by M. Leighton
I loved her rationale for drinking. According to Mom, drinking alcohol, which has been scientifically proven to actually lower the immune system, is the answer to warding off a cold. Of course, I had to give her credit. She was rarely ever sick, unless it was Smirnoff-induced. I didn’t think many germs could live in a pure grain environment, which is what undoubtedly flowed through her veins.
“Have you eaten? Do you want me to fix us some supper?”
“That’s sweet, honey, but I think I’ll drink this and go to bed early.”
“Okay.” I was turning to walk to my room when I remembered what she’d originally said. “What was the news?”
“What?” Mom swung around to look at me, clearly puzzled. “Oh, right.
One of my clients is the new Professor of Mythology at USC. His name is Sebastian Aiello— Doctor Sebastian Aiello—and he’s looking for a sitter for his daughter. Just for the occasional evening and maybe some weekend work until the holidays. He asked if you’d be interested.”
“Since when do I babysit?”
“Since someone offered to pay you twenty dollars an hour to babysit.”
“Oh,” I said, perking up. Suddenly, babysitting didn’t sound so bad.
“That’s what I thought,” Mom said, a knowing look on her face. She turned back to her bubbling libation. “He said there’s some kind of function that he has to attend tomorrow night and he’d like—”
“I have a late practice tomorrow night.”
“—and he’d like for you to come over about 7:30, after your practice.”
“Oh,” I repeated. “Okay. Where does he live?”
“In Mont Claire. The address is on the back of the envelope I put on your dresser.”
Mont Claire. That was a ritzy neighborhood. Of course, I have no idea how much college professors make, but it must be good money. At least I’d be babysitting in style. Plus, I’d be padding my bank account for…well, for whatever happened after graduation. I used to save for life at Stanford, but now I had no idea what to expect out of the future. Heck, I didn’t even know what to expect from the next ten minutes sometimes.
Life sure has gotten a lot more exciting and unpredictable since I met Bo, I thought.
Before I left the kitchen, I looked back at my mother. She sniffed again.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, Ridley.”
I took one last look at her back, one last longing look at the person I wish I saw every day, rather than the one that I cleaned puke off of once or twice a week. I almost wanted to hang around and enjoy her, but it would make the return to status quo that much more painful, so I left.
********
Something woke me. My heart leapt as soon as my mind came fully awake. I had been eagerly anticipating the next time I’d catch Bo in a visit. I knew he came, but I hadn’t talked to him, touched him, felt him since that one amazing night when he’d held me in his arms and kissed me like he couldn’t help himself.
I inhaled deeply. A sweetly fresh smell set off a series of alarm bells somewhere in the back of my mind. Even if my nose hadn’t detected it, my body already knew that my visitor was not Bo. My muscles were tight with apprehension and my pulse throbbed in fear. Thanks to the burst of adrenaline, my vision was crystal clear, even in the dark. Not that it mattered. I couldn’t make out anything.
My visitor was invisible. That meant that my visitor was a vampire, and by the smell, I assumed it was a female vampire.
I sat up and scooted back until my shoulders were flush with the headboard.
My breath came in quick pants and my ears strained to pick up the slightest indication of where the vampire might be in relation to my bed.
Other than my nose, my senses picked up absolutely nothing until a low growl split the quiet just before something hit me from the side, knocking me over on the bed.
Someone was on top of me, someone incredibly strong and incredibly determined. My arms were bent at the elbow defensively, my forearms covering my face. I struggled ineffectively against the vampire and those few seconds felt like an eternity to my battered body. Then I felt the brush of hair at my shoulder.
Instinctively, I pushed at the face that now hovered at my neck. I heard the snapping of teeth and I leaned as far away as I could get from that mouth.
