Mike and Malinda discussed having another date for this coming Friday and I watched Tony out of the corner of my eye. After dropping Malinda and Mike at her house, I drove to Tony’s and pulled into his driveway.
Before he got out of the car he told me, “I’ll be there shortly,” and went into his house.
I didn’t drive to my house, instead I waited for Tony. He came out of the house putting a flask in his back pocket and smiled a half smile when he saw my car in his driveway. Tony got in and I drove to my house.
“I could have walked, you know.”
“I know, but I wanted to wait on you.”
Inside the house Tony sat on the sofa, but didn’t turn the television on as he normally would. I went straight to the kitchen to hang my keys on the hook and lay my cell phone on the counter, grabbed a soda and went to the armchair. Tony started fidgeting again.
“Will you, please, tell me what is going on?” I asked.
“Jess, there’s something I want you to know about me.”
“What could you possibly have to tell me about you? I think I know you pretty well,” I said, without hesitation.
Tony looked up at me with sadness in his eyes. “I have a secret and I want to share it with you,” he said, wringing his hands. “You may run and never want to see me again after I tell you.”
“Tony, let me decide that okay.”
Tony scooted to the edge of the sofa, intertwined his fingers and looked at me before he spoke. “As you know, my skin is hard…and…and…I’m not all human, Jess.”
“Okay, if you’re not “all human,” then what are you because you sure look human to me.” I said in an amusing way.
Was he waiting for me to run? If he was, he’d be waiting awhile because he hadn’t told me anything to make me want to run.
“This is very hard for me to say, but I want you to know, okay. It’s something I have never told anyone,” he said, pausing for a minute.
Sitting calmly I waited for him to continue.
Tony scooted to the back of the sofa, crossed his right leg on top of his left and very quietly said, “I’m a dhampir.”
Leaning forward, my eyebrows came together and I asked, “You’re a what? Did you say ‘dhampir’?” I was making sure I heard him right.
“Yes, it’s what I’m called. I’m half vampire and half human. My father is a vampire and my mother is human.”
My mouth dropped to the floor, my eyebrows rose up as I sat there in shock looking at him not believing what I heard him say. I didn’t say anything. How could I? I was stunned.
“My skin is hard as ston
e, but my heart beats. I’m normal on the inside, but the outside I’m hard, but you knew that already.”
Looking Tony over, I couldn’t see any signs of him being half vampire.
“Do you drink blood?” I asked.
“Yes,” was all he answered?
Bringing my hand up to my neck, I couldn’t help but ask? “Will you drink my blood?”
“No, I don’t drink blood from people.” He looked rather disgusted at the thought.
“Then how do you get your blood, if it’s not from people?” I asked, releasing the grip from my neck.
“It’s donated blood.”
“So, you go to a blood bank and get their blood?”
“No Jess. Well sort of. My father owns a blood bank in England and my mother ships me my blood,” he said, pausing.
“How often does she send you the blood?”
“She sends me a month supply at a time.”
“Wow” I mouthed. “So, the flask you carry?” I asked.
“I didn’t know you saw it, but it’s what I keep my blood in.”
Getting up from the armchair, I sat beside Tony on the sofa.
“I can eat human food, but only if my blood supply gets low.”
“But you have never been in a restaurant with me.”
“I have never had a reason to,” he said, with a half smile.
“You were in the diner with me twice?”
“Jess, I wanted to meet you, but I was afraid.”
“What could you possibly be afraid of?” I asked, stunned.
“Afraid you wouldn’t have anything to do with me. I see now I was wrong,” he said, and lowered his head.
“May I touch your skin again?” I asked.
“Sure, go ahead.”
I stretched out my hand, and he stretched out his. Taking my index finger I touched the back of his hand which was hard as a rock. Putting my hand back in my lap I asked, “Are you like that all over? I mean your skin?”
“Yes,” he said. “I was known as a ‘freak’ and people shunned me, but no one knew, of course, but that didn’t change how I felt on the inside. I hate being a dhampir, but I am what I am.”
There was no need to run and my heart went out to him more than I knew it would. No friends, always feeling like an outcast. It broke my heart the way he looked down again. Reaching over with my hands, I put them on top of his, raising his head, he looked at me. “You’re not running,” he whispered.
“No, I’m not running. Why should I run? This is my house,” I said, smiling, trying to make him smile and showing him I wasn’t afraid as he sat there looking at me.
“You’re not going to ask me to leave and never come back?”
“Tony, if that was going to happen I would have done it the first night you were on my porch checking on me, maybe even the second time we met at the diner. I make my own decision pertaining to my life and who I want in it, okay.”
“You surprise me with your outlook on life. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to you in the first place.”
I needed the subject back on him so I asked, “Exactly how are Rick and Jan Morison related to you?” I’ve known them for years and they both looked human to me.
“Aunt Jan is my mother’s sister.”
“Are either one a vampire?”
Tony laughed and said, “No, my father is the only vampire.”
“And your mother is from here?”
“Yes.”
“Your father is from England, right?”
“He is.”
“Then how did they meet?”
“Her family vacationed in England one summer. My father saw her and courted her the only summer she was there. She was twenty-one. She fell in love with him, and by the end of summer they married. Nine months later, I came into the world.”
“Do your aunt and uncle know about your father?” I asked.
“Yes, they know, and they don’t have a problem with him,” he said, reaching behind him and pulling out a flask from his back pocket.
“Is that you’re…” Not finishing the sentence, I already knew what it was.
“Yes, I carry this to keep my thirst in check,” he said, taking a mouthful and putting it back in his pocket.
“But you said ‘some things are better left alone’ and the animals didn’t want you around. Why?”
“I’m a threat to the animals. Their instincts tell them to run when I’m around.”
Thinking back to the kitten, peacock and ducks I understand why they took off.
“Now do you understand why I didn’t rush into telling you? I didn’t want to frighten you. I want to be with you, Jess.”
“It’s not frightening at all. As a matter of fact, I find it interesting and I admit I’ve never met anyone with your background before.”
Scooting closer to him, I gently laid my hand on his. His eyebrow raised and I leaned toward him, kissing him lightly on his lips. He put his arms around me and hugged me. “Jess, I have to admit I’m in shock.”
“Why? I thought we were past the evasive unless there’s more.”
Tony shrugged and then we kissed passionately. After the kiss I started yawning.
Tony released his hug looking at me from head to toe. “You are so beautiful, Jess. I’d like to see you tomorrow if you don’t work.”
“I’m off tomorrow and I’d like that.”
Tony stood up and helped me to stand. Wrapping his arms around me again, he hugged me and whispered, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The second his sweet breath touched my face I melted like butter in his arms, but Tony released his hug and headed to the door. Turning around he smiled and said, “Good night, Jess.”
“Good night, Tony.”
In the morning my phone started ringing and I covered my head with my pillow not wanting to answer it, but as soon as the ringing stopped and I uncovered my head it would start ringing again. Sluggishly, I sat on the edge of the bed, yawned, looked at the clock and fell back on my bed. It was eight o’clock. Tony and I talked last night until three this morning, and I wasn’t in a hurry to wake up so early, but the phone wouldn’t stop ringing. Yawning down the hall to the kitchen, I picked up the receiver. “Hello.”
“Hello Jess,” he said, into the receiver. “Did I wake you?”
“Hello Tony,” I said. “No, I was just waking up.”
“I believe, I promised you a movie of your choice. There are two showing tonight. One is “Romance by the Shore”, a romantic movie and the other is “Cut Too Deep” a scary movie. You pick which one you’d like to see,” he said.
“I’ll think about it and get back to you,” I said, beaming all over because Tony remembered my taste in movies.
“Is the late showing okay?” he asked.
“Late showing…sounds good to me.”
“I’ll see you around seven then. Oh, Jess…” he said.
“Yes Tony.”
“Thank you for last night and understanding. You’re one of a kind sweetie.”
I nearly dropped the phone when he called me sweetie, but grinned at the same time. Was it possible a distraction was in my future?
“You’re welcome Tony.” Call waiting was buzzing in.
“I’ll see you tonight.” Tony hung up.
It was unbelievable. Tony and I going on an “official” date tonight. We could hold hands now without him being afraid. He could drink from his flask and I wouldn’t think anything about it.
Pushing flash on my phone I answered, “Hello.”
“Jessica, its Mr. King. Michelle has an emergency. Could you come in and finish out the shift?”
“I’ll be there shortly.”
“Thanks Jessica, I appreciate it.”
After a quick shower, I headed to the hospital.
Michelle looked up as I got off the elevator and her eyes red and puffy from crying.
“Michelle?”
“Thanks for covering for me.”
“No problem. Is everything okay
?”
“My mom was attacked by the burglar early this morning. She’s…She’s…”
“Oh Michelle…She’s okay, right?”
Michelle started crying harder and I knew her mother wasn’t. The police needed to catch this guy and quick before anyone else was hurt.
“I’m so sorry Michelle. Anything I can do let me know,” Giving her a hug.
Michelle shook her head, gathered up her lunch bag and purse. “Thanks Jess.”
The next three hours seemed to drag by because the patients were comfortable and didn’t need much. Monique relieved me thirty minutes after she was due for her shift apologizing for being so late. Actually, I didn’t care and promised I wouldn’t report her to Mr. King. Being late once in a while, to me, wasn’t a big deal because Mike and I were late at least twice during any given month.
Promptly at seven, Tony was at my door with a huge grin. He looked to be more relaxed now that his ‘secret’ was out. I was glad he was just being himself. Now I could get to know the real Tony.
Driving to Portland was better than all the other trips I had made. Tony couldn’t take his eyes off me. When the wind caught my hair, he would reach over and tuck it behind my ear and smile. He took my hand from the steering wheel and examined every inch, front and back, before intertwining my fingers with his and then turning my hand over lightly kissing it making me smile the biggest smile. I had butterflies in my stomach. Was this true love?
“Have you decided which movie you’d like to see?” he asked.
“I’d like to see “Romance by the Shore.”
“You’re beautiful, you know,” he said, rubbing his finger along the outlines in my hand.
“Thank you,” I said. My heart was doing cart wheels.
Arriving at the theater, Tony came around to my side of the car and opened my door. Getting out of the car, I looked around. The line of people stretched around the side of the building. “Must be a popular movie,” I commented.
Tony put his arm around my waist as we walked to the end of the line. Several girls stared at him giggling and twisting their bodies hoping he noticed their girlish idiocy, but he never noticed. He moved behind me and gently pulled me into him wrapping his arms around my waist. The sweetness of his breath flowed down my face causing my knees to wobble a bit. I grabbed onto Tony’s arm, to keep myself from falling.
Dhampir Secrets Page 7