Bite Me (8 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

     In the club Donnie managed, a memoriam was set up at the end of the long bar: An eleven inch by thirteen inch photo was erected on the column with candles set around it. People who came to look at it would get misty eye. Donnie was a beloved character at Tasmania. I lit a candle and walked over to where Jack was serving a customer. He automatically poured me a pint.

     As I picked up the glass, I leaned across the bar and said, "When you get the time, come to my table. I have something to tell you."

     He bobbed his head, returned to his customers and I strolled through the pressing crowd to my usual table. I removed my shoulder bag and coat and hung it on the back of the chair. Placing my laptop on the table I sat down and turned it on. I dedicated a blog session to Donnie and queried of my readers if they thought vampires might not be monsters after all. Most claimed that vampires drank blood to survive and perpetuate their species by turning us humans. It was little known that there were few blue blooded vampires in existence; most were transformed but no one knew where the vampire began for sure.

     "So, what's up?" Jack asked as he sat at my table.

     I finished what I was typing and glanced up. He looked so forlorn. I hadn't realized just how deeply Jack had fallen for Donnie. "Weston has been taken care of."

     He furrowed his brow. "Taken care of?"

     "He's dead."

     "Aiden found him? Did they shoot him down in a struggle?"

     "Aiden had nothing to do with it."

     "Then, how do you know that he's dead?"

     "I have my sources. Just suffice it to say, Donnie's death has been avenged."

     "But still no sign of Donnie's body." He lamented.

     "No. We may have to accept the fact we never will. Especially now, with Weston dead."

     Jack scrubbed his face with his hands. He lowered them with a deep, soulful sigh and stood. "I better get back behind the bar."

     I nodded and sipped some beer before continuing to write.

     While I was working, a pretty, young brunette approached my table. She leaned down that I got an eyeful of cleavage and I rolled my eyes.

     "Why don't you stop what you're doing and join me on the dance floor?" She hooked her finger under my chin and got too close to my face. "I could make it worth your while."

       I slapped her hand away, "Don't think so."

      "How do you know unless you try?" she persisted.

      I drew in a breath to control my impatience. "Beat it! I'm not interested. I prefer wieners to pussies."

      She curled a sour face, harrumphed and walked away.

      I shook my head and continued on my blog.

      Five pints later, after brushing off a few guys and another girl, I packed up my things, frustrated with the interruptions. Putting on my coat, slinging the bag over my shoulder, I strode out of the club.

     I sat in my kitchen, continuing my work on the blog, not surprised to find a fierce defense and devotion for the vampires. That my friend, sad as it was, was a casualty. No one forced him to go in the dungeon or return to it numerous times. He should have known how frenzied a vampire could get when in the throes of erotic sex.

     I paused to tilt back a mouthful of beer and was lowering the bottle to the table when I heard my name. It sounded like it came from my head and not an exterior whisper.

    "Lucy."

    "Donnie?"

    "Lucy."

    I stood at my chair, sharply looking about the flat. My skin prickled. I cautiously approached the window and peeled the curtain aside. The shadowy figure of a man stood just outside the conical of the street lamp. I couldn't see his face but I could tell he was looking directly at my window. "Donnie?" I said aloud to no one in the room.

     I grabbed my coat from off the back of the armchair, swung open the door and half screamed, half jumped out of my skin before I realized it was Aiden.

    "You okay?" he worried.

    I put my hand on my racing heart. "Yeah, you just startled me."

    "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

    "I…um…nowhere." I sighed and removed my coat, bewildering Aiden.

    He closed the door and followed me into the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator and got him a beer. He declined.

    "I'm on call tonight. I just wanted to spend some time with you."

    "Okay." I put the bottle back. "You want some tea?"

    "No," he slid his arms around my waist and pulled me against him. He was hard already. "I just want to hold you." His lips teased mine. He jerked his head back and teased, "That is, if you aren't going to run for the bathroom at the crucial moment."

     "I should be fine." I would just resist the temptation to draw blood.

     He swooped me up in his arms. "Then, what are we waiting for?"

     I laughed as he carried me over to the sofa. We toppled onto it, me being pinned beneath his luscious, sculpted body. Our clothes came off, our limbs entwined and we fiercely made love until we collapsed, panting and wheezing.

     I woke, tangled in Aiden's arms.

    "Lucy." I heard the voice in my head again. It sounded like Donnie but I couldn't be sure. Then again, it could be Draco messing with my head. I carefully untangled myself and pulled on my panties and t-shirt. Getting up, I went into the kitchen and filled the kettle with water for tea. I opened my laptop and sat down to write.

     Aiden stirred with a moan and when he didn't feel me in his arms, he lifted his head and looked back at the kitchen where I sat typing in the dark.

     "Lucy?"

     I lifted my gaze.

     "What are you doing?"

     "I have this article I want to finish while it's fresh on my mind."

     He got up, opened the sofa bed and crawled under the covers. It wasn't long he'd gone back to sleep and I continued writing well into morning.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

     I was on my way home from the store carrying a six pack of beer. I'd just stepped on the pavement to wait for the bus when a hand clamped down on my mouth, an arm around my waist, and dragged behind the building on the corner, making me drop my purchase. Okay, that got me pissed! I struggled in his hold and stepped on the instep of his foot. The action, not the pain, made him let me go. I whirled about, furious, thinking it was Draco and froze!

     "Donnie?"

     He snarled with massive fangs and reached for me again, determined to tear open my throat.

     I put up my hands, "Donnie, it's me, Lucy." But I could tell by the demonic gleam in his eyes that he didn't know me.