I squelched the scream that crouched in my throat. I couldn’t risk my mother’s life by alerting her to the danger that I was in. I kicked and flailed as much as I could without exposing my throat to the razor sharp teeth that I knew were bared. I didn’t have to see them to know that they were there. The fact that the vampire was invisible told me that she hadn’t fed recently. That meant she was most assuredly after my blood.
She wrapped her fingers around my wrists, easily subduing me.
“Shhh,” she hissed. “It will only hurt for a moment.”
I struggled all the more. Her answer to that was to turn me onto my belly and stretch out on top of me, all in one smooth motion that happened so fast it made my head spin.
My arms were pinned beneath me. My legs were completely useless against her. I bucked my hips, but she held me down with what seemed like no effort on her part whatsoever.
She brushed my hair aside and curled her fingers around the collar of my tshirt. I heard the ripping of cotton as she yanked, tearing my shirt open nearly to my waist.
I felt the tickle of her hair as she leaned forward. I held my breath, waiting, knowing that I was completely at her mercy. In my head, I screamed out for Bo, wishing that I could somehow call him telepathically.
The sharp sting of her teeth entering the tender flesh just above my left shoulder blade assured me that it was too late for help, even if Bo did somehow hear me. I felt the separation of muscle from bone as she pinched the tissue between her four teeth and closed her jaws. Within seconds an intense burning sensation began to seep into the skin and muscle surrounding her fangs.
I was frozen in fear.
Much sooner than I expected, she rolled me over onto my back again. She must not have drunk very much because she was still virtually transparent. Now, though, I could make out the faintest of outlines, just enough to determine that my attacker was, in fact, a woman. A very petite woman.
Eyes wide with terror, I watched the clearish shape move. It appeared that she raised her arm to her mouth. I heard the sickening squish of teeth entering flesh as she bit into her own wrist. It was followed by the popping sound of tendons tearing.
She leaned toward me again, but stopped with her arm hovering over my face. I felt one drop of cool fluid splatter against my cheek beside my mouth. I turned my face away and squeezed my lips shut as tightly as they would go.
I expected her to force me, but she didn’t. She was perfectly motionless for a few seconds before I felt her tense and then spring from the bed. I heard the soft sounds of her dashing across the carpet toward the window and scurrying through it.
Her escape was nearly silent as she scampered across the yard. When those soft sounds faded, there was nothing. I sat up in the bed and rose to my knees. The silence lasted for only a few seconds before I heard more movement, heavier movement. Despite my fear and shock and the fire that burned where she bit me, a familiar tugging in my gut told me that the source of the sounds this time was Bo.
I listened intently, waiting for his approach, my body already begging for him to come closer. I heard his steps stop for an instant before they rushed off.
My heart sank. I’d thought he was coming to me, but it sounded like he had changed his mind.
When I heard his retreat stop, my anticipation rose once more. There was a pause, as if he was hesitating, maybe taking a moment to decide what to do. Then, much to my pleasure, I heard his footfalls as he hurried back toward the house. With my pulse pounding in my ears, I almost missed the nearly-silent sounds of him coming through my window.
The wind carried Bo’s heady scent to my nose first. As I inhaled, I felt a calm steal over me, a peace,
a comfort that only Bo’s presence could bring. I could have cried with relief.
He padded quietly to the bed.
“Where?” he asked sharply.
At first I was confused, the intensity of his nearness so poignant I was nearly stupefied.
“Wh- what? Where’s what?” I asked blankly.
“Where did she bite you?”
My mind was still reeling, a bizarre disorientation muddying my thoughts.
“I- I don’t know…”
“Ridley,” Bo snapped, taking me by the shoulders. He shook me lightly.
“Think! Where did she bite you?”
Though my head was abuzz, Bo’s grip on my shoulder reminded me that the area was painful.
“My left shoulder,” I managed sluggishly.
Quickly, Bo came around and knelt behind me, pushing me forward. I felt his chilly fingers at my back and goose flesh raced across my skin. Despite everything else, my nipples tightened in response to his touch.
