Shock and disbelief filled his eyes, and he raised an eyebrow. Tanya admired his ability to raise just the one eyebrow. When she tried it, both of hers lifted. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before he found his voice. “This is absurd.”
“I’m well aware of how it sounds.”
Running his hands through his hair, he grunted. “Come on. I mean, I know you girls aren’t dumb enough to talk to strangers in the dark…especially in a dark alley.” He pursed his lips. The look on his face showed his disbelief in her story. She couldn’t blame him. If the roles were reversed she’d be the same.
There was a knock on the passenger’s side window, and Mark jumped high enough he bumped the top of his head. Tanya would have been startled too, but with her heightened senses, she’d heard the store’s automatic doors slide open.
Mark rubbed his head as he looked out the window. Regina smiled and stepped back as he opened the door to get out. “Come on, hun, you can help me load all of this into the trunk.”
Tanya watched Mark take over the two shopping carts Regina had. He had been raised by his mom and grandpa so he had a good old-fashioned upbringing. Why weren’t there more guys like him in this world?
The trunk closed, and Regina climbed into the passenger seat while Mark returned the carts to the outside return. A moment later, he was sitting in the center of the backseat. “Okay, so you saw a strange man in the alley after midnight.” Frustrated, he lifted both hands up in the air then slammed them down onto his thighs, sighing. “Explain this to me, somebody.”
Regina and Tanya both turned in their seats. Tanya looked to Regina for approval, and she nodded. They were about to break one of the vampire laws, but at this point there was no way around that. He’d discovered the truth all on his own.
“I cannot tell you his name, but he is a true vampire.” Mark opened his mouth, and Tanya held up her hand, cutting him off. “Let me finish. Vampires are not fairytales, they’re real. So, long story short, he said that he wanted us as his children and we ended up going home with him.”
“You what?” The horrified expression on his face quickly turned to anger. “I know your mother taught you better than that. He could have been a mass murderer.”
Ignoring his rant, Tanya continued. “That night he turned us into vampires, real vampires. It’s a lot like what you see in the movies, he bit us, and we made the change.”
Mark was gnawing on his bottom lip to keep from exploding.
“Look,” Regina said. “You absolutely cannot say a word to anyone. Not even your mother can know. Promise me.”
He said nothing.
“It’s a life and death situation here, for all of us.” Tanya touched his knee. “We could all lose our lives over this. Promise us that you won’t say anything.”
By the way he squeezed the bridge of his nose it was clear that he struggled with the information — that his mind was at war, wanting to believe in them but also thinking they’d lost their ever-loving minds.
After several moments of contemplating, his face smoothed, and he ran his hands back and forth on the seat next to him. “Okay, I won’t say a word to anyone. I suppose he’s a very wealthy guy, and he’s the reason you have this expensive car?”
“Yes.” Tanya nodded. “Please try to understand. I know that all of this info is a lot to process, but don’t write us off just yet.” The one thing she would never be able to live with would be if Mark ended up hating them.
“I still think this is a load of horse crap, but you know I love you. I refuse to abandon my girls.”
Those words eased the tension in Tanya’s body, and a smile spread on her face. Thank the good Lord.
“What’s with all the luggage?” He jerked his thumb behind him, aiming at the trunk. “You guys aren’t planning on leaving me, are you?”
Tanya’s smile faltered. “I’m afraid so.” Gosh, she wished they didn’t have to leave him behind. “We can’t stay here. People would notice, just like you did.”
Still warring with the information that’d been thrown at him, he opened and closed his mouth several times, clearly trying to choose his words wisely. “I get it.” He slumped down in his seat with a frown. “I don’t like this, but I get it. I’m going to miss you all like crazy.”
“We’ll miss you too.” Regina leaned toward him.
He peered at Regina then at Tanya. “You guys will still come and visit me, right?” Wetness shone in his eyes.
