B008GMVYA4 EBOK (22 page)

“Do you like it?” Brendan said from behind her.

Madison twisted her body round as she jumped at the sound of
his voice. He smiled sweetly at her surprise. Brendan wore a pair of black
baggy jeans and a simple white t-shirt. His hair was in his usual style,
perfectly hanging down either side of his cheeks.

His skin was cleanly shaven and fresh looking compared to
Madison’s pasty face. A warm scent of spiced vanilla filled Madison’s nostrils
as he approached her.

“It’s beautiful” Madison said, smiling at Brendan.

“I’ve been working on it for quite a while, in my free time
anyway” he said joining Madison at her side.

Madison felt herself been drawn into Brendan’s eyes, they
were even more beautiful in the sunlight.  They sparkled and glistened as
the beams of light reflected from his gaze.

Brendan caught Madison’s gaze, she looked away quickly
flushing pink.

“The view is spectacular” Madison said gazing out across the
city.

“It’s really something at sunset. How are you feeling
anyway?”

“Umm…. I have a little bit of a head-ach, but I’m okay -
considering” she said.

“Your arm” Brendan interrupted, his eyes focused on the side
of Madison’s left arm.

She pulled her arm up into view and twisted it to the side
to see what Brendan had spotted. A black and purple bruise covered the whole
way along the left side of her forearm. Madison touched it carefully with her
index finger; she winced at the tender flesh. She lowered her left arm and raised
her right to distinguish whether any damage had been done. Her right arm had
dark bruises which resembled finger prints round her wrist and forearm. Both
arms had different shades of purple and black bruises randomly scattered on
them.

“I guess the bruises must have happened when Rich grabbed me
and threw me across the room. I hit the floor pretty hard...” Madison
explained.

“Maybe you should see a doctor?” Brendan said concerned.

“I’m fine, it‘s just a few bruises”

“I’m so sorry, Madison. I shouldn’t have let you in that
house” he whispered in regret.

“Hey…. It’s not your fault. I should have listened to you. I
owe you my life” Madison reassured.

Brendan’s eyes glazed over in deep thought. His mind ran
through the events of yesterday, wondering whether he could have done something
different.

“Where’s the bathroom?” Madison asked.

“You can use my bathroom; it’s bigger than the guest
bathroom. The door next to the guest room, go through my bedroom and your see
it” Brendan said flatly, only momentarily awakening from his gaze.

“Thanks” Madison smiled at Brendan weakly, before heading
towards his bedroom.

She entered the door to Brendan’s bedroom. A strong aroma of
vanilla spice filled her nostrils, sending her head light and dizzy; the smelt
was sweet and delicious just like Brendan. The room was painted a fashionable
light grey and it was much larger than the guest room Madison had stayed in
last night. A round, double bed with sink grey sheets sat in the middle of the
room and fitted, white cupboards lined either side of the bedroom walls. A
large window stretched across the back wall of the room, providing another
stunning view of London. A stunning gold and silver leaf chandelier with
crystal stones hung from the ceiling.

Madison studied every aspect of the room for a moment, her
eyes gazed over to the creased silk bed sheets and her body urged to fill the
silk sheets on her naked skin - she urged to fill Brendan’s cool finger tips
trace over the curves of her body.

Shaking the erotic images out of her mind, Madison sighed
and continued towards the bathroom door. 

The bathroom was titled with white ceramic tiles and in the
centre of the room stood a huge bathtub with golden taps, the hand basin on one
side of the tub and the toilet on the other. A shower cubicle stood to
Madison’s left, it was modern and high tech in comparison to anything Madison
had ever seen before. Brendan's bathroom was size of the bedroom/lounge and
kitchen combined in her bedsit - it was the biggest bedroom she had ever seen.
It looked fresh and smelt extremely clean, something that she found surprising
for a man’s bathroom. Madison shut the bathroom door and twisted the lock. She
headed towards the basin and began to remove the remainder of last night’s make
up. The cold water against her face felt refreshing and awoke her from a sleepy
haze. She used one of Brendan’s soft towels from the towel rail beside the
basin to wipe the water droplets from her face.

Madison took off her skirt and turned to examine her back in
the waist height mirror above the hand basin. A large purple graze covered the
arch of her back and green/purple bruises began to form on her shoulder blades.
The bruising was in the exact place Madison’s back had impacted on the hard
wooden floor after Rich had thrown her. The graze had occurred from the force
caused of being thrown backwards and sliding across the hard wooden floor.
Small, dark purple and black bruises had formed randomly over Madison’s back
and shoulders, but there was no serious injuries.

After noticing every individual bruise on her body she began
to feel the dull ache of every individual bruise. Her lower back ached, causing
her to feel uncomfortable standing and her arms were tender to touch.

Carefully Madison began to remove the rest of her clothes,
before slipping into the shower cubicle and shutting the door behind her.

*   *   *

Madison stepped out from Brendan's bedroom into the large
open plan apartment. She wore the same dusty uniform she had worn last night,
but she was clean and feeling more relaxed.  Her wet hair was tied up in a
bun on the top of her head and her cheeks pink from the heat of the shower.

The clang of pots and pans echoed from the kitchen - Madison
headed to the noise.

“Hi” she said as she entered the kitchen.

“I’ve made you some breakfast, take a seat” Brendan said
gesturing towards the breakfast bar in the middle of the kitchen.

“What time is it?” she asked, as she sat in front a plate of
scrambled eggs.

“It’s a little after one” Brendan said, eyeing up the
bruises on Madison’s arm again.

“I didn’t know vampires could cook?” Madison joked, trying
to remove the concerned look which was once again present on Brendan’s face

“It‘s a skill not all of us have” Brendan chucked “Are you
sure you don’t want to see a doctor?”

“No. No, I’m fine. Just sore” Madison said smiling weakly.

“I’m so sorry….” Brendan began to say.

“It’s ok. Let’s talk about something else, please” Madison
insisted, scooping a large folk full of scrambled eggs into her mouth.

Brendan fell silent for a moment and then slowly nodded in
agreement.

“What do I do now? I mean, I can’t go back there, can I?”
Madison asked slowly.

“No, you can’t... You can stay here as long as you want” he
said, hopeful.

“Thanks” Madison said, shocked “But... I should really think
about finding somewhere else to live. After seeing Gabby’s reaction last night,
I doubt she would be too thrilled if she found out I was still here”

“I’ll deal with Gabby, it’s none of her business anyway” he
said angrily.

“Still... I don’t really feel like picking a fight with a
vampire”.

Brendan features shifted to the floor, her comment had
offered him slightly. Madison had noticed on a few occasions when the word
vampire came up in Brendan almost winced or looked hurt.

“Gabby wouldn’t hurt you, not if she valued her own life”
Brendan reassured.

“How old is Gabby?” Madison asked, suddenly curious.

“She’s old, a lot older than me. Neither Gabby nor Trace is
able to step out into the sunlight. I don’t really know for sure how old they
both our and they don’t talk about their past. I don’t even know how they met?
But, from what I’ve gathered they were newborns around the same time and they
have been together ever since. How they change though, is a subject they both
never talk about and something they both want to forget, and I've never pressed
the subject with them. Most Vampires are not willing to discuss how they were
changed or when - most simply just don’t remember. For us, it‘s not something
we really discussed to be honest”

"Sorry..." Madison said feeling slightly
embarrassed.

"It's OK, you didn't know..." Brendan smiled
sweetly.  

Madison ate the rest of her scramble eggs in silence -
Brendan watched fascinated from the opposite side of the breakfast bar. There
were still so many questions she wanted to ask Brendan, but she felt she had
asked enough for now.  Once she had finished her eggs, Madison grabbed the
glass of orange juice Brendan had poured for her and gulped it down in two
swigs. She hadn't realised how hungry she was until she saw the soft, white,
fluffy, scrambled eggs - now her stomach was full and settled.

“My clothes….” Madison said, placing the empty glass down
onto the breakfast bar.

“You’re clothes?” Brendan said, eyeing Madison’s grubby work
clothes.

“I need to be at work for 4pm and I don't have a change of
clothes. I really can’t wear this!” Madison stated, examining her dirty shirt.

“I’ll go now, I won’t be long” Brendan said softly, jumping
up from the breakfast bar and heading towards the front door.

“I can come with you” Madison offered, leaping to Brendan’s
side.

