I understood that I had changed. Become what had killed me. I knew I could not go back to my old life. That my wife was lost to me. I wandered from village to village. Hid during the day. The early days were the hardest. Trying to find cover. To not be exposed to people or the sun. Staying out the way for fear of someone seeing me. No money or wealth to buy my way into places. The fever and thirst hit hard that first night. I’d seen the creature drink blood so I knew what my body was craving. There was a cow in a field and I drank from it. It sated my thirst and I felt better. I’d vowed not be a human drinker. I’d seen what that did to that creature. I would not submit to it. But I was hungry. So I tried a combination of animal blood and human food and found that I could still eat it. I could also drink water and wine. But I needed blood at intervals to sustain me. I found work. Earned money and walked through life doing just that. I found a profession.
Worked it for several years. Then moved on when my age didn’t change and people started to notice. I bought and sold items, became a war lord and spent many years in battle and built businesses making money along the way. Finding new professions when needed. I became wealthy. Mixed in all the right circles. I worked across the country and took passage to Europe. It was there I met several of my kind who introduced me to the European Council. All without a soul and borderline mad. When they found out I was different. They didn’t like it and hunted me. But soon got bored with that as their people died. Badly. I became strong very quickly. I worked the seas and trade and I met some friends who also wanted to make changes in their long lives along the way. I moved across the land and eventually took passage to the New Americas. It had not been attempted by a Vampire before. It was a difficult journey. At that time, it was unpredictable and a very long sea voyage. It required me to be locked into a box. I had to put myself to sleep for a long time. But I’d been careful in my arrangements and my crate was delivered unharmed to the home I had purchased ahead of me. That started my life in America. I have been in this country for nearly 300 years.”
Regin found it hard to believe that his man had been alive for 700 years. But it was clear that he had. He felt very old. “I’m sorry about your wife.” She told him and meant it. Arturo took a deep breath in. “It was a very long time ago. We were childhood sweethearts. We had no children. But I heard later that she had married and had two sons. I was happy for her.” “Have you been alone all this time?” Arturo gave her a stained smile. “No. I have been fortunate to be loved by 3 other women over the years. Losing the last, was most difficult. It was before I came to America. It is hard to see them pass.” Regin nodded. “Did you have children with them?” “No.” He told her. “Can you have children?” She asked him the scientist coming to the fore. “That is unknown. It is not easy for our kind to reproduce.” Regin nodded. “Are you alone?” “I am not alone. Over the years I have found like-minded men and women. We are an unofficial club if you like. We look after our own. We fight the likes of Jazel. If any come to attention we deal with it. Keep the population in check. Take out the mindless and the killers where we can. There are several groups of us here in America. I have been here the longest. So I get most things that are going on and with the passing of years, we have adapted with technology to help us do that.” Regin thought about that. “Where do you meet?” “I have been here a long time. I have many businesses and a base in Montreal but tend to move about from time to time. But I recently bought a club in town here and thought it would make a nice break. If they need me they will come here.” Regin sat up. “To hunt?” She asked shocked. “No. No one hunts who is a part of this group. They all drink blood but it is freely given. I will be most interested to find out if you smell as good to them as you do to me.” Regin raised her eyebrows. Seriously, did he just say that?
“So where are you living?” She asked him. “I came to check out my new club with a couple of staff. I had thought to stay over the club but it’s not very peaceful, being that it is open day and night. Actually. I noticed that your first floor is empty. It would be convenient to be here if we are going to work together.” Regin choked on her wine. “Sorry, did you say live here?” “Why not? You have the room. We will need to work together. Your remote here. Well protected. I noticed all the outer walls are 12inches thick and the windows blast proof with UV protection as you said. I also noticed a layer of silver on them. The security is good. That’s unusual. But useful in our business.” Regin looked confused at him. “Why would we need to work together?” “Jazel has your scent Regin. He won’t stop coming and he’ll bring friends.” He told her quietly. Regin looked around her. “I had the house reinforced before I moved in just in case something followed me home. Another one of my hunches.” Arturo nodded. Regin thought about what he’d said and took several swallows of her wine. It made sense in a weird kinda way. Like they were drawn together. Regin’s radar was going off in a good way. It didn’t hurt that he was really good to look at either. And in a fight, she had no doubt that he was certainly deadly. If Jazel was coming some help would be nice. “Did you make dessert?” She queried. Arturo laughed. “I did.” “Ok your in.”
