Paranormal Romance: Kiss Of A Vampire

by Woods, Martha

  “Way to make everyone comfortable, Ally,” Tessa snapped. “The only thing I can tell you all is that whatever I might hear, I have probably have heard five times worse from someone else.”

  “I somehow doubt that,” Morgan said.

  “Well, you don’t have to try and be an overachiever, do you?” Tessa replied.

  A house with six vampires, two of them with unresolved romantic issues, and everyone scrambling to protect the household against wicked witches. This should be great, Tessa thought.

  Part Three

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  Late that night, Kristian and Tessa retired to their room. They made up for the earlier interruptions. Their lovemaking was sometimes angry and at turns breathtakingly gentle. He got off on making her bed, listening to her enthusiastic responses to his questions. His practiced touch made her come for him over and over. He took a little taste from her.As he moved inside her, she scratched his back, drawing her nails against his skin. She moaned, cried, and shivered in his arms.

  In the early hours of the morning, she rose on unsteady legs and went to get water. She crawled back into bed and sat up as she drank from a glass. She wasn’t sure when the last time was that water was this pleasing to her parched throat.

  Tessa was naked, and her back was to him. When she slipped back into bed, she didn’t bother to wrap the sheet around her body. It rested on her hips, leaving her torso bare.

  She felt Kristian’s hand on her lower back, gently tracing her scars with his fingertips.

  “A little of my blood would heal that if you would allow me,” he said.

  She looked at him over her shoulder, brushing back her hair.

  “That wouldn’t...um..make me a vampire? Since you have drank from me already?”

  “No, darling,” he said. “You would need to drink some of my blood for that to happen.”

  “Well. I guess the movies got something right,” Tessa replied.

  “Indeed,” Kristian said softly. “You haven’t answered my question.”

  His fingertips still played against her skin, distracting her. “Well. I don’t know. I have had them so long, I’ve sort of learned to live with them. I just don’t wear anything backless. Or bikinis.”

  “There are many things I will never understand. Cruelty to children in one of them. It’s forbidden among vampires. But so prevalent in human families. I can’t say that I am too worried about your foster parents being gone from the planet.”

  “Part of me feels that way,” Tessa admitted. “Another part of me doesn’t.”

  “What was your life like before, with your birth parents? Before they sent you away?” he asked.

  Tessa sighed. She never talked about these things with anyone. Instinctively, she’d always known that one day, a man would want to be close enough to her to know about all the dark parts of her life. Perhaps she would even feel the need to tell him. But she’d only half believed it would ever happen. It was easier to imagine her life would always be on the road; no explanations required and no one to answer to. She should have known the safety of her nomadic existence couldn’t last forever. At least she knew that Kristian would not judge her.

  “I don’t have a lot of memories of my early childhood. I remember being small and feeling secure with my family. But those years between five and thirteen? Almost nothingng.”

  “But, they were good to you?” Kristian asked. “Before they sent you away, they didn’t hurt you?”

  “No, they never hit me or... punished me.”

  Kristian paused for a moment, and Tessa felt the need to fill the uneasy silence. “I know it’s strange,” she said. “I really can’t explain to you why.”

  “Will you let me heal you?” he asked again.

  She nodded in agreement. Putting her glass down, she laid down on her stomach. He opened the drawer of his bedside table and took out a knife. She heard him sigh as he drew the blade against his own skin. In a few moments, she was aware of blood dripping onto her back. It felt oddly cool, but grew warm against her skin; there was a moment of discomfort as she felt her flesh tighten and shift.

  “Come have a look,” he said.

  They got up and went into the bathroom. Kristian wiped away the remainder of the blood from Tessa’s skin with a towel. She stared at her reflection.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He lifted her chin with the tip of his finger. “It’s nothing,” he said.

  They went back to bed and fell asleep in each other's arms. Tessa dreamed of a silver-haired woman with a red book, with pages that filled themselves with lines of curving script.

  #

  “What’s the plan, then? I understand you already worked around improving house security but are we expected to stay inside for the time being?” Kristian asked.

  Tessa was gathered with Kristian, his sister, and the four guards in the kitchen. The ocean could be seen from this vantage point. Bright sunlight drifted into the windows, making the atmosphere seem light and peaceful, despite the dark reasons their gathering. It was easy for Tessa to forget they were under such careful watch when she and Kristian were downstairs in the basement apartment. Seeing all of these powerful vampires together brought home to her the seriousness of the threat they were under. The Calder were literally the thing that monsters feared.

  Morgan was the first to speak up.

  “No, we’re not suggesting you stay home all day. In fact, you are probably less of a target on the street, because the witches won’t want to be seen in public, much less do anything to hurt you. We’re not taking any chances, though. If you want to leave the house, one of us will shadow you. One guard will remain here at the house at all times, and we’re watching in shifts.”

  “How long are we supposed to keep this up?” Veronica asked. “All of you living here?”

  All the eyes in the room turned to her. It was evident to everyone her real problem was how long she was going to have to subsist under the same roof with her ex-lover.

