She drove at highway speeds, running red lights, back to her neighborhood. Just three blocks over from her house. She slammed on her brakes in front of a small yellow house. Vare, with his flashing movement, was immediately at her side.
"Kelsey Jensen. They've been friends since middle school and he took her to the prom. But she is dying of a rare form of leukemia. I think he's here...to change her.” Darlene ran toward the door but Vare grabbed her by the arm.
"He's here. I'm going to take care of this. You wait here. I'll let you in the house in a few minutes."
The van arrived and Jamal and his large men joined them. “I'm going in. I'll subdue the parents. If anything happens, get Darlene to a safe house."
"Yes, sir,” Jamal said.
Vare vanished.
Darlene, dizzy, sagged against the porch railing. “I didn't know he could do that."
"Not many can,” Jamal replied.
The door swung open and Darlene rushed in. The Jensens were sitting quietly on the couch, dressed in pajamas. Neither noticed the commotion around them.
"They're thrilled,” Jamal said. “They won't be a problem."
Vare was already up the stairs.
Darlene ran after Vare. “Don't hurt him. He's trying to help her! I know he is!"
Kelsey, pitifully thin and white, lay peacefully on her bed. Brian stood over her, his wrist bleeding. “She won't drink. Why won't she drink?"
Vare moved to Brian, but Darlene grabbed him. “He's trying to help!"
Vare looked at her for a long moment, then at Brian and the girl. He nodded, then he quickly pushed up his sleeve and slit his wrist with a knife sharp fang, “You are too young, Brian. Your body is still making changes within. Your blood lacks the component needed to transform a human.” Vare gently moved Brian's wrist away and placed his own over the girl's pale lips. A moment later she swallowed.
Darlene went limp with relief and plopped onto the carpet, breathing hard.
When the girl finished drinking, Vare looked at Darlene. “Now you understand why we need to be in a secure location?"
"I do. As soon as possible.” Darlene looked into his eyes for a long moment. “I'm used to making all the decisions about my son. It's hard to trust someone else with him. But I do trust you."
Vare helped her up to her feet, brushing a soft kiss on her forehead. “All will be well. We have the same goals for him."
"I'm sorry, Mom, I didn't mean to scare you,” Brian looked exhausted and tears swam in his hazel green eyes.
"You, young man, need to follow directions and get busy with your schooling. To be safe, vampires need to be wealthy, and you will need to contribute to the clan, since you enlarged it.” Vare's tone was serious.
"Yeah, sure, Vare.” Brian looked relieved.
Good, he respects Vare.
Jamal came into the room with his crew, observed the scene, and sighed. He pulled a cell from his jeans. “I'll call Veronique, we'll need her to feed this one. Crap, we'll be stuck with that whiney bitch for two years. Unless you want to send this one and Veronique to Europe?” Jamal looked hopefully at Vare.
"Nope. We'll all be one big, happy vampire family in the isolated north."
Jamal shook his head in disgust and walked away, cussing and dialing.
Chapter Six
Vare wouldn't let her drive back to his estate in the same car as Brian. “We've been incredibly lucky he didn't end up a pile of dust tonight. There is no point in taking chances. The boy will be starving, and I have to build up some blood volume. Jamal and I will take him home, and the van will bring Kelsey and her parents. They'll be no trouble, they'll all be asleep."
She waited for over an hour in the den near Brian's bedroom until Vare came to get her. Brian looked sleepy when she finally was allowed to see him. The chains were covered by the blankets, and she was glad for that. Seeing her son in chains was not a vision she wanted.
"Stay with me,” Vare said, later. “Tomorrow night I will fly with Brian and the girl to the clan home in Washington. You can take a commercial flight, and be there tomorrow."
"I..."
"I will buy your ticket, and my crew can pack up your house and make arrangements with the management company that oversees this one to care for yours, also."
"What..."
Vare pulled her close and she could see need and something else in his eyes. Desperation.
"Please, Darlene. Be there waiting for me when we arrive."
It nearly broke her heart to hear Vare beg. He was a proud man, a proud vampire. “Of course I'll take the flight."
Vare's kiss was hard, more possessive than passionate, though passion soon raged through both of them.
"You will stay with me. We can marry, if you want, though it is not a vampire custom."
"I will stay with you, but...You and Brian won't age. But I will. I'm in my forties now, someday I will be old."
"Let's go to our rooms so we can talk comfortably.” In the suite, he drew her to the bed.
"Darlene, there are no guarantees.” Vare paused. “Blood crews usually see health benefits from the vampire elixir they receive. For instance, Michael has more hand control now than he did a few years ago, when normally he would have less movement, due to the course of his illness."
She settled against him, relishing the feel of his solid body against hers. “Yes, Devon told me."
"But blood crews only receive elixir a few times a month. I'll put elixir into your body on close to a nightly basis.” One of his hands slid over her bottom, slowly exploring. His mind picture was explicit, with her naked and under him. She felt an answering warmth spread through her.
"I can't imagine not making love with you every night,” she whispered before sliding arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss.
Vare pulled back a few moments later with a knowing grin. “Now, don't distract me. I'm trying to calm your fears."
"Oh, right.” She grinned back. “I don't feel nearly as worried now that I'm with you."
"The elixir makes more changes than what you've already experienced. Eventually you may be a daywalker...similar to a vampire in strength and life span, but able to live on human food and go out in sunlight."
"I'll be stronger, like you and Brian?"
"Oh yes. A daywalker can be a very valuable clan member. But they are also rare."
"But I might not become one?"
"Perhaps not. We would be able to test you, though. One of the clan is a scientist with an interest in such things. We would know in six months or so if you are changing into a daywalker."
"What if I'm not going to be a daywalker?"
His face turned serious. “There is the possibility of transformation. But it is a very serious decision. I would want you to be fully informed before you made such a choice. And we don't have to rush into anything. I could set you up on the same course of study that Brian will be taking, which will teach you about our world."
She smiled. “That's good. I've been wondering what to do with myself. I thought I would change my sleep habits so I could be awake when you are, but you'll be busy. Maybe I could work in the office."
He grinned. “I'll show you the office in a few days. Don't want to scare you off."
"Ahh, so you want me for my secretarial skills."
Vare pulled her sweatshirt off in one swift yank. “Something like that."
Darlene leaped up, laughing. “Get up. I want to practice being a strong daywalker.” She walked over to the bed.
"How are you going to practice that?” Vare watched while she slowly undressed. She gave him a shove. He buckled onto the bed with a laugh.
Darlene crawled on top. “So we'll be Even Steven in strength?” She wiggled on top of him, straddling him.
"Close, maybe,” Vare flipped her back onto the bed and looked down at her with a grin. “But you're not stronger yet.” He pressed a hard kiss to her mouth. “We will have many interesting games to play."
"I feel better
about the lifespan, knowing I have some options."
Vare brushed open lips over her mouth and neck, whisper kisses that made her shiver. His eyes held that odd light as he looked deep into her own. His expression was serious, but inside she could feel emotion coming from him. Relief and joy. Homecoming.
"You need elixir for the long lifespan.” His voice was raspy.
"I know how to get it,” Darlene answered, her own voice breathy as she pulled his mouth to hers.
The End
Author Bio
Take a shy, chubby, Catholic school girl bookworm from Montana. Hand her a stack of her much older brother's sci fi and fantasy novels, James Bond books and horror comics. Later, introduce Barbara Cartland and the world of romance fiction.
Get her a job or two in authentic, one room Montana schools, ala Laura Ingels Wilder. Marry her off to a great guy, move her to a big city in Tornado Alley, then pop three daughters out of her in twenty two months (one set of identical twins).
Then, make her a jinx. Every great genre TV show she loves gets the ax— Beauty and the Beast, Dark Angel—and Buffy and Spike NEVER have a happy ending! She gets upset about no romance in the world, and fires up to write her own stories with happy endings.
Throw this all together into a small house in Wyoming, along with a small fluffy dog and too many cats, shake constantly, and pour it out onto a computer keyboard.
There! You have me, Brooklyn O’Bannon.
Visit my website! http://brooklynobannon.yolasite.com/
Single Mom, Vampire Lover Page 5
