Prologue:
It was the oddest dream. I awoke with my hair wet, my skin slick, and my heart pounding in my chest.
I sat up in bed, hoping to dispel the horror in my mind.
The dream started like an erotic movie. Vivid but brief glimpses of flesh- yummy, muscled male flesh that made me frantic to see more. When I realized it was indeed my dream to do with as I pleased, I reached out to touch that slick, shining skin.
It was pure heaven beneath my fingers. His hand reached up to cover mine, pressing it against his flesh.
But then it changed. Bright overhead lights were above me, and there was a doctor with a mask over the lower half of his face. He said something; I could see his lips move, but I never heard the sound. I stared stupidly at him, wondering why the sudden silence.
I was numb from the neck down, and now confused as well. I tried to sit up, wanting to do anything I could to bring the beginning of the dream back to me. Strong arms pushed me back down to the table and a scream bit into the silence of the dream.
It was my scream, one to dispel the pain that sliced through my midsection. Then it was over, one pain was all. The smiling doctor carried the infant to me, my baby son.
He was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Pink and plump, and I reached out to touch him. He opened his mouth to cry, and in that tiny, open mouth was a set of... vampire fangs.
That was when the terror hit. I screamed, pushing myself away from the infant laying on the table with me. And before my eyes, he grew fur.
Now I sat shivering, the sweat that had glistened on my skin drying and cooling me quickly now. My heart wasn?t pounding so painfully anymore and I was able to think again without the adrenaline racing through my limbs.
What was that about? A vampiric werewolf baby? Unless I dreamed the vampire part because I knew they existed and suspected that they?d moved into the business next to mine.
And the werewolf portion? I?d had lunch with my friend Connie earlier, and I definitely knew she was werewolf.
That's it, I soothed myself, alone in my huge bed. There was no one else to soothe me, so I spread my pillows out next to me, making a barrier to hug.
The only part I couldn't explain away was the baby. Why would I dream that?
Chapter 1:
Note: unedited
I am just a regular person. A regular, everyday person. I have light brown eyes with a hint of green, and honey brown hair that streaks in the summer. My hair is my crowning glory. It's thick, long and full with a bouncy wave. Unfortunately, it's usually up in a ponytail because I own my own business, a gym for women. It's located in a strip mall along with a few other businesses. Thanks to the gym, I'm toned and fit.
I'm also a City Council Member, nothing to brag about; they're a bunch of snobs. For me it's an inherited position. My father was Mayor of the city and my mother was the City Manager back in the good old days before the Council was corrupt. Both are deceased now, but when I moved back home, the position was offered to me based on my lineage. I'm sure that's a decision now regretted, as I'm considered contrary. As far as I know, mine is the only appointed position.
Owning your own business is not profitable. I put in long hours, and I close every night. But I don't mind. I don't have much else to go home to. Next door to my gym is a bar and grill-type establishment. Which is kind of nice. During the day, I can order lunch there. And, several of the barmaids are members of my gym. The bar becomes profitable at night, however. At night it becomes a dance club - a hot, happening place. And that brings in more business for me. The more exposure for my place, the better.
For that reason, I fight to keep the bar and grill open. The rest of City Council would love to shut them down, run the entire establishment out of town. You see, it's suspected that the owner and several of the employees of Bang are vampires. And even in this day and age, we're prejudiced.
During these modern times, we employ the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. It's illegal to discriminate against vampires, now that we know they exist. But honestly, who's going to enforce that?
The owner of Bang appreciates my vote for him with the Council. He tries to show his appreciation by sending me gifts and asking me out. I return the gifts and refuse the invitations. I don't like to be indebted to anyone, and I'm already called coffin-bait behind my back. Coffin-bait is a derogatory term used for a woman sleeping with the undead. Although, if you could see some of the so-called undead, you would wish you were sleeping with them, derogatory names or not.
Vampires are absolutely gorgeous, sensual creatures. Beautiful faces, beautiful bodies. Their pale skin seems to glow with an inner light, like the full moon on a clear night. They all have ruby red lips and full eyelashes. Natural beauty. Tall and muscular, the way mankind should have been had we not poisoned and corrupted our bodies with bad food, chemicals, and sluggish living. Of course, how do we know if their beauty is real or just vampire glamour?
Vampire glamour is how humans become mesmerized by vampires. Some humans are more prone to mesmerization than others, and have become vampire junkies, always wanting to be propositioned to donate blood or sex.
I knew better than to get involved with supernaturals, yet this story starts when I dropped my guard with the vampires of the city, against my better judgment.
