Bite Me (14 page)

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

     I set the mugs of tea on the table and sat down across from Jack.

    "I quit my job at Tasmania. Bobby and I are going to start working at Sinister Nights tomorrow night."

      "You do realize the element you'll be around all of the time."

      "I know. I can handle it."

      I scoffed. "Donnie thought so too. You don't understand the lure of the vampire."

      "Like you with Draco." He hit hard with his words. "You gave up a great guy like Aiden for him."

      "Donnie gave you up for Weston." I returned.

      Jack sipped his tea. He lowered the cup. "How do you feel about Aiden now?"

      I shrugged, feigning indifference. "We just weren't meant to be."

      "Maybe if you told him you were a vampire, he'd understand."

      I shook my head. "I tried. He laughed me off."

      "Well, despite how well things are going with Bobby, I'll always have a place in my heart for Donnie."

      The flat door opened and I groaned at the sight of Draco cockily strutting into the kitchen. I hated the fact that he just walked in my flat whenever he pleased.

      "Can't you knock?" I snapped.

      His gray eyes twinkled mischievously. "Why should I?" He pulled up a chair between Jack and me at the square table. His gaze peered at Jack. "I understand, you're going to be working at my club."

      "I am." His voice nervously replied.

      Draco reached into his jacket pocket and dangled a gold chain with a small, horn shaped glass filled with something dark red. "Here, wear this and you'll be okay."

     Jack held it up. "What is it?"

     "It's a vial of my blood. It'll keep the other vampires away from you. They'll know you belong to me."

      "What about Bobby?"

      "He'll have to get his own vial of blood."

      Draco looked at me. I held up my hands. "Don't even think to give me one of those. I don't belong to you or anybody."

      "When are you going to accept it?"

       "Never."

       "Well, I think I'll be going. I have a few stops to make." Jack disrupted the argument. He stood, putting the pendant in his pants' pocket.

       "You're to wear it around your neck." Draco ordered.

       "Oh." Jack complied. He pat the vial; it was cool to the touch. He pressed a smile for me. "I'll talk to you later."

      I nodded. Jack said good bye to Draco and quickly departed.

     "I thought he'd never leave." Draco commented.

      "I feel the same about you." I retorted. "Why are you here anyway?"

     "I wanted to be with my queen."

      "Well, the queen doesn't feel like seeing her lowly subjects. Now, leave. I have a ton of work I have to get done before I go out to feed."

     Draco sighed and stood. "Very well." He leaned over and kissed me on the lips. "Will I see you at the club later?"

    "I don't know. Probably not."

    "Then, maybe I'll stop by here after closing."

    "Don't do me any favors."

    He hooked his fingers under my chin, tilting my head, "You will come around to accepting us."

    "I highly doubt it." I grumbled as he walked away.

    He paused at the door and turned to me. "But you will, my luv." He assured me and departed.

    I heavily sighed and climbed to my feet, cleaning off the table. After putting everything away, I went in the living room and flopped on the sofa. I looked at my laptop on the coffee table. I really did have a ton of writing to do but I just didn't feel like it. Instead, I switched on the TV.

Aiden was on the news, talking to a reporter about how he intends to find the one who killed those teens and the rash of prostitutes earlier that winter, even if he has to tear London apart to do it. The last I saw him so intense was the night I called it off between us. The night I told him I was seeing Draco.

     I turned off the telly and got up to gather my clothes and shower and change for the evening.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

     The wharf was rife with potential victims. There were pubs on nearly every corner and unsavory drunks stumbling in and out. I settled into one of the pubs, taking my place at the bar, visually browsing for my prey. Someone sent a drink over to me. I looked around. He was middle-age, graying hair, well-built and already lit like a Christmas tree. I bowed my head when I picked up the glass of warm beer: a subtle invitation for him to join me.

     After some empty conversation, I suggested we go out back. It didn't take much convincing on his part. He was up and ready; yes, that was a double meaning. We stepped through a side door and staggered; well, I was holding him up down the alley to the darkest section. I shoved him against the wall. The man was so drunk and compliant, he didn't even react to my fangs. I pressed hard against him as I suckled my nourishment from his vein.

     The man moaned and started to slide down the wall. I pressed harder, holding him up.

     "Hey, move it along!" a familiar voice scolded from behind me.

     I momentarily froze.

     "Did you hear me, Miss? I said move along."

