Kiss Hide Bite: A Vampire Romantic Thriller

by Anna Rainn

  But I did, and sooner than I expected.

  The morning slipped by uneventfully, and the evening came in with the longer lines. Evie and Luna were behind the registers. I pulled, frothed, poured. Caleb did his magic with the blended drinks and poured the occasional latte art when he had the time. We were coordinating well, as we always do. I would have to hire even more employees, but this was good for now. This was good for me, being here doing what I love.

  The lines were starting to get shorter, and the crowds at the Black and Foam were calming down. We closed one of the two registers. It was time for a break. I took a steaming cup of latte outside. The weather was cooling down a bit. It wasn’t cold enough for fall wear yet, but there was a refreshing chill in the air. I cradled the hot mug in my hand, relishing the feeling of warmth and cold combined. The hot coffee tickled my tongue as I stood watching the cars ease by, speed by, go away to wherever weekenders go. Here, I stood peaceful to whoever might be looking, just a barista in simple jeans and a T enjoying her break with a large mug in hand. I hoped that this overt peace would seep into me soon, that the restlessness would go, the yearning and the regret.

  I think I was probably more poised than I gave myself credit for.

  When a whisper came from behind me, I didn’t jump, didn’t flinch, didn’t spill my coffee. I remained as I was for a few seconds, then I turned.

  “What are you doing here?” I whispered, taking a careful step towards the door leading back into Black and Foam.

  “We need to talk,” Nick’s figure stood out, tall and intimidating against the backdrop of taillights and street lights. I took another step back.

  “There is nothing to talk about. Please go.”

  “Marissa, I can explain. Please, let me.” Nick’s eyes had always been either playful or outright dirty. Now they were pleading, with vulnerability so foreign to him. His hands were turning his phone over and over. His truth chewed on his lips.

  I couldn’t do this, couldn’t let him in, couldn’t even hear him out. I wasn’t taking any more risks. I had just promised myself. Safety. I wanted safety, physical, and emotional.

  “There’s nothing to explain,” I said dryly. “Don’t worry; I won’t tell anybody.” I pushed the door with my back; I didn’t trust him enough to turn my back to him.

  “I don’t care if you tell everybody!” His eyes shot to mine, his voice rising, “Yesterday… It wasn’t meant to happen this way.”

  “What way? You weren’t supposed to suck my blood this way?” I hissed at him, unable to scream the words in fear someone inside Black and Foam would hear them through the half-opened door and think I’m crazy. Some coffee went over the mug rim and onto my hand, and I realized my hands weren’t steady anymore. “Just leave. Leave as you had before.” I turned and walked into Black and Foam. Nick’s hand took hold of the door before it closed, then the other hand fell on my arm, pulling me. A small scream left me as I pushed him away.

  “Stay outside! I don’t invite you in!” Tears were stinging my eyes. I wasn’t just afraid; I was also angry. He had been lying to me, and he was here to lie again. I couldn’t look at his face, couldn’t endure his touch on my arm, couldn’t let him play me again.

  “You already invited me in before, Marissa. A door can’t stop me. I can go in and out as I please,” Nick said with pain in his eyes, then he turned away and left.

  Chapter 34

  I was still in the bad habit of drinking espresso past midnight. I knew that I needed the sleep, especially today; I had to allow my brain to shut down and escape the flood of thoughts that will come when I am alone at home tonight. But even with this knowledge, I couldn’t help myself. I needed the warmth in my hands and the sweet bitterness on my tongue. I needed my cup of coffee the way others need a smoke. If that’s my only vice, it’s okay, I thought, then immediately regretted the thought. Of course coffee wasn’t my only vice. My other addiction was a six-foot, three olive-skinned man, who turned out to be no man, with eyes the color of spring water in the early morning and a smile that breaks hearts. My addiction to Nick was stronger than my need for coffee, and I was going to have to live without it from now on.