Arturo took over her first floor. He brought in furniture to fit out two of the bedrooms. Regin wasn’t sure how he’d bought and ordered it and didn’t ask. The largest room he converted into a sitting room. Regin had to admit it looked good. He’d taken her up to see it. She even liked the curtains. The connecting stairway from the ground to the first floor was to one side of the house. You would be able to reach the first floor without going through the ground floor if you wanted from the front door and hallway. The entrance to the garage connecting the walkway behind the stairs. Going right into the garage or left into the kitchen. It would offer both Regin and Arturo some privacy if they wanted it. The same could be said at the back of Regin’s kitchen. There was an old staircase behind a door leading to the first floor. Arturo brought in builders over the next few weeks, to bring the stairs up to scratch but keep the historic mouldings. They split the garage, it was big enough for four cars anyway. And they both agreed that if they needed to use the den they would let the other know. Arturo tried several times to give Regin money but she refused it. In the end he settled for supplying her with blessed silver and while oak. A lot of it.
Regin found that she looked forward to going home these days. It was nice to know that someone was there. Not exactly waiting on her but just there. There’d been no further incidences with Vamps and they’d established a routine. Regin didn’t do much cooking and Arturo liked it so he did most of it. She shopped. In the mornings if he was back before she left, he provided coffee. During the day she worked. During the night he did. When she had to, Regin worked in her lab. Dinner was the meeting of the waves. A couple of hours to enjoy the company and food.
They both seemed to accept it was a sanctuary from the real world, relishing the few weeks they had had together, something they had both come to look forward to. One week merged into two, into three into four, into five. Regin found she was attracted to Artruo. He was funny and interesting. Had a lot of knowledge on life as you’d expect. He was inquisitive about her work without being condescending or belittling. She found herself warming to him. A lot. He would occasionally hold her hand and talk. She would reach out to touch his arm and laugh. He would slip his arm round her and hug her. She would lean on him. And taking her hand he would kiss her good night. He never pushed. Never encroached in her personal space unwanted. Never pressed her for more. She began to feel for him. It was hard not to.
That sanctuary was broken by a visitor. When the doorbell went. Regin sat confused. She’d stopped scanning the surrounding area in her knowledge that Arturo would keep her safe. No one called at the house. Ever. She looked over at Arturo. He didn’t look happy. At the same time Regin opened her senses and felt the nearness of other. Not death exactly but not like Arturo. She turned to him. “One of yours?” Arturo shrugged. “Not sure I’m not expecting anyone. They know to leave messages at the c
lub.” He answered her. Regin left her dinner and entered her lab. Taking the barrier power and her vrank gun with her she headed for the door. Arturo behind her. Regin ran a wet cloth over the wooden floor. Then laid a barrier of powder, leaned down and charged it, with a grimace, her knees hurting. Arturo helped her up. He wiped the hair back from her face. “Are you ok?” Regin nodded. She then moved to the security pad to the right of the door. She pressed the screen. “We can see them but they cannot see us.” She whispered to him. A light came on outside and the door way was eliminated. A very handsome man stood on the threshold. Regin turned to Arturo and gave him an expression that said ‘well’. Arturo sighed so much for a time out. “I know him his one of mine.”