“Ridley, focus,” he spat, the “s” making that familiar hissing sound. “Stay still. I have to suck the venom out before it spreads, before it’s too late.”
At that moment, I didn’t care what Bo did to me. I felt oddly detached from my mind, and my body was virtually numb but for the feel of his big hands on me, his cool breath fanning my naked skin and the intense burning at my shoulder.
Once again, he gripped my arms, and then I felt the piercing nip of his teeth.
It wasn’t nearly as painful as the female’s bite had been. Whether because of my desire for Bo or simply his tenderness, I couldn’t be sure, but it was much less unpleasant when he did it.
Only the sounds of Bo’s sucking broke the silence. After several minutes, my mind began to clear and the discomfort receded, giving way to a strange tingling sensation.
The night air, flowing unchecked through the window, had cooled my room.
As Bo drank, the increasing heat of his body scorched the chilly skin of my back.
Besides his rising body temperature, I could feel other changes in him, too, changes that made my heart dance and my stomach flutter. The way Bo held me, the way his lips moved across my skin, I knew that he was no longer entirely focused on the venom. He was tasting my blood in his mouth, feeling my body against his.
Little by little, Bo’s fingers loosened their grip on my arms and his thumbs began to move, drawing small circles on my skin. I felt the silky whisper of his tongue as it licked at the flesh of my back.
Bo’s desire was on the rise. It was like a tangible presence in the room with us. When he shifted closer to my back, pressing his chest against me and bending his body over mine, a wave of heat gushed through my body. I could feel every hard inch of him rubbing against my back side.
The knock at my door jarred me back to reality. The heat of Bo at my back was gone just as my bedroom door opened.
Mom didn’t even open the door enough for me to see her face; she cracked it just enough to ask, “Ridley, are you alright?”
My wits were slow to return, as was normal breathing. I couldn’t hide my breathlessness, so I used it to my advantage.
“I’m fine. I woke up scared. Just a nightmare. Go back to sleep,” I encouraged, resisting the urge to go and slam the door shut in her face so Bo and I could pick up where we left off.
“Okay. G’night,” she said, yawning and pulling the door shut.
I rushed to the window, hoping Bo hadn’t gone, but he had. There was no sign of him, but for the lingering scent of him in my hair and the tingle of the skin at my shoulder.
********
Throughout the next day, I wracked my brain trying to figure out why the scent of my attacker seemed familiar. I knew I’d smelled it before, but I just couldn’t identify it. It was like that elusive word stuck on the tip of your tongue. It’s there, but you just can’t get to it. I’d thought about her on and off all day, my attacker. I was still bothered by it, yes, but it was more an effort to keep my mind off Bo. I wanted desperately to see him, actually see him, to recommit his handsome face to memory. But deep down, I knew he wouldn’t make an appearance. Not in public. Not today, not ever. He couldn’t. There would be too many questions, too many inconsistencies. No, Bo would never be able to show his face in Harker again.
Acid roiled in the pit of my stomach just thinking about it, so I purposely steered my mind into more soothing waters. At least I could still feel him; that always made things seem better.
Once or twice, I’d sensed his presence. I knew he was...somewhere, somewhere close, but I never did catch even a tiny glimpse of his shimmer. The one time I’d actually seen him in his translucent state, I’d seen the way the light bent around his invisible form. It had been like looking at the trees through the heat waves that roll off of hot pavement. I found myself continually watching for that distortion, any visual confirmation that he was out there. Somewhere.
But, in the end, I knew I’d have to content myself with just knowing he was near, with feeling the tug of his presence on my heart. It would be a while before things got back to normal, and even then, it wouldn’t be in this town.
Bringing my mind back to the present, I rolled to a stop at the red light. I was on my way to Dr. Sebastian Aiello’s house and I was not having an easy time finding it.
