Tomorrow — today — which ever, I was calling Nancy and having her fax written permission for me to have sex.
Period. No discussion!
• • •
It took a week to get the damn test results. Come to find out the state lab didn’t screw up after all. I had some weird disease called polycythemia Vera. A bone marrow biopsy done by the oncologist Nancy referred me to, confirmed the diagnosis. Ouch! Basically, my bone marrow overproduces red blood cells causing my blood to thicken, which can lead to clot formation. The symptoms were headache, shortness of breath, bleeding, and dizziness. The treatment? Drawing off a pint of blood weekly. Are you laughing yet? I was hysterical.
Of course Raf’s knee jerk reaction was to cure me. He might at some point. But for now, I live with some happy campers. Not only do we not have to worry about me being anemic, we have discovered the small amount of Tom’s blood I ingest acts as an anticoagulant. So as long as I get plenty of fluids and a little sip now and then, I don’t have to worry about clots. The boys get some quality stuff right from the source and I even donate at the lab. Who said God doesn’t have a sense of humor?
I don’t know if Raf told Terrell about my treatment, if so he doesn’t seem bothered by it. They are very happy so far. Hey, it’s only been a couple of weeks. Raf’s taking it slow. We haven’t had a sleepover yet. I’ve seen marks on T’s neck once. They heal so fast I might have missed some. T was in Hawaii for the next few days. It’s lucky Raf’s cell has unlimited night minutes because he misses him.
Everything was going smoothly at Midnight Sun. No more bodies had turned up. Business was booming after karaoke night. Raf was planning another around Christmas. A local promoter asked me to make a demo. He said he’d get me a record deal. Get real! Tom’s having him checked him out.
Some of the sick vamps Tom mentioned the day I was hired finally came in with their handlers — Is that the politically correct term? The tanning beds do seem to have a positive effect. Imagine what would happen if Dr. Sam and his team ever perfect sun-safe duds.
Speaking of Dr. Sam, the FDA approved Razorback Red Special Blend which now might include some of yours truly. The stipulation? Purchasers would be carded. No “V” on your license, no RRSB. Did that put it under the ATF’s jurisdiction? Would they need to add another initial?
The ceremony for John Doe was short and sad. We cast his ashes upon the waters, the North Fork of the Saline River to be precise, out near Dee’s.
All was well in my little world and it scared me spitless.
CHAPTER 33
The weekend of Midnight Sun’s first annual Halloween costume contest it was all hands on deck. I normally didn’t work weekends, but here I was, Dorothy to Willy’s Toto. Raf was the Scarecrow complete with straw, Tom was the Tin Man, and Terrell was our cowardly lion — a real family affair. Dee came as Red Riding Hood accompanied by Jimmy as the Big Bad Wolf. Bianca came in a cat suit. Ha-ha! She should be arrested. She still didn’t have my charm worked out. I couldn’t tell the Supes from the humans on a good day so add costumes and well … She promised she’d finish it soon. Halloween was her busy season.
A tent was set up in the parking area to house candy, beverages — including the soon to be distributed RR Special Blend — and other assorted goodies. With Willy there we weren’t allowed open food inside the salon.
Becki came by early for a tour. Back from her first vacation in five years, she was tan and relaxed, and glowing like she’d done more than snorkel.
I spotted Randy all done up as a pirate with a wench hanging on his arm. Her flaming red hair curled to her waist. Easily six feet tall, with big breasts and a tiny waist — both shown to their best advantage by a low cut peasant top tucked into a full deep green skirt that fell to her ankles. I experienced a moment of envy. My breasts looked flat in my little girl gingham. Most of the men stared pop-eyed at her, plus a few of the women. Were they looking at Randy? No, her. I even caught Raf giving her the eye!
The costume contest was by popular vote. Every customer received a ballot as well as a pin-on number. They wrote the number of their choice on the ballot and dropped it into a cauldron. Employees were ineligible. Ballots would be counted at midnight, first by the police chief, then the fire chief. Just to be sure the tally was correct.
