Once Upon A Midnight

by Stephanie Rowe

  Without any warning the man standing behind the woman who spoke up trying to save my mother, kicked the old wooden box out from under her. She dropped hard, but her body didn't touch the ground. Her hands flew to her throat as she desperately tried to pull the rope free. She thrashed and kicked. She made horrid gurgling noises as she struggled to breathe. A few short minutes seemed like an eternity as I listened to that poor woman die. I lowered my head and said a silent prayer for her as her body went slack and lifeless from a lack of oxygen.

  I raised my head again knowing what was to come next. My mother would be dead within the next few minutes and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I nervously tucked my hair under my hat, hiding the red curls that resembled my mothers. I was supposed to stay hidden from view, but I couldn't stay away and let my mother die without someone there who loved her.

  "Bridget Bishop you have been accused of using dark magic against humanity and have been sentenced to death. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" The executioner's tone was menacing and his face lacked even the tiniest bit of compassion.

  My mother looked straight ahead and pulled her shoulders back, causing her full breasts to strain dangerously tight against the fabric of her red corset. She smiled wickedly as she looked the crowd over. "You will all be punished for your sins. I curse you and your loved ones. You shall never rest or be free of the evil that will enter your lives. You will forever be shackled to the memory of what you have done here today."

  The hushed whispers of the crowd got louder and the corners of my mouth tipped up. I couldn't help but to smile at my mother's bravery. She always knew how to make something good out of a bad situation and having these ignorant people believe she had cursed them all for the rest of their lives was her ultimate revenge.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Present Day

  MY EYES FLUTTERED open as he stirred next to me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. It was the most unbelievable feeling I've ever experienced. He was my only comfort. The only reason I felt like I truly belonged in this world. When I'm with him I never feel alone, even though I am. Every night we start over as if we'd never slept together before.

  He doesn't know what I am and I want to keep it that way. He can never know. He will never know. Each day before he wakes I carry him upstairs to the bar, place him in a booth and wipe his memory of everything we'd shared together.

  It broke my heart every time to force him to forget about our incredible evening. He meant the world to me and I had to treat him as if he means nothing to me. I can't allow him to be hurt. The less he knows about me the better off he will be. Besides, if he ever found out what I truly am, he'd change his mind about me in an instant.

  But, I'm not ready to give him up yet. I won't give him up. I have to hide my secret from him just a little bit longer. Long enough to work up the courage to finally let him go.

  Caressa couldn't find out what I've been doing, especially since I gave her so much shit about her wanting to be with a human. She turned Noah last year and they haven't spent a moment apart since.

  You see, the reason no one can find out about us is because Rhett, the man who quickly became so important to me, is Noah's best friend. He showed up at the club not long before Noah was turned. He came to the bar every night since.

  Even though he made it quite clear how he felt about me right away, I did not give into the burning desire that scorched its way through my veins. I simply shot all his advances down. I'd known right away I had to have him as my own. His delicious scent captivated me from the very beginning and not sinking my fangs into his taut skin to devour his delectable blood was maddening at times.

  One night a few months ago I could no longer control my need to taste him. Of course I could have had any other man in the club. In fact, I'd had so many before him, but he was the one that my heart was set on. His blood was what I hungered for and what I craved every minute of every day. It was him and him alone that satisfied my need to feed.

  He stirred again and turned on his side with his back facing me. I ran my long nails through his shoulder length dark hair, rubbing the strands between my fingers. I wish he could stay longer, but dusk was approaching and the rest of the girls would be up soon. I had to get him upstairs to the club before any of them or Noah woke up.

  I put him into a deeper sleep so I could carry him without waking him. I got out of bed and threw on a pair of black leather stretch pants and a black halter top. I padded around to his side of the bed and peeled back the blanket that covered his perfect body. I tilted my head to the side; my eyes drank him in once more before I grabbed his clothes at the foot of the bed.

