by Pepper Pace
But I had an idea. It might be just as much of a death sentence as anything else I'd done since dying. But I was going back to Paul's.
It was harder to find his line. It melted with the other humans in the city. If it had been a day later I don't think I would have been able to trace the feel of him. I concentrated on Paul and then I began traveling to where he was located! I could feel myself in a different place; that other world. There was nothing to focus on, nothing to feel but I could sense myself moving through space.
When I finally stopped moving it was in front of Paul's building, again I wasn't out of breath. Had I been flying, running, jumping? I didn't know. I just know that the sensation was fast and hard to understand.
It was so late. I didn't know if this would work but I thought about him really hard.
"Paul." I said. "Paul!" I looked up into the sky. It was still black but my limbs were growing weak. The sun was about to rise.
"Paul!" I screamed out loud.
The door swung open and Paul was standing there in pajama bottoms, panting breathlessly as if he had run a marathon.
"Kim? What's wrong?"
"I need a safe place."
He took my arm and led me into the building and I began talking fast.
"There's not much time. The sun is rising and if I'm caught in it I'll fry! I need a dark place to sleep. NO SUNLIGHT!"
"A dark place..." He repeated frowning. "That's going to be hard. My place is filled with windows."
The elevator doors opened and I stared for a moment at all the windows that lined the walls of his loft. Oh my god...
"Paul! I need total-" darkness…
***
It was so dark and tight where I was. Most times when I awoke I had no memory for the first few moments. This time I remembered that I was dead. So when my eyes opened and I couldn't see anything I immediately thought that I was in my final resting place.
I moved and a blanket covering me slipped. I gasped in dank musty air. I heard footsteps hurrying towards me and I braced myself. Where the hell was I and who was running up on me?
I pushed the blanket away just as someone snatched it.
"Thank you, God!" Paul said.
He looked a hot mess. He was still wearing pajama bottoms and his hair was actually messy instead of the controlled professional mess he'd had the night before. I stretched and found that I was in a cramp little closet.
"Where the hell am I?"
"The boiler room. It was the darkest place I could find. Everywhere else had slats of sun peaking in, under a door, through a crack." He helped me stand.
"I thought you were dead. I mean, you blacked out in the middle of a sentence and just dropped dead." He staggered a little. "I guess you really are a Vampire. Although I don't know why a Vampire would have this." He held out his hand and showed me what he had there. It was the crucifix. "I thought Vampires got all monster teeth and-" He hissed in a perfect imitation of what the other Vampires had done in reaction to the sight of the holy implement.
"I don't know either." I said slowly. "I'm a different type of Vampire."
"Let’s go upstairs. I've been down here watching you all day."
We got into the elevator and went up to his place. "You just don't know how much you friggin scared me. I thought you were dead. I wanted to take you to the hospital, or call an ambulance." I gave him a fearful look. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You said keep you out of the sun, so even though I wanted to do all that I literally couldn't. I had to find a dark place for you. So I have you over my shoulders because the sun is coming up, running around the apartment. Glass block windows in the bathroom so that wasn't any good. The bedroom closet had a crack in the door that let in light. Even with the drapes closed...I didn't know. So I just rushed you down here."
By now we were in the kitchen and Paul was opening a beer. "Thing is," he looked at me closely, "when I was bringing you downstairs...your head kinda got into the sunlight. Only for a split second!" He hurriedly added.
I quickly touched my head. I didn't feel burned. I looked at him confused.
"You can understand how I doubted that you were actually a Vampire; holding a cross, not affected by the sun, not getting all hissy sounding when I say the word that you told me not to say, but I accidentally said anyway.
"If it wasn't for the fact that I had seen the teeth last night..." He shook his head and took a long swig of bear. "But I started doubting myself. Like maybe you had put them in on the sly or something." He put down his beer. "Do you want something to drink...or eat?"
"No. I don't eat or drink."
He made a hmphing noise. "Are you sure? Let me ask you a question. Exactly how long have you been a Vampire?"
"Why?" I asked defensively.
"Well...I never met a real Vampire but I thought they were all scary and evil. You kinda remind me of a lady that works in my office. Cherie. She can be scary, though. But in a Don't-Get-In-My-Face-Whiteboy way. Not in an-I'm-A-Bloodsucking-Fiend way. No offense."
I made a face and sat down at his bar.
He followed me and sat down next to me. "How do you know that you're really a Vampire? Maybe you're something else. Like, I don't know...a FAIRY."
"And it would be easier to believe that I'm a fairy?" I sighed. "I'm a Vampire." Just a different kind... "But you're right. I haven't been one for long; just a couple days."
"Really? How di-"
I held up a hand. "Before you start asking me about my history and everything. I need to ask you something. Have you changed your mind about being my blood donor?"
"No. Absolutely not!" He stood up anxiously. "Did you...you know, want..." He moved his head to the side and offered me his neck.
"No. I'm not really hungry right now. Maybe later." I stood up too and sighed. "Look, I've had a really screwed up night. I need to think."
"How can I help?"
"Give me a minute to myself."
He threw away his empty beer can. "I need to get showered. And I'm really hungry so I need to order a pizza or something. Just...make yourself comfortable." Paul left the room and I sank down onto his couch.
Alright. I've basically tricked and cheated my way onto the Vampire Council. But I've also exposed myself as a Vampire that has different abilities then other Vamps. Different abilities equates to more power.
Just politics baby. That's what Tony had said in the way of explaining why a Vamp like me would be a danger to the entire Vampire Nation.
And what about Tony? One minute he was acting all protective. Next minute he was going behind my back ensuring my subservience! He had a lot of nerves! He really was from the olden days if he thought it was okay to think for me just because I was a woman that he desired! I am so happy that I hadn't let it go any further than just a little touching...well, and the bloodsucking.
But as a Council member, did that mean that I could leave at will and not be hunted down? I had more power. Nobody could force me to kill and be their mindless puppet. I didn't want to be like William, forced to go looking for other Thirds to offer up to the Council. I intended to use my position as a ticket to get out of dodge.
Paul came back into the room dressed in jeans and a KISS t-shirt. He was drying his hair with a towel.
"Pizza should be here in a few. I didn't eat a thing because every time I tried to come upstairs I'd get the strange feeling that someone would come and snatch you away. Or maybe I thought you'd rise up. I don't know."
"Thanks for everything, Paul. You saved my...whatever."
He sat down next to me on the couch. "Do you want to tell me how all of this happened?"
"I guess I should." And so I told him everything that I could remember. I needed to talk to someone since I was determined not to bring Arnitra, my true blue friend into this mess. It felt good to confide in someone.
It took a surprising short time to recount the events of the last week, leaving out such things as how cute Tony was and how much I really detested that bitch Kaniji.
&n
bsp; A buzzer sounded and he stood. "Excuse me, my pizza." He ran downstairs and came back up carrying a huge box and a two liter of soda.
He placed everything on the bar separating his kitchen from the rest of the room then turned to me.
"I think we should try an experiment."
I walked over to him and sat at the bar again. I was still wearing the cream colored lounging pajamas that I had put on last night and they were filthy. From now on I was sticking with black!
"I think you should eat some of this pizza and drink some of this soda."
"Tony said that we can't digest food so that whatever goes in is going to come out the same way."
"Tony also said that Vampires were killed by touching holy implements."
See that's why I was starting to like Paul. He was encouraging me in human ways, while Tony had been encouraging me in Vampire ways.
I picked up a slice of pizza; pepperoni and mushrooms. I took a small bite, chewed and swallowed. He watched me expectantly.
I nodded. I took another small bite. He passed me his glass of soda. I took a sip.
"How does it taste?"
I shrugged. "I'm not sure...I remember how it's supposed to taste, but I don't think I actually taste anything."
Paul watched me while munching on his own slice.
"Are you...hungry yet? I mean, for blood." Again he exposed his neck.
I chuckled. "I'm not hungry but...I could stand to get cleaned up myself. I smell like I've been sleeping in a cellar all night."
Paul got me some shorts and a t-shirt to wear and I took a quick shower.
He shook his head at me when I re-entered the living room.
"You really don't look like a Vampire."
He'd given me some tube socks to walk around in. I felt like I was in elementary school gym class.
"Here." He handed me an envelope.
"What's this?"
"Money.”
"Oh." I responded suddenly embarrassed. I closed my hand over it.
"Aren't you going to open it?" He asked wide-eyed.
"No. Whatever's in here, I'm sure it's cool."
"There's 10,000 dollars in there!" He exclaimed.
I gasped. "Are you crazy?!"
Then he smiled. "That's better. And no, I'm not crazy. You're going to need it to strike out on your own...and believe me. I have it to spare."
Damn..." Thanks Paul." I slipped the envelope into my waistband.
"Kim...you're not going to give it to that Tony guy, are you?"
"Hell No!"
He sighed. "You're not going to put it in the bank, are you?"
I shrugged. "I guess. Yeah. Why?"
"Because deposits of $10,000 or more are automatically reported to the IRS. I'm assuming that you're going off the grid."
Shit! I was going to have to worry about taxes, too?!
"Look. I'm an investment broker. I'll handle your finances for you if you want."
I nodded...but didn't give him back the money.
He yawned and I noticed that his eyes were glassy and a little red. "Sorry. Not being a Vampire it's hard for me to stay up all night, two days in a row."
"Go to bed, then."
"No. I can't do that while you're here--But I'm not asking you to go!" He added quickly. "I kinda like you here. Can't you just give me a suggestion that I've had—let’s say--10 hours of sleep?"
I shrugged. "I haven't had much experience in mind control. But we can try it."
He stood in front of me and stood straight and tense like he was going to salute me.
I put my fingers on his temples more to relax him than anything else. I thought; relax, trust me. Slowly he loosened up.
"Close your eyes." He did with a sigh. "Good. You're really tired and you should sleep. Each second that you are asleep will feel like an hours of rest. Sleep now. When you wake you..." I thought for a moment. "You will feel fully rested as if you had ...you know...slept a long time. Okay. It's been about 10 hours sleep. Wake up now."
He opened his eyes slowly. They were alert now. He yawned and stretched. "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. You're better then black coffee. Uh...hungry yet?"
I laughed to myself. I wasn't but he really wanted me to feed. "I guess I'm feeling a little peckish."
His face brightened. "Okay." He turned his head and offered me his neck." I saw two small holes there from my previous feeding.
"Does that hurt?" I asked concerned.
"What?" He touched the marks. "No. Strangely it doesn't"
I didn't think that I had to leave marks when feeding. Otherwise people would be walking around with scarves on all year long.
I tilted his head the other way, exposing his unmarred skin. He carefully brought his hands up to my waist and rested them just above my hips.
"Is that okay? You said before that I could."
I didn't care because Paul was beginning to smell like food. My stomach had a strange empty feel to it.
"Yeah." I said distantly. My teeth dropped so quickly that it brought me back to myself a little. Careful, I thought. Don't rip the food...I mean Paul. I licked his neck repeatedly with long strokes. I felt him shudder.
With his head still gripped in my hands it looked like we were in a lover's embrace.
I closed my lips over that pulse and felt it flutter beneath my tongue.
"Hmmm." I groaned. He tasted so good. My teeth sank into his flesh. I felt Paul's hands tighten on my hips. His breath came out in a pleasured rush.
I drew in the salty sweetness of him. But as soon as it hit my stomach it revolted. There was a sudden pain that was like being impaled!
I fell to my knees and screamed. Suddenly what had gone down came up in a brackish, bloody mess.
Paul dropped to his knees beside me. He gripped my shoulders. "Come on. Get it out. It's the cola and pizza."
I made a gagging noise and coughed up a chunk of slimy pizza dough. Paul gripped my loose hair to keep it from falling into the mess like any good girlfriend would do.
As soon as that chunk was out I felt instantly better. Paul was rubbing my shoulders in little circles so I stayed there for another few moments with my forehead resting on his bent knee. There's nothing like getting your shoulders rubbed after having projectile vomiting.
"Better?" He asked, stroking my hair away from my forehead.
I nodded.
"Why don't you lay on the couch while I clean this up?" I sat up.
"No, I'll do that-" I froze suddenly at the sight of him.
Yum... Blood was making a small trail down his neck to darken his KISS T-shirt. It was very poetic. Paul's blood complimented the picture of Gene Simmons blood smeared lips.
Hunger pangs hit me suddenly. My eyes fluttered.
"You okay?" He asked
"Starving, now..." I murmured.
"Kim...uh, you look all hissy faced right now." He fell on his butt as I crept up alongside of him focused on the blood making rivulets down his body.
"Won't hurt you…" I remembered to say before I started lapping at the sticky stream. The pressure of me forced him to his back. He froze like a deer in the headlights.
I could taste his fear now just like before I could taste his desire. "Make it good for you." I said from far away from myself.
I lapped at his neck until it was all clean. Then I lapped at the hollow of his throat. His breathing grew labored as it began to get good for him, too.
I felt his hands come up to grip my bottom where he pulled me to him, pelvis to pelvis. I could feel him growing harder and harder.
I sank my teeth into his neck then for the second time that evening.
"Ohhh...shit..." He moaned. "That's so good..."
I nuzzled the food, vaguely, recognizing the feel of Paul's hands on my bottom, the small of my back, the sides of my torso. The elixir ran down my throat in great rivers and I drank deeply. It filled me, made me feel renewed.