“I’m home, Alex just left. What are my options?” Mark replied but after what seemed like hours, he grew impatient.
“Where the hell are you Assune030?! This is my life we’re talking about?!” Mark shouted at the computer screen.
After a few more seconds a reply appeared on the screen.
“Try to remain calm. Getting upset or angry will only make this worse. I know you are an intelligent man, they underestimate you greatly, outthink them.” Assune030 replied.
Mark didn’t know what to say. How could this person know so much about him? Then without thinking he replied. “Who are you? How do you know all this?”
Soon Assune030 replied. “It’s not safe to use my name, it would put you in more danger. I will meet you tomorrow night, just after midnight at twelve fifteen. I will explain everything. Meet at the first place you took Jen out to dinner, around the back. And remember do not drink the blood, under any circumstances. If they try to force you, pretend it makes you sick. This is a common condition for the newly turned and they will buy it. Until tomorrow, stay strong for Katie.”
Who the hell was this person? As far as Mark knew there was not one single person who knew the restaurant that he had taken Jen to for their first date, not Katie or even Sarah knew that. This person must have been watching him for years, or was very good at collecting obscure information. Either way this person had answers and Mark needed answers. This was all so frustrating, he could do nothing until tomorrow. Mark walked over to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of wine and poured himself a large glass. Sarah was probably right, a bottle of something was just what he needed right now. It was getting late and he needed sleep for tomorrow. He just couldn’t quit thinking about everything.
Why had someone killed Jen? How could he go on without her? Jen had been everything to him for the last twenty years. How could he live without her? Mark started crying again then he remembered the words from Asuune030 ‘Stay strong for Katie”. He needed to stay strong for her. He would have time to grieve after Katie was safe. Katie’s safety was his main concern now.
After another hour or so and a few more glasses of wine, Mark finally quit thinking about everything and drifted off to sleep on the couch, holding a picture of Jen, himself and Katie as a baby.
Chapter 6
The next morning Mark woke to the sound of pounding on his front door. It had been years since he had slept this late, it must have been almost noon. Suddenly everything came rushing back to him. Jen was dead, Katie was with Sarah and he was now a vampire or about to become a vampire. This Asuune030 had said he wasn’t a vampire, then what was he? At least sleeping in meant he didn’t have to wait as long to meet this mysterious person.
The pounding on the door grew louder and more impatient. Mark jumped up from the couch and spilled the half-empty glass of wine which he had left at his feet. Quickly Mark rushed to the front door, whoever was at the door sounded like they were going to knock it in soon. When he opened the door the man on the other side was not quite what he expected. He had pictured a drug-dealer type with a small cooler filled with blood, but this man looked like another lawyer.
“Your delivery Mr. Albet,” the man said as he handed him a plainly wrapped box.
“Do I need to sign something?” Mark asked, more out of habit than anything.
“No, Mr. Albet, Mr. Gregor has taken care of everything. Mind if I come in?” the man asked without missing a beat.
“Umm, sure?” Mark replied, but it sounded more like a question than a response.
The man stepped inside and removed his sunglasses. He had on a plain black suit with a white shirt and black tie. His hair was cut short and to Mark he seemed more like some sort of government agent than a lawyer now.
This man also smelled horrible, just like Alex. Maybe it was a vampire thing? Maybe all vampires smelled like decaying flesh?
“I am to oversee your first dose, just to make sure there are no…complications,” the man stated then he proceeded to stare at Mark.
Mark nervously unwrapped the box and inside was another box, this one made of plastic. This box had a lid so Mark carefully removed the lid and set it on the table beside him. Inside the plastic box, surrounded by ice, was what Mark assumed was a bag of blood.
“So…how do I do this?” Mark asked.
“The first time is always daunting. Just grab yourself a glass and pour some. Savor it like a good wine,” the man replied with a smile.
Mark walked over to the kitchen table and sat the box down, he grabbed a glass and then sat it beside the box. Mark was stalling, he was told not to drink the blood but this man was watching his every move. What would he do if Mark didn’t drink the blood?
Mark remembered his conversation with Asuune030 as he poured the blood into the glass. He just had to pretend to be sick from the smell of it. This might not be so hard, the man beside him stunk like rotten food, he could use that.
Mark held the glass up and put it under his nose. The smell was wonderful. It smelled like a combination of candy, steak and something else that he couldn’t quite put his finger on but it was amazing. He quickly set the glass down and made a sickened face. When the glass hit the table it sloshed around and a drop spilled over the side and trickled down. Mark was startled as the man watching him went from utterly motionless to looking like a drug addict needing a fix. The man couldn’t quit staring at the glass and he was shaking.
“You mustn’t spill a drop! This stuff is more precious than gold!” the man said as he reached forward with both hands. Mark wasn’t sure if the man was going to take the glass or if he was just making sure it wasn’t tipping over.
“I can’t drink it, it smells horrible. I think I’m going to be sick,” Mark said as he put his hand over his mouth and moved over to the sink. This was easier than he thought it would be since the man was now closer to him and all Mark could smell was the stench coming off him. “You can have it.”
“No, I shouldn’t,” the man said as he picked up the glass.
“Please, take it. Just tell them I drank it. I’m really going to throw up,” Mark said as he leaned in and made gagging noises in the sink. He wasn’t sure if this was what Asuune030 had meant but the vampire seemed to be buying it. In fact, the vampire seemed more concerned with the blood than with Mark.
“No, you will tell Mr. Gregor,” the vampire said as he set the glass down carefully.
“I’m not going to tell anyone and it will end up down the kitchen drain if you make me drink it. I’m seriously gonna throw up if I don’t get rid of that horrid smell.” Mark held his nose to emphasize the point and the vampire continued to stare at the glass with lust in his eyes.
“Alright, if you insist,” the vampire said and quickly drank every drop. For a second Mark thought the vampire might lick the glass clean but he forced himself to put it down.
“You might as well drink the rest of the bag, it will just go to waste,” Mark said trying to hide his growing smile. It had worked, the vampire was far more concerned with the blood than him.
The vampire didn’t even ask this time, he snatched up the bag and drained it all in seconds.
“I will give Mr. Gregor your regards and tell him you are well.” Strangely the quivering addict returned to a calm servant. “I’ll be by tomorrow and we can try again. Eleven forty-five sharp,” the vampire said as he picked up the box, shoved the bag in it, then walked over to the table by the front door and grabbed the lid Mark had set down. He slammed the lid on it before reaching for the door handle.
“I’ll see you then,” Mark said, glad that it was finally over.
The vampire opened the door and then shut it quickly. He set the box down on the table at the entryway and ran at Mark. Before Mark knew what was happening the vampire had Mark by the throat.
“If anyone finds out, I’ll rip your head off, I don’t care what kind of VIP you are,” the vampire snarled. “I’m not gonna die for some newbie vampire that can’t handle his blood ration
. I’ll tell them you attacked first and I was just defending myself.”
Mark was surprised, but this vampire seemed weaker than Alex Gregor. Maybe he had just gotten stronger? Whatever the reason, Mark wasn’t intimidated. He grabbed the vampire’s wrist and pulled it from his throat. The vampire’s anger turned to fear and then as Mark snapped the vampire’s wrist it turned to sheer terror.
The vampire hit the floor with both knees and began bowing while holding his broken wrist.
“Please Mr. Albet, I…I…it’s the blood, I can’t control myself. Please forgive me,” the vampire groveled.
“It’s forgotten,” Mark replied using the vampire’s speech patterns. He wasn’t sure why but he often found himself speaking like the person he was talking to. At times he thought it was annoying but he really couldn’t help it.
The vampire got to his feet slowly while keeping his head bowed and walked quickly back to the box. “Eleven forty-five, sorry again Mr. Albet. I’ll be more careful in the future…Sir.” With that he slipped out the door, careful to shut the door quietly.
Mark could barely believe what had just happened. He stared at the hand that had broken the vampire’s wrist with amazement. Had he really just fought off a vampire? What was he turning into? Mark looked up at the clock, twelve o’ one, only twelve hours and fourteen minutes until he could find out. What the hell was he going to do with himself until then?
Chapter 7
Mark waited, not very patiently, around the side of what used to be Vinnie’s Pizza. This had been where he took Jen on their first date. He had meant this to be a study date so it wasn’t a fancy restaurant, it was just supposed to be pizza with a friend. He quickly went over the events of that night. Jen had shown up dressed in a tee-shirt and jeans with her books in tow. The night progressed quickly as they talked about everything except the school work they had agreed to study. Mark smiled as he thought of it. How his innocent study date had turned into one of his fondest memories. They didn’t kiss or talk about anything romantic, perhaps that was why he had remained so calm or maybe it was just that he was talking to Jen.
Apparently the place had been sold and was now abandoned. The front windows were both broken out and it looked like no one had been here in many years. It was raining lightly so Mark decided to wait between the buildings to get some shelter from the rain. While he waited he watched the rain drops fall, heard each one splash against the concrete in a peaceful pattern that almost sounded like a song. The sound calmed him as he watched the neon clock across the street tick twelve fifteen.
Where was this Asuune030? They had said the back of the place, so he better head to the back. Mark assumed that this person would have walked through the alley, just like he had, but no one came. He had been there since eleven fifty, surely, he would have seen this person. Maybe they weren’t coming?
Mark walked toward the back of the building and he saw a figure standing in the dark empty lot behind Vinnie’s. The figure was facing away from him and had on a sweatshirt with a hood. There was a single light above the parking lot that barely lit the figure. Because of this he couldn’t tell until he got closer that this figure was a woman, a fairly short woman at that. The jeans this woman wore were skin tight, maybe by choice or maybe because the woman looked completely drenched from the rain. The woman looked from side to side nervously while Mark drew closer and he found that he was strangely attracted to this woman. She was quite good looking. It wasn’t just the curve of her ass in her skin tight jeans but the silhouette of her soaked body was quite alluring. Mark found himself desiring this woman as he cautiously moved closer.
What was he thinking? His wife had just died. How could he be so attracted to this woman? Throughout his entire marriage he had never actually been attracted to any woman but his wife…and Sarah. When he was a few feet from the woman she turned around and he recognized her right away, it was Sarah. Mark grew furious, Sarah knew about all of this and she had let Jen die! As angry as he was, it disappeared the moment that Sarah spoke.
“Took ya long enough, cutie,” Sarah said as she stared into his eyes. “We have a lot to discuss, but first let’s get out of this rain. I’m fucking soaked!”
Mark wasn’t sure how to respond at first, it was Sarah. She knew about vampires and all this shit that was happening to him, but it was still Sarah. “Ok,” he finally responded.
Mark followed Sarah, occasionally admiring the view of her from behind as she led the way through the alleyways. How could he be thinking this way so soon after his wife had died? There was just something about Sarah. Sarah was so much like his wife, yet looked so completely and beautifully different. Mark found himself wanting Sarah more than he had ever wanted her before. It felt just like the way he wanted Jen and it was confusing. After a few more minutes and many turns they finally arrived at their destination. The Hotel Sandleton. Mark had barely noticed how far they had gone. He was completely mesmerized by the rain-soaked beauty walking in front of him.
“Seriously? Roger’s hotel?” Mark asked indignantly.
“This will all make sense in a few, cutie,” Sarah replied, smiling over her shoulder.
Arg! Why did Asuune030 have to be Sarah?! If it had been anyone else in the world he could have yelled at them, demanded explanations but he never could tell Sarah no. Often he wondered, if Sarah had asked him to cheat on Jen would he have been able to say no? But then again Sarah would have never asked that. Maybe that was why he could never tell her no, she was just as perfect as Jen. Mark’s emotions were all over the place. He missed Jen, but now that he was staring at Sarah, her wet clothes clinging to her perfect body all he could do was think of Sarah.
Sarah stopped at the front desk and leaned over to whisper to the older man that was clearly the desk clerk.
“My friend and I might get a little loud. His new…situation and all, not to mention Jen. If any of the guests ask, it is emergency maintenance on the master suite. Please offer them a discount, free breakfast, whatever it takes,” Sarah said then stepped away from the desk.
“Yes, Miss Sandleton,” the older man replied respectfully.
“How did we not know?!” Sarah asked, her voice getting louder and more agitated.
“I have no idea, miss. There was no chatter. It had to be Sariel.” The desk clerk seemed scared as he replied.
Sarah took a few steps into the middle of the room, next to one of the enormous marble columns.
“I FUCKING KNOW IT WAS SARIEL!” Sarah yelled as she put her hand through the marble pillar. The sound was like a shotgun being fired in a small empty room. Marks eardrums felt like they were going to burst. Sarah pulled her fist from the pillar and shook the blood covered marble chips off then turned to the clerk.
“Sorry, I’m not taking Jen’s death as well as I’d like,” Sarah apologized. “I’ll call someone to come fix that tomorrow. It wasn’t load-bearing so it should be fine.”
“I understand Miss Sandleton, if you need anything please let me know.” The clerk seemed more at ease now. He was probably glad Sarah took her anger out on the pillar instead of him, Mark reasoned.
Before Mark realized it, Sarah was half way across the intricately decorated room. Mark hurried to catch up but his attention was divided between looking at the beautiful marble pillars, the intricately decorated floor and tables in the entry room of the hotel. Then there was the stunningly beautiful woman leading him. Mark could not take his eyes off her. Sarah opened then closed her hand a few times and a few more flecks of Marble fell to the floor. Mark was awestruck by the speed at which Sarah’s wounds healed. Before they had left the entry room all of the cuts on Sarah’s hand were almost completely gone.
Mark continued to follow Sarah, down the hall and up a few flights of stairs to the floor where the rich patrons stayed. This floor had only a few doors because the size of each room was nearly three times that of the rooms on the lower floors. What the hell was going on? Sarah Sandleton? Just then Mark realized that he had actually
never asked Sarah what her last name was. He had never bothered to find out, she was just Sarah.
“Are you Roger’s daughter or something?” Mark asked sheepishly.
“Oh my, no. I’ll explain everything when we’re in the room. Don’t want anyone to overhear us.” Sarah turned around and bent over a little while putting her index finger to her mouth. With a childish grin on her face she whispered. “They might think we’re crazy.”
When Sarah bent over Mark couldn’t help but look down her shirt. He felt guilty about it afterward but he just couldn’t help himself. Yep, again, she wasn’t wearing a bra. Why did he keep doing this to himself? He couldn’t have Sarah even if he wanted to. His wife had just died and Sarah was, well, she was Sarah. His best friend, Jen’s best friend, Katie’s best friend. Thinking like this would only hurt everyone, he had to stop but he just couldn’t.
Mark continued to follow Sarah down the hall to the large double doors at the end. No matter how hard he tried, he could not stop watching her ass as she walked in her skin tight, rain soaked jeans, but finally they arrived. He felt relieved and he wasn’t sure if the relief came from the fact that he would finally get some answers or the fact that he might be able to quit looking at Sarah’s stunning body.
When Sarah shut the door behind them she turned to Mark. “Ok, explanation time,” she said as she took off her soaked sweatshirt revealing a soaking wet, white tee-shirt underneath that was nearly see-through.
“Come on, Sarah,” Mark pleaded. His relief turned to guilt again as he stared at Sarah’s gorgeous body through the wet tee-shirt. Her body was absolutely perfect. He wanted to grab her and remove the rest of her soaked clothes then… Mark had to stop this, he couldn’t have Sarah.
“Oh right,” Sarah said as she pulled the shirt over her head and walked toward what Mark assumed was her dresser. “I forgot your aversion to nudity.”
“I don’t have an aversion to nudity, but I’ll find it really difficult to listen to you with your boobs staring me in the face,” Mark said. He needed to act offended when all he really wanted to do was stare at her.
Curse of the Asuune Page 5