  I dressed him as fast as I could and effortlessly threw him over my shoulder. I sprinted upstairs and placed him in a booth at the back of the club. I placed a kiss on his forehead and swiped my hand across his face to erase his memory. He wouldn't remember our sensual night together when he woke up. He wouldn't remember having sex, not even one single breathtaking kiss.

  I'll continue to play hard to get as I've done for the last few months, exchanging insults and playful banter pretending I'm not interested in him whatsoever.

  I am known to my sisters as the hard one. I was known as the one who didn't give a shit about anyone else’s feelings. The one they considered least likely to fall in love. I'd like to keep my reputation as the unforgiving one. I will not show any weakness to anyone ever again. The last time I did that, I was turned into the creature I am now. And although I have rather enjoyed being a vampire most of the time, it's been a very lonely existence over the last few centuries.

  I've had Caressa by my side from the very beginning.She was turned first and was the leader of our coven. Although I don't agree with some of her decisions, I know she always tried to do what was best for us. We rarely left the club because there are only six of us, well seven if you count Noah, which isn't nearly enough vampires to protect our kind from the Hunters.

  The Hunters have been trying to exterminate our kind for centuries and during a war just over a hundred years ago, they were almost successful. Most of the vampires had been completely wiped out. If it weren't for the quick thinking of our former leader, Marcus, there would have been no one left at all.

  Marcus was Caressa's maker and it was he who brought me into the coven, giving me a home. Although Marcus was ruthless and sometimes uncaring, I will forever be grateful to him. He gave me the family that I longed for after I lost my mother and brothers.

  During the last war, Caressa, under the direction of Marcus, led us to safety. Later that night she told us how Marcus had been burned to death. Caressa felt relieved in a sense because he'd had an unbreakable hold on her. He'd promised her the world and after he turned her, he treated her like dirt.

  Marcus was not kind to any of us, not even the male vampires. I'd asked him long ago why he was so unforgiving. His reply was that he needed to be strong for the coven. He couldn't allow himself to be weakened by a female because it was his duty to protect our race.

  I learned a lot from Marcus that day. I learned that I could never allow another into my heart. He was right. It was our duty to be strong and not allow love to cloud our judgment; otherwise we would cease to exist.

  I took one last look at Rhett and turned around, crashing right into Caressa. Just the vampire I did not want to bump into. She looked around me suspiciously. "What are you doing?"

  "Nothing." I cocked my head at Rhett. "He fell asleep here again; I was trying to wake him up. It wouldn't look good to have a man drooling all over the tables when customers start to arrive.” I walked around her and made my way over to the bar, changing the subject before she had a chance to question me any further about him. "Where's Keira? It's her turn to head the bar tonight, she should be here to set up."

  "She'll be here in a few minutes. She's getting dressed."

  I nodded over to Rhett. "Maybe you should have Noah come get him and take him home. He hardly ever leaves. We
should start charging him rent."

  Caressa sat on the stool across from me and popped a green olive in her mouth. She winked. "I think he'd like that since he never takes his eyes off you."

  "Shut up. I am not interested in him whatsoever." I lowered my voice an octave or two. "Besides, you know how I feel about humans."

  Caressa sighed. "They're only good for food."

  I picked up a glass and wiped the inside with a rag. "That's right."

  "You know, humans are good for other things too."

  "Eww, gross. I do not want to hear about 'The Chronicles of Before Noah Was Turned." I placed the glass on the counter with the others. "Please spare me the agony of my ears bleeding."

  "Okay, but I'm telling you, you’re missing out."

  "I doubt it."

  She stood as Noah walked into the club through the kitchen entrance. He sauntered over to her and pulled her into his arms giving her a passionate kiss. My heart broke a little every time I saw them together, knowing I could never have that with Rhett. I have to be strong, but my resolve weakened every second I spent time with him.

  "He fell asleep here again?" Noah asked as he looked over at me.