“Mark,” Regina whispered. “You know that we can’t.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “Look, we can still call each other though. We don’t plan on changing our cell numbers so you’ll always be able to contact us.”
Tanya pulled her phone out of her purse and waved it at him. “We’ll answer for you anytime of the day or night.”
A lone tear fell from his eye. He quickly wiped it off then leaned forward to embrace them in a group hug. As if it were the end of the world, he held them tightly, not wanting to let them go.
At last, he released his hold and kissed them on their foreheads. “I’m going to miss you girls. When do you plan on leaving?”
“Friday.” Tanya’s voice came out thick and wavering. More than anything, she wanted to pack up his belongings and take him with them. Doing so meant facing judgment, and she was not willing to put him or her friends through that trauma.
Wrapping his arms around their necks, he hugged them for what seemed to last a lifetime. Without a word, he released them and exited the car, wiping his face on his shirttail as he walked away.
Seeing his heartbreak brought tears to Tanya’s eyes. This moment was one she never wanted to relive. It was the hardest moment of her life.
Starting the ignition, she drove them home. The ride was silent. Both of them knew the danger they’d just put Mark in, but at the same time the Vampire Rulers couldn’t judge them too harshly since he’d learned their secret all on his own.
For the safety of their friends, they decided his knowledge was better left between the two of them.
Chapter Nineteen
Tanya stared into her bowl, pushing around the fruit salad. Normally this dish would be devoured in just seconds but not today. Today she was leaving behind everything and everyone she loved.
Stabbing a strawberry and biting the tip, she looked up from her bowl and for the first time noticed her friends sitting at the table, talking and laughing. She studied their choice of clothing. Dannika dressed in clothes like hers, a tee shirt and faded blue jeans. The other three wore their usual revealing clothes, low cut V-necks and super-short miniskirts.
She snickered. Regina, Makinzee, and Serienna would be turning heads of every guy they ran into. Men drooled over them anyway, but the clothes Lazarith had picked out for them highlighted their curves in just the right way. She could just picture men fawning all over them like idiots.
Man, guys are such dar-dars. She snickered to herself. Everyone ceased talking, and every head turned. Had she said that out loud? Oh, jeez, by the looks on their faces she had. They stared at her like she’d lost her mind.
She laughed, the first real laugh she’d had since the day Lazarith had left. The others joined in her laughter when she explained to them what she’d been thinking.
Dannika looked over at Serienna, Regina, and Makinzee, shook her head, and grinned. “Yeah, you three will definitely turn some heads in those outfits.”
In unison, Tanya’s three blonde friends looked down at themselves then at each other. Each of their faces glowing with the knowledge they held that kind of power within their bodies.
“Uh huh,” Regina said as she gave a hi-five to Serienna and Makinzee.
All three of them licked their index fingers, touched them to their rumps, and made a sizzling sound as they said, “Oooh, we’re hot.” Their actions brought a giggle out
of Dannika and Tanya. The blonde trio give new meaning to the word Diva.
Clearing the table, they took a last look around. This was the day Tanya had dreaded all week. The day they leave and never look back.
Rayford closed the trunk to the Mercedes. Tanya was the first to give him a hug. This man had a heart of gold, and she really hoped she’d see him again. “Goodbye, Rayford. I’m going to miss you.”
He squeezed her back. “And I you, Madam Tanya.” Giving the others a hug, he smiled and wished them good luck. “I packed you two coolers of blood. When you arrive at your destination, call me and I will send your remaining boxes. I will also see to it that L&A sends you another supply.” L&A is the vampire blood bank that is owned by Lazarith. “Drive safely, and remember to always confide in one another.”
“We will.” Tanya gave him another hug before heading toward the car. “Thank you for everything.”
“It was my pleasure.” He walked backward up the porch steps with grace and stood ramrod straight, hands clasped together in front of his waist, and watched.
“Okay, who is going to drive the new baby?” Dannika asked as she opened the passenger door.