     I whirled about, his flashlight shining in my face. I heard Aiden's intake of breath. Blood pooled my mouth and dripped over my lips.

    "What the hell?" he declared, too shocked to move.

    I hissed and took off down the alley, leaving him to look after my victim.

    I took the tube to the Tasmania Club and sat at the bar. Jack, his last night there, served me. He was about to put a pint down but I held up a hand. "I want something stronger. Scotch. Leave the bottle with me."

    "What happened?"

     "Aiden. He caught me feeding."

     "Are you sure? I mean are you sure he saw you?"

     "We stood as close as you and I are now."

     "What did he do?"

     "He froze, not believing his eyes. I know he's going to come pounding on my door to talk about it and I just don't want to face him now."

      "I would invite you to stay at my place but Bobby's staying over."

      I held up my hand. "I'll walk the streets if I have to."

      My cell rang. I dread to look at the caller. For once, I didn't mind seeing Draco's name. "What?"

      "I understand you're in trouble."

       "What are you like omnipresence?"

      "I can sense when you need me."

       "I don't need you." I barked into the phone and hung up, slamming the cell on the bar counter.

        "Maybe you should take Draco up on his offer to help."

        I cast a wry glare at Jack. "I can handle my own problems with Aiden. I just don't feel like facing them tonight while Aiden's enraged."

       "Then, come home with me." He spoke from behind me.

       I turned to Draco. I could move fast but the man outruns the speed of light.

       "Where's that? A coffin in the cemetery?" I jeered and downed my glass of Scotch. I poured another.

        "That won't make you forget your problem."

        "Go back to that hole you crawled out from."

        He grabbed my hand, jerking me toward him. I could feel his cold breath in my face. "You will come with me." He seethed and yanked me off of the barstool. "Let's go."

     He took me back to his club Sinister Nights. But instead of going through the club, we entered through a private side door that led into a small hall with an elevator. He turned the key in the lock and the doors opened. We stepped into the elevator, Draco turned the key in another lock; the doors closed and we were climbing all the way to the top of the massive building.

    We stepped into a blue carpeted hall, over to a corner door and we went inside. It was a beautiful penthouse. Draco grinned at my shock.

    "Not all vampires live like vagabonds or sleep in coffins. We can live very rich, fulfilling lives." He went over to the bar and pulled up a bottle of Scotch for me. I tensely stood in the center of the living room. He brought me the bottle and gestured to the white leather sofa. I flopped down unceremoniously.

     "Now, tell me what happened with your human lover boy."

     I cast him a sharp glare. "He's no longer my lover boy. I ended it a few nights ago, remember?"

     "Go on."

     "Tonight, he actually caught me feeding in the alley. He shone his flashlight right in my face. We were this," I waved my hand between me and Draco. "Close. Fortunately, he was too shocked to say or do anything but I know he's going to want to confront me and I just don't feel like dealing with him tonight."

     "Then, stay here. In fact, you should move in here with me."

     "I like my place fine." I snipped and downed some of the Scotch. Oh, how I wish I could get drunk right now. I lowered the bottle from my lips. "But, I will take you up on your offer for tonight."

     Draco smiled. "Then, I must convince you to stay permanently, my luv, my bride."

     "Bride?" I decreed. "Hell no! I'm not getting married—ever."

     "We'll see."

     I shot him a dour glance and stood. "I'm not in such a good mood. I need sleep. Where's the bed I'm to sleep in?"

     "In my bedroom."

     I heavily sighed. "I suppose I have to sleep with you. After all, it's the least I could do for your kind generosity." My words dripped with venom.

    Draco chortled. "Don't act like you're doing me a big favor. You enjoy it as much as I do; if not, more so. I still have the scars on my back to prove it."

    "Well, I'm tired now. I'm going to bed."

    "I'll be in to tuck you in later." He teased.

    I grumbled and strode toward the bedroom. A massive room, all in white, with a king size bed. I stripped down to my panties and tank top and crawled under the covers. As I lay in the dark, all I could see is Aiden's shocked face as he shone that light at me. I knew I had to confront him; Aiden wasn't the type to let something like this go. After a while of tossing and turning, I finally fell asleep.

    I don't know how long I'd been sleeping that Draco woke me for sex. It didn't take me long to respond. The man had a power over me. I became wild, almost uncontrollable; exploding in one orgasm after another, blood smeared on my face, my hands, my body as well as Draco's.