Regin kept a neutral expression and opened the door. “Dam Arturo what the hell are you doing way out here man. It’s the middle of nowhere. I had a hell of a time trying to find you. Couldn’t you find something better than this?” Handsome went to push passed Arturo and got his toes burnt. The barrier keeping him out. “What the fuck Arturo.” He stepped back and realised that Arturo wasn’t alone. “O sorry mam. Didn’t expect to see you there.” Handsome focused on Regin and breathed in. He straightened and held his control. He turned to look at Arturo. “Can you smell that.” He whispered under his breath for only Arturo to hear. Regin answered him. “Yeah he can.” Handsome looked surprised she’d heard him. “My god it’s amazing. Like fresh air after the rain. Clean. Pure. It’s delicious.” Handsome fangs dropped. “Well I guess that answers that then.” Regin said. Handsome slapped his hand over his face. “Sorry Arturo, didn’t mean to do it.” “Are you in control? Turn off your sense of smell.” Arturo told him. “It’s there but manageable.” Handsome told him honestly as his teeth receded.
“Tell me Regin, what do you feel?” Arturo asked her. Regin sieved through the emotions and feelings bombarding her. This was one of the reasons she lived out of town. She didn’t have to sieve anyone like she did all day. “I feel no malice from him. No madness. No death. He seems genuinely concerned for you. He’s looking for some answers as to why you’re out here. Thinks he has some seeing me. I’ll get the dustpan and brush so you can let him in”. Regin walked to the cupboard under the stairs and removed a dustpan and brush. She broke the barrier and gave the dust pan to Arturo. “Careful with that.” She told him. “What’s ya name handsome?” Regin asked the new guy. Mr handsome visibly puffed up. “I’m James.” “James insult my home again and I’ll fry your ass, your invited in.” Regin turned back to the kitchen and her dinner. She kept her gun on her.
James stepped over the threshold and nothing burned. “Dam Arturo that’s some security.” Arturo smiled and nodded, bending down to dust up the powder very carefully. “We’re in the kitchen close the door behind you.” James followed Arturo. Regin had retaken her seat and continued to eat her dinner. Arturo followed suit and sat at his. Picking up his fork. “How come you’re here James? I was very clear. The club only unless it’s an emergency.” James looked round the room. “Arturo did you cook?” Arturo nodded. James went to the oven and opened the door. “Got any left?” Regin burst out laughing. Men were all the same when hungry. Waving her arm around. “Get him a plate before he chews on something.” James grinned from ear to ear. “I like her my … Arturo.” Arturo gave him a steely eye and sighed. “Sit down.” Getting out the left overs, he placed them on the island with a plate and cutlery and a glass. James helped himself and poured a glass of wine. Lifting it. “To new friends.” He called. Regin laughed back, how could you ever explain this and raised her glass. “To new friends.” Arturo appeared to grumble. James pulled a chair up and tucked in.
Regin watched James for a moment amused. He really was tucking in. It still surprised her. Shaking her head Regin turned back to her dinner. Regin suddenly felt something else. Putting down her glass she shut out the emotions coming from within the house and pushed out. At the edge of her property she felt two of them. One female. One male. The female was old. Not as old as Arturo but she felt several centuries of layers. The lowest, hunger, destruction, death. Then despair, emptiness, a sense of loss, bereavement, anger. It moved to acceptance, resolve, needing, wanting, friendship. The many last layers of understanding, duty, willingness, contentment. The male not so old. His energy also started with hunger, destruction and death. Regin reached for the higher layers. Death, betrayal, contempt, lies and destruction. Regin felt all this in seconds. She reached out and grasped Arturo’s hand resting on the island next to his plate. She pushed all the emotions she had just felt for the male into him.
Arturo sat up straight and dropped his fork. He felt the old emotions creep over him. It had been a very long time since he had felt this raw hunger.
Regin let go of his hand and watched Arturo struggled for control surrounded by her scent and his need. She watched as he grabbed the island and held on. Slowly he raised his head to look at her. The predator in him stared back at her. Pray. Hunger. Temptation. Lust slammed into her. Regin felt every emotion riding Arturo. Lust surprised and confused her. Without taking her eyes off him, Regin rose from her seat and went to the fridge and took out a bottle and laid it on the table. Sitting back down she lifted her right hand and in it was the vrank gun. Arturo grabbed the bottle and drank deeply. His hand was shaking. “Do I need to vrank you?” She asked pointing it directly at him. James looked up as Arturo drank the rest of the blood and regained control. She watched him take a steadying breath.
“James, did you forget to tell us you brought company?” Regin asked him. Her eyes never leaving Arturo. “O yeah sorry, got caught up in the food. Valentina and Jose are with me. They were staying by the road till I let um know I’d found you.” He told him. “Well it seems that they decided to check it out themselves. Their here.” She told Arturo. She stared at him intensely. She was worried. “I’m fine.” He told her. “Some warning next time would be nice though. How’d you know about the blood?” He asked her. “You’ve been here for four weeks. You’re not the only one who uses the fridge. Where else would it be. I’m sorry Arturo it came over me and I needed to share. The male.” Arturo nodded. “How long has he been with you?” Regin asked him. “Best part of 80 years. Never once smelt human blood on him. Are you ever wrong?” Regin shook her head. “Never have been.” She told him sadly. James was confused. “Is there a problem?” Regin indicated the window as two outlines came into focus. “They can’t see through the UV protection and silver.” She whispered as there was a knocking at the door. Regin went back to the fridge and got another bottle out and gave it to Arturo. “I’m sorry.” She told him and walked to her lab door. Picking up the dust pan Arturo had put there from earlier, she laid it across the door opening and placed her hand on it charging it. Dragging her seat to sit outside arm’s reach of the door frame she sat down with full view of the kitchen. She looked at Arturo who had finished his second bottle and put the vrank gun in her lap. “You have visitors, we should invite them in.” She told him.
Arturo looked over at Regin. She continued to amazed him. Faced with three deadly creatures she sat composed in her lab waiting for what life threw at her. And he had just shown her how close his beast was to the surface. And yet, she had still given him the ability to allow his ‘friends’ to enter her home. He hadn’t missed the trust she had just placed in him it was humbling. Arturo rose from his seat put the two now empty bottles in the sink and quickly rinsed them. Then went to the door. He opened it slowly and stepped back. Valentina walked in first. She had a large smile on her face and kissed Arturo in the European way. “Arturo you look good. Life here agrees with you.” She told him grasping his hand in affection. Regin couldn’t miss the emotional connection they both had. They had been lovers. Might still be. Regin frowned. She didn’t like that feeling. Arturo turned as the male came to the door and entered. Arturo nodded at Jose who nodded back. He also exchanged a European greeting. Jose looked round the room and spotted James. “Hay man. Did you forget us for food?” Jose laughed walking
towards him. You could see the moment he caught Regin’s scent. His head followed its nose to her direction. He clenched his fists, holding back the beast.
James stood and faced off with Jose. Picking up that something was wrong. Arturo stepped in on the other side. Regin felt Jose losing control a mili second before he moved. She fired at him hitting her mark as Arturo cut Jose off and stood in front of her. Valentina moved with Vampire speed and came at Regin. Arturo stopped her. Jose held his chest looked at Arturo and fell to the floor. “It’s an intense combination of elephant and lion tranquiliser, some powdered oak with a fast accelerant. He won’t combust but it will take a Vamp down hard.” Regin told Arturo to his back. “You need answers. The den would be good.” Valentina held out her hand to Arturo. “What is going on here?” Arturo kept his gaze on Jose. “His been feeding and lying to us. What I need to know is why?” Valentina was visibly shocked. “I don’t believe it?” She said with incredibility in her voice. “What do you smell Valentina?” Arturo asked her. Valentina’s expression was confused. Arturo repeated himself angrily. “What do you smell?” Valentina was shaken. “I.. I don’t. Haven’t for years. I turned it off.” Arturo turned to Regin. “Truth.” She told him. Turning back he looked a Jose who was now unconscious on the floor. “James help me move him downstairs. “Valentina meet Regin. My partner.” Partner. Regin wasn’t sure what that meant. But they were in this together now. So she guessed it was right. “Hi I’m Regin.” Regin waved.
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