  “As long as it takes,” Morgan replied. “Until Ally gives us the call saying the threat has been averted.”

  “Great,” Veronica hissed.

  “If it helps ma’am, we’ll be as not-intrusive as possible,” Ryan, the long haired blond said. It was the first time Tessa heard him speak in more than momo-syllables. She was surprised by his lilting southern accent. “The goal is not to disrupt your life. Just make sure you continue to have one.”

  “You guys are going to have to forgive me for asking, but I am new to all this. Exactly what kind of powers do these witches have?” Tessa asked.

  Jared, the vampire with cocoa brown skin, brushed his goatee thoughtfully. “They can do many things. They can produce controlled bursts of fire through their eyes or their palms. It’s how your family members were killed yesterday.”

  “They did that with their..?” Tessa couldn’t imagine. She had assumed that Melissa and Jim died with some sort of magical implement. An image of a black-eyed woman popped into her head; one of Jared’s memories.

  “You beheaded one?” Tessa asked. The face seemed oddly familiar to her.

  “It’s the fastest and most efficient way to kill them,” Jared replied. “Bloodletting will do the trick, as well as drowning, but both of those methods require greater risk because it means getting up close to them. They practice all kinds of blood magic. We have the house warded against it but with the Calder, one can’t make assumptions about what they are able to do. They’re always studying higher realms and different forms of magic, and so are we. Bullets won’t kill them, but it will slow them down. Anything which can make them hurt is good because their magic requires a certain amount of concentration. Break that, and you can buy yourself some time in a confrontation.”

  “Good to know,” Tessa said, crossing her arms.

  “I have things to do,” Veronica said. “I’m not staying home today.”

  “Trevor will accompany you,” Morgan said quickly. He turne
d to Kristian. “You and Tessa are going out?”

  “Yes.”

  “I” ll drive you,” Morgan said. “I’ll stay close.”

  #

  For the past several days, Tessa felt like a refugee. Be it a well cared for refugee in an immaculate beach house, but she felt odd because she didn’t have any of her own things. She fled the city with Kristian and Veronica without getting a chance to pack a bag. Tessa had gotten by with washing her skirt and wearing Kristian’s shirts.

  “I hate that we didn’t get this done for you already, but really, you could have borrowed something from Veronica’s closet,” Kristian said.

  They were walking together in the local mall. It seemed an unlikely place for Kristian, who probably had his suits tailored by only the finest designers. He draped an arm around her as they walked. Morgan was somewhere close by, but not within view.

  Tessa rolled her eyes at Kristian. “I could if she actually liked me.”

  “She likes you. She’s overly protective of her big brother.”

  “Maybe,” Tessa replied softly. “What if I am really the cause of the problem here, or they are just using me to get to you?”

  “If that’s so, we face the threat together, as we’re doing now. Speaking of your things. I could hire someone to bring your car and trailer up for you if you like.”

  Tessa wasn’t sure. There hadn’t been very much in the trailer; a single place setting of dishes, a blanket, a few old books, and her clothes. She was wearing her favorite pashmina and sneakers on the day she left. The really precious things: her “crystal” ball, tarot cards, and old photographs of her parents were in her purse.

  “It sounds like a big cost to have someone drive it across the state, for the sake of a few possessions.”

  “Think about it,” Kristian said. “And let me know what you decide. The money is not an issue, and if you’re worried about me hiring anyone to think of it as giving someone a job for the day. I also want you to remember you can get whatever you like.”

  They stopped at a lingerie store first. Kristian sat on a couch towards the back of the store, playing with his phone and giving the occasional glance whenever Tessa picked up an item. From there they went to two different clothes stores; the first one was to supply her with basics; jeans, tanks, sweaters and the like. The second store was more trendy; they specialized in dresses and jackets and blouses with flowing, romantic lines. She even found a handmade poncho similar to her favorite pashmina. Tessa looked at the prices and raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She couldn't remember ever spending so much money on clothes.

  Tessa was ready to take her new prized possessions and go home. As they passed one of the last few stores, she looked up and spotted a beautiful dress in a shop window; white with a red rose print, a V-neckline and a hem just above the knee. It was backless.

  “Do you like that?” Kristian asked.

  “I’m good, I don’t need anything else.”

  “Nonsense,” he said with a grin and walked into the store. Tessa trailed behind him. He’d already reached the saleswoman, who was smiling at him and literally clutching her pearls. The store was empty of customers, and she was obviously happy to assist a handsome, wealthy client and his lady friend. Kristian could charm anyone with minimal effort. She wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t even bother to use his vampire mojo. “Would you like to try the dress on?” the saleswoman asked Tessa.

  “Might as well.”

  Tessa went back to the dressing room. There were four stalls. Choosing the stall nearest the outside door, she locked herself in and stripped down to her bra and panties. She took a moment to look at her back in the mirror. Her skin was smooth and unmarred by the thick scars she’d had at the small of her back since she was a teenager. Kristian might think to heal her was a small gesture of affection, but she doubted he understood how much it meant to her.