The gym was slow that day. I turned down the volume on the music, and was doing paperwork. I glanced up as I heard the door chimes ring. Three women entered, and I smiled at them. I've always suspected they were vamps, but I don't think anyone else did. Lily, Anna, and Nicki worked at the bar next door. I longingly admired their outfits. All I ever wore were sweats or work out clothes. I tend to admire the cute, feminine-looking clothing. Lily caught me and smiled.
"I knew you'd have your nose buried in the books. I'll bet you haven't even had lunch yet."
I peeked at my watch. Oops. She was right.
"Will you watch the gym while I run next door and get something?"
"Sure. We'll be working out." She pointed to the work out clothes under her arm, and gave me a smile. Lily was rarely without a smile.
I headed next door. It always amazed me to enter the establishment. It was like entering another world. The interior was dark, the windows blocked out so no natural sunlight filtered through. First clue that screamed vampire. I walked up to the bar.
"Hey, Johnny," I called.
Johnny Hamilton was huge, at least 6'4, and full of muscles. And tattoos. I think he doubled as a bouncer during the dance hours. A very dangerous looking man, and if he was now undead, then I don't know what his race used to be. He wasn't pale like most vamps, but darker skinned, almost tanned looking. His well-shaped head gleamed, so I had no idea what color his hair should have been.
"What's it gonna be, Luscious Leah? Bacon cheeseburger and fries?" he asked teasingly.
"Oh, please. I can hardly have the smells of burgers and fries wafting around while my girls are working out, right? I'll have the usual." My usual consisted of a salad.
Johnny grimaced.
"Haven't you ever heard that men like women with curves?"
"I have curves," I grinned. "You just can't see them under the sweats."
Johnny put in the order while we bantered some more. And then my salad was bagged and ready. I handed him a five; he refused.
"I can't take your money, Leah. The boss'll kill me."
"If you don't take my money, I can't accept my salad. And then I'll starve. I hardly think the boss would appreciate you letting me die from starvation over this, right?" I heard a chuckle behind me, and whirled around. Vamps do that; they can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
There was a reason why I avoided Julian Bax, the owner of Bang. It's sort of like being an alcoholic. If you know you're an alcoholic, you avoid alcohol. It's too tempting. Same thing with Julian. It's hard to refuse him when he stands there so devastatingly handsome. So I avoid him.
Julian and I go way back. I'd met him years ago, after the death of my husband. Since my husband's funeral, Julian has tried sending me gifts, asking me out, using every excuse he can to have any sort of a relationship.
Hence the "appreciate my votes with the chamber," excuse to send gifts, but I'd learned the hard way about being indebted to supernaturals. My husband was indebted, and toward the end, I found out he'd tried to use me as payment.
"You know I can't accept free food, Julian."
He reached for my hand, pressing a kiss to my knuckles.
"I know you won't accept free food. And you know that it won't break me." His dark eyes gazed into mine. I lowered my eyes to his lips. They were ruby-red, and sensual. Most women plumped theirs up with injections for that kissy effect, but Julian had it all for himself. Black hair with a superbly cut body completed the ensemble.
"Let me walk you safely back to your gym, Anjelia."
"Safely? It's next door, and it's broad daylight." But it was a sweet offer, and I squeezed his fingertips, still entangled with mine. I spoke too soon.
"She rejects you again and again, and still you offer her Protection? What can you possibly see in a human over a vampire?" A female voice rang out.
The beautiful redhead glided toward Julian, her emerald-green eyes shooting daggers at me. Her pale complexion was set off to perfection by the deep emerald outfit she wore like a second glove. The shimmery, green material was so dark, it was nearly black. Why couldn't that pale skin be covered with freckles?
Julian was still looking into my eyes. I spoke quietly, for his ears only.
"I guess the cat's out of the bag, hmm?"
Julian knew what I was talking about. Until this point, he'd never admitted being vampire. The bar went deathly still. Julian's eyes never left mine as he uttered one word. "Johnny."
The muscled bartender/bouncer took hold of the redhead's arm and dragged her to the stairs from whence she came. I heard her pleas as she was pulled away.
"Please, I didn't mean anything. I meant no disrespect. Really-"
There was silence when the door slammed. Soundproofing. Necessary for a nightclub, I suppose. Julian acted as though nothing had occurred.
"Shall we?" He offered me his arm.
I was a little shaken up by the scene with the redhead, so I took it. He walked me back to my gym, through the shadows of our building's hanging canopy, and handed me my bag. Julian was an extremely old vampire, to be able to walk outside in the shade.
"You're under my protection, Anjelia. She won't bother you again." With another kiss to my knuckles and a lingering look at my lips, he left me.