I glanced down at the two sets of directions in my lap. One was a handwritten note in my mother’s neat cursive. The other was a print out from Google Maps. Neither seemed to be taking me exactly where I wanted to go. It was almost as if the address for my new employer didn’t exist.
I expected some confusion from Mom’s directions. That’s why I printed a set from a much more reliable, less intoxicated source, but that wasn’t doing the trick either.
When the light turned green, I proceeded straight through the light for the second time. I watched street signs to the left and right as I passed, but nowhere did I see the one I was looking for.
Frustrated, I pushed the gas pedal to the floor and zoomed past the Dead End sign, aiming to turn around and go through the directions one more time.
I swung the car in a wide right, starting to make the turn, when I saw a small road that split off behind a stand of trees. To the left of the entrance was a wrought iron sign that read Haven Drive, just the one I was looking for.
I guided the car through the trees and realized that it wasn’t a street, but a driveway. It wound through more trees and then up a slight incline. At the top sat a mammoth stone home that looked like a small castle. It crouched in the center of a ring of huge maple trees that cast a perpetual shadow over the cool gray structure.
I pulled to a stop in front of the bay of garage doors, hoping I didn’t choose the one he’d have to pull his car out of. I cut the engine and got out to walk to the front door.
I rang the bell. I could hear the muted majestic chimes sounding behind the heavy wood. A little chill skittered down my spine. They had an ominous ring that made me uncomfortable for some reason.
That feeling, however, was washed away the instant the door opened revealing an incredibly handsome man that I felt sure must have modeled for Calvin Klein at some point. I assumed—I hoped— that this was Sebastian Aiello.
Dressed in fitted charcoal pants and a pewter silk shirt, he looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. At well over six feet, he was tall with broad shoulders and slim hips. His skin was like bronze, his hair like spun gold.
He smiled, a wide spread of his perfect lips that nearly stole my breath.
“You must be Ridley.”
His voice was like honey and it made my brain feel like mush. He didn’t inspire the trance-like fascination that Lars did, so I wasn’t alarmed. He was just so impeccably, beautifully crafted, I was almost in awe.
I nodded.
“I’m Sebastian,” he said. “Please, come in.”
He stepped back, sweeping his hand in front of him. I obliged by sliding past him into the grand foyer.
Soft light from a
massive crystal chandelier shone in the rich wood paneling and glinted off the polished stone floors. I felt like I’d stumbled into an episode of Cribs.
“I really appreciate you doing this for us. I know babysitting probably isn’t the ideal way to make a buck, but I wanted someone a little older to watch Lilly.”
I smiled politely and nodded, feeling more dumbstruck as the minutes ticked by.
“Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
Sebastian turned and guided me down a long, wide hallway. I busied myself with looking at the amazing art that lined its length so that I wouldn’t get caught gawking at Sebastian’s butt. I couldn’t help but notice that he filled out his pants to perfection and that wasn’t a thought that I felt comfortable having.
The inside of the house was as stunning as the outside. I had to concentrate on keeping my mouth shut, as it wanted to fall open in wonder several times.
All the materials I could see were either smooth, gleaming woods or rough, cool stone. From the floors to the ceilings, everything was decorated to complement the castle-like feel of the house. There was even a suit of armor standing guard outside the entrance to what appeared to be his study. I’d never seen a suit of armor before and it gave me the comical feeling of being on an adventure with Scooby Doo.
After we’d passed several doors, the corridor widened and split into two large rooms. To my right was the kitchen and behind it was a huge dining room. To my left was an informal den, outfitted with three puffy leather couches and a fireplace so big that I could stand inside it.
Kneeling on the thick Oriental rug that lay between the sofas was a little girl.
She looked to be about three or four years old and she was bent over a nearly life-size doll that was rolled over onto its belly. The doll’s yellow dress was hiked up over its head and the little girl was struggling to change its diaper. There was a wet spot on the white material, and I could only assume that it was one of those dolls that you put water in so that when you squeezed it, the doll would pee.