  I inhaled my coffee, the brightness of the blonde beans offering me a hint of light. I was better now than I was this morning. If anything, seeing Nick made me feel stronger. It was infuriating how he thought he could just show up at Black and Foam. For one thing, bringing personal drama to my place of business was not the way to win my heart - yes, I was on my break when he approached me, but still. Even worse, did he think getting over his nature was something I could do so easily? Did he think I could trust him?

  But I am getting ahead of myself. Despite everything I am saying, it wasn’t me who kicked Nick out of my apartment last night. I don’t even have this to question myself about, and possibly blame myself for. I didn’t find out my police consultant boyfriend is a vampire and then kick him out due to fear, or due to him lying to me. Nick was the one who walked away. He pushed me and left. That’s how it happened. And just now, he comes to my workplace to… to what? To talk? To explain he wasn’t planning on murdering me?

  Men disappoint. A millennial in her twenties knows this very well, and I have almost made my peace with it. But this was a whole new level of disappointment. I mean you have guys who take your time for granted, your presence for granted, your domestic contribution for granted, your emotions for granted, and sometimes even sex for granted. A guy who takes your acceptance of him being a lying vampire for granted is taking it even further.

  I guess it’s just my luck. Cute guy, hot as fuck, with an interesting job, who makes me laugh and cooks me inedible breakfast. Of course something had to go wrong, something huge. Nobody is that perfect. Did I honestly believe Nick’s only disadvantage was being a bit of a playboy based on our one night stand? And to think that this was the height of my relationship problems a few days ago!

  I sighed audibly, letting my small espresso cup rest on the wooden table in front of me. Black and Foam was empty; we were closed for the night. I knew better than to stay here alone at night after last weeks’ events, my mom didn’t raise a fool, so Caleb was here with me. We were closing up together as we had been doing ever since Black and Foam reopened. I was thankful for Caleb’s presence today more than any day. Before, I avoided recreating the night of the attack on Bianca, so Caleb being here helped me with that. Now, I had another vampire who had just shown up at Black and Foam. The extra security of having someone else present with me wasn’t just to keep me sane; it kept me safe.

  Nick wasn’t a risk, a small voice in me reasoned, he saved me. There were so many times he could’ve made his move on me if he wanted to, but he chose not to. I stopped myself there. Giving a guy points for not killing you and sucking your blood was just too much. The point is: he’s not a risk, the voice pushed stubbornly. I took a sip of my coffee, allowing the sweet taste to linger on my tongue, enjoying the silky feeling of the hot liquid making its way through every taste bud in its course, then I looked at my watch: 12:30. Better get to business and finish up.

  “Caleb,” I called out, getting out of my seat, coffee in hand. “What’s taking you so long?”

  Caleb had gone to take the trash out. There was some spilled coffee on the floor near the bin, so I figured maybe Caleb got some spills on his shoes or pants as well and had gone into the staff room to clean up.

  The staff room glimmered under the neon lights, freshly cleaned and completely empty. I knocked on the staff bathroom door. When there was no answer, I pushed the door open and poked my head in. It was also empty.

  “Caleb!” I called out, louder this time, walking toward the backdoor. The street outside was visible from the glass walls of the café. They fixed the street lights, the thought was the first thing to occur to me when I saw the parking lot outside. I had avoided walking into this part of the café after hours since the night Bianca was killed. It was the first time I laid eyes on the parking lot by night time eve
r since. Now, I was frozen looking through the glass at what had been a crime scene until very recently. I wanted to get out of here. I had to go home and close a door between me and the outside world. Yes, Nick had been invited into my house several times, but it wasn’t thoughts of Nick that were causing the thin hairs on my neck to stand.

  I took a step back, then taking control of my feelings, I mentally formed a wall around my fears, and I stepped forward again. The backdoor was half-opened, but that was normal. It meant that Caleb had gone out to put the trash bags into the bins at the end of the parking lot, and he wasn’t back yet. And even with the door open, nobody can walk in uninvited. I held the door and leaned out into the cold night air, trying to get a glimpse of the big trash cans at the very end without actually stepping outside. The sycamore tree was blocking my view, but I managed to get a glimpse of Caleb’s bright red T-shirt in the distance.

