Blood Haze

by L. R. Potter

  “When are the others due back?” he asked.

  Outside of the two of them, there were five others which incorporated the Rogan haven: Nicolas and Felicia – the only married vampires in their midst; Talon- who’d been integrated into their haven only a short while; Selena – whose beauty had become a curse; and finally, Tara - the youngest of their group.

  “Within the week, I think,” she replied.

  He gave a small nod of his head. “Okay, we’ll compile a list, then when Felicia gets here, we’ll have her prepare the invitations. Get with Selena about the party preparations – she’s good at that kind of thing.”

  The sky was beginning to lighten and with eyes that squinted against the coming light, Karmyl covered her mouth as she yawned. “Okay, oh Esteemed Leader,” she murmured sleepily.

  Chapter 2

  Arabella had been asleep for only a short time when the dreams began. She once again saw the shadow of what she knew to be a man as he kissed his way up the long column of a woman’s neck. She could smell the leather scent of the car’s interior and the flashing of lights as cars passed by. She watched as the man’s hand snaked its way up under the hem of the woman’s little black dress. She heard the woman’s gasp as his hand gently eased her black thong down. She jerked awake and sat straight up, gasping. She wiped at the trickle of blood from her nose. Who were these people she kept seeing? She reached to her bedside table and grabbed a tissue and pressed it to staunch the flow of blood.

  Exhaling unsteadily, she lay her head back down once her nose stopped bleeding. Exhaustion had her closing her eyes once more. This time the dream was different. A blurry man eased a woman down onto a couch as the woman began to claw at his clothing. The man chuckled at her impatience. He reached behind her and slowly unzipped her dress. The dress swirled as it fell, as if it were weightless. The man leaned forward and placed his mouth against the woman’s breast and she arched into his touch.

  Arabella sat up gasping again. Her body tingled at her voyeuristic dream. The pleasure the woman had received, seemed to transfer to her own body. She lifted a hand and pressed it against her aching breasts. How could she be so hot and bothered? She swallowed against the desire which seemed to inflame her entire body. She felt needy and her body throbbed in frustration. She was more turned on than she could ever remember. She immediately felt guilty and forced her hand to fall away from her breast.

  Her sex life with Drew was just fine. A small voice from somewhere deep and far off within, whispered to her, was ‘just fine’ how sex was supposed to be described?

  Swiping a hand against her running nose, she sighed when she saw the dark smear on her hand in the moonlight. Grabbing another tissue, she pressed it against her nose once again. At this rate, she’d bleed to death. What was happening to her? She’d never had this many glimpings in a row. It felt as if things were building to a head or something.

  The last dream she had was different from the previous ones– different and terrifying. The interior of the car was dark with the exception of the dashboard dials. Music was blaring loudly from the car’s speakers. She looked down and saw the familiar slide of a hand moving up a leg. The darkness once again kept their identity secret. The man leaned into the unknown woman and pressed his lips against the base of her throat. She moaned and wrapped her bare legs around his waist.

  Arabella strained to see them, but her efforts were in vain. It was then she became aware of the difference in the dream… this time the car was moving. She could see cars as they flashed by quickly. She heard a loud horn blare… right before the car began to flip over and over again. She woke up with a jerk, an unknown fear assailing her.

  The sun had barely risen when Arabella rose groggily from her bed and stepped under the hot spray of the shower. She had a catering job at noon and still needed to finish the prep work. Her mother had started the catering business when she’d left the stage. She and her mother had run it until her mother’s untimely death. Now, she worked it by herself. A Fair Lady Catering Service would never be a multimillion dollar company, but she was busy enough.

  She padded through the house she’d lived in the bulk of her life, heading to the kitchen in search of a much needed cup of coffee. The familiarity of every piece of furniture and knick knack gave her comfort. As she sat at the kitchen table and blew across her coffee’s surface, unease settled low in her belly. She wished Drew was there to comfort her, as he’d been doing for more than half her life.