  "Yeah." I said nervously.

  Noah let go of Caressa and walked over to his friend, but still addressed me. "What's wrong with you? You've been acting weird lately."

  "I have not." I told him angrily. It's so aggravating that he's come to know me so well in such a short amount of time. It's downright annoying.

  "Yes you have." He turned to Caressa. "I think she's been bitten by the bug."

  "What bug?" I asked.

  Caressa practically sang her response. "The love bug."

  "You guys are out of your damn minds."

  Noah shook Rhett to wake him. "Hey buddy, it's time to rise and shine."

  I tried to busy myself, hoping I've done a good enough job erasing his memory. I couldn't keep doing this. I hate lying. I've always been the one, out of all my sisters, to tell it like it is. With me, what you see is what you get, and right now everyone in the room was getting nothing but anxious vibes from me. I am never uneasy. That's why they have been so suspicious of my behavior lately.

  Rhett lifted his head and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He yawned. "What time is it?"

  "Almost eight o'clock." Noah answered.

  "Why did you wake me up so early?" Rhett laid his head back down on his arms.

  Noah helped Rhett out of the booth and guided him to a stool by the bar. "Dude, its eight o'clock at night. How much did you drink last night?"

  "I only remember having that one shot."

  "Get this man some coffee Gia. Then I'm taking you home. You need to take a shower and sleep in your own bed for a change."

  I walked to the end of the bar and grabbed the coffee pot. I sat a mug in front of Rhett, added three teaspoons of sugar, and then poured the steamy black liquid into the cup. I reached for the cream under the counter, but he placed his hand over the top of the mug.

  "I think I need to drink it black today. How much did I drink yesterday?" He asked as he lifted the cup to his mouth. He took a few sips and placed the cup back down on the counter.

  I lied."A few."I can't have anyone know what actually happened. After all the customers had gone and the girls and Noah went downstairs, Rhett helped me clean up, as he always did. Then we went downstairs to my apartment and had mind blowing sex, just as we have done for the past few months.

  "Fuck, my head is killing me. Remind me not to drink anymore okay?"

  "Do I look like your mother?"

  "Damn girl relax."

  "Then don't tell me what to do."

  "I wasn't telling you what to do, I was merely asking..."

  "Well, I'm merely telling you I'm not your keeper."

  He pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead squeezing his eyes tight. "Look, I'm not in the mood to argue with you today okay. My head hurts and you're making it worse."

  "Who do you think you...?"

  "Okay you two, that's enough. Now you're giving me a headache. Can't the two of you get along for one day without arguing?"

  "No." We both replied simultaneously. Then he smiled at me. He fucking smiled, knowing how much that irritated me when I'm mad. Truth of the matter is; his smile melted my cold heart. But, no way in Hell was I revealing that little tidbit of information to anyone in this room.

  "All right let's get you home so you can seek shelter and safety from hurricane Gia." Noah joked.

  Rhett laughed and winked at me as he stood up from the stool. "Yeah, I think I'll come back tomorrow when the hot wind dies down."

  I raised my hand to him and stuck my middle finger up. "Blow it out of your ass."

  "What dirty language to come out of such a beautiful mouth." He turned and walked toward the front door with Noah following him close. He waved behind him. "See you girls later."

  CHAPTER TWO

  “HI GIA!” PATIENCE said as she walked toward me, throwing her sweater across the bar."Can you put this back there for me?"

  I looked at her then went back to cleaning the glasses. "You're late."I wasn't mad that she wasn't on time tonight, but she really irritated me sometimes. Her perkiness was just a bit too much for my liking and I am not in the mood for that right now. I'd much rather keep to myself and wallow in my own self-pity.

  "I know. I'm sorry. I missed the bus so I walked here."

  "Why didn't you take the subway?"

  "Eww, gross. And be underground with every weirdo in New York City? No. Besides there are rats the size of cats down there. I'd much rather walk thank you very much. Well I guess I'd better go upstairs and get some more asses in these chairs."

