by Nadia Heaton
Her Night with the Vampire
Nadia Heaton
Southern Heat Publishing
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
About Nadia Heaton
1
Marianne
Marianne Cohen had always believed in the supernatural. It was her method of coping against her grim outlook of self-loathing and nihilistic defeat. She knew that there had to be more out there, more than the drunken texts from her previous lover claiming his change and celibacy. Or the god-awful slog of day to day life where a pretty woman, and oh, how Marianne was a pretty woman, was treated in the corporate world. Everything about this life was filthy and only in stepping deeper down the paranormal tunnels could she find some kind of purity.
Marianne wrapped herself in a comforter on her three seat lounger, the television set burning images of some long forgotten romantic movie from the eighties. Her small apartment was set above an old dirty book store that hadn’t seen a customer in a good few months, and she was certain that her rent was the only thing keeping the place alive. But she knew that it was this small act, one that she didn’t picture back when she first moved out at the tender age of nineteen, would someday bring her the joy she was after. Just like the couple who owned the book store, who’d been married for the better part of three decades, her life would eventually amalgamate to something beautiful.
Her phone beeped and buzzed with messages aplenty from her old lover. Each new message spiralling down the rabbit hole, I’m clean, I promise or take me back. This time will be different. But Marianne knew that this time would not be different, this time would be worse still. Every few minutes she would give the messages a read but she knew that Charlie Hancock was after only one thing, and Marianne was no longer prepared to give it up.
Hey Charlie, I’m pregnant.
She finally replied to the messages, knowing that the threat of weight and responsibility would shun him off of her. She wasn’t having a baby, of course, but Marianne knew him as a coward who would never step up to take his responsibilities seriously no matter what they turned out to be. And just as she expected, the messages stopped immediately. The weight of Charlie’s burdens were gone, for now, knowing that those two words would only scare him off until he sobered up, but that was long enough for her to go on whatever ventures she sought to go for.
Hunting a vampire. The first on her priority list.
With her firm beliefs that they were real, Marianne followed many dark tunnels of web searches and on foot to try and find one. With the help of an elderly woman, Beth, she was finally going to be able to make the connection with the vampire she sought so badly. Months and months of research all boiled to this point, and on the early Friday evening, mere hours before the meeting was meant to be set, Marianne couldn’t contain herself. She would not let Charlie get in the way of her plans again, delaying them for another good few months before he found someone else to chase after. Tonight was her night.
She just needed to wait for the call.
So she sat flicking through the channels on her television set. Each moment that passed the anticipation grew, waiting for Beth. She knew the wait wouldn’t be long now, and without the constant flurry of messages from Charlie, she would be set to get through the night as planned. Maybe even a nap, she considered, knowing that if she were tired on their first meet things may not have gone according to plan.
And she tried, switching off her mind to the movie that ran on in the background. She even briefly believed that she fell asleep, lulling herself into dreams of her mysteriously handsome stranger that would free her from the line of poverty. But this was only a daydream in a half-dazed state and when the phone began ringing beside her head, she felt worse off than when she started.
Without looking she accepted the call, bringing the receiver to her mouth.
“Hello,” she said.
“Evening, sweetie,” Beth’s voice came from the other end, “I’ve made the arrangements and you are to meet at the Apple Jack. Don’t worry about looking for him, he will find you.”
“Thanks, Beth, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” Marianne replied, wiping the non-existent sleep sand from her eyes.
“I should be thanking you, honey, and if this is what you’re after, there’s no better man to be with than Cedric.”
Beth put the phone down after the last word and Marianne flung her own on the lounger beside her. The butterflies began fluttering in her gut, a nervous excitement burning inside with them. This was going to be the first night of the rest of her life. The world was going to change forever and everything that came before would cease to be reality as she knew it. This thought was terrifying. It sent chills down her spine but the idea proved comforting.
She pulled herself up from the lounger, heading to the shower and getting ready for her evening out. The Apple Jack was a classy club where singles often went to meet their partners, either for the evening or for the rest of their lives. She pulled on a black evening dress, plain in style but hugged her frame well, revealing enough leg and cleavage to catch the eye of any man. She let her long red hair loose, dancing in small strands as she walked, all brought together with the finishing touches of light makeup that gave her an air of sophistication without looking slutty.
When it was all done and she’d completed the readying process, Marianne called a taxi company and left her apartment, heading out into the streets of the small town of Locksleigh.
Marianne stepped from the cab and into the Apple Jack nearing eleven past nine. She didn’t know if she was early or not, with Beth’s cryptic message only giving her a place. She knew that this was a vampire she was meeting though, which meant that there was no need to worry about night-time adventures, they were only afraid of the sun after all. Stepping into the club, Marianne drew the eyes of many patrons, namely the single men that were either here for their night of gallivanting or their lifetime of excitement with a partner.
The thought befuddled her mind, wondering why there was no in between but maybe that was a fitting scenario for her and Cedric. Either he would use her that night and then leave her to her own devices or the pair would forever live together in the harmony she so desperately looked for.
But were things so black and white?
Probably not, considering the circumstances, but instead of letting her mind run on these thoughts she decided to scope out the place and take in the men and women having their good times. Maybe she’d be able to get a glimpse of Cedric, not that she had any information of what he looked like, but in her daydream fashion, she hoped that maybe she’d spot him from across the room and there would be that instant connection between them.
It almost came as she shuffled towards the bar, the magnetic eyes of a man standing by a jukebox, flipping a quarter in his hands locking her in. Could this be him? she thought while he looked on, a smug grin plastered on his face. She’d soon find out, knowing that he’d come to her, and ordered herself a double shot of vodka.
The atmosphere within the Apple Jack was electrifying, which was only enhanced by the low blue lights and upbeat music that played for the dance floor goers. More than once she felt herself getting lost in the rhythm of the music, dancing on her spot, while the men around focused on her. They, of course, were more preoccupied with her assets than anything else but Marianne was a firm believer in if you’ve got it, flaunt it.
The first hour clocked on with no sign of Cedric’s arrival. She knew that he
still could have been there, waiting for the right moment to make the meet, or maybe just scoping her out as a whole. But she was slowly growing disheartened, knowing that there was a chance he’d spotted her and not liked what he saw, so he made his way out and home without so much as a hello. The thought lingered in her mind but she soldiered on, knowing that whatever the night brought, it was an escape from the boring nine to five life she was accustomed to.
Even if it was just the eyes of those who couldn’t break away, at least there was some small victory that night.
But the longer the time ticked on, the more the thoughts began outweighing her own belief that she was going to meet him tonight. The dancing in spot stopped somewhere around the hour and a half mark, and the drinking came to an end shortly after. She sat alone at the bar, ignoring the advances of every drunken, haphazard stranger that was trying to get into her pants, believing that Cedric was still out there, waiting to make his move.
And then it finally happened.
“Good evening, Marianne,” a tall, dark haired, blue eyed man said, taking the seat beside her.
“Good evening,” she replied, looking him up and down.
“Sorry for the delay, I know you must have been waiting here a while. I had an urgent family matter to attend to.” Was this him? Was this Cedric?
If it was, Marianne wouldn’t have had any complaints. He was handsome, a strong jawline with slight five o’clock stubble that graced it. His deep blue eyes were like oceans that she could get lost in forever and even through the two layers he wore, she could see the obvious signs that he was a big strong man behind that black suit.
“It’s not a worry,” Marianne replied, struggling to find the words, “as long as it’s all sorted out now.”
“More or less, some of the younger members are a little sad that Beth will be leaving us and I had to try and convince them that this was the right thing.” Any doubts that this was not her man were eradicated. If it were anyone else, they wouldn’t have known about Beth or her involvement in this meeting, so it made it clear as day.
“So Beth’s leaving?” Marianne asked. “Where’s she going?”
“Off to live the rest of her life,” Cedric replied.
Marianne nodded in reply while Cedric leaned over the bar to call a server over. He ordered himself two fingers of whiskey and Marianne got herself the same double vodka as before.
“So, I believe you know what I am already?” Cedric asked, turning to face Marianne for what seemed like the first time all night. The moment their eyes met properly, she felt her heart melt and could have sworn that she’d fallen in love at first sight.
“I believe I do,” Marianne replied.
“And you’re not afraid of me?”
“No,” she said. “Should I be?”
“That’s not for me to say. Both the brave and the foolish have made the mistake of not showing fear, which one does that make you?”
“Probably foolish, against the judgement of everyone else,” Marianne replied, scratching a non-existent itch at the back of her head.
“And yet you’re still here?”
“I am.”
“Well, even if it was foolish, there’s got to be some kind of bravery in your actions,” Cedric said as the server handed him his whiskey. He took the glass, placing it on the bar and dropping three ice cubes into the tumbler, lazily stirring it in the air before sniffing it.
“Where are my manners?” he said abruptly. “Let me introduce myself. I am Cedric King, the vampire.”
2
Marianne
“Cedric King,” Marianne said his name, letting it roll off her tongue and relishing in it.
“That’s me,” he replied, a wicked smile growing at the corners of his lips.
“Well, I’m sure you already know but I’m Marianne,” she replied.
“Of course.” Cedric bowed his head, wetting his lips with the whiskey. “And you’re sure that this is the kind of life you want to live?”
“No, not even slightly,” Marianne looked away shyly.
“So then why are you doing it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know what the life I’m going to lead entails; I was hoping you could tell me more. Beth was always cryptic about these things when we spoke.” She lifted her vodka to her lips, sipping at it the same way he had before placing it on the table.
“With good instruction to do so, I assure. We’re a fairly secretive society, after all, and don’t like to share when we’re not sure about those who are going to join.”
“But how can we know if we want to join when you haven’t told us what it is you’re after?”
Cedric nodded his head, looking Marianne over from head to toe. She could see he was thinking about something, that he was formulating the exact sentence he would say next, rather than just speaking to speak. That was something she already liked about him. Even though she didn’t know him, she could feel his attention to detail, be it by his well-pressed suit, the precise path against the side of his hairline that cut into a comb-over or light the scent of cologne that gave enough of a hint to know he was wearing some, but not enough to burn the nose.
“So you’re not a sheep, I get it,” he said.
“What?” Marianne scrunched up her face in confusion.
“You’re inquisitive, you want to learn and know more about what you’re getting yourself into. Nothing wrong with that and I’m sure by the end of the night you’ll know exactly what you need to in order to make that decision. But seeing as you’re still sitting here, even though I made you wait for God knows how long, you’re pretty comfortable in the ways of patience. Either that, or we’re looking more towards the line that you’ve made up your mind and no matter what I offer you, you’re going to take it,” Cedric replied.
Marianne was caught out. That was the only reason she was there, of course. She wanted to be swept off her feet by a vampire and taken into the night under him. She didn’t want to let that shine through too much but she didn’t know how to hide it either. If any of the abilities that the books told her about were true, he probably knew. He could read her mind, see into her third eye and pry out the information. Would he do something like that? Honestly, she would never know. The vampire Cedric was a mysterious stranger only rumoured by the old woman she was in touch with. Him even standing here was a miracle. It could have all been some kind of strange ruse to waste her time.
And yet…
“You’ve got a bit of an accent,” she said, breaking the line of conversation dead in its tracks.
“Indeed,” he replied. “It’s one I’ve not been able to shake since birth. I was born in Romania. Bucharest to be exact.”
“That’s pretty awesome. I’ve always wanted to travel Europe,” Marianne replied.
“I wouldn’t know if it’s any good to be there these days as I haven’t been home in a good century or so.”
“Tell me about your time there.” Marianne looked him up and down the same way he had her moments before. Romania? Over a century ago? This was starting to look like some tall tale from the books she read, but she supposed that this was going to happen with a vampire anyway. Their lives must have been fantastical in comparison to normal folk. She was intrigued to hear more.
“Where to start,” Cedric said, bringing a finger under his strong jawline while he thought.
“The start is probably the best place,” Marianne teased.
“Well, that’s a very long time ago, I’ll have to see if I can keep my facts in check,” Cedric replied, taking down the full swallow of his whiskey and ordering another.
Marianne felt comfortable here. Everything about this situation could have gone awry, it could have been terrible and terrifying and yet, it seemed that Cedric was extremely accommodating in everything that he offered. He wanted her to be comfortable, he wanted her to feel at home with him; it was exactly as Beth had described in their first phone call all those weeks before and she felt it. Marianne sipped her
drink, gleefully waiting for him to tell his story.
“It was in the midst of a great war between the Ottoman Empire and the, now Romanian, Wallachia. Does that name ring a bell?” Cedric cut.
“No, not really,” Marianne replied.
“Well, does the name Vlad the Impaler?”
“Yes, most certainly. Rumoured to be a vampire and inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula, no?”
“Yes.” Cedric smiled. “Now the rumours are all false. Vlad the Impaler was never a vampire himself and he died a mortal man many years after these events, but at least you know a little bit about the backend of it all.”
Marianne listened intently, not interrupting as he spoke.
“Vladimir Tepes,” Cedric said, with expert pronunciation of the man’s name, “was a good man. A war chief thrust in the middle of a battle that was too difficult for him to win on his own. The stories that you may know paint him as a monster befitting a horror book, but he wasn’t always that bad. He ruled with fear to the enemy, but loved friend and family more than anyone else could imagine.”
“How does that have anything to do with your turning?”
“I’m getting to that,” Cedric cut in, “I was a farmer on the outskirts of Bucharest during the war. We were a fairly wealthy family at the time of the war, and those who remained continued to reap great benefit for what my family had created. But it was amidst the war that many young men and women were either killed or summoned to fight. I was one of the unfortunate few.”
Cedric paused a moment to collect his drink from the waitress who brought it on from behind the bar as not to allow leakage of what they were talking about to spill into the crowd. Vampires did not exist to these people and if they were made aware of what transpired between Cedric and Marianne, they would have thought him a mad man harassing her, rather than a gentleman attempting to court.
