Four Centuries (Damned and Cursed Book 7)

by Glenn Bullion

  "Is that what I think—?"

  "It is. Thirsty?"

  She unscrewed the top and stole a long drink.

  "Victoria!" Zoey said, glancing nervously at the surrounding tables. "We can't just drink here!"

  "Why not?"

  Three men rose from a nearby table and threw their trash away, their eyes on Victoria the entire time. She took another long drink and flirted without a word, as if to make a point. It was incredible to watch her personality transform. Returning the men's gaze, she recrossed her legs and somehow made the act of drinking blood from a bottle sexy. She carefully licked the tip, holding her tongue out for their enjoyment, all while not spilling a drop. One of the men walked directly into a wall, drawing huge laughter and a round of applause from his friends.

  Victoria smiled as she returned her attention to Zoey.

  "Mortals don't care," she said. "It looks like fruit juice."

  Zoey hesitated, but watching Victoria take another drink of the wonderful nectar nudged her forward. She opened her own bottle and tilted her head back. All the sounds and distractions around her vanished. For a moment, there was only the blood, and her own heartbeat. Not satisfied with one drink, she took another.

  "Uh, Zoey," Victoria said, touching her lip with a finger.

  She felt the blood threatening to drip from her lip.

  "Oh, sorry." She dabbed at it with a loose napkin from the next table over.

  Victoria finished her bottle and tossed it away, along with the other mortal trash.

  "Okay," she said. "I think shopping is done?"

  Zoey truly looked at their collection of shopping bags for the first time. Embarrassment settled in, and she would have turned red if she was able. Apparently vampires didn't blush, which was a good thing at that moment. She had way too many clothes, more than she ever had in her life. She even had a few pairs of shoes. The only saving grace was Victoria had just as many.

  "I think shopping is done for many years."

  Victoria laughed and gathered the bags around her. Zoey did the same, and they began the long trek out of the mall. It was a relief as the crowd faded into the background. No more noises and scents filled her head.

  Other sounds of the world greeted her as the pair moved through the parking lot. Cars and trucks on the road nearby. Squirrels in the trees. She even heard pieces of conversations. One in particular caught her attention.

  "I want to fuck you right here."

  It was a female voice. Zoey giggled at the rawness, the tone. Her eyes searched the lot, out of curiosity. Apparently a couple nearby was going to mistake their car for a bedroom.

  She noticed Victoria searching as well. Victoria continued scanning the lot as she popped the trunk of the Porsche. Their bags barely fit inside the tiny space.

  "You heard it, too?" Zoey asked.

  "Yeah. Do you see them?"

  Her interest took Zoey by surprise.

  "Uh, no. And I'm not sure I want to."

  "Keep listening. Help me look for them."

  "Victoria? Do you really want to see two people having sex in a car?"

  "No, but you should never pass up easy blood."

  "Easy blood?"

  She gestured around her. "We're in the middle of a parking lot. No one is around. It's dark. If they really are going to have sex, hell, they'll probably thank us. When you feed from a mortal—"

  "I know what it does," Zoey said quickly.

  "They'll never see us coming. We slip in, feed very quickly, and slip out. Their memories are hazy for a short time. All they'll remember is the sex. They won't even know we were there."

  "Shit! That sounds like assault!"

  Victoria glared at her as she closed the trunk.

  "What Steven did to you, that was assault. What I'm talking about is the right way to do it. No one gets hurt. The mortals even get an extra-intense orgasm out of the deal. Everyone wins."

  "I don't know."

  "Zoey, this is what we do. This is who we are. There isn't always going to be a refrigerator full of blood around the corner."

  Zoey had no argument. She countered Victoria only with silence. Victoria grabbed her hand and pulled her along, leading her in between the cars. The older vampire lifted her nose to the air and sniffed several times.

  "This way."

  "Victoria," Zoey said, her voice a bit whiny. "The last time I tried this, it didn't go so well. If it wasn't for Alex showing up, I might have killed somebody."

  "You're not going to kill anyone."

  She logically knew Victoria was right. They were vampires. Feeding from humans was what vampires did. It was how they stayed alive and lived forever.

  But emotions slowly pushed away whatever logic was floating in her head.

  As Victoria guided their way, weaving in and out of cars, Zoey heard the beginning of sex. She could almost visualize the act. Two clothed bodies rubbing up against each other, whispered compliments, kissing and groping. A shirt was removed, and a belt undone.

  Zoey could only think of Steven, and what he did to her in that alley. Images of the attack flashed through her head, her last memories as a mortal. Kissing and flirting turned into him pinning her against the brick wall, forcing himself on her. There was nothing she could do. She was powerless. Kylie had followed her, tried to help, and paid for it with her life.

  Not long after, in one of her lower, thirstier moments, Zoey had tried the same thing. Use flirting and seduction to feed. She'd nearly killed the man. She didn't even remember his name. All she remembered were his sounds of ecstasy as she forcefully drank his blood.

  The mystery couple not far away made similar noises.

  Victoria squatted near the hood of a car. She pulled Zoey down next to her.

  "There they are."

  Zoey blinked away the darkness. Night vision was one of the few things she'd actually mastered about being a vampire.

  She saw the young couple, in the back seat of the car. The primal sight of it took her breath away. Having sex in a car, in a mall parking lot, she thought that type of thing only happened in the movies.

  The way the woman moved up and down, the moans and hitched breathing, Zoey could see they'd already moved past foreplay. The man leaned back and held her breasts, matching her movements as best he could in the uncomfortable back seat. Zoey was embarrassed to admit it, but the sight was arousing, and she didn't think of herself as a voyeur. Vampire or not, she was still a teenager. Did a teenage vampire's hormones respond the same way as that of a human?

  "Wow," she said, turning her head. "They're, uh, really going at it."

  "Do you want the man or woman?"

  She couldn't wrap her mind around the question.

  "What?"

  "The man," Victoria said slowly. "Or the woman?"

  "I'm not really into women."

  "It doesn't matter who you're in to. This has nothing to do with sex."

  "Well…it looks like it kind of does. You're the one talking about orgasms."

  "You take the woman. She's on top, so she'll be easier to feed from. I'll take the guy."

  "What if the door is locked?"

  "As hot and heavy as they are, I doubt they remembered. But locked car doors aren't a problem. Here's a trick. Take your claws and work them into the crack of the door. We're strong enough to force them open."

  Zoey had never used her claws on purpose before. Only by accident, when she wasn't in control.

  "We just drank inside the mall."

  "And you're still thirsty. We always are, to some level."

  She had nothing else to stall for time. Her eyes were locked on the couple, in the shadows in their own vehicle. They were embracing now as they rocked up and down, their moans intensifying. They were unaware that two predators lurked outside, preparing to strike like rattlesnakes. Fangs and all.

  "Okay, you ready?" Victoria asked. Her eyes glowed ever so slightly red.

  Steven flashed through Zoey's mind one more time.

&
nbsp; "No. Victoria, I can't do this."

  "You'll be fine."

  Victoria kept low and grabbed Zoey's hand. She pulled, but Zoey didn't budge. All Zoey could think about was Steven, imposing his will on her.

  One more tug, and Zoey resisted once again. She shook free and stood upright.

  "No!"

  The couple heard her outburst. The sex stopped immediately, and the rear window rolled down. When they saw Zoey standing several cars away they laughed and panicked at the same time. They dressed as they climbed over each other, trying to get to the front seat. The car sped away.

  Victoria stood up and sighed, putting her hands on her hips. Zoey was afraid of what might come next. But Victoria didn't yell, didn't scream. She simply shook her head sadly.

  "Now I know how a hunter feels when a deer runs away from the deer-stand."

  "I'm sorry," Zoey said. "I didn't mean…."

  She didn't know what to say. Victoria turned around and grabbed her gently by the shoulders. Her eyes were filled with compassion and understanding.

  "It's okay. I shouldn't have pushed. I know this is all just so very new. Hell, this is all new for me, too. It's been a while since I've had a roommate." She flashed Zoey a smile. "But, this is something you're going to have to get. Okay?"

