The Last Vampyre Prophecy (3 page)

Even
with the frigid air I still manage to sweat through my clothes. I wipe my face with the crook of my arm and jog up the steps.

The sun i
s bright in the sky now casting rays across the dirty walls as I pass each floor.

My phone i
s ringing as I slide the lock on my door. I yank the receiver. “Yea.”

She sighs
. “Andie, could you please use some manners when you answer the phone? I could have been a potential employer or someone important.”

I roll
my eyes. “Yea, mom. Ok.” I reach for a banana. “So, what have I done to warrant a call at—” I looked at the clock, “…7:12 in the morning?”

“We’re having dinner at the house tomorrow night—7:00. Don’t be late, you know how your father gets when his food is cold.”

I groan. “Oh Ma, I’m not in the mood to listen to Dean’s mouth and suffer through Ryan’s repeated punches to the arm. Anyway, I think I’m going to have a headache.”

She huffs
. “Not another word. We’ll see you in the morning young lady—remember 7:00.”

And the line
goes dead. I pull the ancient plastic receiver away from my ear and stare at it like it has just insulted me. I slam it back into the holder on the wall and stomp into the bathroom for a shower.

Graduation is in the morning and I still have to go buy a dress. I moan at the prospect—I hate shopping and more over I hate
dresses.

My shift at the pastry shop d
oesn’t start until two o’clock so I pull on my chunky cable sweater and favorite jeans then lace up my boots.

It ta
kes me four shops and three hours to finally find a dress. Having grown up with two brothers my wardrobe consists of jeans, boots and flannel shirts, mostly. I always had to prove myself and to keep up with them I had to dress the part and over the years it just became who I am.

I sli
ng the new slinky dress across the chair and glance at the clock. I have an hour until shift so I begin peeling clothes off as I walk to the closet.

When I have
on my white button up and khaki pants I shove my feet into my sneakers and lock the door behind me.

Ralph i
s scheduled to close with me again tonight and I groan at the thought. He makes my life a living hell inside the walls of the shop.

Mr. Gerandi i
s working the register when the door chime announces my arrival.

He smiles
wide. “Adonia dear, tomorrow is the big day, huh?”

I smile
back. “Yes sir, Mr. Gerandi.”

“We wouldn’t miss it!” He sa
ys closing the drawer. “Ralph is opening the shop while we go.”

I c
an’t hide the shock that comes across my face. They are coming to my graduation and he is entrusting the shop to Ralph, which he has never done.

My heart warms
at their affection toward me. They have always treated me like their own.

I smile
. “Oh, Mr. Gerandi, that is so kind of you two to celebrate the day with me. Thank you, I’m honored.”

He waves
his hand. “We’re the ones who are honored, Adonia.”

I blush and grin at him then walk
to the back to lock up my purse.

Mrs. Gerandi i
s filling in the time sheet as I pass.

“Adonia
! Big day tomorrow—are you ready?”

“Yes ma’am. Bought a dress today.” I sa
y placing my purse in my locker.

Her eyes widen
. “Wow! I’ve never seen you in a dress dear; I bet you look beautiful. Not that you don’t always look beautiful.” She smiles.

I scoff
. “I hate dresses, but I figured I’ll only graduate once and my mom would kill me if I had jeans and a t-shirt for her photo album.”

She laughs and I grab
my apron and join Mr. Gerandi behind the counter.

The day dra
gs on and my feet are aching by the time the last person leaves. Ralph is his usual dickhead self barking orders and slamming things around me.

Finally after the door i
s locked we go our separate ways and I crave a glass of wine and my wool socks.

George i
s in his normal position on the top stoop eyeing me with a wolfish grin as I pass by. I climb the stairs and lock the door behind me making a beeline for my fridge.

I grab a wine glass and pour
a healthy portion then scoop up my kindle and continue my nightly routine.

At nine o’clock my phone buzzes and I sigh when I see
her name flash across the screen.

“What’s his name?” I ask
thwarting her familiar string of gossip. Tiff always calls with the scoop on a new guy that has stolen her heart for the present moment.

She giggles
. “Damn you know me too well. He’s a painter from France and, Adonia, he is just freaking delicious. Come out here and meet him! He has a friend visiting from Paris and he is gorgeous, too.”

I groan
. “Oh, Tiff, it’s late and
we
have graduation tomorrow. I can’t.”

“Oh please please please,
Andie?” She begs.

I thro
w my head back against the sofa. It’s been almost two weeks since I’ve made an effort to hang out with my best friend and my guilt meter shoots up.

She continues
, “My treat! Plus, we need to celebrate our graduation!” She beams.

“This isn’t about
our graduation, Tiff, it’s about your new flavor of the week and getting laid.” I mutter.

She laughs
. “Well, that too. Now, come on before I come drag you out of that cocoon you have yourself in on that ratty old couch.”

I glance
down and smile. I
am
actually in a cocoon.

“One drink then I
’m out of there. I have to get home, Tiff, tomorrow is actually a pretty big damn day!”

I c
an hear her hands clapping. “Thank you, Ade! We’re at Grove on 81
st
St.”

“Give me
forty five minutes.” I grumble then swipe the phone.

I yank
on a pair of skinny jeans and a black blazer while I hop on one foot trying to stuff my other foot into my only pair of stilettos.

I check
my hair and coat my lashes in mascara. Twenty minutes later I am climbing into a cab.

I slid
e the money through the slot and fold out of the back. Grove is one of my least favorite places. The atmosphere is too uptight and rich for my blood. The doorman gives me a wide smile as he drinks my body in with his eyes. I want to vomit. He scans my card and levels his eyes at my chest. I almost punch him in the mouth but a gaggle of ladies behind me push me through the entrance.

The music i
s thumping and single trollers are everywhere. I ignore the looks and catcalls from a nearby table and round the bar looking for Tiffany.

Finally I spot
her leaned against the bar, her elbows perched back and her chest pointing loud and proud between two tall men.

I drop
my head and sigh. Some things never change. That girl is the polar opposite of me—she lives for male attention.

S
he screams when she catches sight of me and shoves off the bar running in ridiculously high heels. She nearly knocks me over when she runs into me.

“Oh my God! Hey lady! I can’t believe you’re here.
You actually came!” She shrieks.

I roll
my eyes. “I told you I’d come.”

She beams
at me—full mega-watt startling white smile—and leans in to my ear. “Look at the tall man candy behind me. Is he not the most gorgeous thing you’ve ever seen?”

I glance
around her head and catch his eye. There is no denying he is pretty hot. He looks to be about six foot tall with copper brown hair and bright blue eyes. He has scruff on his cheeks and a perfect set of teeth that he is flashing at me.

I lean
back to Tiffany. “Not bad, Montgomery. Where’d you find him?”

“Come o
ver here and meet him!” She says as she yanks me toward the bar.

She mak
es the introductions and I smile as I shake their hands. He really is good looking and his friend even more so, but as always I just can’t connect with him.

He is very polite and talks
enthusiastically asking about my hobbies and my major.

I shyly answer
every question but as the minutes wear on I become uncomfortable and want to just retreat to a far corner.

I si
t my wine glass on the bar. “Excuse me, I’m going to the ladies room. I’ll be right back.”

He smiles
and nods. I make a hasty trail to the restrooms. Bodies are packed in the place like sardines. The overwhelming stench of perfume and cologne burns my nose.

I fina
lly reach the back corner where the restrooms are when I stop dead in my tracks. I don’t need to look up, I know he is there, I sense him. My eyes pull up from the floor and pin him across the room.

He has
an identical look of shock on his face. I can’t tear my eyes away from his lavender irises. My breathing is heavy and my heart is pounding. It seems like it takes all the strength in my body to hold myself back from launching across the room into his arms.

I gasp at the thought. I’ve
never felt anything like this before in my life. Every fiber in my body is stretching in his direction pulling me in.

After several minutes of just staring at one another I
am brought back to reality when a man runs into me knocking me against the wall.

“Oh, sorry!” He grunts
then looks down to my face. “Oh wow. Yeah, I’m really sorry.” He murmurs as he leans closer.

My eyes dart
back to the man across the room but he is gone. A second later the other guy tugs on my arm pulling me back against the wall.

“Hey. What’s your name be
autiful?” His face is within inches of my lips and he smells like booze and cigarettes.

I turn
away from him. “Excuse me but I have to get back.” I whisper.

He h
olds my arm and pulls me back against his side pressing his hard-on into my hip.

I
yank my arm but he pulls me further into the deserted hall.

“Just where do
you think you’re running off to, pretty thing?”

Suddenly I
am terrified. I pull on my arm again. “Let go.” I hiss but he smiles wider.

“
Feisty. I like that.”

I glare
at him. “I said let go dammit or I will scream my fucking head off.”

He yanks
me closer. “One more word out of you and I’ll show you how I can shut that fine mouth of yours.”

My blood r
uns cold. All those years of defense against my brother’s flies right out of my head. I am blank and terrified.

He cages me against the wall and leans
down to breath into my neck. I flinch and try to shove him back but he is a solid wall of muscle. He brings his lips to mine but I sling my head to the side. He reaches for my chin and holds it tight against the wall and tries to kiss me again but I bring up my heel and ram it into his shoe.

He winces
. “Fuck! You fucking bitch!” He pulls his hand back but before he can swing it forward he is launched into the air crashing into the back entrance door and falling to the ground in a bloody heap. His nose is crushed and pouring blood, as he lies there not moving.

I blink several times then feel
my legs begin to buckle. But a pair of arms grips me before I fall and pulls me into his side.

The automatic fe
eling of peace and safety washes over me. I look up and meet his eyes. His perfect full lips are parted and I can smell his delicious scent. The sharp line of his jaw casts a shadow over his perfect neck and shoulders.

He is the most beautiful thing I have
ever seen. My ability to talk has abandoned me and all I can do is stare. Then tears spring to my eyes as I realize what almost happened.

The strangest emotion
flashes across his face when he sees my tears. It is as though he’s lost; he doesn’t know what or how to feel.

Th
en in a caring gesture he pulls my face to his chest and holds me close while I cry.

Finally I pull
back. “T-thank you.” I stutter as I wipe my eyes. “I’m sorry I fell apart like that.”

He steps
back. “There is nothing to feel sorry about. That man nearly violated you, it’s only natural to have a strong emotional reaction.”

His voice ma
kes my insides hum with anticipation. Jesus, everything about him just oozes sensuality.