     He grabbed me by the arms, pulling me against him, forcing my head back. With a growl, he pressed his head forward. I felt the points of his fangs brush the nape of my neck but then the pressure of his body was gone. I fell back against the wall and watched as someone hurled Donnie into the wall. He hit his head and slid down.

     "Draco, no, don't hurt him." I cried out.

     Draco rounded on me. Donnie snarled and sprang to his feet, lunging at Draco. The two struggled in the street. In the dark, it was hard to tell them apart.

     Draco finally got the better of Donnie who disappeared down the street. Draco stepped up to me and grabbed my arms. "Are you okay? Did he bite you?"

     I shook my head. "No, he didn't bite me. What's wrong with him? Why didn't he recognize me?"

    "It was the way Weston turned and killed him. Donnie's nothing more than a feral beast seeking out food. He would be better off dead."

    "Maybe, he'll come around."

    "Lucy, don't get any ideas in your head. He's not the same guy you knew a month ago. He's vicious and will kill you in a heartbeat."

    "Like you're slowly killing me."

    "I'm not killing you, I'm improving you. You'll thank me later."

    I pushed him away. "I doubt it." I grumbled and headed back for the bus stop.

    The bus ride seemed forever, but I was finally home and shaken by what happened. I dropped my keys on the table and pulled off my coat, tossing it over the back of the arm chair. I went in the kitchen to fetch a bottle of beer. I'd only had a few left, which meant I would have to go back out tomorrow night. Unscrewing and tossing out the cap, I tilt the brown bottle to my lips and gulped a few mouthfuls. I dragged the back of my hand across my mouth. I couldn't get Donnie out of my head. He looked so different. So vicious. Not at all like the Donnie I knew and loved. How was I supposed to tell Jack? I couldn't. I couldn't tell anyone, not even Aiden.

    Draco warned me to stay away from Donnie but part of me was convinced I could bring back the old Donnie. Make him remember who he really was. Then I wondered, would I become the same way? Nothing but a monster who's only instinct was to attack and kill innocent people?

    I reached for the remote on the kitchen table and turned on the TV. A news reporter was going on about a male body found on a side street near the club. Donnie's club. The victim's throat was ripped open. I felt sick in my stomach. I knew it was Donnie. When he didn't get me he went on to someone else.

    The phone rang and I reached into my jeans' pocket. Aiden was on the other end.

     "Hey, Sweetness, have you seen the news?"

     "I have it on now."

     "Looks like our killer is back and this time targeting men."

     "Do you think it's the same killer?"

     "Same M.O."

     "But this time he killed a man. Why would he change?"

     "I don't know. But I'll be here most of the night, so I won't get to see you."

     "That's okay."

     "Are you okay? You sound upset."

     "No, I'm fine. I just got in. I bought a six pack and clumsy me, dropped it and it shattered on the street. I didn't want to run back for more. Now, I'm down to two bottles."

     Aiden laughed. "I'll see what I can do for you tomorrow."

     "Thanks."

     "Good night, Sweetness. Bolt your door."

     "I will. Good night."

     We hung up and I tossed my phone on the kitchen table. I finished off the beer in my hand and changed into my pajamas. I opened the sofa bed and, grabbing my computer, I curled under the covers and started writing a new blog while the news droned on the television.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

     As I said before, when Donnie died I adopted Jack. He was clearly upset when he came over the following morning. I set up the kettle for tea.

     "You heard what happened on the news?" he lamented.

     "I did."

     "Right outside my club. What am I supposed to do now?"

     "Warn everyone not to go out alone. To stay in groups."

     "I thought this nightmare was over?"

     "Jack, its Donnie. He's a vampire." Okay, so I decided to tell him after all.

     He stared at me, "How much Scotch did you drink?"

    I rolled my eyes. "I haven't had anything to drink yet this morning."

    "What makes you say such a thing?"

    "Listen, vampires are real. They're real and nothing like what the stories make them out to be. They're monsters who feed on humans for their survival. Last night, coming home from the store, I saw Donnie. He didn't know me. He's different. He's feral."

     Jack stared at me as if I'd grown another head. He then shook his and covered his face with his hands. "No, this can't be true."

     "Trust me, it is."

     "Well, did you try and talk to him?"

     "Of course, I did. But he didn't recognize me. And he would have killed me had someone not intervened."

      "Did you tell Aiden?"

      "No. He wouldn't believe me."

      "What are we going to do?"

      "I'm going to try and reach him. I still believe part of him is still there."

      "Won't that be dangerous?"

       I shrugged, "Most likely but it's worth the try."

      Someone knocked on the door. It was Aiden. I brightly smiled for he was holding a case of beer.

     "You remembered."

     "Of course."

     I stepped back to let him in. He brought it into the kitchen and set it on the counter. He smiled and nodded at Jack.

    "How are you?"

    "Upset about last night."

    "Listen, be careful. Don't remain alone at the club and warn your customers not to go out alone."

     "Lucy already advised me of that."

     He proudly smiled at me, putting an arm around my shoulders. He kissed me on the crown of the head. "That's my girl."

     Jack stood, "Well, I best be going."

    I walked him to the door.

    "Please let me know what happens with Donnie." He said in a low voice.

    "I will."

    Jack pressed a sad smile and departed. I closed the door and turned to Aiden now putting away the beer in the fridge.

    "Leave me out a bottle." I said.

    He placed one on the table for me. I opened it and drank a few gulps. "So, any leads from last night?"

    "No, but we posted a few men around the perimeter. If that S.O.B. comes back, we'll get him."

    I silently hoped not.