  A deep exhale rushed out of my mouth, too forceful to be a sigh. I haven’t noticed I had been holding my breath until it finally came out. Caleb was moving back toward the café. The street lights were on. Everything was fine.

  A subtle banging came from behind me. I jumped, a scream forming on my lips before I quickly swallowed it. I knew this sound very well; I heard it every time a customer walked into Black and Foam; this was the front door closing. Except the front door was locked, Caleb was outside, and I was standing here.

  I glanced outside toward the sycamore tree and the parking lot sprawled in front of me. My car was not here; it was parked out front. This had been the case ever since the fateful night, but I could slip out the back door, grab Caleb and circle the café. Then what? Then get the hell out of here and leave Black and Foam unlocked?

  Caleb was halfway back now. I looked back inside, trying to investigate what’s going on in the coffee shop’s main area. A flash too quick for me to catch moved in the far corner near the staff room. There was someone in here; I’m not imagining this. A sting of pain bit my lip and I realized I was biting down on it. Nobody can come in uninvited, I mentally repeated the sentence, hoping it would hold true, hoping none of my staff invited the wrong person in previously.

  Cautiously, I tiptoed back into the café’s seating area, making my way as silently as possible toward the register. It was bad enough that all the lights were shining cruelly, offering me zero cover, I had to be quiet, or I would be spotted in a split second. Thank god for running shoes, I thought crouching behind one of the round tables, then taking the last steps to the register. My phone wasn’t there; it was in the staff room, but something else was here, something that can be of far more help. My hand closed around the hard handle, the fingers digging slightly into the solid rubber texture of the Cold Steel baseball bat. You didn’t expect me to reopen without any self-defense plans after what happened, did you? Of course a baseball bat would be of no use against a vampire, but who said vampires were the only threats a business has to worry about. The fact that this person walked in uninvited means he could be a human threat. Though somewhat reassuring, this didn’t mean I wasn’t at risk.

  There, just like Harley Quinn, I took a deep breath in, let the baseball bat rest against my shoulder, and slithered out from behind the counter. No, I wasn’t going to drag it on the ground to scare the intruder; I wasn’t actually Harley Quinn; I thought this was obvious.

  The staff room was steps away. Instead of going in looking, I decided to wait outside. There, I stationed myself by the door, knees bent, hands tight on the bat, tense and ready. Caleb better not make any noise coming in. He won’t, though; the back door was half-open; he’ll get in fairly quietly, and the moment I see him, I’ll signal him over.

  A shuffling sound came from behind the closed door. What kind of intruder raids the staff room instead of the register? The sound became louder, closer. The doorknob turned. I glance behind, looking for back up, but Caleb was not there yet. I took a deep breath. The door moved, I adjusted my grip. A small figure stepped out, I swung.

  Now, I took a self-defense class a few years ago, but I had absolutely no practice with baseball bats. This was bad as far as protecting Black and Foam and myself goes, but it was very good for Evie’s life expectancy.

  The bat swung dully, feeling too heavy in my hands, too hard to control, and it missed.

  “No!” Evie cried, trying to step back as the bat lightly grazed her arm and crashed into the door frame.

  “Oh my god, Evie, I’m so sorry. I thought…,” What did I think? “I thought you were a burglar.”

  “Burgling the staff room?” She asked, puzzled, her big brown eyes even wider with fear.

  “I’m sorry. Nobody was supposed to be here.” The door frame was splintered. I will have to order repairs first thing tomorrow. I turned to Evie.

  “Listen, let me get you a coffee.” Poor thing, in her first week at a new job and she gets attacked by the boss.

  “No, I better go. It’s too late for coffee anyway.” She stuffed a small iPhone in her jeans pocket.

  “How about hot chocolate, then? Please, it’s the least I can do.” I lead Evie back toward the counter. She dragged her feet behind me, looking unsure. I hope she didn’t think I was crazy.