People kept slipping off into the tanning rooms, storage closets — any dark corner — for a little hanky-panky. What is it about costumes? Since I couldn’t spot, much less wrangle the supernatural clientele, I manned the desk while Raf, the boss and our other vampire employees broke up the clinches. I finally enlisted T’s help passing out ballots and entry numbers after stuffing Willy in Tom’s office — where he promptly tore off his costume and ripped it to shreds. I could not have been happier when the gong sounded at midnight and Tom made the announcement the ballots would be counted.
Most, if not all, adjourned to the tent for the awards ceremony and refreshments. Randy and his wench exited last. I paused from adjusting the PA system, Randy nodded in my direction and his wench dissolved into gales of laughter. Well, screw her! Her boobs were probably fake.
I was so not amazed when they were awarded first place. She could use the tanning with her perfect milky complexion. Second went to Bianca. I suspected we had more male voters than female. Third went to Dee and Jimmy. Even I admitted Dee made Red look good. Jimmy looked like he wore a Batman suit under his wolf costume. His chest was three foot wide extending down into washboard abs. The long shorts he wore over the lower half added cartoonishness to an otherwise realistic disguise. His wolf drew quite a few whistles, mine among them. “A-Woooo!”
I distributed the prizes as the winners came back inside. Randy was his polished self and thanked me politely. Wench stared. I hummed “little red riding hood” in Jimmy’s ear and told him he sure did look good. He growled in answer.
Dee whispered, “Watch out for her. I don’t know what she is, but human she ain’t.”
I needed to talk with my friend. Now that she’d embraced her inner witch, she seemed to have powers to spare. For now, I nodded. Bianca cast a wary eye toward the red head, promising to hurry the charm along. I thanked her, gave her a hug and her three-month free pass. I didn’t see Randy and his lady leave, one minute here, the next gone. He was like that. Apparently, so was she.
After the salon emptied early in the A.M., the caterers worked busily to clear away the food, tent, and debris. I scoped out the remains of Willy’s costume: definitely not reparable. Sighing, I pulled off my itchy wig, fluffed my hair, and jumped when an arm snaked around my waist.
“Better,” Tom said into my hair. “I like you blonde.” He turned me to face him.
I noticed immediately Tom had shucked his tin man get-up. He was down to his shiny silver pants and boots. He’d removed most of his silver face paint as well. “You missed a spot behind your ear and a little on the back of your neck. Come to the restroom and I’ll get it off for you.” I tugged his hand.
In the dim hallway he pulled me to him, kissing me until I was breathless and clinging. I seemed unable to keep my hands off him. The touch of his bare skin sent shivers through me. I was jostled from behind. Raf, doe eyed, led an equally enraptured Terrell by the hand. A whole lot of T was uncovered.
“Who’s up front?” Raf asked.
I shook my head and pushed Tom into the restroom, reaching behind me to snap the lock. Everything happened in flashes, like dancing under a strobe light. The buttons, ripped from my dress, flew like small missiles across the room; my undergarments melted around me. I wrapped myself around Tom. Fabric tore and I felt the cold tile wall on my back as he pressed me into it. One hand beneath my butt, he probed for my opening and plunged into me, nailing me to the wall. With each thrust I became more a part of the tile, as if he would push me through it, and I urged him on.
The red spangled Mary Janes crossed at the small of his back. My hands clutched his shoulders as I pressed myself onto him, meeting his thrusts, riding the wave upon w
ave of orgasms that rocked me. When I was totally spent and limp, still pinned like some insect to the porcelain, he struck. His fangs sank deep into my throat and this time — I felt pain and the cool rush as he emptied inside me and then I felt …
Nothing.
I was so cold my teeth chattered. Far away voices, called to me. Then crashing …
“Connie. Connie. Doll, can you hear me?”
Raf? Someone held me in warm arms. Terrell? I tried to open my eyes but they were too heavy and I was so sleepy …
“I’m sorry sweetheart. So sorry! Please Darlin,’ open your eyes. I didn’t know what I was doin’. I’d never hurt you … please Darlin’.”
I opened my eyes to Tom’s anguished face streaked with the blood of his tears. I reached out an unsteady hand. “What’s wrong? Don’t cry … ” I rasped between parched lips. He kissed my palm and held a straw to my mouth. I drained the glass and another miraculously appeared. Turning my head slightly, my neck hurt, I saw Raf held the second glass, his face streaked with pink tears. “Sweetie, who died?