  She pulled the dress over her head. She twirled, looking at herself in the mirror, front and back. Smoothing the fabric over her hips, she turned her back to the mirror, reaching for her handbag.

  The woman was standing behind her.

  Tessa had no time to scream as a hand was clamped down over her mouth. With her other hand, the woman held a firm grip on her neck.

  Her attacker wore a dark hoodie and a pair of black jeans. Tessa hit the woman’s arms with her fists, but she would not let go. The vice grip of her hand on Tessa’s throat only tightened. She looked into the woman’s red eyes, the vein riddled glossy white skin of her cheeks.

  “Your little vampires can’t save you from us. There’s a place for people like you, and you won’t like it. I can snap your neck right now, do you understand?”

  “Why?” Tessa tried to say, but all that was expelled from her throat was a little hiss.

  The woman laughed, a soft little sound that pushed puffs of cold breath into Tessa’s face. “You’ll see soon.”

  The door of the dressing room was pulled open, and the pressure on Tessa’s neck was suddenly released.

  “Oh, you think you’re funny,” Kristian said, pinning the hooded woman to the wall. Her feet dangled above the floor. “How about you play with someone your own size?” he growled.

  Tessa ran out of the dressing room. The store’s inside lights were turned off, but she barely noticed. She ran for the front door, only to find it locked.

  “Tessa, no,” Morgan said. “Are you okay?”

  Tears sprang to her eyes. She wanted to scream that nothing was good, and that she wanted no more to do with vampires ever again. Instead, she swallowed despite the burning pain in her throat. “Yeah.”

  She walked back towards the counter and leaned over. It was then that she noticed the shopkeeper, sitting on a stool behind the register, eyes fixed and body still except for the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yes,” Morgan grinned. “Just a small bit of magic. She won’t even remember we were here.”

  Kristian came out of the dressing room, hauling the woman with him. He’d pulled back her hoodie. She strained against him, but she was no match for Kristian’s strength. Tessa’s mouth dropped. The woman looked totally healthy. She was a tall, blue-eyed blond, with greasy hair and pimples. She didn’t look like much more than a kid.

  “Charley,” Morgan groaned. “We have to stop meeting like this, kid. Still working for the Calder these days?”

  “Whoever pays my fee,” she snarled.

  “That’s your problem,” Morgan said. “Your generation of demons has absolutely no scruples.”

  “Yeah, whatever. What are you going to do to me?”

  #

  Tessa had never asked about the attic of Kristian’s house. She knew that it had one, but it never occurred to her that there would be anything of interest there.

  Of course, vampires had to find different uses for what would be an ordinary space inside anyone else’s home. It figures, Tessa thought.

  The entire room held only two items: an intricately carved mahogany cabinet and an antique execution chair.

  The demon, who Tessa had only heard referred to as Charley, was strapped into the execution chair. Fortunately for her, it was only being used to keep her bound.

  The cabinet doors were open, and inside were knives, swords, and other gleaming implements. The tools of torture were within the demon’s line of vision.

  All the vampires were gathered around. Tessa stood between Kristian and Veronica. The guards flanked the execution chair, all except for Morgan, who faced the demon.

  “We have an interesting problem here,” Morgan said. “We send you back to the Calder, they’ll kill you. We keep you here, and eventually we’ll have to do the same thing.”

  “Eventually?” she spat.

  “It depends on how forthcoming you are.”

  “I’m not down for this torture shit. But there’s not an awful lot I can tell you.”

  “Why did you come after Tessa?” Kristian asked. “How abou
t we start there?”

  “Look. You don’t like the witches, they don’t like you. I get that. And honestly, I could care less what the lot of you do to each other. I was told to scare her.”

  “Your instructions weren’t to kill me?” Tessa asked. “Because it seemed like that’s what you wanted.”

  “Okay, so I was a little rough, but you did hit me,” the demon pouted.

  “Bitch, really?” Tessa yelled. Kristian grabbed her waist to keep her from pouncing.

  A soft murmur of laughter moved among the guards. It only made Tessa angrier when she realized the vampires were amused. Kristian had the good sense not to show any reaction.

  “I could have told you,” Veronica said drily. “She doesn’t lack spunk.”

  “Alright, Charley,” Morgan said. “How’d they know where to find her?”

  The demon sucked her teeth. “They’re using a seer.”

  “Since when do they have one?” Kristian asked.

  “Recently, I guess. But I mean, I don’t really know. It’s not like these people are my friends. It’s a job. I know better than to ask questions.”

  Kristian let go of Tessa’s waist, taking a few steps towards Charley. “They had a seer and nobody bothered to tell you that you’d get captured on this little mission of yours?”

  “Well, she is low level,” Morgan grumbled.

  “I know what you’re trying to do,” Charley said. “And it won’t work, because I have already told you what I know!”

  “Uh huh. I’ll get back with you on that,” Morgan said.

  #

  “Tessa,” Kristian called.

  She was in the basement apartment, sitting inside the kitchen. She looked up but didn’t respond when he spoke.

  “We need to talk about what happened today,” he said.

  “Really? Because I don’t think, you want to hear what I have to say.”