  “So who gave you a key to the front door?” I asked, starting her drink.

  “Ummm, I don’t have one. The door was unlocked.” She said defensively. “I left my phone. I realized that after I was halfway to my apartment. I would’ve waited till the morning to get it, but I have a paper due tomorrow, and the notes are on the phone.”

  I glanced at my watch. It was 12:45. Evie will probably have to stay up all night to finish that assignment.

  “Are you sure you don’t want a coffee?” I asked her, then I paused. It was 12:45. Caleb had been outside for far too long. As if on cue, another bang came, this time from the back. I flinched, and the hot chocolate I was pouring spilled on the counter.

  “Caleb?” I asked. No answer came, only another bang. It didn’t sound like the backdoor closing. This sound was intentional somehow. Panic rose in the pit of my stomach, and I could feel tears threatening to come. I swallowed the tears and tried to push the fear down. Only the first of the two efforts was successful.

  “Hello?” My voice quivered. The half-full hot chocolate cup was standing in a pool of brown liquid, looking just wrong.

  My instincts screamed at me: you’re acting like a stupid horror movie heroine. Hide!

  I grabbed the baseball bat again.

  “Evie, stay here!” I made my way out from behind the counter. “Don’t move. And don’t invite anybody other than Caleb or me in, understand?”

  She nodded.

  Black and Foam seemed to fade around me as I moved toward the back door again. How many times have I walked this short route between the round wooden tables and the café chairs? How many times since Bianca died? I snapped myself back to the present and pushed thoughts of Bianca away. This was no time to lose my grip. Better swing good this time, I thought, my heart racing. I wanted to tell myself there was nothing wrong, but my instincts knew that this wasn’t the case.

  I took the fateful turn into the short passage leading to the backdoor. The indoor lights were still on, but the lights outside had died. The backdoor stood, still half-open. I was right; it wasn’t the backdoor closing that caused the noise Evie and I heard. It was a pale white hand connecting with the glass wall to the left of the door, again and again, in slow leisurely knocks.

  I stood at the beginning of the hall. To my right was the last round table, the special table offering some privacy and some quiet to those who’d rather not be a part of the crowd in Black and Foam’s main area. My body was moving instinctively toward the table for cover, the baseball bat hanging limply from my hand.

  Another knock came, then a face moved closer to the glass. A smile was plastered across terrible red lips, two sharp fangs peaking out innocently, human-sized fangs. But I knew better. Another pale face appeared, then another, and another. More eyes glowed at me from t
he darkness behind them.

  I am safe inside. I took a step back toward Black and Foam’s main area, unable to turn my back on the paperwhite faces staring at me. Something else collided with the glass, bigger, louder streaking the glass with a thin stream of blood. Panicked eyes looked at me, and a mouth gagged by a hand, its screams stifled. Caleb’s black T-shirt molded into the night behind him. His face seemed to be hovering, suspends midair, held in position by the vampire’s papery hand and nothing else.

  I walked to the door. It was as simple as that, no thinking went into the decision, and no talking was needed. There was only one reason Caleb would be dangling in front of me and not already dead. He wasn’t what these vampires wanted. The threat didn’t need to be spoken, and there was no way I was going to let Caleb die in front of me the way Bianca did.

  Standing just behind the back door, I felt the cold knob in my hand, and then I pulled the half-open door ajar. From the dark, a figure emerged. His face was even paler than Justin’s had been, his movements more fluid, an older vampire, then.

  “Marissa, stay inside!” Caleb cried. The vampire’s hand had finally left his mouth; he was loosely held by the arm now.

  “Let him go, and I’ll come out,” I said, my calm surprising even myself. This was the way it was supposed to be all along; I was the one they wanted ever since the night with Bianca. What happened to Owen and almost happened to Nick was all because of me, all for the vampires to get to me. But the protection I had received only postponed the inevitable. For whatever reason, my fate was sealed the night I saw Bianca get murdered. Justin and Tyler were dead, but I was still wanted, by whom I didn’t know. It didn’t matter.