  She turned and made her way to the front door. She was wearing one of her signature outfits. A short black backless dress that revealed the numerous different colored butterfly tattoos that seem to flutter across her back as she walked.

  Patience was a human we hired last year to help bring in customers off the street into the club. We'd just opened and since we couldn't go out in the sun, she was an asset to us by handing out flyers and talking to passersby about the club during the daylight hours. She has more than tripled our revenue since then. Men flock to her like a moth to a flame, bringing more and more men into the club so that we could feed.

  She doesn't know the truth about us; otherwise I seriously doubt that she would have come to the interview in the first place. The less she knows about us the better so we could continue to feast on the city.

  As Patience exited the club, Rhett walked in passed her, and gave her a smile. Something evil inside me stirred when he looked at her and I felt the sudden urge to rip her head right off her prissy little body.It kills me that she could be everything he needs in a woman and I couldn't give him a damn thing. She'd be able to give him a fulfilling life. They'd be able to get married, have kids, and be a real family. All I could ever give him would be a never-ending life filled with an insatiable hunger for blood and maybe even a death sentence dealt out by the Hunters.

  I'd completely forgotten about the Hunters for the last couple of weeks because I have been so occupied with hiding my secret. That's an even bigger reason why we couldn't be together.

  Rhett pushed through the dancing customers and approached the bar. He sat on the stool in front of me and grabbed the bowl of peanuts I placed in front of him; he popped one in his mouth. "Hey sweet cheeks." He gave me a mischievous smile that warmed my belly every time he flashed it my way.

  I stood still; my face was like stone as I tried my best not to show him how much he truly affected me. "Please don't call me that."

  "Okay sugar lips..."

  "My name is Gia. It's three letters, is it that hard for you to remember?"

  "Fine Gia. Can I have a drink please?" He replied in a sarcastic tone before he smiled again.

  "Didn't you have enough to drink the other night?"

  "What are you my mother?"

  "Fine. What do you w
ant?"

  He popped another peanut into his mouth. "Surprise me."

  I grabbed a tall glass and a few bottles of liquor off the shelf following the directions Keira had given me for a new drink she'd come up with. Besides our Bloody Mary we have been introducing new and sexy named drinks to get some attention so people would stay and buy more. I placed the drink in front of him, and stuck an orange slice on the edge of the glass.

  He took a few sips. "This is good. What is it?" He drank in a mouthful.

  "Dirty Little Leg Spreader."

  He spit out the remainder of what was left in his mouth, spraying it all over the bar. He coughed and wiped his hand over his mouth. "What?!"

  "That's what the drink is called, dirty little leg spreader. Don't look at me like that; it was Keira's invention, not mine."

  He cleared his throat and wiped his shirt with a damp towel I handed him. "Well, I'm sure you sell a lot of those with a name like that."

  We both laughed. My hand slid back and forth as I cleaned the bar. He caught my wrist as it crossed in front of him along the mahogany surface. "Why don't you let me take you out sometime? You never leave this place. Aren't you a bit tired of the scenery?"

  I yanked my arm away, throwing the dirty towel into the bin behind the bar. "Why don't you take Patience?" I told him snidely.

  "Why would I take Patience?"

  "Because she's more your type."

  "My type? Please enlighten me on what my type is."

  I leaned forward and placed my elbows on the bar. "You know blonde, sparkling green eyes, a sweet disposition. A woman who would cater to your every wish and fantasy." I rolled my eyes and straightened.

  He laughed. "You're jealous aren't you?"

  "Me? Jealous of who? Patience?"

  "No. Jealous because you think I want her."

  I averted my eyes because what he's saying couldn't have been more true. I can't stand it when he looks at another woman. Just the thought of him being interested in someone else made my blood boil. But of course I'm not going to tell him that, so I lie. "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard."