by Martha Woods
“Please, Mia, you did nothing wrong. It is a simple fact I must live with. Living like this was a choice, I assure you. Indeed, I asked to become like this.” Mia lifted her head, staring at him with confusion in her eyes, and he simply smiled, stroking her cheek. “I was a very sick man when I was young, my body failing me. I would not have lived much longer, had I not met that stranger. Charming, mysterious, and offering an unbelievable choice: to die in pain, or to live with an unimaginable burden. As a young man who wanted to see the world, who felt betrayed by his own mortality, the choice was easy.” Mia smiled, closing her eyes and laying her head down.
“Charming and mysterious? Sounds familiar. Vaughn, how old are you?”
“That is an impolite question.” He smirked, not needing to glance at Mia to know the young woman was glaring at him. “I have not found this new life to be much of a ‘burden’, aside from the hunters. I tend to live under the radar, often overlooked and left to my own devices. There have only been a few hunters who have proved frustratingly persistent and have interfered with my daily life.”
“Like the one who hurt you?” She moved to lie on her stomach against Vaughn’s chest, her brow wrinkled in worry. He nodded slowly, seriously. “Well, I won’t let anyone hurt you. This town is pretty cozy, and we take care of our own—and our friends.” Her smile was warm, her tone light.
“Oh, am I a friend now?” He grinned down at her.
“More than that.” She whispered the words, and Vaughn raised a brow, running his nails down the back of her neck, brushing over the mark he'd left. For now it was red and swollen from both the puncture of his teeth and the smear of blood, but he knew that by tomorrow there would be a bruise. He felt a pang of guilt strike him, and he looked ruefully into her bright eyes.
“My deepest apologies for hurting you. It is, unfortunately, something I do instinctively when I become aroused. I am afraid… I simply could not help myself.” It was common with vampires, and often led to their unveiling.
Shaking her head, Mia shifted to peck his lips, tucking her hair back to keep it from falling on her face while she spoke. “It didn’t really hurt. I kind of liked it, actually.” She laughed. "I never thought I'd like something like that! It sound so… kinky. I've always been pretty vanilla. But it was… indescribable." She gazed up at him through her thick lashes, and he smirked playfully, feeling relieved.
“Oh? Well, then I might just do it again.”
“I look forward to it.” She giggled the words, finally laying her head back down on his chest. A heavy sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes, settling between the sheet and Vaughn. He could tell she was exhausted, her body going limp. He smiled and smoothed her hair.
“Sleep, Mia. You have work in the morning. We can continue speaking over coffee.” She opened her eyes once more, only to close them a second later.
“I’ll protect you from any hunters, just so you know," she mumbled sleepily. "I like having you in town. You make this place bearable. You make the days easier.” He chuckled. She would protect him from the hunters? And here he'd thought he might protect her from her brute of a husband.
“Quite the confession you have there.” Kissing her temple, Vaughn rubbed circles against Mia’s back, waiting until she finally fell asleep to close his own eyes, sighing. While he enjoyed hearing her declaration, he knew it was wishful thinking from a sweet girl. He did truly like this town and its people, aside from Dixon, but he knew the truth. It was only a matter of time before that hunter on his tail found him. Forcing him to pack up and run once more, to leave Mia.
He didn’t want to think about it—Vaughn just wanted to sleep with Mia in his arms.
Chapter 6
Love had always been such a strange concept to Mia. Movies and songs always described it as this strange, blissful entity. Her relationship with Dixon had never felt like this. Sure, there was a point where she had been happy, when things were good. When she could smile, when they shared laughter and went to bed together. Those times had long since passed; they were little more than distant memories now.
But even at her happiest, Mia had never felt anything like this. Like she could fly, like everything in the world finally made sense, like all possibilities were open to her—like something good was going to happen in this town, for once.
Throughout the day, a ceaseless melody lingered around the young woman. She hummed and sang through her shift, attending to beds and patients. Many left her care with a smile and a slight shake of their heads. Mia knew everyone who passed through, and looking at her now, they all remembered the excitable little girl her mother had raised; several of them commented with a smile that she hadn’t really changed.
“Sweetie, you sound like a songbird in springtime today. What’s gotten into you?” Mia laughed brightly when the older woman, a nurse who bad been at the hospital since she was a child, addressed her. Ms. Grabble was the very nurse who had given Mia her first shots before attending school. It was surreal to be working alongside her now, but not unusual in Brixton. “You’re actin' like a maiden in heat. What in the world is going on in that little head of yours?”
“You talk like my grandmother, Ms. Grabble.”
“I went to school with your grandmother, little one. You bet your bottom I talk like that old crow. Speaking of, how is she? I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her lately.” Ms. Grabble planted her wrinkled hands on her hips and looked around as if hoping for a glimpse of her old classmate coming down the hall.
Mia snorted slightly, tucking the corner of a sheet and shaking her head. “I’m glad we haven’t seen her. She’s been rather busy being healthy, but I’ll send her the message. And me, I’m fine, Ms. Grabble. I’ve just been having a really good week!”
“Mm-hm. Whatever you say, little one. Whatever you say.” She shook her head knowingly, gathering up the sheets and turning away, heading out of the room. There was something in her stare that was unsettling and accusatory, but Mia managed to push away her concern and focus on the rest of the room. At least, as best she could. It was hard for her to focus today, with her mind filled with song and memories.
Mai didn’t mean to compare, but last night was beyond anything she had felt before. Dixon and she, they had been fumbling children, both learning about themselves and each other's bodies.
Vaughn was completely different. He knew exactly what he was doing, where he was touching, and the response he would receive. It had driven her wild, and the memory was still vivid. His touch still ghosted over her skin, and as she thought about it, she shuddered and struggled to focus on her work. The last thing she needed was to grow aroused during the middle of a damn shift, when there was no chance she could even go and see Vaughn.
Slowly chewing on her lip, Mia looked toward the window and watched the afternoon sky. It was rather overcast today, but she still smiled. Even if everything looked awful outside, she felt amazing. Perhaps during her break, she could call Vaughn—would he mind? Mia truly hoped not. The last thing she wanted was to annoy Vaughn…
No, no, it was time to focus. She needed to think about work and stop letting her mind jump all over the place. Gathering up the sheets, she made her way toward the hallway and, still lost in her own thoughts, nearly knocked over a man passing by.
“Oh, my gosh!” Startled, she yelped and dropped the sheets to the floor, nearly stumbling back. The man's hand reached out and grabbed her arm, steadying her.
“Whoa, there—careful, little lady.” She looked up into a plain, unknown face, rich brown eyes looking back at her. His voice was deep and caught her off guard. His grip was firm, pulling Mia close before slowly letting go and pulling his hand away from her body.
“Sorry for grabbin' at ya, ma’am. Didn’t want you to have a nasty spill. Seems like I gave ya quite the fright.” He laughed warmly, and crinkles formed around his gentle eyes as he grinned.
“Y-yeah.” She stumbled over her words a moment before collecting herself, giving him a soft smile. “Thank yo
u, and sorry. I should be watching where I’m going. My head’s in the clouds today. I’m a mess.”
“I noticed. I could hear you singing when I went by. Nice voice, by the way. Nice to see someone workin’ such a thankless job struttin' around like a ray of sunshine. Must be nice for the people stuck here who can’t get outside to see it.” He winked, and Mia let out a nervous laugh, her face burning in embarrassment.
“You’re so sweet, thank you.” Kneeling, she gathered the sheets from the floor and set them in a bin resting against the opposite wall. They joined the clumps of other sheets awaiting their trip to the laundry room. “Are you visiting a family member? I don’t think I’ve met you.” She was more than sure she never met this man. Tall and broad, he was built like Dixon, with a firm jaw and warm eyes. He carried himself with confidence, perhaps cockiness, and his voice was thickly accented. He certainly wasn’t from around this area, which was the strangest part. Vaughn was odd enough, but two visitors? Now that was just unheard of.
