by John Conroe
“No, a young man came racing out of the building and gave me his spot. Said he had to run to the store or something. Odd though…he didn’t seem to have a wallet or anything with him?” She frowned in remembrance.
I laughed and looked at Roy, who was as star struck as the rest. He caught my eye, breaking out of her spell long enough to realize he owed me a beer.
“Tanya, this is Roy, Gina’s husband,” I introduced her. Then I introduced the rest. It was interesting to watch their reactions. At some unconscious level, they seemed to sense something different about her, as their facial expressions reflected fascination edged slightly with trepidation. The primitive human animal sensed the presence of an apex predator. But her beauty and allure attracted them. I had noticed the same effect with almost all vampires, but it was greatly magnified in Tatiana’s case.
A small gasp of air announced Antonia, who was peeking at Tanya from around her father’s leg.
“Tanya, this is the birthday girl herself, Antonia!” I said.
“Oh! Such a beautiful name, for such a beautiful girl!” Tanya said in her exotic Russian accent, as she moved across the room like smoke. She gracefully dropped to one knee; bringing her face to Toni’s height.
Tanya hadn’t been around human children before and I could tell she was fascinated. That sincere interest and attention brought Toni out from behind her father to shyly shake Tanya’s outstretched hand.
“Christian, you lied to me!” Tanya said, in mock outrage. “You said Antonia was pretty! She’s far too beautiful to be merely pretty!”
When a goddess pronounces you beautiful, it has impact. Toni’s face lit up with amazement.
“Are you a princess?” the little girl asked.
“Oh no! I’m just a girl,” Tanya said.
I snorted, earning myself a look from the vampire princess.
“She’s my princess, Toni!” I said, with a huge grin. The adults all laughed, breaking the tension slightly.
Tanya ignored me, still concentrating on the little girl.
“Did Christian give you his present?” she asked.
“Oh yes! My very own mouse.. rat,” she corrected.
“Do you like it?” Tanya asked tentatively, not having much use for rodents herself. Of course the fact that the little thing went frantic with fear when she came near it might have influenced her.
“I love it! I’m going to name it Sebastian!” she pronounced.
“Well good. But I brought you a present as well,” Tanya said. I cleared my throat, causing her to flash her cerulean eyes in my direction.
“Actually, Christian helped, but it was my idea!” she amended. She held her hand out to me without looking and I slapped the little blue wrapped box into it like she was a surgeon. I had been carrying the little gift in my cargo pocket of my black pants.
Tanya handed it to Antonia, who looked at her mother for permission to open it. Getting the nod, she carefully pulled the paper off, revealing the kind of little black box that all women love to get.
Opening it she stared in wonder at the necklace within.
Tanya reached in and pulled it out, holding up before Toni so she could see the whole thing. The adults around us oohed and ahhed in appreciation. The tiny silver bear was standing upright, its arms and legs slightly exaggerated, its eyes chips of red stone.
“Ah Chris? Isn’t that a lot for a five year party?” Gina asked carefully.
“Well, it’s a combination birthday and new godfather gift,” I said, giving her a meaningful look. “We,” I pointed to Tanya and back at myself, “are taking the god parent thing very seriously.” Her eyes widened a bit and she nodded.
“Wow, it’s beautiful! Is it pewter?” one of the mothers asked.
“The bear is platinum, the chain is white gold,” I said.
“Really! Platinum and gold?” she went on.
“Yes and the eyes are rubies.”
“She’s only five,” another mother said, shocked.
“We will get her a bigger one when she gets older,” Tanya said, misunderstanding the concern.
“What if she loses it?” Carol, the teacher asked.
“Listen, I’ve never had a goddaughter before, you’ll just have to excuse my excesses,” I said, hoping to put an end to the questions. The necklace was impossible for Toni to lose; that was the main reason I wanted her to have it. I had made it myself, with Okwari’s help. I would always be able to find her if she had it on.
“It’s a bear!” Toni exclaimed, holding it in her hand.
“That’s right,” Tanya agreed.
“Does he have a name?” Toni asked.
“Okwari,” I told her softly.
Beside me I heard Gina suck in her breath.
“Ah Chris….” she started to say, suddenly uncertain.
“It’s really, really okay, Gina,” I told her, giving her a meaningful look.
“Oh-kwal-lee,” the little girl said, pronouncing the word carefully.
A breeze swirled through the apartment, lifting the girl’s hair and blowing wrapping paper up and around.
“Oh! I must have left the front door open!” Tanya said, overplaying it just a bit. She stood up and went to the front door.
“Actually, we need to run along. Date night and all!” I said. That brought a nervous chuckle from the group. Gina, Roy and Toni followed me to the door where Tanya was looking casually dangerous. Toni ran to her and unabashedly gave her legs a hug. The vampire girl looked surprised, first at the little girl, then at me. I gestured for her to hug back. Bending at an exaggeratedly slow pace, Tanya gave her a careful hug. Strange emotions flitted across the beautiful face that centered my world.
Beside me, Gina was slightly stiff at the sight of one of the most dangerous vampires on the planet hugging her baby. I patted her arm, “Relax, your daughter is better protected than the President’s kids!” I said. “We can find her anywhere and send help to her instantly. The predator who targets Toni won’t see what hit him!”
“Yes he will!” Tanya hissed, angry at the thought.
“Ookay,” Gina said, still uncertain.
“That’s what you get having me as a godfather. Any way we gotta go. Presents to deliver.”
“Presents to who?” Toni asked, not liking the competition.
“We’re going to give a lady named Brianna some friends of Sebastian’s,” I said. “About 299.”
“In her apartment?” Gina asked, a gleam in her eyes.
“Yup!” I responded.
“She lives on the tenth floor of high security building!” Gina said.
I glanced down at my black clad self, then at Tanya’s dark clothed, lithe form.
“And your point would be?”
“Oh nothing. Give her my love!” she said with a wicked grin.
“Count on it,” I said, ushering Tanya out into the welcoming night.