Since Tanya had been the last to drive, she dug in her purse for the keys. Pulling them free, she dangled them from her finger, wiggling her eyebrows. Regina pointed at her with a smile. “Guess Tanya will on this shift.”
It was four in the afternoon, which in vampire time was four in the morning. Tanya hadn’t been a morning a person when she was human, and she wasn’t one now. Pushing her morning grog to the side, she slipped behind the wheel. The blonde trio took the back seats, and Dannika sat in the passenger seat.
The first stop on their trip was their apartment. None of them had stepped foot inside since Halloween night. Walking in, Tanya looked around. It seemed like a lifetime ago she’d lived here. Pulling the key to the apartment off her keyring, she tossed it on the kitchen table with the others.
Regina had made arrangements with Mark first thing that morning to box up the rest of their belongings and donate them. Not knowing what else to do with the bookstore, they gave him full ownership.
Tanya closed her eyes and let memories of her previous life flood her mind. She was sad to leave it behind but also ecstatic to have this fantastic gift of immortality. A photo on the entertainment stand caught her eye. It was the five of them with Mark, a movie poster in the background. They’d gone to see the newest Edward and Bella movie. Yes, Mark was a complete sucker for those romantic vampire movies. She picked up the photo and tucked it into her purse. Leaving him was proving harder than leaving her mother. What did that say about her?
The others were already in the car when she ventured out. With one last look, she closed the door and descended the steps.
They hadn’t been on the road long and were just exiting the city limits when Dannika turned in her seat. “No looking back now, girls. I mean it, not even a glance. We have to do this, and looking back will only remind us of Mark.”
A sad sigh left everyone’s lips. Tanya even blinked back a tear. This was their entire life they were walking away from. No coming home for holidays. No seeing Mark in the flesh again. Nothing.
A couple of moments passed before Dannika spoke up again. “Do you think anyone will miss us?” She stared at a picture of Mark on her cell phone. “I mean aside from family and Mark. Do you think anyone else will even realize that we’re not there anymore?”
Regina smirked. “Oh, you know that we’ll be missed because now the town doesn’t have any hot mammas.”
“Okay, smart aleck, very funny.” Dannika smacked her on the leg. “Seriously though, I hope that people do miss us. I’d like to think that we meant something to somebody.”
Tanya touched Dannika’s hand, taking her eyes off the road for just a second to peer at her cousin. “You know that we’ll be missed. You’ll be missed.”
“Girl,” Serienna gave Dannika’s arm a playful slap. “You do know that Mark is going to take this whole thing really hard, right?”
Dannika’s head whipped around. “Dang, Serienna. It’s not like this is my fault or anything.” She glared at their friend. “What did you expect me to do, run over to his house and say ‘Hey, Mark. We aren’t humans anymore. We’re vampires, and now we must leave town. Oh, and I think you should come with us.’?”
Serienna’s eyebrows raised at Dannika’s outburst. “You were truly meant to be a blonde, weren’t you?” Shaking her head, she sighed. “Are you seriously that ignorant? You mean to tell me that you never saw the signs?”
“What?” Some of the edge had left Dannika’s voice, replaced with confusion.
“The guy has been in love with you since…well, since forever.” Serienna’s eyes studied Dannika’s for any kind of reaction. When there wasn’t one, she continued, “He loves you, and never once has he acted on his feelings because he just figured that when you were ready, you’d go for it.” She paused for a moment to let it sink in. “But seriously, you never gave him a reason to find love elsewhere. You accepted his flirtation and gave it right back in an innocence that only you could give.”
Slapping her hand over her mouth, Dannika stared off into space and Tanya could see the wheels turning. After a moment Dannika whispered, “What?”
“Well, I sure do hope that the poor guy finds somebody that can make him truly happy because he…” Serienna’s rant was cut short by a screech from Dannika.
