DraculaVille - New York - Book One

by Lara Nance

  He shook his head. “I’m so tired, and I think I’m hungry.”

  “That’s it. You need to eat. Who knows how long you’ve been lying in that alley. Do you want coffee? I need some for sure.” Talia headed for the kitchen.

  “No. No coffee.”

  “Come on, let’s see what she can find to feed you.” Gerri took his arm, and they shuffled along behind Talia. “I see no injuries other than the holes on your neck, so you may just be weak from lack of food. You could have been unconscious for a while.”

  Light from the dining room filtered into the kitchen providing a soft illumination that seemed easier on Drake’s eyes. He studied the room as Gerri settled him on a bar stool at the island.

  Talia opened her refrigerator, staring at the contents. “How about eggs?”

  Drake grimaced. “No.”

  “Salad?”

  He gagged and shook his head.

  “I know.” She retrieved a steak wrapped in plastic. “A nice thick, juicy rib eye. No man can resist that.”

  Before she could shift or think, Drake moved with lightening speed to grab the package from her hand. He ripped off the plastic and bit into it over and over. A slight growl reverberated from his throat.

  Talia stared at him, mouth gaping. The light from the open refrigerator made his pale skin glow like a blue tinged iceberg. He looked up, the mangled meat held in his hands before his face. He blinked several times then placed the remains of the steak on the counter and slowly backed away.

  “Okay, what was that?” She planted her hands on her hips.

  Gerri went to the counter and glanced at the rib eye.

  “I don’t know.” Drake licked his bloodied fingers. “It looked really good.”

  “You sucked the blood out of it. You didn’t eat the meat.” Gerri glanced at Talia, brows raised.

  “Blood.” Drake nodded eagerly. “Yes, that sounds like what I need. Sounds delicious.”

  “Blood?” Talia slammed the door to the refrigerator.

  “Tal, I’m getting a really bizarre idea here.” Gerri tossed the pale steak in the trash.

  “No kidding.”

  “I must be crazy to suggest this, but look at his neck.” She pointed to the twin holes. “A bite mark. He has no heartbeat and he’s craving blood. It’s insane, but it’s the only thing that makes any sense.”

  Talia studied Drake. Some flicks of blood marked the pale skin around his lips, and his amber eyes pulsed an eerie glow.

  “Let me see your teeth,” Gerri said, walking to his side.

  He eyed her warily, but made no move to stop her from lifting his upper lip. She drew in a quick breath and stepped back. “Oh, my God.”

  Talia followed and moved his lip up. His incisor was elongated and sharp. She checked the other side and found the same thing.

  “This is…impossible.” She stepped away, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

  “What’s wrong with my teeth?” Drake sat on the stool, his momentary flash of energy gone.

  “You’re a vampire,” Talia said.

  “Wait, there has to be another explanation.” Her friend rested a hand on her arm. “There’s supposed to be no such thing as vampires.”

  “How do you explain this?” She gestured to Drake.

  “I don’t know.” Gerri moved her hand to the counter, leaning on it, her gaze fixed on him.

  “Vampire.” Drake ran fingers through his dark tangled hair. He glanced up at Gerri. “Is it possible?”

  She put a hand over her mouth, and sank onto a bar stool. “It shouldn’t be. But Talia’s right, there’s no other explanation for your condition.”

  He put his head in his hands, and a soft moan floated from his lips.

  “Wait.” Talia squinted at him. “Is this some kind of punk? Are you being paid to do this?”

  He didn’t raise his head, just moaned. “Please help me. I think I’m dying.”

  Her friend shrugged her shoulders. “He doesn’t have a pulse. I’m sure. You can’t fake that.”

  A wave of dizziness washed over her and she leaned against the counter. She rubbed her temples until the spasm passed. Vampire? But what other explanation could there be? He was technically dead with no pulse. Right? “You’re sure?”

  Gerri nodded.

  A warm compulsion invaded her and she edged closer to him. Her neck tingled along her jugular vein and she pictured the blood gushing through it, full of life. Thirst hit her and she inched forward another step.