I saw the look of terror on Terrell’s face as he hunkered on the chair in the corner and wished I hadn’t asked.
CHAPTER 34
If anyone tells you that donating blood saves lives, believe them. It sure saved mine. Luckily for me, it was my own. Confused? I’ll try to explain, although I’m not absolutely clear on everything myself.
I remember the Halloween Party and bits and pieces of what followed. All of us remember some things the others don’t, so we collaborated. This is what we pieced together. The event and everyone who attended it were under a lust spell or something of the sort.
The spell broke for each individual with the culmination of the act itself. A certain muddiness of mind came before and remained immediately after. For instance, I realized people acted oddly before I succumbed. Raf regained the presence of mind to ask if anyone manned the desk after his interlude with Terrell. During the lustful act, logic eluded everyone, which brings me — to me.
Swept away on the wings of lust, I’d urged Tom on. The problem arose because my partner was a vampire. Vampires are by nature much stronger than humans. We did nothing we hadn’t done before. Nothing I wouldn’t have consented to. The problem occurred due to lack of restraint. Tom didn’t hold back and I didn’t ask him to. The results were a few fractured ribs, some uterine hemorrhaging, and a rather large hole in the left side of my neck. In layman’s terms, ribs notwithstanding, I had all but bled out.
A week passed before I regained consciousness and another before I got out of bed. My rapid recovery — it was rapid — due to several factors. The first being Raf’s quick thinking. As soon as his head cleared, he tore down the restroom door. He sealed my gushing neck wound with his own blood, called Dr. Sam, M.D. and PH.D., who was closest, and had plenty of my blood on ice courtesy of my blood disorder. He’d come a running, packed my uterus, and hooked up an I.V. My weird disease also helped by replicating red blood cells at the speed of light. No, they didn’t call an ambulance, which was good thinking on their part. What would the explanation have been?
I don’t think Terrell agreed with their course of action, but he was in shock. I’m positive Raf did nothing to cause it. Perhaps it was witnessing what a vampire is capable of following so closely on the heels of making love with Raf. He didn’t understand the real monsters are human — mostly.
Terrell was afraid to let Raf touch him and Tom was afraid to touch me. One thing we all shared. We were miserable. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have qualms. I had qualms aplenty! But I missed Tom more than anything and deep down I knew he would never, ever, willingly hurt me. Terrell didn’t share my conviction.
I talked to T. I told him what I thought of Raf, how much I loved and trusted him. I told him what happened between Tom and I was accidental. He hadn’t meant to hurt me. Just like the semi driver who falls asleep at the wheel doesn’t mean to hit you head on. Okay, so not the best analogy under the circumstances. I’ve said I had a few issues.
“Terrell, did Raf hurt you?” I finally asked.
“No, but he could have,” he said with tears in his eyes.
“But he didn’t. Are you willing to give up love because you might get hurt? I’ve tried that and I don’t recommend it. But it’s your decision.” I patted his hand and walked away. I’d said all I could. If he planned to leave Raf, better to go quickly, and rip off the Band Aid. I didn’t want to hate Terrell, but if he hurt Raf badly, I’d manage. I know, I know, they hadn’t been together long. Lots of couples split up. I get that. Maybe Raf would go through lots of men before he found his one and only. Was I wrong to want him happy? He was way overdue.
The consensus was Ms. Lil had come a-callin’. Bianca had warned us she might. My bet rested on the redheaded wench. Dee and Bianca picked up on her and she sure set my spidey senses tingling! Even Raf admitted to a fascination.
“So she recharged her batteries?” I asked at our war meeting. “I mean a succubus feeds on sexual energy. But does she need to be hands-on? Can she just get everyone’s motor running, and then sit back and suck up the energy?”
“I don’t recall reading anything that said one way or the other,” Bianca mused. “She feeds off sexual energy. Period.”
“Not always,” Raf reminded us.
“Yeah honey, but the experiment wasn’t repeated. Maybe you gave her a tummy ache?” I tried to lighten the mood. Well, Raf smiled.