Lily, Anna and Nicki were upon me immediately. I looked at the trio. As usual, Lily was in the middle, her pale blondness a stark contrast to the dark hair of the other two. The three girls were always together, and all were beautiful in their own way.
Lily was sweet, a gentle little soul with dark, large eyes. She reminded me of a doe caught in the headlights.
Anna was, well - Anna. Not quite a bitch, but very close. Unless she liked you, and I guess I was lucky in that respect. She was athletic with dark hair and tilted green eyes. Full lips and heavy brows that seemed to fit her face made her overall features extraordinary.
Nicki was the intelligent one. I wouldn't be surprised if she'd been a rocket scientist, when alive. She was also the mediator of the group. She was slender, with eyes as dark as Lily's, yet almond shaped instead of round. Her pale skin had a light smattering of freckles over her cheeks and the bridge of her pert little nose.
"How'd you rate a walk back with the boss?" Nicki asked.
"I don't know. Something strange happened."
"Strange? Like what?" asked Lily.
"I was talking to Julian, and a redhead appeared, out of nowhere. Said something about how she doesn't know what he sees in a human. Johnny pulled her away, and Julian offered me his 'protection.' Does any of this make sense to you guys?"
There was a minute of silence while the girls looked at one another.
"The redhead is Danielle. She'd love to sink her claws into the boss. They used to be close, centuries ago. For some reason, Julian still keeps her around," Lily shuddered, and that said it all about her feelings for Danielle.
"What does this have to do with me?" I asked.
"She's jealous. We all know that the boss has, shall we say, a soft spot for you?"
"A crush? He barely knows me. I avoid him more than I speak to him. I've given him a few votes, that's all. I expect nothing in return. Especially now."
"Especially now? Now that you know what we are?" Anna nearly growled.
"No offense guys. But I don't date humans, much less vampires." I held out my hands in a submissive gesture.
Suddenly, Lily grinned. "This may just work out to our advantage. If the boss thinks that you won't go out with him because you know for certain what we are, instead of refusing for just suspecting, he's going to be furious with Danielle. And we get to watch."
All three grinned at each other. I smiled. They were incorrigible.
"Play it as you will, girls," I said, moving to my front desk.
They waved at me, and headed back to the bar. At the door, Lily looked back.
"Oh, by the way, I'm glad you know. I'm tired of sneaking over here to work out on cloudy days, or running through the shadows. And 'protection' means you're marked as Julian's property. No one else can own you, mark you, bite you, whatever. Bye!"
She left me standing with my mouth open. I closed it as I realized that Julian would question them when they returned. He'd noticed them working out. He'd ask, and they'd tell him I thought it creepy to date a vampire. He was starting to ask me out more often lately. Maybe now he would refrain. Maybe this could work out to my advantage.
Maybe if I'd have known that I was about to embark on a dark, twisted path with the supernaturals of the world, I'd have packed up and moved away.
* * * * *
The next morning dawned bright and early, and I remembered that tonight was my monthly City meeting. I went to work as usual, and it was a calm and uneventful day. I'd brought along extra clothes to change into for my Council meeting and dressed quickly. I drove over to Main Hall and entered the conference room, then took my seat and tugged my black blazer around myself. The air conditioning was always turned up full blast in these meetings. I suspected half the council members were from hell and this was their chance to control the temperature.
"Been wearing a lot of black since you've been hanging out with the vampires." The tone in the voice was snide, and I knew who it was before I even looked up.
"Councilman Grove. I do not now, nor have I ever, hung out with vampires. If I chose to, however, I would do so regardless of your opinion. I'm actually wearing black because I woke up thinking I had to attend a funeral today. Instead it was my monthly meeting. And since when is wearing black a vampire consideration?" My tone was as sarcastic as his; I couldn't help myself. The weasel always made my hackles rise.
Glenn Grove was a pain in my, er, area. His vanity was incredible, not that he had anything to be vain about. His hair should have been brown, but the shades varied during the month. He started the month with freshly colored hair, and it was a few shades darker than normal, nearly black. It slowly faded during the month to an almost reddish color before he dyed it again. He wore thick, coke bottle glasses and a mustache that hung in handlebars down the sides of his mouth.
His weight also fluctuated greatly. A lot of the time he was on a liquid diet and was rail thin. Then the man would lose all control, ignore the diet, and blow up a good fifty pounds before the vicious cycle started again. He was in his thin mode right now.
"I think bite marks on your neck would be a good indication of whether or not you've gone vampire." The jerk actually tried to look down my blouse.