  Needing his calming assurance and feeling the need to cling to him with both hands, she grabbed her cellphone from the charger and punched in his number. It rang five times before switching to voicemail. She sighed heavily. He’d said he had to work this morning, then was heading up to visit his mother. Next, she punched in Ian’s number.

  “This better be damned important,” her brother’s voice growled through the line.

  “Hey, little brother. Rough night?” she asked, happy that he’d answered.

  “No, just a late one. Why are you up so early on a Saturday? Didn’t you work last night?” he asked.

  “I did, but I have the Hamptons’ job today. I just wanted to check on you before I began. You doin’ okay?”

  She heard him groan as he sat up and yawned loudly into the phone. “Yep, as I said, I just stayed out too late last night.”

  “I thought you were going out with Drew to meet with the Rowing Team tonight?” she said disapprovingly.

  “I am, Mother. I’m young. Unlike you, I can stay out two nights in a row and not fall over in a dead heap.”

  “I’m sorry. I just worry about you,” she said softly.

  “I know, but I’m fine - fine, but in desperate need of coffee.”

  “Promise me, you’ll be extra careful tonight,” she pleaded mildly.

  “I’ll be with Drew. How much trouble could I possibly get into? He’s almost as dull as you are,” he said with a mocking laugh.

  “I love you, too, Ian,” she said, returning his laugh.

  “Go to work and let me get back to sleep,” he groused.

  “Okay. How about brunch tomorrow? I’ll make the chicken and waffles you like,” she said enticingly.

  “You certainly know the way to a man’s heart. Okay, Sunday brunch… count me in. Make sure there’s lots of Bloody Mary mix. I have a feeling I’ll be needing it.”

  She laughed. “I will. Bye, Ian. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Later,” he replied, an instant before the phone clicked off.

  She sat for a long moment holding the phone in her hand, her eyes staring unseeingly out the window. The unease she’d felt since her last dream, settled low in her stomach, and she was filled with a terrible foreboding.

  She put the phone on the table and wrapped both hands around her coffee mug and took another fortifying sip. Lynx Rogan skipped across her mind, and she felt her pulse quicken. She wondered what he was doing right that instant. Had he found someone to while away his time with the night before? Maybe he already had someone at home.

  Lynx Rogan was an exceptionally handsome man, who also was charismatic, charming, and had that sexy-as-hell accent. His dark, roguish, bad-boy looks tempted a woman to try and save him from his wicked ways… or at least participate in them. She felt a tingle of sensual longing trail its way through her body as she remembered his cool knuckles brushing her cheek. She remembered how he smelled and the silky resonance of his voice as he’d spoken her name with such reverence. Arabella.

  She shook her head to rid it of thoughts of Lynx Rogan. Guilt flooded her for once again having thoughts of someone else other than Drew. She leaned forward and picked up a picture placed at the back of the breakfast bar. She rubbed a thumb over Drew’s familiar features. They were sitting together on a park bench, their faces close together. His arm was extended beyond the picture, holding the camera, as he took the ‘selfy’ picture.

  She studied his face carefully. While he was smiling for the camera, it wasn’t the same happy, care
free expression he’d worn the night before when he’d been with Maggie. It wasn’t that she didn’t think he loved her; she knew without doubt, he did. But was it the love of a lover; or the love shared between lifelong friends?

  What was happening within her to raise these questions now? If she were honest, she knew she’d been having them for a long time; she’d just refused to admit to them. She needed Drew, depended on him for her sanity and stability. But just as she’d asked him the night before, was that really fair to him? Exhaling slowly, she rose from her chair and began making preparation for her upcoming job.

  Arabella worked quickly and efficiently throughout the day; finishing satisfactorily with only a few minor mishaps. Mishaps were the nature of the beast for a catering business. Opinions of how a job went were like elbows, her mother used to say… everybody has one. Some people were happy with everything you did, and some complained about absolutely every single thing. But now she was done. The Hamptons had paid her fee plus a nice bonus.

  She drove her little, white, catering-van into the garage and began unpacking. She thought about the veal medallions she’d prepared earlier for the Hamptons’ party. They were Drew’s favorite, along with the asparagus with hollandaise sauce. An idea began to form in her mind and she smiled. While she may have doubts about some aspects of their relationship, she knew Drew Larkin, and he loved her cooking.

  After making what preparations she needed to do, she dashed off for a quick shower. She kept a close eye on the clock as she rushed to get ready for her set at the Night Owl. She would be cutting it close, but she thought she’d have just enough time if she wasn’t required to linger after she finished singing. After blow-drying her hair, she slipped on a sexy, red camisole – Drew’s personal favorite. She rummaged through her closet and finally settled on a sleeveless black dress with tulip-shaped panels which made up the short shirt. She paired the dress with silky, black hose, and black stilettos.

  After pinning her hair back, she applied her makeup, and after a quick turn in front of the mirror, she grabbed her purse and moved swiftly to her car. She was on her way to the club, when she realized she’d missed a call from Drew. Connecting to her voicemail, her heart began to pound at his hesitant words. Ara… we need to talk. Those five words, said so ominously, hit her in the gut. She tried to reach him, but the call when straight to his voicemail.

  She heaved a sigh of relief as she stepped through the old, oak doors of the Night Owl Nightclub, with just minutes to spare. The sooner she got through the set, the sooner she could try to catch up with Drew. His call had unnerved her. He’d been her rock and stabilizer for so long, she didn’t know what she’d do if… she didn’t even want to consider not having him in her life.

  She saw Karmyl sitting at the bar, leaning forward, talking to Tobias. Karmyl was dressed in a stunning red dress which went surprisingly well with her red hair. She was an amazingly beautiful woman. Now that she’d met him, Arabella could see the startling similarity between Karmyl and her brother.

  “About time you got here,” Karmyl said with a raised eyebrow.

  “What? I’m right on time,” Arabella replied distractedly.

  Glancing at her watch, Karmyl said, “Well, it’s about that time. Tom’s already on the stage. Come see me before you go, okay?”

  “Okay.” Arabella groaned to herself, Not tonight. She knew Karmyl would have been told about what had happened in the club the night before.

  She went into her small dressing room and stowed away her purse and wrap before heading back out. She’d just turned when her cellphone’s familiar ringtone played. Knowing she’d be late, she dove for it anyway and dug it quickly out of her purse. Drew!

  “Drew, hey, it’s me,” she said quickly, afraid he’d hang up.

  Silence filled the other end.

  “Drew?”

  “Ara… I… you… I don’t know… about what you asked me last night. I… I think we need a break,” he said quietly.

  Her chest burned. “Drew,” she whispered, more scared than she’d ever remembered being… more alone than she ever remembered being.

  “I’m sorry. I should have said something last night when you asked me. But I… I didn’t want to hurt you… I still don’t.”

  Her throat felt like a boulder had been lodged there. “Is it because of last night? About the glimpsing?”

  He sighed heavily. “Its… it’s a lot of things, Ara. We’ve just been together so long. I don’t know… its stifling sometimes. Half the time, I already feel like a husband to you and a father to Ian. I… just… need a break.”

  When she didn’t answer… couldn’t answer, he continued, “Ara, I… I’m tired of scenes like we had last night. I thought I could handle it, but I just can’t. It was one thing when we were kids, but now, well now, I need to build a life for myself. Things like last night… well, they could impact my future.”

  I thought it was our future, she thought. Swallowing hard, she nodded, even though she knew he couldn’t see her. Finally, needing to get off the phone before she embarrassed herself by begging him to stay, she cleared her throat, and said, “I understand.” Clearing her throat once more, she said in a rush, “Listen, I’m late for the stage. We’ll… um… we’ll talk soon, okay?”

  “Ara…” he began.