“We’ve no reason to believe she repeated it. We all trace back to Senh and by him to Raf.” Tom stated.
“Question?” I waved my hand. “Raf honey, you said Lil took your life energy, blood, instead of sexual favors. She drained you. Did she give you her blood?”
“No, I fed on Senh.”
“Honey, I’m sorry to dredge up old shit, but this has been on my backburner for some time. Y’all say to be turned, a human has to be drained to the point of death, and then drink blood from a vampire, right?” Everyone nodded. “You drained Senh and gave him your blood. Presto! He’s a vamp. How come? Sweetie, you didn’t get any vampire blood.” Everyone stared at me. “Well he didn’t!”
Raf frowned, wrinkles creasing his brow. “Your point?”
“How can you be a vampire, honey? You never drank vampire blood. I’m just trying to figure this all out.” I waved my hands at Tom and Raf, my examples of vampire-kind. “I mean, Lord knows I’m grateful you’re not, but you should be dead, really dead. Your brother shouldn’t have become a vampire and none of the rest should even exist.” They stared like I’d grown a second head. “I’m just sayin’!”
Perhaps I fixated on the whole bleeding out thing since it was so close to home, but I’d been bugged by it ever since Raf and Tom told their little sagas. I was too caught up in all the drama, not to mention Dee’s mind games, to figure it out. They were still staring. “What?”
“Are you feeling all right?” Raf asked.
“Skip it.” Maybe I was the only one to see the inconsistencies. I, a mere mortal, would not presume to breach millennia of vampire lore. So I’d stick to the demon bitch that almost got me dead.”
So what are we doing about Lil?”
“I don’t know how to fight a demon,” Bianca confessed.
“She thinks of herself as a goddess,” Raf supplied.
“That either,” Bianca admitted with a shrug.
“I don’t care who she thinks she is, she’s going down. Study up boys and girls, we’re missing something. In the meantime, we need to get on with our lives. I’m tired of playing the invalid.” I gave Tom a pointed look. “Besides, it’s only a couple of weeks until Thanksgiving.”
Raf didn’t seem particularly thankful. Terrell had announced this morning he was headed to L.A. for another shoot. He left before Raf rose. He said he might not get back for the holiday. Raf was afraid he wouldn’t be back at all.
Bianca got her stuff together and crammed back in the huge bag she carried. “We’ll research. If we find anythin
g, I’ll call.”
“Us too,” I pointed to the bookcases. “Not that I can read much of it.” We said our goodbyes. My head hurt and wave of dizziness washed over me as I stood. There hadn’t been any need to siphon off my blood for two weeks. Apparently, the need returned. Oh goodie! The evening was looking up.
I don’t know about other vamps, but mine really didn’t drink much. Raf got by on just a sip. Tom claimed to be gorged on a cup. So for me to lose a pint they both had to participate which would kill two bats with one stone — I hoped.
I followed Raf to his room. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he looked surprised when I sat on his bed. “I have a headache.”
“Already?” he asked with some amazement. “I thought it would be a least a month.”
“Guess not, so open up. Ah — where?” The bends of my arms were still bruised from the IV’s. I bruised easier now and they lasted longer, another symptom of my disease. Funny the vampire bites never bruised, not counting the last one. I touched the bandage on my neck. “Looks like right neck or a wrist are all I have to offer.” I couldn’t read Raf’s look as he reached to remove the neck bandage. “Ouch!”
“Sorry.”
He sat next to me and began to lick the wound. I giggled. It tickled and tingled and made things go tight in my nether regions. Oh boy. When he bit me, I jumped a little. Caught me by surprise, I guess. It didn’t hurt. Matter-of-fact, I felt all limp like you do after great sex, only no sex. Yet. I blinked and stretched, then stretched again.
Raf helped me to my feet and kissed my cheek. “Thanks. Don’t forget your aspirin.”
I nodded and yawned. “You do fine work Dr. Raf. Goodnight.” My headache was indeed gone. I needed to wake up. I had miles to go before I slept as the poet once said.
Midnight Sun, Inc. (Crimson Romance) Page 26