  Drake lifted his head, eyes piercing hers. She gasped and swirled around to break the gaze, clamping a hand over her neck. What was he doing to her?

  Tal?”

  “What do you suggest we do?” She twisted her hands and faced her friend. “If he needs blood, where can we get it?”

  “Are you serious?” Gerri grabbed her arm and pulled her from the kitchen. “This is insane. You want to give him blood?”

  “What other alternative is there? I feel sorry for him. He doesn’t know what happened, and now he’s stuck. He needs help. We can’t let him die, or be more undead...”

  Her friend turned and paced across the living room. “This is outside the realm of any ethical dilemma I’ve ever encountered. He’s technically dead, but there’s a case for him being a new species, I suppose.”

  Talia pointed to the kitchen. “Ger, he’s in there talking and mangling my steaks. He’s not dead.”

  “Based on human standards, he’s dead. He has no pulse.”

  Talia bit her lip. The uncanny link with Drake compelled her to care for him. She could actually feel his thirst and aching hunger. He seemed so vulnerable and clueless. She was certain no one would believe this story if they took him to the authorities. He’d be locked up in a psych ward or something.

  “Ger, blood will make him stronger. Then maybe we can figure out what happened and how to help him.” She went to her friend’s side.

  Gerri stared at her for a moment then nodded. “Okay, okay. I can’t stand to see anyone suffer. I’ll find a way to get some at the hospital.”

  Talia grinned. “Thanks. It’s the right thing to do.”

  “I’m not sure how long it will take.”

  “Don’t worry. I couldn’t sleep now anyway. I’ve got a killer hangover. I’ll put on a pot of coffee, and we’ll wait.”

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Gerri muttered as she gathered her purse. “If I’m caught, I’ll be fired and lose my license.”

  “Then be careful.” Talia went to the kitchen where Drake had his cheek on the bar. “Are you okay?” She laid a hand on his shoulder.

  He lifted his head. “I feel a little better after the…steak.”

  “Gerri’s going to bring you some blood. Okay?”

  His eyes narrowed. “So you think it’s true? I’m a, a, a vampire?”

  She sat on the barstool beside him. “Do you have another feasible explanation?”

  “Maybe if I could remember.” He rested his forehead in his hand. “Everything’s so cloudy. Who am I? Do I have a family?”

  Talia studied him for a moment. “We can look you up on the Internet. Hold on.” She ran to her bedroom and retrieved her laptop, then hurried back and placed it on the bar.

  She typed his name into Google, and waited as results scrolled down the page. “Hmm, there are more than one Drake Edwards it seems. Here we go.”

  He leaned near, staring at the screen. That tickle of attraction itched at her with his nearness. She shivered and clicked on an entry listed in San Diego. This page showed a photo of Drake from years earlier with shorter hair. It appeared he worked as a merchandising manager at Saks in San Diego.

  “I handled the men’s department,” he murmured. “Why was I in New York?”

  “Who knows? A meeting with the mother-ship maybe?”

  “Can you find more?”

  She scrolled through several entries and found a listing for Facebook. “Let’s check this out.” Sure enough, it shared the same
photo and background. “It says you’re single.”

  He let out a breath. “That’s good. I can’t bear the thought of people mourning me.”

  That statement sent a shiver through her. He scanned the computer screen with hungry eyes, seeking clues to his life. It made her heart ache—his aloneness. His was so different from the fictional vampire stories. Shouldn’t he ignore normal human feelings and pursue his blood lust without caring who or what he hurt? That's how it happened in the movies.

  She inched a hand across the counter and touched his arm. “I’m sorry. This really sucks for you. No pun intended.”

  “Can we see any more details?”

  “You’ll need your e-mail and password.”

  His brows came together. “I can’t remember.”

  She maneuvered to the Saks homepage and then to the San Diego location. “We can try your work e-mail. For the password we can try your birthday. It’s on your license.”

  He nodded, gaze intent on the screen as she typed in the letters and numbers.

  “Hmm, not your birthday. Do any numbers pop in your head?”

  He picked up his license from the counter. “Maybe my street address? One, five, seven oh, two.”

  She punched those numbers in, and the page opened. “That’s it. Great. Here, you can read the entries. I think the coffee is done. You sure…”

  He wrinkled his nose. “No.”

  She poured a cup and leaned against the counter as he studied entries, his expression unreadable. It must be odd to look at the account with no memory. Like scanning through someone else’s life.

  He sighed after a few minutes and leaned back. “I can’t read any more. It’s so confusing and upsetting. But, thank you. You’ve been very kind. I have no idea what I’m going to do. I see flashes of images that may be from my past, but I can’t put together the whole picture of who or what I am. It’s crazy.”

  “Don’t worry.” She patted his arm. “We’ll figure it out. It’s strange though. I would think if some vampire bit you he would, you know, show you the ropes or something.”

  He snorted. “I guess that’s how it is in books. Seems this particular vampire just wanted to take my money and my blood.”

  “Maybe he thought he killed you, but you survived.”

  “Maybe. Can I lie down? I’m so tired.” His eyelids drooped.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You need to stay awake until Gerri gets back.”

  “Why?” He raised one brow.

  “I don’t know. Isn’t that what they say if you hit your head, and also if you’re caught in a blizzard? You should never lie down and go to sleep or you’ll never wake up.”

  “Maybe it’s different for vampires.”

  “No, I’m pretty sure it’s a universal rule. When in danger, never go to sleep.” She gave him a reassuring smile.

  “I think you should let me go to sleep. If I don’t wake up, it could be a good thing.” He offered her a grim smile.

  “How can you say that? Don’t you want to find out who did this to you?”

  His eyes narrowed.”That’s why I want to die. You should have left me in that alley. I don’t want to hurt anybody. But something is urging me to kill.”

  Chapter 5

  Maybe Drake was more dangerous than she thought. Was she crazy to bring him home? Despite his words, he exuded a calm gentleness, an aura she couldn’t explain. It was the same in the alley. Somehow she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. It must be some part of who he was before this happened.

  She rested a hand on his arm. “Look, I don’t think you’re going to hurt anybody. You’d have attacked me back there in the alley, otherwise. If you are a vampire, you’re not like the ones in movies who are ruthless about getting blood no matter what it takes. All you did was chew up my rib eye.”

  One side of his mouth lifted. “You’re very funny.”

  “See? If you died, you’d miss my jokes.” She squeezed his arm, and its hard muscles surprised her. “Stay there and rest. I’m going to take a shower and get out of these grimy clothes. But don’t go to sleep. Promise?”

  “Okay. I promise. May I look at your computer again?”

  “Sure.” She left him staring at the screen and went to her bedroom, determined to get out of her dirty clothes and wash the memories of her humiliating day away. After closing the door, she paused then turned the lock. Better to take no chances with a hungry vampire in the house. Of course a locked door probably wouldn’t stop him if he really wanted to get in.

  Once she’d cleaned up and slipped on a plush red warm-up suit, she headed into the kitchen, still wired from the coffee. Strange, she wasn’t exhausted. But then it’s not every day you find a vampire.

  An hour, and three more cups of coffee later, a knock sounded on her door. She rushed to open it.

  Gerri hurried in, a frown on her face. “Okay, it wasn’t easy, but I got it.” She held up a tote bag.

  “You’re the best.” Talia took the tote, which held four bags of red blood. “Is this enough?”

  “I really have no idea, Tal. I’ve never treated a vampire before.” Gerri gazed at Drake. “How’s he?”

  “Wants to lie down, go to sleep and never wake up,” she said over her shoulder as she went into the kitchen to retrieve a glass and a knife.

  When she returned, Gerri held up a hand. “Let’s take this slow. Remember how he reacted to the steak? We don’t know what will happen when he sees the blood.”

  Drake grimaced as he sat on the sofa. “I’ll close my eyes. Put it on the coffee table and stand back. Let me know when to look.”

  “Okay.” Talia waited till he closed his eyes, and drew out one of the bags.

  “You’re putting it in a glass?” Gerri rolled her eyes.

  “Why not. He can be a vampire and have manners, too.” She placed the glass on the table and jabbed a hole in one corner of the bag, then poured the thick dark fluid into the tumbler. After emptying the last drop from the bag, she stepped back and glanced at Gerri who nodded.

  “Okay, Drake. Slowly open your eyes.” Talia hid the empty bag behind her back and realized her hands shook.

  His dark lashes quivered against his white cheeks. His nostrils flared as his jaw twitched. “Stay back,” he whispered. “I can smell it.”

  “We’re out of the way,” Gerri said, but retreated another step.

  His lids went up and his gaze immediately flew to the glass. A deep shuddering breath wracked his chest as he grabbed the glass with both hands and brought it to his lips. He drained the blood in a second. He sat motionless for several moments, then slowly returned the glass to the table. His tongue flicked over his lips, and his eyes narrowed.

  “That was really good,” he said to Talia.

  “Do you need more?” she asked.

  “I think…yes, more.” He closed his eyes.

  Talia repeated the procedure with another bag, and stepped away. “Okay. Cheers.”

  He drank a little slower this time. He licked his lips and smiled. “I’m feeling a whole lot better.”

  “Do you want another?” Gerri asked.

  He tilted his head to one side and closed his eyes, then opened them. “No. I’m full. I feel…amazing.”

  “Amazing how?” Talia ventured closer and edged onto the sofa’s arm beside him.

  “I’m not sure I can explain. It’s like every cell in my body just came to life in a sparkling, tingling explosion of pleasure. All my senses are heightened. Hearing, vision, smell and taste. Boy, taste. That blood is the best thing I’ve ever had in my life.” He stared at the glass. “That I remember.”

  “You feel strong?” Gerri sank to the couch on his other side.

  He raised his arms and flexed his elbows, then gripped his hands into fists. “Yeah.” Then he stood and paced the room. “I feel great.”

  “This is so bizarre,” her friend whispered. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Ger, he’s a freaking vampire. A real vampire.”
<
br />   Gerri merely nodded, her gaze on Drake as he moved around the room. He flexed his muscles and swung his arms.

  Talia stared at Drake, too. He appeared to delight in his newly awakened body. His bare torso and broad shoulders rippled with muscles. He moved like a panther, sleek and purposeful. He’d transformed from a weak, cowering lump to a majestic, powerful creature in a matter of seconds. Because of the blood.

  She placed a hand on her chest. Her heart pounded under her fingertips. Was this real? Maybe she still slept in the alley. Still dreamed. To make sure, she pinched her arm and yelped.

  “What are you doing?” Gerri asked, stealing her gaze from the buff vampire striding about the room.

  “Never mind.” She shook her head. “We need a plan.”

  Drake stopped pacing and turned to face them, his smile fading. “I guess I’m a bit of a problem.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll figure out something. I’m going to keep you, not throw you out in the street,” Talia said.

  “Tal, he’s not a pet.” Gerri crossed her arms. “And how are you going to get blood? I’m not stealing any more from the hospital. It’s too risky.”

  “I know, I know.” She held up her hands. “I’ll think of something.”

  “I’m not going to bite anybody. I’d rather die.” Drake crossed his arms. His eyes had muted to amber, almost brown.

  “Stop talking about dying. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re already dead.” Talia tucked her hair behind one ear.

  Gerri nodded.

  “So are the legends about vampires true then?” Drake settled on the sofa, rubbing his palms down the tops of his thighs.

  “What do you mean?” Gerri asked.

  “You know, the stake through the heart, garlic, sunshine, that sort of stuff.”

  “We’re hardly vampire experts.” Talia’s mind whirled with scenarios. She’d dealt with unexpected situations at the ad agency, but nothing like this.

  “I guess not.” Drake hung his head.

  “You’ll just have to try them and see.” Gerri stood. “Not the stake of course, but poke a finger in the sunlight and see what happens.”

  “Oh, I’ve got garlic.” Talia strode to the kitchen and returned with a bottle. She handed it to Drake.