“Not quite. I was just travelin’ through, had myself a bit of car trouble, and so decided to get my ol’ girl checked out while I was here. Myself, too. Been havin’ some nasty ol’ headaches lately, but doc said I check out. Gave me some painkillers and recommended more water.” He shrugged his shoulders, a boyish gesture. Mia had a hard time pinpointing his age, but thought he seemed a little younger than herself.
“Well, I’m glad you’re okay and that you took action before anything happened. Around this time of year, it gets very windy, and, depending on how far north you’re going, ice forms up in the hills even during fall. Might want to consider looking at some tire chains if you’re going toward the mountains.”
“Well, ain’t you a clever thing. How’d ya’ know I was goin’ up toward the caps?”
She shrugged. “Just a guess. Most people who come here during the fall—the few and far between—are usually going to some cabins up in the mountains.” Mia took a moment to run her hands over her scrubs, checking for any spills or stains, and to adjust the turtleneck she wore beneath them. Her neck was still sore from the night before, yet she hadn’t had time to slip into the ladies' room to check the damage. Vaughn had warned her not to mess with it too much, assuring her it would heal soon enough. She was less worried about the slight pain and more worried about the numerous markings he'd laid across her neck and shoulders. They looked like nothing other than aggressive hickeys, and she didn't want to answer any awkward questions.
Vaughn had spent the better part of the morning adding a few more claims to her skin while Mia attempted to get ready for the day. She had warned him to be cautious, that she was going to be late for work and would have a hard time covering everything up, but he merely laughed in response. She never had such a hard time dressing for work before, but it was near impossible with Vaughn’s hands wandering over her body, rubbing between her legs and causing her knees to buckle. Had it not been for a call that they would be short a nurse that day, Mia would have been late for work without a doubt. Dragged back into Vaughn’s bed, where he could ravish her once more. Bury himself deep inside her hungry body and make her whimper his name as loudly as she had the night before…
She was thinking about it again, and her face began to burn softly. Giving a weak smile, slowly slid her fingers away from the turtleneck, adjusting her sleeves and stepping toward the cart filled with sheets. She had to get these down to the washroom and start moving on to the other rooms; however, this man seemed lost, and he continued to linger, giving her a strange look. Mia wasn’t about to walk away and leave this man stranded, even if something about him was off.
“Kinda warm out for such a thick turtle.” She narrowed her eyes a little. That comment was a little too familiar for her taste. Who was this guy, anyway? If he was just passing through, his car should be finished rather quickly. The shop usually rushed orders from visitors, eager to get them on their way again.
“I think they’re cute. So, the doctor already saw you? Heading out soon?”
“Mm, in a bit, yeah. Just waitin’ for them to finish up. Said it takes a little bit. Got another order in front of mine. I don’t mind, y'all seem like good folk. That diner up the road has some damn good coffee, too. Gotta say, everyone looks at me like I’m a chicken without a head, though. Apparently, visitors ain’t common, and I’m the second in a while. Guess y'all more popular than y’thought.”
“I guess so.” She smiled, but her body felt tense. Something wasn’t right, but she couldn’t quite place it. Plenty of people went to the diner and plenty stopped by the auto shop. Still, something about his story felt wrong. Mia didn’t say anything, just continued to smile, picking apart his words in her mind. It was rare that she felt this on edge—at least, without Dixon around. “If you got something to eat and a checkup, I’m sure your car is ready by now. They don’t like making visitors wait.”
“Yeah, I heard as much. The waitress at the diner was real nice, told me the same. Y'all take real good care of folks that ghost on through. It’s nice to see that good ol’ hospitality ain’t completely dead. Heard another stranger is tucked up at the inn. Reckon they gonna stick around?” That question struck her, hard. He meant Vaughn. What a strange thing to ask.
“I—Well, I wouldn’t know. I never met her. Might be nice, though; we haven’t had a new resident in a long time.” Mia ran a hand through her hair, hoping she didn't seem too nervous. Dixon was right about one thing: she had never been a great liar.
“He.” The stranger looked at her mildly, but there was something hard in his stare.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, he!” She forced a small giggle, placing her hands on the edge of the cart now and licking her lips. “Well, then I guess he might be nice. But, like I said, I don’t know. Working on call, I’m behind on the gossip these days. I, uh, hate to be rude, but I really should get these down to the wash.” She smiled apologetically and gestured to the dirty linens.
“Oh!” Stepping out of the way, he made a clear path for Mia, a large hand rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward grin. “My apologies, ma’am, please. I didn’t mean to talk so much. I tend to get goin’ and just don’t stop. My mama said I got a loose jaw or something. I forget. I’ll be sure to check on those chains. You have a fine day, ma’am.”
“Mia, please.”
“Mia, Then. I’m Ethan. It’s been a real pleasure.” Reaching up, he gingerly pinched the bill of his cap and tipped it in her direction before turning on his heel and heading down the corridor, his boots clacking noisily as he walked.
Mia stood in silence, watching him go until he passed through the doors and vanished from sight. Taking a breath, she shook her head and pushed the cart forward, heading for the wash. It wasn’t until she was in the laundry room, filling the machine, that she realized why his story seemed so odd. She froze in place, thinking hard.
He claimed he was there for a checkup, yet had nearly walked into her. The hallway she had been working in was the children's ward—the general checkups were conducted in smaller offices attached to the main waiting room. This ‘Ethan’ would have had to walk through the other night wing to get here. There was no reason for him to be down here, as all the vending machines and bathrooms were in the lobby.
He could have been lost, but that hadn't come up in conversation. He had been walking in the opposite direction when they spoke, then turned on his heel and left. It was so odd, and the situation continued to gnaw away at Mia’s mind as she loaded the washing machines.
Unable to focus, she sought out Ms. Gabble and informed the woman she was taking her break. Instead of heading toward the breakroom, however, Mia tucked herself away in one of the nursing offices, locking the door and settling down beside one of the landlines. Vaughn didn’t carry a cellphone, so the only way she could reach him was by calling his room—and he had already instructed her never to use her cellphone to call him. Though she'd thought it was strange and paranoid at first, her current suspicions kept her cautious. Maybe h
is paranoia was just rubbing off on her, but better safe than sorry, right?
The phone rang several times before there was a gentle click, then silence. Sighing, Mia rolled her eyes and smiled. Vaughn did this every time Mia called him. The man would sit in silence on the other end of the line until she spoke up. Once he was sure it was her voice—and there were no others around her—he would speak.
“Vaughn, it’s me. Relax. You act like you’re in a spy movie.”
“One can never be too careful, Mia. How’s work going? Are you well?”
“I’m fine, work is... well, work. It’s okay, though. I’m having a good day. Uh, sort of. Something weird happened earlier, and I know I’m probably being paranoid, but—Vaugh, those marks you have…”
“That is why you called?”
“No. Yes. Yes and no. Um, it’s complicated. You said those wounds were from a hunter, right? How do you know a hunter from a regular person? I mean, it must be hard, constantly having to live in fear. How do you manage to settle anywhere? Aren’t you terrified that everyone will be a hunter?”
There was silence for a moment. “Yes, I am," Vaughn said quietly, "though I choose not to display my fear as I live my life. There is never a time when I am not looking over my shoulder, questioning everyone I meet and pass. I must do this: it is how I have managed to survive so long. Many of my kind have died, but I have survived. Of course, this does become a bit harder, if not stranger, when I stop in small towns like this, where there are indeed hunters, though of far less impressive game.”
“Trust me, you are way more impressive than a deer.”
He laughed, and Mia couldn’t help the smile that grew on her face. There was something about his laugh… the mere sound of it made her heart skip, and she felt a rush of elation. Even when he wasn't in the room, Vaughn had so much control over her. It was unbelievable.