  “I’ve got to go. Bye,” she said quickly and hung up as fast as she could. A cold stone settled in her chest. When all the wicked twists of her life had transpired, she’d always had Drew. Now what did she do? Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes and struggled to pull herself together. She had a job to do. She had people who depended on her. She could do this. She’d gotten through worse... but not without Drew. Woodenly, she walked from the dressing room and slowly made her way to the stage. She glanced covertly to the horse-shaped benches in the back, but there was no dark-haired, bad-boy in any of them. She was thankful she didn’t have to contend with Lynx Rogan on top of what’d just happened with Drew.

  She gave a small nod of her head to Tom and closed her mind to everything but the sounds of the sax as music filled the small club. She’d gotten halfway through her set when he walked in. Arabella stumbled over her words. She really didn’t need this. Hopefully she’d be able to avoid him until she was stronger. She knew she was being melodramatic, but he… he drained her and stirred her up in a way she didn’t understand… didn’t want to understand, and she really, really couldn’t deal with that right now. She could only deal with one crisis at a time.

  He didn’t sit where he’d been the night before. Tonight, he sat with his back leaned against the bar. He had one hand on the bar, and one hand rested lightly against his thigh. He was dressed casually in blue jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. His luxurious black hair swept against the top of his shoulders when he shifted his head.

  He made her feel self-conscious and she had a hard time concentrating on the music and kept stumbling over words she’d sung hundreds of times. She tried to pull her mind away from him, but it seemed no matter how she tried, she just couldn’t keep her eyes from finding him… over and over. The entire second half of her set was excruciating. She was glad when she finally completed it. Shame and recriminations filled her. Her boyfriend of more than ten years had just broken up with her, and she couldn’t keep her eyes off another man. She really was pathetic.

  With hands that shook, she scurried off the stage, bypassing the audience, en route to her dressing room. She chanced one more glance, to find him following her with those dark, piercing eyes, and a slight smirking of his lips. He’d known how he’d affected her. Shame caused her cheeks to redden. He was her boss, and she’d totally blown her set… with him in the audience. He must think her a complete idiot. She knew Karmyl would be expecting her, but she just couldn’t face him. Karmyl would just have to understand.

  Feeling very much out of sorts, Arabella sat down heavily in front of her dressing table. She pushed hands that trembled into her hair and leaned her elbows on the table’s edge. She t
ook several deep breaths to try and calm her scattered senses. What was wrong with her? She’d never had any man affect her so much. That thought cut her to pieces. What’d that really say about the true nature of her relationship to Drew? Was she so afraid to be alone that she had clung to what was familiar? Had forced Drew to do the same. God, what had she done?

  She closed her eyes and pressed her fingers into them. She’d not performed this poorly since her teens. She was thankful for the quietness of the room as she struggled to pull herself together. Wanting to slink away more than anything, she grabbed her phone out of her purse and sent a text to Karmyl’s phone: Really needed to go home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. K? Pushing the send button, she noted how low her battery was before throwing it back into her purse, grabbed her wrap, and slipped out the back entrance.

  Circling the building, she moved swiftly into the well-lit parking lot, unlocked her car, and wearily slid behind the wheel. She rested her forehead against the leather-bound steering wheel. Her earlier anticipation of surprising Drew left her feeling almost bereft. With a tired sigh, she leaned forward and stuck her key into the ignition and turned. Click, click. She frowned at the sound. Releasing the key for an instant, she tried it again. Click, click. Something was wrong with her car. Could the day get any worse?

  Popping the hood from under the dash, she got out of the car and moved to the front of it and unlatched the locking mechanism. She lifted the hood and felt around until she found the holding arm, slipping it into place, she laid her palms against the car and peered down into the darken cavern containing the engine. She wasn’t sure why she was looking at the engine, it wasn’t as if she knew anything about repairing it.

  Frustration had tears springing into her eyes. Mindlessly, she wiped against them, streaking her cheek with dirt and grime. The night had been a dismal failure. She’d never felt so alone. More than anything, she wanted to be home.