“Oh, my gosh.” When it finally sunk in, Dannika buried her face in her hands. “Oh, my gosh. I mean…it never occurred to me that he wanted anything more than friendship. It’s just the way we’ve always talked to one another, since we were in elementary school.” A moan left her. “Looking back at it, yeah, I can see the flirtation…from the both of us.”
“Um hum,” Makinzee hummed.
Dannika began to shake her head frantically. Tanya hadn’t seen her cousin this freaked out in a long time. “Great. I led him on, didn’t I? I freakin’ led him on. Oh my…I’m such a horrible person.”
Silent sobs racked her body and Dannika pulled her feet up onto the seat, resting her head on her knees.
Serienna leaned forward to put her arms around Dannika in hopes of comforting her. “No, sweetie, you’re not a horrible person. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She kissed her on the cheek. “Any one of us could have and should have said something to you. I guess we just thought that it would all fall into place at the right time.”
Dannika dashed tears away with the back of her hand. “But look what I did to him. Now he’s probably nursing a broken heart, and it’s all my fault.” Her words were unintelligible due to her sobs. Because Serienna couldn’t think before she spoke, Dannika now felt completely responsible for possibly causing Mark’s heartbreak.
“Awe, Dannie. It’ll be alright. I promise. He’s a great guy.” Tanya reached over to hold her hand. “Some girl will come along and make him a very happy man.”
Dannika smiled at her cousin and squeezed her hand. “I know, Tay. I know.”
Chapter Twenty
Time passed in a blur. The girls played ‘Name that Theme Song’, and Tanya was in the lead. That’s what happens when you’re a TV junkie. The ache in Tanya’s back and legs testified to the fact it was time to stop and stretch. Not to mention, she was sick of being behind the wheel.
She adjusted the rearview mirror so she could see everyone in the back. “Is anybody ready to grab something to eat?”
“Yes,” Makinzee all but shouted. Digging through her purse, she pulled out her tablet and began searching for nearby restaurants. That’s the great thing about today’s technology, you don’t have to know anything about where you are to find what you need. She gasped. “Check this out. They have a Hunan Chinese Restaurant, and it’s only fifteen minutes away.”
&n
bsp; Serienna bounced in her seat like a child excited about receiving candy. “Oh, thank the heavens.” She pulled out her compact and began touching up her makeup. “Girl, it’s like you just read my mind. I have been dying for some good Chinese food.”
Hunan’s was a favorite of theirs. It was the one place they ate out every Friday evening, but since their awakening they hadn’t had the pleasure of eating their favorite food. Hearing there was one close excited Tanya.
Routing the directions on MapFinder, Makinzee handed her tablet to Tanya. The restaurant in Grand Island was just a straight shot on the road they were currently driving. It didn’t take long to find it.
Parking the car, Tanya watched her friends touch up their faces and hair. Such Divas. At least her cousin wasn’t a makeup psycho like the rest of them.
The smell of Kung Pao chicken wafted across the parking lot and met Tanya’s nose the instant she opened her car door. The heavenly scent sparked a growl in her belly, and her mouth watered in anticipation.
Just like the Hunan’s in Spencer, this was a buffet style. They smiled at one another. “Five,” Tanya said to the petite lady behind the counter.
“Drink?”
“Yes, please,” Dannika answered.
“Thirty-four dollar, seventy-five cent.”
Tanya paid for their meal, and they followed the sweet lady toward the back where she pushed two tables together.
Paper plates were placed at each end of the buffet bars. Tanya piled on orange chicken, kung pao chicken, jalapeño chicken, stir fry noodles, and several spring rolls. Balancing the food on her plate was proving to be a challenge. A couple of the spring rolls threatened to fall to floor.
Serienna rounded the buffet line and stood next to Tanya with a plate piled even higher. “Now this is what I’m talking about.” She carefully piled noodles on top of her heaping plate. The girl eats like a pig and never gains a pound. A metabolism like hers is what all girls covet.
Princesses of the Night (Royal Blood Book 1) Page 7