“No it‘s fine. You stay here and watch some TV or a DVD.
I‘ll be back before you know it” he said reassuringly.

Madison smiled and stopped dead in her tracks.

“Be careful” she shouted after him.

Madison gazed into the still, silent apartment. Her body
ached and her mind fell blank into the silence surrounding her.

*  *  *

BANG! Madison jumped up from where she had fallen asleep on
the white corner sofa. Brendan stood in front of the front door - Madison’s suitcase
stood beside him and her handbag clutched tightly in his right hand. His hair
was windswept and his expression a little bleak, but he managed to greet
Madison with a large smile as his eyes met her sleepy expression.

“Are you alright?” Madison asked, hazy from a deep sleep.

“Yeah, fine. The skin crawlers have moved on like I
suspected” he said.

“So that’s it, their gone?” she said, sitting up quickly.

“Yes, I think so” Brendan said sensing Madison’s hesitation.

The thought of the Skin Crawlers coming for revenge clouded
Madison’s thoughts. Brendan had killed Suzie trying to save her and Madison saw
that as a valid reason for the Skin Crawlers to become revengeful.

“Madison, it’s okay. They are not going hurt you, I won’t
let them” Brendan reassured.

“I know, I just thought…it’s doesn’t matter” Madison said
shaking her head.

“I’ll put this in your room” Brendan said, grabbing the
handle of the suitcase.

“My room?” Madison asked, shocked.

“Well, yes. If you’re going to stay here until you find
somewhere else it will be your room” Brendan smiled happily.

“Thanks” Madison smiled, following Brendan to the guest
bedroom.

Brendan laid the suitcase down on the bed and Madison’s
handbag beside it; a few clothes poked out from the tear in the suitcase where
Madison had dropped it when she had first arrived at the bed sit.

Brendan turned towards Madison cupping her face in the palms
of his hands.

“Stop worrying” Brendan said softly.

Madison froze - their eyes locked on each other. She remained
silent, but nodded slowly in agreement. The sunlight streamed through the
window casting them both in a brilliant white glow. Gravity began to push
Madison’s body towards Brendan’s, she ached for him. She wanted him to touch
her, for him to hold her and for his lips to be pressed up against his. Brendan
held Madison’s gaze, his lips grew closer to hers as gravity began to take
hold. Madison’s heart pounded excitedly in her chest, she felt his cool breath
flow over her face. The burning desire for his lips to be intertwined with hers
grew stronger. Her eyelids closed slowly, the kiss becoming inevitable.

RING! RING! Madison jumped, her head connecting with
Brendan’s head in a painful collision.

“Ouch” Madison gasped as they head butted each other.

Brendan’s hands fell away from her face; she rubbed her
forehead trying to ease the pain from the collision. Brendan smiled awkwardly;
his cheeks flushed a pale pink in embarrassment.

“I’m so… sorry” Madison moaned, also feeling embarrassed.

“It‘s ok” Brendan chuckled, disappointment spread across his
face.

“I should get that” Madison said gesturing towards her
handbag.

Brendan stood silently as Madison searched through the
contents of her handbag to retrieve her mobile phone. She grabbed the small
vibrating, black, phone and quickly flipping it open.

“Hello” Madison said a flicker of annoyance in her voice.

“Madison, where have you been? I’ve left about twenty
messages. I’ve been worried sick!” Stephanie said panicked without taking a
breath.

“Steph, umm….I guess I lost track of time. I’ve been really
tired lately and haven‘t looked at my phone…” Madison said uneasily, turning to
look at Brendan for support.

“I was really worried” Stephanie continued...

“I know, I’m sorry…really I am” she said sincerely.

“Just ring me in future, okay?”

“Ok. Sorry” Madison replied.

“So, what have you been up too? Where are you anyway? It’s
strangely quiet wherever you are. Normally you have to shout over the drum and
bass music” Stephanie laughed.

“I’m with a…. friend” Madison replied casually.

“And is this friend of the male gender” she asked
suspiciously.

Madison saw no point in lying to Stephanie about Brendan,
obviously she would leave out the parts about Brendan being a Vampire, but
Stephanie already knew that Madison had met a dark and handsome stranger that
she was hoping to get to know better – so there was no harm in telling her
things had progressed a little further.  She would only tell Stephanie the
bits she needed to know.