"I think a better indication would be my funeral procession, followed my rise shortly thereafter."
"Maybe we should behead or stake you to make sure you don't rise."
"If you think you can get that close to me, you try it." My voice was warning now.
"Children, children. Please take your seats."
Mayor Barbara Flaggstaff spoke to both of us, but was looking directly at Glenn. I allowed myself a smirk as he took his seat, an unbecoming shade of red coloring his cheeks.
Councilmember Glenn Grove was a woman hater. Everyone knew it, and everyone wondered why his own wife put up with him. And it absolutely burned his butt to have to concede to our female mayor. Barbara tended to favor me. She was a fair person, knew my parents, and welcomed another woman to the council. If she had her way, she'd get rid of Councilman Grove, but his position was elected and not appointed.
"First up on the agenda is whether or not to allow a bar and grill type establishment to continue to run its business. Arguments for the position are that we don't want to attract this kind of nightlife attention to our city. Arguments against claim that diversity is needed in our city."
Barbara's voice droned on, bored. We heard this argument every time it was allowed to be brought up, about every three months or so. I scribbled on a notepad near my fingers. This was the usual argument against Bang's, nothing new, and as usual I would veto it.
".as you all know, this bill needs a unanimous vote in order to pass. All in favor of the bill?"
A few hands went up.
"All against?"
My hand rose. There was a collective groan across the table. I sighed.
"Did you really expect anything different this month?" I asked no one in particular.
"Especially from coffin bait." Someone muttered. I was sure it was Grove.
"May I remind each and every council member that we are televised and professionalism must be observed at all times?" The mayor's voice rang sharply. She was a stickler for keeping on track.
There was no response. No one would confess to the statement.
I smiled, my chin up. "My vote stands."
"Then with seven ayes, and one no, the measure once again doesn't pass. Next point of business will be the allowance of a new development to the city..."
Three hours later, we finally stood to leave. It was eleven p.m. and I thought about driving to the gym, but all the antagonism in the board meeting exhausted me. It would take all my energy just get home and drag myself straight to bed.
I walked across the darkened parking lot to my car. It was silent outside, eerily so. I fumbled with my car key, trying to insert it quickly into the lock. Instead, I dropped the damn set and bent over to retrieve them. There was a booted foot in my line of vision, and I slowly straightened.
"Why do you persist on vetoing my bill every time it's brought up?" Councilman Grove asked me, his piggish eyes boring into mine.
"Why do you persist in bringing up a bill like that?"
"What's it to you, Councilwoman?"
"Because a few decades ago it would have been black and white segregation, Councilmember. I would have vetoed it then. And I'll veto it now."
"I'll be honest with you. There's an organization out there that believes in segregation. And before you look down your nose at me, think about it. We're their food. There should be segregation."
"What's your organization? Ku Klux Klan?"
"Dammit, woman! Where's your brain? Think about it: us versus them. They have unlimited strength, and we're the bottom of the food chain. They can hypnotize us into believing we enjoy helping them, which is exactly where you are now."
"This argument is pointless. I really need to go home and get to bed." I had a small headache beginning, probably from mentally bashing my head against a brick wall.
Grove grabbed my upper arm.
"Take your hand off me."
He opened his mouth to speak. Words never made it out. Let's just say, I panic when I'm grabbed. Before I realized what had happened, Councilmember Grove was hunched over his groin on the sidewalk, and my knee slightly ached from the connection.
I left him there, rolling on the ground. I got into my car and drove home, where I could ice my knee.
When I arrived home, I locked my door behind me. That's when I felt it. Something was watching me. That's the best way I can describe it. The very air around me stilled, and my senses prickled with awareness. Awareness that left me feeling naked; exposed.
I've had these feelings for as long as I could remember. I have no idea who or what watches me, whether it's good or evil. I can't imagine it's good, because I can remember being watched once while I took a beating and no fairy godmother intervened.
And there was no intervening this time. I cocked my head to the side; as if I could hear something I could not see. I waited, as if something would show itself. It didn't. It never did.
* * * * *
The next day was Sunday, so I cleaned my house. The whole thing, top to bottom. It was starting to get dark by the time I finished, so I thought I'd take a long, luxurious bath as a treat. With a nice wine, perhaps. Candles lit around the tub. And some Barry White playing. No, make that Lloyd Weber. The haunting piano tones that send shivers down your back. The only problem was I had to run out for the wine.
At least the liquor store was nearby. In fact, it was located in the same strip mall as my gym. I entered the store, and went straight to the wine section. I grabbed my usual, but then thought about it. Maybe I should try something new. Be adventurous. I pondered this for a moment before hearing a smooth, familiar, sexy voice. Julian Bax stood next to me, dressed impeccably as always in black slacks and a black shirt, the collar dipping low enough to show his exposed pale throat.