  Zoey nodded. "Yeah."

  "Let's get back to the house. We'll enjoy that new Jacuzzi. When it's time, we'll figure out the feeding part with a plan."

  "That sounds good to me."

  *****

  The time arrived sooner than Zoey would have liked. It was only a few days later, at dusk on Friday, when Victoria bounced down into the basement, dressed like she was ready for a night on the town in a short skirt and wide-necked blouse. Zoey could barely wake up, and pulled the sheets over her head. She'd slept in shorts and a tee shirt. A bare leg dangled off the bed. Victoria grabbed her ankle and shook it.

  "Wake up," she said. "You're supposed to be the young one here."

  "I don't wanna," Zoey joked. The scene reminded her of mornings at home, with her mother, during much happier times.

  "C'mon. Shower and get dressed. We're going to go out and have some fun. Maybe we'll even learn a thing or two."

  When Victoria first made the offer to bring Zoey to Baltimore, she drooled at the thought of Baltimore nightlife. Dancing, parties, guys, fun. Part of her still looked forward to going out, but Victoria had been going over the nuances of feeding over the past few days. There were so many details. Listening for pulses and breathing, drink slowly, keep a firm hold on the subject, be constantly aware of the surroundings. Zoey wasn't sure she'd be able to have fun with so much swimming through her head.

  She'd gotten to know Victoria even more, and found herself enjoying her company. Whenever Victoria decided it was time for her to leave she hoped they would remain friends. Zoey liked to needle Victoria about her age, although she had no idea how old the vampire was. Victoria took the humor in stride, and unleashed her own sharp barbs. The past few nights they relaxed in the hot tub while they fought over music to listen to. Victoria listened to music Zoey never even heard of. The only thing about Victoria that drove Zoey crazy was her seeming love of nudity. She had no problem stripping down without a warning, and preferred her time in the hot tub to be swimsuit-free.

  "I don't wanna," she said again.

  "You lazy-ass. Alex is supposed to join us."

  Zoey threw the sheets off. A dagger of excitement that she wasn't proud of poked at her.

  "Seriously?"

  "Not at all. Now get in the shower. Shit, I feel like you're the daughter I never had."

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. A yawn escaped as she stretched and ran a hand through her hair. The thought of the bed-head she currently suffered terrified her. The alarm clock next to the bed read six o'clock.

  Zoey crossed the basement as Victoria settled on the couch. They continued their conversation in a normal tone, something that was still odd to her. Vampires could engage with each other across a crowded room.

  "Did you ever have any children?" Zoey asked.

  Victoria didn't answer right away. Zoey thought her curiosity might have stepped too far, and was ready to apologize when Victoria spoke.

  "No. Vampires can't have children, and I didn't have any before I became one. I can only imagine the hell that would be. Watching your children grow up and die before your eyes."

  Zoey agreed completely.

  Something felt different as she made her way to the bathroom. She couldn't quite place her finger on it. Closing the bathroom door behind her, she let the shower turn hot before sliding back the curtain. After stripping her clothes off, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she dipped her foot into the steaming water.

  "Holy shit."

  "Zoey?" Victoria said. "Are you okay?"

  She didn't answer as she approached the mirror. It almost felt as if she were looking at another person.

  While her complexion was still a ghostly shade of pale, her shoulders no longer looked like the bones would poke through the skin. Her cheeks were no longer sunken. Her hair, while still a mess, was full of body and color. Her breasts and hips had returned, more so than ever. The curves she loved showing off in hole-covered jeans and short tee shirts were hers again.

  How did that happen? How did she miss it? She didn't make a habit of staring into every mirror she saw. Her figure had been returning to her ever since arriving to Baltimore, and she'd missed it.

  The bathroom door slowly opened. Zoey reached out with blinding speed and grabbed the knob before Victoria could get an eyeful.

  "Whoa," she said. "I'm a little naked in here."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Uh, nothing, actually." She smiled, and even her teeth seemed brighter. "I'm just a little…perkier than normal."

  "Your breasts?" Victoria asked directly. "Your ass?"

  "Yeah. I know how this is going to sound, but I don't think I've ever looked this good."

  "Blood," Victoria said. "It does a body good."

  Zoey didn't understand the reference.

  "Huh?"

  "Never mind. It's what being a vampire is all about, Zoey. Take care of yourself, keep yourself well-fed. And you'll live quite a while, and look good doing it."

  "How old are you? Like one-hundred?"

  "I'm thirty-five."

  "Bullshit."

  "Just get in the shower, young one. The city is out there waiting for us."

  Zoey sighed, but found herself not as terrified of what lay ahead compared to the day before.

  "Can't wait."

  After her shower, Zoey stepped out into the basement wrapped in only a towel. Victoria waited patiently with a hand on her hip. Dangling from her other hand was the black dress she bought for her at the mall the other night. Zoey let out a tiny smile when it dawned on her why Victoria insisted on everything one size up.

  "Are you ready to impress all those boys you keep talking about?"

  Zoey laughed. The truth was she wanted to wear a tee shirt and a tight pair of jeans, but maybe Victoria had the right idea. It felt as if her old life had ended, but her new life hadn't begun just yet. There wasn't a better time to try something new.

  "You know," Zoey said, lifting her towel a bit. "My legs might be better than yours now."

  "You wish."

  *****

  The music hurt, like Zoey knew it would. She closed her eyes, trying to tune everything out. Her head pounded inside her skull. Music. Laughing. Dancing. Fighting. Drinking. She smelled and heard everything. The sensations were almost too much. Even Victoria seemed uncomfortable when they first stepped foot inside the club, but seemed to have a handle on it now.

  They were touching shoulder to shoulder as they leaned against the second floor railing, staring at the dance floor below. Victoria said very little, her eyes darting everywhere. Zoey decided to dance in place a while, if only to distract herself. She did feel good, sexy even. The dress fit her p
erfectly, showing off curves she didn't know she had. In fact, she possibly didn't have some of them when she was human.

  As she danced, moving her hips and stretching her arms over her head, she glimpsed the stamp on her wrist informing employees at the club she wasn't old enough to drink. The irony wasn't lost on her. Technically, she would never be old enough to drink alcohol.

  She caught a few young men staring and smiling at her. It was amazing what just a tiny amount of confidence could do. More men ogled Victoria, but she certainly didn't feel bad about the attention she was getting.

  "We couldn't do our thing at a library, could we?" Zoey joked.

  "Have you ever been to an actual library?"

  "No," she admitted. "But I hear they're quiet."

  Victoria frowned, studying Zoey, and the teen enjoyed the fact that Victoria couldn't tell if she was joking or not.

  "Victoria, you're freaking me out," Zoey said. It was nice not to have to shout. "You look like a lion getting ready to jump on its prey."

  Victoria smiled. "That's actually pretty close." She gestured to the dance floor below. "Tell me what you think. You tell me who would be a good choice."

  Zoey didn't want to, but knew there was no sense fighting it. She rolled her eyes as she assumed a position against the railing, their shoulders touching once again.

  "There," she said, pointing. "And him, too."

  She proceeded to point out five different men. The last one spotted her, and smiled as he admired her. Zoey blew him a kiss. The simple flirtation felt good.

  "Interesting choices," Victoria said. "I can't help but notice they're all young, attractive men."

  "I'm only looking out for them," Zoey said, smiling mischievously. "I don't want to give some old guy a heart attack. Right?"

  "For your own selfish reasons aside, you're not wrong. You want to feed from healthy mortals, for their own sake."

  "Well, that settles it, then. Let's get to sucking."

  "Not so fast. That second guy you pointed out. He's stone-cold drunk."

  "And that's bad? We shouldn't drink from him?" Zoey took a guess. "We can't handle the alcohol in the blood?"

  "That's not it. Actually, a little tipsy is okay. It helps with them forgetting the experience. But drunk people, it just doesn't always work out for the best."