    We finally settled down and fell asleep tangled in an embrace.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

     I opened the flat door.

     "Aiden."

     "You can't be surprised to see me."

     I shook my head and let him in.

     "I came by last night but you weren't home. I guess I wasn't surprised. Girl, what is going on with you? Were you actually drinking that guy's blood?" he declared, almost in a frenzy.

     "I tried to tell you; I'm a vampire." I quietly replied.

     "Come on! Those things aren't real. But what you were doing last night, well, that's just sick."

     "To a human observer, yes but to a vampire, we're just surviving."

     "Lucy, don't tell me you're the one that killed all of those people?" he almost seemed to plead.

     "No. But there are those who do kill in the frenzy of blood."

     He shook his head and held up his hands. "I can't deal with this. I slept with you!"

     "I wasn't a vampire when we met. The transformation started happening after that."

     "You should have told me sooner."

     "I didn't know how. But that's why I kept at a distance. Why I didn't want us getting serious."

     "That, and the fact, you were banging another guy." He coldly replied.

      I shamefully lowered my eyes. "I'm sorry, Aiden."

     "Wait a minute; are you going to tell me he's a vampire too?" he skeptically asked.

      "He's the one that turned me. At first, I thought I had a viral infection, and by the third bite, I knew I was changing into this monster you see before you."

       "Baby girl, you need some serious help. Hell, I need it for getting involved with you."

He went to the door. "I just have to warn you; the next time I catch you sucking on some guy's neck, I'm going to have to bring you in."

        "You'll have to catch me first." I coldly answered.

        Aiden opened the door, "I guess, this really is good bye. I thought, we still might have had some hope, even though you played me with that Draco guy. But now, I know I could never be with you."

        He closed the door and walked out of my life. I turned away with a choked sob but angrily dashed away the tears. No, I refused to get upset. That part of my life was over. Draco was right, it was time I accepted what I was.

*****
 

      As I entered the church, I noticed blood filled the marble font at the back of the church. The candles flickered, bouncing the shadows of the lifeless statues on the wall. A strange presence hung over the sanctuary. I sat down in the last row of pews, looking up at the altar. I heard a faint whimper. It was coming from the side of the altar. A toddler ran out onto the carpeted altar steps, his back to me. He had dark curly hair and light mocha skin.

     I got up and curiously approached him. He turned to me when I reached him. His eyes glowed red and when he smiled, he bared two small pointed fangs.

     A man's hand covered the baby's shoulder. I lifted my gaze on Aiden. His features were contorted with disgust and anger.

     "What have you done to my son?" he seethed. He picked him up and thrust him at me. "Take him." His voice echoed off of the walls.

    I sat up, panting.

    "What's wrong?" Draco's groggy voice asked beside me.

    I shook my head. "Nothing, just some bad dream." I mumbled. I curled my knees under my chin and wrapped my arms around my legs.

   "Vampires don't have dreams; they have prophetic visions."

    "Well, this one is wrong."

    "All right, but it's the middle of the day, go back to sleep."

     I glanced down at him. His eyes were already closed. I ran my hand over my hair, pushing it back off of my face. It couldn't be true! I can't be pregnant! I tossed the covers aside and swung my feet to the floor. I got out of bed and shuffled into the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of Scotch. As I drew the glass near my lips and smelled the strength of the alcohol, I wondered if I should drink it now that I might be pregnant. I know alcohol didn't affect a vampire but what about a vampire baby? No, I'm being ridiculous. I downed the drink.

     The last thing I needed was a baby. And Aiden's to boot. I couldn't tell him. From the vision, he was repulsed by the child. I placed a hand on my abdomen. I felt the baby stir. Was that normal this early on? I was a vampire having a child, there was nothing normal about any of it.

     I poured another glass of Scotch and downed it in one toss of my head. I couldn't go back to sleep despite it being mid-afternoon. Pouring another glass of Scotch, I set it down to go in the living room and fetch my laptop. I sat at the kitchen table and started to search for vampire pregnancies. They were rare and when it happened, that baby was both revered and hated in the vampire world. I slammed shut the laptop. I may not even be pregnant. I glanced at the clock and then the light against the kitchen curtains. It was only two in the afternoon. I would have to wait until sun down to get to a chemist and get an over-the-counter pregnancy test. I heavily sighed. Whatever the results, I was not keeping this child.