I nearly groaned. I was wearing old denim shorts and a ratty t-shirt, with my hair in a messy ponytail. I felt dusty and dirty, while he was beautiful.
"How are you, Anjelia?"
"I'm fine. Yourself?"
"Good. What are your plans this evening?"
"I thought I'd sit at home in a long bath, decided I needed wine, and then decided to experiment with some new ones."
A little too much information, but I felt I needed to explain the three bottles in my arms. I was never more aware of the need to tug my shorts further down my legs when my arms were otherwise occupied.
"This one is good. I'd replace this though."
"With what? I'm a creature of habit. I always purchase Old Faithful, here." I gestured to the third bottle in my arms.
"Here, let me." He took two of the bottles from me, placing one back on the shelf and keeping one. "Try this. I think you'll like it."
I nodded. "Okay. Thanks."
"Shall I carry them to the counter for you?"
"Sure."
We walked to the counter, and set the three bottles down.
"Just put them on my account." Julian told the store clerk.
"Julian!" I protested.
"Anjelia. I know what you're going to say, and I already compromised with you once this week. I let you buy your own lunch."
The clerk bagged the wines, and Julian grabbed the heavier of the paper sacks. He walked me out to the car. I fought with myself all the way out, knowing what I should do.
"Julian, since you paid for my wine, the least I can do is invite you over for a glass." Was that my voice I heard? I could hardly tell, as my eyes gazed into the velvety darkness of his. I caught myself finally, and looked away.
"Are you inviting me because you'd like my company or because I bought them?"
"Because you bought them."
"I'd love a glass." He smiled. Vampires never let opportunity pass them by.
We drove to my house. I live in a modest little Victorian-style house, a buttery yellow with white trim. It has a wrap-around porch surrounding the bay window that looks into my living room. I unlocked the front door, and Julian waited on the porch. I'd expected him to follow me in, and turned back to look at him when he didn't. I raised an eyebrow.
"You have to invite me in. I've never been in your house."
"And if I don't?"
He raised his hand, and tried to place it through the open doorway. It was stuck on an invisible force field, unable to penetrate inside. I walked toward him. His hand was still out, held up against the invisible field. I reached out to him. There was no field for me, and my palm settled directly onto his, my fingers perfectly aligned but so much smaller. I pressed against him, and he pressed back towards me. I let my hand float gently backwards, until the field began. He couldn't follow again, and mine left his. I dropped my hand and stepped back. It was all very interesting, and curiosity was one of my dominant traits.
"Come on in."
Julian stepped over the threshold. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. You were holding the wine." I said with a smile.
I walked toward the kitchen and he followed me.
"Julian, I forgot. I broke my corkscrew last time I used it. I meant to buy another at the liquor store."
"I guess it's a good thing you have me along." He smiled wickedly, baring his teeth. Perfectly white teeth showed, bordered by his fangs.
"How sharp are they? Surely you're not going to..."
He didn't answer but brought a wine bottle up to his left fang. Puncturing the cork, he wiggled it gently, sliding it upward. He pulled the bottle from his mouth, and used his incredible hand strength to smoothly pull the rest of the cork from it.
I had to swallow. His teeth were white and perfectly straight. They were also damn sexy.
"I guess you are good to have along. I can't believe you just did that."
"I've been telling you that for years. And what good are fangs if you can't use them?"
I ignored that, since I didn't know in which way he was referring to using those fangs, and got out the wine glasses. Julian didn't like being ignored and reached for my hand.
"Careful," I warned. "You do want to be invited back, right?"
I felt a slight panic, knowing that I was alone in a house that I'd invited a vampire with superhuman strength into.
He smiled, and my fear vanished. His lower lip curved, and he dropped my hand gently. I watched that lower lip, sexily pouting, and had the urge to lick mine. Fighting the urge, I poured the wine.
We clinked our glasses together, and I took a small sip.
"You were right." I acknowledged.
"I usually am." He answered smugly.
I took another drink, and tried not to guzzle it down.
"Show me your place?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
We walked through the second kitchen door, and into my living room. My sofa faced the door, and I had a bay window that looked out to my front, wrap around porch. Julian looked about appreciatively.
"I like it. It's very feminine, it suits you."
I had a dark moment as I thought of how my previous house looked when I was married. I'd hated it, the black and white décor, all my husband's idea. I shrugged off my mood, and we walked through the living room to what was originally my office, but now was a library. I took him to my bedroom next.
"I like your bed. Most single people have small beds."
I liked a large bed; I slept in the middle, safe, with pillows around me. Though I wouldn't share that.
"You know, if I ever spend the night, you'll have to move the bed from the window. That wall should do."
I looked at him. "You won't be sleeping over."
"Anjelia, what dirty little mind you have! I merely meant if I were to housesit for you, or perhaps if you ever needed an overnight bodyguard. Surely if I am doing you a favor like that you won't expect me to sleep on that small sofa?" he teased.
"Which brings us to the guest bedroom. Feel free to decorate this any way you want it." I led him to the small room, which felt dwarfed by his size.
Julian smiled slowly at me. "If you let me decorate it, I'd close off the window. Black blinds, black curtains. With that much black, the coverlet should be black also. With your guest room looking so vampy, you'll never have another human houseguest."
Black? I fought the horror. Was he a little like my ex-husband, preferring the color? I chalked it up to black simply being a vampire color, and my husband having been a supernatural wannabe.
I shrugged. "I have no human houseguests, now. And the room is set up for humans."
The guest bedroom was painted a light, summery blue. Sheer white curtains adorned the window, and a white, lacy coverlet was on the bed. Nope, I'd never had a single houseguest.
We entered my room again so I could show him my adjoining bathtub, with the candles strategically placed around it, in preparation for my bath. It was big enough for two. Or, at least, I'd assumed it was. I've never had a man in my tub. Or my house, for that matter.
"Very nice," Julian murmured. "I like a big tub."
I had a mental vision of him in my tub, the lights turned low, and all the candles lit. The vision jerked something low in my abdomen, triggered a need I hadn't felt in a long time.
Whew. The temperature rose with my thoughts, so I quickly led him from the bathroom. I took him upstairs, which is not really much of an upstairs. It's just a loft, reached by a tiny little winding staircase.
"No basement?" he asked.
"No basement. I don't really need one, it's just me." At that moment a thought occurred to me. I wondered if he only felt safe in a basement where no sun could reach.
"Do you sleep, uh,..." Do the undead sleep or do they die? "...in a basement?"
"Yes. It's the safest place from the sun."
"Where do you live?"
"Lately I live at Bang's."
"In the bar? All the time?"
"Do you want to know a secret?"
I nodded, that curiosity gene getting the better of me as I leaned in.
"Underneath the building where we work is a huge, cavernous basement. We actually live there, underneath the businesses."
"No one knows? How could we not hear you?"
"All the businesses except for Bang's are daytime operations. During the day we sleep quietly under there. At night we can make as much noise as we want, the businesses are closed."
I was impressed. "That's actually pretty clever."
"You won't tell anyone?"
"Nope. Not if you'll show me sometime."
"Would you like to come now?"
I looked down at myself. "I really am in no condition to be out in public."
He looked at me strangely. "I'm sure you know you're beautiful, Anjelia."
"Beautiful?" It made me want to laugh. "You're surrounded by vampires who look like supermodels. You think I'm beautiful?"
He touched my cheek. "Absolutely. No vampire's skin can be this warm, not naturally. And it's so smooth, so soft. Vampires, we all feel the same. Feeling another vampire is like feeling yourself."
"May I?" I indicated touching with my fingertips. He nodded.
I touched his cheek. His skin did have a different texture than mine, but it was probably something I wouldn't have noticed on my own. I trailed my fingertips to his hair. It was glossy and black, cut modern and short. Few people have truly black hair. Usually they have a dark brown version. His skin was a pale, creamy, white that contrasted beautifully with his hair. It was rare to see a black haired individual with white skin. His eyes were dark, a deep pool of ebony that I could see my reflection in. His skin was a few degrees cooler than mine and I shivered for him.
"Are you always cold?" I asked.
"It's something you get used to." He shrugged.
"But do you crave warmth?"
He nodded. "We can't go into the sun. We dread summer because the days are longer, and that means less time that we can be outside. It makes for long days."
I had the strangest urge. An urge to lift his shirt, and wrap my arms around his bare skin. To warm his cool body with mine.
I stepped back. "Let me take a quick shower and you can show me your basement, okay?"
Julian inclined his head, and stood where I left him. I backed away, still fighting the insane urge to lift his shirt.
I showered quickly, and even washed my hair. I blow-dried it a little bit, and put the rest up in a loose knot, where it dried curly. And finally, I hurried out to my living room, where Julian still waited.
"All done."
He stood, and his nostrils flared ever so slightly. I was aware that he was sniffing me. I never wore perfume, my ex-husband didn't allow it, and now I was just out of the habit. I know now that perfumes are too strong for the sensitive noses of the supernaturals, and my ex was making me more attractive to them. All Julian would smell was the scent of just scrubbed skin, and the faint scent of shower gel I used.
Grabbing my car keys, we drove to work. His work, the bar; and my work, the gym.
"Where shall I park?"
"Here is fine. We'll enter through the bar."
We went into Bang's, and Johnny was behind the bar as usual. He waved at me, and I waved back. Julian led me to the back stairs.
"Going up leads to my office. Going down, however."
It didn't look like a downstairs. It was a closed hallway. I looked at him, puzzled.
"It's masked. Courtesy of Tanya, our resident witch. Humans don't notice the opening. Here, take my hand and trust me."
Julian walked slowly through the wall. His hand gently pulled mine through, and the rest of me followed until I was on the other side also. I didn't feel anything. My brain was befuddled, like it couldn't comprehend my body going through a wall. He didn't let go of my hand, and I was too flabbergasted to notice that we stood there staring at each other, holding hands. This was the first glamour, or magic of this kind, that I'd ever seen.
The basement was huge, although winding passageways, which reminded me of a maze, broke it up. It was faintly lit, the walls dark like a cave that went on for miles. Julian walked the length of it, pointing out small details. Actually, there wasn't much I could see. Vampire vision must be a lot better than human vision.
We finally arrived at his quarters. It consisted of one large room, basically. There was a sitting area with a loveseat and chairs at the front of the room. A small door led to the bathroom.
"You live here?"
"I sleep here. I have lots of homes. Homes in other countries, other states."
"Vampires don't sleep in coffins?"
"We don't need to, not always. But, if we're injured and need to heal, or if we need a re-charging, so to speak, we have coffins for that purpose. Each one has healing soil enclosed, from each vampire's homeland. Would you like to see?"
I nodded and we left his quarters. The coffin room was in the center of the basement. There were rows of coffins set in a circular pattern. Each coffin was a duplicate of the one next to it, no variance at all.
"How do you know which is yours?"
"A vampire can sense his own. Smell his own personal soil, even if two vampires come from the same homeland."
"Where's yours?"
He took me to one of the coffins, and opened the lid. Sure enough, it had soil in it.
"You can touch it."
That was when I became aware that he still held my hand. He released me, and I dipped it into his coffin. The soil flowed through my fingers.
"It's warm," I said, astonished.
He nodded and looked surprised himself. The soil didn't feel like plain old everyday dirt. It was silken to my fingers, flowing in and out and between.
"It can't be dirt. It feels magical. It makes me happy." I laughed, too happy to contain it. I felt bubbly, like the effervescence of champagne. Leaning toward him, I confided, "I want to take off my clothes and roll around in it, like a mud bath."
"You feel the magic?" He still looked surprised. Then he looked back at the soil. "It should be simple dirt to you. You shouldn't even feel the warmth."
"I do. I'd like to lay in it."
"Go ahead."
"It's a coffin. What if the lid slams shut?"
He climbed in gracefully, and held out his arms. "Come on."
I climbed in also, and lay in his arms. We were a little close; it was a one-man coffin.
It felt peaceful and relaxing, like taking a warm bath on a lazy day. Or, watching a storm outside when you don't have to leave the warmth of your home. I snuggled into his body, and was aware that I could sleep like this.
I basked in the comforting feeling of his coffin. Then I realized the comfort wasn't from the coffin, but from the body pressed alongside mine. As soon as I realized that, comfort left and awareness began.
His arm was under my head, and I was slightly turned toward him. I couldn't see anything in the dark, but I was very aware of where our bodies touched. One of his knees was pressed slightly between my own, innocent enough. The innocence would shatter if I opened my legs and let his leg slip further against me.
I became aware of my heartbeat. I could actually feel it thumping, pounding the blood through my veins. I was afraid he'd hear it in the close proximity, so I said, "We really should get out. I need to get home, and I just feel like taking a nap."
"Why don't you spend the night, sometime?" He leaned over me, and the muscles of his thigh pressed between my legs. It made me catch my breath.
"It's a little strange. I mean, it's perfectly normal for you to sleep in a coffin, but I'm human. How would I explain that?"
"No one needs an explanation. No one will know but you and I." He whispered, and I felt his breath against my lips. I knew how near he must be.
"Maybe," I hedged. His finger stroked alongside my cheek. It found its way to my mouth, and traced my lower lip. I paused while I fought the overwhelming urge to part my lips and suckle his fingertip. "One day." I promised, and wondered what I was promising, the sleep in a coffin or more. No matter, in either case I was sorely tempted.
My thoughts ran rampant. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea. As much as I fought prejudice against vampires, I didn't want my own life linked to them.
Although Julian made my heart race, and my blood soar, I didn't want to be coffin bait. I didn't want to sleep with a vampire. But he was a temptation I'd never known.
Sure, I blamed my squeamishness on almost being sold to the supernaturals. But I wondered. Deep inside, was I as prejudiced as the rest of my race?
When we finally climbed out of his coffin, he closed the lid regretfully. It was the oddest thing. I should have felt like I had to brush myself off, but I didn't. He took my hand again, leading me out of the coffin room. I allowed it, pretending that I needed to be led in that poor lighting.
We went back upstairs to the bar. On the way up, he asked me if I would mind waiting while he fed.
"How, exactly?" I suspiciously covered my neck with my hand.
He laughed. "I mean with a glass of O Negative from the bar, Anjelia."
"Oh. Why O Negative?"
"It's my favorite."
"I just wondered. O Negative is my blood type. I wondered if you knew."
He laughed again. And hugged me. "No, I can't smell your blood type through your skin. I would never dream of feeding from you without your invitation." He stopped hugging me, but was still standing close. Close enough to kiss. "I do think you're perfect for me though. You feel the healing magic of my coffin, although you're human. And you're just my flavor." I thought, for just a moment, that Julian might have kissed my lips briefly. But I don't exactly know for sure. Maybe I imagined it.
We were upstairs and headed to the bar where Johnny was tending, as usual. He nodded at me, and slid a glass of Red down the counter to Julian.
"Leah, can I get you something?"
"No, Johnny, I'm fine."
"Anjelia," I heard behind me. I turned to see Nicki.
"When did you get here? Come see Anna and Lily for a minute. I'll bring her right back," she said to Julian.
She grabbed my hand and led me through the crowded dance floor to a table where Anna and Lily sat. I went with her, relieved because I wondered if Julian wanted to drink in private. I wasn't sure how I felt about watching him drink a glass of blood. The thought turned my stomach. Blood stains, doesn't it? I imagined it staining his lips, staining his teeth. I fought down the revulsion.
As we walked away from Julian, I thought to myself, I can't believe I was just in a coffin with a vampire. Did I really lie close to him, and actually want more?
I didn't have time to ponder it further, because Nicki and I reached the table and sat. I looked at the other two.
"What's up, Leah? Not much of a bar hopper, are you?" Anna said.
"Looks like I'm hopping right now." I said sarcastically.
"And you're with Julian. Miracles happen."
"I'm not really with him. We were just visiting, like friends. I ran into him earlier."
"Then how did you end up here?"
"Well, as you can see, I'm not exactly dressed to be on a date. He was just showing me around and we wound up here." I waved my hand as if it were no big deal.
There was a pause. "Well, to wind up here, he would have been showing you around downstairs, correct?"
I didn't know quite how to answer.
Lily smiled. "Fess up, girl."
"Yes, we were downstairs. He was just showing me his coffin."
That didn't sound good. Especially with the way all three girls stared at me.
"I mean, our clothes were on. That is, just showing me his coffin... We didn't do anything. We weren't even thinking about that. I mean, I wasn't. Not that Julian was. What!! Say something." I finally stopped talking.
Nicki spoke. "A vampire doesn't share his coffin, Leah. Ever. Especially a Master Vampire. To know where he slumbers when dead to the world, you'd have the power to destroy him. Did you notice that all the coffins were the same? No one knows which coffin belongs to him. Even us. We can only sense out our own."
Julian chose that moment to appear. He placed his hand on my shoulder, and I looked up. I felt that momentary life pause, where the world just stopped as I gazed at him.
"I thought you were bringing her back to me, Nicki." He growled, while looking into my eyes.
Her voice was unrepentant. "She's been gone two minutes, Julian. I was going to bring her back in two and a half."
"Smart aleck."
He took my hand and led me away. The music was loud, and he held me close, wrapping his arm around my waist as he spoke into my ear.
"Do you want to dance?"
"No, I should be getting home. I work tomorrow morning."
I thought he might argue, but he didn't. He simply nodded, and we walked back out to the parking lot. Once we arrived at my car, he got in with me. I looked at him in surprise.
"I'll see you home," he said.
"But how will you get back? We drove here in my car."
"I can fly."
I drove to my house, and he walked me to my front door. I wondered if he would kiss me, but he didn't try. He just inclined his head toward me, told me he had a fun evening, and then he was gone. I shut my front door, bemused. I actually had fun, too. With the vampires.
